John's Lunch

This was a great place to go for fish and chips or clams or even a burger. They're closed for good now but I'm so glad I got to get in an order the day before they closed.
And they let me know to go to Pleasant Street Diner to keep eating the same foods as they're related to that diner somehow.
Very nice!

So glad I got to come here less than a week before it closed forever. I had never visited Dartmouth before - this was my first time in Nova Scotia even - and I knew that this place would be right up my alley. Had a box of haddock tips, fries, slaw and they were all excellent. If you're reading this before October 31st, 2023, you should get down there and get yourself something.

Sorry to see it go. I've been going there for 31 years, always fabulous food and staff

I have been going there for over 40 years. Absolutely the best sea food in town.

So very, very disappointed to learn that John's lunch is closing. So sad!

Excellent fish. Thin batter and generous cuts of fish. Asked for extra crispy chips - they were perfect. Coleslaw is made in house and nice and tangy. Service is fast and friendly. Johns is closing on Oct 31 so go there. Now.

Wonderful place to get fish and chips.
Prices are reasonable, and the attitude of the staff and customers is amazing.

Delicious food with very friendly staff. The clams were amazing and I also recommend you try those scallops. Will definitely be here again next time I'm in town

Staff are like family the food never a dissapointment
Fast service no matter how busy they are you are always greeted with a friendly smile and a how are you doing even the cooks smile and say hello been coming here for years no frills but the best fresh and tasty seafood around all their menu is amazing can't go wrong no matter what your taste buds are for the day love you guys hugs Vonnie @ Bill Gerdson

Fish wasn't bad, thick pieces with classic amount of batter (like fishermen like it and we thought it was great too), coleslaw fantastic, frozen fries, prepackaged Kraft tartar.

Food was served fast and freshly made. Service was attentive and friendly. The fried whole clams meal is what brings me back to visit again and again. Cannot say enough about the cleanliness of the diner. And the amazing deliciousness of the food!

Went for fish but they still had their burger week burger on so had that instead. Absolutely amazing. 10/10 would recommend. Great staff as well

The fish and chips was as good as the hype! Fried clams were delicious too. Definitely going back. I hope this helps

We went over to John's lunch for Burger week. We actually had not been here for a few years, we don't get over to Dartmouth very often. They have now converted their little diner to a walk-up take-out which is really neat and definitely super easy during covid! Burgers were amazing and huge we ordered a small fries to share which was also huge and we definitely didn't need it! Great value for the money high quality food.

The best place to get a literally-award-winning fish and chips—period. Humungous portion and worth the visit!

Quick service and the lady at the front counter Cathy was superrrr friendly. Indoor seating is currently closed but there are picnic tables by the side of the restaurant with a decent lunch-preferred atmosphere to sit in. If you have never visited John's Lunch, well, you're missing out on one of the best fish and chips in town!

Clams & chips, still a favorite whenever I'm in the Dartmouth area. Scallops are awesome too

Friendly service. I'm so happy I got my lunch before the rush. I ordered the seafood platter. The scallops are AMAZING. Also the way they call your name for your order took me back to childhood.

Food excellent, as always! First class staff and service, even while operating under restrictions…

Service.amazing.fish.amazing.coleslaw.amazing.frozen fries. Honestly, I would expect hand cut fries for the "best fish and chips in HRM". Best fish, debatable, fries garbage. Fries and Co.for me.

Excellent fish & chips. Excellent. Gi-normous banana splits. Very easy to get to, easy parking, some outdoor eating (at the time this is written) or take it away. The people working there are friendly but efficient. It lived up to its reputation every time I've gone.

Food is always great but no dining in yet due to space limitations. We sat at the picnic table and totally enjoyed ourselves.

Extremely bland and we were fully expecting a homemade tartar sauce for the prices you’re charging. But Kraft packets? Come on.

I ordered the seafood platter. Great portions of seafood The haddock tips and scallops were seasoned and cooked beautifully. The fried scallops alone made the dish, very fresh and flavourful, I can not recommend them enough! The fish to batter ratio on the was perfect, nice and light yet crispy.

Worth the visit.fish was great but the fries, which are ok would have made it an absolute 5 star had they been better.still great!

Food was great, but no washroom accommodations, I had to go to another restaurant to use washroom, I won't be back to my favorite place to eat.

Very popular and iconic place for fish and chips in Dartmouth. Great portion at decent price. Family run set up and feel, can see and feel the history when you walk in. This was earned not bought

Everytime im in Dartmouth i always make a point to go and have there Clams! Best clams i have ever had hands down

If you haven't been, you must! I've had a few different things on their menu and have never been disappointed. However, my all time favorite is their clams and chips. They are to die for, is an understatement:)

A lovely walk along the Dartmouth waterfront, ferry ride to Halifax and then ferry back to Woodside. The highlight, Awesome Fish Tacos at John's Lunch. Great online ordering system. Friendly staff. Lots of outdoor picnic tables and parking.

Wish I could tell you how the food was but we never got it. Called ahead to avoid a wait but it still wasn’t ready when we arrived. Wasn’t overly busy so we waited, but after 30 min and multiple people placing/receiving their walk-up orders before ours (which at this point was an hour past the time we originally ordered), we went down the street to Pleasant St. Diner and had our food in 10 minutes.

Great take out service during the current provincial restrictions and of course amazing fish and chips for a reasonable price.

Exceptional fish and chips Seafood. These guys have been in business a long time and have perfected fish and chips. They're always so cool calm and friendly definitely worth trying you'll return over and over again I love this place

Another storied Dartmouth institution.
John's Lunch is an ancient fish fry joint that resembles a shack with a couple picnic tables scattered under an awning essentially that is a minor upgrade from a fish truck. Don't come with a party if you're travelling from outside the province. There is diner seating, but it's currently closed due to Covid as I understand it.
Much like the Mic Mac, there is very little to be said here that hasn't already been said. The menu is limited, the portions are generous (too generous for me frequently, and I'm a hungry feller), and it hits the spot.

Clams, scallops, and fried haddock are the draws. The clams and scallops are out of this world, and the restaurant really earns its recognition there. I could probably eat their fried clams on the daily and never get sick of them. The haddock is a bit more contentious for me. They use a lotta' batter. A lot. Not that the batter isn't delicious, but it's a bit too thick for my personal tastes when I'm starting at that half uneaten slab of fish, much like ordering a large Donair or something and only finishing half of it.
I've had haddock slightly burnt there too.

"Wow, you've had burnt fried fish and the batter is too thick, but you're still giving it four stars? "
Yes. When it's good, it's unreal, and that's almost always. Go there when you're real hungry, and not for a light lunch/dinner.

Staff was very friendly and upbeat, Clams and chips were plentiful and very good. I consider myself a good judge of seafood. The clams were fresh and soft, the batter was decent and not overly greasy. I prefer hand cut fries usually, but the prefab ones they serve were good and cooked perfectly.

SO good! It’s been almost two years since I went to John’s Lunch, but I can still say it’s one of the best fish and chips I’ve ever had. I ordered the one piece fish and chips. The cook told me that he included a second piece because the first piece was small. To my surprise, when I opened the box, both of the pieces were huge! I’m looking forward to eating here again the next time I’m in Halifax!

Deliciois food as always. Great fish and chips but you really have to get there during clam season.

Love, love, love John's lunch but was very disappointed yesterday when after checking the website to make sure they were open we arrived at 2: 30pm and they were closed. We had travelled from Elmsdale just for John's so make sure to call before heading there. Normally 5 stars would be easy as the food is amazing and that never changes!

Quality food in large portions, at a reasonable price. Outdoor seating with a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere.

My wife and I stopped by after a trip to the valley and picked up a couple of orders fish and chips. I know that John's has been rated very high for exactly this but I must say that we were very disappointed with this order. It was indeed very large portions, however the fish was way over done and actually dry. It appeared as if it had been pre-cooked then reheated, unfofrtunately too long. The batter instead of being a nice golden colour was very dark brown. Unfortunately we were home before we opened it and I wasn't about to turn around and return it. Will probably be a long time before we go back here.

This is the first time the fish and chips were not good. The fish was not fresh, as it tasted like it was cooked twice, and very greasy. Couldn't even finish our meal. I drove all the way from Sackville to treat my son. Very disappointed

I am not a fan of fish but their fish and chips is something else and is good enough to back there, also I am sure their food quality is not their only good thing! You will enjoy the way that treat you

Best Fish & Chips in town matched with their superb service and friendly staff. Always love to eat there.

Fantastic place. Great food. Fantastic food and service. Cod tips. Clams and chips fish and chips.

John's lunch has a worldwide reputation I am truly lucky I live so close. I could eat clams and chips every day if my arteries would allow it.

Consistently delicious. Have been going here forever and it is never a disappointment. Always get haddock tips, they are delicious. Fish and chips is also amazing. Would recommend to anyone who likes seafood, and even those who think they don't. You may change your mind after eating here. Great staff and service.

The location is too small for the amount of people wanting food there. Delicious food though at fairly reasonable prices. Large portions and it's a friendly atmosphere

Best clam strips in the world. Had the platter another time, all the seafood is fantastic and they serve pizza too!

John's Lunch is a regular stopping place for me and has been since the early 70's. Love their food and service which is absolutely awesome. I always make it a point to introduce this eatery to family and friends visiting from out of province.

Was there for the 2nd time yesterday! Its a new favorite when im in the east coast! Kathy and the entire team were as good as the food itself! A real gem and the typical local classic!

If this place has a downfall it's that it's far too crowded and chaotic but it's crowded because it's good

John's lunch is always amazing! God gave us a gift in the form of clams and chips. John's Lunch has the best ever!

Food is fantastic! Good portions for the price, friendly staff. Got the haddock tips and the shrimp; the batter was nice and light super hot and fast. Cooked right in front of your eyes. Coleslaw was really good.
A friend had the hot turkey sandwich and that was average but didn't expect much since it's a seafood joint!
Watched them make burgers and it looked great, so that's another option for non fish eaters.

Best spot in town for food! Staff are great and take good care of you.amazing atmosphere all around.highly recommend to try it out!

I have been eating the clams and chips here for over 20 years. This is the best place in HRM to get real Digby clams. Generous portions, cooked perfectly, every time.

The fish is fantastic! Haddock tips are the best I've ever had! My daughter had a great time. The staff were very friendly!

Fish is definitely good. It's the thick kind of batter. Fries are just normal. Love the vinegar based coleslaw. For me this place is not quite as big a deal as the hype around it, but still great fish and chips. Diner-style interior that looks like it hasn't changed since the 80s. Parking is a little awkward. Prices are not exactly cheap but pretty reasonable. They also have pizza and some sandwiches but I've never tried them. Let's be honest you only go out of your way to have the seafood.

Best Fish and Chip place in the city for heavily battered fish! Great staff! Fast, efficient and friendly!

Amazing seafood. One of the favorite places you'll hear lots of people love. Great prices and you always feel full