Service and food are way above average here. They go out of their way to customize your meal if you…read moredesire. The wait staff are friendly and make breakfast, lunch or dinner a pleasant experience. I highly recommend this restaurant.

After moving back to the county, a return to Appleseed was inevitable. We swung by for a late…read morelunch, after the hordes of kids amped up from the arcade next door had mostly left. Now that I'm back on the East Coast, I can both trust fish at restaurants more and pay less for it, so I went with the salt cod fish cakes ($17). You know how they say your plate should have lots of different colours of food? Well this was NOT that. While this meal won't win any awards from the Canada Food Guide, it did well by my taste buds. The fish cakes themselves were loosely packed and had a pleasant punch of salty fish, and the green tomato chow brought a contrast of sweet and tangy to the mix. The side of beans had a smattering of what appeared to be bacon in it, and were just the right doneness - not chalky or mushy. Thumbs up! The corn beef hash was a bit greasy, but it was delicious - crisp bits of beef and potato with sauteed onions - it's hard to go wrong here. My wife went for the diner staple, meatloaf ($17). After this meal it became her go-to dish at Appleseed, and I can see why. The generous slab of meatloaf is light and moist, and a slathering of mushroom and onion gravy makes it even more hearty. Ultra-smooth whipped potatoes are a classic pairing, done picture perfect. A medley of veg likely came out of a massive freezer bag, and while a diner fixture, it's one that could be easily replaced with any sort of seasonal veg that is prepared in a better manner than steaming. On our return, I went with the hot chicken sandwich ($17). The roasted chicken was moist and tender, although a little sparse. A hearty slathering of gravy was good, and not too salty. I really appreciated the thick, quality bread that stood up well against the onslaught of gravy. As always, their shoestring fries were spot on. I doubled down on diner decadence and got a strawberry milkshake ($6.50) to drink. Appleseed gets a tip of my cap for using the classic milkshake glass, plus topping it with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Further bonus points for the extra bit of milkshake coming in the aluminum cup it was mixed in. It was a thick, tasty treat. I still wish Appleseed was in a better location with an interior that called back more to its cozy diner peers rather than strip mall industrial chic, but you can't win 'em all. It's still not easy to get more creative, casual food in Pictou County, so Appleseed is definitely an asset to the local food scene.

The menu is somewhat spartan - soups and sandwiches, coffee and some other basic drinks. There's…read morealso a variety of baked goods, both sweet and, uh, bready? ones. Stopping in for lunch, I went with their soup and half sandwich. For the soup, I got the daily special, hamburger, and tacked on a turkey sandwich. Oddly, for the sandwich they asked if I wanted lettuce, salt or pepper...and that was it. I guess Gram is staunchly against tomatoes! The sandwich was decent - chunks of actual roasted turkey breast, not sad, slimey slices. It was a bit more minimalist than I'd like, but the good meat and fresh, house-made bread definitely elevated it. The hamburger soup was rich and hearty, with a peppery bite. On a return visit, I was there during breakfast hours. They don't actually have a proper breakfast menu, but I grabbed a glazed cinnamon roll and a coffee. The cinnamon roll was very good - fluffy and fresh, with the added decadence of the icing. The coffee was...what you might expect from an old school bakery in a small town, but it was hot and cheap, so I can't complain.

This place reminds me of home. If you want some homemade food from soups, sandwiches, cakes and…read morerolls this is the place. I ordered the hamburger soup with a wheat roll and carrot cake and all I can say is yum..... my first bite too me back to when I was a kid growing up in Kentucky. If I ever come back to Halifax this will be on my places to stop for some good ole comfort food.

The newest location of this burgeoning Antigonish company opened in New Glasgow last fall, filling…read morethe gap left by Baked's closure. Located in its quaint space at the south end of Provost, it has a bright colour palette, with school bus yellow leading the chromatic charge to your retinas. Ordering is done at the counter, where you have your choice of a handful each of sweet and savoury waffles, smoothies and salads. On my first time there, my wife and I were grabbing a late lunch, and it being the weekend, I was feeling brunch-y, so I went with their B.E.A.S.T. - Bacon, Egg, Aioli, Spinach and Tomato (and also cheese, but that didn't fit the acronym, I guess). My wife, seeing that they had a gluten-free waffle option (+$2), took the opportunity to get something that she is rarely able to - get a donair. The B.E.A.S.T. was a solid breakfast-ized version of the BLT, with the egg adding some more protein and the lightly sweet and crisp waffle bringing more to the show than your typical bread. Wrapped handily in compostable paper, it was apparent from this and some signs around the waste bins that WBS is making an effort to be as low-impact on the environment as possible. My wife's donair waffle was stuffed with generous layers of Mr. Donair-brand meat, so while the meat itself wasn't all that special, it was cool that the GF waffle allowed my wife to have a donair. As for the waffle itself, it was a bit more crumbly than its full-gluten brethren, but had a nice flavour. On our return visit, we both went with the daily specials - me the breakfast scramble and the bruschetta for my other half. I really enjoyed my breakfast scramble. The mix of lightly sweet ham, layers of richness from the meat, eggs and hollandaise, and pops of heat from the banana peppers made for a delight for my taste buds. Lightly crisp and sweet bits of waffle made sure that not a drop of hollandaise went to waste. The bruschetta waffle was a cool dish. Big flavours of pesto and garlic butter, with some acidic brightness of cherry tomatoes and some heft from the chicken. Topped with melted mozza and feta, this was a definite winner. Waffle Bus Stop is a fun, tasty spot that helps anchor Provost Street and adds a creative angle to the restaurant scene in the county.

Slicing waffles to make sandwiches is a matter of taste; not convinced myself but "different…read morestrokes for different folks." However, the service was good and the ambiance was "sandwich shop." The sandwich was a surprise. What they should do is use the waffles as the inventor intended; turn the waffled sides inside to hold more mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, etc.

Visited this restaurant in New Glasgow NS. It is located in the downtown area…read more We were seated promptly. The service was great as was the atmosphere. We enjoyed the cauliflower appie and the seafood chowder and teriyaki bowl.

Having been back in New Glasgow for a few months now, we've started to cycle through more…read morerestaurants, after hitting old favourites and new-to-us spots fairly thoroughly. A return(s) to East Avenue was inevitable, and certainly looked forward to. It has to have one of the most beautiful restaurant interiors in northern Nova Scotia - exposed brick, soaring ceilings, and walls dotted with paintings by local artists. For our first visit of 2023, I had the Tamis anghang ($20). Filipino for "sweet and spicy", this is a slightly fancier, single-serving version of sweet and sour chicken. Replacing the cloyingly-sweet sauce at most Chinese-Canadian restaurants, East Ave's Thai chili sauce is much more balanced, with a light punch from the hot pepper that livens up your taste buds but won't scorch them. The chicken was cooked with a deft hand, and the crisp batter held up until the last bite. My wife's duck ragu gnocchi ($29) was a hearty meal, with an impressive amount of rich, shredded duck and fluffy sweet potato gnocchi. If that wasn't enough, shredded parm added even more umami. The sauce was a bit thin and served overly generously, which made the dish a bit soupy, but was otherwise quite delicious. Bonus points for this dish and many others having gluten-free options! They had an impressive crowd for a Tuesday evening and that plus a very large group that came in just after us seemed to make for somewhat uneven service. A return visit had us targeting their patio, sadly one of the few in the non-Pictou towns of Pictou County. Step it up people! We just wanted some mid-afternoon snacks, so we went for a couple appetizers. The fried sweet chili cauliflower ($15) was a tasty app. The mild crunch of the cauliflower gave further crunch to the crisp coating, which did wilt under the slathering of sauce. Said sauce did have a bit more bite than most sweet chili sauces out there, but it won't have you breathing fire. Our kale Caesar salad (side size, $10) was a bit on the healthier side than our deep fried app, and pleasant departure from the standard formula. The mix of kale and romaine paired the strengths of both greens, while chickpeas and tomatoes brought added couloir, flavour and texture. And don't worry, there was still bacon, shaved parm, and a hearty dose of dressing. East Avenue continues to put out generally great food in a killer atmosphere (both inside and out), and I love how much this new business has brought and added to the food scene in the area.

The Blue Lobster is in Stellarton NS…read more We had a fun night out with food and drinks. The mac and cheese was delicious. Enjoyed the Painted Boat (beer). They sell merch including some very nice sweat shirts! Service was great.

1‑Star Review: Blue Lobster Public House Our visit to Blue…read moreLobster Public House was disappointing. The restaurant was understaffed, and the service felt slow and chaotic. We ordered fish and chips with a switch to fries, were told there'd be no extra charge, yet later found a $4 fee on our $115 bill. The food didn't redeem the experience -- the fish batter was burnt, and the meal arrived barely warm. We were hungry and in a rush, so we ate it, but it wasn't worth it. Overall, the place was too busy, the quality was poor, and the value wasn't there. I wouldn't return unless they offered a full complimentary meal to make up for the experience.

I remember The Coffee Bean of back in my years as a precocious youth in the 90s as being a very old…read moreschool, no frills café. Certainly not the quaint - dare I saw cool? - little cafe that is now. With branded merchandise, an espresso machine, and plants literally livening up the place, it seems that old dogs *can* learn new tricks! Or at least get new owners. Looking for a lunch that isn't fast food or a slice of pizza isn't an easy thing on a Monday in Pictou County, but I was glad when The Coffee Bean came to mind. Driving down just before noon to beat the lunch rush, I arrived to the remnants of the late morning coffee crew that were already situated, and no line in front of me. Perfect timing! I opted for the intriguing Mexican grilled cheese and an iced Americano to beat the heat. After a few minutes wait, I had my food and coffee in hand and hit the road home. My grilled cheese had a nice golden brown finish, and coming wrapped in paper kept it from steaming and getting too too soggy on the drive home. It was filled with a melty mix of cheeses, as well as a generous portion of diced onion, bell pepper and tomato, along with just the slightest hint of heat. The fresh veg added a pleasant brightness and crispness. The ice in the Americano barely lasted in the summer heat by the time I got home, but I appreciated that it wasn't 80% ice and 20% coffee like some. It's great to see new life breathed into The Coffee Bean, and I hope it continues to serve New Glaswegians (yes, that's our demonym), for yet another generation.

This is a small, quaint and cafeteria-style cafe serving freshly baked muffins, sandwiches, snacks…read moreand fresh espresso based drinks. I chose well when I bought a delicious baked flourless granola bar. I am gluten intolerant and prefer healthier choices so this was the best option for me. My husband chose an egg and cheese sandwich on toasted fresh bread. The prices were reasonable, the service was prompt and the staff were friendly. I was disappointed with my Americano since it tasted bitter and "dirty" when it cooled down a little. I didn't finish it.

Great Sunday Brunch menu, one of only a few places open on Sundays in the area. Excellent service…read morein an adorable cafe setting.

It's always a good thing when a new generation of restauranteurs injects life into a small town…read morewith their food and flavours, and this was the case last summer when Shoebox Cantina opened up on Provost Street. While the name has a Tex-Mex vibe, the menu reflects the broad base of appeal that is often necessary to succeed in smaller communities. As such, alongside their taco menu, you'll also find the likes of steak, bacon mac and cheese, and wings. My fingers were crossed that this wouldn't be a "Jack of all trades, master of none" scenario. Showing up for a lunch with my sister, we leaned into the Tex-Mex part of the menu and ordered the carnitas fries supreme ($13) and the taco sampler ($24). They've got a sizeable rotating tap list of local beers, so I went with a rye IPA from Tatamagouche Brewing. The pork carnitas fries supreme may not have evoked the flavours of Taco Bell's famous hot mess, but they stood tall on their own. A plate of moderately thick fries somehow supported a hefty layer of saucy pork, green onions and a lime crema. Rich and savoury, I found myself wishing for some tableside hot sauce, but was too busy demolishing these to ask. My sister and I, who have both languished for years under the yoke of higher priced food in bigger cities, were very impressed by the value for dollar on this as well. The taco sampler, which is comprised of Shoebox's chicken, carnitas, fish and sweet potato tacos, was both a literal and figurative mixed plate. I appreciated that all the tacos leaned in the minimalist direction of Mexican street tacos; I'm not interested in shredded lettuce and cheddar on my tacos. My two favourites were the fish and sweet potato. The beer battered fish was airy and crisp, and the fish itself was firm and flakey; pickled red cabbage added a lightly tart counterpoint to the deep fried haddock. The sweet potato taco was comprised of ultra-crisp, hash brown-esque pieces of sweet potato, as well as some avocado to add flavour and textural contrast. Sides of a few different salsas - pico, verde and roja - let you mix and match complementing flavours. The other proteins, while far from bad, didn't live up to their potential. The carnitas was oddly heavily sauced, and lacked the crisp bits that show up in this traditional hodge podge of chopped pork. As for the chicken mole, more mole sauce and its rich, lightly chocolatey depth would have been welcome. While I'm not a dessert person, I was blown away by how good the Spanish toast ($9) was. A brioche bun got the French toast treatment and was then topped with brulée sugar, dulce de leche, whipped cream and a blueberry compote. The crisp sugar was a pleasant contrast to an otherwise soft, albeit delicious dish, while the dulce de leche will have you forgetting about maple syrup completely. On a second visit, I hit the more pub-like section of their menu and got the buttermilk fried chicken burger and upgraded the fries to the bacon Caesar salad ($16 + $2). While the sandwich was solid, there's some room for improvement. The chicken itself was a winner - really crisp batter enveloped a moist and tender piece of chicken. The toasted brioche bun held things together well, and honey and a pickle added contrasting flavours to the sandwich. In the "cons" column, some hot sauce would have been welcome to amp up the flavour and there was an awkward amount of lettuce of the sandwich. In tandem with the shape of the chicken versus that of the bun, some bites were just bun and lettuce, which is...not great. The side salad wasn't the prettiest, but it hit the spot. Iceberg lettuce took the place of romaine, and I'm not sure if the croutons were forgotten or the ultra crispy bits of bacon were doing double duty, but it worked. Shoebox Cantina is bringing a lot to New Glasgow and beyond their generally well-executed menu, they host live music events and even have a recording studio upstairs. New businesses like this are just what small towns need, and the same can be said for Shoebox and your taste buds.

On my first visit to Monarch since moving back to New Glasgow, my wife and I came on the evening…read morethat they debuted their new spring/summer menu. The ABC salad was a tasty good mix - spring mix, roasted apples, bacon aioli, cheddar curds and cornbread croutons. The star of the show was definitely the bacon aioli which had a killer smoky flavour and elevated the dish. Pulled pork sandwiches have been an ubiquitous menu item for more than a decade, but Monarch did well by it with a savoury pork that wasn't mushy and overcooked and a red cabbage slaw that was flecked with coconut for a unique take on a standard pulled pork pairing (PPP). Bonus points to Monarch for the GF option for the bun, not to mention how much of the whole menu can be made GF! A side of crunchy thyme chips were everything you'd want in a chip and a nice textural contrast to the sandwich. My coconut haddock was a wonderfully well-executed dish - flaky fish and a crisp, coconut crust that wasn't *too* coconutty. A dill aioli added a tartar-esque flavour, and the roasted potatoes were an herby complement to the fish. The coconut slaw made another tasty appearance. On a return visit, we were there on one of Monarch's monthly wine nights. At four courses - each with a paired wine - and a $60 price tag, this has got to be the best quality per dollar in town! The meal started with a rhubarb and radish salad. The fresh, local veg and tart vinaigrette paired well with an acidic Ontario Riesling. For the main, a cut of Red Mountain beef tenderloin was *so* tender and although tenderloin isn't always the most flavourful cut, the quality of the locally-sourced meat stood out. Roasted veg and a pop of vegetal brightness from pea shoots rounded out a delicious dish. A Chilean Carmenere had a really unique flavour profile; I'm admittedly not familiar with the varietal, but it stood up well to the beef and was of great interest on its own. A cheese course eased our taste buds back down and an Australian chardonnay had a big enough flavour to hold its ground against the salty umami of the aged cheese. To cap our delicious meal, a loose apple and rhubarb tart, with a healthy (figuratively) dollop of whipped cream was a great send-off with mix of sweet and tart, and the crumble breaking up the soft apple and rhubarb. A lightly sweet sauv blanc with a hint of acidity finished off the wines. Monarch is a star on the local food scene and if you're not darkening their doorway, you're doing your taste buds a grave disservice.

After ordering both the spicy chicken sandwich and the baconator along with an order of chicken…read morestrips and an order of nuggets , it was clear that only part of the order had been made freshly to order. The chicken sandwich was very dry but acceptable. The nuggets were fantastic however. The workers are very polite and reasonably quick but forgot the correct sauces for dipping. Always remember to check your order. The inside of the place is normally packed with people and shares the space with Tim Hortons.

stop giving me fucking ranch when I order normal ceasar fucking salad, who the fuck eats a ceasar…read moresalad with goddamn ranch