Located in the heart of downtown Nanaimo, Modern Cafe is a historic heart of the Harbour City.
Since 1946, the Cafe is seen the downtown’s ebbs and flows, having become a centrepiece of the resurgence of Commercial Street. The classic 1940’s refurbished neon sign serves as a beacon to the location. While at first glance the retro features of the restaurant space could be a kitchy, all-flash, no-substance but once you know the history isn’t put-on, and the menu is right on you’ll be back for more.
On a work trip to Nanaimo, a colleague and I stopped at Modern Cafe and were pleasantly surprised by the result. The ample sidewalk patio, and the fairly quiet street, makes sitting outside on a sunny day a relaxing break from your day. The lunch menu included a lot of comfort foods, that from the looks of the plates coming from the kitchen, making the choice difficult. The daily fresh sheet added more choices and we both selected hand-helds from the list. My chicken club on focaccia was fresh and satisfying, the soft house-made bread nicely surrounding the nicely cooked chicken and fresh greens. My colleague’s chicken curry wrap was flavourful and filling too. The crispy fries were the nice side, the salads looked good as well.
If you’re in the Harbour City, take the time to venture downtown and check out Modern Cafe and see why they’ve been feeding the locals for nearly 70 years.
Modern Cafe is located at 221 Commercial Street, Nanaimo BC
visit themoderncafe.ca or phone (250)754-5022 for information