Bistro Sofia

Awesome dessert — meh everything else.
Came back after a year or two — this place has really fallen from what it was. I ordered a Caesar salad which was soggy, obviously made the day before (or two days even), and 50% croutons (which had a very odd seasoning on them). Chicken Schwarzwald was not great but ok.
Person I came with ordered the pork sandwich. Used to come with more meat and fixings but they’ve really cut back.
Glasses and tablecloths were dirty and the whole place just has a dingy feel.
What is awesome here is their dessert — I would come back any day and do dessert takeout, hence the 3 stars.

I had a salad and it was delicious! Some items are pricey and some aren’t. Great food. I had a yummy latte here too. Enjoyed the atmosphere!

Great example of a simple menu done to perfection. Instead of a huge menu, they do a small (but still sufficient) menu extremely well. The atmosphere is outstanding, and the desserts are out of this world. It is not as pricey as other restaurants of this quality.

Disappointing, really. The place is decorated in a quirky way with lots of little cherub heads and some cool artwork, but they could step it up with the service. We got very little guidance on the menu, and the girl at the counter was clearly new as she didn’t know where to find a beer once ordered, or that it would have helped to explain what came with the sandwiches.
There were three of us there, and one of us was not very hungry so I thought I’d get a sandwich with a side of soup to split with her. When my sandwich came it was half the size of the other one at our table (same cost), and the full sandwich was served with a large salad at no extra charge, while I had paid extra for soup — and then got no salad. I asked about it and was told that because they discounted the (rather expensive) soup to serve it alongside a sandwich, you didn’t get salad. If I had known the pricey sandwich would have come with salad in the first place I wouldn’t have bothered with the soup!
The food was decent, but definitely overpriced, and I would recommend asking carefully about what to expect so you aren’t disappointed. There aren’t many tables, and it’s a sort of casual order-​at-​the-​counter and get served at a table style of place, so just be prepared to wait, and to ask questions if you want to be sure if your money will be enough to fill your tummy.

You gotta try the Schwarzwald (SP?) Sandwich and the tomato soup. Yum. Poke your head into the tiny kitchen and see the professionals hard at work. I have only been here during the day so cannot speak to the evening dinner experience.

We enjoyed two meals at Bistro Sofia during a recent trip to Newfoundland. Service was attentive and friendly and our meals were delicious. We’re fans of the Shopska salad and the chowder, which is tomato-​based (not traditional for this area). The seafood (scallops one night and pan-​fried cod on another) were really good. Highly recommended, but it’s a small place so it’s a good idea to call ahead for a reservation.

Great fresh food and interesting flavours in a well appointed and casual setting. The seafood is very fresh and prepared in very flavorful dishes!

Sorry I cannot agree with my fellow Unilocalers on this place. I found it on Unilocal,usually a good source for food ideas. They advertise as the only late dining venue in St. John’s. Since I was finished touring at 9 o’clock and didn’t want to go to bed hungry, I walked down from the Foggy Rock Hostel. It is in bustling Water Street and most restaurants were closing.
The interior is charming, but small. I waited at the counter for several minutes before any of the staff noticed me. When I asked if I could take a table for dinner, the first waitress wasn’t sure the kitchen was open ~ huh? Then a second sat me at a table with a menu. I found it limited but ordered a green salad with herbed chicken as they were out of the duck breast salad. It was good but nothing special. The service, however, was inattentive and unfriendly. A couple next to me were obvious friends with a few locals and the waitstaff and were served with haste and smiles. such a disappointment on my last evening in the city. I ordered a dessert to go and it was good, but again, not great.
Would not recommend this restaurant.

While visiting St. Johns on a familiarization trip my bf’s co workers chose Sofias as our dinner destination and I must say Im SUPER glad they did! Visiting from the states, working in the restaurant industry myself, and growing up in California, I feel its pretty fair to say that Ive partaken in some pretty darn wicked food in my time. Sofias didnt even fall a tinge behind in being anything but completely delicious.
We were a party of 8 and EVERYone claimed to be extremely pleased with every element of their meals… from starter, to entrée, to the (amazing) deserts. Most ppl had the scallop app while I had one of the most delicious salads Ive ever tasted (Shopska). Most of us had the fish specials (prosciutto wrapped halibut, cod, and salmon «3 ways») All were said to be awesome (only didnt get to taste the cod) My bf and I tried a REALLY tasty PB choc desert and everyone else at the table seemed more than pleased with their desert selections, as well.
I would NOT dismiss this place as a great dinner destination. While the servers were somewhat busy and the «bistro» feel did come through in ways, the service was still good and the feel of the restaurant is still very nice and yet somewhat cozy.
Thanks to this little gem, Im feeling more and more excited to become a part of the St. Johns community.

This is a great place for lunch or dessert. I’d avoid it again for dinner though as it feels a bit like dining in a cafeteria (I know it’s a bistro — they keep reminding me).

The vaulted ceilings in this lovely restaurant really set the tone for a scrumptious lunch or a delightful dinner. We came across this bistro after flying into St. John’s late one Friday night, only to find it completely full. Luckily, a return to Bistro Sofia later in the evening resulted in a late evening dinner when a table finally opened up. I ordered the Tomato Jinn soup (yum) and the scallops (also yum). My husband ordered the Manhattan chowder and the special Cod entrée and he was equally as impressed with his meal as I was with mine. It was a great start to our vacation!
I also dined here one day for lunch with a group of females friends. Again, it was a very nice experience. Choose from a variety of excellent salads, sandwiches and paninis on the menu board. If you have room, treat yourself to one of their decadent desserts. I wouldn’t hesitate to return to this comfortable and friendly bistro.