Fo’c ‘sle Tavern

I came here with some family around noon on a foggy winters day looking for a cozy place to chill. Most stores and the eating/​drinking establishments are closed for the winter season so it was nice to find a welcoming spot.
The place has a very nice old pub feel/​decorated there is plenty of seating. This was especially noticeable since we were the only people there. It’s divided into halves, with one half having tables by the sports tv, pool table, bar and VLTs, and the other half being more of a restaurant setting.
Aside from the regular menu, there was also a brunch menu, probably because it was early on a Sunday. It looked pretty good (I uploaded a pic of it). The regular menu looked very typical for a traditional Atlantic Canadian pub with plenty of seafood and more traditional Canadian fare.
I saw 12 beers on tap on the menu, many of which are local. There’s also an extensive bottled beer and coolers menu. Daily drink specials are a really good price, ranging between $ 1 to $ 2. I can’t think of many other places that offer such good specials on drinks (I should probably also mention that I don’t go to bars much, so my experience is limited).

Nice looking old-​school tavern. Slowww service. Waited 1.5 hours for food… at which point we were told it would just be another 20 mins. Short poured on the draft beer. Would not recommend.

Loved it. we came here for coffee and desserts. we were pleasantly surprised! The coffee was strong and fresh and deserts were great!
Service is friendly and really helpful! This is my new go to place in Chester!

Not having enough time to get to Lunenburg and The Fish Shack, we stopped in Chester. The Rope Loft was packed so we went to the Fo’c’sle. They’ve expanded (upscaled) the menu but we had a taste for fish and chips.
In three words — terrible and overpriced. The fish while fresh, was largely greasy batter; the cooking grease was long overdue to be changed. What was purported to be hand cut chips were cleverly disguised as frozen fries.
Sadly the service matched the meal. There were four tables of diners including we two, yet it took fifteen minutes just for someone to come to the table with water and a menu. Beer was prompt and then the server disappeared for a very long time before returning to take our order. A final huge wait for the bill.
There appears to be a reason why the Fo’c’sle wasn’t busy and the Rope Loft was packed. Hands down, the worst fish and chips we’ve had in years.

Lovely environment for a quick and quiet lunch. Their specials are well priced and the food is tasty and homey.

Excellent fish and chips. Wonky service but quickly made.
I arrived in Chester on an empty stomach and popped in here, hedging my bets on some good reliable coastal pub food. And I got it! The fish and chips are delicious, not too weighed down by batter. Light and crispy outside. Creamy fish inside. It arrived to my table not even 10 minutes after ordering. The place was a little empty but my belly was grateful for the speed.
The waitstaff seemed a little preoccupied with chatting. I was a solo diner and wasn’t offered any info on the daily specials (I overheard another table being told about the lobster roll special) nor was I asked about desserts (and I might have had one, their lemon mousse looks amazing!). They were friendly, just a tad inattentive.

Fantastic lobster roll, so so salmon, in a lively pub. I wanted to love this place, but felt a little let down. The service was terrible, and one guy was even a bit rude– so strange as the rest of the area’s people were so nice! Fun place to stop in for lunch.

great selection of food and drinks.
The prices were really good too.
Typical fishing community décor with local artists works for sale.

A couple of Sundays ago we took a long early morning drive and ended up in Chester. I’d worked up quite a hunger taking in ocean views and exploring narrow lanes filled with picture perfect cottages. We stopped in town for some lunch at the Fo’c’sle after hearing it was the preferred watering hole of the locals.
As she seated us the waitress told us the Fo’c’sle had been robbed the night before. The thieves had taken all the fresh fish, the bacon, some choice cuts of meat, and the lobster. They’d opened the next morning but were unable to serve most of the menu’s seafood offerings. She was very accommodating and said she understood if we wanted to eat elsewhere. The RCMP were still inside investigating and speaking with the staff. I thought it was pretty awesome they decided to open and keep on trucking. We decided to stay and try what was on offer.
I chose the crispy chicken wrap and my boyfriend picked the fish and chips. Although the pub was packed with a very reserved brunch group of about 25 the service was attentive and quick. I loved my wrap, the sauce was very tasty and definitely an in-​house blend. A great combo of a zesty pop and cheesiness. The fries were perfect: crispy outside and fluffy on the inside. The chicken wrap is my go-​to safe menu item. I’ve had my fair share of chicken wraps but this one really stood out. Although it’s a pretty standard recipe, I found they used very fresh ingredients and put a nice twist on the parmesan sauce. I had a taste of the fish and chips and it was delicious as well. The portions were not overwhelming but enough to fill me up and have a little leftover.
I found the pricing to be quite reasonable and the menu quite extensive. It had a lot of dishes and options for those who didn’t prefer seafood. For those who do, the seafood selection is impressive and fresh! I also enjoyed boating themed décor. There’s a fantastic ship’s figurehead near the bathrooms.
I hope the Fo’s’cle was able to recover from the theft because I’m definitely planning on returning in the near future to try some of the seafood dishes.

Not bad but it’s best if you’re local. Very tight knit place.

Would never give these bums any of my money. Make sandwiches if you’re goin to Chester

I visited Chester for a quiet getaway with my partner and we wanted a light, quick dinner.
The interior of the dining room is comfortable but a little tired looking. What you would expect for a seaside pub in a very old town.
I ordered the halibut in lemon butter and started it. The outside edge was very tasty. Sadly, however I got to the middle and it was still cold and raw.
I brought it to the attention of the server who came back and said that the chef apologized and would offer me a free dessert — however I was full from a late lunch so didn’t want any dessert.
So, sadly, a little dissappointing.

Some friends of ours in Chester took us here a few months ago. We weren’t terribly enthusiastic at first, because we hadn’t visited in quite a few years and our last experience had branded the Fo’c’sle a run-​down tavern with not terribly good beer.
What a difference some changes have made! The authentic tavern surroundings are the same, but everything has been spruced up, without losing any of its charm. The beer was great and the food was fantastic! We get used to good fish and chips here on the South Shore, but the Fo’c’sle’s was superb.
Good service, great food, great drinks and a really historic atmosphere in one of Nova Scotia’s prettiest villages. What’s not to like?

It was a warm and overcast summer Sunday in August when we decided to dine at the Fo’c’sle in the heart of the quaint seaside village of Chester.
The area whispers of a seafaring lifestyle of days gone by and the residents’ tie to the ocean as it gently laps the shore.
Toted as Nova Scotia’s oldest rural pub the Fo’c’sle has no doubt been the backdrop for many celebrations and pints raised.
The menu has a little bit of everything for every taste and price point. From typical pub fair such as nachos to prime rib, everyone walks away with a full belly.
Our server, Shane, was enthusiastic, extremely attentive and helpful in assisting us in our decision making.
I enjoyed the seafood chowder as a starter which came served with one of the best, airy biscuits I’ve ever had. It was full of large pieces of haddock and had the perfect consistency — creamy and thick but not too thick.
For my entrée I chose the haddock burger and it didn’t disappoint. A large piece of beer battered haddock served on a moist and fluffy kaiser roll with tartar sauce, lettuce and tomato it was divine. It was also served with a generous portion of French fries and a cup of coleslaw.
My husband thoroughly enjoyed the full rack of pork ribs that he said fell off the bone they were so tender with accompanying potato and coleslaw.
Our two young children shared the chicken fingers and fries from the children’s menu and they were created in-​house with whole white chicken meat. Both of them loved their meal.
Dining with two young children can sometimes prove nerve-​wracking but our server made the kids feel comfortable and at ease and sat us in the corner of the room to avoid unnecessary disruption to other guests. He also provided them with colouring books and crayons to keep them occupied.
The service was top notch, the location provided a great opportunity to people watch and the décor was a mix of old school charm mixed with seafaring/​ocean memorabilia — right down to the beach glass in the washroom.
Definitely a great spot to relax with a pint, grab a bite and have a conversation with the locals — no wonder this is a favourite hang out of so many during Chester Race Week.

The Foc’sle is the oldest rural tavern in Nova Scotia (Est. 1764). The décor is very inviting and has the perfect tavern atmosphere with lots of wood, unique lighting and amusing wall decorations. The best part is the Fo’c’sle burger! I am glad I waited to have my first Nova Scotian burger here. The burger comes with grilled onions, mushrooms, cheese and bacon and is only 10.95. The fries are done perfectly and are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. My friends had the crispy chicken wrap, the chowder and the club and all were very happy with their choices as well. The server Shane is particularly funny and made our lunch even more enjoyable. They have specials on certain days as well — Tuesday is burger day and trivia and Thursday is wing night. I will return for the scrumptious burger!

The Fo’c’sle Tavern is every town’s answer to Cheers — everyone knows your name!
The Fo’c’sle expanded their bar business into a family restaurant that occupies the storefront facing one of the main streets in Chester. The wings are fantastic, probably the best place to stop for wings after you leave Halifax.
The beer is cold, the TV is always on — generally to a sporting event, but depending on the clientele, you’ll sometimes get music videos.
Check out the live music at the Fo’c’sle — it’s a great venue to hear some up and coming South Shore talent.

Fo’c’sle Tavern is in downtown Chester. You will always find a happy crowd here at the tavern. In the summer the streets are lined with cars and bikes. It is nothing to see 50 bikes ride through the streets.
There is a large bar area with a flat screen TV for all the sport fans. Tables are scattered throughout the main area as well. I personally like the back area because I get to people watch.
Also there is a great fire place to warm you up in the winter. The tavern has been used for a few movies as well.
They do have some of The Best Homemade Fries. They are thin and great, they are always on the table for us. The food here is good, it is tavern food.
The entertainment here is great. You can find anything from live on Friday nights, auctions, fund raisers or just go with a bunch of friends.
There is lot of character packed into Fo’c’sle Tavern and a lot of characters as well. All Good!!!