Brunch in St. John's: toutons, fish cakes and weekend lines

Brunch in St. John's has a particular flavour. Alongside the eggs benedict and avocado toast you will find toutons with molasses, fish cakes, fried bologna, beans and partridgeberry jam. On a weekend morning, especially after a late night on George Street, the city's brunch spots fill quickly, and locals have strong loyalties.

What should you order for brunch in St. John's?

If you want something local, look for:

• Toutons, fried bread dough served with butter and molasses
• Fish cakes, made with salt cod and potato, often with eggs
• Fish and brewis, salt cod and hard bread with scrunchions, if you are lucky enough to see it
• A Newfoundland breakfast plate, with eggs, beans, toutons and fried bologna or bacon
• Partridgeberry or bakeapple jam on toast or scones
• Smoked fish, in benedicts or on bagels

Of course, you will also find pancakes, waffles, omelettes and plant-based options at most places.

Where do people go for brunch in St. John's?

Brunch spots are spread across the city:

• Downtown, along Water Street and Duckworth Street, has many cafés and restaurants serving weekend brunch, often within walking distance of each other.
• Quidi Vidi Village is home to a restaurant known for its brunch built around local ingredients, house-made sausages, smoked fish and baked goods. Reservations are recommended, especially in summer.
• Neighbourhood cafés in other parts of the city serve locals with less of a wait.

Menus and hours change, so check before you go.

How do you avoid the brunch line?

Weekend brunch is busy, especially from about ten until one. A few strategies:

1. Go early. Arriving at opening time usually means no wait.
2. Book ahead where reservations are taken.
3. Try a weekday brunch or late breakfast if your schedule allows.
4. Join a walk-in line digitally if the place offers one, and wait somewhere warm.
5. Choose a neighbourhood spot away from downtown.

What is a Newfoundland breakfast?

A traditional Newfoundland breakfast is hearty, built for a day of work in a cold climate. It often includes eggs, toutons, baked beans, fried bologna (thick slices fried in a pan) or bacon, and toast with jam. Tea is the traditional drink, though coffee is everywhere now.

Is brunch in St. John's good for families?

Yes. Most brunch spots welcome children, and toutons and pancakes are reliable favourites. Arrive early if you have small children, since waits are hardest on them, and ask about high chairs when you book or arrive.

What about the St. John's Farmers' Market?

On Saturdays, the St. John's Farmers' Market at 245 Freshwater Road is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., year round. It is not a sit-down brunch, but many people make a morning of it, grabbing breakfast from food vendors and shopping for baking, jams and local produce. Check the market's current hours before you go.

How do you find a quieter brunch?

Look beyond downtown and the most famous names. Neighbourhood cafés across the city serve good breakfasts with shorter waits, and weekday mornings are calm almost everywhere. Ask locals where they go when they do not want to queue.

What is fried bologna doing on a breakfast plate?

Bologna, the large mild sausage sliced for sandwiches elsewhere, has a special place in Newfoundland. Thick slices fried in a pan until the edges curl and crisp are a breakfast staple, often alongside eggs and toutons. It became popular because it was affordable and kept well, and it stayed popular because people love it. Some brunch spots now serve it with a modern twist, such as a fried bologna sandwich with a fancy sauce. Try it at least once.

What should you drink with brunch?

Tea and coffee are standard, and many cafés have good espresso. Fresh juices and smoothies are easy to find. Some brunch spots also serve local berry drinks or blueberry lemonade in summer.

How much should you tip at brunch?

As at any sit-down meal in Canada, a tip of around 15 to 20 percent of the bill before tax is common for table service. In Newfoundland and Labrador, 15 percent HST is added to the bill, so check whether the card machine is suggesting tips on the total or the pre-tax amount.

What are fish cakes in Newfoundland?

Fish cakes are a breakfast staple across the province: salt cod mixed with mashed potato and onion, sometimes with summer savoury, a herb Newfoundlanders use in many dishes, then shaped into patties and fried.

They appear on brunch plates alongside eggs, beans, toutons and fried bologna, and they are good with ketchup or a homemade relish. Recipes vary by family, so every restaurant's version is a little different. If you like fish and brewis, you will probably like fish cakes, and they are an easier first taste of salt cod for visitors.

How do you keep track of your favourite brunch spots?

Everybody in St. John's has a favourite brunch, and it is often worth asking why. Mosey lets you rate the places you actually ate at and the dishes you ordered, with photos, follow friends to see where they go on a Sunday morning, and keep a list of brunch spots to try next.

More guides to read next:

• Cheap eats in St. John's: how to eat well on a budget
• Eating around Churchill Square and Memorial University in St. John's
• Cod tongues in St. John's: what they are and whether you should try them

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.