Portage

St John's, Canada

Portage refers to the Canadian tradition of carrying a canoe between two bodies of water – but don’t expect a meal at this St John’s spot to feel like hard work. Husband-wife culinary team Ross Larkin and Celeste Mah bring lift and lightness to traditional Newfoundland produce with a zap of Asian flavour. A pork belly salad comes laden with cashews, spiked with fish sauce and chilli; a tranche of cod drenched in an umami-rich miso hollandaise; an extensive vegetable section hops from cabbage with apple, bacon and cheddar to parsnips with burnt honey, fish sauce and lime. Meanwhile a separate bar menu majors in local IPAs, ales and their own house pilsner, plus a raft of cocktails including a smoked olive martini made with fino sherry. Portage is an exemplar of a new wave of relaxed and innovative local dining, as intrinsically Canadian as the canoe which gives it its name.

Key Information

• Average price per person $90
• Dinner: Thurs – Mon
• 1 709 552 1100
• Visit Portage's Website

Location

128 Water Street, St John's, Newfoundland, A1C 18A