Almonak

This is a really cool speakeasy. In order to get in you need to find the email address to request…read morethe secret phrase. When you get that you are given admission thru the "cover" restaurant. We came in on a Saturday night when they opened at 7pm. We were escorted down around 7:15pm. Neat way to enter the actual speakeasy. Once in you are greeted in a dimly lit "library" with a bar. There was 50's jazz which added to the ambiance. Bar tender and servers were very friendly and attentive. Ordered a few special drinks. (See pictures). Overall a great speakeasy experience. Glad to have found one in Halifax.

You can't get in unless you know the password that is delivered via email when you are on the email…read morelist. We walked in said our password and they were 40 mins late on setting up on Saturday Halloween eve. Only servers can allow you in. Atmosphere is dungeon library with 1950s music. Drinks are $15-17 each. We ordered: - Grandma's Boy ($17): 3/5 similar to Old Fashioned. A very simple straight up old fashioned that didn't have much complexity. - The Last Barman Poet ($17): 3/5 tequila based sour. A bit savoury because of the spices. Not that complex either. Overall: Such as shame as the atmosphere is amazing. Compared to a lot of restaurants with cocktails, this one is pricier and less amazingly prepared. We were disappointed with the selections and that's why we only tried 2 and left.

View to left of bar

Trading post empire and pink cloud summer

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Exit thru the gift shop

The Drawing Room

4.5(22 reviews)

2.9 km•South End

The Drawing Room has become almost a regular piece of conversation and an assumed destination for…read moreme lately, thanks to the discovery of this secret bar on Yelp a month ago. Not yet is known about the upstairs-from-the-Henry-House bar yet other than it's wonderful decor and fancy drink menu. This isn't a beer-drinking spot, folks. This is where you go to feel important, share some drinks with a few friends and enjoy a couple hours of elegancy without feeling out of place. The Drawing Room has a timeless feel to it. You could be having a flashback to any period over the last hundred years and know that no matter what year you're in, you're enjoying it like royalty. The drink menu offers martinis, wines, and drinks of all sorts. I ordered a Burie'd Mojito, which was white rum, an assortment of berry juices and mint leaves. It was fantastic! My second drink was a vodka-based green lime drink that was just as delicious. Mind you, the drinks are $10+ so unless your wallet is loaded, don't come here to join it. Of course, the Drawing Room isn't the type of environment to get drunk but the drinks are made strong so be wary of your perception because you may be surprised once you stand up.

This place really is as good as it gets. You walk into the Henry House and there are no signs to…read morelead you in the direction of this hidden upstair gem. Either go through the front door and keep going up or walk through the main dining room and go to the left to the staircase and go to the top and you are there. The room is dark, atmospheric and filled with exposed beams, dark leather chairs, a cozy fireplace and a menu inspired by different time periods. The bar staff is friendly and know their drinks. My favourite is a Negroni, a delicious blend of campari, gin and vermouth. A perfect place for a date night or a few drinks with some close friends.

2.5 km•Downtown Dartmouth

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El diablo

Dear Friend

5.0(9 reviews)

Some of the best crafted cocktails ever!! The food menu is also top notch & delicious. We came…read moreback a 2nd time to try and eat and drink the menu. Service here is fantastic!!

Decided to check out one of the top bars in Canada in my hometown of Dartmouth. Downtown…read moreDartmouth had changed so much since growing up - it's now the cool place to eat and drink as opposed to somewhat sketchy in the past. Located mid way up Portland Street. Very cozy, intimate environment with an energetic crowd the night I went. Mostly bar seating although there are about 4-5 tables - the most you could probably seat are four people. Had a couple of cocktails - amazing. Food was mostly seafood and extremely fresh, prepared well and innovative - see pictures. Price was reasonable for food of this quality. Will definitely return. Tip - you should probably make reservations. There's a patio in the Summer as well

Tiramisu

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Falafel

Bar Kismet

4.5(48 reviews)

0.2 km•North End

Bar Kismet was my favorite meal in Halifax! The ambiance was lovely with the dimly lit light and…read morecozy atmosphere. The servers were nice and recommended a bar we should go to in the area afterwards. Our favorite was the Spaghetti alla chittara al limone, summer squash ($32) - the dish was creamy and delicious with a nice zest of lemon. Bar Kismet is definitely a spot to visit in Halifax, but make sure to make reservations ahead of time!

Best meal I've had in Halifax. High expectations as this restaurant is always on the list of top…read more100 restaurants in Canada. Also the highest ranked restaurant in Nova Scotia. Hipster vibe. Definitely informal dining in a small dining room. May be hard to have a conversation because of the noise level. Had reservations, but can walk in for patio (come early!) They specialize in seafood. Split six dishes plus dessert. Amazing flavours. Fish done perfectly. Have read about poor/indifferent service on some reviews. Did not experience this at all - felt service was quite attentive and did not feel rushed. Spent a bit under two hours for dinner. Definitely worth trying if in Halifax and can snag a reservation!

Raw oysters served with horseradish and onion vinegar sauce

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Great Big Seabuckthorn ($17 - tumeric pisco, seabuckthorn, lemon balm, pineappleweed)

Highwayman

4.4(44 reviews)

2.3 km•Downtown Halifax

Happy hour drop in. At the bar. Very nice staff, great service. Comfortable. Nice music, good…read moreoysters (happy hour deal) and delicious beef tartar

Sat at the bar and had lunch. It's more of a tapas menu and the food was excellent. Enjoyed…read morewatching the impressive drink making skills of the bartender. Nice casual bar vibe but not divey. Well run establishment.

Oysters from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, so good we ordered another dozen

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Lot Six

4.1(119 reviews)

2.2 km•Downtown Halifax

Oysters were some of the freshest I've tried, service was very friendly. Elevated but relaxed…read moreatmosphere.

The restaurant is quite comfortable, the entire roof is open with a very large glass roof…read more We chose to sit at the bar, and it was a great choice, the chairs are super comfortable! I ordered a passion margarita, they did not skimp on our alcohol, we can definitely taste it! And to top off the experience they were doing a fun trivia that's interactive, and handed out pencils and score trivia cards. We ordered the truffle fries for dinner with lobster rolls, and I am floored! Omg so delicious! The rolls were loaded with real lobster meat, and the bun was so buttery and delicious! I loved every bite and would love to come back for another one for breakfast or midnight snack or breakfast... the whole experience was great from start to finish!

Front of the restaurant. They have a nice patio.

Feta and sage salad with shrimp

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Passion fruit margaritas on ice. Amazing! $14

Bitter End Martini Bar & Restaurant

3.1(61 reviews)

2.4 km•Downtown Halifax

The service was good and the ambiance was quiet. It was early in the evening but it appears to be a…read morenice spot to come and have a drink and chat with friends. The bartender was great and Lexi K makes a great lemon drop martini.

Fine. I concede: The Bitter End has long sunk below the five-star rating it once deserved in my…read morebooks. Once upon a time, this was a gorgeous, classy space where you could order one of the best cocktails in the city. Unfortunately over the years, the rest of the city has grown up and the Bitter End has stayed exactly the same. Today, their martinis (that are actually sugary cocktails in martini glasses) fail to compete with some of the craft cocktails available elsewhere, the service often borders on apathetic, and the food never quite recovered from the menu reduction that happened several years ago. I could get over one or two of these things, but not all three at once. It's not all bad though. Sometimes you'll get a nice server, you'll almost *always* get an attractive one, I dig the soundtrack and DJs that they bring in, and they do boast prime patio real estate in the summers.

Pineapple upside down cake martini

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Eliot & Vine

4.3(38 reviews)

1.0 km•North End

What a unexpected find on our visit to Halifax. The restaurant is in a quiet neighborhood away…read morefrom all the tourist. Jen was the perfect server - was patient in answering all our questions. We were not rushed through the meal and were able to enjoy every item. The fried brussels sprouts is a must have. The butter milk fried chicken is a great new addition to the menu. You must save room for the buttermilk cake - delish - it was moist with blueberries and almonds as a topping

After feasting on seafood for three days, we were hungry for something else. This restaurant has…read morehad really good reviews and we thought we'd give it a try. we had some oysters and tuna tartare, but then we each had a pasta entrée. My chicken thigh ravioli was delightful and my wife had the Cachio e pepe. Pasta was made fresh and entries were served Hot and delicious. The wine list is moderately extensive with a number of options by the glass or less than a bottle. The service was fine. The location is 1.5 miles from the center of town. The crowds were surprisingly light on a Sunday night. It was a nice change of pace with a chance to get away from the mob scene on the water streets.

Back room

Halibut

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October 11, 2025

The Brown Hound Public House

4.0(43 reviews)

0.9 km•North End

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.

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...

1.4 km•North End, West End

The Brown Hound inside

Today's choices

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The Cheeky Neighbour Diner

4.5(33 reviews)

best diner i've ever been to. huge portions at a good price. the decor is very cute and the staff…read moreare incredible. there's delicious vegan and vegetarian options as well. please go i am begging

We had such a great breakfast here! Everything had such a good vibe from the second we walked in,…read morethe space is light and open and the staff was so friendly with good humor. The menu was robust enough to give us options, but not overwhelming with choice. I didn't need to keep reading past the hash brown waffles with lox. Pickled onions were the perfect compliment. Cleaned the plate - phenomenal. No notes.

Interior of restaurant

Smoked salmon tot waffle

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Benedict and the Chef's Special(Blueberry French Toast) side of bacon .

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12 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Darcie M.

2 years ago

Someone I know recommended this place so I hopped on here to read a few reviews before going for the first time .... and ... there were a few of not so great reviews--I almost didn't go after reading them. I feel obligated to hop on to counter (just in my experience) all the negative reviews. My friend and I showed up this morning (Saturday) at around 10:30 and it looked really full. I 100% expected that we would need to wait for min 30 mins for a table. Especially when they asked if we had a reservation, but we got in after about 10 mins. The front staff were courteous and communicative and friendly. At least three people made eye contact/told us someone would be with us shortly, or said a bright and cheery hello. Again, given how busy it was, even once seated, I expected to wait a bit for a server. Nope. Almost instantly there was a lovely server at our table taking our drink orders and answering questions. I ordered the drip coffee (I usually opt for something fancier but was trying to keep the cost of the meal down a bit) and it was strong and delicious and served promptly. Both my friend and I ordered eggs benny. She ordered the original. I was VERY excited to see vegetarian options and took a chance on the "real fake meat" bacon and I'm so glad I did. Wow, I loved this meal so much. I ordered my eggs medium poached and they were cooked perfectly--which based on my past ordering experience (at other places) seems to be the most challenging way to poach and egg, so generally I either get fully runny or hard boiled, not nice and jammy and just a tiny bit runny like I like it. They nailed the medium poached egg. The Hollandaise was incredible. The biscuit it was served on (so much better than an English Muffin) was flaky and delicious. There was a bit of lovely, lightly-dressed salad, and a handful of roasted potatoes. My friend also loved hers. We were seated close to the kitchen, which was fine, and also gave me a bird's eye view of other dished coming out. The chicken and waffles and friend chicken sandwich looked so good that I want to take my husband and son back (meat eaters to my veggie). Honestly, we were both so impressed by the food, the ambiance, and most of all the service. The staff was amazing IMO. Anyway, hope this is helpful for anyone who like me, reads the not so great reviews, and think of skipping this place. I'll be back for sure. Probably a lot. read more

Zach P.

7 years ago

This place feels like it's been here for ever, but it's a great new addition to HRMs culinary scene. I've started to build a coffee from here into almost my daily schedule! The espresso is so well made & even the glassware is enjoyable. Their actually dining menu for lunch / dinner is very solid. Everything is made from scratch & that makes it difficult to actually pick an item. As they are all very well made - delish! Their weekend brunch is on point as well, ensure to make a trip just for that. Not only can you get all of that in 1 location - but they have a very refreshing juice bar attached. I love that I can either grab some fresh juices to go, or have a lovely cocktail made with one. Keep it up read more

Mike E.

7 years ago

As a frequent visitor to the Halifax area ,Almonak is truly a welcomed addition. The beautifully appointed room with its touches of modern flare and humble comfort make it warm and welcoming. I have been on three occasions now .The menu and well trained staff make it an easy choice when visiting. I just recently enjoyed The Chicken Fried Steak Benny and it was as good as it sounds. Tender chicken fried to perfection. My mouth is watering as I recall the wonderful flavours. The chef is spot on! If your in the area, make sure to try out this wonderful gem. Clearly you can tell I can't wait to go back! Job well done Almonak! read more

Stacy M.

7 years ago

I love this place - the huge windows and beautiful decor....such a cool spot. The brunch menu is out of this world - if you like egg benny's, you MUST get here ASAP!!! Delicious!!! You will also be hard pressed to find better coffee anywhere in the city. The wellness latte's are on point!!! Check this place out! Run, don't walk!!!! read more

Rick E.

7 years ago

When visiting relatives in the Halifax area I have attended to this Restaurant on several occasions. I have always found the food to be extremely delicious and moderately priced. The staff are pleasant and I would highly recommend the Almonak Restaurant if you are looking for a great place to dine. read more

Shaun M.

6 years ago

For a crowded place for brunch, this place still had room for me as I sat at the bar checking out the back kitchen and the front lines of my coffee drink. This place is incredible and I definitely think you should check it out. read more

Andrew I.

7 years ago

Had my first chicken fried steak benny today and boy was it worth it! I've been here a handful of times and have enjoyed everything I've eaten or drank. Great vibes and atmosphere. I'll be back!! read more

Alex B.

7 years ago

A group of 6 went to Almonak for our first time to have lunch. Everyone ordered a different meal off the menu and everybody raves about their meal. Can't wait to go back and try the brunch menu. read more

Teena E.

7 years ago

Loved this space! Really enjoyed the family style dining. Such creative and delicious options, and a fun way to eat! Fav new spot. Will most definitely be going back. read more

Basted B.

7 years ago

Totally loving this place. New chef is killing it. Didn't get to meet him but finally food I can pronounce the name of. Tones of local options too. read more

Marnie M.

7 years ago

The food here is so creative and delicious! Cant wait to go again and bring all my friends!

John S.

7 years ago

Just went for lunch. great food and friendly service. I'll go back for the brunch.

Almonak - cafes - Updated August 2026

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Alteregos Cafe & Catering

4.3

(25 reviews)

•$

Um what?? I have literally driven past this place hundreds of times on my way to just about…read moreanywhere else and never even gave it a second glance until curdled milk, a temperamental espresso machine, and running late for a meeting practically shoved me into their front door. And guys? Please let this review be the catalyst to get you in there. It'll be much easier than that morning was for me and you really should check this one out. Probably under the local radar based on the outdated stereotypes about their location, Alteregos is a equal parts a local hotspot for in-the-know North Enders, and a first impression for visitors staying in the connected hostel. Definitely a strong alternative feel, perhaps even bordering on grunge, this café might actually be one of the hippest that we've got and I can't help but feel like people still don't know about it. The staff behind the counter were friendly and efficient even after I ordered three lattés to go at the front of a growing line. They made great coffee with smiles on their faces and even stopped me on the way out to thank me for leaving a tip. Uh guys? YOU DESERVED IT. I didn't manage to try any of the food (again...I was running late) but the menu ranges from bagels to burritos with local ingredients, vegetarian alternatives, and unique combinations that I can't wait to go back for. Plus? The prices look like they have some of the best deals in the city - so as long as the food measures up, I may have found a new favourite!

Their breakfast sandwich is wonderful with all the yummy stuff you could dream of, egg, avocado,…read morebacon, mayo, lettuce, Sriracha, and cheese all served on a bagel? Breakfast sandwich for the soul! The staff were also very kind and helpful. The environment was cozy and bright. A great place to pop in for a hot beverage or somewhere to while away an afternoon.

Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill

3.2

(30 reviews)

I don't usually do chain reviews...but I have 2 words for you all…read more.. FESTIVE. SPECIAL. That's right folks. It is that time of the year when you can get 1/4 chicken dinner, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and a side of some sort (i.e mashed, fries, salad etc) WITH Lindt chocolates for dessert ALL for 12.99. Now tell me that is not worth a visit with some friends? Way cheaper than buying it all and cooking it and WAYY less work! So in a pinch, or not, this is a great deal! (Did I mention it is an anniversary of some sort, so they give you a scratch card too and 4 out of 6 of us won free things, appetizers, drinks etc for our NEXT visit! hehe)

Came in for dine in a few weeks ago- Service was not good…read moreconsidering they informed me server we had was there for over 20 years- that's fine but rushed/ no attentiveness/ and it was absolutely not that busy Anyway picked up a take out order and the person who packed it was lovely - Not sure but whatever

Wild Leek

4.3

(70 reviews)

Always like this place/ we came here again after a while and it being convenient this time for an…read moreappointment like last time, prob Feb?/ anyway had the club wrap with roasted potatoes- delicious!!! Son wanted roasted potatoes with cheeze sauce and seitan bacon- he really enjoyed! Try it! Great comfy no rush place with simply good healthy food! Had no room for dessert but we'll be back! Great friendly staff as always / super clean space!

Had the chorizo tacos $16 and burger $21 with $4 upgrade to Caesar salad. Ordered the food to-go…read more The tacos were cold, I think it would have been improved upon by heating up the mix and tortilla first. Taste was okay. The burger was fairly bland. I think a sweet pickle and/or more flavourful caramelized onion would be a good addition. The Caesar salad was good however, and very flavourful. My friend had the cauliflower which was very tasty, and the falafel bowl which was standard. For a vegan restaurant, there are lots of options with interesting concepts. Just missing some final touches for flavour.

Norbert's Good Food

3.7

(29 reviews)

Waaaaay too expensive for what it is…read more I understand it's suppose to be a farm to table concept but I literally could not taste the difference between what they served and regular supermarket food. The ingredients didn't taste especially fresh and it was 17 dollars a plate! What a rip off. I'm all about organic farming and fresh ingredients, but when you can't even taste the difference, I have to wonder, is it really what it claims?

The market has a ton of great places to eat, especially on the weekend, but no matter how much I'd…read morelike to, I can't have Humble Pies or Caribbean stewed meats all the time. No, sometimes you just have to get....a salad. Not a little scoop of coleslaw or sauteed veggies, but an honest to god salad, full of green things and stuff that should keep me from dying young. Luckily for you and I, there's Selwood Green. One of the permanent storefronts at the market, Selwood does it all with fresh veggies straight from the owners' farm, to prepared meals and baked goods. Today I was on the hunt for something healthy, so I went with a small salad, which is just prepared with what they have on hand that day. I perused the various goods they had for sale while I waited, and soon my name was called and I was on my way. I was happy to see that they either gave me a larger container than I should have gotten, or their small salad is the size of a normal 8x8 take out box. Either way, it worked out for me. Getting back to the office, I popped the top and dug into my rabbit food. First of all, it had a nice presentation. This wasn't a haphazard scooping of pre-made salad mix and then being sent out, this was actually constructed. It had a lot going on, and for salads, that's a good thing. Fresh greens, aged cheese, sprouts, blueberries, almonds, roasted sunflower seeds, hard boiled egg, apple, carrot, tomato; this salad was loaded. It was a great mix of flavours, especially the roasted sunflower seeds. I thought it odd there was no cup or packet of dressing, but it came lightly dressed in a tangy vinaigrette that brought everything together, but didn't overwhelm or make everything soggy. They also earn bonus points for using a paper container and not styrofoam. If you're in the neighbourhood any day of the week, you should definitely hit up Selwood for your healthy, or slightly less than healthy (but still local, of course) eats.

True North Diner

3.7

(53 reviews)

Good greasy diner food, bacon and sausages were well cooked, scrambled eggs were too well cooked…read moreand hash browns were so so. Price was on the high side precovid so pretty good now.

The service was ok but the food was horrible,way too much grease on the plate and undercooked food…read more Kind of noisy as well!

Garden Retreat Food Bar & Lounge

3.0

(6 reviews)

My friend and I stopped in here for lunch. Upon walking in we were met with a very aesthetically…read morepleasing atmosphere. It feels very upscale in decor with large beautiful chandlers and lots of greenery. Perfect for a classy lunch. We were seated quickly and met with a friendly server. The restaurant wasn't busy during our visit. The menu is one page with varying items. My friend got the avocado toast, I got the goat cheese and beet salad. Both plates were delicious. The pricing feels in the average for the area. The bathrooms are gender neutral, so I closed stalls with communal sink area, and they're nicely decorated as well. My only real complaint in there is a curtain separating what seems like the kitchen, from the bathroom. It was slightly off putting Other than that it was a nice experience at a quaint restaurant. I would return if I was in the area again.

The service and water was the best part, The burger was very oily to the point I could take a bath…read morein it, the fries on the other hand tasted and looked like they went through a McDonald's drive thru and added some leaves to it. The food was overpriced and as the only two people in the restaurant it took them over 45 minutes to get our food out. The beef in the wrap was overcooked and hard to bite through pulling the whole piece out along with your bite and the salads lettuce tasted like they pulled off tree leaves and stuck it on the plate the best part was the cut up tomatoes peppers and pineapple on top, though the food came out steaming hot

Peggys Cove Food Factory

3.8

(5 reviews)

These people know how to do fish and chips and serve one of the best lobster rolls in Nova Scotia…read more A food truck with lots of outdoor seating with extremely friendly staff. A definite must try for any one visiting the Peggy's Cove area.

Not sure what the previous reviews were expecting but highly recommend this small family run…read moreestablishment. The fish and chips were legit, made from fresh caught haddock, best we've had in Canada! Poutine was perfect, lobster roll was okay, and the local beer/cider options were great! The folks cooking were the nicest and Murray stopped by our table and introduced himself as the owner, thanking us profusely for supporting his family. I would definitely stop there again!

Brass Rail Restaurant

3.9

(22 reviews)

After 14 years of being away from Cole Harbour we welcome them back to the neighbourhood. I have…read morefind memories of going to the "old" Brass Rail with my parents enjoying comfortable family dining. I wasn't disappointed with the re-birth of a great restaurant. The service was amazing, food cooked from scratch in the kitchen, and I love the local focus (they use local black angus beef). A local beer selection would be welcomed as an addition once they get their feet back in the soil. Decor... they need a brass rail. I'll give them the star for decor since they are only a couple weeks since they opened their doors. They obviously focused on what counts, great food, great service, comfortable atmosphere.

I've been here twice & got their Cole harbour burger both times... It's real good! And, so are…read moretheir prices. But, there is one thing that will make me return again, again & again... three words... Bacon Parmesan Mayo. You're probably thinking "ya, that sounds good", let me tell you, it's freaking amazing. I don't know if it's made with the clouds that angels sleep on or some secret stash of golden bacon but OMG it's tasty!!!!! I would totally buy a bucket of it. Or, at least a bottle. They do charge 75 cents for a side of it, but it's worth it - and it was enough for us both to share as a fry dip. Ps; they have delicious fries too! It hasn't been busy, at all, either time we dined here, it is a small-ish resto though. * I heard the clams here was amazing, they're next on my list!

Rinaldo's

3.4

(49 reviews)

I use to think this was such a great place to get good food, after tonight eating half cooked…read morehamburger on my Chopped cheese sub I would not recommend. I been hospitalized in the past due to meat not being fully cooked and this was a close call, I felt my food wasn't really even warm and thought that was strange! Whoever the cook was Thursday, June 25th 2026 around 9:30pm you should learn how to cook meat safely! You could potentially end up killing someone who doesn't have a good immune system a child or an elderly person! You should not be a cook! I will be spreading the news about this meat not fully cooked and how unsafe it is! I have lots of followers that are foodies and they will not like seeing this on Instagram and Facebook and TikTok, but this ruined my night! If I end up super sick from this you'll be hearing more from me!

Being a fan of the Rinaldo brothers' previous endeavours of T-Dogs and their farmers market table…read morethat bore their surname and slung hero sandwiches and cannoli, I was both glad and a little disappointed when I heard they were opening shop in the recently-cavated TGFE location on Windsor. Glad because these guys deserve their own space to serve kickass food, but disappointed because I no longer lived around the corner. What a tease. After giving them some time after the initial opening to find their legs, and hoping for the crowds to settle down, my wife and I came by before one of my night shifts, just after they opened for the evening. The space is very much the same as the old TGFE, but updated with new furnishings and a several new coats of paint. It has the very common black/red/white palette, but here it's different than other spots that do it hyper-modern and chic; here it's much more casual and retro with framed family photos, wood paneling painted white, their classic neon sign, and their very, very red booths. Snagging one of the vibrant vinyl seats, I eagerly scoped out the broader offerings that I had been hearing a lot about. While not as compact as many modern restaurants' menus, Rinaldo's is still a mere fraction of the made-for-the-masses bulk of East Side Mario's, with a few each of apps, salads, heroes, general Italian mains, and several pizzas on offer. I'd heard lots of great things about their mozza sticks, so those were a lock, and my wife and I decided to get one more app and to share one of their pizzas, which we had heard were a decent size. The spicy cauliflower sounded interesting, and would constitute the vegetable portion of our meal, albeit a deep fried one. The mozza sticks arrived in quick order, and the cauliflower shortly thereafter. The thick sticks of breaded cheese were definitely heftier than your usual from-frozen pub mozza sticks. Plus the breading had a much better flavour and a sprinkle of parm and parsley rounded them out nicely, because if fried cheese needs a garnish, it's gotta be more cheese. The dipping sauce was dill-tastic and fresh, although I appreciated the stretchy cheese on its own. Cauliflower is hot right now in food circles, but the spicy cauliflower seemed like a bit of a misnomer, as the only heat seemed to come from a light sprinkling of sliced chiles. That said, the breading was nice and crunchy, and the cauliflower inside was surprisingly smooth and nearly creamy, without being a goopy, vegetal mess. The flavours of the other toppings all worked quite well, with the honey, parsley pesto, and pecorino making for a well-balanced dish (sans spice, anyway). Our pizza was a bit of a wait, but it was a sight to behold when it arrived. Topped with pepperoni, roasted garlic, mozza, Parmigiano Reggiano, and wonderful blobs of ricotta, it was big on great flavours. So many dishes, both Italian and otherwise, will throw a bunch of cheeses in a dish just to brag that it's a "X Cheese Dish", but here each stood out and played a part. The cornicione was airy and crispy, although the inner parts of the pie suffered the floppy doom of all thin crust pizzas. It did reheat quite well the next day though; via a frying pan and not the dreaded microwave, naturally. While not perfectly executed, it was a damned good meal with the structure to be even better with some minor polishing. It's worth the hype - go there and keep this place open until I am able to come back again.

The Nook Espresso Bar and Lounge

4.2

(53 reviews)