February is 'Dine Around' month where 'prix-fixe' rules, and Dear Friend was at the top of our list. The prix-fixe menu was both extensive and intriguing. Our cocktails were Pressure Drop (gin) and Community Cocktail (bourbon), and both delicious. Food-wise, my partner and I selected the carrots and salmon to start, the beef and char as mains, and the cheese and tart to finish. Each course was superb. Throughout, the flavours were exquisite, and exquisitely paired.
We were particularly impressed by the owner, Jeff's attention - he took the time to speak at length with us about the menu, the drinks and the restaurant. He even gave us a complimentary Canadian whisky and requested our opinion. A wonderful treat. We will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aaron Capulong
Cozy area for some nice food and drinks. We tried their 6 course tasting menu and had a great time. Well worth it for the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emily Kristensen
The server Renauld was absolutely phenomenal and I have never had better customized service here in Halifax nor travelling the world. I hope this man goes far and is greatly appreciated by the owners and managers!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
nicholasalexis
Had a wonderful time last october! Owner served us at the bar. Exceptional drinks and food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alan Bo
Dear Friend, why don't you like me?
My date and I walked into Dear Friend at 6:30 on the last Sunday in December. The restaurant was at least half full, and there was not a single server or staff member on the floor or behind the bar. This felt really bizarre. Who was serving these people?
After two minutes, a server emerged. The couple who showed up just after us were sat at a table that seats four. Meanwhile, my date and I were sat at a table right beside the drafty door that felt like the end of an ironing board.
My date doesn't drink alcohol, and the menu says to "ask about non-alcoholic cocktails." So we did, and the server said they could "make us anything." How should one respond to that question? Why not just put a non-alcoholic cocktail on the menu or write somewhere, "Don't ask."
As for food, we decided on the "Let us cook for you" option. Six courses for $50! I would have been shocked by that low price at the end of 2014 let alone 2024.
The price felt incredibly generous when the first course was a bowl of tuna tartare and a half dozen oysters. The tartare was bland, though. Topped with minced radish and red apples that had little flavour, the dish would have been better off with a sour green apple or something with acidity. The wasabi cream was fine, but there wasn't enough of it. Chebooktook oysters are meant to be sweet for east coast oysters, but they were salty and pungent to the point where they felt like they were on the edge of being off. And this was nearly the highlight of the meal.
The strange second course was a bowl of twenty-five tough, salty green olives. Who wants to eat over a dozen olives on their own? This wasn't a course, it was a fraction of a dish.
The third course was maybe the best of the night, a falafel about the size and shape of a cigarette with cashew cream and nice acidity. Small but tasty.
The fourth course was another strange one, roast carrots in a cashew cream sauce. This was a perfectly fine dish. But like the olives, why would I eat this dish on its own? It would be nice served alongside fish, beef, chicken, etc., but is it a dish or just a side?
The fifth course was a small bite of "chicken and waffles." This is where I truly lost confidence in the chef and restaurant. This was the most chefy and ridiculous take on chicken and waffles. Instead of deep fried chicken, you get liver parfait. Instead of maple, there was some sort of cranberry compote. The waffle was dense and super spongey. An Eggo would have been preferred. Please take this dish off of the menu.
Surely they aren't going to move onto a dessert course next, I thought, without some actual main dish with substantial protein. No, first we got to try four gnocchis each with a fleck of mushroom on top.
So basically, other than some tartare, three oysters, and a spread of liver parfait, the menu was basically all vegetarian. That's how one gets six courses for $50. You're mostly getting vegetables and small bites and a few oysters going off.
But oh great, there was a seventh dessert course, too. The espresso martini tiramisu was truly embarrasing, the worse dessert I've had at any restaurant ever. They drowned a light and airy chocolate sponge cake in espresso martini, so that there were pools of liquid turning the cake grainy and gross. There's a reason tiramisu soaks a very specific type of ladyfinger in a coffee -- you can't just soak any cake or baked good in liquid. Who came up with this dish? Why?
Why, yes. Why did I spend all this time writing this review? The server didn't seem to care much about the issues I had with the meal, for one, and I thought management might. But this restaurant does not seem to care about your enjoyment. They care about their chefy c
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Falafel Bites with Hummus
Jamie Chao
Made a great Whiskey sour
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Keith Shepherd
Amazing find, awesome menu, great service. The fried squash is amazing. Beef tartar is a must.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Tartare
Aylin Paul
This place offers incredible cocktails and cozy vibe.
Wolf Schneiderman
Dear Friend could be in a city like New York, Montreal, or Toronto with absurdly good restaurant selection, and I would still choose to eat their delicious tartar and drink a super tasty pisco sour or negroni over anywhere else on a Friday night. Do yourself a favor and try it.
They are the dearest: they gently picked up my puppy who decided to make an entrance on his own, treating him with a chicken lever and a water. On other occasions, they recalled my friends' drink choices, introduced to me an updated menu with an eloquence of a creator, and participated in my game of a fortune telling using fresh friction books. Many thanks, friends.
We were passing by and staying a night near Halifax and we sort of randomly went to have dinner here. The food was really amazing and it was overall such a great meal. Our bartender Lingjie was also very fun to chat with so we really enjoyed our time here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jackson Long
This was my favourite bar of all time, LJ sat us in the exclusive secret back room and did some crazy flair bartending; she’s way better than Mona behind the bar but they were all sick bartenders with sick drinks and i will fly back to halifax just for this! 11/10 thank you thank you thank you
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Tartare, Strawberry Noir
Samiah A
The oysters on their back patio was a highlight of the Dartmouth Food Crawl. The oysters were fresh and for $1.50 each. The service was friendly and fast so we had a good experience. My only regret is not getting more of the delicious oysters.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessi Talbot
Supremely thoughtful cocktail list with something for everyone. Staff goes hard in the knowledge, with personal care. Shout out to Jeremy, he is always a legend !
Leigh Lamontagne
Excellent cocktails. Strawberry Noir was extremely delicious.
February is 'Dine Around' month where 'prix-fixe' rules, and Dear Friend was at the top of our list.
The prix-fixe menu was both extensive and intriguing. Our cocktails were Pressure Drop (gin) and Community Cocktail (bourbon), and both delicious.
Food-wise, my partner and I selected the carrots and salmon to start, the beef and char as mains, and the cheese and tart to finish.
Each course was superb. Throughout, the flavours were exquisite, and exquisitely paired.
We were particularly impressed by the owner, Jeff's attention - he took the time to speak at length with us about the menu, the drinks and the restaurant. He even gave us a complimentary Canadian whisky and requested our opinion. A wonderful treat. We will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cozy area for some nice food and drinks. We tried their 6 course tasting menu and had a great time. Well worth it for the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The server Renauld was absolutely phenomenal and I have never had better customized service here in Halifax nor travelling the world. I hope this man goes far and is greatly appreciated by the owners and managers!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a wonderful time last october! Owner served us at the bar. Exceptional drinks and food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dear Friend, why don't you like me?
My date and I walked into Dear Friend at 6:30 on the last Sunday in December. The restaurant was at least half full, and there was not a single server or staff member on the floor or behind the bar. This felt really bizarre. Who was serving these people?
After two minutes, a server emerged. The couple who showed up just after us were sat at a table that seats four. Meanwhile, my date and I were sat at a table right beside the drafty door that felt like the end of an ironing board.
My date doesn't drink alcohol, and the menu says to "ask about non-alcoholic cocktails." So we did, and the server said they could "make us anything." How should one respond to that question? Why not just put a non-alcoholic cocktail on the menu or write somewhere, "Don't ask."
As for food, we decided on the "Let us cook for you" option. Six courses for $50! I would have been shocked by that low price at the end of 2014 let alone 2024.
The price felt incredibly generous when the first course was a bowl of tuna tartare and a half dozen oysters. The tartare was bland, though. Topped with minced radish and red apples that had little flavour, the dish would have been better off with a sour green apple or something with acidity. The wasabi cream was fine, but there wasn't enough of it. Chebooktook oysters are meant to be sweet for east coast oysters, but they were salty and pungent to the point where they felt like they were on the edge of being off. And this was nearly the highlight of the meal.
The strange second course was a bowl of twenty-five tough, salty green olives. Who wants to eat over a dozen olives on their own? This wasn't a course, it was a fraction of a dish.
The third course was maybe the best of the night, a falafel about the size and shape of a cigarette with cashew cream and nice acidity. Small but tasty.
The fourth course was another strange one, roast carrots in a cashew cream sauce. This was a perfectly fine dish. But like the olives, why would I eat this dish on its own? It would be nice served alongside fish, beef, chicken, etc., but is it a dish or just a side?
The fifth course was a small bite of "chicken and waffles." This is where I truly lost confidence in the chef and restaurant. This was the most chefy and ridiculous take on chicken and waffles. Instead of deep fried chicken, you get liver parfait. Instead of maple, there was some sort of cranberry compote. The waffle was dense and super spongey. An Eggo would have been preferred. Please take this dish off of the menu.
Surely they aren't going to move onto a dessert course next, I thought, without some actual main dish with substantial protein. No, first we got to try four gnocchis each with a fleck of mushroom on top.
So basically, other than some tartare, three oysters, and a spread of liver parfait, the menu was basically all vegetarian. That's how one gets six courses for $50. You're mostly getting vegetables and small bites and a few oysters going off.
But oh great, there was a seventh dessert course, too. The espresso martini tiramisu was truly embarrasing, the worse dessert I've had at any restaurant ever. They drowned a light and airy chocolate sponge cake in espresso martini, so that there were pools of liquid turning the cake grainy and gross. There's a reason tiramisu soaks a very specific type of ladyfinger in a coffee -- you can't just soak any cake or baked good in liquid. Who came up with this dish? Why?
Why, yes. Why did I spend all this time writing this review? The server didn't seem to care much about the issues I had with the meal, for one, and I thought management might. But this restaurant does not seem to care about your enjoyment. They care about their chefy c
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Falafel Bites with Hummus
Made a great Whiskey sour
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing find, awesome menu, great service. The fried squash is amazing. Beef tartar is a must.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Tartare
This place offers incredible cocktails and cozy vibe.
Dear Friend could be in a city like New York, Montreal, or Toronto with absurdly good restaurant selection, and I would still choose to eat their delicious tartar and drink a super tasty pisco sour or negroni over anywhere else on a Friday night.
Do yourself a favor and try it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Tartare, Yellowfin Tuna, Charcuterie Plate
They are the dearest: they gently picked up my puppy who decided to make an entrance on his own, treating him with a chicken lever and a water. On other occasions, they recalled my friends' drink choices, introduced to me an updated menu with an eloquence of a creator, and participated in my game of a fortune telling using fresh friction books. Many thanks, friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We were passing by and staying a night near Halifax and we sort of randomly went to have dinner here. The food was really amazing and it was overall such a great meal. Our bartender Lingjie was also very fun to chat with so we really enjoyed our time here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was my favourite bar of all time, LJ sat us in the exclusive secret back room and did some crazy flair bartending; she’s way better than Mona behind the bar but they were all sick bartenders with sick drinks and i will fly back to halifax just for this! 11/10 thank you thank you thank you
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Tartare, Strawberry Noir
The oysters on their back patio was a highlight of the Dartmouth Food Crawl. The oysters were fresh and for $1.50 each. The service was friendly and fast so we had a good experience. My only regret is not getting more of the delicious oysters.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Supremely thoughtful cocktail list with something for everyone. Staff goes hard in the knowledge, with personal care. Shout out to Jeremy, he is always a legend !
Excellent cocktails. Strawberry Noir was extremely delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Strawberry Noir
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