King Street Alehouse

I'd been trying to get to the Alehouse for a long time-as in, since it was the Garrison District Ale House. For those who don't know, a fire caused Garrison to relocate to what is now the King STreet Alehouse, a few blocks away. Last time we tried to check out this spot, the lineup was around 45 mins-a sure sign it must be good, but a long time to wait when hungry. So it was a nice surprise to see it fairly empty this past weekend for lunch. The Alehouse is a restaurant of the dimly lit variety, a classy kind of place that is comparable perhaps to the Keg in terms of atmosphere. The lunch menu contained a range of foods-a variety of starers, a few different sandwiches and wraps, and a whole host of hamburgers. The hamburgers ranged from around 11 dollars to the upper teens in price, and a are served with a choice of side; other meal options for lunch were comparably priced. The Alehouse also lives up to its name with an extensive drink menu consisting of, according to the server, over one hundred options. For lunch I chose the blue cheese burger, which came highly recommended. In a world where gourmet burgers have become a huge trend, the blue cheese burger has become a bit of a staple, as have a few of the other options on the Alehouse's menu (like the Thai peanut burger)-but with choices such as a pepperoni burger (with marinara sauce) and jerk chicken burger, there are some more creative options available. Sides ranged from the standard sweet potato and classic fries, to a bowl of the soup of the day-in this case, fiddle head and chicken chowder. All of the sides I tried were great, served exactly how I like them. The sweet potato fries were served with a chipotle mayo style dip-a touch many restaurants have dropped by which I liked seeing. The classic fries were long and thin, similar to a shoestring but still had a good potato flavour. The chicken and fiddle head chowder was an interesting combination and a nice chowder, though perhaps not the best way to showcase fiddle heads, which were a little overpowered by the chowder flavour. I only had a taste of my own burger this time round; the meat was fantastic, not overcooked, juicy and flavourful, and served in a generous portion. The burgers were also topped with crispy, caramelized onions, which was a real delicious treat. After a few bites of the burger together, I noticed something unusual-I couldn't taste the blue cheese. Now, normally blue cheese isn't something that slips in undetected. It's definitely there in my pictures, so either there was only a teeny amount (I didn't find any when I took the burger apart about halfway through) or it was just not a very strong blue cheese (which may appeal to some), but I was a little disappointed, especially given how delicious the burger and onions were. The bun also didn't hold together particularly well, although it was tasty. All in all, the food was good, and this is definitely the kind of place to come on an important dinner, like a meeting, date, or birthday. There are plenty of food options on the lunch menu (making me guess that the dinner menu must be satisfying as well), serve was quite speedy, and the atmosphere is appropriate for finer dining. There's also an extensive drink menu, if that's something you're interested in. I will warn you, however, that the desert menu was quite limited (only four options).

The Palate

A few weeks ago, my family decided to go out for brunch with my aunt. She suggested we try the Palate, a nice little restaurant downtown Fredericton, on Queen street. We checked it out online and saw that it looked good, and quite affordable, and so we were pretty excited to go. The Palate is a nice little place downtown, conveniently located (although a little harder to park at). On Saturday morning it didn't take very long to be seated for breakfast-although we did see others waiting while we were eating. The staff were also quite friendly. The brunch menu is fairly extensive, with all of the staples plus a few more creative concoctions. For those so inclined, mimosas are also offered at brunch. I chose the traditional eggs benedict, which was also offered with three or four unique variations, including smoked salmon with cream cheese, and a lobster variety. Another good looking option on the menu is called the "Alpine" and includes potatoes, eggs, and cheese. The eggs benny, pictured below, was quite good. The hollandaise sauce was flavourful and the eggs well cooked. I tried a bite of a family member's smoked salmon version, and the smoked salmon was fantastic-definitely what I'll be getting next time. After a good breakfast, we ordered desserts-sticky toffee pudding and chocolate lava cake, to be precise. The desserts definitely stole the show-the sticky toffee pudding was a perfect combination of sweetness and toffee, and the lava cake was a rich and delicious chocolate. The food was delicious, but the service was incredibly slow-probably the longest I've ever waited for food. To be fair, the desserts tasted as though they were just cooked (and with the amount of time it took, they may well have been), but none of the breakfast food we ordered should have taken as long as it did. The restaurant also committed one of my big pet peeves-the menu online is not accurate. To be precise, the prices are several dollars less than what they are in reality, and a few dishes were missing. While the price on the menu is obviously the correct one, it makes the website a much less useful tool when you go in expecting one price, and leave having paid several dollars more per item. Overall, the food was good, and the desserts fantastic. It's a cute little restaurant, and good spot to go if you're downtown Freddy. Just don't go there if you're in any sort of a hurry, and be warned that the prices online are not, as of the time of writing this, accurate.

Boneheads BBQ

Towards the end of the summer, my coworkers and I were looking for a place to head for our last night working in Halifax. When we first started working in metro for a few days, I had made a promise to show my two coworkers some of my favourite restaurants in the city, since neither of them had been before. Boneheads was on that list since the very beginning; I was craving some good, southern-style barbeque. So, saving some of the best for last, we headed out to Boneheads on our last night in Halifax, my coworkers looking for a good meal, and me hoping not to break my streak of suggesting good places in the city. I'm happy to say that Boneheads delivered. We got there towards the late evening. It wasn't too too hard to find parking, though I would imagine that that there South End location might be harder to park at during the lunch rush. The restaurant is a cute little corner place situated towards the end of Barrington Street (just keep driving, you'll find it!). You order at the counter, sort of like a fast food restaurant, but don't let that fool you. While you're waiting for your food, you'll probably notice the entertaining decor of the place-signs and pictures filled with jokes and puns all about BBQ meat. The menu essentially consists of an assortment of BBQ meats, mostly sandwiches, that you can order either individually or as a platter. The platters come with two sides, plus cornbread. The sides are a variety of southern BBQ staples: mac and cheese, potatoes etc. The prices are a little on the higher side-you'll probably wind up paying about 20 dollars for a platter (sandwich, two sides, and cornbread)-but the quality and quantity (the meals are huge, be prepared for that) are worth it. Pretty much everything on the menu I would expect to be fantastic. I've ordered the brisket, and love it. My coworkers were also thoroughly impressed with their meals, to the point of going up to the counter and thanking the staff at the end, and telling me that this was their favourite place we'd been to so far. I echo this endorsement: Bonheads has fantastic food. I also need to add a quick note about the service. When I ordered, there must have been some kind of confusion between me and the man taking my order, since I accidentally wound up with the sandwich and side instead of the platter. I noticed this when I wound up without cornbread (which, secretly, was my entire motivation for going to Boneheads: it's hard to find cornbread that good without going to the South!). When I asked if I was supposed to have cornbread, the guy and I both realized our miscommunication; quickly, he apologized and gave me a piece of cornbread, free of charge. I was thoroughly impressed-not a lot of places would do this, but Boneheads knows that this kind of a simple gesture towards a client will get me back in the door next time I'm in town. Overall, a great place. Friendly staff, entertaining decor, good location, fantastic food-and in large enough quantities that you will leave full. The only caveat is that Boneheads isn't cheap-you get what you pay for. Also, parking could be an issue at busier times.

Hiltop Grill

I've been to the Hilltop a number of times since moving to Fredericton, and so will write about it generally rather than one particular time. I've always thought of the Hilltop as something of a Fredericton institution-we've brought visitors and out-of-town co-workers there for brunch or lunch on numerous occasions. They have a really neat décor, friendly staff, and not-unreasonable prices for breakfast/brunch. It's a shame about the food though. See, the thing is, I keep ordering something different every time I go to the Hilltop, hoping to eventually eat something that helps me understand just why this place is an institution. I started by trying diner staples like Philly cheese steaks-these sorts of things were ok, but not on their own worthy of returning as often as I did. Then, eventually I decided to try their well-known Chinese lunch buffet; this must be what everyone comes here for, I thought. Well, I certainly hope not-I found the variety sorely lacking and the food unenjoyable. Breakfast/brunch is better. They typically do a nice eggs benny and their different breakfast plates are good. I can't recall their prices exactly, but I believe they were pretty reasonable. The one note I'd like to attach is that I have fond memories of the nachos here from when we passed through once in my childhood, and have been told that the nachos are still great. I've yet to try them in recent memory, but I'll update if I do. Overall, you could come to the Hilltop for a nice atmosphere, and super friendly service, in a bit of a Freddy institution. I would recommend that, if you do, you come for breakfast/brunch (and be prepared for a line!) since it's squarely better than lunch. If you do come for lunch, you might try the nachos; if you find something else good, please send me a message or comment on this post and let me know!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.