This past weekend the former D&D Ladies (now the Star Wars Ladies) went out for some fun as husbands stayed home and gamed. We have been wanting to go have lunch at Hali Deli at 2389 Agricola Street in Halifax for probably a year now. This was the weekend to finally check it out!
I immediately loved the decor and style of the space, it felt very homey, comfortable yet had a stylin’ white tin roof.
The hard part for Alissa, Emily and I was figuring out what we wanted to eat! I was very tempted to try the smoked meat sandwich, THE deli classic, but I ordered the tuna melt instead. I wanted to try their knish which comes with the sandwiches.
It was a gorgeous weekend and we were not the only ones at the deli for lunch. It is obviously a very popular local hangout. The customer services was excellent, servers were very friendly and helpful.
Unfortunately, the food was not as impressive. I found my tuna melt quite boring and was surprised at their style of knish. Theirs is a round flaky pastry dough filled with oniony mashed potatoes. I am used to seeing the deep fried style but no matter, the issue was, it tasted stale. And I am so surprised a deli has “half sour” pickles. I was hoping for the kind that makes you want to suck your cheeks in. It was so tiny too! I was impressed that the coleslaw was pre-wilted.
I was not going to say anything about it until Alissa and Emily expressed they were not happy with their food either. Alissa’s borscht was sweet and had very little in it and Emily’s smoked meat grilled cheese had a thick slab of meat, not shaved meat, which made for awkward eating.
Then things got really awkward when I overheard that the restaurant only accepts cash. Crap! I did not have quite enough to cover my meal and did not want to use the “conveniently located” ATM that charges $1.50 fee to use it. Emily covered the rest for me but then I was determined to take her out for ice cream. On me!
We drove out to the Pavia Gallery & Espresso Bar & Cafe located at 995 Herring Cove Road. Emily had been before and just loved the spot.
Art work, ice cream and the baristas there trained to make espresso, cappuccino and caffè latte at the Scuola di Caffe in Florence!
This spot really is beautiful! Super white, clean, modern and sophisticated, I felt a little guilty that we were there for ice cream and not to try one of the stunning pastries or see the coffee artwork they had trained in.
The artist currently being showcased is Halifax-based artist Sara Caracristi. She obviously loved bicycles and people and the colours of her pieces were so eye-catching.
Alissa decided she was going to see the foodie artwork they are capable of at Pavia and I am so glad she did. Beautiful! And apparently, delicious.
I was hoping for some homemade artisan ice cream too but nope, store bought but it was delicious and refreshing. Emily and I both got peanut butter parfait on the top and lemon blueberry on the bottom. Delicious!
Then we were on our way back into the city to pick up the guys but had to stop off at Sandwich Point. I was shocked there was no one there that day but they were probably all out at one of the beaches. I was amazed you could hear an odd woomp-woomp sound in the distance there. Curious!
I want to thank Emily and Alissa for helping me feel so much more at home on the east coast. They have been true ambassadors and good friends, getting me out to see everything the area has to offer before we move. Spending time with them has been a treasure and our adventures together enduring.
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