- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Phil's Seafood
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sat-Sun 11:30 am - 8 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Phil's Seafood
19 reviews in English
-
Review from Jill M.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
As someone who's not a major fish or seafood fan, Phil's wasn't exactly designed for me. However, I do enjoy the occasional order of fish & chips and Phi's definitely delivers in that department. The fish are HUGE and you get a ton of fries, so if you're not a big eater I suggest ordering the one piece. And not only is the food good, but the service is incredibly friendly.
-
Review from Mel H.
10/28/2011
Best F&C in this city, hands down. I know that is a bold claim in a city with amazing F&C places literally on every block (or so it seems). The fish is always super fresh, the batter is not heavy and doesn't hold/sop-up 10 pounds of grease like some places. The fries are handcut and always perfectly crispy. Even the coleslaw is delicious. But the best part? You can get a meal, with a drink, tax and tip for well under $20. Heck yes.
Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge
-
Review from Mel B.
Halifax, NS
8/10/2011
My fiance and I were walking down Quinpool intent on going to Athens restaurant (yum) when we walked by Phil's. We both love seafood and were in a bit of a rush so we decided to eat here instead.
I got the half seafood platter- which had a peice of fish some shrimp and scallops and shrimp and he had the clams and chips with a side of fish. The seafood itself was very fresh which was really good but the better didn't add anything to the meal- it was rather tasteless with no flavour. The main purpose of it seemed to be to keep the seafood enclosed to make it easier to cook.
We were not dissatisfied, and glad we stopped by to try it however we will not be going back as there are better places for seafood in the city.
Phil's seafood isn't a yay or a nay.. just meh. -
Review from Shawna D.
Chester, NS
Updated - 8/24/2010 1 photo
Phil's seems to be a favourite of Halifax, the night we went there, it was lined up. We were fortunate, the wait was not too long.
It was a Sunday evening, and as we stood there the waitress was telling people they were going to run out of fish. I could not believe it.
We were served by a waitress who was run off her feet, it was crazy busy. The fish arrived, fresh, done to perfection, fries were crisp and the onion rings were tasty as well.
Phil's batter is much lighter than most fish and chips. The atmosphere at Phil's is pretty standard, plenty of talking, it got pretty loud at one point.
Phil's is a great family restaurant. Oh, by the way, the did run out of fish!
That is a lot of people served.Listed in: The Best Fish & Chips
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/31/2010
Phil's will satisfy anyone with the craving for some Fantastic Fish and Chips. Although the menu… Read more »
-
-
Review from Dr. H.
Halifax, NS
7/20/2011
Phil's is a stellar seafood restaurant. I normally get the scallops or fish n chips meal..both are great. Service is friendly and fast and the location is good. Only downside is that parking is always an issue on Quinpool..but the food is TASTY.
-
Review from Kent P.
7/24/2010
Impressive value at Phil's. Big open space. Air conditioned. Attentive and cute staff.
Got the large fish and chip (haddock) and fried shrimp as an app.
The batter was that crumbly kind- not the layered fried most often associated with fish n' chips...reminded me of the quinoa salmon fish n' chips at Utopia (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). Chips were homemade...but plain- and the coleslaw was creamy and sweet (might have been nice to add some raisins for texture).
It was satisfactory.Listed in: Halifax
-
Review from Ang M.
Halifax, NS
9/28/2009 1 photo
When I first discovered Phil's Seafood, I realized I had stumbled upon one of the best-kept secrets in the city. Tasty fresh fish, breaded - and baked! Not deep-fried. Add a spinach salad and you've just turned a potentially artery-clogging lunch or dinner into something healthy and delicious. Go figure.
It's been awhile since I've been to the Quinpool Road location (they used to be up on Purcell's Cove Road, and worth the drive), but when I was working downtown, a Phil's takeout lunch was a real treat. The Quinpool location isn't much for atmosphere, so go for the takeout option. -
Review from R N.
Halifax, NS
3/14/2009
According to my boyfriend, this is simply the best restaurant in Halifax (yes, he has been to Jane's, and he likes it):
"In sheer terms of value for your declining Canadian dollar, Phil's is outstanding: delicious food, warm atmosphere, extremely kind service. And, they follow a fundamental principle of fine cuisine that "fancier" restaurants often ignore to their peril: simplicity. Phil's specializes in one dish, and that dish is always phenomenal. But don't overlook the gingerbread for dessert-- it's pretty darn good too. Phil: please think about a few more veg. options-- so I can bring my girlfriend. A grilled cheese sandwich maybe? I bet it would be good. Also, refill the tabasco sauce!"Listed in: Exploring Halifax
-
Review from cheryl d.
Halifax, NS
5/10/2010 1 photo
You would think that us in Atlantic Canada can go anywhere and get some good old Fish N Chips but that is not always the case. BUT at Phils this is one spot that you will want to try.
Now don't be shocked when you walk in as the decor is not that out of a magazine but the food is delicious. This was my first time here and will not be my last. I love the crispy batter and large pieces made my belly nice and full. Well you know with hand cut fried I had to try them and they were hot and fresh not soggy. We as well split a Spinach Salad to make it look like we were trying to be healthy. It was delicious and price was fairly reasonable for the amount of food that they gave you. Service was friendly as well it was almost like a home style restaurant. -
Review from Laura P.
Toronto, ON
3/31/2010
Phil's! Philz...
Its specialty in seafood is a dime a dozen. What a spot. The menu covers most seaside delights and in the delicious, deep fried sort of way. Not for everyone. But for everyone at certain times.
The space is cute and quaint. Nothing too special or overly exciting but its all quite endearing and the service is good. I'd suggest this spot for anyone looking for a quick snack of fish. The regular dose of grease and seafood to sooth any palate.
Cuz we all crave it at times. Replenish at Phil's with the satisfying service and easy fish fix. -
Review from Adam B.
Halifax, NS
1/20/2010
If you step foot within the city lines for a treat from the sea and you don't get it from Phil, you are doing yourself a real disservice. Simply put, Phil's is the best.
Sure, there are more well known seafood restaurants. They're bigger, flashier, closer to the ocean (although really, seafood that's closer to the ocean should be a real turn off in this town), but that doesn't change the fact that at the end of the day Phil's delivers a better seafood experience than any other.
In my opinion, Phil's best meal is the most basic on the menu, the battered fish and chips. The fish is just great! Crispy, tasty and worth every penny. I recommend it to anybody who will listen.
The staff is really friendly and efficient. Food is always delivered quickly and, as I've already said, tastes delicious!
Don't believe the hype. Phil's Seafood is, hands down, the best seafood restaurant in our fair city. -
Review from Katie M.
Halifax, NS
4/3/2010 1 photo
I've been skeptical about dining at Phils for awhile. It was probably a mix of the exterior aesthetic and the menu taped to the inside of the front windows that thew me and made me hesitant to eat here despite the good things I'd heard from my boyfriend.
The inside wasn't a great sight to behold, which wasn't exactly a surprise but it fit the bill of a place that serves good food and good portions at an even better price. It's a different experience for me to eat fish and chips (Phil's speciality) at a dine-in restaurant, and eating here will top a chip cart any day. This is the go-to seafood joint if you are located closer to Quinpool than the waterfront.
Hot Hint: I'm a huge fan of the fries and tartar sauce here, and they are both homemade! -
Review from Ellen C.
6/26/2010
Phil's serves simple, down-home food in a casual environment. I started with a nicely-done spinach salad that came with sliced boiled eggs and shredded cheddar cheese on top. My husband's seafood chowder was quite good as well. For my entrée, the grilled salmon, although fresh, was underseasoned and overdone at the edges and the accompaniment of 'rice' was not the expected rice pilaf, but just plain steamed white rice. Since the dish lacked salt, I had to ask the waitress for soy sauce to add a little flavour to the dish. Generally, I expected more from my entrée since it costed $14-15 (if memory serves me correctly) compared to my husband's tasty $6 fish 'n chips. All in all, Phil's Seafood deserves 3.5 stars and is a good place to go if you want value for your money since portions are large.
-
Review from Joshua Y.
Vancouver, BC
10/3/2009
Quality, Consistency, Friendly Staff, Great food!
Phil's Seafood is one of a kind! I really don't know where you can get better fish and chips! Honestly. I might discover a new, better restaurant one day, but for now, Phil's Seafood is King of the Ocean! For me, a big thing is being able to walk into a restaurant and know that I will get the same, great quality food, I got last time. And this is true with Phil's Seafood. Their quality is very consistent and their portion sizes for their pricing is really good!
The environment could be described of as cute. Its not fancy at all and has more of a "small town" fish and chip decor to it. So there isn't that much to look at when waiting for your food. Although I wouldn't want them to put some huge plasma screen television in there either. I like the small town feel to it.
I generally order the fish and chips. Their fries are always fresh and their fish is breaded, but not to the point of being very crunchy which is good. I have had some breaded fish in other restaurants where I thought I chipped a tooth. So its nice to finally find a place that does it right.
The Staff are very friendly and fast on their feet. Which they need to be because I have been in there a few times when there weren't enough seats and this fun, small seafood restaurant actually had a wait time. So its obvious they are doing good, and being a regular customer that I am, I know why. If you are in the Quinpool area and in the mood for fish and chips or even their burgers, definitely go to Phil's. You'll see me there and can tell me how you like it. -
Review from Bethany J.
Halifax, NS
3/20/2010
We wandered into Phil's one gloomy afternoon. We are constantly on the hunt for good fish and chip purveyors, and we'd heard that Phil's wasn't to be missed.
The restaurant was almost empty when we arrived mid-afternoon. We took one of the tables in the back and settled in with our menus. We were pleasantly surprised to see the low prices listed, even for seafood treats like clams and scallops.
Apparently, we'd heard correctly: Phil's has decidedly wonderful fish and chips. The batter is light and crispy and the fillet inside was tender and flaky.
A humorous note to our dining experience: the smoke alarm started beeping. And beeping. And beeping. Right about the time we were getting a bit concerned, our server came over to reassure us that it was simply a malfunction and we were in no danger of having to leave our fish behind and head to the street. Thank goodness. -
Review from Dan C.
6/1/2010 4 photos
This was our last meal in Halifax before leaving and my wife was kind enough to oblige my recent obsession with all things fish and chips. After an amazing week of seafood all over Nova Scotia, this was a bit of an indulgence on my part...prolly not the most sophisticated choice, but one that I'm glad I didn't miss out on!
After reading about this place, I was surprised to find that the actual resto was very clean with what appeared to be a bit of a modern redesign to the interior (fresh cleanly painted walls and a bright interior space well lit by the front bay windows). Def. less "divey" than I had somehow first imagined. Walking through the door, we were immediately greeted by a nice open space and a counter where several cheerful servers/the hostess were congregating. We were promptly seated at a 2 top near the back.
The menu is fairly basic and the cooking reflects this, but the dishes reflect the great quality of ingredients used throughout this place. I opted for the seafood chowder, and a small fish and chips. She ordered a small spinach salad and the grilled Atlantic salmon with rice and steamed broccoli. The grilled salmon was just slightly more cooked through than I usually prefer, but it was done well. What was a bit weird was that the rice was literally plain white rice - somehow we expected maybe a pilaf or some butter thrown in for good measure. Regardless, it was a very clean dish and I felt much healthier for her having ordered it and my tasting a few bites of it. The spinach salad with what seemed to be a mustard dijon dressing was very tasty...albeit a bit sweet. To counteract all of that healthy stuff, the creamy seafood chowder was very tasty and all of the seafood within it was done well. The signature fish and chips, however, were damn good - esp. considering that it was the CHEAPEST thing we ordered at only $6.25 for one piece of haddock, a heaping pile of hand cut fries and slaw. The haddock was good - not the best - but the best part of the meal (seriously...and I mean this in a good way) were the chips. I would come back over and over and over again for those fries. I'm salivating just thinking of them. These fries were hands down the best damn fries I've ever had. I didn't see this on their menu, but I only wish they could have made me a small side of gravy with cheese curds to go along with the fries! THAT would have been pure heaven for me.....~drool~
Every piece was perfectly crisp on the outside (even the long ones!) with a nice and fresh potato-ey goodness on the inside. I know, I know...what kind of reviewer goes to a seafood joint and raves about their fries? Apparently I do. And you will too if you go there. Can you imagine all the things you could make with Phil's fries? I'm thinking beyond poutine, guys...cheese fries, Elvis fries, even Texas chili cheese fries....oh man, Phil....my advice to you (if you're listening/reading this)...take those fries and start a chip truck. Seriously, you would DEMOLISH the competition ANYWHERE.
Aside from what we ordered, what I also like about the menu was the fact that you could literally mix and match your protein with a salad, rice and veggies, or fries. There was so much flexibility that I almost cried for the sheer efficiency of this place. It was amazingly simple yet it made sense!
Definitely 4 star food and a great environment with good, quick service. I would definitely come back...at least for the best damn $6.25 plate of fries with a side of fish and slaw!Listed in: Ahhhhh......fish & chips or…
-
Review from Ruth D.
Halifax, NS
12/3/2009 1 photo
My all time favorite place for fish & chips. For years, while we were living in Toronto and coming to Halifax just to visit my daughter and her husband, we had to make our ritual stop at Phil's. Breaded fish, crispy on the outside, and yet never dried out are like no other.
Naturally now that we live here we visit often and it's the first place we take any visitors. There's nothing fancy about the decor...plain with no attempt at ambiance. Everyone is there for the fish! One of these days I'll actually have to try the scallops, or clams, but somehow I always end up with the fish & chips. -
Review from Nik C.
Halifax, NS
7/1/2010
Best fish 'n chips in town. That is all.
-
Review from Karilyn K.
Vancouver, BC
9/4/2008
This little hole-in-the-wall has stunningly simple, delicious seafood chowder packed with flavour. The mussels are also a total win. It's cheap, laid-back and tasty.
