Resto recs for dinner in St John's, Nfld please!

[Lemon Tart]

Will be there on business for several days next week, and will be taking a business colleague out for dinner at least once. Preference is casual bistro with local food. Many thanks!

[im_nomad]

I live away from home nowadays, but last time I was home I had lunch at the Yellow Belly Brewery and was very impressed, as I was sort of expecting standard pub fare. Nearby diner's meals looked equally impressive.
http://www.yellowbellybrewery.com/place.html

If you want a fantastic view for dinner, or lunch even (which is when I was there), check out the restaurant at The Rooms and try to wrangle a seat near the windows.
http://www.therooms.ca/cafe/cafe_menu.asp

Another lunch recommendation, if you have time to yourself , and are staying at the Fairmont or area, Sun Sushi is just a "hop, skip and a jump" from there.
http://www.sunsushi.com/

India Gate is also great, downtown.
http://www.indiagate.250x.com/

I also hear very good things from family and friends about Blue on Water and they have a few local specialties.
http://www.blueonwater.com/restaurant.asp

as well as
http://www.bacalaocuisine.ca/
which is described as Nouvelle Newfoundland cuisine.

and the Gypsy Tea Room in the old Murray Premises building. There are loads of great places in the downtown area.

[missanusha]

I just posted my review from my recent trip there: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/652987

I'd recommend Blue on Water (very local), Baccalao (focus on locally sourced food with an emphasis on newfie cuisine - local art and music in the restaurant too). I heard good things about Aqua too but we never made it out there.

[maclock]

Don't overlook Magnum & Stein's or Bianca's:

http://www.magnumandsteins.ca/

http://www.biancas.net/

The latter is more fancy restaurant than casual bistro, but it's not ridiculously so. Both tend to feature a few dishes that feature local seafood. Bianca's also often has caribou, a delightful game meat if you've never tried it.

Basho, a restaurant run by a Newfoundlander with Japanese roots, is also a delightful spot. You will not be chowing down on local cuisine, though. Local ingredients? Yes. Local cuisine? No.

http://www.eatacrosscanada.com/basho

[foodiesnorth]

I second the suggestion of Baccalao. Benn twice and cannot wait to go back to SJ for a third. Bianca's was good too, but not as local focused. it was nice being a lone diner to sit at their open kitchen bar and talk to the cook staff.

One of my favourites is about a 20 minute drive from downtown in Portugal Cove called Atlantica. right on the coast on a cliff overlooking the water. Bit more formal than you might be looking for. I went casual, but most were in suits and dresses. The service and the room were chilly, but the food was excellent.

[andy andersen]

I ate at Baccalao this evening, I'm afraid it was extremely disappointing. Had the calamari fried with onion and garlic and the caribou main. The calamari was tough and a touch greasy, and the caribou, while a beautiful piece of meat, was absolutely murdered by the partridgeberry sauce. The vinegar overpowered everything else. There were also some amateur gnocchi and fall veggies. I hope you have a better experience!