You’ll never go hungry while exploring Nova Scotia. The province is dotted with restaurants of all shapes and sizes — on land and on the sea — and our chefs love taking their inspiration from flavours found right here at home.
From farm-to-table suppers, casual pub favourites and fragrant seafood dishes to milkshakes and crepes that look like candy-coated Willy Wonka creations, here are some of Nova Scotia’s top foodie experiences this fall ...
WELCOME TO THEIR HOUSE
Just steps away from the stunning coast of western Cape Breton Island, Chef Daryl MacDonnell and his brother, Peter MacDonnell, are living out their dreams together.
Chef Daryl spent 30 years honing his craft as a passionate, well-respected chef, while Peter spent 30 years working in the forestry industry and planning a timber frame home. Together, the brothers have created a culinary dining experience that encourages their guests to engage all five senses.
The 25-seat Margaree restaurant, Woodroad, is located on the second storey of Peter’s hand-built timber frame home, so both the dining room and deck provide breathtaking views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Margaree Island. The menu changes frequently, taking inspiration from the land and the sea, and guests can participate in the process via the open kitchen.
“It’s been a busy season at Woodroad, and we are extremely appreciative for the local support,” says Chef Daryl. “The days are getting shorter, but you will still be able to experience the spectacular sunsets from our dining room seats or from the deck.”
For tasty farm-fresh flavours, head to Bessie North House in Canning where Chef David Smart and his wife, Susan, will treat you like family. This intimate farm-to-table restaurant features a hyper-local menu centred around fresh local ingredients.
LAND, SEA & SKY
L’abri Café Restaurant Bar is open Wednesdays through Sundays for the fall season, and while the Cheticamp eatery is well known for its lobster wonton tacos and steak et frites (pan-roasted filet mignon with roasted mushrooms, red wine veal jus, beurre d’épices and truffle aïoli), it might be equally memorable for its funky bathrooms decorated with Bingo cards.
If you’re on the hunt for a hearty Acadian meal, the Doucet family welcomes you to Le Gabriel Restaurant & Lounge in Cheticamp, where the Acadian Platter comes heaped with meat pie, fish cakes, fricot and beans.
Looking for a luxury wilderness escape that combines delicious food and wine with some of the most incredible star-gazing in all of North America? The Starlight Culinary Escape at Trout Point Lodge includes an artfully prepared four-course gourmet dinner featuring fresh, local ingredients.
After the meal, wind your way along the Tusket River and through the forest with your guide to enjoy local chocolates and sparkling wine under an inky sky filled with stars. Trout Point Lodge owner/operator Patrick Wallace calls it “the perfect indulgent getaway.”
“Fall is an incredible season where the colours come alive and the beauty of our wilderness home is on full display,” says Wallace. “What’s better than a hot cup of coffee on a cool fall morning or a carefree soak in a wood-fired hot tub under the stars?”
SERVING UP SEAFOOD
Head to Hubbards if you’re craving lobster, because The Shore Club’s world-famous lobster suppers are running every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. through Oct. 11.
Since the salad bar and mussel bar have been scrapped due to COVID-19, the Shore Club has lowered its prices and are serving everything straight to your (socially-distanced) table. They’ve served up more than one million suppers so far, and you can sit at the same tables that hosted Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1983.
Masstown Market may be landlocked, but its fish’n’chip boat is always stocked with tasty fish and seafood from the Bay of Fundy. Come aboard daily through Thanksgiving weekend to see why people swear by their fish’s crispy gluten-free, dairy-free batter — served with homestyle Cavendish fries, homemade tartar sauce and creamy coleslaw.
The Celtic Music Centre’s Ceilidh Pub in Judique is the place to find a rousing ceilidh, seven days a week through Oct. 13. Enjoy the music of some of Cape Breton’s best up-and-coming musicians along with a signature seafood chowder, traditional lobster sandwich or fish cakes — all freshly made in house.
Got lobstah? Capt Kat’s Lobster Shack in Barrington Passage is a one-of-a-kind spot where you can choose your own lobster fresh from the tank or order a speciality dish off the menu — like their award-winning lobster roll or creamy warm lobster fondue. Don’t forget to say hi to Lucy the LobSTAR, who lives in her “spa” at the restaurant and makes headlines with her spring predictions each Groundhog Day.
DINING AL FRESCO
Everything tastes better when you eat it outside, and Parks Canada’s Perfect Picnic program is making it easier than ever to enjoy a rustic fall lunch while enjoying the beautiful scenery within one of Nova Scotia’s National Parks or National Historic Sites.
Parks Canada has partnered with local restaurants like Bistro East, German Bakery Sachsen Cafe & Restaurant, The Hollow Log Café, The Whitman Inn, Evangeline Café, Hunts Point Market & Café, Lane’s Privateer Inn, Quarterdeck Beachside Villas and Grill and Wile’s Lake Farm Market.
Place your order with a neary participating restaurant, pick up your lunch, and then enjoy a festive fall picnic at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site (until Oct. 31), Grand-Pré National Historic Site (until Oct. 9) or Fort Anne and Port Royal National Historic Sites (until Oct. 12).
Go for a stroll along the Halifax waterfront and stop in at one of the city’s many oceanside pubs for a bite and a brew. Try the brisket taco with fries or the tomato & garlic mussels at Pickford & Black or the fried sausage & pretzel or slow-cooked Pork Birria at the Stubborn Goat Beer Garden.
BURGER BLISS
Owner Adam Bower started working at Grand Banker Bar & Grill in Lunenburg as a teen and dreamed of one day owning his own restaurant, so it was a full-circle moment when he was able to home back home and purchase the restaurant 10 years later.
Be sure to try their signature dish, The Lunenburger — fresh local beef, smoked mozzarella and bacon, baby spinach, garlic aioli and Nova Scotia lobster with tarragon butter sauce, all served on a local artisan bun and picked with a bacon-wrapped scallop.
Dating back to 1940, The Chickenburger is a Bedford institution and Canada’s oldest drive-in restaurant. Punch your favourite vintage tune into the jukebox and enjoy a classic chickenburger or cheeseburger with frings and a classic Coca-Cola, and don’t forget an apple turnover with ice cream for dessert.
At Founders House in Annapolis Royal, Chef Chris Pyne and his culinary team will be delighted to show you their little slice of modern-day New Scotland. Enjoy a meal in the dining room of the New England Colonial-style home that dates back to 1874, or grab a gourmet burger out on the patio — like the Founder’s Bacon Cheeseburger with smoked bacon, mustard marmalade, aged cheddar, tomato concasse, zucchini, pickles, butter leaf lettuce, caramelized onion and roast garlic aioli on a house-made bun.
THE SWEETEST TREATS
The Portland Street Creperie in Dartmouth is currently closed to walk-in guests, but their takeout game is going strong. Check out their Facebook page to see the day’s crepe offerings from both their sweet and savoury menus.
Sugar Moon Farm is open for dine-in and pre-ordered take-out on the weekends, so you can still feast on their hot-off-the-griddle pancakes and local sausages. The Candian Maple Indulgence: A Chef Night at Sugar Moon experience includes a five-course dinner with incredible local and foraged cuisine prepared by Wild Caraway Restaurant & Café on Nov. 20-21 and Chef Claude Aucoin on Dec. 4.
It’s no wonder why Birkinshaw’s Tea Room, Coffee House & Restaurant was featured in Chatelaine’s Top 10 places for afternoon tea. With vintage china, fresh clotted cream and food made from scratch — right down to the sauces — the emphasis is on helping guests savour life’s little pleasures. Kids and kid-at-heart go wild for their over-the-top milkshake creations (called “freakshakes”) that feature cookies, marshmallows, fresh fruit and sprinkles.
You won’t believe your eyes when you see the sugary confections created at Flynn’s Dairy Bar & Convenience in downtown Halifax. From their massive Reese's peanut butter cupcake milkshake to their Unicorn shake covered with cotton candy, sprinkles and rainbow candy, it's a sweet treat for your eyes as well as your tastebuds.
Ready to experience the tastes of Nova Scotia?
