Churchill Arms

I recently had the opportunity to make a very, very quick day trip to PEI for work. I'm talking, maybe four hours spent on the island. Knowing that we'd only have a short stay there, but wanting to get the chance to chow down on some good food, we decided to go to a restaurant that we'd seen on a `You Gotta Eat Here" episode. The Churchill Arms is in a nice little building downtown Charlottetown- pay attention when looking for it; it doesn't stand out, and we definitely walked past it the first time. On entering, one can see the effect that being on tv had- there are signs outside advertising the establishment's tv appearance, and little notes on the menu to show you what food was featured on the show. I have to admit that I wondered a little how the pub's regulars felt about this sort of advertising-it struck me as a little cheap, to be honest; if the place really is that good, the signs shouldn't be necessary. I was, though, tempted by the advertising, and opted for menu items that were indicated as being featured on the episode. The waitress we had was very friendly. She made a point of letting us know that the kitchen was a little backed up, and that our orders would take a little while. We started with an appetizer- chips and curry. Fries and curry (no, not curry mayo- you actually pick a proper curry as your dip) isn't a combination that had ever, ever occurred to me before, but it was a very satisfying appetizer, combining a crunchy, salty fry with a spicy, savory curry. In spite of the warning that our food would take a while, it certainly seemed to come within a reasonable time frame- maybe it's just because I was kept entertained by the appetizer, but I certainly feel like I've waited longer for food without warning. This isn't a complaint- it's most certainly a compliment, that the staff would care about customer service enough to advise of a rather-average waiting time shows a commitment to the customer that many places squarely lack. To the food, then. I ordered the steak and stout pie: a thick potato crust atop a stew made with Guinness as a base. The top of the pie was thick- so much so that I actually just peeled it back to allow the heat to escape- but quite tasty. The stew portion was very, very good: the steak was nice and tender, and you could taste the Guinness in it. My coworker ordered butter chicken: he found it a little different than what he was used to; to my taste, it was closer to the more traditional restaurants I've visited. It was, however, very good, strong flavour, and not overwhelmingly spicy. I need to take a minute to talk about the decor and atmosphere. The pub has that dark, pub like feel, with dark wood walls, and a nice bar. Pictures and newspaper clippings featuring Sir Winston Churchill himself are posted around the dining room, and the bar seems to attract an eclectic mix of patrons. Honestly, this probably ranks in my top ten in the Maritimes on atmosphere. Overall, I enjoyed the Churchill Arms. The food certainly was good, and I'm inclined to return. However, I'm not quite at the point of echoing that you "Gotta" eat here; rather, I'll say that you aren't likely to be let down if you do.

Saint John- Uptown and South End

The South End,is Saint John's city centre. Locals (and informed visitors such as yourself!) don't refer to the area as downtown, but rather Uptown. The area is perched on a hill overlooking the mouth of the river, and can be found by following the Saint John Centre signs from the Thruway. If you're on a cruise, this is where your ship will dock. Below, find a list of what you should check out while Uptown, and a few hints and tips as well. Saint John City Market: The City Market is hands down Saint John's best known landmark.One of the downsides with travelling for work is that attractions such as the market are never open when I'm free, and thus, alas, I can't give any advice personally about the market. What I do know is that it's located on Germain Street, between King and Union, and is rumored to have fresh food and produce. New Brunswick Museum: The NB Museum is located in a small shopping complex along the Market Square Boardwalk. Although this is another attraction I've yet to visit, I encourage all visitors to take the time to explore it. If I've learned anything from my travels, it's that getting to know the story of a place and its peoples is a prerequisite to getting the most out of your experience. If you want to understand the context behind what you're seeing and doing, the New Brunswick Museum is a great place to start. Market Square Boardwalk: The Boardwalk hugs the harbour near Market Square Mall (not to be confused with the City Market, which is a few blocks away). Work has recently been done to make the area more enjoyable for visitors, and you can also often find ample parking here. Architecture: I love the architecture of Saint John's South End. A stroll down Union Street and Prince William Street, or a drive through the various residential streets in the area provides the perfect opportunity to appreciate it. Restaurants: You'll find reviews of Sense of Tokyo Sushi, and Taste of Egypt restaurants here on my blog. Relish also has a location near the City Market. I can also highly recommend Big Tide Brewing Company- a local microbrewery with some of the best beer battered fish and chips I've ever had. Visitors in the area during the day would be remiss not to grab some lunch at the City Market. Best Views: The best view of uptown area and the port is undoubtedly from the Harbour Bridge. If you're looking for a spot from which you can take photos a little easier than a highway, check out the Lower West Side below the bridge, or the Reversing Falls.

Saint John- An introduction

The city of Saint John is perched on hilltops along a harbour overlooking the Bay of Fundy. The largest municipality in New Brunswick (Metro Moncton does have a higher population), Saint John is unmistakably an industrial town, and you're likely to notice the predominance of mills and refineries before you even enter the city proper. Saint John is a good base for exploring the Fundy region, and convenient stop-over when driving to or from Maine, but don't discount the city's own charms and attractions when planning your trip. Saint John's links to industry have created, as is often the case, a strong sense of community in the small city, particularly when it comes to neighbourhood affiliations, and have left a fair bit of nice architecture in the downtown core. Getting your bearings: Saint John is built at the mouth of the Saint John River, where it empties into the Bay of Fundy. The city spans either side of the river, which is crossed by two bridges- the Reversing Falls Bridge, and the Saint John Harbour Bridge. The city's South, North, and East sides lie on one side of the river, while the West side lies on the other. New Brunswick Highway 1 (known as the Thruway in Saint John, and the McKay in the Kennebecasis Valley) cuts through the city on a bit of a diagonal, crossing the river at the Harbour Bridge, which links the city centre (known as Uptown or the South Side) and the West Side/Lancaster area. Visitors arriving from Moncton (and other places in that direction) will enter the city by way of the Kennebecasis Valley, or KV, region, and the towns of Quispamsis and Rothesay, on Hwy 1. They will pass the the East Side, North Side and South Sides before crossing the bridge. Visitors arriving from Maine and Fredericton enter the city at the West Side, before crossing the Harbour Bridge towards the city centre. This route follows Hwy 1;travelers coming from Fredericton on Route 7 will join Hwy 1 in the city's west end. If you're looking for attractions whilst in the Port City, check out the various posts detailing Saint John Neighbourhoods. As a quick reference the city's main attractions can be found in the following pages: Saint John Market-Uptown New Brunswick Museum-Uptown Reversing falls-West Side Irving Nature Park-West Side Rockwood Park-North Side Don't forget to check out the surrounding area as well-posts on the KV and Fund Coastal Drive are on their way soon. Saint Martin's is another very popular coastal spot near the city (unfortunately I've yet to stop there, so there won't be a post about it yet). Looking for restaurants? My favourite picks are mentioned in the posts detailing the different neighbourhoods and attractions.

Sakura Sushi

Sakura Sushi has been on my "must return there" list for a while, and so I was glad to have an opportunity to pop by on my last trip to Metro this Summer. Now, Sakura is tucked away in a little, unassuming plaza in Bedford; when you walk in, however, you're greeted by a well decorated restaurant, complete with Sushi bar. The staff are quite friendly, and there's a fairly good menu. On my last trip, I selected a bento box with salmon, salad, miso sound and sashimi. The box was moderately priced, and came with three different sashimi. My coworker chose one of the sushi lunch combos, which was a little on the pricier side, but allowed for a choice of three different rolls for about fifteen dollars. The food is good, nicely prepared, and tastes great. Sakura is definitely one of my favourite sushi places. The only constructive criticism I can give is that I wasn't blown away with the lunch specials- I like variety in a combo, and it seemed like they were pushing to either have a large amount of sushi, or a large amount of sashimi. The bento boxes are offered with sushi as one of several sides, along with sashimi or dumplings, to accompany teriyaki meat or seafood. I would personally have preferred an option that allowed for a sashimi, a sushi and dumplings or something else crunchy- a nice balancing of taste and texture. That said, the food was great, and it's certainly a good spot for lunch for anyone who likes sushi, and for those who are trying it for the first time and want to try something that's good quality.

Connor's Family Restaurant

With one last night in Amherst, I was hoping to find another great little gem in the town. Sadly, this is not what happened. Connor's is a little family diner on Albion Street, not too far from the TCH.It seems like the kind of restaurant where you're going to get a nice, homemade meal. The restaurant wasn't very busy when we went, and yet some how, we wound up sitting on top of an air conditioner. On top of, as in, it was literally below the two of us seated at the end of the booth, and it seemed to be turned way up. By the end of the evening, we were all freezing. The food was passable. Two of us ordered lobster rolls, and found them small and overpriced. The rolls they used were clearly hot dog buns- making for a small dish- and coupling them with some vegetables didn't seem worth the price. The waitress also couldn't tell us where the lobster was from- not a major detail, but certainly an oversight for people who are concerned about eating locally caught lobster. The real issue though was that one of our companions' orders was done wrong. As in, they brought out the wrong dish. Now, accidents happen, and the waitress apologized, took full responsibility, and brought out the correct dish. My issue, however, was that there was no compensation for the fact that we were delayed about an extra half hour. He didn't so much as get his drinks comped or get a few dollars taken off the price of his meal (as far as he could tell). Unfortunately, the extra delay was particularly unpleasant given that those of us who did receive the proper meals, and then had to sit there waiting for our friend to be served and eat, were the ones seated atop the air conditioner. The waitress also certainly didn't seem in a hurry to bring the bill-in fact we eventually just walked up to the counter and asked to pay. Overall, not what I was hoping for in a small family restaurant.

Lobster Rolls

Alrighty ladies and gentlemen, here is one of the most well-known local specialties amongst tourists: the infamous Maritime lobser roll. Lobster rolls are common throughout the Maritimes. The basic dish is a roll stuffed with lobster meat (usually claw or tail) which has been mixed with mayonnaise, and perhaps a few other spices or fillers. There are many varities available- some places throw celery or dill in the mix, you might find your lobster roll on a homemade roll or a store-bought hotdog bun, and the lobster:filler ratio varies drastically. So, what should you consider when you get a lobster roll? 1) Lobster season moves. The actual season in an individual community lasts mere weeks before it moves along to another part of the Maritimes. Generally, it moves counter-clockwise, so that it's earlier in Maine, the bay of Fundy and the South Shore, and later in PEI, the Northumberland straight and the Bay des Chaleurs. 2) The price point tends to fall within the 8-14 dollar range. This depends largely on whether you're just getting the lobster roll itself or whether there's also a side-dish. 3) The size of the roll varies greatly. Bear in mind that if you snag a lobster roll at the 7-8 dollar range, it probably won't fill you, not even for lunch. Have it in a combo, with fries or veggies. 4) Taste and quality vary, as do the ratios of what's mixed in it. If you don't like it the first time (but otherwise do like lobster), give it another go at a different place, in a different community. It may be more to your liking. 5) You'll find the general style of lobster rolls adapted into different formats. Lobster clubs are pretty common, and can be better than the rolls because they're often more substantial. 6) Bigger chains are getting in on the lobster craze. These aren't the way to go to try it the first time, though they are a fun way to try something local if you wind up at a national chain. I've had lobster rolls ranging from great to horrible. My favourite is probably actually the lobster club at the Irving Big Stops. I haven't had much luck with my recent attempts to grab a good lobster roll, so this section will remain devoid of concrete recommendations. I can say that you should try to find a locally-owned place, the smaller the better. Also, try to make sure that lobster is in season locally, since that helps with the freshness. Two places I've had my eye on trying, but haven't yet, would be the lobster rolls at the Fredericton Market, and the lobster paninis at Frank and Gino's in Truro.

Liverpool Pizzeria

When we arrived in Liverpool on our first night, we arrived late, and all of the restaurants were closed. It wasn't until the next day that I got to pick a nice little local place for dinner. After driving around, the choice was pretty easy- the cute little pizza place, situated in a pretty little building on Liverpool's pretty little Main Street. The place was pretty quiet, and when we walked in the lady behind the counter gave us a friendly welcome. We chose on of a few specials on offer, which involved pizza and garlic sticks. The lady behind the counter was extremely, extremely friendly, letting us know that we could change the pizza included in the special to any of their pizzas, or just pick the toppings we wanted. She even let us do half and half with entirely different ingredients on the same pizza without charging extra (with the exception of a three dollar charge for a premium ingredient). This was one of those places where, between the architecture of the old building, and the exceptionally friendly service, I was impressed before even getting our food. We took the pizzas back to our hotel, along with the garlic sticks and donair sauce, and chowed down. And boy, was I ever impressed. The ingredients on the pizza were exceptionally tasty- all of them tasted fresh and were present in generous quantities, explaining and excusing the high charge for an extra premium topping. The garlic cheese sticks, with bacon on top, were also super delicious, again with generous portions. Although I can't recall the price, it was comparable to what we'd paid in other parts of NS for similar combos, around thirty dollars (although I could be mistaken, it certainly wasn't pricey). The only caveat I have is the donair sauce- it was whipped rather than creamy, something I've never seen before, and wasn't really used to. Even this, though, was far more about personal preference than about quality. Overall, excellent, excellent pizza; I highly recommend it.

Split Crow Pub-Truro

Before heading to Truro this Summer I was given a list of suggestions of places to eat. Having already exhausted all of the places I already knew in town, we decided to take one of these suggestions (which was also seconded by hotel staff) and check out the Split Crow. For those who don't know, the Split Crow got its start as the first pub licensed to serve liquor in New Scotland, some 250 years ago. It has since branched out from its original Halifax location, with one of these branches being a fairly new spot on Prince street in Truro. The restaurant certainly seemed appealing- the front was opened onto a patio, with patrons enjoying the cool evening over a pint of beer and a meal. With this promising setting, we decided to give the place a try. The first thing the waitress did was to ask for our ID's, on the assumption that we would be ordering alcohol. I suppose, given that the Split Crow is first and foremost a pub, that this shouldn't seem to strange; nor should we have been surprised when, after only one of us ordered a beer and the others water, she suggested we let her know if we change our minds. I can now see that these were clues as to what kind of an experience we were going to have, for it became clear to us over the course of the meal that, while the Split Crow boasts a wide and moderately-priced menu, the establishment exists solely for the purpose of selling you beer. I ordered the fish and chips, beer battered haddock and a favourite at the Crow, according to the menu. Many items on the menu including a suggested drink pairing, and so I figured I might as well try that too. After all, a place with this kind of history and reputation should be able to do a good fish and chips, and pair it with a good beer, right? Wrong. The fish and chips were, hands down, the worst I've had in my life. Rather than beer-battered haddock, it was more haddock inside a crusty batter shell. The overcooked batter didn't seem to touch the fish but rather imprisoned it. It was also rock hard- I've never struggled to cut fish and chips before- and tasted horrible. The tartar sauce had way too much dill in it, and the fries weren't bad, but some at my table felt they were far too salty. For fairness sake, though, the fish itself did taste very fresh and well cooked. Without the batter it may have been great. The part which really bugged me, though, was the emphasis on drinks. Rather than refill the waters at our table, the waitress only came around when she saw a beer getting low. She offered each time she passed to bring another, but never once asked about more water. In fact, the only way we could think to get her attention to leave was for someone to finish their beer and just ask for the bill. Honestly, I hope that the Split Crow in Halifax is better, or maybe that we were there on an off night. The place was nice, the menu items all sounded good, and the prices would have been acceptable (though high) had the food tasted ok. But the service, and the unabashed focus on selling us beer, really put me off.

Dan's Ice Cream

Sometimes while you're traveling, you get sick of eating hamburgers and french fries, and just want something that looks like it may have some nutritional value to it. Although you'd seldom think to look for that nutritional something at an old-fashioned ice cream bar by the highway, passing Dan's, in Barrington NS by would be your loss, without a doubt. I understand any skepticism. When I saw the place, I really just wanted to try the ice cream, but we were looking for lunch, so I had to get something substantial in my stomach first. Image, then, my surprise when the menu had no hamburgers, but instead wraps, salads, quesadillas, rice bowls, and a variety of subs and sandwiches. I chose the quesadilla and salad, while my coworker grabbed just a salad; both of us were given a menu of various fruits and vegetable toppings, including such things as grapes and spinach, and a list of home made dressings for the salads. The meals were both incredible- great tasting, under 8 dollars, and, most importantly, they left you feeling ready for the day, not full of grease. After lunch,I tried a banana split- although not the old fashioned hard ice cream version my parents rave about, it was generously topped with delicious flavours of my choosing. I was so impressed that I returned on a later trip for a cookie ice cream sandwich- delicious fresh tasting cookies and a generous amount of ice cream, and just shy of two dollars. Easily one of the best places to grab a treat in the province! I also need to saw a word about the staff, and the atmosphere. The staff were so friendly; after spending a few minutes trying to pick what I wanted, I stood in line. Another cashier opened and a man came in the door and went right up to her. She clearly didn't notice I was there first, but when she did, politely told the man that I was and asked if he would mind if I ordered first. This very much impressed me- it was the perfect way to deal with the situation, and not something you see very often (I've had many cashiers serve people who've cut in front of me before). All of the staff were friendly and helpful. The vibe was also really great- retro style, with a very fun mix of current and classic hits. I can't say enough good things about this place. I would highly, highly recommend it!

Cha Baa Thai

Thai food seems to be popular as of late, with restaurants opening up in several Maritime cities. I'd heard many good things about Cha Baa, and so on a recent trip to Dartmouth made a point of stopping in for some Thai food. You'll notice two things when you first walk in: the decorations are great, very tropical and festive, and the place is packed. It seems to have become quite popular; at the Dartmouth location I went to, I wouldn't be surprised if it's become a favourite lunch spot in the industrial park where it is located. Although I've had Thai food before, I haven't been to many places with as extensive of a menu, and there were many options I didn't recognize. I was definitely not the only person there with that experience, as I overheard many people asking the staff the same questions I did- is this spicy? The staff were very friendly and accommodating, and after a few questions I chose the Massaman curry combo, with a fresh spring roll. I must say, the food was delicious. The massaman curry is more sweet than spicy (although I still found it had a kick to it), and you can definitely taste the coconut in it. The spring roll was also delicious- a good upgrade for only 50 cents more. What's more, the costs were quite reasonable- mostly in the 10-15 dollar range for lunch. I hope that Cha Baa's popularity is an indication that it will stick around for a while, because it has definitely been added to my list of favourite places in metro.

Duncan's Pub

"I asked our buddy at the front counter where to go for food, and he recommended Duncan's pub" my coworker said. We both looked down and noticed that Duncan's was the place with ads emblazoned across the front of our hotel key-cards, promising good food, and a free dessert with every entrée. After checking online, and seeing that it came highly recommended, we headed out. At first glance, Duncan's is a dark little building squished into Amherst's main street. It's so non-descript, in fact, that my coworkers actually made me hop out of the car and check that it was still open before they parked. Open it was; upon entering the door one is greeted by a dimly let but tastefully decorated restaurant, with cozy (albeit sometimes crowded) chairs, and a very visually appealing bar in the corner. The menu was certainly not standard pub fair- I can't remember the last time I saw escargot on any menu, let alone at a little bar. The prices are also a little higher, but, as we soon found out, do you ever get what you paid for. I ordered the Greek chicken linguine, a pasta dish involving chicken breast, olives, and peppers in linguine, all topped with Greek dressing and feta cheese. The meal was fantastic- the olives and peppers still had a sweet, fresh taste to them, and the feta was soft and tasty, all complimented by perfectly bite sized chicken breast pieces on top of good quality pasta. At around 16 dollars after taxes, the price was as fantastic as the dish. After dinner, our hotel key cards entitled us to a free dessert- the waitress explained that the desserts change daily as they are freshly made in-house. The selection when we were there offered a choice between blueberry cobbler, chocolate-orange cheesecake on a pretzel crust (which I chose), or strawberry chocolate cheesecake on a coconut crust. The dessert was fantastic- rich and creamy, with chunks of chocolate (rather than a chocolate base) nicely joining the orange flavour. Each of my coworkers tried one of the other two desserts and reported that they were both also fantastic. The waitress told us that the desserts usually run about six dollars- worth it for sure! Overall, Duncan's was really, really impressive. Every menu item sounds delicious, and the food I got to try was fantastic. The service was incredibly friendly, and the food was all freshly prepared. It's certainly neither cheap- with my meal being one of the cheapest options- nor is it quick. We probably spent about 45 minutes between waiting to receive the bills, and waiting to pay, and they should certainly work on reducing that time. I can certainly see it being a great place for a dinner meeting, date, or get together where you plan to spend a lot of time talking, perhaps while enjoying a slice of cheesecake. Overall, well well worth pulling off the highway for.

Paddy's Pub

A few weeks ago, some family members were traveling around Nova Scotia, and came home telling me they had a few places I just *had* to review. While working in the area this week, I had an opportunity to try one of these- Paddy's Pub and Rosie's Restaurant, in Wolfville. Paddy's has a great location right on Wolfville's main drag (protip: you can also park around back and enter through that door, as we did). Coming in through the back, the first sight I saw was a cooler of growlers, filled with a variety of brews. Since I was just stopping in for lunch, I didn't get the chance to try any of them, but there was a wide variety available and the prices, of growlers at least, were reasonably priced. The menu at Rosie's includes a wide selection of locally-produced and house-made products, including local beef, restaurant-made sausages, and local cheese. Many of the sauces appear to be made in-house as well, including the dill veggie dip, an option offered in place of fries for no extra charge. I chose a hamburger with local Havarti and local beef, with bacon and house-made garlic aioli. When it came, I took the burger apart, trying each individual component. The cheese had a good, subtle taste and melted nicely; the hamburger was tasty and juicy, and the aioli was nice and creamy, without being overpowering. As a combination, it's absolutely fantastic, and came in at under 15 dollars. I very much enjoyed my meal, and the service was friendly and quick. After chatting with a few people about the restaurant, I've heard that pretty much everything they do tastes fantastic, especially the meals which include their home made sauces. Local food, good services and great prices? This place is fantastic, and well worth a visit!

Fans Chinese Food

Fans has been a favourite in my family for almost two decades now. No one can quite agree who first spotted this gem, but we can all agree on one thing- it is easily the best North American Chinese food in the province, if not the entire region. Having gone to Fan's over the yeas, I've seen a lot of changes to their North End Dartmouth location. It's gotten much bigger, and nicer, and the name has changed. But the fantastic food certainly hasn't. I'll cut right to the chase: the showstopper at Fan's is the ginger beef. Undoubtedly the best I've had, when it's good it's amazing; when it's bad it's still very good. Just spicy enough, but not too much so that you can't taste the food, this dish is what has kept us coming back for years. Their spring rolls, lemon chicken, and chicken fried rice are also family favourites. All are deliciously well-prepared. I've also heard fantastic things about their weekend dim sum, although I haven't had the opportunity to try it in recent memory.

Cows Ice Cream

Cows is an institution. You'll find it around PEI, as well as at the waterfront in Halifax. Each store has a copy of a list boasting that its ice cream is the world's best- and this is hard to argue with. Cows offers a variety of delicious flavours, which can all be served in delicious, freshly made waffle cones, or as an equally satisfying milkshake. The prices are extremely reasonable: just under 4 dollars (plus tax) for a single scoop, and around five for a shake, putting the prices in the same league as many cheaper ice cream shops, while the quality can go head to head with the best of the best international chains. Many of the flavours are also specially unique to Cows, including several which make use of PEI-grown apples or berries. The charm of Cows extends beyond the food itself- the entire place is full of cow-pun-themed merchandise, from the names of some flavours (including my favourite, Messy Bessie), to a line of t-shirts, mugs, and other souvenirs sporting pop-culture cow-puns. In PEI, at least (I haven't been in Halifax in a few years), you'll also find chocolate-covered potato chips (very good!) and merchandise from Anne of Green Gables chocolates (fans of the books will probably want to give the Raspberry Cordials a try). There's also a location in PEI where you can go on a tour of the factory- I personally haven't tried this, but it looks like a fun family outing. This is easily a favourite of mine- I'm certain I've never had better ice cream in my life. Uodate: I've recently been back to a different location of Cows, and wanted to add a little note regarding the Factory Shops location. I visited this location in the middle of a week day- not a particularly busy time. And yet, to me it seemed that the staff weren't experienced enough to handle the two or three groups in line: they outright skipped the people behind me, and didn't really react when I let them know that. They also seemed generally disorganized, running here and there without letting us know why we were being served (although they did occasionally apologize on return). This bugged me- Cows is an institution, and this location, right on the side of the Trans Canada, catches a lot of tourists' eyes. Yet, I don't feel it offers the best service- rather, the staff were inattentive and seemed overwhelmed by three or four groups. I also disliked very much that the merchandise which takes up the bulk of the store can't be paid for at the same time as ice cream: this seems like bad business sense to me, since as a customer I chose not to have to wait in a second line and use debit again for a small purchase. These comments, however, don't apply to the other locations, where I've found the staff very helpful indeed!

Seoul Food

A few years ago, I found myself spending a couple of weeks in PEI. After a little while, we were looking for something different from the burger-pizza routine, and spotted this little place alongside of the main road in Charlottetown. Seoul Food was my first introduction to Korean food in Canada (I had had Korean BBQ previously in Asia), and so neither I nor my friend really knew what to order. We both grabbed bulgogi with rice. I can distinctly remember feeling that the food was fantastic, but way too small of a portion for the price. Fast forward to this year. I've had a good amount of Korean food, and was anxious to see how I felt about the place now. A few years later, Seoul food is still a very clean, well decorated establishment with friendly and helpful staff. The menu prices no longer seemed high to me- for Korean food, they're relatively cheap. This time, I ordered my favourite dish- bibimbap- and my friend ordered gimbap. The first thing I noticed was that the food was spicier than I'm used to. I've had a lot of Kimchi with little to no spice in it, and this place certainly does not fall into that category. There was also a very generous amount of hot sauce in the bulgogi- I removed as much as I could before mixing the food, and still found it too spicy. Now, I'm going to admit that I'm a bit of a wimp for spice, and so I'm sure that the amount given was probably actually pretty typical for Korean food. However, I would have appreciated had the sauce been on the side, or put on in a way easier to remove. The food itself was actually excellent, very flavourful, both dishes. The seaweed on the gimbap and the beef in the bibimbap were particularly high quality. Overall, the food is good, and the prices reasonable for Korean food. It would be nice if they asked how spicy you wanted, or made it easier to remove the spicy sauce, but don't let that stop you- the food is definitely worth a try. Also, I have to give them big props for the pun- that's what drew me in in the first place!

Donair

This is the first of a series of posts about the local specialties that you'll find across the Maritimes. I'll start with one of the quintessential Maritimer dishes: the donair. The astute amongst you may be saying "but donairs are Turkish!" Not this donair. The Maritime version of the donair- often called a Halifax Donair, is similar to Lebanese Shawarma, or Greek Gyros, and was, according to legend, invented in Halifax's fabled Pizza Corner. The donair experience is very archetypical: walk in to almost any small, locally run pizza place in the Maritimes, and you'll see a rack of beef on a spit behind the counter, cooking vertically. You'll usually pay around 6-8 dollars for one, sometimes ten. Donairs consist of meat, sauce, tomatoes and onions. In New Brunswick, you'll usually also find lettuce. There are two signature aspects to the donair: the meat, and the sauce. Donair meat is a spicy rotisserie-style beef, cut into long thin strips. Donair sauce is a thick and creamy sweet sauce, with a hint of garlic. Both have been incorporated into a wide variety of other dishes. Most pizzerias also serve donair pizza, which incorporates all of the above ingrediants, with the donair sauce replacing tomato sauce, with the whole thing being covered in cheese, of course. Donair sauce is also a common dipping sauce with garlic fingers (or the Maritime variant, cheesy garlic fingers), or other types of pizza. Recently, donair egg rolls have also become a popular gimmick. Anyone in the Maritimes for their first visit has to try a donair before leaving. Below are some suggestions for memorable donairs, but by far these are not the only options: I've had relatively few donairs that I didn't like, so don't be shy about going to the nearest pizza place and trying what they have on offer! Metro Halifax: For the biggest donair I've seen in my life, try Robert's, in North End Dartmouth. The place seems pretty run-of-the-mill, but a small donair is easily the biggest single serving of meet I've seen in my life, and for a low price. If you're a vegetarian, The Wooden Monkey, in Downtown Halifax, offers a seitan variant. I've never tried it, so I can't comment on how it compares to the traditional meat variety, but it does offer an opportunity to try this regional specialty. Fredericton: Donairs are on offer all over the Fredericton market By far my favourite donair in the province comes from Richie's Barbecue. This is a good option for people who are trying the dish for the first time, since it's not overloaded with meat, and they're quite generous with the sauce.

Frank and Gino's

Frank and Gino's is a personal favourite spot to stop when going to or from Halifax, since it's only a few minutes off the highway, and the food is really good. The restaurant might remind you, at first glance, of a cross between Olive Garden and East Side Mario's, but don't let the quality of the advertising and branding fool you- this is a local restaurant. It definitely has the elements that make those sorts of chain restaurants appealing- it's clean, large and open, with nice decorations and well-designed menus. But it definitely has the quality of a good local restaurant, with friendly staff, and excellent food. I'm a big fan of the classic- Spaghetti and Meatballs. It's a little pricier than I like to pay, at 14.99, but the sauce and meatballs both taste fantastic, and the portion is fair for the price. The only downside, in my mind, is that the prices are a little bit high, making it more of a treat than a regular stop while travelling. Definitely one of my favourites in Truro.

Andre's Pizza

I first went to Andre's a few years ago while staying in New Glasgow. At that time, I didn't know that there was a special Pictou County pizza, so we went in to the "seats" area and ordered individual meals. The food was fantastic- I still remember the taste of the maple curry chicken penne, a fantastic combination of flavours that we tried to replicate at home many times. Dessert was also fantastic- admittedly, I can't recall what the dish was called, only that it was some sort of chocolate cake that was amongst the best I've had. Last year, when I found out about Pictou County having a unique pizza, I went back to try it. The pizza is fantastic, a blend of cheeses and great pepperoni on really good crust. *Update: I had the good fortune of a friend thinking of me when passing through Pictou county this week, and bringing back some Andre's. The cheeses are fantastic, as I remember, blending really nicely together. The pepperoni is of a higher quality than you would find at a chain pizza place. The sauce, as is the way in Pictou county, is a brown sauce which I've been told is onion-based. The pizza is definitely spicier than it is in other places, with this great smokey after-taste. Overall, this is my favourite spot to eat in New Glasgow. The food is fantastic, and,if you eat in, it's decorated pretty neat, with ticket stubs on the tables from shows all over the continent.

Acropole

Pictou county pizza is special. This was something I learned last year, from a friend from Pictou county. So I tried it, liked it, and wanted more. A few weeks ago, I was back in New Glasgow and decided to hit up Acropole. It's located right downtown NG, with a big storefront and room to sit. The menu is short and simple, and the prices were reasonable (Large Pizza and a garlic fingers was about $30). The pizza was good, it had that Pictou county flavour that I like so much. My only complaint was the crust; I found it chewy, perhaps undercooked. The garlic sticks were also very good. I also very much appreciated that they were open late on a weeknight, saving me from dinner at another fast food joint.

Relish

Relish is becoming a bit of a New Brunswick institution. It's going all over the province, bringing the gourmet burgers, overenthusiastic staff, and great sides that started in Fredericton to people across NB, as well as to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and PEI. I've had the pleasure of visiting most of the Relish locations in NB. My most recent visit was in Moncton a few days ago, so I'll review it based off of that, before giving some more general info: When you walk in to Relish, they greet you loudly, as does the decor and general vibe of the place. The menu consists of a variety of gourmet burgers, available as either beef, chicken or veggie patties. I've never tried the latter two, but the beef is a high quality burger, to be sure. The menu can be confusing: burger prices are given for the combos, while sides are priced separately, although included in the combos. This makes it hard to tell how much you'd pay for the items separately, and directs you towards buying the combo. My favourite is the "L.A. is my lady", which combines flavours like avocado, peppers, and goat's cheese. It's fantastic with sweet potato fries. All of the burgers I've tried are really good, the restaurant is clean, the service is (generally), friendly, and the experience is fun. The caveat, however, is the price- the combo I described will set you back almost 18 bucks, which means it's not something you should consider "fast food", but rather "a nice dinner". Now, on to the various locations- each one has a signature burger, named in some local way. I haven't tried them yet, but they're a fun way to vary things up and make it worth checking out different locations. I really appreciate how widespread they are: after over a week eating every meal out in the Miramichi, we were ecstatic to see a Relish location (although it seems to have been forgotten on their list of locations!). The original Fredericton location is a nice little downtown building, which takes the whole experience very seriously (those who are shy or socially anxious should be prepared that they will joke around with you, very loudly). Moncton has a great, large spot right smack downtown (though I'd hate to park there during business hours- Moncton is notorious for bad parking), which is clean and very friendly. Saint John, however, I was less enamored with: the location is very convenient (though less so than Moncton), but small and less friendly. To my recollection they didn't call out your name or anything like they do in Fredericton which, although uncomfortable for some, is part of the experience. I say "to my recollection" because, despite repeated attempts, I didn't get to try Relish in SJ this year- twice I arrived around, though not at or after, close. The first time, about quarter to close, it seemed no one was interested in serving me, and they were already cleaning the grill. The second time, five to ten before close, they had already switched off the sign, turned off the grill, and told us they were closed. I'm a bit torn about this- on the one hand, we were near close, and it does take some time to clean etc. On the other hand, more upscale restaurants tend to treat their posted close time more as a last serving time; I've had places tell me they were reluctant to serve me so close, but I've never been told they flat out won't. Somehow, that doesn't seem to jive with the overall image. That said, I love Relish, and would recommend you go- yes, even in SJ.

Updated: Common's Creperie

Recently, I've finally had the opportunity to visit Common's Creperie, and decided that I would do a proper review, having visited only recently. Because this review is only based on one visit-as opposed to the several I had made a few years ago-I've decided to keep the original review below. I was very excited to finally get the opportunity to head out to Common's, having tried multiple times last year to do so, and even brought a family member along with me. The location and décor of the restaurant make for a nice spot to sit and have a relaxing lunch or dessert. The menu consists of crêpes, sandwhiches, and a variety of desserts. Savoury crêpes are paired up with soup (carrot ginger, curry squash, or soup of the day) or salad, and run between 11 and 13 dollars each (when ordered in the pre-made combinations). I chose the squash soup with a crêpe with smoked salmon, lettuce, sun-dried tomatoes and hollandaise sauce. The soup was very good-flavourful, with the curry nicely complimenting the squash rather than overpowering it. The crêpe, however, was somewhat disappointing-it didn't seem freshly made, there was far too much lettuce spilling everywhere, and the hollandaise sauce had no flavour to it. Overall, it was quite the let-down, and I decided not to get a take-out dessert as I had planned. I was torn while leaving. On the one hand, I had had some great crêpes there in the past, and knew that perhaps I didn't order the right one. At the same time, I felt that the crêpe I did have did not live up to the expectations I had developed. While I would no longer consider this my favourite restaurant in the Saint John area, I would still recommend it, and hope (and expect) that my next visit there will put it back to the top of my list.

My Original Review: I've been hesitating about reviewing this restaurant for a few weeks now, for one simple reason: I really desperately want an excuse to go back there. Common's is a real gem. While working in the Rothesay area last year, we drove up and down Hampton Road, looking for something a little less mass-produced for lunch, and spotted this cute little building on the edge of a park. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Although decor isn't usually something that matters so much to me, this place merits a note- the restaurant is nicely decorated, with water being served in arts little glass pitchers, and a nice view of the commons. There's a good menu selection, and their soup and crêpe combos are what we decided on. Unfortunately, as I haven't been back this year (yet), I don't quite remember the names of what we chose, but everything we tried here was excellent. What's really nice is the combination of crêpe and soup (I chose carrot and ginger, and another option was available as well). Working on the road, it's not often that I get to have a lunch that actually leaves me feeling really healthy. We came back a few more times in a short period- it was that good- to try the desert crêpes. Again, although I can't recall the name of what I tried, it combined toffee and chocolate and was absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, their hours are a little limited Monday and Tuesday, which I learned the hard way- by making time both days to go. I haven't gotten to head to Common's this year, and I don't know if I will, but I sure hope I do, because it's one of my favourite places to eat in all of New Brunswick.

Café Archibald

I was excited to get back to Moncton to try out some new food. I don't really get out to Moncton as often as I do some other Maritime communities, so I was quite excited to get cracking on my list of places to try. After doing some research, Café Archibald came out on top of that list. The reviews were good, and crêpes seemed like just the right food for the evening, so I headed out. Their downtown Moncton location (there's also one in Dieppe) is a quaint little building on Mountain road. The staff were friendly, attentive, and very bilingual. I was impressed by the menu- a wide variety of things to try, with very reasonable prices. My pick was the French Crêpe, which consisted of black forest ham, asparagus, green onions and hollandaise sauce. I'm sad to say that I was actually really disappointing by this one- the combination sounded great, a lot of my favourite things, but the execution wasn't all there. The crêpe itself was good, but I found the hollandaise sauce lacking in flavour, and the asparagus pieces cut too small to really discern from the green onions, of which there were far too many. The whole thing actually left a bit of a poor taste in my mouth. Certainly, I would consider trying Archibald again. The staff were friendly, the place was nice and I really appreciate the bilingual service. I would, however, avail myself of one of the many other menu items; hopefully these are the ones all of the positive reviews were based on.

Sea Dog Pub

Shelburne is a pretty little town on Nova Scotia's South Shore, between Liverpool and Yarmouth. We pulled in just for lunch, and found that it was a little hard to find places to eat. The Sea Dog is located on the water, near a group of historic buildings that we actually came upon by accident while turning around. Sea Dog Pub has a fantastic location, with a view of the water and big patio to go with it. I highly suspect that it was the owner who served us- and extremely friendly man whom I saw chatting with all of his customers. As always, I was very happy to have a chance to chat a bit with the owner, find out a little bit about him and his restaurant, and the kinds of customers who come in. It very much gives a human face to an establishment, and makes you appreciate the effort a person puts in to run it- this is certainly that kind of place: the owner even came over to let us know he was going to go pick up more groceries. Very friendly and casual. I ordered the salt cod; admittedly, I didn't actually want it- I wanted to try one of the sandwiches, which looked fantastic- but a little voice in my head told me that this was the place to try a dish like salt cod, and boy was it ever right. The salt cod here is served in a very traditional style, chopped up with pork scraps (pork fat and cuttings) and bacon on top of mashed potatoes (which tasted freshly made). The combination was outstanding, with the flavours balancing out very nicely, and the potatoes making for a hearty, filling meal. Diced turnip and chow were served on the side, as was a roll. The roll was also a nice, traditional treat- oatmeal brown bread, a sweet sort of bread I haven't seen in other parts of the country. The price my food was a reasonable 14 dollars after taxes. My coworker had pan-fried haddock, which, although I didn't try it, he said was very good. The Sea Dog is definitely a place I would recommend to stop at for lunch on the way through. It's certainly not fast food- in any sense- but you can't beat the combination of a friendly owner, great food, and a beautiful sea view.

Papa's Pub and Eatery

We finished working and pulled in to Port Hawkesbury pretty late one night. By the time we got settled in a hotel and went to look for food, it must have been near 10 o'clock. Port Hawkesbury is a small town, and at that hour our options were pretty much limited to pizza, Chinese food, or fast food. Having had two of the three above fairly recently, I opted for pizza. You don't often associate a pub with good pizza, but Papa's was right across the street from our hotel. The staff were friendly to us, and we loaded up our pizza with a wide range of toppings, and added cheese sticks, hoping that it would be both enough food, and good tasting. Both criteria were more than met. We ordered one of the larger sizes of pizza which, with cheese sticks, came in around the thirty dollar range. The pizza was absolutely fantastic- I really couldn't believe how good it was. The toppings were fresh and very very plentiful, and the crust and cheese were just right. The slices were very generously proportioned, and we could barely finish all we had ordered. The cheese sticks were also fantastic. With this in mind, we took lunch a little earlier than usual the next time we came through Port Hawkesbury, just so that we could go again. There was something on the menu that I had to try. The restaurant calls it the "messy donair fry bake." I think of it as donair poutine - donair meat and sauce, on top of fries, with green onions and peppers, smothered in cheese then baked in the oven. And oh my God, did I ever make the right decision. This has to be one of the most delicious junk food meals I've ever had. The donair meat is made on site, and it shows. Donair meat, donair sauce, and cheese all come together very nicely and, although it's on their appetizer menu, really ought to be listed as an entrée. The total cost was around 13 or 14 dollars after tax, and well, well worth it. The only critique I will give is that the fries were maybe not the best I've had. But it hardly mattered, because what really shone in this dish were the donair meat and the cheese; you could almost even skip the fries.

Saltscapes

We were driving through Truro, on the way to Halifax, when we decided that we should probably grab lunch somewhere. "Hey, you never tried Saltscapes yet." It was true, I'd heard lots about this place, but I'd yet to try it. Saltscapes seems to fancy itself as a Maritime-themed restaurant. You get this as soon as you walk in the door: you're greeted by a large gift shop, selling all manner of Maritime-themed product. It's not at all kitschy as quite a lot of these products are, indeed, ones I've seen friends and family take suitcases full of on their way back to wherever they may live- but the store portion does remind me of the American restaurant chain "Cracker Barrel", which does a similar thing with the South as its theme. The restaurant was pretty quite when we got there, and we were seated quickly, with very friendly service. The menu continued on this theme-there was a wide range of classic Maritime dishes to chose from. I found the prices expensive, however, and between that and the presentation of the menu (including the fact that it was more or less entirely Maritime-themed) you could tell that there was a touristy vibe to the place. I chose the fish cakes, my coworker chose a chef's salad. It seemed most appropriate that we both drink tea. While you wait for your meal, you're served tea biscuits, and there's a little bottle of Crosby's Molasses (a New Brunswick company) sitting there waiting for you to dip the tea biscuits in. Tea biscuits are a big thing around the Maritimes, and certainly something you'll find in a tea room or at someone's house, but I'm not about to say that they're typical to serve while you wait at a restaurant (or necessarily a-typical)- it reminded me a little of putting an East Coast twist on serving bread or corn chips while you wait. They were, however, very very good tea biscuits, so you'll hardly be hearing me complain. The food itself was quite good. I ordered the half portion of fish cakes- which turned out to be one fish cake, and so it seemed like the sides I had chosen were more of the meal than the fishcake. The fishcake and chow were quite good, and I really enjoyed the pasta and cheese (this is actually on the menu as mac and cheese, but it's made with penne). I tried some of the chef's salad, and have to say that it was easily some of the best bacon I've had in my life. All told, Saltscapes has good food and service, and it certainly offers tourists the opportunity to get a look at a wide range of local products and delicacies. My only gripe is that the prices seemed a bit high. Update: I've left the original review intact, as it still very much stands as an accurate representation of my first trip to Saltscapes, and probable experience for many, but recently I took some friends there and had a bad experience worth blogging about. This time, it was for supper and not lunch. The restaurant was busier, and the staff clearly more flustered. First off, the cup given to me for my tea came dirty- full of ketchup caked on, which the waitress didn't notice until I pointed it out. She was friendly and apologetic about it, and grabbed another, which still had a speck or two of food matter on it, but I didn't complain. Then, where previously I had been told (and thus written) that tea biscuits automatically came with the meal, I was told this wasn't the case this time, so check before you order if that matters to you (as it did me). Finally, and perhaps the biggest problem, one of my friends was served the wrong side dish- a bowl of thickly sliced carrots and onions in place of a salad. While this was easily fixed, what struck me as quite unprofessional was that the waitress, at the end of the meal (albeit after my friend had stacked the bowl on his plate), actually came by and picked up the onions to remark on how odd they were. None of these were big issues, but they all made me question whether perhaps the restaurant doesn't handle a dinner rush as well as it does a slow lunch time.

Habaneros Modern Taco Bar

I'd seen the "coming soon" signs for Habaneros while visiting its sister restaurant, Cheese Curds, last year, and so, when it came time to grab some lunch while in Halifax for a day, I figured I'd grab some on my way out of town. The restaurant is set-up in much the same way: you order your tacos, then put a variety of toppings, some of them rather original (read: slightly strange). The vibe and decor of the restaurant, especially when compared to Cheese Curds next door, gives you the impression of a wannabe chain restaurant, which is unfortunate. It almost makes it feel like an instant business plan applied to a current trend in food. The first guy who served me was friendly and chatty; I ordered three tacos (since there was a deal on doing that), and asked if I could make them all different. He assured me I could, then passed me on to the next guy. I'm not sure if the next guy couldn't hear me, wasn't listening, or just ignored me, but making them all different didn't work so well, and eventually I gave up saying "one the first one" after he put everything on all of them. This was especially disappointing as I was the only customer in the place.

I did indeed like the food. Both the soft and hard shell tacos were great. I particularly liked the pulled pork- it was flavourful and tender. As far as the different toppings (salsas and sour creams) go, this was the point at which the second employee just put everything on all of them, so I didn't get to test out what each individual one tasted like. I wasn't, however, particularly turned off by any of them. Everything tasted really nicely.

I enjoyed the restaurant, and three tacos for around 8 dollars plus tax was a great deal. The server not listening to me, and the very cookie-cutter set-up don't, however, make me feel like going all the way back out to try it again, but I would probably stop by if in the neighbourhood.

Sense of Tokyo

Having read so many good things about Sense of Tokyo, I was anxious to give it a try. It's easy to be skeptical about this restaurant; I certainly was. When sushi is bad, it's bad, and I like to avoid going to any place that's not recommended by someone I know. It also seems really out of place where it's located, and had me wondering if maybe I was in the wrong spot.

As it happens, my skepticism was not at all warranted. On the inside, the restaurant was stylish, and the service was quick, friendly, and attentive. I ordered one of the obento boxes (around 17 plus tax), which came with miso soup, green tea, a variety of sushi and dumplings, a hand roll (or a small noodles), and ice cream. It's a lot of food, and if I were to have it again I'd probably order the noodles instead of the handroll, just for variety's sake. I'm not an expert on sushi or Japanese food at all- but I have had my fare share, and I can say that this is a restaurant I would take people to to impress them. Everything tasted fresh (you can see it being made behind the bar), and was very pleasing to the eye. The sushi was really flavourful, and the dumplings were good. I was also a big fan of the soup, and the green tea ice cream The staff were also super attentive, bringing the next course just when I finished the last.

I'll probably bring a few people next time and order a variety of different rolls; that being said, the obento was more than enough food, and offered a really good variety of sushi.

Taste of Egypt

I was walking uptown Saint John, around 8 PM, looking for something to eat, when I walked past taste of Egypt. I'd read about it online- it came highly recommended- and figured that it had been a while since I'd had Middle Eastern food anyway, so I decided to head on in and order some takeout.
The restaurant is very nicely decorated, and would make a great setting for a date, family dinner etc. But what really impressed me, before I even had my food, were the staff: they were so friendly and personable, that it was the kind of restaurant I wanted to come back to just to support a local business, and chat with the personable staff.

I'm really not an expert on Middle Eastern Food, so it's hard for me to comment on the authenticity or quality relative to other restaurants. I had the Key of Life Plate. The price, 19ish dollars plus tax, seemed steep, but there was so much food that I had it for dinner the next day as well, which did impress me. Certainly, it would be enough for two to share. The plate consisted of rotisserie chicken on humus, with a small salad. The food, at last takeout, was served with pita rather than utensils. For those unfamiliar with this style of dining, you basically scoop up the the food in the pieces of pita.
I thoroughly did enjoy the meal, although I think maybe rice would have been a good side to come with it.
 Overall, I expect to be back; I'm anxious to try other dishes. My only caveat is that, even if you do get a lot of food, you probably won't get away without spending 15 dollars or more, so make sure sure that you're hungry!

Sampan

Having lived in Hong Kong for a year, I became quite a fan of authentic Chinese food, and think of it as an entirely different type of food than our Canadian Chinese. Sampan falls in the middle of these two- it's the best Canadian Chinese I've had in New Brunswick, but it's also a little more authentic than anything else I've had here.

I tried the barbecue pork friend rice, with a Hong Kong Style Milk Tea- my two favourite dishes in Hong Kong. They were both really good- like I said, the best I've had in New Brunswick. It definitely still falls more on the Canadian Chinese side of things, but the food is fantastic, and the service is also some of the friendliest I've ever had.

For sure one of my favourites in Saint John