McKelvie's is a nice, upscale-casual restaurant near (but not on) the Halifax waterfront. Mike and I have tried many of their dishes over the past few years and none has disappointed. This weekend we had their steak, and while it was a bit overpriced it was very good, tender and tasty. Service is hit or miss I find; although I've never had bad service here, this time our server seemed a bit distracted and not as attentive as he should have been. McKelvie's has lovely desserts as well. This time out I had a chocolate velvet cake with French vanilla ice cream (YUM) and Mike had chocolate cheesecake. Both were fabulous. Definitely high on our list of great downtown restaurants; however, for us it really is a treat to visit as the prices are a bit high. read more

First things first. If you even remotely like seafood, order the mussels. They will arrive in a tin bucket, floating in several inches of wine, butter, and garlic and interspersed with real herb sprigs and lemon wedges. Not only do they look great, they taste phenomenal. Secondly, if you want a moment of indulgent bliss, order the crab bisque. Hiding under a melted disc of sharp parmesan is a velvety and decadent bisque with tasty chunks of crab. It's probably one of my favourite things there, next to the Aqua pasta dish. I've been here a few times for lunch. It's fancier (aka pricier) than my usual haunts, but it has some decently priced lunch items and the service is kicked up for speed. I love the wrought iron sculptures of underwater scenes and the bright, airy atmosphere of the restaurant. In a city crawling with seafood joints, it's a nice option. read more

A nice inviting place, very busy, and a great menu. Now, I went here to have some lobster. I picked a 1.5 pounder. Started with some oysters on the half shell, nice size, fresh and tasty sauce. Then I put on my lobster bib, and started the breakdown process of devouring the whole lobster. YUM. The lobster was tender, sweet, with lots of meat. Great dinner, and would go back again, for sure! The service was almost the best part. Our server has been there a lot, and she was so great, that I gave her a 20% tip. Can't remember her name, but anyone else who has been there a few times, knows who I mean. Visited May 2012 read more

Even though we were directed there by the staff of our hotel, who claimed it was not a tourist trap, I am not entirely satisfied with the experience. I like food. I love big portions. That was not the case with any of our orders. Crab cakes were only two and not quite big. Lobster roll was gone in two bites, although it was good. They offered several of their wines at half the price. Mainly whites, they go better with fish or seafood, and they do so because most of them are from 2013 so they need to go (never accept a white wine that is more than two years old). The bottle we chose, a Riesling from Niagara, was pretty good still. Chowders were flavorful and the service was extraordinary. Yet, I was hungry not too long after, hence the three stars. read more

Housed in an historic fire station , McKelvie's is essentially a seafood restaurant with a few chicken/beef entrees to satisfy a dinner partner who doesn't like seafood. I've eaten here many times in the 90s when I was on the expense account and McKelvies was a fine dining experience for seafood lovers and business guests. We walked down Bedford Row in the windy end of Superstorm Sandy. I had the special crab stuffed haddock with a light cheese topping. It was devine with complex light flavour and almost dry flaky texture. The risotto was too much of a garlic clump and the asperagus tips looked less than delicate but tasted good. She had the goat cheese stuffed chicken which she called heavenly. I tried a piece - it was well seasoned, a unique flavour. Service was attentive, friendly but just shy of the special treatment at Halifax's best like the Bicycle Thief. Close to $100 with wine for two. When I want fish cooked properly I would go again. read more

Great location near the Halifax Waterfront and their patio was perfect for a magnificently beautiful day. The service was solid, with nothing noticeably detracting from the experience. While the food was good, it wasn't extraordinary and, considering that, the portions were small for the price. read more

My parents came to town this weekend and we were all looking for some great seafood. We had heard mixed reviews about McKelvie's but thought it was a landmark / staple of Halifax so we should all try it. Four of us went on a Sunday evening and were very disappointed with the food. Booking the reservation was easy with OpenTable online...I think more restaurants should use this. The waitress was knowledgable and friendly, and the hostess seated us at nice table overlooking the main seating area. However, for entrees at between $25-$30, the food was definitely subpar. Two us had the Szechuan scallops, one had the Catch of the Day, one had a mixed lobster platter. Presentation across the board was very basic. The lobster was deep-fried unexpectedly, and something surprisingly low-effort from a mid-to-high end seafood establishment. Overall the presentation, flavor and freshness of our fish dishes were something you would expect at a seafood shack at half the price. On a positive note, along with the service the wine selection was excellent. In fact our Austrailian Sauv. Blanc wine was the best part of the overpriced meal. read more

Our group of 4 came here for weekday lunch. Family restaurant atmosphere, a place you can bring your grandma. I had the Crunchy Haddock - the healthier version of fish and chips where it's served with balsmatic rice and vegetables. My only complaint is the price, the portions could have been a bit bigger. (The vegetable side was like 3 pieces! ) The place was clean and our server was prompt. read more

Dinner was great! My lobster was succulent and cooked to perfection. My husband had the halibut and was head over heels for it. The only reason we won't be giving it a 5 star is the service. Was a little slow and our server was scarce the entire evening. We love that it has Keith's on tap too - huge bonus!!! read more

Came here with my wife and daughter from Toronto.. We checked out a couple of other places and because we have a child they didn't let us in (there is a silly rule about kids and pubs after 8:30pm for some reason). The oysters were really good, my wife's salad was great, drinks are awesome, wife did a prosciutto wrapped halibut which was great. I did an Ala King (with puff pastry) and it was awesome. My daughter did a tempura shrimp. All the food was good and well balanced.. Not too sweet not too salty everything is just right. The portion size is a bit small but besides that it was awesome !! Our server was really nice and service was blazing fast !! read more

Visited McKelvie's while visiting Halifax- was one of the few places downtown my boyfriend and I could find steamed lobster minus any buttery sauces. The lobster was good, salad, and seafood chowder were also very good. I was not totally blown away though. The glass of wine I got, from the Nova Scotia area was delicious too! I was a little disappointed by the bread and basmati rice served. While the bread was very tasty, it was cold. It would have been amazing if it was warmed. Also, the basmati rice was very plain and oily. On a good note, though I do not eat bacon, my boyfriend made me taste his bacon wrapped scallops- those were AMAZING!!! I felt that the inside could have been decorated to give a nicer ambiance, but was a little average. I would have rated a 3.5 stars, but the waiter we had was super friendly and awesome. He was very helpful, so that definitely enhanced the experience. read more

Must try lobster roll！! Free cranberry bread with butter also amazing! read more

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Recommended by local, now by me. Great lobster roll. Crab in every bite of bisque, too. Good beer selection. read more

McKelvie's - Lobster Roll and Crab Bisque. - Seafood Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

McKelvie's is absolutely wonderful! The only reason I haven't given 5 stars is their prices. If you want fresh fish that melts in your mouth, fine wines galore, nice atmosphere and polite service, then McKelvie's is the place to go! Though they haven't got much in the way of vegetarian options (except salads) they certainly have some scrumptious dishes for the gluten-free individual. Really satisfying! The dishes are all flavoured perfectly, with fresh herbs, citrus and well-balanced, memorable sauces. This is simple food turned gourmet, delectable to even the most particular palate. The prices may be high, especially in summer, but that is to be expected for high-quality gourmet food. And that is what you get at McKelvie's! Worth every dollar! My only suggestion would be some more gluten-free dessert options. I can't really appreciate Crème Brûlée. ;-) read more

Go if you don't have any other choice. Price too high for the quality and its noisy. And for some reason my waiter was slow. Like really slow. read more

Comfortable restaurant with polite attentive service. Wonderful food. Waitress was knowledgeable about menu. Much more tranquil that the pub across the street where you can't hold a conversation. Will return. read more

McKelvies is a high end fishery, and if you're looking for a cheap fried haddock basket (or something of the like), this place is probably not for you. But if you want a fantastic FRESH plate with excellent service and a classy atmosphere, hit this place up. Be prepared to open your wallet, but compared to many other local famous seafood places this is a good deal less expensive, so don't be shy. In typical Halifax fashion, your meal was most likely swimming that morning, and the staff is fantastic and accommodating. I had the trout (a dinner special that night) and was not disappointed whatsoever. The lady friend enjoyed the salmon, and the entire experience was very enjoyable. If you're in this charming fishing city, and then McKelvies is the place to go! read more

I came here in 2016 with my friend and had the lobster roll which I found to be great. Recommended for my dad when we came back in 2018 and it didn't seem to be the same. The portion size looked a lot smaller than when I came. It was still flavourful but lacked the "hit the spot" meal feeling. My mom had the seafood a la king, to which there was very little seafood, just a bit on top of a heap of puff pastry (probably 30/70 ratio of seafood to pastry). I had the pan fried haddock which was pretty good but later on in the trip had the same meal in other locations (Cape Breton and PEI) to find the serving size and flavour to be much better. read more

McKelvie's - Lobster roll looks smaller than what I remember - Seafood Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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The food is always above average. The mile high coconut cream pie is the best I've ever had

Ordered the lobster roll with crab bisque and both were tasty but the crab bisque was absolutely delicious!!!

Eaten here a couple of times - seems to serve an older clientele, mainly, and tourists. The decor is outdated - circa early/mid '90s. Menu is pretty uninspiring. Dishes I've tried include a crunchy haddock, which appears to be just haddock in corn flakes, and 'potato crusted' haddock, which means haddock with some mashed potatoes loosely lumped on it. Oysters rockefeller are skimpy on the oyster, big on the cheese/gratin. Vegetables were overcooked. You can do a lot better - I think this place was probably a big deal 20/25 years ago, but now it's just passe, and dining has moved on. The staff are nice, though. read more

My hubby, my two little girls and myself went there on my birthday, yesterday. I really wanted to taste seafood. My girls ordered the grilled cheese sandwich from the kids-menu and were really impressed (one just left a few fries on her plate - rare thing they eat so much). The waiter (I am really sorry did not catch her name - very nice young lady) even got them a strawberry daiquiri cocktail without the alcohol because they start drooling once they saw mine!! They looked exactly like a mini of what I had in front of me with the lime garnish and everything... For every little girl that IS something... they were happy and we all know - happy kids= happy parents. So 5+ stars for the service. We ordered scallops in bacon (fantastic), mussels in butter and lemon (again people I am drooling thinking back at them), garlic shrimp (excellent), fried calamari (the girls were fighting over it) and big plate with lobster and salmon and shrimp and scallops and mashed potatoes with garlic. We each tried everything and I could not find one little thing to complain. Really tasty, well done, lots of flavor. I mean my girls were eating seafood on top of their sandwich!! A lot!! We came home really happy. Excellent meal, excellent service. Now, we all know in life the best things come attached with a tag, so if you are not ready to pay the price don't go there. Outside the restaurant they posted their price list so you know what you are getting into, should you be able to do a little math... We don't do this every day, but if you want to feel good once in a while with a special occasion... this should not fail to deliver!! Really happy I listen to the reviews and decided to try it! My next birthday I know where I'll be!!! read more

Great menu and decent price. Food was very good. Service staff was ok. She didn't seem too friendly but she did her job. Will come back again read more

It's 6 pm and we want some Halifax flavoured din-din. Where to go? The cute sign for McKelvie's (it says Delishes Fishes Dishes) came to mind and I pulled up the online menu to convince my guy to eat seafood with me for the 3rd night in a row. He checked it out and was down for the mission. It was late in the game for a reservation, but just to try, he called them up and said, "I'd like to make a reservation for Delishes Fishes." LOL. FAIL. But a cute fail. Anyway, no reservations were available so we rolled up ready to wait it out. We found seats at the bar easily and grabbed a couple bevvies. The bartenders were nice and energetic. We got a table after about 30 minutes - not too bad for a Saturday. For starters we got a shrimp and calamari salad and the jump-up calamari. I wished the salad had more flavor to it but the seafood tasted so fresh. The jumped up stuff was spicy and tasty but the kind of thing you can't eat too much of. Onto the main event... he got fish and chips and I got salmon. The F in his F&C was fantastic - I'm officially voting Halifax as having the best haddock anywhere. The C's were not the best but were adequate. My blackened salmon was very good, I was a bit worried because it's easy to mess up blackened fish but the seasoning was just right. I wasn't the biggest fan the side combination of mashed taters and cucumber Greek salad - bit of an odd match. For dessert we had a mint chocolate pie thing which was good, not the best dessert I've had though, so their specialty in that department may lie elsewhere. The service had no real issues, it was slow at times but not horrifically so. It was a busy night but there should have been a couple more staff on the floor to help ease the stress. The prices were definitely reasonable for the quality of food we got. Delishes! read more

Vegetarian? Beautiful veggies came with meat / fish entrees but should be offered separately for vegans. Not really enough choices here. Even the Caesar salad comes with bacon? Good thing our server mentioned that! read more

Some of the best seafood I have ever had. The Halibut tasted amazing!!! Crab bisque was a very different recipe, but phenomenal. Service was great. Also liked their 3 course menu as an option, and their happy hour pricing was also totally worthwhile read more

If this were purely a food review it would probably get a 4 star rating, but based on service it definitely goes down. Our waitress seemed lost and didn't have a great memory of what we ordered or the fact that we had ordered drinks. Over all the food was alright, perhaps not as good as the price called for. read more

Not worth the price! I ordered a plate with a mixture of fish, scallops and lobster. Everything was fried and the oil covered the bottom of the plate. I ordered the clam chowder to start and that was very good! Being on the coast I was expecting some amazing seafood and was disappointed by some so-so, greasy, overcooked shellfish. read more

Our party of four headed to McKelvies for lunch on a cool rainy Halifax afternoon. After the drink orders were placed we were served a basket of their wonderful bread which they call bannock. It consists of whole wheat flour, raisins, and baking soda but no yeast, thus tasting a bit like cake. Everyone agreed that it was delicious and the women thought they might try to bake something like it back home. Scallops and bacon, a lobster roll with chowder, a warm Mediterranean chicken salad and a straight chowder were ordered. The service was friendly and quick and soon the plates began to arrive. The chowder was not the thick porridge stuff that some maritime restaurants serve but rather a lighter fresher dish highlighting the seafood. The lobster roll was a big hit with it's warm fresh bun and generous chunks of fresh lobster meat. The scallops were served on a light maple syrup reduction along side a remoulade sauce. The combination was exquisite. The salad also garnered rave reviews. Our Kieths Premium beers and wine helped everything go down swimmingly. A tip of the old Sou' Wester to this fine restaurant. read more

Came here on my first visit to Halifax, based on reviews from the dining guide in the hotel room. Read some reviews, and thought: why not? It was a short walk from my hotel, and I was seated quickly. Bread was served right away, with a glass of water while I perused the menu. I happened to arrive just before Happy Hour ended; between the regular prices (a liiitle steep) and the Happy Hour menu, I decided to opt for the Happy Hour menu and get an appetizer as well as a main course for $19.99. I ordered the Jumpin' Calamari and the McKelvie's fisherman stew. The calamari was lightly battered (just the way I like it), and served with a honey-jalapeno sauce. The pieces that had been sitting in the sauce made the breading really soggy, but I didn't mind it too much. When eating it, you first taste the sweetness of the honey followed by the kick of the jalapeno--just spicy enough, and (to my surprise) delicious. I have to admit that the stew was a choice made based solely on the price of the dishes offered as options on the Happy Hour menu (it was one of the pricier options). It was a mixture of shrimp, scallops and fish in a tomato broth with carrots, potatoes, celery and tomatoes. I'm not a fan of celery or tomatoes, so I pretty much picked out all the seafood and left most of the broth. At least I know better for next time. My server was fantastic: extremely attentive (my water was filled at all times), friendly and made sure to check up on me just enough. I saw a few other things on the menu I'd like to try, so I'll definitely be back. read more

We asked for the chef set menu : 50$ for chowder, lobster with sides and desert. Lobster was good. Chowder was a bit too salty and the white chocolate cheese cake had a strange hot/cold taste (microwave defrost ?). Still a decent price-quality ratio. read more

I always doubt any restaurant that serves seafood... basically because I feel I can make it myself for cheaper and it will be way better because I know it's fresh. However, McKelvie's may be a little expensive, but well worth it. The seafood was very fresh, the veggies were really fresh and overall, I ate everything that was served. Pan fried haddock (with a cornflake crust maybe), Prawn, Digby Scallops, and their special Lobster Tarragon Sauce and some Bruschetta. It reminded me of being at a Legal Seafood in Boston... same atmosphere and quality of food. read more

After many nights in Halifax, I went out on my own to explore, and ended up at McKelvie's. I was immediately attracted by the posted menu, and decided to give them a try. I had the Crab Bisque, most flavourful, with large chunks of crabmeat. For my entree' I had the potato crusted haddock. This was perfectly done, and well accompanied by the server's wine selection: a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. After these, I was too full for dessert, but I will be back. read more

Had the most amazing anniversary meal. Crabcakes followed by the freshest and most delicious halibut meal. (it was swimming this morning! LOL) To top it all off... homemade coconut cream pie! Excellent service provided by Neil ! read more

We were very disappointed in this large seafood restaurant. Its supposed to one of the best ones in Halifax but we found all the food we had to be quite ordinary - a B minus at best. The menu looked intersting and the food was expensive but it didnt deliver any quality. We wasted a meal here read more

This is the best meal I have had for the value, and the best service I have had in many many years!!! Our" foursome" had Lobster (steamed), Seafood Pasta, and the Scallop plate. We had wine, apps, meals, dessert and special coffees. The meals were hot, tasty, full portioned, and althought the lobster was small, it melted in your mouth! The Lobster bisque was excellent. The coconut cream pie was awesome, and again the service excellent. Very Very good! read more

Some restaurants have great promise based on a well designed menu, great ambience and location. The problem is that it is left up to line cooks to finish and plate menus that are designed by chefs on slower nights. Flavors were okay and the local oysters were great but the rest of the meal wasn't. A restaurant based on seafood totally ruin very local and fresh salmon and scallops by totally over cooking them. read more

We went here for dinner at around 8 pm on a Tuesday and it was almost completely dead inside. I thought this was a bit odd, but maybe it's just because it was later. I had the caesar salad to start, which was good. But the salmon with gnocchi and vegetables was just ok. The salmon was a bit overcooked and the flavours on the plate were pretty bland. The salmon did come with a pesto sauce, but there wasn't enough of it on the plate to spread the flavour. I enjoyed the crispy gnocchi though! read more

We stopped here for lunch. Had oysters, fish and chips and crab stuffed mushrooms. Everything was awesome. The service was great!! I would definitely recommend. read more

Steak was overcooked and we had to return our cocktails as they were undrinkable (Old Fashioned and Manhattan). Presentation of the food was sloppy at best. read more