Chives Bistro in Halifax had the very best table, great wine list and fantastic food.

We recently had dinner at Chives Canadian Bistro in downtown Halifax and it was a pleasure from the moment we walked up to the door.  There is a video screen outside showing what’s happening in the clean and efficient kitchen. What a great first impression.  Up the stairs and we were met with a warm and friendly greeting.  We had booked on Open Table and requested a quiet table.  Turns out we were in for a treat; they had booked us into their private dining room, “The Vault”, a leftover from when the space was The Bank of Nova Scotia. It also serves as home to their considerable wine cellar.   I felt very “safe” surrounded by the thick walls and racks of wine.  We tried an Oregon Pinot Noir from Domaine Drouhin; an excellent recommendation from George Davis, GM.  The meal was pretty fine, starting with a creative Greek Salad with roasted onions, fried panko crusted feta and poached garlic vinaigrette and Pan-Roasted Scallops with goat cheese, pickled beets, beet greens and honey buttermilk dressing.  For main courses I had Steelhead Trout with pak choi and mustard pickle, the fish was full flavoured enough to work with the mustard. David had the “Veg Millanesse”, panko crusted tofu with saffron parmesan risotto, sweet peas, olive tapenade and pesto and pronounced it the best vegetarian dish he’d had in memory.  We loved Chives, the food was creative, tasty and well-presented and the service was warm and efficient.  Casual and comfortable, they’ve been doing it for 10 years, so if you find yourself in Halifax you won’t go wrong booking Chives Canadian Bistro.  http://www.chives.ca/

Chives Canadian Bistro

1537 Barrington Street

Halifax, Nova Scotia