Field Guide — Restaurant in Halifax

Might be worth it if you're just looking for a nice cocktail, but skip the food.

I was really looking forward to my meal here, but practically everything about it was a let down. Our server was indifferent, the food was mediocre, and the seating was cramped and uncomfortable. All for a premium price. The highlights of the night were our cocktails and the pickles, everything else fell flat. There are much better options in Halifax for a similar price point, with friendlier service and seats other than metal bar stools.

We started the night on a sour note, as we learned that even though my wife had listed a sunflower allergy in the dietary restrictions on the reservation, there was only a single option on the menu that she would be able to eat. They did make some substitutions to allow us to salvage the night, but if a dietary restriction eliminates 90% of the menu, then that's a conversation to be had when accepting the reservation, not tableside.

The pickles came out first, which were wonderfully tangy and had a bit of a kick to them. A nice accompaniment to the lovely cocktails we had ordered.

We followed that with a wedge of cheese from Quebec, which was fine. It's hard to go wrong with cheese and bread.

Then came the oysters, which was the first sign of the disappointment to come. Small, flavourless, and shucked so poorly that we had shells in at least 50% of them. The homemade sauces were enough to make them interesting, but the oysters themselves were incredibly bland.

That was followed by the beef tartare which looked more like a corned beef hash than it did tartar. The beef was cut much too large, it was underseasoned to the point of being tasteless, and the mint completely overpowered everything else in the dish. Our server didn't check in on us until we had finished it (it was disappointing, but not inedible) so I let him know and we moved on.

The short rib was a sin. Underseasoned, tough, and dry. Closer to a bad pot roast than it was a short rib. Served over potatoes and carrots that had so little colour or seasoning they might as well have come from a freezer bag. We couldn't finish this one, and our server left without comment when I told him that we didn't enjoy it. We decided to cut our losses and left without dessert.

None of this by itself would have been worth 2 stars, but the constant disappointment, poor service, and outrageous prices for the quality and portion sizes received really left a bad taste in my mouth. We won't be...

All around AMAZING! Im quite particular about my food and drinks, and this place did a fantastic job of creating a summer fresh, delicious and creative menu (with great service). I had minor critiques, but overall was in love and would return and recommend to anyone.

Food: We started with the bread and mussels. Best mussels we’ve ever had, as they were cooked perfectly (and fresh) and the broth was heaven. The bread pairing was perfect to soak up all the buttery broth goodness. Next was the Shrimp Bao. The bread was fluffy and light, and shrimp was at chilled room temperature, perfect for a summer day. A good flavour of celery in case you dislike that, but I’d still suggest you try it! Finally we had the Zucchini and Beef Tartare. Zucchini didn’t wow, though still fresh and summer minty vibes. Beef Tartare…hands down best we’ve ever had. The Asian fusion incorporated was perfect. Closed it out with a Strawberry & Cream, which albeit simpler was well done.

Drinks: Go for them all. Very creative and they can walk you through tasting notes perfectly. Milk Punch (method; not actually milk; recommend), Strawberry Basil Negroni (strongly recommend; not traditional negroni alcohol forward), Eucalyptus Sour (subtle, calm and collected; recommend), Corn Star (be adventurous, as the chipotle is super subtle; worth the risk; recommend), Vesper (again, not alcohol forward; recommend).

Atmosphere: Cozy and charming, yet the accents are vibrant and energizing. Indoor volume is medium, and great for a family, cocktail, date or a “i want a nice drink/bite” any day...

Absolutely wonderful experience end-to-end from Field Guide. This was our second time visiting Field Guide for dinner, and it was just as good as the first, if not better.

We chose bar seats right in front of the open tiny kitchen and enjoyed chatting with the cooks during service. Everyone - The bartender, the hosts, and the cooks were personable, fun, and attentive.

The drinks were inventive and well balanced, exactly what I'd expect from an eclectic bar on Queen West in Toronto, but much closer to home. Food came out at a reasonable pace, which considering the size of the kitchen (Three cooks in something smaller than apartment kitchens I've had before! A single 30" Induction range!) is impressive. I'd say we made a mistake doing 6 of the larger plates between two people, but we managed to down it all. Everything was well balanced and approachable, with a huge focus put on texture - Incredibly well thought out from that standpoint.

We left completely satisfied and look forward to our next opportunity to visit. If more places took after Field Guide when it comes to hospitality and care, the world would be a better...