A wide array of food and drink offerings are being served up for special pricing over the next two weeks, part of the third Dine About Mid-Island. (Dine About/Camas Restaurant)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

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‘We saw a lot of traffic with Dine About:’ popular restaurant event returns across mid-Island

Jan 23, 2025 | 5:23 AM

NANAIMO — A two-week event highlighting the best in local food and fare continues to grow.

Dine About Mid-Island starts Thursday, Jan. 23 and runs until Feb. 9 with nearly three-dozen restaurants, cafes and other establishments from Ladysmith to Qualicum Beach offering specially priced items or fixed menus for diners.

Rachel Thompson, part of the management team at DEEZ Bar & Grill in Qualicum Beach, said this is the second year her restaurant will be participating in the event, which has been a hit elsewhere in the past.

“Like any other restaurant, this is more of our slow time but last year at this location and our others we saw a lot of traffic with the Dine About. It seems to be something that a lot of people know of…the amount of people I see walk through those doors it’s quite impressive how fast the word gets out.”

Thompson also works with Qualicum Beach Cafe and Nanoose Bay Cafe, with both establishments also participating.

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Each location will have unique items under a fixed-price three course menu, although some items can be swapped out for others for a small additional charge.

“We kind of ended up having offerings for anyone walking through the door, we have lots of vegetarians…or non, so we wanted to provide options for everyone. Lots of work went into [choosing the menu] with our team.

Thompson added the items chosen, including soups, pulled pork and burgers at Deez, reflect the vibe of each restaurant.

Lucas Griffin runs Chefs Course in Nanaimo, a private chef experience where clients can enjoy fine dining in their own home.

This year marks the third time he’s participated.

“First year was great, second year was great and this year it’s just getting bigger and better, more restaurants are jumping on board. I hear from my clients the value that’s being but forth from the restaurants and all the new foods that get to taste, the new restaurants that are popping up and using Dine About as a launch time to launch their new menus.”

The timing of the event is also huge, according to Griffin.

A post-holiday lull is typical in the hospitality sector with many businesses doing it tough until spring break travellers arrive.

“It’s really a time of year where restaurateurs, especially the local ones, tend to struggle a little bit with traffic after the holidays and people getting their bills. Being able to create this two week period where it’s all about the restaurants and supporting local as much as possible, this give everybody a chance to get out and about and check it out.”

Reservations are recommended to participating restaurants, with a full list of those involved available on the Dine About Mid-Vancouver Island website.

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