Daryâ — Restaurant in Halifax

Have been twice...an evening in Feb 2023 and an evening in April 2023. Both visits very good. Beautiful decor. Capacity inside for 100 i would guess, plus patio for summer. A specific thing I like is the center dining section has tables where one person gets to enjoy the high backed cushioned booth side of the table. The two people I went went wanted to have the same comfort, but I have physical issues that make it harder to enjoy a meal sitting in a small chair. Very good service. Everything on the menu was enjoyable, specifically the chickpea and tahini dip (basically a deconstructed hummus). It only comes with what looks like one piece of baked pita/cracker, so you want want to ask for more. We ordered the 'bread & olives' which was delicious, but ended up using a lot of that bread for the other dip. The beef kebab is juicy and flavorful. The falafel balls (three) were very tasty. The cauliflower shakshuka was good, but maybe my least liked item, as just the cauliflower taste itself dominates (I can love it in some dishes, and not so much in others). The half roasted chicken had nothing unique about it, but juicy and good. The 'pickles' menu item isn't what I thought it was going to be, but that is probably my fault for not reading if there was a description. It's actually a small plate of pickled vegetables, not something I normally enjoy, but ate anyway. The 'cheese'/saganaki was loved on both visits. You can really taste the ouzo. The 2nd time, it didn't melt very much, so could've been left flaming for a few more seconds, but was still delicious. Every item tried was shared between the two of us, and overall very satisfied. I enjoyed the Mirage cocktail a lot, as well as some virgin cocktail where I can't recall the ingredients, a bartender invention on the spot apparently.

3rd visit: a nice Saturday evening in July 2025 for 6:15 reservations. Great service again. Myself and a friend split a lot of the vegan dishes and this was my best visit yet. The hummus was my favorite. There was enough bread this time/still the crisps. The lemon fries are a basic potato wedge with a dollop of what looks like mayo, but elevated flavor. The Roasted Veg side also looks simple, with wedges, but cooked to perfection, juicy & flavorful. The Long Island iced tea was refreshing & perfect. The berry mocktail (forget the name) was apparently amazing, according...

Freehand Hospitality outdid themselves on this particular venue. A well thought out vibe and atmosphere, one could say suspiciously similar décor and music to Soubois in Montreal.

Management at their sister restaurant, Drift, should have dinner at Darya to understand what quality service looks like. I would like to applaud the front end staff and management for making us feel at home. Our first drinks, which took longer than what some would call "industry standard", were compensated by a round of Ouzo on the house. We did not complain about initial beverage service time, nor were we bothered, so having management recognize the error and getting our night started with some shots was a great way to ensure we felt cared for!

Now, lets get to the music. The tastefully crafted playlist had my feet tapping, taking the unsuspecting diners on a journey from Marrakesh to Bodrum. While many Haligonians may not have an acquired taste for Arabian tech beats, it is much appreciated and welcomed as a change to our growing hospitality industry in the downtown core. Unfortunately due to sound restrictions from neighboring businesses, they are not able to provide live DJ's to set the mood, but it's not like many local DJs would have these tasteful beats in their library anyway!

Next up, we have one of the most essential aspects of any dining experience, the FOOD. We opted for Chicken wings, bread plate, fried cheese, and Calamari to start. The plates arrived to our table in delightfully fast manner. The bread is to die for, the calamari is above average, and the chicken wings were succulent. Beware! this is not your average wing and beer spot, if you are expecting large portions - best head to the alehouse. This food is about sharing, and quality over quantity. While it may not be the BEST food in the city, it surely is one of the best experiences when paired with other aspects such as service and atmosphere (take note Drift).

In times of high inflation and expensive living downtown, this place would be a nice treat. It is not cheap by any means, but will not break the bank. If you are looking to have a few drinks, appetizers, and mains, expect to fork out $100+ per person.

Well, this concludes my review. One of my first, as I plan to become a local guide on Google reviews. Darya, I will see you again!

Respectfully, Your...

UPDATE: Changing my earlier 5-star review to a 1-star The cost went WAY up and the quality went WAY down.

I’m honestly sad to write this, because I was such a fan. But a restaurant is only as good as its consistency — in service, food quality, and pricing. And Darya has lost it.

Why I won’t be back (unless things change):

Menu + food quality inconsistant I don’t mind a menu update. What I do mind is when dishes keep the same name but come out completely different.

The hummus was unrecognizable — way too much citrus and za’atar, so acidic we thought it had gone bad.

The Muhammara? More like a saucy/soupy red pepper dip with chunks of walnuts. Not the creamy spread it used to be.

And on top of that each $16+ dip only comes with one pita. Want more bread? That’s another $4 per piece. YES $4 EXTRA FOR PITA!!

Ridiculous pricing $21–$26 gets you one skewer of meat on a plate. No sides. Rice, fries, or veggies? NOPE. Those are another $6–$7 each.

Undercooked food They didn’t even ask how I wanted my beef cooked. It came out nearly raw.

The service has gone wayyyyy downhill Our server never checked on us, never refilled water, and was flat-out rude. When we mentioned how shocked we were by the menu changes, she brushed it off and said, “Well, I was just hired two days ago, so I can’t help you with the menu or what it used to be like.”

Funny thing is… we recognized her from brunch months ago. So either she forgot, or that was just an excuse.

To top it off, we asked her for water on three separate occasions AND never got it.

We brought family from out of town, specifically to Darya because it used to be fantastic and it was embarrassing. We spent over $200 on a meal that was basic, overpriced, and disappointing.

I feel completely ripped off.

If you want great Lebanese food that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you, go to Au Liban. Full plates, fair pricing, and they actually treat you well.

FORMER REVIEW when Darya was better quality below-- Always so good. Brunch is the best in the city. It's done buffet all you can eat style but very aesthetically. Amazing price for what you get

Service is exceptional. But docking one star because the buffet is inconsistent.

Saturday's are not as...