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 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.

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.

Nook and Cranny was a great stop during our drive through Pictou. The restaurant has plenty of…read moreindoor and outdoor seating, but we opted for one of the picnic tables outside so we could enjoy the waterfront views while we ate. It made for such a relaxing lunch. Our server Emily was incredibly kind, attentive, and offered some great recommendations, which we really appreciated. We ordered the full size Summer Salad, one Blackened Fish Taco, the 2-piece Fish & Chips, and the Lobster Roll with the garlic parmesan fry upgrade. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned. The Summer Salad was light and refreshing, the fish was perfectly cooked, and the Lobster Roll was another great one to add to our Nova Scotia lobster roll tour. The garlic Parmesan fries were definitely worth the upgrade. Between the friendly service, beautiful waterfront setting, and delicious food, Nook and Cranny was a wonderful lunch stop. If you're passing through Pictou, I'd definitely recommend checking it out!

Since burgeoning central/northern Nova Scotia food and drink empire Nook and Cranny opened their…read morethird branch in Pictou last spring, I'd had drinks and snacks on their patio, but never had a proper meal inside until recently. It was quiet on a Monday evening, and being Pictou County, we were lucky they were open at all. The space is quite open, with thick wooden beams stealing the show, while grey laminate flooring is an almost jarring contrast of modern, lowest price tag renos against the sturdy old bones. We were promptly looked after by the friendly staff, and while I was tempted by some of the monthly specials, I stayed onside with their regular menu, to get a feel for how their regular items. The menu rides a fine line - it's not too small (there's several each of apps, soups/salads, sandwiches and mains) but not so big that it's overwhelming or you're thinking that everything is just coming out of a Sysco freezer bag. While pub standards like burgers, fish and chips and a club sandwich all appear, some effort definitely went into the menu's creation. You're not going to see jackfruit tacos, brisket grilled cheese and mushroom "bruschetta" everywhere! I went for a more standard item, the Mushroom Jack burger, on my aforementioned mission to gauge their kitchen, while my wife opted for the Cranberry Coconut Chicken. With the Monday crowd (or lack thereof), our food was soon before us, and none too soon, given our appetites! My Mushroom Jack burger was quite well executed - honestly, it was much better than I expected it would be. What can I say, a string of mediocre-at-best pubs in Pictou County over the years have left me jaded! The patty was thick (8oz) but not overcooked, or too densely pressed. The mushrooms had an herby hit that paired well with the savoury truffle aioli, and spinach brought some vegetal vibrance. The Monterey Jack cheese lent its salty goodness, while the toasted bun held up well against its messy contents. Across the table, my wife's Cranberry Coconut Chicken was an impressive-looking plate. The dish is gluten-free, which means that the Chex (yes, the cereal) coating on the chicken is gluten-free. Go Chex? Life-long learning, people! Stuffed with herbs and goat cheese, it was definitely more flavourful than your run-of-the-mill chicken breast. A rice pilaf and roasted veg rounded out the dish, while a thin cranberry and citrus sauce brought sweet and tangy notes for contrast, although by the last few bites were swimming in it. On a return visit on a more lively Friday night, it looked like the menu had gotten a refresh, with a whole new slate of tempting items. I stuck to a traditional East Coast offering though - the fish cakes. I checked to make sure they were made in-house (they are), as although I have a perverse love of the High Liner, from-frozen, 99% potato, "fish" cakes, that's not what I want at a restaurant. The fish cakes came on a hefty portion of maple baked beans. No skimpy 2oz cup of beans here! I'm no baked bean connoisseur, and if I were I would deserve to be mocked relentlessly, but these had a good balance of sweet and savoury, and were nicely cooked - they weren't dry and grainy, nor cooked to mush. As for the fish cakes themselves, the respectably-sized cakes had a wonderfully crisp breading, which housed a plesant mix of fish and potato, with discernable shreds of haddock. The flavour profile had a noticeable fish flavour (unlike our friend High Liner's) without being *fishy*. The side of house-made green tomato chow provided a lightly tart and sweet foil for the savoury elements of the dish, with a chunky consistency that puts the store-bought chows that are mainly sugar and vinegar to shame. With food that follows through on the menu's promise of better-than-average pub grub, I can see why The Nook and Cranny is spreading across my neck of the woods, and I look forward to return visits on their patio on warmer days PS. Extra points for maintaining great social media communications and an up-to-date website, which most small town restaurants are decidedly *not* good at.

Seafood chowder isn't the sexiest food to photograph, but the chowder at Harbour House was a…read morepleasant surprise when a power outage last year forced a change of plans for mine and my wife's lunch. The chowder had tender chunks of lobster, haddock and scallops, and the creamy broth was in the Goldilocks zone of not too thick and not too thin. A lovely roll that was crisp on the outside and had a light crumb was made for dipping! My wife's chicken and brie roll with a tomato and feta soup was a light but flavourful lunch, and a solid deal at just $15. Bonus points to HH for having GF options for all of their buns and pizzas too! On a return visit after we had moved back to the county, I leaned into the pub side of the menu, and tried the house burger, which comes topped with the usual suspects, plus cheese and bacon. It was a good burger - a thick, pub-style patty, melty cheese, crisp bacon, and the bun held up well. Solid fundamentals, if no real standout elements. The fries were of the crispy-coated variety, which I'm a fan of. Oddly, the ends of each fry were much more browned than the rest, which reminded me of fries that you bake at home. Not a strike against them, it just seemed odd. My wife's shepherd's pie was a hearty plate. The spacious casserole dish was packed with meat and potatoes, and given a non-traditional slathering of melted cheese for good measure. I did my husband due diligence and finished off what my wife didn't have room for. Harbour House is doing some above average grub, especially when you know the right dishes to get.

The service was friendly and scenery is nice. The chowder and lobster roll were ok. The burger was…read moreordinary and the fries are not good. The beer selection was fine

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.

Had lunch at this diner in New Glasgow NS…read more The diner is not fancy but the staff are friendly and the food is fresh. I enjoyed the pan fried haddock with coleslaw, veggies and fries. There are daily lunch specials and daily dinner specials. There is free parking in front of the restaurant.

The big breakfast is magnificent. Any food of theirs is a great choice. My parents and I go every…read moretime they visit me. The people make you feel like family and always go above and beyond while serving you. There is always more than enough seating but on a busy day even they are worth waiting for a table , I promise. It's a very comfortable and friendly place to eat. Afforardable too.

It's easy to be curious about new restaurants in a small town, as you quickly get well-acquainted…read morewith the existing ones. This goes double for a restaurant consistently has a packed parking lot every day that it's open, which was the case for Tilly's Kitchen. I'd never been inside the restaurant(s?) that preceded Tilly's at their stately accomodations on Stellarton Road, and am worse off for it. The interior has character galore, with wooden arches and door frames, stained glass and more, although light stains for the woods and neutral paint colours keep it from being dark, dreary and dated. For appetizers, the table started with an order of their crispy dumplings ($15) and mussels ($16). The deep fried dumplings strayed far from their Asian origins, with pulled pork, lime and ginger creme fraiche, and pea shoots, but were a tasty start to the meal nonetheless. I focused on the mussels, mainly leaving the dumplings to my seafood-adverse wife. They were wonderfully tender, without a hint of overcooked rubberiness. The smoked tomato sauce didn't have a lot of smoke to it, but a hint of spice and herbs kept it from being bland. My wife's chicken and chorizo pasta ($23 + $2 GF noodle), was a savoury and hearty dish, with a hit of spice from the chorizo and a lovely red pepper and Dijon sauce that clung to each piece of pasta. The paella I ordered for my main ($32) may have been missing out on the crispy edges of the less fancy, more traditional version, but it would be hard to drum up any other complaint about this iteration. The plentiful seafood (*deep inhale* scallops, haddock, shrimp, squid, salmon and mussels) was cooked to tender perfection, while the chorizo, tomato and saffron broth added a layered and rich flavour to the whole dish. We finished the meal with a shared dessert, the truffles and port. A steal at just $12, it comes with two shots of the classic fortified wine, along with four house-made truffles, which were spectacularly smooth and rich and would satisfy any chocolate lover. Tilly's Kitchen is checking all the right boxes - beautiful atmosphere, great service and food that's bringing new flavours to Pictou County in well-executed, stylishly-plated dishes.

I tried this place recently for dinner during my trip to the area. Parking spot is limited so we…read moreended up have to park across the street. The restaurant is nicely decorated. Service here was okay but food had hits and misses. We ordered bread, grilled salmon, cod fillet, Caesar salad, jambalaya and seafood pasta. Of all the dishes we've ordered, I liked the flavourful Caesar salad. Seafood pasta was alright too. However, the bread, salmon and Tuscan chicken all tasted very dry. So did the jambalaya, flavourless and not spicy at all. Overall, the vibe and service are okay but food is mediocre.