Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Atlantic Canada

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Atlantic Canada? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Dear Friend

4.9

4.9 (367)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

Dartmouth

About the restaurant

Dear Friend is Downtown Dartmouth's cocktail & wine bar. Join us in our cozy, European style cocktail bar or on our vibrant patio for great food, amazing cocktails, attentive service and awesome music. Located in the heart of Downtown Dartmouth on Portland Street, we are steps away from the Dartmouth Waterfront and Alderney Ferry Terminal. Our small plate food menu showcases Chef Bradley George's take on fresh Nova Scotian seafood and cured meats, as well as small plates with Asian and Spanish influences. Our bar team features some of the best the country has to offer; always creating new flavours and perfecting classics. Join us for our Oyster Happy Hour, everyday from 4pm-5pm, or book a table with friends to imbibe. We have lots of space for walk-ins as well!

Top review

AndrewVIP

Dined 6 days ago

No better place in Dartmouth. Great food and great service and interesting drinks.

Tribute

4.9

4.9 (36)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Halifax

About the restaurant

Tribute is a unique restaurant located on the Halifax Waterfront. Defined not by a specific cuisine, but by a place - Nova Scotia - Tribute sources the best local ingredients to pay homage to authentic, impactful dishes with international influences, showcased through live fire and charcoal cookery in an open kitchen-to-dining room. With a fun and elevated approach to East Coast hospitality, Tribute is open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, offering a chef’s tasting menu and wider options a la carte, paired with nimble wine and cocktail lists. Menus will change often to highlight seasonal ingredients from Nova Scotian farmers and producers.

Top review

Marianna

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Fantastic from start to finish. Flavours and dishes that are new to Halifax, all delicious. One of my new favourite spots in the city. The lasagna and butter cake especially were incredible.

The Adelaide Oyster House

4.8

4.8 (453)

CAN$30 and under

Contemporary Canadian

St. John's

About the restaurant

We’re a small and energetic restaurant on the corner of Adelaide and Water St. in the heart of downtown St. John’s. We carry a wide selection of East Coast Oysters and our menu focuses on seafood + fun, vibrant small plates. We have a rotating selection of local craft beer and wines and an ever evolving cocktail list. Some call us loud, but we prefer lively! TripAdvisor's 'Certificate of Excellence', "Where to Eat in Canada" x 4, and voted St. John's Top Seafood restaurant!

Our reservation policy has changed in order to support the best possible customer experience. We take 5pm reservations for seating's of 2-4 people, and two larger groups of 5+ Sunday through Saturday. We accept walk-ins and keep a wait list each night, so if we cannot accommodate your desired booking time after 5pm, you are welcome to come down and see us!

You can always contact us via email at adelaideoysterbookings@gmail.com or by telephone at 702-722-7222. Our door is open and you are always welcome!

Top review

Alison

Dined 3 days ago

The Adelaide Oyster House did not disappoint! The food was outstanding. It was so fresh, flavourful, and presented beautifully. The staff were engaging and friendly, the ambience was warm and hip. I absolutely loved the 90s alternative music playlist. Our only issue was that the music was a bit too loud for our taste; it was hard at times for us to hear each other in conversation. That said, I fully recognize, that I am in my 40s and my younger self would have likely loved the louder vibe. I highly recommend this restaurant. We had an amazing night out! Thank you xo

LIV

4.8

4.8 (332)

CAN$30 and under

Fusion / Eclectic

St. John's

About the restaurant

LIV - Nordic for Shelter and Life, embraces a new approach to dining, importing a true European style of partying by combining cuisine with a vibrant nightlife.

Top review

Chris

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

Delicious food and great atmosphere. I’ll be back. A lot.

Moxies - Moncton

4.8

4.8 (82)

CAN$30 and under

American

Moncton

About the restaurant

Found directly in the heart of the Mapleton Power Centre, this location is minutes away from the Avenir Centre, retail shopping, and the Trans Canada Highway.

Top review

Monica

Dined 3 days ago

Moxies- the wait staff to the managers. Everyone were both very friendly and accommodating. Being someone who has severe allergies they went above and beyond to assure I was able to have a safe and yummy meal!

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Experience

New Year's Eve

St. James Gate - Moncton

4.4

4.4 (99)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

American

Moncton

About the restaurant

Welcome to St. James Gate - Moncton, we look forward to serving you.

Top review

PaulM

Dined on Nov 28, 2024

We recently hosted our Year-End Staff Celebration at this incredible restaurant, and I cannot say enough good things about the experience. From the moment we arrived, Shane and his team went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. Their attentiveness and genuine care made us feel like VIPs the entire evening. Shane’s expertise truly shined when he offered thoughtful suggestions to elevate our evening, from drink pairings to menu recommendations, and even creative ideas to make our celebration more memorable. His personal touch and attention to detail were unmatched. The service was seamless, with the staff always one step ahead, ensuring our glasses were never empty and our meals arrived promptly. The food itself was outstanding – fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, making it the highlight of the night. I highly recommend this restaurant for any special occasion or gathering. Shane and his team have set a new standard for hospitality, and we’ll definitely be back for future celebrations!

Sea Smoke Restaurant

4.4

4.4 (857)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Seafood

Halifax

About the restaurant

Located on the beautiful Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk, Sea Smoke Restaurant & Bar happily boasts one of the best views in the city.

Food prepared with precision is served by a friendly & proud service team.
Incredible cocktails are created seasonally by an experienced bar team with something to satisfy any craving. A tailored wine list features many varietals by the glass and special offerings by the bottle.

Looking for a place to impress that special someone? Look no further! We also offer take-out & offsite catering.

Top review

Todd

Dined 7 days ago

we have been to Sea Smoke several times, by far the best sushi we have had in the city.

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East Side Mario's - Halifax - Bayer's Lake

4.4

4.4 (141)

CAN$30 and under

Unspecified

Halifax

About the restaurant

At East Side Mario's Halifax-186 Chain Lake Dr. we're passionate about three things: food, famiglia, and fun. Make every family meal a special occasion at East Side Mario's, where good food and great company come together to create lasting memories and let our family handle the cleanup. With generous portions and a warm, inviting atmosphere, our hand gestures are as grand as our love for family. Whether you're looking for a dine-in experience for lunch and dinner or prefer the convenience of takeout or delivery, we cater to every preference. Come join us and enjoy All-You-Can-Eat, featuring Soup, Salad, and Garlic Homeloaf, Mario's mouthwatering Chicken Parmigiana, signature pizzas and classic Italian-American favourites that will have you saying, "Mama Mia!"

Top review

Courtney

Dined on Dec 4, 2024

Great experience. Server answered all my questions about current promos. Very fast and efficient. Very friendly. Food was great as always.

The Mercantile Social

4.4

4.4 (317)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Canadian

Halifax

About the restaurant

The Mercantile Social is a Kitchen + Bar that is the focal point of the city and offers a one-of-a-kind casual fine dining experience. From our 30+ seater marble top bar to our open concept dining room and state of the art design, guests are leaving with a unique impression and has easily been a "go-to" place.

From social plates to fresh seafood and signature dishes we stand on the corner of Hollis and Sackville, and sit at the crossroads of historic Halifax’s first garrison and the modern undertones of downtown. Hearkening back to our mercantile history, The Mercantile Social takes inspiration from European and Latin American influences, and a sense of adventure that opens up our part of the world to taste and influences from around the globe. For a memorable experience, drop by and make a little history of your own!

Top review

Lesley

Dined 4 days ago

We started with crab dip which was.absolutely delicious. I followed that up with the mushroom ravioli which was outstanding. My dinner companion had the seafood linguini which he found a little flat and he was disappointed that the sauce was not more robust. The meal was wrapped up with the sorbet which we shared and was yummy. Overall a really good meal but the table beside us was extremely loud which took away from our experience.

Betty's at The Kitch

4.2

4.2 (657)

CAN$30 and under

Wine Bar

Lunenburg

About the restaurant

Wine Bar & Wood-Fired Pizza...

i’m a betty. you’re a betty. everyone’s a betty.
betties love wine. betties love wood-fired pizza and small plates.
betties REALLY love wine.

Top review

Heather

Dined on Dec 9, 2024

We had a wonderful meal. The service was quick and friendly. The server was attentive and read the mood of our party perfectly. We had a great time. The Monday east coast curry special was very tasty and added a nice variety to the wood fired pizzas offered on the menu

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