The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming right when you walk in. Great for kids and large parties…read more They champion world class pizza right here in St John's and looks like the decor is up to date and inviting. The staff are friendly and attentive. My only issue is the food, the pasta was thick and glubby. The pizza was so thin I couldn't actually pick it up so much so I had to eat pizza with a fork and knife which just felt wrong. One last thing: these guys definitely know what mozzarella cheese is, maybe not how to use it.

Pizza is great but wear shades! I absolutely thought the…read morepizza was delicious. We had the Fibonacci (a sweet pizza with caramelized pear with red onion, walnuts & gouda cheese) and another pizza with basil, oregano, tomato sauce and mini meatballs that was an award winner. We were divided at our table as to which one was our favourite they were both so good! Trips to the bathroom were not so impressive. This place needs to close for a day and just get cleaned up, seriously! Food on walls, dirty windows, floors and artwork falling apart.

friendly staff what u notice quickly about ST. JOHN's…read moreexpensive compared to anywhere in ontario more tax and even a small vegetarian pizza is gonna be $20

We have been buying Jumbo meat lovers pizzas from Venice pizzeria for years and they have been…read morereally delicious. We purchased one today and was very disappointed because it was not on the same level of quality as before. The pizza was over cooked, the meat was scarce compared to any of our previous pizzas. The sauce tasted very different and not much cheese on it. We have recommended this pizza shop to our friends and neighbours on many occasions. If I had not experienced pizzas from here in the past and this was my first one from here I would never order one from here again.

Portage was amazing. I loved the craft nature of their dishes, often using locally sourced (even…read morewild crafted) ingredients. The service is great and attentive here, happy to answer all questions and make off menu beverages. The ambiance is a bit tight and loud unfortunately but the dining experience is still remarkable because of the creative food and excellent employees.

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.

Service here was top notch. Our server even took a moment to show us the underbelly of the pub…read more Really cool history here if you're into learning! The place is your typical pub inside. You know what you're getting into before you sit. Food is surprisingly delicious but the beers were better! We gad the four flight which isn't in the photos. Only reason this isn't five stars is the table was wobbly and the menus were sticky. Kinda gross.

This place was a chance as we were passing through St John's and was definitely a "not to be…read moremissed". The menu offered a great selection of seafood plus other turf offerings. We had the calamari, cod bits, and fish n' chips. All delicious. But the best part was the waiter who waited on us; definitely made the whole experience above and beyond!

We stopped by EVOO on a whim, just about 30 minutes before closing last night and ended up having a…read moredeliciously satisfying Italian meal. All vegan, and almost all gluten-free too! Our server Jacob was kind and helpful and the best part was, seemed to really enjoy his job. He took extra care to explain all meals to us and to make sure we would enjoy our selection. The menu is 80% vegan and yet it's nothing like a boring quinoa and kale bowl! We had the fried artichokes on almond purée with pickled celery and they reminded us of fish and chips. Also tried the home-baked flat bread - perfect! - the vegan and gluten-free puttanesca pasta and the Brussels sprouts. Highly recommend EVOO to anyone who is looking for a hearty Italian meal, especially (but not only!) if you prefer vegan and gluten-free food.

This humble spot in an odd location downtown St. John's had been on my radar for a couple years…read morenow. I had walked by numerous times and found it odd but respectable that it was always closed during the day and only opened at 5pm. When I went to enjoy a supper with my parents one holiday evening, the interior was decorated nicely and had really kind service. I ordered the Pork Milanese ($28) which was a battered pork loin with creamy gnocchi noodles and mushrooms on the side. The dish was incredibly filling, but it did keep me wanting to continue picking at each noodle after I was already full. The pork had a lemon on this side to give it some extra zest. My dish was good, but my mom ordered the Chicken Parmesan which honestly looked and tasted better than mine. I also attached a picture of it as well. This place didn't have too many entrees to choose from but the chicken was great, and the pork was good. They have many pizza options, but I am not the biggest fan of fancy pizza so I personally would not come here for that selection. From what I ate though, I'd give this place a solid four for a kind atmosphere and filling meal.

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.

Top notch service here!…read more Charissa made me feel at home at the bar. I got fresh tasty oysters, the code tongues, and fries. The oysters were small but so refreshing. The cod tongues are a unique item in just had to try and they tasted really good. The fries came out hot but I would say they lacked the crunch I really enjoy.. I still found myself eating them all though. The fry sauces were great, I think all made in house. What I really loved was the homemade peri peri sauce with the oysters... I put it on my cod and fries.. game changer!!! The place is beautifully designed, small and quant, and a good place to hang out. The rotating drink special was a frozen Paloma which was nicely garnished and had a natural wheat straw. The chef gave me a nice little gift at the end of my meal which I appreciated greatly.

Lobster night was so delicious! Service was very attentive. Topped off with some sweet Newfoundland…read moremusic! AND we were sent home with a box of lovely baked goods! A wonderful evening!

Great service, great food, nice little casual local gem…read more Would recommend if your looking for a well cooked meal.

So we woke up after the Saint Patricks celebration and we were starving for brunch. The friends…read morewhere we were staying suggested us to go to Bellissimo, that was nearby. We looked at the menu on Yelp and the brunch menu looked very good. We arrived at this cozy restaurant (I think it was built in a house) and were greeted with a friendly server. We started with a very good cup of coffee. From the choices on the brunch menu I took the skillet: hash brown potatoes topped with eggs, cheese, mushrooms, onions and bacon with hollandaise sauce. Every bite was perfect. I even took the traditional toutons on the side. My boyfriend took the traditional breakfast and fell in love with the peameal bacon. The server always made sure that everything was ok and that our coffees and water were refilled. I recommend this place for brunch, but apparently it's even better for dinner!