Fairwinds Bar & Grill - NANOOSE BAY

We've been coming for over 8 yrs, always enjoy our meals, and feel they try to keep portions a plenty, food quality and selection up with fresh sheets. If there's an issue with the food, which was very rare, we found the staff prompt and pleasant to deal with it.

We went early for the St. Patrick's Day buffet dinner, drawn in by the promise of Guinness and lamb. It was our first visit. Coming in the entrance I wondered if this was really the restaurant or if we'd wandered into the board room or something. The ambiance does more than whisper "Golf Club!" in your ear....When we were seated, graciously enough, I asked for a Campari & soda. No dice. Okaaay... not a sophisticated bar scene. Funny about golf clubs, that. They do have a wine menu -- and an easy one to choose from, if you get my drift. As I said, it was a buffet dinner. I half expected the usual excess of choices that sends me home overstuffed and underimpressed. Surprise! One salad choice (a rather nice mix of kale, snowpea shoots and other assorted greens with a good, if simple, vinaigrette dressing). Then 4 hot dishes: peas & carrots (as good as that ever gets), an Irish mashed potato/onions/cabbage mix that was a lot better than most mashed potato recipes, and two kinds of lamb: (1) slices of roast lamb smothered in onions and a delicious gravy; (2) lamb stew in Guinness gravy. The former was done perfectly -- actual rare lamb! How often do you get THAT in a buffet? The latter was absolutely delicious with the potato dish. Both were as tender as any lamb I've ever had. Then dessert: bread pudding and chocolate Guinness cake with whipped cream icing. Both were excellent! I don't think I've ever tasted such a good bread pudding. So the food was far, FAR better than I expected, despite the limited selection. The chef at Fairwinds apparently understands that quality is more important than selection or pretense. Bravo! The service was also unpretentious, but prompt and courteous. The music, however, sucked. St. Patrick's Day, you know. But they could have played a little U2. We'll be back to sample the chef's performance when there's a menu involved.

My wife and I used to go here every couple of weeks when it was called Bentz Lounge. Since this place has had new owners and changed its name, things have changed and not for the better. My wife had her favourite seafood chowder which comes with garlic toast. The bread used for the garlic toast has changed and was in her opinion, tasteless. The chowder was very thick and she was unable to finish a cup serving as the taste here had changed as well. There was actually fish skin in the chowder. Very Poor.I had my favourite clubhouse sandwich. Well, I enjoyed it at the time but when I got home having not eaten anything else my stomach was very upset. Obviously to me there was something quite off with the clubhouse.Safe to say, that will be our last meal at the Fairwinds Bar & Grill.

Had our son visiting from the Mainland so we wanted to share this bar/grill with him.We have visited this location in all seasons, in fact made the decision to move here just over a year ago sitting outside on the deck having a meal in the Summer of 2015!We love this place. Warm and welcoming atmosphere. Christmas three course meal menu in the decorated larger area or just have a meal in the smaller lounge area. Hours a little shorter due to off season for golfing etc but still good favorites and choices for a great meal out.We had drinks, enjoyed the fireplace log on the TV and our meal.I think they continue to make a great effort to provide an interesting menu with daily specials and also pick up/take out.It is great place to visit at any time of year and we appreciate not having to drive into other areas farther away from our home here in Nanoose Bay.Thank you for another enjoyable evening and meal an dour server Johanne! We will continue to return.

We come to the Fairwinds Bar & Grill on a regular basis. Since September, the meals have been fantastic! The new chef has special "platter for two" choices on Friday and Saturday nights that are to die for. Buffets have been wonderful as well. Our recent Christmas party was an example of an outstanding traditional Christmas dinner. Even the brussel sprouts were fantastic (and I don't usually like brussel sprouts). If you want to try this restaurant for dinner, go on a Friday or Saturday evening and/or when they have a special buffet. You won't be disappointed!Lunches are more standard but the seafood chowder is always a good choice.