Mallard Cottage

Mallard Cottage is such a quaint and charming spot with a rotating daily menu that focuses on quality over quantity. I went with the pork chops while my wife had the fish (tilapia, I believe) — both were absolutely delicious! Some people might be thrown off by the smaller menu (like the table next to us), but don’t let that discourage you — there’s always a burger option if nothing else appeals that day. They’ve also got some great local beer options, thanks to being right near Quidi Vidi Brewery, and the service here was warm and friendly. If you’re looking for a cozy dining experience with fresh, rotating dishes, Mallard Cottage is well worth a stop!

This is constantly rated as one of the best restaurants in Newfoundland so I had to come try it out. Situated in a historic building inhabited by the Mallard family for over a century, the decor is very rustic and cozy. The service was very professional. We came in mid-May (during tourist off-season) and the place was packed, so I would recommend making reservations in advance. The dishes change daily based on what's in stock; I personally really liked their bread and their refreshing lobster salad. They also have a special menu that's prone to selling out quickly so I would recommend ordering from that menu first, before you order from the main menu. The flavours were decent and the price (and portions) feel in-between fine and casual dining.

We had a great time and enjoyed our meal. Definitely not a place you should go and rush through. We had the Brussel sprout salad and it was amazing! My cod was very fresh and the drinks were delicious. Service was great! By the end of the night we had two servers and the chef at our table talking and giving us recommendations where to go on our trip. I think it is worth a stop while visiting St. John’s.

Disappointing Evening We were really looking forward to the meal, but were disappointed. The restaurant is very lovingly and invitingly decorated. The open kitchen and the bar area fit well into the concept. When we visited, the restaurant was practically empty and the restaurant staff talked more to each other than to the guests. There was also no catch of the day and no mussels available. The presentation of the dishes was minimalist and we had to add more salt to all of the dishes because salt apparently isn't used in the kitchen. The batter on the cod tongues was soft and there was no truffle to taste or see in the truffle gnocchi. We ordered three short ribs. All three portions were different sizes. When I asked, I was told that that's just the way it is.

We had a TRULY incredible experience at Mallard Cottage! I am vegan, and the chef was so accommodating - he made me an incredible appetizer with a parsnip puree that I will surely dream of. The waitress so was kind, the service was wonderful, and the ginger mocktail was delicious! My friend who is not vegan said the fish of the day dish was the best thing she has ever eaten. We will definitely be back.

We are from ontario. Been here a few times in the past. Food was always good so this is not our first time here. Firstly the service provided by the servers were excellent. As for the food. The menu was small with very limited selection. With that very limited menu some items were not available. We ordered the brussel sprout salad, the 20oz steak and the Newfoundland fish. The salad was the star of the meal! Really nicely made with amazing flavours. The fish was cooked well and tasted good. The 20oz steak didn’t look 20oz. 16oz at most and that’s not being honest promising a 20oz cut that’s is at most and I stress AT MOST a 16oz cut. The cook and taste was just average at best. Let’s put it this way. My wife makes a better steak any day. Dessert was a real disaster! It was highway robbery for $15 each. The chef should ask himself if he would pay that much for that before serving them to the diners. We got some apple crumble topped with toasted oats and a white chocolate mousse with blueberry compote. The portions were horribly small. Horribly tiny! Much smaller than mini baby food jars and it cost $15 each! The jar was so small you couldn’t fit a teaspoon inside without spilling the oats. And for the toasted oats they were not even crispy. More warm and mushy. The apple crumble tasted like apple sauce you feed your baby with and that mousse was watery. $15 each for dessert. Please skip! I’m doing you guys a favour for those who are going! Don’t bother ordering dessert. We are crossing this restaurant out of our to go list!

Absolutely stunning experience, start to finish. Brilliant atmosphere and location, but pales in comparison to the service and food, which were both out of this world. Our server was relatively new to the team, though you’d never know it! She was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly- made us feel like family all the way through. The food was delightful, and we even got to see a picture from earlier that day of the tuna that ended up as the catch of the day on my dad’s plate! Super accommodating of my sister’s vegan diet, despite being at the tail end of service for the day. All in all, would highly recommend and cannot WAIT to go back

Highly recommend the french toast, though the portion was slightly small, it was super flavorful and not overly sweet. My friend enjoyed the scallops. I got the Benny with the hash underneath, it was good, but not life changing. For what it was, it was solid. The atmosphere of this place is beautiful, very rustic and cosy with floral accents. Special thanks to our server Veronica, she was super attentive, very kind, and gave an honest review about her recommendations, which I appreciated. Definitely a place to check out! And make reservations during the peak season, you will thank youself 🌺

We had a great dinner at Mallard Cottage! The staff was warm and welcoming, and they were happy to answer questions and provide recommendations. We were seated in the original cottage room, which was quiet and comfortable. We ordered the cod tongues because we'd never tried them before. We were told they were quintessential Newfoundland, so we figured we'd give it a shot. They were lightly fried and crispy, which was nice. I thought they had a similar texture to a fried oyster. Paired with the delicious lemon thyme aioli, we enjoyed them! We also shared the duck breast and a few sides: the asparagus and the carrots. We enjoyed it all, particularly the duck breast. The foragers puree of the day was a blend of mushrooms, which very nicely complemented the duck and the parsnip puree. This dish was a lovely balance of textures and flavors. We also had some nice chocolate mousse for dessert, which was paired with blueberries. It was enjoyable, but the definite highlight of the meal was the duck!

Really delayed review as my visit was back in July. Our first meal after we landed in St. John's. We came straight to Mallard Cottage from the airport to celebrate a special anniversary dinner. I'm glad we had the dinner menu because I had no idea the brunch menu didn't have any seafood (from looking at the prior review). We had the rack of lamb, cod tongue, mussels, and carrots. I never had cod tongue before this, so I had no idea what to expect. It's hard to describe the taste, but it's more like a fish nugget in a way, that resembles a hybrid fish and a somewhat scallop-like texture. I really enjoyed it. They even gave a cheesecake on the house since it was a special occasion for us. I love the charming little restaurant and décor, and we were seated overlooking a window. We didn't make any reservations; we just landed and went straight to the restaurant on a weekday night closer to 8pm. Though it's just as easy to book a reservation on Yelp. The service was also friendly and attentive. I would definitely recommend this spot for dinner.

Outstanding food. Service was great. Location is beautiful for an after dinner walk. Highly recommend

I made reservations for a Friday lunch for my seafood loving family thinking that the menu items online would be likely offered, even though it wasn't specified to be a lunch or dinner menu- nope. What we got was a lackluster brunch menu that was nowhere to be found online. As we were leaving we could hear other guests call out "you only have brunch?!" I was like hey, that was me an hour ago. Hahahah To make things worse they didn't even have all of the brunch menu items available. So we had to settle for the bangers and hash and pancakes- and they were very underwhelming. Why is the weekday brunch not advertised anywhere on Google or Yelp? I felt like I had to let people know on here. It was a pretty disappointing experience given that this place came highly recommended by many sources. Made it feel like most of the restaurant scene in St. John is mostly for trapping tourists. Service was very attentive. But I really only care about food... so I cannot hide my disappointment.

The Mallard Cottage is charming and is registered as a National Historical Site in Canada. The food is elevated and focus on the province's vast array of wild games, seafood and produces. My friend and I asked our server what he liked and he said the bread and butter. We laughed and ordered that - twice! It was very good bread. The mussel with the crispy shallots were tasty. Used the bread to scoop up the vermouth sauce. The halibut steak with braised leek was soft and moist. For dessert, we had the sticky toffee pudding which I didn't think was the best. The portion was small and not sticky enough for me. Service is top-notch. The best high quality restaurant in St. John's. Advance reservation is a must. Limited parking in the area. We took a taxi to Signal Hill for site seeing then took the Ladies Lookout Trail (30 mins walk) to Quidi Vidi. After dinner, we took a taxi back to our hotel.

Charming and beautiful restaurant in St. John's near Quidi Vidi. The place looks like it was a former private residence that was converted into a restaurant. The interior is tastefully decorated and inviting. Their menu changes frequently which is creative. We were a group of four and got to try several items. Most of the dishes we ordered were beautifully presented and delicious with one exception. The lobster salad was super delicious. I could have ordered a second serving it was that good. The white fish and steak were also very nice. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is the lobster main. It was a very very small half lobster and they used too much shallot that the entire dish tasted too bitter. A surprising miss on their part. Despite this, we had a nice overall experience and would recommend.

Service was poor! I waited on the waiter! Don't go. Too much hype and not enough service. Food was mediocre (at best)

What an outstanding experience. The enthusiasm and love of food was evident with everyone we connected to. They aimed to please, whether it was a unique cocktail request or questions about the various dishes. The halibut was thick and beyond delicious. The parsnip puree...Oh my. I wanted a triple serving. Salmon and pork were enjoyed by my friends and there was a lot of moaning. Finished with the lemon custard tart. I wish I lived in Newfoundland as I would be a regular patron. Don't miss out!!!

Fantastic ambiance, friendly service, great food. Quite pricey as was expected, but wine was reasonably priced. My only quibble is that for the price, the food was not filling enough.

I was searching for a great restaurant in St-John's. Hours later, after visiting SignalHill and hiking to Quidi Vidi we were walking and a charming heritage house caught our eye. We walked in and asked if there was any room and although they were full, we were lucky enough able to sit at the bar. Excellent experience service and food wise. The menu does change daily but we had the halibut crudo, swordfish, mushrooms and Mille feuille. Everything was very tasty and no regrets. My drink was also delicious - Earl grey rose ice tea. So refreshing! Service was also impeccable. We'll deserved 5 star! Would definitely recommend eating here and I would come back if I am in St-John's.

Wonderful experience! After doing some research before heading to St. John's NL for work, I came across a quaint restaurant called Mallard Cottage. The homey vibe and food featured in the Facebook page photos had me sold and it quickly moved to the top of my list to try. On a stroke of luck, the best night after a day of conferencing had me booking a reservation for a Tuesday night that also happened to be on of their special "pit parties". We were greeted and treated with warm attention from start to finish. The staff was completely lovely and our waiter was extraordinary. They offered a wine pairing with the menu, but i decided to go with a cocktail. The lime daiquiri - while different from the frozen concoctions I'm used to in the South - was cold, tart with lime and not too sweet. Delicious! The pit party is a 4 course menu and from the amuse bouche to the salad to the array of meats all with a hint of wood and smoke - it was amazing. The light caramel dessert was the perfect ending. Wherever you're traveling to in NL, I strongly suggest making a visit to Mallard Cottage in Quidi Vidi.

Hands down the best restaurant in St. John's. Best fish n chips I've ever had. Exceptional food, service, and atmosphere. A must for all St. John's visitors.

Excellent food and service with a new owner in a historic setting! The restaurant recently re-opened. We are glad that we dined there.

The food was amazing. Maybe the best cod I've ever eaten. The salad was fresh and very tasty.

Terrible communication. We came to Quidi Vidi from New York for our honeymoon. Called multiple times but the phone was out of order and the mailbox was full. Sent emails, even showed up in person and it was closed. No response anywhere. Not sure if they exist. Beautiful area and they have trash just thrown around their property and it looks like a 13 year old maintains it. I hope they make it right.

Oof, if you're looking for the old Mallard, don't go. While it is the same building, the place has lost its charm. The food used to be so beautifully crafted, but now it is just overpriced and lacks luster. The small menu also didn't leave much to be desired. Now, the service was great! So, I won't take that away from them, but that's about it. It's a real shame because Mallard was a spot we'd be proud to take anybody, especially CFA's. Now, I really don't think I'll ever recommend it.

That pork chop was topshelf delicious. The chef and staff were so inviting and visited all the tables to check in frequently as our meal progressed. Will definitely return to this location every time we visit St John's

We went on June 15th, 2024. We were seated (we went at 5:30 pm), looked at our menus, saw that they had four entrees on the menu. At the time of ordering, we were told that they ran out of fish. In Newfoundland. Really. Couldn't get any fish anywhere in Newfoundland. New management is obviously poorly organized to run out of fish. No connections with other places to get fish. We went to little community for fish and chips who told us they drove two hours to St Johns to get fish, but this restaurant was incapable. If the menu was larger it would have been ok, but they had two meat entrees (steak, pork) and a vegetarian (a ratatouille) which came with no accompaniments, such as bread. Cannot recommend this place. Not like the first time we went there, but not the same place except in name (new owner).

Cozy place. Meal was absolutely delicious! One of those places that you need to visit at least once .

I finally made it to Mallard Cottage! We went for lunch in picturesque Quidi Vidi. We had the soup of the day and sandwich , and also scallops followed by dessert Chef and his team were on their A game and we enjoyed a splendid lunch. Also nice to walk around Quidi Vidi.

Did not enjoy the food. Very disappointed. My expectations were obviously too high. Perhaps I was unlucky and was there on an off night.

We went to Mallard Cottage Monday night for the pit party. It was raining so we ate inside. Fantastic but the temperature of the restaurant was very cold. There was cold air coming from the ceiling and out of the floor. The food was fantastic but cold due to the ice cold restaurant. I would still highly recommend it but wish it was warmer all the way around.

This place used to be our favourite in the city for brunch. Under the new ownership the food is no where near the same. Their menu is deceiving, implying you'll get something other than what you receive--for instance their "thick cut bacon" was so thin you could see through it, and the chantilly cream was no more than whipped cream. Also, the numbering of items you will receive is deceiving ("3" French toast is not three slices, it's three half-piece of toast). Also, the French toast was nothing special--just bread dipped in egg sprinkled with some cinnamon after. Their gourmet French toasts used to be the highlight of my trips to Mallard. Eggs were undercooked (raw egg white) and all the waitress said was "let me go check on that". No apology, didn't take the raw eggs to consult the cooks, nothing. Nothing was said of this after the issue was brought up. Needless to say, it's gone from the top of our list to we'd only eat there if the other option was starving.

The food was unexpectedly bad considering past reviews. I had a slightly undercooked cod with a swish of what seemed to be mustard with crushed pickles in it. My wife had pork tenderloin (she was hoping for crab or lobster) on a bed of mushy brown eggplant. It was uninspired and disappointing.

Wonderful experience! Great food, great service, charming place. We were able to easily get a reservation on a Thursday night. Took an Uber to get there, so no worry about parking. Everything was perfect. With some trepidation, we ordered the cod tongue appetizer, after our server assured us it tasted like scallops and everyone brave enough to try it, liked it. We found them to be delicious. Two of us shared the duck breast with parsnip purée and the duck confit potatoes and turnip with leeks. Both were superb. I really loved the parsnip and turnips and am going to look up some recipes to make at home, as these are not vegetables I have prepared. The duck was very lean and tasty. Great suggestion by our server. We did not find the prices to be high, as the main course and appetizer are designed to be shared by two. We would definitely return when we are next visiting St. John's. Highly recommend you try this charming place.

Great food. Attentive service. Highly recommend the Cottage. Really enjoyed the food and local beers

My family and I had an outstanding and charming dinner here. We tried all but one of the drinks on the cocktail menu(including the mocktail) and were extremely satisfied with how balanced the Finisher was and how refreshing the gin sour was. The spicy margarita was also a standout! The dinner and dessert portions were just right and we were especially in awe of how the land and sea dish was also an art piece. When you order it you'll find out! Spectacular, warm, and friendly front of house staff. This is one you won't want to miss out on!

Naw. Not for awhile now. Certainly not on a Friday night. This place is under new ownership, but even before then it was circling the drain. Over-seasoned and understocked. 4 of the 8 or 9 mains were 'sold out' (whatever that means) by the time we sat at 8pm. Waited forever for food to show. Wait staff only approached our table as the bearers of bad news - delays, runouts, apologies. This place was something once, but that was a long time ago. Spent a couple hundred for food a big box could have screwed up less.

This restaurant has a beautiful interior, a cabin/cottage vibe, and you look out to beautiful Quidi Vidi Lake. The food is fantastic and the new general manager, Josh, is a consummate host and chef. This is a local business highly worth supporting. Josh went out of his way to make our experience a great one.

Great old building, good food and beer nearby; they bring coffee to your room in the morning.

Doesn't live up to the reputation of the original Mallard Cottage. While the service is still good, the quality of the food is nowhere close to what it was. Flavour is bland and menu is basic. Even the desserts, which are served in mason jars, may be good for Pinterest but aren't fit for a restaurant like "Mallard". with the reputation of NL cuisine in the line I expect a lot more from mallard cottage.

Exceptional meal in a unique setting. Truly enjoyed the evening and the service. Highly recommend for any special occasion and will go back next time we're in St. John's area.

Top meals of my lifetime! Everything in season and fresh, excellent presentation, outstanding service!

The food, service and overall experience was amazing. We went for lunch and tried a few different dishes. Our waiter was great and he had solid recommendations.

Very delicious foods prepared with care and excellent presentation - highly recommend

Excellent service at the bar, incredible food and drink made for an unforgettable dining experience. Recommend making a reservation as only the bar serves walk-ins.

Mallard Cottage is a culinary treat that feels authentic to the bone. The food we had was absolutely delicious, from start to finish. We started with bread, had baked oysters, and had several sides and mains. Every piece was outstanding. My sister had the ganache cake for dessert, while I had something else... I can't remember what I had, all I can tell you is I wish I had the ganache because it was the best dessert I had ever tasted. Apparently, the dessert chef is from a Michelin starred Manhattan restaurant. Don't quote me on that,but it was absolutely incredible. The bottom line is if you are a foodie (I hate that term) or just have an appreciation for fine culinary, or want to celebrate an occasion or top off your trip to St John's, you absolutely need to come to Mallard Cottage for a memorable and delicious experience. Definitely book ahead!

Epic service, epic meal, epic location! Did I happen to say the whole experience was epic? Well it was. And the staff were equally Epic. They've got it figured out.

Excellent brunch, beautiful atmosphere with crackling fire, many local sources products

Very unassuming and quaint historical cottage from the outside and I almost missed it! Thought I was about to walk into a private residence. Walked three kilometres in the rain to try it out (I'm from Vancouver so as per usual) Super friendly service and got to sit at the bar. Very comfortable interior and decor. I got the meat and eggs with hash on the side. Would absolutely recommend and the portion size is very satisfying! Bringing friends back later!

Very good food and polite servers. I always have a smile on my face when I leave and the atmosphere is very cozy and comforting.

It was really very good. Just very steep pricing. Two people 300 bux. Every bite delicious and the staff are great.

Do not duck the Mallard. I ate there a few days ago and I'm still quacking like quazy over the experience. Mallard Cottage is the poster child for quaint and charming. It is housed in a house built in the early 1800's instead of something built 6 months ago and distressed by distressed teenagers off their Adderall to look like it was built in the 1800's. There is a beautiful view of a huge wood pile for the smoker to give it that woodsy look and there is another vista of the bay where fresh fish arrives every day to keep your hunger at bay. The decor is warm and warmer. There is even a bottle cork board where you can tack up your hand written review, Yelp,1820's style. A soothing jazz loop lets you cool your jets while your Ice Shrimp's on ice. The Staff: It was never so pleasant to be asked to wait up to an hour for a chance at a spot at the 7 seat bar set aside for walk-ins. Maybe it helped that I responded with puppy eyes and sad shoulders which helped snag me a carved wooden John Deere Tractor seat over looking the open kitchen which was as busy as a termite hill in a flash flood. I handed the reins to my server, Brother Brandon, who curated my meal, paired the cocktails and wine to match and threw in some local history along with what else to eat in town and where and why. The entire staff treated me like I was an investor and buckin' for partner. Who goes there? Anyone who's smart and lucky. The Bar: Brother Brandon was in mix for best Mixologist around and was definitely not mixed up about what to mix with what. The Bourbon Joe with Maker's, Maple Syrup, bolt upright Coffee and Black Walnut Bitters was a soft and mellow fellow that went down like liquid velvet. The Fugi Fashioned with Suntory Toki Whiskey, Apple Syrup and more Black Walnut Bitters could have powered an exotic Italian whip or empowered a Me Too-ette. The Food: No need to fly South when Mallard is dishing up what they do. Whoa, an Amuse Bouche stopped in front of me. The best Sesame dusted Potato Chips ever...topped with a Baby Ice Shrimp. Blink and it was gone including the strangers sitting next to me. (Moral: keep your eye on the Shrimp and don't blink.) House baked Bread with hand churned Butter? No need to utter anutter muttered woid besides yum! Kolache...Czech please? This was a savory donuty concept and not something your Bosnian Tinder hook-up yells on meeting you. Consider this a Pepporoni Calzone doing the wild thang with a Bao and havin' a love child... voilache, you get a Kolache. The Salt Cod Tartare was truly perfect. A Ceviche to showcase the fish was served with a pile of those evil Potato Chips. And I am a total Chip Ho. You too? Makes you a chippie. For me these Chips were a religious experience. I could have eaten hundreds of them in my room by myself. Does that make me a Chip Monk? The half of a whole Savoy Cabbage was raised to be braised. It was charred to butter softness and then dusted with a snow flurry of Parmesan Cheese. This was an award winning supporting role for the Special Halibut Collar which was breaded and flash fried. The Halibut Collar is as rare a dish as a cogent Donald policy. (That's Donald Duck, not Trump, although it's essentially the same.) The Collar was as big as a Budweiser Clydesdale harness yoke. There was enough succulent meat to feed and immobilize the 7th Cavalry. The huge wreath of fresh fish was topped with Fried Shallots and snipped Chives and served with house made creamy Aioli. No Hellman's Mayo in the Vitamix here. This dish (only two available as they part out the Halibuts for filets) was a mutant Fish and Chips platter. It was big enough to star in a Japanese SyFy flick. Note: Monday night, the special is a Lobster Boil while the critters are close by and in season. But every night there will be something wildly good and unique. Dessert alert. Just in time for me as I was getting filled up on those damn Potato Chips. The one dessert option on offer certainly ginned up the party. Mini squares and scoops of Fudge, Madeleinettes, a quenelle of Buttermilk Sorbet floating in Raspberry Coulis, an Olive Oil Cake cube and a Profiterole to hold between thumb and forefinger. The Pastry at The French Laundry could learn a thing or two in this kitchen. Finally, an Amuse Bye Bye. A mini-Bread Pudding square with Pastry Cream star tip piped on top like a professional shampoo. My advise: Waddle into the Mallard like the Stud Duck (Duckette) you are. You'll duck walk out too full to fly and Daffy happy.

Delicious in every way! Love the personal touches!! Highly recommend you give it a try!!

Wonderful ambiance in a great setting. Food is great, however the prices are quite high lately. $35 for a newfoundland breakfast, $24 for fish cakes and most other items like a breakfast sandwich with no side (sides are $8 or so extra). Would be much more accessible to guests if brunch was about $25 or less for brunch per person.

Amazing. Charming. Delicious. Cozy. Unique. Do it. A must-see for any visit to St John's if food is a priority.

Good, service, food, and atmosphere. This is my favorite restaurant in St. John's so far. Sitting in the bar area was cool as you can see right into the kitchen and watch your food being prepared. Quidi Vidi is a very neat little area as well.

The absolutely perfect brunch while visiting St. Johns. First off, ill start with the fact that the area Mallard Cottage is in, is absolutely adorable. The cottage itself is so quaint, and the decor inside is so perfect. The service, coffee, and food were A++++ delicious. I loved how everything was plated/served (Le Cruset everything!) and the benedict was absolutely perfect. I was sad that there is no longer a 'cake bar' which is part of why we went, but the deserts they send you home with were delicious in their own right. HIGHLY recommend Mallard Cottage!

Simply one of the very best places to eat in Canada. You need to reserve in advance. Maybe weeks ahead. It is worth it!