Drift was once on the list of top 100 Canadian restaurant, and we've decided to have lunch here during our trip to Halifax. Reservation is easy and there's still plenty of spots for Friday lunch with same day booking. The vibe here is relaxing and quiet with the restaurant entrance hidden inside a hotel. Service is good too. The chef has demonstrated quite solid cooking skil and my suggestion is to go with the fancier dish here where the chef clearly pays more attention to, compared to dishes like fish and chips. I tried a classic cocktail with gin as the base. It turned out to be very refreshing. For food, Caesar salad was delicious. Pan fried cod fillet was cooked perfectly, very tender and went well with the roots vegetables. It was my favorite dish here. Lobster pasta was also delicious. Fish and chips were average, definitely not comparable to some of the food truck places. Fries were dry and tasted bitter. Overall, this is a good restaurant with great food quality, good service and nice environment. I would consider revisiting if I'm in Halifax again. read more

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What do you think of when you're heading out east ? Seafood of course ! Let me tell you... I've got a new appreciation for it after my trip last week. We've had a trip planned to golf Cabot for the last few years. The texts and emails were flying delays, cancelled trips and in general , I never thought it would happen. Surprisingly, Halifax was a quick little flight from Toronto and am I ever glad we did it. First off, we talked about getting lobster on the side of the road at shacks etc, blah blah blah but as soon as we landed we headed to meet a friend who said we must try this lobster croissant sandwich at The Drift. OMG OMG OMG ! Could be one of the best sandwiches I've ever tasted but you know what was even better, the Chablis, no, the lobster pasta, no... It was the lobster fritters. They were insane ! The fritters are a bit like a conch if you've ever had that in the BVIs but they are battered so perfectly with a zesty hint of like that is so perfect, it's too hard to describe. Over the top crispy timbit deliciousness with lobster. The drift is a MAJOR win, it's along the water in Halifaxs best hotel the Muir and it's just perfect. Our trip was filled with Oysters and I have to say, each place had slightly different variations but I will NEVER say I had a better Oyster than in Halifax. If you hear me say it, just call me out because we had at least 4 Oysters each at around 6 places and they were all better than anywhere I've ever eaten in the world, almost to the point where I didn't need the sides (almost). I am so glad I visited Halifax, oh and by the way, the golf at Cabot was insane ! INSANE ! Was it better than Cabot St Lucia ? Nope, but I give Cabot St Lucia a 9.8 and I give Cabot Cape Breton a 9.6. STOP right there ! I had the crab shack , I had the crab shack and oh my gosh was it good. Just outside Cabot is the best little shack with the freshest little sandwiches on fluffy buns. Check it out right here- get the mainlander sandwich and the crab bretoner. The mainlander is warm lobster spiced up on the bun, heaven ! And the crab bretoner is chilled crab, mix up perfectly with aioli, green on and a few other things. If you're near Inverness you better stop there. Ok ok ok , I'm writing all of this as I go but on the Sunday we end up at the 5 fishermen. Order the lobster, the carbonara lobster , the chowder and Oysters at every single place you go in Halifax and thank me later. I wasn't expecting to love the food this much, wow ! If you're there on a Sunday, hit Durty Nellys. In my Opinion it's the best pub in the world- yep ! See ya next week :) read more

Drift - Lobster croissant at the drift - Canadian (New) Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Drift restaurant is located on the Halifax waterfront area. It has inside and outside dining we went for dinner. They have a really nice menu lots of fresh local seafood along with regional meat and lamb dishes. We opted for the seafood and it was absolutely delicious. The staff were exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and eager to play without being overbearing. The restaurant it appears, is connected in some way to the Muir Hotel, which is also part of Marriott. They have a really nice selection of wines by the glass and by the bottle along with a selection of cocktails. They did have a dessert menu which we opted out of. read more

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While my wife and I were having a mini-staycation at The Muir to break up the dullness of mid-winter in Nova Scotia, Drift was the obvious choice to break our fasts, with its lovely interior, top-notch food, and the ease of access to it, as The Muir's in-house restaurant. For our first of two breakfasts, we went down to the restaurant itself. We'd been for brunch once before a few years ago, and it's still as subtly elegant as ever, with the warm, light-toned wooden ceiling and accents, mid-century modern furniture and airy views of the Queen's Marque courtyard. I was eyeing up both their version of the Monte Cristo and the banger and hash, and decided to split them up over our two visits. Drift being Drift, this wasn't your standard Monte Cristo, loaded up as it was with quality ingredients like house-smoked turkey, confit pork belly, local gouda and brown bread French toast. The meats were wonderfully tender and flavourful, and the melted gouda brought its lightly salty sharpness. I was impressed by the thick, brown bread as it held up extremely well to the French toast treatment, and its notes of molasses doubled down on the sweetness of the maple syrup drizzle and dusting of confectioner's sugar. All told, it was a delicious mix of sweet and savoury. The sandwich also came with some cursory fresh fruit, a roasted tomato, and some criminally under-billed potatoes. Denoted simply as "grilled potatoes", I was just expecting some chunky home fries, but it was much fancier than that, more along the lines of a potato pavé, with delicately laminated layers of potato in a crisp rectangle of potato-y goodness. For our second breakfast (from Drift, the following day, not the hobbit-style second breakfast), we splurged a little more to get room service and make our check-out process a little easier. With just a half hour lead time, we had a rolling table brought to our room and unfurled in front of our window which overlooked the boardwalk and harbour. The banger and hash was a delicious mash-up of British and Nova Scotian food. The aforementioned grilled potatoes took the place of the "mash", while two, house-made sausages filled the other titular roll. The sausages had crisp casings, and the juicy interiors which had a pleasant , rustic grain to them. As much as I love a basic breakfast sausage, these were definitely next level! The dish didn't stop there though, as it had two, perfectly poached eggs, a hefty dollop of sweet and savoury baked beans, and for that Nova Scotian component, some green tomato chow to help cut through a very rich breakfast. We were also given two complimentary canelés, topped with groundcherries. Kudos to Drift's baker, as this was probably the best canelé I've ever had. The exterior was darkly caramelized without a hint of burnt taste, and was impossibly moist and airy on the interior. While this was a working staycation, our breakfasts at Drift were a wonderful component of a couple days spent (occasionally) relaxing and enjoying some of the treats that our city has to offer. read more

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The service and food is top notch ! The brown bread and honey butter will have you wanting to go back before you leave ! The salads and entrees are excellent!! Cocktails are creative and delicious . Wonderful setting for a special meal . read more

Service was fantastic! Food was mediocre at best, not well seasoned. My wife found large pieces of cartilage and a bone in her chicken dish. They refunded the chicken but even without that experience we will not be back as it was not worth the money. read more

My partner and I had an incredible dinner experience here on a Saturday night. Our server was very kind & attentive. The atmosphere was cozy and the lighting perfectly dimmed. The food was incredible...my other half and I are not big on seafood but we had heard great things...and for good reason. There was not a single morsel of food left on our plates! The hush puppies were certainly a favorite, and the tuna tartare was so fresh with a delicious kick from the jalapeno. The scallops were seared to perfection, and the steak was juicy and tender. 11/10 would recommend for a beautiful date night, if you want to leave smiling :) read more

Great food, service, and atmosphere. Our server Anita was fantastic, looking forward to coming back when we visit Halifax again! read more

Enjoyed the freshest mussels cooked to perfection and a selection of creative cocktails that perfectly complemented the meal. The service was impeccable, making the dining experience even more memorable. If you're looking for a true taste of Canada, this place is a must-visit when you travel to Halifax read more

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I was genuinely shocked by how Emily spoke to me. I've never felt so disrespected or humiliated. This experience was deeply upsetting, and I won't be coming back read more

Drift is located in the new Queen's Marque complex that includes the Muir hotel and many other restaurants and retail outlets. The development is stunning and greatly expands Halifax's waterfront. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated with a modern welcoming feel. Suitable for fine dining but casual enough that you feel comfortable in shorts and a Tee. It also boasts a partially covered and sheltered patio, which is where we were lucky enough to eat. Service is friendly and professional, maybe not as attentive as some fine dining venues, but on the other hand, your sitting on a patio in August on a Halifax Pier, what's the rush? We couldn't get reservations until 8:30 but, since we were walking by, checked in at 6:30 and were happily seated. The Drift has a nice local beer, creative cocktails and wine. Beer and cocktail prices seemed reasonable but wine by the glass seemed pricy to me. The menu is extensive and very creative, with something for everyone. I love that the chef integrates local flavours like rum and molasses into many dishes. Not many fine dining restaurants carry brown bread, Hodge Podge, and peas puddin' (which they call mushy peas) on the menu. They don't specifically flag gluten and dairy free on the menu but did accommodate us very nicely, you just have to ask. All of our dishes were wonderful. The salmon may have been the winner. However my cod was spectacular and the sauce on mussels with gf pasta was delicious. The Molasses Cake dessert was delicious as well. There was, however, a very large discrepancy between portion size. For a big appetite, my cod would be woefully deficient, while the pasta was even on the large size. Both the cod and salmon were reasonably sized, perhaps some added veg or peas would have helped. Perhaps not an epic, surreal meal, but definitely a go-to venue for fine dining or a casual meal. read more

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We visited this restaurant a while back on our last visit to explore the newly designed area. This restaurant is one of many fairly new additions to the area. It is inspired by local East Coast cuisine with an elevated experience. We tried: 1. Burrata & Zucchini Exactly what'd you expect. Burrata and zucchini paired with basil and pistachio. We weren't huge fans of the combo as it missed some salt or pepper. The dish's burrata/zucchini ratio was off a bit off as we found the zucchini too much. 2. Lobster Bisque This was super buttery and creamy. Made with lobster chilli oil and tarragon. The bisque was pretty thick and the flavour was there. 3. Brown Bread A house bread paired with a honey butter. The bread was super light and fluffy, and the butter was such a good combo. 4. Steak Frites This was a striploin steak paired with fries as well as some veggies - tomato, arugula, watercress. The steak was tender and juicy with a flavourful peppery taste. The fries were basic, crispy and salty. 5. Salmon This was a blue salmon dish paired with pickled veggies and glass noodles. We wanted to try this combo, but flavour wise it was off. The salmon had no taste and veggies were super acidic and overpowering. 6. Apple pie Finishing off with dessert, this apple pie was probably the best item of the night. It had a mix of a sweet and savoury taste. The added cheese and fresh apples were delicious. Overall, this spot was a bit underwhelming as we expected more from a "new resto". We definitely appreciated the design and environment to make Halifax more developed. @alot.eats read more

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I will preface this review by saying the food I had (PEI mussels) was absolutely delicious. So, no criticisms of the kitchen or chef. However, as a single woman diner, I was very disappointed with the service. When I entered the half-empty restaurant at peak lunch time, the front was empty. The hosts were chatting at the bar. Someone else stepped up, and asked me if I wanted to sit inside or out, and I said inside. Then two more hosts showed up. They whispered something to each other, and one said I should follow her. She then led me across the half-empty restaurant to a corner table. One of the two settings was removed, and I was gestured to sit in a seat facing the corner. After a brief break to the restroom, I returned, and sat facing the restaurant. I waited for the waitress to see if she would adjust the table setting, but she did not. So I then took it upon myself to set the table properly so I would not be facing the corner. For this reason alone, I would never return to Drift. There's more to a restaurant than good food, and I am happy to pay higher prices for good service AND good food. Be forewarned single women diners: this is probably not the restaurant for you. Note to Drift: train your hosts. read more

Hubby and I stopped here on a Monday morning at 10am for brunch. While we didn't have a reservation, the host was so kind and squeezed us in. Will was our server and made the experience warm and friendly. Hubby ordered the blueberry pancakes and I ordered the Benedict. The portions were generous and plated with precision. Everything was executed well and so freaking delicious. One of the standout spots in Halifax! read more

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I was staying in the Muir Hotel, unfortunately did not get a chance to have dinner at Drift but had a couple of breakfasts there. Everything was really great; the hipster toast was healthy, tasty and pretty filling. The Breakfast sandwich was really good and also very filling on its own (though may be tempting to order a side), the pancakes were also awesome. Can't wait to come back and check out the dinner menu read more

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My drink was really good. But my food was bland. Server was lovely but for the prices being charged the food was underwhelming

Against my own instincts, what's-her-name wanted to visit Drift, a posh restaurant in a fancy hotel along the Halifax waterfront, for breakfast. I said nothing as we passed Tim Hortons along the way because I know where my bread is buttered. While she ate the "full breakfast," I asked for coffee and a slice of the overpriced cinnamon coffee cake. The coffee was very good, but the pastry was last week's: tough and dry. Deduct four stars. Ate it in silence rather than mention Tim Horton and rock the boat. But near the last crumb, without prompting, the waitress asked how everything was and graciously agreed to hear the truth. Add two stars. She offered a replacement, but my waistline was already expanding. Despite protests, she removed the exorbitant price from the bill. Add another star. Exorbitant prices imply impeccable quality. All's well that ends well, however. I never mentioned Tim Hortons. read more

Drift achieves the high-end, classy ambiance for which it strives. However... I feel like a curmudgeonly old man saying this, but it was actually too dark - we were all tilting our menus toward the dim lamp lighting, squinting to decipher the menu options. Our table for 6 was also the size of a table for 4, which left us knocking knees and awkwardly repositioning our long legs throughout the meal. The Siren's Call cocktail ($20) was basically a French 75 with a flair of orange. Tbh, it was comparable to the French 75s with triple sec that I make at home. Slightly disappointing given its place on the "signature" cocktail list. The oysters were locally sourced from Nova Scotia that evening. They were fresh, tasted fine, not memorable nor disappointing. The brown bread comes out as an order of two buns (not a loaf), and it was delightfully soft and fluffy. My scallops and pork belly entree was... fine. Three, maybe four, pieces of each resting atop two strips of squash, which itself was sliced paper-thin. Topped with a few sprouts. The entree could've used potatoes or risotto or a true vegetable side (something, anything) to feel complete - especially with a price point of $39. Our server (Brendan, I believe) was excellent. Overall, the experience wasn't unenjoyable, I just don't think the food lived up to their classy aspirations. read more

First place I went while visiting Halifax. Refined restaurant that's well staffed. Only dropped in for a drink and appetizer but both were great. Have to try the seafood while on the coast and the lobster / shrimp cake did not disappoint read more

Drift - Mai Tai and lobster / shrimp cake. - Canadian (New) Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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Located in the Muir Autograph hotel on the waterfront. The decor and atmosphere is beautiful!! I had Mary's Brown bread which was perfect, it was still warm from the oven and the butter melted. I really recommend this. Comes with 2 pieces so it's good to share. The lobster bisque was just alright. I don't recommend. My main was the steak and frites, and it was truly the best steak I've ever had in my life. The brown jus it comes on is delicious. Our service was amazing as well. Highly recommend this place and will definitely be back. It's also fairly easy to get a reservation. read more

Drift - Cute little seating area - Canadian (New) Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Felt like having a high-end breakfast at 7 a.m. in the morning and found this beautifully decorated restaurant in the heart of downtown Halifax by the docks. Service 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Good 4/5 read more

While checking in at my hotel I went to check out the restaurant off the lobby. Great ambiance: indoor-outdoor location right on the harbor front. Lucky for me i decided to try it out for dinner. Service was over the top. Everything we ordered was a home run. Our server Lexi made a good experience great. Kudos. read more

I are here a few times during my trip to Halifax and every meal was fabulous. The oysters, homemade bread, pork belly and scallops. On the last night I ordered a salad and added chicken to it and wow - that might have been the best chicken I have ever had. Great location. Pretty views of the waterfront. Only con is their coffee isn't very good. But all the food is delicious. read more

Mediterranean dinner outside with my beloved. Apps were avocado fatoosh salad with pomegranate-- delicious, falafel balls "best I've ever eaten" from my falafel fan. Octopus was outstanding with a sauce to almost lick off the plate, beef kabob divinely done.... too full for desserts. Perfect service, not too cloying or interrupting. Can't wait to go back! Music was only issue-sounded like elevator music for restaurants. read more

Traveled to Halifax for work and had dinner at this establishment. Very nice ambiance with a great vibe. They have a great menu selection of seafood offerings along with steak option, if that's what you fancy. Wine and cocktails selections were varied and a perfect accompaniment to the meal. Food was delicious, unfortunately I ordered the mussels as my main and was disappointed because the mussels were tiny and a tad over cooked. I must've missed the mussel season. My starter of lobster and shrimp cake was amazing and would definitely have that again. Dessert made with Nova Scotian wild blueberries was a nice finish to the evening. My dinner companions enjoyed their meals with positive comments. Vibe, service and food was worth going. read more

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Staying i@ Muir and it is very convenient for breakfast. Very nice staff, good food and a pretty nice selection for breakfast. I love the cod fish cake and the grits. It's a fancy place with a beautiful interior, elegant ambiance and great looking table setting read more

I was staying at the Marriott nearby and came here with some work colleagues for dinner. The restaurant had a really cool ambiance and felt very hip. The staff were all very nice and helpful. The food was amazing. We got a a bunch of appetizers, most which I forget except the crudo and brown bread, both of which were tasty. For my main I got the halibut and it was so flavorful and tasty. Had really great flavors that came together perfectly. I'd go here over and over. read more

Really good breakfast with freshly squeezed orange juice. Eggs for Benedict were cooked perfectly, nice atmosphere and friendly staff.

I found Drift to be a delightful experience. the food is excellent with local seafood done in unusual ways. A cut above the usual fare. Our server(Stephan) was very attentive and the entire staff were friendly. well done Drift! read more

Service, food, and atmosphere were outstanding. Beet salad was perfection. Halibut dish and hodge-podge seafood dish were perfectly prepared. Warm blueberry cake for dessert was perfect ending. Definitely the place to go for a lovely and delicious upscale dinner. read more

Beautiful spot on the waterfront...I've been twice - the food & service were impeccable...our server Nathan was outstanding! Upscale yet casual...will definitely return again read more

We booked a table for the Dine Around menu: two courses and a cookie-to-go for $30. Both of us had the smoked haddock chowder which was absolutely delicious. The broth was creamy but not too thick. Mini potatoes, carrots, and, my favourite, turnip, with pieces of smoked haddock, made true whole thing very satisfying. My friend had the pasta dish, braised beef on a bed of pappardelle. She enjoyed it very much. I had smoked salmon on a buckwheat pancake with shaved fennel and citrus on top. The pancake was more like a big cracker, spread with cream cheese, and piled with a generous helping of smoked salmon. The fennel and citrus on top added crisp freshness to the whole dish. I took half of it all home. The service was friendly and attentive. I'd love to come back, but with the regular menu prices it would have to be a special occasion. read more

We were very excited to return to Halifax after four years to find some new fine dining restaurants on the waterfront. We arrived over the holidays during a COVID spike so knew from the news that there would be limited options available. When we saw Drift was open and looked at the menu, we thought we would try it out. When we called, we were told but a curt host that the could accommodate us but that we needed to vacate the table by a certain time for other reservations. We arrived to a mostly empty restaurant and after settling in, had a decent meal. There were so few people there that our server was dismissed halfway through our service. By the end of the evening, we overcame the initial coldness of the experience and so decided the following evening to stop by for a nightcap. We arrived once again to a sparsely occupied space with a few people at the bar - with plenty of open seats - and were told by a very dismissive host that they had no space for us and that we would "overwhelm" the bartender. The overall vibe of the place felt very elite and unwelcoming. This was not what we would expect from a Halifax restaurant, given that we're regulars at many fine dining establishments in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and London. Really disappointed that this is the vibe in my hometown - especially when I often give advice to friends around the world where to stay and eat when traveling to the east coast. read more

the worst. they forgot my order. they decided to offer me a salad as comp. but then they were out of stock of the sale. really not good.

We went for the seafood per the online menu. Got the online Sunday brunch menu instead, and only half of the brunch menu posted online: eggs for days, and for seafood, smoked salmon only. Tiny portions (not that you'd want more) ruined by fussy, pretentious ingredients like sea buckthorn. Precious little lobster in the unappetizing "tarragon" lobster bisque. Stale, chewy "puff croutons" in the bisque and even in the blueberry grunt. Sponge cake for strawberry "shortcake." How is any of this "Nova Scotian"? Ear-splitting raucous music. Cordial, prompt service, but so little choice and such disappointing food that we'll never go back. read more