Finally popped into this local pub early on a June Friday afternoon. It's a bright, attractive,…read moreairy space, with plenty of seating, including a small patio overlooking the car park. There's a full selection of wines, spirits and liqueurs, but the hook is the large (36) selection of local beers and ciders, advertised on the large board behind the bar. Apparently they rotate the selection on a regular basis, so there will definitely be something for everyone. No food, aside from the standard bar snacks, though they are entirely happy for you to bring stuff in and there are several decent establishments in the plazas either side of Brookline. It's a real community pub too, with a busy programme of music, comedy, quiz nights etc. Definitely need to check it out on a busy evening to get an idea of the vibe and maybe add the fifth star.

I stopped into the Village Taphouse recently and was so impressed. It has that charming mom-and-pop…read morefeel that makes a place instantly comfortable, but with a really strong drink selection that feels thoughtful and well curated. You can tell the owners genuinely care about the experience. The space was spotless, and I have to mention the bathrooms because they were exceptionally clean, which always stands out to me. The whole place also had this subtle scent of campfire and pine that gave it a cozy, warm atmosphere without feeling overdone. If you're looking for a clean, welcoming local bar in Bedford with a great craft beer selection, friendly service, and a unique vibe, this place is absolutely worth a visit. I'll definitely be back.

We tried a couple of the craft beers and split the Caesar salad and fried chicken poutine. They…read morehave a great selection of beers and also live music which we did not hear because we were there at lunchtime. Everything was delicious!

My wife and I were visiting A friend in NS and I stopped at…read moreNew Scotland Brewing for a cold one after catching the ferry from Halifax. My fav? The Rampant Lion, NEIPA!

As mentioned below, the place is under new management and is now called The Perfect Pour. A new…read morecoat of paint was slapped on the wall and the menu whittled down, but the place is still the local watering hole for a hearty cast of regular booze-hounds. If you're not part of the crew, especially if you're under 45 (by quite a few years, in my case), it can be a little intimidating, because it's obvious you're sticking out like a sore thumb as Not A Regular. This is the kind of place where the head waitress, likely the owner's wife, rubs your back while asking, "What'll you have, hun?" No formality here. A modern jukebox sits in the corner for when there isn't a live performance to drown out any conversation. But that's just how the Saturday night regulars like it; the brew flowing and the music loud while they dance and slosh their beers about. Atmosphere-wise, this place definitely isn't for me, nor was it for my even-younger companions. But the food was surprisingly satisfying. I ordered a one-piece fish and chips. Handcut fries were a little limp, but really good. The fish was moist and flaky, and I loved the battered coating. The coleslaw was a little bland, though. One of my dining companions had a very large order of the fettuccini. I was impressed that it came with a side of real parmesan and toasted garlic ciabbatta instead of just plain buttered toast. It was a large portion, but it filled up the teenaged athlete, which is no small feat. A pound of wings was ordered off-menu, and seemed to be good too. If you're looking for value, this place should be on your radar: dinner for 5, including 4 beers, tax, and tip, was just under $65. I probably won't come back to this place anytime soon, or at least not on a weekend, because I felt uncomfortably out of place for my age and level of sobriety. Maybe after a beer tour or two, I could be convinced to try and blend in with the regulars... in a few years.

New hat... same old dive. Our Friends Pub is under new…read moremanagement, now called the Perfect Pour. From the name you would expect a wide selection of beers... on tap. Not so much. They even have a Clancy's sign on the wall... but don't serve it. Maybe it'll take some time for the new management/owners to spruce the place up, but I wasn't impressed at all. My meal was average, burger, fries, nothing wrong, just nothing special either. Service was slow (but we were a table of 7), though our waitress Colleen was a riot and very personable. The fact that I was with some "regulars" probably helped. Not sure if I'd go back... definitely won't make it a destination. Sorry Perfect Pour... I wanted to like you. No wi-fi, wheelchair accessible, but the washrooms are sketchy.

Nice coffeeshop and cafe in Bishops Landing on the Halifax waterfront. It's reasonably priced and…read moreextremely cozy while having quite a bit of seating. Both indoors and outdoors. This cafe has been around for years in Halifax and in several different locations. I think this is the best one!!!

Found this spot down by the water on my way to work at the pier. I had the latte both visits and…read morewhile yesterday I had the blueberry muffin, today I had the croissant. I drink a lot of coffee and I liked this coffee. Freshly made and hot. I don't typically drink lattes but I've had two here, that in itself says something. Today's croissant was soft and flaky. I typically avoid croissants because i typically get disappointed Ted, but this one has me looking forward to tomorrow. The blueberry muffin yesterday was very good and just the right size, not too big or too small. I could have had a few more blueberries but they can all have a few more blueberries. Probably just the luck of the draw. All that being said, the best part is the atmosphere. The interior is rustic and inviting almost asking you to stay and do some work while traveling. Outside, I found a nice shady spot and enjoyed the waterfront and the people walking by. The staff was friendly and helpful and obviously made a good latte. I would suggest to visit the daily grind when you're in Halifax.

The downtown Dartmouth scene is in an ebb and flow, transforming with some new additions but still…read moremanaging to maintain its very real and gritty nature. Then amidst the uncertainty, there stands Whiskey's - the paradigm of Dartmouth pub life, rolled into this Portland Street venue. I was reminded of Whiskey's when some of my pals went the other day. They ordered a pizza, sans cheese and tomato sauce (allergies and veganism) and the employees and cooks very happy to oblige. When I was there last, I sat on the patio and enjoyed the 5pm traffic and street activity with a posse of friends. There were very drunk people milling about, some screamers having matches, as well as workers enjoying beverages post workday. We ordered some pitchers and enjoyed the sun, before it disappeared behind one of the buildings. This is a great Dartmouth pub, worth the trip across the bridge. The patrons are colorful and unpredictable and the service is pretty great. Grab a brew and enjoy the always entertaining downtown Dartmouth scene.

When I lived on the Dartmouth side of the bridge, Whiskey's was usually my choice for a few post…read morework drinks, as it was within walking distance of both home and work. The atmosphere is extremely laid back, with a few VLTs lining one of the walls. There would often be a performer with a guitar and some classic cover tunes. There was one guy in particular that would do the theme song from "The Littlest Hobo" which went over quite well with myself and almost everyone else there. Whiskey's itself has no kitchen, but their menu is prepared next door by the same owners at Revana Pizza. There is an adjoining door between the two, which is helpful, because alas, Whiskey's has no washrooms. You simply cross through into the bright lights of the pizza joint to use their facilities. I especially enjoyed Whiskey's in the summer. The patio offers a nice view of the harbour, as well as some prime and varied people viewing. Now that I have crossed the bridge, making Downtown Halifax my home, I no longer stop in to Whiskey's, but there are times when I do miss it a little bit. It was the perfect relaxed location for me to unwind after a stressful work day, with almost no chance of running into a client, or someone I might know. Perhaps this summer I'll stop in for a pint or two, before boarding the ferry to Halifax, for old time's sake.

When searching the interwebs for a potential new trivia location, I learned a lot of new things…read moreabout the Woodside Tavern. Other than hosting a monthly trivia night (sorry, not frequent enough for my team), they have a ton of live music (the Gus' Pub of Dartmouth?) and some dabs of South Asian food on their menu, including Nepalese momos. Intrigued, I popped by for lunch while in the area. The expansive space was mostly empty when I showed up on a Monday afternoon, with a couple slot jockeys at the back of the bar. Their stage is at the front, with seating for a few dozen across several tables and booths. Wood paneling, dart boards, and a pool table complete the expected vibe. I was quickly seen to by the warm and welcoming woman working the front of house, and I went with the aforementioned dumplings, as well as their lentil soup to get a little more veg in my meal. The lentil soup came quickly, flanked by a slice of toasted whole wheat bread. It's not traditional, but it is about as telling as the very noticeable menu descriptions like "mild curry" and the "mild" sauce that comes with the momos. There's a lot of hand-holding here, and catering to more delicate palettes. I'm a big fan of dal makhani, although I'm used to it being much thicker, and more of a curry dish than a soup, but this warm and earthy, albeit thinner, version was delicious nonetheless. It didn't pack any of the heat that dal makhanis often do, but I was in Dartmouth's oldest bar, after all. The momos arrived shortly thereafter, with seven large, pleated dumplings in a spiral around a small ramekin of (mild) sauce. The steamed dumplings were tender and moist, with pliable wrappers that held up well. The minced chicken had a punch of flavour from some sauteed onions, and the (mild) tomato and sesame sauce brought a lot of flavour and depth, as I eagerly dunked each momo in it. My next time there had me coming for a mid-week dinner, and I sat in the same spot as before up on the stage and by a window facing Pleasant Street. I ordered up at the bar this time, grabbing a pint of Moosehead and the cheeseburger (with added bacon). It was pretty quiet once again, so the food didn't take long. The menu states that the burger has a hefty 7oz patty, and it was definitely broad and thick, although it had a light, almost meatball-like texture. The cheese wasn't quite as melted as you'd want, but the bacon was nice and crisp, and the toasted bun held up well. Not an award winner, but a satisfying dive bar burger. The accompanying fries were of the crispy coated sort, which I'll give the Woodside a pass for, since they were likely never going to have hand-cut, twice-cooked fries. So they were crisp, and a light seasoning added a little je ne sais quoi. It's cool that the Woodside is mixing up the menu, compared to their dive bar peers, and doing all kinds of live shows, and I look forward to coming back to experience both!

The owner Harry​ runs​ it with his wife are welcoming and if pressed you can get a wonderful…read moreconversation on almost any topic. I can't​ say more about my admiration​ for these two. They offer like previous​ reviews amazing burgers and a famous curry. But let me tell you its ALL about the onion rings. Hand made to order, better than A&W's by a mile. They also offer free pool on Saturday​ and Sunday​. On top of the ​easy going atmosphere​, the charm of the owners and these onion rings is what brings​ me back time and time again​.

Really great for large events, the space is huge and open. Another bonus is the location, very…read morecentral and close to downtown without actually being downtown. Most recently, I attended a wedding here. With 300 guests, beautiful decor, and a live band the place was bumping. Only complaint is someone was playing in the rehearsal space in the basement when the bride was walking down the aisle, which was quite distracting. It's a great place for corporate events, crafts shows and weddings. I'd say the most important thing to keep in mind is numbers, the place is so big it would be daunting for small groups. Be prepared to be your creative hat on. The space comes empty and you'll need decor to transform the place into something special.

I've been to many different functions here and I am amazed at what can be done with this space…read more Great central location - bus, taxi, walk or do a combo. Lots of parking options around. Great space: - two sets of stairs - stage - not too long a washroom wait - bright - separate entry and exit -- ample room at the entrance to do tickets, greetings, coat check - empty lot out back to give your guests outdoor space to roam - kitchen It's got everything! Check it out :)

What an incredible breakfast. The dirty rice is fantastic, service is good, staff are friendly…read more Only downside that is typical for Halifax is finding parking and then you are limited to 1 hour. Food is definitely worth the parking hassle.

I went back here as my friends insisted. I hesitate to return due to the rising cost of their meals…read moreand the quality declining. Well, this just further justified why I do not spend my money here anymore $22-$28 for an eggs Benedict is ridiculous first of all. Second, their potatoes used to be so good but have been horrible for over a year and they give you the smallest portion. I also find the service to be so slow and everyone who works there is absolutely miserable. I paid almost $70 for my underwhelming and small brunch which included a specialty coffee and overpriced tiny caesar drink. This is the last time I'll go here. Go around the corner to Lionshead where you can get properly proportioned brunch dishes for a fraction of the price and service with a smile.