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.

Truly excellent food! With an understated, comfortable atmosphere and a cozy, shaded patio on a hot…read moreJuly day, this is a gem, and reasonably priced. The sandwiches were great across the board: the pork belly and pineapple burger, the jerk chicken sandwich, the "double-jug" smash and the (actually good GF-bun) cheeseburger were all as good as any of us have had in recent memory ("best burger ever" was a reaction to the pork belly/pineapple). But what struck us most was the unbelievably good side salad: the combo of (obviously farm-fresh) greens, apple and subtle pickling with the lemon/maple dressing was memorable. Easy 5.

Alright, so I'm officially bad at taking notes on Battery Park. Granted, in the past we've either…read moregone with friends or been pretty busy, but taking four trips to actually get my first set of notes is a bit embarrassing. It's wild to think that Battery Park has been open for nearly a decade, but the years go by quickly! I'd only been there once before we left NS for several years, and once we returned and got a place in Dartmouth, I knew we'd be here frequently. Burgers and beer - what's not to like?! This first documented visit saw me diving into the Ace Burger part of the menu. I've loved Ace's burgers since their start in the kitchen at Gus' Pub, and I'm glad that they survived the ebb and flow of food trends, un like several other gourmet burger joints. I opted for the Dartmouth-Style Jughead, which is a sort of fancied-up version of In-N-Out's cult favourite, the Animal-Style burger, which involves cooking the patty in mustard on the flat top, and topping it with a messy burger sauce. Battery Park's iteration didn't evoke my vague memories of In-N-Out quite the same way that Stillwell's similarly-themed Burger Week offering did, but it was undeniably an excellent burger. Two, smashed patties with wonderfully crisp edges were lovingly topped with gooey slices of cheese, "Dartmouth sauce" and caramelized onions. This wasn't a pure umami bomb though, as classic accoutrements of lettuce, tomato and a pickle helped brighten up and balance out the burger. The fries were also top notch; the skin-on, hand-cut fries were nice and crispy, and addictively salty. My wife stuck with her long-running favourite, the Pig Mac, which unsurprisingly has pork subbing in for beef in another homage to a famous burger. The flavour is spot-on, and much, much better than its namesake, as in addition to the superior ingredients and execution, it doesn't come with that weird McDonald's aftertaste and regret. As we often do to get the best of both worlds, my wife had gotten a salad so that we could share our different sides. Battery Park's Caesar salad stuck close to the classic recipe, but stood out from the forgettable masses of this ubiquitous side thanks to their deeply rich and flavourful, house-made dressing, fried capers and real bacon. On my next time there, summer was now in full swing, and we snagged a table on the back patio. It was my first time out there, and I was impressed by the space. Patios in very urban settings often have limited real estate, but Battery Park's was a very good size, and had a chill vibe, like it was somebody's (large and busy) back deck. I wasn't feeling particularly burger-y with the heat, so I chose the mushroom dumplings and miso salad, while my other half went with the pork belly and pineapple burger. It was a little bit of a wait with a full house inside and out, but a cold beer and great company made it pass quickly. The dumplings were deep fried to a deep brown, but didn't taste at all burnt, with the spectacularly crisp wrapper encasing the rich mix of chopped mushrooms inside. A dipping sauce of perhaps soy and chili sauce brought added layers of flavour, and a little salad of radish and green onions added a splash of colour and freshness. My miso and ginger salad was very good, with plentiful fresh veg, apple and crisp slices of fried tofu that were beautifully encrusted with white and black sesame seeds, although the overall flavour profile wasn't as Asian as I expected. The namesake ingredients of the creamy dressing didn't really stand out, but it was a tasty salad nonetheless. My wife's burger was an impressive sight, with glistening, glazed slices of pork belly and a grilled section of pineapple on top of one of Ace's always-fantastic patties. The combination of sweet and savoury was a winning one, and it made me think of one of the first "gourmet" burgers I ever had, the Ultimate Burger at The Henry House, which also comes with pineapple. As expected, the top-notch fries were good to the last fry, and I should know, as I finished off what my wife didn't have room for! I suppose the idiom that "a lot of ink has been spilled" doesn't apply in this digital age, but fixtures like Battery Park still deserve attention for the great job that they're still doing after all these years.

Great little pub! Lots of good options on the menu. Friendly service, great location, parked out…read morefront.

Jan 11 & Apr 11…read more You can only live in Dartmouth so long before you end up at downtown stalwart Celtic Corner, and that's where my wife and I found ourselves on a post-holidays weekend, when looking for a relaxed meal. We leaned into the Irish options on the menu (don't you dare call them British!), as I ordered the Trinity Steak Boxty, and my wife went with the Curry 'N' Chips, with added chicken. Our food came out to us in quick order, and we were soon happily chomping away on our brown foods My wife's curry and chips is a pub classic, and while I appreciate that the curry was served on the side and not making the fries soggy, it is very not visually appealing to see plain diced chicken on a pile of fries. Once it got a dousing of the curry sauce it looked a little better, but let's be honest, a dish of assorted shades of yellow and brown isn't winning any beauty contests anytime soon. When reading the menu, I had incorrectly remembered the boxty as a pastry dish. However, while it is a dish of meat and sauce in a carb shell, it's actually more rustic than a pastry, with the exterior comprised of shredded potatoes. The potato pancake had a significant char on the edges that was just seconds from being full-on burnt, but the flavour (and crisp edges) worked well with the indulgently rich filling of steak, mushrooms and onions in a cream sauce. I'm happy to note that the bits of tenderloin were pleasantly tender and not at all dry, which isn't always the case in these sorts of dishes. Service was attentive and friendly throughout our meal. A return visit saw us returning on a bustling Friday evening during Burger Week Bash. I wasn't on a Burger Bash mission, but I figured that I would have the opportunity to try regular menu items many times in the future, plus I had a blood donation scheduled for the following week and I could use the iron top-up. The Irish Burger was a hefty, half-pound patty (a mix of lamb and pork), topped with red cabbage, goat cheese, fried onions and a garlic aioli. I appreciated the unique mix of meats for the patty, and while I'm not confident in a high lamb content, it did have a good, meaty flavour and had a decent crust on it, although it was a little overworked or compacted and too dense as a result. Some people hate on smash burgers for their ubiquity, but that style of burger avoids things like this. The toppings all kinda got lost together in the creamy mess of the goat cheese, but they worked fairly well; saltiness, savouriness, and a hint of crispness from the slaw and fried onions. A brioche-ish bun was nicely toasted and held up well against the onslaught. My wife's maple curry pasta felt like a flashback to the 2000s when this dish was on the cutting edge of Canadian fusion cuisine. It was familiar and approachable, and it was nice that they had a gluten-free pasta option as well. The Celtic Corner could use a menu revamp and upgrade their plating, but it's still a welcoming neighbourhood local that's served Dartmouth for many years, and will do so for many more to come.

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​.

Uh, this unknown place has unusually good food. All fresh and from scratch. Been here 5 times and…read moreit is not a fluke, the kitchen knows what it is doing. To say the seafood is adequate is an understatement. This is a blue collar place and the clientele is well mannered, respectful, and behaved; the emphasis with the customers is great food and not a lot of drinking (at all). Much more of a friendly family eatery. Family run, always worth the time to visit. Drop by and you won't be disappointed.

TBR makes a decent breakfast when you are hungry, and the servers are polite…read more We have only gone for supper there once and weren't really impressed. My husband had the wings, which were just ok. I had one of their "specials" for the week which was a BLT sandwich (good and toasted) alongside a cup of ham and split pea soup (fairly certain it was canned soup, very mushy and salty). The atmosphere could use some upgrading. Not only is it drab, but the sun can really shine in through the little windows they have and since they don't have curtains or blinds you occasionally have to sit and eat with the sun in your eyes. I'd also prefer to take my wallet out just once instead of paying the bartender for our drinks at the beginning of the meal, then paying our waitress for our food at the end. It's nice that we have a local pub in the neighborhood, it's just too bad it's not better.

Our first dinner in Halifax was a delight, we had just arrived and checked into our hotel, and…read moredecided to try the restaurant next door. Bearly's has a little stage and nightly live music. During our dinner the artist was Morgan Davis and he was an amazing Blues artist. We ordered a burger and a wrap and then sat back to enjoy the music and the evening. The wrap was just what I wanted, the beef was tender and the mushrooms were so tasty. My hubby really enjoyed his burger as well. Our server was very efficient, and brought our food and drinks out very quickly. She was very sweet and came back often to make sure that we didn't need anything else. Since the music rotates nightly, there's a very good chance, we'll be back.

Food on point, I'd never tried Filipino dishes before and was pleasantly surprised and have tried…read moreto recreate this dish since returning to the States. Service was good and friendly. Love the layout and the ambiance of the place went a long ways with me. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.

Went here today for catch up with friends and food- I…read moreordered the potato skins / my other companions ordered the turkey dinner poutine and a falafel wrap with fries - I liked my skins and I was full half way so was able to take home and my son ate and like the rest - only little thing was the cheese sticking to the paper served on - The poutine was reviewed at not as much gravy or turkey as they would like / the falafel not having the type of spice likened as much- fries good- as homemade and good size- Will return though and nice waitstaff/ good events - today was jazz afternoon- loud but that's a good thing to draw a crowd in which it did! I'd like to try their desserts too!

Big disappointment, very expensive. No lime for a Lager & Lime. Large serving of over-cooked…read moresweet-potato fries. Small serving of chicken wings that were far too much work, for far too little meat.

It pains me to write this low review; if you look at my profile, I regularly write 5-star reviews…read more However, I've just experienced an extremely disappointing birthday experience. Having been to the Young Street Brown Hound location a dozen plus times, I decided to try the Agricola location for my Friday evening birthday dinner--a decision I quickly regretted. I arrived around 7 PM to a full house and sat at one of the two tables by the side entrance, as I was grateful to actually get a seat anywhere in this place. Initially, things started well- I got a server right away who took my order for an Island Folk Cider and the fish and chips. My food was dropped off about 20 minutes later, and the food itself was excellent, just as expected from my Young Street experiences. However, after my food was dropped off, I received zero service. I sat there for a further half an hour with an empty glass- no offer of another drink- and I missed out on ordering a coffee and dessert. Eventually, a different server came by to clear my plate, and I just asked for the bill. My original server finally reappeared with the bill and debit machine, featuring a 20% automatic gratuity already added. When I politely told her that I had received *zero* service after my food was dropped off and that it was my birthday, she was genuinely sincere and apologetic, even offering me a drink on the house. While I appreciated her offer, I declined because at that point, I just wanted to leave and go on with the remainder of my evening. * Management note: With this popular location, you appear to need to better staff your evenings so staff is not stretched from working front patio, back patio, inside, bar top, and outer entrance tables where patrons are forgotten about, which is understandable. The lack of service I received reflects solely on *you*, the management, NOT on the servers who are hustling full speed for minimum wages. The service levels at Agricola Street were laughably lower quality than at Young Street, which is also busy afternoons through evenings and is very popular, with multiple seating areas inside and outside the Young Street location. I will patronize Stillwell, Studio East, Chain Yard, and the Young Street Brown Hound for future outings that actually provide customer service to their customers, full house or not. 5 Stars for the food, and 2 stars for the sweet, apologetic server I had upon paying my bill--that's it. Never again, and I'll take my hard-earned money elsewhere in the future. Not that my review matters, in light of the popularity of your pub and its trendy location. Better places, food and service are nearby, friends...

It was my first time trying this place, and I loved it! Our waitress was very nice and attentive…read morethroughout the visit. Since it was windy outside, we decided to sit indoors, and the atmosphere was really lovely. I ordered the mussels and the lobster roll. The mussels were absolutely delicious, I honestly could have ordered another plate. The lobster roll, however, didn't quite impress me as much. I think mine may have had a little too much pepper, but it was still good overall. I've just had better before. Despite that, I really enjoyed my visit and would definitely come back.