Go north, hungry Haligonians
Agricola, Gottingen Streets seeing ‘snowball’ effect in restaurants
New restaurants just keep popping up around Halifax’s north end, and chef Ludovic Eveno of the new Agricola Street Brasserie says, “the more the better.”
The Brasserie is one of three places opening in the area this month, and during a few quiet minutes away from his bustling open-concept kitchen Thursday, Eveno attributed the boom to the “strong neighbourhood feel.”
“We saw that something would happen in the future here in north end,” Eveno said. “For us it was kind of a motivation . . . we took up the challenge basically.”
Restaurant manager, Peter Goneau, said they’ve already felt the love from nearby residents after opening Wednesday.
“[They] will go out of their way to support a business that is just good for the neighbourhood,” Goneau said.
David Fleming, president of the North End Business Association, said Field Guide and The Nook on Gottingen Street will open their doors shortly.
Once places like Edna and enVie settled in, Fleming said it launched a “snowball effect” for the area, with more projects on the way.
“It’s an attractive thing,” Fleming said about food hubs, noting professional services or IT firms often settle in an area with great places to eat.
He said the perception of the north end as a poorer, dangerous part of town has changed thanks to crime prevention, long- time stores brightening up their exteriors, and a new mix of families moving in.
Eveno said “the more the better” when it comes to other eateries in the area.
“We want to be recognized as part of the city where it’s moving, and there is good food. We want people to come here,” Eveno said.