Looking for what to eat in Nova Scotia? We’re featuring a list of unique and must-try Nova Scotia food for your trip!
When people think of Nova Scotia food, they immediately think seafood, lots and lots of it!
And while Nova Scotia is world-renowned for its seafood, the province is also known for other dishes from its history with the French, Scottish and Greeks.
In this food guide, I’m covering the best of both with some must-try foods in Nova Scotia from Lobster and Digby Scallops to Rappie Pie and Oatcakes, along with drinks that are unique to Nova Scotia.
I did a Nova Scotia food trip for 7 days, starting from Halifax then counter-clockwise around the Western region: Wolfville, Digby, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Summerville, Lunenburg then back.
Let’s just say I was in SEAFOOD HEAVEN as usual.
More behind the scenes on Travelling Foodie Instagram: @TravellingFoodie for Food and @JourneyTraveler for Travel
I was on a mission to try not just different Nova Scotia foods, but also the different varieties in how they make them.
Therefore, you’ll also see how many ways the same food can be served, along with some of the best restaurants and places in Nova Scotia to try them!
Also Read: Korean Food Guide
Note: The list of Nova Scotia Food & Drinks in this guide only includes ones that I have tried and restaurants I have personally visited.
This guide will be updated as I explore more local foods in Nova Scotia so be sure to save/pin/bookmark the page!
What makes Nova Scotia Food Culture?
Nova Scotia’s food and drink culture is created by the mix of its agriculture, the surrounding water, and cuisines brought about by settlers and immigrants from their home countries and adapted to Nova Scotia.
On top of all this, new chefs and food trends bring about unique and creative dishes using Maritimes-specific ingredients.
Whether it’s your first time to Nova Scotia or a foodie wanting to eat, Nova Scotia surprises you with its food & drink offerings.
Agriculture
With 995,943 acres of farmlands in Nova Scotia, agriculture is definitely one of the key factors in its cuisine.
Fresh produce and meats all help deliver better tastes and a truer farm-to-table experience.
Did you know? Nova Scotia has approximately 3795 farms with an average of 262 acres per farm.
Water
Being almost entirely surrounded by the sea with 13,300 km of saltwater and freshwater coastline, Nova Scotia’s seafood is among the best in the world, accounting for more than $2 billion in exports which makes it Canada’s leader in seafood export.
Nova Scotia’s waters also led to ports and harbours which paved way for settlers that started colonies in the lands and brought about new cuisines to the province.
The Acadians
The Acadians are French colonists that established permanent European settlements in Port Royal, Nova Scotia (although it wasn’t Nova Scotia yet at that time) in 1605.
Before Acadia was overruled by the British, the Acadians were able to create Acadian cuisine to the lands, but adapted to incorporate the agriculture and seafood available in Nova Scotia.
Acadian communities still exist in Nova Scotia today, and they live closer to the ocean with lobster-fishing being their main industry.
Acadian cuisine lives on as well through the communities and Acadian descendants.
The Scots
In the 1770s, Scots settlers, mostly from the north-western coast of Scotland, established communities in both Pictou and Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.
Though a lot of the settlers scattered outside Nova Scotia following poor crops and a weak economy, a strong concentration still exists in Cape Breton Islands that continue to keep the Gaelic culture and cuisine alive.
Did you know? The name Nova Scotia is Latin for ‘New Scotland’.
Also Read: Things To Know About Manila’s Food Scene
Nova Scotia Food: Best Things To Eat in Nova Scotia
Here’s the list of unique and must-try local Nova Scotia foods and where to eat them all around Nova Scotia.
Did you know? Nova Scotia Food definitely has a lot of seafood dishes, but technically the only unique Nova Scotia food (officially) are donair, creamed lobster and rappie pie.
Nova Scotia Lobster
Lobster is perhaps the most popular food in Nova Scotia.
Whenever I tell people I’m visiting Nova Scotia, the most common response is “Enjoy a lot of lobster!” or “Bring me back some lobster!”
I had my best lobster in Nova Scotia, and I love how many different ways you can enjoy Nova Scotia Lobster in the province so you don’t get tired and feel like you’re eating the same thing all the time.
Our in-depth guide to Nova Scotia Lobster covers everything you wanted to know about this popular shellfish, plus 22+ ways you can enjoy them in Nova Scotia.
Where To Eat Lobster in Nova Scotia
Here are some of the best restaurants to try lobster in Halifax, Wolfville, Centreville, Argyle, Digby, Barrington, Summerville and Lunenburg.
Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar
There’s no shucking around with the seafood at Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar in downtown Halifax.
As soon as you enter the restaurant, you’re greeted with a seafood display with fresh fish and shellfish to enjoy in a sea-inspired interior.
When at Shuck, you’ll want to get their Shuck Boil, which is Nova Scotia seafood heaven in a dish: full lobster, mussels, clams, Jonah crab, baby potato, house sausage, seasonal veggies, and garlic texas toast.
You can enjoy the seafood at Shuck even better knowing they’re caught sustainably by Afishionado Fishmongers in Halifax, who is Ocean Wise certified.
Website / Address: 5120 Salter St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 0A1
The Bicycle Thief
If you’re looking for where to eat along the Halifax Waterfront, one of most popular restaurants is The Bicycle Thief, which serves North American food with Italian twists, while overlooking the Halifax Harbour.
One of the best-selling dishes at The Bicycle Thief is their Linguine all’Aragosta, which comes with chunks of Nova Scotia lobster.
You’ll love this!
Website / Address: 1475 Lower Water St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3Z2
The Split Crow Pub
With all the seafood, Nova Scotia is known for its seafood chowder as well.
Best of all, most of the seafood chowders typically have lobster in them!
One of the most unique places to have them is at The Split Crow Pub, the oldest pub in Halifax dating back to 1749 when it was called “The Spread Eagle”.
At The Split Crow Pub, the Queen’s County Chowder has chunks of lobster.
The broth itself was stewed with the lobster shell along with white fish, root vegetables, canned milk. some wine and a touch of Old Bay seasoning.
According to Rachael of Halifax Local Tasting Tours, the chowder at The Split Crow Pub is an authentic Nova Scotia chowder that’s the closest version she’s found to what her mom used to make.
Website / Address: 1855 Granville St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3L7
Goldwater Seafoods
One of the most popular lobster dishes in the Canadian Maritimes and US New England is the lobster roll, grilled hot dog-style bun with an opening on top filled with lobster meat.
The best lobster roll I had in my Nova Scotia trip was at Goldwater Seafoods at the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market during EAT Halifax Tour with Taste Halifax Food and Beer Tours.
It had the best overall score for my criteria for lobster roll: the lobster meat, the mayo + garnishes, and the bun.
Website / Address: Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, 1209 Marginal Rd, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4P8
Halls Harbour Lobster Pound
You cannot go to Nova Scotia without having a traditional lobster dinner, boiled or steamed lobster in its shell and served with warm melted butter.
One of the best restaurants in Nova Scotia for a traditional lobster meal is at Halls Harbour Lobster Pound in Centreville, located right at Halls Harbour overlooking Bay of Fundy.
It’s a fun activity to have your lobster dinner at Halls Harbour Lobster Pound: Choose your lobster.
Put it in a tray. Pay the cashier.
Bring the tray to the cookhouse to cook.
Then, wait to be served.
Watch the full experience:
Sit at the patio to have a delicious Bay of Fundy lobster meal while seeing the low and high tides on the harbour.
Tourists flock here during low tides to see boats standing on the shore like below.
Website / Address: 1157 W Halls Harbour Rd, Centreville, Nova Scotia B0P 1J0
The Little Fish Oyster Bar
When I visited Halifax back in 2017, I dined at one of the best restaurants in Halifax for lobster, The Little Fish Oyster Bar at The Five Fishermen.
And it was one of the best lobsters I’ve ever had!
Website / Address: 1740 Argyle St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2B6
Blomidon Inn Restaurant
When I visited Wolfville, I stayed at the historic Blomidon Inn.
This restored 19th Century Sea Captain’s mansion has a well-known restaurant focused on local Nova Scotia seafood, produce and drinks.
The Lobster Linguine was delicious, and portions were generous.
The linguine pasta was housemade, and the horseradish cream was unique!
Website / Address: 195 Main St, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 1C3
The Crow’s Nest
When you visit Nova Scotia, you’ll be on a roll with fresh seafood!
Checked out one of Digby’s best restaurants, The Crow’s Nest, a waterfront restaurant that also has accommodations.
Did you know? The Crow’s Nest is soon to be featured on Food Network Canada’s Big Food Bucket List with John Catucci.
The Lobster Roll here has lots of sweet chunks of lobster meat.
If you like your lobster roll with less mayo, be sure to let them know as there is quite a bit on theirs.
Their seafood chowder is quite popular with generous portions of lobster, haddock and scallops.
The soup is deliciously rich but on the milkier texture as typical with traditional Nova Scotia chowder.
Website / Address: 40 Water St, Digby, Nova Scotia B0V 1A0
Tusket Island Tours
One of the unique things to do in Yarmouth and Acadian Shores region of Nova Scotia is the Tusket Island Tours, where you embark on a fishing boat with brothers Lucien and Simon LeBlanc.
During the boat tour through the islands, you’ll learn about the lobster fishermen’s life, along with the culture and history on these islands.
The tour departs Wedgeport Wharf at 10:30am.
For lunch, you’ll dock on Big Tusket Island where you’ll be eating fresh local seafood chowder, which has lobster, at the LeBlanc’s own private fishing shanty and workshops.
After lunch, you’ll get to enjoy live entertainment by Simon as you sail back to Wedgeport Dock by around 2:30pm.
Website / Address: 142 Jacquard Rd, Arcadia, Nova Scotia B0W 1B0
Argyler Lodge & Restaurant
When in Argyle, I stayed at the Argyler Lodge where I enjoyed dining with beautiful panoramic views.
An authentic Nova Scotia lobster dinner comes as part of the Ultimate Lobster Bay & Tusket Island Tour package offered by the Argyler Lodge. A great way to get the best of both.
Outside the indoor dining room is a covered veranda where you can also enjoy your food with unobstructed views.
The hearty seafood chowder here also has lobster.
Check pricing and availability of Argyler Lodge on Booking.com
Website / Address: 52 Ye Old Argyle Rd, Lower Argyle, Nova Scotia B0W 1W0
Capt. Kat’s Lobster Shack
Ask locals where to eat in Barrington, the Lobster Capital of Canada, and you’ll most likely hear Capt. Kat’s Lobster Shack
A must-try is their award-winning Lobster Roll, which took first place in the first annual South Shore Lobster Crawl Lobster Roll Challenge in 2018.
According to Chef Adam Wolkins, “If you come in today, the lobster in your roll came out of the ocean [that] morning.”
Travelling Foodie Tip: If you’re not a fan of celery, ask them to have it on the side because they do put quite a bit.
Website / Address: 3723 Highway 3, Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia B0W 1G0
The Quarterdeck Grill
At Summerville Centre, I stayed at The Quarterdeck Beachside Villas and Grill, located right at the shoreline on Summerville Beach with mile white sand, waves splashing over rocks and wonderful ocean views.
Right next to the beachside villas is the Quarterdeck Grill, offering classic Nova Scotia food with a modern take.
The Summerville Seafood Chowder here had the most Nova Scotia seafood I’ve had, including lobster.
Website / Address: 7499 Lighthouse Rte #3, Summerville Centre, Nova Scotia B0T 1T0
Grand Banker Bar & Grill
Located on the waterfront of historic Lunenburg, the Grand Banker Bar & Grill is one of the most popular restaurants in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and even more now with food instagrammers flocking for their signature dish, The Lunenburger.
The Lunenburger is quite delicious but can also be rich and heavy.
I suggest sharing the burger so you can try other dishes.
Website / Address: 82 Montague St, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia B0J 2C0
Clearwater Seafoods at Halifax Stanfield International Airport
Enjoying Nova Scotia lobster doesn’t need to end when you leave Nova Scotia.
You know lobster is such a huge thing when you can buy fresh lobster in a box to take to your flight back home!
At the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, you can head over to Clearwater Seafoods, located pre-security near domestic/international check-in, where you can buy live and cooked lobsters that are packed for travel.
Travelling Foodie Tip: You can pre-order online and do “Airport Pickup” to save time. Similarly, you can have your order packed up and brought post-security right to you.
Website / Address: 1 Bell Blvd, Enfield, Nova Scotia B2T 1K2
Also Read: Best Restaurants in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Donair
After seafood, the next most popular Nova Scotia food is the donair, which is the official food of Halifax since 2015.
Donair is the Halifax version of a Greek gyro and Turkish doner kebab.
What makes a Donair?
It’s a soft pita wrap filled with shaved spiced beef cooked on a spit, raw onions, tomatoes and a sweet garlic sauce.
It’s meaty, saucy and messy all-in-one, and both locals and tourists love it.
Donairs have been a popular late-night snack after a night of drinking around Halifax.
With its popularity, variations of donair have come about as well, including donair pizza, burgers, eggrolls and poutine.
History of Donair
The origin of donair goes back to the Greek immigrants to Halifax.
In 1970s, Greek immigrant Peter Gamoulakos wanted to bring Greek gyros to Halifax.
However, local Nova Scotians weren’t open to gyros because of the lamb and tzatziki sauce.
Back then, lamb was considered exotic meat.
Similarly, locals weren’t accustomed to garlic flavours, which is what tzatziki tasted mainly of.
From what I learned from Rachael of Local Tasting Tours in Halifax, the reason why the locals’ tastes were this way was because of the British forward tastes they inherited during the British colonization.
The people asked them to make the sauce sweeter so Peter looked at a British recipe and saw the salad dressing.
The tzatziki sauce was changed to a sweet garlicky sauce using salad dressing ingredients: evaporated milk with vinegar and sugar.
At the same time, the spit-roasted lamb was changed to beef.
Once these changes were made, the rest was history. In 2014, donairs drew huge media attention when Anthony Bourdain declared his fascination for them.
If you want to learn more about Halifax Donairs, the blog Eat This Town has written a very detailed history with a timeline here.
Where To Eat Donair in Nova Scotia
Here are some of the best places to eat donairs in Halifax and Yarmouth.
Johnny K’s Authentic Donairs
Located in the popular pizza corner (yes, the junction of Blowers Street and Grafton Street is really called pizza corner), Johnny K’s Authentic Donairs is owned by Peter Gamoulakos’ brother John.
One of the most popular donairs in Halifax, Johnny K’s has been consistently in The Coast’s Best Of list for Donair.
This was part of the EAT Halifax Tour with Taste Halifax Food and Beer Tours.
Website / Address: 5246 Blowers St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1Z6
Snappy Tomato
You’ll usually find donairs at pizza joints because pizza joints are typically open late night so the donair fits in the offering.
One popular pizza joint in Halifax that serves Donair is Snappy Tomato.
I tried the one here as part of the Local Tasting Tours in Halifax.
According to Rachael, Snappy Tomato makes their meat in-house unlike other places that use frozen meat or meat from a distributor.
The donair recipe at Snappy Tomato is close to the original but is a little spicier than normal.
Website / Address: 1283 Barrington St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1Y2
Heritage Kitchen (CLOSED)
Heritage Kitchen is a food truck right outside Heritage Brewing in Yarmouth.
It’s the perfect way to have good food while enjoying beers inside Heritage Brewing.
I tried both Heritage Kitchen and Heritage Brewing as the last stop of the Pirates and Pints Pub Crawl with Yarmouth Walking Tours.
Heritage Kitchen had three different variations of donair that day.
– Draught Beer Tasting Flight
– Donair Egg Roll
– Donair Taco
– Donair Brewer’s Chips
As of September 28, 2019, The Heritage Kitchen is indefinitely closed and looking for a buyer to take over the food truck. Interested buyers can message them through the website link below.
Website / Address: 250 Main St, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia B5A 1C9
Also Read: Best Things To Do in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Creamed Lobster
Though it is a lobster dish, Creamed Lobster deserves its own entry because it is one of the official Nova Scotia Foods created by Clara Harris, a local restaurant owner in Yarmouth & Acadian Shores.
This Southwest Nova Scotia staple is made with four simple ingredients: lobster meat, butter, cream, and vinegar.
You’ll typically find creamed lobster on the menu either as-is or poured on top of something (buttered toast or haddock are most popular).
Similar to donair, variations of creamed lobster can be found throughout the region, and some can definitely get quite creative.
If you want to learn more about creamed lobster, the blog Laura’s Tastes interviewed Clara Harris, detailing the history about herself and her famed creamed lobster here.
Where To Eat Creamed Lobster in Nova Scotia
Here are some of the best restaurants in Saulnierville, Argyle and Barrington for creamed lobster.
La Cuisine Robicheau
One of the most popular Acadian restaurants in Nova Scotia is La Cuisine Robicheau, which opened in November 2012.
This husband-and-wife restaurant overlooking the bay specializes in the concept of authentic Acadian cuisine according to famed Acadian chef Paul Comeau.
La Cuisine Robicheau’s creamed lobster is smothered over toasted bread.
It’s rich and delicious, especially with the bread that has soaked in all the creamy goodness.
Travelling Foodie Tip: Be sure to have the mashed potato with the cream too! It’s so much better than mashed potato with gravy.
Website / Address: 9651 Nova Scotia Trunk 1, Saulnierville, Nova Scotia B0W 2Z0
Argyler Lodge & Restaurant
With the many variations of creamed lobster, it’s not surprising that, when you see poutine on the menu in Southwest Nova Scotia, it actually uses creamed lobster instead of gravy!
I love the creamed lobster poutine at the Argyler Lodge & Restaurant!
I actually prefer this over the traditional poutine.
Watch below from @TravellingFoodie Instagram on how they made the Lobster Poutine.
Check pricing and availability of Argyler Lodge on Booking.com
Website / Address: 52 Ye Old Argyle Rd, Lower Argyle, Nova Scotia B0W 1W0
Capt. Kat’s Lobster Shack
Capt. Kat’s Lobster Shack is where you’ll probably find the most ways of having lobster.
I enjoyed the Lobster Fondue, where, instead of melted cheese, they use lobster cream for dipping.
Website / Address: 3723 Highway 3, Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia B0W 1G0
The Quarterdeck Grill
At The Quarterdeck Grill, they took their Chicken Kiev and topped it with Creamed Lobster to create the Chicken Lucy, in honour of Lucy the Lobster who “looks for her shadow” on Groundhog Day in Nova Scotia to predict the end of winter instead of the usual groundhog.
Did you know? Lucy lives at Capt. Kat’s Seafood Shack in Barrington.
I really enjoyed the use of creamed lobster here because it blended nicely with the garlic butter inside the chicken.
I would’ve loved it even more having the lobster as chunks instead of finely shredded.
Website / Address: 7499 Lighthouse Rte #3, Summerville Centre, Nova Scotia B0T 1T0
Also Read: 4 Day Food Trip in Saint John & Fredericton, New Brunswick
Scallops
If you love scallops, you’ve probably had Digby Scallops, the world-famous sea scallops that are plump, succulent and fresh.
What I didn’t know until my trip to Nova Scotia was Digby Scallops came from a town in Nova Scotia called Digby.
Digby is often touted as the “Scallop Capital of the World”, having the largest inshore scallop fleet in the world, plucking Digby Scallops from the Bay of Fundy.
When you have scallops in Nova Scotia, it is highly likely they are Digby Scallops, even though there are other deep sea scallops available in the province.
They are often served raw, deep-fried, pan-seared, or in a chowder.
Did you know? The part we eat as scallops is actually the adductor, the large muscle that helps them swim.
Best Places To Eat Scallops in Nova Scotia
Here are some of the best restaurants to enjoy scallops in Halifax, Wolfville, Centreville, Digby, Argyle, Summerville and Lunenburg.
Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar
Nothing beats perfectly seared scallops with a pinch of salt and pepper.
This is what you get at Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar in Halifax.
Website / Address: 5120 Salter St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 0A1
Stories Fine Dining at The Halliburton
Stories Fine Dining is an intimate restaurant at The Halliburton Hotel in Halifax specializing in East Coast cuisine with a changing menu featuring regional seafood.
The most unique use of scallops I’ve had in Nova Scotia was these rice paper-wrapped Digby scallops.
Perfectly thin rice paper and sesame ginger vinaigrette made for a nice Asian take on these scallops.
The rice paper added a nice crispy contrast to the soft scallops
Check pricing and availability of The Halliburton on Booking.com / Agoda
Website / Address: 5184 Morris St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1B3
Edna
One of the best restaurants in Halifax is Edna, a hipster bistro that was part of Air Canada’s enRoute Magazine’s Best New Restaurants in 2014 and #49 in Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants in 2016.
You cannot miss the changing Seared Scallops dish at Edna, which was my most favourite dish from my meal there.
I loved the creative use of different ingredients to bring a delicious taste.
Website / Address: 2053 Gottingen St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 3B2
The Mercantile Social
Located in downtown Halifax’s financial district, The Mercantile Social is a luxurious and Instagrammable restaurant serving up seafood, seasonal menus with drinks focused on cocktails and wine.
This was the last stop of the EAT Halifax Tour with Taste Halifax Food and Beer Tours.
A deviation from the New England or Nova Scotia-style seafood chowder, we had a nice and tangy Manhattan Seafood Stew that had scallops, mussels, shrimp and fish, which was paired with some Nova Scotia wines.
– Manhattan Seafood Stew – leeks, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes
– Tidal Bay Wine from Jost Vineyards
– Silky Rose from Gaspereau Vineyards
Website / Address: 1579 Hollis St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1V3
Blomidon Inn Restaurant
If you prefer New England style seafood chowder, you’ll love the one at The Blomidon Inn Restaurant which had a rich creamy texture packed with scallops, haddock and salmon.
Website / Address: 195 Main St, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 1C3
Halls Harbour Lobster Pound
Halls Harbour Lobster Pound in Centreville is not just all about lobster.
They also serve scallops, fish and clams.
And if you can’t decide which of the three to get, the Captain Hall’s Fisherman’s Platter has you covered!
Website / Address: 1157 W Halls Harbour Rd, Centreville, Nova Scotia B0P 1J0
Ed’s Take Out
Established since 1967, Ed’s Take Out is a small take-out joint in Digby with few tables inside and some picnic tables outside.
They are pretty much a fried seafood shack serving fish, scallops and clams along with burgers, hot dogs, fries and onion rings.
There have been debates on the best restaurants in Digby for scallop but Ed’s Take Out will usually be among them.
People also say they have the best clams but I was sad I wasn’t able to try.
The Digby Scallops here were definitely some of the best scallops I’ve had ever.
They were plump, meaty and sweet that you don’t need to add anything.
Address: 452 NS-303, Digby, Nova Scotia B0V 1A0
Churchill’s Restaurant at Digby Pines Resort
Located in the beautiful Digby Pines Resort overlooking the Bay of Fundy, Churchill’s Restaurant offers new twists to old Maritime favourites.
A must-try is their 90-year-old Acadian specialty, Coquille St. Jacques, which are Digby scallops in white wine cream prepared by award-winning Chef Dale Nichols.
Check pricing and availability of Digby Pines Resort on Booking.com / Agoda
Website / Address: 103 Shore Rd, Digby, Nova Scotia B0V 1A0
The Crow’s Nest
Another restaurant contender for best scallops in Digby is The Crow’s Nest.
Though you can get it deep-fried as well, I recommend having the scallops pan-fried instead to taste the scallop in all its delicious glory.
Website / Address: 40 Water St, Digby, Nova Scotia B0V 1A0
Argyler Lodge & Restaurant
The Argyler Lodge & Restaurant serves some nicely seared Digby Scallops, and is the only one I had in Nova Scotia serving it with remoulade sauce.
Check pricing and availability of Argyler Lodge on Booking.com
Website / Address: 52 Ye Old Argyle Rd, Lower Argyle, Nova Scotia B0W 1W0
Other dishes with scallops already covered in the guide
- The Summerville Seafood Chowder at The Quarterdeck Grill also has scallops.
- The Lunenburger at Grand Banker Bar & Grill is topped with a bacon wrapped-scallop.
- The Seafood Chowder at Tusket Island Tours has scallops as well.
Also Read: Where To Eat in St. John’s, Newfoundland
Rappie Pie
One of the unique foods to Nova Scotia is Rappie Pie, also called “râpure”.
This popular Acadian dish, prevalent in Yarmouth and the Acadian Shores, is not the typical pie you’re used to.
Rappie Pie is made with grated potatoes (patates râpées in French) and meat, usually chicken.
The grated potatoes are compressed in a cheesecloth to remove all the water and moisture, then reconstituted with hot meat stock then baked until the top is golden.
One of the biggest brands for rappie pie in Southwest Nova Scotia is D’Eon’s Rappie Pie, a 3rd generation Acadian family-owned business which supplies a lot of the restaurants with grated potatoes or pre-made rappie pie.
Some restaurants like La Cuisine Robicheau would buy their grated potatoes and make the rappie pie with their own recipe.
Others like Dennis Point Cafe served the actual pies from d’Eon’s Rappie Pie.
I had the biggest luck to have met one of the owners, John E. d’Eon, during the Tusket Island Tours.
You can pick up bags of d’Eon’s pressed grated potatoes or pre-made rappie pies from the grocery store or at d’Eon’s Rappie Pie shop to take and bake at home.
The blog, A Canadian Foodie, visited d’Eon’s Rappie Pie and wrote a detailed step-by-step (with photos) on how rappie pie is made there. You can read it here.
There are two versions of Rappie Pie.
The first one has a runny texture, and the second one has a firmer texture.
I was able to try both kinds of Rappie Pie, and prefer the firm version.
In general, I personally wasn’t a fan of rappie pie.
It was OK but it’s not something I would really order myself.
I couldn’t really get used to the gelatinous texture, and I would’ve preferred different meat than chicken.
Some versions use beef or clam, so maybe I would enjoy those better.
Where To Eat Rappie Pie in Nova Scotia
Here are some of the best places to eat rappie pie in Yarmouth and Acadian Shores.
Dennis Point Cafe
Owned and operated by Acadians, Dennis Point Cafe in Pubnico serves locally inspired homemade dishes made with the freshest local products available.
Even their seafood comes from their local processing plants.
The Rappie Pie at Dennis Point Cafe is the firmer version.
It has a crispy top and a nice bite into the pie.
I highly recommend adding the molasses as it adds another dimension of flavour to the pie.
Website / Address: 214 Dennis Point Rd, Middle West Pubnico, Nova Scotia B0W 2M0
Tusket Island Tours
For lunch during Tusket Island Tours, aside from the seafood chowder, rappie pie may also be included.
The rappie pie here is the runnier version.
The best way for me to describe it is it tasted like chicken soup in a gelatinous form.
Website / Address: 142 Jacquard Rd, Arcadia, Nova Scotia B0W 1B0
Also Read: Top Restaurants in Toronto
Oysters
Nova Scotia coastal waters have different varieties of oysters with their own characteristics and flavours.
You’ll typically be able to try different varieties in restaurants across Nova Scotia.
The world is your oyster!
Best Restaurants in Nova Scotia for Oysters
Here is a list of where to eat oysters in Halifax.
Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar
Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar in Halifax is serious about oysters.
On the seafood display, you’ll find 9 different varieties of oysters they have, which change daily.
The best part is you get to try from different Maritime oysters as they will always have 3 from Nova Scotia, 3 from Prince Edward Island and 3 from New Brunswick.
It’s a great way to differentiate oysters from those provinces in one spot.
As an example, the ShanDaph Oyster from Big Island, Nova Scotia is briny with velvety soft meat and long finish; whereas the Cascumpec Oyster from Ellerslie, PEI is sweet, juicy and plump.
Travelling Foodie Tip: The best time to visit is 5-6PM every day for Shuck Happy Hour where raw bar + oysters are half price, draught beers are $5 and all glasses of wine are $2 off!
– ShanDaph ($3.50) – Big Island, Nova Scotia
– Sure Thing ($3.25) – Whitehead, Nova Scotia
– Chebooktook ($3) – Bouctouche, New Brunswick
– Boss Gibson ($3.25) – Cocagne, New Brunswick
– Cascumpec ($3.50) – Ellerslie, PEI
– Lucky Lime ($3.50) – New London Bay, PEI
Website / Address: 5120 Salter St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 0A1
Little Fish Oyster Bar
With oyster in its name, Little Fish Oyster Bar specializes in oysters as well with an oyster raw bar display on the bar seating itself.
They have a daily changing menu of oysters coming from Nova Scotia, PEI and New Brunswick, along with an all-day $2 Oyster of the Day and a 4-6PM Oyster Happy Hour.
Website / Address: 1740 Argyle St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2B6
Edna
At Edna in Halifax, they have a selection of Nova Scotia oysters available.
What I love is they give you the option to have it raw or fried.
The fried oyster was actually really good with a light and fluffy batter.
Website / Address: 2053 Gottingen St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 3B2
Highwayman
One of Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants in 2017, Highwayman has a Raw Bar menu where you can order fresh seafood including oysters.
If you want to personally take a look at the choices, the raw bar display is located at the back of the restaurant.
Website / Address: 1673 Barrington St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1Z9
Also Read: BC Seafood Festival in Comox Valley
Mussels/Clams
Eating shellfish in Nova Scotia is such a huge thing, and it doesn’t stop at just lobsters, scallops and oysters.
Mussels and clams are quite popular too!
Mussels are typically steamed with white wine or in a chowder.
What I was surprised though is fried clams are so popular in Nova Scotia since I’ve only ever had them in the US.
Most seafood joints outside Halifax offer fried clams, typically as Clams N’ Chips!
Surprisingly, it’s less common in Halifax proper itself.
Best Restaurants for Oysters in Nova Scotia
Blomidon Inn Restaurant
At Blomidon Inn Restaurant in Wolfville, the big bowl of steamed mussels is great to share, or eat on your own as I did.
Fresh, plump and juicy mussels!
The white wine with garlic broth was so good I was drinking it after.
Website / Address: 195 Main St, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 1C3
The Crow’s Nest
You can get your dose of fried clams at The Crow’s Nest in Digby.
They have Clams N’ Chips, Clam Burger, or a Seafood Platter that includes fried clams.
Website / Address: 40 Water St, Digby, Nova Scotia B0V 1A0
Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar
At Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar in Halifax, aside from the mussels and clams in the Shuck Boil, they also have clams in the raw bar you can enjoy fresh.
When I went, it was the Malagash Clams from North Coast, Nova Scotia.
Website / Address: 5120 Salter St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 0A1
Other dishes with mussels/clams already covered in the guide
I had the best fried clams from The Captain Hall’s Fisherman’s Platter at Hall’s Harbour Lobster Pound in Centreville.
Similarly, they have Clams & Chips Basket.
The Traditional Lobster Dinner as part of the Ultimate Lobster Bay & Tusket Island Tour package at The Argyler Lodge & Restaurant has both clams and mussels.
The Summerville Seafood Chowder at The Quarterdeck Grill in Summerville and the Manhattan Seafood Stew at The Mercantile Social in Halifax are garnished with mussels.
Also Read: Best Restaurants in Seattle, Washington
Fish
With both saltwater and freshwater coastlines, including 6,700 lakes and 100 rivers, fish is abundant in Nova Scotia.
Fish is served in different ways in Nova Scotia, from raw and steamed, to deep-fried Fish and Chips and Fish Cakes.
Fish and Chips are such popular snacks in the province.
One thing I noticed with the fish and chips in Nova Scotia is it’s typically with haddock only (no other fish choices) and, most of the time, the chips are from frozen or are not hand-cut fries.
One of the must-try Nova Scotia Food that’s fish-based is Fish Cake.
Fish Cakes are a common staple in Atlantic Canada, not just Nova Scotia.
Each province tends to have its own version of making fish cakes.
In Newfoundland, patties of salt cod are typically used due to its history of salt cod production.
In Nova Scotia, haddock is typically used instead and comes with Nova Scotian green tomato chow, a sweet and tangy relish.
Haddock is indeed Nova Scotia’s fish of choice, but there is no shortage of fresh fish when dining in the province.
If not harvested in Nova Scotia, they are harvested in the Maritimes.
Best Places To Eat Fish in Nova Scotia
Here are some of the best restaurants serving fish in Halifax, Dartmouth, Digby, Yarmouth and Acadian Shores, LaHave, Lunenburg, Centreville, Summerville and Argyle.
I’ve also included ones with fish harvested outside Nova Scotia.
John’s Lunch
Established in 1969 by John, John’s Lunch in Dartmouth is one of the most popular places to eat fish & chips in Nova Scotia, having designated the title Best Fish & Chips in Canada by multiple media outlets like CBC and Globe & Mail.
Their award-winning Fish and Chips comes with fresh battered haddock and fries, using the same recipe made fresh every morning.
The haddock itself was one of the freshest I’ve had.
Depending on your batter preference, the batter is thicker and on the hard crunchy texture instead of crisp flaky.
The fries are store-bought instead of fresh-cut, and the tartar sauce is also the packaged ones instead of homemade.
Website / Address: 352 Pleasant St, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 3S5
Gio
Located at the Prince George Hotel, Gio is one of the few hotel restaurants you’ll typically find listed as part of best restaurants in Halifax.
I’m glad to dine here again as part of the Local Tasting Tours.
Gio brought the Newfoundland version of fish cakes to Halifax with their Salt Cod Cake, but using local cod from either A.C. Covert Distributors and Fisherman’s Market in Nova Scotia.
It’s a great way to compare the Newfoundland version with the Nova Scotia one.
The Salt Cod Cake even had the Newfoundland mustard pickles.
Check pricing and availability for Prince George Hotel in Booking.com / Agoda
Website / Address: 3N9, 1725 Market St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3N9
Churchill’s Restaurant at Digby Pines Resort
At Churchill’s Restaurant in Digby, the P2P Smoked Haddock & Bacon Chowder was a unique change to the typical seafood chowder in Nova Scotia.
You can even taste the delicious smoked flavours on the thyme-infused soup itself.
Did you know? P2P stands for Palette to Palate, a culinary & visual experience cookbook by Chef Dale Nichols with artist Lynda Shalagan.
Dishes marked P2P on the menu, including the chowder, mean it’s available in the cookbook.
Check pricing and availability of Digby Pines Resort on Booking.com / Agoda
Website / Address: 103 Shore Rd, Digby, Nova Scotia B0V 1A0
Rudder’s Seafood Restaurant & Brew Pub
Rudder’s Brew Pub & Seafood Restaurant in Yarmouth is a popular waterfront restaurant serving Maritime classics, pub food and craft beers from their own microbrewery.
Did you know? This 5th craft brewery in Nova Scotia was built in 1996 as The Queen Molly before it became Rudder’s Seafood Restaurant & Brew Pub in 2000.
At Rudder’s Brewpub, you’ll get to try the Nova Scotia version of fish cakes.
I had the Haddock Fish Cakes paired with beer samples of Blonde Rock and Yarmouth Town Brown during the Pirates and Pints Pub Crawl with Yarmouth Walking Tours.
Website / Address: 96 Water St, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia B5A 4P5
LaHave Bakery
One of the most popular bakeries in Nova Scotia is LaHave Bakery, located in a 20th-century shop in Lunenburg offering fresh bread and coffee.
You’ll find their bread and baked goods used in a lot of restaurants and cafes in the province.
I went to their cute bakery which is in a 20th-century landmark that used to be a fish processing plant in 1896.
You must try the smoked trout bagel with the cold-smoked trout harvested in Atlantic Canada by Nova Scotia’s J. Willy Krauch & Sons.
Website / Address: NS-331, LaHave, Nova Scotia B0R 1G0
The South Shore Fish Shack
The South Shore Fish Shack is a fast-casual seafood joint located in the heart of Lunenburg offering waterfront views with lobster dishes and fried seafood and chips!
The fried haddock here was my favourite overall this trip.
Website / Address: 108 Montague St, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia B0J 2C0
Other dishes with fish already covered in the guide
- The Captain Hall’s Fisherman’s Platter at Halls Harbour Lobster Pound in Centreville has fried haddock.
- There’s haddock in the Seafood Chowder at the Argyler Lodge & Restaurant in Argyle, Tusket Island Tours in Wedgeport, The Quarterdeck Grill in Summerville and Blomidon Inn Restaurant in Wolfville. The same goes for the Manhattan Seafood Stew at The Mercantile Social.
Also Read: Where To Eat in Tokyo
Deep-Fried Pepperoni
When you think of pepperoni, you usually think of pizza.
You’ll realize how much fried food there is in Nova scotia when they also deep fry pepperoni.
In Nova Scotia, you’ll find deep-fried pepperoni to be a very popular dish in most pubs and pizza shops.
It was my first time having them, and it was so good!
I can definitely see why it’s a staple in pubs because it really goes so well with beer.
These thin-sliced pepperonis deep-fried to a curl are crispy and delicious with a bit of spice, typically served with honey mustard.
This pub favourite was brought by Polish immigrants, Max and Chris Kielbratowski who immigrated to Nova Scotia opened up two delicatessens, Brothers and Chris Brothers, in the ’50s and ’60s specializing in naturally smoked meats.
Because of the popularity of both brands, you’ll typically find restaurants specifically mentioning the use of either brand for the deep-fried pepperonis.
Where To Eat Deep Fried Pepperoni in Nova Scotia
Here are some of the best restaurants for deep-fried pepperoni in Digby.
The Crow’s Nest
Aside from the delicious seafood you can get at The Crow’s Nest in Digby, you can also get the Deep-Fried Pepperoni.
Here they deep fry Chris Brothers mild pepperoni to a crisp.
Website / Address: 40 Water St, Digby, Nova Scotia B0V 1A0
Also Read: Armando’s Pizza in Windsor-Essex County, Ontario
Oatcake
Oatcakes are the most popular Nova Scotia foods that came from Scottish settlers since oats were northern Scotland’s staple grain.
Traditionally cooked on a griddle but can now be baked, these sweet and salty Scotties pastries are made with oats, flour, sugar, and a bit of salt.
You can find oatcakes at bakers and cafes throughout Nova Scotia because they go so well with tea and coffee, which makes for a great breakfast or on-the-go food.
There are two versions of this in Nova Scotia.
The Halifax version is robust, thick, chewy and sweeter as it often includes chocolate or peanut butter.
And the Cape Breton version is thin and crispy.
Where To Eat Oatcakes in Nova Scotia
Here are some of the best places to eat oatcakes in Halifax.
World Tea House
Opened in July 2010, World Tea House in Halifax is owner Philip Holmans’ passion come to life.
As the name suggests, World Tea House offers 120 blends of organically grown teas from 17 countries.
Did you know? Philip’s passion for tea came because of his parents.
His dad would bring tea from all around the world so the family can try, and his mom usually grew herbs for tea.
I visited World Tea House as part of the Local Tasting Tours.
It’s been said that oatcakes pair well with tea, and, in this stop, I got to try oatcakes with the Black Fusion tea blend from Bihar India.
Website / Address: 1592 Argyle St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2B3
Nova Scotia Drinks: Best Things To Drink in Nova Scotia
Aside from Nova Scotia food, the beverage scene in Nova Scotia is booming with wineries, distilleries, breweries and cideries popping up.
The biggest growth is in wineries with 23 licensed wineries as of 2018 compared to 2 wineries in 1993.
Did you know? The Annapolis Vallery wine country in Nova Scotia was one of North America’s first areas to cultivate grapes for wine.
Here’s a list of must-try local Nova Scotia drinks and where to drink them in Nova Scotia.
Tidal Bay Wine
For wine lovers, you cannot miss Tidal Bay Wine which is white wine that’s unique to Nova Scotia and produced by wineries since 2011.
The wine, which you can find in most restaurants, makes perfect sense for Nova Scotia’s abundance of fresh seafood.
Tidal Bay wine is Nova Scotia’s first wine appellation highlighting its fresh, crisp, aromatic and bright characters that reflect the province’s terroir, cooler climate, and coastal breezes.
Check out the Tidal Bay Wine Guide to learn about Nova Scotia’s signature white wine and where to have some of best Tidal Bay Wines in Nova Scotia.
Also Read: Wineries on Niagara-on-the-Lake
Bluenose Rum
One thing I learned is Nova Scotians are called Bluenosers.
One theory about this is the popular Bluenose schooner ship that can be seen on Canadian 10c coins.
Another theory is about Nova Scotian sailors whose nose would turn blue while sailing in the cold weather.
There are others but, nonetheless, Nova Scotians have embraced the term.
Ironworks Distillery produced a rum called Bluenose Rum as a tribute to Bluenosers and their love for rum.
The Ironworks Bluenose Rum is a dark rum made from all-natural molasses then aged in ex-bourbon barrels for at least a year.
Where To Drink Bluenose Rum in Nova Scotia
Here are some of the best places to drink Bluenose Rum in Lunenburg and Yarmouth & Acadian Shores.
Ironworks Distillery
Founded in 2009 on old port Lunenburg, Ironworks Distillery is the first micro-distillery in Nova Scotia featuring international award-winning spirits, distilled by hand using as much Nova Scotia ingredients as possible.
Did you know? Ironworks Distillery is situated in an 1893 heritage building that used to be a marine blacksmith’s shop producing ironworks for shipbuilding. This is how they got the name Ironworks.
Website / Address: 2 Kempt St, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia B0J 2C0
Tusket Island Tours
When you take the Tusket Island Tours, you can opt for an add-on experience of getting initiated as an official Bluenoser.
To be a certified Bluenoser, you’ll be taking a shot of Ironworks Distillery Bluenose Rum and getting a dot of blue paint on your nose.
Official Bluenoser certificates are provided after the tour.
Suffice to say, I was officially Bluenosed!
Website / Address: 142 Jacquard Rd, Arcadia, Nova Scotia B0W 1B0
Also Read: St. Augustine Distillery in St. Augustine, Florida
Nova Scotia Food & Drink Tours
There are multiple tour companies in Nova Scotia that offers a taste of Nova Scotia food and drinks. Some are walking tours, and some are driven tours.
Note: The food in these tours do not cover all Nova Scotia foods.
They also include popular or hidden gem restaurants, and local hot spots.
The best part about these tours is they also go visit some sights and attractions along with history so it’s a good mix of food and travel.
Here is the list of Nova Scotia Food Tours that were covered in this guide.
Halifax Food & Drink Tours
Here are some of the best tour operators in Halifax.
Check discounted tours in Halifax on GetYourGuide / Viator
Yarmouth and Acadian Shores Food & Drink Tours
Here are some of the best tour operators in Yarmouth and the Acadian Shores.
WATCH: What To Eat & Drink in Nova Scotia Guide
If you prefer watching a video, watch this Nova Scotia food & drinks guide on 10 things to try and where to find them.
MAP: Nova Scotia Food & Drinks
Here’s a map of all the places covered in this Nova Scotia Food & Drinks Guide.
Hope this Food Guide to Nova Scotia helps you prioritize what local Nova Scotia food and drinks you want to try first and some of the best places to try them!
Let me know what other Nova Scotia food needs to be on the list, and the best restaurants to try them in Nova Scotia. Be sure to PIN or Bookmark this page because the guide will be updated as I try more.
This post was done in partnership with Tourism Nova Scotia. As usual, reviews and opinions are 100% entirely my own.
You can learn more about Nova Scotia on their website.
