Martin's Kitchen — Restaurant in Goodwood

I went last night with four friends after three years of not being in this wonderful local restaurant that is located in the clubhouse of a very pretty golf course and Martin's Kitchen has wonderful views and last evening, we witnessed a spectacular sunset which my friends did not see happening until I made them take note as we all should be aware of Mother Earth's actions to make her inhabitants healthier and happier despite our compulsion to destroy her with our greed. In years gone by (three years since we were there because I gave up my car and license) reservations were not necessary but last night, we arrived to find a women's golf tournament was just finishing and there were hundreds waiting to be feed and we were told initially that we could not get a table without having made a reservation in advance but Martin came out of his kitchen to ask us to wait patiently (it took about sixty minutes) because he was as happy to see us again as I was to see him. Only one of the five accompanying me had been there before. So it was a wonderful sixty minutes listening to the women having a great time and obviously really enjoying their meal and allowed me to get to know three of the people in our party that I had not met until that evening. We all ended up having a fabulous meal, experienced fabulous serving by all of the team and delighted in the ambience and love but being out in the countryside the mosquitoes were happy to be munching on us but they got to eat as well. As I have done in the past, I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. In the past, Martin had several of the top restaurants in the city and now this fabulous restaurant experience ranks up there with the best in the province and likely the country, .It is a family affair and the servers are all children or friends of the owners who have gotten married since I last visited. Martin despite being very busy put his sous chef sons to work and spend considerable time to come out and visit our table which was very impressive. Everyone had desserts made by Martin's wife which looked ascetically very pleasing and were reported to be beyond delicious but I have not eaten dessert in over twenty years now. I ate calamari (scrumptious) and tuna which I have perhaps eaten two or three times in my life and the preparation was serving it after quickly flipping the steak in a pan so essentially served raw and was sushi grade and it made my brain dance with great delight but the reaction would have been the same with the selection of fish dishes on the menu that night. My spinach salad was worthy of being in a photograph. Overall I highly recommend and the journey of ten minutes outside of the city core here in Halifax is time well spent to get there and back. I think this restaurant has become very popular with the locals who never had a nearby restaurant and certainly not one anywhere close to this caliber so reservations now are essential. We were told that after serving a hundred very hungry golfers there may be no food left to cook but just to be patient and there was food superbly prepared and more than enough. I am anxious to return and have been told I will be taken there for the upcoming Father's Day so that means I will not...

Tucked away with a golf course as its picturesque backdrop, the restaurant’s location is nothing short of idyllic. We chose to sit outside on the patio, soaking in the serene view, but a quick glance inside revealed a charming and welcoming atmosphere as well. As we settled in, the friendly and attentive staff made us feel right at home. Their service was impeccable, and they executed their tasks with a grace that was delightful to witness. The food, however, was a journey of highs and lows. We started with the calamari, which was a bittersweet experience. It was perfectly fried, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. But then came the sauce—drenched in a mix that made it soggy and overwhelming, reminiscent of ketchup and mustard. Why spoil such a well-executed dish? Serving the sauce on the side would make all the difference. Next, we delved into the halibut from the daily specials and the mushroom truffle ravioli from the menu. The halibut arrived on a bed of mashed potatoes, crowned with a piece of lobster, accompanied by pieces of pork belly, and drizzled with a light tomato sauce. It sounded promising, but the reality fell short. The lobster was overcooked, and the halibut, though flavorful, was too small and relatively overcooked. The dish lacked enough vegetables as well. For the price and anticipation, it felt like a missed opportunity. The ravioli fared better but still had its shortcomings. The truffle flavor was elusive, and the raviolis, while decent, were a bit too thin and could have been heartier. Dessert was a visually stunning carrot cake, beautifully presented but overly sweet, likely due to an excess of added syrup. Fine dining should focus on nuanced flavors rather than overwhelming sweetness, which is better suited to mass-produced grocery store desserts. The drinks offered a more satisfying experience. Our cocktails were excellent, with the red sangria standing out as one of the best I’ve ever tasted. However, the beer selection was underwhelming, understandable given the emphasis on wines and cocktails. The lone cider, Annapolis, a personal favorite, was served in its can. It would have been nicer to see it served in a glass, and not bringing the can to the table, a simple touch that enhances the dining experience.

Despite these culinary missteps, I would recommend this restaurant. It offers a unique and memorable experience. With a bit more attention to detail, particularly from Chef Martin in refining the dishes, this place has the potential to elevate its offerings from good to truly luxurious. P.s. I wish people were more honest in their reviews. Giving everything five stars and only writing good reviews is not honest. It won’t help the people and won’t help the businesses to improve. Please be more honest people, dishonest niceties are becoming a well known east coast low quality characteristic, even for the...

Martin's Kitchen is a lovely venue. We were seated in the enclosed patio area, loved all the foliage surrounding the room. We ordered a couple of the signature coctails, despite my friend requesting only 2 cubes of ice, her request fell on deaf ears because her glass was full to the brim I ordered a drink that was to have whisky and drambui, it was overly sweet and tasted more like a sweet lemonade rather than tasting like the first ingredient 'whiskey'...again my glass was mostly ice. I chose this drink thinking it would not be sweet. Because we were in the corner we were largely ignored and had to seriously try to flag down our server for service, I noted the server never scoped the room to see which patron needed something. The calamari is delicious. My friend ordered fish and chips, she was asked if she wanted one or two pieces of fish....she requested 2 but when the order arrived it only had one, no explanation was given...we flagged our server down and only then were we informed the kitchen no longer gives the option of 2 pieces but instead gives 1 larger piece; the menu, however, does state 2 pieces. I ordered the mushroom and chicken ravioli. There wasn't even a hint of chicken either inside the ravioli or on the plate..I guess I should have asked if the chicken was forgotten as the ravioli was definitely just ricotta; the mushroom sauce was good but I had to send it back to be reheated as it was lukewarm and I parmesan was never offered, I had to request some as none was offered. Look, this could have been an off day at least for our table, I have no idea but given our experience on that particular day...Here is my take...great venue, service could use some attention for sure, all tables should be equally important not just the lively ones with groups. The cocktails offered don't resemble or taste remotely what is written in the description and are a big let down. Food should arrive at the table as represented on the menu. The owner is lovely. It was our first visit and it was an important post lockdown friend's birthday....she was disappointed for sure as was I. The reader needs to know I am unaccustomed and uncomfortable giving poor reviews but I am recounting our experience...