Yermum's Profile
Best CHOWDER in Nova Scotia and PEI?
The Knot Pub in Lunenburg, NS. Try either the Fish Chowder or the Mussel Soup. Both among my favourites.
Be warned if travelling to the South Shore in January though. Most of the hotspots are closed this month.
Romantic dining in Halifax
I'd suggest thinking about making the trip to Lunenburg and going to Fleur de Sel.
Best pubs & roadhouses, Yarmouth to Windsor to Lunenburg and around?
In that case, you're going to want to try Propeller's IPA. The best of their offerings in my opinion.
Enjoy!
The Kilted French Man, Bayport, N.S. (Lunenburg Area)
Hey there Harp00n,
So this place opened up last year in a rather unlikely spot halfway between Lunenburg and Kingsburg just at the turn to the Ovens and Feltzen South. It was started by a couple who had met while working at Rissers (the resto at the Lunenburg Arms), he the chef and she a server, I believe.
In any case they put a lot of effort into converting the house - including a rather beautiful hand hewn bar top and opened in spring 2006.
Ostensibly a steakhouse, the menu is varied as you say with everything from escargot to prawn tempura to salmon fish and chips to thin crust pizzas.
The original chef is no longer on the scene, but the menu has remained largely unchanged, other than a cheeky little price increase over last year.
There are not that many tables and the benches in the booths are a little high relative to the tables - they're also a wee bit shallow - but overall, the atmosphere is really very comfortable. The recent addition of a fireplace was very welcome - especially during the colder months.
The service is usually superb and the food is very good as well...
I have enjoyed every dish I've ordered there with the exception of the onion soup. I suppose it wasn't what I'd expected and came as more of a paste than a soup. Highlights include: Steak Frites (delicious steak and the best fries around, if like me you love thin crispy salty fries), Salmon Fish and Chips (may sound like heresy to batter salmon, but the herbed batter and the home made tartar sauce makes this a dish that absolutely must be tried), Cowboy Steak (friggin huge) and the pizzas (different toppings than you'll find at Trattoria or Saltshaker). Although I've never had them myself, I've heard raves about the pork chops. Even though this is a steakhouse, and a very good one, if you are particular about how your steak is prepared, be sure to make sure the server knows this, as the past few times, my steak has come to the table cooked longer than I'd asked.
Have never found any revelations on their wine list - but they're likely to be names that you'll recognize.
Like the Knot, they have their own Propeller brew.
The desserts are deadly sweet. To be honest though, I haven't had dessert since the new chef started so I can't really vouch for them. Given past experiences though, if you have a sweet tooth and have room, I think you're in safe hands.
They have a very attractive looking deck, but I don't know if it's been in use this year... it's a bit buggy.
I've seen a disparaging comment on the the name "Kilted Frenchman". The first chef was indeed a frenchman and would in fact appear in a kilt from time to time.
So there it is. Definitely worth stopping in here. Report back on what you have and how you find it.
Best pubs & roadhouses, Yarmouth to Windsor to Lunenburg and around?
A bit late now, but for the record here is the list of my favourite pubs in NS:
The Knot - Lunenburg
For the atmosphere, the service, the chowder and their Propeller Knot Pub Ale. If you're not in the mood for beer, go for a double dark and stormy and hope they haven't run out of Propeller ginger beer.
The King's Arms - Kentville
For the patio/garden. The meal I had there was ok, but it was on their busiest day of the year, so I don't know if I was eating off of their regular menu or not. A very English pub and pub garden though.
The Spitfire Arms - Windsor
For the selection of beer, the atmosphere and the fact that they carry cask conditioned ales. The first time I ate there, the food was amazing. The time we went back we were disappointed - it was good, but not the amazing meal we'd remembered from the year before.
The Dock - New Glasgow
For the atmosphere, the Guiness and the great hosts. Also pretty good food.
Nova Scotia dining summer 2007
Magnolias doesn't take reservations... so you'll have to put your name on the list and wait with everyone else. ;-)
Lunenburg w/kids
Hmm. I've never heard anything good about Big Reds... Pizza in Lunenburg used to be a traumatic experience for me until recently. In my opinion, the places to buy pizza are the Saltshaker Deli (they do takeout) and Trattoria.
Mike's, J3 and Big Reds are on my no-no list.
I'd be very interested to hear what makes Big Reds chow-worthy, as I've not actually eaten at Big Reds (I have eaten both Mike's an J3 pizza) and it's a place whose food seems to be universally held in low regard. Yours are the first kind words I've heard about the place! "Best food around" is a pretty bold claim, though and makes me pretty skeptical.
Perhaps I'll have to go and try it and form my own opinion. If you go LJS, let us know what you think. I'd temper your expectations, though.
Halifax & area vegan / vegetarian restaurants?
Be sure not to miss Heartwood Bakery and Cafe on Quinpool. Save room for dessert.
Going to Nova Scotia in August
Three Reccomendations for wine pairings:
Tempest - Wolfville
Fleur de Sel - Lunenburg
Chive Bistro - Halifax
Also, call these guys and ask them about their smoking policy:
http://www.ketchharbourhouse.com/
For the most part, the stogies will be a no-no in restos and on patios. You may even have a tough time in the nicer BnBs.
BTW: If you're in Cape Breton, it's probably worth stopping in at Glenora.
http://glenoradistillery.com/
Petite Riviere, South-Shore NS ?
Haven't been to the winery yet, so if you go, please report back! :-)
Lunenburg and the area should really start marketing itself as a chowhound destination - it's really quite amazing through the summer months.
The Recc's you probably already have for L'burg and Mahone Bay are: Fleur de Sel, Saltshaker Deli, Trattoria della Nonna, Magnolias, The Knot Pub, Cheesecake Gallery, Biscuit Eater.
My favorite "chow" spots in the area happen to be across the ferry on the Petite side of the LaHave.
Make sure you go for fish and chips at McLeod's Canteen down the road in Green Bay. Also try the Rhubarb drink.
Just up the road in LaHave, you'll find the LaHave Bakery. They've started doing brunch on Sundays and the Eggs Benny with Lemon Tarragon H'daise is among the best brunches I've had. You have to choose between the bacon and the sausage... I recommend ordering an extra side of whichever one you don't choose with your eggs.
Other good options:
Kilted Frenchman's just across the Ferry and across Indian Path road. Their Salmon Fish and Chips is very good. We usually order Fish and their Sundried Cesar and get an order of fries on the side. Prices have gone up recently though, which is a bit cheeky considering there's a new chef who's not quite up to last year's standards yet. Still worth a visit.
I'd say drive up to the Turkey Burger in Cookville, but it's not what it once was... and always seems to be closed when we want to go - family emergencies, etc. If you haven't been, it's worth going just for the experience... and the milkshakes.
The best summer chow around these parts comes in the form of the community Breakfasts, Lunches and Suppers. There are two big ones coming up:
Lobster Supper
Enjoy a relaxing Lobster Supper with 1-1/2 lb. lobster, potato salad, coleslaw, macaroni salad, roll, strawberry shortcake, tea/ coffee. Alternate chicken. Tickets sold in advance. Adults: lobster $30, chicken $25. Children: lobster $30, chidcken $12. Two seatings 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Bar services. August 4, Petite Riviere Fire Hall. Tickets Billy or Dawn 6882356
Then, in August is the Conquerall Banks Fire Dept. Planked Halibut Supper. You can read a review of last year's here (scroll down to August 26th):
http://baroing.googlepages.com/supperreviews
A couple more things:
Buy the Molasses and Ginger cookies that are sold in the corner store in Petite.
Go to the Farmers' Market in L'burg on Thursday morning. Laughing Whale Coffee - roasted locally and among the best. Your choice of two french bakeries - conduct a Chocolate Croissant taste test. Fantastic local produce and meat.
Finally, depending on when you arrive, you might catch the tail end of Strawberry U-pick or the start of the Raspberry U-pick seasons.
Have a great time on the south shore and be sure to write up your experiences when you get back.
