Located near the upper end of Water St just before it turns into offices, Portage's PoMo space is…read morein contrast to much of St John's historical downtown, but it's a refreshing vibe that still feels inviting and relaxed. The menu is on the larger side for a place of Portage's caliber and reputation, with several snack-sized starters and veggie-based dishes, and a leaner variety of proteins and desserts on offer. You know you're likely in for an excellent meal when it's hard to choose what to get, but after some deliberation, my wife and I landed on a handful - smoked olives, the cleverly-named Tongue and Cheek, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower souvlaki, and fingerling potatoes. Note that you can conveniently get half-sized portions of most dishes, although we, somewhat greedily, did not. Unsurprisingly, the smoked olives arrived right out of the gate. The plump green olives came as advertised and while you wouldn't know it from looking at them, tasted more like smoke than olive - and I was all for it! I'm slowly converting to olives, although it's generally only at nicer restaurants and not the olives that come out of obscenely large buckets/cans that get slopped on mediocre pizzas and salads. The cauliflower souvlaki started off our string of excellent veggie dishes. I wasn't sure what the portioning or presentation would be like for these, but they were all a generous size for two people to share, and while they were plated with consideration, it wasn't so much "haute cuisine" as it was "piles of delicious food with complementary garnishes". I was a bit surprised that the cauliflower was served at room temperature, but the charred cruciferous veg still packed a lot of flavour into each tender-crisp bite. Paired up with pickled dates, yogurt, and fresh dill and mint, the dish hit a lot of notes - savoury, lightly sweet, and tart and bright vegetal freshness. On deck were the fingering potatoes. Loaded up with sauteed onions, scrunchion-esque bits of pork belly, and a blessedly-conservative amount of Dijon, this was a dish that harkens to a lot of continental European dishes. The execution of the relatively simple ingredients is where it stood out though, with firm-but-tender potatoes that had hints of sweetness and umami from their toppings, and the crisp bits of pork belly brought some textural contrast to this comfort food classic. The dishes were coming hard and fast at this point with the broccoli, Brussels sprouts and (cod) Tongue and Cheek showing up in quick succession. Brussels sprouts have become a family sight on contemporary restaurant menus in the past 15-ish years, and the crispy, charred veg got the Boomer parent treatment, although melted Cheez Whiz was replaced by a much more natural Mornay sauce. I'm not jaded enough yet by their ubiquity to bemoan the delicious execution of these sprouts, and the cheesy goodness of the Mornay mellowed out the sharper edges of this infamous vegetable. A surprise hit was the broccoli - with velvety smooth and lightly salty ricotta, fresh micro greens and a not-insubstantial punch of heat from chili crisp, our third cruciferous vegetable of the night took top honours of the three, IMO. The Tongue and Cheek is an amusingly tongue-in-cheek play on words, using two cuts of cod that have become local delicacies. Each was fried in a light and airy batter that was only slightly heavier than a proper tempura, with a perfectly generous amount of salt. The tongues were a bit more toothsome, but still tender, while the cheeks almost melted in your mouth. They're one of the more pricey starters, but absolutely worth it. After this sizeable feast, dessert was not on the table, figuratively or literally. Service was spot-on and friendly, without the almost clinical coldness that can come with the precision that some fine dining places have. Portage is understandably representing St John's on Canada's Top 100 list with its deliberate, but unpretentious menu that will leave you wanting more and loosening your belt at the same time.

Had a wonderful meal at Portage. Shout out to our server…read moreCaroline who really looked after us well. Highly recommend this spot for offering specialities of the area. Please note that I also highly recommend reservations as it's not a huge dining space and because the food is so good, they do get busy. We started with the seafood sampler platter. So wonderful. And then we shared the Halibut, rice and spinach/fiddleheads with shrimp hollandaise (which were a fantastic complement to each other). Only one thing we did not like (it was not the fault of the restaurant, but our table for 2 was flanked by a table for 8. We don't mind that generally but 2 of the party were children who initially were running around and flinging themselves on the banquette seating for the first half of the meal. I started to wonder if I was going to end up with one of them in our laps. Fortunately they settled down at some point). Despite all this I would go back in a heartbeat.

The service was fantastic. The cook was careful with my special diet and even came over to talk to…read moreus.

Just walked off the street, Water St that is! I read a lot of reviews and I have to say, impressed…read morefrom the beginning. Had a lovely Newfoundland local vodka, crisp and delicious. Ordered the seared Halibut on a penne bed with chilies flakes . Very , very good! (Not a menu item)

We thoroughly enjoyed this quaint Gastropub on an unassuming corner of Duckworth street. We…read morehappened to arrive right when they opened at 11am, and we were able to select from their brunch or lunch menu. Hubby and I both ordered from their lunch menu. I had my eye on the PB&J burger that I had seen on Yelp, as peanut butter is my favorite thing ever! This burger did not disappoint. While the combo sounds strange, the flavors were well-balanced with the brie cheese, caramelized onions and bacon. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium and the hamburger bun was soft. I chose the kettle chips for my side, and they tasted house made. Very delicious! The only thing I didn't like about this burger was the price tag = $22. Hubby had the seafood chowder for $17 and it was enough for a full meal. He said the chowder was very flavorful and full of seafood. He was in heaven! We both ordered a Quidi Vidi 1892 amber ale on draft. They only had 7 beers on tap and I wished that they had a medium or dark beer, but this area doesn't seem to be big on that. They do have Guinness in a can, if that's your thing. Service was friendly and the food came out relatively fast. The booths were comfy and the pub reminded me of a cozy neighborhood bar. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

Every visit back home, I always make a stop at BSG. Everything I've ever ordered here has been…read moresolid and flavorful. The staff is warm and inviting with an incredibly cozy atmosphere.

awesome great food and atmosphere highly recommend…read more great service great location...food snd staff were amazing time and money well spent...you won't be disappointed !!!!

I always have a wonderful time at No. 4. The vibe, friendly rapport from the staff, and the…read moreextensive drink menu makes for a memorable experience. The food was delicious, with a superb scallop spaghetti for me and the favourite Mac & Cheese for my wife. Thanks for another epic evening!

The seafood was amazing. The lobster bisque was great and the oysters on the half shower straight…read moreout of the water. Service was spot on people were friendly place was clean

(From June) The restaurant feels like family-style. The…read moreservice was good and we got a good seat at the back where the ceiling-to-floor windows are so it was nice to look onto the water. The oysters were super good and fresh (obviously) and I liked the pickled onion they gave as well. The crab was alright. It was baked so it's harder to get the meat clean off and it was quite dry. I prefer it being boiled as you also get the juice from the meat. It was heavily seasoned (personally just like my crab plain). It was well worth it though with the side dish and the amount of crab you get. The chowder was good. I really liked it but it was quite small, even as a main course meal. The downside, I got an upset stomach and threw up later that night. (thankfully not food poisoning but still a bit turned off) I'm not sure if it was a bad oyster or the chowder but I shared the crab with my mom and no one had my chowder.

So many oysters here, I loved it, but this place might have been where I lost a jacket... part of…read moremy Canada story... Oysters here were on point! The vibe I. Here was great too, the bar was hopping right. Whine our table, definitely added a positive note.

Food was flavourful but very small. App as part of a taster menu included 1 lettuce wrap. Tasty but…read moreit was 1 lettuce wrap. Main was cod bites that included 8- 10 small tempura battered bites. Both my appetizer and main came out 5 minutes before my dinner guest. Music was great but way too loud.

Shame on me for not taking pictures. Food and service was equally top notch. We were in a group of…read moresix and everyone loves their meal and attention given by staff. Food was top notch. It's a must visit in St. John's.

Wasn't really all that impressed. I wasn't treated at the…read moredoor. I then just went to the bar. Bartenders were really good and friendly. The food was just like any other pub; but there are some good choices too. The vinegar pie is NO longer on the menu. I was super disappointed. I tried a blueberry tres leches cake. It wasn't terrible but wasn't the best. They seem to try and create a pub environment and a casual setting in same restaurant. I personally feel like it's loud and not great for a small personal experience. I would return to try other offerings on the menu.

Amazing food and service…read more Muscles, beef tartar, and lamb rack are some of the best in town. The whole menu is great! Service is always a delight. Would recommend Magnum and Steins to anyone!

Solid restaurant option in St John's! Highlights in the past have been: mussels, rack of lamb, and…read moreCaesar salad. They have two floors with ample capacity. Would recommend a visit!

The food delivery system was un, and the food was SO good. The staff was very friendly and helpful.read more

The staff are very very kind and sweet…read more But I will say. Awful food, not fresh at all. Would definitely recommend Sun Sushi on Kenmount instead. But the robots are definitely super cool, and we could have caught them on an off day, I suppose.

Only the best Indian restaurant in the province. Having…read moreeaten at Indian restaurants from Vancouver to Paris, this restaurant is still my favourite. The waiters and waitresses are polite and friendly, service is quick, the menu is broad and varied, and the good is excellent !! After a year and a half closed (due to a fire) they are back and better than ever !!

In search of something different than pub food, we went to India Gate for vegetarian fare and were…read morenot disappointed. Mains don't come with rice, but a single order of rice plus plain naan was more than enough for our two dishes. Flavorful and a good amount of spice, plus friendly service made this a good dinner decision.