Trip Report: Saint John, N.B., Restaurants

My second trip across Canada for the day job has just began, and the first stop brought me to Canada’s east coast. Armed with a list of must-try restaurants, I enjoyed high-quality sushi, ate three times at one spectacular restaurant, shared some brew with the crew, and brought some lobsters home. Here’s a round-up of the best restaurants that Saint John, New Brunswick, has to offer.

Urban Deli
68 King St. / 506 652 3354
There’s usually one restaurant during a trip that wins my heart, and in Saint John, Urban Deli earned the crown. I enjoyed three lunches here during my four-day stay, and each one was wonderful. The service is warm and attentive, the food was spot-on and the atmosphere caused us to change our first take-out order to a dine-in visit.

The menu is packed with deli sandwiches, soups and salads, though I must add that their mac n’ cheese and ribs are standouts. The Reuben ($9) was jammed with corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese and cumin curry dijon, and reasonably priced since it included a side daily soup, deli frites, pasta or potato salad. The option of gluten-free bread was another bonus that pleased a gluten-adverse co-worker.

The Half-Rack of Ribs ($12 including a side) is slathered in sauce that’s so delectable we inquire whether we can buy it bottled (it’s homemade, but sadly they don’t sell it). I sent several people to this restaurant and every one returned with rave reviews. On our last day in the city, we chose Urban Deli as our final meal and also ordered a slice of their divine Carrot Cake to-go. We ate a slice (shown below) on our first day in Saint John, so it was a fitting farewell that we ate another slice on the plane, as we soared high above and away from the city.

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Sense of Tokyo
13 Waterloo St. / 506 632 4000
For some reason, I was surprised to learn via that some of the freshest fish in Saint John could be found at Japanese restaurant Sense of Tokyo. When I researched on Chowhound, this was the one spot that consistently got solid recommendations. It’s a casual restaurant that was fairly busy on a Friday night (so make a reservation), and expect food and service to be very slow. But when it eventually does come (an hour later), the SOT Sushi ($19.95) is worth the wait. The chef choose 12 pieces of nigiri, and since the chef supposedly previously worked at Nobu, the fish is excellent and rivals the top Japanese restaurants in Toronto.

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Billy’s Seafood Company
49-51 Charlotte St., City Market / 506 672 3474
Sadly, my first experience with Billy’s Seafood Company felt disappointing and soul-crushing. On a rainy Sunday night at 7pm, my party of three headed over for dinner since this restaurant is known for seafood. I specifically checked the website to make sure they were open, and it stated their Sunday hours are 4-9pm. When we arrived, the “Open” sign was unlit, the door was locked, and the chefs and staff were enjoying their own meal at a table by the window. The rain was relentless and it felt like a slap in the face when they didn’t bother to come to the door to explain why they were closed. We got the explanation from 12 fellow co-workers who also tried to dine at Billy’s and were turned away because they decided to shut down early. Hmph.

I decided to give them another chance and order some lobsters to take back to Toronto as an early birthday present for my brother. Since Billy’s is half-restaurant, half-market, I picked out two cooked lobsters which were only $10.50/pound and they packed it with ice-cold gel packs so it was ready to travel. Since my brother sent me this photo less than 15 minutes after he “unwrapped” his gift, I’m pleased to report that Billy’s at least delivered someone a satisfying meal.

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Other restaurants on my Saint John list:

Saint John Ale House
1 Market Square / 506 657 2337
Our Sunday night alternative, which did not disappoint. For pub fare, the food is surprisingly on point, and their seafood chowder was delightful. Plus, if you’re looking for a place to hold a rousing wrap party, their downstairs bar definitely does the trick.

Opera Bistro
60 Prince William St. / 506 642 2822
Slightly upscale, lunch $12-$14, dinner mains $26-$33

Beatty’s and the Beastro
60 Charlotte St. / 506 652-3888