Un souper décontracté à Halifax, NS

The difference between seafood in Halifax and seafood in other places is quite obvious: You're eating something that was often caught 10 minutes before. Being surrounded by the ocean has its advantages! Halifax has it going on with seafood – whether you're looking for a refined lobster bisque or down-home fish and chips. Go fish.

It’s a great time to be a food lover in Nova Scotia. The city’s talented chefs have taken dining here to a whole new level, seeking out local ingredients and using them in innovative ways. Local wine is also enjoying an upswing in popularity, with ever more wineries and surprisingly sophisticated wines. Enjoy Nova Scotia wines at the following restaurants.

It can be tough to find delicious, gluten-free meals when dining out, but you’re in luck, because Halifax is a hotspot for gluten-free dining, with many outstanding restaurants to choose from. Whether you’re looking for the best gluten-free pub food or fine-dining experiences, Halifax has you covered.

Nothing says Halifax like a late-night donair or falafel sandwich enjoyed with friends at about 2 am on a downtown street corner. That might come as a surprise to outsiders who don’t realize how much the city’s culinary scene owes to Middle Eastern food. And Haligonians might also be surprised at the range and variety of Middle Eastern food available around town.

Like any city with a bustling food scene, Metro Halifax sees a lot of restaurants come and go in the course of a year. It's always sad to say goodbye to old favourites, but each year brings its own upside in the form of fresh, new dining establishments. Here are a few of 2015's notable arrivals.

Greek food is a beautiful example of the vegetable-forward Mediterranean diet, which is full of bold flavours and healthy ingredients. You'll find Greek restaurants all over the Metro area, ranging from quick and simple takeouts to elegant sit-down venues. Here are a few worthy places to satisfy your big fat Greek craving.

Whether it’s a quasi-German beer garden, trendy Italian resto, waterfront brewpub or rooftop party patio, Halifax has lots of great options for soaking up the sun’s rays while cooling off with a nice cold bevvy. There is something for everyone, from starving students to families to health nuts and beer nerds. These are Halifax’s best patios.

Not to be too morbid, but if I was on death row, my last meal would definitely be Thai – it’s my favourite type of cuisine on the planet! The first time I ever had Thai food just so happened to be in Halifax, and I’ve been completely hooked ever since. Thai fare is very popular in the city, so you’ll never be too far from a steaming plate of pad Thai or a bowl of spicy green curry.

Haligonians love their pizza, but we’ve become accustomed to budget pizza shops that cater to hungry students, busy families, the post-bar crowd and people in pajamas. Salvatore’s and Tomavino’s have been quietly leading the gourmet pizza front for years but now a brave new Halifax craves local ingredients, authenticity, artisanal technique and a good wine pairing!

The area covered by Dartmouth is much larger than that of Halifax. Tack on Cole Harbour and we’re dealing with a vast area with distinct identities and pizza delivery zones. Whether you live in Highfield Park, Woodside or Montebello, pizza shops can be counted on to provide a wide range of foods of varying quality and value. So, you live in Dartmouth. This list attempts to answer that age-old question: Where is the best pizza?

For a city with a culinary heritage of boiled fish and potatoes, Halifax is crazy about sushi! Whether you are a newbie, purist or straight up glutton, there is something for everyone. There are budget sushi cafés, all-you-can-eat restaurants, boutique and traditional sushi shops. Whether you prefer authentic nigiri or deep fried cream cheese tempura crunch rolls – there is a world of sushi out there! These are your best bets.

When you want a cheap meal out, most folks turn to burgers. To the delight of Halifax burger fans, it’s surprisingly easy to find exceptionally tasty budget-conscious burgers that aren’t served by fast-food chains. The eateries listed here use top-notch ingredients to create burgers that won’t take a big bite out of your wallet.