Deep Blue Restaurant Nanaimo

Café Casablanca at the Best Western Dorchester Hotel in downtown Nanaimo has been relaunched as Deep Blue. The décor is now mock Italian with marble Corinthian columns, running water wall hangings, pink carpets, yellow walls, and deep blue table clothes and chairs. The three crystal chandeliers add a touch of elegance. The view of the inner harbour from the tables is as good as ever and the multilingual staff is friendly.

The menu has been completely revamped. Appetizers now include calamari, oysters, mussels, clams, and prawns, all around $9.50. The emphasis on seafood continues into the entrees with boulliabase, tuna, halibut, sablefish, and wild salmon priced $22-24. The crab legs ($29) and lobster tails ($36) are to die for. Meat lovers aren’t ignored with New York steak, lamb surloin, pork chop, and duck breast ($23-26). Strict vegetarians could chose the grilled portbello mushrooms at $19. The five desserts are all $6.50.

You can also get a table d’hote of soup or salad, choice of three main dishes, and dessert for $28. Wines start at $26 a bottle. The meals are artistically prepared by a professional chef and the portions are generous. The sablefish (pictured here) which we ordered on our most recent visit was superb.

The Deep Blue Restaurant, 70 Church St., tel. (250) 739-5060, serves breakfast from 7 to 11 am, lunch from 11 am to 2 pm, and dinner from 5 to 9 pm. An a la carte Sunday brunch menu is available from 7:30 am to 2 pm. It’s best to call ahead for reservations to ensure that they really will be open, especially in the off season. Best Western Dorchester Hotel guests get a 15 percent discount on most menu prices. For that special evening out, Deep Blue doesn’t disappoint.