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Tom's Little Havana Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Nightlife Bars Pubs Canadian (Traditional), Pubs [Edit]
5428 Doyle StHalifax, NS B3J 1H9
(902) 423-8667
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 11:30 am - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
17 reviews for Tom's Little Havana Cafe
Review Highlights
"...dark, cozy, warm, and serves up house wine by the liter."
(in 4 reviews)
"...this place when it was a cigar-bar, thats when this place..."
(in 6 reviews)
"...sipping something sophisticated, smoke spilling from parted..."
(in 6 reviews)
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17 reviews in English
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Review from Eleanor B.
Dartmouth, NS
10/18/2011
Seriously everyone, stop going to Tom's. Just stop it.
'Kay, I'm just joking, people should totally go to Tom's. Unless it means that it gets so busy that I never get a table. Then you all need to go home. Because Tom's is definitely my special place, and if it gets busier, I might cry. I've been totally avoiding reviewing it just for this reason alone (selfish, me? never), because it is so universally popular. I guess I have to just accept it, Tom's rocks and everybody knows it.
I likely will forget all the reasons they're awesome, but some of the highlights:
The staff. Steve and Gina are the NICEST people in the world. THE NICEST. They ask how you are, they recognize the regulars, they always stop to have a chat -- just the lovliest people. Best servers in the city, bar none.
The drinks. Happy hour from 5-8. Three hours of happiness!! House wine (and the red is totally yums), domestic beer and well shots are $4.50. Amazing. Looking to splurge a smidge (because it's never expensive, just more than $4.50)? Long Island Iced Tea -- they do it right.
The food. I've eaten almost everything, and it's all good, but some of the standouts for me are: the sweet potato crab cakes and wasabi greens. Crab cakes. Spicy greens. Sounds weird, totally awesome. Their chicken wings are baked in delicious glaze, not fried, and are incredible. The pesto bread is cheesy and basil-y and amazing. Havana chicken roll equally great -- noodles in a wrap, who'da thunk it? I LOVE THEIR FOOD.
The atmosphere. Tom's has the best vibe in the city for me. Dim lighting, friendly people, people drinking alone, people in big groups, old dudes, hipsters, this guy -- it really caters to everyone.
I fell in love at Tom's Little Havana. It's where Boyfriend and I came when we first started dating (back when you could smoke in there. CRAZY!) and I definitely have a huge soft spot for the place. But really, Halifax, Tom's is a gem. Go there, eat and drink, tip well and spread the love. And if you see me coming, someone best be saving me a seat.Listed in: 30 Days of Yelp
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Review from Hilary G.
1/16/2012
Thank goodness for the Yelp photos of the front door or I wouldn't have realized this was the entrance to Tom's. The interior is dark and cozy and it was already hopping at 6 pm on a Friday. Happy hour is a special thing in this city and Tom's does it right with $4.50 for wine and rail drinks. The server was great at getting us drinks quickly until a table was ready.
The Mediterranean dip is a great app to share and I like that they give you plenty of pita points to actually finish the dip. I ordered the sweet potato and crab cakes with the side salad covered in a wasabi dressing. The dressing and salad was quite good but the sweet potato cakes seemed to lack almost any crab. Luckily, I love sweet potatoes so this wasn't a huge issue for me but it's a bit of a misnomer to even put crab in the title. My husband had the chicken roll which had a slightly strange gravy type sauce but was stuffed with a hearty amount of veggies and chicken.
We stayed later to continue drinking at the bar and the service was impeccable - I love bartenders that don't allow you to have an empty drink for long. Minor caveat- I do not suggest their long island ice tea - tastes like a mix rather than the real deal. Stick to the house wine which is actually decent. -
Review from Cheryl C.
11/19/2011
Tom's is a good spot - nice cozy atmosphere, lovely servers who are friendly but not hovering, and some decent beer on tap. I don't understand high ratings for this place based on food. It's, at best, average pub fare.
For me, nothing at Tom's scores a 4 or five - everything is nice. It's worth stopping in, but it's not the sort of place that I ever think "Ohh you know where I want to go??" -
Review from Lesley-Anne S.
Halifax, NS
10/10/2011 6 Check-ins Here
This is one of my favourite Happy Hours in the city. It's tiny and dark and that's just perfect for an after work drink. So perfect, that I'm half tempted not to share.
The house wine is $4.50 and drinkable (maybe even good. But I'm no sommelier). If you just need a snack, the cheesy dip is fantastic (and if you ask nice, they might even refill your pitas). So far, I've only had the crab cakes (super tasty) and wasabi greens, but I have it on good authority that it's a solid menu (I drink with a regular). And the service has always been great.
I actually can't think of anything bad to say. -
Review from Colette O.
Bedford, NS
10/10/2011
OK, so I need to make a clear distinction here. As a bar that I love to hang out in, Tom's gets four stars, at least. It's cozy, dark, a bit mysterious. Exactly the type of atmosphere where you can settle in and get lost in the evening. If you want a bar for this purpose, take yourself to Tom's. The clientele is interesting and you'll feel like you've found a hidden gem.
But eat somewhere else first. The food is not what makes this place so great. In fact, it's why I'm (reluctantly) hovering at three stars. It's inconsistent, lackluster and uninspired. For as much charm as this place has (in case I haven't been clear, it's abundant), the food is a detraction.
Tom's has an enormous opportunity to develop a limited menu and knock it out of the park with some killer items that match the feel of the place. But until they do that, stick with the drinks. -
Review from Mel H.
7/7/2011
Like many others, I am reluctant to write a review of this gem of a place, but alas...
I love this bar. I've been going to Tom's since you could smoke inside (sense a theme here? See my review of Bubba Rays/ Peel Pub......) and have always loved the amazing service and killer atmosphere.
It had been several years since I had made an appearance here, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that not much had changed (in a very good way). The servers are masters at what they do and the laid back vibe is always welcoming whether you are there by yourself, waiting for friends or have descended upon this place en mass.
True, the food might not be what makes people come back, but the happy hour drink prices, pro staff and general ambiance make up for any culinary shortcomings.Listed in: The reasons why I love this…
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Review from Joe S.
4/27/2011
I'm proud to say that I was able to visit this place when it was a cigar-bar, thats when this place was rad. Now there is a smoking ban in this city, sad that they forfeited their rights.
Lots of Keiths on tap and Cuban cigars......I gotta tell you, I had many beers at this bar, more beers than humanly possible for my size at that given time.....Keiths Lager..."those who like it, like it a lot" -
Review from Leslie F.
10/14/2011
Tom's is one of my favorite places in the city for dinner and drinks with friends, especially when the weather gets a little cooler. It's dark, cozy, warm, and serves up house wine by the liter. What's not to like about that? In addition to the drinks, ambience, and great service, they also have good food. Whether you're looking for a light snack, or something heartier, there are tons of options. The Spring Garden Chicken Salad is my go-to meal choice. It's delicious and filling and still kind of healthy. I can't think of anything negative to say about this place. I love it! And so will you!
Listed in: Yelptober, Along the Garden Route
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Review from Lee B.
Halifax, NS
1/24/2011 ROTD 7/13/2011
I'd often walked past Tom's Little Havana Cafe without ever knowing it was there. We were looking for somewhere to meet on a Friday after work for some happy hour drinks and a friend suggested Tom's. It is a small place, with around 12-15 tables, but this gives it a great atmosphere. We got there just in time to get the best seats! It got really busy about 5:30pm - 5:45pm and you would have struggled to get a table at this time.
The happy hour specials were good, with discounts on wine, beer and spirits. We opted for the house white wine which was $5 for a large glass, and was surprisingly drinkable.
We only shared one appetizer. A Mediterranean dip which was amazing. The staff was really friendly and always on hand when you were looking for a refill.
Tom's is a great spot for chatting with a small group of friends. It is a lovely place away from the busier bars in Halifax for a nice relaxing evening. I would love to try more of the food next time. -
Review from Ben B.
I really love knowing that more and more, fellow yelpers are deciding where I go when I leave the house. One step further, I really love knowing that more and more, fellow yelpers rarely steer me astray which is definitely true in this case for my first visit to Tom's after YEARS of walking right past it. And that's really the only problem Tom's has...once you're in, you 'get it'. But walking by? Well, you really can't understand just how charming this place is and how easy it would be to pass the hours here day or night.
We popped in for dinner before running to a movie with my folks and at 5pm on a Thursday we had our pick of tables. Within twenty minutes though, the place was full. A nice mix of regulars who staff greeted by name, and enough 'regular' customers like us so as to not feel like we were intruding.
The interior? Well, you have to see it to really understand, but it reminds me of a crazy grandfather's lounge where he would insist on telling you stories from back in the day that made absolutely no sense, but you love sitting there so much that you just kind of go with it. Wall murals, vintage cigar and alcohol containers, eclectic seating, and chalkboards give you plenty to take in while you're there, but if you run out there are also tons of complimentary board games to keep you entertained during your stay.
The menu ranges from brunch to dinner to late-night, including a healthy dose of vegetarian options and almost half the menu can be made gluten-free-a rarity for most watering holes. To give you an idea of the diversity on the menu, our table had two kinds of pizza, Pad Thai, and jambalaya. While I probably wouldn't come here specifically for the food next time, it was all pretty great and there were no complaints!
My new downtown hangout spot? Definitely.Listed in: Pub Crawl, Outsourced Workplaces, Date Night!, Doyle Street!
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Review from Lacey H.
3/3/2010 1 photo
I can't quell my desire for a large cigar upon entering Tom's Little Havana. The dim light, the long narrow corridor like room, the stools gathered around the bar - this is the kind of place where smoking is made synonymous with cool.
I suppose that is because Tom's was a fantastic little smoke-joint before the anti-inhaling laws came into effect. I'm all for health and I'm all for no-smoking period, but somehow Tom's seems like the only place that should have escaped this fate.
Sitting in the corner, sipping something sophisticated, smoke spilling from parted lips: Ay Carumba - can you say sexy?
Okay, so maybe smoking cigarettes and cigars isn't hot in your cards, but Tom's makes me nostalgic for carefree days. Nonetheless, it's still great sans smoke. They have fantastic drink specials throughout the week, a cool clientele and a smooth ambiance. It's a great place to grab an easy bite, have a drink, and chat with friends.
BUT - I still can't help but want someone to strike a match and lean over to me, offering to light my cigarette, hanging precariously at the end of a silver holder. -
Review from Joshua Y.
Vancouver, BC
9/28/2009
I agree with Reviewer Liz S. about not wanting to review Tom's Little Havana. I just don't want any more people to find out about this little gem in downtown Halifax. Is it wrong to be greedy? But I suppose Karma or something has taken over me because I, like Liz, feel a compelling need to share this Cafe with the rest of the world.
Tom's Little Havana Cafe is an amazing, fun and locally owned restaurant. They have a great beer selection, amazing quality food, and great service! It is a very small restaurant but I am able to find a seat approximately 90% of the time. We have even been able to bring in a group of about ten from time-to-time.
The location is also great! Right downtown Halifax, in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. Tom's is great in the summer time as it has an outdoor patio and a great place to escape to in the winter time as well. Its true that their lighting is a bit too dim but that's never stopped me from eating there.
If you are a Vegetarian or Meat lover, there is something you'll love at Tom's Little Havana. Its relaxed atmosphere is great, service amazing and overall environment are the reasons why I give this place five stars. But don't tell anyone it exists. I still want a table. -
Review from Courtney M.
Halifax, NS
Updated - 2/6/2010
A couple weeks ago Mark and I headed out to Tom's with a couple other couples and we had a blast!
I had never eaten here before but everything was amazing. (spinach pizza especially)
Service was relaxed and definitely met with our pace for the night. Overall, I love you even more now Tom's!Listed in: Kick ass dive bars
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/5/2009
'Tom's' is a great place to go kick back for a few drinks in a quiet, funky environment that is… Read more »
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Review from Ayla H.
Halifax, NS
12/30/2009
Tom's is everything I want in a bar. The dim lighting and cosy space are just right for nestling into with a few good friends. They have a small menu of entirely decent food, and it's not greasy pub fare. I'm a fan of the Pad Thai but don't expect an authentic Thai experience. Salads have also been good, and I really enjoyed my pizza margarita that I had recently.
If you like hoppy beers as much as I do, you'll be pleased to learn that Tom's has Garrison IPA on tap. Such a fantastic beer - all bars who want a five star review from me need only serve this. (Okay that's an exaggeration, but seriously, it's good.)
This is not a good place for groups, though. I'm hesitant to go to Tom's with any group over 4 people, because finding a seat can be really difficult. That being said, I've lucked out on most trips and after only a bit of waiting had something open up. Plus, if Tom's is at capacity you can always walk through the doors in the back and have a pint at Rogue's Roost (though this is certainly settling for less in my view). -
Review from Ang M.
Halifax, NS
9/22/2009 1 photo
Tom's Little Havana is a wee hole in the wall with lots of very cosy tables very tightly crammed together - but it's okay that everything is so closely-packed, because everyone there is engrossed in some very heavy, intimate and philosophical conversations. Or so it seems.
Tom's claim to fame used to be that it was a cigar bar - you could light up and enjoy a good Cuban (...cigar, not an actual Cuban) right there at your table. No longer. Of course the smoking laws have put an end to all that good clean fun (enjoying a Cuban at your table notwithstanding). So now it's just a dark little bar, but the place still manages to have an air of illicitness about it. Or artsiness. Or something that attracts the art-college crowd, because it definitely does that.
There's food, but I've only tried a few appetizers, and they were unspectacular. In fact, I believe we asked the waiter to mention to the cook that the bean dip was wholly inedible. But our waiter was pretty cheerful, despite our criticisms, and he won big points with my friends and I, who managed to have our important philosophical discussion despite our disappointment. -
Review from Laura P.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 5/13/2010
Its been a few months since my initial Tom's review; however, throughout this period, I've spent a substantial amount of time (and cash) here and wanted to provide an update as a reoccurring customer.
Day or night-- Tom's rocks. I've found daytime frequents to be quiet and chill, but as happy hour rolls around (between 4-6pm daily) the tables start to fill. I've been adamant on my white house wine, and luckily, happy hour includes a discount on wine, as well as beer and spirits. Respectable.
Its a small and sit-down spot, but nighttime always has this place buzzing. People love Tom's, and its anonymity is, no doubt, part of the appeal. Small clusters of groups adjoin for intimate convos , a game of bridge or a laugh. Whatever. Its a spot to enjoy the buzz with privacy as the common thread.
The service is fantastic, and uniquely Tom's. Fast, friendly, efficient, but very much about giving customers their own head-space.
Its all very genuine, and I continue to adore this special little venue.Listed in: A Weekend Guide for Out of…, Flying Solo, Night Timing
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2010
Discretely positioned along a downtown side street resides the sure brilliance of Tom's Little… Read more »
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Review from Adam B.
Halifax, NS
12/17/2009
I used to hate Tom's Little Havana. Sad, but true. Why, you ask? Well, it's a pretty simple answer - Tom's used to be a cigar bar. Before the smoking ban in Halifax, it was a smokers dream and a non-smokers nightmare.
Guess which one I was?
Most people thought the smoking ban would really cripple Tom's, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Now it's got that great dive bar atmosphere without the disgusting layer of smoke kicking around.
Tom's is a great spot to sit after a movie or to play a board game and chat with friends over a beer. The lighting is soft and the decor is perfect. I've never had a dinner or evening meal here, but i can highly recommend their breakfast menu.
With a great atmosphere, an ideal location and no second hand smoke, Tom's Little Havana is a perfect kick off or cap to your evening...as well as a great place to start your day.
