Hart and Thistle Gastropub & Brewery

My wife and I visited Halifax last summer and had a great meal with family after a long day of driving from Fredericton.
The Mussels were phenomenal, the Lobster Mac and Cheese was good tasting with a healthy serving of fresh lobster and the beer was nice and cold.
We enjoyed it so much that we came back twice in the week we were there.

The food here is decent, and it’s certainly a heck of a lot better than the food court that used to live in this space. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a large patio located right on the water, of course, but they also have a decent selection, heavy on the seafood, on their menu.
I enjoyed my meal and it was the right price. I’m not going to write any ballads about it or anything, but it’s hard not to enjoy decent gastropub fare while you sit outside in the summer and have the seabreeze blow over you. The waitstaff was pretty quick about getting us a seat, taking our orders and answering our questions, although I do think they’re a little overtaxed.
My brothers and I each tried different beers from microbrewery and I think that’s the Hart and Thistle’s strength. They’re fairly hoppy beers, so if that’s not your thing, you may want to go for something they have in a bottle, but trying another one of their beers is what will bring me back to this place the next time I visit Halifax.

The first weekend of July this year was hot. Think volcano cauldron. The kind of weather where you have to watch for gum on the sidewalk. Perfect weather for a beer and a bite on a beautiful patio right on the water.
So we headed down to Hart & Thistle. No surprise, the place was packed but since their patio is huge, we only waited 15 minutes. Being a craft beer lover, I obviously wanted to know what they currently had. Nothing, was the answer. We’re out of everything. Huh?!? EVERYTHING? Yes, everything sir. I’ll have a Propeller Bitter then. She comes back… out of that too. Really? We eventually ordered something they had. One of the 2 beers was flat as distilled water. When we mentioned this, the waitress argued that since there was foam on top, there was surely carbonation. Want to taste we asked? I guess she didn’t want to.
Anyway… we then ordered calamari… just to take the edge off until we figured out what we wanted to eat for mains. Calamari should be lightly battered, and be in the oil for no more than a couple minutes, meaning they will very light brown in colour. What arrived looked like it had spent at least 10 minutes in the fryer. Very crispy, of course, but extremely chewy. Unfortunate as the accompanying tomato jam and sweet chili mayo were very nice and tasty.
I so want to like this place… great location, great space inside, beers made by Greg Nash. Too bad I didn’t get to taste them. Too bad about the service. Too bad about the food.

One of my favorite go to spots. Yes, it has some ups and downs. But it’s the kind of place you can get some creatively inspired foods, great drinks, and a casual atmosphere. Somewhere you can take anyone and there is something for everyone. AND they have a fantastic patio, and they don’t mind if you stay and sip all day:)
So yes, I find a lot of the staff not super friendly and have the attitude that they are doing you a favor. It’s a strange vibe. The older bartender is an interesting and funny person and adds some character to the place.
It’s also sometimes difficult to get a spot. They often don’t open their second room, and can have you waiting a while without being greeted.
But on to the food. The food is great. I have had a lot… a lot… here and it was all superb. I love how the menu changes but they keep some favorites continually. The fish is always fresh and delicious and their «lighter fare» menu is a greta bang for your buck.

Had a big group dinner at the Hart and Thistle and was very impressed with the food and beer selection. I tried one of the house microbrews and was happy to have a beer that I can’t get anywhere else.
For an appetizer I tried the rib tips, which were fall right off the bone tender.
They were already out of the haddock special by the time we got to order dinner, so I went for what was a great piece of Atlantic Salmon. Sitting right on the Halifax harbourfront, they clearly know how to do seafood right.
Everyone had raves about all the food they ordered. Oh, and our waiter was amazing.

After a meeting on chilly Tuesday evening, some of my co-​workers and I took a jaunt down the boardwalk for a bite at The Hart and Thistle. While the summer is definitely the prime time for this place, with its very large outdoor patio right on the boardwalk, the Hart and Thistle has lots of beer and food on offer all year round. Its interior is pub-​like, but much more airy and open than most, and the large windows facing the harbour give it a unique feel as well.
Armed with a TeamBuy coupon, I loaded up the table with some apps to start, opting for the calamari and enticing sounding rib tips. The panko crust on the calamari made them super crunchy, but as it often is, the meat was slightly over done and a bit chewy. The tomato jam that came with it was a solid condiment though, and added flavour and moisture to the calamari rings.
Fortunately the rib tips were in a whole other league. Little pieces of actual ribs, not the cartilage filled knuckles that you find at Chinese food buffets, get a light dusting and are deep fried so that they have a nice crispy exterior while being juicy and tender on the inside. I liked them so much that I ordered a second batch, even though my main had already arrived by this point.
Having gorged on a not insignificant amount of meat already, I went for something on the lighter side of mains. Their clubhouse sandwich enticed me with menu tales of smoked chicken, bacon and Provolone on focaccia with a lemon pesto mayo. Upon its arrival, I dug right in. The toasted focaccia bun was good, but everything else was on the ‘meh’ side of the taste scale. The main flavours that registered were the romaine and mayo, but not so much the lemon pesto parts of said mayo. The chicken breasts, as they can be, were mostly tasteless and even the bacon let me down as its presence wasn’t noticed other than visually confirming that it was in fact on my sandwich. The one saving grace of this plate was that it came with a big ol’ pile of hand cut fries, which were quite crispy and plentiful, as fries should be.
It was a slow night at the pub, so it would have been sad if service had been poor, but thankfully our waitress was attentive and friendly, doling out menu advice and smiles as needed.
It may not be perfect, but the Hart and Thistle is worth a visit for just the rib tips and some of their craft beer, especially if its a sunny summer day.

My first time at the Hart and Thistle was in the winter (last weekend) and I already can’t wait to go back in the summer to sit out on their boardwalk patio!
I’m guessing because it’s ‘off season’ they only have the one room open — so it’s a little on the smaller side, but, there is still lots of room — with booths and tables. I went on a Friday night and they have live entertainment. A gentleman was singing and playing the guitar and piano; he was awesome! There wasn’t a big crowd there so it was easy to chill out and unwind after a long work-​week.
We wanted to start with an appetizer — they offer a lot of great choices; but once we saw a server walk out with a *huge* plate of nachos, our mind was quickly made up! It is a huge serving; but, only comes with one small cup of sour cream and salsa. The nacho to dip ratio is never on, anywhere. We ordered extra — which there was a charge for. I don’t remember how much though.
I had the «Northumberland Lamb Burger»; it had tzatziki, bleu cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce and tomato. It was very good; one of my favourite combinations. I wasn’t too fussy about their fries — They were a little too thin and too soft for me; but home made, hand cut, which is always a bonus. And, you get a decent size serving.

Unfortunately Amazeballs were not had this day. Their garlic fries were only available in the summer and now they’re gone… gone forever… actually, I’m not sure when they’ll be back, if ever.
I love H&T’s atmosphere and location. Right on the water so in the summer you can swing by and get some pints with a great view of the ocean. Even in the winter when you’re inside, there’s a fireplace and a piano and it just feels super cozy and comfortable. Been here a few times and the staff is always awesome. Not stiff at all and usually breaks into casual conversation with me.
Ordered the nachos, sweet potato fries and the Hart Burger — it was a bunch of us, but these were the things I tasted. It really sucks to write this, because I really like H&T — but the food is meh at best. =(
There’s nothing special about the nachos, sweet potato fries or the Hart burger — even though the waiter raved that the burger is amazing. I don’t agree.
Either way, I’ll still be back though for their beer on tap and the awesome atmosphere.

I’ve written a review before for the H&T but I had to write again. So, our server Banks was tremendous even though they restaurant got slammed with three large groups when we were there. The whole staff were smiling and laughing and helping each other even though it was extremely stressful I’m sure.
I can’t tell you how incredible my meal was. I had the freshest sea bass ever and quinoa cakes from heaven. Honestly — Chef Colin Stone is a magician. The view, the chef, the incredible staff, the beer, the atmosphere… get off the cruise ship and head here. Leave your office at Purdy’s and eat incredible delicious food here. Prices are great too! What’s not to love?!

Apparently this is not just a place for summer tourists. Even though it does have a great view even in early March, it is more than just a waterside trap. The beer is brewed on site and it is awesome. The Hop Storm IPA of course appeals to my taste and I would encourage everyone to at least give it a try.
I popped in for a late lunch and was very impressed with the food. I have been in a couple of times before for music and beer, but can’t remember eating here — well maybe in the sun in the summer — but any wonder I can’t quite remember the food.
Today I went for the Reuben and it was fantastic. I am used to putting up with a thin, greasy sandwich with little in between. This one was full of meat and sauerkraut in what must have been French toast. It was great digging into it with knife and fork. The fries were hot, crispy and an excellent compliment to the sandwich.
As I ate, of course the sun continued to shine on one of the best views of the harbour.
So in conclusion, the Hart and Thistle is good for summertime oceanside loitering, or for custom beering with music, or for a great lunch in the middle of a busy day.

The food was delicious. I had a lobster poutine, panko scallops and tasty local cider. My husband had the chili, fried haddock & chips with a great local brew. Fantastic view of the waterfront, great location and the service was top notch. I would definitely recommend to others, and would go back next time I’m in town