Garden of Eat'n
Variety: Acadian, Mediterranean and Persian
Address: 6293 Quinpool Road
Date Visited: Friday, November 22, 2013
Orders: Chicken and Beef Shwarma Plate, Stuffed Grapeleaves, Zeitoon Parvardeh
Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: -
Final Grade: 85% (Exellent)
(Scoring:
100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good,
60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40%
to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: To say that this was a complete surprise would be an understatement. With all due respect, I don't know whether it's that I find the restaurant's moniker too kitschy for my taste or just plain stupid, but it's one of the reasons why we didn't visit sooner. That, and fusing Acadian, Mediterranean AND Persian cuisine? That just sounds a little too wacky. Well, my friends, our joint gut reaction was WRONG. Our friend B was in town for a couple of days and we joined up with our other pal R (who'd been to Eat'n before, usually just for a late night falafel) and settled on this place due to its location as well as a means to try and find something we'd all like. Walking in, it had a really cool atmosphere - kind of like a place you wouldn't mind hanging out for a few hours with friends (which is what happened, both because R was running late and because we all had lots of catching up to do!) The servers were very patient with us and didn't rush us, which was most appreciated. When R finally arrived, we let him order the appetizers because he was more familiar with the fare than us. J usually doesn't dig stuffed grape leaves (dolmades) but these ones were pretty good and the zeitoon parvadeh was phenomenal! We didn't know what we were eating at first and, frankly, it looked kinda...um...like poop...but this olive and walnut concoction was just marvellous. A real winner buried on the back page of the menu! We both decided to go for the Chicken and Beef Shwarma Plate - a hearty and heaping plate with a salad and curry spinach rice. Yum! After we finished eating, we stuck around for a while longer and then they whipped out the hookah water pipes for some of the other patrons. We didn't partake, but it only added to the vibe. T thought this was so cool that she insisted on a bonus point, bumping The Garden of Eat'n into the upper echelon of the Hfxfoodreviews rankings.
Final Verdict: We're not crazy about the name, but you'd be crazy not to give it a try!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Review #53 - Talay Thai Restaurant
Talay Thai Restaurant
Variety: Thai
Address: 1261 Barrington Street
Date Visited: Saturday, November 16, 2013
Orders: Sweet & Sour Beef, Pad Thai, Cashew Chicken, Deep Fried Spring Rolls
Taste: 7 + 7 + 8 = 22/30
Portion Size: 9 + 9 + 9 = 27/30
Presentation: 8 + 8 + 8 = 24/30
Value: 8 + 8 + 8 = 24/30
Service: 6 + 6 + 6 = 18/30
Bonus: 1
Minus: 3
Final Grade: 75% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Our friend B was staying with us for a few weeks and joined us for dinner after the Parade Of Lights. Well, not AFTER the parade, we got tired of waiting for the parade to resume (apparently there was some kind of medical emergency earlier in the route, but the marshals didn't relay any info to us, and standing there for half an hour with nothing going on wasn't much fun). To be honest, this didn't put us in the best headspace, but we'd been looking forward to this meal for weeks so we had high hopes. We had a group reservation in the private room (another reason for our premature departure from the parade) and, yeah, definitely a sweet room (hence the bonus point!) Not particularly quiet but marvelous decor and far enough removed from the rest of the patrons to feign a little privacy. Anyway, we loves us some Thai food but have to be mindful of T's onion allergy. We alerted the server and she said no problem. The restaurant was busy-ish but far from full. However, it was a full 45 minutes from the time we placed our order until the appetizers arrived (we shared the deep fried spring rolls, always good) and another 15 minutes until the main arrived. At no point during this wait did the server return to check on us, offer an explanation or even to refill the beverages. Two minutes points there. The other minus point came in the form of notifying us as our cashew chicken arrived that there had been onion in the sauce so they served it with no sauce at all, just a bit of water that tasted of MSG. A reasonable alternative would have been to provide a different sauce on the side in case we'd like to give it a shot, or at least to tell us in advance and give us an opportunity to order something else. We absolutely appreciated the attention paid to the onion allergy, but the execution was really disappointing. The rest of the meal was quite good, though and aside from the wait and the cashew chicken fiasco, we were pretty satisfied - this otherwise might have been one of our higher rated restaurants in town. Pity.
Final Verdict: Tasty Thai, great private room, but service issues soured the experience.
Variety: Thai
Address: 1261 Barrington Street
Date Visited: Saturday, November 16, 2013
Orders: Sweet & Sour Beef, Pad Thai, Cashew Chicken, Deep Fried Spring Rolls
Taste: 7 + 7 + 8 = 22/30
Portion Size: 9 + 9 + 9 = 27/30
Presentation: 8 + 8 + 8 = 24/30
Value: 8 + 8 + 8 = 24/30
Service: 6 + 6 + 6 = 18/30
Bonus: 1
Minus: 3
Final Grade: 75% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Our friend B was staying with us for a few weeks and joined us for dinner after the Parade Of Lights. Well, not AFTER the parade, we got tired of waiting for the parade to resume (apparently there was some kind of medical emergency earlier in the route, but the marshals didn't relay any info to us, and standing there for half an hour with nothing going on wasn't much fun). To be honest, this didn't put us in the best headspace, but we'd been looking forward to this meal for weeks so we had high hopes. We had a group reservation in the private room (another reason for our premature departure from the parade) and, yeah, definitely a sweet room (hence the bonus point!) Not particularly quiet but marvelous decor and far enough removed from the rest of the patrons to feign a little privacy. Anyway, we loves us some Thai food but have to be mindful of T's onion allergy. We alerted the server and she said no problem. The restaurant was busy-ish but far from full. However, it was a full 45 minutes from the time we placed our order until the appetizers arrived (we shared the deep fried spring rolls, always good) and another 15 minutes until the main arrived. At no point during this wait did the server return to check on us, offer an explanation or even to refill the beverages. Two minutes points there. The other minus point came in the form of notifying us as our cashew chicken arrived that there had been onion in the sauce so they served it with no sauce at all, just a bit of water that tasted of MSG. A reasonable alternative would have been to provide a different sauce on the side in case we'd like to give it a shot, or at least to tell us in advance and give us an opportunity to order something else. We absolutely appreciated the attention paid to the onion allergy, but the execution was really disappointing. The rest of the meal was quite good, though and aside from the wait and the cashew chicken fiasco, we were pretty satisfied - this otherwise might have been one of our higher rated restaurants in town. Pity.
Final Verdict: Tasty Thai, great private room, but service issues soured the experience.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Review #52 - Stayner's Wharf Pub & Grill
Stayner's Wharf Pub & Grill
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 5075 George Street
Date Visited: Sunday, September 15, 2013
Orders: The Louisianan, Almond Cashew Chicken, Granny Caesar Smith Salad
Taste: 7 + 7 + 7 = 21/30
Portion Size: 8 + 8 + 9 = 25/30
Presentation: 10 + 9 + 7 = 26/30
Value: 4 + 9 + 9 = 22/30
Service: 7 + 9 + 7 = 23/30
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 77% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: P was in town for a visit from Britain so after a day trip to the south shore, we showed him around the waterfront before dinner. We decided to stop by Stayner's Wharf for dinner. We opted to sit outside and in hindsight were very glad that we chose to do so - the jazz from Jeff Goodspeed & Friends was great, but it was very loud inside which would have made it difficult to chat. The service was okay - a little slow despite a relatively light customer base (it was about 7:30pm when we arrived), and the tables around us were all pretty dirty, so it's possible that they were short-staffed. We were also a little freaked out by the plastic owls hanging above us, undoubtedly to scare pigeons away (might do the same to some customers!) - hence the negative point. By and large, the meals were good, and we invited P to join in the review (after all, he insisted on paying!). None of us were overly impressed by the taste - good, not great - but the portion sizes were reasonable. J's "Louisianan" was a bizarre crunch breaded chicken served over some garlic corn and other stuff - it looked like the big claw from U2's 360 tour, hence the 10 for presentation. T and P appreciated the value, but J felt that his was far too expensive for what it was, presentation be damned. P's Caesar Salad with Granny Smith apple was unique but not mind blowing. Of the lot, it's fair to say that T was the most satisfied with her meal, but none of us walked away disappointed. Overall, not a flawless meal, but a good one.
Final Verdict: Who knew glorified chicken fingers could be presented in such an interesting fashion?
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 5075 George Street
Date Visited: Sunday, September 15, 2013
Orders: The Louisianan, Almond Cashew Chicken, Granny Caesar Smith Salad
Taste: 7 + 7 + 7 = 21/30
Portion Size: 8 + 8 + 9 = 25/30
Presentation: 10 + 9 + 7 = 26/30
Value: 4 + 9 + 9 = 22/30
Service: 7 + 9 + 7 = 23/30
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 77% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: P was in town for a visit from Britain so after a day trip to the south shore, we showed him around the waterfront before dinner. We decided to stop by Stayner's Wharf for dinner. We opted to sit outside and in hindsight were very glad that we chose to do so - the jazz from Jeff Goodspeed & Friends was great, but it was very loud inside which would have made it difficult to chat. The service was okay - a little slow despite a relatively light customer base (it was about 7:30pm when we arrived), and the tables around us were all pretty dirty, so it's possible that they were short-staffed. We were also a little freaked out by the plastic owls hanging above us, undoubtedly to scare pigeons away (might do the same to some customers!) - hence the negative point. By and large, the meals were good, and we invited P to join in the review (after all, he insisted on paying!). None of us were overly impressed by the taste - good, not great - but the portion sizes were reasonable. J's "Louisianan" was a bizarre crunch breaded chicken served over some garlic corn and other stuff - it looked like the big claw from U2's 360 tour, hence the 10 for presentation. T and P appreciated the value, but J felt that his was far too expensive for what it was, presentation be damned. P's Caesar Salad with Granny Smith apple was unique but not mind blowing. Of the lot, it's fair to say that T was the most satisfied with her meal, but none of us walked away disappointed. Overall, not a flawless meal, but a good one.
Final Verdict: Who knew glorified chicken fingers could be presented in such an interesting fashion?
Review #51 - Bramoso Gourmet Pizzeria
Bramoso Gourmet Pizzeria
Variety: Pizzeria
Address: 6169 Quinpool Road
Date Visited: Thursday, August 15, 2013
Orders: Patio Pizza with Garlic Fingers, Pepperoni & Pineapple Pizza
Taste: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Portion Size: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Presentation: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Bonus: 2
Minus: -
Final Grade: 77% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Out-of-town friend L was looking for a good place to eat. Neither of us had tried Bramoso before but we'd heard good things, and we were all in the mood for pizza. It was a gorgeous afternoon and we were thrilled to be able to get space in the comfortable chairs on the patio (hence the bonus point from each of us). In honour of this score, J ordered the Patio Pizza, featuring mango, prosciutto and avocado, while T preferred pepperoni & pineapple. J also ordered some garlic fingers for the table (they were decent). T & L went in to order first while J stood guard on the patio, and found the staff fun and engaging. When J went in afterwards, he found the staff kinda aloof. No matter. The pizzas arrived fairly quickly. T found hers to be tasty but nothing overly special. J took a risk - mango and avocado on a pizza? - and quite honestly, it was neither good nor bad. It just didn't seem like he was eating pizza, more like some vegetables on baked dough with a little bit of oil and cheese. All said, it was a nice meal but nothing spectacular. Not our favourite pizza in town, but certainly not our least!
Final Verdict: Awesome patio but pass on the patio pizza!
Variety: Pizzeria
Address: 6169 Quinpool Road
Date Visited: Thursday, August 15, 2013
Orders: Patio Pizza with Garlic Fingers, Pepperoni & Pineapple Pizza
Taste: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Portion Size: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Presentation: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Bonus: 2
Minus: -
Final Grade: 77% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Out-of-town friend L was looking for a good place to eat. Neither of us had tried Bramoso before but we'd heard good things, and we were all in the mood for pizza. It was a gorgeous afternoon and we were thrilled to be able to get space in the comfortable chairs on the patio (hence the bonus point from each of us). In honour of this score, J ordered the Patio Pizza, featuring mango, prosciutto and avocado, while T preferred pepperoni & pineapple. J also ordered some garlic fingers for the table (they were decent). T & L went in to order first while J stood guard on the patio, and found the staff fun and engaging. When J went in afterwards, he found the staff kinda aloof. No matter. The pizzas arrived fairly quickly. T found hers to be tasty but nothing overly special. J took a risk - mango and avocado on a pizza? - and quite honestly, it was neither good nor bad. It just didn't seem like he was eating pizza, more like some vegetables on baked dough with a little bit of oil and cheese. All said, it was a nice meal but nothing spectacular. Not our favourite pizza in town, but certainly not our least!
Final Verdict: Awesome patio but pass on the patio pizza!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Hfxfoodreviews Top 50
Since our first bite on April 15, 2010, we're pleased to have reviewed 50 Halifax dining establishments. We're also thrilled to have more than 1,300 followers on Twitter!
Our scoreboard is below - all scores are out of 100. Our average score is 77, which is also our median score.
Thanks for following! We'll be back with our next reviews soon!
(* denotes restaurants that have since closed...)
Chabaa Thai Restaurant 100
Mongolie Grill 96
Thai Ivory Cuisine 96
Il Mercato Trattoria* 93
Curry Village Indian Restaurant 91
Darrell's Restaurant 90
Mexico Lindo 90
Bearly's House of Blues and Ribs 88
Woody's Bar-B-Q 87
Boneheads BBQ 85
It's All Greek To Me* 85
Rock Bottom Brewery 85
Rogue's Roost Restaurant and Brew Pub 85
China Town Restaurant and Lounge 84
Swiss Chalet Rotisserie and Grill 84
Cheese Curds 83
The Keg Steakhouse and Bar 83
Morris East Restaurant 82
Flipburger 81
The Foggy Goggle Restaurant and Bar 78
Applebee's* 78
botaniCa restaurant* 78
Pizza Delight 78
Smitty's Family Restaurant 78
Mexicali Rosa's 77
Mr. Chang’s Chinese Food Emporium* 77
Silver Dragon Restaurant 77
Brewdebaker's Tap and Grill 76
Indochine Banh Mi 76
Jerusalem Cafe* 76
Cafe Istanbul 75
The Italian Market 75
Lady Hammond Bar and Grill 75
Victor’s* 75
Vinnie's Pasta Bar 74
Waterfront Warehouse 74
Cantina Mexicana 73
Kempsters Cookhouse and Eatery 72
Cousin's Restaurant 71
Taj Mahal* 70
Jungle Jim's 69
Boston Pizza 68
Steak And Stein Family Restaurant 66
Lions Head Tavern and Grill 65
Jean's Chinese Restaurant 63
Argyle Bar and Grill 62
Gatsby's Bar and Eatery* 59
Hamachi Mura 55
Athens Restaurant 54
Jack Astor's Bar and Grill 32
Our scoreboard is below - all scores are out of 100. Our average score is 77, which is also our median score.
Thanks for following! We'll be back with our next reviews soon!
(* denotes restaurants that have since closed...)
Chabaa Thai Restaurant 100
Mongolie Grill 96
Thai Ivory Cuisine 96
Il Mercato Trattoria* 93
Curry Village Indian Restaurant 91
Darrell's Restaurant 90
Mexico Lindo 90
Bearly's House of Blues and Ribs 88
Woody's Bar-B-Q 87
Boneheads BBQ 85
It's All Greek To Me* 85
Rock Bottom Brewery 85
Rogue's Roost Restaurant and Brew Pub 85
China Town Restaurant and Lounge 84
Swiss Chalet Rotisserie and Grill 84
Cheese Curds 83
The Keg Steakhouse and Bar 83
Morris East Restaurant 82
Flipburger 81
The Foggy Goggle Restaurant and Bar 78
Applebee's* 78
botaniCa restaurant* 78
Pizza Delight 78
Smitty's Family Restaurant 78
Mexicali Rosa's 77
Mr. Chang’s Chinese Food Emporium* 77
Silver Dragon Restaurant 77
Brewdebaker's Tap and Grill 76
Indochine Banh Mi 76
Jerusalem Cafe* 76
Cafe Istanbul 75
The Italian Market 75
Lady Hammond Bar and Grill 75
Victor’s* 75
Vinnie's Pasta Bar 74
Waterfront Warehouse 74
Cantina Mexicana 73
Kempsters Cookhouse and Eatery 72
Cousin's Restaurant 71
Taj Mahal* 70
Jungle Jim's 69
Boston Pizza 68
Steak And Stein Family Restaurant 66
Lions Head Tavern and Grill 65
Jean's Chinese Restaurant 63
Argyle Bar and Grill 62
Gatsby's Bar and Eatery* 59
Hamachi Mura 55
Athens Restaurant 54
Jack Astor's Bar and Grill 32
Review #50 - Darrell's Restaurant
Darrell's Restaurant
Variety: Pub
Address: 5576 Fenwick Street
Date Visited: Friday, August 9, 2013
Orders: Hen Den' Burger, Original Pita Club
Taste: 9 + 10 = 19/20
Portion Size: 8 + 10 = 18/20
Presentation: 8 + 10 = 18/20
Value: 7 + 10 = 17/20
Service: 8 + 10 = 18/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 90% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We kinda butted heads on this one. T loves Darrell's, and her philosophy when it comes to this particular review was that this restaurant is the best in its class in Halifax. As such, she gave it a perfect score - perfect taste (loves the Darrell Fries), portion size, presentation, value and service. J thinks that Darrell's is pretty good and, yeah, it serves some of the tastier food in town. Still, he's never quite blown away by any of the categories - including on this trip. It's not that there was anything wrong, there just wasn't anything that truly set it apart from the other great joints in town. To be clear, the Original Pita Club is a quality sandwich, and the Hen Den' is a heck of a burger (lettuce, cheddar, bacon, chipotle mayo, guacamole, lettuce and a fried egg), but it is the most expensive non-lamb or turkey burger on the menu, and almost $15 (same as the Pita Club), eating at Darrell's is usually kinda pricey compared to other pubs in town. Regardless, one flawless review + a pretty good review = a really good review, vaulting Darrell's into a tie for fifth place in our hfxfoodreviews leaderboard!
Final Verdict: Great pub food vaults Darrell's into a tie for 5th place on our leaderboard!
Variety: Pub
Address: 5576 Fenwick Street
Date Visited: Friday, August 9, 2013
Orders: Hen Den' Burger, Original Pita Club
Taste: 9 + 10 = 19/20
Portion Size: 8 + 10 = 18/20
Presentation: 8 + 10 = 18/20
Value: 7 + 10 = 17/20
Service: 8 + 10 = 18/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 90% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We kinda butted heads on this one. T loves Darrell's, and her philosophy when it comes to this particular review was that this restaurant is the best in its class in Halifax. As such, she gave it a perfect score - perfect taste (loves the Darrell Fries), portion size, presentation, value and service. J thinks that Darrell's is pretty good and, yeah, it serves some of the tastier food in town. Still, he's never quite blown away by any of the categories - including on this trip. It's not that there was anything wrong, there just wasn't anything that truly set it apart from the other great joints in town. To be clear, the Original Pita Club is a quality sandwich, and the Hen Den' is a heck of a burger (lettuce, cheddar, bacon, chipotle mayo, guacamole, lettuce and a fried egg), but it is the most expensive non-lamb or turkey burger on the menu, and almost $15 (same as the Pita Club), eating at Darrell's is usually kinda pricey compared to other pubs in town. Regardless, one flawless review + a pretty good review = a really good review, vaulting Darrell's into a tie for fifth place in our hfxfoodreviews leaderboard!
Final Verdict: Great pub food vaults Darrell's into a tie for 5th place on our leaderboard!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Review #49 - Mexico Lindo
Mexico Lindo
Variety: Mexican
Address: 3635 Dutch Village Road
Date Visited: Friday, August 2, 2013
Orders: Fiesta Plate (Burrito, Quesadilla, Rice and Beans)
Taste: 9/10
Portion Size: 10/10
Presentation: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Bonus: 1
Minus: -
Final Grade: 45/50 x 2 = 90% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: T is allergic to onions and there really isn't anything safe on the menu for her, so while she was out of town, I (J) took the opportunity to visit the best authentic Mexican cuisine in town. I was not disappointed! The salsa with the complimentary opening tortillas was burn-your-lips-off hot, which was enough to scare away the weak-willed, but definitely not a problem here! Decided to go with Combo 7 to get a taste of a couple of different menu items. I was able to snag the last Tepa Burrito of the night - a delicious spicy potato and sausage concoction that really hit the spot. That plus the rice (had corn in it - yum!) and beans were more than enough to fill me for tonight, leaving the intriguing Halifax quesadilla (cheese, ham, lettuce, tomato) for tomorrow's lunch. Bonus point for offering delicious Jarritos Mexican pop instead of the standard Pepsi/Coke fountain varieties - the grapefruit was delicious! I only wish that they'd add tamales to the menu...
Final Verdict: Best Mexican cuisine in town, but brace yourself for the spicy salsa!
Variety: Mexican
Address: 3635 Dutch Village Road
Date Visited: Friday, August 2, 2013
Orders: Fiesta Plate (Burrito, Quesadilla, Rice and Beans)
Taste: 9/10
Portion Size: 10/10
Presentation: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Bonus: 1
Minus: -
Final Grade: 45/50 x 2 = 90% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: T is allergic to onions and there really isn't anything safe on the menu for her, so while she was out of town, I (J) took the opportunity to visit the best authentic Mexican cuisine in town. I was not disappointed! The salsa with the complimentary opening tortillas was burn-your-lips-off hot, which was enough to scare away the weak-willed, but definitely not a problem here! Decided to go with Combo 7 to get a taste of a couple of different menu items. I was able to snag the last Tepa Burrito of the night - a delicious spicy potato and sausage concoction that really hit the spot. That plus the rice (had corn in it - yum!) and beans were more than enough to fill me for tonight, leaving the intriguing Halifax quesadilla (cheese, ham, lettuce, tomato) for tomorrow's lunch. Bonus point for offering delicious Jarritos Mexican pop instead of the standard Pepsi/Coke fountain varieties - the grapefruit was delicious! I only wish that they'd add tamales to the menu...
Final Verdict: Best Mexican cuisine in town, but brace yourself for the spicy salsa!
Review #48 - Smitty's
Smitty's Family Restaurant
Variety: Diner
Address: 1490 Martello Street
Date Visited: Sunday, April 28, 2013
Orders: Wake-up Special, Maple Sausage Special
Taste: 8 + 7 = 15/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: 2
Final Grade: 78% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Wow, sorry, forgot to post this review. Good thing we take notes! Better late than never? Anyway, we happened to be downtown on a Sunday morning and decided to stop by Smitty's. There was a big line but it moved pretty fast. J is usually a sucker for their skillets, but decided to go for the Wake-Up Special, which is your standard two-egg/bacon/pancake/juice kind of a deal. Hard to screw it up - it was fine but nothing overly special. The Maple Sausage special was similar, but had maple sausage instead of bacon and hash browns instead of pancakes. The maple sausages weren't the greatest - meat that's a little too sweet to eat isn't that neat. The service was good and bonus point for not seating us next to the screaming toddler. The two negative points, however, are due to the cleanliness of the bathrooms - there wasn't a toilet in the joint (men's or women's) that didn't have a floater. Ew.
Final Verdict: Solid standard breakfast, but for god's sake check the washrooms!
Variety: Diner
Address: 1490 Martello Street
Date Visited: Sunday, April 28, 2013
Orders: Wake-up Special, Maple Sausage Special
Taste: 8 + 7 = 15/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: 2
Final Grade: 78% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Wow, sorry, forgot to post this review. Good thing we take notes! Better late than never? Anyway, we happened to be downtown on a Sunday morning and decided to stop by Smitty's. There was a big line but it moved pretty fast. J is usually a sucker for their skillets, but decided to go for the Wake-Up Special, which is your standard two-egg/bacon/pancake/juice kind of a deal. Hard to screw it up - it was fine but nothing overly special. The Maple Sausage special was similar, but had maple sausage instead of bacon and hash browns instead of pancakes. The maple sausages weren't the greatest - meat that's a little too sweet to eat isn't that neat. The service was good and bonus point for not seating us next to the screaming toddler. The two negative points, however, are due to the cleanliness of the bathrooms - there wasn't a toilet in the joint (men's or women's) that didn't have a floater. Ew.
Final Verdict: Solid standard breakfast, but for god's sake check the washrooms!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Review #47 - Bearly's House of Blues and Ribs
Bearly's House of Blues and Ribs
Variety: Pub
Address: 1269 Barrington Street
Date Visited: Saturday, March 23, 2013
Orders: Burger Week Special (Texas Burger with Fries)
Taste: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 10 + 10 = 20/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 88% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: In the midst of the Burger Week euphoria, clearly we forgot to post this review. Better late than never, right? Anyway, as referenced in our Burger Week Special, despite having lived around the corner, J had never ventured into the iconic blues house, though T had visited on occasion during her university days. Anyway, the $5 Burger Week special was the Texas Burger with fries. Automatic 10 out of 10 for value, there! They were excellent burgers (nice kick with a particularly soft and fluffy bun), decent fries, and the meal was filling but not super-greasy so we didn't feel like arse for the rest of the day. You REALLY don't want to eat a burger that makes you not want to eat another burger during Burger Week, right?
Final Verdict: Though it's usually $11.75, it's definitely well worth that. Enjoy!
Variety: Pub
Address: 1269 Barrington Street
Date Visited: Saturday, March 23, 2013
Orders: Burger Week Special (Texas Burger with Fries)
Taste: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 10 + 10 = 20/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 88% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: In the midst of the Burger Week euphoria, clearly we forgot to post this review. Better late than never, right? Anyway, as referenced in our Burger Week Special, despite having lived around the corner, J had never ventured into the iconic blues house, though T had visited on occasion during her university days. Anyway, the $5 Burger Week special was the Texas Burger with fries. Automatic 10 out of 10 for value, there! They were excellent burgers (nice kick with a particularly soft and fluffy bun), decent fries, and the meal was filling but not super-greasy so we didn't feel like arse for the rest of the day. You REALLY don't want to eat a burger that makes you not want to eat another burger during Burger Week, right?
Final Verdict: Though it's usually $11.75, it's definitely well worth that. Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
2013 Burger Week Special
March 21-27, 2013 was declared Halifax Burger Week by Halifax's Alternative Weekly, The Coast (and a brewery called Hop City that I've never heard of). In total, 21 local restaurants participated - eight offering a $5 special, with the other 13 offering a special that included a donation to Feed Nova Scotia.
Although it coincided with the final week of my office's Biggest Loser weight-loss challenge, I simply couldn't resist taking advantage of some of these deals. And by "some" I mean "one-third of". Aside from peanut butter, I think it's safe to say that hamburgers are my biggest weakness.
Thursday, March 21
Burger #1: I made a bee-line to the Chickenburger at the Dalhousie Student Union Building to tackle their mighty $5 old-fashioned triple cheeseburger. No messing around here, it was a serious burger! It took a hell of a long time to cook up, but it was worth every second. My only complaint was that other than the steamed bun, beef and cheese, there wasn't anything else on the burger. I jumped at the chance to add some of their spicy salsa, but such a thin layer was applied that it was barely noticeable. Aside from that, definitely an excellent eat!
Burger #2: I wasn't kidding, I am bananas for burgers, and went for the deuce that evening at Darrell's. This time, I went for the $5 Nova Scotia lamb burger served up Moroccan style, which featured curried mayo, spinach, fried onions and...as hinted earlier, banana, on a chewy bianco roll. Not gonna lie, I was still pretty stuffed from lunch, so I really didn't mind that it took forever to be served (lamb apparently takes six minutes longer than a burger to cook up). In fact, I was served about 10 minutes after my friends, which ordinarily would have been cause for rage, but the waiter insisted on comping the burger, which I could only finish half of anyway. Not because it wasn't good, but rather because I was full! Anyway, it was certainly unique (banana on a burger?), but very tasty, and the other half was a great lunch a couple of days later. Back to my food weaknesses, it turned out that Darrell's made their infamous Peanut Butter Burger a $5 special. Yum.
Friday, March 22
Burger #3: After two burgers in one day, I had serious meat sweats overnight, but the urge to tackle another burger persisted the next day as I was on a lunchtime stroll down to the library. I decided to place a take-out order at Your Father's Moustache, where there special was your standard burger platter (burger, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle), but it also came with fries. For five bucks. When I got back, it was neatly packed up for me, complete with a fork, napkins, and plenty of condiments, and the take-out carton was seriously heavy - borderline two pounds, I'd say. The burger itself was nothing special - it tasted kinda like it came straight out of the freezer, and the fries were a little mushy, but at five bucks, the value for the money was tremendous.
Saturday, March 23
Burger #4: My wife and I planned on going skating on the Oval, which to me sounded like a perfect excuse to pick up a burger first. Despite having lived around the corner from it for numerous months, I never bothered to stop by Bearly's while I lived downtown. I now regret this decision. Their $5 special was their Texas Burger - locally produced steer beef, jalapenos, cheddar cheese (none of that processed crap, onion rings and salsa, AND fries. Even better value than the 'Stache special and considerably more tasty. In a way, I'd describe it as "light," which is a weird way to describe ground beef, but it was hearty yet didn't sit like a rock in my stomach. I left there full but not stuffed, and perfectly able to function during the one lap of the oval I was able to complete before they shut 'er down due to poor ice conditions.
Sunday, March 24
No burger today, though I'll admit that I was seriously tempted!
Monday, March 25
Burger #5: Couldn't resist the urge to try another $5 special, so I called Ace Burger on my way out of work and placed a take-out order. Their Deluxe featured grass-fed beef, back bacon, cheddar cheese, frizzled onions and dijonaise, and I could barely get in the door before taking a bite. Again, I was far from disappointed. The quality of the meat was excellent, and totally made the burger. There really isn't much else to say - there's a reason why Ace ran out of meat numerous times over the span of Burger Week!
Tuesday, March 26
Burger #6: Being the last day of Burger Week, I was sure that I had consumed my last special, but my wife needed to run an errand on the way home, and by the time we were done, we were both pretty hungry. We eyed the canteen at Costco, but a simple "Flip Burger?" was all I needed to ask to change our course. This was the first non-$5 special that I tried, but in actuality, their Crunch special was only $6 burger, with $1 going to the aforementioned Feed Nova Scotia. The Crunch was comparable to the Deluxe at Ace, but with Oulton's beef, grilled tomato, lettuce, horseradish mayo and a couple of their signature "flip chips" - and we asked them to add pickles, too. It was very good, but would have become great had it featured a little avocado.
Wednesday, March 27
Burger #7: Wait a minute, you mean there's one more day of Burger Week? For some reason, I had it in my head that it was only six days, not seven. Nope. My wife had an event after work, leaving me on my own. "I probably won't have another burger tonight," I said. "I'm going to try not to." "Yeah, right, that's EXACTLY what you're going to do and you know it!" She knows me too well - my willpower it no match for the temptation of a good burger. After work, I placed a quick call to The Argyle and sped down to pick up their Southwest Burger - also $6, with a $1 donation to Feed Nova Scotia. And am I ever glad I did! Oulton's beef, guacamole, smoked bacon, jalapenos, crispy onions, lettuce, tomato and spicy Monterey Jack cheese. In a way, it was like a compilation of every other burger I'd tried over the course of Burger Week, with guacamole. It was huge. It was messy. It was awesome.
Final Rankings:
#1: The Argyle
#2: Bearly's
#3: Darrell's
#4: Ace Burger
#5: Flip Burger
#6: The Chickenburger
#7: Your Father's Moustache
So, yeah, I ate seven burgers in the past seven days. And I don't regret a single one. Here's hoping that Burger Week comes back again next year, so that I can give'r all over again! Thanks to all of this year's Burger Week participants, and to The Coast and Hop City for putting it on. If I may make a humble suggestion: As much as $5 burger deals ruled, I'd like to see $10 combos next year (burger, fries and a pop) with a small donation to Feed Nova Scotia.
Anyway, before I sign off, I'd like to send some serious props to the near-100 people who have started following @hfxfoodreviews on Twitter during the course of Burger Week, and to our 900+ existing Followers. Thanks to all of you, we're on the cusp of surpassing the 1,000 Follower mark, which is far more than I ever expected from our little review site! After our snub in The Coast's Best of Food poll, approaching this milestone really means a lot to us. As a way of expressing our gratitude, we'll be announcing a special giveaway contest to our Twitter followers as soon as we cross the magic threshold...stay tuned!
Although it coincided with the final week of my office's Biggest Loser weight-loss challenge, I simply couldn't resist taking advantage of some of these deals. And by "some" I mean "one-third of". Aside from peanut butter, I think it's safe to say that hamburgers are my biggest weakness.
Thursday, March 21
Burger #1: I made a bee-line to the Chickenburger at the Dalhousie Student Union Building to tackle their mighty $5 old-fashioned triple cheeseburger. No messing around here, it was a serious burger! It took a hell of a long time to cook up, but it was worth every second. My only complaint was that other than the steamed bun, beef and cheese, there wasn't anything else on the burger. I jumped at the chance to add some of their spicy salsa, but such a thin layer was applied that it was barely noticeable. Aside from that, definitely an excellent eat!
Burger #2: I wasn't kidding, I am bananas for burgers, and went for the deuce that evening at Darrell's. This time, I went for the $5 Nova Scotia lamb burger served up Moroccan style, which featured curried mayo, spinach, fried onions and...as hinted earlier, banana, on a chewy bianco roll. Not gonna lie, I was still pretty stuffed from lunch, so I really didn't mind that it took forever to be served (lamb apparently takes six minutes longer than a burger to cook up). In fact, I was served about 10 minutes after my friends, which ordinarily would have been cause for rage, but the waiter insisted on comping the burger, which I could only finish half of anyway. Not because it wasn't good, but rather because I was full! Anyway, it was certainly unique (banana on a burger?), but very tasty, and the other half was a great lunch a couple of days later. Back to my food weaknesses, it turned out that Darrell's made their infamous Peanut Butter Burger a $5 special. Yum.
Friday, March 22
Burger #3: After two burgers in one day, I had serious meat sweats overnight, but the urge to tackle another burger persisted the next day as I was on a lunchtime stroll down to the library. I decided to place a take-out order at Your Father's Moustache, where there special was your standard burger platter (burger, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle), but it also came with fries. For five bucks. When I got back, it was neatly packed up for me, complete with a fork, napkins, and plenty of condiments, and the take-out carton was seriously heavy - borderline two pounds, I'd say. The burger itself was nothing special - it tasted kinda like it came straight out of the freezer, and the fries were a little mushy, but at five bucks, the value for the money was tremendous.
Saturday, March 23
Burger #4: My wife and I planned on going skating on the Oval, which to me sounded like a perfect excuse to pick up a burger first. Despite having lived around the corner from it for numerous months, I never bothered to stop by Bearly's while I lived downtown. I now regret this decision. Their $5 special was their Texas Burger - locally produced steer beef, jalapenos, cheddar cheese (none of that processed crap, onion rings and salsa, AND fries. Even better value than the 'Stache special and considerably more tasty. In a way, I'd describe it as "light," which is a weird way to describe ground beef, but it was hearty yet didn't sit like a rock in my stomach. I left there full but not stuffed, and perfectly able to function during the one lap of the oval I was able to complete before they shut 'er down due to poor ice conditions.
Sunday, March 24
No burger today, though I'll admit that I was seriously tempted!
Monday, March 25
Burger #5: Couldn't resist the urge to try another $5 special, so I called Ace Burger on my way out of work and placed a take-out order. Their Deluxe featured grass-fed beef, back bacon, cheddar cheese, frizzled onions and dijonaise, and I could barely get in the door before taking a bite. Again, I was far from disappointed. The quality of the meat was excellent, and totally made the burger. There really isn't much else to say - there's a reason why Ace ran out of meat numerous times over the span of Burger Week!
Tuesday, March 26
Burger #6: Being the last day of Burger Week, I was sure that I had consumed my last special, but my wife needed to run an errand on the way home, and by the time we were done, we were both pretty hungry. We eyed the canteen at Costco, but a simple "Flip Burger?" was all I needed to ask to change our course. This was the first non-$5 special that I tried, but in actuality, their Crunch special was only $6 burger, with $1 going to the aforementioned Feed Nova Scotia. The Crunch was comparable to the Deluxe at Ace, but with Oulton's beef, grilled tomato, lettuce, horseradish mayo and a couple of their signature "flip chips" - and we asked them to add pickles, too. It was very good, but would have become great had it featured a little avocado.
Wednesday, March 27
Burger #7: Wait a minute, you mean there's one more day of Burger Week? For some reason, I had it in my head that it was only six days, not seven. Nope. My wife had an event after work, leaving me on my own. "I probably won't have another burger tonight," I said. "I'm going to try not to." "Yeah, right, that's EXACTLY what you're going to do and you know it!" She knows me too well - my willpower it no match for the temptation of a good burger. After work, I placed a quick call to The Argyle and sped down to pick up their Southwest Burger - also $6, with a $1 donation to Feed Nova Scotia. And am I ever glad I did! Oulton's beef, guacamole, smoked bacon, jalapenos, crispy onions, lettuce, tomato and spicy Monterey Jack cheese. In a way, it was like a compilation of every other burger I'd tried over the course of Burger Week, with guacamole. It was huge. It was messy. It was awesome.
Final Rankings:
#1: The Argyle
#2: Bearly's
#3: Darrell's
#4: Ace Burger
#5: Flip Burger
#6: The Chickenburger
#7: Your Father's Moustache
So, yeah, I ate seven burgers in the past seven days. And I don't regret a single one. Here's hoping that Burger Week comes back again next year, so that I can give'r all over again! Thanks to all of this year's Burger Week participants, and to The Coast and Hop City for putting it on. If I may make a humble suggestion: As much as $5 burger deals ruled, I'd like to see $10 combos next year (burger, fries and a pop) with a small donation to Feed Nova Scotia.
Anyway, before I sign off, I'd like to send some serious props to the near-100 people who have started following @hfxfoodreviews on Twitter during the course of Burger Week, and to our 900+ existing Followers. Thanks to all of you, we're on the cusp of surpassing the 1,000 Follower mark, which is far more than I ever expected from our little review site! After our snub in The Coast's Best of Food poll, approaching this milestone really means a lot to us. As a way of expressing our gratitude, we'll be announcing a special giveaway contest to our Twitter followers as soon as we cross the magic threshold...stay tuned!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Review #46 - Steak and Stein
Steak and Stein
Variety: Steakhouse
Address: 6061 Young Street
Date Visited: Thursday, February 14, 2013
Orders: Valentine's Day Feature (Two 7oz Striploin steak dinners) with Queso Cheese Sticks
Taste: 5 + 7 = 13/20
Portion Size: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Presentation: 6 + 6 = 12/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 6 + 6 = 12/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 66% (Satisfactory)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: J used to love going to Steak and Stein when he was younger. It was the kind of place that you could afford to go with your friends when you were in high school and felt like you were adults. He hadn't been back in several years and, well, the atmosphere hasn't changed all that much, which is both good and bad. Basically, Steak and Stein is like a blue collar version of The Keg, and is barely a step up from fast food restaurant. Lots of really young people and really old people, with little variance in-between. Being Valentine's Day, we did make a reservation and to their credit, we showed up early but they still sat us right away (bonus point). We understand that being a little miffed by the service on a busy day like Valentine's Day is like getting mad because there's a long line at Disney World, so we're excusing the server for forgetting our Queso Cheese Sticks until after our meal was served - though, as good as they looked on the menu, we wished she'd forgotten them altogether - it was like biting into tortilla crumbs into a gooey stick of salt (yuck). For some reason, they were served with sour cream instead of salsa, which might have enhanced the experience. The steaks were not huge by any means, and Ts had a huge chunk of fat on the side, while J's had big gobs of fat throughout (he doesn't usually eat steak anyway, and this meal gave him no reason to change his mind anytime soon). Another interesting point - the butter for the baked potatoes was served in those little ketchup cups from fast food restaurants. Never seen that before! The only other comment, which resulted in the negative point, was that T's red wine was served in a white wine glass, full to the brim. Not to get all "high class" here, but red wine is supposed to be served in half-full larger glasses, in order to let it breathe. That stuff was suffocating.
Final Verdict: Go if you're looking to eat on the cheap and don't care too much about the quality.
Variety: Steakhouse
Address: 6061 Young Street
Date Visited: Thursday, February 14, 2013
Orders: Valentine's Day Feature (Two 7oz Striploin steak dinners) with Queso Cheese Sticks
Taste: 5 + 7 = 13/20
Portion Size: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Presentation: 6 + 6 = 12/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 6 + 6 = 12/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 66% (Satisfactory)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: J used to love going to Steak and Stein when he was younger. It was the kind of place that you could afford to go with your friends when you were in high school and felt like you were adults. He hadn't been back in several years and, well, the atmosphere hasn't changed all that much, which is both good and bad. Basically, Steak and Stein is like a blue collar version of The Keg, and is barely a step up from fast food restaurant. Lots of really young people and really old people, with little variance in-between. Being Valentine's Day, we did make a reservation and to their credit, we showed up early but they still sat us right away (bonus point). We understand that being a little miffed by the service on a busy day like Valentine's Day is like getting mad because there's a long line at Disney World, so we're excusing the server for forgetting our Queso Cheese Sticks until after our meal was served - though, as good as they looked on the menu, we wished she'd forgotten them altogether - it was like biting into tortilla crumbs into a gooey stick of salt (yuck). For some reason, they were served with sour cream instead of salsa, which might have enhanced the experience. The steaks were not huge by any means, and Ts had a huge chunk of fat on the side, while J's had big gobs of fat throughout (he doesn't usually eat steak anyway, and this meal gave him no reason to change his mind anytime soon). Another interesting point - the butter for the baked potatoes was served in those little ketchup cups from fast food restaurants. Never seen that before! The only other comment, which resulted in the negative point, was that T's red wine was served in a white wine glass, full to the brim. Not to get all "high class" here, but red wine is supposed to be served in half-full larger glasses, in order to let it breathe. That stuff was suffocating.
Final Verdict: Go if you're looking to eat on the cheap and don't care too much about the quality.
Review #45 - Flipburger
Flipburger
Variety: Gourmet Burger
Address: 277 Lacewood Drive
Date Visited: Saturday, February 2, 2013
Orders: Blue Cheese Burger, (unsure of the name of the) Burger, Poutine, Strawberry Milkshake, Peanut Butter/Banana/Bacon Milkshake
Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 81% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We've been on diets lately, hence the lack of reviews. But, a birthday resulted in a trip to Flipburger, one of the growing number of gourmet burger joints in Halifax. It was a Saturday night around 5:00 and it was quasi-busy when we arrived. Minutes later, after claiming some seats and getting in line, the place got PACKED. As such, the restaurant was a little crammed and loud, but that's probably a good sign. The crowd was quite varied, too - from toddlers to seniors, but mostly thirtysomethings. J selected the Peanut Butter, Banana and Bacon Milkshake (yes, bacon), but figured he should probably get a burger, too. Honestly, neither of us can remember what it was called, and their website appears to have been attacked by malware, so checking the menu online isn't possible right now. Basically, it was a big, beefy burger with loads of toppings, including crispy onions and avocado. And it was good. But the milkshake was the real point of interest. Bacon in a milkshake? We kinda figured it woulda been ground up bacon. Nope. A big honkin' strip of bacon. Didn't really add anything to the taste, but it was novel. T's Blue Cheese Burger was also very big and very good, and her milkshake was pretty standard. We split a poutine (yeah, our diets went to hell that night) and, honestly, it wasn't fantastic. The gravy was too watery and salty, the fries weren't cripsy and there weren't enough cheese curds (hence the minus point). But overall, it was a tasty trip, and we'll probably be back.
Final Verdict: Great burgers but pass on the poutine.
Variety: Gourmet Burger
Address: 277 Lacewood Drive
Date Visited: Saturday, February 2, 2013
Orders: Blue Cheese Burger, (unsure of the name of the) Burger, Poutine, Strawberry Milkshake, Peanut Butter/Banana/Bacon Milkshake
Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 81% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We've been on diets lately, hence the lack of reviews. But, a birthday resulted in a trip to Flipburger, one of the growing number of gourmet burger joints in Halifax. It was a Saturday night around 5:00 and it was quasi-busy when we arrived. Minutes later, after claiming some seats and getting in line, the place got PACKED. As such, the restaurant was a little crammed and loud, but that's probably a good sign. The crowd was quite varied, too - from toddlers to seniors, but mostly thirtysomethings. J selected the Peanut Butter, Banana and Bacon Milkshake (yes, bacon), but figured he should probably get a burger, too. Honestly, neither of us can remember what it was called, and their website appears to have been attacked by malware, so checking the menu online isn't possible right now. Basically, it was a big, beefy burger with loads of toppings, including crispy onions and avocado. And it was good. But the milkshake was the real point of interest. Bacon in a milkshake? We kinda figured it woulda been ground up bacon. Nope. A big honkin' strip of bacon. Didn't really add anything to the taste, but it was novel. T's Blue Cheese Burger was also very big and very good, and her milkshake was pretty standard. We split a poutine (yeah, our diets went to hell that night) and, honestly, it wasn't fantastic. The gravy was too watery and salty, the fries weren't cripsy and there weren't enough cheese curds (hence the minus point). But overall, it was a tasty trip, and we'll probably be back.
Final Verdict: Great burgers but pass on the poutine.
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