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.

Hipster spot that has small plates and larger plates and great drinks. My whiskey sour was just how…read moreI like it--shaken a lot. I wasn't that hungry, so I got two bao buns. Holy moly was that mushroom bao bun delicious. An explosion of flavor. Husband's scallops were delicious as well.

All around AMAZING! Im quite particular about my food and drinks, and this place did a fantastic…read morejob of creating a summer fresh, delicious and creative menu (with great service). I had minor critiques, but overall was in love and would return and recommend to anyone. Food: We started with the bread and mussels. Best mussels we've ever had, as they were cooked perfectly (and fresh) and the broth was heaven. The bread pairing was perfect to soak up all the buttery broth goodness. Next was the Shrimp Bao. The bread was fluffy and light, and shrimp was at chilled room temperature, perfect for a summer day. A good flavour of celery in case you dislike that, but I'd still suggest you try it! Finally we had the Zucchini and Beef Tartare. Zucchini didn't wow, though still fresh and summer minty vibes. Beef Tartare...hands down best we've ever had. The Asian fusion incorporated was perfect. Closed it out with a Strawberry & Cream, which albeit simpler was well done. Drinks: Go for them all. Very creative and they can walk you through tasting notes perfectly. Milk Punch (method; not actually milk; recommend), Strawberry Basil Negroni (strongly recommend; not traditional negroni alcohol forward), Eucalyptus Sour (subtle, calm and collected; recommend), Corn Star (be adventurous, as the chipotle is super subtle; worth the risk; recommend), Vesper (again, not alcohol forward; recommend). Atmosphere: Cozy and charming, yet the accents are vibrant and energizing. Indoor volume is medium, and great for a family, cocktail, date or a "i want a nice drink/bite" any day of the week.

You can't get in unless you know the password that is delivered via email when you are on the email…read morelist. We walked in said our password and they were 40 mins late on setting up on Saturday Halloween eve. Only servers can allow you in. Atmosphere is dungeon library with 1950s music. Drinks are $15-17 each. We ordered: - Grandma's Boy ($17): 3/5 similar to Old Fashioned. A very simple straight up old fashioned that didn't have much complexity. - The Last Barman Poet ($17): 3/5 tequila based sour. A bit savoury because of the spices. Not that complex either. Overall: Such as shame as the atmosphere is amazing. Compared to a lot of restaurants with cocktails, this one is pricier and less amazingly prepared. We were disappointed with the selections and that's why we only tried 2 and left.

I've been to several speakeasys but having to present a password (that rotates) was definitely part…read moreof the fun. Overall a fun spot with a good drink menu, but the wait to get in was quite long (we were there around 10pm on a Thursday but didn't get downstairs until around 10:45).

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

Oysters were some of the freshest I've tried, service was very friendly. Elevated but relaxed…read moreatmosphere.

Three of us ordered eggs benny--2 regular ones and one Korean. We found all three unremarkable. One…read moreof the orders had a piece of eggshell in it. This was all mentioned to the waitress, but other than an apology nothing else was offered. Also, toilets on two different floors did not have toilet paper.

A hidden underrated gem in down town Halifax with delicious food at great prices…read more They have happy hour from 4-9 every day which makes their food less than 7$ and discounted drinks. We have always went to the bitter end but we heard they revamped their style within the last few months and we were so surprised. The food was amazing. We spent less than 40$ on food and we ordered over half the menu! Sweet potato fries with Smokey chipotle which was to die for! The hummus and pita, which was a little watery but the thick cut pita made up for it. The 'avocado and herb dip' which is basically phenomenal guac (I can't wait to go back for this) bacon wrapped scallops and chicken Thai bites. Let me repeat this - less than 40$. You could easily go here as a Vegan or vegetarian and if you love meat, it's great for you too. I have no idea why this restaurant isn't busier, whenever we go it is so dead. Each booth has a candle and some have fire places, dimly lit with red leather seats. A huge bar in the middle of the room. I would definitely recommend this lovely restaurant to everyone and anyone!

The service was good and the ambiance was quiet. It was early in the evening but it appears to be a…read morenice spot to come and have a drink and chat with friends. The bartender was great and Lexi K makes a great lemon drop martini.

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!!!

Feb 7 & Apr 18…read more Side Hustle's move to downtown Dartmouth from their original location in Cole Harbour was only just before my wife and I moved back to Nova Scotia. So unlike many places that opened during our exile in Ottawa, when we tried it out, it still felt like we were getting in on the ground floor, rather than playing catch-up to an established local favourite. The interior is sleek and modern, with warm tones of wood contrasting against a very black and white colour palette, and the pops of verdant green from the many plants are a literal breath of fresh air. Like many of its contemporaries, the menu at Side Hustle is casual but chef-ed up - a smash burger and fried chicken are approachable items, while a good chunk of the rest of the menu is either overtly Asian, or gets a dash of Asian ingredients - beef udon, fried rice and chicken wings with a fish sauce caramel, garlic and Thai chilis. The drink list has a little bit of something for everyone, but not so much that you're going to get analysis paralysis. There's several local beers and ciders on tap, plus some cans, specialty cocktails, and an assortment of local and imported wines, as well as an impressive selection of non-alcoholic drinks and NA cocktails too. Everything sounded so good, we decided to go with a handful of smaller dishes - dumplings, cucumber salad, Brussels sprouts and the Mac fries. The dumplings stayed with the classic ingredients of pork and chives. The meat was tender and juicy, with supple and pliable wrappers. A pleasant mix of lightly tangy black vinegar with the heat of chili oil added layers of flavour to the already delicious dumplings. The Brussels sprouts weren't a big serving for the price tag, but they packed in *tons* of flavour and textures with crispy shallots, mint, a smattering of Thai chilis (you don't need a lot!), and their "funk sauce". It was a little funky, a little fruity, and it did take away the crispness of the charred sprouts, but it definitely tasted good! The cucumber was a surprise hit - your taste buds get livened up with crispy shallots, chili oil, and maple tahini, while getting bursts of freshness from the bites of cuke. If I recall correctly, the Mac fries have been a mainstay of Side Hustle's menu since before their days in downtown Dartmouth, and they absolutely deliver! It's got a couple chopped up smashburger patties, cheese, special sauce that you'll get sued for if you give it a certain name, onions, pickles and good ol' shreduce. All of this was heaped on top of incredible, hand-cut fries that somehow stayed crisp to the last fry. It's a decadent dish that's shareable, but that doesn't mean you have to! On a return visit on a bustling Friday evening, we stuck to portions that were better suited to two people, although the veg was a bit more scarce this time around. I opted for the beef udon noodles, while my wife tried to resist the temptation, but succumbed to the Mac fries again. The composition of the beef udon came together fantastically. The shredded beef had the warmth of its five spice seasoning paired with a subtle but noticeable tingle of Sichuan peppercorns, some heat from chili oil, crunch and a mild funk from pickled daikon, and the thick, slurp-able udon noodles that got wonderfully coated in the aforementioned ingredients, as well as a savoury sesame sauce. Some bok choy and green onion kept this from being solely meat and carbs, but we know who the stars of this dish were. The Mac fries were once again familiar perfection, and really are much better than their namesake inspiration, as they're cooked with much more skill and don't make you feel gross afterward. Side Hustle is quickly becoming a go-to spot for us for quality casual food, and it's one of the many reasons we're loving our new Dartmouth digs.

The Drawing Room has become almost a regular piece of conversation and an assumed destination for…read moreme lately, thanks to the discovery of this secret bar on Yelp a month ago. Not yet is known about the upstairs-from-the-Henry-House bar yet other than it's wonderful decor and fancy drink menu. This isn't a beer-drinking spot, folks. This is where you go to feel important, share some drinks with a few friends and enjoy a couple hours of elegancy without feeling out of place. The Drawing Room has a timeless feel to it. You could be having a flashback to any period over the last hundred years and know that no matter what year you're in, you're enjoying it like royalty. The drink menu offers martinis, wines, and drinks of all sorts. I ordered a Burie'd Mojito, which was white rum, an assortment of berry juices and mint leaves. It was fantastic! My second drink was a vodka-based green lime drink that was just as delicious. Mind you, the drinks are $10+ so unless your wallet is loaded, don't come here to join it. Of course, the Drawing Room isn't the type of environment to get drunk but the drinks are made strong so be wary of your perception because you may be surprised once you stand up.

This place really is as good as it gets. You walk into the Henry House and there are no signs to…read morelead you in the direction of this hidden upstair gem. Either go through the front door and keep going up or walk through the main dining room and go to the left to the staircase and go to the top and you are there. The room is dark, atmospheric and filled with exposed beams, dark leather chairs, a cozy fireplace and a menu inspired by different time periods. The bar staff is friendly and know their drinks. My favourite is a Negroni, a delicious blend of campari, gin and vermouth. A perfect place for a date night or a few drinks with some close friends.

Food was good/ prices not too bad either- local in neighbourhood-…read moreWas chilly when went but owner? Indicated usually nit as good was looking into it - Had a tea there to warm up by wait staff- something they usually don't offer on menu so points!

What's open on a Monday evening for food can be really hit or miss, so when I was looking for a…read morepre-trivia meal in the lower part of the North End, The Duke's had little competition in the area and ingloriously won by default. This space used to be the Foggy Goggle, and it's gotten a little bit of a freshening up since then, but the narrow bar still has a cozy feel. There was a handful of other customers, but unsurprisingly it was relatively quiet. The menu is moderately-sized for a pub, with several each of apps, sandwiches and entrees - enough to give you a good selection but not so much that you're overwhelmed with choices. In non-American chain restaurant boycott times, I'm a big fan of Wendy's bacon mushroom melt, so it was an easy choice when I spotted the "Mushroom Peppercorn Burger" on the menu. My bowl-loving wife opted for the Mexican Rice Bowl, one of several dishes that are gluten free or can be made so. A moderate wait later (shout out to what appeared to be the lone cook in the kitchen doing his best), and our food was before us. My burger was a messy sight to behold, with the peppercorn-dotted gravy posing from the burger and onto the plate. More importantly, it lives up to its visual appeal! The gravy was a stole the show, with the prominent, peppery bite playing off the rich, velvety gravy. Bacon and frizzled onions added some crunch, while melty cheese and mushrooms amped up the umami. Somehow, the bun withstood the onslaught, although this burger was absolutely a multi-napkin affair. My side Caesar salad was perfectly adequate - nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about either. My wife enjoyed the mix of flavours and textures in her Mexican rice bowl, and although the grilled chicken portion was good and generous (and blessedly not from-frozen, diced chicken), the rest of the bowl ingredients were a bit lacking. A little more rice would go a long way to fill things out a bit more, with limited effect on food costs. Our next time back also found us coming by on another quiet, Monday evening before trivia elsewhere. Spice bags are a bit of a "thing" in Ireland, as a post-bar meal that originally Chinese takeout spots served up, and then they propagated to other restaurants and eventually beyond Irish borders. Some pubs in Halifax have picked up the low-key trend as well, which isn't surprising since at its core, it's just chopped up chicken fingers, fries and seasonings - all of which pubs typically have anyway. The Duke's version eschews the takeout bag roots of the dish and gets messier with a sweet chili sauce, as well as a curry mayo on the side. I'd definitely prefer to see the fries and chicken tossed in a dry rub so that they can stay crispy, and the cloying, commercial sauce just isn't necessary. If you're looking for some deep fried and indulgent, this is your fix. The Duke's has charming bones and some interesting items on the menu, but some small tweaks could easily elevate their offerings and make this a great local for the neighbourhood.

We are always on the hunt for cask beer and found out about Stillwell. They had two cask beers to…read moretry out which my husband enjoyed. I went a for a non-alcoholic option and enjoyed it. I wish I was hungry when visiting because their food menu looked very good. I would recommend this place and would come back here.

The Hubs and I wanted to try some craft beer while at Halifax without having to go to each…read moremicrobrewery and Stillwell seems to fit the bill. They have 12 beers on tap, and various beers on cans and bottles. Food seems to be mostly sharable appetizers. We tried: - Propeller Galaxy (6.5% $7.6 for 16oz): hazy IPA style, simple, a hint of hoppy. - Trailway Voyager (7.8% $7 for 12 oz): like a hazy IPA, citrus, sweet, smooth. Bartender is attentive and chill atmosphere. Overall: great place to grab a drink and hangout.