The staff is really friendly. The place is small but very nice pub. You do need reservation. The…read moreservicing sizes are small and are hot and spicy . So we decide to order 5 dishes for 2 people - since we were told in advance - we did mention to our server to bring the dishes out as they were ready - we ordered the chili noodles which were great . The crispy tuna rice which was fresh and amazing . The Korean bbq chicken which was tender and spicy. The shrimp toast which was amazing . The only disappointment was The tempura sweet potatoes- which was not great at all had a weird spice on it. I did mentioned this to our server who just blew it off. This was amazing meal but not a cheap one. I do recommend is you like like spicy Asian food

Craving oysters and a cocktail, we walked into this spot along popular Water Street. Inside one…read moredining room are a few small tables. Service was top notch and the menu large. I ordered a peach hard cider while my friend ordered their Caesar salad cocktail, which comes with an oyster. Overall, it was a good spot for a nightcap.

High quality ingredients, friendly and efficient staff and a nice ambiance make for a great…read morebreakfast spot. I had breakfast as Blue on Water this past weekend and really enjoyed the food. The fish cakes were pretty good (I was hoping for crab cakes), the eggs, potatoes and toast were all excellently prepared. The ingredients tasted high quality and were delicious. Overall, a great breakfast!

Stopped in here several times as we were staying upstairs. Drinks were great staff was friendly and…read morethe food was tasty. Had breakfast here one day too and that was a smart move, waitress was very nice. Room was very cool, we stayed here on our 4th and 5th night in St John's and I'm still trying to figure out where I lost my favorite flannel from Pelican Brewing, we were in Canada for about two weeks and the places with housekeeping were definitely hiding my clothes... definitely an awesome place to stay and experience St John's.

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.

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!

Great ambiance, the place was packed. Our server was appropriately friendly, very knowledgeable…read moreabout the food. I would highly recommend No 4 for a great meal with great food and impeccable service.

Came here with some friends for some drinks. Had a great time did not have any food. Place is very…read morecasual and the service was great. Good stop.

We were recommended this place by locals a few times so we decided to try it out and are very glad…read morewe did! Staff is very friendly and also gave good food recommendations. We both got the Candied Apple cocktail and it was the best cocktail of our trip. For an appetizer we got the Brie; it was pricey but so delicious and looked pretty. Woulda like just a couple more crostinis but either way, we still enjoyed it very much. For our mains I ordered the Cajun Chicken Fettuccini and my fiancée got the Blackened Salmon and we both absolutely loved our meals, everything was cooked and presented to perfection. Highly recommend stopping by!

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.

Great food choices and customer service. Connected to sandman hotel so very convenient if you are…read morestaying there.

We came here because it was next to our hotel. We'd arrived after a long flight and didn't feel…read morelike driving. I ordered the short rib beef dip sandwich. Can't highly recommend it. The beef was sparse and a bit dry, which was curious since the bread was quite greasy. I upgraded my side to a "power greens" salad which I did actually enjoy. The greens were fresh and topped with a pleasant poppyseed dressing. Topping it were thick slices of strawberries and postage-stamp size asiago shavings. My wife ordered chicken tenders and fries which were pretty average. As they are at most places. A locally-brewed session IPA whose name I can't recall (Quidi Vidi was the brewery) was on tap and we thought that was quite tasty. Service was quick and personable.

The food here is excellent, the ambiance fun and the service is top notch. Highly recommend sharing…read morea bunch of small plates so you get to try more dishes!

We had dinner here as a large group, booking out the place. It was truly excellent! The service…read morewas friendly and helpful (typical for Newfoundland). But more importantly, the food was outstanding! I had the seafood chowder (yum) and a 10 oz steak. I ended the meal with the cheesecake. Really great! (oh yeah, and the cocktails were good too!)