Jane’s On The Common

I am kind of conflicted on this rating. I absolutely loved the food, but the restaurant was definitely not my scene, and I was not impressed with the price.
Knew it from the minute I got in that we would be out of place, but I was willing to give it a chance.
My parents and I got seated in back area, which was nice, but seemed almost, «out of place» in the restaurant décor-​wise… with a naked woman painted on the doorway, and mirrors all around.
Anyways, our server was great, she was personable, and willing to answer any questions we had. I order the haddock with the Bacon-​Horseradish Tartar Sauce, and the Seafood Chowder to start.
The chowder came shortly thereafter, and it was great. Not as much seafood as I would like, but creamy and a little hint of spicy flavor.
Then it was onto the main course. The haddock was piled high, a bigger serving than I expected for a higher end restaurant. The tartar sauce was amazing, and veggies were crispy and fantastic as well.
While enjoying conversation with my folks before heading out to the show, we were handed the bill. which came to over $ 50 per person for a starter, three dinners, and 2 desserts. I was shocked, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Which was a shame, because the food sure didn’t.

The man and I decided to randomly stop for brunch on Saturday while running errands in the neighbourhood and weren’t disappointed. Even though there were about five groups waiting before us, the tables turned over very quickly and we were sitting down within ten minutes or so. There is limited seating and little to no waiting room inside and only a bit of covered space outside. Not a huge deal but would definitely deter me from going on a super rainy/​snowy day during prime dining hours or with a group larger than four. The service was good, but a bit slow considering the weekend brunch rush.
As expected, the brunch menu is limited, however there were enough options that I had a hard time deciding. The man-​friend started with a fresh fruit smoothie and since i cannot turn down anything with St. Germain, I went with the Rhubarb Elderflower Mimosa, because why not? The mimosa was a nice change from your standard mix. The smoothie was good, a bit heavy on the orange juice side, but was fresh and light. They have a pretty extensive drink menu and a pretty fantastic sounding desert menu as well.
We both finally decided to go with eggs benedict (bacon for him /​roasted tomato + spinach for me). All the benedict options come with a few roasted potatoes (2), a small mixed green salad and are served on a sweet potato biscuit. Unfortunately they had just switched the soup of the day and I missed the opportunity to try to the maple carrot and cumin soup, but I will definitely be back to try it in the future.
Overall we were both really pleased with the meal. The eggs were poached perfectly and the combination of roasted tomato and spinach with the sweet potato biscuit were the perfect start to a lazy Saturday. I cannot deny that I love a mixed green salad with breakfast. I left the meal feeling satisfied but not overly full. We also made a pit-​stop at Jane’s Next Door to pick up a coffee and another sweet potato biscuit to go :) Next Door is a great option if you just want to grab a coffee, biscuit or a pre-​made frozen meal or soup for a quick dinner.
This is definitely not your neighbourhood diner that you pop into for a quick, cheap meal of eggs, bacon and toast but is a nice option if you’re looking for a nicer brunch and don’t mind sending a bit more than your average breakfast.

My fellow foodies are obsessivly in love with this joint, so I can’t say anything bad about this place. It was good, don’t get me wrong.
I guess I just didn’t see what all the hype was about.
I found the menu a tad odd. Unique yes and I love that.
I think it was just unfortunate for me as it seemed that every menu item had 1 ingrediant in it I didnt like.
No blame on Jane’s for that of course.
the coffee was yummy.
The poached eggs were very vinegar-​y. which was kinda yucky.
but it was overall ok, I will eat there again when everyone else is going.

Best place to go for brunch in the city. The eggs benedict are to die for, and I cannot begin to express my love for their French toast! The price is very fair and the staff are phenomenal, which is great considering that place gets pretty nuts!!! Please be prepared to wait a bit, as Jane’s has limited seating and does get quite busy at times.
If you have never been, what are you waiting for?! Grab your favourite people and head out for brunch!

Amazing! Food at it’s finest. Delicious brunch and lunch. Their menu is great– diverse items. Very busy and closed in, however it’s worth it for the fantastic food.
Try their strawberry rhubarb jam!

I sadly did not get to Jane’s for brunch, but went there for lunch instead. The menu is somewhat limited but all of the options look fresh and healthy as the sides are salad. I got the scallop, haddock, and lobster cakes which were good, but not worth the $ 15. I think there are better restaurants for the price. One day I will come back to try brunch…

One of the best decisions we made on our trip through NS, was eating here.
Our experience: Perfection.
Showed up too late for the brunch menu but the grilled cheese, salads, seafood chowder, and citrus iced tea were all next level. Surprise biscuit with the chowder was hot, buttery and flakey… just like mom never made. Service was tops: friendly, prompt, knowledgable, and comfort inducing.
Live a life without regret. Start by eating here.

Jane’s is definitely one of Halifax’s treasures. The service is fantastic and the food is just out of this world. You can sense how carefully crafted everything is, and the love that goes into every single item.
My one complaint is just how uncomfortable it is to sit there for any reasonable stretch of time. While the servers don’t make you feel this way, you can definitely get the sense you’re not meant to linger. Which I understand, but it makes eating there a lot less special and fun.
A more casual seating arrangement and dimmer lights and I’d be there way more often.

Ok Janes, I WANT TO LOVE YOU, but I don’t think I can. Perhaps I need to order what my husband orders since his meal is always better than mine. My pregnancy taste buds have either turned everything upside-​down or the food was just slightly off. However I MUST commend their excellent service, attentive staff and when I sent back my appetizer they gave me another, and comped my entire bill! Fabulous.
Still love their desserts, and the spinach salad is A+!! Would still love to try their brunch!

Yummy yum yum yum! I absolutely love going to Janes On The Common for brunch.
Although I have to agree, it is kind of annoying to have to wait for a table, I think that their menu is definitely worth it. I always have a hard time deciding on what to order but have had great servers who know the menu and are not afraid to recommend their favorites — a huge plus for me!
I love that Jane’s uses local ingredients and they are not afraid to switch-​up a traditional breakfast with new flavors. A definite gem in Halifax!

Lets talk about the BREAKFAST LAMB burger.
This thing haunts me throughout the week. In fact purple now seems like beige after eating this masterpiece…
The bar has been set high. You will not find a better breakfast burger or indeed a brunch special.
Please join me in trying to convince the owner in making this a permanent addition to the menu.

Love it here — I go every time I visit from Ontario. The desserts are always worth saving room for, and the staff is always warm and friendly.
The main courses are delicious as well, and offer a number of gluten free options.

I went to Jane’s yesterday for Lunch. It was packed (It’s not a big place) so I took the last seat at the bar. I was uncomfortable. Eating alone already has a lot of conotations and then I was sitting at the bar with a bunch of very dignified old men. I ordered the haddock with tar tar, (I’m picky about fish so it’s a good way to test a place for me) a spinach salad and a coffee. My food arrived quickly and was so good I didn’t notice myself forgetting to be uncomfortable. Service was super efficient and unpretentious. Delicious. I plan on going back for the pumpkin cheesecake with ginger cookie and pecan crust (right?)
If you are a super hungry person, eat a banana before coming here. You might catch a line up and you won’t get a greasy spoon portion.

Jane’s kind of makes me sad. On the one hand, it’s a delicious and creative up-​scale bistro that really remembers its vegetarian and gluten-​free friends when putting together a menu. On the other hand, all I want to do is go there for a weekend brunch but I have to wait until it’s warm enough to brave the inevitable line-​up. Instead, I keep going for other meals and never quite love them… the gorgeous flavours of a fresh-​made Madras Curry plate just don’t cut it when all you really want is a big scoop of Hollandaise.
Still, Jane’s strikes a wonderful balance between casual and chic both with a menu of satisfying favourites upgraded with local flare, and an upscale but welcoming ambiance that means you can enjoy a nice, long meal without having to get all gussied up. The service is impeccable, the drinks are strong (order the Margharita Martini if you need to get away with drinking pretty much straight tequila before dinner), and the crowd is hip and attractive which never hurts.
But for the love of everything holy… please just let me in for brunch?

This past weekend I attended a brunch at Jane’s On The Common, another restaurant I have been dying to eat at every time the bus passes it by. I had I high hopes and expectations starting with, that this would be my first out on the town brunch in many years.
While drinking a well priced mimosa, I made my decision to dine on the char-​broiled pork burger. The burger arrived with delicious caramelized apple slices, horseradish aioli, and what I really ordered the burger for, dragon’s breath blue cheese. It sadly turned out that, although tasty, the burger was on the dry side.
A friend had ordered a random dessert, which turned out to be the passionfruit panna cotta. Asking for a taste, I dipped my fork into pure heaven and easily the most delicious dessert of my life.
I highly recommend Jane’s for brunch, though I am sure it is just as wonderful for a later meal.
However, I will give you few sage words of advice.
Number 1: the glass plate near the exit, is not the door, the door is a curtain.
Number 2: do not throw the curtain on your way out as you may smack someone in the face.
Words to the wise…

Jane’s is a quality brunch choice in HRM. This is no greasy spoon — it’s a fresh spot with an innovative menu and delicious food. It’s a busy spot on weekends, but it’s a lovely airy space, and definitely worth the wait for their fabulous eggs benny. They have a few benny choices — I must say the Bacon Benedict is yummy. It’s served with roasted baby potatoes and greens. I’ll admit — the greens throw me off every time. It makes for lovely plating, and the greens are tasty… but it just isn’t what I usually want when I’m craving brunch. Although I’m sure a few greens with brunch here and there is worthwhile if it keeps me scurvy-​free.
I’ve had mixed experiences here with servers. I know they are busy, so I cut them a lot of slack. But I’ve had occasional down-​right unfriendly and/​or neglectful service. That said, I keep coming back, so they must be doing something right!

A thoughtful brunch menu and unique food, filled with great ideas.
French toast with vegan coconut milk and banana was good.
Amazing pulled pork Benedict on a sweet potato biscuit.
Execution could use a little fine tuning, otherwise as good as great

When I heard about this James Beard award winning resto in Halifax, I knew I had to come here!
Great spot for brunch — we came shortly after opening on the weekend and it filled up shortly thereafer. Great service and menu with locally sourced items. I went with the Nova Scotia smoked salmon and potato latkes with a side salad and this was great! Latkes were just a touch oily but not too bad.
Hubby had the grilled cheese and this wasn’t just your regular grilled cheese — nice sourdough bread with funky cheeses and grill marks made this a top notch grilled cheese sandwich!
Would definitely come back and brunch items are well-​priced all at under $ 14 each.

Jane’s, what can I say that hasn’t already been said.
Great Food, Great Décor, Great Service and Great Location.
A menu that should appeal to everyone, fresh local produce, healthy choices, and a chef with imagination.
I loved the spinach salad, it was the best. Sat overlooking the commons and had a wonderful lunch. The crowd here is filled with a lot of regulars and I certainly know why Jane’s is talked about so much.

Innovative, unique, contrasting but complimentary and celebrities pop in from time to time.
Really, what else does one have to say about a restaurant but all of that to convince you to come. Jane’s On the Common is an amazing restaurant with a great selection of food. I have gone there on several occasions and luckily enough, was able to get a seat for me and my family or friends. But if we had to wait in line, it would be worth it!
This restaurant is the number one place to go to for Brunch. Who could turn down smoked pork chop with apple & cranberry chutney, sour dough, organic greens, Nova Scotia Smoked Salmon… the list goes on. They simply have the best quality food that one would hope for. But the flavor they bring out of the food or add to the food is unique and refreshing!
I honestly cannot say enough good things about Jane’s On the Common. There is a reason why it is so popular and why I had no problem giving it five stars. Some people may not enjoy the pricing. After all, some brunch meals are thirteen dollars. But in my opinion, I’d hate for them to lower their prices because that would simply mean even longer lineups. So for great service, amazing food, a stylish environment etc… five stars. Jane’s just does it right!
P. S. I took a brief look at their website. Apparently if your name is Jane, you can join their special VIP e-​mail list and get special deals. The food is so good, I might legally change my name. We’ll see.