Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. Canada
  3. Atlantic Canada
  4. Nova Scotia
  5. Ingonish Beach
Purple Thistle, Ingonish Beach, NS

Purple Thistle

3.5
3.5
72 Reviews
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Canadian
The stunning views and sophisticated flavours give this upscale restaurant its exceptional reputation. Enjoy the surrounding views of the Atlantic Ocean and the majestic Highlands while you enjoy your meal. So treat yourself to a unique Nova Scotia dining experience—you’re on vacation, after all.
Reservations are for Dinner only.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.


Is this your restaurant?
Claim this listing

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    Canadian, Seafood

  • Hours of Operation

    Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:00 am Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:30 pm

  • Phone number

    (902) 285-2880

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress Code

    Business Casual

  • Executive Chef

    Chad Robinson

What 72 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

3.5
3.5 based on all time ratings
  • 3.6Food
  • 3.8Service
  • 3.5Ambience
  • 3Value

NoiseModerate

Sort by

Filters

  1. winelover

    Atlantic Canada

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 17, 2022

    overall4food5service1ambience5
    The food was amazing but the waiter needed some basic training on how to wait a table.
  2. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 13, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Food was expensive and portions were tiny. They didn’t even serve bread despite setting side plates with the little butter knives on top. We left with a hefty bill still hungry. I had the halibut which was very tasty despite the small portion and minuscule sides. The view is very picturesque.
  3. DavidT

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 13, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience4
    Awesome server who made dinner enjoyable. Dinner seriously lacking in vegetable content. Taste was very good for both meals we had. Lovely views from anywhere in the dining room.
  4. OpenTable Diner

    Hong Kong Islan

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 12, 2022

    overall3food5service2ambience1
    Looking for fine dining experience, but very disappointed. Good news first: food was good, though not outstanding. However, it took over 30 minutes until one of the waiters finally approached us to take our order. We were not the only ones that suffered from « the high art of ignoring » that was practiced here. When the starters finally arrived, the escargots arrived without bread to mop up the butter sauce. It took another 8 minutes until a dry bread arrived. Unfortunately no alternative nearby - otherwise we would have walked out
  5. GaneshA

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 11, 2022

    overall2food2service4ambience2
    Food was average with increased Waiting time due to less staff.
  6. OpenTable Diner

    Edmonton

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food!
  7. MaeW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I went to the thanksgiving buffet at the purple thistle and everything was delicious. Overall a great experience.
  8. drsamps

    Atlantic Canada

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 8, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    Disappointing experience. Service was slow to start. They purposefully brought us food menus to start then told us it would be a 10 minute wait for drink menus which it was. Our mains arrived before we were done our appetizers. Food was unimpressive- watery corn purée with scallop appetizer, over cooked veggies with steak main. There were bread plates/butter knives set at the table but when I asked if we were supposed to get bread the waiter told us no (but then did offer to bring us some). They ran out of ice cream for 1/2 their desserts. Forgot to bring the coffee that was ordered at the end.
  9. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    4 reviews

    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 20, 2022

    overall2food4service4ambience2
    Visiting with family
  10. Wooster

    New York Area

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on September 19, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience2
    Decor is past sell-by date. No tablecloths as pictured in brochure. Food quality was so-so. Service ok. Would not recommend.
  11. GerardL

    Vancouver

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 18, 2022

    overall1food3service3ambience2
    All aspects of our visit nd meal fell below any expectattions we had. Poor performance.
  12. JoyceK

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 17, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    Noise level question was confusing. I did not know how to respond. It was not noisey. Price of entry a little high for amount but the salmon was the best I ever had. My partner loved the chicken. Server was great. Breakfast was awesome. Best croissant I ever had. Eggs Benedict was perfect even in warming tray.
  13. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    5 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 15, 2022

    overall2food2service4ambience3
    Had all the signs of a struggling restaurant. Mediocre in every way.
  14. TomG

    Des Moines

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on September 14, 2022

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    Classic park lodge ambience. Fish cooked perfectly. Locally sourced menu.
  15. Darkwing296

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 8, 2022

    overall2food2service5ambience3
    Wait staff was great but the food not so much. We had the lobster dinner which was VERY overpriced. It was cold and rubbery. Seemed like it had been cooked a few days ago and then stuffed back in its shell. The “ potato salad “ was terrible as well. Shrivelled up baby potatoes and a few veggies that were cooked in vinegar or so it tasted. Very disappointed in our meal. The waitress was lovely and attentive so she was the best thing about the place. We would never return here and will not be recommending this to others.
  16. LandonM

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 6, 2022

    overall3food1service4ambience3
    Over priced for what you get. Poor wine selection
  17. Elte

    Montreal

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 5, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience5
    Too expensive for the quality. $65 for a lobster dinner, with 2 asparagus and 2 baby potatoes is ridiculous. Lobster thermidor at the Bicycle Thief in Halifax is $54, with amazing sides. View is great though.
  18. GuyL

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 5, 2022

    overall2food1service3ambience2
    We were hoping for a high quality romantic dinner, but … Everything was overcooked ! Where was the Chef ? Really overpriced for such a poor meal … Monday, September 5, 2022.
  19. akaTeddyR

    Minneapolis

    26 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on August 30, 2022

    overall4food5service3ambience5
    The rack of lamb was excellent. Service was slow and confused. Beautiful setting.
  20. DebbieB

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 25, 2022

    overall3food4service2ambience4
    The view is spectacular and the food is good but it is painfully clear there are experiencing a shortage of trained wait staff. The service was not anywhere close to good enough given what they are charging.
  21. PeggyE

    Toronto

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on August 24, 2022

    overall3food3service5ambience4
    The restaurant is still advertised as award winning though it appears it last won years ago. Our whole experience was disappointing though service was fine. One of us ordered ratatouille which honestly was one big slab of partially cooked onion, one thin slice of zucchini covered in tomato sauce and topped with a massive mound of quinoa. Flavourless and awful….
  22. sgretired

    Washington DC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 23, 2022

    overall3food2service5ambience2
    The staff were great as well as the views. But food was average and ambience was more cafeteria style. Way overpriced for what they offered.
  23. DanielC

    Atlantic Canada

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Excellent choice of dishes.Delicious food and good portions.Attentive service.
  24. OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 14, 2022

    overall2food2service4ambience1
    Tired and overpriced restaurant. Avoid
  25. Birder

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 14, 2022

    overall2food2service1ambience1
    Probably the. Best dining around, but that’s a very low bar to meet.
  26. GinetteD

    Atlantic Canada

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 11, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience2
    Dirty couches and tables. Need cleaning and painting. Very disappointed. Looks so good on the website but not in real .
  27. HollyC

    Atlantic Canada

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on August 5, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    I had the beef tenderloin with roasted potatoes and vegetables. It was delicious.
  28. Foodie123

    Atlantic Canada

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 5, 2022

    overall3food2service5ambience3
    Our server (Haley) was excellent, but the food was poor quality and the portions were very small. An $18 dollar bowl of chowder was tiny, really tiny. The chef forgot to read the receipe for escargot (who puts cheese on it), and the roll was so stale it must have been days old. The charcuterie board was good and a decent portion.
  29. Robert

    Richmond

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 4, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    The scallop appetizer was well prepared and nicely presented but the scallops were tiny. I had the halibut for the main course. The fish was fine but the vegetables were either undercooked (carrots) or overcooked (asparagus).
  30. AlexM

    Atlantic Canada

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 4, 2022

    overall4food3service3ambience5
    The experience at the Purple Thistle Dining Room was just fair. We ordered the scallops and the chowder to start and both were fantastic, no issues there. I had ordered the Tenderloin for my main, however, what I received did not resemble the cut I had ordered. In fact, it was sliced and when put together was not a full steak. This was a far cry from what I imagined when ordering a $50 steak. Dessert was excellent. Please do not slice my steaks.
  31. OpenTable Diner

    Atlantic Canada

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 3, 2022

    overall2food2service4ambience1
    The restaurant was filthy!!! Cobwebs in the corners of the windows, dead flies lying around…… certainly ii’s not the same place as we remembered!! Gone are the white table cloths and fine dining experience! Sad. During these Covid times when every business is bending over backwards to have their establishment spotless, Keltic doesn’t seem to care or got the memo!! Not rushing to go back or recommend to others. The server was very nice and professional, polite.
  32. gerry

    Atlantic Canada

    17 reviews

    4.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on August 3, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Overall the food was very good - better than last year ! They need more servers but that’s an issue everywhere! Of note was the professionalism displayed by Deep, who is a student at Cape Breton University in their hospitality program ! He has all the attributes to be very successful in that line of work which is his goal ! Personable,knowledgeable, and attentive ! He was like the Maître D of the restaurant ( which does not have one)! Gerald P Reardon MD, FRCS(C) Halifax,NS
  33. ChristianD

    Montreal

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 3, 2022

    overall3food3service2ambience2
    Bad service, small portion for the high price, poor quality of food.
  34. OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    5 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 2, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    Staff was great. Food was not great for the prices. The atmosphere felt more like a diner. We would have preferred to eat on the bar across the hall
  35. OpenTable Diner

    Montreal

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 2, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    The food was excellent including a terrific charcuterie and cheese board as an appetizer. We really enjoyed the main dishes also including the halibut, salmon and seafood pasta. The servers were very friendly. Yes, some of them are relatively junior but they were all trying very hard to offer a nice evening to the guests at the restaurant.
  36. George

    Atlantic Canada

    4 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 31, 2022

    overall2food1service4ambience3
    Food was very poor. We would not consider returning until there is a different chef. Of our group of 7, only one had a good meal. Very sad. We have had many great dining experiences there over the years.
  37. Lonestar

    Atlantic Canada

    6 reviews

    2.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on July 28, 2022

    overall2food1service4ambience2
    Please keep in mind I do not care how expensive a meal is as long as it’s a good meal, the Keltic Lodge “Was” known as an amazing place to eat, Our friends who have beautiful summer homes in Ingonish told us we will not be happy, we booked four nights for dinner and canceled three reservations after our first evening that we experienced, the food was absolutely the worst I have ever had in a fine dining restaurant it was an absolute embarrassment being a proud Caper Bretoner, our waiter Evan was very good! I would never recommend to eat at the Keltic Lodge to anyone and whoever runs this place needs some serious training!
  38. Jenn

    Alabama

    13 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on July 27, 2022

    overall3food1service2ambience2
    Food was not good at all. The pasta dish with seafood had no flavor the sauce was just disgusting. It was supposed to have clams and did not. Escargot was rubbery and small and tasting gross. The chicken dish also small and lacking in flavor.
  39. dcboy

    Central Coast

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 27, 2022

    overall1food2service1ambience2
    The food was not good and very overpriced. Service was horrible. When I asked our waiter what type of oysters they were offering that evening, he said he couldn’t tell me because he is a vegetarian.??? This is not fine dining.
  40. robc

    Toronto

    5 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 27, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience2
    beautiful lodge and location with great amazing views. Food was way too expensive and mediocre..........and they have you by the short and curlies as there is no where else to eat while you are up there.

FAQs

Purple Thistle is rated 3.5 stars by 72 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.


Is this your restaurant?
Claim this listing

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood

    Ingonish Beach

  • Hours of Operation

    Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:00 am Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:30 pm

  • Cuisines

    Canadian, Seafood

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress Code

    Business Casual

  • Parking Details

    Hotel Parking

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive Chef

    Chad Robinson

  • Additional

    Beer, Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2023 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 700, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking LogoPriceline LogoKAYAK LogoAgoda LogoRentalcars LogoOpenTable Logo