Service is a hot topic among those who eat out. Everyone has a horror story and everyone has had great experiences, but unfortunately, it’s the horror stories that are more likely to be repeated and passed on. As someone who eats out a lot, I have a tale or two of service nightmares, and handful […]
Liz Feltham
Fish switch
There’s a first for everything, and this is certainly a first for me. I’ve braved the Saturday traffic to go deep into the BLIP, behind Jungle Jim’s and the Eastside pool hall, to sample the offerings of Greg and the Mermaids. As we enter, the smiling young man at the counter greets us with, “Is […]
The Luxx life
Location, location, location is the real-estate mantra and it holds true, especially for restaurants. Sitting on the second floor of Park Lane Mall, overlooking Spring Garden, the newly opened Luxx has moved into the former home of long-time resident the Birmingham Bar and Grill. Luxx has more than location going for it—it’s co-owned by original […]
The way of the Dodo
There’s a new kid on the Quinpool block, in the former Addis Ababa digs. Dodo’s Cafe and BBQ has brought Mediterranean food, from Greece and the Middle East, to the former home of African cuisine. The interior has been redone in vibrant blues and warm yellows, evoking the sunny skies and deep blue sea of […]
Shir thing
Nestled on the end of Hollis, just around the corner from South Street, sits the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it home of Persian take-out, Shiraz. Miss it if you’re colour blind , that is, for the formerly stark white home of a car rental agency is now a striking royal purple that makes the little “Lego block” building a […]
Home plates
Ah, the produce section of a market—bins upon bins of attractively merchandised, blemish-free, colourful foodstuff; inviting, enticing, alluring and coated in god-knows-what to ensure a safe journey from some exotic land to our tables. As debate rages and concerns spread about pesticides, fungicides and other “–cides,” more consumers are looking towards organic, local food as […]
Garden of delights
In more than five years of writing about food for The Coast, I can count on one hand the number of truly amazing meals I’ve had—there have been plenty of great meals and very good meals, but only a few that can only be described as flawless. Such is my dinner at the Italian Garden. […]
The burning question
Salsa—no other condiment conjures up images of a good time like salsa. A veritable party in your mouth, the perfect salsa is a marriage of tomatoes, chopped fresh cilantro and garlic, and jalapeno or Serrano peppers. Fresh salsa is simple and easy to make, but most of us still head to the supermarket when we […]
Sticky tack
Sticks Eatery opened in the Hydrostone a few months ago based on a simple concept. That is, as the menu says, “an effort to marry quick and convenient service with great tasting healthy food.” It’s been my experience that frequently the union of “quick” and “healthy” results in bland and boring. Here’s hoping Sticks can […]
Starr gazing
The lower end of Portland Street seems to be enjoying a renaissance of sorts, with the building of executive-style townhouses nearby, and a general clean-up of an area once dominated by strip bars. It’s a sunny day, and as I walk down the wide brick sidewalk I can glimpse the sun glinting off the blue […]
Supper club
Dear Jennifer, Dad and I really enjoyed visiting with Stewart in Halifax this weekend; his new apartment is full of character. I didn’t know you could buy street signs (surely he wouldn’t have taken them, would he?) and I’ve never seen such a large collection of shot glasses—bigger than even Aunt Mabel’s spoon collection! His […]
Star bright
Caribbean cuisine is a melting pot, straight from the hearts and kitchens of the islands (not just Jamaica, but the West Indies, Cuba and Puerto Rico, to name a few); no-frills comfort food that nourishes the soul as much as the belly. But no-frills doesn’t mean bland or boring—oh no. The Caribbean is home to […]

