Discovery Room - Nanaimo

I have been going to the Discovery Room for decades. It has always been a lovely oasis of quiet & calm where lovely food is served at moderate prices. The Culinary Arts student prepare the meals. The territorial views from the windows take in Nanaimo, the harbour, & the coastal mountains in the background.A friend & I recently went for lunch. I made reservations as this restaurant in quite small & is often completely booked. We were seated at a table by the window & enjoyed the view. Service was very efficient & courteous. I have some allergy issues. The waiter went through the menu with me to make a few minor changes to my order. We were served an Amuse Bouche: Tempura Clams & Radish Salsa on a porcelain spoon. It was delicious bite for the palate. For my appetizer, I had the Sous Vide Lamb Round: rosemary reduction & portobello mushroom ragout $6.95. It was beautifully plated. The contrast in texture between the lamb & mushrooms was delightful. For the main course I had Grilled Top Sirloin Steak With Beet & Ginger Scented Rice & Tender Crisp Carrots, Green Beans, & Brussel Sprout Leaves. $13.95. The steak was perfectly cooked. Rare as ordered. The rice & vegetables complimented the meat perfectly. Dessert was included with the meal. It was made to order. The plate was a work of art with Chocolate Souffle, Chocolate Ice Cream on a bed of chocolate crumbs, teardrop shaped Blackberry Coulis, & a Fruit Salsa. The combination of flavours were outstanding. I enjoyed a glass of Argentine Malbec, $7 with my meal. My friend had Borcht $6.95, Par Smoked Cinnamon Scented Salmon, & the same dessert. She enjoyed her meal. We both agreed that we will be back for another exquisite lunch at the Discovery Room, very soon.

My friend & I had a wonderful luncheon experience at the Discovery Room in April. I was so pleased with with it that when my husband asked where I would like to go for my birthday lunch, I said the Discovery Room at VIU. We were seated by the windows so, we could enjoy the expansive territorial, water, & mountain views. We each ordered a delicious meal of Thai Mussels in Green Curry for the appetizer, Rabbit Ballontine ​with herbed polenta, butternut squash mash, asparagus, & spicy braised purple cabbage for the main. Dessert was included. It was a Molten Lava Cake with Raspberry Sherbet. Everything was beautifully presented & the service was charming & efficient. The menu prices were very inexpensive for the quality of the food. What a birthday treat!

Our group of 4 had a lovely meal at the Discovery Room. I had an easy time booking via email. Although the menu is small there is plenty of variety and the food was very good. The faculty went above and beyond finding out about food sensitivities/allergies and making sure to explain the menu to us. The service by the students was great. The dining experience is a neat opportunity for the students and diners. The view over Nanaimo is beautiful too. We will definitely return.

The Discovery Room is small and requires advanced booking except when you don't. Phone ahead to be certain you can get a seat. The food is first class and served in healthy (small) portions. Service is excellent. The wines are local and very well matched to the cuisine.

We made our dinner reservations in late December for an early February dinner. The venue is very small, it is only open for 3 evenings during the short school season, hence reservations well in advance are mandatory. On a rainy night, finding the closest parking and deciphering the parking regulations was not easy, even though we have been there in previous years. Once inside, the warm welcome from the student servers, and the quality of the meal preparation and presentation made up for the parking inconvenience. The menu is not extensive, nor is the wine selection, but prices are very reasonable, the quality is high and serving sizes perfectly planned.