Oliver's Restaurant in St. John's

160 Water St, St. John's, NL A1C 1A9, Canada

★★★★★
(738 reviews)
Categories: Canadian restaurant Restaurant Seafood restaurant

About

Contemporary neighbourhood eatery pairing steaks, seafood & pasta with wine & local beers.

Website
oliversstjohns.com
Address
160 Water St, St. John's, NL A1C 1A9, Canada
Plus Code
H78V+5H St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Time Zone
America/St_Johns

Business Hours

Monday
11:30 AM–10 PM
Tuesday
11:30 AM–10 PM
Wednesday
11:30 AM–10 PM
Thursday
11:30 AM–10 PM
Friday
11:30 AM–10 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM–10 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM–10 PM

Services

Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Great tea selection
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Spirits Wine
Dining options
Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert
Amenities
Toilets
Atmosphere
Cosy Romantic Upmarket
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.5
★★★★★
738 reviews

Most Mentioned

seafood chowder (20) scallops (20) seafood platter (16) fettuccine (16) cod tongues (14) balsamic chicken (12) fish and chips (12) halibut (9) pan-fried cod (8) duck (6)
5 stars
511
4 stars
141
3 stars
47
2 stars
13
1 stars
26
★★★★
September 9, 2024

Great place to have lunch. I had the steak sandwich. The sandwhich was great but fries were under cooked and soggy. My wife had the salad with cooked chicken breast and according to her “amazing”…so the fries held back this review a little bit would definitely go back.

★★★★★
August 6, 2024

Amazing food and service. I've been coming to St. John's for over 16 years, and this was my first time going to Oliver's. I have to say it was the best meal I've had on the East Coast, including Halifax and PEI. The lobster sandwich was delicious and plentiful. Fried were crispy and tasted amazing. Seafood chowder was also delicious and amazing too. Our sever was awesome. Friendly, attentive, and very accommodating. Zero complaint. I'm back in YYT in 3 weeks for work and am already looking forward to my next visit to Oliver's.

★★★★★
July 19, 2024

We came here 2x for lunch and food was absolutely amazing. We tried lots of different dishes, including Cod Tongues, Mussels, Seafood Chowder, Lobster Sandwich, Cod Cakes, Shrimp Tacos and pan fried Cod. Service was great too! We can definitely recommend it!

★★★
July 18, 2024

I had high expectations while looking at the pictures over here, but I'm afraid to say, after having dinner over there, that it's 100% an overated place. The pictures looked better than what they actually tasted... While it did not taste bad, it was not worth the high price point we were charged. You would expect their seafood to be outstanding but believe it or not, it was the seafood meals that were most disappointing of all. If we enjoyed anything, it was probably the almond/pita/sauce/goat cheese appetiser, but that's only because of it's originality. Service was good and fast, only one bathroom available inside.

★★★★★
July 16, 2024

Stumbled upon this location, and what a happy accident that turned out to be. From starter to dessert, the food was delicious and tasted of quality. Also loved their specialty cocktails. Highly recommend.

★★★
July 9, 2024

I can't help but think this place is overrated. Nothing is bad per se, but are the food and service really as amazing as some of the comments made it out to be? No. I think everything was fairly standard.

★★★★★
May 26, 2024

What a great meal with excellent service. I had the chowder which was so tasty, and then the Mussels. 18 bucks for a massive plate of organic local mussels. They also did a great job on the old fashion.

★★★★★
May 3, 2024

Came here with a party of 6 for lunch. Service was phenomenal and food was decent. The interior design of the place gives a modern but classy vibe. I decided to order the Pan Fried Newfoundland Cod with a side of chowder. The cod was unfortunately frozen but in their defense, around the time I went you wouldn't be getting fresh cod to begin with. The chowder was everything you were looking for in a bowl, with hearty pieces of seafood, great seasoning and amazing textures. Overall, my experience was great and I would recommend it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 17, 2024

Duck wings were really great!

★★★★★
December 2, 2024

Awesome food. Better than The Keg. Great service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Food was to good . Definitely visit again

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

Fabulous restaurant

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

What an amazing restaurant. The food was outstanding with awesome service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Originally my friend had wanted to try the cod tongue but they didnt have their shipment in for that yet that day...so we had the pan seared cod and the penne carbonara instead. Both dishes were really good (so i wasnt disappointed about the cod tongue issue). We were in a rush to catch a flight back home from St. Johns and the waitress tried to get us the food quickly.

★★★★★
October 23, 2024

Quaint restaurant with great service and amazing food. The desserts are delicious and huge. Bread pudding was fantastic.

★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Very nice and polite. The food was good and plentiful. Highly recommended.

★★★★★
October 23, 2024

Happened upon Oliver s as we worked our way around town .couldn t be happier that we stopped in! The owner (Amanda) greeted us when we arrived. The place was beautifully decorated! She brought us two specialty plates .shrimp and scallops. To die for!!!!!! So good we re-orders both!!! Also recommend an amazing bottle of wine. Perfect night out! Thank you Amanda!

★★★★★
October 23, 2024

Really good food, knowledgeable staff, was a little too dark but other then that had a wonderful dinner!

★★
October 23, 2024

Appetizer was good but main course was not. Ordered creamy Balsamic chicken with pasta and it appears they didnt have any cream available as it was only balsamic vinegar in the dish. Very burnt to the pont my mouth had ulcers the next day. If you dont have cream then the customer should be notified before serving. Not enjoyable when your main course is not prepared properly.

★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Great food with very friendly staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

A MUST for anyone needing gluten-free options. With a dedicated gluten free deep fryer, we ordered GF seafood platter (with the best scallops and shrimp Ive ever eaten in my life), GF fish and chips for my daughter (a huge piece of cod!), and started with GF deep fried calamari as well as an order of possibly the only GF crispy cod tongues in the province if not the country! With all of that plus a GF beer that Id never tried before, Port Rexton Raspberry Sour (something that did not sound tempting but it was actually delicious, more beer-y than fruity), Im surprised my family didnt have to roll me all the way home! STRONGLY recommended! But make sure you call to make reservations... We got turned away the first time we tried to go. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options are accommodated with a dedicated deep fryer. Staff was very knowledgeable, saying that almost everything on the menu except for seafood chowder was able to be prepared gluten-free.

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

Fish and chips was awesome.

★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Great service , delicious food

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Great little restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Exceptional people and delicious wine! Escape the usual pub affair and relax in this beautiful wine joint - we loved it!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Cozy, established restaurant with delicious food. Great for brunch and for any meal, really. Parking: Some spots out front, if the pedestrian mall is closed. Otherwise, nearby parking garages or paid street parking are available. Kid-friendliness: Not really for kids, but you can bring kids here.

★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Decent place but the price they charge for food didnt seem worth it.

★★
August 23, 2024

The fish chowder is not a chowder, it is a bisque. Nothing chunky in it. Also, the crab cake was mostly potato, very little crab. Not worth the money. I don t get it. The fish and chips was good with the fries being crispy, which we enjoyed. We will not return.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Some of the best shrimp tacos I ve had, fresh and yumm! Service was friendly.

August 23, 2024

Chicken was cold, the management was poor, heard from multiple ppl that the experience was not up to par and for the money that was spent.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

One of the best restaurants in town. Quality, variety and they have gluten free options, almost anything on the menu except one item, which is great. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

The best lobster mac and cheese

★★★
August 23, 2024

Food is in salty end. The bread is great. Starter the seafood chowder and cod tongue are good but a bit salty. Not happy with the seafood platter. The fries come with the main courses are salty and not crispy

★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Overall a great dinner experience. Food was great and our server was really good and very helpful/friendly. Hostess was strangely flippant/detached and did weird things like climb into chairs directly behind us to adjust bottles over our heads while we ate. When we arrived for our reservation she more or less motioned at a table and tossed down some menus. Odd.

★★★★★
August 23, 2024

The food was fantastic!! Cod tongues, battered cod, cod cakes and lobster Mac n cheese. Great service and a cozy atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Everything I had was amazing. Staff is really lovely. Close to cruuse ship port. Great place for a bite or drink.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Great food and service love the ambiance

★★★★★
August 23, 2024

We had the lobster roll, fish and chips, and Oliver s breakfast. The food was delicious and our server was attentive. We even had a great dessert.

August 23, 2024

Not black friendly. They were not accepting orders for people like me but apparently the kitchen was less busy for others who came after me.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Food was amazing will never forget it. Lobster mac was great the calamari was great and the fish and chips down to the tarter was great. The booths do need a little updatin g as they are showing their wear. But I would recommend to anyone looking for food go here u wont regret it. Wish I lived closer so I could have it again. My kids loved it they wanted more. Wish I took pictures portions were great aswell

Local Guide
July 23, 2024

We found Olivers based on TripAdvisor reviews and were sadly very disappointed. Im not sure if we caught them on a bad day but we had a large group of 8 people -- we sat for dinner around 6:45 and didnt receive our meals until close to 8:30-9. By that time, we were starved and hangry. Sadly to say, the wait staff were not very attentive. The food itself was very bland, all the seafood we ordered was severely overcooked (disappointing for a restaurant known for seafood), and the menu was incredibly pricey. We sent back the halibut dish, which was incredibly poorly cooked and had to have our risotto replaced with fries because it was so bad. I hate giving small businesses a bad review, however our experience here was so far from the TripAdvisor reviews I had to share. Hoping our experience was an off day for the restaurant.

Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Weve heard great things about this place, but unfortunately our experience was subpar. We waited more than an hour for our food and when it did, the fish was overcooked and vegetables were dry (probably because it was kept under the heat lamp for too long). We also saw a table that came after us but was served first...

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

Very good flavour approach to a fulsome dish. As good as I ve had anywhere

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

EXCELLENT ! Service, food, ambiance. We recommend ! Lovely tiny restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Amazing seafood prepared and served with class. Their Rusty Nail is ethereal!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Fantastic service - seafood to die for - a must stop when in town I wish I was staying longer would go back again

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

Always love Oliver s! Best scallops I ve ever had every time! Steak always flavoured perfectly and excellent wine! Last trip we had Kailee who was lovely!

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

We went to Olivers for an early evening supper. They were prompt, friendly, and attentive. They were also capable to turn mahu of their menu items gluten free, which was important for us. The duck and pasta dish - amazing. As were the cod cheeks. Absolutely will be back again.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Cozy. Good service. The mussels and jambalaya were delicious but I found the balsamic chicken fettuccine a bit too sweet and rich.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Hands down the best cooked scallops I have ever eaten

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Very good at a reasonable price

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Great place to dine. Friendly service good food. I did enjoy the clam chowder ( lacked a little seasoning, but most would be fine with it)and the cod tongues. Great wine menue as well. DO MAKE RESERVATIONS

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

We didnt have a reservation, thou they accommodated us for dinner. The staff went over and beyond to help us feel welcomed, the atmosphere was charming and quaint, the food, every bite was delicious.

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Luckily we got a seat without reservations. Food was delicious and the servers were amazing! The crème brûlée is a must for dessert!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Great service with awesome food. Try out the cod tongue.

Local Guide
June 23, 2024

mussels are very small and smelly, disappointing! COD is not tender at all. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

We were only in St. Johns for two days but we ate there twice. Great service, food, and ambiance.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Cecilia (waitress) makes this place Special!! Thk u!! Food : 5/5

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Incredible seafood menu, great ambiance, great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Nothing more to say than 5 stars all day long

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Wow, this place was really splendid. I had the cranberry scallops and the shrimp sausage pasta with mussels and it was superb. I am not even a seafood eater usually but here was an exception

★★★
April 23, 2024

Had a somewhat disappointing experience here. The goat cheese app was delicious, but the mains (duck + halibut) came out with ice cold vegetables. Not cool, ice cold. On top of that, the halibut was quite overcooked. Everything tasted good, but when youre paying $42 for a piece of fish and vegetables, you expect them to be cooked right. Drinks were good, not great. Service was excellent. Unfortunately though for the price, it was definitely not worth it. Back to Portage!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Lovely little cozy, and intimate atmosphere highly recommend the steak, balsamic chicken fettuccine. Compliments to the chef. It was perfect for my birthday dinner with my brother

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

My first time going to Oliver s restaurant for a job interview I walked in and walked towards the front the lady at the front had the biggest smile on her face. She was so welcoming My interview went well Everyone was so nice service with a smile I definitely recommend this restaurant They have a great section my taste buds are watering right now I wish nothing but the best for the staff and owner at this establishment!!! Kid-friendliness: Service with a smile!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

We had a perfect lunch, food was fresh and delicious, service was out of this world, I am looking forward to my next visit!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Great service and food. Steak prices are similar to The Keg. Cozy atmosphere, has become a regular spot for all occasions.

April 23, 2024

Food isnt consistent, none of the cooks know what theyre doing

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Fantastic restaurant. One of the best in St. Johns. My fiancée and I have never had a bad meal, drink, or experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

I ve been a few times when I m in town for business and it was always good.

★★★★
December 23, 2023

Did not like where they sat us.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Warm, lovely and cozy setting. The seafood is incredible. Try the salt and vinegar calamari! Well be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

One of the best restaurants in downtown St. Johns.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food was great as was the service. We both enjoyed our visit.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food and service are fabulous..definitely will be back..

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Really nice moderate/upscale food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The Valentines menu was lovely and the phyllo wrapped salmon on a bed of veggies was phenomenal! Wine suggestion was also spot on - Mud House Sauvignon Blanc as was the dessert, Creme Brulee. It was a night to remember - thanks Olivers and staff, especially the chefs.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Kid-friendliness: There were menu options for our kids but our boys like fish and seafood! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Lovely dinner, cozy atmosphere, great service. A real gem downtown.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Everything was wonderful. Will be back again soon

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Very impressed. The seafood chowder is excellent, bread with chocolate maple syrup butter and the balsamic chicken fettuccine was a nice surprise. Highly recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Ive been here twice, and loved it each time. Great food with amazing service. The atmosphere at Olivers is friendly and gives that always welcome feel!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great service and food. Loved the seafood platter and waitress was amazing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

A must try if you re coming to St. John s Newfoundland! The food was super delicious and the service was absolutely amazing. My aunt and I went here multiple times during our first visit to NL because it was just that great. A big shoutout to Matt and Braydon for being so welcoming; not only did they make every visit personal but they were extremely knowledgeable in both their menu and city (e.g., what to do, where to eat, etc ) I highly recommend trying their crispy cod tongue and cheesecake (made fresh in house everyday)

December 23, 2023

Was super excited to try this place had a group of my family and friends who were going to meet for my coming home dinner but upon going in to take a look at the resturaunt i was met by a very rude hostess i asked some quetions about the resturaunt etc as i love the rustic buildings of my hometown and id never been in before but all she did was ignore me and treat me like one of the street people outside I imagine the food is amazing shame i didnt get to try it today with my family (I bet your all great but that treatment isnt deemed acceptable in any sort of service establishment and just soured my outlook on the establishment itself)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Would definitely recommend, we had the muscles, chowder and their lunch special. All 3 dishes were very good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Fabulous food even better service.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Everything was delicious and plates were generous, staff just so nice

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Visiting from Ottawa. We had the chowder with a lobster roll. It was absolutely devine. Paired with the Seaside Syrah, a perfect lunch. We will be back.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Yeah it was good. Say quickly and great service. I felt the chowder was a little on the bland side and the veggies were also lacking a little seasoning. The salmon was great and so was the beer. Nice ambiance inside. Recommended dishes

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great little jet of a restaurant with very good gluten free options! Amazing coffee, great food super friendly service. Very clean restaurant as well as the restrooms. Highly recommend. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

$108 only buys so little food, its not even enough to fill two peoples stomachs. No utensils(forks, knifes) were given, do you want me to eat with my hands and feet? Fair taste, not too good not too bad.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Come here every 6 weeks for a special outing, the food here is incredible. Will never get sick of the balsamic chicken fettuccini!! The staff is absolutely amazing, especially Amanda! Very attentive and such a good waitress. Drinks are amazing and the portion sizes are plentiful. Would recommend this spot to anyone!:)

December 23, 2023

Quite possibly the worst restaurant experience in my life. Not kidding. How long does it take to serve chowder in an empty restaurant? About 60 minutes (!) after serving 2 tables that came in after us, ahead of us. Want another drink? Server says I m a little busy, but will do my best. Unseasoned chowder. Chalky mussels . Atrocious service . Left zero tip as a message . Only to have a friend berated for zero tip when she returned to pick up a puffin toy left by her daughter, inexcusable. DO NOT go here. Try mallard cottage or fish exchange or a pub or a local restaurant outside at John. Anywhere but here. Total waste of precious time in a very special place. Love nfld. Hate this place it should be shuttered by the tourist association. Zero stars .

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Absolutely loved the calamari and Oliver salad with shrimp. Mathew and Brandon were wonderful servers and hosts and made us feel so welcome! Relaxed atmosphere and great wine.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

We dined as a group of 8. All the menu choices , starters, main and dessert were exceptional. Wine list and service was enjoyable and professional, most of all the service was attentive and fun throughout. Food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Ordered the Newfoundland Cod and Balsamic Chicken Fettuccine. Tried to order the Crispy Cod Tongues but they were out which was disappointing. The cod was good and the taste of Dijon strong. The fettuccine was very good. Some additional goat cheese would have been nice as it went very well with the sauce. Service was average. Didnt get any mention of the specials and didnt mention any on the menu. The atmosphere was a little eclectic with a mixture of wall covering and ceiling styling. Overall good food with service that didnt quite match up.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Such a good spot, you have to try the almond baked goat cheese. Its insane.

★★★
December 23, 2023

Unhelpful hostess with a hauty attitude detracted from the evening.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Just had the seafood chowder for lunch. It was scrumptious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food was delicious.

★★★
December 23, 2023

Very pricey for a mediocre meal. Service was fine.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Never disappoints

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Rude

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Hands down the best fish I have ever had! The cod melts in your mouth, they don t drown it in butter to cover up their inability to cook, it is cooked to perfection! The Oliver s salad is amazing, perfect amount of a nice herbed dressing. Our waitress was lovely, best meal and best service I have we ll ever had!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Small but comforting and welcoming space. Wonderful Staff and fair pricing for what you get. The food was just incredible from start to finish.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Friendly, comfortable and down home service, even as it offers an upscale dining experience. It can be elegant or casual, but the food is the star, I think it may have been the best tenderloin Ive ever had! The menu changes, so call to be sure youre getting what you want, but everything that I had was outstanding! Patio is going up right now, cant wait to go back! Dietary restrictions: Very accommodating.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Such a classy restaurant with great food. The pan fried cod and seafood chowder was great. The server was friendly and knowledgeable. This restaurant is a must to try!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Great service hands down the best seafood chowder Ive ever had. The salad was nutritious and delicious too

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Great restaurant ! The code tongues are perfect. We had a wonderfull meal. We highly recommand.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

THE most superlative dining weve had in Newfoundland, as well as in Toronto our home! Kudos to the Chef! Dont miss it. Really.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Great meal. Clean place. Friendly service. Fresh seafood. Couldnt ask for much more.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Excellent food in a cozy place.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Good experience but a bit overpriced.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Fantastic dinner on our last evening in St. John s! Definitely will come back the next time we re in town. Definitely try the mussels!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

This was by far the best meal we had in St. John s. We had the seafood chowder and seared scallops as appetizers then shared a seafood platter between two of us. Atmosphere, food, and service were excellent. Highly recommend this restaurant! Dietary restrictions: I have allergies to peanuts and tree nuts but had no issues eating here.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (daily special) was delicious, so flavourful and fresh. Unique decor with all of the wine bottles.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great service. Enchanting atmosphere (sat inside). Disappointed that there was no lobster (I guess it was out of season). Seafood dishes were okay. Great salad, nice steak. Magnificent chocolate brownie dessert. Wine selection was decent. Prices were reasonable. Make sure you ask about the market price items and availability when booking a reservation (btw, they suggest reservations).

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Excellent lunch and the best service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Cool space and friendly staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Nice restaurant the food was very good the people the service all. Thanks

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great little brunch spot on the Main Street. Parking is not available directly on sight. Gluten free options available. Was needing to make flight and they were able to certain meals prepared intime for those leaving on their flight. Really above and beyond service in regards to this.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

If you want amazing food with fresh ingredients and healthy also you better don t miss the opinionated to visit this place. Excellent food with excellent service and also the best atmosphere for bad and good weather. The best restaurant in Canada that I have ever try!!! God bless them Vegetarian options: A lot of choices for vegetarians

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Hubby and I are vacationing in Newfoundland and we visited St. Johns for the day. Weve had great success in finding fantastic coffee shops and restaurants by viewing Google reviews. Tonight we found ourselves at Olivers for dinner. Its a small intimate restaurant with incredibly good food and a very nice wine selection. Our server Matt was very helpful with our dinner and wine selection. Hubby ordered a seafood chowder and pan seared cod. I enjoyed a small Olivers salad and a balsamic chicken fettuccine... AMAZING DISH which I obviously highly recommend! Should I find myself in St. Johns at dinner time again I will be back at Olivers. THANK YOU MATT!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

My wife and I had an awesome evening at Olivers. We were a little worried at first as it took a bit to get waters and our drink orders, but we were watching Matt running to get to everyone. By the time the drinks arrived, we just sat back to have an enjoyable evening. We started with the salad and seafood chowder (which was fantastic). My wife had the balsamic chicken fettuccine (fantastic) and I had the pan seared cod (not sure if it was a delay from the kitchen, but the crust on the cod wasnt crispy but still tasted great. We finished the evening with the bread pudding, which was a perfect size to share. Kudos to Matt for keeping up.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

I loved the cod tongues. Everyone should have it at least once.

★★★★
December 23, 2023

I really enjoyed the food and the staff were super nice. 1000% recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Lovely meal, friendly staff. Vegetarian options: No real vegetarian options. Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Peeps from Table 9 here! Loved it! Great food, cozy space, just awesome!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Amazing spot. Very cozy with a good atmosphere. Attentive staff and fresh seafood. Will be back soon!

★★★★
December 23, 2023

Sat outside on the patio. Best chowder that I had in St. Johns.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Very friendly staff and amazing tasty food. Well worth the money. Definitely recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Brilliant. Fresh local ingredients, I think

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The best restaurant in Newfoundland in my opinion. Great service too! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food and atmosphere!!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Matt was one of the most attentive, knowledgeable servers I ve ever had. We enjoyed his service on two separate occasions in our one week visit. I especially loved the surprise birthday cheesecake!!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

A lovely, quiet place to have an intimate meal and enjoy quiet conversation. Mathew was our server and was very personable, welcoming and knowledgeable. The food was fresh, incredibly tasty and the portions were just right. Highly recommend.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Wonderful restaurant went there twice. Food was excellent both times as was the service by our waiter Matt. Dietary restrictions: Waiter Matt Kindly changed out any food item that could not be eaten.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Delicious food, we had the salmon special and beef tenderloin. Highly recommend the goat cheese appetizer (didnt get a pic!).

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Nice and cozy on a Sunday morning. Outdoor patio looked nice but it was wet from rain. Our server was excellent. Located on water street, the Main Street of St. John s. Ordered squid and mussels and a small salad. Squid was tender and not overcooked, the dipping sauce could use more flavour, the salad was delicious (perhaps order the dressing on the side), and the mussels had a delicious wine broth. Coffee was good too.

★★★★
December 23, 2023

Stopped for lunch. I was in the mood for mussels. They were very tasty in a basic broth. The only thing I would say is that if youre in the mood for a super flavorful garlic heavy or cream based sauce, this would not be the place to go.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Great food and our server Matt made perfect recommendations. Ate here our first night in NL and we were so impressed we made reservations for our last night. Recommend the seafood chowder and Newfoundland cod. The cod tongues were a very tasty appetizer. Matt even remembered our preferred wine types and recommended perfect wines to accompany our last dinner.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Its my second time in St. Johns and I was really looking forward to having dinner here. I emailed the restaurant about a few questions and Cecelia got back to me quickly and was brilliant. The food was fantastic and even my picky eater dad gave them the glowing review of it was good. which is incredibly high praise. Everyone has an appetizer, entree dessert and at least one drink with the total being around $100 per person; so its very reasonable for the food, service and atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Divine! A must stop for anyone in St Johns who wants excellent food with incredibly friendly service and a cozy atmosphere. Pro tip: make a reservation! We saw several groups turned away as they did not have one, and all of the tables appeared to be reserved when we showed up for a 5 oclock reservation on a Tuesday evening. Our party had the calamari, seafood chowder, and salad to start, and then Cajun salmon (a daily special), the seafood platter, and the tenderloin for entrees, with maple cinnamon bread pudding for dessert. Zero complaints about any of it, absolutely phenomenal food. The steak was better than what were used to in Alberta, and the seafood was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. Our server made the experience even better as she was personable, quick to respond, and very professional. The restaurant is not large, which meant it was fairly quiet even when it started to fill up. When were back in St Johns we will definitely be visiting again. Parking: We went on a weekday night and street parking out front was full but there is angle parking just south of the restaurant.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great option for lunch. Warm, welcoming staff. Crispy cod tongues are a must. Chowder and club sandwich were veey good. The screech in the Dark and Foggy cocktail is potent!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Really enjoyed our night out. Wine was priced very nicely so had a little too much

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Best ambience and with best food I have ever had

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Oliver is always great , my main seafood platter was bit cold and bland as fish was not seasoned

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great seafood Very good seafood

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Great atmosphere! Food was very tasty. Topped the evening off with espresso martini

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Outstanding scallops appetizer and possibly the best cod fillet dinner I ve ever had and I ve had many. Our favourite restaurant in St. John s. Dietary restrictions: Our server accommodated our gluten free requests flawlessly.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Pleasant spur of the moment breakfast

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Good and service was fantastic!! Highly recommend the balsamic chicken fettuccini. The specials they had on the night we went were fantastic as well! Love the atmosphere, it s small, dark and cozy.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Just stopped in for a late night snack, we were the only ones there. It was perfect. The food was awesome, staff were great. Its our favorite place to eat in St. Johns.

December 23, 2023

Took 90 minutes from the time we ordered till we got our food. There were 5 other tables seated after us and they all got their food well before us. Waitress kept making excuses as to why the food wasnt ready. When we finally got it everyone there agreeded it wasnt worth near what they wanted. 70 bucks plus tax for a steak dinner with shrimp, what a rip off. Wasnt even cooked right (it was rare, I asked for med well). I dont understand how they have such a high rating on Google, maybe they have new staff/ cooks, I dont know, either way it was the first and last time Ill ever step foot in there.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food was good - but definitely had high expectations it didn t quite meet. The service was phenomenal though, the server was attentive, great to talk to, and made the overall experience so enjoyable! Because of the service, I ll go back to try other menu items.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The staff were fabulous and the food the same. Seafood platter is gluten-free and a full sized portion with a great representation of tiger shrimp, mussels, scallops and cod. My dinner mates raved about the leek and potato soup, steak, calamari and jambalaya. The heated brownie for dessert was the best my tablemates have ever had. A delicious meal in a great atmosphere with fabulous staff. We will be back.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

I was able to have a great supper with my parents in a quiet atmosphere, which is a rarity in restaurants. The service was excellent.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

This is a very cute little restaurant with a nostalgic atmosphere The food is very delicious, highly recommend the cod tongue and seafood chowder The clerk s service is also very enthusiastic. But please hire an extra clerk next time so I don t have to wait for someone to clean the table!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Good food and very pleasant staff!

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Seafood was tasty here and came reasonably fast, I was a bit taken back by the decor which is half old fashioned and half modern, having just 1 toilet stall for a whole restaurant is a bummer but I assume its because they were trying to keep up with times. It isnt ideal at all to have 30 or however many patrons come here all share one stall and have to wait on each other, really dampens my review on a place that had fine food and service

Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Over rated I had the seafood Pasta and it had only scallops and frozen mussels ... No shrimps... too oily ... and really small for 50$ after taxes and tips. Never again Edited Reply after the response: It was not 7 oz (more like 3) and the Scallops were not 5 oz (4 very small pieces) and I did talk to the server and I got the yellow smile that how dare you say anything

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Left a 5 star review 5 years ago when I visited here, however after a recent visit I found the quality of the food and drinks has dropped. Halibut was overcooked and sides werent seasoned or flavored well. Cocktails were poorly made. While it was an acceptable meal, the cost for it all made it hard to justify it. $160+ for two mains and four drinks. Staff and atmosphere are still terrific! Just cant recommend it at the current price. A little polish on the food and drinks and hope this place can be as awesome as it once was.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Delicious food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Vegetarian options: Couple of pkates

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Best food on the island

December 23, 2022

Went here for lunch and unfortunately the service was not good. 2 of us came for lunch. Took 20 minutes to get our drinks which were a tea and a pop. All the tables that arrived much later than us got their food well before us. Almost an hour by the time our food arrived. Server blamed the cooks, but we figure she forgot to ring in our order. Food was ok.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Excellent service. Excellent food and drink. Would recommend to try this place out if youre in the downtown area. Make sure to have a reservation during busy dining times Vegetarian options: There are dishes that are vegetarian and vegan friendly Dietary restrictions: Able to adjust their menu items for allergies

December 23, 2022

I was rudely told you won t be eating in here, we only serve reservations by the woman who was at the front. I m sure the food is good but apparently front staff isn t friendly to newcomers.

★★★
December 23, 2022

Food was okay. Very dark and cold. Staff were friendly

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Food is ok. $18 for a glass of wine is too much.

December 23, 2022

We made a reservation with this restaurant a month in advance of our Anniversary. The day of our reservation we discovered that the main street in St Johns is closed to vehicle traffic (we are from out of province) so we returned our hotel and grabbed a taxi to the Restaurant. We call them to inform them that we were running late but they didnt pick up the phone after many attempts. When we arrived 25 mins late they had given our reservation away. They informed us that after 20 mins they could cancel the reservation and why didnt we call them if we were running late. We informed them that we did call (showed her proof on our phone) and they wouldnt answer. She (manager) asked why I didnt leave a msg (they didnt check the phone anyway !) and that she was unable to help us out. The manager was very rude and didnt even try to find us a spot. The restaurant is very small and the atmosphere (while standing there) did not warrant such high reviews as indicated on TripAdvisor. We told them to never mind and we went to a very nice restaurant down the street (Salt Water) where we had the most enjoyable staff and meal in St Johns. Olivers loss.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

My husband and I had the most wonderful experience at Olivers when we went to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The staff were absolutely delightful, knowlegeable and made the best recomendations! And OMG the food was absolutely amazing! Very highly recomended! This was not the first time weve had either lunch or dinner there, and weve never been disappointed or left unsatisfied. Again, highly recommended!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Absolutely AMAZING cod cakes, and good price! When I visit St-Johns again ill definitely come back :)

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Ce qui devait être un repas festin sest transformé en déception partielle : mon assiette de fruits de mer était délicieuse, mais attention : les pâtes aux fruits de mer ne sont pas à la hauteur. Pas bon du tout. Même la serveuse nous la avoué... Et le vin était dégoûtant, nous avons du le faire changer. Dommage, car le resto est très charmant.

★★★★
December 23, 2022

amazing food! service was just ok. would return for the food alone!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Great food & Service!!!!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Exceptional pasta and salad. Been on the island for nine days and this was one of the two best meals we have had. Great atmosphere and service.

Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Food at Olivers was blend, Mussels at yellow belly are double the amount and of better quality Coming from Toronto, I was expecting a better quality but as there s not much local competition, seems like they are not always aiming for excellence and as a result became complacent

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Such a nice evening. The atmosphere was quiet and cozy. It wasn t busy. We couldn t get a booking for 6:30 pm and had to go at 5:30 even though at 6:30 it wasn t busy either. I think they may only book a small percentage of their tables as there were only 4 or 5 filled when we were there. Dinner was absolutely delicious. I had the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken (sans mushrooms) and I have to say that it was the best fettuccine I have ever had. The bacon pieces were yum!!! My husband had the seafood platter with alterations and they had no difficulty accommodating his request. He s a fisherman so for him to say the cod and scallops were delicious- they must surely have been. Dessert we shared - orange cinnamon bread pudding with rum and butter sauce. Not the best I ve ever had but quite tasty all the same and the sauce was spot on. Matt- our server was so helpful, personable and efficient and made our visit more than pleasant. We will definitely return!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Great tasting food and fast service

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Had an amazing meal in a great atmosphere! We attended for an evening meal last night, and we were so happy with the service, the quality of food, and the environment. Definitely recommend :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Hearty but classic

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Nothing special. Got two parts of our order wrong. Cold, hard vegetables

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Friendly staff, warm ambiance, good food. I liked the most their seafood platter. It came with a piece of cod, a piece of salmon, a few scallops and a few shrimps. It sounds ordinary, but its the freshness of the ingredients that make it extraordinary.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

The atmosphere was great, server was attentive, and the food was so delicious! Pictured below was the Bourbon Chicken with fries and veg!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Great experience all around at Olivers. Fantastic service and the food was phenomenal. Would definitely recommend!

★★★
December 23, 2022

Our server Matthew was wonderful thank you Matthew. Not big menu selection, very very fishy smell when you walk in, surprised how small the dining area was, meal was good but too much salt..a bit pricey as well....oh well. Heard plenty good things about the place so figured good time to give it a try...

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Vegetarian options: Options véganes intéressantes et trés bon. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Top notch, every time. Small menu but the food is incredible. Never disappoints. Vegetarian options: The Stuffed Portobello Mushroom was delicious and filling!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Some of the best homemade bread I ever had and everything was fresh. Menu changes but changes things up and they have one great cook. Love this place!