I'm afraid I'm in the minority out of the four of us when it comes to this review. I would have rated it a 2 or 3. At this point in our vacation I wanted to move away from fried/ broiled fish/ lobster & scallops which has been the main draw to many of the places we've tried. What better change than having some Austrian food. Not many places offer Wiener Schnitzel & Spatzle but this one does. The breading on the Schnitzel was very good but overall I was disappointed in the seasoning and the dish in general. The Spatzle was very dry and came with neither a gravy for the top or some cheese mixed through it. Another member of our group also had the Spatzle as a side dish and thought the same. What was throughly enjoyed were the Scallops, Scallop and Haddock and the Lobster Linguine. This apparently just wasn't my night because I was not impressed with the $13 Ice Cream with Tia Marea dessert either. The owner was nothing like the Yelper's review of a year ago thank goodness. Although she didn't make the rounds during the night, she did stop by the table to see how our meal was. So, give it a try and see what you think. Most tables were taken the entire night and remember I was outvoted in our group! read more

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Stopped in and asked if we needed a reservation for dinner. The owner came up to me and said,"we will not server you". My assumption was bc we didn't have reservations which is completely understandable. However the extreme rudeness of the owner was an unacceptable response to my simple question. The quality of the food could not make up for the rudeness of the owner. I recommend visiting another more appreciative dining establishment in Annapolis Royal. read more

My friend and I arrived at Cafe Compose at 7:15 PM. The sign on their door said dinner from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM. We walked into an almost empty restaurant. The hostess asked us if we had a reservation. We said no and she wouldn't seat us because her kitchen was closing. This is one hour and 15 minutes before their stated closing time. It was too bad, because I have eaten there before and the food is very good. Obviously, I won't be going back. read more

Lovely restaurant in a lovely space. There are several interesting "nooks" for indoor seating and a beautiful glassed in back patio overlooking the water. Price point is high, but food was solid. I had a peach and chicken open faced sandwich, which was great! The only person slightly disappointed in our party ordered the lobster roll. It was extremely fresh and came on a lovely roll, but there was a crazy small amount of lobster in the roll. We had spent a lot of our trip ordering lobster rolls, and this one did stand out for a lack of filling. Service was prompt and efficient. read more

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The special was a beet, pea and mint risotto with digby scallops. It was delicious! My husband had the schnitzel and it was delicious as well. The mushroom gravy was so good! read more

Superior experience. Staff so friendly - always smiling. Beautiful view. And the food... I had the lobster linguine twice on back to back nights. Had I not left town I'd go back again and again. read more

Walked in without a reservation at 7pm on a Tuesday night. There was no hostess to greet us and no sign to wait to be seated. (The hostess put it up as we were leaving) Half of the tables were empty. There was a reserved sign on one table. A wait staff noted our presence and ran to the kitchen area. Out came the hostess. She asked (rudely) if we had a reservation. We had just arrived in town and responded "no." She then responded rudely, " Then we don't have any room for you." Bad business attitude. read more

Compose Restaurant has a beautiful view of Annapolis River, elegant but simple decor and excellent food and service! The scallops are prepared to perfection and the French onion soup was delicious! The owner was very accommodating with us! Our son uses a wheelchair and her staff was wonderful! We look forward to another meal the next time we visit. read more

This is a gem of a restaurant in Annapolis Royal, and worthy of a five star review. I've eaten here at least 8 times while visiting family in the area, and enjoyed every meal. They make a terrific authentic schnitzel or course, but I loved the lobster bisque (my go-to appetizer) and the seafood pasta specials are divine! You can't go wrong with whatever Amanda puts together. The indoor/outdoor dining experience is really lovely too. read more

Café Restaurant Compose - Lobster bisque - Canadian (New) Near Me - Annapolis, Nova Scotia

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A great location overlooking the water, with a bright and light ambiance. The food was an interesting mix of European cuisine and seafood. The Milano Schnitzel was quite good and unexpected. My partner had the Kaiser Schnitzel. The spaetzle was outstanding, and the whole meal paired nicely with a German Riesling. The service was great in this family run venue. We highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Our last day in Annapolis Royal and we made reservations at the the best restaurant in town. We always do our research and noticed that most reviewers loved this place but the rating seemed odd. It turns out some people would prefer that they allow babies and young children and marked them down for it. That did it! Thank heavens someone (the owner and chef) had the thoughtfulness to warn people that this was not a Denny's style restaurant and would not be serving young children. Thank you!! This is a fine dining restaurant where a LOT of care and attention has been paid to not only meticulous food but ambience. One baby or young child can undo all that work in a matter of minutes. We loved every minute of our dinner tonight and will return every time we are in town. read more

What could possibly be more enjoyable than sitting on a terrace, just steps from the water, eating delicious food and sipping a lovely local wine. If you can think of it, let me know. Late in August we visited Annapolis Royal and took advantage of a warm and sunny evening to try out Cafe Restaurant Compose. It is the perfect romantic setting...ducks on the water of the Annapolis Basin, a little lighthouse just steps away on the boardwalk, soft jazz playing and a glorious sunset to top it all off. Not to mention the hummingbirds hovering close to the beautiful flowers planted around the terrace. Food was delicious. My husband had some tasty schnitzel (the menu is strong on Viennese dishes) and I had some perfectly cooked scallops fresh from Digby - just down the road, so you know they're fresh - in a gingery butter sauce...heaven on a plate, to be sure. Only negative - it's only open for the summer season - I believe from late May through September or October. read more

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Stopped to eat on the way from Yarmouth and we were pleasantly surprised!! Food was DELICIOUS!! Staff was very helpful, friendly and attentive and we sat outside with a view of the water!! I had the scallops with spaetzle...both were amazing! Gord had the lobster risotto and it was one of the best risottos we've had a restaurant! Perfectly cooked and flavored well! Dessert we had the strudel and chocolate cake (they were out of the top 3) and I would pass on the cake but strudel was delicious. Such a wonderful find and would love to go back! read more

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This is the BEST restaurant in town. We ate here 2 years ago and had a fabulous meal, each choosing a different schnitzel. We had to return and were not disappointed. This time trying the lobster risotto which was perfectly prepared and the fettuccine with lobster sauce and scallops. Again, cooked to perfection! Thankfully we had a little room for the apple streusel with vanilla ice cream. So, so good! The staff was pleasant and our meal was relaxing. The owner visited our table to make sure we enjoyed everything. We will definitely be back the next time we are in Annapolis Royale! read more

My wife and I had dinner at Cafe Restaurant Compose. My salmon was outstanding and my wife is still talking about the pan-seared Digby scallops. Truly excellent. Then there was the service. Prompt, personable, polite - how many more p's can I come up with? *grin* The restaurant is informal. That doesn't stop the servers from old-fashioned service etiquette. It's been a long time since I saw classic 'serve from the left, clear from the right' (yes I know about service à la Russe) in anything but a fine dining establishment. We did take a look at the covered patio but the weather wasn't conducive. The views from inside are darn good. Highly recommended. read more

Cafe Restaurant Compose is a finer establishment in the restaurant landscape of Annapolis Royal. The prices are a bit more, the service is a bit crisper, the atmosphere is a bit more intimate, and the food is a bit more upper crust. But the real draw is the riverside dining porch out back, with stunning views in the evening of the Annapolis River. Everything about our visit was very good - the waiter was attentive and friendly, the food came out fairly fast and was absolutely delicious, with a smaller portion that comes with being at a fancier restaurant. Both my wife and I had pastas (I had the lobster, she had the Thai chicken) and loved them. The dessert was also very good. I'd recommend trying out this restaurant if you're visiting the area! read more

Café Restaurant Compose - The lobster pasta. - Canadian (New) Near Me - Annapolis, Nova Scotia

Very sad occurrence. My recently widowed mom, and my sister entered and sat near the front entry (mom has mobility challenges). Waitress was alright to attend, but the owner in a very course manner insisted they be moved as the room was set up for dinner. Bear in mind it's lunch time. Needless to say, what could have been a special dining experience for mothers' day was soured pretty quickly by zero customer service. German bakery in Annapolis to the rescue. Skip this restaurant if you want good service. read more

Although many may say the food is delicious, they don't know what goes on in that kitchen. While I was dining at Restaurant Compose in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, another man saw through the open kitchen door that the owner dropped a freshly cooked steak off of it's plate onto the floor. She then proceeded to pick it up, slap it back on the plate, and serve it to the unsuspecting customer. The witness advised the other customer not to eat his steak, and confronted the owner in front of all the patrons in the restaurant. The owner then starts quite literally screaming at the witness to get out of her restaurant and called him a liar. Go somewhere else in Annapolis Royal to eat, unless you like paying $40 for a steak that was lying on a dirty, sticky floor. read more

Very bizarre. My husband asked for an extra pat of butter for his bread at dinner, and the server said "there will be an extra charge for that". I have never seen a classy restaurant that charges you for a second tablespoon of butter. I think the server must just have misunderstood, but it was very awkward. I had the kaiser schnitzel...the portion was large, but the breading was mushy, not crisp at all. My husband had the goulash, and although the meat was not particularly tender, he said the flavour was good. The view is very lovely, and the interior ambiance is also very nice. And we really appreciated the adult (no young children) dining focus, I think more restaurants should do the same. But, I think overall this restaurant was a bit of a miss for us. read more

A beautiful experience, perfect for a classy date. As a fussy vegetarian - with a reservation and advanced notice - a very special dish was created just for me. Knowing that it would be child-free was perfect for me, as I work with children all day the break from the noise of children was so refreshing. The atmosphere, view of the water, food and service were all top-drawer. I appreciated the servers patience with me as I had my special diet and she was absolutely perfect in double checking with me around that. All in the experience was a 10 out 10 read more

Okay so an update, we have brought family and friends and we still think this place is great. The one thing I would love to see them do is offer a larger portion of vegetables. I'm sure that the current portion is in response to locals not eating their veg but it's the only thing I can say I want them to change. The other thing I would like to note is the excellent and friendly service. We are always made to feel welcome and they have even started to know what we are going to order. That says a lot when it's a 45 minute drive to get there from our place. I can't wait to go back. read more

After years of rushed and rude service from the owner of this establishment we are moving on. We are four local people who were looking for a relaxing evening out at one of the few restaurants opened in our community early in the week; what transpired was the complete opposite. Our friends made the reservation with the owner Amanda of Café Compose for arrival between 7:15 & 7:30pm. We arrived at 7:25, and Amanda told us we were late, which we were not. If she did not want us there at that time, she could have refused the reservation. Our friends own a business and it was the only time they were available. As soon as we were seated Amanda told us we have to place our order immediately because her chef would be finishing at 8:00pm. We were then rushed through our meal, we had our dessert by 8:20pm; she came to the table again to tell us that she would be closing soon, but told us to relax, she would be having a beer in the front part of her restaurant until 10:00pm. We were finishing our coffee and paying our bill at 8:45pm, when she came to the table and told us that she was closing the restaurant, which was strange after her previous comment. On our way out the door she said "I hope you did not feel rushed", I made the mistake of saying "As a matter of fact, we did", what followed was an owner who went on rant of verbal abuse towards me. So, if you are looking for an evening out at an average restaurant with a limited menu and are hurried to sit, order, eat, settle the bill, all under the admonishing eye of the owner, then this is the place for you. As for us we are done with this restaurant. read more

We ate dinner at Cafe Compose on one of our last nights we spent in Annapolis Royal. After enjoying the local culture for a few weeks and mostly eating at home in our cottage, we decided to end our trip with a night out at a special place. The food at Cafe Compose is excellent. I had the haddock and scallops with a delicious Thai sauce. My wife had the lobster risotto. Both came with assorted vegetables and were delicious. well worth the price. I only have two complaints that the restaurant may want to take under consideration. First, we were seated at a table on the patio at our 5:30 reservation time just when the sun was beginning to start to set over the Annapolis Basis. The day was bright and the sun literally baked me while I was trying to eat. The sun was directly in my eyes during the entire meal. The server asked if I needed to go get my sunshades so she was aware of this and should have moved us to another table but this one had a reserved tag on it for us so I guess it meant we had to sit there. It was a pretty miserable meal despite how good the food was. Second, the $7 glass of wine that I ordered came looking like the smallest pour of wine I have ever received in a restaurant. It was finished in 4 gulps and I lingered over it all I could to make it last as long as possible. I know there is a specific amount that is to be poured in restaurants but this was the minimum or less that can be given to a customer. I felt cheated by this infraction. Otherwise, we enjoyed the food very much. read more

Very pleased with a family lunch. Friendly, competent and witty service. Limited menu choices for lunch but each of the 5 choices tried were very good. Best French onion soup appetizer my wife has ever had. Generous portions of lobster on toast and rolls. Haddock was very tasty with a minimum of batter and a tasty salad. The Mozart dish was an unusual mixture of chicken, Monterey Jack, curry and peaches quickly scoffed by our son. Definitely a great place for lunch. read more

Café Restaurant Compose - Annapolis River view from patio - Canadian (New) Near Me - Annapolis, Nova Scotia

Really great service, all the staff were friendly. Amazing view of the ocean. The chowder was delicious. The hot sandwiches were okay (but that was all they had for lunch). Apple strudel for dessert is a must!! read more

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There are not many restaurants in Annapolis Royal and this one seemed decent enough. The interior was really nice and you get a view of the water. They have a bunch of lobster dishes, schnitzels and fishes in the menu. I got the lobster risotto and my friends ordered the lobster "tagliatelle". Keep in mind that portions are really, really small! This is the first restaurant where a main dish is basically the size of an appetizer. I would have been okay if they charged more and the whole meal came with a soup or salad, but for what they give you, $24 it's ridiculous. There's hardly more than a few pieces of lobster inside. To be fair the food was delicious! And my friend's tagliatelle weren't tagliatelle at all. They were actually linguine. We tried to hint at the waitress if she knew what they actually brought us. Needless to say she was clueless. I felt awkward in the end and none of us wanted to stick around for desert even though nobody was full at the end. We went to the German bakery nearby for a few treats. Pros: interior, food was tasty, service was okay Cons: I've never paid so much for so little food before, waitress was weird. read more

Spectacular view, and the food was original and absolutely delicious. We'll definitely be back! read more

Café Restaurant Compose - Our lunchtime view - Canadian (New) Near Me - Annapolis, Nova Scotia

The staff was extremely brusque and dismissive, despite the restaurant being half empty. We chose to eat elsewhere.

Went to Restaurant at 11AM, door was open and asked if I could make a reservation. Told rather curtly that they were not open till 11:30. Said I understood but wanted to make reservations for later in the day, told even more curtly that they couldn't take reservations until they were open. Strange I thought but said nothing more. Returned at 11:45 and again asked if I could make a reservation for later in the day. Was told that they were fully booked. I asked when was the first reservation I could make? I was told two weeks! I asked why I couldn't have been told this when I came in less than one hour ago. In all my nearly 85 years having lived in several countries and visited nearly 60 others have I ever need treated so shabbily in A restaurant. read more

Review is not for the food, but for the experience trying to make a reservation for dinner on a Thursday night. The reviews and the great place we are staying (Still Point) say it is ok for children, and we have well behaved kids (or would step out if they were not) but the woman we tried to make a reservation with refused us, said the place is 'upscale' and our guests 'expect a nice experience'. Boy, so do we. read more

We stopped on our way to Digby and sought refuge in the rain for a good meal. We were greeted by a server that asked how old our children were and told us children under the age of 12 were not welcome. It was lunchtime and only one table was occupied; the rest of the restaurant was empty. Wouldn't recommend for families. read more

My husband,daughter & I were exploring Annapolis Royal I'm Wednesday evening and thought we would get dessert coffees and desserts in the deck overlooking the water. We were denied sitting on the deck Because it was reserved for full dining only. Also we were told in order to order a dessert coffee we had to order a meal. So they won't serve one ounce of baileys in a coffee unless you order food, and even though the town was quiet and they had 1 table of people in the restaurant we couldn't sit on the deck. Unfortunately we won't be back. Customer service is very important to me and the lack from this restaurant turned me off completely. read more

This review is long overdue. We were visiting this beautiful area in September 2018. There was a sign out front that indicated that the restaurant was not suitable for young children (understandable as it was a beautiful and classy dining spot on the water, and the restaurant wanted a certain ambience for their guests). We did not have many dining options as it was on a long weekend Sunday and the grocery stores and other food establishments were already closed. My husband and I were travelling with my mother and our 1 year old daughter. The Owner and Head Chef for the restaurant was very accommodating and she set up a table for us in the front dining room. The service by their staff was kind and attentive, and the food was honestly the best we had throughout our cross-Atlantic road trip. read more

Excellent German and local cuisine, unbelievable apple strudel for dessert. The venue has a large screened in patio right on the waterfront. Perfect date spot if you're out to impress. Chowder and Lobster risotto were both home runs...tried my wife's Kaiser Schnitzel with spatzle and it was more than edible! Off the beaten path but worth another visit in my opinion! read more

Terrible experience at this restaurant. Beautiful Annapolis Royal should not have a restaurant like this one. Overpriced, and just not good food. An Austrian chef who has no idea how to make a French Onion Soup that is French Onion.... not Austrian Onion. Waitress service was good, restaurant itself was overproduced. Expensive and just plain not good. We should have gone to the Pub instead. read more

I visited with two friends. The food was alright but the evening was soured by the waitress who gave perfunctory service and rushed us out the door at the ridiculous closing time of 8:30pm. read more

Extremely poor management!!! We went there twice in 3 nights without a reservation.this a tiny town and very few tourists. The patio was full but inside there were maybe 2 tables occupied. The tables are tiny , barely enough for 2 people. We were 3. They tried to sit us at one of those tables but we asked to put 2 tables together. They refused !! so we left. We tried again 2 nights later around 8 pm, but they refused to serve us because they don't take anymore clients at that hour and don't have enough food! We never encountered a restaurant to turn clients away before... read more

Awesome dinner! We are the Digby scallops, Kaiser Schnitzel and Tenderloin Goulash. Amanda, the owner and chef, has created a great dining experience! The view and desserts finished a wonderful evening. read more

My friend and I had a delicious dinner at this restaurant. The entire meal was done to perfection, steak, lobster risotto, veggies and desserts. The service was the best I've had in a long time. It was served with a smile and just the right amount of professionalism that made the entire experience very pleasurable. They are also knowledgeable of how to serve a meal properly. The restaurant is clean and the view from the dining room and the deck is incredible. The prices are on par for the quality of the food and service. Make sure you make a reservation and check their website for hours so you won't be disappointed. Wish this restaurant was closer to my home town. read more

After reading other reviews, we thought to try it out. Made reservations for the evening. Food-good, not great. Although the kids loved the lobster pasta and scallops, I think they were just really hungry. Lobster risotto was good. Overall the lobster was overcooked. Service-very good, quick and attentive. No small talk, just to the point. Atmosphere-great location on the west patio, facing the Annapolis Basin. In fact the place gets better reviews for the view than the food, and I would tend to agree. read more