cocktails

The Highwayman, Halifax, 6/14/24

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exterior – 1673 Barrington St, Halifax, NS B3J 1Z9, Canada

Highwayman is a small place with about 40 seats in an historic building.  Opening in 2016 the relaxed atmosphere goes with the menu of Spanish inspired shared plates – tapas and pintxos.  Along with an ambitious cocktail menu they try to serve ingredients from Nova Scotia.   The long interior has bench seating along one wall and the opposite wall is the bar with backed high chairs.  Mirrors, plants and art decorate the space with that has the kitchen in the back, paper napkins and music in the background.   A couple high-top tables are in the window and when you make a reservation you indicate your seating preference.  We had reserved one of the high tops as that was the only available but luckily we were offered a table which was way more comfortable.  We started with a cocktail and then moved to a bottle of wine.  The service was friendly and helpful, especially as we wanted to try a number of their things but not get too overwhelmed.  The food was good but mixed in flavor content but it was good enough that I’d recommend the place to you, if you find yourself in Halifax. Continue reading →

Oxalis Restaurant, Dartmouth, 6/13/24

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building – 22 Wentworth St, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 2S6, Canada

Oxalis Restaurant was opened in Nov. 2021 by Sophia Gruber and her husband Chef Andy Preuss in a 2-story building that was a residential home.  The interior can only accommodate 37 people so in June 2023 they opened an outdoor dining area that added 45 more seats when weather allows.  It’s a farm-to-table concept trying to highlight local products.  They offer an a la carte menu as well as a Chef’s tasting, with wine pairings available.   The menu and food reflect his roots in Germany and hers from Austria.  They met working at a resort in Austria but had an opportunity to move to Nova Scotia and work at Trout Point Lodge which afforded them more time to travel.   We sat on the first floor which had only 4 tables that are across from the large window to the kitchen.  Bench seating was on the long wall opposite the kitchen and and lights were lowered.  The walls had some well placed mirrors but otherwise there were few decorations but music was in the background.  Most seemed to want to sit outside but we wanted to be able to see all the dishes coming out of the kitchen.  Service was good and it was overall a fine meal.  The kitchen has creativity and is worth a visit if you are in the area. Continue reading →

Bar Kismet, Halifax, 6/12/24

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building – 2733 Agricola St, Halifax, NS B3K 4E2, Canada

Bar Kismet was a small family owned restaurant and bar serving fresh seafood and handmade pastas.  Founded by Annie Brace-Lavoie and partner Jenner Cormier about 7 years ago, it is also known for its inventive cocktail menu.  Inside you’ll find small concrete tables set with chairs by the windows to the street or with bench seating along one wall.  A U-shaped bar with stools takes up the center of the space and plants are everywhere.  Otherwise there are framed mirrors on the walls, a wide plank wood floor and music in the background for the continuous casual crowd decending on the place.  Reservations are a must if you want a table and service can be slow to get started with so many coming and going, but once you get started it moves right along.  Plates are in varying sizes and are meant to be shared which means you can try lots of things and that’s best here cause there are lots of great options on the menu and you won’t want to miss any of them.  Hope you’ll stop by when you’re in Nova Scotia. Continue reading →