Kelly's Kitchen Cafe — Restaurant in Nanaimo

Good place to go if you're looking for simple, uncomplicated fare - by which I do NOT mean to imply it somehow has lesser food, more that people who get tired of looking at menus full of "aioli" this and "artisan" that and "aged" this and "something something chutney" that and just want simple, uncomplicated, unpretentious fare... this place does it, and it does it well. Food is good, portions are fair, staff are quite nice.

I only have two issues:

Their hours are VERY short. I'd love to stop in after work for a bite but they're already closed.

The room seems to be built in the perfect way to amplify EVERYTHING. I've been a few times now and even when I went out of my way to go during a time when it should have been quiet - and it was, there were only a handful of other people in there - but even so, their voices were all carried and amplified by the room enough that it still made a conversation in normal tones impossible. And of course that means everyone raises their voice as the volume goes up, and the problem gets worse! It's not awful or anything, but you'd definitely want to consider somewhere else if you do want some peace and quiet...

I don't normally post reviews or at least I have it in the past, I waited to Kelly's on a whim today and just decided to order the special and didn't have massively high expectations for the food however, although it's always been good every time I've gone in there at least over 20 times over the years. Anyways something personall came up and I just needed to decide to get my food to go and, due to some personal circumstances I was waiting outside in tears. I managed to take my first bite maybe half hour after I left, and I need to tell you this is probably the best f** breakfast Ruben I have ever had, the staff accommodated me perfectly bringing condiments out and helping me take care of the payment outside, as I said and as you should be able to see in the photo the food is amazing I mean it's not often that you get home cooked hash browns and a Reuben on marble rye to boot. The fact that the owner is incredibly professional works on the floor busting his own tables and steps into the dishpit is the icing on the cake for me. I grew up here and have over 25 years experience serving tables so please consider this a professional opinion,...

Hands down the best food I have ever eaten! Its a small hidden away gem. I always order the clubhouse sandwich with cranberry sauce and fries, it is to die for! and comes to just under 10 dollars with taxes. My boyfriend has tried a few things on the menu and has loved every single one. Also if you order anything with bacon, its really good quality bacon and they give you loads of it! Which is like unheard of! I am actually gluten free but this is the only place I will deal with the consequences I get from eating gluten because it is just soo damn good. The cooks take pride in there work and put there heart and soul into the food they make, the servers are super friendly! I think other people have discovered this diamond in the rough and just how good there food is because they last 3 times we have gone its been really busy and a bit of a wait to get a table. But the food comes with in 15 minutes of ordering and is to die for! The only complaint is its only open till 3pm so when we go out for dinner we find ourselves cursing that we cant go to our favorite restaurant!! Oh and the prices are really cheap and you get...