melange restaurant

I would have given 5 stars, but they were out of a few of the menu items we really wanted to try (likely, because they're that good)
The chicken picatta pasta is probably the best pasta dish I've ever tasted

Great service. Amazing food. Would recommend the beetroot hummus appy.

A great find for lunch! We got a spot on the outdoor patio at this downtown restaurant, and the food was amazing and reasonable price. They serve Korean and Spanish food. No oysters because of a red tide, but the chef recommended the Tuna Poke, and the sauce on it was amazing. You can tell they really care about their customers.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food is excellent, and the owner is present at the restaurant. The waitress is very cute and sweet.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Patio vibe is awesome, food is definately not fine dinning as it stated. Service is just bad until they serve u the bill.

The next day I tried next door Modern Cafe, is definitely next level good good and service.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 1

The cocktails are great as is the food. I ate mostly appy’s/tapas to get as much variety as possible the scallops were exquisite as was the beef cheek and octopus. In my short visit to Nanaimo-I dined here twice. Yumm.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Impressive wine list. Very good food and excellent service. The tapas were great.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Edit 4 years later: One of my favourite restaurants in town, my favourite date spot for sure. As burger connoisseurs, my partner and I think that Melange has the best meat AND vegetarian burgers on the Island! Also the service is the best, we love the owner he appears attentive, kind, and caring to all staff and customers!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We are visiting Van Isle for the summer, “reverse snowbirds” from Oregon. We love to try, and support, new and diverse eating places. We noticed Melange’s creative dishes and had to give them a try. They didn’t disappoint!

Although when we went the street was being worked on and no doubt will be worth it when done, sitting outside on a pleasant summer evening was delightful.

We were promptly seated with a cheerful greeting by Tracy. Supplemented by a nice beverage menu, the food options are eclectic with choices ranging from appetizers, “smallthings” (think tapas) to “bigger things” and fuller entrees to satisfy vegetarians, pescatarians, and omnivores (like me) for any appetite.

Accompanied by glasses of cava and pinot gris, we enjoyed seared scallops, mushroom burger and salad, and bun cha sliders (Vietnamese pork and shrimp). All were delicious and beautifully presented.

Tracy was friendly, attentive, and professional.

Thanks for a wonderful dining experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food was beautifully presented and tasty. Who knew a veggie burger could taste so good?

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The staff went above and beyond to make sure I had a wonderful birthday and were very accommodating of my party of 10. The food was amazing and the drinks were extremely delicious! I highly recommend

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Dear Chef,

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible dining experience at Melange. Your Omakase menu was an absolute delight and truly the highlight of our trip to Nanaimo. Each dish was a masterpiece, showcasing your talent and dedication to the culinary arts. Thank you for creating such memorable flavors and for the impeccable service that accompanied them. I look forward to visiting again soon and experiencing more of your exceptional creations.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

They were short staffed the night we were there, but the host, waitress, and bartender were all lovely. Cocktails were perfectly balanced. Delicious oysters. Had the duck and watched several folks get the lamb shank. Would go back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had excellent service and favorable mix of dishes. Lunch mid-week had very few customers, perhaps also partially due to the ongoing construction on Commercial Street.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Melange’s Beef Burger is next-level. That Westholme Farms all-beef patty was insanely juicy and flavorful — you can taste the quality. The thick-cut maple bacon added the perfect smoky sweetness, and the natural aged white cheddar was rich and melty without overpowering. The black & white sesame bun held it all together beautifully — soft but with just enough bite. Even without the tomato and arugula, it was pure satisfaction. The chipotle ranch aioli gave it a creamy, smoky kick, and the house pickles added just the right tangy crunch. Paired with crispy fries on the side? Hands-down one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5