The Canteen on Portland in Dartmouth

I was expecting more given the reviews. Food was fine. Nothing special. Space is very loud. Very. Loud. Server seemed bored and entitled.

Nice bright space with good food and good service. We would definitely go back.

It was wonderful!!! Crobsters and shared a chowder and carrot cake for dessert. Service was top-notch and couldnt have be nicer.

Just tried their new fall menu, delicious! Would highly recommend.

Good menu selection. Good food. Knowledgeable staff. Vibrant atmosphere.

Food was really delicious. Portions on the smaller end - you may need to get an appetizer and a dessert to feel satiated.

The food and service were both excellent. However the portions are quite small and we were disappointed to wait an hour and a half total for our reserved table, and the food.

Good food quick service.

Had a couple of great meals here during a stay in Dartmouth. The Crobster Roll and chowder are both excellent, with plenty of fresh seafood. Brunch is also good, with variations on staples like Eggs Benny and pancakes. Service was efficient and friendly with a casual, neighbourhood feel.

Nice local restaurant. Meatball sandwich was great

Absolutely wonderful service and great atmosphere!

Wow wow wow! Love this place. I held off on getting a lobster roll during my trip to the area and I am so glad I did. Asked some locals and they raced about this place. I came in early and they fit me in without a reservation. The service was awesome with sweet folks running the place. The crobster roll was impeccable. Not over dressed, rich, and full of meat. Only found one little bit of shell (half the size of a grain of rice) and that is the only critique I can think to give. I suggests everyone take the ferry trip if you are staying in Halifax and try this place out!

The BEST Crobster Sandwich on the planet....and a bowl of the chowder.....a MUST if you go here...it is full of deliciousness with a nice smokey taste...get an extra biscuit!

Heard good things, so had to stop in for dinner on our trip. The meal was great and the staff very friendly and efficient. Definitely recommend!!!

Crobster sandwich was very tasty. The fries and kale ceaser salad definitely highlights of the meal. Highly recommend. We took the ferry from downtown halifax, and it was worth the trip!

I would not recommend as this restaurant is significantly disappointing. I had heard great things about this restaurant, and after seeing it had made a local magazine s top 50 restaurant list, I decided to try it out. Well, I m significantly confused how it made that list as the food and experience was not good. The seafood chowder was basically seafood and veggie chunks in skim milk (if you look through the other low reviews this is appears to be a common complaint) and the haddock burger was greasy and the bun was to hard to eat as a hand held so fork and knife was needed to get bite-sized edible pieces. The additional side soup was disappointing with large dried sage leaves added in making it not appealing and essentially inedible. The service was not great Once we were done eating and waiting to get our bill, the waitress came and quite literally threw the desert menu on our table and walked away without asking (or giving us the chance to ask for our bill) if we were interested in dessert, which we were not, so we had to wait even longer just to ask for our bill.

We arrived in Darmouth and went straight to this highly recommended restaurant, after dropping of our luggage. The place was warm and inviting and we felt like there was a party going on. Everyone was laughing and smilling as they enjoyed their food. And the wait staff were definitely having fun, also! The food was incredible... the snow crab dip was a beautiful appetizer paired with a special Nova Scotian white wine specifically blended to pair with all the seafood on the menu. For our mains, we had the seafood chowder filled with all kinds of seafood in a light flavorful cream broth and the pan fried haddock on a beautiful plate of flavorful vegetables with a sauce that complimented the fish. We loved the Canteen so much that we immediately made a booking for Saturday brunch and are thinking of going back for dinner again. Please dont miss this place if you go to the Halifax area. You will need to make a reservation on Open Table for sure!

Had a wonderful anniversary dinner here. The food was exceptional!

FOOD GOES HARD! Appropriate portions while being perfectly decadent. A couples starters and two mains is a great amount for two people without hurting the wallet. Drink list could use a wee bit of of life and thought but otherwise EXCELLENT! Book your reservation now!!!

Great intimate restaurant. Food was fantastic. Great variety of vegan and vegetarian options.

Ridiculously amazing food and such friendly service! Michael was fabulous! Will be back before our vacation ends!

I m not normally a big fan of chowder but this was something else. The soup, far from being salty and laden with processed cream a la most versions you d find in the USA, was airy and light, infused with haddock. Every single component of seafood (whether it be the massive chunks of lobster, clams, scallops) was incredibly fresh and tender. You could tell this was the same day s catch.

Beautiful and good lunches. Friendly service.

Excellent service and excellent food. Highly recommended Food

Mark was an amazing host, and he made sure I had everything Chowder soup was one of the best I have ever had.

Nice laid back atmosphere. Stone fruit and tomato salad, oysters, crobster roll and chowder were all great. Carrot cake was the best Ive ever had, and Ive had a lot. Service was great.

Hands down one of the best places in HRM! Amazing fresh and locally inspired dishes. Service and staff couldn t be better. I live nearby and love grabbing a snack at the bar with a glass of wine. Ansel is one of the best bartenders in Hali and will make you one hell of a cocktail! If you re reading reviews to decide whether you should go or not, just do it and you ll have no regrets :)

Absolute BANGER of a spot in Dartmouth recommended by a local! Ordered the mussels & fries + crobster roll to split and was plentyyyyy of food for 2 people. The mussels came out steaming hot and with a delicious focaccia to soak up the garlic broth. Handcut fries paired soooo well with the garlic aoli and the crobster was 11/10!!! On top of that, big big shout out to our lovely server, Miss Eva!!! She went absolutely above and beyond to take care of us while we were there and was just a gem of a person!! The staff in general were all so kind & friendly during lunch. Found a new go-to place whenever I m out east

Came here several times for dinner. The scallop and pea risotto, seafood chowder, and pan-fried haddock and hodge podge were divine. The atmosphere is lovely wnd cozy and service is amazing. 10/10 experience.

Crobster Roll was soo fresh and delicious! Love the food, vibe and customer service..must visit place to eat good food.

Lovely atmosphere, great food , good portion, pricey a bit but worth it. The crobster (bread a bit too buttery) but everything else tasty and will be back for other items on the menu Food

Had brunch here on a Saturday morning and it was absolutely lovely. We ordered the crobster (crab & lobster) roll and crobster Benny and both were amazing. Service was also exceptional and our server was always checking to see if things were still good or topping up my coffee. If your early on the weekend, there is plenty of street parking and parking lots nearby. If youre coming from Halifax, you can also take the ferry. The port is about a 5 minute walk away so its very convenient.

Falafel bowl was excellent, burger was fine. Portions not especially generous for the size.

Amazing service. Extremely clean.

We had heard about the Canteen on a tv show about travel in Halifax. We were on an organized tour, but decided on crossing with the ferry! What an excellent decision! We were celebrating our fifth anniversary. My husband ordered the seafood chowder and I ordered the haddock! I can not begin to tell you what a culinary experience we had! For the eyes, for the taste buds, the smell, everything was abslolutely tasteful! We recommended the restaurant to everyone we talked to, even the finance minister of Quebec we happen to have breakfast with. Merci Renee Lavallée pour une aventure gustative qui hante mes souvenirs! Si nous passons par Dartmouth dans le futur, nous renouvellerons l expérience! Merci mille fois!

I had the pan-seared haddock and it was amazing. Excellent food and service!

Started my trip with brunch at Canteen, where I enjoyed the french toast special of the day, which was reaped with fruit including some succulent cherries. Came back for my last meal of the trip where I had the haddock burger and fries; unlike other fish burgers Ive had this one held together extremely well for the entire meal and filled me up for the flight home.

The ingredients are local and all the food tastes super fresh! Highly recommended!

I came here specifically for the Crobster Roll and it did not disappoint! Service was friendly and prompt and the restaurant was beautiful. I would 1000% go again!!

Stumbled upon this place by chance and SO glad we did! The flavours of everything we ate were amazing. The Tuna ceviche was the most amazing ceviche we ve ever had. The crobster roll was so delicious. This is a more than a meal, it s a tastebud experience!

Our server, Eva was so incredibly welcoming and friendly. Her menu recommendations did not disappoint! She very clearly enjoys working at The Canteen and it shows. Lovely staff, delicious food! The feature peachy keen sandwich was 5/5.

I got the lobster roll, which was amazing! The real star of the night was the pan-fried haddock my wife got. The sauce infused with seaweed was so amazing! There are just so many levels of flavor in one dish. The server was super cool, and the enviromental was so chill. Too bad I live in Toronto, or Id be here every night. Two amazing dinners and two IPAs $110

Kid-friendliness: Non Food

This was my first time at Canteen and I honestly don t have a bad word to say about my experience. My group of four all loved our food, drinks, the service, and the look and feel of the restaurant. It was a total 10/10. I worked in the service industry for many years and it takes a lot to impress me. This impressed me. Probably the best scallops I ve ever had. Our server Eva was amazing. She was great at her job but she was also just a kind and genuine person. I m going to go back for another meal before I leave town. Thank you Canteen!!!

We had an exceptional experience at Canteen! The food was delicious, fresh and well presented! The service was excellent, very friendly, warm and attentive without being pretentious!! We have been twice during our short visit to Dartmouth and plan to get one more at least before we go home to Vancouver Will definitely recommend to anyone traveling east!

super fresh and delicious lobster roll. also really great chowder that is packed with seafood. a bit on the saltier side but expected given how much seafood is in it!

Went to try the crobster roll. It was really good. I m not a fan of truffle but it all married so well it was barely noticeable and very well complimented. My partner had the burger, he said it was average at best but he did enjoy the special sauce. Service was fast but we did feel a little judged by our server, Marc P.

Andrew was phenomenal! I was in town for a few days, and he gave me some superb recommendations. All of which were on point! Even where to be careful of in the city.. food was oh la la... wanted to go back but didnt get a chance. Will go back when in there again.

Favorite restaurant! Excellent lobster roll! Very nice atmosphere and impeccable service!

I could drive 1100km to have crobster roll... Oh wait! I just did that. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free Food : 5/5 |

That was a fantastic meal. The Crobster was amazing. And my compliments on the fries. Really friendly service too!

Had lunch with the ladies. It was yummy.

I cannot recommend this place enough!! We had just arrived and had all of our luggage as we waited for our rental check in and the staff was so kind to allow us to store it all in a more secure area of the restaurant while we ate on the patio. The atmosphere was comforting and also beautiful. We came to Nova Scotia for the seafood and boy this place did NOT disappoint!! I ordered the eggs benny with the crobster and my friend ordered the crobster roll, both of us were astounded at how delicious it was. Our waitress Calley was so kind and gracious and the rest of the staff were very friendly as well. Definitely somewhere you gotta check out if youre in the area!

Nice place.

The pan seared haddock is sublime. The staff is attentive and very professional. The Crabster roll is fantastic

Excellent food, had brunch and it was perfect, staff are friendly, you dont feel rushed at all. Will definitely come back

Stopped here for out first dinner of our vacation in Nova Scotia. Had heard great things about the crobster roll. It was indeed delicious, tender and satisfying. Fries were good. Husband had the scallop risotto which was great according to him. Friendly service, super cute atmosphere.

Quaint restaurant in downtown Dartmouth. The wait time for our food was pretty long (almost 40 minutes). Also portion size was on the smaller side. We left hungrier than when we went in ordering one entree each. Seafood chowder was lacking seasoning and had scarce amounts of lobster but copious amounts of potatoes. Scallops were wonderful, to be fair. Would say taste is pretty standard for the chowder in general. The pea and scallop risotto was tasty and unique. Vibes are good though and it s a very bustling restaurant . In summary, glad I tried it, but would likely not return .

Food and cocktail were good, and a service was perfect! But if the restaurant supposed to be as French & Italian cuisine.. Please, Italian restaurant must have an espresso machine! And one more small advise - on every table or with a bill - there should be toothpicks as well. Anyway, thank you for this wonderful place! Its a bit different from the other local restaurants! It was enjoyable! Will come back when they will have an espresso machine!

Came here for dinner and everything was on point. We were running a bit late as Sail GP was going on when we came here to dine but they were extremely gracious. We had: The snow crab dip - BOMB The Crobster Roll - BOMB Various Drinks - BOMB!! Everything was a hit and we wished we had more stomach space to try more things but alas, our anatomy had failed us. Will definitely be back.

The Canteen is our go to spot for a nice dinner. The food is always exceptional and the service is great as well.

We booked a reservation for my daughter s grade 9 grad. My daughter, my wife and my Mom all really enjoyed our experience. We had all been here a while back at different times. The meal names may be off a little here but we had seafood chowder, steak on vermicelli noodles, haddock burger and the burger. Happy to report that everyone loved their meals. You may see similar menu items at a bunch of restaurants but at The Canteen you will notice the difference in quality, freshness and overall attention to detail. We had a great time in a lively, vibrant atmosphere. I felt that there was really good value for the quality of food. I would recommend booking a table. Several groups of walk ins waited for a quite a bit at the door. I booked same day for a late lunch mid week but prime time was booked. Plan ahead so you get a chance to have an impressive meal. Great job Canteen!

Waiter got us seated but forgot to give us the menu. Different waiter advertised a beer of the day and promised to bring a sample. He forgot. Waited 30 minutes for my steamed mussels which turned out to be very small and dry. Big disappointment for me. Wont return. Food

Freaking delicious, staff were awesome

Dogs not allowed on the terrace which results in 1 star for service and atmosphere. The chowder and crabsteroll were good. Favorite for fries

I always wanted to try the restaurant. My friend and I decided to take a chance last night (a Friday night, no less!). We said we d sit at the bar in necessary. Even though they were fully booked, the server said we could have tow seats at tbe bar if we could finish at 7:00 pm. It was about 6:00 pm when we arrived, so we said that wouldn t be a problem. I had the Crobster Roll with fries. It was so tasty, better than anything similar I ve tried before. My friend had a burger and the kale Caesar salad. I tasted the salad and for the first time I wondered if I should have had the salad instead of fries. We also shared the Chocolate Tahini Brownie, which was beyond delicious! The service was excellent, the atmosphere homey and cool. Can t wait to go again!!!.

I would go back here and try everything on the menu. Everything passing us looked amazing and our chowder and crobster were seasoned perfect Food : 5/5

Really happy with the choice to come here! My wife and I split the Tuna Ceviche to start, which was scrumptious. She had the scallop and pea risotto, which was also delicious. I will say that my choice of the steak frites was a bit poor, as the steak was just ok. Had thought about getting the haddock, but we had already eaten a lot of seafood on our trip. The daily special cocktail (which I dont remember what it was) was also very nice. Nice food, nice atmosphere, nice service.

Chowder was delicious!

Ill be there first to admit I was skeptical about this place because its such a fan favorite on YouTube... but I have to admit Canteen delivers. Crobster roll was delicious (as expected) but they actually made a Kale fan out of me, one of the best salads Ive ever had. Add some extremely tasty scallops and youll understand why its totally worth a trip across the harbor.

High quality local with great choices for wine, beer and spirits

Hospitable, welcoming, tasty, amazing. An all around great meal in Dartmouth. Welcoming by the staff who made some great suggestions on the menu for us to enjoy, as well they were extremely hospitable throughout the meal. Food was delicious. Started with mushroom toast, oysters, and snow crab between the table and everyone found a favourite in the choices, but all were enjoyed by all. First time ordering a risotto and was not disappointed. Chowder was filling and full of flavour. This was meal that left us happy and satisfied. The house made habanero hot sauce was amazing. Wish I could have taken it home with me.

The food was amazing and the service as well. Best place you could find in the area. You can take the ferry from Halifax. It just adds to the experience. Cant wait to come back !!

Cute little spot! Really enjoyed the eggs benny with lobster + a mimosa. Service was incredible too!

Amazing lobster roll! Strongly recommended!

Great brunch venue in Dartmouth. The lobster roll was excellent.

Place was very busy and can see why, food was flavorful and perfectly seasoned, came out surprisingly quick and was much more affordable than expected. Service was friendly and informative and loved the atmosphere, will definitely be back (also highly recommend the crobster roll, I see why its so popular)

I recently visited The Canteen for my girlfriends birthday and was expecting a fantastic dining experience, but I was sorely disappointed. The food was incredibly overhyped and did not live up to the lofty expectations set by the restaurants reputation. The dishes were bland, lacking any distinct flavors or creativity. To make matters worse, the prices were exorbitant for what was served. I felt like I was paying a premium for mediocre food that I could have found at any run-of-the-mill eatery. The portions were also quite small, leaving me still hungry and dissatisfied. One major thing that was very unnerving was the fact that their crab dip only came with 3 crackers, which was definitely not enough to eat the entire dish. When asked for more crackers, which was sorely needed to finish the appetizer, I was then charged extra without being informed for it. The overall experience was a huge letdown, and I certainly wont be returning. Save your money and find somewhere else to eat The Canteen is not worth it.

Tried their famous clam chowder. Tons of seafood in it so worth the price. The flavour was underwhelming though and the soup a bit too watery.

Really great fresh menu - oysters were amazing, tried the steak and the pasta dish and both were cooked perfectly. Carrot cake for dessert was the lightest I ve ever had. Very attentive staff but not obtrusive.

I was a bit worried that the hype wouldnt match the experience, but I was not disappointed. I sat at the bar and so talked to many of the staff, and all were lovely! The crobster (crab and lobster) sandwich was delicious and was worth the trip to Dartmouth from Halifax!

Got the tandoori

Really enjoyed our meal at The Canteen, on recommendation of a friend who took us there. We enjoyed the oysters, snow crab dip, mussels & frites and scallop risotto. Our only feedback would be that the risotto was a little overcooked, but the flavours were still great and the scallops cooked well which ultimately were the hero. Mark provided great service, thank you.

Food was absolutely delicious, especially the risotto and scallops. Service was awesome, our waiter was great. Would definitely go back!

The Canteen always has wonderful, tasty food, drinks, and great staff. Love, love, love this restaurant! I have always enjoyed my meal at The Canteen. The staff are always in a wonderful, friendly mood and are very helpful if a customer has any questions or diet restrictions.

Amazing spot.

Best chowder in the area. Period. And cheery , bright ,up beat atmosphere. Need a reservation. Took ferry from Halifax; easy stroll - up escalator and over tracks , through the Library , right one short block and up Portland a few steps . Need exact change cash for ferry - $2.00 senior 2.75 adult. Hang on to ticket for return trip. Pleasant trip with the harbour cruise and a look at Dartmouth s gentrifying downtown.

The canteen Burger was really good

Absolutely Amazing! The service was fantastic. The Kale Ceaser unique and delicious. And the Burger! WOW!

Been her 20+ times. It is the best and most consistent restaurant in HRM.

After our first taste of the soup of the day and seafood, we asked for a bottle of Prosecco because we were not going to rush the experience. Our dishes were amazing. The lobster roll was probably amazing too. I dont know because my wife ate it all. We had the pleasure of being tended to by Michael, who was gracious and welcoming. We will miss Halifax because of places just like this.

The best clam chowder ever with a variety of seafood. The crobster roll was great as well. For the value, will come back again

I ve eaten here many times for lunch and dinner. The most recent visit was on a Friday night - We were unable to reserve a table so we sat at the bar. We were able to get the end seats at the bar - if we were in the middle with think it would have felt a bit tight. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu - she answered our questions and made great suggestions. My friend has an allergy, which the staff was very conscientious about (serving staff and kitchen). The food was superb. I had the snow crab appetizer (a party in your mouth - so delicious). We both had the haddock which was perfectly cooked. No dessert (too full!) but from experience they are exceptional. The wine list was decent but nothing exciting. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the acoustics surprisingly good despite the open space. Highly recommend this restaurant.

The crabster roll is supreme. Highly recommend!

Had my birthday dinner there last night and I have nothing but 5 stars for everything. Our waiter Marc was knowledgeable, funny and professional. His service was truly outstanding! The crab dip was to die for and the scallop risotto was perfectly decadent and rich. The atmosphere was classy and sophisticated but welcoming and charming. I d go back in a heart beat :) 100% recommend

The Canteen had a cozy atmosphere. The menu had lots of delicious options. I was hoping to try their lobster roll but it was a seasonal dish. I had the haddock sandwich and soup. The sandwich was good but the soup was delicious. Service was great.

Casual but next level food.

Excellent food

My absolute favorite lunch spot in Halifax or Dartmouth. Always an amazing experience. The daily specials are always so unique and delicious. Great staff, great owners who are a huge support in their community. This is a must try!

Delicious food and very friendly service!

Wow the food here is great! I had the octopus special and I dont even eat octopus but it was so good! My only complaint is the chairs... Just cheap flimsy plastic lawn chairs. Could do better. But the food and drink make you forget that first sit down impression

Amazing brunch! Great attention to detail.

Not a foodie and dont love when simple things are complicated in attempts to elevate them (oranges in tartar sauce!?). Didnt find the flavours very balanced, though recognize my own simplicity and dont really blame the chef. Service was as good as service gets. Kind, attentive, considerate, and genuine. Great drink menu, nice atmosphere.

They didnt even have the lobster roll on the menu due to the season, my mistake trying to order it without researching the timing at all, but our server was kind enough to have the kitchen make an amuse bouche (pictured) with the lobster crab blend, a tiny hint of lemon zest and dill on top, made for a mind blowing bite... Ill be back one day for the whole roll maybe 2 or 3. The chowder was similarly amazing, every flavour bursting through especially the smoked haddock. My wife has the burger and was quiet the entire time since it was way too good.

I have to agree with all the reviews that this is a fantastic place. Not only does it have quality food, cocktails, but the price point was excellent for the quality that you get. I was here by myself and I sat at the bar. I did make a reservation through OpenTable and this was honoured quickly. I really enjoyed the snow crab dip. It was an appetizer but was a very large portion. I had the special which was the Korean cabbage rolls and they were on point to ensure it didnt lose the Asian characteristics. This was also priced as an appetizer. The creme brulee was one of the best Ive had. Parking: Close by street parking was all taken up. I parked up a bit further away about three blocks with free Street parking. Not a big deal.

We didnt have a reservation, but got a seat in the back room. Still very charming. Lots of room between tables. Quick and very pleasant service. I ordered the chicken noodle bowl (Raman-isque), and my friend ordered the chicken sandwich Daily Special. The food was hot and delicious. We enjoyed our lunch and surroundings. I will definitely return to check out the rest of the menu.

We walked in and immediately became hungrier. The smell of the food wafting through the restaurant was incredible. The staff was friendly and welcoming. We both had the Italian sausage sandwich special and then a brownie for desert. We were both full and very happy by the time we left. Excellent spot to stop if youre hungry and not looking to break the bank.

Incredible chowder!! Awesome experience, beautiful and fresh restaurant, amazing flavors!!

Nice place, tasty food and great customer service. Get your reservation ahead to enjoy this amazing restaurant in Dartmouth Downtown.

Excellent friendly staff. The food is fantastic and very creative. The desert is delicious.

Weve been hear twice now (my husband 3x), once for lunch and then for breakfast. My French toast (not pictured) was like eating a hug. Best Ive ever had. My husband loved the lobster eggs Benny. The mimosa was lovely and the gentlemen who served us was just wonderful. Will definitely be going back.

Best breakfast place in dartmouth, wish there was a few more food choices but what you can get is always good.

Nice gem in Dartmouth. Good all around.

Have eaten here probably a dozen times over the years. Mostly recently for brunch on a Saturday morning in Jan 2024. We made reservations for 10:15 and upon arrival, the place was more than half full. Seating for maybe 50 total? Two and four seater tables, some with wooden partitions between them from covid times. Cute, bright atmosphere overall, with big circular windows that let you see into the kitchen. Friendly staff. My friend and I both ordered the grain bowl. (Fried tofu, feta, pomegranate seeds, wild rice, fresh herbs, pickled onion?...this all off memory). It is served cold and seems like more a lunch than brunch item, but we both enjoyed a lot. Portion size was definitely enough to be filling and yet not too big. Lots of flavor. Ill be back. P.S. As with all the businesses on this section of Portland St, it can be hard to find street parking some days. There are a couple of private lots nearby where you can pay, if no luck on the street.

This place never disappoints. Service was perfect and food was absolutely epic.

Great business lunch for six experienced here. The food was fresh and delish. The salad tasted almost fresh picked. The crobster sandwich was absolutely delish! We will be back.

Mussels and frites was phenomenal! Our server Michael was amazing!

Best restaurant of our trip to NS.

Move over lobster roll, theres a new champ in town. The crobster roll was out of this world good. So perfect, so fresh, so craveable!

The service was great. The crobster roll was good but felt like it was missing something. The braised onion soup was tasty. Burger was good. Wouldn t recommend the clam chowder tbh.

What a great brunch! I have my daughter the choice between three of the top ten brunch places in the city. She picked The Canteen on Portland and everyone was happy. The Bennys were amazing. Get the lobster, its worth it. The French toast was the best ever, not too sweet, just right. Everything was excellent. The food was complimented by the service which was just right. The atmosphere was ok, not great but we did like the art. We had a great experience and will be back.

The crobster roll is out of this world.

Visiting Halifax and taking the ferry across to have lunch here in Dartmouth was amazing. The atmosphere was awesome with lots of open lighted space. Server was blast and made us feel welcomed and checked in on us to make sure everything was good. Food was done perfect and presented well. Such a fun place to sit relax and have a bite.

Very nice place for lunch downtown Dartmouth.

Great food as usual.

Never a bad thing to say about a visit to the Canteen. Food is always on point, staff is super pleasant and accommodating. Definitely a stop on any trip out to HRM.

The waiter was rude to me while taking my order. I ordered the canteen eggs benny, he asked me which one. I didnt understand what he was asking me. He said again which one, his voice was loud and stern. I knew I wanted the salad and the lobster with it but I didnt know thats what he was asking. He must have asked me which one? 3 times. Any other waiter/waitress would have asked do u want the salad or the potatoes and which other addition do u want?, but this man didnt. I lost my appetite, and I was afraid to eat my food. But it was brought by another server, and it looked good. So I ate it and it was good. I would have given 5 stars had I been treated better. We had brunch Aug 12th.

Great little place in Dartmouth. Beautiful atmosphere and decor. Courteous service. Corn chowder is delicious. Haddock burger just plain delicious. A must taste place.

Could be good for either a fancy or casual dinner. Amazing food and quality service, really not much to improve on here.

Easily a new favorite. Really great service, thx Jen!! Amazing food from award winning chef. Thx To Rene and Doug, you have a beautiful restaurant and we shall be back.

The crab dip with homemade crackers, I loved it. For dessert, olive bread, berry compote, a discovery. I highly recommend it, a must if you stop in Dartmouth.

Really cute, casual spot with super high quality food. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal today and will be back!! Loved the lemon-dill crab dip w crackers and the fish burger was crazy tasty! Homemade desserts were a hit too.

This is a great local spot. The food is delicious, the dining room is quaint and thoughtful and the servers take extra care. I would get the kale Caesar ans fries again!

The food here has always been great. Best oysters Ive ever had and their Caesars are to die for. I get the steak and frites every time and I thought the amount of steak was a little small the last time I went. I had mentioned it to my girlfriend and she brought it up to our server while I was in the washroom. I came back to another serving of steak. My girlfriend had politely mentioned it to our server and he had more steak on the table before I could even get back from the washroom. Michael (I hope I spelled your name right), you were the best server Ive ever seen, keep up the great work, you definitely put a smile on our faces tonight. Great place, great food, and incredible service. Well be back

Great food. Had the best mushroom soup Ive ever had. Slightly noisy but also cute and trendy.

Atmosphere would be 5/5 if acoustics were better. Food is very good. Service is good but nothing spectacular. Parking: Very minimal paid street parking avail within a couple of blocks walk. Street parking is free eves and weekends, still sparse. Accessible parking is available but not close to the door and very few spots if available at all. Small paid parking lot close by. Best to walk, take bus or ferry. Great neighborhood to spend more time visiting.

We were told they had the best crobster roll or a crab and lobster roll and it definitely did not disappoint. Best roll I ever had. The servers were also friendly, offering up recommendations for other bars and clubs to check out, and even gave us change to use the ferry. I d highly recommended stopping by for a bite here.

Lovely spot in Dartmouth. Oysters, halibut, scallops were all sublime. Burgers looked outstanding as well. VERY efficient and thoughtful service. Accommodating to unique dietary requirements for one of our group. A must visit.

Decided to come here for dinner based on the good reviews. Arrived right when it opened at 5pm on a weekday and was seated right away. Within half an hour our side of the restaurant filled up. Inside was bright and cheery. It was semi open kitchen as we were able to look through a window to see food being prepared. We ordered: Starters to share: Snow Crab dip - very creamy and went well with the crackers. Kale Caesar salad - tasted fresh especially with a squeeze of lemon. Mains: Crobster Roll - Delicious! A toasted buttery roll filled with good amount of crab and lobster. Also, came with a large portion of crispy fries. Pan - seared Halibut- Made to perfection! Light and fluffy but wish the portion was bigger. Scallops & Pea Risotto - smooth, creamy and very flavourful. Dessert: Creme Brulee - The caramelized sugar cracked with a gentle tap. Inside the custard was rich and creamy. Overall had a good experience. It is a bit pricey but worth it. Highly recommend and will definitely go back again.

Place was packed, ordered for takeout. Waiting time was 45 min but got suggested the nice cider place right in front. Food was absolutely great even in takeout format and we had 5 different dishes.

Great food!

Loved the combination crab/lobster roll. Really nice presentation on a very tasty buttered bun. Worth the short ferry ride over from Halifax.

Enjoyed an amazing meal with my daughter who lives in Dartmouth, who recommended The Canteen. My other daughter & I travelled from Ontario for a visit. The food was absolutely amazing and the server was terrific! Would highly recommend this restaurant. We had Scallops, Halibut, Mushrooms on toast & Summer Salad. We couldn t decide which was best, they were all so good. Thank you Canteen for a great night!

Had the chowder and the crobster roll, both excellent!

Best crobster roll ever (crab and lobster). With a small green salad and a glass of white wine, happiness!

Exquisite food, atmosphere and service. The quintessential of an amazing local restaurant.

Tried the Crobster roll. French fries were food. Regarding the roll, there was a good quantity of crab-lobster but i found the overall was a bit too dry.

Their appetizer was really good but expensive. The burger didn t have any taste. The chowder and dessert were ok nothing exceptional!

My favourite lobster roll in Halifax! I visited Halifax for 4 days, and had a lobster roll everyday from a different place. This was by far my favourite. Very flavourful and a nice crunch bun to accompany it. Food: Overall: 4.5/5 Oysters - 4/5 - fresh and from the east coast! Lobster Roll - 4.5/5 Steak & Salad - 3.5/5 Mussels - 3.5/5 (mind you, I m not a mussels person) Service - 5/5 - very friendly and checked up on us! Ambiance - 5/5 - nice boutique restaurant with a nice vibe! Highly recommend visiting here if you re feeling a lobster roll!

Incredible service and delicious food.

The Canteen is a gem in downtown Dartmouth! It has a wonderful, pleasant atmosphere and great food and service. Four of us dined there about a week ago. Our server, Kristin, was amazing. She was very personable, knowledgeable, and friendly. We all loved our food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. The wine prices are reasonable as well. Im looking forward to our next visit!

Went there first time with friend for our lunch. Great environment! Crobster roll is pretty good. Falafel is great, both my friend and bf loves it.

Just yum. Great local brews on tap including cider. Excellent oysters with a nice habanero sauce that one should keep for other dishes. Mussles and frites, scallops on pea risotto were also delicious. Nice atmosphere and great service! Can one ask for more? Recommended dishes Mussels & Frites, Scallops & Pea Risotto

Great brunch. Make reservations!

Got lunch here today, fantastic experience! Food was amazing. The atmosphere was lively and bright! Didnt have a reservation, but we got lucky with 2 seats at the bar. The fish burger was not deep fried in batter, which was a pleasant surprise. It was super delicious! Garden salad with lemon vinaigrette was tasty and light. Service was prompt and quick even though they were at full capacity. Bill came to $50 for a glass of wine, 2 sandwiches, and one side salad. We really enjoyed ourselves and cant wait to return!

I had an incredible dining experience at this restaurant. The food was exceptional, and the service was top-notch. I had the pleasure of having lunch with Doug, the owner, and his genuine care and warm welcome to all the customers truly stood out. I highly recommend paying this establishment a visit, and I personally look forward to returning soon.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Halifax, Dartmouth and really everywhere. The food is amazing, the service is stellar and the atmosphere / vibe is wonderful.

We go to the Canteen often for lunch but on October 20 had our first dinner. Absolutely wonderful (as usual for the Canteen). Can recommend the mushroom toast for sure!!!

Such a cute spot! Definitely make a reservation as it fills up quick. The seafood chowder was fabulous, even the biscuit included was AMAZING. I wish they sold bags of them

Food and atmosphere were great but the service was superb. Thanks N.B.

Decided to take ferry across to Dartmouth while visiting Halifax. A friend suggested The Canteen as a lunch spot and it did not disappoint. Had the lobster/crab roll work a side soup - chicken leek. It was yummy!

I recently indulged in the Crobster Roll at this restaurant. Its mild, non-smelly, slightly cold taste was a delight. The ample side of fries complemented the dish perfectly. A must-try for a memorable dining experience!

Love the interior, food and the service was incredible! The crobster was my favourite and the soups were delicious. The burger was on the saltier side but otherwise, Id recommend the place.

This place is a gem. Great food, great staff, great place. You will not regret

We were visiting Nova Scotia for a week and came back here twice! Once for lunch and once for dinner. Would recommended the mussels and the lobster rolls. Try to make reservations if you can!

Service was great. Food was great. I gave it a 4 because it was a little too loud and busy for me to have a good conversation with my lunch mate.

Drinks were delish and the chowder was mouth watering. The bar tender was very nice. Small restaurant that is packed so book in advance if you can!

Stumbled into this place with no reservation but they still happily accommodated me. I ordered the crobster roll with the soup of the day. Could definitely taste the freshness of all the ingredients and have been cooked well. Would recommend this place to anyone visiting. I really wanted to try the chowder but wish they had a small size for lunch.

Lunch menu was smaller then expected. We were near prep area. Which made it loud. But great food for the choices there were. Id go again to try full menu! Food : 5/5 |

We were able to book a private room for a group of ten and they were very accommodating! Would recommend the crab dip, stir fried broccoli and Crobster roll! Everything looked outstanding and service was terrific Dietary restrictions: Plenty of gluten free options; we ll be returning simply because they are so accommodating! Well done

Strongly recommend. We went there for lunch today, unfortunately it was full, but the hostess put us on a waiting list and we got a call 10 mins later and Im so glad we did. We had their holiday special the Christmas Club and it was soo good. The staff were also very chatty and interesting which we were quite happy about. I strongly recommend eating here, it was really good, and a very fair price.

Arrived for lunch at 1130. Wait staff was efficient, but spoke with a sarcastic edge. Ordered a bit later and food arrived at 1210. At 1255 we were asked if we wanted dessert. We said no and had coffee. At 1305 the server told us he had a reservation for our table in 10 minutes. We found this rude and his attitude arrogant. We hadn t been there two hours, which we would have been had we ordered dessert. I guess he was glad we didn t. Maybe the positive reviews are going to their heads. Really, if service is poor then it won t matter how good the food is. ( Main course was fine, and I had a house salad, which was nice and fresh, but the dressing was so peppery/ spiced I couldn t eat it. ) Parking: A busy downtown area so parking is always going to be an issue at lunchtime.

I absolutely love the crobster roll from the Canteen. The seafood tastes really fresh and every time Ive been there, the servers have been friendly and nice. Ive ordered the crobster roll both with the regular bread and the gluten free bun - and I feel like less seafood is given in the gluten free bun (its a hamburger bun instead of bread slice). Overall, Id love to come back next time Im in Dartmouth and I would advise making a reservation beforehand as its usually quite busy.