If you like overpriced pub food, this is the place for you. Very disappointing experience. read more

The staff are beyond compare. This is the main reason that I make a weekly foray to this excellent pub. But, this is by far, not the only reason. There is a beer on tap for everyone. They also have a rotating tap that can surprise me with the variety that is provided. Now, the food is always very good and can tend to be off the beaten path for a pub. I highly recommend the boxty of the day, the loaded steak sandwich or the nachos, however you cannot go wrong with any food choice. Drop in and enjoy a great pub experience. read more

The food is very good, my favourite is the Dublin Club as a wrap. Very nice place for just sitting and chatting and having a drink and appetizer. Staff is great and the owners very friendly. Warm friendly interior has a nice ambiance for get togethers. We took our kids there as they grew up and now it includes grandkids. read more

We love Finbars. Delicious food, great choices on the menu, wonderful service, and comfortable atmosphere. One of our favourite meeting spots. read more

My husband and I had a nice outing here a couple of weeks ago. We both had the specials: my husband had the mushroom and Swiss cheese burger with onion rings and I had the Boxty of the Day which was mushroom and sausage, with a side of French Onion soup. The burger and onion rings were good. The Boxty was amazing! Unfortunately the French Onion soup was way too salty and I couldn't get past the first few bites. The waitress was kind enough to remove the extra cost of upgrading to the soup (from thier basic side options). The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable. We'll go back and try a different meal. read more

Finbar's Irish Pub - Boxty of the Day with French Onion soup - Irish Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

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Finbar's is easily the best local pub in Bedford. Situated on the outside of Sunnyside Mall (itself a lot livelier than in years past), it's small and cosy, with a variety of seating inside and, in summer, a much expanded patio outside. Staff are young and enthusiastic, service is usually first rate and the menu offers something for everyone. Weekend brunch is also to be recommended. If it has a fault, it's the beer. On our latest visit it was a pleasure to see a renewed focus on local micro breweries, but the beer menu was woefully out of date. If they are going to ring the changes more frequently, then perhaps a chalk board, or handwritten menu would be more appropriate? Prices are average for the area. It can get pretty full around 1300 at the height of the season, and if you're looking for the ideal spot for New Year's in Bedford, this is the place. read more

Finbar's Irish Pub - Quietish Sunday lunchtime. - Irish Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

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2nd visit... The fish n chips were so much better. Not sure if it depends on who's in the kitchen or if there was an intentional change to the way they do their fish. This time, not too much batter, fresh fish. Hot fries. No complaints here. Thoroughly enjoyed the food. Tried a bitter from Sober Island brewing. The beer was on point. I still think they can diversify a little on the beer selection . Not a big fan of the 9 locks beers. It wouldn't hurt to have Molson Canadian on tap here. Service was great. Absolutely no issues here. Speedy, friendly, offered samples of beers to those in our party unsure of what to drink. The interior of this place is awesome. Atmosphere has a cool vibe. Will be back. When's happy hour? read more

I've been working in Bedford for 5 years and have never tried the craze that is Finbar's. Today was a particularly spectacular day for me, so I decided to treat myself. As soon as I entered 2 waitresses promptly greeted me with warm smiles - It was love at first sight. I chose to sit outside as it was a pretty great day. I order my drink and wait for the succulent salmon that's supposedly heavenly. My food came up very quickly - like 15 minutes quick. It was a salmon penne in a creamy dill sauce - I'll leave it to you to see if that's a good or bad thing. What is a good thing however is how delicious it was - hot pasta, succulent salmon and the sauce just has enough dill not to overpower the salmon & veggies. Great job chef. I would give it 4 stars, but to be honest, the staff was probably one of the best set that I've ever dealt with. They were so friendly and attentive - but upheld their professionalism. That's what gives them 5 stars. I was leaving with a smile ear to ear. read more

Finbar's Irish Pub - Salmon penne lunch special - Irish Near Me - Bedford, Nova Scotia

Best Neighbourhood Pub in Halifax / HRM We have been going to (bi monthly) Finbar's in Bedford for 12 years now. The moment you walk in you feel comfortable and at ease. The dark warm wood, smiling faces, you can feel the old school Irish pub in the air. Folks, you can always trust the pubs staff to supply you with a perfectly poured Guinness or Rickards Red and not to forget a decent selection of Scotch on hand. Finbar's have adjusted their menu several times over the years and I have to say I've never had a bad experience with anything ordered. From starters like the Spinach & Artichoke dip (Her favourite), French Onion Soup or their Famous Nachos. All great appetizers. If you want to go for full entrées they have you covered. Try the classic Bangers & Mash or the Beef and Guinness Stew or the Northumberland Lamb burger (My favourite) and if you like fish you have Salmon or Haddock made to suit your fancy. They even have added on the menu veggie options and wraps if your a veggie type person.*smiling* Over the last five years on my birthday I look forward in going to Finbar's to start our evening and have a few drinks, some laughs and food with some friends and family. BTW we'll be doing it again next month. So what I can tell you is this, if your looking for a clean old school Irish Pub with good food and friendly staff, Finbar's is the place for you. Welcome home. Cheers, Ross M. read more

A clean, warm and welcoming Bedford pub with some good Irish charm! A former lunchtime destination while I was one of the many Bedford office workers, they have a spinach salad that I could eat every single day. I enjoyed it so much that their addition of pistachios has been introduced to my at-home salad-making. Sturdy chairs, low-lights and great photography from the homeland make for a great ambiance that's rare to find in the Bedford area and cheerful, professional staff really up the ante for pub dining in the city. I've never been in outside of the workday but I could see it being a nice place to spend some hours with good friends. Or, you know, just heavily drinking with acquaintances. Same difference. read more

Great place earlier in the evening. No live music as of yet. But they have lively booths so you feel much more chill without a mask on.

Ordered the 3pc and 2pc Fish n Chips on Good Friday. Curbside pickup was a breeze. Very efficient. Ready exactly at the time given. Great to see a smiling face clearly happy to be back at work. Meal was amazing as always. Huge fish portions easily fed our family of 5. read more

Nice atmosphere, even better food. Adequate and attentive service. We were seated in a booth which was uncomfortable at best, but everything else was spot on. read more

Ordered the upside down Shepard's pie and the shrimp tacos (substituted the shrimp for another meat). The Shepard's pie looked like it was thrown on the plate and the taste was bland. I wouldn't recommend that dish at all. The tacos were also very bland and just felt like it could have been so much better. read more

Very good atmosphere and excellent service. Mike, the owner, is very conscientious and accommodating to his customers - to ensure that they have a good experience. This is the place to go in Bedford after a hard days work. read more

The food at this pub is AMAZING. I had the salmon salad and wow, I was impressed with the size of the piece of fish that it came with. It was cooked to perfection. The reason for only 4 stars is that I found the service to be excruciatingly slow and the restaurant wasn't even full. Perhaps next time, we'll sit at the bar so we can order another drink before we finish our meal. We'll be back for sure. read more

I had the French onion soup for lunch and it was amazing. The favour of the broth with lots of onion and cheese was delicious. The patio looked full but we had wanted to be inside and were able to have a choice of table or booth. It was busy but the service was excellent. We were greeted immediately upon arrival. My friend had pan fried haddock with vegetables since she's unable to have potatoes she got extra veggies that she said they were cooked perfectly. Wonderful lunch, great food, service and atmosphere. Would recommend this place. The server was friendly and helpful and we felt welcomed. read more

Excellent little spot. Love the atmosphere. Just love going there in a Friday night with friends. Thanks

We ate here last week and had the Coconut Curry Chicken, which is a new item on their menu. The meal was good and satisfying but there wasn't much to it. My wife was still eating her meal for another 10 minutes after I had finished mine. While it was good, I may not order it again. My wife also ordered a sangria which it clearly states on the menu "made by the glass." The waitress came back and told us we would have to order it "by the pitcher" if we wanted it as they don't do it by the glass (unlike what their menu stated). She ended up ordering some other drink with pineapple juice in it, but my wife didn't care for it much, just felt rushed to order something with the waitress standing over us. While the food was good and it was an "okay" visit, it wasn't stellar, and nothing memorable. read more

Been a regular and quiz participant for some time now. It's a great little pub that offers great food and a good price. The staff are friendly and so is the crowd. Their portobello burger is delicious! They offer great selections for gluten free and are vegetarian friendly. And if you happen to enjoy mouth watering, heavenly brownies - do yourself a favor and order this dessert. Great for sharing, but I certainly won't judge you if you keep it all to yourself :) read more

Ok. So over the last two years they have really uped their game and I am now sufficiently pleased with my neighborhood pub. 99% of the time the service is fantastic. Their new menu updates are totally welcomed and well loved. Their nachos, onion rings and burgers are top notch. Thank you finbars for putting time and care into your pub and making all of bedford love you! read more

So last Friday night a group of us made the long (not really but feels like it) drive to Bedford. This little pub was a jumping we had to wait for a seat (not long) and when we did get one they fit the 5 of us in no prob. Now this maybe bit of a odd complaint but I hated the chairs they were so uncomfortable and kind of the wrong height for the table. The food was really good, everything seemed fresh, well flavoured and really well priced. I did order something that I did not love (crab cakes) but these were something kind of different for me to order so I do not blame Finbars for this. The highlight for the evening was our server, I wish I got her name she was efficient, friendly and knew the menu inside and out. She made our experience 100% pleasant and if the rating was based on just her it would have been a 5. read more

I just had lunch at Finbar's for the first time and I must say that I was impressed! I got the Yorkshire pudding (I'm kind of a Yorkshire pudding connoisseur) and it was fantastic and only 14$. The atmosphere was great, it was a beautiful day so I sat on the deck, but the inside looked great too. The staff were awesome. Lots of smiles and helpful suggestions. I will go back! read more

So last night, the girls and I checked out this place ... in Bedford. I usually don't stray far from my safe place in the South end / Downtown Hali, but I was taken hostage and didn't know where I was going.... (not held at gunpoint, but still taken hostage). Surprisingly, I was impressed. I think we all were except for the person who had been there before. It was packed! Having already eaten, I wasn't planning on doing more than drinking a pint or two until my friends started discussing the menu, so I picked it up and found my favourite thing on the planet (next to Penguins) ... spinach and artichoke dip. I'm very choosy about this so I thought I'd give it a whirl and oh.my.god. This was amazing! I love how you get two different things to dip with (chips and bread) and it was absolutely amazing! I'm beyond words. And the best part was our server. She was so friendly, knowledgeable and she doted on us like we were the only ones in the bar... even though it was packed! The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars was because of seating (not much), only one stall in the washroom which is inconvenient for such a popular spot and location - too far away..... But if you're ever in Bedford or live in Halifax and have a car, please do make your way there , it's worth the trip! read more

My review for Finbars is, and always will be, 'Woohoo! As good as it gets!" I have been a regular patron of Finbars for the past few years, and I must say - the owners have truly created a gem worthy of five stars. The Place: The environment is clean and on-theme with the Irish pub atmosphere anyone would come to expect. The People: The staff are welcoming, friendly and efficient. On my most recent trip to Finbars (Friday evening), one of the staff complimented that I always seem to be dressed up when I come in - I clarified that it's a post-work ritual :) The Price: Comparable to any pub environment. The Prize: Their food. You can never go wrong, whether in the mood for brunch, a quick mid-day lunch away from the office, or dinner and beverages in the evening. Nachos (with or without chicken) are always a safe bet, but their french onion soup, spinach/artichoke dip and weekend boxty options are simply delicious. In fact, my mouth is watering right now. Until next time, Finbars. Keep on being awesome. :) Note: If you plan on attending Finbars on a Wednesday after work, beware of wait times due to their weekly Quiz Night. For those who have been long-time patrons, as noted by Jim C. in another review of Finbars, their success have rendered the 'regulars' somewhat unspecial, as we have to wait in line like everyone else - but that's a testament to what they've built, and in my opinion, Finbars could buy out Il Mercato above them and still be just as busy. read more

If there are any places in Bedford that count as institutions, there's the venerable Chickenburger and compared to the Chick, a relative newcomer, Finbar's. This Irish pub, located in Sunnyside Mall, has spawned another location in the suburbia across the harbour, which speaks both to the success of this original location as well as the market that the owners are targeting. In the past few months, I've been here a handful of times for their weekly trivia night, so I'm not sure if they're just always busy or if trivia brings in the Bedford crowds, but it has almost always been slammed. By that I mean have-to-wait-for-a-table-even-if-you-came-an-hour-before-trivia slammed. If they're busy like this on the weekends and other days through the week, they're definitely leaving a pile of cash on the table, for a few different reasons: (1) people are surely leaving for another spot (2) customers are ordering less because they're standing at the bar or crammed in somewhere and can't comfortably eat a full meal, and (3) service simply isn't able to keep up in an atmosphere like this. Unfortunately for Finbar's, they're quite limited on options for expansion unless the mall lets them do some heavy duty renos and push neighbouring businesses elsewhere, or just pick up and move. That said, it's a decent spot, with all the Irish pub features that you would expect - lots of dark wood, brass-ish railings, and captain's chairs all around. You don't feel like you're in a mall, which is definitely a plus. The Scotch list is quite respectable, with a dozen or so available and there are some fine Irish beers on tap, although their selection of local beers if woefully low. Even a rotating tap of Nova Scotian stouts would be a big step forward. On my first visit here, drinks were offered readily, but I had to ask for a food menu. Comprised mostly of pub food staples, there actually aren't as many truly Irish dishes as you would expect, with the stew, bangers and mash, and the boxty as the only discernible items of Irish origins. I ended up going with the lamb burger, made with Nova Scotian lamb, roasted garlic, sauteed spinach, goat cheese and a red onion marmalade, and I went with fries for my side. Given the aforementioned crowd, it was a little bit of a wait for my food. When it arrived, it was quite good though. The patty had a great lamb flavour, and was surprisingly moist for this infamously lean, and easy to overcook meat. The creamy goat cheese melted nicely into the burger, and the red onion marmalade added some sweetness that played well with the slightly tangy cheese. It wasn't all burger perfection though, as the meat-to-bun ratio was a bit off, with some mouthfuls that were mostly bun, and the bun itself good have used a toasting. Everything all told, it was solid burger, if not the pinnacle of burgerdom. The fries were a nice golden brown, and were fairly crispy for hand-cut fries, but weren't particularly memorable either. A serviceable fry is still an honourable fry though. While it's a good problem to have, Finbar's is suffering a bit from their own success. With some more space, and a more authentically Irish menu and local beer offerings, they could take things to the next level. read more

Ireland is on my list of places to visit, so, whether this place feels authentically Irish or not, I have no idea ! What I do know is that is does not feel authentically North Korean, been there, no need to return ... so, I was greeted with a warm smile & waited on by a knowledgeable & friendly server. The food she brought was nicely prepared and tasty. The bill was reasonable. This was my first time here and I see no reason not to return. read more

What a great little find in Bedford! Such a perfect pub/restaurant, they have awesome nachos, and burgers. I find that there is always a long wait for food, but as long as your order an appetizer you'll be good. Drinks are also really good! read more

Been coming here for a few years now and it is usually my go-to spot. But as a victim of their success - the spot is busy all the time. The downside is that it gets loud and you may not be able to get a table right away. Wednesday night is trivia night and it is always packed. Summer time, they add the patio and that does help out. The menu has slowly evolved, the nachos were always a surprise since it would be a different combination. Burgers, boxee are also pretty good. This is also a good spot for brunch. Eggs bennie is great. Staff are always great, sometimes it takes a while to get your order. Even with the renos to double capacity in the kitchen, it seems it takes just as long as before. But again, when the place is packed all the time.... Great atmosphere, it's a venue that you can get addicted to. My only complaint is that prices have slowly been going up. 3 beers and 2 cranberry juices came up to 25$. Depending on your pocket book, a dinner for 2 might be more expensive than you think. read more

Showed up here at lunch time on a Friday with some co-workers. The place was packed with only a few tables left. Our server was super sweet, and even though she was running around like a crazy person she didn't make us feel rushed. Their menu is kind of small I find, but I hit up the fish and chips and was pretty happy with my choice. Nice fish, crispy batter but not coated, delish crispy hand-cup fries!! Plus- they have Crown Floats. How can you not like a place that has Crown Floats??? read more

Charming spot located in Sunnyside Mall, in the "hub", so to speak, of Bedford. Which, if you live or have lived in Bedford, you will understand. The atmosphere is casual, with low lighting and comfortable dark wooden booths and tables creating a relaxed feel perfect for pretty much anything from a night of drinks and tasty grub with friends, to a cosy date. The food here is consistently terrific, and I would recommend the steak sandwich, boxty, and nachos in particular. But really, I've never been disappointed by a meal at this pub. read more

What a great pub! I love trivia night. Yes you have to go early but Finbar's doesn't disappoint. You will not find friendly wait staff anywhere guaranteed. We were regulars at trivia night for a while and often got there late so we couldn't get a table. One night the waitress gave us a free drink for always having to wait for a table and sitting at the bar. Not only did she remember us, she understood that waiting can be an aggravation. I love this place and the food. Try the crab cakes, and bangers and mash, neither disappoint. The sticky toffee pudding + ice cream is the best dessert I have ever had. You will fall in love with this place, I promise. The atmosphere and wait staff will make you feel at home. read more

Finbars is a fine spot to grab a beer and some great eats. The food is excellent and the servers friendly and attentive. I've never had a bad meal there. It can get noisy at times, especially on Wednesday nights during the Trivia contest. The outside patio is a great place to eat in the summer. All in all, I give this pub a thumbs up. read more

We went at 6:00 on a Tuesday evening. When we arrived there were only a few tables occupied. We ordered a plate of nachos and a french onion soup while we waited for two others to join us. The tables started to fill up so there were a few more occupied by the time our friends arrived, the soup & nachos arrived at the table shortly after our friends. Both the soup and nachos were fine. When we were ready to order, we had to flag down a server. She mentioned they were short staffed. By this time the place was full. Regardless, we waited not too long for our meals. My husband asked for vinegar for his fries, the server said she'd be back with it, she didn't come back, he went and searched some down himself. I ordered the burger, when taking my order she asked if I wanted bacon, I said no, it arrived with bacon. The onion & bacon were over cooked to the point of being chewy. The fries tasted like the spice jar fell open into them, my husband's the same. Our server never checked on us, once again we had to flag her down to get the bill. I mentioned about the fries having too much spice, her response, "you can order them with out the spice", um not the point and too little too late. Just an edit to add that the music was too loud to hold a conversation without shouting. I would give it a 2 star rating but the other two in our party said their food was good. Doubt we'll go back to this location. read more

This place is by far my favorite place to go and just hang out with friends and grab a drink. Not to mention that the staff are all incredibly friendly and the food is never a disappointment. I drool over the dishes at this place and am always happy to walk through the door. Finbar's is a pub that I will continue going to whenever I want to get out. I love it so much that I want to have my wedding rehearsal dinner here someday. No matter how crowded it gets on a quiz night, it's the best place to go to be surrounded by friendly people and to shove delicious food into your belly bite after bite read more

This is a great place. The only thing I can think of that's remotely negative is that they don't off a full Irish. But that's understandable as it's difficult to find quality black and white puddings here. And if you can't serve quality, don't serve it at all. Will definitely be back. read more

I love Finbar! The food is always spot on. The daily specials are great and I hear the trivia night is a lot of fun! read more

I had one of the burgers here before and it tasted like the meat was full of fillers. I've also had good and bad experiences with the fish and chips and they don't do wings. Tonight, I was back with a couple of friends and tried the poutine with Lincolnshire sausage, gravy, and cheddar cheese 'curds'. The cheese was completely melted so no curds. So how can one eat something so unhealthy and still be 'meh' about it? It's $12.00 and comes in a cup not much bigger than a tea cup. On the plus side, we had the most gracious and attentive young server. She didn't say her name so I can't say whom to credit but she's the reason for the third star vice 2 stars. The atmosphere is good but the food is subpar to what you'd get downtown for the same and possibly less money in my experience. read more

Good food , I had the Irish stew , it was very tasty. I came out fairly fast. I would recommend it , and also the lamb burger was fantastic. The service is great there lots of staff. Nice atmosphere also medium to high pricing , perhaps if anything , I would recommend a bit larger portions for the price. read more

Went to Finbars today for a Dublin Club and a beer. I was horrified to find not one but two hairs in two different dishes. Unreal! Sooo gross! My server was great, but should have comped the whole meal drinks and all, instead of just the sandwich... She gave me a ready made free drink coupon, so I assume this is the auto solution to these problems. I still tipped on the whole bill, but I won't eat there again. One is a mistake, two... that's almost on purpose! read more