Mallard Cottage — Restaurant in St. John's

So im not too sure why do people give this place a 5 star. Been to many brunch places and this one was by far the most disappointing. First you need to book waaaay in advance to actually get a table (like 2weeks or more). My friends and I couldnt book anything since everyday was fully booked for a week interval. We still showed up before opening and we were seated at the bar. Be aware ! there are only max 6 seats at the bar so make sure you are there early enough to actually get a spot. Now the food part was what bothered me the most. All of their brunch dishes are over 15$. You read the menu and everything sounds so fancy and good but then when the food comes its very disappointing. The portions are INCREDIBLY small for the price you pay. I got the Hash Skillet which had ZERO broccoli in there, half of baked potato and a bunch of chickpeas to compensate for the empty space in the bowl and of course the egg on top.... Now the WORSE PART the damn CHICKEN which is why I took this plate and why its advertised as 17$. There was literately a tiny string of it (max 2 bites if you have a tiny mouth) Taste wise is nothing special, I had to ask for a sauce just to have some flavor in there. People here who say the food is delicious had never had good food in their life apparently cause i dont see what can be so incredibly tasty about a potato egg and chickpeas.... I tasted from my friends plate which again nothing special. Their Breakfast Sandwich is even more of a joke than the Skillet, not even a sandwich just an egg on a biscuit which is even smaller than sandwich bread you buy at a grocery store ... Now to top it all after being disappointed by the food we were like "hey at least there is the cake table to save the day" ha good joke Mallard Cottage. You get a plate of either 10$ or 15$ to fill with anything from the cake table. The 10$ honestly looked so small that you wont even break even for what you can fit in there if you buy everything separately. We took the 15$ take out option to share between the 3 of us. Looking at older pics it seems that they change their cake table often but just to say they are very very basic cakes. You know those Dollorama Betty Croker cake boxes for 1.5$. Im 100% sure thats what they use to make all their cakes. They didnt even bother to have real brownies batter, they used the same "chocolate cake" batter for them. No fillings no special flavors , just dry cakes with some icing on top. It looks very appealing but like I said its just dry cake. My advice is to fill your plate or take out box with cookies the're the only ones who taste decently or have REAL CHOCOLATE in them. If you are in St. John, dont bother going there I GUARANTEE YOU ARE NOT MISSING ANYTHING. Save your money and time. If you do end up going there just eat before cause you will definitely still be hungry afterwards. DON'T BE FOOLED...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mallard Cottage in St. John's, Newfoundland, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I stepped inside, I was captivated by the rich historic ambiance that enveloped the restaurant. The rustic charm of the cottage, combined with its status as a local landmark, set the stage for what turned out to be an exceptional culinary journey.

The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the incredible food. Mallard Cottage's commitment to using only local goods and produce shines through in every dish they serve. With a small menu that changes daily, each visit promises a unique and delightful exploration of Newfoundland's culinary treasures. I had the pleasure of indulging in their brunch, which left me absolutely amazed. The flavors and presentation were a testament to the culinary artistry of the chefs, and it's no surprise that I've already made plans to return for dinner.

The service at Mallard Cottage was nothing short of impeccable. The staff's genuine warmth and attentiveness made me feel welcome and valued throughout my meal. It's evident that they take great pride in providing a memorable dining experience, and their dedication truly enhances the overall enjoyment of the restaurant.

The environment at Mallard Cottage is truly top-notch. The combination of historic charm and tasteful decor creates an inviting and cozy atmosphere that complements the exceptional food and service. Whether you're seated indoors or in their charming outdoor space, you're sure to be surrounded by an ambiance that elevates your dining experience.

During my visit, our group of six had the pleasure of sampling almost the entire brunch menu, and every single dish was a masterpiece in its own right. From savory delights to delectable sweets, every bite was a celebration of Newfoundland's culinary heritage. To top it off, we enjoyed a selection of well-crafted alcoholic beverages and coffee, which were the perfect accompaniments to our meal.

I can confidently say that Mallard Cottage has secured a special place in my heart and my list of top dining experiences. It has quickly become my favorite restaurant in St. John's, Newfoundland, and ranks among the top three I've had the pleasure of visiting in my entire life. If you're looking for a remarkable culinary journey that celebrates local flavors, impeccable service, and a historic setting, look no further than Mallard Cottage. I eagerly anticipate my next visit, eager to create more cherished memories within its...

TLDR: Service was an afterthought and hampered our experience. Food did not match the prices nor the hype.

We had an early dinner reservation for two at Mallard Cottage which we were very excited for. After being shown to our table by the host, we sat for 15 minutes without receiving water or any indication that a server would see us shortly. During this time, at least 4 different front-of-house staff walked by multiple times (up and down the stairs and past our table to a large dining table being prepared in the same room, which was otherwise empty) and smiled before carrying on despite our empty water glasses and fading hopeful expressions. After exactly 15 minutes I got up and walked to the host to inform them that we haven't been seen yet and received an apology. Within two minutes a server took our orders and we were back on track for a good experience, although I couldn't help but wonder how long we'd be waiting had I not gotten up to inform the host.

Of course, things improved from that point, but the service never fully recovered. No one spent any time explaining our dishes; aside from the butter and amuse-bouche, everything else was basically just placed on the table before they said "enjoy" and walked away. Also, there's nothing inherently wrong with having multiple servers take our orders throughout the night, but it didn't help build familiarity and made us feel like a table that fell between the cracks (note: everyone was polite, kind, and professional when interacting with us - it just seemed to be operating poorly overall).

The dishes themselves were pretty good, with the homemade bread & butter, the ceviche, and the chocolate cake being exceptional. The cocktails were also delicious. We both agreed that while the other dishes were good, they were somewhat bland we didn't feel they matched the prices or the rave reviews we had heard and looked forward to.

Apologies for the novel - simply put, we were tremendously excited for this meal and were quite disappointed that the false start was never really rectified via service or the meal itself, which didn't match the reviews nor the fine dining pricing & portions. Given what we've heard of Mallard Cottage from multiple first-person accounts and internet reviews, we hope this was an off-night for the restaurant but it would not be on our list to return given...