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

Fine. I concede: The Bitter End has long sunk below the five-star rating it once deserved in my books. 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. read more

Absolutely amazing, the atmosphere was fun and service was incredible. The waiters and waitresses were all so kind and personable. The food was also great, would 100% return and recommend. read more

Before I start, I should point out that I visited this establishment with my folks in the early afternoon on a weekend, which is probably not the best time to go since we were the only people there. Also we thought it was a restaurant, but it turned out to be more of a "club" which also serves a small selection of tapas-like dishes, but concentrates more on the alcohol menu. Since we were the only people there, I can only comment on certain aspects of the places vibe and atmosphere. I think it would be a great venue for a romantic evening with someone, since the booths are quite intimate and the lighting dim. The bar is also quite nicely designed, although I think it would all look better had we not been there while the sun was still up. The small plates and cocktails were imaginative and tasty, although there were some dubious looking selections in the menu. I'm not entirely sure I would go back, though I'd probably want to try it one more time when theres other people there, and when it's night so that the ambience is better. read more

Bitter End Martini Bar & Restaurant - The lounge area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

A hidden underrated gem in down town Halifax with delicious food at great prices. They have happy hour from 4-9 every day which makes their food less than 7$ and discounted drinks. We have always went to the bitter end but we heard they revamped their style within the last few months and we were so surprised. The food was amazing. We spent less than 40$ on food and we ordered over half the menu! Sweet potato fries with Smokey chipotle which was to die for! The hummus and pita, which was a little watery but the thick cut pita made up for it. The 'avocado and herb dip' which is basically phenomenal guac (I can't wait to go back for this) bacon wrapped scallops and chicken Thai bites. Let me repeat this - less than 40$. You could easily go here as a Vegan or vegetarian and if you love meat, it's great for you too. I have no idea why this restaurant isn't busier, whenever we go it is so dead. Each booth has a candle and some have fire places, dimly lit with red leather seats. A huge bar in the middle of the room. I would definitely recommend this lovely restaurant to everyone and anyone! read more

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Really, I did, I did try to love it.. sadly, my experience fell very short. As we entered-- we immediately noticed the lovely walls and decor and the just as beautiful servers, but as soon as we sat down things went South. I was in a playful mood, and when I prompted the server to surprise me with a popular Martini she replied, "Can't you see I'm busy?". Continuing on, this is a martini bar and the music was on overdrive. In a bar this isn't an issue, but I believe a martini bar should have a casual elegance not a.. cheap sticky floor feel. After about two drinks, and the table next to us removing their shirts we quickly paid our tab and scurried away. This experience left me confused. I believe the intention of this establishment was to bring a sort of Sex & The City vibe, but instead of Carrie and the girls you're left with greased back salesmen or rebellious students! read more

I haven't been here too many times, but when I have I was taking advantage of their $4.00 appetizers! Four dollars... are they crazy? With a drink purchase of course, but who is going to go to the best martini bar in town and not get a drink, not me! (PS; this is on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only!) They have a lot of great appetizers and other food options to choose from. I will warn you, if it says is spicy, it is REALLY spicy. I love spicy food; I put Franks Red Hot Sauce on EVERYTHING! But, their spicy crab dip was so spicy I almost couldn't enjoy it. read more

Expensive cocktails: Check Tons of choice: Check Inventive options: Check It's only noon, but just thinking about martinis, I've got a lunch time craving! This joint dishes up some fancy and tasty concoctions, loaded with fresh ingredients and booze for days. The Satsuma Martini, The Buddha's Banshee - the unique list goes on, with inspired menu items to boot. The food is pretty good. I don't ooh and ahh over it, but it's satisfying and different fare from some of the other surrounding establishments. I've had the hummus trio, which was fine as well as the spanakopita, which was pretty good. The service is good, pretty efficient and friendly. Sometimes, when it's smoking busy, it can be a little lax, but that's just the nature of the beast I think. Conclusion states: Booze prices are high. Food prices are fair. Ambiance is great and service is good. A nice place to check out if you're cruising the Argyle strip. read more

Really enjoyed our experience there. All martinis we tried were delicious. Love the happy hour. We would recommend with a gang or a couple.

We were the ONLY PEOPLE IN THE BAR and our waitress looked SO irritated she had to wait on us. Seriously? Why did you choose this job? Ordered the apple martini, it was delicious but paid $12 for it. . . .won't be doing that again. I probably won't go back. read more

I have mixed feelings about the Bitter End. It used to be one of my favorite places to go, back when I was 19 and a half years old and just realizing that I WAY prefer this kind of atmosphere to that of a place like, say, The Dome. (Shudder.) And I do still really like the atmosphere here. The menu is where I run into trouble. Drinks are hit and miss - at $7.50, champagne cocktails are a tasty option that don't hurt your wallet too much. (Though still a little.) But the "martini" style drinks? Overpriced, sugary and all named ridiculous things that made me too embarrassed to order them. Just because I don't want a Scotch on the rocks, does that mean I have to reduce myself to uttering the words "I'll have a 'Pink Pussy'"? It shouldn't! And that's an actual drink, you guys! I used to really like the Mediterranean nachos, but the last few times I ordered them they were dry and didn't have enough cheese. I've also run into problems with the fact that the Bitter End shares a kitchen with the neighbouring pub the Loose Cannon. The Bitter End can be dead, but the food order you placed can take a really long time because the Loose Cannon is busy. Not ideal. I went back and forth on whether to give this place 2 or 3 stars - it's probably a 2.5, but with other places available for cocktails like Onyx or The Middle Spoon, the Bitter End is no longer somewhere I particularly enjoy going. read more

I love the Biiter End. It's a classy place in a great location, good food, and a great atmosphere. The servers have always been friendly and the male bartenders, fun and flirty. My new favorite part about the Bitter End is $4 appy's on Tues and Wed. The portions remain the same and you can get a gigantic meal for less than $10. Check it out. read more

I want to like you Bitter End, I do. There's nothing I love more than a cocktail in a martini glass (let's be honest, I do not pretend that I drink real martinis), but I do not love you Bitter End. I revisited the place after a long hiatus and was reminded of why my hiatus existed. Not a huge selection of martini-style drinks, all with ridiculous names, mostly made up of half a dozen different liqueurs each and sold for $10. Which is a pricey way to spend an evening, seeing as I drink cocktails like they're juice. I ordered my drink at the bar and it was a-ok service. The group I joined had kind of crumby service, but to be fair, it was a busy Saturday night and there was a large group ordering a lot of fancy mixed drinks. It sucks to wait for a drink, but I get that sometimes drinks can't come as fast as I want them to. I haven't eaten here in over five years, so no comment on the food. Overall, this recent visit was sort of like hooking up with an old boyfriend. The magic isn't there and you quickly remember all the reasons you broke up in the first place. read more

This place has a couple things going for it. Good drink selection, my favourite being the sour apple martini, but I'm starting to think I like it more for the gummy worm at the bottom than the quality of drink.....I can only have one as I may go into shock from high sugar intake. I also like the decor and location. The worst thing about the place is the service. It's slow and just about every server I have had there is some young pretty face with a short skirt who could really care less about my order or happiness. The second worse thing is the food. Don't bother. Poor selection and not great tastng. You're better off going for dinner elsewhere and maybe popping in for a quick drink here after. read more

Not a huge fan. There was an incredibly pretentious vibe here (a lot of men in suit jackets and people drinking fancy mixed drinks - you know the type). The decor in here is a bit obnoxious too. My biggest complaint about this place was the length of time it took to be served. Listen, I know it was a busy night and all, but management should have the staff available to serve your clientele. It's not fair to understaff and overwork your servers. It leaves your customers bitter, undeservingly, to the bartenders. Moreover, my beer tasted warm and like it was from the end of the keg. It was clean in there at least. It was also nice that we were able to find seating for our large group, despite it being a fairly busy evening. I won't be going back here and wouldn't recommend it. read more

I have a caesar problem. I'm sure many of you realize this by now. So I really didn't consider any of the other drinks on the menu at Bitter End. I popped by here to dive into their caesar which has racked up quite a few Coast awards in previous years. It certainly didn't disappoint. The rim was perfection and they thoroughly impressed me with TWO spicy beans. Generally I have to ask for the caesar to be spicy as most don't come with the level of heat I want. Even though I asked them to make mine spicy, it still could've packed more heat. Next time I just ask for a reallllly realllllllly reallllllllly spicy caesar. I don't really come here often as I'm generally a pub-kind-of-girl but wouldn't mind stopping by the neat atmosphere for an occasional, well (hopefully) mixed bevvy. It's dark, shiny and stormy as far as decor is concerned which makes it a neat little spot on Argyle. I haven't tried any of their food here yet. I did notice it was priced a wee bit high. Hope they're frying their frites in ancient truffle oil. read more

I love a good Martini bar. Dirty, Appletini, Cosmopolitan (à la SJP), I just love to indulge in a delicious martini at the bar.. Knowing my fondness for the drink, a friend of mine was surprised when I told her that I had not yet been to Bitter End to savor the flavor of gin & vermouth. She recommended I go check it out. The place is located along the Argyle area, nestled between the Loose Cannon & the Pita Pit. It doesn't look particularly appealing from the street, but the interior of the bar is a nice surprise. The interior has a very intimate feel to it and the tables are adorned with candles. The drink menu is particularly expansive although I barely recognized many of the cocktail names. I decided to mix it up and try a couple of different martini variations to get my evening started right. I've got a Secretini (VK, Raspberry Liqueur w/ Cranberry) was my first selection along with a Calamari appetizer. My drink, although decent was very sweet, a tad too sweet for my taste. I also sampled the envy & lychee flavored 'tinis which were okay, but again very, very sweet. The calamari was very good as well. Service was alright here, IMO. Nothing special, but pleasant. The servers are all thin and attractive young women by pure coincidence. For a $10 martini, I expect to be impressed, especially when the said drink is from a bar that boasts the best martini in HRM. I'll return for Martini Monday drink & appy specials but I didn't find that Bitter End lived up to the hype. Solid 3 stars from this yelper, folks. read more

I wavered between a two star and a three star on this one, and I think if I could, I'd rate it at 2.5 stars. Here's the thing... I want to like the Bitter End, and it wins a few points for the drinks, but the food is somewhat underwhelming. For the price, I expect something with a bit more flair. The frites taste oily, and although my steak was cooked as ordered, the veg and potatoes were haphazardly tangled up on the plate and poorly displayed. Some potatoes were overcooked, others undercooked. (Also, why were there frites on the plate if I had potatoes?...) It's got a decent vibe, although the servers are the generic "cute" males that you expect of this kind of joint. They appear passive, overall. (Anyone remember Kurt's "yummy bartenders" on Gilmore Girls? Kinda like that.) So that's the "meh". The wishful half-star would go to their drinks and overall atmosphere. I have fond memories of sipping some of my first cocktails here years ago, and I think that the reason most people come is for the drinks. If I return it will be on one of their discount drink nights. read more

The Bitter End WAS a fun place for my group to come and drink martinis, laugh and have fun. We are a group of couples in our early 50's who enjoy good times. We are a bit crazy but we never hurt anything or anyone. And then, after a fun filled Pride Day, we were kicked out by management; we were puzzled and confused which then led to some anger. My group has come here semi-regularly and we have dropped $600-800 in one sitting. We always tip our favourite waitresses extremely well, and have developed a great rapport with them too. Which made things even more puzzling to us. Yes, we were getting loud, and even with only a few other patrons present, we accommodated management by moving outside to the patio. Apparently that didn't work for them either. We were basically kicked out of a bar for laughing - that is a first for me. An Australian and an English patron were so disgusted that they left this bar as well and joined us across the street at the Argyle bar. The Argyle was happy to accept us and our money. There was no tip for our waitress here today at the Bitter End. We calculated that she lost out on an easy $100. I walked up to the manager and informed him of his mistake and that he screwed his waitress out a tip. Ironically, my group's relationship with this bar has come to a "bitter end" read more

I don't understand the low marks for this place. I went on a Wednesday night and loved the amazing $4 appetizer deals. I ordered two thinking they were tapas size and boy was I wrong! The crab cake sliders are a good size and I loved the aioli sauce that came on them (add $2 for shoestring fries). The spicy crab dip is definitely spicy and comes with a good amount of pita triangles. I tried 2 of the champagne cocktails which were reasonably priced at $7.50 -the champagne supernova (vodka) and the grand champagne (grand marnier) are both well done. There weren't many people around but the service was good. My friend had the artichoke and chicken entree which came out very artfully plated. I definitely have plans to return to the Bitter End - love the swanky vibe and dark atmosphere. read more

Bitter End Martini Bar & Restaurant - $4 apps on Tuesdays & Wednesdays! Fish tacos, calamari, and prosciutto wrapped scallops - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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I have always been a fan of the Bitter End. Their martinis are terrific and generally service is fantastic. The pulled pork sliders are to die for. However, last night my opinion was completely changed. We arrived after the Mooseheads hockey game, so while it was busy it wasn't packed and we were able to get a seat on the patio. After waiting over 5 minutes a server stopped by and said "Has so-and-so seen you yet", when we said no, she sighed and said "I guess I am taking all of his table tonight"...and then left. Moments later another server approached our table and asked for our order, we replied we still had yet to see a menu - we wanted both food and drinks. She swiped a menu off the neighbouring table and left - returning another five minutes later to take our order. Since it was busy and we were waiting for friends to arrive, we shrugged this off. We ordered the saganaki to share, as well as martini's. The martini's didn't disappoint, but the saganaki was less than to be desired. I have had saganaki at many places, but this had excessive amounts of fat dripping off of it, and the bread was meant to be toasted, but I think that it sat under a lamp so long it just turned hard. The waitress returned to see how we liked it, and we all commented that we didn't like it - it was obvious since only a couple of bites had been taken. She left it on the table. As a server, I am a believer that if I don't like something, I still should pay for it. If it is cooked the way it is meant to be cooked, then it is no ones fault that I didn't like it. However, when the rest of the people in our party showed up not one person enjoyed it, and everyone commented on the greasiness of it, compared to other places. I expect saganaki to have some grease, but I like a little grease with my cheese, not cheese with my grease. Instead of being apologetic, the server made a joke about no one liking it, and proceeded to put it on my bill. No apologies, no discount, nothing. She actually seemed mad that we didn't like it. I paid- no qualms, just mildly irritated. Four of the five of us at the table are servers. When we moved on to the Carleton (with much better service) we discussed how when we are serving we do everything possible to try to give customers a good experience - - - servers should act like they WANT people to come back, not like they are an inconvenience to them. The only reason I am giving the Bitter End two stars is because of my experiences there in the past, and the bartenders there are usually quick and amazing when you go up to the bar to order. read more

It is what it is. It is a cheap bar that is meant to look and feel classy. Where as I get a dome/argyle type feel from it. The food is all very small and not super great, but edible only for the happy hour prices. Which is really the best part of this place, everyday happy hour 4-8. Fantastic day drinking. Cocktails run on the sweet side. Big selection. Again, worth the happy hour prices but no more. It is a fun place for early evening cheap cocktail drinking- but that's it. The place is dark and dingy and cold. At the beginning they were playing welcoming and neutral music, but as we sat, it switched to a dance club like atmosphere- although no patrons really looked like that's what they were therefore. Overall, happy hour--yes, full price, no. read more

I went to this place with my boyfriend to grab a quick bite to eat and a drink. We were going to go to another pub on Argyle, but we saw this one had $4 apps with drink purchase on Tuesday and Wednesday, and we couldn't say no. The atmosphere was dark with tons of dim mood light. Loads of art on the walls, which we later found out was all local. There was only one other couple in the place when we arrived at 8pm on a Tuesday night. Very quiet. The menu offered some great drinks. I was in the mood for a beer, but ended up getting a cocktail, since they had won so many awards for them. I ordered a Candy Apple, Casey ordered a Key Lime Pie. The prices seemed somewhat expensive, but they were the specialty. For our apps, we ordered the pineapple nachos and the goat cheese with red pepper jelly, at four bucks a piece. The food was great. The goat cheese is a must. Deep fried pita bread sticks are so good. And a hardy helping of goat cheese to spread on them. I'm sure I ate most of this. The nachos, on the other hand, weren't as exotic as I hoped. They basically just tasted like regular good nachos, nothing really to complain about though, just a bit more damp due to the pineapple juice. The overall price for both of us came about $25, which was great. I was expecting much more to be honest. My only complaint is with the service. The waitress was almost rude... blatantly trying to up-sell to the most expensive drinks, seeming to pressure us to order another drink, and she seemed annoyed that she had to serve us at all. The majority of the time she was on the other side of the bar with her friends and ignoring us, which was fine since I didn't really wanted to talk to her much. Lastly, the bathrooms. Classy is that they had actual towels to dry your hands, rolled up in a basket. But then again, there was chairs stored in the toilet stall... This place would have been great if it wasn't for the service. And I agree with everyone else. Prices are a bit high (unless you go on Tuesday for the drink and an app) and not a great selection. Food was tastey, though. Service was bad. read more

Last night, my husband and I picked up his brother and girlfriend from the airport. They flew in from Toronto for a weekend on the East coast. To thank us for the 10:30pm pick up, they wanted to treat us to a drink, and hoped for an open kitchen. My husband and I had been to the Bitter End before and thought it a fitting location for them to experience as well. I am always pleased by their calming atmosphere that is modern, yet makes great use of their natural features with just enough lighting. The music was there and upbeat, but not too loud. Their high speed hand-dryer and updated wash-rooms are also a big plus in my books. For a Thursday night, they were not overly busy, and it was easy to hear the conversations while we caught up on the last 6 months. For Drinks, I ordered the Lychee Martini. I would not say it was bad, but I hesitate to say it was good as I have had better and it didn't leave me wanting more. The same could be said for my husbands Ceaser. We have ordered in the past, loved the picked bean, but it was a bit lacking last night. Our company enjoyed an Old Fashion and Envy Martini which they both enjoyed. As for food, the naan bread pizza was great, the Pear salad well made with fresh greens, though the honey dijon vinaigrette would not be a future preference. The chicken nachos could have been layered with their toppings a bit more evenly, but we enjoyed the toppings which I believe included a spicy Thai sauce. Overall, we were content, while not blown away, service was satisfactory and we will likely find ourselves back there again sometime over the summer for drinks and tappas on their patio. read more

The Bitter End highlights smooth flow and high-ranking cocktails. Its a nice addition to the Argyle strip with its easy elegance and ambient buzz. They put emphasis on the martini/ cocktail selection here and it works well. Beyond Martini Night Mondays, this is a great spot to go for interesting and well made drink variety. I tried the Envy & Sinful Bliss martinis during my last visit and was very much satisfied. Although I haven't tried the food, the menu looks enticing. It doesn't have a huge selection, but what they do offer appears rich and thoughtful. I'm very curious to give the Fresh Pear Salad and Maple Glazed Salmon a whirl! This is a pretty safe bet if you are looking for a classy joint to enjoy a few beverages. The only downside is that on a regular night, drinks are a bit on the pricey side. So depending on your budget, this may be a place better suited for special occasions. Regardless, with its overall good vibes and a slew of other bars and restaurants in an arms length, I'd highly suggest popping in for a try. read more

If you're looking for a classy place to sit and talk with friends, or walk around and mingle the Bitter End is it! Delicious drinks ( some come with a gummy worm , and you can request one in your drink just for the hell of it), classy people and AWESOME DJ. The music isn't too loud so you can still chat up that tall dark and handsome guy by the bar while digging the music. Seriously, if the DJ there opened a club I would be out every night! Most people go a fair bit dressier to here than to other places, Drinks are worth the money ($10 2oz martinis, $7-9 for other champagne cocktails). Everyone chats with each other and just grooves to the music! Relatively small but definitely part of its charm! Mostly 23 - 35 year old crowd. Not so much dancing as just chatting and meeting new people. read more

I dig the decor and the general vibe of the place. I don't dig the lackadaisical service. The place wasn't that busy. We were one of maybe 3 or 4 tables in the place, all were twosomes. As we had eaten elsewhere we decided to stop here for some bevvies and girl talk - I mean, how perfect does that sound? Girl chit-chat and martinis! We were presented with menus pretty quickly. For some reason I thought they had a larger martini menu. It had been quite some time since I last visited and could have sworn there was more to choose from. In my opinion, pickings were slim with this martini menu. I had the caramel apple martini which was quite good and the Riviera which was meh. My friend had two of the I've Got A Secretinis which she said was good. I dunno. I guess I expected the place voted best martinis in Halifax to have a bit more of a selection. The service was ho-hum. Yeah, he was quick enough but he wasn't personable at all. He seemed very disinterested with the whole serving gig. Overall I like it and will likely go back. read more

Drank here a few times over the years, but never ordered anything to eat, until a recent visit on a gorgeous August Friday after work. The reason we even opted to stop here on this day was that their sidewalk sign caught my attention. Happy hour had such good prices that we couldn't resist! And now with Argyle Street closed off to vehicle traffic, and painted in an argyle theme on the street itself, it was just a great spot to sit for an hour or two. The patio had maybe eight tables (two-seaters and four-seaters), and wasn't full while we were there, which is surprising. Inside is a sleek, more modern, but basic feel with a large bar, darker lighting. Drinks: My partner and I tried several martinis for the happy hour price (4pm - 8pm EVERY night!!) of $6.52. The following we enjoyed a lot: PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE (Vanilla Vodka, Amaretto, Pineapple Juice) was very tasty and unique, where I noticed the cinnamon flavor the most/sprinkled on top. PURPLE FIZZ (Absolute Acia, Blue Curacao, Grape Sour Puss, Lime & Cranberry Juice) was good and simple. ELECTRIC CITRUS (Vanilla Vodka, Absolute Raspberry Vodka, Cassis,Fresh Lemon/Lime & Simple Syrup) was good and tasty. RIVIERA (Vodka, Crème de Banana, Malibu Rum, Pineapple Juice) was good and tropical. BLUE FREEZE (Blueberry Vodka, Crème De Banana, Blue Curacao, Lime Juice) was good and baisc. LYCHEE (Vodka, SoHo Lychee Liquor, Cranberry & Pineapple Juice) had a very strong lychee taste, so only if you like that would you like these. ROCKET (Absolute Raspberry, Blue Curacao, Cream de Banana, Lemon Juice) was my partner's favorite. Some martinis come with your standard cherry in the glass, but a few of mine came with a gummy worm for fun. I like that. Food: I ordered the AVOCADO & HERB DIP (9. Fresh avocado, vegetables and herbs blended to create a smooth yet chunky, rich and zesty dip. Served with Tortilla chips.). It was good and satisfying, but not the best I've ever had. Nothing memorable, nothing wrong with it. My partner really enjoyed the BBQ CHEDDAR BEEF SLIDERS (10. Two 3 oz burgers with melted double smoked cheddar. Topped with lettuce, tomato, pickle and finished with BBQ sauce.) These are considered small plates and are that, but that's what we enjoy when going out primarily for drinks, something to nibble on without being full and getting tired too fast. I look forward to going back here again anytime to try some other of the martinis or cocktails, and snacks. read more

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I've been here twice in the past few weeks, and they make killer martinis. I watched a friend order a Pink Pussy without flinching, and the bartender accepted it nonchalantly. There's a great selection of food as well. For the vegetarian, the dumplings or hummus trio take the edge off. Yummy crab and mussel dishes on the cheap are available for snacking while boozing. Don't go hungry kids, we all need a good base. Great, mellow ambiance with dim lighting. Most people who come here are dressed for a night out. My last visit, I was sitting near the wall when hot wax started pouring all over me from the candle above. Apparently it's only ever happened once before, but hey, maybe sit somewhere more central. read more

Let me start with this: flat beer. I was with four friends and we ordered 2 beer each which all came at the same time and was 100% flat. We felt bad and didn't want to complain since it would be a huge waste of beer and they allowed us to order of the happy hour menu when there was less than 10 minutes left. We ordered food as well which took a veryyyyy long time to come, which sucked because we mainly went there for food because we were so hungry. The staff actually brought us over a tray of shots as an apology, which was nice but we had wished they asked us first since we probably would have opted for a drink instead of straight alcohol. But we gladly accepted. The food was pretty good - i had the fried chicken which was actually tasty and very cheap. I would try this place again, but I just can't get past the flat beer. I can't understand how the server didn't notice there was absolutely no foam. read more

Bitter End is the winner of the Best Martini in Halifax in the Coast for eight straight years. I stopped in for a friend's birthday and I have to admit that they deserve the honor; they do make a mean martini. The martinis are available in a variety of flavors; I had one or two (or three) green apple flavored drinks with gummy worms for garnish. When I got my bill I almost choked on the aforementioned gummy worms. Drinks here are good, but very pricey so pre-game accordingly. The bartenders that were working were really funny and kept us entertained as we sat at the bar waiting for some guests to arrive. The place has a cool modern vibe, and it feels a little bit intimate. The one downside is that unlike other Argyle St. bars, Bitter End doesn't have a rooftop patio, and the roadside patio leaves something to be desired. (No one feels classy sipping a martini with drunken people knocking into your table while passing by). Hot Hints: Bitter End is host to the nicest washroom that I've seen in a public building downtown. It almost justifies paying out your nose for drinks. read more

They had a pretty great happy hour, and made a fantastic gin martini. Our server, Will, was awesome and incredibly friendly. 10/10 would go back for casual drinks. read more

They had only 1 server on during supper hour on a Thursday, and she was new. Initially told my daughter she couldn't stay because she was not 19, then changed their mind when we challenged it. Took over 20 minutes to get a drink, and they were not busy. The server was clearly overwhelmed with our group of 10, but the manager did not do much to help her. Food options are limited to appetizers. read more

In university I used to be a semi-frequent patron of the Bitter End, I enjoyed relaxing with friends and working my way through the seemingly endless array of $5 cocktails. Real life came and when you're alarm goes off at 5:30 am each morning, Monday nights out don't seem like the best way to kick off the work week, so it had been a while. I It was my cousins birthday, and after dinner we decided to pop in for a few drinks. It was around 10pm so we were easily able to find a spot. I have to admit, the first thing I thought when I walked in was a very curmudgeonly "was it always this loud in here"? It's a martini bar not a dance club. Anyway, my second thought was "prices have gone up", specials for Monday's are now $6.25. Not so great of a deal anymore. The menu has also been pared down (one of my favorite's the Root Beer Martini is no longer available) and still only the first 8 cocktails are on special, others you have to pay full price. I'm not cheap, but like Ben B., I've drank many martinis here in a single night and never felt anything but the slightest buzz, so there is no way I would pay $10 full price for one of those, No matter how much I enjoy a liquor soaked gummyworm. The drinks here while yummy, are heavy on the sugar and seem to be light on the good stuff. I've always found the serves slightly spotty, but that could be because Monday nights are often standing room only. My final curmudgeonly thought is that I find myself rolling my eyes at the drinks with names like "pink pussy" and "blue balls" and I refuse to order them. Anyway, while the Bitter End is not my go to bar, if I were passing by on a Monday night, I wouldn't mind stopping in for a sour apple martini before continuing on with my night read more

The Bitter End was once my mecca for Martini Mondays. Now, the odds of me leaving my house for a drink after I get home from work on Mondays are slim-to-none, and the odds of me shelling out $10+ for any kind of drink are even slimmer. But the Bitter End is still a reliable spot to have a relaxed drink with friends. In the winter there are lots of cozy corners, and in the summer their patio provides a great view of the activity on Argyle street. I've recently discovered (to my delight) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays they offer $4 appetizers with the purchase of any drink. That's $4 nachos, $4 calamari, $4 everything... definitely a deal I can get behind. read more

Ok, so I came here with friends last weekend and just loved it. We had excellent drinks (particularly the candy apple), and it was during happy hour so it was half priced (this happens every day). The food is also quite good, a friend ordered the herb and avocado dip and I ordered the goat cheese with red pepper jelly. The avocado herb dip was the better of the two, i thought the red pepper jelly was too sweet. So that was the first time I went here. Loving the prices/drinks, I decided to come back again a few days later, again for happy hour. Again me and a friend had a few drinks and were enjoying ourselves. When I got one of my martinis, there was somehow a hair in it. A mid-length very light hair. I have dark brown hair and so did my friend. I waved the server down, I wanted another drink. Her response pissed me off enough that I'm bumping this down to 2.5 stars. She first said "oh, it must be yours. There wouldn't be hair where the drinks are... Are you sure you didn't just put it there?" She then admitted it kind of looked like her hair, no apology, no offer to bring me a new drink or waive the price of that one. When she brought my bill over, she still charged me for the drink, so I didn't tip her a cent. It looks like from a lot of reviewers service is the reason the Bitter End's reviews aren't as great as they could be. If by chance management reads this, please look into how the servers deal with customers. I was shocked to see poor reviews here, but now I definitely get it. read more

Bouncer was on a power trip, and not very pleasant. So we skipped the Bitter End and went to the Foggy Goggle, had lots of great food and drinks and went home happy and full! I have to say I am happy that I no longer live in Halifax and no longer have to deal with bouncers on a power trip, I have no idea why Halifax bouncers are so bad, and I have been to lots of cities and lots of bars and Halifax is the only place that I have ever seen such bs. read more

Having not been to the Bitter End for a few months I was really looking forward to enjoying some martinis and presumably some good food as well! I'll take on some of the responsibility in terms of my disappointment in that I went to a martini bar/restaurant and ordered a steak, but nonetheless... dinner for four people took around 45 minutes to arrive and when it did it was uncreative at best. My Steak was overdone, with a small piece of chard, possibly 6 nugget potato halves and a few slices of grilled red pepper. A friend of mine ordered the same and was equally disappointed. The rest of our group did thoroughly enjoy the quarter chicken with rice, mussels and spinach salad respectively though so perhaps just avoid the steak... I figured I could end on a high note by ordering cheesecake for dessert but was unimpressed again. It tasted exactly as though I was eating plain cream cheese with no other ingredients mixed in... All in all I would thoroughly recommend hitting the Bitter End for cocktails though! With an extremely large selection there is something for everyone and a lot of inventive, unique options as well. The price is a little higher than average though with most two ounce cocktails costing around $12. I should mention that our server was apologetic about the wait time for dinner and generally very attentive. The Bitter End has also won the Coast's annual 'best martini' for the last 8 years running so definitely stop by and give one a try! read more

I've been to The Bitter End many times and thoroughly enjoyed the food and atmosphere. I do appreciate the $4 appetizers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (with a beverage purchase of course) I however just left tonight dissatisfied. Our server was quite blunt and informed us that it is only one appetizer per beverage. When I asked if this had recently changed she said she would check... And never did. Really put a sour taste in my mouth. (Candace was our server) read more

So, there are a few things about my visit to the bitter end last night that I want to address. Both good, and not so good. DRINK CHOICE: My friend and I between us were able to sample all of the martini's offered for Martini Monday, and I genuinely enjoyed all but two. The lychee wasn't for me, and the riviera was pina colada meets hard alcohol, my friend loved it, but it wasn't my thing. However, the Sail Away martini is TO DIE FOR! There is a limited choice to the martini list but, you're getting them at a good price so, no complaints on that front here. PRICE: We went on martini Monday, which means 6.25 martinis all night. What is really nice is that the 6.25 is including tax. I was a little wary because I knew the Fireside has 5.00 martinis, but that's not including tax. For the extra 50 cents, go to the bitter end. They just plain have better tasting martinis, in my humble opinion. ATMOSPHERE: My friend arrived earlier than I, at 730 and said the place was absolutely empty. When I arrived, closer to 9:30, it was still fairly slow, but filled up as we sat there. I do wish however that the music was not as loud as it was, as I could barely hear the conversation I was trying to have. SERVICE: Okay, here is where the bitter end really impressed me. This is the area that brought them from a 3 star to a solid 4 star. The service was impeccable. As soon as we finished a drink they removed it and asked if we wanted another. Our candle blew out and they immediately replaced it. Not to mention, she was very nice but not too in your face about it. BOTTOM LINE: A tl;dr for you people out there: Service is excellent and while there aren't a huge number of different martinis on Monday, they are superior to other martinis I have had in the city. Keep Calm and Cocktail on! read more