We like to think winning Best of the City is a great honour. And we’re happy to report that in some ways, winning Best of the City is a greater honour than ever this year.
That’s because our reader survey received more votes than any other year. We received three times as many votes as we did in 2019, which was our best-ever year for votes before this one.
We’re not entirely sure why there was such an uptick in voter turnout in 2020. We did make a significant change to the online voting platform this year. As always, we relied on write-in votes, but this year, once a business had been nominated, it was added to a drop-down menu so the next person to vote could choose from a random-order list of current nominees or write in a new one.
It made for some lively voting in some of the categories. As usual, Best Customer Service drew a wide range of entries, with more than 150 businesses nominated. Other categories that received the lengthiest lists of nominees were Best Beauty Salon or Spa, Best Lunches, Best Restaurant Overall and Best Hair Salon.
If two businesses tied for first, second or third, we didn’t break ties, and we’re presenting all of them as worthy winners in their own right.
Thank you for voting, thank you for reading. All the best.
Best Fish and Chips
1. Trollers Fish and Chips
2. Pirate Chips
3. Cod Squad Fish and Chips
Best Seafood Restaurant
1. Trollers Fish and Chips
2. Bold Knight Restaurant
3. The View Oceanside Grill
Best Restaurant Overall
1. Asteras Greek Taverna
2. Mahle House Restaurant
3. La Stella Trattoria
Best Mediterranean Food
1. Asteras Greek Taverna
2. Alexandra’s Bistro
3. Zougla Mediterranean Grill
Best Romantic Restaurant
1. Asteras Greek Taverna
2. Mahle House Restaurant
3. La Stella Trattoria
Best Asian Food
1. Huong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant
2. Nori Japanese Restaurant
3. Quality Foods
3. Umai Sushi
Best Bakery
1. Cobs Bread
2. Red’s Bakery
3. Bodhi’s Artisan Bakery
Best Breakfasts
1. Gabriel’s Gourmet Café
2. Tania’s Restaurant
3. Kelly’s Kitchen Café
Best Catering Business
1. Coco Café
2. Spice of Life Catering
3. Smokin’ George’s BBQ
Best Chicken Wings
1. Landlubber Pub
2. The Oxy Pub
3. Quarterway Pub
Best Cinnamon Buns
1. Cobs Bread
2. Red’s Bakery
3. Bodhi’s Artisan Bakery
Best Deli
1. Nesvog Meats and Sausage Co.
2. McLean’s Specialty Foods
3. Nellie’s European Deli
Best Family Restaurant
1. White Spot
2. Asteras Greek Taverna
3. Montana’s BBQ and Bar
Best Fast Food
1. Delicado’s Deli
2. BarBurrito
3. Baby Salsa
Best French Fries
1. Pirate Chips
2. New York Fries
3. McDonald’s
Best Kids’ Restaurant
1. White Spot
2. Pirate Chips
3. Ricky’s All Day Grill
Best Lunches
1. Delicado’s Deli
1. Gabriel’s Gourmet Café
2. Gina’s Mexican Café
3. Coco Café
Best Nanaimo Bars
1. Red’s Bakery
2. Hearthstone Artisan Bakery
3. Pirate Chips
Best Hamburgers
1. Top Notch Burgers
2. Big Wheel Burger
3. Sip and Sliders Food Truck
Best Nachos
1. Gina’s Mexican Café
2. Longwood Brew Pub and Restaurant
3. Carlos O’Bryan’s Neighbourhood Pub
Best Tacos
1. Gina’s Mexican Café
2. Baby Salsa
3. Jalapenos Mexican Food
Best Pasta
1. La Stella Trattoria
2. Milano’s Ristorante
3. Alexandra’s Bistro
Best Place to Buy Meat
1. Nesvog Meats and Sausage Company
2. Meat Craft Island Butchery
3. Costco Wholesale
Best Place to Buy Produce
1. Thrifty Foods
2. Country Grocer
3. Cedar Farmer’s Market
Best Place to Buy Seafood
1. Seadrift Fish Market and Eatery
2. Thrifty Foods
3. Driftwood Seafoods
Best Seafood Restaurant
1. Troller’s Fish and Chips
2. Bold Knight Restaurant
3. The View Oceanside Grill
Best Pizza
1. Mambo Gourmet Pizza
2. La Stella Trattoria
3. Milano’s Ristorante
Best Steak House
1. Bold Knight Restaurant
2. Beefeater’s Chop House and Grill
3. Montana’s BBQ and Bar
Best Sushi
1. Nori Sushi
2. Umai Sushi
3. Firehouse Grill
Best Vegetarian Food
1. Gabriel’s Gourmet Café
2. Eve Olive
3. Delicado’s Deli
Best Patio Restaurant
1. Crow and Gate Pub
2. Dinghy Dock Pub
3. Carlos O’Bryan’s Neighbourhood Pub
Best Place to Buy Craft Beer
1. White Sails Brewing
2. Longwood Brew Pub and Restaurant
3. Longwood Brewery
Best Place to Meet for Coffee
1. Drip Coffee Social
2. Buzz Coffee House
3. The Vault Café
Best Desserts
1. Burnt Honey Dessert Company
2. Red’s Bakery
3. Cold Front Gelato
Best Cocktails and Shots
1. Carlos O’Bryan’s Neighbourhood Pub
2. The Nanaimo Bar
3. Cactus Club Café
Best Martini
1. The Nanaimo Bar
2. Cactus Club Café
3. Modern Café
Best Pub
1. Crow and Gate Pub
2. Longwood Brew Pub and Restaurant
3. Carlos O’Bryan’s Neighbourhood Pub
Best Sports Bar
1. Old City Station Pub
2. Original Joe’s Restaurant and Bar
3. Landlubber Pub
Best Place for Birthday Parties
1. Carlos O’Bryan’s Neighbourhood Pub
2. Cactus Club Café
3. Splitsville Entertainment
Best Karaoke
1. Quarterway Pub
2. The Oxy Pub
2. The Wellington Pub
3. The Queen’s Hotel
Best Music Trivia
1. Landlubber Pub
2. The Wellington Pub
3. The Oxy Pub
Best Art Gallery
1. Nanaimo Art Gallery
2. Gallery Merrick
3. Art 10 Gallery
Best Open Mic/Jam Session
1. The Queen’s Hotel
2. The Vault Café
3. The Nanaimo Bar
Best Performing Arts School
1. Vibrant Studios (Vibe)
2. Kirkwood Academy of Performing Arts
3. Harbour Dance Studios Inc.
Best Place for Live Bands
1. The Queen’s Hotel
2. Port Theatre
3. The Nanaimo Bar
Best Place to Dance
1. The Queen’s Hotel
2. LevelTwo Nightclub
3. Vibrant Studios (Vibe)
Best Theatre Company
1. Nanaimo Theatre Group
2. Schmooze Productions
3. TheatreOne
Best Lingerie Store
1. Purple Cactus Lingerie
2. La Senza
2. La Vie En Rose
3. My Undies
Best Consignment or Thrift Store
1. Charlie’s Closet
1. Nanaimo Hospital Auxilliary Thrift Store
2. Leiv It Or Love It
3. Friends of Haven Thrift Shop
3. Once Upon A Child
Best Kids’ Clothing Store
1. Once Upon A Child
2. Old Navy
3. Carter’s OshKosh
Best Shoe Store
1. A Step Ahead
2. Frontrunners
3. SoftMoc
Best Store for Ladieswear
1. KC’s Boutique and Petites
2. Quintessential
3. Charlie’s Closet
Best Store for Menswear
1. NYLA Fresh Thread
2. Mark’s
3. The Bay
Best Place to Shop
1. Woodgrove Centre
2. Costco Wholesale
3. Old City Quarter
Best Yoga Studio
1. Modo Yoga Nanaimo
2. Red Door Yoga
3. OmTown Yoga
Best Accounting Firm
1. MNP
2. Church Pickard Chartered Professional Accountants
3. Liberty Tax Canada
Best Auto Detailer
1. Nanaimo Toyota
2. V.I. Precision Detailing and Car Care
3. Harris Auto Spa
Best Auto Servicing
1. Supertech Diesel Truck Specialists
2. Bavarian Imports Auto Repairs Ltd.
3. BCAA Auto Service Centre
3. Wellington Garage
Best Banking Institution
1. RBC Royal Bank
2. TD Canada Trust
3. Coastal Community Credit Union
Best Bathrooms
1. Woodgrove Centre
2. Cabela’s
3. Cactus Club Café
Best Beauty Salon or Spa
1. Breze Aveda Concept Salon and Spa
2. Aura Hair Boutique
3. Kiyo Salon and Day Spa
Best Bike Shop
1. Arrowsmith Bikes
2. Rock City Cycles
3. Hub City Cycles Community Co-op
Best Carpet Cleaners
1. Classic Care Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
2. Suck It Up Carpet Furnace
3. Terry’s Carpet Cleaning
Best Daycare Centre
1. Boys and Girls Club of Central Vancouver Island
2. Kidz Kompany
3. Jolly Giant Childcare
Best Estheticians
1. Breze Aveda Concept Salon and Day Spa
2. Kiyo Salon and Day Spa
3. Nanaimo Elements Holistic Centre and Spa
3. Neon Nail Studio
Best Financial Planner
1. RBC Royal Bank
2. TD Canada Trust
3. Coastal Community Private Wealth Group
Best Fitness/Exercise Company
1. Driven Performance Fitness
2. Zumba with Shandra Mayes
3. Planet Fitness
Best Flower Shop
1. Turley’s Florist
2. Ladybug Floral
3. Thrifty Foods
Best Gas Bar
1. Mid Island Co-op
2. Mobil
3. Chevron
Best Pet Grooming Business
1. Dog N’ Suds Pet Services
2. Nanaimo Pet Services
3. Foxy Dog Grooming
Best Dentist
1. Franklyn Street Dental Centre
2. Diver Lake Dental
3. Seven Sails Dental Centre
Best Floor Covering Store
1. End of the Roll
2. United Floors
3. Wingren Nufloors
Best Electrical Contractor
1. Mazzei Electric
2. Walls Electrical Ltd.
3. Houle Electric
Best Hair Salon
1. Hair Tech Salon Ltd.
2. Aura Hair Boutique
3. Kiyo Salon and Day Spa
Best Healthcare Clinic
1. Medical Arts Centre
2. Caledonian Clinic Ltd.
3. Anchor Family Medicine
Best Heating Business
1. Norm’s Plumbing and Heating
2. Archie Johnstone Plumbing and Heating
3. Bryans Mechanical
Best Home Builder
1. Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island Society
2. Saywell Contracting Ltd.
3. Pheasant Hill Homes Ltd.
Best Home Improvement Store
1. Home Depot
2. Home Hardware
3. Lowe’s
Best Housewares/Linen Store
1. HomeSense
2. Flying Fish
3. The Bay
Best Insurance Agency
1. Core Insurance Services
2. Hub Insurance
3. Real Insurance Solutions
Best Jewelry Store
1. Keller’s Jewellers
2. Bastion Jewellers
3. Peoples Jewellers
Best Landscaper
1. McKenzie Maintenance
2. Concepts Landscaping and Excavation
3. Island Eco-Scapes
Best Law Firm
1. Ramsay Lampman Rhodes
2. Heath Law LLP
2. Krog and Company
3. Johnston Franklin Bishop
3. Mont and Walker Law Corporation
Best Lighting Store
1. McLaren Lighting
2. Home Depot
3. Lowe’s
Best Marine Supplier
1. The Harbour Chandler Ltd.
2. Parker Marine
3. Marina Parts Supply/Anchorage
Best Massages
1. Knead Registered Massage Therapy
2. Pure Body Balance Health and Fitness
3. Wild Coast Wellness
Best Customer Service
1. Costco Wholesale
2. Mood Cannabis Co.
3. Country Grocer
Best Barber Shop
1. Four Crows Barber and Shave Co.
2. That 50’s Barber Shop
3. Shear Agony Barber Shop
3. Sports Barbers
Best Furniture Store
1. Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress
2. Island Home Furniture and Mattress
3. Flying Fish
Best Place to Get Tires
1. Cedar Tireland
2. Kal Tire
3. Costco Wholesale
Best Vitamin/Health Food Store
1. Pomme Natural Market
2. Charlie Brown’s Health Foods
3. Popeye’s Supplements
Best Mattress Store
1. Sleep Country
2. John’s Bedrooms
3. Island Home Furniture and Mattress
Best Moving Company
1. Junk in our Trunk
2. Take a Load Off Moving
3. Two Burley Men
Best Outdoor Garden Centre
1. Art Knapp Plantland
2. Green Thumb Garden Centre
3. Little Tree Garden Centre
Best Paint Store
1. Cloverdale Paint
2. Home Depot
3. Sherwin-Williams Paint Store
Best Painting Contractor
1. Pride Painting Ltd.
2. Sonshine Girls Painting
3. Details Painting
Best Personal Trainer
1. Miguel Diaz – Driven Performance
2. Kasey and Karissa
3. Fit Body Boot Camp
Best Pet Supply Store
1. Bosley’s By Pet Valu
2. PetSmart
3. Oliver’s Pet Supplies
Best Photographer
1. Janayh Wright Photography
2. Jorja Portraits (Angela Eaves Photography)
3. Concept Photography Inc.
Best Place to Buy a Used Vehicle
1. Galaxy Motors
2. Nanaimo Toyota
3. Bouman Auto Gallery
Best Plumbing Business
1. 250 Plumber
2. Norm’s Plumbing and Heating
3. Archie Johnstone Plumbing and Heating
Best Retirement Community
1. Berwick on the Lake
2. Origin at Longwood
3. Kiwanis Village
Best Roofing Company
1. Erickson Roofing
2. All the Way Roofing
3. Best on Top Roofing
Best Sewing Notions Store
1. Snip and Stitch Sewing Centre Ltd.
2. Michaels
2. Serge and Sew
3. Sew It Begins
Best Optical Store
1. FYI Doctors
2. Highview Optical
3. Costco Wholesale
Best Sporting Goods Store
1. Cabela’s
2. Sport Chek
3. Canadian Tire
3. Kirby’s Source for Sports
Best Store to Buy Books
1. Chapters
2. Literacy Central Vancouver Island
3. WindowSeat Books
Best Store to Buy Tools
1. Midland Tools
2. Home Depot
3. Canadian Tire
Best Tanning Salon
1. Golden Sands Tanning Studio
2. Divine Glow
3. OrganicTan Nanaimo
Best Hearing Clinic
1. Connect Hearing
2. Costco Wholesale
3. Nanaimo Hearing Clinic
Best Tile Store
1. City Tile
2. Cornerstone Tile
3. Home Depot
Best Toy Store
1. Kool and Child
2. Toys R Us
3. The Children’s Treehouse
Best Travel Agency
1. Flight Centre
2. Around the World Travel
2. Travel by Amanda
3. Marlin Travel
Best Veterinary Clinic
1. Chase River Veterinary Hospital
2. Mahalo Veterinary Hospital
3. Petroglyph Animal Hospital
Best Wine-Making Store
1. Wine Kitz
2. The Wine Works
3. Nanaimo Wine Shoppe
Best Local Campground
1. Living Forest Oceanside Campground
2. Nanaimo Lakes Campsite
3. Brannen Lake RV Park and Campsite
Best Place to Walk Your Dog
1. Colliery Dam
2. Westwood Lake Park
3. Neck Point Park
Best People-Watching Spot
1. Harbourfront Walkway
2. Maffeo Sutton Park
3. Woodgrove Centre
Best Place for a Picnic
1. Saysutshun Newcastle Island
2. Neck Point Park
3. Pipers Lagoon Park
Best Place for Paddling
1. Newcastle Channel
2. Westwood Lake Park
3. Departure Bay
Best Place to Jog, Walk or Hike
1. Westwood Lake Park
2. Neck Point Park
3. Harbourfront Walkway
Best Place to Mountain Bike
1. Doumont Hill
2. Westwood Lake Park
3. Mount Benson
Best Place to Swim Outdoors
1. Nanaimo River
2. Westwood Lake Park
3. Pipers Lagoon
Best Place to Take Guests
1. Neck Point Park
2. Dinghy Dock Pub
3. Harbourfront Walkway
Best Place to Watch Birds
1. Buttertubs Marsh
2. Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Nanaimo River Estuary
Best Playground
1. Maffeo Sutton Park Playdock
2. Oliver Woods Community Centre
3. Beban Park Altrusa Playground
Best View of the City
1. Mount Benson
2. Sugarloaf Mountain
3. Dinghy Dock Pub
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