Reviews of Firehouse Grill (Restaurant)

Marshall Pham

Absolutely amazing. We had sushi and sashimi. This is the best place on the island we tried so far. Quite different, but super duper awesome. Just go here, don't even think about it. Also, service is amazing.

Sheena Olson

Unfortunately after seeing the reviews and having hopes for a better experience, we had a terrible dining evening. With a tight schedule to uphold we were forced to blow off the rest of our evening for the fact it took over an hour just to get out food which was poorly prepared to say the least. Dynamite sushi was a mess on both orders placed, fresh veggies burnt on one side, raw on the other. Didn't eat any of it. Halibut cooked to perfection. Rice was cooked very well also but....lathered in oil. The reason why I have 2 stars..... Hostess. She was very aware of the situation, very apologetic and very accommodating. Gave her a good tip, cash, with the instruction to not tip of to the kitchen but..... As the service industry goes, we know how that works. Kitchen staff and management in a very serious need of an overhaul. When the owner/manager only shows 1 day a week, it's obvious where the dedication to success lies in a business. Way too many good options in this area for a poorly managed business to succeed. End of story.

Shawn Snobelen

Great food and service. Everyone I know raves about their sushi. I would recommend reserving a table ahead of time though as they fill up fast.

Andrew Fritz

Great service, great drinks, great sushi. I only wish there were some vegetarian entree options, but I expect that will happen soon.

Patrick Brouder

Liked the setting of the restaurant and the staff is very friendly with helpful recommendation. Cozy and warm atmosphere.

Arthur Chocholacek

Amazing service, the building is gorgeous as an actual old firehouse, great views. The edamame, seafood fettucine, and veg sushi were all good and priced fairly.

Brian Woodcock

Great atmosphere, excellent food and great service! Will definitely be back!

Brian

Was pleasantly surprised by this place, just googled “restaurants” when we got off the ferry and this place came up and looked interesting. They had a lot of veggie options for my vegan girlfriend, even the tempura batter was vegan which is never the case. The Sushi is different than any sushi I have ever had, in a good way. They are trying things that I have never seen at any other sushi restaurant. We also arrived near closing and the staff were kind enough to still seat us and just requested we order quickly so they could start closing the kitchen. We really appreciated them accommodating us!

Andrew Bertram

I had the Godzilla sushi and my husband had the mushroom soup. The sushi was tasty...lots of flavor. A bit over run by the large cut pieces of avacodo though. The mushroom soup was very fresh.

Olivia Levesque

Worst sushi I've ever had. Fish tasted days old, rice was wet and mushy. Tried the Volcano and Firehouse roll (both terrible). Service was pretty sad too. Our food took about an hour to show up during a slow time and we waited 20 minutes for the bill to show up. Then another 10+ minutes for the machine. Maybe this is the norm in Nanaimo? But just bad, so bad. ????

Gaby Ralph

Good food, good drinks, friendly staff. Absolutely love their drink specials, so nice to come to a restaurant that service premo sushi & a burger under the same roof.

Rachael Ward

What a wonderful menu and amazing staff! I haven't been let down yet and am a returning customer for over 5 years!

Seth Friesen

Varied and interesting menu with sophisticated selections. Enticing desserts. Sushi is very good. Not wheelchair accessible, but it is a landmark heritage building that has been fully restored. Parking on street or in the pay lot across the road. Two stories inside and comfortable booths. Good for lunch, with a view to the harbour.

Josh

It was awesome friendly service, fast food service, and we all enjoyed are food. We had burger , seafood pasta and fish and chips. Ate it all. Will recommend to other and will go back again and again. CHEERS

Ron Sayer

Just wish there were pictures of the dishes on the menu. For example the sushi pizza etc could use a bit more of a description (it's on deep fried rice crust aka yum!) But doesn't mention. Had to Google photo it ;) thanks fam!

Tia Miller

Firehouse Grill is my favorite place to dine in Nanaimo. My brother and I dropped in at random a few years ago and it became a regular stop. The waitstaff is friendly, the kitchen is visible, the cooks are great, everything is clean and comfortable, and the food is simply excellent. Highly recommended.

Tj campbell

They call this the best restaurant in Nanaimo, if that's true I feel bad for Nanaimo. The food was good but that was the slowest service I think probably ever. Decent food goes un noticed on account of the poor service. It wasn't even busy.

Jordan P

Not bad. Not awesome. I hear really positive reviews of this restaurant. I was here one time last year and it seemed acceptable, but this particular visit was not. I find the food overly salty. My French fries were more like soft, limp Potato Sticks. The venue is bright and lovely the service is nice. Beers are good, and drinks are decent. We ordered dry ribs, french fries, & assorted tempura Bowl (which was soggy with grease and the batter was falling off of the vegetables). I ended up sending the french fries back because they're Squishy in the teeth and not crispy and anyway and our group did not like them. My Sushi flavor was not awesome but the texture was good and I was satisfied enough to eat it. :) I certainly would not make it a point to go back there for any occasion. But it is worth a visit as its a fun place to go for a lot of people. I do believe it attracts a trendy crowd.

Miss Deb

If you don't try the Firehouse Grill next time your in Nanaimo you'll truly be missing out! The Magic Prawns with are my favorite!!

Kelly Huxham

I really enjoy their fusion sushi. It's a nice change from the rather bland vegetarian sushi that most places serve. Good for groups as you can reserve a semi private space upstairs.

vickie gould

I've been coming here since they opened, and in that many years, I have never once been disappointed. The food is always on point, the service is friendly and prompt, and the atmosphere is comfortable. I can't say enough good things about the Firehouse. Best place to eat in Nanaimo, hands down.

Kelsey Tyler

Terrible fish and chips. Fish was hard in places as if it was previously frozen and simply reheated... sushi was highly over priced and mediocre at best. Would not recommend or plan on going back. Overrated.

Chip Schick

Very unpleasant dining experience. Wait staff poorly trained, waitress didn't introduce herself to the table, clearing dirty dishes while others still eating, never returned to ask how the meals were. Manager had no customer service skills, was insulting and disrespectful. My meal was medicore at best and served luke warm. Definitely would not recommend this resturant.

Vanessa Janzen

Really poor service as I called to make a reservation and was told that I couldn't even though I phoned the week before to confirm they take reservations...There were a few people going and a few on the fence which I explained thinking maybe we could make a reservation for somewhere in between as to not inconvenience the restaurant however I was simply told no. (We were thinking 6 people instead of 8) Also, the woman on the phone was quite rude and very unfriendly. Would not recommend.

Matt and Leah Canedersen

Amazing quality, great staff, very helpful with food allergies (and the best gluten free tempura I’ve had!) Price is reflective of the quality - and the quality is incredible. Firehouse is our go-to for all our date nights, and has been great for takeout during Covid. The kids love the lunch boxes!

Izuku Midoriya

Great food and a decent price. I only wish I got a few more fries with my burger, but the food overall is delicious and a good variety. Definitely going to be a regular whenever we visit Nanaimo

Johnny Fandry

The food was to perfection! Our server was so bright and happy even though it was so close to closing time. The experience added.to the already wonderful time we were having on the island. Thank you Firehouse.

Cass Lorraine

Been here an hour, still waiting for food. Had to go to the bar to order it since the waitresses were avoiding us. We are not being loud or obnoxious. People that came here after us got their food already. I hope the food is worth the service.

D -

Came here with family after disappointing day with BC Ferries and was told we’re welcome to sit in the lounge for a bit probably because they’ll be an hour wait until food is served! Could of drunk my day away like the friendly homeless people outside or maybe their waiting for their order too? Pass on this place

Douglas MacKenzie

Honestly the best place to eat in nanaimo!!!! Hands down best jambalaya i have ever had and that comes from a true Cajun family!!!

Mockie

Took my partner and her mum here as a thank you dinner. I thought the food was good, portion on the smaller side. Very loud inside, hard to have a conversation at points.

Cali Storch

Had the sushi and it was splendid. Were a little short staffed so service was slow but well worth the wait

Sarah Bulford

Dinner

Mark Douglas

Poor system to accommodate non reservation patrons. So many better methods than basically turning people away.

Dieter Lloyd

Doesn't get any better than here. The waitstaff learned my name after, like, two visits (and I, theirs). Those workers are upbeat, kind and efficient. Beautiful design. And the food. I usually always get the Volcano and the sauce...well, let's say I have thought about licking the plate. Great prices for such amazing food.

M Tymo

We came here for a business lunch on a recommendation. Great food and great service. Michelle was amazing... except she forgot.my kimchi :(. Try the Chef Collection... super fresh and fun!

Adam Lennert

Beautiful interior and great staff. We had lunch special E and some sashimi and it was a delight. Very fresh and lovely presentation.

david haines

Rode down from Courtenay for lunch. Easy parking outside, but lots of sketchy people about. Sushi roll meal was fine but the avocado was already going dark. I will be back.

CleanMakeupFiend

1st of all, I've had the pleasure of eating at many fine restaurants and none of those places ever came close to the service my wife and I enjoyed tonight. I always enjoy the food there but with the service that Micheal provided was unlike any other. Its service like that which makes the food taste that much better. I'd like to add that it was Micheals 1st night there working and we were beyond impressed. Thank you Micheal for providing my wife and I with a wonderful dining experience. You contributed to a wonderful night. Tom

Cognitive Lapse

Wow..This place went from a 4.5 to an almost ZERO. Every time I come to Nanaimo on business I bring clients or colleagues, spent a far dollar here. This just ends now. Not because the quality of food. The absolute arrogance of the wait staff. I ordered a sandwich with no Bacon. I told the waitress twice & made sure she understood. Well sandwich came with Bacon. I reminded here of our conversation & told her that I had an allergy to bacon, & asked her to make sure that the order was remade. She told me, & I quote " You should make sure you say allergy, so we can pay more attention to your request ". Sorry no bacon means no bacon. Never again will I go back. Absolute bad management

John E

Had a great meal and excellent friendly service from or server, Mae. We had the Miyagi prawns for an appy and finished up with a Godfather and Fighting Buddha sushi platter. Presentation was exotic and flavors to match. Delicious. I'm not usually a big sushi fan, but this place made me a believer. Funky old building with lots of character and charm. Recommend.

Ignacio Alvarado

I feel the food/cost ratio deserves 4 stars. But the cool vibe and absolutely amazing staff bump it up to 5. Great experience even with a few mistakes they recovered amazing. We will be back.

Nadine Shemilt

Never got seated; maybe it's okay if you do. We stood for half an hour among more than a dozen hopeful customers, but the overworked waitresses never seated us even though there were five open four tops in the restaurant. Location and reputation aren't enough: you have to treat people well even when you're slammed. Low, low marks for management.

Melony Boyko

Love the venue, but the sushi itself was... wacky. Lots of mayo, deep fried rolls and crazy combinations. Great to bring a visitor to but too pricey and novelty for everyday sushi dining. WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: not ideal - you can only get in through a ramp to the kitchen back door, which is often locked. A companion will have to ask at the front door (where there are stairs) to open the accessible door, or you’ll have to call ahead. Inside it was pretty accessible but nobody likes coming in to dinner through a really dirty kitchen.

Peggy Richardson

One of the best sushi places in Nanaimo, but they need to answer their phones!!! And they also need more staff because I have never been turned down for placing an lunch for for one!!! ??? What is with that ,what restaurant doesn’t take an order never heard of that before !!! Not good business etiquette..... ANSWER YOUR PHONE!!

Greg Sebastien

Meal type

Stephen Philps

I really enjoyed the Firehouse Grill. They cater to to food allergies really well. They were able to offer most of there menu gluten free or work with us to make it guten free. This is huge becuase most places are not willing to. Our food did take a while to come to our table, and we had to wait almost 15 mintues to pay. So that sort of took away from the experience. Overall we will be coming back, I would just caution to be ready to spend time at the restaurant as this wont be a quick stop.

Ricardo Mendes

Great food and amazing staff! Very unique sushi rolls. Highly recommend!

Kevin Knapp

Great food, excellent service, nice drive from Victoria!

Tanya Kucey

For over five years my wife and I have frequently eaten out at the Firehouse Grill. Without fail we have never been disappointed. Occasionally they are crazy busy, and you can't find a seat, but that is to be expected at a place with such great food and service! So call ahead to make sure you can get in... I consistently recommend this restaurant to clients and friends. The sushi is without a doubt, the best I have eaten in all my travels and living abroad!! The main menu is also excellent, and with a good variety to choose from. Price point is great for the food you receive, and not expensive. I love the casual dining, but yet classy enough to take my lovely wife out for a nice date. Firehouse Grill does a great job! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for excellent food and nice dining in the downtown core of Nanaimo.

Ofelia Gersjes

Great fusion roll. Service was okay. Had a flat G&T but the roll made up for it. Nice big space, but not too busy on a Friday night. Parking can be difficult if it is busy. Street parking. Reccomend cabbing.

Alicia Mogg

Fantastic service, amazing food and lovely cocktails!! Our servers went above and beyond in every way, the food was beautiful and fresh, and the portions were huge!! Bill was super reasonable. Great ambiance and well distanced and obviously clean in line with covid regulations. Couldn't have been better!!!

Chris M

Amazing food, lovely staff and a decent price!

Chels Hunter

Food was stunning and tasted like heaven, every dish was flavourful and amazing

Krystle Middle

Dinner

Michael Potts

Pretty good place to eat, where they shine are their rolls as they appeal to most. I had a blue seared sirloin and it was more medium rare than blue. My girlfriend loved the dynamite roll and the tsunami roll.

Tamare White-Wolf

Food at this place is consistently yummy. Their edamame is definitely one of my favorite. Chelsea is our favorite staff, always warm and welcoming with a very professional approach

Simon Trigona

One of my fave spots in Nanaimo. Most people actualky com3 here for the sushi. Since I'm a sushi snob i stay away from sushi that's not made by Japanese people but the burgers here are off the chain. Good selection of craft beers too!

harry brossault

This is one of the "must do" things when we come up to Nanaimo. Suggest the $30 chefs choice platter if you like sushi. Great value and we have never been disappointed.

Anastassia Waddell

This place manages to please both the finessed palettes of experienced diners and the unrefined and picky palettes of kids. The only drawback is that there seems to be a separate server per table who only appears ever 5 to 10 minutes and only your server pays attention to you, so if you need something you're out of luck. It's a really odd set up. But the food is great!

Stephanie Viau

I honestly didn't go in expecting much other than to just grab a quick bite to eat. I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is beautiful and the menu is fun with plenty of options. I was shocked at how good the food was too. It's definitely a place I'll go to again.

Lauren S

Delivery service was great - loved not having to go through a 3rd party app to get delivery. Food tasted great and was delivered very quickly. Will order again!

Jon Louie

Great food. Awesome drinks. AMAZING waitress who served us. She was even cheery while having to run up and down the stairs to serve the upper floor.

Christine-Rob Diett

Amazing sushi. Service was a tad slow but the staff were very accommodating. Excellent atmosphere and location.

Mandy JOhnson

Food is very delicious. Quite the variety of food selection on the menu. Atomsphere was nice .We had Gabby as our waitress she was very polite, quick to serve and professional. Glad this was our first sit in restaurant in Nanaimo. In our next visit in Nanaimo we plan on coming back. Hoping to get a table upstairs next time.

LazyLayne “Lazy Layne”

Maybe it was unusual, but when I was there with my wife, it took an hour to receive a chicken club and some pastas... The waitress took a very long time before taking our order, during which time other guests arrived at their tables and got their order taken long before us. In the end, at least 3 other tables were served and had mostly finished eating before we received our own food, while we arrived before them. After almost an hour the waitress came to us saying the kitchen was backed up, explaining the long wait. Well it sure didn't seem backed up for the other people who arrived after us!! Worst is, my 12$ chicken sandwich's chicken was way overcooked (I'm pretty sure it sat on the grill for half an hour while they were trying to do my wife's pasta or something), the buns were hard and dry all around for about half an inch thick (each), I had part of one pathetic leaf of lettuce which I had to tear myself to make it fit in the burger, and the most insulting I think: only 1 tomato slice, and it was tiny and white in the middle (unripe), and from that part of the tomato where it is hard and untasty, near where its "tail" was (sorry I don't know the exact name for that). They serve the burger open, showing the lettuce and tomato on one side, so I really don't understand why the cook thought it was a good idea to put that tiny white tomato slice there, where I could see it plainly.... At the end, when bringing us the bill, the waitress said she gave us a discount for the long wait. We received a biiiiig $2.58 discount (for waiting half an hour too long, that's like giving us half the minimum wage salary!). Considering the service and the food, and the insulting 10% discount at the end, I gave her back her 10% as tip (I always tip 18%+ unless I receive a really bad service like this). In short, I waited an hour to receive an overcooked yet too-quickly-prepared $12 chicken sandwich. I would have eaten much better at McDonald's for half the price. Maybe it is usually good there, I believe it must be, other peoples' plates sure looked like it, but my experience was not a good one and I was insulted even more with a $2.50 discount at the end. Other than that, the restaurant is in an old church and looks good enough.

Andrew Millar

Service

Tiffany McLaughlin

It's like eating on the moon, atmosphere is out of this world... ???? seriously though, very nice atmosphere, great staff/service and that Hookah roll - Oh! They get me...

Cailey Jones

Cosmo, sushi rolls, all good. Wish they had speciality coffees. Just 6 minutes from the ferry.

David McCallum

Tried the sushi pizza and was impressed. The hand-sized crust is a disk of tempura rice (hot) and then sushi toppings (cold). Excellent.

Tristan Adams

Disgusting food and atmosphere. I was told they had some of the best Sushi in town, but that is a lie. The presentation is lovely, but far from really good sushi where flavour or quality is concerned. And more expensive than the mom and pop sushi shops in town that actually know how to makegood sushi. The water tasted like cleaner...

charlotte fenton

When I dined here last I was very impressed with the service. I was able to get a table almost immediately, despite not having called in beforehand to make a reservation. When it came time to order, I was so overwhelmed by all the delicious options that I wanted to try all of them! My waitress must have overheard me enthusing about the menu, because when she returned to the table she had suggested to me a special Chef's Choice platter to share with my partner. I can confidently say that some of the sushi rolls that I had the privilege to eat were perhaps the best sushi I have ever had! The only caveat to this Chef's Choice platter was, each roll of sushi that we had received that night was not on their menu, and as such, it would be nearly impossible for me to order a specific roll again. Despite this slight disappointment, I think the uniqueness of the experience made it even more enjoyable than it might otherwise have been. I highly recommend this restaurant to experienced sushi-lovers, and sushi "newbies" alike, as the menu and helpful waiting staff offer many different options and helpful suggestions for newcomers to the delicious world of sushi.

Jessica JJ

This was a great little restaurant in Nanaimo. I had expected a steak house, and it was more of a seafood place, but the grilled salmon was delightful. Highly recommended whenever anyone is is Nanaimo.

Jen Farough

My favorite sushi joint. I've tried other items on the menu, but we always return for the Fighting Buddha and Volcano rolls. Too hard to resist!

Ali Hosman Rivero

Ordered 2 jambalayas and buffalo shrimp for take out. The jambalayas flavour was absolutely terrible and instantly gave us both heart burn. The shrimp was a minuscule amount for $15. Won’t be returning.

Jocelyn Maffin

This place is awesome. Try the stuffed avocados and prepare to get your mind blown!! Great vibe and really friendly staff. Thank you Mike and company for a delightful evening

Eduardo Heredia

Dine in

Brittny Ohs

Don’t bother eating here if you have allergies. Cannot accommodate a celiac dinner. Even in todays day and age and how common celiac dinners are in society. Very unimpressed, and this is coming from a food and beverage manager from a five star restaurant on the island. Will not be returning, will not be recommending. Will recommend that the restaurant be more accommodating to dinners with allergy’s.

Brandietta

Their sushi rolls are great. They are fusion so be prepared. I recommend the jalapeño popper. Chef's choice is also a great gamble and they respect your food limitations. Unfortunately my martini was served warm and wasn't very tasty. I don't recommend the crab cakes. From a COVID safety standpoint, mask compliance was moderate at best.

Brad Stewart

Don't let the incredible variety of the menu make you question the quality of it all. It's a beautiful space service excellent food, the staff are all very charming and you'll have a great time here

Carol W

LOVE the sushi at Firehouse. The Chef's obviously love what they do and take creativity in their dishes. Leave it up to the Chef's and get the sushi chef's platter and I have never been disappointed. Great eat in or take away meals.

B K

I brought my daughter to the Firehouse last weekend at her request for a mom and daughter date. The restaurant was full and the kitchen was very busy. Our server Matt was exceptional. He is one of the best and it was his first day to boot. He was friendly and engaging with my daughter and made her feel very grown up and special. He brought us some miso soup to tide us over while the kitchen worked on our mains and he seperated the vegetables from the soup 'just in case' my daughter didnt want them and cooled it down with some water so she could enjoy it right away. The food was well worth the wait as always and my daughter keeps talking about how it was 'the best day ever' and can't wait to go back. I always enjoy the Firehouse but do not frequent it as I live out of town but the service last weekend will have me coming back again very soon.

Joy Groves

Good fusion style sushi and a nice selection of other foods. The mushroom soup is amazing! Nice setting and Great servers

M Bhatti

Covid safe , awesome service and the jambalaya way excellent ????????

Nigel Kellett

Lovey bar with awesome food and selection of craft beers. Everyone enjoyed their meals and thanks for making it a great evening with my family and friends.

Shaleeta Harrison

Been here a few times and I've never been disappointed. Delicious food and friendly staff, paired with a wonderful view of Nanaimo and the water.

Greg Domville

Cool atmosphere. Great food

Jordan Shaw

Been a few times casually and enjoyed the atmosphere and food. What I expected. Friendly servers.

Olive

We stopped in here for lunch and didn't expect a place called the FIREHOUSE GRILL to be a sushi house!! But there were other delights on the menu for my friend who detests fish. She loved her burger with all the trimmings. And I thoroughly enjoyed the sushi. We liked the spare interior with vaulted ceilings in the "Industrial Style" and we had a good view of the city from the tall windows. We'll go back again. Only drawback: ingress would be difficult for anyone with mobility problems

Jennifer Fehr

Beautiful atmosphere, fresh, fabulous sushi and an incredible staff to top it off. I came back the next night I enjoyed it so much and Steve the bartender was a treat to talk to. Dinner here was the highlight of my trip to Nanaimo!

T J Scott

Service was ok. Not amazing but it ok. Sushi. Sure doesnt look or feel like a sushi place but the locals know. I love sushi and eat tons of it. This was not epic sushi. Trying too hard to be unique and different and it just comes out as ..... Weird No bad comments here about the biz just not my kind of sushi place. To each their own.

Sarah

Nice food...nice atmosphere...go and check it out. Was pleasantly surprised. Had fish and chips, provided cod instead of halibut or salmon and riceflour batter instead of beer batter. Cheesecake was to live for...:)

Kendra Slawson

Smug, rude, judgemental staff who seem to enjoy whispering about customers above all else. Best of all the food was lame and waaaay over priced. Especially for small portions that I think would be best offered in kids and seniors menus.

Anjith Jayaraj

Great food, it's better to reserve before walking in to the restaurant. The service was good. Food tasted great. Might take some 30-45 mins to get your food as it is cooked perfectly upon ordering.

Miranda White

Busy place, however they were able to accommodate my friend and I. We sat at the bar where we could see all of the beautiful sushi rolls come together. Food was great yet again and the all hail Caesar hit the spot! Thanks Firehouse Grill

Nathan Drew

Good food! Great waiters they are vary kind! Food took a while but it was really worth the wait! It was amazing!

Bryden Kanngiesser

Nice place to eat...staff were very friendly and the crab dip is Delicious.!

Jim K

Delicious food, friendly staff, beautiful view, awesome website and super yummy caesars. So glad my partner and I stopped here on our way through Nanaimo. ????????????????

Ty F

Great food and great service! Some of the best and most creative sushi on the island

JC Elliott

Very poor service and took 45minutes to receive the food we had ordered. Once food finally came it had more sauce then sushi rolls on the plate. Did not finish all of the sushi so asked for it to go. Watress had taken it and just dumped the plate into a box so when we got it back the sushi looked like a big pile of mush in a box. Will not be going back to this restaurant for food.

Aaron Webstey

The Firehouse Grill is the only restaurant I will eat at in Nanaimo. They have the absolute best sushi rolls I have ever tasted. Friends who have enjoyed burgers and sandwiches on their regular menu have claimed that it is the best food they have tasted. The service here is excellent, and the vibe is great. You can't beat eating in a century old firehouse with views of downtown Nanaimo and ocean glimpses. Highly recommended!

Mike Eubank

When we arrived, the place was full so we got squeezed in at the bar. I was worried we were going to have a terrible experience simply from where we were sitting but you guys... this place is awesome! The girl who was working behind the bar and taking our order was so chill and funny, I wish I would've gotten her name. The food is something I can't even describe; it was soo good! We're visiting from Saskatchewan and this is by far the best seafood we've tried in Nanaimo and surrounding communities. Also... the white peach sangrias are a must-try. I'm literally still drunk.

dan

Delicious food, fast and efficient. Friendly staff and a cool atmosphere. Huge hunks of roasted garlic on my chicken! Definitely recommend checking them out.

Amanda Smith

This place has the absolute best seafood chowder I have ever tasted. It is creamy and spicy. Absolutely perfect. The burger was incredible too. Will drive up from Victoria again even just for the chowder!

Meighan Stoneman

The outside seems like an old and small pub but the design inside is actually good. We choose a table near the window, which is a bit cold, we wish they turned on the heater. We were greeted right away and offered drink. We had Buffalo Prawns (?) for appy and it was alright. I had 2 rolls (the Godzilla was delicious!) and my boyfriend had the steak sandwich (?) which was good but can be more healthy. We finish with trio brownie which serves with bacon ice cream - it was great. Overall it was good, price was resonable. Variety of choices that fit with different customers. I would come back.

Iver Gunderson

Delicious food. The curry California rolls are a must. My son had the pulled pork sandwich and really enjoyed it. The menu takes some time to look over and making a decision isn't easy. Too many yummy choices. I ended up having a variety of sushi rolls. Can't wait to return. Service is quick. Covid protocols in place for safe dining.

CHEZ Cochran

The atmosphere here is great! Especially in the evening looking out on the street and the water. My wife says they make the best jambalaya she's ever had! We've gone back just for that!

Brenna P

Came in for early lunch Saturday. It was nice and quiet. Good sushi. Bite sized pieces, not giant. Great atmosphere. Sit by the window :) service was good

Ross James

What a gem! This place is located only 10 mins from the ferry terminal and offers a very creative menu in a really cool building. The sushi is awesome and burgers are even better. I have always found that the wait staff is eager to please and always warm and welcoming. Highly recomended!!

Adrian Scott

Great food. Lots of options including killer sushi! Friendly service, yummy desserts, good location with lots of street parking.

Chris Eddy

Make sure they are serving the public before you go there. I called to make a reservation for the 30th to which they told me "were not taking reservations, we have some big groups coming in." no worries I'll just go in and wait for a table. Well fast forward to today when I try and go in and they turn us away because they aren't serving the public. If they'd told me that before on the phone I would have made reservations for someplace else and not wasted my time going down there.

Eric Addleman

Epic food day service and the servers are gorgeous

Dustin Watson

Food was good but staff is under trained, no concept of looking at the table to see if drinks need a refill, I had to get up to ask for things as they were all standing in a circle talking among themselves. There was maybe 2 other tables at the time. Not great, could be hit or miss maybe.

S.a. M

Just some northern fusion.not recommend for Asian ppls.

David Underhill

Service

Cyrus Kong

Really yummy food... Once we got it! I was out for a night with the girls and I got the feeling our meal was being delayed so we'd keep drinking. We had reservations for 630 and we were all there early and ordered very quickly. We didn't get our food until about 745. We had to badger the waitress and let her know we had tickets to an event and had to leave by 815. So I had to pack up half my food after shoveling as much as I could down. I really wish I could have enjoyed it more slowly. It was delicious and beautifully presented, but don't be on a timeline if you go!!

Megan White

One of the best restaurants in town. Cool historic building, spectacular food, great dining experience.

Aaron Garrow

Tried to enter the restaurant today for lunch but there was so many homeless people around harassing costumers . And also tents and dirt everywhere. Really want to come for lunch, the menu looked amazing . So maybe one day when they clean up the mess we will try again. Good luck guys with your business but same problem seem to be in Victoria. Try to support restaurants during COVID but this is not good.

Guillermo Garcia

Very disappointing. The worst fish and chips I have had on the island. Cod was brown and batter was soggy. Chips were not hand cut and were over cooked.

Nick Dilworth

Amazing and creative food and cocktails. Loved our visit look forward to coming back

David Murdoch

we were not in the firehouse Grill but in the art store downstairs. Diastolisch excellent

Shaun

great atmosphere and service. drinks are amazing and sushi is the best in town ???? very consistent which definitely keeps us returning ????

Jules

Best. Sushi. Hands. Down. The first time I went to the Firehouse Grill was in 2011 and ever since then, I have been dreaming about their mind-blowing sushi. I finally got the chance to go back to Nanaimo last year and it was just as good as I remembered! Even though I had adopted a vegetarian lifestyle in the meantime, I still had a great selection of vegetarian maki that was delicious. Cannot recommend enough.

Alessandro Morelli

I didn't realize how extensive the sushi menu is here! I ordered (with great help from our server) the Hawaiian Dynamite and The Geiser. The presentation was amazing and both were delicious. I haven't had such good sushi in a long time. Great atmosphere and service.

Chrys LoScerbo

I came here all the way from NYC because this is apparently the best rated restaurant in town. Mediocre overpriced food and sushi, and the hostess was racist af. Told my friend and I they didn't have a table for 2 hours when we can clearly see open tables?? Woman, I get seated at the Dorsia in less time! We played her stupid game and came back anyway in 2 hours, and she begrudgingly sat us in a mostly empty restaurant. Bad showing for not just Nanaimo but all of Canada. ????????????????????

Miles Kehoe

I don't think I've ever had sushi quite like this in my life. It's a bit expensive, but as a treat? I will definitely be back.

PCIdeal Consult

Ordered four take out dishes. Was more like three and a half. My sockeye sandwich looked like most of it was missing. Wasn’t really a sandwich at all. Gave me heartburn. The final insult. Waste of money. This place is overrated based on my experience.

Tom Clements (thesaintlybrew)

Best sushi ever so clean tasting. Seafood Pasta was awesome

Natalie Zavaglia

Meal type

V S

the food is amazing! the service is very slow. i would recommend getting a reservation no matter how many people you have or what the servers say if you want a table.

Daniel Leclerc

Best food in Nanaimo. They have a wide variety that wont leave you disappointed, especially if you like sushi. Every time Im in town, I always try to go as it makes for a great backdrop for conversations and celebrations with friends. Staff are always friendly and accommodating.

Paul Kalkman

This place was a gem of a surprise - bright - airy and very clean - with a great vibe. The meal was served with a fine dining touch and the wines recommended were lovely (red and white house wines). Much better than typical bar food at lunch with an upscale twist. I hardly ever take photos of a meal presenttion - this one was worthy. Thank you for a memorable meal!

Lakeview Homes

Building is really nice, but the restaurant left a bad taste in my mouth. Seems to be very Cactus Club like, but with a locally owned spin.. Cool... but the vibe of the place was intolerable and the food was ok but not memorable in any way for the price. The music volume in the restaurant when we were there was extremely loud and combined with the ambient noise in the room, we found it pretty hard to enjoy the ambience. It's an ok place, but not sure how it has such a good reputation.

Jeff P

Awesome lunch.....and service. ....prior to heading to Sooke from the ferry Required Vaccine card and ID.....as expected

Eric Ferguson

Ordered the cod fish and chips, fish was mushy and tastless withought any texture. Would have had a more enjoyable meal with highligner fish and chips from Walmart. You have the ability to have amazing quality fish, being located right on the ocean. Common guys :/

akele 34

Didn't get a chance to have a sit down and enjoy a full meal here, but I was impressed with the staff who were able to help me out with something off menu to meet some dietary restrictions. Just a simple side salad with no dressing, so I can't really rate the food and that's why I gave it a four out of five Very inviting loft-style atmosphere and look forward to going back and having a sit-down meal.

Kevin

Great view, great ambience, amazing food good beer. Totally recommend the firehouse sockeye salmon.

Ahsan Cheema

I used to come here all the time, they have changed their menu and not for the better, the quality has gone down hill, for having so many ingredients in one roll it now tastes bland. Please bring back the old firehouse that was actually good, now its not even worth the price. It is also always freezing cold inside.

Jon Galliazzo

Brilliant food and lovely service. We were told by our hostel that the sushi was the best we'd ever taste and they were not wring! Exciting food, beautifully served just left us wishing we could come back again tomorrow and try something else.

Randy Burnette

Sorry but the food is not “to die for”, cooks, chefs n behind counter staff not wearing masks really make you worry about them spreading covid! Kinda cavalier attitude... weird times! To be honest most of the food was good, however kinda pricey for what you get! Waitress was very slow getting the food to us too! I’d give it a second round but due to staff not masking up I would not take a chance again!

Apinita Noon

Nice setting, quality food. It would be good for an evening party.

Martin Ridgway

Nice small place had some sushi was really good! Service is great too.

Sheldon Binnie

Atmosphere was nice and service was really good. Very good sushi! They also have a bunch of options for anyone who doesn't want sushi. Will definitely be visiting next time I'm in Nanaimo!

Matt Hills

Really good food appys drinks and sushi !

Paul Hughes

Sushi as always was great. Building is equally great. Problem was the lack of service. Took 20 mins before our drink order was taken. Then they never brought waters we asked for or napkins. Then she just brought a second beer when it was not asked for. So 5 stars for food 4.5 for building and 2 stars for service.

John Soanes (lost2gether)

Sushi is amazing, the firehouse rolls and the dynamite rolls are heavenly. Went for brunch on the opening day and it was pretty good, had the Sea Shanty Benny and the crab cakes were overdone. Otherwise excellent!

Esme Clarke

Firehouse Grill has been on our "need to go" list for awhile, and as our time here is starting to dwindle, we thought we'd come by for dinner on an average Thursday night. First impressions - this place is *loud*. It can't do much about that, because it's a brick firehouse with a 50 foot ceiling, but don't come here expecting a quiet intimate evening. You're gonna have to talk to be heard. As mentioned in other reviews, I'm a giant fatass and I'm going down the keto path to try and deal with that. Because of evil carbs, we opted for no appetizers. (The partner, bless her, encourages me and doesn't order delicious appies when she knows I can't have any.) I opted for the tuna and salmon mixed sashimi with a side of avocado. For the price, you get a large portion of fish, but at least tonight, the fish wasn't that great. The salmon had a particularly "fishy" taste, and the tuna, while better, still wasn't amazing. They also serve it on a huge bed of spring mix, which seems odd to me, but what do I know. My partner struggled to narrow down her dinner choice as there were several things that looked good, but ultimately chose the cracklin shrimp and chicken. In the immortal words of the guy from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (almost) she chose... poorly. The grilled chicken was overcooked, bland and dry, tasting pretty much only of a bit of burned/charcoal flavour. (Not to mention there wasn't much of it.) There was maybe a half dozen shrimp that were absurdly small and bland, rice that was entirely flavorless, and some veggies that also suffered from a distinct lack of anything. There was also what I assume is jarred tomato sauce tasting of red peppers and a bit of spice (which didn't at all seem like the creole Dijon sauce that it's advertised with.) Overall, we were very let down, especially at the price point they sell at, and despite a handful of intriguing rolls on their sushi menu, we won't be back. It's not rhymes-with-smeechpliers bad, but it's not much better. Two mains and two pops was $49 before tip

Axel Prime

Meal type

misiewicz konrad

Very delicious. Food tasted awesome and the drinks were spot on. Great service too :) very happy customer

Friso McKenzie

This place is set in an old firehall. The decor is very clean and modern. The food is amazing! You can order a steak, pasta,chicken....or go full out sushi! I generally can't make up my mind so needless to say I have a very eclectic looking meal! They have this option with the sushi...i think it's called the chefs platter....basically ..you order it and they will surprise you with whatever! They do ask in advance if there was anything that you did not want to see on the plater which is good! And ...wow.....amazing!!!!! Highly recommend this option if you like sushi! If you are looking for a restaurant in Nanaimo...check this place out!

Sean Reid

Great. Brought my wife there on Tuesday this week for her 35th birthday dinner - excellent. The place was hopping busy - seems like this is the place to be! Owners & staff are beauties.

Julie O'Bray

Dine in

Charles Ubaldo

Delicious menu & fusion sushi! Atmosphere is somewhat loud for intimate conversation but very fun place for small groups and date nights

Erica Morin

It was okay. 3 of us for dinner...all ordered different items...all said same thing: our food was okay. Not great or even good...just "okay". Nice space and atmosphere, though. All agreed it's not a restaurant we'd go to again, since it was just "okay" and a bit pricey.

Laura Augustine

We made a stop for lunch in our way to Ucluelet in the Firehouse. It was really good, all dishes seem to have a kick but not super spicy. Highly recommendable, we will come back to try something else

Jonathan Gillis

This old firehouse setting with high ceilings and exposed brick creates a wonderful atmosphere! I had the best, most innovative, vegetarian sushi rolls I have ever had there! Seem to have a great selection of Vancouver Island craft beer too!

Eli Adair

Love this place, great food, service and value. Highly recommend

Theresa Ogden

Great food, but a little packed for my taste. Decor is quite dated. Server was in a huge rush to clear us out, 45 minute before closing. My meal was great, but when my mother's wasn't the server kept trying to interject with a very "I'm so sorry" script. It was quite obvious that she didn't care. If you're going to go, don't order off the entree menu; get the sushi or a burger.

Nadine T (audichick)

Don't order miso soup, too salty to consume, as well as cream chowder soup - it was way too blended, with black pepper puddles floating in the plate; coctails are mediocre; the noise levels are quite bad, as the building is old, and the design is outdated ... the service is 3/5, nothing special, with washroom toilet seat broken, and black something sitting on it, not coming back

shawn joz

Darn good sushi. Darn good view. Go Darn it!

Jeff Penny

We really enjoyed our lunch here. I got the 1 piece Halibut & Chips and everything was done really well and really fresh. We appreciated that they were attentive and sincere when trying to help us with our Gluten allergies.

Brian Cross

I love this place. Down to Earth service, incredible sushi, and a variety of food to tickle everyone's fancy. Nice decor, but PLEASE turn down the terrible lighting. Ambiance needs improvement.

Tanya Bananas (Redbananas)

Dine in

P N

Best restaurant with a great variety on the menu and amazing fresh sushi! The staff are friendly, attentive and covid measures in place for a safe dining experience. I would highly recommend firehouse for any dine in or take out meals!

Travis Robinson

We came on whim, and were pleasantly surprised. Lots of staff, good options for everyone on the menu, and the food looked amazing and tasted just as great. A good portion for the cost. We'll definitely be back.

Jessica L.

The food was tasty but a bit too unorthodox at times - I had a half order of assorted sashimi (mostly different preparations of tuna and salmon plus shrimp, which was odd as the server confirmed with me that the assorted was not just tuna/salmon), a Thai Fusion roll and a Root Down roll (topped with kimchi, which was tasty but pickled as opposed to fermented). Service was lacking, though - I was never offered a refill on my water, for instance. It was worth it for the novelty though.

Jeff Wagner

Pretty good! Friendly staff, good food and a great selection (anything from sushi to steak)

Camille Dick

Always love this place. The weekend buffet brunch is well worth it’s cost, especially if you are into seafood. Only change I would suggest is adding more dairy free desserts

Axel Funk

The food was great the staff were very friendly! Only complaint is that the portion sizes could be a bit more considering the price.

Patricia O'Brien

Great service here ! The view overlooking Nanaimo is really nice too. Food is always great - get the 'chef's choice' sushi! Always fantastic!

Scot Ranney

Covid dining is a strange experience, but our waiter was amazing. He was friendly and helpful. The food was delicious, and prices were reasonable. We will definitely be back!

Emi B

It was amazing, always good, always fresh. Our server was on point. The presentation really sold it. The server helped compliment our choices with some recommendations met with open mouths and stellar review. Go to the fire house and GET STUFFED! :) Support Local

Michael Poole

Dinner

Graham Bergey

We had just made the long trip from Banff and were starving, the wife ordered the black and blue pasta with seared tuna. It was cooked perfectly, the sauce creamy, the sirloin grilled spot on. I ordered the tenderloin with seared tuna, and I don't think I've had a better meal with the meat again spot on but the wine sauce was delicious. Waitress was kind, inquisitive, and quick with our drinks. Will definitely be going back.

D G

The sushi was unexpectingly amazing. Some dishes were also unexpectingly spicier than I thought. Dining was a bit dim -- only the center of our table was partially lit. Overall seemed dim in general. Atmosphere was very ambient though. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable of other places around town when we asked for suggestions.

Mandie Barker

Sushi was fresh and delicious. Room was crowded at dinner so it was very noisy. Reservations are recommended especially if you want to sit by the window and have a view of the Bay. Didn't care for the taste of some of the margarita options...tasted like they had little alcohol in them. Service was just average.

Dolores Gentil

Best sushi we’ve ever had! ???? just fantastic arrangement of flavours, beautiful to look at and eat, freshest ingredients, just loved it ! and tempura was excellent too .. not to mention the view and the best service ! Thanks so much ! Sydney

daniel fel

This restaurant is great! We stopped in there for a quick lunch with the kids, and thoroughly enjoyed it! The building is cool, the waitresses are friendly, and the food was delicious!

Meghan

Absolutely love the sushi here. Always a good spot to eat. Just bring a warm sweater, it gets cold in there during the winter.

Tosha Patterson

This place was really really wonderful. We were accommodated every single moment, from being seated right away at the bar so we could get our orders in while a table was being cleared, to being met with patience and humor when we spilled one of our drinks. The food was so good. I had the seafood jambalaya, which was spicy and just a delicious blend of flavors, and the perfect thing to eat after a long day working. Our drinks were delicious as well, really well made cocktails. Waitstaff very friendly, very communicative. And the layout of the place is spacious and relaxing. We had a great time! Thanks so much!

Jessica Bermel

Terrible experience tonight. Hostess left us at the front door for 5+ minutes only to come back and tell us they were full and not accepting more tables? I'm sorry what? No option to wait or explanation. Won't be back.

Olivia D'Alessandro

Service was great and drinks were good, but the food just wasn't up to par. The steak in the Black and Blue pasta was so tough my girlfriend couldn't chew through it, and my Halibut was quite overcooked and dry. The Miyagi prawns and jalapeño popper roll were quite tasty, but great appetizers do not make up for disappointing mains.

Jon Sinclair

Don't be fooled by the fancy building, this place is terrible. Seems to be run by people who think if you have a nice-looking restaurant, you don't have to worry about providing good food. The menu is confused, and the dishes are overpriced and weird. They can't seem to decide what kind of restaurant they want to be, do you want sushi? Or burgers? How about curry sushi? The food, once it arrives is underwhelming and bland. The miso soup I ordered even tasted rancid, as though it had spoiled. I'll never go back here.

Aman Randhawa

Great atmosphere, excellent service, delicious pulled pork. Killer sushi. Will be back.

Kimber Bradbury

Phenomenal food. Rough area though.

Tayna Ellie

Always love the Firehouse Grill, the owners Mike and Dean take obvious great pride in the menu, and ambience in this amazing very historical brick building in the city centre. Personally, I love the Hookah flash fried roll with delicious mango salsa, or the Woodstock with yummy tuna!!!

Matt Pollock

The food was exquisite! Super nice selection! I had the chowder, it was fabulous and nigiri, tuna and sea eel both very good! And the prawn dish, I forget the name of it but it was delicious!! I highly recommend this restaurant!

Jatayu Gayakvad

The Firehouse Grill offers good service and a good menu. It also offers a good selection of sushi which I have not yet tried and it has a very good view of down town. The one problem is that I could not find handicapped access. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the different food items.

Andre Blanchard (Heimbad)

Lunch for two yesterday. It was very busy; the restaurant was almost full. #1. Service: Despite the workload, were seated immediately by the courteous serving staff, and quickly brought menus and water. Immediately after ordering, I realised that we were pressed for time to make the ferry, and asked the waitress who had served us for an ETA on our meal, and mentioned our situation. She reported to me that she had asked the cook to put a rush on it. I've never known a restaurant to do such a thing. Stellar service, wonderful interaction. #2. Food: Then we were blown away by the meal. California rolls and an avocado appetiser for her (though she had me try one of each) and a "Big Willy Burger" with a side of roasted potatoes for me (she tried the potatoes and gave her approval). All of the above were absolutely stellar. When I got home (a two hour drive away, since I don't live in Nanaimo) I could still taste the burger, and I just wanted another one. End Statement: Quite probably the best dining experience I've had in a restaurant. I can't wait to go again.

Rebecca Staynor

Jeff the owner makes a mean cocktail! Very friendly and passionate about his business ! Just what I love about a local business.

Kimberlee Wenner

The service was excellent, the food delicious and tasty. The ambiance awesome!

Sheila Dowson

Dinner

Chuck Saffin

The food was good, the space is nice, it's just a shame they don't have a single veggie option as a main. Some veggie rolls that were yum, but too bad on options

Rodrigo Q. T. Mayer

Service was very attentive, food was great, the ambient and location were very good and convenient. I really recommend this place.

Caitlin Karlowsky

Best drink I've ever had here, called the firehouse comfort or something? It's to die for., Amazing sushi! Such a great fun menu!

Maria Baranova

The hostess on shift was utterly incompetent and turned away a significant amount of customers while we were waiting on our table to be ready. In our section, there were 6 empty tables that could have been filled by the groups of people the hostess turned away. Once we got our table, our waitress was awesome. She came by to check on how we were doing often but was not overbearing. The food tasted pretty good but when we received our appetizers, the edemame was hot but our fried shrimp was cold. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food, they just need to work better on prepping dishes at the proper time to avoid cold food and hire a new hostess.

Shayla Scott

I wasn't sure what to order for sushi so I asked what the chef selection was. I picked the 2 selection and it was incredible. The service was outstanding and the atmosphere was nice. A little loud because it is an open space, but worth the noise! Not your standard sushi.

Diane Dawson

Went to pick up at the time they gave and had to wait 20 minutes. They forgot a few things and after 18 minutes standing there the staff told me “not to worry” ??? Food was average at best

Dani Hofer

Great atmosphere and great food, sashimi was very fresh and there were some interesting sushi rolls you don't see at your typical sushi restaurant. Not for the penny saver

Derek Clarke

The 3rd degree ice cream cake is phenomenal. I had the fish and chips and was not disappointed.

Aaron Quesnel

The food looked amazing but with covid and no reservation we we're unable to eat there.

Bb

Great food, awesome presentation, cool place, & friendly staff! Thanks for making our family birthday dinner fun and memorable.

Corey K

Decent food. If you order the halibut fish and chips bring your own tartar sauce. They don't carry any. Good atmosphere and quality of food for the price is good!

Laura Field

Four of us went there for dinner about a month ago. We had an amazing seat by a large window! The cocktails are creative, and there are many options to choose from. The food is very fresh tasting, and innovative as well. They call last call for food a bit early as they close at 9 pm. It is a an awesome spot! I will be back!

Amanda Emery

I had the breaded prawns that were too tough to get my fork through. That came with a bit of dry lettuce and was $15. The prawns were clearly from the grocery store and reheated, then reheated some more. When I let the server know about my dissatisfaction, there was no discount given. I would not recommend nor return.

Tara Sokoloski

It was a very pleasant experience the ambience was decent the staff were very friendly the prices are average and the food was very good. I had the seafood fettuccine which was an excellent and my friend had the fish and chips which were very good. I would definitely recommend it

Cooper Olm

Not a good setup for disabled people especially in wheelchairs. The ramp access is tight and although a nice historical location, it's on a hill so manual chairs are a challenge.

Tara Mike

The food here was very good and I loved their sushi as well as their burgers and sandwiches. However the thin that made our visit special was our super friendly and funny waitress! She made our experience great! Thanks!

Millennial Acres Chickens

Went to Naniamo on a work trip and was recommended to go to Firehouse Grill. It's in a brick building which is supposedly an old firehouse. It has an excellent atmosphere with lots of exposed brick inside and a craft beer pub feel with a family friendly vibe. A large group of us went and got great service, and everyone really enjoyed the food. I would definitely recommend this place!

victor saarinen

We had our Christmas staff party there and thank goodness the food was paid for by our company because I would of sent it back and walked out. It was disgusting and everyone agreed that was there on how horrible it was! We had a selection of chicken, roast beef, salmon, veggies, and rice. The chicken had no flavor and was over cooked, the roast beef was extremely dry and over cooked, you would sit there and half to chew a piece for 20 minutes just to be able to swallow it. It was the worst out of everything and also very bland. The salmon was again over cooked and tasted like biting into a lemon. YUCK! and the rice was bland and gross and the veggies hard with no flavor. It was my first time there and I wont ever be back and would refuse to spend a dime on that so called food... I rather pay to eat out of a garage bin. The only thing that was good was how romantic the decor is, it makes you feel like your in Manhattan. It is started snowing out which made it even more romantic... until we ate. Also took 2 hours to get our food..

Angeline Sewell

Good service. I'm going to call it Zombie Sushi. It's a very very western interpretation of sushi. If you're looking for good traditional sushi this is not the place to find it. If you normally don't like sushi this may be the place for you.

Natasha Zadra

Alexandra and Erika were our servers. Friendly and excellent service. The steak and dry ribs were awesome. Drinks were interesting and delicious. The four guys at one table and four girls at the other but combining the bills into couples was no problem. Highly recommended.

Leighanne Nelson

Great place! Amazing sushi!

Jonathon Dagg-Coljee

Good food and great service. We stopped here for dinner and were not disappointed.

Justin J

Delicious food, friendly service, great view.

Perfect Host Cleaning Service

Meal type

alex prendergast

If your looking for an amazing staff that go above and beyond to please you and make you feel welcomed then you've found it! They have amazing food selections from steak to sushi my recommendation is to get the chefs choice for sushi and the drinks are amazing!

Kelly Johanson

Dine in

Dallas Sandvik

Never once have I left this place disappointed (I do order the same sushi roll every time, but that’s beside the point). Cool atmosphere, amazing food, good drinks, friendly staff.

Trina White

Awesome! The food, drinks, location, interior, exterior, service - all were great!

Bob Lord

Food and service were excellent; however it is difficult to carry on a quiet conversation due to the acoustical properties of the building. (love that you can order 1/2 servings). Everything was good but found it a little noisy for talking. Food was plentiful and very attractive.supposed tob a treat.

Alicia H

First time here. My friend took me. Great staff and amazing food will definitely come back next time on the island

Rob Binning

What can I say, this place is ranked in the top 3 in nanaimo in my books!! Food and service was great! Enjoy

Ilze Callow

Great place to have lunch and dinner. The food here is always amazing. The sushi here is phenomenal with a western twist. Burgers are big and tasty and the halibut is always really fresh and not overly greasy. Servers and bar staff are always friendly and easy to talk to.

J Waugh

A very busy place. Been here a couple times. Fairly decent food. Advise to make reservations. I tried calling for a day and a half and had to physically go there to be able to talk to someone to make a reservation. Friendly staff. Gotta try them atleast once!

Kat Ka

Well let’s just say it’s worth the almost two hour drive from my place. Great atmosphere and view. Omg it was so good. I’m cheap however this is worth every penny

Nata Sha

I was only in town for a few days and ended up having sushi TWICE from here. Soooooo good! Super fresh ????

David Coutu

Went here with some coworkers and we devoured all the sushi rolls. The waitress recommend we try the following rolls (shown in the picture), and some appies. We lost track of which roll was which, but we adored them all. Presentation of al the food was lovely as well, as they put all our food on one giant silver platter.

Jessica Muraca

Service was slow, lunch took about 90 minutes from time we were seated until we received our bill. Food was good and they gave us a free appy to make up for the long wait.

Tom Zieba

Great sushi. Lots of food for your money. Very cool setting and atmosphere.

Julie Hagner

The best sushi I think I've ever had! Such a nice atmosphere, wonderful staff, deliciously exquisite martinis. The menu is so creative and every peice of sushi I had was deliciously unique. Definetely going back there when I feel I want to splurge and have a WONDERFUL meal (and service)

Keishi Exell

Great location and impeccable service. I highly recommend the jambalaya.

Joy Williams

Service

Shawna Eskesen

20mins to flag someone down for a drink, 30 for appys 57min for Jambalaya dinner. I stepped out for a smoke because everything took so long and got back in with our food just sitting on our table after we told our server where we were going. Good food, tasted great as did the drinks but server was not attentive and seemed irritated that she had to help us. As my hubby was going to washroom while we waited for someone to acknowledge us for our tab at the cash till, the cook shouted to a server,"did he just take off?" Referring to my hubby thinking he left without paying? As I still stood waiting for the bill. This was supposed to be a romantic night at the Keg but there was no parking there so we tried this place. We wont be back. The only frienly experience was the long blonde hair server.

Blair Carson

Nice, well executed casual fare. The Kitchen Sink Salad was good as was the Chicken Burger. Funky décor, they offer a late lunch. Service was good. I can't believe they charged me for a little extra salad dressing.

Synfinite Channel

Amazing food and service in this beautifully converted brick fire house! The sushi here is better than Vancouver's best and the pasta and steak dishes are delicious. A must try in Nanaimo.

Clay Venne

Amazing atmosphere, the food is perfect. Staff is very friendly. Would definitely recommend this place to everyone!

Barbara Webb

Make sure you have a reservation, but you can't go wrong here! We arrived on a Thursday and we were surprised we had to wait. The waitstaff offered to put us on a waiting list and we are glad we said yes! I had the salmon and it was amazing in everyway! My boyfriend had the steak. He has been in Canada for about 1.5 years and said it was the best steak he ever had in Canada. Staff was so friendly and attentive! Thansk for a great meal!

Rayna James

One of the best restaurants in Nanaimo, hands down. Great atmosphere and staff. And the sushi... If you feel like having some westernized sushi, with real crab, this place is the bomb.

Cruz Murray

Had fish and chips the chips are to Spicy Tartar sauce was way too spicy colsolw OK but needed some work fish was good

Karen Schmidt

We got chefs choice and an inferno roll. Was so yummy. Place was really busy so it was a bit of a wait, but so worth it. The guy working the sushi bar was super cute too ;)

James Maxwell

Great beer and better burgers, firehouse grill is easily one of Nanaimo’s best spots, just be mindful of the zombies in the area, however nothing firehouse can do about that!

Jessy Manly

A few friends and myself went to the Firehouse Grill. I have never been before and unfortunately my first time experience was not the best first impression. Me and 3 other friends arrived at 8pm, seated and waters all around. We ordered all alcoholic beverages and then our meal. For two plates of sushi and two plates of pasta...we didn't get our meal until 9:45pm... done eating at 9:55pm. Not to mention the Caesars drinks were very disappointing. I felt bad for our waitress Christina for I know she has no control over the kitchen, (I am a server myself), she even brought out little chips for us to munch on while we waited. However almost 2 hours for food isn't ideal. Luckily we didn't need to be anywhere afterwards.

Bill Newman

I have called this restaurant 26 times in the past 2 days in an attempt to make a reservation and I have yet to get through to someone. Normally, this would not be a huge issue and I would just show up, but I know that the firehouse grill is very busy and it is impossible to get a seat without a reservation especially on a Friday night. I am infuriated as It is my anniversary and I wanted to take my boyfriend here but due to this issue I will now be taking him somewhere else. Not impressed at all

Doris Madigan

Had dinner at the bar a couple of nights this week. Great food (if you are not worried about expenses, ie. on a 'per diem' thing) and friendly folks. Definitely worth trying. If google tells you is it closed (an ongoing problem according to employees) ignore google if it doesn't make sense (ie. closed on a thursday night before a long weekend?) or just give them a call to confirm.

Rudolf Mack

Sushi and sashimi are on point. Best ive had so far on the island. Price is fair and service is great

Michelle Brown

The service, food, atmosphere and prices at Firehouse are all bang on. I order the "Chef's choice" and couldn't have been happier with my choice. The presentation was decadent and the food was delicious. Shout out to Craig Dines and Greg Weller for making a dining pleasure. 10/10 would recommend.

Sigal Smith

Excellent food and service! The sushi is as tasty as it is decadent and the fish and chips are absolutely delicious too with the great house tartar sauce. Highly recommended ????

Skipper

I have no qualms about recommending the Firehouse Grill at all. The food was excellent, the servers were attentive and I don't remember the bill so that means it wasn't an exorbitant price.

Trav Bach

Went in at a slow time service was slow. Drinks took 20 mins to come. If I based it on just food 5 stars

Meghan Mills

Great sushi and atmosphere right downtown nanaimo! Excellent service and drink menu. Very inventive, fusion style.

Lydia Umney

Actually the best restaurant in Nanaimo, I've eaten sushi at just about every place and if you're a vegetarian you'll be DELIGHTED at what they can do on the Chef's choice sushi platter. You can eat here, 2 people for around $40 if you don't get alcoholic drinks. The value was phenomenal and the decor, waitress and view out the window were perfectly pleasant. The cooks know what they're doing, clearly and have actual pride in what they are making. So many times at restaurants you can tell the chefs are just routinely throwing stuff together not really caring how it comes out for you. Here you can tell they are making things that they'd eat and enjoy themselves. Make a reservation if you want to get a good seat or go early before dinner for the best experience. This place has the best dollar to value ratio in Nanaimo, period.

Samantha McConnell

I'm so glad we made a reservation here. We tried to walk in the night before but they were full due to reduced seating capacity. Our server was courteous and pretty quick for dealing with many tables. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious. We found the portions perfect. Enough you could have a three course meal (shared appie and dessert) and feel comfortably full but not over stuffed.

Brother Barradol

Good beer selection and excellent sushi! Will definately return the next time I'm in town.

H. Steven Coote

Great food, staff very friendly and helpful! Sushi and other pub fare with their firedust sprinkled for effect. Would definitely recommend. A little on the pricey side but it is a tourist destination. Covid friendly!

Brendan Gallagher

Amazing service and the best fish and chips in town. Highly recommended!!

Joanne Raymond

Came for sushi. It was awesome. Was back & the fighting Buddha Roll wins again. Not what I consider normal sushi, and I loved it

Riley Dagg

Food is amazing but go WELL before you feel hungry. I've been twice and both times my food took 45+ minutes.

Chuck Velie

Always love it here such a vibe I be how I be

Thomas Darling

Fire House is a must visit. Unique Japanese and Western infused menu, super cozy dining, and friendly wait staff. Contemporary restaurant in a building full of history. I enjoyed the black and blue tatake tuna and crab stuffed avocado. Yum!

K. Martin

Not the best experience, took almost an hour for our food, my second coffee had to be sent back, cause it was very watery thought as the server was pouring it, it might have been mistaken for the tea pot. In the 45-60 min wait the server only came to our table once. The food was "ok" this experience probably won't bring me back!! To bad, the first time was much better!

J Wolfmoon

Whether we eat in or take out I'm always amazed by the taste and quality of sushi here! They are also supporting our efforts to be more green and let us bring our own containers in for pickup! My favourite restaurant in Nanaimo!

Bj Strymecki

First time going to Firehouse. Looked great based on reviews. Service was ok (ordered takeout as restaurant was at capacity). The food (ordered sashimi, tempura and rolls) was absolutely brutal. Worst sushi We’ve ever experienced. Bar food at best. Very poor presentation and not fresh at all. Can’t believe this meal was 60 bucks.

Craig Harris

Food was good! Waiting for a table took ages, it's best to reserve a table if you plan to go. They don't have AC and it was very hot inside. It was also so noisy I couldn't hear my own thoughts let alone the music or the conversation with my party, not the restaurants fault, just loud patrons.

samuel coyle

Enjoyable fine dining in downtown Nanaimo at the Firehouse Grill. The decor is warm and eclectic. The incredibly high ceiling in the main dining room opens up the whole room, making it feel bright and expansive, while the upstairs room is nice and cosy. Our appetizers were well above average in quality. The Spicy Tuna Sashimi was buttery and delicious, and the Beef Tataki was tender and rare, with just enough sear... it was absolutely exquisite. The Jambalaya was spicy and tasty, the Smokin' Chicken Breast was very flavourful and the Black and Blue Pasta was an amazing dish. The Black and Blue Pasta sauce alone could stand on it's own as an a la carte peppercorn sauce for steaks. It's that good. Desserts are a very tough choice here. They all sound good. The Triple Chocolate Brownie with Bacon Ice Cream was pretty amazing. The brownie itself was the nicest I've ever tasted. The bacon ice cream was good, but I would like to try it with Nutella as an additional base ingredient to add more sweetness to better counterpoint the bacon. The Banana Fosters was simple, elegant and delicious. The Third Degree Ice Cream Pie is a study in contrasting textures and complementary flavours of chocolate, caramel and peanut butter that was a real surprise treat to eat. The peanut butter increases the density of the ice cream, while the tiny chocolate pieces give a delightful crunch. A really nice sensation. The service was above average. Money well spent.

D W

So much on this menu! Our food was delicious and the server really friendly. Building was very cool too

Gaiisi Vrugri

Decor had character and food has to be eaten frequently to cover the extensive menu. Guess it is to say we enjoyed it.

Rick Carlton

I'd eaten at Firehouse years ago and food was always slow but not too bad but last night was terrible. We had a reservation which got us seated pretty quickly and we had asked for a high chair, which was already at the table so that was great. We ordered fairly quickly and waited over an hour and a half for food, the baby's food came out about 5 mins after all the others... I felt bad for the server as she was doing her best with a lot of tables as other waitresses just stood around talking but the kitchen staff could obviously not keep up as for over an hour NOT ONE person in the dining room had food.... not impressed. The food was definitely not worth waiting for.

J A

Service

Francisco Comas

Food was good but the wings were not great

Erik Van Vliet

We had an awesome dinner there tonight. I had the black and blue pasta, my husband had the fish and chips, our friends had a variety of sushi, and a good time was had by all. The service was good, food was really delicious, and the building itself is a lovely old thing.

Loryn Morrissey

Everything I have tried from here Is absolutely delicious

Alesha Potter

Absolutely lovely service! The food was great minus the fries being extremely soggy (I read another review on the fries being soggy but ordered anyways to see for myself…they were pretty inedible). Nice atmosphere, and a great date night spot!

Deon Gregoire

Amazing food, atmosphere and service!

B

Great food selection, great sushi, and service is either top notch or pretty poor depending on the server. Beautiful interior and sophisticated feel.

Joan Yates

Sushi was really great and they also served pasta/sandwiches/salads so there were lots of choices for everyone in our party. They also had a kids menu. The service was great and it had a fun atmosphere. We would go again for sure!

A Google User

For interesting rolls, great tataki, and of course Miyagi's Magic Prawns, you can't go wrong at the Firehouse Grill. Well-made cocktails, lots of local (-ish) on-tap beer choices, plus seasonal specials = a full dining experience. If you're looking for a traditional sushi restaurant, this probably isn't your first choice. If you're looking for creative pairings, uniquely-flavourful sauces, meal-sized rolls, as well as the option for some more traditional rolls and sashimi, you're at the right place.

Anonymous Chipmunk

Same great food i remember.I was first there 5 years ago I just went back today since I was visiting nanaimo again

Tattersail Diamond

Great meal relaxed setting and pleasant service

The Rental House

First time post covid, fabulous visit. Food was as always top notch. Our waitress Hannah was fantastic and made it a great experience. Recommend this to anyone looking for awesome fusion sushi with a chill, laid back, yet classy atmosphere.

Steve S

It's that time again to support locally by ordering takeout delivery. I just had the best meal ever from Firehouse Grill, delivered on time & hot. I ordered the Halibut Fish & Chips, batter was light & crisp. Salt & Pepper Ribs , yummy morsels. Crispy hot sauce wings to die for...the special limited offfer was a slice of cheese cake, my choice " Chipotle " , a nice touch to complete the meal. Thank you Firehouse Grill for the great service.????

Dan Barber

I will eat here again!! I have quite a few allergies and they were really accommodating! Often when I ask to modify food staff gets annoyed and rude; not here! My food was Incredible. Reasonably priced for the quality and truly delicious.

raven gagnon

Server was super nice and the food/drinks were very good! Definitely worth checking out!

jacky caverly

Great food, and excellent service. The best kids meal we've ever had. It's rare to find even a moderately upscale place that knows how to cater to families, but the firehouse grill did an excellent job. One star off for the sushi being a bit overpriced, and my fish and chips being not as crispy as I like.

Max Rowe

Delicious Caesars to drink & I cannot go here without getting the Myagi Magic Prawns. There is something for everyone on the menu but the sushi is where it is at! Divine!

Hailey Morgan

Great views and great food. Sushi is amazing and love that there is also an option for rice paper wraps for those who don’t like seaweed wraps. Great atmosphere. There are a lot of homeless on the lawn area but don’t let that persuade you to not come in. It is worth it

Jon Thompson

Love firehouse!! There's definitely something on the menu for everyone. Service has been fantastic each time we've been even when we were the only table on the upper floor. Sushi is specialty - not the run of the mill that you can find anywhere - and is FANTASTIC!

2VANPLAN Van stuff

Always a great experience at Firehouse! I personally go for the sushi but everything I've had on the menu is prepared perfectly. Definitely one of the best spots in Nanaimo.

James Mules

Food was very mediocre and not worth the price. You could not tell that the tempura was supposed to be tempura without being told. The atmosphere of the building itself is nice though, but there isn’t a lot of room.

Cara Nudd

Lovely team. Food OK. Should have gone for sushi as everyone else was loving it.