This spot had the best ambience! It has a great view of the water but honestly the layout and decor…read moremade me just want to keep my eyes inside instead of on the Harbour! The food was really great - I had the chili glazed pork belly and the kale quinoa salad. Will definitely return!

Loved this place. Visiting from LA, and I wanted to get some good fish and chips. Thankfully Yelp…read moredidn't let me down. The spot had gorgeous decor, nice and open space, and a deck over looking the water. Outside there's only 2-3 tables by heaters, and we weren't at one, but our server brought us blankets. Service was great! Now on to the food. I loved the batter, the tartar sauce, of course the fish was made to perfection, and the fries were so good! I got a salad on the side which was well dressed with a house made salad dressing. The table wanted to share a pizza and I'm so glad we tried one. It was really flavorful and I loved the crust. Great service, great vibe, great food, I definitely recommend.

I've been to Shuck several times. Always good food, nice location and good service. It's also well…read moredecorated and has a pretty good deck for people watching. However I never find the food gets to the level of some of the other Halifax waterfront restaurants. We sat in the back patio, so away from the wind but limited views. Mixed emotions about that but it was a good spot for a quiet meal. We shared several appetizers and, as I said above, everything was good. The tuna tartare, maybe really good and the oysters as well. Hats off to the gluten free options, including calamari. Our waiter was excellent, knew his menu and gf possibilities. Never a bad choice but there are better ones in the area.

We didn't get any oysters. We actually enjoyed our food for the most part, despite the three stars…read more This is a case of the ambiance ruining a meal to the point that we had to just learn, laugh, love about it. Skip the $45 lobster cocktail app. Yes, there sure is a deceptively generous half pound of lobster on that funny little plate, but it and any other seafood listed as part of this dish are drowned in a runny, very dill forward cream sauce. The chorizo shrimp pasta was fantastic. Pasta was al dente. Textures and flavors wonderfully layered. Delicious. The burger was fine. Fish and chips also fine, fries were fresh and hot. Great wine and cocktails list, languid but friendly service on a Thursday night in July. The interior space is all cement, metal and stone. Nothing offers acoustic relief from every tipsy guffaw, loud comment and the noise of the bartender shaking that martini, scooping the ice or collecting glasses. I wished I had brought my AirPods. If you're tired after a day of exploring and just want a decent meal in a place that's easy to find, go for it. We did see a couple wrestling with the $150 seafood tower. Two wide tiers placed too close together. It looked challenging. I know it was because we could hear them negotiating it from across the room.

The seafood chowder was excellent, containing far more varieties of seafood than the normal…read morechowder. The mixed seafood platter included a lobster claw perfectly boiled so it was fully cooked but still juicy--not rubbery as at many other places. The scallop was well-seared and nicely seasoned so as to add flavor but not to take away any natural scallop flavor. The shrimp were properly cleaned and sautéed just as taught in the culinary school I attended. And the risotto that acted as the bed for serving was rich and creamy. The different sauces added to each portion of the risotto holding the various delicacies added joyful surprises for the tastebuds. The cheesecake was marvelous and would have won the contest for best dessert of the trip, but it barely lost to Five Fishermen's PBJ Ganache, which won for its heavenly offering of chocolate Service provided by Kevin and his trainee Dan was friendly but not intrusive and entirely correct. The restauran's decor was welcoming and conducive to good conversation.

We had high hopes for Five Fishermen, and while there were definitely some highlights, the overall…read moreexperience didn't quite justify the price. First off, the atmosphere is lovely--refined but not stuffy--and the service was wonderful throughout. Our server was friendly and attentive, which really helped set the tone for the night. We originally wanted to try a couple of cocktails, but the prices were sky-high, so we stuck with beer instead. Thankfully, the beer selection was solid and went well with our meals. I ended up ordering the burger, mostly because the steaks were way out of our price range. That said, I was pleasantly surprised--the burger was excellent. Super juicy, with a delicious aioli and tomato jam that really elevated it. My wife had the vegetarian risotto, and while she enjoyed it once everything was mixed together, the base risotto itself was pretty bland. Not a bad dish, but definitely not worth what we paid for it. If we weren't on a budget, we might have been able to explore more of the menu--and maybe that would have changed our impression. But as it stands, this one's a 3 out of 5 for us. Nice place, but just too expensive for what we got.

Located in a historical building and right next to Alexander Keith's, Black Sheep makes the perfect…read morepairing offering great food, drinks, and service. We came here right at opening for breakfast and there was already a decent amount of people starting their day here with a meal. The staff was warm and welcoming and seated us right away. Even though it was breakfast, I like that their menu offered some lunch options in case you're looking for something more heartier. The food is fresh, tasty and well-seasoned. I ordered the seafood chowder which was delicious and included tons of seafood. The breakfast options are plentiful, but whatever you do, be sure to try their blueberry lavender jam! It's so delicious and made fresh in-house with local blueberries. It was so good, that I wanted to buy a jar, but couldn't since I had a long flight afterwards and it needed refrigeration. I'd definitely recommend this spot to grab a bite and drinks and I hope they offer a shelf-stable blueberry lavender jam soon!

Much has changed since we previously lived in Halifax, and while not the most seismic of shifts in…read morethe grand scheme of things, Black Sheep's upgrade from a tiny space on Dresden to the former Red Stag (or Alexander's if you're old enough) space was noticeable nonetheless. We came by on a quiet weekday evening in the lead up to the holidays, and the menu was as diverse and creative as ever. The small plates were calling to us - and as always, they let us try as much as possible. The ricotta toast light and bright, with layers of seasonal savouriness. Tender slivers of poached pear, spiced walnuts, watermelon radish and arugula came together for a wonderful mix of tastes and textures, and a fig balsamic glaze brought further sweetness and richness. My wife and I have always been fans of dahl curries, and Black Sheep's presentation was next level, or even multiple levels, for what is normally not a particularly visually appealing dish. Seared halloumi was perched on top, surrounded by a colourful mix of papadam, raita, pickled fennel and red onion, and cilantro. The resulting composition was an enjoyable spin on this dish, while still sticking respectfully close to its roots. I first came across ćevapi/ćevapčići at a Bosnian grocery/restaurant in Ottawa, and loved the grilled, casing-less sausages, and how they paired with accoutrements like ajvar (a red pepper and eggplant sauce), red onions, and flatbread. When I saw it on a restaurant menu in Halifax, it was an automatic "yes"! The little pork sausages had a great char from the grill, and had a rustic grain to the meat, but were still quite tender and juicy. The extra bits complemented them well, with the vegetal freshness of the ajvar, some tartness from the tomatoes and pickled red onion, and a salty pop from the feta. Last but not least was an order of fries. Since they opened, Black Sheep's hand-fries have consistently been some of the best in the city, and their iconic squid ink mayo still makes for delish dipping - with a goth vibe. I hope Black Sheep is doing well in their new digs, because the food that they're making is still as destination-worthy as ever, and now they have the space to match it.

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.

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.

Tasty butter lobster roll on one of if not our last night in Canada, we stayed in Halifax twice in…read moreour trip and saw this place the first time, but didn't try it until the end. The lobster was soaked either butter and delicious. People working the shack were friendly, the table area was a little sketch and dirty...

Their half n' half ($29 based on the market price) was the ideal way to sample two of their…read morecreations, a roll made with cold and warm lobster fillings: The chilled version, dubbed the local, was tossed with mayonnaise, celery, and chives. I found it was refreshing for a hot day and given the ingredients were less flavourful, the lobster's sweetness was more pronounce. Yet, there's something about the some fancy or warm version that was tastier. Who doesn't like garlic butter with lemon and chives thrown in for freshness? It was delicious, but a tad overcooked so the lobster was chewier than the cold version. If you're hungry, one roll will not be enough. Luckily, it comes with a quarter spear of pickle and bag of chips (they were out of coleslaw and potato salad by the early afternoon). Not necessarily filling, but enough to leave you satisfied. If you can hold off on diving into the roll, I recommend walking further down the harbourfront to find a table away from the main food area. While there was tables available in The Salt Yard, it's also a seagull pit. Finding a clean table can be difficult and you'll have to watch out for a wayward wing brushing close to your head. Not exactly the most relaxing way to have lunch, even if the lobster roll is good.

Very hospitable. They make your feel welcomed. That's much better than I expected!!read more

Stopped in here early on a cold Sunday afternoon in May to enjoy a couple drinks. We had the place…read moreto ourselves because it's the off-season, and it was quite cozy. HDC specializes in rum tastings/flights, but I deferred to the cocktail list. They were unable to make 2 of the 5 cocktails on the list (out of some ingredients?), which was disappointing. The staff (a few kids back from college for the summer) is well-intentioned, but I didn't get the sense they were "seasoned" enough to know a lot about the spirits they were serving. Just my bias about 19-year-olds behind the bar. Had the same Stormy Weather cocktail made slightly differently by two different bartenders. Still tasty, but that lack of consistency gave me pause about the staff's experience. All this said...be sure to make this spot a stop on your Halifax boardwalk bar journey!

Decent Spot for Drinks & Apps, but Didn't Quite Wow Us…read more We originally planned to have dinner at McKelvie's, but after getting a few local recommendations, we decided to head elsewhere for the main meal. That said, we still stopped in later that night for a couple of drinks and some appetizers, just to check it out. There's a solid selection of craft beers and cocktails, and the service was friendly. The atmosphere, though, felt a bit underwhelming--not quite as lively or unique as many of the other Halifax spots we visited during our trip. We tried a couple of appetizers: the cornbread with chipotle butter and the burrata. I actually thought the cornbread was pretty tasty, but my wife wasn't a fan of the flavour combo with the chipotle butter. The burrata was just okay--not bad, but nothing memorable. Even the locals weren't praising it. Feels like a chain restaurant. There's plenty of better options around in our opinion. Overall, it was a decent stop for some light fare and drinks, but compared to the other amazing restaurants in Halifax, McKelvie's didn't really stand out for us.

I popped in for a quick pint or two. The garrison red is solid beer. I did not have much honestly…read more I did the 1/2 dozen oysters Rockefeller, So yummy! They have a decent local lunch crowd. That's speak accolades about their food. The open kitchen concept I have always been a fan of. Don't think twice about coming in here for a pint or bite.

Really liked this place…read more We were in town on a cruise and happened upon this place after walking along the waterfront. The vibe was really cool. I ordered the tuna poke bowl. It was super fresh and really tasty. My husband ordered the fish and chips. The piece of fish was humongous. My mom ordered the blackened haddock sandwich. She said it was a little spicy and that the kettle chips were cooked perfectly and really nicely seasoned. The server was super friendly and the service was quick. The location is great. Tons of outdoor seating. Also, the price was super reasonable for fresh, tasty tuna and fish.

This spot looks the part--right on the water, lots of buzz, seafood galore. But for me, it fell…read moreflat. Classic tourist trap energy. First off, the lobster was wildly overpriced. I get that it's Halifax, I get the location... but come on. You're paying more for the place than the food. What really soured the experience, though, was the greeting--or lack of it. I always say, how you're welcomed into a restaurant sets the tone. The host? Cold. Dismissive. There was a wait for a table, which is fine, but when I tried to grab a drink at the bar while waiting, she shut that down like a school principal with a no-nonsense rulebook. No explanation. No offer to help. Just a hard "no." I'm still confused--why not let someone enjoy a drink while they wait and happily spend money in the meantime? Missed opportunity all around. Not somewhere I'd go back to. Plenty of better options in Halifax that serve good seafood and treat people like guests, not inconveniences.