Decided to check out one of the top bars in Canada in my hometown of Dartmouth. Downtown…read moreDartmouth had changed so much since growing up - it's now the cool place to eat and drink as opposed to somewhat sketchy in the past. Located mid way up Portland Street. Very cozy, intimate environment with an energetic crowd the night I went. Mostly bar seating although there are about 4-5 tables - the most you could probably seat are four people. Had a couple of cocktails - amazing. Food was mostly seafood and extremely fresh, prepared well and innovative - see pictures. Price was reasonable for food of this quality. Will definitely return. Tip - you should probably make reservations. There's a patio in the Summer as well

I'd been living in Dartmouth for a couple months before I finally made my first visit (cut me some…read moreslack, unpacking takes time!), with my wife and I stopping by after work on a Friday. I'd call it happy hour, but Dear Friend is too popular and upscale to bother offering a happy hour, so let's go with the Quebecois term, cinq à sept. I began my weekend wind-down with one of their house creations, All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down). It seemed fitting giving my age demographic, and it was one of the few specialty cocktails with whisk(e)y in it. With an ingredient list even longer than its irreverent title, it combines Jim Beam rye, Hennessey VS cognac, beef tallow (!!), cedar and bayberry leaf. After an impressive rundown from the bartender on the work that went into creating this drink, I thoroughly appreciated it's warmth and depth of flavour on a cool fall evening. The beef tallow made for a velvety smooth mouthfeel, without having globs of fat floating in the drink, and the cedar and bayberry added herbal undertones that contributed without overpowering. For some solid sustenance, we stuck to the bar bites section of the menu, although they do have bigger apps and full-size entrees. Marinated olives were an easy choice, while the falafels beckoned with their deep-fried crispness. To round out our trio, we had to go with the house Party Mix. The Party Mix came out first, and deviates from the classic chip mix by combining sweet and savoury, with caramel popcorn, spiced cashews and mini chocolate truffles. It was endlessly snackable, and great for having a drink at the bar over great conversation with your significant other. I'm not one for the standard black or green olives that come out of ungodly large food service containers, but I've been slowly warming up to higher tier olives, and Dear Friend's very generous bowl was a great bar snack, bordering on small meal. The dish that disappeared the quickest was the falafels. This was partially because they were so damn good and there waere four pieces, as opposed to the other two dishes. They came in finger-form, as opposed to the small pucks/balls that are more commonly seen, and the extra surface area allowed for an even crispier bite, while a delicious cashew tahini cream that lent to the familiar falafel flavour, but with a certain je ne sais quoi. That's right, French twice in one review - I'm fancy AF! Small bits of pickled cauliflower and a delicate layer of microgreens brought brighter flavours to play off the richer note of the falafel and tahini. It's now a local cliché to talk about how much downtown Dartmouth has changed over the past decade or so, and Dear Friend has been one of the standard bearers of that continued change these past few years with their thoughtfully crafted beverages and shareable bites.

The service was friendly and efficient, our waiter was very attentive and we didn't have to wait…read morelong for anything. The dining area is clean, and pretty open; though I didn't find it to be incredibly loud which was nice because they were quite busy. The food was delicious, fresh and filling. Potion sizes were well worth it. Menu wasn't overwhelming. This was a great first experience and we will be back :)

Would like more gluten-free items on menu. Others I have dined with enjoyed omelets and skillets…read moreFresh squeezed orange juice is good Coffee choices are varied Service varied depending on how busy it is

The Naked Oyster is only about a year old, located in a great space along Mahone Bay's main drag,…read morewith a open and inviting atmosphere and a great patio overlooking the bay. Service was excellent, professional and quick. Maybe too quick, our appetizers arrived before our drinks. The menu is innovative but still traditional. Fish and Chips, mussels, oysters, chowder along with burgers and sandwiches, including a lobster roll on a locally made croissant. But also Pad Thai and a Bulgogi Rice Bowl. All of our dishes were wonderful. But what most impressed me is the extensive gluten free menu, complete with a fryer and gf batter for the fish & chips and fish tacos.

Mahone Bay is a short and scenic drive from Lunenburg (15-20 minutes). We intended to visit…read moreRebecca's, but it was closed. Fortunately, the owner of our Inn told us that The Naked Oyster recently opened and is a sister restaurant to Rebecca's. What a beautiful experience it was! It was very busy but there are several places to sit comfortably outside. The Adirondack chairs were very nice, with a view of Mahone Harbor. After a bit of a wait, we were seated. The service was excellent. I can't imagine I'll ever experience a more delicious chowder than their Captain's Chowder, a creamy clam broth with generous portions of scallops, mussels and haddock. We also had a half dozen local oysters that were perfect. High marks for the Caesar Salad too. I would put this on the "can't miss" list for the area.

Foods and service were amazing. Traditional Bahamian food. The ambiance was also very warm and…read moreinviting.

DO NOT EAT OR SUPPORT THIS RESTAURANT! The owner is unprofessional and did not provide good…read morecustomer service at all! We inquired about services from this restaurant and the owner did not deliver so we requested a refund which the owner promised to pay back and never did ! He just took our money without providing services and also talked about how we annoyed him in the process of inquiring about his services . We also ate there and the food is overpriced $42 + tax so roughly $50 for just a chicken dinner that included rice and two sides ! This is extremely expensive especially for just ONE meal . You can go to anywhere else and get a meal, a drink and an appetizer for that price! The restaurant is extremely small and not easy to locate. We even asked the Cheesecake place next to it if they knew that this restaurant was beside them and they said that they had no idea. I wouldn't recommend going to eat at this restaurant and spending your money here! The owner is not a good person. I could even see if the food was priced decently, but it's not worth your money , spend it elsewhere!

We rolled into Halifax late on a Tuesday night, and Highwayman was the only place still open--and…read morethank god for that. It's a cozy, dimly lit spot with a great vibe for late-night drinks and tapas. The food was solid--I've had tapas in Barcelona, so I won't say it matched that, but for Halifax? It impressed. It was our first meal in the city, and it set the bar high. What really stood out was the service. Genuinely warm, unrushed, and personal. The staff took time to walk us through the menu, share recommendations, and made us feel truly cared for--no sense of "we're winding down," even though we came in late. If you're looking for a relaxed spot with great service and a strong late-night vibe, this is it. Halifax could use more places like this.

Very good scallops and I liked the ambience and vibe. Best place in Halifax! I liked very muchread more

Great service! I got the burger with a side caesar salad! Both were delicious! Server was attentive…read moreand very friendly! Beer was good and had jokes on the glass!

The food was mediocre. Salmon was overcooked and lacked flavor. Prime rib was stringy and the knife…read morewas very dull so had to fight the beef throughout the meal. It felt like it was fighting back. Service was very "quick" and seemed like the restaurant was entitled to my business as compared to earning it. Bill was close to $200 and it basically was "just to eat" as compared to "a dining experience". Nice ambiance but just was not worth it.

We officially begin our three-week Canadian adventure in Halifax, Nova Scotia with lunch at Side…read moreHustle, an Asian fusion restaurant that turned out to be the perfect way to kick off our trip. The Asian fusion entrées looked outstanding, but we had come to Nova Scotia Hoping for fresh seafood. Then my eyes landed on "Fish Tacos". My heart skipped a beat. When our server told us they were prepared with haddock, the Hallelujah Chorus immediately began playing in my head. Haddock is native to the cold waters off Nova Scotia, so it simply doesn't get any fresher than that. As an added bonus, we ordered the garlic aioli fries, generously sprinkled with Parmesan and Romano cheese. While our meals were being prepared, our server, Jacob, completely won us over with his warm personality, attentive service, and fascinating insights into life in Nova Scotia. At the time, we were the only guests in the restaurant, and he laughed as he explained that 32°C was considered a bit on the warm side for the locals. If they weren't working, he said, they were probably at home enjoying the air-conditioning! Then our food arrived. It was beautifully plated, but the presentation was only the opening act. When I took my first bite ... oh my goodness! It was without question, the most delicious fish taco I have ever eaten. Even my 74-year-old taste buds perked up like my kitty when she hears the rustling of her treat bag. Every bite delivered a delicate crunch, followed by moist, flaky, haddock, complemented by sweet, pineapple bits, pickled jalapeños, avocado aïoli, and a light dusting red pepper flakes. The balance of flavors were simply extraordinary. Honestly, I can't imagine a better fish taco. The restaurant itself is equally inviting. Natural wood finishes create a warm relaxed atmosphere. that makes you want to linger. The portions were generous. The prices are reasonable and Jacob's outstanding hospitality elevated the entire dining experience. If your travels bring you anywhere near Halifax, do yourself a favor and stop by Side Hustle in Dartmouth on the other side of the bay. It's one of those delightful culinary gems that you'll remember long after the last bite and one we will enthusiastically recommend to anyone visiting the Halifax/Dartmouth area of Nova Scotia.

One of the hipster restaurants in downtown Dartmouth on Portland Street. Huge interior with plenty…read moreof table and bar seating. Wasn't terribly busy the Saturday night I went - probably because between Christmas and New Years. Tried a variety of appetizers and shareable. The chicharron and Brussels sprouts were stars. The Mac fries weren't bad. Had the Hustle Fried Ride with pork belly. Beautifully presented with good flavour - rice was a bit saucier than I would have liked. Great service, nice ambience. Will go back to try their Sunday brunch!!!

I was curious about this place. So I took the family here. The food for the most part tasted good…read more The pappardelle con pollo was tasty and creamy, but the chicken felt a bit lacking. It came with two pieces of bread that were decent. The family shared a paella, and they said it was good. The place had one server, who was also the bartender. She was kind. Thursday night there wasn't much business going on. They had bad bunny playing in the background.

We were walking around the boardwalk and decided to give this place a try. Since it was empty, we…read moreexpected a quick meal, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. The waitress who took care of us was very nice and attentive. She took our drink and food orders, but it seemed like she was the only one handling the tables and making drinks, so everything took quite a while to come out. They also had Bad Bunny music playing pretty loudly in the restaurant, and I believe another customer asked for the volume to be lowered, which she did. The food was okay, not quite the authentic Spanish food we were expecting, but still enjoyable. The waitress apologized for the delay and explained that she was the only one working, which we understood and appreciated.

I can't believe I have not written a review on this place yet when. Moving from a megacity, I have…read morehad my fair share of tacos and mexican food. This place is a refreshing addition to the number of restaurants in Kentville. The food is phenomenal. The owner who are super friendly and welcoming, makes sure to have local produce and food items included in their menu, like the locally grown delicious mushrooms, or locally raised beef/pork. Not your typical taqueria but great atmosphere, delicious food. You can have your pick of taco, quesadilla, burrito, in a bowl, or salad, or even in a bag of chips! Every dish is different as you can choose whatever protein and toppings you'd like. Their homemade sauces/salsas are also very good along with the local nova Scotian hot sauces available to add to your taco/burrito/quesadilla for that added extra zing. Aside from the food, they also have a very good drink menu. Real good thirst-quenching margaritas that you can get in different flavors as well. They have also partnered with a local brewery to come up with their own brew - the mexican lager. Every visitor we get, I make sure to bring them to this place and everyone always says they love the food. If you are in kings county, make sure you stop by and get your fill of their delicious food!

Finally, another awesome restaurant in Kentville with REAL food! Fresh, local ingredients with…read moretacos made to order. The space is small with limited seating, but there is also a small bar top and a great patio right on Main Street (Highway 1). Love the variety of options and super happy and friendly staff. There's an all day breakfast and even a taco paddle (8 tacos of your choice for $50) which is great for sharing with friends to make it super affordable! The bar menu is amazing with so many local options as well as 0% choices. Order food and drinks at the counter - no table service. Love that the space is accessible and easy to get in and out of. Parking right out front on Main Street or the large grocery store parking lot right next door.

Great place to go if you want to have a game of pool or grab a bite to eat. I love the atmosphere,…read moreit's calming and modern. The staff is very friendly, the food is great (just finger food) and the pool isn't overly expensive. They also have a virtual golf course where you can bring your own clubs and shoot balls as if you were on a real golf course. It is quite expensive, but it's a great alternative when it's raining outside or during the winter and you having a craving for golf! We played pool for 2 hours and had 2 beer and it was less than $60.00.

Looking for a way to fight the winter blah, we decided to check out Eastside Billiards for their…read moreindoor golf simulators. We booked 2 hours from 8-10pm. The price was very reasonable for the 2 hours and in retrospect, I should have tipped much better than I had. When we arrived 15 minutes early and the previous patrons were still in their game, the bartender was very friendly, clearly wanted to be helpful and ensure we had a positive experience. It was nice to have plenty of room and a couch/sitting area behind the 3 game simulators, while we waited, stretched and warmed up. Once we were ready to begin, being a bit rusty on how to set our game settings, the bartender was helpful, gave explanations with out being too much or assumptive. Seeing that he might have been the only staff on hand for the entire facility, I was impressed with how well he took care of everyone and seemed very positive. Many people must be regulars as they knew him by name and made sure to acknowledge him before leaving. We had a few drinks. The bottled Coors Light was satisfactory . The Chocolate Monkey and Grasshopper I ordered were mixed well and enjoyed. They disappeared quickly... I did find that the furniture was mostly dated - typical of most billiard rooms. The course selection was pretty good. We played Banff Springs Overall, we had a good time and would go back again - maybe with a couple of friends for a round at a warm southern golf course.