Thank you for volunteering your judging services!


 

Nominations

For the first part of our judging process, we will be accepting nominations from any judges who wish to submit them. In terms of submissions, what we are looking for are culinary destinations not found on our “Shortlist” (below) that are at least very good (8/5/10).

The nominations process closes on July 30.

 

 

Judging Process

On August 4, we will be sending all judges a link to the official judging form (Google form). All judges will be given exactly one week to complete and submit judging forms.

The closing date will be August 11.

 

 

The Rules

To ensure rating accuracy, we have set out a few easy-to-follow rules for all judges. These should be considered hard rules, not suggestions. As such, please read carefully and make sure to follow each of the following rules when filling out the ratings form.

  1. If you have not visited an eatery since June 2024, please enter n/a for the establishment at question.

  2. If you have a close personal or professional connection to an establishment, or happen to own said restaurant, please enter n/a for the establishment at question.

  3. If you went to an establishment for a soft launch, a one-off event, or by special invitation, please exclude that visit from your rating of that establishment.

  4. Please do not use the 50 Best platform to reward friends or punish enemies. This IS NOT what the Curated brand is about.

 

 

Criteria

There are no fixed criteria for the 50 Best Places to Eat Program. Instead, what we are looking for are ratings based the expectations of a given dining category.

As an example, Morris East Pizzeria & Slice Shop is a pizzeria. Thus, it should only be rated based on what you would expect from a pizzeria (or maybe a family-friendly restaurant). It SHOULD NOT be rated in comparison with other establishments in different categories such as fine dining (Gio), tasting menu dinners (Lupin Dining & Pantry), cocktail bars (Highwayman), beer bars (Stillwell), Korean BBQ joints (Seao’s Chicken), etc.

 

 

Ratings Scale

To help us ensure accuracy, please use the ratings table (below) in conjunction with the Google judging form (coming in August).

N/A - NOT APPLICABLE

No score is given.

10 - PERFECT

Theoretically possible, but EXTREMELY unlikely.

9.5 - EXCELLENT

A super high score reserved for uncommonly exceptional dining experiences.

9.0 - ALMOST EXCELLENT

Between excellent and very good.

8.5 - VERY GOOD

A high score reserved for experiences good enough to make recommendations to friends and family.

8.0 - ALMOST VERY GOOD

Between very good and good.

7.5 - GOOD

An overall positive experience, but not one resulting in a recommendation to others. You might go back, but maybe not.

7.0 - ALMOST GOOD

Between good and average.

6.5 - AVERAGE

Not the most inspiring experience. It’s unlikely that you will go back to that establishment again.

5.5 - BAD

Your experience was unacceptable and you are never going back to that establishment ever again.

4.5 (or less) - TERRIBLE

Your experience was downright awful. You feel violated, almost.

 

 

Shortlist

Please send your carefully chosen nominations to 50best@curatedmagazine.ca before July 30.

Downtown Halifax

Antojo Tacos + Tequila
Asia Restaurant
Bar Sofia
The Bicycle Thief
Bird’s Nest Cafe + Catering
Black Sheep Restaurant
Buta Ramen
Cafe Lunette
The Carleton
Coastal Curry (Rasa kiosk)
Creme
Darya
Dharma Sushi
Drift
Five Fishermen
Gio
Harbourstone Pour House
Highwayman Restaurant & Bar
Level Bar
Magnolia
Matadora Tapas Bar
The Mercantile Social
Mystic
Obladee
Pazzo Ristorante & Enoteca
Peacock Wine Bar
The Press Gang
Prince George Hotel Buffett
Ristorante A Mano
Salt + Ash
Salt + Sol (Verano kiosk)
Sea Smoke
Steve-O-Renos
Stillwell
Stone’s Throw Patio
Tawa Grill
Tori Dori
Tribute
Verano Food Purveyors
Water Polo

Spring Garden Road

Besharam Bar and Grill
Bliss Caffeine Bar
Kanpai Izakaya
Ko Doraku
La Frasca Cibi + Vini
Le Bistro by Liz
Mappatura Bistro
RASA: Flavours of India
Stillwell Beergarden
Welcome to Korea

North End

Agricola Street Brasserie
A Pria
Bar Kismet
Chain Yard Urban Cidery
Charcuterie Ratinaud
CHKN CHOP
Dee Dee’s Ice Cream
EDNA
Eliot & Vine
Field Guide
Good Robot Beergarden
Good Robot Brewery
Kofuku
Lou Pécou
Luke’s Small Goods
The Narrows Public House
The Osney Café
The Ostrich Club
Real Fake Meats
Reta's
Salvatore’s
Suda Table
Sushi Shige
Tusket Falls Beer Project

Quinpool Road

Angelique
Banh Mi A&B
Dilly Dally Eats
Morris East Quinpool
Palm Tree Kitchen
Rinaldo’s Italian American Specialties
Sweet Hereafter Cheesecakery
The Cheeky Neighbour Diner
Truly Tasty
Wild Leek

West End

Sully + Porter
Yeah Yeahs Oxford Taproom

Downtown Dartmouth

Battery Park Beer Bar
Cafe Goodluck
The Canteen on Portland
Dear Friend Bar
Doraku
Evan’s Fresh Seafoods
Larry's Sandwiches & Sides
Oxalis
Side Hustle
Yeah Yeah's Dartmouth

Halifax Suburbs

9 + Nine
Aster Cafe
Brothers Punjabi Flavours
Buta Ramen Sunnyside
Casa di Stefano
Easy Street Diner
Efes
I Love Pho
Il Mercato
Lupin Dining
Martin's Kitchen
Morris East Larry Utek
Ori Foods Co.
The Orient Chinese Cuisine
Rose & Rooster
Rudy & Olives
Seoa's Chicken
USTA

Annapolis Valley

Arch & Po.
Avondale Sky
Bessie North
The Church Brewing Co
Cumin Kitchen & Drink
The Flying Apron Inn & Cookery
Founders House Dining and Drinks
Junction 16
Juniper Food + Wine
Le Caveau Restaurant
Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards
Luckett Vineyards & Crush Pad Bistro
Lunn’s Mill Beer Company
Maritime Express Cider Company
Mulberries
The Noodle Guy
The Port Pub
Schoolhouse Brewery
Troy
The Union Street
Whiskey Teller

South Shore

Bar Salvador
The Barn
The Beach Pea Kitchen & Bar
Betty's at the Kitch
Dear Emma
The Grand Banker
The Half Shell
Il Ferramenta Pizzeria
Labour Day Picnic Cafe
Lamprai & Spice
The Kiwi Café
Mateus Bistro
Rhubarb
Rustic Crust
Salt Shaker Deli
The Smoke Pitt BBQ
The South Shore Fish Shack
Sunroom Inn
Tom’s Lobster Shack