How to choose a good restaurant in St. John's: reading menus, ratings and signs

St. John's punches well above its size when it comes to food. A city of its population would not usually have so many serious restaurants, cozy cafés and good chip shops. It also has the usual mix of places that rely on location rather than cooking, especially along the busiest stretches downtown in summer. Here is how to tell the difference.

How do you judge a restaurant from the street?

Before you step inside, look for:

• A short, focused menu posted outside. A long menu covering every cuisine is a warning sign.
• Daily specials written up, which suggest a kitchen cooking with what is fresh.
• Locals inside, especially at lunch on a weekday.
• Clean windows, tables and menus, a simple sign of a place that cares.

A full room is a good sign, but on a cruise ship day downtown, a full room may just mean a good location.

What should a good menu in St. John's look like?

A good menu tells you something about where you are. Look for:

1. Local ingredients named, such as cod, mussels, partridgeberries, local vegetables.
2. Seasonal changes, such as more seafood in summer and heartier dishes in winter.
3. Clear descriptions of local dishes, so visitors know what they are ordering.
4. A reasonable number of choices. A kitchen that does twelve dishes well beats one that does fifty badly.

How should you read restaurant ratings?

Ratings help, but read them carefully:

• Look at the number of ratings, not just the average. A high score from three people means less than a slightly lower score from three hundred.
• Read recent ratings. A restaurant can change with a new chef or new owners.
• Look for specific comments about dishes and service, rather than vague praise.
• Check how the restaurant replies. Calm, specific replies to complaints are a good sign.

Why do dish ratings matter?

A restaurant's overall score can hide a lot. One place might have a superb chowder and a forgettable burger. Dish ratings tell you what to order, not just where to go. If several people praise the fish cakes, order the fish cakes.

What is Mosey Gold?

Mosey Gold is a mark a place earns when the people who ate there rate it highly. Nobody can buy it, and the number of ratings behind it is shown beside the mark, so you can judge for yourself how much weight to give it. It is a useful shortcut when you are somewhere new and short on time.

How do you avoid tourist traps in St. John's?

• Walk a street or two away from the busiest stretch.
• Ask locals: hotel staff, shopkeepers, your server at lunch.
• Be wary of very long menus and photos of every dish outside.
• Look for places busy with locals out of season. A place that is full in February has earned its customers.

Should you trust a restaurant's own website?

Use it for facts: hours, menus, booking details. Treat its descriptions of itself as marketing. Ratings from people who actually ate there, and recommendations from friends, tell you more.

How do opening hours change through the year?

This catches many visitors out. In summer, most places keep long hours and open seven days a week. From late fall to early spring, many restaurants and cafés shorten their hours, close on Mondays or Tuesdays, or close for a week or two in January. A place you loved in August may be shut on the Tuesday you return in February. Always check current hours before you set out, and in winter, check again on storm days, when many businesses close early or do not open at all.

How do you decide where to eat on a short visit?

If you only have a day or two, make a short list before you arrive: one place for fish and chips, one for a traditional dish such as toutons or a cooked dinner, one for a special dinner, and a café for the mornings. Book the special dinner if you can, and leave the rest flexible.

How do you find a good place in a quiet season?

Outside summer, St. John's slows down, and some places shorten their hours or close for a few weeks. That makes choosing a little different:

• Check opening days and hours before you walk across town, especially early in the week.
• Look at recent ratings, which show who is open and cooking well right now.
• Ask locals. Hotel staff, taxi drivers and shopkeepers usually know which places are good this winter.
• Book ahead on weekends, when the restaurants that stay open fill with locals.

The quiet season is a good time to eat where residents eat, with less competition for tables.

How can Mosey help you choose?

Choosing well is easier when you can see what people actually ate. Mosey lets you rate the places you ate at and the dishes you ordered, follow friends whose taste you trust, and keep a list of places to try, so your next meal in St. John's is chosen on evidence rather than a lucky guess.

More guides to read next:

• Brunch in St. John's: toutons, fish cakes and weekend lines
• Iceberg and whale season in St. John's: where and what to eat on your trip
• Jiggs dinner in St. John's: what it is and where to find a Sunday cooked dinner

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