So glad to see my favorite Halifax haunt is back in business. We had the best evening from beginning to end that included calamari, crostini, gnocchi, and ravioli - plus tiramisu and torta for dessert. There is no substitute for excellence! Highly recommend! Thanks Karl for first class service! read more

daMaurizio Dining Room - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Amazing northern Italian restaurant. It was a recommendation from bartender at the hotel and she was right. Very delicious food. Staff is friendly. Had the lobster soup, fresh oysters and caprese salad because had a big lunch. All delicious so going back again read more

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Went in with high expectations and was extremely disappointed. Food and service were not good. The food was bland and mediocre at best.

When I went to my grade 12 prom we decided to get reservations at Da Maurizio before the dance began at the Westin, just down the street. There were about 20 high school seniors at our table, which took up the majority of our dining room. Most of the remaining patrons were middle aged business men or older couples dressed to the nines. I was a little overwhelmed by the atmosphere, the food and the even the bathroom (which has expensive looking lotion next to the soap). This is because Da Maurizio is a fine dining experience, and (as we soon learned from our bills) not intended for teenagers with part-time jobs. Having dined at Da Maurizio a few times since my first experience I've started to become more comfortable there. While it is still expensive and the bathrooms still have lotion dispensers, I have to admit the food and atmosphere are worth it. Hot Hint: There is a "Prix Fixe" special menu every month that offers an option of 4 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 3 desserts. Choose one dish from each category for a fixed price of $39.95. Last month I had bruschetta, prime rib of pork and chocolate torte and it was delicious, just don't forget this doesn't include drinks. read more

daMaurizio Dining Room - Taken from the Da Maurizio website. - Italian Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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My favourite spot in Halifax, so so good! I had noticed on Twitter that DaMaurizio had been tweeting about a new menu coming out on the 26th. After a few exchanges and when I realized pumpkin ravioli was on the menu, I made a reservation for my birthday on the 26th. When I arrived and checked in online, one of the owners Tanya, stopped by the table to introduce herself and thank us for coming, she had said that she had enjoyed my tweets. I thought that was a nice touch. I have seen her at the restaurant every time I've been in, and it helps to show why the restaurant is so consistently good,because the owners really care. Onto the best stuff, the food! I had the pumpkin ravioli with citrus duck sauce and sliced duck breast, just awesome. The sauce complemented the pasta perfectly. For my main, since I'm a carb lover, I had the gnocchi and requested it be made with a pomodoro sauce. The service was excellent, so of course the waiter did not bat an eyelash accommodating the request. The sauce was fresh and flavourful and the gnocchi was light. I have a giant sweet tooth, so dessert was my favourite. I ordered the creme brule trio. It had mini pots of vanilla, dark chocolate and salted caramel flavours. OMG, it was awesome. The salted caramel was hands down the best, the little flakes of sea salt just popped. I can't stop thinking about it. Da Maurizio is not cheap, but when there is no budget, this is my top choice, every time. read more

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I've passed this restaurant a million times when going to the Saturday farmers market in the old Keith Brewery Building on Lower Water, but only recently decided to go there to celebrate our anniversary. The atmosphere has tons of Old World charm. The wallpaper, draperies, high ceilings and framed Botticelli prints and candles, lots of nooks for intimate dinners and more open spaces for larger groups all make you feel as if you've travelled through time and space to Northern Italy of old. In fact, while we were waiting for our food to arrive, my husband said that all that was missing was the crackling fireplace and the horse-drawn sleigh waiting for us outside. Food was spectacular and it was really a challenge to choose only ONE appetizer, ONE entree or ONE dessert. We almost chose the Priz fixe menu that would have simplified matters for $49/person with a choice of appetizer, entree & dessert ( there were 4 selections for each course) Instead we shared their CALAMARI ALLA GRADESE - Flash fried calamari with tomato, garlic and crushed chilies which was so awesome I was almost sorry I didn't just order that for dinner - and I would have licked my plate if it weren't for all those other diners. We decided not to order any pasta dish (although they all looked wonderful...but, I guess we'll just have to go back for more) and go straight to the entree. If only we went with a dozen other people so we could have shared many of the dishes. Since both of us love veal scallopine and they had two very different versions, we each had our own - I opted for all' Astice - sautéed with fresh lobster and finished with a garlic, tomato, brandy and cream sauce and my husband chose cremini, oyster, porcini and shiitake mushrooms, finished with red wine and demi-glaze. Both were delicious and each of us were delighted with our own choices. Dinner being so rich from the appetizer on, we decided to share a dessert and went for the maple creme brulee with cappuccino. Service was perfect. Our waiter was very helpful in choosing the wine for the meal and magically appeared when we were about to ask for something. This is definitely my choice for special occasions. read more

daMaurizio Dining Room - da Maurizio - Italian Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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I really enjoyed my meal here with friends. The service was great. Everyone we dealt with was pleasant and attentive, from the hostess, to our waiter, to the food servers. My food was fantastic. I had the beet & goat cheese salad to start. It looked cool, there's a pic here I snapped. Generous with the goat cheese, just how I would want. I had a grilled chicken breast with tomato sauce as an entree. Well prepared, not dried out. The chile marinade described leaves a nice little kick. The tomato sauce had a lovely flavour that made a rather plain entree by description really wonderful to eat. I had the maple creme brûlée for dessert. I had expected the maple flavour to be a bit stronger, but regardless it was super creamy and great. I like the way this place rolls in the sense that there is no rush between courses. Great place to come with friends to sit, chit chat, and enjoy a leisurely meal. Not a place to rush into hoping to grab a bite with 30 minutes to spare. Kick back, have some wine, relax. You can make reservations through Open Table, always a bonus. The menu is varied and I picked out a few more things I'd like to try - I'll be back. read more

daMaurizio Dining Room - The beet & goat cheese salad. Yummmmmm. - Italian Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

I was looking forward to dinner here for days. Tried the Radicchio Salad and the Gnocchi. salad was great- original, fresh, high quality ingredients, flavourful and a very good size. the gnocchi - I've had better. It was a good size (the appetizer portion), but i found the texture too chewy, and it didn't compliment the rich cream sauce. I like my gnocchi to be a pillowy and light but this was chewy and gummy. service was good though and the restaurant was decadently decorated (gold cherubs, and brass salt and pepper grinders on the table) read more

daMaurizio Dining Room - Gnocchi. Too chewy. - Italian Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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Second time having dinner at this restaurant. since they offer special course menu, me and most of friends ordered the course. $45 (before tax) includes one choice of appetizer, one main course and one dessert. My friends ordered mussel as their appetizer. Looks really good. I had squash soup. It was ok. My main dish is haddock with lobster. It was really good. I enjoyed it. The best was dessert. I had pumpkin and pecan torte. A little bit salt makes the dessert better. I love its taste. read more

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One of the finest restaurants in Nova Scotia. The quality of food is equal to any top Michelin rated restaurants in the world. From South Africa to Australia to China I have always compared them to da Maurizio and they all came up short. One of my wife's favourites is Filet Mignon with Yorkshire pudding on a bed of Black Rice, this is a dish for the sophisticated palates while genuine Yorkshire puddings are hard to produce and must be consumed within 10 minutes after leaving the oven. Hence most Chefs made it more like bread for a longer shelf life and it becomes Yorkshire Bread and not the pudding. The services of da Maurizio from booking to table are warm, friendly and with attention to all details. Both the kitchen staff and servers always go beyond to please their customers and make one feels at home every visit. We have always enjoyed our visits especially when we want to impress foreign visitors the high standard of Nova Scotia Restaurant. We may be a small province like a sparrow but we have all the parts that an eagle has to fly on our own with grace and achievability. read more

Da Maurizio is one of those popular Halifax restaurants that I've always wanted to try, but didn't have the chance until recently. Now I can't wait to go back. First of all, the service was outstanding. We were eating rather early (probably around 6:30pm) on a Monday, so the restaurant was not busy at all. Every need we had, or could have had, was met quickly. Drinks, questions about the menu, suggestions on wine, everything. I ordered a Bellini, and as they were out of peach nectar it was replaced with apricot - still delicious! With my meal, I had a glass of white wine recommended by the waiter, and it was perfect. The food itself was impeccable. We shared the gnocchi (all pastas and risottos come as appetizers at Da Maurizio, but are also available as mains) thanks to a recommendation from Ben B. Delicious doesn't even begin to describe the gnocchi. I ordered the lamb shank for my main, and it was great - but it didn't compare to Boyfriend's main, the grilled AAA tenderloin. I don't think I've ever tasted beef so delicious. We were wildly impressed with both meals. If you're a vegetarian, there are some great pasta options. Personally, I can't wait to return so I can try the ravioli with pumpkin and apple - it sounded divine! And I unfortunately didn't have room for dessert this time, but there's a cheesecake I have my eye on as well. Overall, it was a fantastic evening out. We were celebrating an anniversary, and the service and food really helped make it a special one. It is expensive, but definitely somewhere I'd recommend for special occasions...or all the time, if you can afford it. read more

Once again a tauted Italian joint that doesn't live up to the hype. Just like what my grade eight girlfriend said about the big Italian jock she dated before me. A little stuffy, and takes itself a little too seriously, but the staff are nice enough. We tried the prix fixe- a salad of some kind to start (it's been less than a month and I can't really remember. Not a good sign), and an overcooked pork chop with an unexceptional demi glace, accompanied by overcooked vegetables, for me; a soup to start for my wife which she felt was exceptionally good, followed by an unmemorable fish dish. Dessert? Can't remember. Not a good sign. What's all the fuss about? We'll have to try the regular menu some night, and see what they do that is so extraordinary. Or is it a case of good...by Halifax standards. read more

The service industry is all about pleasing your customers- even before you enter the front doors. Did they do this? You bet! How did they do it? Read on: 1. Nice website 2. They use Open Table for reservations- I used it 3. Someone called to confirm my reservation 2 days before What about the actual service experience? Did they meet my high expectations Again, you bet! How did they do it? Read on: 1. I was greeted at the door by a friendly, warm, and professional host who took our coats and hung them up for us. 2. They decorated for Valentine's Day with hearts, candles, etc. Just the right amount of cheese. 3. My glass of water never stood a chance at becoming pessimistic. The servers never gave us a chance to argue is the glass half empty of half full? It was refilled every 3 sips. 4. They gave us a choice in tables and gave us the coziest, and only booth in the restaurant. We got to have privacy while being able to 'people watch'. 5. In typical fine dining fashion, there were long waits between courses. It's great - you can really enjoy your time there. What about the food? Did they meet our high expectations? Yes- but I won't lie- it wasn't my favorite meal. It was close, but it didn't make the top 5. How did they do it? Read on: 1. Bread to start with some yummy butter. I have to admit- not my favorite selection of breads but at least it was fresh. 2. Most delicious asparagus prosciutto soup ever. 3. Perfectly cooked pork tenderloin, potato, and veg. Small portion but surprisingly, I was full. That's what happens when you get lots of time between courses. You realize that you don't need to eat nearly as much. 4. I had the warm crepe filled with cinnamon apple- the apples were too sweet and tart. They also could have used less. Brennan had the pumpkin cheesecake with mascarpone cheese- the best cheesecake i have ever eaten. I am really happy about my experience here and I will return again for another special celebration but it's really out of my price range. We had the prix fixe menu as part of the month long Savour Festival. read more

I've been coming to daMaurizio since Maurizio and Stephanie Bertossi opened it what seems like a lifetime ago. Good friends Tanya and Andrew King have owned it for almost a decade and have done an excellent job of maintaining the quality and specialness of the resto. They have an outstanding staff who are knowledgable about the food that Andrew produces and the wines that rest in their cellar. While this is a destination resto for special occasions, it's accessible enough for a Tuesday night when you just want someone to feed you something wonderful. The menu changes seasonally and they have a prix fixe menu that changes monthly. You can't go wrong with the calamari or lumache to start. If you're into bitter salad, have the warm radicchio salad. Their take on a caesar salad is also excellent. If the veal chop with porcini crust is on the menu, get it. Anything with rabbit will make your taste buds do a happy dance. They have a deft hand with seafood, and the halibut is always an excellent choice. The pastas and risotti are all delish and come in an "appetizer" size (which I find filling enough) but you can also order them in a larger "main course" size. Desserts are decadent--their pastry chef is a genius. If you're like me and don't have a sweet tooth, you'll be pleased with the cheese plate. The wine list is extensive but lacks details so ask your server for descriptions and/or recommendations. And don't be shy about setting a price limit! They've got something to suit every budget. There is also a decent selection of wines by the glass. They have a full bar, so if wine's not your thing, there will be something available to quench your thirst. Special occasion or not, daMaurizio is a fabulous destination. read more

My husband made reservations at this restaurant as part of our Valentine's Day plans. It was my first time, and as Italian food is one of my favorites, I can be somewhat picky. This restaurant did not disappoint, it was excellent. Has a very nice atmosphere, and the service was perfect, very attentive, however, not to the point of annoyance. Our server was able to answer all of the questions about the menu items, which ones that she preferred, etc., and when she noticed that I did not drink my iced tea, she promptly removed it from our bill. Honestly, it seemed that all of the servers provided this level of customer service. The food was simply amazing, very flavorful, not huge portions, yet completely satisfying. We each had an appetizer: Calamari alla Gradese and Cappasante alla Pancetta, which were both beautifully plated and flavored perfectly. Our mains were ordered off of a special menu, and I can not remember the exact names, he had a veal dish, and I had a linguini in a white wine/pesto sauce with manila clams. It was the best clam linguini dish I have ever ate. We finished with a Trio di Sorbetti (selection of handmade Italian fruit ices) which were delicious. Now, it is a little pricy, but the quality is incredible. We did not order any alcoholic beverages, just pop, water, iced tea (which is the only thing that I didn't like), and our bill was approx. $105(+ tip). Any special occasions, if you enjoy Italian food, this place is a must. read more

Oh wow. Who wouldn't love this place? I've only dined here a couple times, and each time has been with a large group. Group dining in any setting can be a challenge, but at Da Maurizio's, they make it as enjoyable as possible without missing a beat. Service is impeccable and I personally found the waitstaff to be really on top of things. I've only sampled a few dishes here, but I keep going back for the risotto. It doesn't disappoint. Everything else on the table looked and smelled divine; it's rare to dine with a group where everyone raves about their choices, so thumbs up to that! I can't speak to the wine list, as I'm never the one selecting the bottle, but I've been told the choices are good and pare well with the food. Overall, if you're looking for a great fine dining experience, make a reservation here! PS - The entrance is inside the brewery market. But don't worry, every first-timer get's confused, too. read more

We kicked off the holiday season here last night with the intention of a luxurious, gourmet experience and we weren't disappointed. Well, once we were able to find the main entrance anyway (go inside the brewery market). While the atmosphere was a bit of a let-down, likely due to multiple very large parties who were drunk and rowdy by the time we got there at 9pm, the food was spectacular. We split the Gnocchi Al Gorgonzola as a table which let us all delight in the pure bliss of it all without having to tap out before the rest of our food, then enjoyed our own salads and mains. The pumpkin-stuffed ravioli was incredibly rich, the lamb shank looked unbelievable, the seafood medley could have fed a family of four, and the selections that one of us chose from the delightfully cheap prix fixe menu (three courses, $39.95) held their own next to the $30 mains. If you're looking for some of the greatest flavours in Halifax, you'll find them here. read more

Another "BLAH" Italian restaurant in Halifax. Service leaves something to be desired. We were served by an older man on Thursday evening that seemed too busy to tend to us. I would state his name had he mentioned it to us. I ordered the Ravioli alla Boscaiola (chicken ravioli) and was surprised when it came out to me there was far too much salt I couldn't eat it. Our waiter did not ask me how my meal was one time. Thankfully my girlfriend shared some of her meal with me to fill me up. A different waiter removed our plates from the table and did not ask how it was either. We had the Crema Bruciata allo Scriroppo d'acero for dessert. (Maple creme brulee) Again, nothing special. The sugar cookie atop it was hard and old. I waited about 15 minutes for the bathroom as there was a line up of 4 women for a 1 stall bathroom. (Not very fine dine if you ask me.) Having paid over $160.00 for two of us to have dinner and drinks and not being *wowed* -- we will not return nor recommend this place to anyone. read more

1st visit: Called last minute on a Thursday for reservations and the staff almost giggled, saying it wouldn't be a problem. Nice, warm atmosphere with traditional Italian prints on the wall, very comfortable chairs (without arms), divided into different rooms, some with windows, some without? We were seated at a two-seater about midway down the left side room and the tables immediately around us remained empty from about 6:00 8:00, with a few being taken at opposite ends. Always like the free bread with three varieties in the basket and offer of more if we wanted some. Came with whipped butter, no oil/vinaigrette. Delicious Caesar salad that I've actually been thinking about for the last 48 hrs, although it had no croutons or crustini, I found it was good enough just from the homemade dressing. Very good spaghettini (sp?) with garlic, olive oil, etc. Was asked if I wanted the appetizer size, which I didn't notice as being an option on the menu, but it was just right. I wasn't hungry afterwards, but not painfully full either. Told by my partner that the tenderloin was quite good. Thick like a filet mignon, but served as a relatively 'small portion' atop the mashed potatoes which could've been a bit more, but satisifed him. Yum dessert of chocolate/white chocolate gelato with brownies? Definitely large enough to split. Decent wine selection. Small cocktail menu but I believe you can order anything you want from the bar. Service is always excellent and you are often greeted by one of the owners as soon as you walk in the door. Have been back several times and always enjoy it, including for a rainy lunch in January. We arrived just about noon and there were a few tables taken, but overall it still wasn't busy. I tried the Panini alla Caprese (grilled panini with fresh mozzarella, beefsteak tomato and pesto aioli. $12) which was very flavorful, pressed thin with the bread being perfectly crunch and cheese perfectly gooey, and I took half home. Also had the side Caesar salad again, this time it did have one large crouton on top, and was delicious. My friend tried the Cavatappi alla Bolognese (Cavatappi/corkscrew pasta sautéed with veal braised with garlic and fennel seed, tomato, basil and a touch of cream, finished with Grana Padano. $16) and ate his bowl clean, commenting that it was very good as well. We split the dessert of Budino alla Guglielmo (velvety chocolate hazelnut mousse topped with whipped whole cream and garnished with fresh berries and chocolate curl. $8) which is served in a glass and was light enough to not make us painfully full, but big enough to split, and great-tasting. A second lunch on a rainy Wednesday in February was similar to the last visit. The place was mostly empty, great service, enjoyable meal. I tried the Linguine Integrali Primavera (Whole wheat linguine sautéed with olive oil, garlic, fresh chillies and tomato, tossed with grilled vegetables and finished with lemon and basil goat cheese. $16) which was a good mid-sized portion for lunch, very flavorful. My friend tried the Carne Macinata (Beef tenderloin burger with aged cheddar, red onion jam, lettuce, tomato and sweet chilli mayo on a brioche bun served with rosemary frites and truffle aioli. $18), which looked quite standard but he said was very good. I look forward to going back many times. :) read more

Location, atmosphere, and food are great. However, every time I go (I go back so many times for the dessert menu and the atmosphere), the service is very much substandard. Drop the pretentiousness. The food, the selection of scotch, and the beautiful decor of the restaurant already have the prestige covered. I would definitely visit on a more regular basis with more friends if the services got better. I have high hopes.. (don't be afraid to be stern with some of your veteran waiters.. I think they are being too comfortable). read more

I would have rated this 3.5 stars rather than 4 if I could. As for the appetizer, we had the calamari and the dates with prosciutto and goat cheese which we all thought were very tasty. Our entrées came and I had the gnocchi alla pomodoro (gnocchi with tomato sauce) which was delicious! The gnocchi were perfectly cooked. My mom had the scampi and asparagus risotto (they ran out of scampi so she had shrimp in hers instead). My mom usually loves salt but she said her risotto was way too salty. She had to send it back and they fixed it which was good. My aunt's pasta was very salty as well, which brought it down to a 4-star. Besides that, we had excellent service. read more

daMaurizio Dining Room - Gnocchi Alla Pomodoro at daMaurizio - Italian Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

I'd heard SO much about this place and after several great experiences at the Bicycle Thief, I decided to give it a try and see what all the hype was about. Everything from the moment we walked in the door was excellent. The hostess who sat us down was warm and friendly and although presented us with several menus, explained each one in detail and even gave her own recommendations. Our server arrived shortly after to take our drink orders followed by the meal orders. He was attentive right to the end and, as ridiculous as this sounds, I felt he actually cared about us...everything from filling up our water glasses at just the right time, checking in with us when our food took a bit longer than normal (not that I noticed) and promptly arriving with the debit machine when our desserts were done. This guy was nothing short of awesome. Everything about the food and drinks were also worth writing home about. The salad, haddock, and banana cream mousse dessert were to die for. We opted for the Table D'hote which gave us a three course meal for around $39+HST. It was well worth it. I would normally give more information about the actual food but I was so in awe of each course, I barely remember what they were called. In my opinion, this place is worth all the hype and if you're looking for a nice night out (with a few bucks to spend) I'd absolutely suggest Da Maurizio. read more

This was my first time dining at daMaurizio's, I arrived a little earlier than my party and was greeted by the friendly staff. They took my jacket and sat me at the bar while I waited for the others. The bar service was great and wine selection is vast. We were taken over to our table which I found was nicely lit and not cramped at all. One issue I had when it came time to order! I forgot my glasses so could not see everything one the menu too well. I ended up going with the 'root salad' it has a very fancy name but again I couldn't read it. for the main meal The salad was a mix of different root vegetables cooked to perfection. The main meal I chose was chicken (again no glasses for the fancy name, I spotted chicken in the description and ran with it) It was cooked nice and tender. One of the group chose the wine and we ended up going through two bottles of it. I will be back for two reasons, 1. I have to bring my glasses and read the menu. 2. the food and service here is excellent read more

I love the food they serve because the vegetarian options are plentiful. They always have 2-3 soup options and a few entrees as well. It's nice sitting down knowing you'll be able to find something scrumptious on the menu. On the other side of things, the crowd is a little older only because the prices are high and I'm sure they don't get a lot of students eating there. As a youth I find that when I eat here the waiter always caters to my mother and gives me the snotty shoulder because they're looking for a tip. However, what they don't know is that I'm the one paying the bill and I don't appreciate being judged for my status as a young student. For this reason I have slowly fazed out coming here as I've found vegetarian options that are equally as scrumptious AND offer good service. read more

Had an absolutely wonderful experience. The level of care and attention exceeded my expectations. I was very pleased with the atmosphere and the COVID safety measures. More importantly, the food was to die for (and surprisingly generous with portion sizes). Lastly, the service was exceptional. It's been a long time since I felt at ease in a restaurant (even before the pandemic) and I would come back here again and again. My only "complaint" was that I found it somewhat difficult to find as the exterior facade is being face lifted right now--but, the very friendly person who answered the phone when I called gave me perfect directions. Thank you so much for a great meal read more

Terrible service. I have to say that it was a busy night at the restaurant. Not enough staff? The waiter eventually took our orders but never explained or described the menu. "Ready to order?- Diner style. Basically, no table side "romance" so to speak. Rude and obnoxious. Never once asked how our appetizers were. Food was average at best. Way overrated. We ordered a bottle of wine but never saw it again after he opened it. Apparently, their policy is to take the bottle away and to pour you a glass when you need it. Bizarre. Problem was that he never came by when we needed a refill. At this point (close to two hours after we arrived), we had enough and simply left before the entrée came. We made our way to the Press Gang where the food and service were excellent!!! read more

This place is located right between the courtyard marriot hotel and the Alexander Keith's Brewery. Atmosphere: got the classic dinning room look, I find some tables are a bit too close to each other. Although it has high ceilings, it could still get very loud when there is a big group. Food: I had Lumache al Trebbiano (Snails sautéed with garlic butter, white wine and parsley, baked on crusty bread...) to start. I love snails, but I find this one had too much cheese......it's nicely garnished, presentation is beautiful, but not amazingly good in taste. For main, I got the gnocchi. Again, it's too creamy, and on the salty side. I couldn't even finish the appetizer size order. Its just very salty and blend. The texture of the gnocchi itself is fine, in fact, pretty good, but the sauce kind of ruined it. This restaurant is quite pricey, given that price, I'd expect more or I could have had something else better at another restaurant. read more

One of the problems with eating out at Christmas as a table for two is suffering from 'not a big group-itis.' The food was all quite good, but I felt neglected in favour of much larger groups nearby. Our waitress was not particularly attentive and forgot a few things we asked for. Our wine wasn't refilled promptly and it took awhile for us to catch her eye for the cheque. Part of the joy of dining out and splurging (which is a once-a-year occasion for my friend and I) is the high quality of service. We've had that other places, but not so at daMaurzio. If it were any other restaurant at any other time of year, then the level of service would have been fine. As it was, the food was special, the occasion was special, but the service was not. That makes me a little sad. read more

After hearing this is the "Best Italian Restaurant" in Halifax, I had to try it. On boy...I was so disappointed. The ambiance was nice, the bar had 6 seats...okay maybe I'm being picky. Anyway, the food...my fiend and I order the small portions of Lobster Risotto and Lamb Risotto...both were VERY Salty. The mussel appetizer was alright along with the fried calamari. They do have a extensive wine menu...as mentioned it was okay...not close to the quality of Italian food I've had in other cities. Prices are fair and service was par. In my opinion...nothing to rave about. read more

Great atmosphere, nice menu, but I was very disappointed in a key part of my meal, and not impressed with the service. I ordered a prix fixe menu, which included pork tenderloin, "Arista di maiale alle pesca e cigliege". The pork arrived and it was tough and dry. It took some effort to saw through it with my knife. I often cook pork tenderloin at home, and if done correctly, it is still pink in the centre and remains delightfully tender, with a nice, slightly-crisp crust. This pork was overcooked, which is a crime when you're paying $40 for it. The wait staff were notably absent for the entire main course (a good 30 minutes), so I didn't have a chance to raise my concerns about the meat before it was too late. Not once did the waiter ask us how everything was or if the food was okay, before, during, or after the main course. This was a reservation and a table of 7 on a Monday night. You would think with a larger group like that, the waiter would be paying pretty close attention to us. My wife's panko crusted haddock seemed to be cooked very nicely, my mussel appetizer was tasty, and I enjoyed my banana panna cotta dessert. The pork, however, like the service, was just bad. read more

An exceptionally delicious meal. Calamari, radicchio salad, risotto all beyond incredible. Truly outstanding and I can't WAIT to come back. I am here for 2 months so you know I'll be back to try some more of their incredible dishes. Also, service was perfect. Thanks! read more

Dine Around at Da Maurizio via www.halifood.com Written June 20, 2010 Summer is here, and what better way to kick off the best season in Halifax than hit up a fine dining establishment to take advantage of Dine Around? The girls and I decided on da Maurizio in the beautiful and historic Keith's brewery building. There is no other way to describe the cuisine at da Maurizio than almost painfully traditional Italian fine dining. Unfortunately there were light showers happening that evening and we could not move the reservation to the patio. Nonetheless we enjoyed the superb service and classic cuisine indoors. Much to my delight there were several choices for each course on da Maurizio's Dine Around offering, and keeping in the then upcoming Catch Festival spirit, a large majority were seafood. I chose the flash fried calamari with tomato, garlic and crushed chilis. The calamari was perfectly done, not a second over-cooked, deliciously tender flesh and a light and crunchy batter. The rich tomato sauce and fresh squeezed lemon made a simple and tasty topping. The only disappointing factor was the dried parsley scattered across the classic round white plate. Another option - which I taste tested from my neighbour's plate - the Fresh mussels sautéed with garlic, onions, chilis, white wine, leeks, tomato and fresh herbs, topped with crusty bread - was also fresh and delicious, however, must have included several more chilis than the calamari, as there was a surprising (and highly enjoyable) kick. My entree - the spice crusted salmon filet, pan seared, finished with lemon and cucumber-basil yogurt - was nothing less than I expected. Perfectly seared salmon on top of creamy mashed potatoes, accompanied with broccolini, asparagus and carrots - the classic accompaniment and presented in the classic way. The only thing that was not traditional about this dish was the yogurt finish. Here I was thinking I had tried Atlantic salmon in almost every way possible when a new and delicious yogurt topping slaps me in the face. I enjoyed the freshness of the cucumber and tartness of the yogurt immensely, a nice way to offset the rich and oily taste of the salmon. As far as the wine goes, honestly, the list was more pricey than I had even anticipated. Not being in the mood to drop some serious cash on a few nice bottles, most of us opted for a glass of the cheapest red ($8) which was a malbec, and excuse me for not remembering from where, although I know it was a hot climate, perhaps Spain. One of my dining companions did order a rhubarb martini from the drink menu which looked absolutely delicious and was served in a very non-traditional low-ball glass. I rarely eat dessert and even more rarely would I order tiramisu, however, we were in an Italian joint and I felt it my duty to test this classic dish here of all places. It is served in a martini glass, on top of a doily, on top of a round, white plate. Although the tiramisu itself was tasty, and made in the traditional way, and was a nice finish to my meal, I feel if food could talk this poor, tired looking little dessert would scream out "please, stop serving me on a doily, and change it up already - try something new!!!". Raging desserts aside, this was another great girls night out with a highly enjoyable meal in one of Halifax's long-standing, reputable, and very classy fine dining establishments read more

Okay, so my new mission in life is to make gnocchi half as good as what I had at "da Maurizio's"! It was the creamiest and smoothest gnocchi I've ever tasted! The gorgonzola sauce was silky perfection! Service was excellent and loved the old-world atmosphere and crisp linens. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

daMaurizio Dining Room - A view from our hotel room... - Italian Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Wow, another absolutely amazing dinner at daMaurizio. They set the bar fairly high and never disappoint. We go to daMaruizio every time we're in Halifax (which is a fair bit) so I think I've sampled just about everything on the menu. Consistent and always awesome, if you go to Halifax and don't check out daMaurizio, you're missing out! read more

I eat out everyday. I have yet to find an Italian Fine Dining as good as this and I have been going there for 20+ years. It doesn't get much better, unless you're in Italy. MUSTs are Radicchio Salad (have tasted nothing like it, in ALL my travels) and the Calamari. read more

This Italian restaurant has really good food....because its French food. I'm usually bored to tears with Italian food, but loved this place. read more

The BEST Italian food I have ever had (and I frequent the north end of Boston). The prosciutto wrapped and goat cheese stuffed dates started it off slow and succulent, along with a bottle of red wine from Nova Scotia. My husband's fettuccine al funghi was too notch, but I must say that the langosta ravioli was THE BEST dinner I have ever been privy to. If it was in Nova Scotia for more than 3 nights, I would be going back! read more

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I've been waiting to go to daMaurizo for months. I also had an old Groupon coupon to use.t It took a bit longer than expected for my guests and I to be seated. It wasn't a horrible wait, but something I would have expected an a family resto or bar, not a fine dining establishment. I let the waiter know I was using the coupon and he instantly said I couldn't order off of the prix fixe menu. That was fine, it's just the abruptness that he said it that rubbed me the wrong way. The waiter was noticeably chilly the entire experience which was felt by all three of us. The food was fantastic. I went for each course while my friends ordered from the prix fixe. Everything was wonderful, perfectly seasoned and well presented. My favorite was the Ravioli alla Boscaiola. The food would have merited a 4 star but the waiter's stand offish approach really pulled down the overall experience. I will return, for the pasta alone. read more

Mice are a problem in Halifax... we all know that. But Mice are a more than a problem in daMaurizio. I have been in many restaurants in Halifax and I have seen a few mice on the floor, but a mouse climbing a customer's leg... I haven't seen that until I went to daMaurizio. I went to to this restaurant because of the reputation it has. To be fair, food was very good, drinks too. But dishes and wine glasses were not very clean (there were some lipsticks marks on the first wine glass I had....) and after watching that mouse reaching the hips of a costumer made me decide not to go to this place anymore and warn future costumers of this. Luckily for me and my wife, we had already eaten when we saw the mice and the customer screaming until the waitress arrived. Otherwise, the experience would have been even worst. read more

In my opinion, this is the best restaurant in Halifax. I went to Da Maurizio for the first time this week and every course was wonderful. I had the shrimp appetizer, asparagus soup, the pork, and the banana custard for dessert and it was absolutely phenomenal. I found most of the staff, except one :( very kind and knowledge. They all seemed to be passionate about food, which is a wonderful thing to see in Halifax. The entrance is hard to find but the atmosphere especially for large groups is wonderful. I'm truly impressed. read more