Marina Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Pictou

2022: The Marina Bar & Grill has the trifecta of great restaurants: good food, reasonable prices and and great interior finish. Let's be honest, you come back to a restaurant because you feel good about the people and food. Even if it's expensive, if you have a great experience, you want to return. This place was like that.

We had a great lunch, with good service and it didn't break the bank.

2023: We decided to have dinner here to celebrate my aunt's birthday and perhaps this was not such a great choice:

Not a single person thought their meal was more than "okay". The fish and chips wasn't as good as our last visit, the fish cakes was too small a portion, the donair sauce on the burger could have been more like a tzatziki sauce, and the lobster in the roll was pretty small.

The service was good, but maybe I'm old-fashioned thinking my server shouldn't be chewing gum while taking my order!? She was prompt and friendly and served well.

But what's with putting patrons in a construction zone? The patio overlooking the bay is obviously going to be nice when it's finished, but there was plenty of room inside the restaurant to accommodate every visitor there. It looked like they had barely time to sweep up the sawdust and push the scaffolding into the corner before we arrived! It looked safe enough, but last year I rated highly on ambience--this year it's a dismal FAIL.

Sorry to say you've missed the...

The Marina Bar & Grill in Pictou, Nova Scotia is a favorite stop when traveling back to Halifax from the PEI ferry. Its waterside location offers a lovely indoor dining area and a spacious outdoor patio, both providing beautiful views of the harbor. Unlike in past years, there is no longer a marina adjacent to the restaurant, which now means an unobstructed and wide-open view that is quite relaxing. With the nearby pulp mill shut down, patrons no longer have to worry about any unpleasant odors, adding to the enjoyment of the waterfront setting.

The food at the Marina Bar & Grill features very good pub-style seafood, often fresh and well-prepared, making it a satisfying choice for casual dining. The menu offers classic options like fish and chips as well as other seafood dishes, consistently pleasing visitors. Service is noted as friendly, enhancing the overall welcoming atmosphere. While some reviews mention that the menu leans toward fried items, the fresh seafood and scenic location more than compensate.

Overall, the Marina Bar & Grill combines a comfortable, charming atmosphere with tasty seafood and attentive staff, making it a reliable and pleasant stop on the route between PEI and Halifax. It’s an ideal spot to enjoy a relaxing meal by the sea with great...

WORST GRAVY EVER.... DON'T ORDER IT. I give this place a 1 star because 0 stars are not an option. We had six people at our table and not one of our meals was hot. Three of us ordered veggies with our meals and none of us got veggies. When we asked the server why we didn't get them or why one of us received fries instead of veggies, we were told the kitchen ran out. That would have been nice to know when they served the meal not wait until the customer asks. The worst part is, instead of veggies they gave our friend fries, they didn't come ask if she would prefer mashed potatoes, just gave her whatever they wanted. So after we said something about the veggies she offered to comp the veggies. So they removed 1.50 from each of our bills. We are visiting from Ontario and wanted fresh fish on the water... we ate on the water but nothing was fresh or good. Opps sorry the fries were good but I can buy them in the grocery store and make them myself. I would avoid this place nothing about it is good, I understand covid makes things difficult but there is no excuse for this. Bad food,...