🍎
Where meals are made.
A Night Celebrating the People Behind Our Plates
The Nova Scotia Restaurant Awards are back in 2026, bringing the province’s food and beverage community together for an evening dedicated to excellence, creativity, and connection. This annual celebration shines a spotlight on the restaurants, cafés, bars, and food trucks that help define Nova Scotia as a destination for great food and warm hospitality.
From standout chefs and bartenders to community-driven kitchens and unforgettable dining rooms, the awards honour the people and places pushing our local food scene forward. The evening doubles as an industry social—expect complimentary bites and drinks, live music, and a room full of peers from across the hospitality world.
Whether you’re there to cheer on nominees, reconnect with colleagues, or simply celebrate a great year in food, this is one of the province’s signature industry nights.
Social Media Award
Dear Friend Bar · Margaret’s · Via Condotti
Community Engagement
Old No. 7 Restaurant & Sports Bar · TACOcentric · Upward Mobility Kitchens & Cafe
Local Hero Award
Justamere Cafe | Bistro | Bakery · Mystic · Upward Mobility Kitchens & Cafe
Best Beverage Program
Dear Friend Bar · Espresso 46 · Tribute Restaurant
Best Atmosphere
Crème · Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyard · The Press Gang Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Best Outdoor Dining
Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyard · Tuna Blue · Water Polo
Hospitality Award
Casa Di Stefano · EDNA Restaurant · Oxalis Restaurant
Best Limited Service Restaurant
Deedee’s Ice Cream · Vandal Doughnuts · Xena’s Bread & Butter Ltd
Best Restaurant – Cape Breton
The Annex · Table Doucet · Panorama
Best Restaurant – Mainland Nova Scotia
Bessie North House · Le Caveau · Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyard
Best Restaurant – HRM
Mystic · Oxalis Restaurant · Tribute Restaurant
Best New Restaurant
Reta’s Restaurant · Tribute Restaurant · Water Polo
Best Chef
Chef Chris Pyne · Chef Colin Bebbington · Chef Steph Ogilvie
Best Bartender
Dylan Brentwood · Elise Sergerie · Mark Bradbury