Reviewing Restaurants of St. John's Newfoundland - Million Dollar Critic with Giles Coren

Amidst St. John's recently booming economy, its food scene has gone crazy. But, is its day of reckoning at hand? Giles travels to what he describes as "a rock in the middle of the Atlantic ocean" to determine whether the restaurants are anywhere close to being the real deal. Can he ever be convinced that Newfoundland is NOT the end of the known world? As he says: "The food better be worth the trip..."
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[@SandraMills]

Local update 2022: Saltwater is still open, and moved to a new location on Water Street in 2021. Chinched has moved to a bigger location and is a frequent feature at the farmers market (their bacon is usually sold out by 9am). Raymonds has not re-opened since the pandemic began, though their sister gastropub, Merchant Tavern is open and popular. Chef Jeremy opened an outdoor crab shack on the pedestrian mall in the summer of 2021 and it was amazing. The Reluctant Chef had moved to a larger location but is now closed. Bacalao closed in 2019 and Andrea has started a new food business - her jams and jellies are to die for! If you're in town and looking for other interesting, affordable spots, I'd recommend Bernard Stanley's, the St. John's Fish Exchange, Yellowbelly Brewery, Adelaide Oyster House, Blue on Water, the Duke of Duckworth, the Guv'Nor Pub, and Rocket Bakery - which is featured at the end of this episode!

[@Countrybananas]

Saltwater has been a regular favorite of mine since this review episode came out as I immediately wanted to meet Serge. I can confirm it's still owned and operated by the same people. The new location is much bigger and open but I find myself missing the cozy intimate feeling of their former Duckworth location.

[@irishelk3]

Yeah i liked Raymonds myself, i like the chef he seems solid and so laid back, nice guy, quality food... well deserved guys.

[@chocolatewheelchair]

I LOVE THIS SHOW. I saw first two episodes on Cooking Channel. Can’t wait for the NYC & SF episodes! Great show!!

[@dickinsonmoses6467]

chocolatewheelchair I

[@lateral1385]

Agreed!

[@NLJosh83]

He should have waited for two more years before coming to experience the 'actual' blizzard of the century...

[@stewartmarshall4941]

You enjoined your trotters...😂😂😂

[@pinkpanties8228]

"booming economy" = lots of tourists visiting and having a good time, while people struggle to pay the rich landlord his rent ,after working 60 hours a week, working in restaurant serving tourists.

[@mikejones-dx8bx]

I've never seen a restaurant critic who actually has a disdain towards food and the dining experience. Perhaps he's in the wrong line of business.

[@annamcuthbert3993]

nah just telling how it is

[@mspupcat53]

It is what makes him one of top critics in the World because he is so discerning. Tasting menus is not what the best way to critique. I was in the catering industry for a few years and you learn to educate your palette and where the various taste sensors are. I can pick out individual flavours that a lot of people miss. I am no way an expert but I can see how he reaches his conclusions. He is not there for pleasure it is his job not a recreational activity and wants the same food as the customers.

[@jackielynne76exaxtly86]

Amazing... this looked like a difficult review because for once he chose between all 5 restaurants... what a nice twist...lol

[@EvaKii]

Of course it had to be Raymond's. Can't wait to eat there soon

[@spoitras]

I don't know much about New Foundland, but I know the number of car accidents involving moose is unbelievable.

[@brendaflower7790]

Wonder why they have not embraced the roast potato and Yorkshire pudding.😊

[@QuangNguyen-kb4ip]

37:06 wouldn't mind seeing more of his pics like this 37:40-37:44 I'm an evil evil man.....makes me like him even more

[@lpsmare4lpsmare427]

i live in st.Johns newfoundland! i love it here no matter how cold it is!

[@lateral1385]

Nice! I live in Kentucky, USA

[@spikyamet]

are there part time jobs available here? looking forward to take admission in cna

[@wideawake4413]

My grandad was from St John's and I still have a large family there that have been there for many many years so Newfoundland is in my blood and I crave to move there but can't. All the best from across the pond in Manchester England 🙂

[@Roddy1965]

Like the seal in Quebec, the cod tongue texture and flavour could be challenging to a come from away. I lived in St John's 10 years and didn't dislike cod tongues, but didn't take a big liking to it either. I suppose if a cook could take these off piste meats and make them tasty for an outsider, that would be saying something. But I'm still not convinced I'd hold it against a restaurant simply because I hadn't acquired a taste for it yet.

[@jacquesgarneau2339]

while in Quebec city, he is discarding one restaurant because the chef is drinking booze during service and deciding on his meal ... yet here it doesnt matter . double standards.

[@Countrybananas]

It's not like they won? The difference is the guy made it a positive and entertaining experience that adds to the dining experience.

[@setadriftonfishandchips]

Just saw my house at around 1:00

[@ryantwitter343]

He’s good

[@virgoteaxoxo7030]

How many times can he pronounce Newfoundland wrong in this video can someone count

[@johndeeregreen9987]

At least 20. Buddy seems like a real prick too

[@stewartmarshall4941]

All the time bye..only newfies can say it right.

[@sorcererstone3303]

@@johndeeregreen9987 This noob seems like a pretentious want-to-be food critics and full of attitude. Watched some of his other videos. Not a professional food connoisseur. Clueless at best. Definitely sounded and acted like a dick. What is his real job? Don't quit his real job.

[@keithj6251]

I don't know what the reason is for choosing Serbian Salt Beef when Newfie Salt pork would've went better.

[@spoitras]

Rakia and 3 kisses! Don't stop at 2, they're going to think you're a Croat!

[@danicatempleton6745]

Not liking tasting menus or having his food explained is such a weird trait for a food critic. Like buddy, yer at Raymond's, why do ye wanna be gone so fast? Haha

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

He arrogantly demands that they present a 3 hour dinner within 1 hour? The owner did agree, under the duress of pleasing the almighty critic, but still... If this was a friend with whom I was dining, and they made such an outrageous demand, they would quickly wind up as a former friend.

[@inputoutput5995]

It was a challenge, and they accepted. I don't see it as obnoxious. It worked out for them in the end anyway.

[@itouraround]

Here's our TOP TEN! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaayYX9obsRgrcU

[@rileywoodford2590]

They would bring prisoners up on signal Hill to let them die I don’t know anything more rude then what she said. that offends to someone like me a Newfoundlander😡😡😡

[@Countrybananas]

It was historically accurate why are you offended?

[@BioYuGi]

Anyone who hopes their kids will take over their 'family business' is a bad parent.

[@lateral1385]

Wrong

[@EvaKii]

Only if the child is willing then that ok but when the parents start forcing the kids, its all down hill from there.

[@ClearGalaxies]

​@@lateral1385 Hello, me from the past. I agree. They are wrong. 😊💙

[@Madfattdeeb]

Aww, he picked the restaurant I liked least. Go figure.

[@uwa6446]

You've been there?

[@stewartmarshall4941]

A moose is not a mythical creature. They are actually real...

[@ClearGalaxies]

I don't think they are real. About as real as "reindeer"

[@maxhope7691]

Giles Coren said "eh", did he say it on purpose to imitate how Canadians talk?

[@AdrianParsons]

"An island off of the North East coast of Canada"? The island is off of the SOUTH East coast of Canada. (Or the North East coast of the USA.)

[@Countrybananas]

Well you see in Canada everything is based relative to south eastern Ontario because they're a bunch of elitist centralized government pricks

[@MrJayehawk]

No one would ever describe Nfld as the south east.

[@AdrianParsons]

@@MrJayehawk, why? There is 0% of Canada South of it & a huge amount of Canada North of it. Baffin Island is off the North East coast of Canada. There is nearly 1300 Kms between the nearest points on those two islands.

[@MrJayehawk]

​@@AdrianParsons - All of NS, PEI and NB are south of Nfld as well as the lower, more populated portions of both Que and Ont. I honestly don't think you have ever looked at a map of Canada or have a clue what latitude is.

[@AdrianParsons]

@@MrJayehawk Wow. I typed out a super long response that seems to have, somehow, disappeared. I will try to summarize. A) Only one of those is an island. It's North of the others & West of Newfoundland. B) I'm a Newfoundlander who has always been in love with maps. (I know the location of my home, thank you.) C) Population spread has no bearing on geographic locations of land features. D) If you want to discuss this in terms of latitude please look up the latitude of St. Johns, NL, the long straight part of the Canada/US border, & the geographic center of Canada.

[@georgeschlaline6057]

I'll be at the Merchant Merina on January 4th 2030 once I get $650

[@ClearGalaxies]

That's a long time from now. Do you always plan 10 years ahead?

[@sheteg1]

St John’s (sounds saint) not Sent Jon’s

[@polemeros]

The most impressive thing about this guy is his tailor.

[@kristophercrane]

why the fuck does he keep pronouncing it wrong.

[@tegant.2417]

Too bad he did not pronounce the place name correct;y.....shame on Giles i mean JILES :(

[@annamcuthbert3993]

Ps so do alot of American's can not pronounce English and Scottish place names and peoples names either .

[@bobstrickland7752]

More like one dollar critic...whatta joke this guy is ...

[@zishanhassan7119]

He was borderline rude and had a horrible attitude

[@basantathapa7027]

Why British are so arrogant?

[@andrewgould6689]

They see the rest of the world as beneath them

[@annamcuthbert3993]

I am not arrogant thank you very much . Londoners do have a chip on their shoulders and he does come across as rude but that's his job . I am from the East Midlands most of use are very polite and reserved

[@annamcuthbert3993]

@@andrewgould6689 i don't

[@andrewgould6689]

@@annamcuthbert3993 Then you're exempt from the generalisation! Obviously not every English person is an arrogant prick, but it is a cultural issue that is common among well-off Brits

[@mspupcat53]

@@andrewgould6689 Not That many well off Brits this days and a lot of our population are migrants/immigrants or descendants we are a diminishing race and your generalisation is the exception, not the rule. I am a true average Brit and in 53 years in the UK I have met hardly any Brits that think the World is beneath them. 😮

[@cascisa22]

Most annoying excuse for a "man" ever. I enjoy tongue and cheek, but this a bit much

[@lateral1385]

Ahh, we were all young big shot good critics back in the day. Give him a break, you dingus

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

I know what you mean; I first encountered him in "Supersizers...", with Sue Perkins, and enjoyed the episodes; but in this series, he is too pompous and arrogant. Perhaps it is all scripted, like all the other "reality" shows, or it could be that the marvelous Sue Perkins had an ameliorating influence. Whatever the case, watching this series is like discovering that a beloved and kindly relative is actually a cancerous piece of ego. Now, if only I could understand why I keep watching...:(