Tess

Located just a few blocks from my apartment, I'd been trying to get to Tess for a while now, but they're only open for dinner on Thursday - Saturday, which is a crime because they have one of the few patios in the north end. However, one evening the culinary stars aligned: it was a beautiful sunny day, and both my girlfriend and I were available so we made the jaunt over to Tess.

We weren't quite sure what the procedure was for seating, so I popped my head in the front door to ask, and we were free to just walk around the corner and take a seat in the back patio. It's a courtyard of sorts, contained as it is by the backs of a few buildings, nicely painted and with a plentiful amount of plants to give it some life.

What appeared to be the lone waitress dealing with both the inside and patio (poor woman), quickly came to take our drink orders. The drink list is a compact mix of your typical domestic beer and liquors, plus some local craft beer and, cocktails and wine. Unfortunately they were out of Bulwark cider, but North Brewing saison was something I didn't feel bad about getting instead.

The main menu consists of mainly of some appetizers, sandwiches and of course crepes. Being where we were, I wanted to try out their crepes so I went with the chicken Florentine crepe as well as the brie en croute to start.

The brie came out quite quickly, a hunk of creamy, melted brie in a pastry, doused with pecans and a just-sweet-enough syrup. Slices of toasted baguette made for excellent carb-on-carb delivery, which is always a win. The brie was really good - mild and not as funky as I find some to be. The pecans and sauce were great as well; you could smell them as soon as the plate hit the table. The baguette was just the right amount of crispy without being difficult to chew. The only downside was that the pastry wasn't as crisp and flaky as I would have liked. It may have just been the syrup doing this, but given how quickly it came out, I think they just need to work on this. That being said, it was still a wonderful way to start the meal.

It took a bit longer for our mains to arrive, as a few more people had trickled in out back and likely inside as well, and our waitress always seemed to be constantly moving with expedient purpose. She handled things quite well though given the circumstances.

When it arrived, my plate looked fantastic, with my crepe covered in a garlic cream sauce and my Caesar salad topped with house-made croutons and plenty of shredded Asiago cheese. The first bite was like every one that followed - very, very good. The chicken was moist and flavourful, with a bit of sharpness from the spinach. A smattering of croutons inside the crepe also added some crunch to what would otherwise have been a fairly mushy dish. And who can go wrong with a garlic cream sauce and Swiss cheese? The crepe itself was soft and lightly spongy, in a good way, but it almost didn't matter what my food was wrapped in, it would have been delicious anyway.

My salad had some very healthy green pieces of Romaine that I was happy to see instead of the pallid, light green stuff you all too frequently see. The croutons were herby and crunchy without tearing up my mouth or chipping a tooth, and the dressing had a nice garlicky punch to it. The Asiago added a salty hit to each bite that paired well with the slightly sweet bits of maple-glazed pancetta These were some real deal bacon bits that just go to show how awful that flavoured soy crap really is.

Not only did we have a great meal out in the sun, but there were a couple musicians that played some solo acoustic sets that added a fun vibe to this little enclave from the hustle and bustle of the city.

I'm sure the inside is fine, but if you're looking for something different on a sunny day, swing by Tess and get your crepe on.

This unique little spot in Halifax's north end is unfortunately easy to overlook. Just a few steps from Agricola, it might be that small distance off the beaten path that keeps Chez Tess an insider's favourite. Once you pop down though, you'll be struck by all the small but fantastic detail work that the owners put into developing the Parisian atmosphere, from the ceiling mosaic on the exterior to the unique décor inside that's likely to make you forget you're in Halifax all together, let alone the north end!

Service is equal parts professional and friendly, instantly making you feel like a regular at a fine-dining establishment rather than a crepe café. They're welcoming, helpful, fast and courteous from start to finish, even during a busy Sunday morning brunch. Equally accommodating is the menu; every order can be made on a gluten-free buckwheat crepe with select gluten-free sauces to match.

Having been in for both lunch and brunch, I'd say the lunch menu is more exciting with various savoury choices in addition to a handful of sweets rather than the more narrow options saved for brunchers. That said, I have no complaints after my first experience with Crepe Benedict -poached eggs with your choice of mushrooms and spinach, smoked salmon, or ham, bound up in a little bundle, sitting atop a bed of Hollandaise. Tasty, filling, and expertly prepared!

The brunch rush started at about 10:30am, so it doesn't hurt to get in before the crowd if nothing else than to just get your mimosas and lattés ordered before everyone else gets seated. The promise of boozy crepe fun during the evening shift is next on my list of reasons to remember Chez Tess when I'm on my next hunt for a upscale meal without the fine-dining price tag.

Last Sunday was my first time at 'Chez Tess' and i'll definitely be back!

We headed over at high noon and were treated to a practically empty restaurant and some very delicious crepes! Mark had the spinach salad with chicken to start and I had the french onion soup. The soup was just so-so. Bread: check, cheese: check...onions...check. Something managed to be missing though. The spinach salad did get good reviews though! For entree's Mark had the western crepe which also received a good review and I tried the crepe bowl with berries and whipped cream. Hard to go wrong there! Delicious although the crepe was quite hard making it somewhat difficult to eat.

We'll definitely be back to try out some of the other crepes at 'Chez Tess!'

Oh my GAWD, this is amazing food. Thanks to my mother, who never gets it wrong when she suggests a restaurant. We arrived here for some lovely motherly-daughterly time, eager to try this well-kept secret. Someone had recommended it to Mom, and I know how much Halifax yelpers sing its praises. As soon as we saw the menu, we knew we were in for a treat.

Deciding what we wanted was hard, but when we heard the woman at the front counter endlessly complimenting the Caesar salad, we knew we weren't leaving until we tried it. My mother had it paired with a BBQ Chicken crepe. Crepes are a bit of a house specialty here; they appear multiple times on both the main menu and the dessert menu. I, for whatever reason, am distrustful of crepes. I ordered the Veggie Taco and ended up eating one anyhow- a crepe version of a taco shell was what cradled my tofu, veggies, and sour cream. (Side note: How great is sour cream?) I nibbled at it first, narrowing my eyes against the sweet notes. Was this taco going to pass the test?

Yes. The answer is yes. It was delicious. I do remember that. However, I forget everything else because the Caesar salad was so good that nothing else really compares. Not even the crazy delicious chocolate mousse we finished lunch with. The homemade croutons, the fresh greens, the amount of cheese... it was heaven in my mouth. Easily my second favourite Caesar in the city!

This is a great place to take almost anyone for any occasion. I'm going to make sure to return here often. There's too many delicious things there I still need to try. Salted Caramel Tart, anyone?

I've always loved crepes - I guess it's having grown up in Montreal and finding French crepes everywhere. Moving to Toronto, had only one creperie that I know of...tasty, but really just a brunch/lunch thing.

So when someone told me about Chez Tess I was truly excited. That said, I really had to hunt for it. Especially in the grey of winter, I drove past it twice before actually deciding to walk to it. It's just around the corner - on Charles, and one or two houses down from Smith's Bakery at the corner of Agricola.

The interior is bright and trendy and the staff warm and friendly. But let's face it...I really came for the crepes. And what a huge selection - savory includes three vegetarian...the portobello caught my eye, four very interesting choices from the "Crepes J'adore" section with beef & blue cheese crepes, rosemary chicken Florentine and the one I chose Cordon Bleu - a oven roasted chicken, sweet honey ham and cherry tomatoes neatly wrapped and served with a mixed green salad and a house Dijon dressing for the crepe. Very tasty.

But next time, I'll go with my usual favorites a seafood medley or perhaps the Coquille St Jacques crepe that sounds awesome. And next time, I'll take a friend along too so we can have a sweet crepe for dessert. The Euro is tempting - vanilla crepe stuffed with bananas and Nutella topped with maple bourbon Chantilly.

Time for another restaurant review!

In summary, go experience Tess for brunch, it is very worth it! I will be back again soon!

Atmosphere- good
Bathroom-adorable
Customer service- great
Noise level- moderate
Price- Fair
Parking- street....

Atmosphere/decor
The atmosphere is one if a cute little neighbourhood cafe (go figure!) everything works together and nothing pulls attention. The art work is unique, interesting and well placed! The lighting suits the space, as do the tables, chairs and all other accents!

Bathroom
(My favourite part if my reviews)
There are 2! So great to see! They are cute well sized, decorated as well as the outside, because of its size I will not fault for a counter top soap pump, I will however criticize the 3 switches.... The first time I went in I couldn't figure out which turned on the light so I left them off, the night light helped me see (and I was ok with it) second time someone had turned on the light! Love it!

Customer service!
It's quiet excellent! There is a waitress walking around at different intervals with coffee and water! Food comes quickly, and your given both space and attention! Though you might talk to 2 different waiters it's still good!
They're real nice! And definitely professional!

Food!
I had one of the best French toast dishes EVER! The bread was spectacular! The cream was wonderful! I had just enough fruit to make me feel good about eating the cream! I loved it! It was worth every penny (and more)

Noise
Not something I review normally, but this time I will! The noise level is a bit on the loud side when it's full, but then dies to whisper quiet... Eerie! Keep it in mind if your voice carries.

Price!
For where it us, what it offers, and portion size, it is fair! 9.20 for my French toast, decent price for one yummy dish! My friend spent a bit more doing a plate of sides, but it was just what she wanted.

Parking
Not ideal. It's street side, so spaces are sparatic if you have someone who's handicapped, it'll be a bit of a bear finding good parking but it's findable! (And it's not the restaurants fault)

This little paradise for a brunch seems a bit lost in such a residential area. Tables are a bit too small especially outside on the terraces (one in front, the other one in the back).

Service is fast, friendly and precise. Food is excellent. Portion size is moderate, which is for the best considering the quality.

Definitely recommended. Arrive before 11am if you want to avoid the line.

Went back on a whim today and had another outstanding meal. I tried the croissandwich, a croissant with ham, smokey cheddar, and an egg. The accompanying salad was fresh as could be with super fresh berries and the lovely light house vinaigrette. Coffee from Java Blend was fresh and plentiful and the service was excellent and friendly as with our first experience.

I hadn't noticed the Terrace in the back on my first visit, when we sat inside. Today was such a beautiful fall day that we opted for the front porch area to catch the sun. The back would have been delightful as well. Definitely looking forward to giving that area a try. You can't go wrong at Chez Tess!

First of all, the space is fantastic and the folks working at the restaurant are super-friendly. The space, with its artful design and street-friendly patio, reminds me of the many funky cafes on Toronto's downtown side-streets. ...And I mean that comparison to Toronto in a good way.

Can't say enough about the friendly service - and even the patrons. Two folks at a table for four volunteered to move to a smaller table when they saw that we were stuck at the bar. So sweet!

The food itself was good - and certainly was prepared and presented exactly as it should have been - but I guess maybe my only problem with the restaurant is that it turns out I'm just not that big a fan of crepes. Who knew? At least, savoury crepes. With lots of fruit and maple syrup, I'm sure they're delightful. But my "Eggs Benedict" was just a bit... meh. Still - nice presentation. It was all wrapped up like a little package and tied with a little chive bow!

All in all, though, a really nice place. And their coffee was delicious. I'll come back and try a few more things ...perhaps something fruity and syrupy - before I make any final judgements.

I have been into Tess's so often lately, I'm afraid they're going to start turning me away for my own well-being. It seems like every Sunday, when my friends are looking for a brunch spot, we always end up here. And I am not complaining.

The reason I know Tess's is great, is because I've been in there in just about every state of mind imaginable: Hungry enough to eat two breakfasts (that happened, and I regret nothing); Hungover and not able to eat anything except sourdough toast (that toast is the stuff hangover dreams are made of); Tired and grumpy (and the delightful staff and delicious coffee put a little spring in my step) and just about everything in between.

The crepes benedict are amazing (I usually get it on a homemade biscuit with Brother's double-smoked bacon and brie *drools*) and the daily quiche is always a safe bet too. My boyfriend gets the "croissandwich" almost every time we're there, but they have a rotating list of specials that are always tempting.

The restaurant itself is fairly small, so go early if you're trying to get a table for more than two on a Sunday morning. It fills up quickly!