The Press Gang Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Halifax

The Drill tasting menu is hard to beat! The Press Gang has a great Scotch & Whiskey menu also.

One of the best dining experiences in Halifax, top three in my opinion. Highly recommend.

Wonderful restaurant in Halifax. Food was great, service was top notch !

Best seafood we had in Nova Scotia. Excellent level of cooking

Lovely atmosphere, niche place with a low key haunted vibe in a good way. The building has a rich history and was worth the visit.

Such a great, historic place. Food & waiter were great! We d go often if we were closer. Great night out!

Hands down most unique meal I ve ever had. Feels like you re being served at someone s home, the staff are amazing and the food is off the charts. Might come back to Halifax to come here

Many bests experienced here. Chef Bryan is amazing!

Hands down the best restaurant in Halifax... Had the local oysters, roasted beet salad, charcuterie, and lamb... Each better than the other... Impeccable service to match... And to top it off with live music... Highly recommended...

Consistently great service here and a perfect martini every time. The choice of oysters are always great and the vibe of the place is a lovely part of the history of Halifax.

Excellent service, cozy intimate space and delicious food. Went to celebrate an anniversary and enjoyed the Henrys Feast. Such a fun experience trying all the dishes. Will be back!

Favourite meal in Halifax, and great atmosphere :)

One of the best meals I ve have in a very long time. Beautiful cozy space, great oysters, and live music. Probably the best restaurant in Halifax. A must when needing a wonderful night out.

Food is absolutely excellent! One of the best seafood risottos I have had. Great setting, perfect for date nights or taking out friends and family.

The only thing metric missing is value, which I would give a one out of five...Everything was easily 9s across the board until the cheque comes and you are faced with the reality, Youre being taken advantage of. There are no frills, no bread, no amuse. Service was competent and attentive. But Im still left with paying $200 for I meal that left me feeling literally hungry, and I had dessert. For that amount of money I should get an experience, I got expertly cooked fish on top of sides that dont compliment it at all. The salmon was easily one of the best prepared pieces of fish Ive ever had in my life, it was sitting on top of four tiny smashed potatoes, corn mush and something called a salsa, individually they tasted great. Together it was not very harmonious. The duck dish was more cohesive flavour wise. I just cant justify $100 a plate and getting a meh experience. Its an institution for its history but its just resting on its laurels...

Such an enjoyable evening with delicious, unique dishes, in an historic building. A big thank you to Mick for making the evening even more enjoyable.

Very nice place and the food is amazing . Pricy but very worth it. Mick will complete the experience!

Sat at the bar - always a great place to sit. Bar staff was friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Food was excellent and the wine pairing - Luckett Tidal Bay - was perfect for the seafood risotto and the yummy seafood chowder. Not cheap - but very worth it!

Literally the best risotto ive ever had and the chicken was amazing too! Great selection of oysters as well. A bit pricey but its well worth it, perfect spot for a date night!

This is a wonderful place to eat. The history of the building is as fascinating as the architecture. Make sure you ask your server about it! Food was amazing, service better than anywhere else we had in NS. Close walk to the Boardwalk. This is a great choice for a meal.

The Press Gang is a Halifax institution and for good reason. The oysters were perfection, and I had the lamb which was also really good. They really nail the trifecta of great food, service and atmosphere.

Fantastic food!!

Very cool restaurant with outstanding food and service. Definitely will go again!

Service was terrible. We were there for an hour before we got our oysters. And then 2/4 of us got food poisoning afterwards.

I know you can get great oysters everywhere in the city but this place takes their oysters very seriously. I tried four different oysters and they were all delicious.

Definitely the best restaurant we visited in Halifax! Lobster, risotto and chowder were all fantastic. Highly recommend for tourist in the area!

Overrated not bad but not amazing

We had a amazing meal here. We had the tide and stride and the seafood risotto. This is hands down my favourite restaurant. The service, the atmosphere and the food were easily a 10/10. I will definitely be returning! Thank you so much for the memorable experience!

I could not recommend this place enough. The food was absolutely incredible and the service was top notch. Never felt we had to wait for someone to come by if we needed something but also never felt like we were being bothered in anyway. Server just always seemed to know when to be there. Best meal I ve had in Halifax and being from Toronto its better than a lot of places I ve been to over there as well. Would recommend this place to anyone travelling to Halifax. Try the Lamb and the Tide and Stride

Beautiful ancient place. The oysters were to die for. Delicious !!

oysters were super fresh, vibes were great! we got the chowder and also the tide and stride, definitely save room for dessert too!

Caveat: Im writing this review from the perspective of an American. The dark wood and melted candles give off a great, old-world, British sailing atmosphere. It was a bit too warm and stuffy so made the experience uncomfortable. Food was average. Service was normal. The seafood risotto was too heavily sauced. Peanut butter pie/cake was amazing.

Overall amazing! Food, service, ambience etc. A must try.

What an amazing place! The food and service were exquisite . Worth reserving a dinner date!!

I hate to admit it, but we are food snobs. My husband and I had Henry s feast, followed by the espresso cake and a scotch flight for dessert. Very pricey, but honestly one of the best meals we ve ever had. Really nice way to wrap up a trip to the east coast.

Fantastic evening! Great memorable experience with delicious dinner and great service. Oysters must try ( local of Nova Scotias, Prince Edward Islands, new Brunswicks and Newfoundlands oysters plater) Highly recommend! Reservation recommended.

Food was great but they didnt offer us bottled water since the city tap water is contaminated n not safe to drink. I could taste the water is not boiled before serving.

Among the best places in the city for a meal. Food is excellent, service is excellent and the ambience is unmatched. Highly recommended. Ps. Get oysters.

Amazing dining experience with great cuisine, presentation, and service. Its rare to come across such a solid restaurant. With no hesitation...5 stars!

Delicious and great service

Service was very disappointing. Not overly crowded but we had a pesky table (kept asking hundreds of questions) near us and our waiter finally decided to avoid them, and us, most of the meal. The building is cool, old stone and wood, and the bar is lit to light up the main dining room. Seafood Risotto and halibut were very good. Wine list was meh. Expected much more based on ratings.

Beat and goat cheese salad was awesome. Best oysters and seafood chowder weve ever had; exquisite

A bit pricier but the food is delicious and well worth the visit.

The sun rose above the maritime horizon. A successful stagecoach robbery left us stalked by the law. We wondered to The Press Gang. The doors opened to a welcoming crowd of rascals. The oysters danced upon our tongues. The scotch satisfied our thirst. The stone walls of safety welcome you. The Press Gang, my friend, your rescue, your passion, your comrade.

4 varieties of oysters, 2 from NS 2 from NFLD, great variation in flavours. Best choice of Oysters we had having oysters every day x 4 days. Halibut was well prepared flavourful and moist. Dinner for 2, 2 glasses of wine each, 12 oysters and 2 halibut >$200

Awful awful service.

Everything was amazing. Food was spectacular. Risotto seafood main was best followed by halibut. Oysters were awesome as was chowder. Peanut butter pie desert outstanding.

Best dining experience! Recommend getting The Drill .

Great atmosphere and food! Got the #1 item: seafood risotto and it did not disappoint. Great to have with some local oysters and an IPA

5 stars! Spectacular! Our favourite restaurant in Halifax. My seafood risotto was fantastic! My partner had the beef tenderloin. He has travelled and dined at 5 star restaurants all over the world and he said it was the best steak he has ever had. Food : 5/5

The food, drinks, and service were absolutely top-notch! The steak and the lamb were done to perfection and melted in your mouth!

Couldnt ask for a better experience. The chowder was pure bliss, I have never tasted anything so well put together. The staff was fantastic, drawing us back 3 times in one weekend. The live music was also amazing! Definitely a must see and experience location!

My wife and I had a wonderful dinner, the freshest oysters, torched oysters, tried and stride main and salmon. All of it fanatic in a quaint old feel bar/restaurant vibe. I would highly recommend

Absolutely phenomenal experience on all counts! The food was incredible, the service could not have been better, and the atmosphere was charming. We had fresh oysters, the cured salmon appetizer, seafood risotto, scallop linguine, and the creme brûlée and everything was delectable. Our server and every staff member we interacted with were so amazingly attentive and helpful. New favourite restaurant in the city and cannot wait for our next visit!

Top notch.

Everything about my dining experience was absolutely perfect from start to finish. My server was friendly, knowledgeable and made excellent suggestions for both food and drink. My cocktail to start the evening was perfectly crafted and the sampling of oysters from the four Atlantic provinces were incredibly fresh and dripping with briny goodness. I opted for the Atlantic Halibut with Parisian gnocchi and rapini and was blown away by the whole dish. The halibut was perfectly cooked and the gnocchi was so flavourful that I ate each tiny piece one at a time! I ll definitely return to Press Gang when I m in Halifax again.

When in Halifax, we will splurge and dine at the Press Gang. It is always great.

Outstanding!

One of the best meals of my mid-aged life. I ordered the halibut. It came quickly and I ate it very slowly to savour every bite. Amazing food and I would lightly recommend!

All I need

Nina and Matthew were so amazing! We absolutely loved the vibe (building original to 1790s), the food was amazing! And the service was next level. We always try to seek out different culinary experiences when we travel, the Press Gang was a hands down favorite.

The Press Gang is truly a delight - we ordered a la carte and tried their wine and cocktails. We may have overstayed our welcome slightly, but the staff were kind, generous, and accommodating. Thanks, Mick, for taking good care of us and ensuring that our evening was special and greatly enjoyed. Cheers; well be back!

Amazing, is all I can say!

They have 4 different oysters, coming from 4 different places, NB, PEI, local, and the other I forgot. Ive been sitting at the bar observing, the fun thing was that the vast majority would order a sampler of all the 4 species of oysters. Despite hearing a rather lengthy description of how each tastes. I think they taste the same. I think the place is a bit better than the fancy restaurants on the boardwalk. Nevertheles having the typical vibe of a tourist place. For loners: if you come alone, they will likely to put you at the bar to save seats. The restaurant is small, sitting may be max. 20 people. It was somehow embarrassing if you are just watching people talk with the bartender, not knowing what to say.

We visited the restaurant with guests from abroad. This was several months ago. The Press Gang is still being mentioned on the phone calls: Do you remember that cool place with the live piano and awesome food? We definitely want another visit!. The atmosphere was amazing. The live piano definitely make it special. The food was exceptional and the service was kind, polite and very professional.

Went alone, sat at the bar. Absolutly lovely service, and must try seafood chowder!

One of the best experiences in Halifax restaurants. Certainly the best tasting seafood. I had the risotto and my friend had the chef Bryan scallop both were so delicious and gluten free. The atmosphere is charming with real candles and stonewalls. The service staff were so friendly and professional. Julia our waitress was courteous and alert. The menu options seemed somewhat limited and the prices are not cheap. I will visit again for oysters Dietary restrictions: We ordered 2 celiac safe gluten free options, risotto and chef Bryan scallops

The food is a bit expensive, but its worth visiting! Great customer service.

We went here for the February Dine Around menu and, to be honest, we were disappointed. Although the Dine Around menu prices were reasonable, without that the prices would have been inflated for what you get. This very much felt like just a nice pub - in terms of food, service and atmosphere - and not like the fine dining experience I would expect for those prices.

I guess not my cup of tea, food was bland to me so I ended up leaving after appetizers. Went for my birthday but ended up at the keg with a much better experience overall

This was easily my favorite restaurant that I visited while in the city. We did The Drill and each course was absolutely awesome. I will recommend that you should allow a solid two hours if you choose to do that but it s definitely worth it. The place also has a really cool atmosphere with some interesting history behind it. I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting the area.

Popped in last Friday 30 min before kitchen closed. Was slightly worried things may be rushed or not as good as they could be but had limited options at that time for a nice sit down. Wasnt feeling like pub food or pizza. Felt real bad but was real hungry, Service and food were exceptional. Entertainment was lovely. Drinks were great. Preparation of the food was absolutely perfect - seasoning, cook, etc. Highly recommend. Both my wife and I LOVED our dishes. High praise to the kitchen team for taking exception care on a last minute late Friday order - we had Seafood Risotto and Atlantic Halibut.

Wonderful atmosphere, great cocktails, delicious food

Absolutely loved the atmosphere; that was an experience on its own. We ordered the The Drill 4 course meal. The food was superb and well paced. Each dish was well composed and complimentary. Definitely a culinary experience!

Came here for The Drill, I read the positive reviews, and was kind of let down. Had the espresso (was not caramel baileys ) and honey cocktail (sweet. yummy but weak in alcohol). Started with a lobster bisque with a scallop ball (tasted like a fishball you d eat at an Asian hotpot) was pretty good but wasn t blown away, it was a small portion of bisque but had lots of lobster claw meat that tasted fresh. Scallop ball was a fabulous, bouncy, tender texture but didn t have a strong scallop taste. 4/5 Next came beef tartare and candied tuna (basically tuna jerky). Beef had a nice chew but was underseasoned on its own. Tuna jerky was fun to eat. Underneath the beef and tuna was a really yummy chimichurri. The sauces were yummy but there wasn t enough of it, it was paired with really nice fresh crunchy slices of bread. 5/5 Had a sorbet as a palate cleanser (waitress said it s raspberry but it tasted like hawthorn candy), was pretty good! 5/5 The main and dessert was where I was let down. Overcooked salmon and a couple of shrimps (cooked in white wine-yummy!) with pan fried gnocchi . The gnocchi was basically oily, deep fried mashed potato bites tasted like I went to a fast food place. Salmon was overcooked so that was meh. 2/5 The dessert was not great. Chocolate peanut butter pie was overly sweet and tasted too basic- like a kids intro-to-desserts recipe. It was paired with a berry some French name that tasted like a wet, overly sweet, thick, soggy failed pancake (I don t like pancakes on a good day). My boyfriend who likes pancakes and doesn t mind soggy foods didn t like it either. Paired with a coffee, I could only eat one piece of the peanut butter pie. I love desserts and that wasn t worth the calories. 0/5 Overall I think I was expecting something more special. It s WAY overpriced for what you get. Atleast you don t leave feeling hungry (there was lots of bread) I recommend going to Bicycle Thief, Gio or Oxalis for a much better fine dining experience that s worth the money.

Great food and great service They offer a candlelit dinner which provides a great atmosphere. Perfect for dates or anniversaries. Food

Out of my limited fine dining experiences, this place wins. The food was exceptionally tasty, it looked incredible, the service was attentive, the building has such a cool history, and the music was just right. The Press Gang have put a lot of effort into making the entire experience as good and as elevated as can be. All things considered, here is good value for the price Dietary restrictions: Gluten and lactose free are no problem

We were looking for a historic eating experience, and were directed here by friends and a restaurant professional. I was mesmerized by the original interior structures; stone and mortar walls, 200 year old wooden beams. My 23 year old daughter and I shared an order of the calamari and the seafood chowder. We also shared the seafood risotto. All dishes were outstanding 10/10!

It feels like an old fashioned pub on the inside. The food and the service was amazing. Not cheap but worth it for a special night out.

The service and food here are beyond words. That is all.

Always a great place to take friends and enjoy a fabulous meal in an historic site.

This is the perfect place for a cozy dining experience. The food quality was great. It is definitely on the pricier side but I believe it is worth it here. A nice touch was the live jazz band playing that night

If youre in Halifax, this place is a must!

Press Gang Restaurant is the fine dine quality food with the Maritimes warm atmosphere! First, their oyesters bar is by far the best in town: diversity, freshness and top quality. My daughter and my son had the seafood chowder. This is the best one I had in my life! You can taste each component of the chowder without taking over one of each other. The base was creamy, with a nice white wine taste and just a bit of smokeyness to balance everything together! I had the calamari: tender, fresh and crispy! The best in town so far. My spouse and my 2 other kids had the tenderloin steak. FYI, I lived in Alberta and I can say without a doubth that the Chef take AAA beef. Tender, juicy and tons of flavors! The sauce was just well balance without imposing on the tenderloin. We had the peanut butter tart. You can nicely feel the butter and the cream like French patisserie. 65% chocolate ganache on a creamy peanut butter filling and a buttery crust. Totally divine! I cannot finish review without sharing my amazing cosmopolitan sour by the Mixologist. This is rare to see a well balance cocktail master class. As you can read, e had a nice experience! The service was as you can expect for that level of restaurant. We had the privilège to be served by the Executive Chef Brian. I can t wait to come back and taste something different!

This was a great meal. The staff were attentive and engaging, and the drinks were tasty. However, the food was expensive, we sent one dish back (which was immediately comped, with apologies) and we were seated in a less than ideal (high traffic) part of the restaurant (even though we had a reservation). Overall I would give them a 4.5/5, but you can t give half stars.

The Press Gang has been one of our favourite restaurants for almost 2 decades. It s always a go to choice for a special occasion and/or to stop by for a cocktail & some oysters. We were recently there for my birthday and they did not disappoint. Service & food were amazing! We always tend to choose the drill rather than ordering selections from the menu. This is where the chef designs a 4-course dining experience for two. No two drill s are ever the same. It s a great choice if you want to be surprised and try something new. We recommend doing the wine parings as well. Each course is delivered with an excellent explanation from the server or executive chef detailing what you will experience. This dining experience was our best one yet! Below are pictures of our dining experience from February 24.

Food was great, the ambiance and lighting is amazing. They have live music, oysters and cocktails. You can t go wrong if you want to have a night out for dinner in Halifax.

This place was FANTASTIC. First of all, the building is hundreds of years old, and it is so beautifully designed. It has warm lighting and candles and made of old stone and wood. The staff were all very kind to us which was lovely! The food was AMAZING. We started with their oysters, which were my first time having oysters. These were wonderful; they weren t overpowering and the sauces went very well. Next, we got the escargots, which are a MUST HAVE. This was the highlight of the meal. They were so delicious, I was so sad when we had finished them. I got the seafood risotto as a meal, which was fantastic. All of the seafood, especially the scallops and the lobster were delicious, and the risotto was very creamy. I am highly impressed with this place and would absolutely come back here!!

Great experience. Phenomenal and knowledgeable servers, yet an unpretentious atmosphere. The food was fantastic as well, with the creativity expressed in The Drill making the experience totally worth it.

Amazing food, good drinks and am amazing ambiance. This is the place to go in Halifax. 4stars is for the price, it was expected but be prepared for it. Honestly it was a bit pricey but worth it.

Super cool place great weekend vibe oyster shots were super good surprisingly!!

The freshest oysters, great food and incredible service! Thanks for everything Shane!! You made our night!

Visited here for the fresh Oysters which were really good! We stayed for some cocktails which were also excellent (although a little pricey!) Our server was very knowledgeable, explaining where the oysters were from and then explaining every item on our charcuterie board. The service was fantastic and I would definitely go back when in Halifax!

The ambiance of this exceptional restaurant is matched only by the exquisite fare and service, all beyond compare within Halifax.

5-Stars! Great food, great people, beautiful candle lit atmosphere with original stone walls. Fantastic experience.

The location, waitress and the vibe is 10/10. But Huston we have a problem here. The ousters we ordered were ok, some of them were bitter, definitely not fresh. If you call your self an upscale place place be perfect. The calamaris were ok, but nothing special. Sorry if they don t call themselves as fancy spot they would get 5/5, but they are not even close

Great atmosphere, great service and the best seafood risotto I have ever had!

Great bar for a casual drink at the bar, the staff are very very friendly and it s always great on a weekend with live music. We need to return to try the food, but it s on the list for sure.

The seafood risotto is divine. The service is stellar. Please goooo!

My wife and I decided to pop in here for dinner a bit late (10:30) on a Friday. Our first server, was amazing. She had to leave for some type of appointment quite late, which was disappointing. We started with calamari and beef, bacon and blue. Both appetizers were cooked and seasoned to perfection. For mains, we had the seafood risotto and the halibut. Both meals were cooked beautifully, but unfortunately lacked almost any seasoning. Our guess is that a more junior cook had taken over the cooking and was tentative about using salt and pepper. We asked and they brought us two grinders, which helped tremendously. We would have liked to enjoy a dessert and some he finish of our meal, but our new server came with the bill....without an offer of even a coffee. When we asked about dessert she said I can see if I can find a cook to come back and do something for you. We passed on the offer. Disappointing way to end a wonderful time. So, the tale of two servers, one great and one that didnt really care. We are still giving the place a 4-star review, but its because of our first server and the quality of the food (even with the lack of any seasoning on the mains).

I should probably invest somehow in this place. I try to come here as often as possible. You generally have to book a reservation 2+ weeks in advance or just sit at the bar. They have whisky flights but the best thing by far on the menu is the beef bacon and blue appetizer. It is absolutely glorious. Please take my money

Such a cool spot to check out in halifax. Drinks are pretty small and pretty pricey though. Food

Visiting Halifax from Australia and what a fantastic find :-) Great choices of spirits, wines and of course oysters. Sat at the bar relaxing atmosphere and enjoyed the live music, and chatting to the bar staff who certainly knew their business. Definitely recommended

I could not have asked for a better meal. The ribs was to die for and the crème brûlée one of the best. Will be returning to eat my way through the entire me menu.

Delicious food, lobster boiled is yummy, cheese cake is good.

Fab food and great venue

Great service, loved the food! Amazing scotch menu! Will be back!

Omg what that place?! The food is so good!! The service is also great, everyone is nice and friendly. It s wonderful to be in a historical building having a meal and learn about the past.

Amazing place, incredible food, great service and excellent ambience! Will definitely be back. The torched oysters were phenomenal!!

If you want mediocre service and blend over priced food, this is the place for you. Otherwise, go elsewhere. For the price we paid, we had to pour our own water from a plastic pitcher. The food wasnt great for the price point.

Food was just okay, and it was too expensive to be just okay. Service was just okay, no one filled out water most of the night. Just okay so around. Wouldnt come back.

Superb atmosphere, wonderful food and a place full of history. Wonderful staff. Not to be missed.

Absolutely amazing from the service to the atmosphere. I got scallops and I have to say this is the first time I ve ever had them where they re cooked properly in my entire life and I m 40. Definitely come here. It was an amazing experience with a very relaxed and romantic atmosphere and a great list of fresh fair from the ocean.

Awesome restaurant in Halifax! I went there with colleagues and we all enjoyed our meals. Most of us had the rib eye or the seafood risotto. Ambiance is very cool and I also see myself going back with my significant other. I recommend!

Absolutely loved everything about this place. The location was in mid downtown core, so it was easy to find. They had live music, which was a great touch to my dinner. The fresh oysters was to die, for I would fly all the way back from Toronto just to try these oysters again. Would definitely recommend and would definitely go back.

This restaurant is amazing! Small town pub feel with a 5 star fine dining menu. I recommend The Drill from the dinner menu. Its a 4 course experience giving the kitchen the chance to impress you with non menu items. Its a definite palate pleasing experience! They have an array of fine Scotch, brandy, and wine. I highly recommend checking it out and joining the oyster cult while you are there. They have oysters from 13 different places.

We had our anniversary dinner last night at Press Gang because it has always been a definition of elevated quality seafood for us and our family until last night. Unfortunately we have left disappointed in most of the dishes we tried. Tuna tartare was good, had great flavors, Calamari was so ordinary and firecracker sauce tasted like store bought ready sauces, seafood risotto was a great portion size but lacked flavor, salt, cheese , beef tenderloin plate meat was perfection, however the plate only had mixed green leaves, thats it ,no carbs veggies or potatoes , so it was missing some elements of a good balanced plate. Not sure what has changed there ( the chef ? Maybe ) I really hope it can go back to what it was and we can enjoy what we eat there!

The food is decent, I dont really have any complaints about it or the service. Its just really loud in the venue and the prices are higher than justified.

Really enjoyed this place as I did an early walk-in as a single diner without a reservation. I was happy to sit at the bar and enjoy the banter with the bartender and Executive Chef. Sit, imbibe, order and listen. Four varieties of oysters were described in detail as I absorbed this mini-course in Nova Scotian cuisine. The woman chucking oysters was obviously practiced. I enjoyed my Pilsner as I enjoyed their Seafood chowder. Is that a slight smoke flavour? Delectable! Moved to my go-to old fashioned (Woodford) and enjoyed the ribeye steak fantastic. Highly recommend this spot enjoying great food in the presence of centuries old stoneworks revealed from the original foundation of the house built in the 1700s. A memorable meal and experience.

I was definitely not impressed. I have no problem paying for quality food and a nice evening but this was not it. Colleagues and I went for dinner. The service was very slow, not in a leisurely, enjoy your night type of way. It took about an hour to get the food. Just looking at the food, it was obvious that it had been sitting under a heat lamp for way too long. The potatoes were shriveled, dry and old. The chimichurri was warm and solidified! My steak was thin and actually burned my mouth - which should never happen (it was bizarre) - and it was steaming!?! And there were 3 sad pieces of asparagus under the steak. It was pretty atrocious. I didn t say anything because I didn t want to make my colleagues uncomfortable and o was starving! Especially after the loooong wait. My colleague across from me got the salmon and his sunchokes looked about the same as my terrible potatoes. I felt so bad for him. I don t think any of us had a good meal. No one said anything about the food. Not during the meal, not after. That s not a good sign. The music and ambiance were quite nice. Exactly what people think of when they imagine Halifax. This is where the extra star comes in. Seems more like a tourist trap than an actual formal dress fine dining establishment. If you actually enjoy food - and want more than a place in an old building in that location - I would not recommend eating here.

We had a wonderful dinner here, the food was amazing, very friendly staff.

Amazing ambiance in a beautiful old building. Food was great! Yacht rock jamming for the duration ;)

Very nice place. Parking hard to find, but worth it!!

My husband and I booked a reservation for our honeymoon and wow the staff delivered. The atmosphere was romantic and the building was beautiful. We ordered The Drill and even though I m a bit of a picky eater, the food was wonderful, everything was cooked to perfection and my husband said that one of the dishes made him realize why some people experience real joy while eating, something he hasn t expressed before (it was the beef tenderloin if anyone is wondering). Overall the service was great and the team worked together really well to make sure we were taken care of. It was expensive but in my view more of an experience than just a meal.

Great food. Nice service and some very good atmosphere. Order the Henrys feast. Kid-friendliness: Kids do fine here. If they like sea food.

Ordered The Drill. It was great. I love not knowing what Im in for. I also love four course meals. Everything was amazing. If I am being hyper chef critical, each plate seemed like it was trying very hard to be amazing. It came off as a bit busy. Maybe more than a bit. When you have all the amazing ingredients you can use them all, but do you need to? There were no less than seven amazing flavors in the desert. The beef tenderloin w/demi-glace was truly great. 4.87

Good late night bar and restaurant. Cozy elevated food and friendly staff. Bit pricy though.

Amazing food, great atmosphere!!

Excellent food, great server, do not go if you re dining alone they treat single diners quite badly. However - single diners beware. I booked a standard table a week in advance through OpenTable, and requested a window (no big deal if I couldn t get one though). This is what I got: a single chair all alone at the bar stuffed off in corner like a rat. I noted that I had requested a table, not to be stuffed alone in the corner of a bar, and did so with a week notice. 25 minutes of waiting later they finally found me a table and said that it was their policy to seat single diners away at the bar. So, if you happen to be on vacation or just not dining with another person, I d steer clear, that policy is garbage and really awkward and a little embarrassing.

Great spot for date night. Love to sit at the bar an interact with the staff and chef, Brian, who will often stop by with helpful suggestions. Love the atmosphere.

My colleagues and I went for a late dinner here and had a great time. The oysters were some of the best (and largest) that I have ever had and the seafood risotto was delicious. I think the atmosphere is great for a date or for business. I d love to come back in the winter because I think it would be more romantic and cozy, given the restaurant is somewhat underground and dark. Dietary restrictions: Waitress was great about asking the kitchen for gluten free options.

The decor is exceptional. The food is delicious and the service is impeccable! An experience that I recommend!

The press gang was recommended to me by a friend. The seafood was excellent and I was happy with the selection. Would eat here again.

Amazing restaurant, amazing food, amazing service!! What a fantastic experience and Dean took such good care of us. His personality and detailed attention to us made this a memorable time we won t soon forget! Hate that we are all the way in South Carolina because I would frequent this restaurant often! I give it my highest recommendation!!

Amazing seafood and atmosphere. Really nice historic restaurant. The oysters are presented perfectly; they taste so good and so fresh. I had the lobster boil; the meat was perfect and especially tasty when dipped in butter. Great experience all around!

Very nice old school seafood spot with real candles on the table. Lobster was great. So were the oysters. Calamari was the best I ve ever had. Service on poiint. They don t serve too many at once it seems, which is smart. Prices reasonable for high quality.

You HAVE to eat here, the age of the facility alone is an unmatchable experience. The food...we ate at many great restaurants in our weeks in Halifax/Nova Scotia, but this topped them all.

Great place with amazing service

Exceptional food! We ordered The Drill which is a four course surprise from the kitchen. It was incredible! Our server Blaze was great. 10/10 experience

Great atmosphere. Food was top notch. Highly recommend their chowder and risotto. Best I ve ever had and apparently their best sellers. Mick was our server and he made our special occasion extra special with fantastic service. We will definitely be returning!

Wow .. what a gem . Stopped in for a couple of drinks and some oysters. Stayed for the creme brule as well. Awesome atmosphere and wait staff. Really neat interior . It was pricey, but while on vacation you expect to pay for good quality service, drinks and food! Looking forward to coming back.

Boyfriend and I went last night for an evening date. Everything down from the service to the food was amazing! Cant wait to be back

So 5 stars, the pasta reminded me my visits in Italy!!! Very balanced taste, just enough sos... Id say probably top 5 pasta of my life but I ate a few tons ;)

Initially my agenda was just to try different oysters (and they were amazing!). I was made to feel comfortable eating solo at the bar and I m so glad I tried the seafood risotto- perfectly al dente, flavorful but not too rich. The local wine was a perfect match. Memorable! Thank you Bryan & team!

The staff behind the bar were exceptionally well versed and helpful in explaining the various oysters and how to eat them. Definitely made my girlfriends first time trying them remarkable.

Always great food and service. Love the ambiance. Highly recommend

Gotta be honest- its been hit or miss. But would definitely recommend it.

Beautiful historic building. Romantic and inviting. The food is exemplerary as is the impeccable service. Amazing selection of oysters with freshly grated horseradish and traditional minuette. The charcuterie tray has great variety and is artfully presented. Lovely cocktail selection. Halibut and risotto....winner winner and the seafood and risotto is equally as good. The French fries with the works is delicious but steeply priced at 32.00... Folks...they are French fries with gravy peas cranberry sauce some cheese curd and stuffing...very tasty but in my opinion highly over priced for dressed potatoes. How does that justify 32.00? Dont get me wrong now...this is a wonderful restaurant but reviews should be honest. We tried 3 desserts...all were marvelous.. The favourite was the peanut butter . The other thing I need to mention is that this is property is not handicap friendly and it will be difficult for anyone with mobility issues....bathrooms are not easily accessible and most certainly cannot accommodate a wheelchair....even someone using a walker would have issues....so....to sum up. Great atmosphetic historic restaurant with accommodating professional staff - terrific food, cocktails, oysters and ambiance. Entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hands down our best meal in Nova Scotia. Incredible oysters, drinks, steaks and desserts. Chef Brian and crew were great and engaging! FANTASTIC!!!

My favorite place downtown, great music, drinks, food and full of knowledgeable servers. When i come back to halifax this will be my first stop.

web site says its closed on friday ... when I called they just answer yes??? Wasnt sure if I called wrong number she said yes ?and acknowledged. Its a 5 stars review but web and phone even worst?!

Probably my new favorite restaurant in Halifax

My sister and I decided to venture away form the waterfront and try out thi highly rated restaurant. We had Oysters to start. I then had a seafood risotto, which was really delicious and my sister had the lobster dinner. We had the pleaure of being served by the manager. We know this is in the historic district but it was a big dark . Overall we really enjoyed the food and ambiance

Awesome

My group did The Drill and it was easily one of the best meals I ve had in my life. The food was over the top delicious and the drinks were just right. Our waiter was wonderful and the whole group had an amazing experience. Fantastic price for a 4 course meal! This will be a must anytime I m in Halifax!!!

Excellent food, great, rustic atmosphere. Overall, terrific experience!

We were expecting a little more considering the high ratings. The food was okay at best.

Excellent food, top shelf service. A must to visit.

My husband and I had the most amazing meal and service during our visit. Shout out to Dean who was lovely and accommodating the whole evening. And to Chef who went above and beyond to personally serve the food. Everything we had was well thought out, tasted amazing and presented beautifully.

Sadly, not what it used to be, on many levels.

This place is not to be missed! The food was good,

Amazing food, excellent service. We love to eat here everytime we come to Halifax.

Amazing atmosphere, service, food, and drinks. Awesome place.

Great place for a meal

My partner and I serendipitously found The Press Gang while on holiday in Nova Scotia. Boy were we glad to find this place. The first thing we noticed about this restaurant was its atmosphere. We were greeted with live music from a guitarist and violinist. The lighting and decor matched the aesthetic of this historical building. The restaurant was posh, but casual, and not at all stuffy. Our server, Mick, was quite knowledgeable and helpful with highlighting some of the standout items on the menu. Mick was sociable and made it a great experience for us. Our food was outstanding. Oysters came with lots of optional fixins. The risotto was loaded with a medley of seafood. The seafood chowder was the standout of it all - definitely the best I had while in Nova Scotia. Prices were a little more elevated than other restaurants, but I think the quality of the food and service justifies the cost.

My wife and I went in for drinks. We didnt stay since I would not pay the over the top prices for scotches there. Way out of line with other places.

Congratulations on Top 100 Open Table Award Always enjoy our evenings

Incredible experience. We ordered The Drill for 2. It was chef s choice-4 plates. Absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend.

My absolute favorite place to enjoy drinks, oysters and if you are looking for a surprise without having to make a menu decision, 10/10 recommend the drill chefs choice and they never disappoint.

Amazing restaurant, great food and awesome service. Saundra was super helpful!

The food was delicious, oysters were fresh and full of flavour. What really made it for us was the waiter Mick. He was by far the best waiter I ve had in my life, he offered some great pairing advice when it came to drinks and even gave us a history lesson on the building.

My boyfriend and I came to this establishment looking to try something new and worth our money. This place did NOT disappoint. The food was amazing. We did the drill which was absolutely perfect. It came with an appetizer, two main entrees, and desert. All these items were picked out by the chefs were perfect, truly the best food we have ever had. Although most of all we were amazed with the services, despite it being an exceptionally busy night all the staff were pleasant, accommodating, and helpful. Specifically Mick our server deserves some extra credit, his drink pairings, small talk, and even taking the time to explain the history of the building as well as surrounding areas did not go unnoticed. Mick had us feeling like friends instead of customers. He truly was the best server. We attempt to try new places every time we go out and have kept this routine for 3 years. However the press gang may have just broken this tradition as we plan to continue to return time and time again. Bravo to the entire staff, the owners and management should be proud.

Great atmosphere, great staff, and amazing music!

I cannot understand why a plate of under cooked seafood risotto is $46.00 (the white fish {halibut, I think} on it was also under cooked). No, I did not send it back, as I would expect a professional chef to know how to cook this dish. It was my first time here in about 15-20 years. Sadly, the quality of the food does not match the high prices. I thought The Press Gang was going to live up to its long-standing reputation, but it was very disappointing. The management also needs to read these reviews regularly and make improvements where needed.

Best seafood risotto ever just perfect, great atmosphere and service