Stories Fine Dining

Set in the Halliburton Hotel, a delightful old building in the South End of Halifax, Stories really is fine dining at its best. We dined here as a party of six during February’s Dine Around Nova Scotia festival. We plumped for Stories largely because their set menus were less restricted than most other restaurants taking part and also because the gang fancied red meat. Of which there was an embarrassment of choices, many of which are somewhat unconventional. Or rarely offered, such as bison and duck.
We were seated in one of the small private dining rooms, which was a pleasant surprise and were soon giving the menu a good look. I started with the bison carpaccio, then went with the swordfish main, finishing with the cheeseboard. All superbly prepared and presented. Five of the six of us were red wine drinkers and were delighted with the Chianti Classico. Having been on a Shiraz kick for most of the last decade, I particularly appreciated the light fruitiness. Must get back on the Italians more often.
Everyone reported full satisfaction with their choices and were unanimous in their praise of our delightful and efficient waitress. Not the cheapest night out, but worth every penny.

Was visiting friends and had found this restaurant from Unilocal reviews in advance. We almost missed in when driving past but walked back up the street to a sign which clearly identified it as our venue.
There were 4 of us and we were seated in the back room where there were another 3 tables. The waitress was friendly and efficient throughout and whilst the menu is small the food is very good and interesting. We ordered a bottle of Ontario wine to go with our meal and settled into a very comfortable and satisfying setting and meal. The only disappointment I had was we ordered the cheese plate for desert and the serving whilst artistic was tiny. Tasty but tiny none the less.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant to those seeking comfort, fine food and a very pleasant ambience.

Walk in accidentally, it’s a really small restaurant, but lucky we got a table .
We were sitting by the door I only saw two servers, well organized and friendly, explained the menu clearly.
The scallop from the starter is awesome especially the sauce on the scallop. And the crab cake you can actually taste full of crab !!!
We also got the beef for our main course, well I’m kinda picky about the beef, I would say about average and the cheese is kinda salty, but my friend love it .
It’s a bit pricey for sure, 70 buck each without drink and tips. But strongly recommended!!!

Amazing! Fine dining without the hassles of fine dining.

My favourite restaurant in Halifax. The service and food is impeccable from the bread, wine, and appetizers to the entrée and dessert. I had the guinea hen and my boyfriend had the bison. The waitress was fantastic and I cannot wait to come back again. Totally worth the price!

Lovely, just lovely.
As I’ve mentioned in a few of my other reviews, my friend and I have a tradition that around Christmastime, we splurge on a fancy dinner. This year it was Stories.
The food was delish, and as it often happens in Halifax, the waitress ended up being a friend-​of-​a-​friend. Beautifully plated, impeccable flavours, note-​perfect service — all of it what you’d expect from a restaurant of this caliber. It was slightly less memorable than some places we’ve been, and both of us had been hoping for more game options (which is why we chose Stories) and there was no nightly feature.
I will say, this is not an ideal spot for a pair of friends going for dinner. It was too intimate and too quiet. The restaurant is tiny and spread over two (maybe three?) rooms. For most of the evening, we were the only people in one of the rooms. I can imagine how it would be just lovely for a couple, but it ended up feeling a little awkward for two single gals. It was akin to dining in someone’s house, but with no host.
If what you’re looking for is a cozy, quiet spot, then Stories is the place. The food is also quite delish. It just kinda forces you into ‘date’ mode even if the person you’re with is not your date.

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to visit this restaurant. Well actually it’s somewhat above my budget for a typical night out, so that probably played a role. It’s Dine Out month, which means that there was a fixed price menu. The great thing about stories is that the full menu is the dine out menu, so you know you’re not getting lower quality food.
The restaurant is beautiful but not overdone. We were in the first dining room so I didn’t get a chance to check out the other room. We started our meal with the bread course — I probably get more excited than I should about a bread course, and this one was awesome, the bread was light and fluffy with an amazing crust that almost tasted like it was deep fried.
For the starter both my dining partner and I had the famed rice paper wrapped scallops. They seriously live up to the hype, that dish is probably the best thing I’ve eaten this year. My friend and both commented that we could have happily ordered another round of those as our main course.
For my actual main I had Guinea Hen. I’ve never had it before so I can’t compare it, but it was pretty tasty. It came with a potato cake and heirloom vegetables which were perfectly cooked. All in all really good.
For dessert I had a frozen chocolate terrine, very rich and decadent, but so so good.
The service was amazing, and with a nice bottle of wine it made for a great night out.

I’d heard good things about this place, but had no idea how fancy it was. I guess I didn’t hear the «fine dining» part. In the back of my mind, though– I knew this was no place I would ever choose to dine if I was paying. Last weekend, I was invited to go to Stories for a dinner training I was pretty excited at the prospect. My employer called ahead to ensure there was something vegetarian on the menu for me.
When we arrived, we were escorted into a private room which is where we dined. It was pretty fancy, yet very comfortable. Our server clearly loved her job– she was a real pro. Very personable, knowledgeable and thorough. There was only one vegetarian «option» for me on the menu, which isn’t really an «option» then, is it? And it had dairy in it, which I don’t do. Anyway, the server had a back-​up plan in mind– I had the gnocchi with vegetables. It was super tasty– and they clearly prepared all the vegetables individually, cooking them to perfection and seasoning them ever so sightly so as to highlight their characteristic flavours. I was really, really impressed that every main dinner selection was served with a selection of beautiful vegetables.
As a starter, I had the butternut squash soup with coconut which was a tiny, piping-​hot bowl of one of the best squash soups I’d ever had, peppered with l’il roasted hazelnuts (and minus the lamb bacon). Another server helped bring in our dinner and exclaimed loudly and emphatically, «Oh my god, that smells good!!» as he placed one of the dishes on the table. It was pretty funny. Apparently he was hungry. Everyone in my party really liked their meal. I wonder if I was the only one who didn’t even look at the prices on the menu.
I was kind of pressured into dessert (cactus pear sambuca sorbet with house biscotti)– of which I hardly touched despite it’s deliciousness. It came with the liquor laden-​coffee I chose which was laced with Grand Marnier and Kahlua. As if the few glasses of wine I had were not enough on a night where i needed to work late then get up early! Anyway, speaking of wine– I’d never dined in a place where the server would wait for you to look at the wine, pour you a bit, wait for you to taste and also nod in approval before she’d serve you more. My more urbane cohort dealt with this situation seamlessly– glad it was her not I– but I will know for next time. I’m really not very fancy.
Stories was A1 in atmosphere, staff, and food. My only issue was their not having more vegetarian options (which I understand), but I must say I was delighted with the dishes I was served after having amended my dishes slightly to my needs. I will be telling stories about this place, and hope that I get a chance to check out their patio during the warmer months. The only thing better than eating this kind of meal is eating it outside, getting a little buzz on in the fresh air.

Once again, we had a delicious meal here last night. The scallops are delicious– crispy fried wonton (?) on the outside with perfectly cooked scallops inside and a sauce of lemon, ginger and sesame. I always end up running my finger through the leftover sauce and licking it. Really I could almost have a double order of this with a salad. But I always end up sharing it with others because it’s just so great. And perhaps just as well because the duck breast entrée is huge, really enough for two. Perfectly cooked slices of breast in a rich sauce on a mouth-​watering little potato gratin with crispy slightly burnt onion bits and interesting veggies (beets etc). They also make their own delicious bread with a crisp salty crust. It was impossible to imagine dessert after all that. The wine list is a bit thin and on the expensive side, and overall the meal was expensive ‚$ 250 for three with one bottle of wine, but worth it. Good to remember that they have individual rooms which are perfect for parties of anywhere from 6 to about 20. We did this last year for a birthday and it was great fun.

Casual Fine Dining. that’s their motto. What is that? You got me. However, there is absolutely nothing casual about what is delivered on your plate. I’ve been there several times, and each time get blown away with how amazing meat really is. I’ve had almost everything on the menu, but notable mentions are: Their steak which is as thick as a tree, topped with cheese and served with delectable potatoes and veges. The bison, ordered rare will have you smiling with every bite, and their hen is cooked heavenly. Stories is famous for their scallops. They, well, are the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth. You could order a few apps and still leave incredibly full and satisfied, but I really suggest making this a full experience.
The servers are very educated on the menu and entertaining. I’m guessing the casual in fine dining refers to the pleasant and welcoming nature of the restaurant, and the fine dining refers to the price you’re paying. Hey, you’re not paying just for the food– it’s an experience you surely won’t forget!

Went back here recently for our anniversary to try their Epicurious Adventure, which is a blind tasting for two. My wife and I got seven courses selected by the Chef, and although we had no idea in advance what we were getting, each course was more delicious than the last. It is definitely not a meal for the faint of heart or the light of wallet, but it is without a doubt one of the finest culinary experiences I have ever had anywhere. Just be sure to book in advance, as they typically require notice to prepare it.

I have to confess in my 15+ years living in Halifax, I had never ventured to try Stories. I knew it had a reputation for serving game and that it was a more expensive restaurant.
Lured in by a promotion, try any three courses from the menu for $ 45 on until April 30, 2011, my husband and I had dinner there last night. What a delightful experience. I’m sorry we hadn’t eaten here earlier.
There are two joined dining rooms. We sat in the smaller of the two. It would seat twelve or fourteen comfortably. The service was fantastic – friendly, knowledgeable and attentive – without any hint of pretension.
Our server explained the menu, mentioning the focus on game and explaining that the game is all farm raised so it does not have that overly, wild gamey taste. The menu, based on available local ingredients, changes daily. Even so, the chef has his favourites such as the scallop appetizer which has been on the menu for thirteen years now.
I had a lovely mushroom soup in a clear broth topped with a chestnut ravioli to start. My husband ordered the signature Pan seared rice paper wrapped sea scallops which smelled and tasted amazing. A definite must for my next visit.
As tempting as the other mains were, wild boar, sea bass and Nova Scotian tenderloin, I choose the shepherd’s pie made with magret of duck. Talk about your game-​influenced comfort food. It was accompanied by confit of duck and a nice selection of organic vegetables including mashed potatoes. The portions were large and I almost ran out of room for dessert.
For dessert, I choose the Blackberry brown butter tart. In relation to the delectableness of the other courses, this seemed just okay. My husband had the flourless Belgian chocolate cake which tasted fine, but again compared to the apps and mains, was just alright.
While the food is definitely fine dining, the prices are not as high as some of the other fine dining restaurants in Halifax. Dinner for the two of us with four glasses of wine and tax came to $ 150.
Despite the fine dining label, the atmosphere is very relaxed and not uptight. No need for a tie and jacket. Jeans do just fine in this comfortable setting. It’s a fun destination for a married couple date night or a special romantic evening. On the plus side, you could easily have a dinner with a large group of friends there as they have private dining rooms.
Our server suggested we might want to visit again in the summer when the amazing-​sounding patio would be open. The patio is in behind the inn removed from the street and underneath a canopy of leaves. Based on our experience, I’m sure we will.

OK, let’s be real: I wouldn’t have eaten here if I’d been the one paying.
But if you can afford it, this is a Must. The food was sublime. I don’t usually get excited about salad, but with goat cheese, apple and walnuts, I could have eaten three servings of those greens. The crab cakes were the best I’ve ever had, and the bison was a shock — tender, moist and flavorful. Who knew? (Classy, rich people probably knew. I did not know.)
Stories is definitely «fine dining», and you pay for it. But is it ever worth it. The service was outstanding and the décor is gorgeous, plus the ever-​changing menu gives you lots of reasons to return.

A recent walk-​by was only to be followed up by an active curiosity, as I popped inside The Haliburton’s lovely interiors to Stories Fine Dining for a bite.
«Casual Fine Dining» is its catch-​phrase, and I must say I’m a fan. Everything about this spot speaks cordial, upscale and a classy digs, but there is a relaxed consistency that really works.
Tables are met with perfectly placed settings and attention to detail. Not a ruffle in sight, the staff and service continues to roll along the same wavelength. Opting for the Ahi tuna and salmon «medium rare» with an asian tomato vinaigrette. I wouldn’t recommend this spot for pure vegetarians, as the the menu is chalk full of exquisite meat dishes and little else. Dessert looked good though– the raspberry brown butter tart with white chocolate fig ice cream just had to be mine.
Expensive but well deserved, the menu is, indeed, fine dining. Lots of innovative dishes to give guests a unique and flavourful experience, the fluidity of good energy is refreshing. A lovely spot to taste good food and get the full experience.