Saint John Restaurants

For our 30th anniversary, my husband and I decided to travel across Canada, having only been to Canada a few times. We were recommend to visit Bourbon Quarter by the hotel we were staying with. We were greeted promptly at the door and seated at a lovely booth. We opened the menu, and we surprised to see such variety! I tried the duck breast, which I was told was from right there in New Brunswick and my husband tried the rack of lamb. The only thing better than the food, which was amazing, was how friendly the staff was. Maybe it is a Canadian thing, I don't know, but they were so accommodating. We headed out just before their live entertainment began, a bit to late for us as we were heading out in the morning. On our travels, if we happen to venture back to New Brunswick, Canada, we will make Bourbon Quarter a must.

Favorite Dish: Sugar and Spice lacquered Duck Breast
Pecan encrusted rack of lamb

A great seafood restaurant that IS open 7 days a week all year round.
The seafood chowder is thick and full of seafood chunks and the lobster.... Mmmm the lobster!
On a Sunday afternoon, the place was quiet and service was efficient.
For the menu, visit
http://www.grannanhospitalitygroup.com/grannan/menus/Grannans%20Menu.pdf

Assuming that you've chosen to visit Saint John's OUTSTANDING City Market (please see my separate City Market "things to do" tip), you might want to catch a bite to eat there, too. There are numerous eateries and food stands, pretty much offering about anything you might want to consider. Among your options are:

<> Billy's Seafood Company (see separate restaurant tip) This is more of a sit-down restaurant right at the edge of the market. Excellent and fresh seafood and other items.

<> Java Moose, a coffee stand that also sells the prerequisite muffins and pastries.

<> Kim's Korean Food, they have both prepared items and are a grocery. Are you in the mood for Kimchee?

<> Pete's Frootique, you gotta LOVE the name if nothing else. This is the place that you'll find froot - oops I meant fruit - smoothies and the like.

<> Jeremiah's Deli, they have deli-style lunch items, cold cuts, cheeses and - if you're ready for something sweet - soft or hard-serve ice cream.

<> Raymond's, another excellent deli option

<> Sagrati's, sandwiches, wraps, milkshakes, smoothies and other such items.

<> Sister's Italian Food, Italian goodies, including excellent PIZZA. (see photo above)

<> Taco Pica Cooperative, specializing in Mexican, Guatemalan and Spanish foods. Apparently this place is run by a fairly active ex-patriot Guatemalan community in Saint John.

<> The Infusion Tearoom/Bistro, they have a nice selection of homestyle soups and chowders

<> The Wild Carrot Cafe, they serve fresh sandwiches, homemade soups and claim to have the "best salad bar in New Brunswick".

Favorite Dish: Well, we really really enjoyed the pizza from Sister's Italian. And, for sit-down meals, Billy's Seafood is top-drawer.

NOTE, if you're buying from a stand, ask them to point you in the direction of the tables. There is an outdoor, but covered and insulated (plastic) area in which you can sit and enjoy your food purchase, if the stand from which you buy doesn't have an immediate place to sit down.

We went into the alehouse to have some ale, a simple plan. It turned out that the Saint John Alehouse was more than just a brewery and pub, they have a nice food menu as well. We didn't do a meal there, but it all looked tasty, might be a good choice.

The Saint John Alehouse reminded me - a little bit - of Ray's Steel City Saloon back home in Tallahassee, Florida. They have a huge selection of beer and ales, both bottled and on tap. If you are a brew lover, this is your place. And, be sure to tell your server what type of beer you prefer, he or she can give you some excellent guidance on what to choose, if you're less familiar with the local brands.

Prices below reflect "just having a beer or two", not lunch or dinner service.

Favorite Dish: Among the beers and ales on tap are:

Alexander Keith's (IPA, Red Ale, Light and White)
Moosehead (Ale, Light and Lager)
Picaroons (Best Bitter, Timber Hog Stout, Dark and Stormy, Seasonal Tap)
Pump House (Blueberry Ale, Fire Chief Red Ale, Scotch Ale and Seasonal Tap)
Rickard's (Red, White and Honey Brown)
plus, the usual suspects such as Molson, Labatt's, Coors, etc.)

(Note, there is a high school named James S. Rickards in Tallahassee, and in spite of them being MY high school's arch rivals, I decided to try the Rickard's Ale. I did the honey brown, very very good - smooth and yet hearty)

Prefer bottled beers or ales? Here are a few that are available:

Garrison (Tall Ship, Nut Brown, Irish Red, Imperial Pale Ale)
Propeller (Bitter, Pale Ale, Porter)
St. Amboise (Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout and Apricot Ale)
Fuller (London Pride, Organic Dew)
Kronenbourg 1664
Innis and Gunn
plus, the usuals... Grolsch, Stella Artois, Corona, Dos Equis, Heineken and Sam Adams)

If I'd had a bottle brew, I think I would have tried the Apricot Ale...OK OK, not the most manly sounding brew, but it sounded interesting.

Did all of you VirtualTourist members get the little inside joke? "Don't Miss the Fresh Seafood" is the "example" that they list under "give your restaurant review a title".

OK, it's not original, but it really fits for this tip. Billy's Seafood Company in Saint John is both an excellent fresh seafood restaurant AND market. "Take Away" or "Take Out" can mean two different things here.

But, if we're talking about prepared meals, the restaurant features a wide variety of well-prepared local seafood entrees, prepared both in simple and more complex ways. The emphasis is on local and fresh.

They aren't 100% seafood, there are steaks and chops, and a vegetarian dish or two, but c'mon.... if you're eating at a place called Billy's SEAFOOD company, you're not there for the ribeye, are you?

Favorite Dish: Among the better appetizer choices were the baked oysters and the bacon-wrapped scallops -always a favorite of mine. I saw someone having the bouillabaisse, and it looked scrumptious. I guess I wasn't in the mood for a big bowl of "B". (Maybe the next time I'm in Marseilles. :)

As for mains, they have excellent options for halibut and salmon, along with scallop and lobster features. I think you should consider a couple of the "mixture" options, perhaps the thermidor (featuring shrimp, Digby scallops, lobster and haddock baked in thermidor sauce) or maybe the Seafood Medley (featuring shrimp, Digby scallops and lobster sautéed with mushrooms and green onions in a garlic cream sauce and served over linguine). How about some cedar-plank baked salmon?

If you'd like something lighter, maybe less of an "entree", I'd perhaps look at the fish and chips or the Digby scallops and chips.

Whatever you get will be expertly prepared and fresh. Terrific food.

I could have written this tip for Tim Horton's for almost any village, town, city or even highway rest stop in Canada. This is Canada's coffee and doughnut franchise, there are thousands of outlets all over this beautiful country. They've even moved into the USA, where they are going doughnut hole to doughnut hole with venerable Dunkin' Donuts.

This particular outlet, pictured below, is located in the Market Square shopping complex of Saint John. Their main products are the doughnuts, and they also make muffins and other pastries. Many of the outlets also sell breakfast sandwiches, usually built around eggs, sausage and bacon. Ummmmm, love that bacon. :)

As for my "the most Canadian place on earth" line, I stole it from the American television show HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. There is a scene where two of the characters are in a Tim Horton's in Toronto, and one of them says - "we're in the most Canadian place on earth". Tim Hortons equals Canada in much the same way that McDonald's equals the USA. Get it?

Favorite Dish: I thought the maple-frosted doughnuts were the best.

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We might have found the best restaurant in all of Saint John! The Lemongrass specializes in Thai fare, but the menu also includes other Asian delicacies, including the amazing Indian butter chicken I ordered. This restaurant is located in an old uptown Saint John house, and the Asian twist they have given to it goes surprisingly well with the old fireplace and wood mouldings. Service was quick and efficient, and everybody enjoyed their meal very much. One word of warning though: even if it says the wonton soup is made with a mild broth, it is insanely spicy!! Other than that, everything was great.

Favorite Dish: I highly recommend the butter chicken or the sweet and sour pork.

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It didn't take us long to figure out that Vito's is the kind of restaurant that has been around for decades and that still seems to be a local's favorite. At Vito's you'll enjoy good, honest Italian dishes in a family atmosphere - nothing too fancy, but something to please everyone. There were eight of us and we ordered pasta, pizza, BBQ chicken and a chicken cesar salad (which they claim to have invented?!), and everything was quite good. Our waitress was a little swamped but she was still friendly and efficient, and we all left the place full to the brim!