As a shiftless 20-something I spent a calendar of mornings at Fog City Diner—or Tasty Food, as you may choose to recall—leaning into the unwaveringly comfortable, dilapidated booths, drinking cup after cup of shitty coffee. I’d read magazines, do crossword puzzles and push fluffy pieces of omelet around my plate in montage-worthy marathon breakfasts. Kelsey […]
Restaurant Reviews
Posted inFood + Drink
The Italian job
It’s been years since I’ve been inside Tomavinos. Before it closed last year I was a pretty loyal delivery customer. I remember the second-to-last time I called for delivery and the phone just rang and rang and rang into what I can only imagine was darkness. I had a horrible feeling that I would never […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Tempo moderato
Just over a year ago, I went to lunch at O&B Canteen—an Oliver & Bonacini restaurant—in Toronto. On Thursday I basically went there again: I went to Tempo. Tempo has to have been built in Canteen’s image. The dining room seems to have used the exact same template—casual chic with urbane whimsy in the form […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Nomad Gourmet’s hot wheels
It’s been over five months since Nomad Gourmet hit Argyle Street and started changing how Halifax satisfied its food truck cravings. Gone were the fish, chips and deep-fryers. In came Belgian waffle breakfast sandwiches, locally sourced burgers and burritos filled with pulled brisket, cooked in an onboard smoker. Every item was eight bucks or less, […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Deli-cious
Hali Deli is not Schwartz’s Deli. Whew, that was a real load off! Take a deep breath. Sit down if you need to. It’s going to be alright. Because while Hali Deli is not Schwartz’s Deli, it is still a pretty darn good deli. Retro half-globe pendant lights loom above, hanging from a tin-tiled ceiling, […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Sweet escape
It’s not exactly what you’d call a crazy little shack and I’m not even sure that it’s beyond any tracks, but at Acadian Maple this month, you’re going to find a meal that’s fit for a sugar shack. For 30 years, Brian Allaway and his family have been tapping trees and making maple syrup. They’ve […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Clay fair
Sarah is excited when we luck into a parking spot almost on top of the entrance to Clay West Bar & Grill. The sprawling parking lot is nearly empty, but small victories should always be celebrated. We quickly head inside, finding a cavernous dining room that challenges the square footage of the lot. It’s strangely […]
Posted inFood + Drink
In the Noble
Jenner Cormier holds a lit match to a slice of orange peel and squeezes. The peel’s oil sparks a mini-fireball, leaving the smell of birthday candles in the air and the taste of toasted citrus in the drink. It’s the Depth Charge: Ice crushed by hand with a 1940s Ice-O-Mat, fresh mint, raspberry, almond liqueur, […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Arirang’s rice dreams
SUSHI REVOLUTION. The words are big and bold, lit by the dull glow of a neon “open” sign in the windows of Arirang. The revolution is a quiet one: the dining room is empty when we arrive. We are quickly greeted by a smiling server, who ushers us to a table and hands us menus. […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Up to Pars
Pars Restaurant specializes in northern Iranian cuisine, serving unique, delicious dishes with exceptional flavour. by Melissa Buote Pars is a small, family-run restaurant with a menu influenced by the typical restaurant fare you might find in Tehran, as well as the home cooking from the northern provinces of Iran that run into the Caspian Sea. […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Life of pie
Piatto Pizzeria’s char is up to par, but a lighter touch would plant it firmly in Italian trattoria territory. by Melissa Buote As soon as you walk in the door of Piatto Pizzeria, you are welcomed by the gaping, fiery grin of the pizza oven. It’s a show piece that is done a bit of […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Use your noodle
Autumn is the perfect time for a restaurant that specializes in soup to come into its own. So I expect that Truly Tasty Ramen & Dumplings is happy to see the leaves piling up on Quinpool Road. Stephanie and I wander into the restaurant for a late evening dinner and are greeted warmly in the […]
