This restaurant is centrally located on the Sydney waterfront by the giant fiddle. This is on the second floor and affords a nice view of the water. The food here is decent - chicken wings were flavourful and the chicken supreme was juicy. Blueberries complemented the salmon well. Service however was horrible. First, they didn't really have proper seating for 5, so my group was a little cramped on a table designed for 4. Our server was usually nowhere to be found. At the end of the meal she told us she's new and still learning the ropes. While that's excusable, the service level from all the other staff was not. We've flagged down at least 2 other staff looking for our server, and while they just acknowledge and say "your server will be right with you", they DID NOT ACTUALLY GO GET HER. That's simply unacceptable.. Given the poor service I would not recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a relaxing dining experience. read more

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This is a fun little shopping mall at the cruise terminal in Sydney. Interesting shops, selling food, kilts, jewelry, and of course restaurants. A fun way to spend several hours on a rainy day. read more

Flavor On the Water - Labor on the water, next to the giant fiddle - Canadian (New) Near Me - Sydney, Nova Scotia

The view was lovely & the mussels were the best I've ever had, the lemon garlic sauce was so yummy! & the local wine was great too! I only gave 4 stars due to the service being quite slow and wasn't busy at the time. read more

Flavor On the Water - Mussels - Canadian (New) Near Me - Sydney, Nova Scotia

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Food was extra special; so very delicious especially my Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin bites with kettle chips for side . Also Apple cider Cheesecake for dessert (: Our waiter was hilarious and very kind. Never had I ever been served a bad meal here So that's why I why it's one of my favourite restaurants to dine at read more

I stopped in at Flavor On The Water for a quick lunch and ordered the lunch special. The staff was friendly and attentive, and were quick to take my order. The views are nice, although the open space does tend to generate a lot of noise. While I enjoyed the food and found it to be flavorful, it definitely feels like the food at least might have partially come frozen (or at least was previously prepared and reheated) as parts of the flatbread were cool and the cheese unmelted. Overall, however, I cannot complain about the value as it was only $15 for a soup and generous sandwich. read more

Flavor On the Water - Lunch Special - Canadian (New) Near Me - Sydney, Nova Scotia

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Service was very slow. No atmosphere. Almost like cafeteria dining. Food was just passable. We would not be returning. read more

food was incredible, although on the small portion side. it wasn't busy at all on a monday night, we got our food fast and all at once. there's a really nice view and wasn't noisy. i would recommend the chowder, good portion and cheap. read more

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Flavor on the Water serves good food that matches the view of the Sydney waterfront. The menu has several fresh seafood choices--lobster roll, haddock, fish tacos, etc.--as well as chicken, burgers, and beef. The style of preparation leans toward simple preparations that allows fresh flavors to shine, especially in seafood. The restaurant also serves a selection of local craft beers that are worth exploring. read more

Food not great, service is fantastic......nice spot on the water ! Not my first pick in Sydney

Very slow (1 hour) service despite the strong recommendation from your guide. Responsive to notice of the delay but delayed nonetheless

We ate here 3 years ago during our last visit to the maritimes. It was not memorable, other than the recognition of the restaurant as soon as we saw it. Our quick lunch today was equally forgettable. We each had the small version of fish and chips, with one piece of fish instead of two. The fish was Panko breaded and fried. It was tolerable. There was a swarm of mediocre fries. The positives included the service and attractive dining room, with nice outside seating, although today was too hot to enjoy it. It's a safe pick, but not a great one. read more

Nice location and great food overlooking Sydney harbour. Was also there for a wedding and was a great experience and venue for a wedding.

We stopped in here for lunch because we were hungry. My wife had a lobster chowder and I had the fish and chips. Obviously being at the port makes it a bit touristy but it's actually decent food. If the weather is nice, you can sit outside on the second floor patio. There you can see a view of the harbor and cruise ship. They also have another location in town. They have just a few beers on tap. read more

Flavor On the Water - Fish and chips. - Canadian (New) Near Me - Sydney, Nova Scotia

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It took 15 minutes just to get a menu. Food is also very expensive. But service is just over all terrible.

Lunch with my sister ! Amazing food and view Staff friendly and happy! Best Mexican salad as well as delicious chowder When in Sydney a must!!! Also I wanted to try what I saw on everyone else's plate By the way not a good idea people didn't seem to like that! Beautiful day! read more

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Lovely restaurant located conveniently in downtown Sydney with one of the most picturesque views in Cape Breton! Amazing food, great customer service and we are proud to see their community support! Highly recommend! read more

Wow... just had lunch here today and notice I first reviewed this place three years ago today by coincidence. lol Anyway, I give it a 3.5. Stopped in by myself this time and there was a cruise ship in, but the restaurant itself wasn't that busy. Mind you, this was about 11:20 so the lunch crowd probably picks up a bit later. Tried the express lunch trio with a chicken salad sandwich (made with quinoa, no lettuce or celery), which was actually quite good on fresh bread, chicken vegetable soup, and an almond cranberry mixed green salad. Overall quite satisfying. read more

Flavor On the Water - lunch trio - Canadian (New) Near Me - Sydney, Nova Scotia

Just had lunch here today. It was really a terrible experience. The view was fantastic. But..It took more than one and half an hour to get the food after the order. And it was not fair that those who arrived later got the food first. There might be something wrong with the order. BTW, service wasn't that good. Four of us were served with 8 sets of knives and forks. read more

Flavor On the Water - a view of a city - Canadian (New) Near Me - Sydney, Nova Scotia

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Great spot frequented by locals with a fab view of the Sydney harbour! Loved the seafood chowder and spinach salad with maple dressing. read more

Flavor On the Water - Canadian (New) Near Me - Sydney, Nova Scotia

OMG OMG OMG!!!!! Please stop here and check this place out. You owe it to your taste buds. I read complaints about price, but I didn't see it at all. 15-25$ a plate for good quality seafood dishes. The view was fun and totally part of the dining experience. The staff was nice and knowledgeable about local culture and attractions. The lobster club is to die for, I find that everyone is so concentrated of the lobster that no one pays attention to the bread, not these guys! The bread was amazing, so were the sides. The chowder was so rich and think it was almost like a DQ blizzard were you could almost flip it upside down! It was so good I can't say enough good things about it. Out of 50 bowls of Maritime chowder this one is now my first second and third place. read more

Really impressed with the food here. The prices were great considering the quality of the food produced. Others have mentioned the chowder, and so will I. It's incredible. Great service, very pleased and will definitely return. read more

A must spot - amazing view and equally amazing food - locally sourced. Be sure to try the Panko Fish and Chips, pulled pork, or lobster club. A pint from Nyanza based Big Spruce Brewing is also highly recommended. Awesome food and awesome service. Be sure to call in advance to avoided disappointment; they are frequently booked for private functions read more

Flavor On the Water - a view of a restaurant - Canadian (New) Near Me - Sydney, Nova Scotia

We had the lobster roll for lunch. All 4 of us. We just arrived on the cruise ship and walked around town looking for a place to eat. Then walked back to this terrific gem of a simple restaurant that was there all along. The lobster rolls were outstanding and I took a couple bites before taking the pic. read more

Flavor On the Water - Almost ate it all before remembering to snap my lobster roll - Canadian (New) Near Me - Sydney, Nova Scotia

Generally speaking the food here is spot on, and the service here is exceptional. It very well may be the best on the island. Avoid the canteen they have when the cruise ships are in, like the plague, as the service is generally slow there, and the customer service is wanting. read more

Had the lobster roll and fries ($25) and lobster cake ($16). The lobster roll was very good but the lobster cake was all potato unfortunately. Service was good. read more

So they still haven't updated their hours on Yelp but I went back during normal business hours and the service was beyond amazing, the food was fantastic and the view scenic as hell aaaand there was live music. The ambiance was festive and on point. I certainly recommend it. read more

This spot is great, frequented and serviced by locals! The menu was unique and customized to Cape Bretons's resources. I especially loved the seafood chowder and friendly wine pour :) read more

The atmosphere is beautiful whether it is day time or night. The view is fantastic as it is by the water. The food is amazing, can be pricey but you get the food for what it is worth. Highly recommend for a family gathering or aa special date night. read more

I was disappointed... like other reviews the view is great. Unlike another review the food came quickly and our server was very friendly. But the food was mediocre. We had appetizers, which were called evening plates. Appetizers is the more appropriate label since portion size was small. The best of these was the Caesar salad. The mussels were good, but some were not opened & the cream sauce was just okay. The big disappointment were the haddock bites-- the portion size was small and some pieces was all breading & no fish! The chef could do better & portion size could be more for the prices charged. read more

I'll keep this short and to the point: went for dinner with a friend, and I forgot we were in Sydney. Sydney isn't known for fine dining- in Sydney, price wins over quality. Flavor on the Water focuses on quality. Yes, it is on the more expensive side, but it's worth it. The place was busy, so service was a little slow (which was expected). It's in an odd location (you wouldn't expect to see a restaurant at gov't wharf), but the location makes it unique. Highly recommend it! read more

I grew up in Cape Breton and a lot of my friends still live here which results in many envious looks at their photos of dinner on the patio next to the big fiddle. Turns out, my year or so of longing from Toronto was not met with anything less than extreme disappointment and the worst service I've ever received...but the view is nice. The Seafood Chowder was great, but I ate it alone as the server 'forgot' the appetizer my friend ordered...no apology, no offer for a drink, just an opps...she then forgot that second drink my friend ordered...and another server saved the day. By the time we received our entrees (bland and boring), we wanted to leave but we had to wait 30 mins to pay...so we went inside to pay on our own since she was likely never coming back. Needless to say there are other great places to eat with a patio downtown where the service is great and the food is better. You can walk by the big fiddle without wasting your time here. I hope they work on their delivery, as there is potential that just isn't being met. I'll never return. read more

We were seated with menus and no one looked at us for the next 20 minutes. No water, no drink menu, not even a glance. They weren't particularly busy, so we just walked out. Their menu looked really good, but I'm spending my money where they appreciate our business. read more

This place is overpriced and service is very slow. Wife had a chowder which she said was good and sufficient quantity. I had the BBQ chicken which consisted of what appeared to be a wing with some the breast meat attached plus two pieces of chicken skin that appeared to be deep fried. Looked all fancy but for $26 I think the portion was small and nothing special taste wise. Meal was served without any breads or salad. Concrete floors, bare tables with no table cloths, paper knapkins. To me it seems like they are trying to come off as a fancy restaurant with fancy looking food and high prices but to me they totally missed the mark. Stopped at a gas station on the way home to buy an ice cream bar. The ice cream bar was the best food of the evening. read more

If you want small amounts of so-so food for lots of money, this is the place to go. My chicken crust was over cooked and inedible.

Beautiful atmosphere, and amazing view. Anything seafood is usually amazing, you will not be disappointed. Prices can be on the higher end, and the service is iffy. read more