Arrived ahead of the evening crowd on a Thursday evening. We were greeted immediately, pleasantly and welcoming, and shown to a table (we did make reservations).
The decor is welcoming and cozy, with a great wall menu that allowed for easy changes to the menu with the creativity Andrew is known for in the kitchen.
We sampled the Lab item for the week, which paired well and had a nice flavour. One had the Donair gnocchi, and two others had the Bucket of Chicken. While the portion of gnocchi was a bit small, the flavour was fantastic. It is a must try. The chicken was poached with herbs and seasoning, then coated with ringolos and maple before it was fried to perfection. I have honestly never tasted better chicken. It was light, juicy and tender with an incredible flavour.
Also, a must try.
Andrew was charming, passionate and knowledgeable. He was actually serving us that evening instead of in the kitchen.
It was a great dining experience (I've been known to be hyper-critical) and we will definitely be back!
I was curious to see how this new Lower Water Street brainchild of former Masterchef Canada contestant, Andrew Al-Khouri, would come together on the plate after what seemed like a longish incubation period. I’m happy to say the eclectic fusion - of this and that, Middle Eastern and Maritime, high and low, sweet and savoury, fine dining and comfort food - works. Period. There are flavours and textures juxtaposed against each other in challenging but rewarding ways across the initial menu. The execution and appearance on the plates also compliments the tastes and makes the experience a feast for the eyes as well as the belly. Portion sizes - thankfully - are good. I’ll be back, as I’ve only scratched the surface of thIngs... Sure, I tried the sublime Apple Burger & Frites (a serious contender for best burger in the city when The Coast does their ‘Best of...’ thing this coming year), after a starter of Chicken Shawarma Salad. And the Sweet Potato & Salt Cod Fishcake in Massaman Curry Sauce. Oh, and the Tahini Truffle in Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt. And I washed it down with a tasty Morris Ale (provided by the fine folks at Tide House Brewing). But there’s more to tempt me. I didn’t even get to the Donair Gnocchi, Cote du Boeuf, or Meze Board on this first visit.
Great food, great service! Be prepared for a small but diverse & tasty menu, wine selection is limited but good & priced very well. The space very nice, it is small & intimate, lots of natural light, open kitchen style. Highly recommend it.
The ten course Syrian menu was absolutely beautiful. The service and pairings were wonderful and we were exposed to new dishes that we loved. Definitely would recommend the restaurant and the dinner.
Was in for the first time this evening with a friend who had been before...the food was absolutely delicious! i had the tofu marsala <3 ...our waitress was very friendly as well...my friend and i were offered a tahini cheesecake sampler for dessert and i am not a dessert person but oh my! it was wonderful!! thank you for a lovely meal and i will definitely recommend and be back! :-)
Had some great food tonight this some great people. We shared one of everything on the menu. Tasted soooo good. Lots of flavour. Ended with a Dessert to die for!!! Congrats to Andrew and his staff. Must try!!
We will be back.
Hubby & I enjoyed a delicious meal on the comfortable out door patio this past weekend. The portions were large, the wine fantastic (thanks Andrew for the recommendation) and quick service by Andrew himself...will definitely go back the next time we in Halifax!
Awesome food even my teens enjoyed the food ... the owner Andrew served us and explained the menu, even recommended a local beer that my husband loves ....
Amazing food and atmosphere. The place was packed, still got quick food and the burgers were the best I have ever had.
Great food and service! The owner is pretty awesome and makes the best food! Good job!!!
I had a wonderful meal there last night. Good service, excellent food, great wine and great company (although I brought the company with me). I can’t wait to go back.
Great food and service! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone- especially their brunch!
Suzanne Bowser Kapsalis
+5
Overall experience was above and beyond, relaxing astrosphere, down to earth . The food was a blend of flavors that I will keep asking myself why I never thought of these blends when cooking. The poutine is made with fresh hand cut potatoes and now my favorite. Thank you Andrew for opening, amazing
Visited this restaurant for the first time on Valentine's Day! The service was great, we sat at the bar over looking the open concept kitchen. Chef Andrew was both entertaining and hospitable as we watched him cook. We ordered the salt cod sweet potato cake, to compliment the taste; the presentation was beautiful. We ordered the cote de boeuf as our main... one of, if not the best meals I have had in this city, everything was perfect down to the side salad. Can't wait to go back and try the pho!
Most awesome and friendly staff and Chef Andrew treated us with amazing food. We're only in town for two nights but definitely return for dinner tonight again!
First and most importantly, fantastic staff. Made us feel very welcome and comfortable.
Unique and delicious menu. Small and focused options that keep quality high.
Had a great time there last night. Very pleased with everything! Thank you AFrite!
Andrew was very friendly and knowledgeable with his food. Took his suggestions for our family and everything was bang on. Going back again forsure before heading back to home in Ontario. Next stop Tidehouse brewery. Keep up the great food.
Excellent. Great staff and tasty burger and poutine. Very attentive owner.
First time here, but I suspect I will be back. Amazing ambiance. Many great options, and great price point. Parking can be tricky but it’s worth taking the time to find a parking spot to get to this place. Looking forward to trying the Donair Gnocchi and carrot cake next time. Our server was attentive and really outgoing.
Keep up the good work to all of you!
A delightful evening filled with great food and excellent service.
We had an enjoyable evening dining at aFrite. While it’s a little understated, the food and service here are well worth the visit. We dined in a number of Halifax restaurants on our trip, and aFrite rises into the top ranks for friendly, down to earth service, and delectable food. JF is the head chef, and he made sure we were good with our meal, checking in from time to time. Our server, Eliott was a delight.
All of our food and drink choices were terrific- so grab anything off this menu- you’ll be happy with your choices.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 🌟
Stopped here for brunch - interesting menu for a brunch place - Eg Korean dishes along with your typical chicken and waffles. I really liked the food and the service was great. The portions were a bit small but a lovely visit nonetheless.
Stepping into this restaurant was a pleasant surprise, highlighted by the charming presence of our server who sported the most remarkable moustache I've ever seen. This iconic facial hair seemed to perfectly encapsulate the wholesome and inviting atmosphere of the place. The service was truly outstanding, with our moustached server exuding warmth and attentiveness throughout our meal, making us feel like welcomed guests in a dear friend's home. As for the food, the appetizers, especially the hummus with donair meat, showcased a delightful fusion of flavors, while the burgers and fries offered a satisfyingly classic main course. The carrot cake dessert was a standout, delivering a comforting and flavorful finale to a genuinely enjoyable dining experience.
Food was delicious, service was great but the coffee was disappointing. We love Java Blend which they serve, but it was disappointing. Mind you that was the only negative about the entire meal. The rest was awesome and we will go back for another brunch and also to try a dinner service.
Beautiful interior 👌 with attentive service, aFrite, though a little warm and humid inside, provided great food and atmosphere.
I went to Halifax for vacation and stumbled upon this restaurant for dinner the first night I was there. It was so good I went back the next day for brunch AND dinner. The food was delicious and and the staff were super friendly. It was also very reasonably priced for the quality. aFrite is literally the best restaurant I’ve been to in years. Can’t wait to go back to Halifax just to eat here!
This is by far my favorite breakfast stop in Halifax. The food is so fresh and tasty, the staff is super friendly and it has a very cool atmosphere. I need to check out lunch amd supper here soon. Definitely put this restaurant on your list of places to go, you won't be disappointed.
I loved every single dish we ordered at aFrite. Zatar Calamari was fried to perfection, Cognac Flambe was a jaw dropper, the presentation of it is spectacular and also the date jam sauce was so flavorful. Chicken bacon shawarma was delicious and we paired that with truffle fries. Definitely recommended, next time I will be trying “ Eat the Menu” option which allows you to try various things of the menu.
Stopped in for the brunch menu. We had the French toast and the everything breakfast. Both met expectations, and we full plates. The staff was engaging and helpful. Will definitely consider another visit. Portion sizes were normal.
Server was very friendly..Went during brunch time so had access to only the brunch menu..Had the lobster arancini with some extra sides for my kiddo & I which was sufficient..
The food here was so so so good. I loved how small and intimate it was for a yummy brunch! The only thing that will make me think twice before going back is the server. She was... well... kind of scary.
Really tasty brunch spot! It's not a big place so you can make a reservation to make sure you'll have a spot. The shakshuka was really good, also the donair breakfast.
Atmosphere was awesome, they have a great patio, and it's really beautiful inside. Food was pretty solid - the truffle fries slap, but then again I've never had bad truffle fries. The burger was kinda dry and thin but toppings were good. Presentation went hard, never had a burger served on a piece of slate before.
One of the best meals we have had in a while. The kimchi poutine was such a great combination and the donair gnocchi was so flavourful. Great service and cool atmosphere. Can’t wait to go back.
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