Gold Winner John’s Lunch
Silver Winner The Battered Fish, Scotia Square
Bronze Winner Phil’s Seafood
Stratos Baltas and Fotis Fatouros are the owners behind the steady operation that is John’s Lunch, which has served both Dartmouth denizens and international visitors seeking authentic, delicious fish and chips on the east coast for over 40 years. Baltas buys his haddock—which he cooks every morning in his own batter before finishing it off in the fryer when it’s ordered—from local Sambro fisheries. Comments from visitors from the UK, US and Australia decorate the table placemats and Canadian Living voted its fish and chips number in the country, that’s how far-reaching this fried seafood is. An old house turned into a restaurant, he says “it’s nothing fancy” and not much has changed since 1969, which seems to be why it’s a perennial Coast favourite.