- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
The Press Gang
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
5218 Prince StHalifax, NS B3J 0B1
(902) 423-8816
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for The Press Gang
Review Highlights
"The lobster poached in grande manier butter is spectacular."
(in 3 reviews)
"...friendly and professional and the wine list was excellent."
(in 4 reviews)
"...appetizers - be it the local oysters or the blue cheese..."
(in 6 reviews)
Loading...
21 reviews in English
-
Review from Robin S.
Halifax, NS
12/13/2011
My friend and I have this tradition. Once a year, we pretend we're rich. We choose one of Halifax's topnotch dining establishments, make a reservation, dress up nice and do it up right. I mean, the whole nine yards - pre-dinner cocktails, apps, mains, desserts, a bottle of wine and an aperitif. It ain't cheap, but we save up for it. We also do it in lieu of buying each other gifts.
We could not possibly have chosen a better spot. I had seriously, some of the best food of my life. My friend was late because she couldn't get a cab, which left me sipping a cucumber martini and watching other plates pass with anticipation. When my friend arrived, she ordered a Manhattan and we sipped our cocktails as we pored over the appetizers.
I give major kudos to our server who I think was named Casey. She read us right and figured out this was a special occasion for us. She was polite and friendly, but very genuine. It would be easy for us to feel uncomfortable in a high-end restaurant that is generally out of our league. Not so here. She made sure not to rush us and went to confer with the sommelier when we presented her with a challenging wine request. I can't have red because of an allergy, I don't like Pinot Grigio and my friend doesn't like Chardonnay. I had decided on the duck and my friend the salmon. Hmm. A challenge! A challenge our server actually seemed interested in solving for us. In the end, we went with an un-oaked Chardonnay that lacked the characteristics that my friend disliked. Turns out the scavenger hunt of wine yielded a Chardonnay my friend now likes. Bonus!
My duck was so, so good. It was fatty and thick with a rub on it that was magically salty on one part of my palate and sweet on another. The fig bread pudding was a total discovery beneath the duck. I had several bites of duck meat before I even realized it was there. The potatoes were rich and creamy and topped with caramelized onions and braised parsnips. Each bite was better than the last. My friend likewise raved about her huge piece of salmon. She gave me a bite of her salad which I think had braised raisins or some kind of witchcraft like that.
We had split the Henry's Platter (or was it Harry? Either way, it was delish) for an app, so we had room for dessert. My friend opted for the pumpkin creme brulee while I got the dessert that combines two of my favourite words: tiramisu cheesecake.
We topped it all off with a wee dram of whiskey, again helpfully suggested by our server who helped us sort out the over 70 selections.
All in all, this is a visit we'll be talking about forever. The backdrop of the jazz piano playing some of our favourites were just gravy. When our server said it was a pleasure serving us at the end of the night, we both felt like she meant it. Lovely. Merry Christmas to us. -
Review from Lisa C.
Halifax, NS
12/4/2011
Press Gang has a reputation for being another one of "Halifax's Best Restaurants" it's quaint, features live piano and a rustic atmosphere. Our sever was very familiar with the specials and helpful with suggestions.
My date decided on the roasted quail I had the braised beef with scallops...my dinner was served temp id...and when I sent it back, it returned half the size and tuff. Not a pleasant dining experience for $250.00 including a bottle of wine, glass of champagne and one shot of cognac
Not impressed at all. -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
9/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
If you go to Halifax, this is the restaurant I recommend.
You can just go for a nice glass of wine at the bar. Our first visit, we did just that and the bartender was friendly and professional and the wine list was excellent.
Our second visit, we went for the lobster and they did it right. It's not cheap, but it was perfection. Again, the service was professional, not too pushy, just right. The place is big but quiet and elegant. We also had a star sighting - one of the fabulous actors from "Sons of Anarchy" was eating there too!
For an elegant high-end dinner in Halifax, away from the tourists and students, The Press Gang is for you.Listed in: My Travels
-
Review from Cheryl C.
9/20/2011 ROTD 12/3/2011
Went with my partner. Ordered the tasting menu (The Drill). Effing near died and went to heaven.
It would take me a week to write about each morsel that was served, and then I would just want to go back again right this moment..
So go. Trust this very choosy person and just go.Listed in: Good eat. I mean, really food.
-
Review from Lyn M.
Elderbank, NS
9/16/2011 ROTD 9/21/2011
We started out with 1/2 dozen of the variety oysters and the Henry Platter. We both lover our appetizers and I have to say the oysters were the best I've had in some time. I found my husband's platter a bit on the skimpy side but overall it was very good.
The main course - my husband had the daily chef offering for fish which was crab coated snapper. He said it was very good but again my main complaint is small portions and I mean small.
I ordered the rack of lamb and it was divine BUT it was 3 wee medallions with likewise 3 ribs (no meat). The veggies were 1 bean, 1 carrot, ...need I say more. I'm seriously not a big eater and having had the oysters which are not filling I was looking forward to a real meal....simply delicious but so small. The saving grace was the potato mix - a decent size formed in a nice round and very tasty (alas I am allergic to potatoes :))
The service was spectacular and the tip was in proportion - very attentive and helpful without dotting.
The wine list is extensive and we found no problem picking one that suited our meal.
My overall impression unfortunately has been dampened by the portion size. I feel so badly since most time I send food back the meal unfinished or take it home because I've had enough, but for this I was lacking and wanting a treat on the way home.
Total ~$300 for two with tip. -
Review from Tara A.
5/24/2011
If I had to sum up this restaurant in one word, it would be intoxicating. When walking into this restaurant, you get the feel of walking into an old world wine cellar. You are greeted warmly by servers who genuinely seem happy to see you. We were seated near the gentleman playing the piano which was very romantic and the performer himself was incredibly talented.
The drinks were delicious (it's hard to find a place that makes an incredible Manhattan but they do!). I had the Oysters to start which were simple yet presented in an attractive way. I had halibut for the main which was the perfect sized portion and my boyfriend had the lobster which I sampled... Also equally amazing. The other couple we were with had the mussels with the blue cheese sauce to start which I sampled and was impressed with that dish too.
For dessert, we had the crème brulee trio. If the rapture had swallowed us whole on Saturday night, I could have died happy knowing that paradise does exist in the form of a dessert.
If you only have one night in Halifax and are looking for a place that is incredibly unique and remarkably presented, the only option is really the Press Gang. -
Review from Tim B.
Hammonds Plains, NS
For my money, Halifax's best restaurant. Located just off Argyle Street in the city's second oldest building (the church across the road is the oldest), it's a snug, old fashioned sort of place, with thick walls, low beams and seemingly random rooms scattered about. The Press Gang is also a Raw Bar, well worth a visit at the cocktail hour. Unfailingly top flight food, we have yet to be even slightly disappointed. The wine list is good, though like all Halifax restaurants, needlessly expensive. They also now boast the largest selection of single malts in the city. The best nights to dine are Friday and Saturday when the pianist is in. Ask for a table by the front window (two two seat and a four). While the food and ambience are tip-top, service can be variable, depending on which of the staff you get. It's never rude or slow, but it can sometimes be a little too disengaged for my taste. While ideally suited to the à deux evening, the restaurant can also cope with larger groups. Whatever, make sure you book (you can do so through the OpenTable app). With wine, expect in the region of $100 a skull. More if you go the three course with after dinner drinks.
-
Review from Jill M.
6/2/2011
I tried The Press Gang for the first time a couple weeks ago with a lovely group of fellow Yelpers. We each ordered a dish and then spread the food love, trying a little of each thing. It was a great way to be introduced to a restaurant I'd always been a little hesitant to try.
There are a lot of things to love about The Press Gang. The atmosphere is intimate and seductive, the wine was delicious, and the food was divine. The theme of the evening allowed me to be a little more adventurous than usual, and I tried a lot of things I wouldn't normally order. Nothing disappointed - every dish I tasted was both fascinating and delicious.
While I'm not sure The Press Gang will be at the top of my fine dining list (there are just other types of food I prefer) but I will definitely be making my way back again at some point. There are still items on the menu I'm dying to try.Listed in: The way to my heart...
-
Review from Vanessa J.
Halifax, NS
5/24/2011
I visited the Press Gang a few weeks ago for the first time.
First impressions were very positive, the place is dark and beautiful, I think it definitely has the best ambiance of any restaurant in Halifax. I was there on a Saturday night and they had a piano player, which was nice, and he didn't play so loudly that it interfered with conversation.
They had a great wine and cocktail list, and I loved the Red Sangria I ordered, it brought me back to my vacations. There is a good range of prices for the wines, including some Krug at $350 if you really want to splurge.
Overall, I found the menu to be a bit heavy and meat focused for my taste, as I don't eat red meat (thought a lot of people will probably love the menu). In the end I ordered the mussels in a tomato broth and the Fresh Catch of the Day.
Bread service was good, with a warm hearty loaf of bread, and room temperature butter.
My mussels were well cooked and the broth was good, however there were more than a few shells that didn't contain any mussels. Our table also ordered a round of raw oysters for the table and I sampled a few, they were delicious, fresh and briny without being overly salty.
The Fresh Catch was a white fish whose name I had never heard before and can't remember, but it looked and tasted very much like halibut with a firm texture and delicate flavour. It was in a light cream sauce with boiled new potatoes, teeny tiny baby carrots, and my favorite, fiddleheads. The dish overall was very good, but not outstanding.
For dessert I had the banana bread pudding, which was more cake like than I expected for a bread pudding, but it was still good, but again it didn't wow me. The amaretto ice cream was delicious however.
Overall, I found the experience to be a very good one, but with their menu, I just don't think there are enough choices for me to declare it my go to spot for high end meals.Listed in: Fancy Pants Dining
-
Review from Terry K.
Halifax, NS
12/1/2011
When I feel like spending a little more money on eating out this is one of my first choices. It's a great spot to take a date or your wife on an anniversary but perhaps not the first date unless you are really into someone. It is very romantic and offers a pianist to set the mood. The building is historic and has many original stone walls. I believe it was a stable in the 1800's or something like that so it has many nooks and carnies where the stalls were. The services has always been friendly and useful when deciding on menu choices. If you like meat, get the "Drill" which is a muti-course meal that includes desert but not much fiber for you granola crunchers. There are, of course, many other food items that have fiber if you so inclined. I always feel great after eating here, soothed by the atmosphere and great food which, I must say, is the best in Halifax in that price range. Expect to spend some money. If you want almost anything it will cost you at lease $35 to get out the door. If you want to feel like you've feasted and celebrated you will pay around $70-$120 depending on how much wine you drink. You can have a conservative dinner for two for around $90 but an elaborate set of meal choices and drinks can easily run over $200. I do think it is worth it because I love great food and atmosphere and both are found here.
-
Review from R L.
Halifax, NS
4/19/2011
What is there to say about the Press Gang...
If you don't like dark mood lighting, piano playing, fresh succulent slippery oysters, tasty cocktails, the aroma of perfectly cooked juicy steaks and game, buttery seafood, or anything to do with the good life then you should not go to this place.
If you are looking for a place for a special night out then this is it - in terms of ambiance you cannot, cannot beat this place - dark wood, exposed stone, piano, beautiful old bar with oysters on ice, and awesome, experienced servers. Guaranteed to put you in the right mood within 5 minutes of being there.
The food is admittedly great, but probably not the best in the city if you are looking for fine dining... but it doesn't matter, because the combination of the ambiance and the pretty darn good food makes it the best restaurant in the city. The menu features everything that a big jazzy oyster bar should feature - great steaks, some interesting game and great seafood. The Drill is the chef's tasting menu and it is definitely something to experience if you have the cash. Last time I was there I dined on Kangaroo, the night's special which was excellent. I've eaten at the Press Gang on 7 different occasions - I remember this as exactly seven because I remember each time as an amazing experience. Thats how good this place is.
The oysters are also great, and it's a great place to go, chill out, listen to some beautiful music by the inhouse piano player, sit at the oyster bar, slurp back several dozen oysters and sip on some top notch cocktails..... makes me want to go right now, if it weren't for that stupid thing called work, finances and responsibilities...
Once again, I must say: 'trust me' - this is not a place you want to miss, unless you don't enjoy life and/or are vegetarian.
I went there after I got engaged to my wife, that's how much I love this place.
Later homies,
R -
Review from Nora J.
Toronto, ON
7/22/2011
My favorite restaurant in Halifax.
The atmosphere is lovely. Really a haven away from the hustle/bustle of a downtown tourist-ridden area. It's like an inviting, candlelit stone cave hideaway. Also the place had lilies everywhere, which I love the smell of.
Friendly and professional service. I was here alone, and brought a book to feel less uncomfortable about this. By the end of my meal I noticed that I hadn't even picked it up once.
Food is excellent. I had the special of the day, a red drum fish in a peppermint broth with potatoes, carrots, etc. Sounds odd/ambitious but it really truly worked and was one of the most delicious seafood dishes I've had. The fish was cooked well and shone on its own but the other flavors made it a standout.
Also had the trio of creme brulee for dessert. One maple blueberry, one lavender, one chocolate, all delicious.
I left this solo meal feeling like I had just been on an incredible date. -
Review from Nick B.
Halifax, NS
6/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
My only Press Gang experience was the Yelp Peasant's Potluck, but it was great because I got to try so many different things on the menu. It's a great set up, really nice and the food and wine justifies their price point just fine. I hate going to an upmarket restaurant and being expected to pay top dollar for mediocre, uninspired meals, and that's not a problem here. Everything looked beautiful presentation-wise which is great, and the servers are knowledgeable and friendly, even if they were perplexed by the site of seven people passing dishes around constantly!
-
Review from Ben B.
12/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
It took me a long time to give The Press Gang a chance but after one visit it immediately became my preferred fine dining choice in the city. From the intimate atmosphere to the drool-worthy food, this is one place where the price tag is completely justified by the experience they've created.
When you go, be prepared to spend a pretty penny and a couple of hours soaking it all in. Don't cheat yourself out of some of the incredible appetizers - be it the local oysters or the blue cheese salads - and work your way up to the spectacular mains. Steaks topped with caramelized onions and truffle oil perogies? Yes please.
The only complaint I've ever had about The Press Gang is that when we went with a table of eight, the waiter assumed it would all be on one bill, leaving us to try to sort it out on our own after three hours of dining. Not the way you want to end an evening... -
Review from Paul D.
7/15/2009
Despite being the first Yelper to comment on The Press Gang, quite clearly this place is a local hit. Sophisticated historic surrounds, lots of dark wood, candles, glistening stem- and silver-ware. Had the air of a romantic upscale spot.
The good
- the food was really beautiful, seared scallops with truffled apple butter and wild mushrooms, yeah well, that was the highlight, I think I moaned with pleasure at one point and got some totally odd looks, lmao; the lobster poached in a grande manier sauce, awesome as well
- solid wine list, but my heart was won over by a 2007 NZ Spy Valley Pinot Noir - a taste of home on the other side of the world; I moaned again; if you are a local - buy this wine, it is a stunning NZ Pinot Noir
The mediocre
- sorry to say, but service - well intentioned but way too slow. Paul's Linen Index (TM) is very clear, the more linen you show, the more staff-per-capita required. No exceptions, linen raises expectations
- menu seasonality - seriously dude, your cooking is great, I mean it is great, I do think you need to make some seasonal addins - parsnip accompaniments are really too heavy with lobster
Overall - go here when you are in a mellow, romantic and giving mood. Don't expect to move quickly, or be rushed through your meal. Expect to drop some real cash here, suck it up, your significant other is worth it.
PS - enjoyed the outdoor seating, very beautiful spot in downtown Halifax -
Review from Nikki K.
Oakville, ON
9/26/2011
One of the best meals we had in our week trip to NS. Food was all delicious, including chowder. The only problem was that the food was slow in coming (we're traveling with kids) and their kids pasta meal was way too much food (and a bit pricey). But the food for the adults was divine and enjoyable.
-
Review from Nathalie C.
Moncton, NB
8/26/2010
The Press Gang is a higher class restaurant in downtown Halifax. The ambiance is amazing, the wine is like no other and the food is delicisous. Although, pretty expensive (main course starting at $25), it is well worth the money.
The staff is very friendly, knowledgable and happy to be serving you. The lobster is the best! -
Review from Laura P.
Toronto, ON
3/19/2010
The Press Gang is an upscale restaurant off Barrington Street and a place to venture if you're looking for a guaranteed good flow.
With dim lighting and an older 16th Century Renaissance feel, the atmosphere is calm, cool and even romantic. The service is very attentive while remaining polite and professional.
There is a focus on seafood here: scallops, mussels, oysters, crab cakes, calamari, lobster, etc! They also offer some meat dishes including chicken, pork, beef, quail and rabbit. Vegetarians may not get on so well here, as these sorts of dishes don't appear to be priority.
You'll pay a pretty price but it is a great spot with some more exotic dishes. Perhaps best suited for special occasions or a splurge!Listed in: See Food? Sea Food!
-
Review from Shawna D.
Chester, NS
3/15/2010 1 photo
The Press Gang is sort of in a league of it's own.
Although it does come with a price tag it is worth it.
At least a one time experience to be treated and pampered.
The building has a lot of character and romance with the right person.
The service is wonderful and the menu should satisfy anyone.
We loved the seafood choices. The lobster poached in grande manier butter is spectacular.
The wine list should peak your interest. Go and Enjoy! -
Review from Courtney M.
Halifax, NS
1/29/2010
The Press Gang is a nice place to head for a special occasion albeit, a bit pricey!
The great thing about this restaurant is that it's in one of the oldest buildings in Halifax. One of the only buildings that survived the Halifax explosion and as a result the stone work and fire places inside make this a pretty gorgeous place.
The last time I was at this restaurant I had the gnocchi which was delicious but I definitely want to head back to try the warm beet salad, lobster poached in grand marnier/orange butter with creamed parsnips! Yum! -
Review from Lizzie W.
10/3/2010
Great food, wine/beer list, and amazing ambiance. They really know how to pair foods and the enviroment is truly enjoyable. You pay for the great experience, but it's totally worth it.
