Halifax has never had a shortage of Italian restaurants, with many of them being regarded among the…read morebest fine dining places in the city for years. And while I was in exile in Ottawa for several years, just the downtown has inexplicably added several more Italian spots. Of those though, it was Sapori's casual, street-food-inspired menu that piqued my interest the most (my condolences to the regrettably-named, Sketti and Ball). One day, my wife and I popped in for dinner after work. The elongated restaurant was decently full between regular diners and an solid showing for a pizza-making class. It happened to be Dine Around, so the arancini and square pizza would have to wait, as if there's one thing I like more than street food, it's a deal! Dine Around menus are typically prix fixe with an assortment of choices, and Sapori's was no different. Choose between a few apps, mains and desserts and voila, you've got yourself a three-course meal for $30. I kept it simple and went with the classics - a Caesar salad to start, spaghetti and meatballs, and a profiterole for dessert. The Caesar was sizeable and serviceable, with no departures from the formula, but no standout twists or quality ingredients here either. Romaine, real pancetta, and crumbled parmesan, which sadly wasn't the real deal Parmigiano Regiano. It was big enough for both my wife and I, which was an unexpected bonus though. Next up was the spaghetti and meatballs, a comfort food classic beloved by both young and old. The al dente spaghetti was evenly coated in the pomodoro sauce, and the two meatballs were saucy, tender and hearty. A solid coating of Parmesan and a sprinkle of parsley completed the picture. The star of the show was a bit of a tease, because there was just one (I get it, food costs, etc), but the profiterole was excellent. The choux pastry was lightly crisp on the outside, with a wonderfully rich vanilla cream inside, and a dusting of confectioners sugar and a caramel drizzle took things up a couple notches. And by "things" I mean "my blood sugar". My next time there found me swinging by for a solo lunch, with their casual fare in my sights. Their lunch deal (slice of pizza + soup or salad + a cookie) was an unreal deal for a place that isn't one of Halifax's dicey pizza points, so I jumped on that. Feeling hungry, and wanting to support them beyond the basic deal, I also tacked on a single arancini and a can of San Pellegrino. For my slice I chose the salsciccia which comes with Italian sausage (are the wires connecting on "salsciccia"?), salami, caramelized onions, and mozza, with a drizzle of honey to top it off. It was a hefty slice, with a thick, airy crust that reminded me of focaccia. The sweet honey paired well with the savoury and salty meats, as well as the lightly sweet and acidic tomato sauce. A solid slice, for sure! The garden salad was a mix of fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and carrot, with an herbaceous vinaigrette to brighten up your palette. I enjoyed the crunch of the sizeable chunks of carrot, in contrast to the more common shredded carrot. The arancini disappeared quickly, as the crispy shell and cheesy rice within begged to be finished in as few bites as possible. A tip of the cap to Sapori for giving my lonely arancini a nice plating with a dollop of tomato sauce to hold it to the plate, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley and parm to top it off. Mid-day, mid-week staffing was minimal, and owner Luca Ferrante took mine and other customers' orders with friendly aplomb. Halifax's fine dining scene has long been dominated by Italian restaurants, but more casual fair like Sapori deserves its own place in the city and our bellies.

Love this restaurant?m! One of the BEST in Halifax. Perfect location, fresh food, excellent staff!read more

ving the Best for Last at Bicycle Thief…read more We saved Bicycle Thief for last, and it ended up being one of the best meals of our Halifax trip. We started with the flash-fried calamari, a great opener served with their sun-dried tomato pesto aioli. But little did I know the standout lobster dish of the trip was hiding in the appetizer section. Their lobster and corn chowder was incredible. Seriously, so, so good. Potatoes, Vidalia onions, and double-smoked bacon added great contrast to the sweet lobster. And you know it's good when you can see that beautiful red lobster oil floating on top. It really showed that they used the lobster shells and all those flavour-packed bits to build the stock. Absolutely delicious. Next came the spaghettini ai frutti di mare, loaded with huge jumbo shrimp, fresh scallops, and mussels in a sun-dried tomato pesto. The seafood was fresh and plentiful. The linguini all'aragosta did not disappoint either. San Marzano tomatoes, cream, and Parmigiano made for a rich and decadent sauce that worked beautifully with the lobster. We also had the crab ravioli, followed by yet another lobster dish, the lobster Thermidor. This was seriously indulgent, with wild mushrooms, Gruyère, and house-made black truffle spaghettini. Rich, savoury, and packed with flavour. After all that decadence, we needed something bright to finish. The crostata al bergamotto was perfect, with a vibrant bergamot citrus curd that cut through the richness and refreshed the palate. Great seafood, incredible pasta, creative flavours, and excellent execution. We definitely saved one of the best for last.

Another joint highly praised online, so I dropped by for a late lunch…read more Ordered the lobster roll and crab ravioli. Lobster roll was fine, nothing to write home about but wouldn't order or recommend. However their crab ravioli was phenomenal, the lemon and cream sauce work perfectly. It was heavy from the cream but the citrus helped made it lighter. Service was friendly and they had patio and indoor seating.

New Italian restaurant from the Bertossi group (Bicycle Thief, Il Mercato etc) located at the…read morebottom of a newer upscale apartment complex - the Mills Residence. Two entrances to the place - one of Queen Street and one in an alley with cool shops and stores. Instagrammable interior - especially the lighting fixtures and bar. Standard Italian fare on menu. Service was excellent. The appetizers and dessert were the stars for me. Reasonable price considering it's a higher end restaurant in town. Definitely will need a reservation if you want to eat at a decent time! There is a patio - will be amazing when the weather is warmer. There are heaters above for cooler weather.

Via Condotti, I fear, is another restaurant simply popular for its appeal to Instagram. The…read moreinterior is quite nice, with tasteful decor. Our group came for brunch, and perhaps that it why it was not the fine dining experience we hoped to have. I had the "Eggs Royale" which was a smoked salmon eggs benedict. The eggs were perfectly poached, and the salmon was quite nice. The hollandaise had a great flavour, but I wish there was more of it. The potatoes and salad, however, left much to be desired. The potatoes were fried to a crisp, but they were very tough to eat. It almost felt like eating rocks, especially the smaller pieces. The salad was just a bowl of greens. No dressing or vinaigrette. If there was ever an opportunity to use the term "rabbit food," this would be it. If the goal was to be authentic, Via Condotti missed the mark. Italians will often dress a salad with, at minimum, salt, pepper, and olive oil. The drip coffee was okay. The service was average, a little odd at times. When ordering drinks upon our arrival, a couple of us were excluded from the order, I'm not sure why. Our server just didn't look at two of the people in our group and moved on. Our side salads arrived 5-10 minutes after our brunch plates arrived. We were not offered a refill on our drinks. In fact, our empty coffee cups were whisked away without a word. I would consider coming back to try their dinner menu, seeing as this is what they seem to be championing. I would not return here for brunch, unfortunately.

We stopped by Salt + Ash in Halifax for happy hour and ended up having quite the feast!The Brothers…read moreMeats pepperoni plus pizza was a great start, with plenty of savoury, meaty flavour. The jalapeño cornbread was another standout....moist, flavourful, and with just the right amount of kick. The fish and chips were excellent, while the tater tot-chos were pure comfort food, loaded with melted cheddar, pico de gallo, and sour cream. Of course, we needed some veggies for balance, so the kale and quinoa salad totally counts! The perfect pairing throughout was the Mango Dragonfruit Sour. Super refreshing and fruity, with enough acidity to cut through all the richness of the meal. Great happy hour selection, lots of variety, and a fun spot to settle in for a feast. Definitely a place worth checking out when you're in Halifax!

4 of us came for a Saturday morning brunch. It was a gorgeous day so we sat on the patio…read moreoverlooking the water. Ordered the standard coffee to start. Waiter was awesome. Made sure we were ok every time he was in the vicinity. I ordered the mushroom Benedict with the hollandaise on the side. It was great with the locally made truffle cream cheese. I did have to ask for a steak knife to be able to cut through the bread. It was a well done piece of pizza dough. Tasty but tough to get through. Came with tater tots and a donair sauce to dip them in. My husband ordered the stuffed baked potato. He loved it but said next time he will order the side salad on the side and ask for more dressing. I ended the meal with a cool glass of rose. We will definitely be back.

Best Calamari we've ever had! Gluten free options as well…read more Fresh-baked bread???? OMG, wonderful. Veal Marsala was sweet and flavorful. Great staff.

I thought long before writing this review. It was one of the WORST dining experiences I have ever…read morehad. We went for Valenties day 2025. First off the parking lot and driveways were a sheet of ice. There was no care taken to keep patrons safe while trying to get into the building. The table we had for 4 people was big enough for two and the tables were crowded together. The food was good, nothing spectacular but good. The special of seafood pasta was overpriced. It came with soup (maybe 3/4 cup), there was a couple of scallops and a couple of shrimp but you had to hunt for the lobster. It was very cold in the restaurant. We took off our coats but quickly put them back on. I don't think the heat was on at all or on very low. The most disturbing thing was when they take the food up they sit it on the counter where people go to pay for their meal. Your food is sitting uncovered, getting cold and strangers are standing over it and breathing on it while paying their bill. Save your money for a restaurant where your hard earned dollar is appreciated. I will NEVER go there again.

Pasta is freshly made. It's amazing. Quadratto di Spinachi is ravioli filled with spinach and…read morecheese, in a wine/lemon butter sauce with asparagus and chopped pistachios. Best meal I've had all year. Manager was attentive and checking on everything. Dessert was also made there. Profiteroles with caramel gelato and real whipped cream and pistachios. Yummy. And large enough for two people.

One of the best pasta dishes I have ever eaten!! Great service as well! I highly recommend this…read morerestaurant!

I remember being there in their Bayers lake location before they moved and we had this amazing…read moresweet like sauce with the pasta, my young son at the time loved their meatballs appetizer and the drinks n dessert were lovely- Still trying to get back hopefully before they close if they haven't already....

Customer service, and the quality of seafood was terrible. Group serving was not good.read more

So mad 2 doors down has closed on Barrington st! Their Kail…read moreCeaser salad was so good! Fresh crunchy kale/ lovely huge croutons/ parm cheese/ bacon and the dressing definitely house made!! Ugh I long for it!!

This restaurant is a gem! On a business trip we stumbled on…read morethis delightful spot located in strip area. Katrina a waitperson guided us through the menu The food and its presentation were excellent with an excellent wine list. The decor is subtle and not distracting.

Don't be put off by the outside, it's what they are serving inside that counts. I have leaned that…read moresome of the best chefs are located in strip malls and back alley sites. Great wine selection, friendly staff, especially Holly, but delicious. We shared the grilled Caesar salad. All the pasta is homemade and cooked to a perfect Al dente. I had the Bolognese. The sauce was a perfect balance of meat, cheese and sauce that sat on top of the pasta. My husband had the fettuccini with porcini. Don't miss this hidden gem in Halifax

The food is spectacular! The staff is very attentive and Claudio even cam out to greet us. Try the…read moreCaprese salad.

I work next door in the CIBC building and this place is just TOO easy for me to run down and grab a…read moresnack or a lunch and head back to my desk. I am usually gone less than 5 minutes. Which means I frequent this place more often than I should admit to. My fave is the cheese biscuit. Seriously. It's huge. And amazing. And you can tell it's fresh and homemade because every day it's a different size and a different shape but still full of goodness.

Hidden inside the TD building is a fabulous little sandwich bar filled with healthy treats. I've…read morebeen in four or five times now and always pick up either the sandwich of the day or the sandwich and soup of the day combo - usually around $8 for both... or sandwich of the day and a small milk is $7. Every employee there is super helpful and willing to make your experience there a great one. Between that and the food, it's a knock out punch to make me want to come back over and over again. Sit down and see the bustle outside the window or take it to go, it's a great spot to grab something good for you.