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Until recently, eating out in Newfoundland was all about cod. Today, Newfoundland cuisine fuses tradition, a fierce locavore movement focused on taking full advantage of the diverse bounty of ocean, bluff, bog, and pasture, and serious talent. The culinary scene in St. John’s is a bounty and a treat. Towns outside St. John's might lack its concentration of excellent dining options, but talented chefs live and work beyond the capital, many of them committed to using fresh, local, and organic ingredients. Some unique dining experiences unfold as well, like the Great Viking Feast, staged by Lightkeepers Seafood Restaurant in St. Anthony, at which diners tuck into moose stew in a sod hut.
Unlike elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, you'll find moose meat on restaurant menus here. It’s very lean, very tasty, somewhat similar to beef, and certainly worth ordering if you get the chance.
Located in a former firehouse at the east end of Duckworth Street, this trendy beer and coffee bar makes an ideal place to chill at the end of your downtown explorations. The architecture features industrial elements like exposed beams and massive glass garage doors that open to an outdoor space in summer. The atmosphere is friendly and calming, a choice spot for work or for fun.
The name implies more than just a restaurant and it is: a view, a respite, a community. From a table inside, you can watch pizzas cook in a wood-fired oven while sitting on handcrafted wooden furniture. On the deck, the views of the sea and gardens and farms surrounding the restaurant are unimpeded. This has fast become a locals' and travelers' favorite, and you are likely to bump into a friend here, even on your first visit. Located in Upper Amherst Cove just off Route 235, it is a short drive out from Bonavista.
This culinary diamond shines with innovative yet hearty food, whether you're dining in the sit-down restaurant or grabbing something from the take-out deli. With so much perfect meat, seafood, and vegetables tucked into one tiny building, this is more than just a hidden gem. If the pork theme seems heavy, be assured the handling of flavors is light and responsive. With a small enough group, you can sit at the bar downstairs and enjoy delicious tapas.
It's rare for a coffee place to be a destination, but folks on the Avalon say this little coffee place with an ocean view is worth the drive. The brews are roasted in-house and served with fresh pies and pastries. The interior has a contemporary industrial feel with communal tables, and the rear deck overlooks the water.
Serving award-winning creations by a husband-and-wife chef pair, this restaurant offers upscale dishes with creativity and cozy, down-home touches. Even if you don't plan to tour the Irish Loop, this dining experience is worth the drive from St. John's.
Enjoy your coffee and a light meal on the deck while enjoying the view of the waters of Humber Arm. The rotating lunch menu offers comfort food options like soups and paninis. The freshly baked scones are not to be missed.
The pleasures of this lively restaurant begin with a stroll past the meticulously kept organic garden. The dinner menu has many seafood options as well as wild game dishes and vegan and vegetarian selections. The wines are well chosen and reasonably priced. The restaurant also doubles as a gallery with works by Atlantic Canadian artists (all for sale).
This easygoing diner does a bustling lunch service in large part due to the personality and creativity of its owner, locally known as an innovative and improvisational chef. Enjoy casual fare with surprising ingredients in a space decorated with an eclectic mix of family photos, bottled preserves, and tabletops repurposed from old furniture and signage. Vegan, gluten-free, and meat-based options are available in generous portions.
The high quality of the food and drink here, combined with the remoteness and spectacular view, make a meal at the Norseman one you remember. Expect traditional seafood, with a smart and extensive menu of craft beer, wine, and spirits. Paintings, jewelry, carvings, and children's books are on display and for sale. In July and August, enjoy live traditional music on Friday evening starting at 6:30.
Following standards set by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN), Piatto’s pizza chefs (pizzaiolos) have been trained to prepare authentic Neapolitan pizza. The midtown location offers a contemporary setting that makes a popular lunch stop. Using choice ingredients, including a low-gluten flour, their classic and updated pizza treatments are delicious when enjoyed in-house, but you can also buy their make-at-home kits to enjoy the same fabulous pizza in the comfort of home.
This trendy eatery presents in-season, locally sourced ingredients combined into dishes showcasing a sultry Mediterranean flavor profile. The colorful decor, locally curated artwork, and small tables create a friendly, relaxed mood.
Every evening, the set menu at the Twine Loft proves to be one of the region's best meals. Relax into a true fine-dining experience complete with an on-site sommelier. The deck overlooking the water is also available without reservation for happy hour drinks every day from 3 pm to 5 pm. Dietary restrictions are accommodated, but require advanced notice and discussion.
The first thing you notice upon entering is the bright, cheery decor and welcoming atmosphere. In addition to standard pub fare, you'll find menu items inspired by traditional Newfoundland cooking like the Jiggs (a traditional meal of corned beef, potatoes, and vegetables) and turkey pot pie. Vegetarian options are available. With regular events like live music and trivia nights, it's a great place to experience the local energy.
Sit back and relax in the cozy dining rooms of this converted old house and sample updated traditional fare. Bacalao, pronounced "back-allow," is Portuguese for "salted cod," a historic staple of Newfoundlanders and the Mediterraneans who came here to fish; a variation of it is featured every night. Other nouvelle-Newfoundland options include moose and caribou dishes, and mussels in Quidi Vidi Iceberg beer. Off-street parking keeps this spot attractive to its more suburban customer base.
The name belies the menu at this cozy spot on Duckworth Street where you can get excellent food for any meal of the day. Generous breakfast offerings bring local ingredients to traditional dishes. The with eclectic decor and soft lighting, the atmosphere is both relaxed and intimate.
This stone cottage offers a bright interior with both sofa and table seating and a view of Random Island in Trinity Bay. In finer weather, you can enjoy your coffee from an Adirondack chair on the patio overlooking the water. Enjoy coffee from small batch roasters in the province, as well as a light meal or baked treats that include gluten-friendly options.
This all-day restaurant has quickly become a gathering place preferred by locals and visitors alike. Dinner menu selections draw on international influences and include dishes like a classic jambalaya, creamy pasta dishes, and a scaled-up burger. It can get crowded in the evening, so reservations are recommended.
This patisserie serves up decadent French pastries and baked goods with surprising savory flavor combinations from its bright, Art Deco--style shopfront on Water Street.
The short but enticing menu here reflects the kitchen's expert touch and dedication to the concepts of sustainable farming and incorporating local ingredients. The fish dishes are always of high quality, but you'll have to wait to see what the local fishers bring in to know exactly what you can get. Arrive before the sun goes down to enjoy the stunning view over Bonne Bay. Desserts range from beautifully light to naughtily rich.
This casual fine-dining restaurant serves a variety of dishes, all with fresh ingredients (some grown right on the front patio) along with a small but balanced selection of wine and craft beers. Salads are excellent, and they serve some of the best pies and baked goods in the area. Boreal not only sources from local farms but from local individuals to support backyard farming.
This place has everything a favorite coffee shop should have: great coffee roasted in-house in small batches, food prepared from scratch, and a hip but welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy a coffee in the shop and take a one-pound bag home with you.
This is a little pizza shop that's made a big splash, with stone-baked pizzas with interesting toppings and locally grown or foraged ingredients. This destination eatery is a throwback to the old general store that once occupied the space with retro touches like a tiny black-and-white TV playing cartoons and industrial artifacts on the walls, alongside photos by a local photographer known as "Old Bones." Best not to try calling ahead; this two-person operation is doing a booming business.
This restaurant has been serving fish-and-chips to a steady stream of customers since the 1950s. They come from all walks of life to sample the flaky fish fried in a batter whose recipe the owner keeps under lock and key (literally). The decor is strictly laminated tabletops and plastic chairs, but the fish is hot, fresh, and delicious.
On the way to the Long Point Lighthouse, this friendly little café has a great ocean view and a deck from which to enjoy it—you might even see a passing whale or two if you're here in July or August. Light meals, including house-made soups, wraps, and chili, are served until 5 pm, or you can drop in for high-quality coffee and a delicious cinnamon bun. This is a good place to pick up a bagged lunch before you hike or to replenish your energy upon your return.
The wide-ranging menu at Fisherman's Landing includes plenty of seafood plus pasta dishes and hot or cold sandwiches. Moose burgers are a local favorite. Both the food and the service here are reliable. It can get busy, but you can always browse the crafts shop next door in the liquor store until your table's ready.
Be sure to try the house-made ice cream at this tiny sweet shop along the main road just past Fogo Island Inn. An island favorite, they offer both unique and classic flavors.
Consistency and quality in service and food make this one of the busiest restaurants in St. John's. This family-owned business is the oldest Indian restaurant in the city, serving food prepared to order in a classic tandoori oven. In the evening, the atmosphere is inviting and romantic.
Just a five-minute drive from the boat-tour docks in Bay Bulls, this restaurant is affectionately know as "Judy's" to locals. Diner classics like tuna melts and BLTs are served with tea, coffee, or beer to sate hikers and tourists who have gratefully come upon this friendly beacon.
A family-friendly spot, Les P'tits Graviers is known for a wide variety of fresh, traditional French cuisine. Using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, they adapt their menu frequently. It can be quite busy so be sure to make reservations.
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