Gary’s Bistro

Excellent & delicious! We sat on the back patio… Good little patio with good sun exposure. I had the seafood club (minus the extra piece of bread) and fries & gravy. Both were very very good, and there were nice big shrimp on the sandwich. My fiancé had one of the burgers (with blue cheese, jalapeño, etc) and it was also delish. He had the French onion soup (soup of the day) with his burger… Bit small in size he said, but it was tasty! Service was friendly. We will definitely stop in again if we’re hungry while passing through Qualicum :)

Awesome food atmosphere and kind service, couldn’t ask for
more for a first visit to Gary’s

Found Gary’s and what a find!!! The décor was great especially if you like cars. Not sure who parked the Cadillac in the restaurant but very cool none the less. Great menu lots of choices. Ordered one of the homemade burgers, it was one of the best burgers that I have had in a long time. Ordered the three cheese burger with bacon, I loved it and was a two handed burger and very flavourful. My wife had the clam chowder and was not disappointed either. Lots of flavour and veggies, bacon and clams. I would definitely recommend Daves.

Best omlette ever! I love the fact that they offer a simple omlette and you can choose the toppings. You can custom make your omlette and I am a sucker for salsa… which was one of the offered toppings… soo good! Service was friendly and polite. food tasted great. prices very reasonable. .and anyone who loves cars will love the atmosphere!!! Will definately come here again when I am in town!

In a perfect world, every visit to Qualicum Beach is topped off with a stroll through the picturesque downtown under sunny skies, topped off with a fresh meal prepared with local ingredients. Gary’s Bistro may not be as exotic as the nearby sushi restaurant or as upscale as a certain other bistro 694 a few doors up on Memorial Avenue, but its wide menu of seafood specialties, salads, and sandwiches is a main stay for hungry visitors and residents.
We came for a late lunch and ended up sharing two deep, cushy armchairs against the wall. Check out the rows of photographs featuring vintage cars, and keep an eye out for a really slick golden number driven by the most glamorous woman ever. While you wait for your order to be prepared, even the non-​car lover can get nostalgic looking at all those classics. In nicer weather, Gary’s offers patio seating and opens up some of their windows to let sea breezes roll right through.
Gary’s menu offers a diverse array of entrées with a special emphasis on local produce. Seafood gets high billing: the fish and chips comes with battered halibut (only for the very hungry) or cod, a daily special usually includes a grilled or baked option, and they do good fish tacos. Salads are quantitatively enormous. The bistro also features menu items from various ports of call, like a full Mexican selection of burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, several Greek items, and an Indonesian wrap. There is something for just about everyone.
Portions are definitely enough for two or three. After a day of beachcombing, I still had trouble finishing half of the Thai wrap I ordered. Staff is friendly and the service is a bit slow, but drink refills are rarely a problem. Substitutions are more than welcome, and our server offered her suggestions welcomely when I was torn between two entrée options. I’m glad I took her advice: the wrap was –huge-​, the sauce delicious, and the noodle salad it came with just enough to make me really need more.
A solid contender in a town where options range from greasy spoon to jaw-​dropping expensive, Gary’s Bistro hits the spot for lunch and dinner. Parking is tricky as everywhere in this area, so expect to have a bit of a walk.
**Special note**
Lots of local events are advertised, especially in the spring and summer. Ask the staff whether they are holding events in house or know where to go if you’re looking for an afternoon or evening getaway.

Pull up an armchair by the fire and order the absolutely fantastic chowder– they make it in-​house, and it’s full of veggies and clams.
The poutine was not great, that’s something to skip.
The best thing about the place is the staff, who are just about the nicest people ever. Ever? Ever.

Great food and atmosphere. The Classic Car theme is fun, with great street cruisin’ music being played.
I had the perogies which were amazing.

Great service and fantastic food off the Oceanview highway.
Going into this place was a fantastic choice despite all the really nice looking places in the area. The service was amazing, and the food was DELICIOUS!
I had the salmon burger with Teriyaki sauce and a salad.
The salad wasn’t your typical restaurant salad of green lettuce and one tomato. It was rice and plentiful with sprouts cucumber, and a homemade dressing. The salmon burger was an actual piece of salmon on a whole wheat bun. It was the messiest burger with the greatest taste.
This is definitely a must stop place during your trip on the Island, so make it yours.

Not sure of the address, but if you turn up off the Old Island Highway, at Qualicum Beach, and get into the actual town, you will find Gary’s Bistro on the second side street after the railroad tracks… turn right at that point. I tried it for breakfast, and it’s a gem… the place was packed, and no wonder! Good food, good service, and the WOW factor of all those classic cars on the walls… photos, plus an actual side view of a classic. Whoever owns Gary’s Bistro must be involved in the annual Father’s Day classic car show, held at Qualicum Beach… if you love cars, don’t miss this event! I checked out the menu items… seems like a winner for lunch and for dinner, too. I will definitely be back! If you are driving the Island Highway, then make this a stop on your journey… you’ll become a regular.