Bistro920

When I read that one of the La Perla MacDougalls had taken over this space I was excited. I really, really wanted to like it.
So off we went for lunch. Nicely redecorated space, but …
Strike one: no interesting beers. Our server: «This is a Labatts house» — i.e., Keiths, Stella, etc. No micro-​brews. No challenging imports from out of province. Boring.
Strike two: they were out of Keiths Red and Shocktop.
Strike three: a bistro-​y menu but with little creativity. I wanted to have a nap after I read it. NOTHING leapt out at me and screamed «You can’t make this at home, and you need to try it.»
Strike four: my French onion soup, although made there, was ridiculously salty. You don’t need to compete with Lipton’s.
Strike five: my partner’s fish cakes, though with a nicely crisped crust, were relatively tasteless, and the potatoes binding them were a glutinously mashed paste — possibly out of a pre-​made bin.
What was good: the service, the baked beans accompanying the fish cakes.
Otherwise: meh. What a shame. Dartmouth desperately needs a variety of good restaurants. A MacDougall should be capable of better than this.

Much of the staff from La Perla (downtown Dartmouth) moved to this location when La Perla closed. The calamari is not quite as good as it was back at La Perla, but it is very close. Even at 90% of the old La Perla recipe, they still have the BEST calamari in the HRM. The burgers are good and the pasta is also worth checking out, but it is the calamari that makes every visit worthwhile.

So this is where Chef Collin Stone landed! And aren’t we Dartmouthians lucky! The service is awesome, the food is delicious and the ambiance is warm and intimate. I had the stuffed chicken with a mushroom reduction — I can’t tell you how delicious and moist it was. My husband had the haddock with a lemon caper sauce — he barely spoke it was incredible.
Why drive to Halifax when we have a wonderful restaurant like Bistro 920 on this side of the bridge. Next time I’m trying the pasta — one of the customers told me how delectable and homemade fresh is was as he was leaving!
PS. Ladies, the washroom is lovely!

So I loved La Perla and was so sad to see it closed. One day I drove by the Cole Harbour shopping centre and saw that the new Bistro 920 had Chef James of La Perla as their new chef! I never would normally go to a nice dinner at a place in the Cole Harbour strip mall (call me whatever you like), but decided I would try it to see if the food compared to La Perla.
the curb appeal is lacking. I mean it is in the Cole Harbour Strip mall, not the classiest of locations. I was hoping that once i walked though the doors it would fee like i was in a whole new world… unfortunately not so much. Its very dark inside, I don’t mean lighting-​wise, i mean everything is dark brown in colour, and heavy. booths line the wall and tables down the middle of the room (I wouldn’t like to sit there), then a massive bar lining the opposite wall. Everything is dark, and masculine looking (i think a man designed and decorated).
Three things I hated: 1) the huge ugly bar degrades the whole place almost as much as the tacky strip-​mall location. 2) The tacky strip mall location 3) (the worst) the presence of VLT machines (if it wasn’t for Chef James being there, I would have been gone at this point). Although the VLT’s are somewhat hidden on the other side of the restaurant, you can see them when you first walk in and it instantly turned me off.
Now the positive points (i’m glad i stuck around):
The place was clean, The service was very good. The waitress was very nice and we didn’t have to wait long for our meals. The staff had tidy uniforms which gave the place a bit more of a put together feel.
The menu was good, more casual than La Perla obviously, but I was ecstatic to see that the Strawberry Crème Brûlée was on the menu (the best ever).
Our meals were so superior to the restaurant. They were plated beautifully and were of a higher calibre than you expect from this place. the starter dinner rolls were fresh and yummy. My Pasta dish was delicious, and my fiancé’s pork with peach sauce was SO good (although the veggies on the plate were overcooked… but i’m willing to overlook it because everything else was great :)). We shared the incredible crème brûlée for dessert. I would go back to this place just for that dessert.
Overall I’m confused by Bistro 920. The VLT’s, the bar, the location, the delicious food, the staff, the menu… it just doesn’t mesh together. Some of those things in that list are too good for the other things. It’s almost a bit of a shame that Bistro 920 can’t let the food speak for itself, and get rid of all that other junk in there (can’t get the VLT’s out of my mind. ugh). I’m giving 3 stars because of the whole experience. Loved the food, loved the service, hated the atmosphere.

This well-​hidden secret is in the Walmart strip mall on the Cole Harbour Road, formerly occupied by Colby Bistro and Wine Bar. The outside is misleading as once you are inside, you will be impressed with the tasteful décor and ambiance. The service is great and the food is even better! James MacGregor of La Perla fame is the chef and the food is fantastic! The bruschetta and grilled vegetables served as appetizers were the best I have eaten. My lemon haddock with capers, rice and lightly cooked string beans and carrots was delicious and my friend’s seafood crepes were stuffed with seafood and she was impressed with its flavour. I will definitely be back and will be telling all my Dartmouth friends about this place. Give it a try, I am sure you will be greatly surprised!