Reviews of Locals Restaurant (Fish Shop)

Mgailgossen@gmail.com Gossen

The servers are fantastic! I cannot say the same for the quality of the food. As a regular I've come to expect a certain standard of excellence from this establishment. The expectations have usually been met, but over the years but I've noticed a decline (as well as high staff turnover). When I order half dozen fresh oysters I expect them to be fast and freshly shucked. Instead of coming to the table completely dried out with pieces of shell dusting in them! My accompanying side was cooked outside and cold in the middle, good grief that's an amateur mistake. For a place that prides themselves on excellent this is simply unacceptable. My complaint was handled well by our server and rudely by the owner who simply refused to believe what I was saying, suggesting no fault on their part. I will NOT be returning and I do not recommend Local's unless you like to gamble.

Brian Mulligan

Thanks for preparing this for my birthday girl!

Kris Toijonen

Delicious food in a warm and welcoming environment.

J N

Split a raclette cheese and apple salad to begin, and followed it with a Bouillabaisse soup (her) and chorizo encrusted swordfish (me). Our cocktail and wine respectively were perfectly fine if not remarkable, but the food was absolutely first rate. In our case they went over the top by throwing in an amuse-bouche at the beginning and a sweet at the end. Pricey for us, but absolutely worth it.

Ashleigh Cummer

Super patio abutting a grassy yard. Good service. Excellent food. Will definitely return.

Jacob H

Great service, relaxed atmosphere and excellent food-Perfect!

candy L

We had our dinner at Locals tonight. The property is surrounded by a garden with many lights and pampas plants. The restaurant itself is a very old building, beautiful from every angle. We had the Manila Clams, Pacific Rim Seafood Pasta, Chorizo Crusted Sable Food, and Raclette Cheese & Apple Salad. The presentation was fantastic and the ingredients in each dish were fresh and delicious. We also liked their sourdough bread. Unfortunately, there were only 2 slices for the three of us. It was $4 when we asked for more. The service was good, a gorgeous restaurant, but the price was on the high side.

35RedBackpack

We were hoping to try some fresh Fanny Bay oysters while visiting the Comox Valley but unfortunately they weren’t on the lunch menu. Instead we enjoyed nicely prepared rockfish with crispy rösti. Because of the pounding construction noise outside we chose an indoor table. It’ll all be worth it though when the work is completed and the estuary is reclaimed.

M Fischer

Superb food and service! Will definitely be back.

Chris Savard

Food is excellent. I had the amazing Nicoise salad. So healthy! Dig those mini olives. Yummmo. Wonderful servers & staff. Beautiful, busy, rustic, charming....one of my all time faves in Courtenay!

Najia Bhimji

Great setting, lovely view with baby bunnies hopping by. We had great service and recommendations by our server. We noticed it's leaf certified which is a plus to us. The food was great, we had braised bison and the gnocchi for entrees. Both were incredible. We had the chocolate cake and a side of lavender ice cream. Every thing pictured on the plate was edible, even the flowers.

Pau-Lin Ngen

Foods was delicious ????

Tim Ayres

I was at Locals for lunch yesterday. My lunch crepe was terrible it looked like canned salmon with a few chopped up pieces of prawns. Sauce was tasteless I had a red wine sangria, not one piece of fruit in it - it was luke warm and tasted old like made a week ago...Last year I had a bad experience with a dinner and this was my first time returning. I think I need to give up on this place, its not what it was when they first went into business.

Laurence

great food, my only gripe is that we were told they would find a good table for us and they ended up placing us in the back corner, with the worst view in the restaurant. An optimist would call it the cosiest spot, but I guess that's not me. I know some restaurants place you so that you do not overload sections assigned to each server, but I don't think that was the case. We were there early for lunch, and the upper area was totally empty, so the only reason I see that we were put there was because I was there with my two kids... Now for the food. My son loved the ceasar salad side. He said it was the best he had ever had. Better than what we make at home ????. The poutine was good too. My daughter and I shared the west coast linguine and bith loved it (5 star for that dish). It was loaded with seafood, especially the baby shrimp and best of all came out piping hot and not overcooked at all. We all loved the desserts too. Food Service was good too. Would I go again. Yes. ????.

Elaine Brown

Service

Verena Kellner

They messed up my whole family a dinner, and when we wanted a new version of the old, they came back with another meal but it was over cooked just like the last. And the veggies were over done and tasted like char. Dessert was great tho .

Ralf Luthin

Good and varied food and service

Bradley Harper

Pricey and honestly not that tasty, but big points for serving local food!

Julie Matthews

Excellent food and atmosphere. The service was fantastic as well. Definitely worth the price.

Don McIntosh

I had the chowder alongside the smoked salmon and crab cake salad for lunch, which was very well done. The chowder was seasoned perfectly, the salad dressing was flavourful, and the crab cakes were moist. My service was standard, nothing special. She didn't have the best demeanor, and I didn't get a quality assurance check or a top up of water even though she was in her section most of the time. I would go back for dinner if I had a different server, to make for a more positive experience.

Aly Starling

Such a beautiful location in the Old House. We sat on the patio surrounded by lovely gardens. Food & service were both fantastic!

Bill Stinson

A little pricey but love the quality and service.

Fran Browne

Locals is a great place for something delicious. Jasson was our server today and he was great. I love trying anything new on the menu, there are so many choices it's hard to decide sometimes, but I'm sure everyone will find something they will like. I love the flavours and the warm atmosphere. Locals is one of my top picks for Courtenay

J S

I am eating there New Years.

John Pickersgill

Wow what an excellent meal! All five of us thoroughly enjoyed each meal, appetizers wine and dessert, highly recommended. Randy and Raquel

Patricia Dol

Very delicious food here! The staff are super nice and the food is always good.Highly recommend checking this place out if you haven't already! One of my favourite spots when I'm visiting this town.

Colin Parker

We went on our birthdays last year and we weren't disappointed at all. Service was quick, food arrived in a timely manner and everything was cooked to perfection. Awesome! I just made another reservation for our birthdays in 2 weeks and I expect the same good service.

Anouck Belthoise

Great lawn setting off Cycle path

Liz Wootton

Had an absolutely amazing Fish Market Chowder and Sea Trio Burger (West Coast salmon fillet with wasabi aïoli, grilled snapper with dill sauce, Fire seared Albacore tuna with roasted cashew pesto). This is truly authentic place with tranquil patio/garden atmosphere. Visited many times and will be for sure back. Thank you!

Dustin Norberg

Patio was lovely. Food was delicious. Friendly and attentive service

Silvin Bllt

The best food in town. Mouth watering perfection

Wilson Lin

Food and service were excellent! Group of eight were all very happy with their meals! Steak was fantastic. Nice atmosphere...a real treat. Thank you.

Jeanna Duke

We were very pleased with the food that we were served. The appetizers are beautifully presented and the flavours were excellent. Our main course was also very well prepared however the service was extremely disappointing. Our server appeared quite friendly initially and the basically abandoned our table when we were asking questions about the menu. She definitely put a damper on our experience. Our water glasses were never refilled the entire time we were there. Fortunately we did enjoy a great bottle of wine..

Fiorella Calderoni

3rd visit to Locals in 2 months-two lunches and one dinner. Exceptional food, plating and service. Front of house staff are courteous, helpful and respectful. Mixed green salad was a delight especially the just right dressing. Bouillabaisse was the outstanding. Seafood trio was perfectly done especially well complimented by whipped potatoes. Triple Crème caramel was a delight. Wine pairing suggested was very good and a great price point.

Jaime Murcheson

Fresh food, very friendly staff and nice rustic decor. Only reason not 5 stars is because I feel the food is a bit over-priced for what it is (We always go for lunch as dinner for 4 is quite a lot of $$) I had the Croque Madame, which was OK. The walnut bread they served it on was soggy and the sauce wasn’t very full of flavour. Versus the one I had at King Fisher, which was served on brioche bread which held up a lot better. All other food I’ve ever have had was delicious, just feel like it’s a bit pricey for what you get. I always get the mini creme brûlée trio for desert, which they have different flavours all the time, and never disappoints!

D -

Lunch

Katy Nau

The food was delicious and the ambiance was very nice. Loved the care the servers were showing during covid. Will definitely return.

Ashley Dubbz

Honestly I am never disappointed with the food at Locals, it is always tasty and fresh and the service is top notch!

Greg Lawrence

I think if you're looking for a classy dinner spot, in this area (Comox/Courtney) this is where it's at. Atmosphere and menu is what you would expect. Service is pretty good. On some nights, like the night we went on, it can be slow. But the servers are all very accommodating and well trained. They gave us amuse bouch while we waited. The food is what you expect. However, texture wise it is a bit on the soft side. I'm not sure if being on the island limits their produce choices but you'll find simpler ingredients in their dishes like broccoli, Brussel sprouts, carrots. Presentation wise is decent. But some flaws, like, sometimes it would be better to cut broccoli smaller instead of leaving it in 1 big 4 inch stem. One of the servers was so so nice and left a great impression.

David Blanks

Dinner isn't cheap but the food & service make it worth every cent. Fresh locally-sourced ingredients support dozens of small businesses (hence the restaurant name). Staff are friendly, dedicated & knowledgeable. Easily the best restaurant on Vancouver Island.

Sheena Lee

seems like a nice place to eat but I've been here 52min and counting and still no food unfortunately I'm going to have to leave hungry very disappointed.

David Goforth

Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Worth every penny. I had the Seafood Boulibaise ...loads of seafood, loads of flavour. Great service. And their house white wine...wish I could've bought a bottle or two to take home.

Justine Denis

Service

Villarie Lee

Love everything about it. Beautiful ambience, the Old House on the river, the service is first class and the food is from local growers and ranches throughout the Valley. A sterling dining experience!

Sahara Shaik

Excellent food and outstanding service. I love this restaurant. Always an exceptional experience.

Cognitive Lapse

My wife and I ate at Locals last year when we were on the island. We went back again today and the food was even better than we remembered. Friendly staff. Good service. Outstanding food. What more can you ask for?

Joanne Taylor

Great place, took my parents here when they visited the island. Would recommend!

Philip Howard

Excellent lunch meal, perfectly cooked and presented along with excellent service. We also had dessert today which finished off the meal ????????

Nick “Nickname” Name

A delicious meal. Appetizer, meal and dessert all prepared and presented very well. Delightful. We will return

Rich Emery

Premium prices, premium food, premium service! You will never get a bad meal at Locals.

Custom Charger

Service

Dillon Ray

After reserving a table two weeks ago on the patio we were moved inside because of grad. fine large party that’s fine. Moved into a corner with no air conditioning sweating so bad we could barely eat our food. I was recommended the soggy halibut with under cooked risotto from the server. Only texture in the dish was in the undercooked rice...... after sending our food to be wrapped up we voiced how horrible the dinning experience was only to get a i hope your night gets better..... courtenay supposed fine dinning has the the atmosphere of a Denny’s.

Amy Hurst

I went there recently and I want to say their food is excellent! As for the service, it could do better. There was a small spill on our table by one of the drinks being slightly over the top and our server basically passed a rag for us to wipe instead of doing it himself. He's not a terrible person, but I don't think he was that great of a server and I hope for better times when I visit next.

Rebecca Richards

Loved the food...loved the atmosphere....wonderful service...such a great waitress

Keri Adams

Meal type

Zackary King

Great service and food. Can't wait to go back.

Justin Farrugia

Great food, great service. It's on the expensive side, but the food is good. I prefer the outside patio with the lights and overlooking the garden. Lovely and comforting. Good for a romantic dinner or just friends wanting a good meal in a relaxing environment.

Billy “sinbin” Bob

Dine in

Kevin Jellikit

Great service! The food was delicious- hit the spot.

Lydia Haight

I had lunch there and ordered their most popular dish; seafood linguine. It was terrible! The shrimp and shellfish was not fresh and it was overcooked and chewy. The candied smoked salmon overpowered the delicate cream sauce. I love seafood but I would hesitate to order fish here again. Overcooked seafood is such a waste. The ambience was nice with a pretty garden and river view. Service was fine, if a little awkward. There aren't a lot of good restaurants in the area so I will likely try again but I was disappointed today.

Jani Galarneau

Amazing atmosphere great staff awesome food

Heather G.

Service

Broketoon

Very nice patio tables with umbrellas and natural shade from old apple trees. Food was excellent and priced well.if its lunch and your still in the mood for a breakfast dish, the Croque Madame with potatoes hits the spot.

Andrew Millar

Enjoyed the atmosphere on the patio space and excellent and very delicious courses with ingredients from local suppliers. Will be back again!

Hannah Watson

Comfort food, good homey vibe, can't go wrong

Richie Richie

Lovely room, comfortable and quiet enough to allow enjoyment of the food and your company. The menu makes good use of local meats, produce and beverages. The artisanal charcuterie stands out. Cheerful, competent service make this a worthy spot to spend an hour or two.

Eric Schalm

After a long absence from this restaurant 10 + years. I am delighted to say that Locals restaurant is delivering a product well worth consideration. The food was excellent and the service was even better. For the complainers make a reservation to ensure you get a table and that you won't be disappointed.For those of you that had to wait at the door, the wait is worth the inconvenience.For those of you that don't like the price go buy local fresh products for your next meal and tell me how much it costs.I can guarantee you won't either find it or want to buy it. Oh yeah and the prices were very affordable given the menu offered.Keep up the great effort Locals restaurant. Travelling through from the Okanagan, will definitely be back in the future.

Stefanie Donohoe

Waited an hour for food and charcuterie board was bad.

Chris Harwood-Jones

Such great food and atmosphere. Tons of gf options as well. 12/10 must go.

Danika McDowell

I visited the restaurant a couple of weeks ago. Exceptional service and amazing seafood. I later realized that I left my jacket at my table. I messaged the restaurant, and they replied immediately. They sent the jacket to me all the way to the Lower Mainland! It was a genuinely Canadian moment of kindness and support. Thank you, Locals, for a great afternoon, and for your gracious help.

Bella Blanchard

Wonderful atmosphere. Highly recommend the Mussels and Clams. All local food and we had a great waitress.

Whiskey Ginger

We found our experience not up to the quality of previous visits to Locals. Steak was very tough, one of the drinks was pure syrup, the fish while very good was a very tiny portion, 2 of the desserts were not up to par. For the price we expected better. Staff did a good job with Covid protocols. As we are local we have visited many times before and loved it, this time we were disappointed.

Matthew B

Great service and beautiful setting. The food was outstanding as well.

La Ungida

New patio is open. Fire pits to. Still have their covered patio open . HINT: Park at the Air Park and walk in on the River walk. Believe me you'll want to walk off those calories after your meal. Great place to go to impress your date or clients. Food dishes have lots of flavor, with a decorative touch. As Arnie says, I'll be back.

Rob

Brilliant service, wonderful food. Great atmosphere, great hosts.

Fred Harris

Very nice food and staff

Ashley Tennant

I had lunch here yesterday and was Very disappointed. I ordered the potato crusted fish and it was barley warm and greasy. I told the waitress and she just said "sorry about that". Not even an offer to make it right. This is not the first time we have had a bad meal here. Just thought we would try again. The atmosphere is beautiful.

Laure Mailhe

Excellent food, ambience. Our server George was awesome with her patience. On the high end for prices, but great dining experience.

Mike Smith

Absolutely stunning presentation, full bodied flavour and exemplary service, as usual. Thank you for a fabulous evening. ALWAYS a delight to come and enjoy the good and atmosphere.

Neil Nahirnick

Dinner

Josh Whincup

Always a great meal. Fresh, as local as they can and always a creative twist with every course. Highly recommended for an upscale night out

Black Fox

Locals restaurant is nestled between the two sides of the Old House Hotel and Spa. We spent two evenings in the restaurant based on our stay at the hotel. The menu has some really great dishes for kids and adults alike. The kid menu was great because the food looked and tastes great, and wasn't just the same stuff that every restaurant offers to kids. One dish was a spiral pasta with tomato and cheese sauce, another were delish looking sliders and salad. The adult menu was fantastic, with approximately 5 seafood dishes and 5 land based dishes. I opted both nights to go with seafood dishes (being so close to the ocean) - the seafood linguine, and the seafood bouillabaise. Both had plenty of seafood including scallops, mussels, salmon, clams, and jumbo prawns. The bouillabaise had some the nicest Dungeness Crab I've had in recent memory. The service is good, with regular check-ins to ensure we had what we needed. Each night we had different amuse-bouches compliments from the chef, a tasty sushi roll piece, and some roast duck with hummus. They also allow corkage fee, which is reasonable so that you can bring your own bottle of you prefer. All in all, a great place to dine. The prices are a little higher here, but the quality of the food is worth the extra.

Nigel Kellett

Food was fantastic!!! Tad pricey but well worth it. Service was excellent, atmosphere calming, very relaxing without any pressure to "hurry up ".

Bailey

Great onion soup!

Airbus Loadie

Challenge is on !!! I challenge anyone to find a better place in the Campbell River to Comox area. Great atmosphere super friendly staff and food is amazing. I had Sarah or waitress “surprise me” so she brought silverware for everything so I could not guess. Literally laughing out loud

Travis Ram

Amazing food and Daniela provided spectacular service! Can't wait to return!

Alain Roy

The food was superb, especially the seafood linguine. The atmosphere was comfortable and inviting, especially the covered patio. There were even friendly rabbits outside the entrance to welcome us in. The chocolate truffle was incredible. Highly recommended.

Igor Gorodetsky

My last stop for the 2018 Dine Around in Comox Valley...a great $25 3 course lunch..soup of the day, organic spinach salad, pan seared steelhead fillet, baked chicken & bacon flatbread, dark chocolate cake and coconut and mango panna cotta. My go to place for anniversary dinners..too bad I only have one per year..local food, locally owned with local chef..reasonably prices 2019 Canada Day update...the Wild Sablefish Fillet and the Locals Seafood Linguine were excellent.

Craig Hunt

Amazing. Great service good and wine. Must do!

Cherry Garcia

Good food, was better when they were The Old House.

Darcy Z.

I have had many years of memorable meals courtesy of these amazing people. Fresh, delicious, local fare...I always relax when I walk through the doors because I know everything will be good and the servers a delight. Thank you Locals!

Jim Tempest

Absolutely delicious. The best restaurant in the valley hands down. The prices are on par with the quality of food. Chef always gives you treats while waiting for your meals. And instead of candy after your meal. You get these phenomenal treats. This place is true sole food. The chefs take their time making award winning meals for your benefit purely. It’s amazing. The staff is great and the scenery is beautiful. Don’t pass this place up. It’s gorgeous and everything they stand for.

Anne Clayton

Fantastic food! Great service. They really make you feel special with all the extra goodies they give you. ????

Andrew Doerksen

Pricey but as a treat and a Christmas present . Wonderful

ChelSea

Lovely patio, great food and service! Highly recommended.

Chris Eddy

Dine in

Michael Stanyer

Service was slow and took over an hour from the time we sat down to the time out meals arrived (had to ask when our food was coming out ...). Food is excellent as always

Ann S

Food is expensive and only okay but it was quick and we'll presented. Beautiful gardens and very attentive staff.

Jarlath Blair

Amazing. I have never had anything but exceptional food here. You can order anything and be guaranteed that it will be fantastic. The restaurant itself is beautiful, the service is wonderful, the wines are delicious, and the food is nothing short of incredible. Do yourself a favour and treat yourself to a meal you won't soon forget

Aden Wu

Amazing food!

Wes Erikson

Went back to Locals after my last review. It was so awesome that I came back with extended family for my 50th Birthday. Thank you #Nitesh and #Kendra!!! The restaurant rocks and you guys make it rock!! Will keep coming back for more of Locals!!!!

Brenda Bergie (Bergie)

Had a very nice lunch today at Locals. The food was very fresh and inventive and the service was top notch. Definitely going back!

Csaba K

Took my family during Nautical Days. Having been raised in the area, this is one of the true culinary landmarks that is still remaining. How fortunate to bring my Mom, wife and youngest daughter and have every meal "hit it out of the park." Nostalgia for Mom, great company, plus the stellar cuisine, all made for a memorable evening. Do understand that this will not be an inexpensive experience. So, long as $$$$ is to be expected, this is a place you should visit...

Veronica Szick

Great food and quick service. Very impressed with the atmosphere of the place. Would highly recommend it to anyone passing through the Comox Valley and looking for something a little more high end.

Navid Abadi

Great quality and fresh ingredient in tasty dishes.

Rob F

An excellent culinary experience: we truly enjoyed the seafood options, all prepared with great products and attention to detail. Highly recommended.

Marie Racine

good food

Michael Raw

This place is fantastic! It's got a beautiful elegant rustic cottage ambiance, a lovely aesthetic design; little rabbits and an edible garden around it; the best food (I'm a major quality-seeking foodie). It's a lovely place all around and is a must-see in this town!

Caralee Parr

Dont judge a book by its cover! Despite the unassuming name for this restaurant, you'll be impressed. A very nice, cozy atmosphere. Large timber posts and beams, low ceilings, and ideal lighting for a romantic dinner or even a business meal. For an upscale place, the menu is very large and varied. Heavily focused on local offerings, you'll find everything from fresh seafood to local bison and pork. I had a Caesar salad, which was perfect, with an emphasis on garlic, and the Bouillabaisse, having a very generous portion of mussels, clams, prawns, crab, salmon, crab, and scallops with an excellent west coast inspired broth. The wine list is extensive, but I found the cocktail list to be a bit dated. Still, the bar was well stocked and the bartenders capable.

Russell MacKenzie

Superb farm to table restaurant in a refurbished heritage building. Food was delicious and service equally impressive. Our server was delightful and the bartender kindly decanted a bottle of wine two hours before dinner to allow it to breathe. If you want a wonderful dining experience, this is the place in Courtney!

Richard Gadoury Comox Valley Real Estate

Attention to detail great local ingredients, friendly staff who are community minded. Great flavors.

Nicole Kathleen

The place was excellent by my most serious standards. Aside from the fact that Locals has some pricier offerings, they exceed most expectations, with exceptional Covid protocols, an amuse bouche (sampler) - compliments of the kitchen, a specialized menu with add-ons available, oven-hot plates, delicious rare tenderloin served with an amazing blue-cheese/leek infused "tapenade" and wild berry compote. As I am currently avoiding most carbs and starches, the double grilled veggie serving was an awesome sub. Very nice ambiance (rustic dark barn wood looks), social distancing and super pleasant and help wait-staff. Thanks for a nice treat of a supper!

Thomas Robson

Wow! What an amazing restaurant, fantastic food, great service (thanks Courtenay you're the best). Gotta love the great menu, special treats and friendly atmosphere. We had the seafood trio and the seafood linguini. Loved it !!! We'll be back!

K Schofield

Lovely atmosphere and EXCELLENT food

Courtney Stevens

Best food in the valley, we order take out all the time!! So good!!! Best food in the valley, hands down!!!

Dave B

Delicious food and lovely atmosphere.

Doug Chinnery

4.5 stars. Great ambiance, very good seafood dishes, good drinks. Pricy but tasty.

Tanya Tang

Amazing food. Great service. Portions are too small for what you pay.

Ashley Kazakoff

I had the linguine Bolognese It was okay but it lacked cheese and the serving was small. My toast was burnt. Even though the place seemed not very busy we waited a very long time for someone to take our order. The building is historic and rustic with interesting spaces. I think our experience was maybe not typical of this place.

Bryan Phelan

Best restaurant north of Victoria.

Johnathan Percy

OMG the apps were awesome , bread plate , cheese board & caeser salad. Excellent service, smiles and laughs .

Johnroyce Rafael

My husband surprised me with a dinner out on March 16th as we were both feeling the need for a nice evening out. Eaten here a few times over the years and always a great meal. Our experience in COVID times was exceptional. Our meal was amazing and our our server was awesome!! Thanks for the lovely evening to all of you!!!

Colton Ritchie

Food is excellent and the service is great. There is one waitress who is kind of snooty though.

Karen Forshner

Incredibly fresh seafood, mouth watering cooked to perfection steak and the dessert featuring seasonal blueberries! If we vacation in Courtney again we will definitely come back!

Annalise

Excellent food, friendly staff. Bellini was top notch. Scallops with pork belly garnish was excellent

martha g

Beautiful outside patio. Local fresh ingredients. Fantastic service! What a lovely place to enjoy lunch in Courtenay.

Kailey Schafer

Fabulous meal . Does not disappoint

Mark Cossement

It was fabulous, great food and service.

Melodyi May

Great atmosphere, great food, great service.

caitlin p

I came to this resteraunt during my vacation with my girlfriend and it was phenominal. The resteraunt has a homey vibe which makes it really relaxing. The staff were very helpful in selecting foods and wine pairings. My only suggestion would be to check in on patrons a bit more regularly. The food was fantastic and filling. It had very rich flavours. Overall we had an excellent experience and would be more than happy to be back!

Randy Clarke

I really enjoyed the Fish Market Chowder Service was professional and food delicious Highly recommended ... a little pricey though ;-)

Allison Choquette

Amazingly fresh and flavourful seafood dishes! The interior is beautiful and servers were super kind - they even provided us with a complimentary small appetizer and truffles for dessert. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a great dinner to treat yourself!

Rudy Mack

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the Comox Valley. They send out special tester items and bread. The food is locally sourced and expertly cooked.Everything here is excellent.

Algy Goosen

Our meal on Saturday was so good we came back for lunch again on Sunday, and the food and service was first rate once again. Fantastic venue, superb service, and delicious food.

Serge C

Beautiful restaurant with caring staff. Sit on the patio if you can!

Island Kate

Omg the food was amazing...every piece of seafood was cooked to perfection. Courtney our server was wonderful and the atmosphere was inviting. Highly recommend.

Ashley Schneider

A little pricey, but good food and fabulous service

Alex Tivy

Excellent service and recommendations. Food was delicious and very well presented. The dessert coffees are great way to finish the night!

Dennis Harris

Been here once several years ago and decided to come back as I’m travelling through the comox valley last week. Not sure if it’s because of staff changes due to Covid (service levels have gone down overall everywhere). We waited over an hour for our food and the male server only said they were busy when the place was less than half full. If they can’t meet their goals (if there are any) then maybe don’t take as many reservations or maybe give us a heads up before we were seated. No follow up from server nor any apologies, free bread or at least a drink while we waited. Not sure if I’ll return again anytime soon. It’s too bad as I purposely stay at the Old House regularly just to dine at their restaurant.

Ren

We went here for our anniversary recently and it was fabulous, food and service. I'd definitely recommend the jumbo scallop starter and the seafood trio main!!

Kristina Watson

5 stars. Service was great and the food was absolutely delicious. We had the prawn and scallop stack, the seafood curry, black cod and dessert. The desserts are to die for! The pastry chef is fantastic! Highly highly recommended Locals

Lindsey Pierno

Good food and service

Marie Maurer

Delicious French take on local cuisine

Brian Molerio

Our go to place for occasions. Definitely one of the best in the Valley!

Patrick McNary

This place was an experience! Delicious starters and entrees with local ingredients. I loved that they showcased the farms as well! Definitely would recommend for a special evening.

Malia Art

Oh. No joke. I travel, and I eat out a LOT. This is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. The food is positively sublime and the atmosphere is fantastic too. Plus, I go there with my daughter a lot, who has a laundry list of food sensitivities (GF, no this, no that), and they accommodate that. Wow!

Sharren K. Grant

It was my first time dining there but I had heard nothing but positive reviews. I opted for the West Coast Seafood Trio and was not disappointed. This may have been the first time I received a dish with everything cooked to perfection from a restaurant. The Tuna, scallop, prawns and salmon crab cake were incredible. I would recommend everyone take the time to experience Locals.

Eric Pattison

We tried this place on a recommendation from a friend and were impressed. As long as you know you're walking into a more expensive place, you won't be disappointed. Smaller portions with high quality ingredients. The seafood trio was delicious and we were pleasantly surprised by the amuse-bouche/dessert treats.

Michelle Budnyk

Food was good but very limited vegan options. Would like to see this change.

Laura King

Friendly staff and amazing food!

Lida Lu

Each course was a completely exhilarating experience of familiar flavour with innovative presentation and technique. Serving staff was knowledgable about the menu. They were attentive and efficient, not over-bearing in the slightest. We felt so special being led through each course by our server, not to mention the little scrumptious surprises from the kitchen every once in a while! Thank you!

Amir Rezaee

Everything was great! The grilled lamb and wild scallops especially.

Emma Pebernat

Great restaurant. Food was wonderful, service was excellent. What made this restaurant over the top was a beautiful vegetarian/vegan menu that wasn't just a veggie burger and some chickpea concoction. It had a number of choices from a beautiful mushroom risotta to a primivera pasta dish. We were visiting from out of town and I would highly recommend going to this restaurant. Great food, great service! Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Geoff Stewart

Great food, great service and nice atmosphere.

Christine Paquette

Excellent food and fantastic service!!

Nathan Kay

An absolute favorite spot!

Jennifer Nowell

Best food we had in Courtney was at Locals. After spending days in tidal pools on the Juan de Fuca, I was craving seafood, and the mussels appetizer in particular was the best I ever had. Everything was so delicious, our server was perfect, and the buttresses, posts, shingles, joinery and stained glass windows of the palatial wood building (it used to be a private residence) were gorgeous. We were such happy humans!

Darrell Fraser

Amazing food. Good ambiance. Highly recommended.

Lori Gogo

Have been coming to Locals for years and the food quality seems to be slipping of late. The Caesar salad for lunch was very limp, a small portion for the price, and the lemon wedge still had a label on it! Tuna Tataki was uninspired and garnished with sprouts; bit like a chain resto. Need to up your game Locals; there are better kitchens in the valley. Service was great as always.

Big Rig

Delicious way to end my bday weekend trip to the island!

C Dogg

Very nice restaurant and fantastic food

Allen Archibald

Best restaurant in town Il falcone comes in second but this place is amazing. The sea food was cooked to perfection in my pasta dish! I've never had a perfectly seared scallops before, I actually hated scallops before coming here I figured if I didnt like the scallops I'd just give them to my girlfriend who does but just turns out they need to be cooked properly!! So DELICIOUS!

Sharon Willis

Very good quality food and excellent flavours it is a very high quality restaurant with even higher prices it’s a nice treat but to expensive in my opinion

Kim Ergang

One of the best ceasar salads I've had.

G Touwslager

Great food. A bit expensive but worth the trip here. Amazing service!

Greg Thompson

Perfect place for an intimate date night. Fresh local food with a nice wine and drink menu. Best scallops and prawns I've had.

Van Leeuwen Tony

Amazing restaurant, the food was phenomenal the chef gave us a smoked duck taster complements of the house which was really enjoyable. Would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a high class meal

Victor Perichon

Food and atmosphere was very good, but it was not enough to fill you up. Even with ordering appetizers

Laurie Luciow

Creative and flavourful dishes. Great ambiance and service. Will definitely return.

Jakob Jensen

Moved into Courtenay and this is the first place we tried. Looked like a great spot for a date night. We enjoy our veggie meals and the desserts were out of this world! They really like side plates here <3.

Chris Laroux

Beautiful setting, delicious food, great service

Sandy Couzens

We had a large group reservation and we're in a time crunch. We spent a fair bit of time working out a pre-order only to have it more or less ignored. Most of our group got their meals in time but a few ended up having to take it to go as our meal arrived three minutes before we had to leave. I was in that group plus Inwas the bus driver. For the most part the food was very good. I would go back but never with a group again.

jackie defoort

From the very beginning to the absolute end, everything about this visit was absolutely stunning. The service was amazing, the food was local, fresh, and perfectly prepared. There is absolutely nothing that we can say about Locals that isn't a raving review. Totally amazing!

happyjiggle

I went to this restaurant with people of three. It took 5 minutes until someone arrived at front desk to get us seated. We actually had to look for a server in order to request & get seated. After dinning in next 15 minutes, we were asked by server to finish food early as the table we were seated on has been reserved for other guests. This is the worst & rude way we ever experienced in restaurant ever where we were asked to leave early as the table was reserved. The hotel manager should ensure this is known and server needs to be taught the way each customer is to be treated same way. By the restaurant name itself, I believe this is for "locals" and the message was direct when we were told to leave the table. We rushed to leave the place as "table was reserved", hotel manager comes at the end for rescue offering a dessert. What kind of customer service is this? & later realized the way this restaurant dealt us, just because we were not "Locals". My apologies to say but this is the worst restaurant for people to dine as it is in justice to serve just locals and not others. I would never recommend this restaurant to dine.

arlen greening

Congrats to the Chef for winning the prestigious award.

Paul Simoens

I Have been here the whole weekend and I've eaten at many of the restaurants in Courtenay, however this is BY FAR the BEST place to eat hands down. Delicious food and friendly staff.

Kellie Dukes

Fabulous food and great service. The seafood chowder and rack of lamb were outstanding

Scott Lyle

Good food.. Pretty high prices for lunch... Service was a little slow even though there was hardly anyone in the restaurant but overall a good experience anyway

Yanne Me

It was a dual anniversary party. I tried to take pics before I ate it all. (Wasn't easy) it was an over the top experience. The food was fantastically displayed. Seafood served right, some of the best crab cakes I have ever eaten. Ron you made my special day that much better by making my family and I feel like royalty. Thank you for the amazing evening. 12/10 for sure.

Stephanie Hornick

Very nice environment. Staff, service and food is second to none. The uncovered patio is amazing. Perfect.

Richard Jomha

As always an amazing dining experience with impeccable service.

Steve Murray

Incredible experience, ate here everyday in Courtenay. Excellent service and incredible locally sourced foods makes this a go to!

Wayne Pernu

First time!!! Unbelievable!!!!. It was tough deciding what to choose from the menu. What we did choose was phenomenal so going back. Thank You Local. Love What You Do!!

Toni Lamb

Best meal I have had on Vancouver Island. Nice warm decor. Excellent server. Very fast service. The food is locally sourced. Great bouillabaisse. Complimentary appies and handmade chocolates with your bill. This is pricey, but worth it for special occasions.

B. P.

The food and the service here are absolutely spectacular don’t have a single complaint our server was friendly and very attentive. My lunch was the Prawn and Salmon Paparazzi. Btw they make amazing Caesar drinks. My sister had the blackened Salmon salad. Also very delicious.

Monica

This has always been one of my favourite restaurants in the Comox Valley especially at lunch when the light from all the windows fills the spaces. The food is always delicious, fresh, local and plated beautifully. My husband had the seafood burger trio with three different kinds of fish and he chose their delicious golden roasted potatoes as his side. I selected the Croque Madame with egg, cheese and salad and every bite was fantastic. We then shared a blackcurrant cheesecake with a Angel food lemon curd roulade and it just made a great meal even better. We have had a variety of dishes here including salads, pastas and pizzas so we know the quality of everything is high. We were also happy to see construction underway of a new outdoor patio underway to provide additional outdoor dining space overlooking the river. Inside all Covid-19 protocols were carefully observed. The restaurant created dividers between tables utilizing restored wood and glass windows and doors which adds to the charm and warmth of the interior. The server we had was attentive and friendly. They have a decent wine and craft beer menu to complement the food. There are a few accessible parking spots near the door. You can also walk to the restaurant along the Courtenay River Walkway from both north and south of the 17th Street bridge and with the seals, herons, eagles, rabbits and other wildlife it makes for a great stroll pre or post meal.

Family Baslee

Great food. These free treats at the end were a great surprise

Rick leung

We had a wonderful experience here! The covered patio was lovely, the staff were amazing and the food was some of the best I've ever had. Definitely a splurge but well worth it. Highly recommend!

R C

Great food good staff. But was sad to hear that they are having the domestic bunny "problem" around the restaurant taken care of but pest control/termination. I feel there is a better way to deal with the situation.

Donna-Marie Woods Contrads

Meal type

Grace G.C

Dine in

Alice Rowley

Always amazing food!

Michael Hostettler

This was a very special experience for us. We ordered three appetizers to share as an evening meal. Each one was a true taste sensation and beautifully presented. The third appetizer at the end was the cheese platter accompanied by some desert wine - a port and a sherry, which was a perfect combination. The service was outstanding! Highly recommended.

Eléa Gallienne

I absolutely love Locals and the fabulous people that make dining here an experience to remember. To die for food, sourced locally, prepared and served to perfection. I highly recommend it.

Cat

Service and food consistently AMAZING!

Jimmy Reymond

Yummy localy made pasta ❤️ restaurant itself is beautiful! Service is professional, love it!

L Fraser

Locals is one of our favorite spots to grab an upscale meal on Island. Fantastic fresh menu with local ingredients. Each table has a beautiful view of its own. Try the Duck Confit salad for lunch, it is drool worthy!

John Edwards

It was a an absolute delight discovering this restaurant. Everything was fantastic, from the portions , meal choices, service and patio settings. Pleasantly surprised. I highly recommend and will certainly be back for a new food experience! Thank you ????

Grant Macaulay

we had a reservation, and our hotel recommended them. so there was no wait that was great. it was decently full, but not every table was full. and had a nice seat. well the problem came in once we had been waiting for our food for over and hour. They kept telling us the bread will be right out - for an hour! we saw it come to all the tables around us. but was only ever brought to us once our food had already came. (seriously an hour past when we ordered it.) Our Kids were not really happy about that. The Sodas we ordered for them never came either. though we were not charged for them. she just plain forgot them. Once the food came out, it was pretty good. We will not be back.

Gurjinder Jhaj

Excellent food beautifully presented. Excellent service.

Barry Davis

Great menu and setting.

Melody pilates and yoga

Whenever we have visitors from outside the island we always bring them here, only introduce them to the best of the best, Locals never disappoint

Katharine 999

This is my second visit and I love their foods.

Caroline Huen

Great food... beautiful presentation. Tastes were not as complex or refined as I had hoped but still a great meal.

E Black

went here because someone gave us a gift card for $100, dinner for two with 1 alcoholic drink and 1 nonalcoholic drink cost more than the card’s value, and we shared an appie! ambience nice, we were on outside deck, but good value for money? No.

Kevin Jesse

The service is most excellent and efficient. The food was beautifully placed on the dish and it tasted delicious. The decor is gorgeous too! A little pricey but worth the treat. I highly recommend Locals for fine dining in the Comox Valley.

David Placek

This is the second visit to Locals. I would return again. My sister and I share the daily specials soup and a new crab and salmon salad. Everything was delicious. These adjustments would have made the food a 5 (the extra star was for atmosphere), the soup came to the table (mushroom/spinach) and I though gross (eat with your eyes first) mud/green brown, a few micro green or sour cream swirl?? The crab cakes awesome, delicious and the dressing but the red leaf lettuce bitter. The soup needed a lot of salt but I feel that is personal.

Michele Bush

Wonder wonderful ambience efficient servers fabulous food. We sat on the terrace beautiful weather. Very much to recommend as they really make an effort.

Tona King

Meal type

James

The service and food was great, being locally sourced is worth paying a little extra for.

Rob Stewart

Dinner

Michelle Hillock

Wonderful lunch! Had the local mushroom and vegetable risotto and it was delightful. Lovely atmosphere and the service was excellent. Will definitely visit again the next time we're in the Courtenay area!!

Tom Sullivan

Dine in

Alanda Lindsay

Nice restaurant with fish dishes in a beautiful spot.

Gary Khan

Wonderful, fresh food. Excellent service. We appreciated the little extras the chef sent out to us too. I felt very safe with all the protocols they have in place. Highly recommend this place.

mike ens

This is my third time coming here in about 4 years. I am not sure what changed, but the food became EXTREMELY bland and NOT WORTH the money. We had a party of 4 and every person was dissapointed. The carpaccio came out with out the oil. The seared tuna was worse than a 5$ bar order. The risotto was "meh" and so was their bouillabaisse (the most expensive thing on the menu). Overall, I would not be even satisfied if I paid 50% of the value. I DO NOT RECOMMEND this place. You will be better off going to bar and grabbing fast food, that is how disappointing it was.

Buddenhagen Jeremy

Great food and great staff

Laura Falcon

After spending the day moving to Courtenay we ended up spontaneously coming here. I knew it would be a nice place but didn't know how nice. Amazed by the quality of the food. The Chanterelle & Squash Risotto was amazing! A great place to go for a special occasion or if you just like to treat yourself to amazing food on the regular!

Holger Laakmann

We love Locals, and since they've shifted to this location at the Old House (previously occupied by Tomāto Tomäto) we love them even more. It's a perfect setting, and the food is excellent. More than anything though, we love that they support the local farmers by sourcing most of their food from the farms in the community.

Neuviale Andréa

Very good experience, portobello mushroom main was ???? atmosphere is very warm and cozy

Edison Marshall

Beautiful location, lackluster service and disappointing food. I have heard others speak highly of Locals so maybe we just caught them on an off day.

Suzanne

Great decor, service and food are all right. Hard to rise to the occasion in times of covid.

Kim Emons

Outstanding food, service and overall experience. A pricier dinner than average but completely justified considering the quality of every dish. It's also really amazing to see a place that supports so many local farms, wineries, breweries and businesses. Some of the best food I've ever had! Would go back when next in town ????

Peter F

Our dinner at Locals was excellent. The food was excellent, the wine we selected was great and our server was outstanding. The five of us enjoyed ourselves and left feeling that our yearly gathering had been a great success. As usual, thanks Locals.

Nick McCue

Absolutely awesome!! Great food, homely atmosphere with personalized service. A memorable experience indeed for special occasions!!

Ernie Bortolin

I was there for a retirement party, and although the food was good it was much fancier and more expensive than I prefer.

Don Yip

We have been going to Locals since their last location many many years ago. We moved away two years ago and have missed our favorite restaurant ever since. This weekend we took a road trip and ended up at Locals and the adjoining Old House and were not disappointed. The flavours, presentation, atmosphere, and service continue to make this place our favorite dining experience. We have always been wowed by this place and will continue to make the drive to come visit when we can. Well done!

Colin Ensworth

Extremely friendly staff even when the place is busy. Food is excellent and portions are much bigger than expected. Would recommend the muscles ! Alchohol selection is fantastic including a wide range of ciders!

Katrina Doiron

An upscale seafood restaurant with fresh, local caught seafood. Artistic and great tasting food from the appetizer to the dessert. Great, vintage atmosphere, surrounded by nice smelling flora. Try the heated outdoor patio! Pricey, but very, VERY unique, so well worth it even if I almost went for a Big Mac after eating here due to the rather small servings :)

Brad Windsor

Delicious food and amazing service. Came highly recommended and surpassed my expectations.

brandt watkins

As usual we had a wonderful time eating here. We often come here for our anniversary as it never fails to be a special memory for us. This time on the other hand we came for my wife's birthday, and were yet again treated to wonderful service, and amazing food. This will always continue to be a favorite of ours, and a place for many more special occasions to come.

E B

This place is the best restaurant in the area. I always eat there at least once when i'm arround. The place is beautiful, the food is excellent and the service is perfect. Its not the cheapest place to dine but the quality is well worth the price compared to other places. We were also verry impressed by their COVID measures as they go above expectation in that domain. I reccomend this place without hesitation.

James Barry

Good food. Good service

Saimuth Canada

Best seafood medley we have ever had.Melts in your mouth.Cozy,rustic atmosphere.Friendly staff.Would drive 160km again just to go there for dinner again.Well done!

Jim Beatty

It's the kind of restaurant that offers an amuse-bouche, and most of the other diners are quiet seniors who are there for two hours. If you know what I mean. All the food was prepared exquisitely, excellent wine selection, we didn't feel rushed whatsoever.

Kerwin Tuazon

Waited just about two hours for our meals. They were severely understaffed we were told. Understood, it's the times we live in. They gave free "tiny" sushi rolls, one each person, when we inquired about our meals after 45 minutes wait. At the 1:30 mark we actually asked for some bread as our group had been expecting to have eaten by then. They obliged as they were embarrassed(?) The meals came and they were "OK", small portions, sub-standard from what we were used to. Obvious they just slapped together the meals. We have dined here several times over the years and have had excellent meals; this time was under par. The bill came and I was somewhat thinking they would comp us for some drinks or even an appetizer but no. Other than a few weak apologies, nothing. Still gave a $45 tip to the poor server who were doing their best under duress. Hoping food quality improves. Just in case they are still understaffed, do not go there starving as you may need to wait for your meals. To be fair, it is a good restaurant, just wish they would adjust better under these trying circumstances.

Colin Davenport

We came here a month ago on a road trip for my sister's birthday. We stayed at the the Old House Hotel, which is next door. We thought the restaurant was a pub and expected the cuisine to be ordinary. But we were blown away by the menu and the meals did not disappoint. Food was amazing.

DJ _S

We unfortunately did not have a good experience here. The service was exceptionally slow! We ordered 2 appetizers and 1 entrée to share. This took 1h 50minutes to get. We voiced our disappointment and frustration with the staff and they didn't seem to care much. Just blamed it on a busy kitchen. We get that -- but usually when a guest is frustrated the manager at least comps the drinks or brings some free bread to the table or something! Nothing from these guys. Will not return, will not recommend. Shocking they have such good reviews (which is why we choose this place) -- maybe we were the one offs. Food was only OK, service was terrible.

David Clark

The first thing you notice is what a beautiful building this restaurant is in and it has a wonderful view of the river. Unfortunately the second thing you notice is the smell that hits you as you walk into the main building. Our table had a few guesses on what this smell could be as it was familiar. I guessed cats a friend said rotting fish. We did not figure it out till the end of the meal so I will let you know at the end of this review. The menu is decadent, even just reading the descriptions of the food was wonderful. The prices are a bit high but the quality of food was worth it. We had the meat and cheese chartreuse boards to share and they were delicious although they could have used more crackers on them. I had a wonderful warm bowl of onion soup to go along and we shared a perfect bottle of wine. Everything was lovely except for that smell. We ordered dessert and waited a long time, I had an appointment I needed to make so we asked and it turned out that the kitchen overlooked our desert order so it had to be cancelled which was disappointing. We ended the meal back on the topic of the smell and that is when the last member of our party got it. The very distinct smell of rodents which makes a lot of sense in a very old building that deals in food. It is for this reason I won't be going back because although the food is wonderful it can not be a healthy environment if you can smell rodents throughout the building.

Pam Mackson

We chose this restaurant as our one fine dining dinner out during family vacation because their website states that kids are welcome at earlier times. So we took them at their word and booked a 5pm dinner for 3- which included our 8 year old son. I packed his iPad and head phones and dressed him up and promised him ice cream for good behaviour. The food was excellent and the ambience is pretty cool. The service was horrendous. We paid a serious amount of money for our meal and while we expected it to be expensive we didn't expect to be treated like pariahs. Our waiter was more interested in the table behind us of female friends out for a good meal and the table of seniors off to the left. The iPad did its job and our son barely said a word - so no excuse there for the bad service. In the end, I would recommend this restaurant if you are a couple with no kids or a group of friends or, if you are a foodie because the meal was very good - no doubt about that. But if you are a family then stay away- it isn't worth the price nor the embarrassment of being treated like that merely because you had the audacity to bring a child to their restaurant. The worst part is - i grew up on the Island and I remember going to what was called "The Old House" ( now Locals Restaurant) when I was a child -yes that was a long time ago now. But the point is - Locals sells itself as a place where all are welcome. But they aren't - and that's really too bad.

Boommax Life

This is a really good restaurant. Everything was perfect. Super friendly and helpful service. Food was not just testy, it was perfect and memorable. The presentation and combination of ingredients made the entire experience unforgettable. I would describe our dishes, but I afraid it would not do them justice. Come try it and you would not regret. My wife and I are coming back for sure. It is going to be the treat every time we are in the Comox valley.

S. L.

Great service and fantastic food

Vikram Gill

Great food, professional, friendly service and a lovely view. The clams and the bouillabaisse were delicious.

Maria Aerts

Dinner

Alex Volkov

Impeccable food and stellar service!

Sphutuma Inkosutshaneni

Very pretty patio with great service. The rockfish salad was amazing - a must try!!

Angela Hermary

Meal type

nick brady

Visiting my parents from Toronto. Wow, had the Chantarelle and Chorizo Risotto. Extremely delicious and not bad at $20. Wine by the glass expensive. Very pleasant decor and close to River. Friendly service.

Treva O'Brien

Tried this restaurant for the first time to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Sat on the patio, our waitress was very nice but uninformed on local wines. The menu sounded great but other than the fish market chowder starter we were disappointed. Both of our entrees were bland. The worst part was when the hostess seated a couple in a table directly beside ours. The Patio was virtually empty. We weren't impressed and won't be in any hurry to return.

J Mac

My 1st time. Delightful prompt service. Lovely ambience. Top quality food was not very warm though. Perhaps because we were a group of 13. I heard amazing thing about Locals food. I WILL go again. UPDATE.... Dined here for my daughter's 30 birthday 05/10/19. The service was delightful & the dinner was 5 ???? all the he way. Truly imaginative food. Top quality. We were all extremely please. Thank you.