14 Best Restaurants in South Shore and Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

Chef-owner Roland Glauser whips up creative seafood, meat, and pasta dishes in a restored building that started out as a butcher shop in the mid-1800s. A Swiss influence is evident in many dishes on the extensive menu, including pork tenderloin Zurich-style (braised with mushrooms and demi-glace sauce). The café has a pleasant garden patio and a craft shop. Reservations aren't accepted at lunch but are requested for dinner.

Housed in a converted stone church complete with stained glass windows, Church Brewing produces tasty beers and has a fabulous menu of upscale pub grub with a farm-to-table focus. There's a huge patio out front that overlooks the hustle and bustle of Main Street, and there's often live music in the evenings and on the weekends. 

An elegant and elevated tasting menu showcases the best of what's local and in season. Expect deliciousness such as butter-roasted cod with clams and lion's mane mushroom with dulse stock, or grilled scallops with green apple and creamed celeriac, followed by desserts like goat's milk panna cotta. 

This café/coffee shop/restaurant in a beautifully restored old building makes a great spot to grab coffee and a tasty baked treat or stay late on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night for dinner. Their menu celebrates seasonal and local produce and offers everything from brisket tacos and burgers to pork belly and seared salmon. 

With a focus on fresh produce and local seafood, the Grand Banker is a great spot for a tasty lunch or dinner overlooking the harbor whether you're in the mood for wings and a craft beer, lobster mac ’n’ cheese, or rack of lamb. There's an impressive selection of Nova Scotian wines, and you can order a five 2-ounce glass sampler for C$22, as well as a cocktail list that embraces locally distilled liquors.  

Initially known for having the best ice cream around, this fun spot expanded into serving excellent sushi and Korean dishes. It has become an appealing option for lunch or dinner as well as dessert. 

Firmly established as the best place to eat along this stretch of the coast, La Cuisine Robicheau overlooks the ocean and specializes in seafood and Acadian cuisine. The excellent pâté à la râpure (rappie pie, a chicken and potatoes dish) is usually the first thing to sell out, so come early. Other good choices include the fricot aux poutines râpées à la poule (chicken soup with potato dumplings). 

The restaurant at the Domaine de Grand Pré vineyard has been showered with accolades, including being named "one of the world's 20 best winery restaurants" by Wine Access Magazine. Aside from the excellent wines, the interesting menu features local seafood, game, meat, and vegetarian options. Wines produced right here are joined on the list by a good international selection.

With a focus on the freshest local seafood, Nichole serves up decadent lobster dip, lobster rolls, and haddock wraps right out of the historic Cape Forchu lighthouse—you can't ask for a better view for your lunch or early dinner (they close at 6 pm). 

The tagline here is "simple good food" but that's a huge understatement at this award-winning restaurant that serves up superb seafood—the fish-and-chips, crispy haddock, and fish tacos are all standouts—and decadent classics like rack of lamb and chicken parm. They also serve gourmet pizzas and offer decadent desserts.

In a gorgeous location by the water, this restaurant is much more than just a deli, with a long menu that includes an award-winning chowder, gourmet sandwiches, hand-rolled, thin-crust pizzas, inventive burgers with an international slant, and plenty of vegetarian choices. In the evening, chef Martin Ruiz Salvador adds a short dinner menu to the options, with dishes like scallop linguine and fisherman's stew. You'll find Nova Scotian and international wines on the drinks list, plus craft beers and cocktails.

You don't have to dine on the waterfront in Digby to enjoy great seafood and good views, and this friendly pub offers both. Just uphill from the main street, its two-story deck has great sea views, and the menu mostly features local seafood that couldn't be any fresher. There are other choices, too, including vegetarian and vegan options, and any dish can be downsized for children. All are made from locally sourced ingredients, cooked to perfection by the talented chef, and there's local beer, locally roasted coffee, and occasional local live music.

The lobster rolls served here are divine, filled with fat chunks of lobster and served with a pickle and potato chips on the side. Order a classic (with celery and mayo), cajun (spicier version of the classic), or naked (pure lobster) and sit by the water to enjoy. Tom's also serves a few other seafood dishes (smoked salmon bagels, seafood pasta, fish cakes) and all are delicious. 

Head here for perfect upscale pub grub and exceptional craft brews, served in a bright dining room or on their spacious patio. You can't go wrong with one of their hearty burgers or fries smothered in butter chicken, but there are (somewhat) lighter options, too.