Our waitress Kelly P was amazing! I was traveling with my family from Pittsburgh to Nova Scotia &…read morewe stopped here for dinner. She sat us immediately & was very warm & friendly! She gave us a whole pitcher of iced water for the table & a whole lemon slices up for our water! Very generous! I ordered the Flatbread with pears & goat cheese & the seafood chowder, both were excellent! We all also shared the bread pudding for dessert which was delicious! We all enjoyed our food & left happily full! Such a great place & experience! Highly recommend!

We live in best western and it's a best place to eat before bed after long hours drive around Nova…read moreScotia. We came here 2 nights in a row, excellent customer service. They have deals on Thursdays for wings and happy hour on Fridays. Food on kids menu are HUGE, actually anything on the menu is huge, we ordered 2 mac n cheese for the kids, it comes with a big bowl with a side toast, this definitely can fit 3 kids, lots of cheese.

Picked up some goats milk fudge from here to take home/ absolutely melt in your mouth super smooth…read moreand delicious. I'll be back for a proper visit to try other things hopefully soon!

Short walk from our hotel, very easy to navigate to. Seater right away and server was friendly and…read moreapproachable. The wife and I had cocktails recommended by our son, all good here. Creative and well prepared mixed. I especially liked the bluelevadier. Only complaint, it's loud and the neighborhood could intimidate some.

Decided to check out one of the top bars in Canada in my hometown of Dartmouth. Downtown…read moreDartmouth had changed so much since growing up - it's now the cool place to eat and drink as opposed to somewhat sketchy in the past. Located mid way up Portland Street. Very cozy, intimate environment with an energetic crowd the night I went. Mostly bar seating although there are about 4-5 tables - the most you could probably seat are four people. Had a couple of cocktails - amazing. Food was mostly seafood and extremely fresh, prepared well and innovative - see pictures. Price was reasonable for food of this quality. Will definitely return. Tip - you should probably make reservations. There's a patio in the Summer as well

I'd been living in Dartmouth for a couple months before I finally made my first visit (cut me some…read moreslack, unpacking takes time!), with my wife and I stopping by after work on a Friday. I'd call it happy hour, but Dear Friend is too popular and upscale to bother offering a happy hour, so let's go with the Quebecois term, cinq à sept. I began my weekend wind-down with one of their house creations, All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down). It seemed fitting giving my age demographic, and it was one of the few specialty cocktails with whisk(e)y in it. With an ingredient list even longer than its irreverent title, it combines Jim Beam rye, Hennessey VS cognac, beef tallow (!!), cedar and bayberry leaf. After an impressive rundown from the bartender on the work that went into creating this drink, I thoroughly appreciated it's warmth and depth of flavour on a cool fall evening. The beef tallow made for a velvety smooth mouthfeel, without having globs of fat floating in the drink, and the cedar and bayberry added herbal undertones that contributed without overpowering. For some solid sustenance, we stuck to the bar bites section of the menu, although they do have bigger apps and full-size entrees. Marinated olives were an easy choice, while the falafels beckoned with their deep-fried crispness. To round out our trio, we had to go with the house Party Mix. The Party Mix came out first, and deviates from the classic chip mix by combining sweet and savoury, with caramel popcorn, spiced cashews and mini chocolate truffles. It was endlessly snackable, and great for having a drink at the bar over great conversation with your significant other. I'm not one for the standard black or green olives that come out of ungodly large food service containers, but I've been slowly warming up to higher tier olives, and Dear Friend's very generous bowl was a great bar snack, bordering on small meal. The dish that disappeared the quickest was the falafels. This was partially because they were so damn good and there waere four pieces, as opposed to the other two dishes. They came in finger-form, as opposed to the small pucks/balls that are more commonly seen, and the extra surface area allowed for an even crispier bite, while a delicious cashew tahini cream that lent to the familiar falafel flavour, but with a certain je ne sais quoi. That's right, French twice in one review - I'm fancy AF! Small bits of pickled cauliflower and a delicate layer of microgreens brought brighter flavours to play off the richer note of the falafel and tahini. It's now a local cliché to talk about how much downtown Dartmouth has changed over the past decade or so, and Dear Friend has been one of the standard bearers of that continued change these past few years with their thoughtfully crafted beverages and shareable bites.

Oysters were some of the freshest I've tried, service was very friendly. Elevated but relaxed…read moreatmosphere.

Three of us ordered eggs benny--2 regular ones and one Korean. We found all three unremarkable. One…read moreof the orders had a piece of eggshell in it. This was all mentioned to the waitress, but other than an apology nothing else was offered. Also, toilets on two different floors did not have toilet paper.

Halifax has never had a shortage of Italian restaurants, with many of them being regarded among the…read morebest fine dining places in the city for years. And while I was in exile in Ottawa for several years, just the downtown has inexplicably added several more Italian spots. Of those though, it was Sapori's casual, street-food-inspired menu that piqued my interest the most (my condolences to the regrettably-named, Sketti and Ball). One day, my wife and I popped in for dinner after work. The elongated restaurant was decently full between regular diners and an solid showing for a pizza-making class. It happened to be Dine Around, so the arancini and square pizza would have to wait, as if there's one thing I like more than street food, it's a deal! Dine Around menus are typically prix fixe with an assortment of choices, and Sapori's was no different. Choose between a few apps, mains and desserts and voila, you've got yourself a three-course meal for $30. I kept it simple and went with the classics - a Caesar salad to start, spaghetti and meatballs, and a profiterole for dessert. The Caesar was sizeable and serviceable, with no departures from the formula, but no standout twists or quality ingredients here either. Romaine, real pancetta, and crumbled parmesan, which sadly wasn't the real deal Parmigiano Regiano. It was big enough for both my wife and I, which was an unexpected bonus though. Next up was the spaghetti and meatballs, a comfort food classic beloved by both young and old. The al dente spaghetti was evenly coated in the pomodoro sauce, and the two meatballs were saucy, tender and hearty. A solid coating of Parmesan and a sprinkle of parsley completed the picture. The star of the show was a bit of a tease, because there was just one (I get it, food costs, etc), but the profiterole was excellent. The choux pastry was lightly crisp on the outside, with a wonderfully rich vanilla cream inside, and a dusting of confectioners sugar and a caramel drizzle took things up a couple notches. And by "things" I mean "my blood sugar". My next time there found me swinging by for a solo lunch, with their casual fare in my sights. Their lunch deal (slice of pizza + soup or salad + a cookie) was an unreal deal for a place that isn't one of Halifax's dicey pizza points, so I jumped on that. Feeling hungry, and wanting to support them beyond the basic deal, I also tacked on a single arancini and a can of San Pellegrino. For my slice I chose the salsciccia which comes with Italian sausage (are the wires connecting on "salsciccia"?), salami, caramelized onions, and mozza, with a drizzle of honey to top it off. It was a hefty slice, with a thick, airy crust that reminded me of focaccia. The sweet honey paired well with the savoury and salty meats, as well as the lightly sweet and acidic tomato sauce. A solid slice, for sure! The garden salad was a mix of fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and carrot, with an herbaceous vinaigrette to brighten up your palette. I enjoyed the crunch of the sizeable chunks of carrot, in contrast to the more common shredded carrot. The arancini disappeared quickly, as the crispy shell and cheesy rice within begged to be finished in as few bites as possible. A tip of the cap to Sapori for giving my lonely arancini a nice plating with a dollop of tomato sauce to hold it to the plate, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley and parm to top it off. Mid-day, mid-week staffing was minimal, and owner Luca Ferrante took mine and other customers' orders with friendly aplomb. Halifax's fine dining scene has long been dominated by Italian restaurants, but more casual fair like Sapori deserves its own place in the city and our bellies.

Staff were very friendly, but service was somewhat slow and they weren't very busy. The portions…read morewere large and the food was cooked well, but the chicken parm and spaghetti lacked any flavor or depth. Maybe it was an off day. The sausage and mushroom risotto was great! So much sausage and mushrooms throughout.

This restaurant is a gem! On a business trip we stumbled on…read morethis delightful spot located in strip area. Katrina a waitperson guided us through the menu The food and its presentation were excellent with an excellent wine list. The decor is subtle and not distracting.

Good service. Nice oysters on the half shell. And a lovely bowl of noodles with tofu…read more Best of all Barrington Street is away from the waterfront and the tourist hubbub. Very quiet. Towards the end of the dinner the gentleman eating alone at the next table started telling us what Canada needs to do to diversify its international trade. I was amused that this guy had all the answers and thought he should be advising the PM. My wife was not amused.

Located on the bucolic grounds of the Grand Pré winery, Le Caveau was the natural choice for mine…read moreand my wife's tenth (!) anniversary while staying at the winery's gorgeous inn. We've been once before, dining on the patio with friends last summer, but our host suggested dining inside to avoid a buggy spring evening. The quaint interior has the feel of an old world, European restaurant thanks to the stucco-slatgered walls, wood paneling and arches windows which looked out to the stone-paved courtyard. I was drawn to the tasting menu, which at four courses gives you a good chunk of the menu to enjoy, but it isn't a three to four hour commitment like larger tasting menus. At $80 and $35 extra for the estate wine pairing, it felt like a good value too! Up first were the lobster croquettes. The crisp exteriors of the croquettes contrasted sharply against the soft, lightly lobster-y goodness within. A marinated lobster and tomato salad brought some refreshing acidity to the dish as well, and the marinated lobster meat had to have been some of the most tender lobster that I've ever had. Next for me was the fazzoletti. This cut of pasta, named for its form which is similar to a handkerchief, was topped with a tomato and mint "tartare", confit garlic and a whipped cod sauce. The house-made pasta had a great, toothsome texture, although the flavours of its accoutrements were a little flat. The mint didn't really figure, and I'm not sure what a tomato tartare is supposed to be other than some diced tomato? Look, I'm all for fine dining, but sometimes the effort that's put in to punch-up the verbiage on the menu can be eye roll inducing. The whipped cod was creamy and rich, but again, the cod was not prominent at all. While I was gorging, my wife did have her own appetizer, the pan roasted asparagus. The verdant spears of asparagus had a little touch of char from the pan, and they paired well with a creamy burrata, and sweet and tangy relish of cherry tomatoes and lemon. The bright flavours and creamy burrata were a great way to highlight some of early pieces of the harvest. For my main, it was a confit lamb leg adobo. The thick slices of lamb were some of the most tender, succulent lamb I've ever had. I'm a big, big fan of Filipino food, but no flavours of vinegar, soy or garlic really made themselves known here. A smooth potato puree doubled down on the richness, while a mix of crisp kale and pea shoots brought some textural contrast and balanced out the palate. My wife had the gnocchi Parisienne for her main course, which had the pillowy bundles of carbs in a luscious sauce of Grand Pre's L'Acadie Blanc, cream and scallion butter, with an almond crumble for a little crispness. For the last of my four courses, chocolate marquise filled the dessert slot. The decadent slice of chocolate was similar to fudge, but not *quite* that dense, although it was certainly just as rich and indulgent. A pool of crème anglaise added to said indulgence, while ginger cookies brought some crunch and the bite of ginger to cut through it all. The dish with the most "wow" factor was definitely my wife's zeppole. These deep-fried balls of dough were wonderfully crisp on the outside, with moist and pleasantly doughy interiors. Dusted with sugar and nutmeg, they put Timbits to absolute shame. Sorry, not sorry, Canada. It didn't stop there though, as they came with almond ice cream, whipped cream, and a sour cherry compote that had that delicious mix of sweet and tart. I was lucky that it was a generous portion, because I was able to do my husbandly duties and finish off the dish. Service was warm and attentive, and the atmosphere is such a unique little getaway. I hold them to a high bar due to reputation, expectation and to be honest, pricing, and while perfection may not have been met, it was still a delicious meal and great experience. There's a reason Le Caveau has been around for so long, and will continue to be for years to come.

There is a reason Curated magazine rated this place #9 out of the '50 Best Places to Eat' in Nova…read moreScotia (see photo of write up from 2023 edition)! We came for a birthday celebration which we were very happy about because Le Caveau doesn't traditionally do winter dinners. They are open during January and February for weekends only. I was sad to learn that they will close in March and April but hopefully that changes in the future as early spring would be awesome here. We chose the 5:00 pm seating (open 5-730 pm currently) and it was a great choice because we were the only ones in the restaurant. Of note, the restaurant is located at The Inn (across the actual restaurant, on the same property) during the winter months. Our server was lovely and let us choose our seats in one of two rooms - the 'kitchen' room or the side dining room. We chose the dining room and that's our only regret; the other room would have allowed us to watch the chef which would have been awesome. We took a while with the menu because we couldn't decide with everything looking so good. The server brought us a birthday drink to toast while we decided which was really nice. While the portions may look small in the photos, choosing one item from each course makes this just perfect. We decided to share a second and if we had each had our own, we agreed we'd be overly full before dessert arrived. Some folks may find this over-priced, but you're paying for quality local ingredients that are made to order as you sit. There are no Sysco products or pre-bottled ingredients in the kitchen. You really get what you pay for while supporting local farmers. Seating is VERY limited so you definitely need reservations. We will definitely be back in the summer to check out the actual restaurant. We would really love to visit when the pergola patio is open because a cocktail or glass of wine with all of the blooms would be just stunning. Skip the garbage fast food for a month and save up to try this place out. You will love the service, quality and the atmosphere.

On a cruise stop in Halifax, we were drawn to this restaurant by their fabulous sounding menu and…read moreboy were we glad. Our lunch experience was exceptional. The ambiance is warm and inviting, our Server was terrific. And oh my, the food couldn't have been better. From the complimentary focaccia to our mains, wow good! I had the Crab-stuffed Ravioli with Shrimp in a Limoncello cream sauce and Husband had the Shrimp Fra Diavolo. We agreed it was some of the best cooked shrimp we've ever had. And the pastas were outstanding. Highly recommend!

Absolutely delish. This is my second time checking out The Bicycle Thief in Halifax. This time I…read morehad Linguine al' Aragosta & Sangiovese wine which was so good! For dessert, I tried the Butterscotch Caramel Cake and had enough to finish after the Sarah McLachlan concert. My server was delightful and helpful in selecting my meal. The restaurant is classy, with decor that is welcoming and cozy. I plan to eat here each time I am back in Halifax.

I wish we took a picture of the actual restaurant -- it was so tastefully decorated and coordinated…read morewith the name Peacock. The scallops were incredible -- crispy outside and cooked to perfection throughout. This place had a very well curated drink menu. So many choices (wish I took pictures). I'm not sure about the parking situation here because we walked from our hotel next door. But it's located on a lovely spot near the water.

I was staying at a nearby hotel and had heard good things from a local, so I decided to check it…read moreout. Beautiful room, created a casual and sophisticated vibe. As the name suggests, it is a wine bar, so a good selection of local and imported wines. I had the steak tartar, followed by the scallops, and finished with the triamisu affogatto. The steak tartar was the stand out. It didn't come with crackers, so I ordered some foccacia. I really didn't need to. The dill pickle croutons were such a nice touch in flavor and texture. The scallops were interesting...perfectly seared, and all the components of the dish (roasted cauliflower, sour cherry, dill) are good on their own but didn't really come together to form a dish. So it is a bunch of tasty things on a plate that don't really relate to each other, but all good on their own. Finally, the tiramisu...loved the affogatto, and sabayon all worked together beautifully, and it is a large portion, very sharable! Lastly, the service was great. I was solo and felt very well taken care of

If you like sandy food served with a side of pouty waitress, this place is for you. Ordered Caesar…read moresalads with bacon wrapped scallops, and 2 cocktails. What a disappointment. Never again for us, and can not recommend. Yuk! Over $70.00 and the atmosphere was sad at best. Only reason for sand in the food is laziness in the staff's prep. Don't waste your time or money.

Food was good. Service Not. Party of 5 for dinner tonight at 5pm. Server was lacking. Water filled…read moreover the table, one overfilled into my purse and floor, never cleaned up. At the opposite end of table water over filled and handed to the end person over their head and drained on table till reached the second person in. Food served at one end of the table to be passed down. Sorry but this is not serving