Stopped in here when my fish and chip place didn't have chowder...the sign says they're know for it, and I can see why! It was delicious, and filled with delectable seafood morsels. Scallops, shrimp, etc, all tender and tasty. Take out, so I can't comment too much on service, but it looked like what you would expect, friendly, casual. The decor is older, but fitting, and there was a large patio with extra seating as well. read more

Esquire Restaurant - Seafood chowder - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

An instant favourite! We so enjoyed our first visit yesterday (lobster roll and lobster Mac and cheese) the food was fabulous and the service by Ainsley was so amazing we decided to go back tonight for the pan seared scallops. Sadly Ainsley wasn't there but the service and food was outstanding! It's clearly a local hangout but we were treated like visiting royalty! read more

Esquire Restaurant - Their amazing lobster roll! - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

Going to the Esquire Restaurant is like going to visit an old familiar friends house. The food is the closest to being comfort food that you never get enough of. A friend and visited during their Thanksgiving special. All the fixings that you enjoy during holiday. Our server (sorry, forgot your name) remembered us from last year. Our favourite is their chocolate cake. No worries we will be back. It wouldn't surprise me if they just passed us the chocolate cake without asking us next time. read more

Thought I was home! Tasted better than Mom's! Great friendly service, excellent food. I would come back but I'm from BC!

Chowder was lukewarm and smelled and tasted fishy Mashed potatoes were old (brown) and too cold to melt the butter All this for $40. Not coming back. read more

In Halifax with family for a few days. Drove by the place heading to a local mall. Returned later in the afternoon to have lunch. Lots of locals. Many seniors seem to like this place. Place looks like it had lots of history. They offered 20% your bill if you purchased tickets to the Nova Scotia Tattoo-which we did and they happily took the discount off on our bill. Decent food. Not huge portions. Overall friendly service. Encourage you to stop by to experience a local Darmouth/Halifax/Bedford haunts. Establishments such as these are disappearing across the US and Canada. read more

Gord and I had supper this evening with Sister Sarah and Joey, Sister Sarah's husband. Sister Sarah and Joey suggested Esquire Restaurant ... and it was an excellent suggestion! Gord started with a cup of seafood chowder. Joey ordered a bowl of seafood chowder as his main. Both said it was delicious and ate it all. It looked hearty. Gord also ordered a lobster roll with a house salad. He said the lobster roll was really good and ate it all. He'd get it again. Sister Sarah ordered the roast turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and no veggies. She's had it there before and said it was good. I ordered the pan fried haddock with roasted potatoes and no veggies. I'm not a big fan of fish but found this delicious. There wasn't a fishy taste to the haddock. I'd get it again. Jordan was our server. He was friendly and took good care of us. read more

See all

A fixture of the Bedford highway for decades longer than I've been around, I stopped in at the Esquire one day while on a rare trip through the neighbourhood on my way to Sackville. The restaurant sits about 80, which is also close to the average age of its clientele, in a mix of booths and tables. The room certainly shows its own age as well, with cracked green vinyl booths, worn carpet and chipped tables. Their website is surprisingly nice though, as it seems that the Grafton Connor Group found it easier to put money into that than the restaurant itself. With it being after the lunch rush, I was seated quite easily and was soon perusing their good sized menu. With sections like their famous dishes, sandwiches, seafood, Maritime favourites (diner classics like Salisbury steak, liver and onions, etc.), pasta, and all day breakfasts (with a Newfie breakfast with fried bologna), there's a lot going on. As this was my first time here, I had to go with their chowder to see if it lived up to its stellar reputation, and I also got a one piece fish and chips. The chowder came almost immediately, served with a roll and packet of saltine crackers. While crackers in soup were my grandfather's bag, it never really caught on with me, so I stuck to dipping my roll. That is, once the nuclear hot chowder cooled down. Smooth and creamy, with small chunks of tender potatoes, and bits of fish and red pieces of lobster shining through, it was definitely a good chowder. The best though? I'm not nearly enough of a chowder connoisseur to say so, but I think that may be a bit of a stretch. My fish and chips came out a few minutes later, with my sizable piece of fish on top of pile of telltale, from-frozen fries, with Kraft tartar packets and coleslaw with pickles on the side. That being said, the fries weren't bad. As long as they're not freezer burnt and are cooked properly, frozen fries can be damn good, and these definitely were. The haddock seemed good at the first bite, with an airy and crispy batter, but on subsequent bites I found the fish to be a bit soggy. I'm not sure if it was from being frozen, under cooked or old, but it wasn't the most enjoyable texture. Service was friendly and speedy, with great timing. All told, the Esquire is pretty par for the course for diners. It's probably doing a good business right now, but they're going to have to re-invest in the property and step up their game in the kitchen if they want to be serving chowder for another 50 years. read more

Esquire Restaurant - The famous seafood chowder - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

See all

We went for the seafood chowder as it had allegedly won some awards... it was delicious! And gluten free! Elizabeth was very good and sold us on pecan pie, strawberry-rhubarb pie and a strawberry sundae for dessert. I'll go back for more. Lobster roll and other seafood options look very good! read more

Very good Mexican restaurant! Delicious food and lots of fancy drinks! Highly recommended! read more

Esquire Restaurant - a bowl of salsa and chips - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

Service was exceptional and their seared haddock is one of the best in town. Highly recommended!

Great for home style basic meals. Corned beef dinner, turkey dinner, etc. Great desserts: bread pudding, pies, strawberry shortcake. Great basic restaurant with excellent service. (They know me now) read more

Not fancy just delicious! Service is outstanding as is their seafood chowder. The lobster roll is stuffed to brim with delicious lobster. In the words of Arnold--I'll be back! read more

Was here for the girlfriends grandmother's birthday. This was a while ago but I know that this place is a very popular spot. Very home style down to earth cooking. Always busy and usually a line up for their thanksgiving feast. It's a great spot. Attentive service. Friendly staff and wonderful food. Needs a good update though. A little dated. But maybe that's what makes this place a classic and Curb appeal for the.... More seasoned patrons of the Esquire read more

Esquire Restaurant - a coffee shop on a street corner - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

See all

This is a very laid back diner style Resturant. Prices are very reasonable for what you get. Chowder is the the way to go. I also ordered the fisherman's platter cause I couldn't decide. If you're looking for a linen table top type dining, don't come here. Go to Macados But if you're after value and good food, give them a try. read more

Esquire Restaurant - Very laid back diner type Resturant - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

Whenever I'm back home visiting family I always have to take a trip to the Esquire. My grandparents and I have come here many times over the years and the experience hasn't changed! The food is honestly a bit above average but nothing special (with the exception of the clam chowder and club sandwich those are amazing!) My favourite part of this restaurant is the service. My grandparents always want to sit in Norah's section as she's been their regular server for about 30 years. Good service is attending to the customer's needs and following up on their orders once delivered. The Esquire for me delivers next level service - not only is the service quick, accurate and excellent, our server is always going a step above (ex. remembering that my grandmother doesn't like certain items in her dish and ensuring my grandfather's toast is "well done"). It's this kind of service that will keep us coming back. You don't get this kind of service in restaurants anymore really so hats off to the Esquire for always delivering my family and I an amazing experience. read more

Ah the Esquire... my family has been coming here for more than three decades. Some of the waitresses that were serving when I was little are still there and it looks pretty much the same as it did then. We almost always go for breakfast (No. 5 on the menu), they cook my poached eggs perfectly-- "On a dish not the toast please; it gets soggy otherwise." And occasionally on nights when they have pan fried haddock on special. The food is nothing spectacular: think bland, starchy and frozen fries and frozen veggies out of the bag. I will give them some props for having homemade dinner rolls (maybe not by them, but they are homemade). Their coffee is strong but little better than warm brown water. The slices of pie, on the occasion I have tried them, taste like they are made from mix but the meringue on the lemon is taller than the hair at an Elvis impersonators' convention. Really, the staff are what puts a two star rating to four. We know the wait-staff by name and they know us and the names of our kids. We don't even have to order; they know what we always get. They always bring a bottle of hotsauce to the table for me; I don't have to ask anymore. I guess the Esquire is like going to grandma's house if your grandma had been cooking the same since the 60's. Not surprisingly, it is very popular with the older set and you will often see the same elderly customers sitting in the same booths. And about the chowder... I know it is popular for it's chowder but I'm not a chowder fan; why do that do good seafood!? read more

Esquire Restaurant - No. 5 on the breakfast menu. - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

We stopped at the Esquire Restaurant on Thanksgiving weekend. It may have even been Thanksgiving Day, I don't remember. I do know they were serving a turkey dinner and it looked delicious. The seating area is small and crowded and there was a significant line-up waiting for seating when we left. However, the service was prompt and efficient and we weren't left waiting for our food (or the bill once the meal was completed). The Esquire serves home-cooked foods, for the most part. The menu is diverse without being ridiculous, and the quality of the food is excellent. If you stop in, be sure to try their chowder - they've won The Coast's "Best Seafood Chowder in Halifax" award several times! read more

Esquire Restaurant - cars parked in front of the restaurant - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

See all

Very nice restaurant, serving traditional North American food, great service and affordable prices. Really enjoyed their poutine, however the famous chowder didn't like so much, for me it's not creamy enough. So if you're looking for inexpensive and quite place to eat, out could be a good option. read more

Esquire Restaurant - Awesome poutine - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

It has been some time since I have eaten here. I love everything I ever ate here but my favorite are the seafood chowder and the turkey dinners and all the desserts. Really you can never go wrong eating here. The staff are so friendly and I just have to make a point to visit again soon. Janet Marusiak Halifax read more

Whether you find the Esquire satisfying or underwhelming depends entirely on your expectations. If you're like me, you may have heard locals telling tall tales of the Bedford Highway diner's exquisite nature, only to be let down when the food was just fine without flare of any kind. If you pop in on a whim without buying into the hype, you'll probably walk away with a smile on your face and a craving for home-cooking thoroughly satisfied. With that in mind, you have two options. First, if you've heard great things, either go on your own or with someone else who has never been so you can make your mind up for yourselves. No pressure from overzealous fans. Second, if you've heard nothing, roll the dice and see what you think. The menu is pretty broad with some serious hype for their seafood dishes - chowder, specifically. Service is friendly, price is higher than you'd expect. read more

Well, going into it I knew this was an outdated diner, and it was New Year's day so I knew it was busy- sooooo I didn't have huge expectations. However, I heard this little gem is a great place. Yes it is out dated, but who cares. It appeared clean and well staffed. Super busy for the holiday. That said, the service was terribly slow considering the ratio of staff to customers. As for the menu- it was a typical diner, with a few specialities. A couple things peeked my interest and I was looking forward to me meal. I heard that their chowders were really good and after perusing their seafood menu I figured it would be decent fish. However, I was disgusted. I ordered the clams and chips. What arrived were soggy, frozen together clams (honestly they were so tangled they looked like squid). They were hardly battered and hardly fried. Beyond soggy. I ate a few and the interior crunched, and parts were soooo hard I had to spit them out. Terribly disappointed. Trust me, I have a had a lot f clams around Hali, and these were the worst. The others with me ordered the Tuna melt (they were pleased), haddock sandwich (a tad soggy and falling apart) and the burger (pretty decent). They tried my clams, and couldn't believe how gross they were. Tasting skunky and freezer burned. The milk shakes were pretty decent though and veyr large. Overall service was lacking, personality, efficiency and speed. And listening to other patrons, we were not the only ones who felt this way. (and their were easily 10 staff people working out front). Honestly, I would skip this place. for a $40 meal, better try your luck at a better class of food diner like the Armview. read more

First time eating here. Went in for lunch. They serve all day breakfast and also a varied menu which includes seafood, meat and vegetarian. It is a small restaurant but very clean. We didn't wait for a table and our food was delivered very hot. Prices are reasonable. I would definitely recommend this restaurant read more

Being that it was a favorite restaurant for everyone I know over 65 I was really skeptical! But its a cute little restaurant, that has been around for who knows how long -- and very popular for the older crowd! The waitress' are lovely, and quick! The food was ok...the fish was fresh, but the veg was frozen! Over all it was pretty good, definitely a place I would take g-ma, but not my friends! read more

Grew up in Bedford.. well since 2001... and yes. I am ready to admit. December's visit was my first. My grandfather was visiting from Edmonton, and after a day of renovating the new condo, it was decided that cooking was not going to be in the cards. So my parents, grandpa and I headed to the Esquire. A packed dining room greets you (with admittedly a poorly planned entry way for the popularity) full of an older clientele. It's one of those spots where grandma and grandpa brought your mom and dad, and now you get to come. We settled and were served pretty quickly. I wanted some of the seafood chowder to try (when in Rome..) and then the Esquire burger for a main course. The starters came incredibly quick (from what I figured a full dining room would allow).. and we were off! The chowda! Wow. Not since a trip to the East coast of the US have I had such creamy and hearty chowda! A must have. The burger followed soon thereafter and it was a little sub par, especially following the chowder. Sweet pickles from a jar were overpowering and a strange taste that overwhelmed the meal. The fries were perfectly cooked, but the burger left a bad taste in my mouth (figuratively and literally). The meal came to about 23 bucks a person, so it was about what you should pay for such a meal. This Bedford staple was not everything I hoped, but I may have had too high of expectations as well. read more

Been around a long long time. Popular meat and potatoes restaurant with gobs of elderly customers, including us! Great chowder, pretty good fried scallops, good service, reasonable prices. read more

I think I come here for the people watching first, food second. But, don't let that disappoint you - the fish and chips, chowder and other standards are all delicious and with rave reviews from all sorts of sources, I don't know anyone who wouldn't enjoy the food here. As already alluded to, the atmosphere at The Esquire is unique. The average age of patrons probably skews 50 or 60+, but that's just fine with me. I enjoy dining in cute places that serve homecooked meals that remind you of what your gran used to make. I also enjoy watching those that resemble "gran" enjoy their meals. You can tell that there are frequent regulars here! Seating can be a challenge at peak times, but once you're seated, you'll be served promptly. My coffee cup is never empty and that's exactly how I like it. Overall, a cute place to grab a weekend brunch, a quick spot for lunch when you're in the area, or an earlybird dinner special with your dear Aunt Edna (your treat, of course). read more

I had the Salisbury steak. It was super salty. I ordered mushrooms as a side and the portion wasn't great. My friend has mixed veggies that were freezer burnt. The rest of the food was passable. The median age of the patrons was octogenarian. It was a bit like eating in a cafeteria at a nursing home. read more

Came here with my family for dinner and found the service to be very poor. The wait staff made us feel like we were a hassle just because after they attempted to seat us at a table in the middle of the restaurant, my mother asked for us to move to a table that was along the wall, most places would do this without having to ask. The waitress was huffing and puffing the whole time, I couldn't believe it and then she was rude to my Dad when he asked her to repeat herself when she asked him a question about his order(he's hard of hearing). On top of all of that, they got my sisters order wrong but she didn't say anything because everyone was already mad. I left the restaurant feeling very annoyed and it kind of ruined our day out together. Needless to say, we won't be back. read more

I know there are people out there that love the 'home style' cooking that places like Esquire serve among other diners. I get that it's probably a trip through time through childhood among other nostalgic memories, but for me, this type of cooking doesn't really do it for me. I show up at lunch time on Thurs and the place is absolutely packed to the brim. As I stand waiting for a table, I notice all the awards for seafood chowder - year after year after year. I'm not a soup/chowder kinda guy, so I applaud them based on something that I'll never try but believe the awards. I grab a table and service is pretty spot on, checking in at appropriate times and making sure that I have everything I need. I always like to ask the server what's good and I know they probably hate me for it. So I've gotten a bit better at this and usually narrow it down for them to 2-3 things. I wanted to try the Reuben, the crispy chicken or the Philly cheesesteak. When I asked the server which one - it was without hesitation that he answered with 'Reuben all the way'. This got me excited, since if the answer comes out like that, I'm in for a treat......or am I?!!?!? [Spoiler alert: It was disappointment at first sight] The Reuben showed up with the side of frozen fries. Not only was the plate too big for the amount served - but it just made the meal look small. The Reuben was mostly horseradish and sauerkraut. There was one or two slices of meat and it was a very sad day for someone who loves Reuben's as much as I do. I finished my meal in bewilderment at how such an establishment was raved by many. But I guess it's one of those things that I'll never 'get'. read more

Service was amazing here! We came for the great reviews of the seafood chowder and we weren't disappointed! I came in worth my partner and we had planned to split the lobster roll and chowder and our waitress was so considerate to get the kitchen to actually split our orders on separate plates! Sweet gesture! And very timely service :) read more

I've been here numerous of times and always had a good time and great food! But my last night might be the last :( I ordered the clam dinner and a side of fries, when my order arrived i had less then a handfull of clams and double the amount of fries. I was really discouraged because paying $16 i expect more then the fries, the batter was pretty good but a tad salty. Hopfully if i do go next time it will be better. read more

I was very skeptical when I walked into this restaurant. Four of us went there for supper. The clientele was much older and it reminded me a lot of the Big Stops. There was a lot of seafood on the menu and I was told that it was good. There was a special on--2 for 1 on panfried haddock. It was a great home-cooked meal. The staff were friendly and the service was pleasant. It is a place that I would not go out of my way to get to. But if you're in the area and want some fresh seafood I'd go. read more

#BurgerWeek #round9 Finally I walked into a place where I didn't feel like I was in a rush and I got to enjoy The Hawaiian Burger.... Nice beef patty, think slice of pineapple, crisp thin ham and a slice of cheddar! The burger was on par with any burger I've tried this week , but the chance to sit down have an ice tea and enjoy every bite made it that much better! Thanks Esquire! Service 8/10 read more

Esquire Restaurant - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

I've been going to this place since I was a kid with my parents. Back then it was full of old blue haired bingo ladies, and there were ten times more handicapped stickers than handicapped spots to park in. It ain't changed much since. I think they offer free meals to old folks or have a killer seniors special 7 days a week. I went here a few weeks ago, IT NEVER CHANGES! I guess I kinda like that though. The seafood chowder isn't really that great, despite their claims. Breakfast food is good though. It's not gonna change your life, but you won't have the trots or want to get your money back either, it's just a good spot to get a cheap breakfast. It's is also I assume a fantastic place to eat for almost free if you are old with a wheelchair sticker in your windshield. read more

Had breakfast here yesterday morning. Wasn't great to be honest. Very plain and simple. Had to send my toast back because it was cold. My eggs were cold as well. My wife had the fish cakes and did not enjoy them. She said they were too plain. Everything was simply below average. Was disappointed overall. read more

Esquire Restaurant - American Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

Always a great place to eat!! If your looking for home type diner like food this is the place for you...

Have been here for breakfast a couple of times in the last few years since my last review and it is always consistently average to good. Today I came for lunch on a hot Wednesday in July. The place was less than half full and we were seated in a booth. Friendly quick service. I tried the roast turkey dinner ("tender breast of turkey served with dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetables and your choice of potato." $14). I asked for no cranberry. Frozen veggies, good amount of white meat with a lot of gravy on it, basic masehd potato. I enjoyed it enough but nothing special and was pretty full so had my friend eat the remainder of the meat. He had the Salisbury Steak ("seasoned ground beef, cooked on the grill, topped with gravy and onions, served with vegetables and your choice of potato." 12.50). He opted for no vegetables, only fries, and ate his plate clean and said it was good but not memorable. We both had a slice of blueberry pie for dessert which was decent. (4.50). I'd still go back here anytime and try something else, and probably one of their milkshakes. read more

See all

They have the best seafood chowder, I have ever tasted. The lobster chowder that my mom got, I wasn't the biggest fan of. The fish and chips my husband ordered where good, your typical fish and chips. It is definitely one of the older restaurants as you can tell by all the mirrors inside lol I highly recommend the seafood chowder, it is definitely worth the stop. read more

I was here for a lte Christmas Dinner with he family. the wait staff were very polite and knowledgable about the "choices of the day". They made sure that the food was accurate and HOT, yes HOT and enjoyable, I cant write more but I will be coming back to enjoy a great meal read more