Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Vancouver Island

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Vancouver Island? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Carve Kitchen & Meatery

4.8

4.8 (216)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

Campbell River

About the restaurant

Welcome to Carve Kitchen + Meatery, a premium casual dining experience in a bright and inviting space. Specializing in exceptional steaks, our menu goes beyond with everything from succulent chicken dishes to enticing vegan offerings. We’re committed to sourcing ingredients locally wherever possible and cultivate some of our produce in an onsite garden.

At Carve, we create a sophisticated yet approachable atmosphere where culinary innovation meets impeccable service. Our modern take on the classic North American steakhouse was designed to be enjoyed by locals and guests alike.

Top review

Catherine

Dined 4 days ago

Wonderful experience. Food was delicious and service from Sarah and John particularly good.

Atelier by Matt Jackson

4.7

4.7 (403)

CAN$51 and over

French

Sidney

About the restaurant

Atelier by Matt Jackson | Elevated Dining In Sidney.

Marrying approachable elegance with hand-crafted cocktails, a global wine list, and an evocative dining experience, Atelier features French-inspired cuisine informed by the fresh and hyper-local ingredients of the Saanich Peninsula and surrounding areas.

We are fortunate on Vancouver Island to have some of the most incredible organic and local producers in the country and access to some of the world’s best fish and seafood. At Atelier, we draw inspiration from our local producers, fisherman, and farmers to serve you the freshest ingredients.

Top review

Rawleigh

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing experience , from the cocktails we had to the appetizers, then of course delicious main meals . Unfortunately no room for dessert .

The Beach Club Resort Restaurant & Lounge

4.7

4.7 (239)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Seafood

Parksville

About the restaurant

Our restaurant sets the stage with bragging rights to Parksville’s best beachfront patio with direct boardwalk access and spectacular ocean views. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, our new menu is so versatile it accommodates all occasions from special celebrations to casual comfort. And with direct proximity to the Pacific Ocean, many menu items feature Ocean Wise seafood (as it should).

Top review

Linda

Dined 1 day ago

Virginia was an amazing server! Great patio. Good food!

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4.6

4.6 (155)

CAN$30 and under

Canadian

Chemainus

About the restaurant

WELCOME TO SAWMILL TAPHOUSE AND GRILL

WHAT’S ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT?
Pacific Northwest craft beers, forno oven pizzas. Authentic farm-to-table tapas and appetizers in an incredible atmosphere.
JOIN US!

Top review

JeanineVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Fun place to eat. Ok wine selection but huge selection of beers on tap.

The Great Room- Long Beach Lodge Resort

4.5

4.5 (37)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Northwest

Tofino

About the restaurant

Great Room Dining Room at Long Beach Lodge Resort
Experience dining on the West Coast in the Great Room restaurant at Long Beach Lodge Resort. With panoramic ocean views, this elegantly appointed space invites you to savour exquisite cuisine while enjoying the beauty of the wild Pacific. The large windows frame the stunning oceanside and pristine beach backdrop as you indulge in locally sourced dishes, whether you're enjoying a morning coffee as the sun rises over the waves, a romantic dinner or our signature crab plater for two with the sunset painting the sky or watching a storm roll in over the open Pacific, every meal here is an unforgettable experience.
We look forward to welcoming you to our Great Room.

Top review

Mary Ann

Dined 7 days ago

We are tourists. Came here based on a recommendation. Glad we did. Great food, great service and great location. We had a window seat and while it was a bit cloudy, it was still a fantastic view of the bay. We had the Two Course Meal Special and it was great value! Highly recommend.

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4.5

4.5 (748)

CAN$30 and under

Canadian

Tofino

About the restaurant

ROAR is a restaurant rooted in rebellion. We honour the rebellious history of Tofino and we proudly rebel against the status quo. It’s the waves crashing and raging flames. It’s the roar of a rebellious nature.

This isn’t like any other restaurant. We cook with live fire, and all of our food and beverage is inspired by the local people, makers and ingredients of Tofino.

Just as you would gather with friends around the campfire, we invite you to get comfy here while we share the stories behind every one of our menu items as the fire roars in the background.

VIEW MENUS

Top review

Cindy

Dined 7 days ago

Great service (Thanks Joe!) and innovative food options. Delicious!!! And the hotel is so cool! Great time with friends. Definitely a cool spot to eat and have a great time.

Montana's BBQ & Bar - Nanaimo

4.4

4.4 (248)

CAN$30 and under

Unspecified

Nanaimo

About the restaurant

Montana's BBQ & BAR is a Canadian comfort food BBQ restaurant and sports bar. Enjoy in-house smoked pork ribs, beef brisket, grilled steaks and juicy burgers which are paired perfectly with catching the game. Montana's Nanaimo celebrates fun-to-eat, finger-licking smoked and barbecued comfort food that breaks the 'proper' rules. Located near Lakeview Park & Regional General Hospital in the Northern end of Nanaimo, we are a short turn off of Island Highway North. Experience the fun, casual and unpretentious vibe, where you can laugh heartily, enjoy classic BBQ cooking, cheer on the game and enjoy your friends and family. We can't wait to serve you.

Top review

Linda

Dined on Jun 16, 2025

We really enjoyed our meal it was excellant as usual.

Bayside Restaurant and Lounge

4.4

4.4 (1114)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Canadian

Parksville

About the restaurant

Experience West Coast Luxury at the Bayside Restaurant & Lounge. Led by Chef Justin Feng, our kitchen highlights seasonal, sustainable ingredients throughout our menus. Pair your meal with something from our crafted cocktail menu, thoughtfully created by our experienced bar team, or explore a curated list of BC wines. Recognized as a 2024 OpenTable Diners’ Choice winner, we invite you to relax, take in the view, and savour one of Parksville’s top dining experiences.

Top review

GregVIP

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

Good food, as usual. Mixed drinks were on point, very good. All 6 of us enjoyed our food. One suggestion for management is to have bread for the table and include soup or salad with an entree. Other than that, it’s a great place to eat and we always enjoy it.

Timber Room Grill at Crown Isle

4.4

4.4 (182)

CAN$30 and under

Grill

Courtenay

About the restaurant

The Timber Room Bar & Grill offers a deliciously wonderful “gastro-pub” menu in a newly renovated space. From steaks to salmon, teriyaki bowls to tacos, burgers and ribs, our menu has been designed to please all! Family-friendly and open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (dependent on season, please see current hours below). The ambiance is playful and social – full of logging memorabilia, live sports on the multiple screens, great music playing in the background, and a cozy fireplace section. When the weather warms up, the Comox Valley’s largest and most scenic patio overlooking the 18th green welcomes golfers, hotel guests, and local patrons alike. Come for a beverage, stay for a meal.

Top review

Gary

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

We have been visiting Courtenay for years. The food at Timber Room has improved considerably. We now live in Courtenay and anticipate becoming regulars.

Mattone Italian Kitchen

4.4

4.4 (95)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Italian

Oyster River

About the restaurant

Join us at our brand new location, Mattone Italian Kitchen at Salmon Point Resort! Our brand new restaurant space is set against the stunning landscapes of British Columbia. Enjoy modern Italian cuisine in our casual counter-service waterfront location. We can’t wait to welcome you!

Top review

Doug

Dined 6 days ago

Location is wonderful, staff are friendly and the food is excellent. We were there on an evening when the house was full of guests and it got quite noisy with everyone chatting. We have been going on a regular basis since Mattone's opened and the quality remains great.

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