Many restaurants (and other businesses in general) often have opaque or misleading names that don't…read moretell potential customers what they're offering; Chaii Samosa is most definitely not one of those. Despite a small storefront on Quinpool, there's a fair amount of seating in this Indian-street-food-focused eatery, with a cool custom wallpaper that highlights the architecture of India and is part of an overall chill, contemporary vibe that differs from most of its fast casual competition. The compact menu at Chaii Samosa unsurprisingly leans heavily toward its two namesake items, but also has several other street food offerings like chaats and an aloo tikki burger, as well as a few wraps and all day breakfast items. We had to check out the samosas on our first time there, and we went for the dependable veggie, as well as paneer. To beef up the meal (figuratively, of course!), we tacked on an order of the aloo tikki chaat, and for something sweet we got a banana cardamom shake. We were warned that since some of the items are cooked to order that it would take a little bit, but having come for a late lunch, there weren't many orders ahead of us and we had our food in no time. We've all had samosas from cafes that have been sitting in a display case, and if you're lucky, they get reheated in a microwave, but they're ultimately not meeting their potential. Chaii Samosa's, ugh, samosas, are crisp and flaky, with interiors at their prime! The veggie ones were a savoury mix of potato, assorted veg and a flavourful garam masala seasoning. The paneer samosas had a surprising hit of heat as a counterpoint to the squishy cheese. And at three samosas to an order for $6.50 and $7.50, these are a straight up steal, especially these days! I was first introduced to chaats by an Indian street food truck in Ottawa, and quickly fell in love with the mix of textures and flavours in these quintessential hot mess dishes. The aloo tikki chaat here was no different, with chunks of the potato patty serving as a base for a mix of mint sauce, yogurt, red onion and cabbage, cilantro, chutney, and likely more. It was hearty and had a ton of flavour, and again, at $9 it's a very accessible dish. The shake was a pleasant mix of mild banana and cardamom, with the sweet and creamy drink coming to the rescue after some of the spicier bites. On a return visit, I snagged the aloo tikki burger and a mango lassi shake. The aloo tikki itself was a thick patty of mashed potatoes and seasonings, with a super crisp exterior and a smooth and fluffy interior. Some ren onion, lettuce and tomato added a mix of crunch and freshness, and a slice of cheese helped hold things together with its melty goodness. The mango lassi shake was a decadent treat. A regular mango lassi is already sweet, creamy and rich, and merging that with a milkshake, and topping it with whipped cream, is a whole other level! There's a lot of new restaurants in Halifax these days, but Chaii Samosa is one of the few that I'm truly excited about!

Love love this little spot. It's a cute little nook just off of spring garden. don't blink, you…read moremight miss the entrance.. especially if they don't have their sign out It's best to get there earlier in the day for the most options. They are friendly and helpful.

A little hole in the wall. Staff was kind. Shop has dine-in room. Tried the maracoon. It was okay.read more

Great little coffee shop with yummy sandwiches and pastries. Service was super friendly and kind…read more Parking is a little tricky, but worth the walk

Busy local cafe - they are open very early in the morning. The usual coffee and espresso based…read moreproducts. North Mountain is their coffee supplier. Small seating area in a cozy environment with eclectic decor. Had an egg and cheese bagel - pretty tasty. Friend had a smoked salmon scramble on sourdough bread. Was happy. Worth coming

This little cafe has been open for just over a week now, and I am so happy to report that I loved…read moreevery minute of my time there the other day. I don't have an office space, so I rely a lot on cafe's and library's to get me out of the apartment. Tart & Soul is going to be an amazing little get away with huge, bright windows, plenty of tables to work at, and a patio space for when it's nice out. I arrived in the late morning and treated myself to one of their scrumptious scones. Really, they had me at cheese and green onion, but as soon as I took that first bite I knew I was going to be coming back. Their scones are crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with the perfect flavour balance for my carb-loving self. Next up on my "must eat" list? Cinammon buns...but I think I'm going to have to get out of the apartment earlier for those, because they seem to go fast! They have wifi, which I've come to expect at any coffee shop I go to now, and the password is cross stitched into an adorable sign near the cash register. Actually, I love all of the decor. It's cute, a bit kitchy and shows a lot of personality from the owners. There were a boquet of fresh flowers scenting the bench that I sat at, though I could hardly smell them over the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in the back. Mmmmm. Oh, they brew Anchor Coffee for those interested. I love when local businesses support other local businesses, so that definitely pleased me! And it was delicious too. I'll definitely be back! I expect I will be working there a lot once fall term starts at Dal.

The coffee and food here are delicious!…read more There are different types of seating available: a couch, pairs of chairs with small tables or nook style seating. If you like natural light, there is plenty of it in this cafe! I had a bialy for breakfast when I was in and it was such a perfect breakfast that I think everyone should try it. They had both vegetarian and omnivore options available. The baked goods all looked wonderful and tempting as well. I believe street parking is all that's available, but it's well worth it! This is a little hidden gem.

Our first day in Halifax and wanted to eat at Edna's, but we have to wait. So we decided to wait it…read moreout at this coffee joint. The seating area is spacious, but there are signs to limit your stay to 60mins. The menu is easy to understand and standard pricing, although sizes are not specifically written. We ordered a cappuccino and a pumpkin spice latte (because I'm feeling basic Fall). The coffees arrive in 5mins. Fyi: Whole milk is used. Cappuccino: 5/5. Super dark and deep notes. Looks like an 6oz. Very strong. Pumpkin spice latte: 4/5. I don't know how any place can make a PSL not basic/standard. This place tried their best. Not overtly sweet. Looks like a 12oz. Overall: Good place to grab a coffee and chat.

Food is always good & best chocolate chip cookies ever! The cold brew is my go to and the " wake me…read moreup "breakfast wrap hits everytime

I thought this would be a cool place to have a coffee and get some work done before my appointment…read more As soon as I walked in In the Woman at the counter Barked "do you have a mask" I said "no" in utter disbelief that someone would actually be asking for that in April of 2023 and she said "we still require them" in an arrogant tone This is absolutely crazy I really feel sorry for people that are this brainwashed. I don't know if this policy is driven by fear or virtue signalling at this point in the game. If you want to wear a mask fine but don't force this on customers we have had 3 years of devastation. Businesses were ruined, and society still dealing with the aftermath of lockdowns and inflation. I'll say it a little louder for those who can't hear it in the back "THE PANDEMIC IS OVER" You boast about having an inclusive space on your website while enforcing unnecessary masking on people.

Service is friendly and kind, the food is good. The space itself is airy and quaint, and most…read moreimportantly welcoming and safe. I want to use the word "magical" to describe what Glitter Bean has created, but that brushes aside the very real effort that's obviously been put in to make this place what it is.

Fantastic new Filipino restaurant and cafe on Chebucto Road where Fries and Company…read moreUsed to be. The owners did an amazing job renovating the place - it's so bright and welcoming. Seated promptly on the first floor - there are about three tables along with a counter. Upstairs is a much larger dining room. Had a variety of their food - soup bowls, the standard chicken and pork adobo and chicken wings and lechon kewala - all amazing. Tried their breakfast plate as well with pork tocino - comes with eggs and garlic rice. Tasty!! Super reasonable pricing, gracious hosts! Definitely worth visiting - will be back!!!

Filipino food is one of my absolute favourite styles of food. The blend of Asian and Spanish…read moreinfluences, the prominent place of vinegar and garlic, all combine in dishes which are eminently unique and delicious. So when I heard that Halina Café and Bar was moving into the former Fries & Co. Spot on Chebucto, I had them in my sights and made my there one day when I was in the area for a haircut. The menu is a mix of food that spans a spectrum of Filipino through typical Canadian family restaurant. There's straight up traditional Filipino dishes like silogs and ube-based desserts, to fusion-y dishes like a smashed longganisa sandwich and lechon kawali wrap, to items that might lure in the demographic of the previous tenant like fish and chips, and buttermilk fried chicken. That full range of offerings leads to an appealing array of options, where it doesn't feel like they're awkwardly shoehorning in items (which may or may not have a lot of attention paid to them in the kitchen). Longsilog may traditionally be a breakfast dish, but I would eat it for any meal of the day. And likely have. It's has a lot of parallels in a typical diner's standard breakfast, but with a lot more flavour. I love ye ol' breakfast sausages, but longganisa blows them out of the water, and Halina's were wonderfully done. The uncased sausages had great browning and crisp edges from the grill, while the mix of sweet and garlicky flavours of the meat were hitting the spot. A dipping sauce that a mix of vinegar, sugar and soy added further depth and contrast of flavours. Garlic fried rice fills the starch slot in the dish, and some crunchy bits of fried garlic on top doubled down on the garlicky goodness. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that the Philippines are vampire-free! Two sunnyside-up eggs had crispy edges and I used the rice to sop up the luscious, runny yolks. There was a nominal offering of veg with the dish, a tiny bit of shredded lettuce, cucumber and radishes, as well as a pickled slaw called atsara, which is made from papaya and an assortment of shredded vegetables, helped cut through the richer items of the longsilog. In typical Filipino fashion, the staff was super friendly and attentive. A return visit (again post-haircut), had me trying their smashed longganisa burger and fries. If you like longganisa, and anyone in their right mind should, you're gonna like this burger! Every bite brings the rich flavour of the Filipino sausage, with layers of added richness from a scrambled egg and Swiss cheese which was expertly melted over the smashed sausage patty. Standard lettuce and tomato brought some crunch and acidity to balance out the burger. A brioche-y bun was tasty, but didn't hold up super well to the eating process. The fries were of the skin-on, from-frozen variety, but they were properly cooked and good and crispy, so no complaints here! My rubber arm was twisted to try their house-made coconut cream pie, and I'm glad I did! The cream was decadently rich, and the whipped cream topped with toasted coconut was *chef's kiss*. I was even told that they bring in young coconuts to shred and roast themselves, and I'm no coconut connoisseur, but it was definitely better than the grocery store stuff (sorry, not, sorry, Galen). Impressively, this meal, plus a green tea, was a hair under $20 - after tax! Halina Cafe & Bar is bringing some of the best bang-for-your-buck food that you can find in the city, and you owe it to your taste buds to bring yourself there.

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.

Stopped in this morning as we are staying in the wonderful Air BnB upstairs (not affiliated). Staff…read moreis extremely nice, attentive, and knowledgeable. Great music selection and wonderful art on the walls! We enjoyed some bagels, croissants and some coffee. Absolutely great flavor on the bagels and croissants had a nice airy inside and crispy outside. Coffee was well dialed, no bitterness or sourness! Great latte in the morning!

New coffee shop on Agricola Street in the North End of Halifax - just a few steps away from the…read moreHalifax Commons. Bright, airy cafe with a friendly staff. Seating at tables and also by counters that surround the room. Good espresso based drinks made on a pretty sweet espresso machine. Good vibe. Free wifi. What's not to like! Great place to linger on a cold Winter day!

Newly opened cafe in the former Mera Restaurant. Nice French inspired interior. Long hours -…read morefrom 7 am to 11 pm - unique in Halifax for a coffee shop other than Starbucks. Have a full coffee/espresso based drinks menu along with pastries made in house daily. Came in the morning so cinnamon roll was fairly fresh. Large interior with lots of seating - roomy with free wifi so could loiter surfing the internet or doing work. They do have meals - mainly sandwiches and crepes. Will try some other time Probably still having some growing pains as just opened a month or so ago. Will definitely try again!

Appalling. Staffed by village idiots. Fresh pastries were so stale they could have been baked BC…read more Scrambled eggs and bacon (fake bacon carved 1 micron thick) served on a cold plate without knife or fork. I had to get my own and all they had were butter knives. Pepper grinder? All I got were two salt and peppers from a supermarket. My wife ordered crepes and asked for maple syrup and they said they didn't have any! A French crapery! the place had the atmosphere of a morgue. Appalling.