The Coast Halifax

Best Brunch

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner EDNA

Silver Winner Black Sheep Restaurant

Bronze Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill

EDNA owner Jenna Mooers is quick to give props to her mom Jane Wright, the original queen of the morning meal, who gave her the “if you build it, they will come”—even if there’s a hurricane or a blizzard— brunch mentality. And thanks to that, people continue to line up on Gottingen Street for dishes like the sweet and salty, which has been on the menu for seven years. “Brunch has always been my favourite meal to eat and serve. I like the morning time. I like how fast it is. Everybody’s always in a good mood,” says Mooers, who adds it’s head chef Leah Coodin’s meal of choice, too.

Best Burger

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner Darrell's Restaurant

Silver Winner Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie, Woodside

Bronze Winner Battery Park BeerBar & Eatery

There are plenty of burgers in Halifax with peanut butter on them, but there’s only one Peanut Butter Burger. “It’s my little hero, I don’t know what else to say. I never thought the burger would be our claim to fame,” says Darrell’s owner Dan Joseph, who—when the restaurant first opened—thought its wraps would be the fan favourite. Joseph stands by his belief that consistency is key with this nostalgic meal, which has earned a wall full of these awards over the years, but he’s not afraid to make little tweaks, like his current search for a new bun. “We keep trying to invent a new burger that will take over top spot from the peanut burger burger, but I’ve lost hope,” he says, laughing. “It’s won me over too.”

Best Burrito

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner Habaneros Modern Taco Bar, Burnside

Silver Winner Burrito Jax, Blowers Street

Bronze Winner Dee Dee's Ice Cream

Undoubtedly, one of the best feelings is wrapping yourself up in a duvet, burrito-style, so it follows that the contents of a burrito feel a similar cozy joy before ending their time on this earth. Your pick for best burrito may indeed have the happiest fillings in town. “We still cook all our rice and meats in-house,” says Michael Greer, of the Chef Inspired Group of Restaurants (Habaneros, Cheese Curds, Gecko Bus and Pon-Zu). “We make our own flavoured sour creams and salsas and pickle some of our own vegetables.” Sounds cozy to us. 

Best Butcher Shop

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner Gateway Meat Market

Silver Winner Getaway Farm, Seaport Farmers' Market

Bronze Winner Getaway Farm, Hydrostone

Tamara Selig says Gateway Meat Market prides itself in offering Halifax the best prices on fresh, quality meats and produce. This fourth gold makes her especially proud of Gateway’s growth—from its beginnings as a three-person operation to one of Atlantic Canada’s busiest meat departments. It’s all about supporting local farmers and small businesses with a stellar staff up for helping customers find exactly what they need.

Best Caesar

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner The Canteen

Silver Winner Stubborn Goat Gastropub

Bronze Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill

“I knew it was good, but we’re not the kind of place that has a meal on its Caesar,” says The Canteen’s Renée Lavallée of the first-ever win for her restaurant’s morning cocktail. A recipe written by the Clever Barkeep’s Jeff Van Horne, that’s stayed consistent since The Canteen opened in 2017, this drink doesn’t use Clamato and keeps folks guessing with a hint of both grainy dijon and pickle juice in the mix. “I always try to test people,” says co-owner Doug Townsend, “they’re like, what is that?”

Best Cafe

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner Two If By Sea Cafe

Silver Winner Glitter Bean Cafe

Bronze Winner Dilly Dally Coffee Cafe

Ten years after opening Two If By Sea—a near instant classic in downtown Dartmouth—in late October, founder (and the butter-lover behind the cafe’s monstrous croissants) Tara MacDonald announced she was retiring from the coffee biz and TIBS neighbours and Yeah Yeahs Pizza owners Josh Nordin and Dean Petty (also of Anchored Coffee) were taking over. “Ultimately this place is a fucking institution and there’s no reason to make major changes,” says Nordin, adding he’d like to bring back some old TIBS community-focused traditions, like its dinners. “It was the right opportunity, right fit.”

Best Campus Eats

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner The Gorsebrook Lounge

Silver Winner Coburg Social

Bronze Winner The Loaded Ladle, Dalhousie University

The Gorsebrook isn’t your average campus pub, serving your average cafeteria food. SMUSA’s president and CEO Mary Navas says while the food is run by Aramark, the students’ union consults with the company to meet the needs of their student body: “The menu is very diverse. We have a large international student body so we make sure to serve halal, vegetarian, vegan options. We reflect what our students voice in terms what we serve.” Wednesday nights with wings and trivia are a “jam packed” sure thing, but favourites like shawarma salad and the Husky burger keep folks well-fed every day.

Best Chef

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner Renée Lavallée, The Canteen

Silver Winner Annie Brace Lavoie, Bar Kismet

Bronze Winner Stephanie Ogilvie, Chives Canadian Bistro

“I’m always flabbergasted because I don’t feel like I deserve it, there’s so much talent out there,” says your Best Chef for the third consecutive year, Renée Lavallée. She squirms a little while her husband and Canteen co-owner Doug Townsend proudly sings her praises—for being an inspiring leader, badass chef and ambassador for Nova Scotia’s food scene. For Lavallée, though, there’s no I in team. “I have two amazing sous chefs, and I couldn’t do it without them and everyone in the kitchen. ”

Best Chicken Wings

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner Bubba Ray's Sports Bar Too

Silver Winner Your Father's Moustache

Bronze Winner Halifax Alehouse

Finger-food fans are spoiled for choice at this multi-time winner winner chicken (wing) dinner. An entire menu of sauce and dry-rub options offers a little something for every tastebud on your tongue: From classics (mild, hot, honey garlic) to classy (garlic butter and parmesan? pardon?) to Bubba’s custom mixes like Honey Awesome or Smokin’ Louisiana. Every night is wing night at this west end sports bar, but Thursday’s cheap night.

Best Chinese Restaurant

on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

Gold Winner Fan's Chinese Restaurant

Silver Winner Look Ho Ho Restaurant

Bronze Winner Jean's Chinese Restaurant

Hall of fame The Great Wall

It would be ludicrously easy to take the entire 100-word allotment for this writeup to list the many mouthwatering menu items at Fan’s. Homemade Northern dumplings, Dan Dan noodle soup, Ma Po tofu—there’s no stopping this train once it gets going, really. But you know this delicious food is the reason Fan’s wins your pick for gold. With an extensive dim sum menu, an entire gluten-free section of the menu and a wonderful atmosphere (the Fan’s website calls the restaurant a “fairyland”), this delightful Dartmouth staple has more than earned this award.