I love ice cream, especially on a hot summer day; and generally speaking, I like going to Cows, especially when on PEI. However, on this particular visit, I was less than impressed. It was a hot day, and a busy day during the weekend of the Royal Tour, and there were only two people working at the counter. The lineup was very long and service was very slow; and sadly, there weren't any other options nearby that were open, so it was Cows ice cream or no ice cream at all. Having said that, the sales associate in the souvenir shop was helpful and quick, but I still didn't enjoy my experience enough to give it more than 3 stars.

The Bicycle Thief exceeded my expectations: great decor, comfy tables and booths, an open spacious feeling, and of course, excellent food. Dubbed the "Italian soul" restaurant, there are certainly many authentic Italian ingredients on the menu, but we opted for other fare: sweet pepper pan-seared fish cakes with homemade tartar sauce and frites; and the char-grilled steak sandwich with roasted garlic mushrooms and frites. To top it off, we shared the most amazing version of lemon meringue pie made with custard and brown sugar, and a fresh & fruity glass of the new Benjamin Bridge Nova7 wine. Our server was young and eager to please, but he did a good job; and all the waitstaff and hosts were friendly as well. I would definitely go back to try other items - the ribs looked delicious, as did the pasta. I think this will become a waterfront hotspot and is much better suited to the area than Bish had been.

I went to Churchill Arms on the recommendation of two colleagues, who said you couldn't go to Charlottetown without trying the famous Korma curry chicken! And they were SO right! It's an absolutely delicious dish, with just the right mix of heat and flavour. The Arms is quaint - smaller than it appears from the outside - but has cozy chairs and friendly staff. Their menu is quite diverse for a traditional-style pub, so I'd definitely go back to sample more of their food and hospitality.

The Tailor Shop is in an ideal location, just a mere 2 blocks from the downtown core, and about 3 blocks from the touristy Victoria Row. We received excellent service (early check-in, even earlier departure, off-street parking etc.), and found our room to be very clean and comfortable, with the added bonus of air conditioning on that hot summer day. We didn't get a chance to eat breakfast there, but the communal kitchen was spacious and nicely decorated as well. Some of the decor seems a bit outdated, but the major amenities have been renovated fairly recently. We were there on a very busy weekend (the Royal visit), and have no complaints about the rates or hospitality.

Wow! We were blown away by the delicious pizzas at Castello's! We had the Calabrese (with pancetta and portobello mushrooms) and Basilicata (with prosciutto, goat cheese and arugula), and ate every single piece. It's nice to find a place that uses homemade dough and sauce. The pizzas were served on terracotta-like slates, and we loved sitting out on the patio, watching the action along historic Victoria Row.

If you still like to write letters with a good ol' pen and paper, then check out InkWell! New to the Halifax scene, InkWell already has a loyal following, thanks to word-of-mouth, and their own Twitter/Facebook/blog activity. Many of their items are local, but they also import from around the world. You can also get your own personalized letterpress stationery. The shop also carries some household items, like tea towels and clocks, all of which are uniquely designed. Friendly & knowledgeable owner, a bright and airy space, and stationery that can't be found anywhere else in the city -- hopefully a winning combination.

Like its namesake magazine, the Saltscapes Restaurant & General Store prides itself on using local ingredients. Although we went at the height of lunch hour on the weekend, we were seated within 5 minutes. It's a good idea to put your name on the list as soon as you arrive, and then browse through the shop if there's a wait (you have to walk all the way through the shop to get to the hostess desk). We were all very pleased with our meals. I had the Valley burger, featuring blue cheese and apples; and my guests chose the Chef's Salad, BLT, and Hangover Hash brunch. Many of the main dishes come with a choice of 2 side dishes, which range from local fiddleheads to maple-glazed carrots (which were yummy) to homemade mac & cheese (also yummy!). The seafood casserole seemed to be very popular, so perhaps we'll try that next time. The restaurant can accommodate very large groups, and will take a reservation if you have more than 10 people.
The shop looks like an old country store, with rows of candy, local handcrafts, some imported fare, and old-time household goods hanging from the ceiling. Both the shop and the restaurant are spacious and comfortable, but I'm giving this 4 stars instead of 5 because we all found the place to be chilly, the bathrooms could've been a bit nicer/brighter/newer, and there could've been better signage along the route as well -- get off the highway at the statue of Glooscap (the one whose buttocks face the highway!).

After all these years of living in Halifax, I finally went to the legendary Chickenburger. I hadn't read the other review, so when I went, I was expecting a deep-fried chicken patty, so I was pleasantly surprised that it was actually fresh pieces of chicken. I agree with Stephanie that it was a bit plain (be sure to ask for ketchup or gravy or other condiments), and also expensive as far as fast food goes: we ordered two chicken burgers, two fries and two drinks, and it came to $17. Quaint diner atmosphere, a bit of a tight squeeze in the ordering area, but friendly and fast service. I wouldn't go out of my way to get there, but I'd consider stopping in and trying something else on the menu if I'm in the area.

Went to Anna's for the first time, and had my very first falafel wrap. It was absolutely delicious, and so chock-full that I only ate half of it. The wrap comes complete with hummus, red cabbage and mixed spicy(ish) peppers, and is then ever-so-gently put in the panini grill. You can get the wrap by itself, or the combo, which comes with your choice of salad, lentils, and even more hummus, for $7.49. Friendly owners/staff, a nice area to dine in, and speedy service for takeout. Will definitely be going back!

Occasionally we order Great Wall takeout for lunches at work, and the service is always speedy (usually under 10 minutes). I've tried a few different combos, but really enjoy the shredded Szechuan beef -- it's spicy, but you can cool your tastebuds with one of their awesome egg rolls -- the best I've had in the city. The prices are a little higher than similar restaurants, and on the one occasion when I dined in, I didn't care for the decor (quite outdated), so that's why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5.