Restaurants in Saint John
For lunch, don’t overlook Saint John’s city market (see above)—grab a light meal and some fresh juice, then eat it at one of the onsite tables, in the alley atrium or right on King’s Square.
As for dinner, frankly, Saint John has undergone such a sudden and extensive culinary revolution, it’s impossible to highlight all the deserving eateries here. Below are a few absolute standouts, especially for showing off local, fresh ingredients, but any number of runners up are well worth a try. Port City Royal (www.portcityroyal.com; tel. 506/631-3714) serves food so fresh and local, the menu changes daily; the minimalist setting matches the tiny but outstanding menu items, like the lobster mint roll I devoured on my last visit. At Rockwood Park, Lily’s Café (www.lilylake.ca/lilyscafe.html; tel. 506/693-5033) is a treat when you’re on a relaxing lakeside outing, with the sun on the patio in summer and the cozy fireplace in cooler weather. The menu gives a nod to North America’s first geo park with items like "Cambrian Crustacean Chowder" and "Chocolate Maple Lava Cake."
Saint John now has a number of ethnic restaurants worth checking out like Lemongrass for Thai at 1 Market Sq. (www.lemongrasssaintjohn.com; tel. 506/657-8424), Thandi Restaurant for East Indian fare at 33 Canterbury St. (singhdining.com/thandi; tel. 506/648-2377), and Kim’s Korean Food at 47 Charlotte St. (tel. 506/642-1040).
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5 Results
- Seafood
Billy's Seafood Company
It's not fancy but it's not a dive; it's just right. Billy Grant's seafood eatery off King's Square gets big points for its friendly staff, fresh-off-the-boat seafood (they sell it to City Market customers during the day), better pricing than the tourist-oriented seafood restaurants…$$Around Town - Contemporary Canadian
East Coast Bistro
This French-style bistro incorporates a number of international culinary influences in its dishes. For example, the ubiquitous Atlantic salmon is seasoned with cumin and black lime and presented with chimichurri, whey braised leeks, buttered peas, and pea shoots, while a roasted…$$Around Town - Italian
Italian By Night
You walk into a restaurant and find it packed on a random Monday night? Bingo! You know you’ve stumbled upon the best restaurant in town. But don’t try to come to this locals’ fave without reservations as you’ll likely be (politely) turned away. Saint John’s best takes its…$$Around Town - Gastro Pub
Saint John Ale House
The name implies pub—indeed, the craft beer selection here is the best in the city, with brews from across the Maritimes, and the nightlife scene attracts crowds of young revelers. But the food is also surprisingly good. Chef Jesse Vergen is among the best in Canada and goes out of…$$Around Town - Latin American
Taco Pica
Here's something refreshingly different: a restaurant that's cooperatively owned by the chefs, servers, and managers, and some of their friends. (Its full name is "Taco Pica Worker Cooperative Restaurant.") It's bright, festive, and just a short stroll off King Street. The restaurant…$Around Town
