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Fid Resto
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Tue-Wed 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Thu-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 2 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
23 reviews for Fid Resto
Review Highlights
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"For brunch I had a cheese tart, which was so amazingly good." In 8 reviews -
"The lobster poutine appetizer was terrific." In 2 reviews -
"...chefs are concerned with sustainable, seasonal fare and..." In 3 reviews
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Vanessa J.
Halifax, NS
Updated - 5/24/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Under the Radar
So what I love about Fid is that during Open City, when demand was higher than expected and they sold out of sandwiches, they adapted, switched it up and started offering their awesome Pad Thai. What I love even more about them is that they've kept it up and are now offering Pad Thai out the backdoor anytime.
On Saturday I found myself talking to the owner Dennis who cooked up my myself and 2 friends some delicious Pad Thai. Even though Fid is not a Thai restaurant, they make my fave P.T. in the city, because they have a nice balance between the noodles and other ingredients. Very flavorful as well!
I can't wait to hit them up again to get another Thai food fix!Listed in: The Sweet Spot, Yelp Halifax May Day Reviews, Fancy Pants Dining
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/30/2011
I've had both brunch and lunch at Fid, and although I had enjoyed both meals I had yet to eat dinner… Read more »
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Review from Jocelyn H.
Portland - East Woodlawn, NS
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fid is one of my favorite restaurants in the city and I've been here many many times. During the recent OpenCity event however, I discovered a different side of the resto... literally. Their back door banh mi was the best we ate that day and when I heard they had continued with pad thai after running out of the delicious sandwich, and that they are continuing to make every day, I had to go!
Renovating my kitchen meant no cooking tonight so my daughter and I headed across the bridge and my mouth was already watering. Got to the back door, knocked, and asked for the pad thai. The kitchen was busy with supper service starting and we could see quail eggs and duck confit being prepped.
Our pad thai arrived and the smell was heavenly. We headed to the public gardens to enjoy this fresh, light and wonderfully fragrant dish. Wow.
Keep it up Fid, this back door deal is awesome. 10 bucks, including taxes? How cool is that? -
Review from John B.
South End, NS
4/30/2012
I should note before I start this review that as a new Yelper, I am choosing to review some of my favourite spots to build up my reviews. I do not award every experience with a gold-star review; should I come across a bad experience now that I am Yelping, I shall of course not hesitate to write up a bitch-fest. But for now, I am working my way through my version of Halifax Gold.
I am notoriously bad at making decisions; you'll often find me in the aisles of Barrington Street Superstore struggling to decide which pattern to go for on my paper towels. But if you asked me to choose my favourite overall place to eat in Halifax, I'd choose Fid Resto without hesitation.
Is there 'finer' food in Halifax? Probably, yes (but not much). Is there a fancier dining room? Definitely. More adventurous cuisine? Absolutely. But when you consider the nuts and bolts of food, its sourcing, its preparation, its pricing and its presentation, Fid is the cream of the crop. This place is truly a food-lover's Nirvana.
So many reasons why. I'll give you my top three.
1) The menu. Oh, the menu. Always deliciously simple, and that's where this resto delivers the goods - utter, unadulterated, fabulous simplicity. As with any good locally-sourced establishment, it changes up depending on the season and the specials are too wondrous and varied to list (plus they may not be on the menu whenj you go - and you should. Like, now.) But there are some staples I urge you to go try (like, now).
First off, lunch and brunch. Hands-down the best lunch spot downtown. D's Pad Thai is without doubt the best in the city and maybe even the best I've ever had. I've travelled in Thailand and eaten Pad Thai all over the world, and this dish is a stand-out. Melty noodles, a sauce that will kick your taste-buds' ass without singing them into oblivion, succulent baby shrimp, toasty peanuts and fresh, fresh beansprouts and lime garnish... it's a knockout. In other lunch news, the Kao Soi is outstanding and the smoked haddock with poached egg and potato-spinach mash made me want to weep. And brunch. Brunch! If you want tenderly caressed plates of awesome without the line-ups (although that makes me sad) then this is your new favourite place.
This is going to be a looooong review...
Dinner. Five words: seven-day marinated hanger steak. It will blow your mind. And the kitchen makes mashed potatoes (this time with roasted garlic) that will make you question reality. I've tried a number of dinner items, and not one has left me anything short of ecstatic. But I gotta tell you, when I'm in for lunch I hit up that Pad Thai's tush, and I own that steak at dinner.
2) The people. A joy. Honest-to-goodness good eggs with a passion for their craft (and that's the servers!). The passion for food and life is almost tangible here. My fave thing is that, in this lovely, bright, airy and modern dining room in a resto that features on all the 'best of' lists, there are two stuffed animals that move around the space; the two rats from the movie 'Ratatouille'. I don't know the story, but it's obviously a nod to one of the owner's French roots (and I'm sure a very personal anecdote). It sums up the lack of pretension perfectly.
3) The 'special nights'. Whether it's the special menu for 'Nocturne', the regular 'small plates' evenings or the wonderful 'supper clubs' (where you get to hang out in the kitchen and cook with the man himself, Chef Dennis Johnson) Fid is always changing it up and seeking to provide foodie experiences that go beyond the norm. I attended the 'Thai Throwdown' supper club recently and learned not only how to make the most amazing green curry and spring rolls but came away with tips for making infused-oils, sticky rice... and I made the first ever souffle that didn't collapse. That was a good night!
I didn't know Fid in its previous incarnation (I belive it was a fine-dining establishment) but I am happy to know it in its current guise - friendly, passionate, socially-aware and just generally fantastic. -
Review from Todd B.
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I got the backdoor deal during Opencity. It was a cool way to meet the chef and get some delicious food. We got he Bahn mi and it was so delicious and Incredibly spicy. I am definitely going back to go in the front next time :)
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Review from Sandra M.
2/25/2012 ROTD 3/11/2012
Fid is a location that has come highly recommended and we have been meaning to try for some time. Last Friday, with family visiting, it was our lunch spot before a skate at the Oval.
Fid is clean, modern, and bright. For a Friday lunch, there were several other tables occupied, but it was not overly busy.
The down stairs wash-rooms make interesting use of the exposed brick walls and deep narrow space while being clean. The high speed hand dryers are a plus, while no paper towel is a negative when one wants to clean a spill from your dress shirt.
Myself along with another family member ordered the D's Pad Thai which was fresh and delicious. Plenty of noodles, shrimp bites and not too soupy for my liking.
My husband enjoyed the Kao Soi which he did find very rich - I also enjoyed some and kind of wish I had personally ordered it, as I love curry and this was an terrific dish. (I did share a few bites of my dish in return).
Two other family members ordered the Fid burger with pork belly bacon and local cheese. They were very pleased with the option to choose how done their burger would be. Their side of super skinny frites where much like hickory sticks and shared among the table.
The seasonal soup and sandwich combo was a hit with my mother-in-law too. There is a nice diverse menu which is perfect for groups.
Over all, we were pleased with the food, the service, our waters were always full, we received just enough attention and we would be happy to return for a future down-town lunch!Listed in: Halifax Eats We Would Revisit
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Review from J M.
Halifax, NS
Noon on a Saturday and this place is EMPTY. I knew Ben B had a great brunch review so we decided to take a seat and brave the empty restaurant.
We ended up having one of the best brunches we have ever had. The complete breakfast was stunning. Homemade sausage, perfectly smoked bacon and an omelette that was done just right.
Fid outdoes almost every other brunch spot in Halifax on quality, price and service (that part is easy I guess). There should be lineups out the door, I can't figure out why it isn't more popular.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/13/2010
I can't recommend this place enough. Fantastic every time. They care about making sure that they… Read more »
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Review from Bailey W.
Halifax, NS
7/26/2011 ROTD 7/31/2011
I've taken on The Coast's Food and Drink Halifax guide as my own personal summer conquest. After checking off all of the places I've been and highlighting the ones I'm eager to try, I set out on my mouth-watering mission.
First off the mark was Fid Resto on Dresden Row. Known for their local and sustainable fare, I was eager to sink my teeth into their French-Asian inspired dishes.
The spot itself is very cozy. I felt more like a guest at a bed and breakfast, than a random off the street patron. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about their products, processes and off course had great expertise on wine pairing. You could tell she was passionate about the food and really took pride in satisfying the customer - which unfortunately these days is a rarity.
My friend and I shared an appetizer of scallops covered in an olive dust ...delish. She had the Artic Char with fresh vegetables and I devoured the 7-day marinated hanger steak, served rare. The steak was gorgeous, but the true star of the show was the roasted garlic mashed potatoes and greens. Seriously, these potatoes were crush worthy, literally playing love games with me.
To top it all off, we shared churros with a side of chocolate and caramel sauce. I more a fan of the super rich, mega-calorie, dairy-filled deserts, but the churros were a nice end to a fantastic meal and experience.
Next mission: Try their brunch. -
Review from Ben B.
Brunch: if it were a religion, I would study to become ordained.
There are few things in the world that I respect more than the tradition - nay...the very EXISTENCE of brunch and those who do it well. And that, my friends, is what usually brings me to Fid.
Known as a high-end bistro throughout the city, not as many people realize that on the weekends they put on a gourmet brunch for a shockingly reasonable price. And, since most people are in the dark as to their brunchery domination, the place is usually quiet, calm and relaxing. No lines, no yelling, no having to put your name down on a list.
Also? They have morning booze. So keep that in mind.
This past weekend I enjoyed a fresh cooked eggs benny for just $11. Most delicious deal ever. Two poached eggs sitting proudly on bucket loads of spinach atop fresh-baked english muffins that were OUTRAGEOUS. They were actually so good that I pretty much paid no attention to the fresh greens topped with popcorn (ummk?) on the side.
Things covered in hollandaise trumps just about everything else.Listed in: Hungover Brunch, Haute Halifax Cuisine, Dresden Row
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Review from Cadence M.
Halifax, NS
8/23/2011
Have been there twice now, once for dinner and once for brunch.
For dinner I had a custom veggie bento box thing which was simply divine. They were very acomedating to my veggie ways and made me up a great combo of in season veggies perfectly cooked and plentiful so that I did not feel like I was missing out on a decent meal in comparison to my meat eating cohorts.
For brunch I had a cheese tart, which was so amazingly good! It's not a quiche, let's not get those confused it was literally a cheese pie and was it ever awesome! I have not had one since I lived in the UK and they certainly did it justice! It came with a nice little salad which was lightly dressed and not too much, which was topped with an interesting garnish of spiced popcorn! Unexpected yes, but good nonetheless. -
Review from Mel H.
4/16/2011
I was super excited to eat dinner here! So excited that I had made my decision based on their online menu 2 weeks before we even planned on going.
The day of, I was still so excited to eat that I was triple checking the online menu, making sure that the tuna that had so piqued my interest was still on the menu.
Imagine my surprise when I was seated and saw a different menu!
Needless to say I was kind of disappointed, and when I inquired about the menu change, the lady mumbled something about the menu changing Tuesday, but did inquire if the kitchen had any tuna left.
The meal I did end up having was freakin' delicious- Halibut with roasted fingerlings and leeks. The man friend had the hanger steak and declared it to be meat-gasmic.
The service was decent- polite but not overbearing.
Not to be that guy- but it was really disappointing to find a discrepancy in the menu- especially for a resto that does such a good job of being plugged in through their twitter and facebook pages.
I would definitely go back, but maybe wouldn't check the online menu before hand. -
Review from Emmanuel C.
Halifax, NS
2/22/2011
Simply the best!
This is by far my favorite restaurant in the city. It's my go to, fail safe, sure to impress restaurant when taking people from out of town.
The menu is composed of fresh local ingredients, changes in a regular basis, and caters to a variety of tastes.
If you have the chance of going to one of their brunches, you're in for a treat. My only regret is that I now live outside the city and don't get there often anymore...
A must go to if visiting from out of town! -
Review from Ann K.
Halifax, NS
Updated - 3/10/2012
Dennis is doing a delicious rabbit a la moutarde on a bed of just wilted local spinach and polenta. The rabbit is perfectly tender and truly delicious. An excellent dish.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/4/2012
Dennis is serving duck breast with puy lentils and braised leeks. Delicious. We went for a plate… Read more »
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Review from Lesley-Anne S.
Halifax, NS
2/4/2011
I had a fantastic meal here. My waiter knew her stuff and was great at recommending wines. I love that the place is committed to serving local and in season foods.
I was a little underwhelmed by my appetizer - the goat cheese with apples and walnuts. I liked the idea, but the end result was more goat cheese than I could eat with a little bit of apple sauce and a sprinkle of walnuts and cranberries. Less goat cheese and more other stuff would have made it better.
I had the chicken with gnocchi and tried the tuna - both were amazeballs. I had a sticky toffee pudding (I think that's what it was...must remember to review immediately after eating) and tried the molten chocolate (we were big on sharing) and enjoyed both.
Everyone in my group left happy and I'd definitely go back and try it again.Listed in: Nom nom nom, Fancy sit down eating
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Review from Sandra M.
Dartmouth, NS
10/17/2011
I had brunch at Fid this past weekend and it was great. They were very accomodating of our 5 people. Service was a little slow but nothing to complain about and most likely because a party of 4 arrived at the same time as us and was seated first.
I chose the warm smoked haddock with potato spinach mash, sans poached egg (allergy). The plate looked fantastic, a great amount of food for the price and there was a delicate cream sauce surrounding the ingredients which was very nice. I was surprised to find that the green was actually swiss chard, not spinach and that the potatoes were not 'mashed' but rather 'smashed' a detail that I don't really mind but I like accurate descriptions on menus. Not that there are any descriptions on the menu but luckily our server was very helpful. The haddock was overly salty and that overwhelmed any flavour from the smoke. My latte was not great, milk very thin and espresso tasted bitter and watery - I think the espresso machine might be something that one can find at peoples' houses and not a commercial machine. I don't expect a great coffee at these types of places anyway. Overall, OK. I would like to try some other things as all the food sounds delicious.
I will be back! Perhaps for dinner this time. -
Review from christian C.
10/1/2011
The space was comfortable, and only about half full on a Friday night. It appeared to be a converted house. Service was attentive, helpful and friendly.
The lobster poutine appetizer was terrific. Succulent lobster in a savory broth with cheese curds and chickpea flour bread sticks. The other appetizer, the chef's version of prosciutto, which he was curing for 2 years in his basement according to our waitress, was OK. It was thick, fatty and lacking in any flavor depth.
The bread served was good, but would have been better for brunch as they all were rather sweet and/or had nuts and/or raisins.
For entrees, we had venison and swordfish. The swordfish was good, and came over bok choy and spicy corn relish, that I think was made from dried corn, which gave it a very strong corn flavor with interesting heat and spices. The venison came with kale and potatoes dauphinois. The venison was juicy and flavorful (not dry as many venison tends to be). Good dish.
We were surprised by the size of both of the entrees. We did not leave hungry.
I would go back and try different things. -
Review from Bessy N.
Halifax, NS
2/12/2009
I had such high hopes for this establishment. A few of my friends have raved about this place. I had the misfortune (I guess) of having one of the worst dining experiences of my life here.
It could be attributed to the worst waiter ever - he pretty much set the tone for the night by delivering our first drink 45 minutes after we arrived.
Food - meh.
The restaurant was FREEZING - we mentioned it a few times to our waiter who did nothing about it until we were about to leave. Too little too late my friend.
Anyway - just my $0.02. Like I said, others have raved about the food. -
Review from Aaron J.
Halifax, NS
10/24/2010
Great place with exceptional food.
Menu changes often and the execution of the menu is amazing.
the chef manages to bring out the fullness of each ingredients flavor making every mouth full to die for. The menu is priced very reasonable considering the work that goes in to each dish.
I would eat hear again for sure
the only reason this restaurant lost the 5 star was the server didn't explain the menu fully as there is a a market dish which changes daily. -
Review from Sabrina B.
Halifax, NS
1/28/2012
I'm not really sure why everyone loves this place so much. I have been there 3 times and the staff is always cold and appears to have better things to do than serve food. The food is so-so. The most recent time I've been there my breakfast was burned and there was a hair in my drink! They didn't comp the meal
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Review from Laura P.
4/29/2010
A dear friend of mine, a chef and serious foodie, suggested Fid as one of the top places for food in Halifax. A connoisseur of both food and function, I became particularly interested to explore its offerings.
This chef friend also happens to be a huge advocate for meat. Rich meats, oils, fresh spice and dressings-- flavour at no expense. And so as a mostly-veggie girl with a sensitive tum... I'm unsure how this menu will fare.
A dinner at Fid caters to the upscale palate of a meat eater. Duck, lamb, ribs, pork, chicken and monkfish make up the bulk of main dishes, while there is worthy selection of veggie-friendly starters. (Salmon, mushroom, beets, garlic soup, goat cheese, etc.)
Giving a look through, it appears that I'm restricted to the starter menu. However this is fine with me, as the prices are appropriate for this Fid trial run, and the options are intriguing . ($5-7) I decided on the fresh local Aylesford goat cheese with peach, walnuts and dried cranberries. (I do love my medleys!) Expectantly, the dish wasn't of grand proportions, but for $7, its rich taste and excellent presentation deemed worthy.
The service and atmosphere were enjoyable. Nothing too stand out, but elegant place settings and a certain buzz of patrons. Friendly, accommodating, cordial.
I like the fact that Fid offers fresh, local food and innovative dishes. Its probably not a spot I'd make a regular spot to, as the main dishes don't so much cater to my taste. However, I'm very curious to check out the brunch menu, with offerings like curried artichoke soup and warm smoked haddock.
All in all, a well crafted menu for for right customer. Voila! -
Review from Ang M.
Halifax, NS
10/19/2009
Fid's menu is based around the philosophy of local, sustainable food, and for that alone, it deserves kudos.
I had heard a lot about the big changes at Fid - it recently underwent a revamp that brought prices down to a more "affordable" range, and I would suggest that that was a wise move in the current economic climate. Also, recession or no recession, I had never been to the restaurant simply because I just couldn't afford it. Culture workers aren't the best-compensated employees in the country, you know.
Anyway, given the new prices and lots of buzz about their brunch, my friends and I finally made it there for brunch on Sunday.
And it was okay, but nothing to write home about. We all ordered the same thing: the FID resto full breakfast for $12. Eggs, omelet-style, a big (I'm guessing Lunenburg) sausage, bacon, tomatoes, fingerling potatoes, and a little crumptey-thing. All drizzled with maple syrup (except the eggs). My biggest complaint is the weird cold bread thingy. I honestly don't know what it was (sorry, foodies) but it was a rather tasteless waste of carbs, as far as I'm concerned. Sigh. Perhaps my palette isn't sophisticated enough to appreciate something unique - but I don't really think I was the problem.
Also, the other strike against Fid is the noise factor. One of the noisiest restaurants I've ever been in, especially given that the space is pretty small. It didn't help that we had a "shrieker" in the restaurant - you know her, the one who's hearty laugh has a way of raising the hairs on the back of everyone else's neck.
Service was friendly. Oh, and my partner had the cappuccino and she gave it two thumbs down. "I should have known better" was her comment. -
Review from Johnny L.
Toronto, ON
7/16/2010
We had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Halifax while attending a friend's wedding. Our first dinner out was at Fid which, we had read, was a place that served fresh, locally sourced fare. I was on a mission to eat nothing but seafood while I was here and I was happy to find that this was extremely easy to do.
Fid is located in an odd and unexpected spot, down some alley and inside a commercial building. Not what I would expect, but what do I know about the Halifax? I'll be the first to admit, absolutely not much.
The Lady had scallops which were incredible. They were perfectly seared and moist inside and I wished I had ordered them, too. I had crispy haddock instead which I found to be slightly dry and overcooked, though still quite passable. We tried some Nova Scotia wines which were surprisingly very good paired with our food.
All things considered, this place is relatively cheap and awesome considering the quality of the food. I would definitely hit it up if I'm ever in this town again. -
Review from Ruth D.
Halifax, NS
12/3/2009 4 photos
I love eating at local restaurants where chefs are concerned with sustainable, seasonal fare and support local producers, and Chef Dennis Johnston is that in spades. In fact, he recently won the "Local Food Hero" award from RANS (Restaurant Association of NS) for exceptional support for Nova Scotia agriculture producers and products through the restaurant's menu. I particularly love that his menu doesn't just tell us the dish, but also included the name of the producer. Wool 'n Hart lamb ribs, for example.
I've bumped into him more than once at the Saturday Farmer's Market with something wonderful for dinner. And I love that this is a very haute cuisine experience...plating, to tasting it's a visual as well as taste delight...at a more affordable price for those of us who can't/don't want to spend $200 for dinner for two.
So let me tell you about the dining experience....I loved the service, very helpful in choosing the dishes and the wine. Everything was delicious, my two favorites were the appetizers - lobster roll FID style, which really should be on there permanent menu. Think sushi rolls or cold Vietnamese rolls but filled with cold cooked lobster and frankly, a couple of plates of that could be my dinner! Don't even get me started on the smoked duck prosciutto that they make at the restaurant or the creme brulee for dessert and everything in between. -
Review from Colin B.
Bedford, NS
11/14/2010
The Fid chicken is one of the best meals in Halifax... the homemade gnocchi is the best I've EVER had, and I feel I am a bit of a gnocchi connoisseur. The sauce is also amazing.
@andrew J
"the only reason this restaurant lost the 5 star was the server didn't explain the menu fully as there is a a market dish which changes daily."
Wow...Tough grader!
My lack of a 5th star is that the menu doesn't change as frequently since they've gone more bistro-style, and they've removed their 2 course prix fixe lunch :(
