The Ardmore Tea Room

Rebecca: Not all breakfasts are created equal. Some have newfound flavour combinations of epic proportions. Others are tried-and-true breakfasts with a twist. While the breakfasts at the Ardmore, Quinpool's favourite diner for over 50 years, may not live up to epic breakfast status, they make up for their lack of creativity in taste. The diner is simple, cheap, and the staff is friendly. The placemats tell the story of Tennyson and his wife Norma, the restaurant's founders. The Ardmore is a local, family-run business with an "at-home" feel. Don't let the shabby exterior of the restaurant fool you - sub-par breakfast food is not an option here. Tennyson would never allow it! 

I contemplated the menu at length - everything sounded delicious, and the breakfasts are a steal of a deal. I finally decided on the half Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, priced at $5.25. My breakfast, orange juice, and tip came to under $10. Whoa! 

The poached egg was so delicate! The hollandaise sauce so creamy! Why am I so dramatic today? Anyway, the salmon added the perfect salty, smoky taste to the dish. The half Eggs Benny was also served with a hefty portion of homemade hash browns, coated in a peppery Cajun seasoning. Yeah!

I want to go to there.

Ben: I've been going to the Ardmore for many years now; in high school I was a regular customer, and have now tried most of the items on the menu. I convinced Rebecca to get the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny, since that's my favorite – unfortunately that meant I had to miss out for variety's sake. I opted for the Lumberjack's Combo – 2 eggs, toast, sausage, ham, bacon and hash browns for around $7. I got my eggs over easy and soft, just the way I like them. This breakfast was impressively huge and cheap, and everything was cooked perfectly. There wasn't anything particularly original or innovative here, just good, hearty food. Exactly what a lumberjack needs to start his (or her, says Rebecca) day.

Time to cut down some trees

Cheese Curds

Ben: A couple weeks ago we decided to try out Cheese Curds, a brand new gourmet burger/poutine restaurant in Dartmouth (right across from Value Village on Pleasant St.) that has exploded in popularity. We really had no idea what to expect; having no car, we don't exactly venture over to Dartmouth very often. However, this place was so highly recommended that we decided to make the trek over. The first thing we saw when we walked in was people – everywhere. There was barely room to breathe. A large sign proclaimed that if you're not prepared to wait a bit for a top-quality meal, you'd better get out. The second thing we noticed was that the kitchen was right behind the counter, in full view of the customers – a brave move for any restaurant to make.

After standing in line for 25 minutes, we placed our order at the counter. At this point I was starving, but after watching the food being prepared I knew it would be a worthwhile wait; everything is done from scratch, and the cooks put in the time and effort to make sure it's done right. I ordered the CC Porker Combo ($11.25) swapping my fries for onion rings. Looking around the restaurant, it was clear this was a popular burger. It's two patties, topped with bacon, onion rings, lettuce, tomatoes and house sauce. Once I placed my order, I waited at another counter for my meal, where a cook presented me with a list of other gourmet ingredients I could add to my burger. Some were far from conventional (chopped pineapple, for example), but I decided on adding chopped onions – my breath later suffered from the ridiculous number of onions I had consumed.

The astoundingly huge burger

So the first thing you'll notice about the burger (other than the poor quality of the photo, for which I apologize) is its sheer size. This thing was massive; Rebecca commended me at the end of the night for being able to keep the thing together while I ate it. These aren't thin, McDonald's-style patties – these things are thick and juicy. The house sauce added a wonderful touch; I have no idea what's in it, but I would like a bottle ASAP. As well, whoever first thought of putting onion rings on a burger was on to something, even though I'm sure my heart will not thank me in about 40 years for this discovery. Finally, there was the bun; the bun was freshly made, and lightly toasted on the grill. This extra detail really makes the burger special.

I should say something about the side of onion rings as well. These were by far the best onion rings I've ever eaten. They were only very lightly breaded, which allowed me to actually taste onion instead of just deep-fried whatever. The breading itself was not too salty, which is a welcome change as well. There were also so many of these things that (after already having consumed the Porker) I could barely finish. I did, though, and felt very good about myself.

The best onion rings ever

Rebecca: I got the Black Angus burger with Swiss cheese, and upgraded my fries to poutine. It cost about $16 total. I chose mayonnaise, pickles, tomatoes and green olives for my burger toppings. The burger was absolutely delicious. The high quality ingredients really made the difference, causing this burger to stand out from all the other burgers I’ve consumed in my life (except perhaps the Peanut Butter Burger). The patty was juicy and thick; the sourdough bun was so fresh; the pickles were crunchy and tangy (better than the Darrell’s pickles? Maybe...), and the tomato and olives were delicious. The Swiss cheese was melty and wonderful. Even the mayonnaise tasted better - I am curious to know if it was house-made. There were a number of interesting-sounding sauces on the menu - like a creamy lemon dill sauce if I remember correctly - so I presume that they are in fact house-made. Anyway, this burger was huge, and I was pretty full afterward. It was your typical, sauces-running-down-your-arm burger, so make sure you stock up on napkins.

A birds-eye view

The poutine, however, was disappointingly average. There was a hefty portion of it, that’s for sure, but there were several things about it that left me wanting more, especially considering the restaurant’s name. First of all, it seemed as though the gravy was put into the paper box first, then the fries, then the cheese curds. For me, a perfect poutine has gravy on every fry, and this was just not happening here. Secondly, there were very few cheese curds on my poutine, and I would have appreciated more. The fries were fresh, hand-cut, and pretty good, but I was in the mood for poutine so I was disappointed. I forgot to mention that the $16 price tag also included a large drink with free refills, so that was a plus.

So much poutine

Cheese Curds was an upscale burger and poutine experience, but I think I would rather stick to my favourite poutine places in Halifax when I’m in the mood for poutine. The gourmet burgers and the burger bar were great though, and made the trip to Dartmouth more than worthwhile.

Baan Thai

Ben: Every week, Rebecca and I eat dinner with my parents, who live just down the street. My dad usually cooks, and we eat way too much cheese and drink a bunch of wine. The other week, for a number of reasons, cooking was not an option, so we decided to try out takeout from Baan Thai, one of Halifax's most popular Thai restaurants. After way too much deliberation, we decided on Spring Rolls, Cashew Chicken, Beef Basil and Chicken Pad Thai. Altogether this came to $60, tip included - not bad for serving four hungry people! To save money, my stingy Dutch parents decided we would make our own white rice, which really does make sense.

The Spring Roll, topped with Asian Noodles

For me, the highlights were the Spring Rolls and the Cashew Chicken. The Beef Basil was decent, and I found the Pad Thai a little salty (although many people prefer it that way). The Spring Rolls were flaky and not outrageously hot, which is a problem I often have with spring rolls. They weren't at all greasy either - just the perfect way to start a relaxing meal. The Cashew Chicken, however, is officially the best 

Asian takeout dish I have ever eaten. Seriously, this stuff is amazing. It's sweet, sticky, and loaded with cashews, which everyone knows is by far the best nut out there. As was the case with all three dishes, the vegetables weren't the least bit soggy, obviously having been added to the dish at the very last minute. I want more cashew chicken very badly.

I would eat this whole thing

Pad Thai just waiting to be devoured

Dad: "Our table will be famous!"

Rebecca: I pretty much agree with everything Ben had to say - the Cashew Chicken was the most delicious by far. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Pad Thai either. I was actually convinced that there was eggplant in the dish, which I hate. However, upon looking at the Baan Thai menu, there is no eggplant listed as an ingredient. I am assuming that I had mistaken the tofu for eggplant, due to its consistency. While I normally enjoy tofu, I did not really enjoy this tofu. The spring rolls were absolutely delicious though; the Thai pastry was so flaky and crispy. The Beef Basil dish was pretty standard, but good nonetheless. I cannot say enough about the Cashew Chicken though, boy was that tasty. The cashews added crunch and the chili paste added a spicy kick. Over plain rice it was just perfect. I was tasked with the job of picking up the food from the restaurant, and I have to say that the staff there are so friendly and cheerful. If you choose to eat in, the Baan Thai atmosphere is very relaxing. If you choose to get takeout, Baan Thai is a more unique and healthier option to many of Halifax's more well-known takeout spots. Thank you to Ben's Mom and Dad for our weekly meals - they are always delicious!