The Big R Restaurant in St. John's

201 Blackmarsh Rd, St. John's, NL A1E 1T1, Canada

★★★★☆
(464 reviews)
Categories: Fast food restaurant Fish & chips restaurant

About

Serving Newfoundlanders and visiting guests traditional fish & chips for over 50 years

Address
201 Blackmarsh Rd, St. John's, NL A1E 1T1, Canada
Plus Code
G7W6+FJ St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Time Zone
America/St_Johns

Business Hours

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

Services

Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Coffee
Dining options
Breakfast Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual
Crowd
Groups
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs Kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Parking

Reviews

4.1
★★★★☆
464 reviews

Most Mentioned

prices (29) fish and chips (28) breakfast (20) gravy (18) cod (7) turkey (6) home (6) greasy spoon (4) onion rings (4) club sandwich (3)
5 stars
244
4 stars
128
3 stars
42
2 stars
14
1 stars
36
★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Food was great. But expensive. Large onion rings, Appy for 3 people, I could count the onion rings on both hands.. I will go back again, but won't order the onion rings.. lol.

★★
November 8, 2024

I find the oil the fries and fish is cooked in was old. It makes it for an unpleasant meal even though the fish was very good I noticed this the previous two visits. We've asked them when they change the oil they say they do it daily but I really don't think so. Yes even though it's fast food it should be fresh food.

★★★★★
September 30, 2024

I haven't had Big R for almost 15 years. Was home for just a few days and wanted Jiggs some bad. This restaurant was the only one that had it on a Thursday. To say it was the best feed is an understatement 😋 it a spot I didn't know need to be hit! Also picked at my company's fish and chips and it tastes the same as it did as when I was a kid. Wish I had more time to stop by again but until next summer 🥂

September 19, 2024

Bought seafood chowder a a few more items came to $50 food was slapped together anyway at all this is what they are charging people 10 bucks for not real seafood chowder at all looks and tastes like a mix

★★★★
September 19, 2024

We had the chicken (leg/thigh) and chips and shrimp and fries. Both were very good. Comfortable seating and atmosphere. Good down home cooking. Simple, but good!

★★★★★
September 1, 2024

Fantastic place for fish and chips. Batter was crisp and not to bready with big pieces of fish. Fries with dressing and gravy was delicious

★★★★★
October 14, 2023

Is a perfect place to eat good fish and chips. Good chicken, And the fries are perfect. I had a club sandwich and it was worth eating. Ketchup does not come on the fries I put them on

★★
March 5, 2019

I had breakfast with a friend last week. The food wasn’t hot. The hashbrowns were dried up, the toutons were almost inedible. They were tough and I could hardly cut them, the beans were luke warm, the fish cake was horrible, dry and crumbly. Everything had bits of egg on it from being cooked on the same grill I’m assuming. Same grill is fine but I mean, I was picking dried egg off my food. The bacon and the coffee were the only decent things I had and the coffee wasn’t great. It was a huge waste of $30 that could have been spent anywhere else for a good meal.

Local Guide
December 22, 2024

I ordered for delivery, fish bites, chips deluxe. Im disappointed with my meal. Everything looked great, until I went to eat the fish bites. My fish bites were mostly batter. I cant believe that the restaurant would let that leave as an order. Also, the complete order took over 1 hr and 30 mins to come, and I actually had to call to see, how much longer, the order was going to be. I believe it was really busy there, but the time it took to come, and the fish being mostly batter, with very little, to no fish inside, is shameful. This is the first time Ive ordered from here, and I really think it is the last. Dont waste your money here, its not worth it. The phone call was filled with crackling and static, on their side. Just stay away.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 2, 2024

Had breakfast and it was just awesome

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 25, 2024

My breakfast go to, never disappoints! Big part of our family for 50+ years!

★★★★
October 23, 2024

Good

★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Food was good but had to wait hour to get it...

September 23, 2024

Service was fine, friendly bunch. Fish was so bad, very greasy.

September 23, 2024

Very small portions of calamari.not even 6ozs.also over cooked.woukdnt recmond

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Excellent. Food

★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Fish and chips to go should have a container instead of 2 paper plates. What happened to fish as big as your hand? Not sure why the fish is cut in half? Today we ordered the Truckers Special, it comes with no meat. Did they forget the ground beef?

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Had a wonderful lunch . Good food and friendly staff. Recommend you go here. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
August 23, 2024

Nice server Deilous Food Very calm greatly recommend

August 23, 2024

Long wait time. 20 minutes. Fish and chips were cold, fish batter was burned. Gravy wasnt fit. The best thing about the meal was the coleslaw and pepsi. NOT going back there. Parking: Parking is parking

★★★
August 23, 2024

The onion rings are made of gold. Tax in they are $7.87. I got 7 rings. Thats $1.12 per ring.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Great service! Fantastic fish and chips!

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Friendly service. Great food!!! Vegetarian options: Vegetarian omlet Food : 5/5 |

★★★★
June 23, 2024

It s your classic small Newfoundland restaurant! Food was good for the price!

★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

We were looking for a delicious ma an pa restaurant, this seemed like a good choice. Although the young Ukraine server was quick, efficient and pleasant, the food was not as fantastic. There was too much breading on everything amd it was soggy amd not hot enough when we ate it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Great fish and chips. Quick service Cameron the server was great and knowledgeable about the area

★★★
May 23, 2024

Fast delivery. Great service. Southern fried chicken is very tasty and crunchy. But more recently the fish delivered were not fresh pieces at all. Wedgoes are great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Tried their jiggs dinner, and it was amazing! Huge quantity, that can feed 2 hungry men. Not to forget mom and daughter s great hospitality!

★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Great time and great food we go as a group of 10+ several times a year for family birthday breakfasts. Food is always good and the prices are fair

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Good portions. Nice staff. Always enjoy it

Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Great breakfast spot. I wish it was all day! EDIT: Ive eaten here many times over the years, I live on the same street, and every time I get something that isnt breakfast I end up with food poisoning. their breakfast is good, but it should still be under $10 for what its worth. If theyre struggling to stay open, they should just close.

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

The jigs dinner is deadly gotta order more gravy with it tho .

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Loves it!!!

★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Never disappointed here. Great turkey club sandwiches

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

Amazing.. home made everything!

★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Great food and service.

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

Jiggs dinner was sooo sooo good. Plus 5 star rating

★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

One of the better fish n chips places Ive had, out of town I enjoy the Jigger, but in town this is the next best place. Service is fast and friendly and the food is always fresh! Many menu options as well

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Delicious!

January 23, 2024

Ordered Fish and Chips with dressing and gravy. The fish was not fresh with a gross taste to it and literally burnt. The fries were dried up and disgusting!!!! Will not recommend or eat there again.

★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

A real old fashioned fish and chip Diner. The fish was super fresh, the chips were nice, the onion rings good. Their famous wedgies were undercooked, the dressing was powdery, and the gravy had a strong flour taste. The portions are average and the service prompt and friendly. If youre stuck, they are very okay - just skip the wedgies, and hold the gravy and dressing.

January 23, 2024

THE WORST. AVOID THIS PLACE IF YOU CAN. We ordered the 2-piece fish and chips earlier this evening. The meal cost in excess of $20, tax included, and it wasnt worth 2 cents. Where do I start? The French fries were cold, dried up, and some of them werent even French fries. Mixed in among the fries were various bits and bobs, potato ends, pieces of batter, and other items whose identity is still a mystery. I found something in the dish that seemed to be some kind of battered seafood, but Im not sure what kind. The texture was like an ancient rubber band, and it tasted like something that had crawled underneath a local wharf and died of despair. The battered fish seemed to have been battered - literally. The texture was a cross between wet paper and a deflated sponge. I think the fish probably died of old age, helped along by someone who cornered it in a dark alley and beat it with a hockey stick until it begged for death. Deep-fried fish isnt supposed to be WET. Its supposed to be succulent, buttery, melting on the tongue. This fish did not melt on the tongue. It hated the tongue intensely and wanted the tongue to suffer. Like the French fries, the cod was cold, and tasted of nothing. All in all, the money spent on this meal (I use the term loosely) would have been better spent on several yards of wet paper, which would have tasted more or less the same. Worst. Meal. Ever.

January 23, 2024

Ordered Family meal 49 .99 plus tax almost 60.00.Got home opened up the fish was hard and discusting definately not fresh.The fries all dried up .The gravey in the bowl was full of lumps tasted like just flour and water .The batter had zero tastes on wings fish and onion rings.We threw out majority of meal .Went there about a month ago same experience.Thought Id give a second chance big mistake was worse than before .Harvey road had the best food ever ...but blackmarsh is definitely bottom of the barrell will not be returning .

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Always a great spot to get a bite. Their southern fried chicken is great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food, prices, and service. One of my favourite places to go. We had the 3 piece chicken, fries, and coleslaw, hamburger platter, homemade turkey soup and homemade bread, a slice of chocolate cake, beverages and everything was delicious, fresh, hot, and brought to the table in no time flat.

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food is dry and over priced. The staff is nice and the atmosphere is alright.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The restaurant itself was a bit on the cold side, but the food was hot and delicious. Would recommend to anyone looking for a reasonably priced breakfast spot for a brunch or hangover cure.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food, friendly staff, reasonable prices!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The food is pretty good, sometimes it isnt as fresh as it could be. Still would recommend based on the price and customer service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food.Pre order worked really well

December 23, 2023

Ordered 2 piece fish and chips with dressing and gravy for pickup. Fish was not fresh and was mushy from being soaked in gravy. The fish needs to be kept separate from the gravy folks. Every thing was all packed tight in a square container. The price almost knocked me off my feet too. Last time I go there.

December 23, 2023

Terrible place looks bad outside rude waitress found hair in my food will never go back so angry I want my money back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Came here for our first authentic Newfie dinner. Got my fried bologna served with a steak knife! Excellent service, great food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Best home fries!!!

December 23, 2023

Been there for pickup. Asked the lady infront how much time will it take and she said Mayb it s 10 min or 20 min. Then I was asking a guy and she interrupted us by saying she already talked to me. After I said this is rude she start passing racist comments. I really prefer not to go here if you are not Canadian. Facing this kind of behavior first time in Canada. *racist*

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Had breakfast this time. The omelet was pretty good. Service was great. Waitress was new and attentive.

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Absolutely horrible Jiggs dinner. Salt meat was like brine, turnip was strong and sinewy. Gravy was like water, I have been sick all night due to the level of salt in the beef. Worst ever! I was all hyped up for this. My friend told me it was the best in town. I think not.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Love the fish and chips. Nice people can t go wrong with this restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food!

★★★★
December 23, 2023

service was amazing. food was good but nothing special. typical canadian restaurant!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Fast and friendly

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Fantastic meal and service. This is really good home cooking.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Just arrived for the first time in St. John s from Montreal and Ordered from here and the food was soooo good! Never had anything like that. I shared the traditional Jiggs meal and the seafood plate. We totally loved it. We wanted to have a local experience and definitely had it! Everything was perfect and as ordered. THANK YOU

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great, large menu of Newfoundland dishes.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The food here was great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Delicious fresh fish, good value for your money. Eat in best

★★★★
December 23, 2023

Nice to come home for really good fish and chips

★★★★
December 23, 2023

Very typical! Worth a visit for traditional dishes. Restaurant for regulars, were going back to the 70s. Its great!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Proper food. Feed of Jiggs was piled high on the plate with good quality salt meat and home made gravy. Not short of Turkey either. Always friendly. Reasonable prices.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Friendly and fast service

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Terrific food and very friendly staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food! Fast, friendly service.

December 23, 2023

My mother got a pork chop dinner to go...it was pitiful and she didnt even get a fork!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Solid

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Delicious food, large portions and excellent customer service.

★★★★
December 23, 2023

The food was soo good I would highly recommend this place

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

The best place to eat before taking road trip to go back home. I will miss this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Outstanding jiggs dinner

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Just like moms breakfast

★★★★
December 23, 2022

Good food great value good service

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Old fashion ..really good food .i love the fish+ chips deluxe. Has stuffing gravey good chips.i cant leave with out a blue berrie loaf or dome bakery goods.lots of parking.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Food is awesome here...I was travelling back to NS and ordered 10 pieces to go..when she found out it was to go on an airplane she wrapped it up and gave me the freshest pieces tht they had prepared about an hour ago...this is the only place I go to for fish- the taste the service and the freshness is above par.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Great staff and great food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Great food. Reasonably priced. Half decent menu. Breakfast is great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Good portions of good food! Location is easily accessible and lots of parking. Not the greatest of atmospheres but if you want a great meal at a great price then this is the place to come! Also available for purchase/carryout are some home made goodies and even homemade bread! Better alternative then some of the well known fish and chip places.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Jiggs dinner!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

My wife and I often enjoy a Sunday dinner after church. The food is delicious! Our go to menu item is the club sandwich, usually with fries. Last time we tried their taters with it and they are better than Mary Browns! And we love the atmosphere and the service! Top notch!

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Eggs were so cold and it took so long for the food to come out after our orders were taken.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

My parents are in town from the West Coast for medical appointments, they were dying for a good bowl of soup and a sandwich; so off we went to the Big R. They loved everything from the soup, right down to the cheesecake that my stepmother snagged on the way out the door. Our server was such a beautiful lady, with an amazing sense of humor and the most infectious smile. Thanks for the great grub and the stellar service!!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Its family.buss .

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Great taste, friendly service! +

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

This is my favourite restaurant of all time. I love this place. I own a Big R shirt. I hope everyone goes to the Big R

★★
December 23, 2022

I havent been home in 3 years. I always hit Big Rs for a feed of fish and chips. This is the first time Ive been disappointed. The fish had to be old. It was almost grey and not flakey at all. Fries and gravy were OK and service was better than ok. No one even asked if everything was alright because they probably knew what they were serving. Sadly they wont be getting a second chance to do better.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Eat there often, usually no complaints. Friendly helpful staff.

December 23, 2022

I had cod bites and chips. Cod bites were chewy and tasted stale. Tasted overcooked or frozen fish with freezer burns..wouldn t recommend this restaurant.

★★★★
December 23, 2022

Wasn t impress with the curb appeal but went in anyway. No regrets Loved the Barley and beef soup. Home made bread for the sandwich. Very hot and savoury. Music was great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

The food is great as is the friendly service. Lots of seating.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Excellent cheap Jiggs dinner to be had here!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Amazing food well priced.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

They need to open a store in alberta!

★★★★
December 23, 2022

Had chicken and Chips D&G IT WAS GOID

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Delicious and the staff were great!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Food was good, service was great.

★★★★
December 23, 2022

Love their food. And the portions are always on the larger side. I could easily share with my 8 year old but shes at thr age now where she wants to order her own meal. when we ordered it for delivery, all the food came except my 8 year Olds cheeseburger. If it was something belonged to me, her dad or even My 1 year old I wouldnt care. I will see when I called they were absolutely FANTASTIC somehow it was written on NY order but I wasnt charged for it so thats where the fix up was. The lady had a delivery driver bring me my daughters burger asap (still hot) no charge for the delivery and didnt charge me for the burger even though she hadnt charged me for it initially. I wouldnt recommend this place enough. Eating in there is just às great. The employees are the sweetest. My 8 year old is so picky but loves their cheeseburgers ànd pouting. My 1 year old loves their chicken strips and fries she js obsessed with their fries most of the time , )

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Had 3pc wings fries dressing gravy.. And Roast beef dinner. Good home cooking.. And great selection home made deserts. As well you can buy from the bakery section. Baked by the owner..

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Wxcellemg

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Amazing food and great service at really good prices. Finally got my Jiggs dinner!

Local Guide
December 23, 2022

$50 for two 2 PC f and c is a bit much...first time there in a long time and last time for a long time.

December 23, 2022

Theres a sandwich had cheese on it and I didnt ask for cheese and I asked him to provide drivers car for the cod bites and Ive never gotten nothing

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Outside of your Nans kitchen its the best place for homemade bread. White and wheat.

★★★
December 23, 2022

Good Fries Dressing and Gravy !

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Just fair

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Good breakfast...enjoyed it immensely.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Food and services is great as always..!!

★★★★
December 23, 2021

Great food and service

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Friendly staff and good food

December 23, 2021

prices on the web site dont match whats on skipthedishes. 15$ for a dub cheese burger and a few fries is a bit much

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Was ok

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Awesome place, fresh bread too, every day.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Excellent brunch! Bought delicious date squares to take home.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Great food. Average price. Customer service could use some work.

Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Ordered here 3 times in the last 18 months and every time the food was sub par. This time the fish was tough, it definitely wasn t fresh. The gravy was tasteless except for the taste of flour used to thicken it and the odd French fry had a soil type taste on it properly where the potatoes weren t cleaned well. As far as I m concerned 3 strikes and they re out.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Delicious food.fast service

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Food seems to be going down hill.

★★★
December 23, 2021

Excellent food

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Great food and great staff

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Amazing soup!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Superb breakfast meal! The portion was perfect and the food was delicious. Thank you, Ill be back!

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Food was great ,service was awesome.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Great feed of fish!

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Staff are great, the food is home made, always good

★★★★
December 23, 2021

I still miss the Harvey Road location; but the food is every bit as good. Poor singage and easy to drive by if you dont know where it is.

★★★★
December 23, 2021

Service is perfect. Reasonable prices and the food is excellent.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Great fish and chips

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

The chips were not as good as I remember from the Harvey Rd location, (still good though). The fish and the gravy were better than the others.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Great breakfast, nicest toast Ive had in years

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Delicious food at a very reasonable price. Large portions too! Clean, comfortable restaurant with friendly staff. 5 stars from me!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Great food as usual very clean and great staff.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

We went there Oct 24 for fish and chips with gravy it was delicious and the service was awesome

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Great service, and food...

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Great truck-stop style breakfast

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Ordered take out and it never took long

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2020

There good to

★★★★★
December 23, 2020

The food is always good, the portions are generous and the prices are reasonable.

★★★★★
December 23, 2020

The best fries.

★★★★★
December 23, 2020

Best local fish and chips! Local legend...

Local Guide
December 23, 2020

Closed for good

★★★★★
December 23, 2020

Awesome food awesome service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2020

Great meal. Friendly staff and wonderful atmosphere.

★★★★
December 23, 2020

Great food, friendly staff and daily specials.