St. John's Restaurant Guide

This is a comprehensive guide to restaurants around the Memorial campus and in St. John's. Selections have been included for a variety of price-ranges, atmospheres, and styles of food. "V" indicates restaurants that are known to offer vegetarian meals. That said, most of the restaurants in the city have vegetarian dishes available or are able to prepare something upon request.

Please note, during the weekend (Thursday - Sunday) it's a good idea to make reservations in advance at downtown restaurants.

$ -- entrees under $10
$$ -- entrees between $10 - $15
$$$ -- entrees between $15 - $22
$$$$ -- entrees between $22 - $35


$

Afghan Restaurant. V. 375 Duckworth St. 754-2230. Try the lamb! If planning a large group excursion, be aware that this family-run resto has only three tables.

Ches's Famous Fish and Chips. 9 Freshwater Rd. 722-4083 or 726-2373. You can also get fried chicken and hamburgers here, but most people go for the fish and chips.

International Flavours. V. 4 Quidi Vidi Rd. (at base road leading up to Signal Hill). 738-4636. Open for lunch and early dinner (up till 6pm-ish). Set menu of Pakistani fare offered daily in half and full portions.

Leo's Fish and Chips. V. 27 Freshwater Rd. 726-2658. Another established and favourite local fish and chips restaurant. Located just a few doors down from Ches's Fish and Chips.

Rocket Bakery and Fresh Food. V. 272 Water St. 738-2011. A new and very popular deli/café. Come for a sandwich, salad, or soup; stay for the irresistible baked goods. Rocket also hosts a session with local musicians every Tuesday starting at 12:30pm.

The Sprout. V. 364 Duckworth St. 579-5485. Popular vegetarian/vegan restaurant.

Taste East. 62A Allandale Rd. 579-7366. Located near campus, this small grocery store specializing in Middle Eastern ingredients also has a great take-out menu. Try the chicken curry!

Velma's Restaurant and Lounge. 71 Duckworth St. 576-2264. Looking to try some traditional Newfoundland cooking? This is the place to go! Fish cakes, toutons, pea soup, cod tongues, jigs dinner, fish 'n' brewis, and no shortage of molasses.

Wing'n It. 5 Bates Hill. 237-9464. A new chicken wings restaurant with positive reviews. Advertises 93 flavours of wings!

Zachary's. 79 Duckworth St. 579-8050. Small downtown restaurant known for its all-day breakfast menu. They serve lunch and dinner as well.


$ - $$

Classic Cafe. V. 73 Duckworth St. 726-4444. Wide Selection, of which breakfast offerings are perhaps the most popular. Great view of the Narrows. Not the best choice if you are in a hurry to get in and out.

The Bagel Cafe. V. 246 Duckworth St. 739-4470. Casual resto with all-day breakfast. Despite its name, they serve much more than bagels.

Duke of Duckworth. V. 325 Duckworth St. (Mcmurdo's Lane). 739-6344. Jake Doyle's hangout from CBCs The Republic of Doyle. This popular bar also has a great lunch and dinner menu. Kitchen closes early (8PM). Try the fish 'n' chips!

The Guv'nor Inn. V. 389 Elizabeth Avenue. 726-5921. Near campus. Pub fare with an emphasis on English and Newfoundland cooking. All-day breakfast menu.

Gypsy Tea Room. V. 195 Water St. 739-4766. Popular with St. John's party people. Specializes in seafood.

Hungry Heart Cafe. V. 142 Military Rd. 738.6164. Popular breakfast/lunch resto. Sandwiches, soup, and salad. It's also a non-profit: "Every penny of profit generated by the Hungry Heart Café goes right back into the operation to fund employment training and low cost meal programs."

India Gate Restaurant. V. 286 Duckworth St. 753-6006. Very good, reliable Indian cuisine. Lunch buffet is a great value. The butter chicken is a favourite.

J Korean. V. 194 Duckworth St. 579-1133. New Korean restaurant with great reviews. Friendly staff. Try the bulgogi.

Jungle Jim's. George St. 753-5467. Chain resto, standard North American fare.

K Cafe. 155 New Gower St. 754-2266. Small, cozy resto, catty-corner from the Delta Hotel. Try the strawberry spinach salad.

Magic Wok. V. 402-404 Water St. 753-6907. Very popular Hong Kong style Chinese restaurant.

Nautical Nellie's. 201 Water St. 738-1120. Pub fare. Very popular, expect a crowd. Relaxed service.

Oliver's Restaurant. V. 160 Water St. 754-6444. Reservations recommended for lunch or dinner. Best for lunch, with sandwiches on homemade breads and great soups. Brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday available until 4pm. Small restaurant with small staff, so be prepared for a bit of a wait. It's worth it.

Pasta Plus. V. 223 Duckworth St. 739-6676. Serviceable pasta, salads, sandwiches and soups. The desserts are the best items on the menu.

Rumpelstiltskin's (in the Quality Hotel). Hill O' Chips. 579-6000. Standard, North American fare. Wonderful view of the narrows. Good basics, such as Caesar salad.

Sun Sushi Japanese Restaurant. V. 184 Duckworth St. 726-8688. Popular resto with good sushi as well as soup and noodle bowls, teriyaki and BBQ beef short ribs.


$$ - $$$

The Casbah. V. 2 Cathedral St. 738-5293. Good reports all around for this resto with diverse menu. Fun atmosphere. Lunch menu includes vegetarian options, vegetarian versions of dinner entrees prepared upon request.

Celtic Hearth. 298-300 Water St. 576-2880. Open 24 hours. Mostly pub fare, but with "fine dining selections" available in the evening. Brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday, daily breakfast menu. Advertises "Celtic commitment," a 15 minute lunch service guarantee.

Get Stuffed. 190 Duckworth St. 757-2480. New resto with great reviews. You can pick and choose your sides, or share with your table!

Hungry Fisherman (in the Murray Premises) Water St. 726-5791. Seafood restaurant in historic building.

The Keg. 135 Harbour Dr. (Pier 7). 726-4534. Controversy erupted when this steakhouse, an established chain, announced its plans to open in St. John's (a steakhouse on a piece of prime waterfront property). Take in the excellent view of the harbour while you see what all the fuss was about.

Magnum and Steins. 284 Duckworth St. 576-6500. One of the city's first trendy eateries. Tapas and cocktail bar downstairs. Narrow, winding staircase up to the second floor dining room.

The Pepper Mill. V. 178 Water St. 726-7585. More casual outlet of Bianca's. Showcases seafood.

Pi. V. 10 Kings Road. 726-2000. Very popular pizza restaurant. Gourmet toppings for the adventurous and classic ingredients for the more traditional pizza-lover. Try "The Pythagoras!"

Piatto. V. 377 Duckworth St. 726-0909. Sit-in pizza resto with a wood-burning oven. Thin crust, fresh toppings. It's new, but the reviews are good and people are talking.

Restaurant 21. 21 Queens Rd. 576-2112. Has received very good reviews. The seafood and desserts are highly recommended.

Yellow Belly Brewery and Public House. V. 288 Water St. 757-3784. One of the most popular restaurants in town for a meal or an evening pint. Diverse menu with hamburgers, sandwiches, seafood, steak, pizza, and a variety of appetizers. Beer is made on site. Fantastic atmosphere in one of the city's heritage buildings.


$$$ - $$$$

Atlantica. 38 Beachy Cove Rd. 1-800-895-3654. This restaurant is about a ten-minute drive from the city in Portugal Cove. That said, it's one of the most highly acclaimed fine-dining spots in the province. The food and the view are worth the drive. Be sure to make reservations well in advance as Atlantica is very popular, especially during tourist season.

Aqua. V. 310 Water St. 576-2782. Contemporary fusion fare with an emphasis on the locally grown and prepared, with great service to boot.

Bacalao. V. 65 Lemarchant Rd. 579-6565. Creative new spins on traditional Newfoundland cooking. Uses local seafood, meat, produce, and other ingredients.

Basho. V. 283 Duckworth St. 576-4600. Premiere sushi restaurant in St. John's. Nice atmosphere in the upstairs lounge.

Bianca's. V. 171 Water St. 726-9016. Highly Regarded. Attached Bar, Le Cigar Volant, serves lovely cocktails.

Blue on Water. V. 319 Water St. 754-BLUE (2583). High-end restaurant, part of boutique hotel. Popular spot for seeing and being seen.

Cabot Club (in the Fairmont Newfoundland Hotel). Cavendish Sq. 726-4980. Established, dependable fine dining. Sunday brunch is one of the best in the city.

Cellar Restaurant. 152 Water St., 4th Floor. 579-8900. Used to be in sunken ground floor rooms, thus the name.

Oppidan. 115 Cavendish Sq. (Sheraton Hotel). 726-4980. Fine dining with a great view of the harbour. Dress code described as "smart casual," so no sou'westers!

Portebellos. 115 Duckworth Street. 579-3443. Fine dining with great service and a fantastic view of the narrows.

Raymonds. 95 Water St. 579-5800. Looking for local ingredients (seafood, game, produce, berries) prepared by an acclaimed chef in a high-end atmosphere? This is the place!

* * *

Coffee shops downtown include Coffee & Company (204 Water St.), Coffee Matters (Military Rd. across from the Fairmont hotel) and Hava Java (258 Water St.). Fast food outlets in this area include Subway (338 Water St.), Tim Hortons (corner of Duckworth and Prescott), Extreme Pita (200 Water St.) and several pizza take-out counters.


SMALLWOOD CENTRE FOOD COURT
on Memorial Campus.

Cheap fast food. Can be busy at lunch time (12-2pm). Generally closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Extreme Pita. V. Canadian chain restaurant. Good, healthy fast food made to order.

Mr. Sub. V. Sub sandwiches.

Mrs. Vanelli's. V. Italian. Pizza, pasta, calzones, and salads.

Just Fries. French fries with a variety of toppings.

Treats. Coffee, tea and baked goods.

Booster Juice. A variety of healthy, hearty smoothies. Like a meal in a cup.

Dairy Queen. North American fast food (burgers and fries). Specialize in ice cream.


FEILD (not "field") HALL
on Memorial Campus

Bitters. V. Closed Sundays. Pub run by the Graduate Students' Union. Appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, etc. $.


CHURCHILL SQUARE
on Elizabeth Avenue northeast of Memorial campus.

A&W. Fast food. Burgers, fried chicken, chips. $.

Living Rooms. V. Downstairs in shopping plaza. Counter service. Take-out soups, pasta salads and sandwiches made to order, as well as espresso-based drinks and all manner of desserts. Seating available outside the store in shopping centre corridor. $.

Papa's Pier 17. Surf and turf, pasta. Free shuttle service to and from major hotels. $$$.

Tim Horton's. V. Fast food. Coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches, and soups. $.

Quintana's. V. Cocktail and tapas bar upstairs. $$-$$$.