Best of qathet: Food & Restaurants

Best take out / delivery

#1 Genki Sushi

#2 Thaidal Zone

#3 Zab Dee Kitchen / Royal Zayka

Best coffee / espresso bar

#1 32 Lakes

#2 River City Coffee

#3 Base Camp

Best coffee scene

#1 River City Coffee

#2 Base Camp

#3 32 Lakes

Best grocery store solution for a busy night

#1 QF Chinese food

#2 Save On Foods rotisserie chicken

#3 Pacific Point to-go meals

Staff notes: Like Best Meal Under $10, the grocery store solution aims to save you $$ and fill your belly – without over-relying on deep-fried deliciousness.

Best meal for under $10

#1 Sushi from Townsite Grocery

#2 A&W

#3 Pacific Point to-go meals

Staff notes: Each year, this category gets loads of comments such as “hahahaha” and “none.” We are a bit gobsmacked (and also very thrifty), because we have no trouble finding really great food here for under $10. Top staff votes go to the salad bar at Quality Foods ($8.99 for a huge salad with loads of ingredients you can choose, served in a vast, stainless steel bowl for dine-in); Magpie’s “get up and go” breakfast special, served 8:30 to 10 am every day for $8.50, and the spinach, feta & egg white wrap at Starbucks, which is tasty, nutritious and filling for about $5.

Best pizza

#1 Paparazzi Pizza

#2 Wildwood Pub

#3 Granada Restaurant

Best fish & chips

#1 The Boardwalk

#2 Monks on Marine

#3 Forest Bistro

Staff notes: The Boardwalk has held this title since the inception of this contest in 2016 and deservedly stays on top. But two new players have rocketed into the second and third spots, on the strength of wonderfully flaky fish and delightfully rich and creamy tartar sauces. Some people think that fish n’ chips is a oncea-year treat. If you live here, or if you’re visiting here, just don’t be those people. This is a summer to compare and contrast.

Best salad

#1 Coastal Cookery – Backwoods Greens

#2 Monks on Marine – Steak Salad

#3 River City Coffee – River City Salad

Best burger

#1 Monks on Marine

#2 A&W

#3 Coastal Cookery

Best steak

#1 Seasider

#2 Forest Bistro

#3 Laughing Oyster

Best appie

#1 Coastal Cookery – Humboldt Calamari

#2 Costa Del Sol – Poblano Frites

#3 Monks on Marine – Crab Cakes

Best cocktail

#1 Coastal Cookery – Salish Caesar

#2 Costa Del Sol – Margarita

#3 Iguanas – Margarita

Best dessert – restaurant

#1 Costa Del Sol – Key Lime Pie

#2 Shinglemill – Bear Tooth Pie

#3 Dairy Queen – Blizzard

Best dessert – store

#1 Just Soul Food – Twix Bar

#2 Hearth & Grain – Lemon Tart

#3 Save On Foods – Tuxedo Cake

Best vegetarian or vegan

#1 Royal Zayka

#2 River City Coffee

#3 Costa Del Sol

Best restaurant for a birthday / anniversary splurge

#1 Laughing Oyster

#2 Coastal Cookery

#3 Seasider

Best kid-friendly

#1 Magpies

#2 Wildwood Pub

#3 Julie’s Airport Cafe

Best restaurant for atmosphere

#1 Coastal Cookery

#2 Costa Del Sol

#3 Laughing Oyster / Wildwood Pub

Best patio

#1 Seasider

#2 Costa Del Sol

#3 Shinglemill

Staff notes: The Seasider’s already excellent patio is getting an upgrade, as construction is almost complete on a pergola, perfect for the fair-skinned among us who love a patio, but hate sunburns.

Best Place to Drink

#1 At Home

#2 Wildwood Pub

#3 Townsite Brewing

Best place to recover from a hangover

#1 In bed

#2 Magpie’s Diner

#3 Julie’s Airport Cafe