We (2 adults, 3 teens) arrived at 7:00 pm yesterday evening very hungry and tired - one hour before closing time. We stood for a couple minutes in front of the "Please wait to be seated" sign while a couple of the staff huddled about their counter, and had a little discussion. There were several empty tables-3 right in front of me. Then a young woman came over to tell us "We don't have a table for you"; I asked " what about this one or this one? ....clearly empty, no place settings, no reserved signs. " No we don't have any tables for you" " How about the dining room back there?" She just repeated herself- gave no explanation. Appeared to me they had decided their work day was over! Hope they were the owners' kids deciding to turn away customers an hour before closing. read more

I did not eat here so am unable to judge the food or service. My father and I specifically stopped in Chester as we heard they had some nice pubs. This was the first place we went to, however after stepping inside the door, the music from the live entertainment was so loud, we could not even speak to each other. We both really like going out to eat and listen to live music, however it shouldn't be so loud you can't even hear someone standing right next to you speak. Unfortunately we just turned around and left again and went to a competitor. read more

Unfortunately, I had high hopes for this place while coming through July 2022, and was subsequently let down. Upon walking in, the pub smelled as if I walked right into the bathroom, and was led down to the patio for outdoor seating as a result. While walking down, there was a visible open kitchen which was disappointingly, VISIBLY dirty as if it hadn't been cleaned in weeks. Upon seating, the menu did not have very many options, and those that were available were highly priced (of course, to be expected in a tourist area, however, they were still exorbitant). I ordered their house ale off of the drink menu (which had no prices listed - turned out to be 9.80 for a pint), and was disappointed as it tasted like watered down Coors Light. All around a negative experience - I simply got the bill for my drink and left. Unfortunately, in the state is in currently, I cannot recommend this pub. Additionally, the staff appeared to be underaged, and were serving alcohol, so this was a slightly uncomfortable experience, though I cant speak on their ages for certain. read more

I enjoyed dining here in 2019, so I was hoping to get the same quality this year when I visited the area. I am extremely disappointed this time. The menu had changed, and there are new owners. The seafood chowder was cold, and only had a few pieces of seafood in it. It just didn't taste fresh, and I ended up with a tummy ache later in the day. My dining companions were also not impressed with their entrees. Sad to say I will not be back. read more

Fo'c'sle Tavern is in downtown Chester. You will always find a happy crowd here at the tavern. In the summer the streets are lined with cars and bikes. It is nothing to see 50 bikes ride through the streets. There is a large bar area with a flat screen TV for all the sport fans. Tables are scattered throughout the main area as well. I personally like the back area because I get to people watch. Also there is a great fire place to warm you up in the winter. The tavern has been used for a few movies as well. They do have some of The Best Homemade Fries. They are thin and great, they are always on the table for us. The food here is good, it is tavern food. The entertainment here is great. You can find anything from live on Friday nights, auctions, fund raisers or just go with a bunch of friends. There is lot of character packed into Fo'c'sle Tavern and a lot of characters as well. All Good!!!! read more

Fo'c 'sle Tavern - street with cars parked on the sidewalk - Pubs Near Me - Chester, Nova Scotia

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I came here with some family around noon on a foggy winters day looking for a cozy place to chill. Most stores and the eating/drinking establishments are closed for the winter season so it was nice to find a welcoming spot. The place has a very nice old pub feel/decorated there is plenty of seating. This was especially noticeable since we were the only people there. It's divided into halves, with one half having tables by the sports tv, pool table, bar and VLTs, and the other half being more of a restaurant setting. Aside from the regular menu, there was also a brunch menu, probably because it was early on a Sunday. It looked pretty good (I uploaded a pic of it). The regular menu looked very typical for a traditional Atlantic Canadian pub with plenty of seafood and more traditional Canadian fare. I saw 12 beers on tap on the menu, many of which are local. There's also an extensive bottled beer and coolers menu. Daily drink specials are a really good price, ranging between $1 to $2. I can't think of many other places that offer such good specials on drinks (I should probably also mention that I don't go to bars much, so my experience is limited). read more

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Some friends of ours in Chester took us here a few months ago. We weren't terribly enthusiastic at first, because we hadn't visited in quite a few years and our last experience had branded the Fo'c'sle a run-down tavern with not terribly good beer. What a difference some changes have made! The authentic tavern surroundings are the same, but everything has been spruced up, without losing any of its charm. The beer was great and the food was fantastic! We get used to good fish and chips here on the South Shore, but the Fo'c'sle's was superb. Good service, great food, great drinks and a really historic atmosphere in one of Nova Scotia's prettiest villages. What's not to like? read more

Fo'c 'sle Tavern - It's Boxing Day and ... we're at the pub, even though we had to drive to Chester to find one that's open! - Pubs Near Me - Chester, Nova Scotia

Loved it.. we came here for coffee and desserts .. we were pleasantly surprised!! The coffee was strong and fresh and deserts were great!! Service is friendly and really helpful!! This is my new go to place in Chester! read more

Fo'c 'sle Tavern - Love it!! - Pubs Near Me - Chester, Nova Scotia

This is my favourite pub in Nova Scotia. The hamburger and sweet potato fries are the best and you must leave room for dessert Rum cake is the best I have ever tasted. We have gone here quite a bite over the last year. We have told so many friends because it is like finding a buried treasure and you just gave to tell others. If you like lobster sandwiches you don't want to pass by this opportunity. The thing I really appreciate is the best service you can receive in Atlantic Canada with the nicest employees ever. I don't often give reviews but I just can't show my application enough .Thanks so much for treating my friends like family!! read more

always will have a special spot in my heart for this place. its a cozy little place with dining room or bar seating, even within the restaurant you can feel the different vibe from both areas. its interesting to see. i used to enjoy drinking there after highschool, it seemed to be the place to always be so ive been going to this place for quite a few years so far . never fails anytime i go there to eat i always order the alfredo and to be fair its my favorite alfredo ive had! i stopped by a few days ago to try some of their dessert squares they sell rather then a timmies doughnut. and the cheesecake square was delicious! read more

The Fo'c'sle Tavern is every town's answer to Cheers - everyone knows your name! The Fo'c'sle expanded their bar business into a family restaurant that occupies the storefront facing one of the main streets in Chester. The wings are fantastic, probably the best place to stop for wings after you leave Halifax. The beer is cold, the TV is always on - generally to a sporting event, but depending on the clientele, you'll sometimes get music videos. Check out the live music at the Fo'c'sle - it's a great venue to hear some up and coming South Shore talent. read more

I usually don't write reviews but having just consumed the best lobster eggs Benedict I have ever had I felt this place deserves five stars. Paired with the spinach salad you can't go wrong. Yum yum yum. read more

A couple of Sundays ago we took a long early morning drive and ended up in Chester. I'd worked up quite a hunger taking in ocean views and exploring narrow lanes filled with picture perfect cottages. We stopped in town for some lunch at the Fo'c'sle after hearing it was the preferred watering hole of the locals. As she seated us the waitress told us the Fo'c'sle had been robbed the night before. The thieves had taken all the fresh fish, the bacon, some choice cuts of meat, and the lobster. They'd opened the next morning but were unable to serve most of the menu's seafood offerings. She was very accommodating and said she understood if we wanted to eat elsewhere. The RCMP were still inside investigating and speaking with the staff. I thought it was pretty awesome they decided to open and keep on trucking. We decided to stay and try what was on offer. I chose the crispy chicken wrap and my boyfriend picked the fish and chips. Although the pub was packed with a very reserved brunch group of about 25 the service was attentive and quick. I loved my wrap, the sauce was very tasty and definitely an in-house blend. A great combo of a zesty pop and cheesiness. The fries were perfect: crispy outside and fluffy on the inside. The chicken wrap is my go-to safe menu item. I've had my fair share of chicken wraps but this one really stood out. Although it's a pretty standard recipe, I found they used very fresh ingredients and put a nice twist on the parmesan sauce. I had a taste of the fish and chips and it was delicious as well. The portions were not overwhelming but enough to fill me up and have a little leftover. I found the pricing to be quite reasonable and the menu quite extensive. It had a lot of dishes and options for those who didn't prefer seafood. For those who do, the seafood selection is impressive and fresh! I also enjoyed boating themed decor. There's a fantastic ship's figurehead near the bathrooms. I hope the Fo's'cle was able to recover from the theft because I'm definitely planning on returning in the near future to try some of the seafood dishes. read more

Came here for dinner after a day at that beach .... The food was mediocre and extremely over priced. Club house was okay ... fries were mush ... over 11 $ for a draft cider. read more

The Foc'sle is the oldest rural tavern in Nova Scotia (Est. 1764). The decor is very inviting and has the perfect tavern atmosphere with lots of wood, unique lighting and amusing wall decorations. The best part is the Fo'c'sle burger! I am glad I waited to have my first Nova Scotian burger here. The burger comes with grilled onions, mushrooms, cheese and bacon and is only 10.95. The fries are done perfectly and are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. My friends had the crispy chicken wrap, the chowder and the club and all were very happy with their choices as well. The server Shane is particularly funny and made our lunch even more enjoyable. They have specials on certain days as well - Tuesday is burger day and trivia and Thursday is wing night. I will return for the scrumptious burger! read more

Fo'c 'sle Tavern - ship on a wooden sign - Pubs Near Me - Chester, Nova Scotia

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Filthy glasses, microwaved food and frozen fries they advertise as fresh cut. Definitely will not return. Dine at your own peril.

It was a warm and overcast summer Sunday in August when we decided to dine at the Fo'c'sle in the heart of the quaint seaside village of Chester. The area whispers of a seafaring lifestyle of days gone by and the residents' tie to the ocean as it gently laps the shore. Toted as Nova Scotia's oldest rural pub the Fo'c'sle has no doubt been the backdrop for many celebrations and pints raised. The menu has a little bit of everything for every taste and price point. From typical pub fair such as nachos to prime rib, everyone walks away with a full belly. Our server, Shane, was enthusiastic, extremely attentive and helpful in assisting us in our decision making. I enjoyed the seafood chowder as a starter which came served with one of the best, airy biscuits I've ever had. It was full of large pieces of haddock and had the perfect consistency - creamy and thick but not too thick. For my entree I chose the haddock burger and it didn't disappoint. A large piece of beer battered haddock served on a moist and fluffy kaiser roll with tartar sauce, lettuce and tomato it was divine. It was also served with a generous portion of French fries and a cup of coleslaw. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the full rack of pork ribs that he said fell off the bone they were so tender with accompanying potato and coleslaw. Our two young children shared the chicken fingers and fries from the children's menu and they were created in-house with whole white chicken meat. Both of them loved their meal. Dining with two young children can sometimes prove nerve-wracking but our server made the kids feel comfortable and at ease and sat us in the corner of the room to avoid unnecessary disruption to other guests. He also provided them with colouring books and crayons to keep them occupied. The service was top notch, the location provided a great opportunity to people watch and the decor was a mix of old school charm mixed with seafaring/ocean memorabilia - right down to the beach glass in the washroom. Definitely a great spot to relax with a pint, grab a bite and have a conversation with the locals - no wonder this is a favourite hang out of so many during Chester Race Week. read more

Fo'c 'sle Tavern - Full rack of ribs with fries - Pubs Near Me - Chester, Nova Scotia

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great selection of food and drinks. The prices were really good too. Typical fishing community decor with local artists works for sale. read more

This was probably the BEST meal we have had on our trip to Nova Scotia from the States. Cobb salad - great! Stuffed halibut - amazing! Fish and chips - awesome! Quesadillas - wow! The server was great and we were seated right away, such a great experience as compared to restaurant across the street. Generous portions, fair prices and great service... you can't go wrong here... too bad we were too full for desert as it all looked amazing. read more

I visited Chester for a quiet getaway with my partner and we wanted a light, quick dinner. The interior of the dining room is comfortable but a little tired looking. What you would expect for a seaside pub in a very old town. I ordered the halibut in lemon butter and started it. The outside edge was very tasty. Sadly, however I got to the middle and it was still cold and raw. I brought it to the attention of the server who came back and said that the chef apologized and would offer me a free dessert - however I was full from a late lunch so didn't want any dessert. So, sadly, a little dissappointing. read more

If you read no further let me begin by saying that I do not believe even Gordon Ramsay could fix this place! We had a party of 6 adults, a very well behaved 2-yr old and two infants. We timed it so the babies were fed and changed, giving us at least a 2-hour window to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. We selected this pub as we thought the service would be faster than another restaurant and it has a section that is more like a dining room. We could not have been more wrong! Upon entering the Fo'c'sle we were met by a server whose first comment was, "Make sure the car seats are not in the way so I don't have to walk all the way around to the other tables." What happened to the inviting and welcoming place advertised on the website? We got seated but the server was still concerned we were going to block her path yet offered no suggestions. A nice couple at an adjacent table offered us their extra chairs so we could set the car seats off the floor. The server's comment to me was, "I hope I don't run into that. I'm very clumsy." The server came back again and stood for a bit saying nothing so I looked up and said, "I'd love a cold beer", as I assumed she wanted to take out drink order. My wife asked for water and the server then went to other the end of the table and did the same thing - said nothing but just looked awkwardly at my in-laws until one of them spoke up and asked for a drink. The waitress brought the drinks but could not remember who ordered which beer (3 of us ordered a beer so I can see why she had a difficult time remembering.) She forgot the waters. She brought my father-in-law a Diet Pepsi but when she set it down, she asked him to take a sip because she could not remember if she poured a diet or regular pop (that's soda for my American friends). We asked for water again so the server brought a stack of glasses and a pitcher so full that the ice and water spilled all over the table. She grabbed a bunch of napkins and threw them on the table and asked my sister-in-law if she could wipe it up. At this point we thought we might be on one of those shows like "What Would You Do?" or "Punk'd" and started to laugh. We then flagged her down as she still had not taken our food order. She replied that she had to go out back to get her note pad because she could not remember our food order. (Hmmm... don't servers usually carry an order pad with them?) So... about 40 minutes in now and still no food. Beer was gone but the server did not come to check on us to maybe explain how long it would take for our food to arrive, offer us apps/bread, or ask if we would like another drink (at this point I really could have used another beer). However, she did manage to clear two tables, seat two more couples who were now eating apps, and run across the street to a corner store. So... one hour in and we decided to pull the plug. My sister-in-law asked to pay for the drinks and my father-in-law asked to speak to the manager. When the manager came over to speak with him, she said, "Can you hold on for a minute? I have to make sure the people over there have their dessert." He did not wait and we all left. The restaurant was not at capacity as there were a few empty tables, we did not order anything unusual (fish-n-chips, club house and fries, haddock, etc.) and were very patient and polite despite the treatment by the server. Shame on the proprietor and manager at the Fo'c'sle for not training their staff. read more

Our favorite place when we visit Chester NS. Every time we have been the food and service are fantastic. Great wine and beer choices and recommendations. The Fo'c'sle Spinach salad is a great blend of flavors, fresh and the perfect starter. I also really enjoyed the Spinach dip with crunchy pita triangles, my husband was thrilled with the calamari. The entree portion sizes were just enough. Some of our favorites include the Fettucine Alfredo, Pork Adobo, Prime Rib Special . You can't go wrong with any of the dessert choices! read more

Not bad but it's best if you're local. Very tight knit place.

Nice looking old-school tavern. Slowww service. Waited 1.5 hours for food...at which point we were told it would just be another 20 mins. Short poured on the draft beer. Would not recommend. read more

One of my favorite places to visit when I'm in town. Staff are friendly and just a warm environment overall.

Fantastic lobster roll, so so salmon, in a lively pub. I wanted to love this place, but felt a little let down. The service was terrible, and one guy was even a bit rude- so strange as the rest of the area's people were so nice! Fun place to stop in for lunch. read more

Not having enough time to get to Lunenburg and The Fish Shack, we stopped in Chester. The Rope Loft was packed so we went to the Fo'c'sle. They've expanded (upscaled) the menu but we had a taste for fish and chips. In three words - terrible and overpriced. The fish while fresh, was largely greasy batter; the cooking grease was long overdue to be changed. What was purported to be hand cut chips were cleverly disguised as frozen fries. Sadly the service matched the meal. There were four tables of diners including we two, yet it took fifteen minutes just for someone to come to the table with water and a menu. Beer was prompt and then the server disappeared for a very long time before returning to take our order. A final huge wait for the bill. There appears to be a reason why the Fo'c'sle wasn't busy and the Rope Loft was packed. Hands down, the worst fish and chips we've had in years. read more

Loved this place. Great place do beer and nachos. My favourite place in Chester to have a bite. Bar section was noisy but was great atmosphere for what we were looking for. Service was great and very prompt. A Must stop in Chester. read more

Ok let me start to be fair and say we were a table of 10 so I get we were unexpected. Also most of the food was actually really good. My salad was delicious for example however my veggie burger was burned to a crisp (I'm guessing cus it cooked the fastest and they were trying to keep it warm while cooking the other dishes). The portions were quite large and definitely not expensive for what you got. My issue was and sadly we have been here twice now and both times it was the same, food took forever. I'm talking 10 min to even order drinks, another 10 to get them, then we ordered food and waited a good 40 min after that to get it. I don't know an hour in a casual pub for lunch food seems a little much for me. We had two hours and thought we had tons of time and in the end were scarfing down food asking for the bill. Would I go back on my own? Actually I would cus honestly the food on the whole was worth the money and I feel they just weren't prepared for a table that large. Would I recommend it? I don't know.... I'd probably suggest it but also warn people the service was just ok. Not just slow but also not over the top attentive as well. She was nice but overwhelmed and acted it. read more

I have been coming here since I was a child, and i have always been satisfied with the food and service. However, I have been hung up on a few times when trying to place a take out order. It always seems to be the same person. But overall I always have great service when i eat in. Highly recommend the fish and chips. Best i've had! read more

Had supper here last Saturday night. It was very busy but service was quick. Delicious seafood chowder and Greek salad. Very cozy spot with very friendly servers. read more

Lovely environment for a quick and quiet lunch. Their specials are well priced and the food is tasty and homey.

Had the crispy chicken wrap with fries, and all was going well until I found a hair under the pile of fries. When I mentioned it to the waitress, she apologized and was very polite about it, however as she took the plate back to the kitchen, I distinctly heard her say to the kitchen staff "there's a hair in this, it's the same hair as last time". We did receive $15 off the final bill though. Do with this information what you will. read more