Salty's Restaurant and Pier 21 in Halifax

Exploring Halifax's Downtown Harbourfront and Eateries

Mar 11, 2009

When in Halifax, you'd be remiss if one meal didn't include some east coast favourites like seafood chowder, a lobster roll or two and some all crab-meat crab cakes.

Hugging the shoreline in downtown Halifax is the perfectly situated Salty’s Restaurant – a longtime local favourite for fresh seafood with a side of east coast charm and hospitable service. Located within walking distance to most major downtown hotels and right on the Harbourfront (which boasts a spate of shops, galleries and eateries), Salty’s Restaurant offers a casual dining room downstairs (perfect for if you’re traveling with kids) or for more special meals, the upstairs dining room complete with white linen table service and a gorgeous view of the water.

Salty's is an East Coast Favourite

No trip to the east coast would be complete without trying a few staples and Salty’s does them all very well. One a blustery winter or fall day, nothing says the north Atlantic like the Salty’s Seafood Chowder with generous chunks of lobster, scallops, salmon and other treats from the sea in a cream based broth. Full flavoured and delicious- it’s not to be missed.

There are two other lunch mains that fall under the “must try” category and they are the Lobster Roll with a green side salad in a raspberry vinaigrette and the all-crab meat crab cakes (no fillers in these golden beauties) served with a shallot-dressed side salad. Both were fresh, well prepared, well presented and full of maritime flavour. You just can’t get this level of sea-picked freshness inland.

And dont' forget to finish with a Blueberry Grunt- a cross between a fruit crumble and a fruit dumpling dish- this one is made with pound cake. While not wholly authentic, it is a sweet way to end any meal!

The Two Dining Rooms

You have an ever-changing view of the panorama in the warmly appointed dining room, as ferry boats zip back and from Halifax to nearby Dartmouth. Businessmen and women were at a nearby table talking business, while another table celebrated some sort of milestone a few tables away. Downstairs, work mates celebrated lunch with a local-brewed pint and everyone took advantage of a sunny Halifax day and the bounty hailing from the waters surrounding this city.

Down the Road- Pier 21

For those looking for something to do after lunch if shopping isn’t your thing- Food Trends suggests you walk about 20 minutes towards the Pier 21 Canada's Immigration Museum- one of Canada’s closest versions of the US Ellis Island. People from all over the world started their lives in Canada by landing via boat at Pier 21, before departing for every part of the country usually by train.

The museum has just completed a wonderful film documenting the many stories that have passed through the original structure’s walls- from the earliest immigrants to Canada, to the post-WW II war brides to the Italian immigrants who started arriving after that. If you’re from Canada or have relatives here, it’s a terrific way to reconnect with your own personal history or admire the courageous souls who chose to leave their homelands behind in search of something more.

Salty’s Restaurant

Pier 21- Canada’s Immigration Museum

The copyright of the article Salty's Restaurant and Pier 21 in Halifax in Food Trends is owned by Mary Luz Mejia. Permission to republish Salty's Restaurant and Pier 21 in Halifax in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Mar 11, 2009 8:28 PM

Lori Myers :

Of course, these were not there when I lived in Halifax (74 - 76).
But hearing about it all still makes me a bit homesick. :-)