Bonds Fish and Chips Nanaimo

Bond’s Fish and Chips, 1708 Bowen Road, is Nanaimo’s oldest existing restaurant, founded by Warner Bond in 1945 at a Nicol Street location. Today it’s still run by the same extended family and has a loyal clientel. The 10 tables are between the door and open kitchen. Plastic plants hang from the walls.

Needless to say, various incarnations of traditional English fish and chips occupy the bulk of the menu with one-piece cod and chips for $8.75 or halibut and chips for $9.75. Extra pieces of fish are strangely expensive at $6 or $7 each, so stick with one piece. If you crave something more exotic, there are fish burgers, chicken strips, and hamburgers. Lettuce and tomato on your hamburger is $2 extra. Everything comes with coleslaw and a dinner bun, but gravy costs extra. Dessert is homemade pie with ice cream at $4. The French fries served here are good and the fish isn’t bad either.

A takeout counter sells orders of fish and chips for a bit less than you’ll pay at a table (but keep your eye on the price of the fish). Bond’s is open Monday to Thursday from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm, Friday 11:30 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday noon to 6:30 pm, and Sunday 4 pm to 6:30 pm. Look for it in a strip mall on Bowen Road opposite Little Caesar’s Pizza.