The Bicycle Thief

My partner and I had an amazing time there a few nights ago. The atmosphere inside is noir and cosy in the winter. The decor is quite interesting and adds to the dining experience. We were pleased to find parking adjacent to the restaurant, and even more impressed to learn they had a coat check service. Even though the place was quite busy at the time, we got a nice table relatively quick and in a quiet section. The menue was simple and clear but rich in options. We ordered a few starters and a main course each, including cocktails, wine, and desert. Our server was very nice and attentive. The dishes came quick and they were all delicious, without exception. At the end we had a nice surprise as the bill was lower than anticipated. Overall we had a very satisfying evening.

This review is long overdue from my visit back in October, but I wanted to share my full experience because The Bicycle Thief is consistently ranked as one of the top restaurants in Canada and is mentioned in the Michelin Guide. With all the hype, I was really excited to try it. Dinner Experience Service, ambiance, and atmosphere were all great — no complaints there. We sat outside on the patio, enjoyed the cool evening, and I had a lovely glass of wine. The wine was probably the highlight of the entire night. For starters, we ordered their charcuterie-style board and the whipped hummus with bread. The hummus really missed the mark — I genuinely wish restaurants would stop reinventing hummus in ways that take away from what it’s supposed to be. The board itself was okay; a few cheeses were good, but overall it was very average and not memorable. The spicy lobster and shrimp pasta, a supposedly popular dish, was shockingly bland and completely underwhelming. For the price point and reputation of the restaurant, it felt like something I could easily cook better at home (and I mean that genuinely, not arrogantly). Absolutely nothing “wow” about it. For dessert, we had their famous butterscotch caramel cake with toasted pecans. Again, very underwhelming — extremely sweet to the point where you could taste the sugar crystals. I couldn’t even finish it. I confirmed with the server that these were among their top and most popular menu items, which made the whole experience even more disappointing. Lunch Experience We decided to return for lunch to compare. Service again was great — seated at the bar, then moved to a table. We ordered the lobster roll and the BT house-made beef tenderloin & brisket burger with double-smoked bacon, smoked mozzarella, onion marmalade, black truffle aioli, tomato, lettuce, and a house-made brioche bun. The description reads incredible… but the result was incredibly average. The lobster roll was nothing special — just okay. Please see the photo on how little lobster I got, which was $32. The burger sounded like it should have been rich, layered, and flavourful, but it fell flat. Nothing bad, but nothing memorable. For a restaurant with such a strong reputation, the flavours were shockingly muted. Overall Service? Excellent. Ambiance? Lovely. Food? Consistently meh across two different visits. I genuinely don’t understand the hype. Maybe Halifax has fewer standout restaurants compared to Toronto or Montreal, but based on flavour, execution, and value for money, The Bicycle Thief fell far below what I expected from a “top” Canadian restaurant. I wouldn’t return.

The Bicycle Thief is a very popular restaurant along the harbourfront in Halifax for good reason. The service was 10/10 as the hostess were friendly & welcoming, & our server was also very friendly & knowledgeable on the menu. He made sure to check with us if there was any allergies to be aware of & was always checking up on us. Be aware that you must reserve a table as it does get fully booked & is unlikely to have seating right away if you walk in!! For appetizers, we had to get the fresh oysters which were perfect and so fresh - and the calamari which was sooo good as well! Those are both a must try. For mains, we got the Crab Ravioli, which was a good amount of food & was very filling - highly recommend! The Linguine All’aragosta was a recommendation from our server & it lived up to our expectations. And if you’re looking to eat a variety of seafood for dinner, get the Seafood Stew. We loved it as it was filling & the scallops in it was definitely a highlight. I couldn’t recommend this place more

The Bicycle Thief was exemplary in every way. The food, the service and the ambiance exceeded all expectations. The oysters were among the best I have had. The roasted beef short rib was so tender and flavorful. The wait staff operate as though they can read your mind. Need another beer or your water glass refilled? They know it even before you do. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The lighting is perfect. The interior design makes you feel like you’re in someone’s beautiful home. There is not one thing that wasn’t done right. It was a simply elegant experience.

I had wonderful experience here along with my wife. We came without reservation to celebrate our anniversary, and we received a nice service. We sat down outside around 6pm so we would be able to enjoy the sunset. We got jumbo shrimps with garlic for entries and they were delicious and a couple of glasses of wine After that we tried the Spaghetti with Fruti di Mari and the Diavola. We loved so much the food and specially the service. In the end we ordered a dessert and they put a lovely message to make the ocassion more special.

Our favourite place to eat in Halifax. Staff are so well trained and friendly it’s refreshing. But the cuisine…wow! What a dining experience. I can’t believe they can serve so many people at the same time and yet we feel like one chef in the back personally prepared my plate. Everything was perfect, nothing over cooked and presented as if they had nothing else on the go. We loved the scallops and the halibut! The deserts are all homemade but the pistachio gelato is something you need to try even if you think you’re too full, try it anyway. Right on the pier as well so you can walk right after.

Stunning waterfront spot in Halifax with a beautiful ambiance. The seafood was top-tier — our seafood stew was full of flavour, the oysters crisp and fresh, the salmon tender and cooked just right. Service was beyond good; Costa was attentive and the whole team came across friendly and professional. The wine list deserves mention: a nice selection, well matched to the seafood. On the flip side: it isn’t cheap, but you do get what you pay for. It has a bit of a “tourist destination” feel, and the interior can get lively (and loud) in peak times; if you want a more relaxed meal, consider an earlier slot. Dessert: the butterscotch cake was rich and a bit too sweet for my taste. The Greenhorn cocktail was a strong pour — good but didn’t quite hit the flavour mark for me. Overall: Highly recommended for a special dinner, celebration or when you want scenic dining with good food and fine service in Halifax.

Positive: the food was great.. Negative: 1. the drink can do better, tried ace high and it hardly had any drink, all ice and water 2. Overpriced.. one drink, one salad and one gnocchi pasta for 80 CAD!!! Seriously!!! And the portion of all three was only enough for one person… 3. The service was bad.. we booked on a Wednesday night for anniversary celebration and it was jam packed.. the waiter was standing on our head so we can finish soon and they can give the tables to someone else.. 4. The atmosphere was too loud and the place was really cramped.. one of the chairs from our side table was literally touching our table.. 5. This one is my personal opinion as I have been to so many posh restaurant for our anniversary and birthdays.. we always got a free drink or the dessert on the house.. here u get nothing.. So definitely not going back..