Epicurious Morsels

First tried here for lunch on a drizzly Friday in March. Out of the maybe 10 tables in total, three or four were taken. White table cloths, simple décor, natural light coming in the front window. Our server was very soft spoken and I had a bit of trouble hearing her. LOL The free bread basket was a few small slices of white with butter. My friend and I both ordered the same exact dish, opting to try the Szechwan spiced noodles (angel hair pasta tossed with a spicy mixture of red peppers and scallions. 8.55). This was not what either of us expected. It looked like a cup of overcooked spaghetti, with a couple of pieces of pepper, no visible scallions, and just flavored with a hot oil. We ate it no problem, but were disappointed. It came with choice of soup or salad so we tried the sweet potato bisque daily special, which was very good. The plate was garnished with two slices of heirloom tomatoes and a couple leaves of meslun greens. I wasn’t stuffed at the end, but satisfied. I would go back here regardless, probably at night, or try their weekend brunch.

Was so dissapointed. Was excited to try this restaurant and when a large group of us went for dinner, each having cocktails, appetizers, bottles of wine, entrees. One party at the table went to order another ½ litre after dinner and was advised that he was cut off of service and told he was being too loud, party of 15, birthday celebration… If your establishment doesn’t welcome that size of group, perhaps you shouldn’t have accepted our reservation. My friends 65^th Birthday ended on an awfully sour note due to the way this was handled.
The owner blamed our waiter and said he’d be dealing with «him» later.
$ 900.00 approx in total from my group. and you wait until after we spend to say something.
Very dissapointed, will never come again, will never recommend and will actively share my experience with those who ask.

It was a cold winter day and we were at the Hydrostone stocking up on olive oil from Liquid Gold (a must-​visit when you are at the Hydrostone!). We were walking by Epicurious and our bellies yelled out ‘STOP’. So, we did. And we are SOOO glad we did. We had salads and a glass of wine. I had the Shrimp and Avocado salad and my husband had the Scallop and Smoked Salmon Salad. We each paired our lunch with a glass of white wine. It was perfect. The salads were fresh and gorgeous and not small. The price we felt to be extremely reasonable, if not on the low side. I would highly recommend for lunch. The restaurant is intimate, not a great place for kids. Washrooms are downstairs, just to note for those who need accessibility.
The menu was outrageously tempting — from wild mushroom risotto cakes to Cobb salad to chowder — I will go back until I sample it all! The service was efficient and friendly, the music was soft and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Definitely a great first impression.

We visited here for Dinner service.
Appetizer: We shared a crab cakes. I thought the way they prepared them was unique as they were not fried but baked and I could see a few little claw pieces of crab which was nice. The sauces on the plate paired well.
Main courses: My wife’s duck plate looked ok. I tried the noodle preparation she had on her plate to her she said it was a bit salty but to me it seemed overcooked. I am no fan of duck but being a former cook myself they should serve the duck breast medium rare and hers looked more toward medium however she enjoyed it and thought it was not dry.
I had the monk fish and it was my first time trying monk fish. I really enjoyed it and it was not overcooked. They prepared it with a rich tomato sauce on the bottom and a tangy yellow sauce on top. Served with rice and salad. Overall my plate exceeded expectations.
We did not drink wine but had a bottle of sparking water. They serve San Benedetto which was nice to see something different. The décor is nice but seems a bit dated and the bathrooms need a good cleaning especially the toilet plunger holder but then why not just keep that in a closet somewhere else. I am going to give them 5 stars based on my food alone and not what my wife ate and service was what you would expect highly attentive and quick servers.

What can I say? Gift certificates are a great way to try out new restaurants without breaking the bank. We’ve driven past Epicurious Morsels many times but this was our first time eating there.
Pros:
— Lovely location — the interior looked nice, but we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and sit outside instead, which was the correct choice.
— Interesting menu choices — we chose to go for brunch, which was more in our price range.
— Beautifully prepared stuffed French toast. Don enjoyed his smoked meat sandwich.
— Pleasant service.
Cons:
— Small portion sizes — neither of us left feeling sated.
— Expensive, especially given the amount you’re served. I don’t know if the dinner offerings are any better. We wouldn’t be able to afford regular visits.
I’m glad we tried Epicurious Morsels, but I believe our first visit will be our last.

Have eaten here a few times over the past 6 months and have always had great experiences. It’s clear that the chef/​owner Jim and his staff take pride in what they are doing here. It’s a pleasant space and you can see some work being done in the kitchen.
The food has always been solid here. I think the scallop and spinach salad is pretty spectacular. The seafood in this salad is amazing — house smoked salmon (killer) and scallops done to perfection, combined with a generous serving of avocado and grapefruit slices works really well. The spinach or greens left over at the bottom of the dish are almost an afterthought however, but that really isn’t what this dish is about anyway. The seafood bisque is also a star. The lobster strudel I had high hopes for, but found a found it to be ok, maybe a touch dry. Most things would pale in comparison to that scallop salad though as an appetizer… The seafood offerings have always been solid for me, with the fish always cooked perfectly. Haven’t had the grilled sea scallops entrée myself, but they looked delicious on a dining companion’s plate.
Had the linguine with prawns/​pernod once here recently and thought it was ok — likely not worth a repeat. Fresh pasta, well prepared, but perhaps not the specialty of the house.
Brunch here was also enjoyable the one time I had it. I was so happy with my meal the night before that I decided to give it a try for brunch one day. Small menu but everything done well. Couldn’t pass up on the eggs benny/​house smoked salmon combination.
Try the lemon shaker pie for dessert for something different. Lemon rinds play a key role in this one — not for those seeking something overly sweet, but it works well.

Recently celebrated my birthday here with family. Had a duck dish that was very tasty — would just note that the spicy noodles that came with it were overdone and not all that delicious. They seemed like a short cut to providing a side dish worthy of the lovely duck. Our appetizers were great, I had the special offering which was a spinach salad with goat cheese and beets, on top of a really nice polenta cake. Next time I might be curious about the prices on the specials as this special appetizer was as expensive (around $ 16) in the end as a lobster appetizer on the regular menu. I think if a daily special is going to be as pricy as the highest end item on the regular menu it should be mentioned. For dessert we split a lemon peel pie, which was a nice twist, and definitely full of the peel.
Overall I’ve heard this place is amazing, and it was very good. But for the high prices they could pay a little more attention to not overcooking the side dish, and to being up front about what to expect from your dishes. I won’t rush back, but I’d go again sometime when I’m feeling wealthy.

Wow. Why doesn’t anyone talk about this place?
On the hunt for some Sunday morning Birthday Brunch, I thought, «why not try somewhere at the Hydrostone». I am glad I made that decision.
The name drew me in and the chalkboard with their brunch menu made me say yes.
We entered, and this tiny place, was beautifully laid out and decorated nicely– classy but not too swanky. There were a few other patrons sitting at white table clothed tables adorned with fresh cut flowers, with view of the chef cooking away in the clean kitchen in the back.
Waitresses were super friendly. They seemed to enjoy their job, and spoke in a tone that complimented the relaxed Montréal-​esque atmosphere of this place. I know people say it reminds them of England, but I instantly got the feeling of sitting in Old Montréal again.
There were many specials… all sounding delicious, and the menu was extensive– very creative. We focused on the brunch menu. Oh. My. What a variety of delicious choices. The California croissant was an easy pick for me. It was a large croissant with fresh avocado and tomato slices (trust me, these were so fresh– tasted like they came straight from the garden), topped with a poached egg (cooked to your liking… and perfectly cooked mind you), and then coated in a cheesie sauce of some sort. Ah — –mazing. Not to mention the garnish. A multi leaf salad drizzled with a vinaigrette and topped with blue grapes, watermelon and an orange slice. Just perfect.
R got the strawberry and banana stuffed french toast with fresh maple syrup. Wow. Huge and fluffy. He couldn’t even finish it all.
Prices were great too. $ 9 for my meal and $ 11 for R’s.
Food was spectacular.
I know rating it 5 stars on one experience might be hasty, but I am sure to be back and will update my review if this changes.
Everyone must go check it out!

My friend and I tried this place out for the first time and I was thoroughly impressed with the service, ambience and food.
The restaurant has a very ‘Old English’ feel that was very classy, yet comforting and relaxing. Their specials all sounded delectable (everything house made) so it was hard to choose between those and their regular menu items. If you like salmon, go here! A large portion of their menu is salmon dishes, all prepared in unique ways.
I opted for the Gravad Lax (house-​cured salmon with lemon Dijon mustard and pumpernickel bread) and the seafood bisque — delicious! My friend went with the daily soup (bacon, garlic, tomato) and the broccoli quiche. The quiche was nothing out of the ordinary but the soup stood out.
I would definitely re-​visit for another lunch outing or try out their brunch.
Enjoy!

Epicurious Morsels is a strange little Halifax phenomenon. It’s one of those spots that’s consistently lovely but doesn’t get nearly as much attention or brain-​space as so many other local restaurants. Yet, they’ve been holding it down in the Hydrostone for years.
I’ll admit, it never really comes to mind when I’m making my own dining choices and I have a hard time pinpointing exactly why. I’ve only been in for the brunch/​lunch sitting and have really enjoyed the food. Really fresh, a nice dose of creativity on the menu, and more upscale service compared to some other spots in the same price range.
While we’re on the topic, a note on the price range. Dinner entrées range from $ 17 – 26 which really isn’t much different than so many other Halifax favourites. So while I don’t think it deserves its pricy reputation, I think it might just be a bit fancier than I’m normally looking for. That said, perfect for a nice lunch occasion with your boss, a posh visiting relative, or a nice meal out when you want to avoid some of the more ‘scene-​ish’ options.

This is one of my favourite restaurants in Halifax — it is small, intimate with excellent food and service. I cannot count how many times I have eaten here in the past years and I have never been disappointed.
I visited a couple of weeks ago for brunch and try as I may to order something different for brunch — I always end up ordering the same thing. The delicious strawberry and banana stuffed french toast with a side of ham — LOVE it.
Fabulous restaurant in a fabulous neighbourhood and I will visit again and again.

While I’ve known of Epicurious Morsels for a while I had yet to visit, I think because it was always in the middle, not quite casual but also not super fancy. I finally stopped in for brunch one morning and was really pleased with my experience.
I’m not a big brunch person, I love brunch food but I’m not a morning person and I don’t want to wait in line to be surrounded by hoards of people for my first meal of the day. That being said Epicurious was a great brunch choice! It was busy but not overly so, with no wait and I loved the small intimate dining room, it reminded me of some cozy bistros in Paris.
I also enjoy that they offer both the more breakfasty brunch menu as well as their full lunch menu on weekends. While checking out the menu, I discovered that a lot of the lunch dishes sound like they are right up my alley.
I ordered the mimosa after reading another review recommending it, and it was a great choice. For $ 9 you get a flute ¾ filled with orange juice, a small container with extra orange juice and a full 200 ml bottle of sparkling wine so you can customize your mimosa, how awesome is that?
I had the waffles with cream and berries as my main and it was delightful. For bunch my friend and I split the Boca Negra, a super dense (I’m guessing flourless) chocolate cake which was also excellent.
The service was great, the food was delightful and the menu made me want to pop in and try lunch or dinner sometime soon. I’ll be back!

I’ve been to Epicurious Morsels on a couple of different occasions and it’s usually right on the mark with food that’s «fancy» without being too kooky. On my most recent visit, I had the Salmon & Scallop Cakes with a spicy curry sauce and the Shrimp, Avocado and Mango salad. The cakes were great — full of flavour and not too heavy, and the salad was fantastic. Between the avocado and the mango the consistency is pretty decadent, so it’s a salad that packs a good punch. It’s certainly worth a return trip.

I am a big fan of Jim’s — — the owner/​chef who puts his special touch on all the dishes. Quintessential neighbourhood bistro with amazing brunch (house-​smoked salmon eggs benny and big fat banana pancakes!), quick lunch service (really great, gourmet options too, and affordable) and then an elegant, intimate dinner experience. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see what fine dining in Halifax is all about.

In a very quaint neighborhood (hydrostone). Very nice old European with a twist interior.
Our waitress was excellent. Knew her stuff down pat.
Most of us had the lamb which was exceptional. Ask for it «the way the chef likes it»
I also had a scallop spinach salad. Had a good helping of home smoked salmon with it and all the flavors blended delightfully.
All in all I will certainly be back. I want to try everything on the menu. Maybe twice

We stopped in on on Sunday evening while strolling the neighborhood. I had the rack of lamb special and my hunny the Mustard Pork Tenderloin. I traded a couple to my chops for a pc of his pork; boy was that good.
I will order the pork next time.

Via
posted on May 3, 2011
While strolling through the Hydrostone Market this past sunny Saturday, my sister and I were lured into the tiny yet charming bistro Epicurious Morsels. The small chalk board brunch menu poised in the window promised reasonably priced homemade favourites, however, once we got inside it was the lunch feature that I fell for.
The dressed up hole-​in-​the-​wall interior was made classier with white linen and tasteful touches like framed black chalkboards and artwork. In the back an open kitchen was featured, showing off the sights and sounds of a talented Chef working on his dishes.
The mid-​range, traditional style menu with French influence offered many tempting choices, and until I heard the lunch feature, I had my mind on brunch. A homemade salmon burger accompanied by house-​made tartar sauce, along with the soup du jour — curried carrot with mango chutney — was too perfect to resist. My sister opted for a traditional Cobb salad.
We had started off by ordering $ 9 mimosas thinking that this would be a splurge item, only to be surprised by an original execution of the classic brunch beverage. Presented to us by our waitress were champagne flutes filled about a quarter of the way with orange juice, along with a mini bottle of Henkell Trocken sparkling wine, she then topped off the juice with the wine to create our beverage. We were each left with the remainder of our mini bottles, along with an adorable small pitcher of orange juice, to finish mixing mimosas throughout our meal. I love this idea and my mimosa actually had much more value than I originally anticipated.
My salmon burger arrived on freshly baked focaccia bread that had an amazing texture and flavour. The simple lettuce, tomato and house-​made tartar sauce were all my well-​seasoned salmon burger needed to complement it on this delicious bread. The patty was done nicely, still showcasing the dense salmon texture and rich flavour; this burger was not overcooked in the least.
The curried carrot soup had a velvety smooth texture and beautiful colour. I was hard pressed to pick up on much curry flavour, however did come across a few chunks of the mango chutney, which was a nice addition of sweetness. Regardless of the lack of curry kick, this flavour might have just been subtle enough to bring forth the proper highlights of the other ingredients, as I did find the soup’s flavour overall to be very, very nice. My sister’s Cobb salad looked fresh and delightful with large chunks of smoked turkey, and according to her it was as good as it looked.
We were the last diners to leave the restaurant for their brunch/​lunch hour and the Chef (and I believe owner) even stopped by to ask us about our meal. Our waitress was professional and attentive, leaving us enough privacy to chat, yet still meeting our needs in a timely manner. I would definitely visit Epicurious Morsels again for brunch, especially once the patio goes up, and I imagine at night it would make an intimate, romantic dinner destination. Another little gem in Halifax I am happy to have on my radar!

Situated in the lovely Hydrostone Market, Epicurious Morsels is the sort of place where you’d expect to see ‘ladies who lunch’. Just fancy enough, without being off-​putting for a week day lunch. I’ve been here only a couple times, both for lunch, but left with a smile on my face both times.
On my first visit, both my companion and I had the vegetarian luncheon, which is a combination of their baked vegetable rice, Szechwan noodles & organic greens. It is served with the soup of the day, which was a curry concoction (I can’t remember exactly what it was). The baked vegetable rice is seasoned with Indian spices and filled with a variety of roasted veggies, seeds, nuts and raisins. It was the best part of the meal — so good. I was disappointed in the Szechwan noodles — I found the dish quite bland. However, my companion loved it. The greens were simple, fresh and tasty, and the soup was hearty and delicious.
On my second visit, I tried the Mediterranean linguine with greens. It was a light pasta, but chock full of goodies like feta, olives, grapes, cranberries and pecans. Quite good.
It’s a bit on the pricy side for lunch, though certainly not your average lunch fare. Service was great both times — very friendly and also accommodating to time constraints so we could get back to work on time.
I hope to go back one day soon to try their brunch menu.

First time ever dining at Epicurious Morsels I was impressed by its simplicity. White linen tables are a great accent to the dark walls and seating. Cozy and classy without all the stuffy pressure you are able to enjoy a quite afternoon snack or even a romantic dinner.
Service is really great here friendly staff that actually seem to enjoy being at this location and are here to make your experience a great one.
Actually I had the special which was a smoked turkey breast sandwich for $ 9.80. Not only was I hooked on this tasty mouth watering treat I was full. Very impressed with the various flavours that I had going on in my mouth. Now as you will see by the picture that I posted there are some great brunch specials if you are a early bird…

Epicurious Morsels provides an easy sense of escape. Nested amongst Halifax’s Hydrostone Market, its inspired surroundings and historical property fuel a truly cultured experience.
The menu is a carefully rendered selection of European cuisine. Rich meat dishes, soups, salads, sandwiches and the emphasis on fresh Atlantic salmon are always impeccable in taste and presentation.
As a greens girl, I assure the deliciousness of the Shrimp and Avocado Salad, as well as the Spinach and Scallop salad. Fresh, luxe and flavourful! The Shrimp Margarita Salad is also a fun one if you’re feeling saucy. With a marinate of tequila and triple-​sec, it may leave you with more than full belly!
I’ve also had the smoked salmon, as it seems to be all the rage here. Delish, what can I say? Epicurious provides me with some inventive salad options and a spectrum of seafood. The full-​fledged meat eater can drool over special dishes of the lamb, duck and beef variety.
Its a beautiful to spot to enjoy a warm summer’s day. A glass of wine on the patio amongst the Hydrostone’s architectural bliss and North End suave? Its a taste of goodness for all senses.
I highly recommend this spot for its rich food and mode of escapism.