Bar Kismet in Halifax

Great experience! Cozy atmosphere and great service. We absolutely loved the fresh pasta dish and the desserts.

Very disappointed. Very underwhelmed by the dishes we ordered. They lacked flavour. We felt very rushed and were told we had 1/2 hour left so if we wanted dessert we needed to order now! Staff was not friendly. We will definitely not be giving this place another chance.

We enjoyed our family dinner there, although the place is not dog friendly. The hidden secrets of their meals are creative sauces that expand and excite your palate. Wishing the staff to smile and to exude friendly vibes despite being too busy. Thanks.

Service was fantastic. Food was a 4/5 as we didn t enjoy the dessert that much. However our mains and drinks were great. I was impressed with the number of cider options they had. I d recommend you visit this restaurant.

Best cocktails, best wine, best food, best restaurant. Thats all you need to know.

Excellent food, cocktails, wine, service and environment. We had called earlier same day to see if we could get an earlier booking and was very pleased that they let us know that there was an earlier seating as a party had cancelled last minute. We ordered one of the starters and reordered same 15 minutes later, the raw scallop. Best way to have had anywhere in North America or Japan. Definitely a must eat at restaurant in Nova Scotia.

I had high expectations for such a reputable restaurant. The atmosphere and our server were great; however, the food was quite disappointing and fell short of my expectations. The cocktails were not my personal favourites. We started with bread and carrots, crab with bearnaise which was delicious. For the mains, we ordered the arctic char, the perch, and tuna tartare. The arctic char was not only incredibly visually unappealing, the bisque was served lukewarm, the brassicas were hard, and the fish was bland. I ve never sent a dish back but I unfortunately couldn t eat more than two bites. Our server was very understanding and helped me pick out a different dish I then ordered the ravioli, which was better than the char but mediocre at best. The perch was soft and buttery, but too salty. The tuna tartare was very plain and the fries were again, too salty. For a restaurant rated top 9 in Canada for 2 years, it lacked execution not sure how it s rated so highly

Bar Kismet is my favourite restaurant in Halifax. The service is top notch, friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and accommodating. The food is consistently amazing. The bar team is always making excellent drinks, and ready to accommodate your preferences. The tuna tartar is unbelievable and if youre going to Bar Kismet for the first time, make sure you order it. I promise you wont be disappointed!

Waitress was rude, food mediocre and overpriced.

Stunt Water is the perfect summer cocktail.

Bartender was condescending. We asked the status of our Halibut Cheek, on a Thursday evening, since it had been 40+ mins. Instead of answering the question or saying that he will check on it, he started to explain the preparation, ingredients & cooking process of the dish. When I reasked him to see how long it would take he said oh you never told me you were on a time crunch. Should I cancel it? Will never come back. Spaghetti was terrible but halibut when it did come out was good (not worth the wait)

The restaurants inviting ambiance and exceptional service created a delightful atmosphere, setting high expectations for the dining experience. However, the culinary offerings fell short of the establishments reputation and accolades. The menu, while ambitious, suffered from execution issues: The crab dish with carrots and béarnaise sauce lacked balance, with the béarnaise being overly salty and scant on crab. The addition of fried shallots exacerbated the saltiness, detracting from the overall flavour profile. The tuna tartare was unremarkable, failing to leave a lasting impression. The fries, though crispy, were overseasoned, leading to palate fatigue. The ricotta gnocchi disappointed with its chewy texture, indicating the overworking of the dough. The accompanying tomato butter sauce was excessively acidic and would have benefited from straining for a smoother consistency. The squash caramelles in parmesan broth showed promise but were marred by the addition of fried rosemary, which disrupted the dishs textural harmony. The cocktail menu, while innovative, produced drinks that were challenging to finish, suggesting a disconnect between creativity and palatability. Despite the restaurants commendable atmosphere and service, the culinary experience was underwhelming. The dishes exhibited issues with seasoning, texture, and flavour balance, falling short of the expectations set by the establishments reputation. While some elements showed potential, the overall execution lacked the refinement one would anticipate from a highly-regarded restaurant.

Food was amazing!! The carrots and crab were surprisingly delicious. Service left a bit to be desired maybe they were short staffed? We ended up sitting at our seats with our dirty plates in front of us for 20 mins before we were able to pay Food : 5/5

The best restaurant in Canada

Great cocktails and creative fresh seafood dishs

Excellent restaurant, of high quality. The food was elaborate, generous but not too much, a perfect recipe for success. The cocktails were complex, but easy to approach. I absolutely recommend, not to be missed in Halifax. The experience is also very affordable for the high quality of every aspect of this establishment. Well done !

It s a lovely place but we were a bit underwhelmed - we wouldn t put this in the top restaurants list, and perhaps that high expectation makes it overhyped. We really enjoyed the fried halibut cheek (the combination with corn and pickles was absolutely delicious), but the rest of the meal was middling and a bit off the mark - for example, I didn t understand why the bread was served over toasted with oil instead of butter or at least with a contrasting vinegar/salt - or otherwise just served alongside the dishes which had an abundance of butter. We would have loved to have seen a bit more contrasting freshness and texture to what was a very rich meal. We didn t drink but the cocktails did look great.

Amazing food, specially the lamb agnolotti. Great drinks.

Best restaurant in Halifax by FAR

Was blown away! delicious food, great drinks and great staff

Best restaurant in Halifax. Get the chanterelle ravioli - very few restaurants in NS serve chanterelles and Bar Kismet does it better than I ve ever had it. The crab with béarnaise is surprisingly very sweet - much sweeter than you would think, even for a snow crab + carrot dish, both very sweet on their own - but still very nice. Get a dry white for that. Fantastic spot and easily the best spot in Hali. Also much less than other places of equivalent fame. Huge fan of Highwayman but this spot is cheaper and higher-quality.

This place just know what s up. Vibe was right on. Food was wonderful. And drinks were brilliant.

Walked in on a Sunday, fairly busy. Got the raw scallops to start, delicious but sorta misleading on menu as the radish or sesame gets overpowered with black pepper. Got the ravioli doppio and chantrelles for main and it was not seasoned at all, had to wait 15 minutes before someone checked in and sent it back to fix/ remake. The Chef said itll be the same, like do chefs not taste their seasoning? The scallop was seasoned and the other dish was not. Definitely not retuning.

By far the best restaurant that I ve been to in the city. Everything about this place is top notch from the incredible menu items, to the staff, and the overall vibe in the restaurant. I ve been twice and am looking forward to when I go back!

We went here last night for my birthday where we had to book reservations two weeks in advanced. I was very excited to try this restaurant as it s been on my list since we first moved here. We ordered a cocktail each and two dishes to share. The cocktails were good, interesting and different from anything you d find elsewhere. The ravioli with marzipan and leek with chanterelles was amazing! I would definitely go back here just for that dish. Unfortunately we were pretty disappointed with the tuna tartar which if blindfolded, could have convinced me that I ordered a Big Mac with extra salted fries from McDonald s which in itself would have costed a humble $6 rather than $22. Other than that, it was a good experience!

Despite the hours posted, Kismet has been closed every time I ve tried to go. If you re closed on Sundays, please update your hours. I ve made the trip to the bar a few times now and every time you re closed. Please be organized and reflect your actual hours so you don t lead people there unnecessarily.

10/10. Great food. Great ambiance. Amazing service. Sat out back in the patio in a rainstorm. Magical. Kid-friendliness: Definitely open to hosting kids but not a lot of flexibility in the menu. The fish dishes went over well with our picky eater after we scraped off the sauce.

Food was good, and the service was prompt.

The most rubbish service in history, I have eaten many hundred best restaurants, this waitress is wearing white clothes tonight, her eyes are big, she speaks very bad attitude, I ask you why do you want to be a waiter?? Send it home if you have a temper. A dozen calls to the reserved location went unanswered.

Visited east coast for a week and so had to try Bar Kismet. Luckily it didnt disappoint. We ended up ordering 6 dishes to share between us and it was just enough food. All of the dishes were highlights, but I have to say the raw scallop, the fazzoletti and the cod was our favorites. Although the carrots, ahi tuna and the spaghetti were also very good!

Excellent creative food. Service was good. The food came quickly. The room was really loud. Perhaps some sound dampening measures would be beneficial?

Cool spot with great drinks and food, pretty much all of the plates are shareable which is nice. Bartender is a bit of a local legend as well.

We had an amazing dinner here. Luckily were able to get a patio spot without a reservation. Bar Kismet was also very accommodating when our flight was cancelled and we had to last minute cancel our reservation. Excellent food and great service ! Highly recommend!

Perfect food and good atmosphere

What a pleasant discovery. Food, presentation and service is so good!!!!!

One of the best restaurants in Halifax. Food is delicious and the servers are kind and professional

Best place in Halifax

Fantastic food and service. We had an absolutely delicious jalapeño flavored Chilean wine as well, instant favorite. Highly recommend the arctic char and the romaine. Great place!

I can see why Bar Kismet got 9th in Canadas best restaurants. It is well deserved great drinks, service and food. Cant get much better than this

Easily the best restaurant in Halifax. And one of the top few in the country.

Amazing . A wonderful dining experience with fresh food and bubbly atmosphere. If you are looking for a place to share some wonderful food - look no further as dishes are wondrous. Make sure to try at least one fish and one pasta dish. YUMMY

Lovely restaurant offering perfectly executed dishes. The staff are wonderful and the atmosphere warm and welcoming. The citrus salad, raw scallops and mackerel were standout dished from our excellent experience at Bar Kismet.

Friendly, homey, and cozy, she s a bougie bar tucked into this neighborhood. Fab for date night, try and get a seat at the bar and watch bartender Dylan work his magic (strikes up great conversation, a pleasure to watch work, and knows what he s doing). Food is very good (albeit pricey e.g $3.50 for a single oyster?!). It s a rotating menu so don t be surprised if what you see isn t on the menu, although I think they do have a couple staples. If you see a pasta with porcini butter, it s a must order - it will change your life. Resos recommended as it s a fairly small place, but as walk-ins 2 of us only had to wait about 20mins on a Friday night. May 2024

We sat at the bar and managed to cut a swathe through 7 menu items. Really great atmosphere, positive vibes and every dish was delicious! Swoons for the raw scallop and the romaine salad. Two swoons for the tonnato, the chocolate cake... oh and the cocktails!

I really liked bar kismet. Particularly the Cocktails and the romaine salad. I enjoyed my tuna tartare, and though the fries werent my favourite my partner definitely enjoyed them.

Delicious sauces and interesting pairings. We split 4 dishes and they were all excellent. I would go back in a heartbeat. Such an outstanding experience. No wonder they rank among the best in Canada. A Halifax gem. Dietary restrictions: Ask about allergies and restrictions.

Made a reservation and the table wasn t ready for the time we set. Food started to come out at an appropriate time when we placed our order, however my meal came out delayed. My partner had already finished their meal by the time my meal came out. We were forgotten about by our server. It took 15 minutes after I was done my plate for them to attend us. At that point I was frustrated that I asked for the bill. Nonetheless, the food was great.

Truthfully one of the best meals, and the best service I ve had in my life. Two of us worked our way through 7 plates, a bottle of wine and a lovely digestive. The Oysters, Raw scallop with radish & black sesame, Ahi tuna tartare with allumettes fries were so good. There was also a feature cabbage dish, and feature dessert that were phenomenal. The restaurant is small and intimate, but does not feel crowded. It s has really good vibes. Our server was also so attentive, made great recommendations, and provided an awesome experience for us. Highly recommend you check this place out!

My husband and I have been here countless times and it s always incredible. I dream about the white albacore tuna with cherries that we had our first time.

One of my favourite dining experiences ever. Outstanding.

Amazing food

When a cancellation policy becomes unreasonable. I have been a supporter of Bar Kismet since the beginning and have made numerous recommendations. Last Tuesday, I made a last second reservation for the following night at 9:15pm for 4 people. Unfortunately our party was not able to make it, soon as I heard the following morning I made the cancellation. Disappointed when I saw that it was an $80 fee ($20/people) but thought that since it was early and I was sure the table would be picked up I wasnt too worried thinking the fee would not get charged. Just to be sure, before the 9:15pm time, I checked to see if the table was still available and it was not. Despite that, I was still charged the full amount. Disappointed I sent an email explaining the situation and was told it would not be reversed. I then sent a follow-up email with a screenshot of the lack of availability for a reservation and up to now I still havent heard a reply. Its not the money, as $80 is nothing at a restaurant as this, its the principle, the arrogance and lack of customer care that will assure that I will not be returning.

Insanely good restaurant for food and cocktails! Best music. Aesthetic of the restaurant is lovely with planes strewn throughout the bar. Amazing staff. Best restaurant in Halifax.

My partner and I had a subpar first experience at Bar Kismet. The tagliatelle pasta with mushrooms was made with so much butter, that it was difficult to eat more than a few bites of it. The tuna tartare and the accompanying fries both tasted oversalted to me, and I found it strange that the fries were not served alongside an aioli or ketchup. When it came time for dessert, the server forgot to order the chocolate cake that my partner requested. I had a cheese plate, which was unpleasant. Two different white, subtly-flavoured cheeses were piled on a plate with no accompanying bread, fruit, jam, honey, nuts, or anything else to make this dessert-course more interesting. The cheese would have been better positioned as an appetizer, ordered alongside olives and bread. I really enjoyed the two cocktails that I ordered, while the glasses of orange wine were very one-note. Overall, I cant recommend Bar Kismet.

I ve dined here a few times and the food is absolutely delicious with generous portions. The service is also amazing very friendly and attentive. Will definitely continue dining here!

Best food in Halifax bar none

Perfect.

Friendly, homely, reasonably priced with amazing food. Get the celeriac agnolotti if it s on menu. One of the tastiest dishes I have ever eaten. Best restaurant in Halifax??

Overrated place with very salty dishes and below average cocktails. We had 4 different cocktails and they are not appealing and we couldn t finish any of them. The tuna tartare is average, you can get somehow similar from poke bowl places. And it gets more and more salty as you go. The sourdough is burnt and feels like you are having pure burnt salt. We are so confused about why this is top 10 restaurants of Canada.

Super lively spot. Creative cocktails and drink menu. Knowledge and friendly staff. Spot on menu - so yummy. Make a reservation!

Would definitely recommend reservations, as the seating space is small and it can get busy. We had to wait across the street for a couple of bar seats to open up. The food. Wow, THE FOOD. Yep, it was amazing. We deemed this the favorite meal of our stay in Halifax. Redditors were not wrong with their praise of the establishment. We ended up ordering 3 entrees, two desserts, and several cocktails. We shared the food to sample all the flavors. The flavors were so well balanced. Delicate raw scallops were enhanced but not overpowered by the other ingredients, allowing the sweet, buttery taste to come through. The mackerel with swiss chard was delicious, as was the tuna tartare. You cant go wrong with any of the choices. They are also accommodating of dietary restrictions, as my daughter has gluten sensitivity. They were able to identify all the gluten items and served the sauce for the mackerel on the side so we could both enjoy the meal. Watching the bartender up close was a special treat. They make their own in-house flavor infusion mists to enhance the drinks and special care is taken in both the mixing and presentation of each drink. Great experience. GO!

Oysters are quite good, but the lemons are too limited for one dozen of oysters, and the shape of lemon is a little hard to squeeze. Scallops are amazing! Highly recommend this dish! The mix of crispy sesames, cilantro and soft sweet scallops is one of the best match I ve ever tasted in my life! Tuna and fries is a good dish to share. The fries are not so oily and the tuna is fresh. Duck breasts are so juicy! I ve never had such good tasting duck in Canada before. Pasta fiori is a little too sour for me. We ordered three cocktails and both of them are wonderful! Especially the one with sage!

Bar Kismet is the type of place that when youre halfway through your meal, you get sad because its almost over but also excited for the next time youll be back to eat what youre eating in that exact moment, again.

Do not miss out on Bar Kismet in Halifax! Incredible, creative dishes and cocktails. Really personable service. Top notch!!

Out of this world food. Chef s delivery of flavour combinations is incredible. You MUST come here

Greatest restaurant in Halifax. The food is off the charts- ordered the tonnato melt, pasta fiorì, halibut, and tagliolini. Kismet redefines the meaning of good food. Not to mention the outstanding service and charming ambiance.

Beautiful spot, beautiful food, beautiful service!

Just finished a lovely evening with friends. Really enjoyed the raw scallops, oysters, chocolate olive oil cake and the cocktails. The service is amazing here! I ll be back.

I was so excited to try this place and was so disappointed with my experience here. There was so much hype about this place, but Im not sure why. Its too bad they missed the mark on service, atmosphere and food.

It s tough to put into words how the taste of the food, openness/warmth of the atmosphere and creativity of the drinks are collectively so phenomenal. Dining experiences like this are few and far between. We will be back and are so excited for our next opportunity to dine at Bar Kismet.

The place is a bit small, a handful of tables (all full) and about 8 or so bar stools. So reservation is definitely recommended. It is very well run and efficient, the bartenders were fantastic, friendly and knowledgeable. The food was awesome, some seafood and Spanish fares, all very well prepared. The cocktail menu is extensive and inventive, and since they are really well stocked on all ingredients, when you ask for something thats off menu, they will likely be able to provide it. ( I asked for a siesta and it was great).

Some salty

First time @BarKismet - it was great food and wine experience with amazing service plus perfect company. You can actually have nice conversation while you are enjoying food

Had a disappointing dinner at Bar Kismet this past week. We brought friends who had never been there before and the whole experience did not leave a favourable impression. Our main issues were that we felt like our server couldnt give us the time of day and like all questions were annoying them. We felt rushed. Our table was not wiped during service (dessert was brought while tuna tartare crumbs were still on the table). We also didnt love the reminder to tip appropriately when paying our bill. The food was standard for Kismet but hardly much has changed on the menu. Bar Kismet was always a favourite and our top recommendation for friends visiting Halifax but we wont make plans to go back. Kismet shouldnt get a pass for bad service because it is only one of a few highly regarded restaurants in Halifax.

All that I d heard about bar kismet set it up to be an amazing experience but I was quite underwhelmed. The service was sub par with three servers on the floor two of which were very friendly and welcoming. The third who served us was quite aloof and didn t seem too interested in stopping by our table; we didn t really receive a welcome or any explanation of the menu when seated. We asked questions and the answers were helpful but curt. I cannot complain about the menu as everything we had (tuna tartare, oysters, olives, bread, soprese) was delicious but nothing really wowed us in the way we were expecting. We had several cocktails which were hit or miss with Borneo to run being the highlight and for whom the bell sotols being the one to be avoided. The price point of Bar kismet pushes it into the realm of fine dining and our experience topped out at mediocre which was disappointing.

One of Halifax s best restaurant. I really enjoyed my dinner. The restaurant is very cozy and pretty. Service was very good during our meal. We ate as starters the radicchio and the arancini. Very good quality, fresh ingredients, perfect portions. The three wines we tried were also excellent. As main courses we took gnocchi and ragù pasta. We thought the chef was Italian but she comes from Montreal. Congratulations the dinner was overall excellent. On a sad note, we had a reservation for two and we tried to call the restaurant to add a third person. Nobody replied, so we tried Instagram. No responses. That was quite inconvenient so we stayed positive and went there anyway with the third person hoping it would be possible to add an extra chair. When we arrived there, the response was a firm no , because it was full. However, the table next to us had an extra chair it could have been easily used to accommodate us. I was quite disappointed, especially because we tried to contact them several times and it was impossible to reach out.

I had a blast with my partner last weekend, the Tuna Tartare Highly recommend! Fresh Oysters and My favorite Rice wine cocktail - Oddbird!

Certainly a Hidden gem . From service, food, presentation and overall experience 10 stars Food

Phenomenal! Continues to have great food (Ahi Tuna tartare, chicken ragu) as well as superbly made drinks!

The gnocchi and leek salad stole my heart! Dylan was such a great host/baretender and made the best suggestions for our night. I was happy we were able to get a reso, since my last visit we were not able to get a table. Love the atmosphere and the greenery surrounding the restaurant.

Food was good waiter made me and my date feel unwelcomed and was cold the entire time we were there

Has been a favourite since its opening. They win on consistency; the food is always spectacular, and the service is informed, genuine, prompt and not over-serving. Perfect for an intimate dining experience.

The food, drinks, service, and atmosphere were incredible here. We went here for my birthday dinner. I ll admit I was a little skeptical and hesitant to try some of the menu items at first, but I am so glad I did! The ahi tuna tartare was easily my favourite item, followed closely by the raw scallops. I really enjoyed the textures and flavours of the celeriac dish and the crunchy, creamy taste of the tonnato melt. Last but not least, you have to try their cocktails! Seriously, such a good place!

My Grandfathers name was Sir Reginald Windsor, and when he was a young man he started the famed Windsor Salt mine. When he passed away, his final words to me were Brian, promise me you will always eat an over abundance of salt, and encourage others to do the same. Do it for me, do it for the business. My daddy has promised that when he dies, I will become the #1 salt man. As such, I am happy to report that Bar Kismet has been one of our finest customers, and goes through more of our salt than any other restaurant I know of. I have actually taken to spreading their leftover pasta around my driveway to melt the ice, as I find it more effective than just pure salt. With that I am bestowing upon them 4 crispy Windsor salt stars. I really hope to one day make that 5, but I have unfortunately had to deduct 1 star because I have seen them publicly deny here that they use a metric ton of salt on each dish and I really wish they would embrace the fact. Ok, thanks byeeeee.

Went last night, our waiter was a massive jerk. Too cool for school but not in a cool way. Painful. Cute place though.

Hard to get a reso, but good is great

Had a wonderful experience for a nice girls night. Service was at a relaxed pace, with great food and drinks. Still have some food and drinks to try, will be going back!

Superlative Halifax restaurant worth visiting. Homey, yet hip, with a warm Atlantic Canada decor. Our servers were very attentive going over every item we ordered with knowledge and a smile. Questions were answered patiently, service was paced beautifully and the dinner was pitch-perfect. If you get the chance, try the Ahi Tuna Tartare & Allumettes Fries. Raw Scallops were divine, especially dusted with black sesame and slivers of fresh radish. Same goes for the Fried Smelt Sandwich, the Carrots, Crab & Bearnaise, as well as the Orange & Poppyseed Semolina Cake for dessert. Oh, and definitely be sure check out their bathrooms with one of their signature cocktails in hand. Ideal for a social media snapshot.

Been wanting to eat here for ages and finally got the chance! Food was incredible and our server was wonderfully helpful. Highly recommend for a nice dinner out. Smaller, intimate space thats perfect for dates. Cant wait to go back the next chance I get!

Bar Kismet was such an awesome spot. Super relaxed with amazing drinks menu and an even more amazing bartender. Dylan kept the whole bar entertained while also pumping out drinks for the whole dining room. He recommended the celeriac,pear, hazelnut and beemester and it did not disappoint. Would highly recommend for a date night. Sit at the bar if you can, dinner and a show!

Food was decent, however service was lame and I can t imagine going back because of that. Our main courses took an hour to arrive after we finished the starters. Menu items change weekly, so I am not going to get into details of specific dishes but we found everything very well balanced and tasty (except the raw scallops, they needed salt and acid). Cocktails were nice but they didnt have the depth or complexity I was looking for. Cocktail vessels can use improvement and paper straws have to go. I would recommend their servers to taste every new item on the menu since our server had no clue. I had to get up get my own water. Worst service I have experienced in such a long time, and I dine out more than your average Haligonian. edit: this place needs a lesson on hospitality in general, I would recommend them visiting one of the Freehand restaurants in Halifax and taking some notes.

Food, atmosphere, drinks, and service were all top notch. Its probably one of the best restaurants Ive ever been to.

The best place in town, never had a bad meal, drink or experience. First time here was for my 1st wedding anniversary and Jess seated my wife and I. Some 4-5 months later we come back and she remembered everything about our last visit! These small things are what make kismets staff the best in town, they actually care about the guests and want to know about them! Never had a better night out than a night at Bar Kismet

Drinks 5/5 food 5/5. The tuna tartare with fries. Damn.

I would not recommend this place and would actually suggest there are numerous other options in Halifax for great dinner/drinks! I went on recommendation of the numerous featured stories in magazines. Im convinced this must have been paid promotion because my actual experience there did not line up with the glowing reviews online. The servers were not inviting or warm by any means. I arrived on time for my reservation and asked where the washroom was, and they were not polite and simply gestured me up the stairs. While sitting at the table waiting for the rest of my party, not a single server approached me to offer me water or a drink. When I finally did get a cocktail, there was too much ice and not at all what I would expect at a place like this. Definitely would not recommend this place for cocktails. My main issue was the 2-hour seating window. I completely understand that the restaurant provided notice of this in advance. However, I would suggest to management to increase the time since people generally take more time than this, especially with bigger groups. I was just about to order a glass of wine when the server abruptly informed us we had to leave in 15 minutes. We were essentially rushed out of there. Overall, I only went because of the promotion in magazines, and would not return. I think youll get a way friendly experience and halfway decent cocktails at any other restaurant in downtown Halifax. Its clear customer service is not important for this restaurant. I would advise not giving money to a place that does not seem to care for its patrons nor in providing warm service.

Id give here a 4.5. The only things that I disliked was that the sunset coming in the window was too bright to see for a few minutes, without there being blinds or curtains on the window to adjust. And when the place is full, you are sitting very closely to people next to you, so not able to have much for private conversation. With the place being quiet small inside, I guess there is no other choice for this though. Six or seven tables for two, I think two tables for four, and a few stools at the bar. Service is very good. Ive been here for birthday dinners two years in a row because of the cocktails alone. They are all delicious, pretty presentation, priced between $12 and 17, and I had a nice buzz after drinking just two each visit, when ordering four. My friend and I each get different ones and then taste each others. Food: the bread is several slices of a white bread, sort of charred on the edges, with nothing on it, but offer of olive oil for dipping, and very good. ($5). The marinated olives have three or four varieties and were delicious, even for my friend who normally dislikes olives. ($7). The celeriac with pear, hazelnut & beemster is summery and light. I dragged the slices of celeriac through the hazelnut oil on the plate to capture all the nuttiness. ($16). The tomato melt on sourdough with chili oil was not what either of us expected - the tomato itself was barely noticeable, but it was covered in gooey nice cheese, a bit greasy & messy to eat, but served in two halves, so perfect for sharing. ($12). The cod, pommes paillasson & jalapeno salsa verde ($30) was excellent with the fish being so tender and flaky, the salsa with a lot of whole parsley leaves, the bottom homemade hashbrown patty full of flavor and just the right amount of greasiness. My friends paccheri, nduja & black kale ($30) was a large portion, with the pasta being a bit thin and cooked to perfection, right blend of sauce & cheese to taste good without anything too dominant. For desserts we tried the two available on the menu and shared. The orange & poppyseed semolina cake ($11) was a good size, very light and fresh tasting, almost summer on a plate. The chocolate & sesame tart ($11) was good, with a soft fudgey texture, not too bitter, not sweet at all, couldve had a bit more sesame throughout maybe. We will be back.

Interior aesthetics were on point. Staff were also super friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Menu was unique and there is a daily special that rotates. Plating was decent and the food did look appetizing. The ahi tuna tartare had great texture that went well with the fries flavour wise. However the other plates were not as interesting in flavour or textures. Some could have been seasoned better. In any case, the food was alright in comparison to the rest of the dining experience.

This place does not disappoint! Our go-to place whenever we re in Halifax. Absolutely delicious!

I had a good experience here. The servers were very nice and the food was good. The drinks were good though not remarkable. A drawback of this place is it can be very difficult to get a table.

Sublime dining experience

Worth every bit of the hype. It has become known by many as the best restaurant in town, hands down. The food is always fresh, the drinks are always creative and amazing, and the atmosphere is not pretentious, not too fancy. Its always a great evening out.

Yes yes yes

Best restaurant in the country.

Bad

I went there after reading all the magazines recommendations. A good restaurant with excellent food but not a 5-star for me. I enjoyed my snow pea leaves salad though the halibut was slightly dry and chewy. My friend said that the tortellini was just ok, while she loved the gnocchi at her last visit. My main concern is the amount of salt that they use. Everything, from the fries to the tuna tartare would taste so much better with way less salt in the dishes, in the broth, in the sauce... Some other reviewers have mentioned this and I should have checked before going there. I am tempted to give a 3-star because of this but I will stick to my 4-star because it was an enjoyable experience overall.

Very friendly staff and excellent food.

At first I felt a bit disappointed that we were seated at the bar but honestly my partner and I left feeling super glad we did! Thanks for the amazing food and service :)

Came here for a quick drink and oysters at the bar and it was a great experience, I would definitely go again to try more of the menu the next time I visit Halifax!

More of a cocktail bar than restaurant but I guess the name is BAR Kismet. Menu is very limited and food was ok. Pricey for what it is. If you re here for the cocktails great but for food I think there are many other better options in Halifax such as The Canteen or La Frasca. Nothing against this restaurant but if you have limited time in Halifax for a visit, I would pass on this one.

I thought FOR SURE that this place would disappoint me because how could it be THAT good? Well it just is. I asked my waiter for the wackiest cocktail on the menu and he recommended For Whom The Bell Sotols without hesitating. I was skeptical because I saw another review saying to avoid that drink specifically . Well I need to stop reading reviews before going to restaurants (and so do you!!) because I ordered it and I LOVED it. The food was incredible. We ordered 5 dishes and there wasn t a single dud (except 1 actually which I will mention later). Our favourite was the carrots, crab and béarnaise. Atmosphere is super cozy and not too loud. Our waiter was super attentive, it s like he could read my mind when I wanted another drink or we were ready to order desserts. Speaking of desserts maybe don t order the maple pie if you have any crown/implant/root canals as it was INCREDIBLY sticky and might just rip it out. It almost felt like we were eating semi-dried glucose syrup which is not the most appealing experience, texturally.

Came here as a walk in and sat on the patio, it was super cute with hanging plants and the seating was comfortable. The food was amazing I really loved the raw scallop and tuna tartare. Andrew was our server and he was really sweet and provided great hospitality! I will be coming back:)

Beautiful, cozy, with an exquisite menu!! The service was the best, we went as a family and it was an excellent experience, I recommend it as one of the best in Halifax!

If this is the number 12 ranked restaurant in Canada we were in so much trouble. Food was bland. Boring to look at tasteless, especially for the price

We were SO excited to eat at Bar Kismet, especially after seeing it on the top 100 list. The food and cocktails were phenomenal, and we give all of our best to the chefs and bartenders. The service, however, was insulting. I had questions about the menu, and the responses were cold and uninformative. Conor, our server, seemed unwilling to answer my questions and when they did answer my questions, I was given attitude and was made to feel like I was supposed to know the answers to my questions. The service was abysmal and we will never go back so long as the service remains as is. Seeing the responses from the owners on others reviews regarding the poor hospitality, I will not be surprised to receive a long-winded reply full of excuses. It s really too bad about the service. Totally tainted our experience and made what should have been an amazing night, just an okay night with delicious food.

Wow! An unreal experience. Very rare that we go to a place of this reputation and experience that wow moment with every single dish that we order. From start to finish the food, service, and cocktails were unreal. A can t recommend this place enough, and can t wait to go back. We ordered the oysters, carrots and béarnaise, halibut cheek, agnolotti, duck egg and asparagus, and rhubarb tart tartan - all were 10/10.

We were very excited to experience this place on our first trip to Halifax. We looked online to see their reservations opened 2 weeks prior at 7am Atlantic time. We put it in our calendars and woke up at 4am Calgary time to make a reservation. Nothing was available because as it turns out they decided to close July 1st -3rd. Of course they are entitled to do that, but at least post it somewhere so that we could have booked for June 30th. When we sent an email asking why reservation weren t available they told us about the closure and so I asked if they could accommodate us on the 30th they never responded. We get that you are popular and highly rated however your customer service is not. There is a certain arrogance to not even respond to emails. Not the Halifax hospitality that we experienced elsewhere including at places like Edna and Ostrich Club. These are definitely worth a visit and were happy to have out of town guests!

First and foremost, this is a classy bar with amazing food. When judged as such, it excels in most everything. The cocktails are unique and interesting, the spirit list is among the best in the country, service is amiable, and the food is absolutely delectable. However, we specifically came because of it being selected as a top 15 restaurant in Canada. With this in mind, there were a few shortcomings hence the four star review. Our cutlery was never changed out, youre only slotted two hours (even if youre spending), there is no espresso machine, and they dont take Amex. These might be small things for most or even petty to others, but in my mind if youre trying to compete with the best in the country then every box needs to be checked. Id certainly recommend Bar Kismet to friends and come back for sure, but I am making this review with the #12 selection in mind and for that, I cannot give five stars faithfully.

Decided to book our final meal while on vacation here, and it did not disappoint! Drinks: If you love cocktails, youll love this place. The are always rotating whats on the menu so there is always something new to try. We tried 4 of the cocktails and liked them all. My only critique is that the key lime and peele drink was labeled as a Bourbon sour, but did not have an egg white foam on top which would have made it look like the meringue on a key lime pie! Service: We were sat at a table inside, but asked to go out on the patio and they accommodated. Our sever was attentive and our water was always refilled. They were able to direct us on what drinks wed like based on our taste preferences and answered our questions about the food menu. Food: If you arent a fan of seafood, there will be less food options for you, but what they did have was really good. Our favorite bites were the duck egg, the marinated goat cheese, and the agnolotti pasta. So good. We have the cilantro sucks gene, and they put the salsa verde that came on the side so we could try it and see if it tasted soapy. They also coursed out or food well, so we werent overwhelmed with all of our dishes at once. My main critique for the food is that the bread you can order is just bread. No butter. Butter would have been nice!

Easily the best restaurant in Halifax. We ve eaten at many places on our 3 trips to Halifax, and they ve all been pretty meh. Fortunately we found Bar Kismet and it will now be our must go spot for any future visits. Here s what we had in order from omg to wow, also very delicious 1. Cod. Omg. They hired a wizard to invent this magical dish. There is no other explanation for how amazing it is. 2. Carrots with crab. Phenomenal. 3. Tuna tartare. Mega good. Larger than expected with a good portion of incredible skinny fries. 4. Scallops. Super good. 5. Radish and tonnato. Wow, also very delicious. Service was outstanding. The server recommended the cod as a stand out special dish, and he was right. I love it when a server doesn t just say everything is good! Or it depends on what you re in the mood for when asked what s good on the menu. He didn t hesitate to steer us to the cod. Anyway, stop looking up Halifax restaurants right now. You did it. You found the best one. Just book your reservation right now. Oh, and here s a hot tip: if you can t get a reservation, just show up at 5pm and check if they have a table for you. That s what we did, and we were thrilled to get a table in their patio out back. Parking: Found parking on the street easily

Food and drink are great. But our server must have been having an off night. He was quite abrupt when our friend asked what the tonnato and radish dish was like with a response of ...well its tonnato and radishes. I felt bad because we really talked this place up to our friend who was here from out of town, but it wasnt our usual exceptional experience. Historically, we usually have had great servers who take pride in explaining how dishes are prepared and presented, as the menu is minimally descriptive. Also, why are most of the reviews on here from bots.....?

There is probably not a single person from halifax that will not recommend bar kismet. The atmosphere is cozy and warm and the staff is always wonderful. They have a rotating menu but one of their constants is the tuna tartar and it is a must have, it never fails to disappoint and there is just something about the flavours that is incredible. On their current menu they have a squash crown that is the perfect savoury but sweet pasta dish drizzled in brown butter its such a warm tasteful dish. You cannot go wrong with their food or drinks here - you can tell the owners care about the restaurant and want every visit to be just as good if not better than the last. I would book your reservation in advance since they are so good it can be hard to get a reservation but it is well worth it if you do!

Favourite restaurant in Halifax

Amazing place, really recommend if you are visit Halifax. We took the oysters, tonneta, cod and halibut, it was delightful. The cocktails are great and unique also. What a great evening !

Just had dinner at Bar Kismet and am still basking in the experience. My partner and I had the tuna tartar, the sorprese cacio e pepe, and the tonnato melt. Each had a seductive flavour profile that we fell for right away! Our waiter was diligent, informative. So, that was a definite plus. The environment (lighting, surfaces, decor, music) was stimulating and aligned. The whole team seemed cohesive and set on providing us with an extraordinary experience. We Will return!

Amazing food, great service

The food was sub par and I have dined in almost every restaurant in Halifax and was expecting a lot more since they made it in the top 100 list. Unique dishes but they are pretty bland. The service was awful. They have a certain arrogance and don t want to treat you like a customer. The sitting arrangement is pretty bad too. The tables are really small and too close together. Overall wasn t a great experience.

Amazing food/appetizers and cocktails. You have to book ahead to get a table, but very worth it!

Great dinner with amazing food and cocktails.

Amazing small plates, fantastic service.. a very very cool spot

Great food! Fantastic cocktails! I definitely understand why it s very busy Food : 5/5

Have been going here since they opened, and its been my favorite restaurant in Halifax ever since. With a refreshing focus on seafood, you get to try turbot, skate, and scallops prepared in creative and satisfying ways. Thinly sliced albacore with browned butter is still one of the most memorable bites Ive eaten in a long time. My friends and I also rave about the salad of celeriac, pear, Emmenthaler w/hazelnut dressing. I could go on about each memorable dish. Paired with a prolific cocktail list and reasonable prices, its hard to find many faults. Sometimes the service can be a bit cold, so dont take it too personally. But the bar staff are seriously friendly and will help you find a cocktail that matches your meals vibe. The pastas, especially the cavatelli, can be a little firm for my taste so just be aware of that. Overall extremely satisfying meals and vibe at Bar Kismet, #1 recommendation!

Insane food and cocktail experience. The only thing I can recommend is to try anything and everything you can.

If you are a foodie, you must eat here. This was our second time at Bar Kismet and we were blown away yet again. You can (and we did) spend a whole 2+ hour dinner just talking about the food: The unique combination of flavours and textures, the plating, and even the creative cocktail names. Menu is adjusted every week - Fun to eat at a place where the chef and bartenders are clearly enjoying the creation of new items. Attentive service, great atmosphere. Also, although the reservation is for a 2 hour slot, we were not asked to leave after 2 hours (we were finishing up our desert at that time, left when we were done). A previous review noted this as a downside to the restaurant, but my take is that this is just written in case they did need to ask a lingering table to head out if they were all finished. (It is a business, after all!)

This is a must do. Every bite was heaven. It s one of the best meals I ve ever had. I thought given the quality and care put into the menu that it was very fairly priced. I want to try the entire menu. If you are a cocktail connoisseur, I d say you should stick to wine as the cocktails weren t the best. But the food was so outstanding that despite my love of cocktails, it was still a 5/5 experience. Ill be back each time I return to Halifax.

This is one of our favourite restaurants in Halifax. The food is consistently top notch, service is attentive and knowledgeable, and the cocktails and wine list are extensive. The tuna tartare is a must have, and on our last visit we shared the spaghettini which was our favourite dish. A must try if you re visiting the city!

Lived in Halifax for two years and this is the only restaurant which, when they drop your food, they will tell you what it is, whats in it, sometimes even how its done etc. Thats what real service is all about. Being informative, being engaging. I dont know why other restaurants dont do that. Food and drinks are amazing and they change menu regularly.

Had a number of shareable dishes for variety and were blown away by the mixes of flavour... same with the cocktails!

Everything was exceptional.

Loved everything about this place. The food was superb and so was the service.

The best meal we had on our week vacation through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Every dish we had was amazing, especially the raw scallops, tonnato melt, and egg yolk raviolo. Great mixed drinks too. Wish I could give six stars!

Really good food and excellent service. Cocktails were perfect. Wine menu was decent but not great. Food : 5/5

Ending my Halifax culinary adventure on a high note at Bar Kismet with this amazing spaghetti (alla chitarra) al limone & summer squash. I loved the chew of the handmade pasta, the creaminess of the sauce, the fresh zucchini, the touch of lemon and the punch of freshly cracked pepper. Soooo delicious! I enjoyed everything from this little gem of a restaurant The decor, ambiance, cocktail, food and even the company. Thank you Halifax, you have been good to me. Until next time

truly special, but i missed the carrots last time

We went on a weekday (Thursday), right at opening (5pm) and able to get table for 2 for 2 hours. Walk ins seem very limited and reservations are recommended. All of the dishes (carrots, grilled mackerel, olives, ahi tuna, scallops) especially the scallops- were incredible. Service and atmosphere were also lovely. Dietary restrictions: Able to cater to diet restrictions/allergies for various dishes

My favourite restaurant in Halifax. Perfect for a date night or a get together with friends. I am laughing reading the reviews on here which scream I m used to being pandered to at franchise restaurants and have zero concept of how food and service should be at a decent place. It s not like you need to be told, but keep doing things exactly as you are, Kismet.

Excellent spot! The food was great we ordered the tuna tartar, a cod dish, and one of the rotating cheeses. The tuna tartar was phenomenal; the cod was great except very rich/oily (mostly due to the potato patty); and the cheese was amazing. Our server (one of the bartenders) was professional, courteous, and friendly. I would recommend grabbing a seat at one of the dining tables as the bar seats have no backs and arent the most comfortable for the tush. Edit: knocked down a star because my second visit wasnt quite as enjoyable. The shrimp dish was too salty.

I cannot properly share a review of this restaurant as it is impossible to get in to try it. They rarely answer their phone, and are always fully booked. Last Christmas, we bought our son a gift card. He has tried multiple times to get in and can never reserve. Even when he set an alarm for 30 minutes a they answer the phone and tried to book 2 weeks in advance, they were denied. My only recommendation is good luck.

Beautiful spot in the north end! It has a romantic type vibe to it and is the perfect date night spot! The carrots and crab and tuna tartare we both excellent dishes with a variety of ingredients. This place did have a lot of unique dishes to try and experience, however it is more of seafood centred place and there weren t as many vegetarian options available. The staff were attentive and accommodating to our needs and made an effort to make us feel welcome. We will definitely be back!

Very busy place. Had bread and cheese with cocktails.

Incredible dining experience, the atmosphere is so lovely, like a Maritime green cozy paradise. Service was great, really knowledgeable of the flavour profiles of all the cocktails. The menu is all sharable and was so unique, the crab with carrots was a standout to me, I will suggest this place to anyone visiting Halifax

If youre a local and have not yet been, you must go. And if you are coming from out of Halifax, this is a must stop restaurant. I have not stopped thinking about the tuna tartare and carrot and crab bearnaise since I ate there.

First off, the staff are excellent, but we were underwhelmed, especially after the reviews I had read, and the hype surrounding the place. The cocktails were alright, not great; there were a few drinks my more experienced friends liked; I was expecting to be blown away. We didnt eat but maybe we could come back and try some food and drink pairings. This is a story that is still to be written! See you next time.

Some of the best food youll find anywhere in the province. Tuna tartare will blow your hair back!

If you want to eat the most heartbreakingly beautiful and delicious meal youve had in years, eat a meal at Bar Kismet. If you want a cocktail thats equal parts inventive, intoxicating and incredible, have a drink at Bar Kismet. Otherwise, dont bother.

The food was good but it didnt wow me. One of the raw seafood dishes I had, the oil started to harden. I feel the dishes could of been paced differently to prevent this from happening.

Great food and drinks. Id recommend making reservations.

Crown squash: unforgettable!! A magical place with a real good vibe

Best in Halifax. No more to be said.

I can see why this is a popular place, particularly with a particular demographic. The bar and all the plants make it visually appealing, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable, the cocktails were original and delicious. That being said, we weren t completely thrilled. It was very noisy so hard to hold a conversation, although we weren t expecting a budget meal, it was quite expensive. The food was attractive and well thought out but the strong flavours in the scallop dish hid any scallop flavour and my husband s pasta was just slightly undercooked. A very interesting place for sure. Would go for cocktails & small plates, maybe not for a meal again.

I ve had the pleasure of dining at several spots in Halifax, but this restaurant stands out as my absolute favorite. From the food to the service, every aspect of my dining experience here is consistently exceptional. The menu is diverse and always tantalizing, making each visit a new culinary adventure. I highly recommend asking the staff for a beverage recommendation. They have an impressive knack for pairing, and their suggestions are simply to die for. Whether you re a local or just passing through, this gem is a must-visit!

Bar Kismet was one of many great restaurants we visited on our three-week trip to Canada - it was one we booked well in advance and were highly anticipating, it certainly lived up to the hype! We had great seats at the bar and over the course of about two hours we indulged in a variety of amazing dishes, with some of the highlights being the raw scallop, ahi tuna tartare and gnocchi. The drinks selection was excellent and what was really impressive was how original all their cocktails were. Im sure you could get a classic if you really wanted but Id recommend diving into their unique creations instead! Some were particularly interesting, such as the floppy disk and howshegoinbud?. The restaurant draws a diverse crowd ranging from solo diners to small groups, there are also a lot of visitors coming from overseas or other parts of Canada now they are developing such a positive reputation. Service from the guys behind the bar was perfect, they were chatty with all the guests and knew exactly when to come by for another drink or food order. Dave looked after us for most of the night and was excellent. Would certainly recommend for a memorable night in Halifax!

Exceptional food and drink, excellent service, cozy atmosphere - it delivers every.single.time. THE BEST

We had a really nice time start to finish. Our service was flawless. We never went a moment without a drink, plates were cleared with perfect timing and we e never felt rushed at all. Our server was exceptionally sweet and hospitable. I really appreciated the last minute request for a specific table being accommodated. The food was all fantastic as always-got mostly the classics so my friend who had been wanting to try kismet since it s opening (visiting Halifax for the first time) could have them.

My group had the absolute best time at Bar Kismet! The cocktails were delicious and innovative, with something available to everyone s unique taste. The menu is spectacular, with fresh seasonal flavours that are somehow both new and comfortable. However, the main highlight of the evening was our server Drew. He was incredibly charming, professional, and took great care of us. He knew when to step in and when to leave us be, made excellent recommendations and helped navigate dietary restrictions with ease. We had such a wonderful evening, and will absolutely be back again! Vegetarian options: Fantastic vegetarian pastas on the menu, and many of the dishes are able to be made vegetarian with the meat on the side to accommodate everyone.

Amazing cocktails. Got to hang out on the patio out back. Tasty, small plates. Good to hang out with friends.

literally the best meal I ve ever had in my entire life.

Very small restaurant, with only few people working, very warm comfy vibe, almost like a family style but with delicate decors. The food is remarkable, I especially enjoyed the crab&carrot dish, 10/10 recommend. Another couple highlights on the food are: the sour cream with horseradish that presented in the grilled mackerel dish, and the handmade fresh pasta. Unfortunately didn t get to try the drinks but will definitely be back for the drinks. I have to mention that our server Gabe was attentive, knowledgeable, sophisticated, friendly, and professional. He is able to tell me all the ingredients from the sour cream and make essential recommendations which we ended up really liking. 10/10 recommend, since we almost had everything on the menu, I m excited to see what the new menu will bring to the table.

The food was very delicious, would highly recommend if you re in the area. One thing to nitpick was the tuna tartare - the fries seemed out of place and something crunchier & larger like toasted sourdough would ve fit the dish better. On the other hand, the squash crown and scallops were amazing, I would highly recommend it to anyone who comes to Bar Kismet. It was a lively atmosphere, but there were times it got slightly loud.

Best restaurant in Halifax! Grilled mackerel was delicious! Great cocktails. Sat at bar and bartender was very friendly and entertaining. Learned a lot about Mezcal.