Evan's Seafood — Restaurant in Dartmouth

Decent Lobster Roll, But Some Dishes Miss the Mark。

I visited Evan’s Fresh Seafoods after hearing mixed reviews, and overall, I’d say the experience was a blend of hits and misses.

Lobster Roll This was the highlight of the meal. Unlike many other places where the lobster is served cold and in larger chunks, Evan’s chops the meat more finely and serves it warm. The seasoning is subtle and not drowned in heavy mayo or sauces, which lets the lobster flavor shine through. However, the lobster meat was slightly overcooked, which affected the texture a bit. Still, it’s one of the better warm lobster rolls I’ve had around Halifax.

Lobster Poutine A surprisingly satisfying dish. The rich lobster-infused gravy combined with melted cheese and chunks of lobster made for a creamy, indulgent treat. The portion size was just right—any more and it might’ve felt too heavy. Well-balanced and flavorful.

Fish & Chips Unfortunately, this dish didn’t meet expectations. The haddock was dry and lacked the natural flakiness and richness you’d expect from fresh fish. It could be due to using frozen fish or simply overcooking. Compared to halibut-based versions elsewhere, this one felt a step below in both taste and texture. Batter was also uninspired.

Seafood Chowder This was the biggest letdown. The broth was watery, lacking the creamy depth you’d hope for, and tasted more like salty water than a true chowder. The seafood inside was dry and stringy, with no hint of freshness. Honestly, it felt like an afterthought.

Overall: Come for the lobster roll or lobster poutine if you’re curious, but I’d skip the fish & chips and chowder. Prices are a bit on the high side for what you get, and not all dishes justify the cost. Service was friendly, and the location is convenient, but there’s room for improvement in...

Evan’s Seafood uses a fast-casual operation model where you order and pay at the register, obtain a number, sit down, and they’ll bring you the food. Their ‘taste of everything’ platters are a great way to sample the menu. The platter for two ($35) comes with two pieces of fish (we added an additional piece for $6), clams, scallops, fries, and salad.

The fried fish was exactly how I like it prepared. Very lightly battered so there’s a delicate crispy crust encapsulating flaky fish. The moist fish was delightful and made even better with some of the zesty creamy tartare sauce, which arrives two to an order.

Similarly, the fried scallops are lightly breaded, so the scallops’ sweetness stands out and is best enjoyed au naturel. They were addictively delicious; I could easily have a full order of these on a return visit.

Only the clams were something I could have lived without. They’re a bit “fishier” tasting and greasier since it’s more battered. Still, with a squeeze of the lemon and hot sauce the flavours improved.

The fries and salad were a decent portion for sharing. And while the fries were a bit soft, they were made from cut potatoes and tasted fresh.

Tasty food and the beautiful Halifax skyline view aside, what made the experience excel was their friendly service. We were well looked after, with people regularly checking in on us, despite sitting on the patio. And the cashier stressed that we didn’t need to add a gratuity, although it would be appreciated. When my friend pressed her about why she’d decline a tip, she noted that it’s a tough economy and didn’t want customers to feel pressured if they couldn’t afford the extra money. How thoughtful and refreshing, I left nourished on the...

In short We love Evan's!

2024 update August long weekend and the food continues to impress. The service felt a little less friendly this time but it was a chaotic long weekend.

2023 update Thanks to a little thing called the pandemic it's been several years since our last visit, but Evan's doesn't disappoint. The new (to us at least) seafood platter was the perfect way to have a little bit of everything. The staff is super friendly and accommodating and we love sitting out on the patio. We continue to love Evan's and always plan one of our vacation days around it.

The details We live in Alberta, but visit the Halifax area usually about once a year. When we are here we make sure this is on our list of places to visit. It's become a bit of a family tradition. They have a large selection of gluten free options (almost the entire menu now, including desserts)

So far we haven't been disappointed. We've had everything from their mouth watering crispy and flaky fish & chips to the decadent creamy and rich lobster poutine. The scallops are perfectly cooked and the clams always come with a huge portion. Actually everything is provided in significant quantities so we always leave feeling like we've overeaten (maybe that's because we over order too since everything is so good). The kid's fish and chips comes on a great fish plate that our two little ones love.

If you're on the Halifax side or visiting the area turn it into an adventure and take the ferry over. With kids this turns a simple lunch out into an exploration.

We highly recommend that you...