Best Kept Secret
Mexico Lindo, 3635 Dutch Village, 445-0996 Here’s a question: If the same restaurant keeps winning for best restaurant nobody knows about, doesn’t that mean somebody knows about it? Owner Wilson Jenkins feels it has more to do with the location than anything. “It’s because we’re up here in Fairview, if we were downtown we certainly…
Best Coffee (Fancy)
Steve-O-Reno’s Cappucino, 1536 Brunswick, 429-3034 Steve’s scalds last year’s champ Uncommon Grounds in the best fancy coffee category. Offering the usual range of European specialties like cappuccino and lattes, Steve’s made a name first as Steve-O-Reno’s Cappuccino which “is our best selling fancy coffee,” says Steve himself. The long lines in the morning of bleary-eyed…
Best brunch
Jane’s on the common, 2394 Robie, 431-5683 It’s a Best Brunch repeat for sophomore jane’s on the common. What makes this brunch so popular might have something to do with the food—things like smoked salmon eggs Benedict on sweet potato biscuits, or the irresistible ricotta pancakes. On the day I spoke with owner Jane Wright,…
Best Burger (Fast Food)
The Chickenburger, 1531 Bedford Highway, 835-6565 It’s an upset this year: a close victory for the oldie but goodie. The Chickenburger has been an institution for generations (since 1940); I think my Grampy used to hitch the family mule to a Hoover Cart and head out there on summer days. Supervisor Victor Dean has been…
Best Late-night Food
The Apple Barrel, 1726 Grafton, 425-0500 Roll out the barrel yet again, as the Apple Barrel blows past Freeman’s for another victory in the late-night food category. Who among us has not finished up a night downtown with a grease fix at the Barrel at 2am, when it’s too cold to huddle on Pizza Corner?…
Best Martini
The Bitter End, 1572 Argyle, 425-3039 Once again, your Best Martini can be found at the Bitter End, which stays a swizzle stick ahead of the Fireside. Owner Mike Leigh is working on the new summer martini menu now, in keeping with the Bitter End’s ever changing offerings. “Soho liqueur is hot right now, so…
Best Cafe
Uncommon Grounds, 1030 South Park, 431-3101 Last year’s runner-up for Best Cafe snatches the grand prize and pushes perennial favourite Steve-O-Reno’s into third place behind the Paper Chase. Uncommon Grounds has become so popular that two additional locations have recently opened downtown, but for now your pick is the original South Park site. Could be…
Best Burger (Specialty)
Darrell’s, 5576 Fenwick, 492-2344 Coast readers won’t leave behind their peanut butter. And Darrell’s peanut butter burger (among their other great gourmet burger offerings) comes smothered with it. Edmund Hicks says he’s been a fan of Darrell’s peanutty concoction since before he started working there. “It’s the protein-protein combination,” he says. “The peanut butter melts…
Best New Restaurant
The Wooden Monkey, 1685 Argyle, 444-3844 You’re ape about the Wooden Monkey! The Monkey is a restaurant with a concept: The menu is based on organic and local fresh ingredients. It’s an ambitious project, but one who’s time has obviously come in the SuperCity. Serving fair trade coffee, locally brewed beer and wine, using recycled…
Best Microbrewery
Propeller Brewery, 2015 Gottingen, 422-7767 Propeller beat last year’s champ, Rogues Roost.
Best Customer Loyalty
Jane’s on the Common, 2394 Robie, 431-5683 As successful restaurateurs know, there’s a difference between a satisfied guest and a loyal one. The loyal ones keep coming back—and this year they’re coming back to jane’s on the common. Owner Jane Wright attributes it to “working hard at making sure that every single plate of food…
Best Burger (Veggie)
Dio Mio Gelato Desserts Cafe, 5670 Spring Garden on Brenton, 492-3467 How come so yum? “Made with love,” laughs supervisor Jacquelyn Bilney. “From scratch, with all natural ingredients.” By more than two-to-one Dio Mio takes Best Burger (Veggie). There are three veggie burgers here: Hazelnut (with mango chutney), Mushroom (with cilantro) and Indonesian (with peanut…
Best Patio
Your Father’s Moustache, 5686 Spring Garden, 423-6766 Yet another win for Your Father’s Moustache in Best Outdoor Seating/Patio category. The Moustache has a huge deck, great for overlooking the most happening street in Metro. Looking down on Spring Garden, shaded under big umbrellas, sipping drinks and people watching is a big part of summer in…
Best Nachos
Economy Shoe Shop, 1663 Argyle, 423-7463 Of course the Shoe is a shoe in. Arthur Canning is a warm and welcoming bartender at the Shoe and as soon as he hears the word “nachos” he positively glows. “They taste so great,” he says, “and made with lots of cheese.” And peppers. And sour cream. And…
Best Decor
Economy Shoe Shop, 1663 Argyle, 423-7463 You think the Economy Shoe Shop still has the Best Decor, and why not? You can spend time looking at exhibits of photos or other art by locals or listen to poetry readings in the intimate Shoe Shop, then stroll through to the Backstage with the tree and European…
Best Chicken Wings
Your Father’s Moustache, 5686 Spring Garden, 423-6766 It takes effort to be the best—and that’s just what manager Bruce Keys says go into the wings at Your Father’s Moustache. “We put the time, the money and the effort into our wings, to make them the best in the city.” Coast readers agree, for the second…
Best Place To Eat Alone
Chives, 1537 Barrington, 420-9626 Chives edges out Cafe Vienna for your top spot to eat alone. Chef and partner Darren Lewis attributes the willingness of people to eat at Chives solo to the atmosphere. “It’s not intimidating, the server will chat if you like, or offer you a paper or magazine,” he says, adding, “or…
Best Pizza Pie
Salvatore’s Pizzaiolo Trattoria, 5541 Young, 455-1133 It’s the fourth straight win for Salvatore’s (by more than two-to-one), so I guess history has been made. The pizza here is really good. It’s not the place if you need a mountain of stringy cheese and tons of meat. It’s the place if you appreciate a good, crisp…
Best Diner
Ardmore Tea Room, 6499 Quinpool, 423-7523 When the Ardmore caught ablaze last year, there was a fear that it might mean the end for the eatery. But it wasn’t long before the Ardmore Tea Room was back up and running, better than ever. The Ardmore has fed taxi drivers, hungry students, boarding house residents and…
Best Cinnamon Roll
Mary’s Bread Basket, The Brewery Market, 1496 Lower Water, 423-2974 Nothing says lovin’ like cinnamon rolls from Mary’s oven. It’s a tradition now to get something hot and gooey on a Saturday morning market crawl. Even after 17 years of working for MBB bakery, manager Dale Beazley still eats them right out of the oven.…
Best Pub Food
The Old Triangle, 5136 Prince, 492-4900 Kevin Evans and Brian Dougherty, the Irish duo behind the Old Triangle, believe the three most important ingredients of a memorable occasion are “food for the body, drink for the spirit and music for the soul.” You agree for sure on the “food for the body” statement, as this…
Best Pizza Slice
Alexandra’s Pizza, 1263 Queen, 425-1900 There’s stiff competition for Best Pizza Slice in this town. Pizza is taken very seriously. Tim Chaisson is an employee at Alexandra’s and he says the three kinds of slices there are all good. “It’s the sauce,” he says, “made right here, and the dough.” Dimitri Neonakis’s dough recipe is…
Best Fine Dining
Bish, 1475 Lower Water, 425-7993 The seesaw has tipped for the category of Best Fine Dining, with the upscale, modern sophistication of Bish winning out over the old world charm of last year’s winner (and sister eatery) da Maurizio. No doubt owners Stephanie and Maurizio Bertossi’s attention to details—both front and back of the house—is…
Best Club Sandwich
Mediterraneo, 1571 Barrington, 423-4403 If you were stuck on a desert island what would you eat? The sand which is here. Geddit? Especially if here is The Med. When all else fails, there’s nothing like a well made club sandwich to let you know you’re OK. At Mediterraneo they’re made really well. “They’re made from…
Best Restaurant
Chives, 1537 Barrington, 420-9626 Chef and partner Darren Lewis believes it’s the philosophy of Chives that makes it so good. “We try and support local farms, using local product.” Fresh local product plus creativity is how the menu is created. “It’s Maritime cuisine with a twist. Both myself and Craig [Flinn, the other chef/partner] have…
Best Ribs
Montana’s Cook House & Bar, 194 Chain Lake, 450-1011 Cowboys of all nations dream of the Rio Grande and ribs—either in Montana or at Montana’s, where they come thick and juicy. “We use the best of equipment,” says manager Carlos Torrealba, “a smoker which cooks them nice and slow.” And it’s fired by natural hickory…
Best Fine Dining
Bish, 1475 Lower Water, 425-7993 The seesaw has tipped for the category of Best Fine Dining, with the upscale, modern sophistication of Bish winning out over the old world charm of last year’s winner (and sister eatery) da Maurizio. No doubt owners Stephanie and Maurizio Bertossi’s attention to details—both front and back of the house—is…
Best Desserts
La Cave, 5688 Spring Garden, 429-3551 No surprise here. Once again, La Cave wins by a huge margin. And yes, it’s all about the cheesecake. Chef Andrew Beck has been baking at La Cave for seven years. This past year, one of his favourites has been the pear cheesecake—pears steeped in red wine with cardamom…
Best Food Truck
Bud the Spud, Spring Garden at Brunswick, no phone If you peeled all the spuds that Bud sells over the spring, summer and fall, and stacked them one on top of the other, you still wouldn’t have enough to show by how much the Spring Garden Road Spudster blew away the competition. For you, there…
Best Sandwich (Cold)
Italian Market, 6061 Young, 455-6124 Vesuvius is a volcano near the Bay of Naples in Italy. In 79 AD it blew up and buried the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii. In Halifax, Vesuvius is an amazing sandwich made at the Italian Market with calabrise salami, olive paste, Dijon and provolone. Angela is a sous chef…
Death from above the 49th Parallel
Make no mistake—Death From Above 1979 is huge. But if you’re an average Canadian, you probably don’t know that. What many people don’t know is Jesse Keeler and Sebastien Grainger are rock stars in a lot of countries. Their first single “Blood On Our Hands” hit the Top 40 on the UK charts and the…
Best Dim Sum
The Great Wall, 1649 Bedford Row, 422-6153 “Oh,” says Ling Wong, when she’s asked about why dim sum at The Great Wall is so good. “Because it’s the best! All fresh. All homemade.” Coast readers agree. Since 1999 you’ve given Great Wall your steamed bun hearts, this year by a margin of more than two-to-one.…
Best Restaurant Outside The Downtown Core
Mexico Lindo, 3635 Dutch Village, 445-0996 Mexico Lindo edged out jane’s for top honours outside downtown. Co-owner Wilson Jenkins cites his wife as the key to the restaurant’s success. “There’s one secret to Mexico Lindo, and that’s Ana’s cooking,” he says. Partner Ana Jimenez Jenkins is from Mexico, and she’s responsible for the culinary side.…
Best Sandwich (Grilled)
Il Mercato, 5560 Spring Garden, 422-2866 Sandwiches were invented by the Earl of Sandwich in 1762 when he had to have something to eat without quitting the gambling table. In 2002 the US Army invented sandwiches that keep without refrigeration for three years. Well, you can do much better than that at Il Mercato where…
Lemme at ’em
When you think about Lemmy from Motorhead—and what true rocker doesn’t?— what do you think of first? Maybe his bullet belt. The Rickenbacker bass guitar and shower-stall-style microphone. His Marlboro Reds washed down with a Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola meal plan. Killer tracks like “Killed By Death” or (for you young ones out there) “Shake…
Best Donair
Tony’s Pizza, 2390 Robie, 422-4833 The local delicacy (the donair was born in Bedford in the early 1970s) is big with Coast readers: Best Donair is one of the leader categories for votes cast. Tony’s—now sporting fresh renovations—looks out over the Halifax Common from the corner of Cunard Street, but there’s nothing common about their…
Best Seafood
Five Fishermen, 1740 Argyle, 422-4421 The Five Fishermen celebrates 30 years of dishing out fish this year with a repeat win in the Best Seafood category over repeat runner-up McKelvie’s. General manager Gary MacDonald attributes it to “being proactive and up-to-date with the trends diners are looking for. We change the menu twice a year,”…
Best Steak
The Keg, 1712 Market, 425-8355 The Keg has its competition over a barrel, for the second of the two years this category has been around. “The New York sirloin is very good there,” says a frequent steak eater of my acquaintance. “I don’t know how they get all that flavour into it.” Owner Wally Tonhauser…
Best Falafel
Ray’s Falafel, Scotia Square, 492-0233 If Ray Khattar were a hockey player his number would be retired. Ray’s Falafel wins this category for the eleventh time. Fresh pita bread holds a mound of chick peas, fava beans, mint parsley and coriander. “We do everything from scratch,” says Khattar. “From a traditional recipe, like your grandmother’s.”…
Best Take-out Lunch
Italian Market, 6061 Young, 455-6124 You think there are plenty of great places to get a takeout lunch, judging by the close competition for this title. But by a small margin, the Italian Market goes from runner-up last year to winner this year in the race to keep you fed at noon. Could have to…
Best Sushi Restaurant
Hamachi House, 5190 Morris, 425-7711 This is a tough category to stay on top of: Halifax has a lot of fish on its menus. Hamachi House pulls it off though. “We have high-standard chefs,” says Leanne Christie. “Mostly we hire from the west coast of Canada and California, where there are chefs trained in Korea,…
Best Fish & Chips
Fries & Co., 2603 Connolly, 455-5250 Well, if it’s good enough for governor general Adrienne Clarkson and her consort (they drop in every time they’re in town), it’s good enough for you: Fries & Co scares a whale of a win this year. Fresh fish, light batter, excellent fries: good eats. Why so good in…
Best Vegetarian-friendly Restaurant
Satisfaction Feast, 1581 Grafton, 422-3540 To what do you attribute the long running popularity of Satisfaction Feast? Even with all the hype and excitement, the Wooden Monkey was only able to grab a distant second. The Feast was Halifax’s first vegetarian restaurant, and will turn a whopping 25 next year—that’s a long run for any…
Best Chinese Restaurant
The Great Wall, 1649 Bedford Row, 422-6153 I always like checking the Chinese zodiac on a placemat. I think Year of the Horse people all do. I also like eggrolls that aren’t grease balloons and high-class chicken balls. And all that and much more (like nice crispy fresh vegetables) makes Great Wall the Coasters’ destination…
Best fries
Bud the Spud, Spring Garden at Brunswick Never mind ol’ robin redbreast or the giggling sweet heads of crocus and daffodil emerging from the earth. Around here the true harbinger of better weather and spiritual renewal is the return of the Bud the Spud truck to its rightful place outside the Spring Garden Library. French…
Best Beer Selection
Maxwell’s Plum, 1600 Grafton, 423-5090 Maxwell’s solidly trounces the competition for Best Beer Selection—with 60 beers on tap and 160 in total it’s easy to see why. Bartender and server Michael Sampson tells me the best sellers are still our homebrew, Keith’s, followed by Belgium’s Stella Artois. In the summer, he says, Garrison Raspberry does…
Best Greek Restaurant
Opa! Greek Taverna, 1565 Argyle, 492-7999 Same one-two ranking as last year. At Opa, chefs Joseph Majaess and Charlie Tsirigotis work at an open grill, putting out Greek salads with shiny fat olives and red onion and spanakopita and moussaka and whatever your little Hellenic heart desires. Big baskets of beautiful breads and strings of…
Best Ice Cream / Gelato / Frozen Yogurt
Dio Mio Gelato Desserts Cafe, 5670 Spring Garden on Brenton, 492-3467 I scream, you scream, Coast readers scream for ice cream. Dio Mio wins again, and by one heck of a big scoop, over Cows. “It’s because we use all natural colours and flavours,” says co-owner Jed Roche. “The tastes jump off your palate.” 2nd:…
Best Brew Pub
Rogues Roost, 5435 Spring Garden Road, 492-2337 Rogues Roost got your vote for best brew pub over the Granite Brewery. “It’s a really great atmosphere,” says manager Julie Pierce. “It’s a nice place to come after work and relax with your friends.” And of course, there’s the beer. “Our brewmaster [Lorne Romano] is quite legendary,…
Best International Cuisine
Baan Thai, 1569 Dresden Row, 446-4301 Nothing like a good fix of pad Thai to let you know you’re alive and doing well, and at Baan Thai it’s all authentic and good. Victor and Sue Wong serve only the best and they’re getting ready to heat it up even more. Victor is just back from…
Best Mussels
Five Fishermen, 1740 Argyle, 422-4421 Year after year, Five Fish beats out the Shoe for Best Mussels. They come in a never-ending supply with any main course. “There’s a great debate,” says manager Gary MacDonald, “about whether mussels from NS or PEI are the best. We buy Nova Scotian whenever we can.” Lately chef Chris…
Best Caesar
The Bitter End, 1572 Argyle, 425-3039 What can you say about the Bitter End’s Caesar that hasn’t already been said? Owner Mike Leigh explains the secret to their Caesar’s success in a word: Consistency. Every time you go for a Caesar at the Bitter End, you know you’ll get the same drink, the one with…
Best Italian Restaurant
Il Mercato, 5660 Spring Garden, 422-2866 The amore affair for Coast readers continues, as Il Mercato wins the Best Italian Food category again. Il Mercato is a pretty place: lovely lighting, warm colours. And the menu is beautiful too. “We make the food with love,” says assistant manager Lenora McNeil. “A combination of traditional Italian…
Best Restaurant Idea
Bring your own wine Voters sent in some very creative ideas, including last year’s number one idea—bring your own wine. Although the BYOW idea made it to number one, it should drop off the list with the arrival of Milano’s, the Italian eatery that does encourages patrons to bring their own vino. Some of last…
Best Coffee (Regular)
Steve-O-Reno’s Cappuccino, 1536 Brunswick, 429-3034 The Steve in the Steve-O-Reno’s doesn’t see anything magical about his coffee, just “really good quality beans and good preparation.” You see something special about it though, as you voted his Brunswick Street java joint as having the best regular coffee. Steve also notes “our coffee is fresh roasted, in…
Best Breakfast
Cora’s Breakfast & Lunch, 5523 Spring Garden, 490-2672 By a huge margin, again, Cora’s proves Coasters like to have choice when they breakfast out. And Cora’s puts it on: elaborate fruit platters, crepes (14 kinds), eggs with frankfurters and the urban equivalent of a trucker breakfast, the Gargantuan, with eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, crepe and…
