The Canteen on Portland

While this spaghettini may look unassuming in the photo, it was hands down one of the best plates of pasta I’ve ever had. I arrived in Halifax late tonight for work and had my heart set on a lobster roll. The Canteen popped up on the map with glowing reviews, so I swung by hoping to grab one before they closed. When I arrived, I learned that lobster rolls are only served in the summer. Disappointed but undeterred, I decided to treat myself to their lobster spaghettini instead—after all, a business trip still deserves a good meal. Since they were about to close and I wanted to eat in my hotel room and rest, I got it to go (though I was quietly a little sad—the restaurant is spotless, beautifully designed, and has an open kitchen you can watch). I brought the pasta back to the hotel without much expectation. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary take-out pasta. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth. This dish was divine. Every bite was rich with buttery sweetness from the fresh lobster and nutty Parmigiano-Reggiano—two of my absolute favorite ingredients—perfectly balanced by the bright tang of roasted tomatoes. The flavors danced between umami, acidity, and indulgent richness in a way that felt effortless and refined. God, it was good. I can’t wait to come back to The Canteen. If this is what their lobster spaghettini tastes like, I can only imagine how incredible their summer lobster rolls must be.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had. I dined here with family a couple of weeks ago, while visiting from Toronto. I can, unreservedly, say this restaurant would be a must-visit if located in my hometown. Every dish we tried was a grand slam, with the haddock meriting special mention, what a flavour bomb! The broccoli was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted, and even had a ten-year-old asking for more. The staff was very warm, and kindly invited our child to view crème brule being prepared in the open kitchen. We will return next time we’re in town! Special shout-out for getting our large group in on late notice for a special evening. Everyone at our table was wow’ed!

Our first visit—on my birthday—and it did not disappoint. We had the scallops with squash risotto and the brisket, and both were impeccable. The brisket cut effortlessly with a fork, and the risotto was superb. The service was attentive without being intrusive, and the ambience was perfect. We cannot wait to go back!

This spot was recommended to me by a friend and it definitely did not disappoint! A spot for great NS seafood. The crobster roll was loaded with NS snow crab and lobster! I loved the canteen chowder and it was full of seafood and haddock. Such a fun and delicious spot in Dartmouth!

Amazing experience! Food was delicious, I left super full. The drinks were really good, mine was a little small for the price. The server was funny. We had a spot in the sun on the patio. Had to park way down the road, that’s the worst part. It was a great evening. This spot was recommended to me. I would definitely go back.

Great place with friendly staff and outstanding seafood dishes. I had the seared haddock with hodge podge, and the mussels with fries — both were simply amazing. The staff were attentive and welcoming throughout my visit. I was tempted to try their “Crobster Roll,” but decided not to, as it’s a mix of lobster and crab sold at the same price as a traditional lobster roll — which felt a bit misleading to me. Also, note that their menu changes depending on the time of day, so some of the signature dinner dishes aren’t available during brunch. Despite those minor issues, I had a really nice experience overall and would definitely recommend this place!

This place was recommended to us by friends in Halifax and wow are we glad we went. Our waiter Sheldon obviously enjoyed working there and gave excellent service and recommended other places in the area as well. The other waitresses and bus staff helped each other out with ease and without being asked, and also seemed to enjoy working there. Food came out of the kitchen quicker than I expected after ordering and was hot and arguably the best restaurant food I’ve had. I am always a fry dipper in ketchup but these fries were ruined by the ketchup, they are so good on their own. My burger was large and fresh and obviously real meat with such a delicious pairing of sauces and flavours. My husband’s steak was cooked to perfection and tasted so fresh and beefy, and the roasted broccoli had the most perfect crispy florets and seasoning. The atmosphere on the patio was quietly lively and felt private at our table at the same time. If you are in Dartmouth/Halifax this place is a must.

Went here for brunch today, and while I never leave reviews, I have to. Food: incredible! (Added a picture of the huevos rancheros - could not recommend more!) Service: Eva was absolutely wonderful, and we will 100% be back!! Atmosphere: the vibes were immaculate 👌🏻

Love this restaurant! My co-workers recommended this place and it was awesome! The food, drinks and ambiance were fabulous! The staff were extremely friendly and as a party of 1, they were able to squeeze me in, last minute too! The wine selection is superb and on par with what we offer here in California!

Great spot. The Crobster Roll will change your life! Not a Kale fan, salad was excellent. Service was outstanding and the interior of restaurant is done well. They bake their own bread which you can see in open bakery and also a glass wall to view main kitchen. Great Spot!

My favourite lobster roll in Halifax! I visited Halifax for 4 days, and had a lobster roll everyday from a different place. This was by far my favourite. Very flavourful and a nice crunch bun to accompany it. Food: Overall: 4.5/5 Oysters - 4/5 - fresh and from the east coast! Lobster Roll - 4.5/5 Steak & Salad - 3.5/5 Mussels - 3.5/5 (mind you, I'm not a mussels person) Service - 5/5 - very friendly and checked up on us! Ambiance - 5/5 - nice boutique restaurant with a nice vibe! Highly recommend visiting here if you're feeling a lobster roll!

Excellent brunch. Fun and funny server, extremely tasty Huevos Rancheros. Highly recommend

- very fresh oyster! Sweet with a pinch of saltiness - crobster roll and fries are yummmmy - fresh lobster and crabs, not overly immersed with sauce - fries are perfectly seasoned - service was okay - it's pretty packed, so make sure to book ahead or come earlier to secure seats

Our family flew in from Portland, Oregon to attend our daughter's graduation from SMU. I did some research for a good place to eat. We invited guests from the area -we had people that loved seafood and some not so much. The Canteen was perfect! We ended up eating there a total of 3X and if I had my way, we would have 4X. The ambiance was really nice. It's a small place but not too small. It handled a full house and we were a party of 8 one of the nights. I noticed a large party came in the same time we did as well. Between all of us we had many dishes: halibut, steak, rigatoni, beet salad, brussel sprouts, hamburger, carrot cake. Even the coffee was delicious! The lunch waiter was a bit salty when I asked if they served ice tea. He very abruptly said "No." and pointed to the menu where it listed drinks (one of them being tea!) Just add ice! That was a missed opportunity to provide great service without much effort. He was the only blip in our interactions... the other waitresses were great. So friendly and welcoming. I had arranged for a cake to be made by a local bakery called Layers and for a fee, The Cantina will slice and serve it (one of the photos is of that cake.) It's a great restaurant-excellent food, beautiful ambiance, great staff and my new favorite place when we come back to visit. I would suggest making reservations-they are busy and for good reason!

Excellent spot for lunch or dinner right along Portland Street in Dartmouth. I advise reserving especially during the busier summer months as the dining room/patio does get busy. They use fresh, seasonal ingredients so the menu does change every so often. The Canteen chowder is filled with seafood and a delicious biscuit on the side. The mussels and frites has a nice broth using Lake City cider that I would drink if I could. (I've had them run out of mussels a couple of times due to popularity, so order it and don't second guess). It's also served with thin cripy fries and a nice aioli (in case you were thinking of switching your side, you shouldn't) The crobster roll is served on a nicely buttered bun and lots of seafood. Overall, great place especially if you're ever in the Dartmouth area (or even in Halifax, take the ferry or drive across the bridge, well worth your time).

Just amazing all around! The vibe, the service, drinks and food were all excellent. Jen was fantastic, anticipating every need our son had. Will be back for sure.

Arrived at lunch on a Thursday and only had to wait around 5-10 min for a seat. The crobster roll was good - slightly more crab and sauce than lobster and the fries were crispy. The stand out was the chowder, it was filled with mussels and had great flavour. The service was also so friendly and fast.

Best mussels and frites I have EVER had. Huge mussels (from Newfoundland) and so perfectly cooked. We were there for lunch. The service was excellent and I highly recommend this place!

My first time at the Canteen last night for supper. My daughter told me about the place and tried a few times to get us in but they book up early. I had the Scallop Risotto and it was delicious! My friend had the Mussels & Frites which were also very good. I will definitely come back. Word to the wise, if you don't see any spots available on the online app, it's worth calling the restaurant directly. That's how we managed to get a spot last night.

Decided to check out this brunch spot on our last full day in Halifax. It was just a stone throws away across the harbour in Dartmouth. It was a Saturday so they had the brunch menu going. We ended up getting the Crobster sandwich and the lobster eggs Benny. Crobster sandwich was super fresh. There was very subtle truffle and dill flavours but they did a good job to let the lobster and crab shine through. The lobster eggs Benny was also quite tasty. The buttermilk biscuit that they use (instead of the normal English muffin) was a gamechanger. Good amount of lobster as well. Service was ok as it took a bit until they came around to check in on us. Worth to check out if you're in the area. Make sure to get reservations as it seems to get busy here.

I've been wanting to check out this place for awhile. Finally got there a couple of weeks ago for lunch with some family. Lots of food was ordered. And it was all excellent. One person ordered the fancy Big Mac. She loved it (after removing one of the two Pattie's) Another had the kale Caesar salad. She said it was tasty but not big enough. And another had the tomato salad ordered without the cheese. She loved it. I think it needed that cheese. I ordered the tuna soba noodle bowl. And a small side of the mushroom soup to start. (Waitress confirmed I wanted this to start) Now this is where they lose a star from me. Waiter (who hadn't been our waiter all along) came with the food for the table. He had my noodle bowl but no soup. So I asked him if my soup was coming? He, rudely, snapped at me saying he couldn't carry everything at once. Ok, they obviously forgot to put the order in. No big deal. But don't get rude with me. The whole table took note of his attitude. I guess he realized he was an ass and was quite congenial after that. Back to my tuna bowl. I loved it. Especially the spicy kimchi. It was excellent. The mushroom soup was worth the wait. Loved it.

Outstanding! There were four Crobster Rolls and salads ordered and they lived up to our expectations. We heard about them on YouTube with Samuel and Audrey, good choice. We also split an Olive Oil Loaf for dessert and it was also very good. Make sure you get reservations! We saw other items we would like to try but we're from Southern California so it's not likely. Our server, Marc, was very good. We had a very good lunch and highly recommend you visit here.

We didn't have a reservation so wait time was around 40min for the patio. We ordered the Crobster Roll and Flat Iron Steak. The roll was reaaaally good. First time I tried lobster roll with crab, and i found that it added a lot of flavour. The steak on the other hand did not have much flavour. It was cooked well, but pretty plain. Service was amazing. Would come back to try the other dishes!

As a huge food fanatic and a top chef fangirl, I was very excited to try the Canteen. I made a trip to Dartmouth specifically for their crobster roll. Decor was minimalist and trendy. Reservation was simple as you can book through opentable. The hostess was super friendly. The crobster roll itself was light with loads of chunky meat. Why the 3 star review? The service from my server was non-existent. Yet, the server did not have issues checking in with the table beside me on multiple occasions. No follow-up and the only interaction I had with him was when I asked for the bill. Disappointed overall as I felt like I was treated differently as everyone else being served were Caucasian. I have travelled a lot and rarely experience any differential treatment. As a result, I will not be returning.

Seriously good food! The chowder is full of seafood in a thin base. The side biscuit tastes great but served cold which encourages you to eat it with the hot soup. The Veggie Sandwich is a filling sandwich that is crafted well. The carrot salad tastes great with quinoa crunch and cheese. I would have liked more carrots but oh well.

Love the crobster roll! It is fresh and delicious. I recommend making a reservation to save the waiting time.

Their food is great.Since I am older mostly I order the food o take home.Very well run business.

Rising like a hip phoenix from the ashes of an old Chinese restaurant (yes, that old chestnut), The Canteen is more than just back in action in its new Portland Street digs. With a bigger space and bigger menu, it's more like a delicious lobster that molted out of its too-small shell for a more accommodating upgrade. Popping by at noon (the Citadel's cannon is surprisingly noticeble on Portland), the place was packed to the gills, even on a Tuesday afternoon. The new space is bright and cool, but doesn't seem like it's trying too hard. A painting of Ron Burgundy and Baxter seems right at home here. We caught a table after a couple minutes, and got some drinks while we perused the larger-than-it-used-to-be menu. I had to try the house beer brewed by North Brewing, called White Lightning, after the owner's nickname. Light, citrusy and slightly hoppy, it's a refreshing pint. Their menu is still fairly compact, with a handful each of salads, sandwiches, and other items like chowder, a burger, and mussels and frites that didn't have a place in the limited confines of the old location. My wife went for the fancied-up chicken club that was on special, while I had my sights set on their brisket sandwich, which has frequently tantalized me on their Instagram account. Their side salad options are limited to the kale salad, so I opted to tack on fries instead. Our food came surprisingly quick considering that there was a line up to the door, but I suppose sandwiches and fries aren't the most work-intensive things to assemble. My brisket sandwich lived up to its digital version, with a pile of frizzled onions on top of creamy kale and hunks of pulled brisket. There's no way you're picking this sandwich up to eat, so it was a knife and fork job. The meat was tender, juicy and nice and beefy. The "Dartmouth BBQ sauce" seemed to blend in with the dressing on the kale, and I was glad that it wasn't one of those overly sweet ones, instead adding a mild kick to the 'wich. The so-called frites were just regularly-sized fries, but were tossed in some herbs and maybe parm, which made them healthy (yay, green bits!) tasty. Hand-cut, of course, they were crispy and golden brown, putting the soggy fries around the city to shame. My wife's club came on an impressively tall focaccia, but it also had an equally impressively light and airy crumb that made it easy to chew. The roasted chicken seemed a bit sparse, but it was a massive sandwich, and was generously filled with goat cheese, an avocado spread and all the club fixins. Service was friendly and attentive, even with the insanity that they were putting up with that day. Unsurprisingly, The Canteen is still putting out some killer food, while continuing to transform both themselves and downtown Dartmouth.

Claimed as French, Italian and Nova Scotia influenced style, the food was excellent. The famous crobster roll had good portion of lobster meat served on a slightly roasted roll, the texture of lobster preserved well. Scallops were charred perfectly with fresh, thinly sliced radish on top. The hand made pasta was chewy with thin slices of pickled cucumbers and added acidic taste from vinegar or lemon juice. The dishes were pleasantly presented. A great taste of Nova Scotia.

The meal was fantastic! Highly recommend the crab dip! Had a great dinner at the bar and the staff were helpful and very friendly/attentive without it being too much. Favorite in Dartmouth!

Started with the Crab dip which was very good just the right amount of dill and lemon. I had their renowned Crobster Roll. As a Maritimer I have a high standard for lobster rolls. This was a 3/5. I found the flavour good, but it could have used more butter as the meat was dry and I was disappointed in the lack of meat and the presentation was lack lustre. The fries were standard quality. My husband had the scallops(5 pieces). They were tasty and the risotto served with them was very good. For dessert we went with our server's recommendation of carrot cake and it was delicious. The service was adequate, but not outstanding. The Canteen is truly a canteen. It is not the place for a quiet dinner as it was very noisy and busy.

Lost in the Middle of Dartmouth, on the other side of Halifax, after quite a lot of disapointing breakfast and dinner, i found this little restaurant, recently opening an extension with this trendy, hispters, toronto-esque decor that would attract any foodie from miles away. After contempling their pineapple wallpaper, bartender wearing etsy apron and yellow and pastel decor. I order a Crobster Roll (Lobster + Crab Roll) and a Burger. Obviously the Crab and Lobster was simple and great. Served with a side of Parmesan Fries and a mediocre bread, even so it was great. Seafood in a city by the food is a sure bet. And i couldnt wait to try the burger The burger, if done right, is a crowd pleaser and an essential for any restaurant nowadays. Get your burger right people. Well. The canteen didnt. This blend, saggy, oily burger was nothing but delicious. No seasoning, no flavours, the cheese in the meet doesnt add value even if they keep on talking about it, and the burger overall is quite repulsive. One advice for this is instagram worthy little spot. Stick to the Seafood or walk away.

I remember Portland Street way back when. You've come a long way baby! The first time I tried the canteen they were a little spot above Two if By Sea, loved the sandwich options and with the move, the menu has expanded. The new restaurant space is modern without sacrificing a great atmosphere. The food is solid, so much so, I have since been back three or four times. I seem to indulge in brunch more than dinner, as of late, but I am looking forward to tasting their dinner menu and perhaps having a few drinks at this lovely downtown Dartmouth gem. Every time I have ventured to the canteen there has been a long line out the door, but no problem. They take your number and give you a call when a spot opens up. Providing the opportunity to explore Portland Street and check out some of the other great little shops along the road. From my perspective, a welcome treat to waiting in line for brunch. Downtown Dartmouth keeps changing, growing and producing some great spots to eat and drink. Whether you are a visitor, resident of Halifax or a Dartmouth native, take a trip down to The Canteen and indulge.

Have been wanting to go to The Canteen for quite some time. Finally made it. Exceeded expectations. We went for lunch. It was packed. Ordered the Crobster Roll. It was absolutely delicious. The bun was toasted and so good. The crobster filling was perfect. Not a lot of dressing so it was not at all messy. The fries we ordered as a side were hot and crispy. There was not a crumb left on our plate. Nice wine list.

Update...we came back for our last meal here and the chowder gives back that lost star from my initial review. Best ever. Packed with lobster and mussels and a fresh baked biscuit, this is the best you'll have on the east coast or anywhere else. Perfect broth with just enough cream and a hit of dill...try this soup! Original review below... It's clear the "You Gotta Eat Here" effect works, as this place was packed on a Wednesday at 5:30. The food really is great, but the portions were on the small side. The scallops with lobster risotto was good, but only came with 3 scallops instead of the "4 or 5" promised. The lobster pasta was very tasty and seasoned well with dill and fennel fronds (both tricky to get right and awful when wrong), but the overall portion was small. The ratio of lobster meat was fine, but the kid and I both had it and were both hungry soon after. We spilt one of the salads and it was fantastic...fresh ingredients and dressed perfectly. The service was excellent and the vibe and neighbourhood are cool. We only knocked off a star because of the portioning issues...besides that, it was a great meal

It's all about the bun, baby! Tried the infamous crobster sandwich today and was not disappointed! This gem that we saw on The Food Bucket List is a tasty combo of crab and lobster on a grilled bun. The buttery goodness of the bun was the perfect foil for the lobster and crab bound together in a tasty aioli. Only real issue is that on the show it was huge-in person the crobster is a more modest sandwich. Still, we'll be back here on our next visit to Nova Scotia!

First impressions are very good. Take the precaution of making a reservation. Our food was good, the service rapid and pleasant. I took a star off because I feel we got short measure on our glasses of wine, compared with other diners. The price is $8-$10 per glass, but the quantity is not stated. When we left, I noticed the bartender "eyeballing" a wine glass fill. There must be a better way...caveat emptor.

Omg! The crawbster! This place is just adorable, the service is impeccable and the food is to die for! This was recommended by 3 different people and I'm glad I came!

The food here is completely delectable. I was with a table of four and so I got to see the seafood chowder (full of sea creatures and well-received), the crabster roll (over-stuffed and tasty). I had the special, a meatloaf melt with the most delicious gravy!! Yummy. Prices are within the normal range, coffee was good. One star lost because the restaurant is too loud when full. It was almost impossible to hold a conversation, and my older friends gradually subsided into a chewing silence. I wish more sound baffles would be installed to make this wonderful spot more comfortable.

LOVE the canteen. Definitely a favourite in HRM, not just Dartmouth :) Went to the little C yesterday as lunch was pushing with time & ordered the Rachel (which I've been dying to try!!) - just as expected, delicious! The sandwiches can be quite messy so grab a few extra napkins. I got a side of root vegetable soup & that was also very tasty. My guest got the brisket sandwich, had a bite, same thing.. delicious! A few other things I've tried that I love there: tuna melt (the best I've ever had!), Crobster roll (same, but I think they got smaller this year according to pictures online..), seafood chowder, lobster toast? (This was AMAZING but I forget the name), ramen, burger (messy so extra napkins again..), haddock dish? (This was when it just opened and the recipe changed but at the time it was the best fish dish I ever had, with celery purée and kale, mm), hangover sandwich, haddock burger (messy but MM), pork banh mi sandwich, Reuben sandwich. Anyways, point is, I've had A LOT there and it's never really disappointed. I've tried dishes I didn't like, but it's the dish itself I was exploring not the flavours specific to the restaurant; ramen (I don't like ramen ‍), rare steak sandwich (forget the name but rare is not for me) & expected the grilled cheese and tomato soup to be more special but that's just expectations from everything else.

Had a nice meal here. Had a kind of lobster spread on a fancy crouton as an app, and scallops on lentils as the main. The lentils were slightly too salty however, but still good. The service was great: my waiter paired my scallops with a really nice white wine. Very polite and attentive. I will be going back to try the chowder next time!

Love this restaurant! To me, it's sort of like if Edna were in Dartmouth and yet also open for lunch. The menu is interesting, the flavours fresh and the severs delightful. Decent wine selection and great cocktails in the evening. The place is always buzzing and bustling, so no matter the time or day of the week, I recommend making a reservation.

Been meaning to try here forever and finally got to for lunch on a mild Wednesday in November. Arrived around 11:35 or so with hopes of beating the lunch crowd, not knowing how much seating there would be. I counted capacity for at least 50, plus an extra eight at the bar. The place itself is much nicer inside than I expected, with tons of natural light coming in, white walls, light brown floors, wooden tables with one long white, wooden booth along one wall accented with various pillows, and simple chairs, several two-or four seater tables, pieces of local artwork, an open circle in the back wall where you can see into the kitchen, nice light fixtures, and quite a large bar. It was quiet when we arrived, but full by about 12:15 and relatively loud with conversations, just able to hear the background music. Friendly service from Erin, and not much of a wait at all. I tried the daily special BLT (double smoked bacon, tomato, greens, pickles, avocado cream, mayo on our round bun) which was quite good, the bacon having a crunch to give it good texture, and it would have been enough on its own for lunch. I got the side of fries, which were very good, but I couldn't finish them for being so full. My friend had the Canteen Chowder ($14 smoked haddock, bacon, mussels, lobster, scallops, housemade biscuit), requesting his without the mussels, and liked it a lot. Flavorful and a big portion, which he compared to the chowder at 2 Doors Down, and had a side of even larger fries, which he was able to finish off, but I don't know how! lol I wanted to try a dessert, but there was no way. The chowder comes with a fresh tea biscuit and was good for dipping. 2nd visit: a freezing Saturday morning for breakfast by myself around 10am. The place was pretty full but I was able to get the last four-seater table left. Quick service. The breakfast/brunch menu looks very good and I had trouble deciding what to get, and ended up choosing the Burrito Bowl ($14 chorizo, rice & beans, fried egg, guacamole, pica de gallo, lime sour cream, feta, cilantro, hot peppers). It was very filling and I left some of the rice untouched at the bottom after mushing it altogether into a flavorful mash of goodness. 3rd visit: by myself again for another breakfast on a Saturday in January. Arrived right at 10 when they were opening the door and was the first to get seated. I tried the Hangover Breakfast sandwich this time ($10 Oulton's bacon, avocado cream, fried egg, havarti cheese, market greens on their everything bagel). No side. Definitely filling enough on its own, delicious and would get again. 4th visit: breakfast at exactly 10am again on a freezing Saturday in January with a friend. We both got the Eggs Benny, his with back bacon, mine with the market greens, both atop a homemade biscuit. Very good, very filling, and I was just happy to get two servings of vegetables in with mine. 5th visit: a sunny Tuesday for lunch in June. The chicken salad bowl ($14 dark meat, cabbage slaw, cashew dressing, watermelon radish, avocado, sesame seeds, brown rice) was good and satisfying, but not overly memorable. Also came with those crispy deep-fried onions on top, didn't have any cashew flavor that I could detect. I sample the seafood chowder this time from the friend who had it last time, and it is quite good, so I may order that for myself in the future. 6th visit: a sunny Friday in August for lunch again. Got one of few seats left. I tried the Hot Bowl ($15 free range chicken, chicken dashi broth, nasil, napa cabbage, chillies, carrots, ramen noodles, boiled egg). I liked it, but didn't love it, as it had a TON of basil, specifically a spicy Thai basil? That dominated the flavor of the whole thing. I ate the chicken, noodles and egg, but left a majority of the broth because found it too strong. 7th visit: brunch on a Saturday in November with two friends at 10 (reserved). Not as busy this time, but still pretty busy. I tried the Avocado Toast ($14 avocado, soft boiled egg, roasted tomato vinaigrette, pumpkin seeds & sprouts on Birdie's sourdough), which was quite good, VERY filling. A friend had the Lobster Benny ($18 two fried eggs, house hollandiase, buttermilk biscuit, side salad) and loved it, but was unable to finish, so made sure to eat every scrap of lobster vs the biscuit. The other person had the French Toast ($14 house made challah topped with fruit compote, whipped cream, pistachios, side bacon & maple syrup), which was quite good as well, and beyond filling. Good variety of textures and great flavor. I will definitely come back here soon to try some other things, and would like to experience it in the evening as well.

The burger was disgusting. Likely the worst burger in years. The fries were short and flavorless. The homemade ketchup was weird. It was a major disappointment. Worst food in months and expensive. Sorry, but it was terrible. My friend agreed; she had the same. My other friend tried the fish and it was good but it was a small piece of fish with way too much corn under it. It was just corn really with a little fish. Will never go back. This place is clearly hype, seriously way over the top hype.

I've been to the Canteen a few times in their old location and just once in there new. I was looking forward to a really amazing experience having seen rave reviews and a very inspired, droolworthy Instagram account. My friend and I were looking forward to a treat night - that means we got the extras - wine + dessert. I ordered the famed Crobster sandwich which came with grandma's fingerling potato salad. The highlight for me was the potato salad. It was delicious! The sandwich was good but not something that I would probably order again. Hear me out on this one - I am discovering I am a seafood purist. I keep ordering lobster rolls or seafood type rolls and then I just find the bread is getting in the way of the seafood flavour I love. It doesn't mean I will give up ordering these types of sammies - because LOBSTER + CRAB...that's still a hell of a sandwich right? It just means that I prefer to enjoy them straight up. My friend ordered this pasta with lobster in it and I had to stop her from licking the plate. We had some kind of chocolate dessert - it was also delicious. At the previous location I had their famed crunchy looking chicken sandwich - I don't know if they still make this but it was so good. This guy was standing in front of me and ordered 10 of them. They were running low so there was a possibility I wasn't going to get one after standing in line for one. My luck I got the last one but that guy very nearly took the short cut down to TIBS over the railing. This is probably why they moved to a new location...just sayin'. I hear a lot about people finding it noisy because it is busy - I didn't find it too noisy. LOVED the ambiance of the new location - bright, modern, charming. Service was great! It is lovely to have this place in Dartmouth. Totally worth the ferry ride over if you don't already live in the neighbourhood.

This is where you want to go when you want to take your tastebuds on a hot date. Delicious food at good prices. Staff were pleasant. No complaints at all.

Food tasted great. Waitress was ok but slow and didn't wash the table properly after another server spilled syrup on the table...but she was very nice and polite and not an issue. BIGGEST issue was the host. He sat us (3 guest) at the front table and it was close to the door on a cold Saturday (Feb 11). Then 4 people entered and he sat them at a nice warm table at the back. After 5 minutes another tabled opened and we asked the waitress if we could move. She said yes and then more people came in and the host was going to give them the table the waitress said we could have...when she corrected him he approached us to say he was sorry but the table was for the people who just entered. I had to firmly disagree with him and we got the table..but the mood was slightly altered. So great food, good waitress but a host who you would like to smack up the side of the head as he profiles the patrons and seats them based on his his profile liking (millennials, hipsters, stylish ). Middle age couples with teenagers need not attend. j We eat out 3 times a week...never again at the Canteen.

A smart restaurant with a cool vibe is exactly what Dartmouth needs on Portland Street, and the Canteen delivers. We enjoyed the short ribs, the lobster spaghetti and the burger. They even offer a childrens' menu. My only reservation is the strange approach to plating several of the main courses. Although the portions were generous, the short rib and the spaghetti were squeezed into unsuitably small dishes making them look more like appetizers. However, the hamburger was beautifully presented and definitely made an impression at the table when it arrived. Overall, the Canteen is a welcome addition to the Portland Street scene, and offers a winning formula that deserves your business.

I had the special which was a scallop burger and it was fantastic. It was great to have a selection of craft brews to choose from as well.

Nice first impression. Simple & chic decor. Delicious crab & lobster salad sandwich on a house made roll with a lemony aioli. A generous helping of filling in the sandwich on a perfectly fresh roll. Friendly and prompt service during a busy lunch time. A follow up visit is definitely in the cards.

I was a big fan of the old Canteen on Ochterloney so I was glad to see them take the next step and re-do the old Sun Sun on Portland into a full sit-down operation. My only visit to the new spot was at lunch so keep that in mind. Despite arriving before noon it was already quite busy and we didn't have a reservation. We were seated after a short wait but it really seems like reservations are important here as the place was totally full shortly thereafter. The space itself deserves a comment. It is bright, modern and airy, mostly in shades of white except for the floor. Coming inside from what remains a somewhat sketchy part of Portland St for now, it is like entering another dimension. All those hard surfaces make the room very noisy when it fills up, however, to the point where our table of three had a a hard time hearing each other. Not sure what could fix that but be advised it is an issue. The lunch menu is somewhat limited and the number of things that appealed to me even more so, since some of the choices had one or two ingredients listed that did not appeal to me. The evening menu would be more expansive. Still I had no difficulty finding something that worked for me. Food arrived quickly and was all very good. Service was fine if a bit stiff. I was happy to see they have already expanded with a more casual area adjacent that is reminiscent of their original operation with sandwiches and salads. I hope that some of my old favorite sandwiches like the Meatloaf and Fried Chicken make regular appearances on the menu there. I suspect that part of the operation will be the one I frequent more often as their sandwiches were legendary and lunch for me these days is usually a grab-and-go affair. I hope they do well.

Awesome chef-run neighbourhood spot in rapidly gentrifying Dartmouth. Always busy. Always good. Nice modern room, good local beer and wine list and simple, high quality menu. I usually pick the specials but if nothing suits it's hard to beat the burger which is the best in town. We're lucky to have them in the 'hood.

Love the food, the location and the staff. The menu is constantly changing so there's always something new to try. Sometimes you get you get unusual / fancy options and sometimes it's down home sandwiches. It's always high quality. I highly recommend it!

The food here is insane. It's my favourite spot in Dartmouth. Sometimes they have Nova Seven on tap which is amazing! I personally love the risotto. The bartenders make some pretty interesting drinks if you let them too!

My wife and I went tonight for our anniversary. We shared the mussels and frites. They were great except they didn't give us a spoon to finish the broth. There was this little piece of heaven on the side, called fried focaccia, that should be on the side of every dish! I had the seared scallops and lobster risotto. OMG. The only thing missing was the aforementioned focaccia. There was equal part risotto and lobster. My wife had the panzanella salad. Very fresh and the focaccia crumbs gave it a nice crunch. Have to go back because we saw so many things going to other tables that we want to try. Last but not least, our server Makayla was excellent. They were slammed, but you wouldn't know it by the way she handled us.

Hmmmm absolutely a wonderful dining experience. upon arrival - the restaurant looked like the lunch rush had just subsided- our server was delightful and upbeat! My friend and I ordered the exact same meal, we ordered a grilled chicken soft bun burger with Fritos. The burst of flavors from the burger and well seasoned Fritos were perfect. Our meal was served nice and hot- our server was on point with excellent service and extremely helpful. Highly recommend The Canteen/ loves the atmosphere and Vibe!

This place is fine, but let's be a bit realistic with a few things. Firstly, I understand that a lot of effort is made to get local and exotic/unqiue ingredients. But come on, it's hard to justify 10 bucks for what is essentially a ham and cheese sandwich consisting of literally just cheese pickles and mustard. I understand they are on the larger size, but I could easily make that myself at home for way less. You can also make a tuna melt the exact same manner that they make yourself at home. Some of these sandwiches are a ludicrous amount of money. Also, I know we don't go out to eat if we're trying to eat healthy, but some of the dishes seem ridiculously unhealthy like their fried chicken burger or their regular hamburger. They just ooze with grease and fat. There are some enticing sounding and indeed delicious dishes, but I find it can be hit or miss. The atmosphere is nice, if a bit stereotypically hipster-ish and it can be loud, but the servers are usually pleasant. If you'd like to try this place out make sure you call for a reservation. It's always packed.

Like it so much I've come back a few times. Love their Canteen burger and fries. Lot's of great local beer selections too. My only minor complaint is that it's often so busy that the service can be a bit slow.