Rate Nanaimo Bars and Build Your List

To rate Nanaimo bars the way a judge would, score three layers and a finish: the crumb base, the custard buttercream and the chocolate top. Rate each bar by name rather than the bakery, write one sentence and build a list so friends can compare squares across Nanaimo.

A bakery rating says little about one square, so a note that names the crust, the custard and the chocolate in a sentence is worth writing. A Nanaimo bar list is never finished, and that is the point.

How do you rate Nanaimo bars, and rate a dish on Mosey?

Open the Mosey app, choose to rate a place and pick the bakery or cafe. Only the place and the stars are needed. Then add the dish: the app asks "Had something else? Name the dish", so type "Nanaimo bar". You can add a photo, a few words and tags. Rate each dish too, if you ate more than one.

Why rate every Nanaimo bar by name?

Because a bakery rating says little about one square. A star score for the whole shop mixes bread, coffee and service, but a dish rating tells another sweet-toothed person exactly what you ate. You can rate a dish, like a dish and browse the dishes people are loving near you. Be specific, and let the dish carry the score.

What should you score on a Nanaimo bar?

Three layers and a finish. The base should be crumbly but hold together, with coconut and nuts. The middle should be smooth and not grainy. The top should snap cleanly. Then ask whether the whole is balanced or too sweet. A score is yours to give, and a sentence about the crust is worth more than the number.

How do tags help?

Tags such as Bakery, Coffee Shop, Gluten-Free, Vegan and Dessert help people find places that fit their needs. They are notes from raters and not guarantees, so confirm with the bakery. Add them honestly. Over time they help someone with a gluten allergy find the bakery that offers a version, and that is a good use of three seconds.

How do you build a Nanaimo bar list?

Make a list, call it Nanaimo bar research and add each bakery you try. Write a line on why it belongs: "thick custard, dark chocolate, small square". Use sections such as Classic, Twist and Gluten-free. You can reorder places by dragging. The Bar Trail guide lists the route.

How do you add friends?

Invite people you follow who follow you back, or share an invite link. The link lets anyone join as a collaborator, even if they are not on Mosey yet. Only you and the friends you invite can see a private list and add to it. Two people on one trip can taste twice as many bars and compare notes afterwards.

Can you tag who you ate with?

Yes. When you rate a bar, "Who were you with?" lets you tag people you follow. They can add their own rating of the same square, so your friend's opinion of the custard sits beside yours. It is not a group rating, and each person keeps their own words. A disagreement about mint makes a good dinner topic.

What happens to the list afterwards?

It stays on your phone and can be shared. A public list can be found, liked and saved by anyone, and a private list stays with the people on it. When you rate enough places of one kind, the app may offer to turn them into a list. You can keep adding bars for years.

What does a good rating note say?

It names the crust, the custard and the chocolate in a sentence. "Crumbly base with coconut, pale custard with real vanilla, thin dark top, small square" tells the next reader exactly what they will get. Say where you ate it and whether it was fresh. A short note about the cut, the price band or the setting helps too, but leave out the number. A good note is honest and specific.

When is a Nanaimo bar list finished?

Never, and that is the point. New bakeries open, old ones change their recipes and you will find a version in a place you did not expect. Keep the list, add to it and remove the bars that no longer measure up. When friends visit, hand them the link. A list that grows with you is more useful than one that stops at ten.

Is there a winner? No. The app does not rank the bars. It only holds your notes.

Can I rate a homemade bar? Not as a place. You can write a note on a list, though.

For the city's other sweets and savoury stops, read the Nanaimo food guide, and for the province start at the Food in British Columbia page, and for further afield try the Canadian food guides.

How this works in the app: Rate places.

After your tenth bar, get the Mosey app, rate the one you would walk back for and send your list to the friend who loves chocolate.