What an amazing discovery for us as we travel the Maritimes. As plant-based eaters, the BSB was able to provide fresh and delicious offerings. And the beer selection was awesome. I wish we didn't live nearly 800 miles away. read more

Good finer dining experience. Atmosphere is clean and simple. Service was very friendly but a bit disjointed. Food was good at reasonable prices. Kid friendly. An acceptable finer dining choice in area. read more

Best gluten free bread ever! Great coffee! Amazing Caesar Salad Delicious sandwich! Wonderful staff! Highly recommended!

Had seafood chowder here was delicious, I would give it a 5 star they took debit card (cash only) and if the chowder had more seafood in it. I find all places skimp on this but awesome tasting for sure ... read more

Because of the servers I'd add a half star to my 3 All the staff were super nice and very accommodating! Took a wee bit of time to get my whiskey sour and I had to send it back because it was very unrecognizable. Clearly their take on one. It had a cherry, sugared rim and meringue for some reason!Not a classic for sure. They didn't mind correcting to the "proper" drink for me. I suppose I could have said classic whiskey sour but if they are going to change a classic cocktail then they should refer to it as the black spoon version. They were able to accommodate my choice of Jameson, Irish whiskey. My wife and I had the clam chowder( as we are on the east coast) and it was ok. It had a clean light flavour. I should have added a pinch of salt and a dash of pepper for sure as it was under seasoned (to my taste?) Chowder had fresh mussels on top which was a pleasant and the chowder itself had a few chunks of lobster and some scallops as an added and much enjoyed bonus!! It could have been in a thicker base. Too thin to be called a chowder. Seafood soup is a bit more accurate. The price for a cup was a bit too high at $10+ and the price for a bowl was too high at $16+ Our other member had a grilled cheese off the kids menu and it was panini grilled which wasn't explained. (perhaps I missed that on the menu description though I don't believe I did ) Also the bread was thin(panini) and so a bit "tough" and chewy for a young diner and do it was not particularly enjoyed. If you have a kids menu...don't try to elevate it. Kids like simple. Overall a nice time....we likely wouldn't go back. read more

Great food, excellent staff!! Really good restaurant to eat at while in North Sydney!!

A big disappointment, in spite of the positive reviews on Yelp & Trip Advisor. I had the Cajun Seafood Medley, which was very tasty but the "medley" was more like "guest appearance," especially of one paltry piece of lobster. But what really soured the experience was that we discovered that it's a cash-only place. Upon entering, I told the greeter that there's NO mention of this on their website, & she replied that "I think it's stated there." IT'S NOT ANYWHERE STATED ON THEIR WEBSITE. I scramble to nearby banks to pull out cash, but my ATM card was rejected. My wife then tried, eventually succeeding via her Amex card. In the meantime, the server comes around to take my drink order & I informed her that I wasn't sure whether we'd be able to eat there, pending my wife's attempt at pulling cash. She lamely replied, "But we've been cash-only since March," to which I retorted, "Well, we don't live here & there's no mention of this on your website." Conclusion: If you intend to dine in North Sydney, make reservations ahead of time for the Lobster Pound & Moore, which is practically across the street & produces a vastly superlative overall experience, in terms of food, service, & atmosphere. read more

Bit of a fancy restaurant, great for dates and a lunch with friends. I must say, the décor is BEAUTIFUL, what a nice first impression. From the colour schemes to the lightning and frames on the wall, the place looks like a front page of a magazine. They also have chocolate mints too! I gave this a 3 star rating instead of 4 because unfortunately, I thought the interior design was more impressive than my food. I took the grilled vegetable salad to go, and although everything was nicely presented (in black containers), I was underwhelmed with what I got. Maybe I'm cheap, but $17 is a lot for a couple of vegetable slices and a bite size goat cheese ball ($7 salad+ $7 scallops add on + tax). I was looking forward to the maple balsamic dressing, but it had a strong pungent garlic flavour that threw me off. Overall, great first impression but I suggest to spend your money on something more hefty than a salad. I would come back and try other menu items perhaps! read more

See all

This place is a real hidden gem. From the outside it's totally unattractive. The dining room is a totally different story, extremely attractive but very small. Food and service were excellent. We each had a pasta entree and plenty of alcohol. Overall it was a very enjoyable experience. read more

Kindling within each tickling bite from The Black Spoon Bistro is the palette needed for stiring better relationships, stronger families, neighborly kindness, and splendid friendships. Here in North Sydney like all of Cape Breton, the lights from cars, boats, souls and their homes exist for True Love's sake, hugging all The World. So take courage my friends. The food even from this haven The Black Spoon Bistro is layered with thoughtful cares to ensure that not only while you are here but when you leave this place, you'll be lighted fluffly and deliciously satisfied, ready to come back, trying out your palette more and more, with Wonderful people - time, and time again. read more

Highly recommended restaurant from my list! The place is hard to find, like a secret restaurant, they don't have their name from the outside. But their brunch is really good, the chicken panini, black bean burger, their soup and so much more are just great! I recommend to add on a grilled veg with your salad, it's quite good! The dinner though, last time I went there for dinner is a little bit disappointing, the food is not as astonishing as the lunch, I don't know why, perhaps it's me, cuz their lunch is so consistently good. read more

Absolutely surprisingly wonderful. Unassuming from the outside but nicely appointed inside. We arrived on early on Tuesday evening and while a little busy we were promptly seated and looked after. Very friendly, so much so that before we had ordered the patrons on either side had offered adhoc reviews of their meals! Very cool. We ordered and my ribs with the baked potatoes were killer! My wife ordered the veggie pesto bowl or something like that, she raved about it as well. By 6:30, on a Tuesday night?!??? the place was full and everyone seemed to be really enjoying their meals! Good value and very very good food. We will be back to try so e of the other things on the menu! read more

Fantastic spot with delicious HOT food right by the North Sydney Ferry Terminal!!! Our servers name was Stella. She was super friendly, attentive, and quick. I love great food and only write reviews on places that are worth it and this is the spot to be. The outside is small and eh (looks are deceiving), the inside is nice/simple, great food, and great service. DEF WORTH IT! read more

See all

We got there around 7:15pm and the waitress told us that it will be an half hour wait. Therefore, we put down our names and number and went to do some grocery shopping while we waited for her call for out table. Once we got our table, we ordered a scallop apply, a cup of soup and the Cajun seafood pasta. All dishes were perfect. For dessert, we ordered the Peppered Strawberries! It was super delicious! Thumbs up on that! read more

See all

I'm really grateful for my wife's Lonely Planet Guide, which steered us to this little gem... Without a doubt, this was one of the top two meals we had on our 19-day sojourn through Nova Scotia and Newfoundland... and that's saying something, as we had some wonderful food! The Black Spoon Bistro stood out, though, for several reasons... First, the FOOD. It's all about the food, right? My wife and I shared a 'Trio of Fish Cakes' appetizer (lobster, crab and salmon, with a lemon aioli), and each was out of this world! Well done, BSB! My wife then had a Pan Fried Halibut. Delicious! I opted for the Scallops Carbonara... it was over the top! We shared a Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse Cake for dessert, and it was even better than it sounds. Yum! I've forgotten the name of the after-dinner drink I had, but it included coffee, Bailey's Irish Cream, rum(?), whipped cream and some chocolate shavings... wow. Just wow. But oh, I said 'several' reasons. Okay - the staff. Warm, accommodating, friendly, but without being cloying. They certainly earned a 25% tip. Location... I could see our ferry to Newfoundland from my window seat. Dress? Some folks looked mighty natty, and we'd already been on the road for a week - but it didn't matter - we were never made to feel "less than." We even got a table by the window. Nice. I don't want to narrow my horizons, but it'd be hard to pass up another chance for a meal at this place the next time we're passing through. I'm looking forward to it! read more

Wow i was complicated and that was perfect. The cajun seafood is the best thing I've ever had. Definitely worth a visit.

Fantastic! Rarely do I give 5 stars but I give this one without hesitation. The food was wonderful. My only regret is that I shared it with my daughter! Our service was great and we only had about a 15-minute wait. The place is very small and you don't have the sense of being rushed. So I can see that you might have to wait a while if all tables are taken. Plan head. We had the seafood medley and substituted the potatoes and veggies the vegetable grilled salad which was amazing. All of it was wonderful. read more

See all

[warning] This place is very popular you may have to wait 45 minutes plus for a table... I recommend calling head they might be able to put you on a called sheet. They don't take reservations. Great food, large portions made with fresh ingredients. Very helpful smiling staff. I ate the spicy Cajun seafood... if I had to give some cons to this pleasant meal... I felt I was served a little to much pasta and not enough seafood. Everything was cook to perfection... I just wanted to see a bit more lobster on the plate. The meal comes with a little bit of everything mussels, scallops, shrimp and lobster. Still a great meal for 20$ can. Maybe an option on the menu to add seafood, I would happily paid 5$ to have added extra lobster. This place is totally worth a visit to... read more

We had a great lunch here, top quality and delicious. I had the BBQ beef with bacon and cheddar, paired with a cup of seafood chowder: wifey had the Apple almond salad topped with sauteed shrimp. Dessert: a slice of salted caramel layer cake with homemade whipped cream. Totally delicious and would raise it at the top it's our Cape Breton food experiences. It's we could stick around town we'd come back for dinner! read more

So impresssed with this place. Lovely atmosphere, great service, incredible food. Even the little details make a difference like the beautiful fresh flower vases on each table and the chocolate mints with the meal. The banana flambé was one of the best desserts i have ever had. We stopped here as the last meal of a two week vacation in NS and it was by far one of my favorite meals. This place would have lines out the door in Los Angeles! read more

This quaint little bistro is well worth visiting. Though my personal experience found the atmosphere leaving something to be desired. The service was adequate and the food superb. Quality is clearly a prominent value at the Black Spoon Bistro; meals look appetizing upon arrival and taste equally as good. If you find yourself in North Sydney consider stopping by for an excellent meal. read more

Black Spoon Bistro - Seafood Near Me - North Sydney, Nova Scotia

Stopped here quickly on the way to Glace Bay and absolutely loved it. Nice to have an alternative to all the pubs in diners :D Our party had three different paninis and the soup of the day which all were delicious. Highly recommend stopping in if you get the chance! read more

Stopped by here for a quick dinner before boarding the ferry to Newfoundland. They had positive reviews and I have to reinforce that. The location is about a minute away from the ferry, so it was perfect. I ordered the lobster pot pie with a side of spinach salad. I was not expecting such nice presentation and fresh ingredients for only $17, but that's exactly what I got. The taste itself was amazing. Who knew spinach actually tasted so good. The lobster in the pot pie was splendid and I enjoyed every last bit. The dinner was so good I knew I had to get dessert - so I got their salted caramel crunch for $8 (it's their most popular dessert). Again, it was absolutely delicious and I wish I could have more, but my foolish stomach has a limit (unfortunately). I highly recommend this place whether you're stopping for a quick bite for the ferry or visiting the town. I'm not sure what the other options are in the area, but they definitely can't beat this. GO NOW read more

Tasty food, nice decor, and great service. Our group of 5 ate here the other night as this restaurant came highly recommended. The food was tasty and the portions were generous. Service was good and overall we had a great experience here. read more

I am happy to be the second reviewer of this restaurant. This place was recommended to us both by our tour book and by the owner of our bed and breakfast. It was a perfect place for a night out, but one would easily feel comfortable eating there in jeans, as in most nice restaurants in Nova Scotia. The food was great! My husband ordered off the menu due to his dietary restrictions and the kitchen was very accommodating. I loved my dish and had a tough time making my meal selection because there were many good options. The wait staff was nice and friendly. They were attentive without being pushy and kept an eye on us in case we had an questions. I would recommend this place to anyone staying in Sydney or the North Sydney area. read more

Delicious. Never disappointed with the food and never have had to send anything back!! Grilled veggie salad is my favourite! The prices are fair and the staff is amazing! read more

Had dinner and it was a transcendental experience. There was a wait of 45 minutes during dinner but it was well worth it. The wait staff is appropriately attentive throughout the meal. We had salads (delicious!) entrees and for dessert salted caramel cake. We should have done this review at the time but we were in food heaven. read more

Surprising ambience for two Cape Bretoners who now live away and are more used to the hot-hamburg sandwich type restaurant experience here. BSB offers an understated and subtle modern bistro feel, and the food is great. We both had a chipotle chicken panini, one with a piping hot tomato basil soup and one with a ginormous spinach salad. With REAL bacon. Split a salted caramel cake which was also lovely. Service was really good; the only thing lacking is an espresso machine. Would go back again ANYtime. read more

Pretty awesome meal. Near the ferry terminal, this place gets very, very busy. People were being turned away. They must be doing something right and there are not many other non-burger/pizza/sub options around. Great clam chowder, super tasty apple salad. The curried chicken was a major hit and the salmon was memorable. Nothing wrong, lots of right. Not inexpensive, but very reasonable for a high quality meal. read more

Great little Surprise while waiting on the ferry. The food was great, service was fast, and the price was very affordable. read more

Black Spoon Bistro - Salted Caramel cheesecake. - Seafood Near Me - North Sydney, Nova Scotia

See all

My rating moves up a notch to five star. We showed up precisely at the busiest part of the lunch hour so it was lined up out the door. They said it would be about 20 minutes for a table so they took our cell phone and we went for a short walk. We arrived back at the restaurant just as the phone rang pretty much exactly when they said. We both had the lunch trio special. This was a curry carrot soup with chicken cheese panini and salad. My wife upgraded to the nutty goat cheese salad while I stuck with the house salad and balsamic dressing. The wait staff were quick and super friendly. Food arrived at the table very hot, fresh and fast. Just an excellent experience all around. This is her first time this year back across to North Sydney and it is nice to see that there's been no slipage on what is an excellent dining experience. It was nice that they had the full range of very excellent locally made craft beer. The meal for two of us including drinks, tax and tip was about $55. Excellent value. read more

Black Spoon Bistro - Seafood Near Me - North Sydney, Nova Scotia

This place was a gem in an area with not a ton of great options or a lot of the same options. We were staying about 25 minutes away for 3 days and ate dinner here twice. The first time set the expectations high for the second visit, but they were met! The service was fantastic, especially our server on the first visit. He was super friendly, attentive, and helpful. He remembered us the second visit too! The food was delicious both times. The seafood chowder is a must! Both times we went, the place was busy. It is a smaller place, but they were always packed. Worth the visit if you are within an hour or so! read more

We just finished a delicious dinner at Black Spoon, and I'm happy to say it's the best restaurant we've visited in our first week traveling all over Nova Scotia. Although we ate modestly (I had seafood chowder -- the best ever!) and my partner had a caesar salad, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The ambiance is striking, the wait staff is warm and genuinely hospitable, and the parade of dishes coming out of the kitchen is ample evidence of hearty portions, creative presentations, and very interesting cooking. You'll wait a while at dinner time, and you need to be aware that they close at 8 PM.Go try it for yourself, though -- you won't be disappointed! read more

OMG, I came from Ontario to visit a friend of mine and she took me here and the food was so good I had not had food that good. I had the Sea Food Chowder and it was amazing. Well cooked amazing food. Fresh and Tasty, I would go again read more

Black Spoon Bistro - Seafood Chower - Seafood Near Me - North Sydney, Nova Scotia

See all

Great atmosphere. Wait staff very friendly. Chicken sandwich with soup. Great. The seafood chowder lacked the great seafood flavour.

My family is on vacation and didn't expect to find many restaurants with gluten free options, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton have been a delightful surprise! The Black Spoon was our last stop before leaving the province. We had the vegetable bistro bowls, chowder and stuffed mushrooms. The food was excellent and the service was great! read more

The place is small but the food is amazing! A definite stop when you're in town! Get there early as it fills quick but they have a very pleasant and knowledgable staff who will take care of you when you get in. (They'll even take your number so if you have to wait you can walk around a bit!) Always save room for the peppered strawberries with pound cake and ice cream. Sooooo amazing! read more

See all

Atlantic Canada seems to have little coverage on any of the restaurant review sites, so when I found this gem, I had to get it at least listed. The Black Spoon Bistro is a pleasant store front restaurant a couple of blocks from the Newfoundland Ferry and about a 20minute drive away from downtown Sydney. It came recommended by our Sydney hotel staff and seeing nothing other than pizza or Chineese on the various net listings we decided to give it a shot. The drive was worth it. The menu offers a nice but limited range of choices as is fitting to a quality resaurant of this size. I had the mussels as an appetizer and the seafood chowder as a main course. The mussels were fresh and nicely done in a creamy sauce. The appetizer size was almost sufficient for a main course. The seafood chowder was divine, a rich bisque like base with generous chunks of lobster, scallops and mussels. The main course serving was almost too much...almost... My colleague had the seafood pasta which was also great, farfalle with a spicy light lobster, scallop and mussel sauce. All in all it was an excellent value and well worth the drive from Sydey. read more

This is an excellent restaurant with properly cooked, tasty, healthy choices. We started with a roasted veg salad. Delicious! Perfectly roasted begies on a bed of fresh greens. I had the Bacon Bourban ribs with garlic mash. Yum. My wife had the cedar plank salmon which was also very well prepared. For desert we had the pepper strawberry souffle. Wow. Perfect. This place is a gem in North Sydney. Highly recommended. read more

Amazing, amazing, amazing! Do not miss this place if you'r'e in Sydney, NS. My wife and I ate here two nights in a row while staying down the street at a BnB. The food is simply delicious. I had the blackened seafood medley the first night, and the scallop carbonara the next. My wife had the haddock almondine the first night and the chicken parmasean the next. EVERY dish was perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, and perfectly tasty! Portions were generous, and prices were very reasonable for the quality of the food. Highly, highly recommend this place!! read more