Portage — Restaurant in St. John's

We just had a very special culinary experience at Portage. If you are into fine dining this is a must try in St. John's. Even if you aren't into "fine dining" , Portage strikes the right kind of notes making it a bit on the more casual side. It isn't just tiny faffy dishes like some fine dining places are. My wife and I went with the intention of ordering and trying a bunch of different dishes and so I will give feedback on them all. We had: smoked olives, rutabega as our vegetable, our proteins were the crab and the steak and for dessert we had the lemon custard loaf/cake. I'll start with the drinks though. We had a quick conversation with who I assume was the sommelier - I assume that because he was very very knowledgeable. I learned a lot about wine - and my wine order was very very good based on the recommendations of staff here. The smoked olives were the best olives we've ever eaten - the smokey flavor was perfect to get our palettes ready for the main dishes. Next the crab came. I believe it was a full crab that had been appropriately broken down so that you don't need a shell cracker - easy to handle. Of course the crab was incredibly fresh. The crab is served with a simple and creative accompaniment - salty Ritz crackers, lemon, and I believe a lemon mayo. The intention is for you to put the crab with a little bit of the lemon mayo onto the cracker and eat it. It was very very good - with crab as fresh as what you get here you don't want to mess with it too much you just let the freshness speak for itself and this is a good use of that. Ritz gives the saltiness, citrus is there. Loved it. The next dish was perhaps my favorite - the rutabega (partly eaten in the pic - sorry, it looked too good to wait!). It isn't necessarily the dish that I would have usually ordered, but we wanted to try something different. It was absolutely incredible. It had this amazing sauce full of citrus and fresh herb flavor - it's a massive flavor explosion that is difficult to describe. But don't sleep on the vegetable dishes here. This was my favorite dish. My wife's favorite dish was the steak. This was definitely one of the best steaks we've ever had and it comes with these delicious potatoes. Please note that in my picture the steak was already kind of half eaten - I had already begun before I realized I should take a picture. The cook was medium rare, exactly as ordered. The sear on the outside of the meat was perfect - you just don't get a strong sear like this from steaks at other places like The Keg. This was a serious professional sear. It was served with a green peppercorn sauce that added the perfect amount of heat and moisture to the dish. Amazing steak dish. Finally, we had the lemon cake dessert (I forget the exact name of the dish). It was a loaf or cake with a lemon custard on it topped with partridge berries. A perfect tart end to a beautiful dinner.

The location: my wife and I found the interior to have a very nice vibe. Great for a date night. The decor was modern and stylish, the tables a nice attractive wooden color.

Price: this is the kind of restaurant where you get what you pay for. Absolutely it isn't cheap - but you come here to have a meal prepared well, fresh ingredients, and with skill. You pay for those characteristics at Portage and feel that your money was well spent. We certainly did.

I strongly recommend folks give Portage a go. I had not been to Raymond's before it closed so I am unable to comment on how the quality here compares - these are the same owners and chefs as far as I am aware. But this is a new restaurant and I think it will develop its own independent food legacy in its own right.

UPDATE: We went again, but this time with friends and there's new pics. My favorite dish this time was the side of potatoes with the steak (pictured). Potatoes were covered in a bone marrow sauce and there were chanterelles mushrooms sautéed in. It was amazing - perfect blend of umami flavors and rich texture. My dessert was a blueberry cake - fresh & amazing. Another great...

The Best of Newfoundland Cuisine!

Tucked away in the heart of St. John’s, NL, this family-style dining gem, led by chef de cuisine Ross Larkin and pastry chef Celeste Mah, has rightfully earned its place in Canada’s 100 BEST for its unique Newfoundland Canadian culinary style. The buzz surrounding this restaurant is undeniable, as evidenced by the crazy long lines and the month-long wait to book a table. But trust me, every moment of anticipation is worth it.

Upon arrival, the freshness of the ingredients was immediately evident. The menu featured an array of fresh vegetables, including vibrant carrots, aromatic cilantro, and refreshing mint, alongside a delightful Caesar salad and earthy chanterelle mushrooms. For appetizers, we opted for the scallop toast, which featured baked scallops nestled atop a crunchy toast with a hint of sweetness. Each bite was an explosion of flavour, with the charred crust providing a perfect contrast to the sweet and succulent scallops. We complemented this with a turnip salad dressed in a spicy Asian kimchi-based sauce, garnished with crunchy bits for added texture. Both dishes were extraordinary, leaving us eagerly anticipating the main course.

For the main course, we savoured a perfectly cooked striploin and tender chicken, each dish a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to using seasonal and interesting ingredients. The scallop toast and turnip salad had set a high bar, but the mains certainly did not disappoint.

The best food in town is indeed an understatement. Everything on the menu is fresh, seasonal, and crafted with care. The waitstaff is phenomenal, always ready to assist you in curating the best meal you’ve ever had. In fact, I often find myself dreaming about particular plates for weeks after my visits.

While the prices might be a bit steep for the portion sizes, the outstanding quality and flavour make it a worthwhile experience. I cannot wait to return and explore more of what this incredible restaurant...

First, Portage has a unique menu structure that some people may find a bit of a challenge. Rather then the traditional menu, listing a variety of appetizers, mains and desserts, Portage’s menu lists individual dishes broken down by type: ‘Snacks, Vegetables, Fish, and Protein’. Each dish listed is meant for at least 2 people. Although this may be adjusted for a single serving. Think of it like ordering dishes in a Chinese or Indian restaurant. It is all about sharing. Trust me, the reward is well worth the effort. Just jump in.

When we were there on a Sunday evening the place was hopping. If you are looking for quiet dining, you probably won’t find it here. That said, the buzz adds a sense of excitement that you’re in the middle of something special. You’ll find the service is very good and the staff take all the time necessary to ensure you are enjoying the experience.

Then there’s the food.

To start off we shared a ‘Snack’ of Fish Tots with tartar sauce. Tasty fish morsels with a tangy dipping sauce. The only issue with these was the limited quantity. Then we moved on to a ‘Fish’ selection, Crab. I know it’s technically not a fish, but there it is. It was fabulous! The next 2 dishes, Broccoli with hazelnuts, cranberries, capers and fish sauce and the hanger steak with new potatoes, chanterelles, bone marrow butter. So tasty! We finished the meal with 2 delectable Celeste Mah creations. Each course was served with a generous glass of wine recommended by Portage’s sommelier.

I think that the experience created by Top Chef Canada winner Ross Larkin, along with Celeste Mah will be one...