7 Best Restaurants in The Eastern Shore and Northern Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia

Rich farmland fringes Truro, and the menu makes the most of the fabulous produce grown around here. The 32-seat eatery has an upscale-casual feel and a small but mighty menu. Salads, sandwiches, and whole-grain pizzas dominate at lunch, while dinner includes meatier options such pork tenderloin, herbed chicken, and lobster fettucini. Desserts, always made in-house, come generously portioned.

This sugar camp, store, and pancake house in the Cobequid Mountains, about 30 km (19 miles) north of Truro off Highway 311, is Nova Scotia's only year-round maple destination. You can tour the working facility and hike the sugar woods. In spring, when the sap is running, you can also watch demonstrations. Afterward, tuck into whole-grain buttermilk pancakes and waffles with maple syrup, local sausage, fresh biscuits, maple baked beans, and organic coffee at the log cabin lodge. Multiple times per year, a guest chef prepares a gourmet dinner that cleverly incorporates maple products. At the store, you can buy your own sweet souvenirs, among them maple syrup, maple cream, maple candy, and maple butter.

A locals' favorite serving craft beer, cocktails, and upscale modern food. Oysters, salt-cod fish cakes, and moules marinière showcase local seafood, and there's an excellent selection of carnivorous and vegetarian dishes to choose from.

Gabrieau's has earned a place in Antigonish hearts with its pleasant interior and an epicurean yet affordable menu that includes seafood, meat dishes, pasta, tapas, sushi, and various vegetarian dishes. There are also luscious desserts, and the wine list impresses, too. There's a sunny patio and a private room is also available.

This adorable locals' favorite café is filled with floor-to-ceiling bookcases and housed in a heritage building. They offer a fun selection of tasty caffeinated drinks named for literary characters, decadent baked goods, sandwiches, and salads. Lines can be long, but this place is worth the wait. 

The gourmet hard ice creams and milkshakes made by this ice cream shop are heavenly whether you opt for dreamy strawberry or vanilla, or go with a more adventurous flavor. Expect long lines in the summer, but from the first lick you'll know it was worth the wait. 

The young proprietors of this eatery are enthusiastic about using local products in their cuisine. Casual but quality options like lobster rolls, fish cakes, quiche, and a daily pasta are served at lunch, while dinners are more sophisticated. The 1860s building housing the restaurant has windows that overlook the wharf. There are also two basic guest rooms on the top floor, with a shared bathroom, for overnight stays.