The Engine Room - Truro, Nova Scotia

G G.

Food was horrible. This place went down hill hard.
I ordered an 8oz steak and my buddy went with 6 oz steak. The cook refused to see his mistake. So the waitress just gave us two free beer instead. My daughter ordered wings. The wings were terrible. You might luck out with the pizza or just avoid this hole entirely.

Ryan H.

Bathroom were absolutely Disgusting, The tables were sticky, all the seats are ripped and spider webs everywhere, thought about walking out, my company I had with me was very unhappy

Collin S.

We came in on a Saturday just before noon. My wife was excited for the wings because it had been more than 20 years since we had been to the Engine Room, and we remembered that they were excellent. Well, let's just say that things change. I had the boneless wings while my wife had the bone in. Neither were good. I think mine were a Pinty's frozen product while the standard wing was borderline slimy and definitely not crispy.
I ordered a Keith's from the tap selection, but they were out, so I asked for a cidar, and the server didn't know the selections. There were the options. The manager came over and took my cidar order, and then the server carried the cans over to show me the choices. It was a little awkward.
I didn't expect much, so I'm actually not even disappointed. I just know that I'll give it another try once some changes are made.

Darini P.

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by friendly servers who made us feel right at home. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and perfect for a relaxing meal.

The portions were huge — definitely great value for the price! The seafood chowder was rich, flavorful, and paired perfectly with the fresh, buttery garlic bread. The kids devoured their creamy mac and cheese, which also came with garlic bread (a nice touch!).

The highlight of the night was the steak and shrimp special — cooked to perfection and absolutely bursting with flavor. It was beyond amazing and something we’d happily come back for again and again.

Highly recommend for families, seafood lovers, and anyone who enjoys hearty, delicious meals served with genuine hospitality.

Kevin H.

Haven’t eaten at The Engine Room in years because the food quality went downhill. Heard there was new management, and it was worth trying again. We showed up around 4:30 p.m.

I had the potato skins and chicken fingers—both were very good. Portion size was way smaller than I remember, but still enough to fill me up.

Service was friendly, but could’ve been a bit quicker.

Just my opinion, but the biggest letdown? The music. I’ve been going to the Engine Room for over 40 years and never had to endure COUNTRY MUSIC!
It was like the same song playing over and over. I found it distracting & commented on it several times to our server. Thankfully, Andrew (the manager) showed up and switched it to real music.

I’ll definitely be back for the food and the classic Engine Room feel—but if there’s country music on again, I’m out.

Michael C.

I had a disgusting experience at Engine Room in Truro, NS, and I’m shocked this place is still open. From the moment I arrived, the main bartender, Jodi, repeatedly called the place a “dive”—not exactly what you expect to hear from someone representing the business. She even said, “No one cares about this place,” which became painfully obvious throughout my visit. With an attitude like that, it’s no surprise the service and cleanliness were unacceptable.

Upon arriving, I ordered 10 Pornstar shots, and instead of being properly measured and poured into shot glasses, Jodi hand-poured sloppy, unmeasured shots onto two plates, with excess liquor spilling all over. When I asked, “What am I supposed to do with the excess alcohol poured sloppily onto the plate?” her response was to call me a "dick" and demand that I “just pay.” How is a bartender with that attitude still employed? As someone with 14 years of bartending experience at The Dome in Halifax, I was shocked by the lack of professionalism. Does she even care about her job, or is she just there for a paycheck?

The bar itself was disgustingly unclean. I noticed watermarks and lipstick stains on multiple glasses hanging upside down. When I asked for clean ones, the busboy seemed confused and had no idea which glasses to wash. To make matters worse, the bar dishwasher wasn’t equipped with chemical sanitizer—a major health code violation.

For a Friday night at 1 AM, you’d expect a buzzing atmosphere—but the place was practically empty, with only about 20 people at most. The music was just as uninspired—cheap, CD-version tracks instead of a live DJ or even a decent playlist. How does a nightclub stay open with this kind of energy (or lack thereof)?

Out of curiosity, I looked up the Nova Scotia Food Establishment Inspection Reports, and the violations I found were alarming:

Dishwasher violations—they were running it without proper sanitizer.

Pest problems—areas affected by pests must be cleaned immediately, and a pest control company must be hired.

Temperature logs—they aren’t being recorded daily to monitor food safety.

Raw meat storage—they store raw meat incorrectly, risking cross-contamination.

If you’re thinking of going, I strongly suggest you check the official inspection reports yourself: Nova Scotia Food Establishment Inspection Reports.

To be fair, the Singapore Sling I ordered was served in the correct glass, but it still had the wrong garnish—a basic detail any competent bartender should get right. This small highlight, however, doesn’t excuse the dirty conditions, unprofessional staff, and overall lack of care.

Between Jodi’s rude behavior, the unsanitary conditions, and blatant health code violations, it’s shocking that this place is still operating. If management cares about the future of this business, they need to address these serious issues—starting with firing staff who openly mock the bar and insult customers.

I wouldn’t recommend Engine Room to anyone looking for a clean, professional, and enjoyable night out. Avoid it. The staff don't give crap and are clueless. Good place for Bar Rescue tv show.

Diane M.

We were not greeted upon entering or leaving, waitress dropped our food off without a word, no drink refills, no checking to see if everything was ok, no thank you.
Wings were small and not crispy (asked for well done) pizza was good. Overall will not return

Dinithi E.

I had a fantastic experience at Engine Room Pub! The food was delicious, with the natural and authentic taste of Indian cuisine that really stood out. The staff were incredibly friendly and provided excellent service throughout the meal. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking to enjoy great food in a welcoming atmosphere.