Midtown Tavern Halifax - End of an Era!

Hi Folks!

Just trying to determine which post I'm going to write about and include the pictures.  I have so many to share with you so I just have to be patient with myself.

I'm having a great time bringing up little Rialey, although he doesn't like to be called that.  He has been around the world with me and danced with a belly dancer on a Nile dinner cruise.  He actually wore out the soles of his shoes and we had to pick up a pair in Egypt, then another pair in Crete.  He certainly wore his shoes well.

I have thousands of pictures and lots on the same city or location.  I just have to post them for you to enjoy along with me.

Sometimes we just enjoy scouting around Halifax.  One day I heard that the Midtown Tavern in downtown Halifax was going to close its door for the last time on that Saturday, I knew I had to go down to take some pictures and to have some of the best Tavern food anywhere!

I was devastated to hear of its closing.  It was the ONLY post war tavern left in Canada.  The only changes it made since its opening was to include a women's washroom (up in back of the kitchen where you had to pass stored goods for the tavern) and it also put in big screen TVs.  It was given many awards which you might be able to make out on the walls.  The waiters were men, the cooks were men and the owners were men.  Now ladies, I ask you??????

When they served you food, THEY SERVED YOU FOOD!  It was on huge plates, you didn't need to ask for 2nds. The food was also one of the best places to eat.  The tavern wanted to sell their beer and food was just extra.  Halifax's taverns have incredible tasty food with huge portions.  When you ordered a man sized steak, boy the plate was filled!

The Midtown Tavern was opened by a man who had lots of sons who ran the place until it closed.  It was a huge loss for Halifax residents and for the many tourist that would no longer enjoy this basic post war tavern in its original form.

I've taken pictures of the streets around the tavern building and inside.  It was a sad day for me to see this historic building go.  Thankfully the incredible owners move the Midtown tavern down one street and closer to the Metro Centre where their excellent food and fabulous beer is served, but we just don't have the original building.  I am so happy I took these pictures to share.  I hope you get a little taste of why I loved visiting and eating here.  Many happy visitors came away happy with a full belly!

Thanks for stopping by to read my newest blog post.

Argyle Street with the St Paul's house on the right & the Carleton Hotel now  turned restaurants & apartments.

This is the Midtown Tavern building.  As you can see, the sign says TAVERN, nothing fancy, just good food and good beer with fast service.

Many hoping to get in for their last meal at the old historic Midtown Tavern.

Side view of people waiting to get in.

Midtown tavern at the end of the street. 

Little Rialey outside the Midtown waiting for us to go in.

It was almost standing room only.  People waiting to get a seat and some great food in a historic place.

This is looking at the bar and food area with the steps to the women's washroom up those stairs.

Patrons and food being prepared in the background.  You could see them as they cooked your meal.

The sign above was for their 50 years opened.  Those are the steps to the women's washroom.

The door way at the back here is the men's washroom. Originally the Midtown only had one washroom, for men, but when women were allowed in taverns and bars, they had to accommodate us. So the had to put a washroom up in behind the kitchen past their storage area for goods.

Hockey jerseys hung on the wall.

The incredible cooks who made the best hamburgers ever!

One of the owners smiling for me.

They loved the attention they received.

Good looking owners, yes?

Now HERE are the steps leading to the women's washroom.  You can see some of the stuff up there.  I can attest that it was a big scary to go up there in the night. Imagine they had to find a place to put a women's washroom when women were finally allowed in taverns!!

This faced the door from the main bar area. People are still waiting to get in.

They all posed for me.  These are great guys who had a fabulous establishment.  I'll miss this place but we still have the great guys, just relocated.

This cook was really awesome.  He could cook up anything!

This guy loved taking our money after we ate the good food & beer.

This is the wall of awards and recognitions.

Hey, I couldn't help but get a hug from one of the handsome owners.  As you can see in the background, it was just a gathering place for men after a hard day at work. Then became a stopping place for men and women & sometimes their kids when they wanted some good old fashioned home-made food.

Looking up the street and in behind this part of  Midtown building was the parking area for their patrons.  Looking up, you can see the green grass on Citadel Hill.

A view from a far, which looks up the hill towards Citadel Hill .

My last look... it closed it doors now, all patrons happily feed & beered out.  No more will we enjoy the atmosphere of a post war tavern, nor enjoy the being waited on by all men.  Sadly history is pushed away to make way for progress.  The area is still not rebuilt.  I think plans are still being discussed and protections put in place for the view from Citadel Hill, once considered Halifax a long time ago.

Thank for joining me on my happy memories but sad day of a great tavern, owned by a man with his sons, in a post war establishment with all male waiters.  I haven't been to the new Midtown Tavern, but I'll get there and write my thoughts of how well they have adjusted in the move.