Haro’s Restaurant and Lounge is located in the spiffy new Sidney Pier Hotel at the end of Beacon Street. The room holds just fifteen tables and even on a Monday night it was hopping with activity. The chocolate and cream décor, top-draw artwork and floor-to-ceiling windows that open the room to the waterfront, give Haro’s an elegant feel. The service is down-home friendly and the menu has an artful blend of mom’s home cooking and chef-inspired elegance.
The $35 Dine Around menu offers Haro’s signature crab chowder and a duck confit salad for starters. Neither my partner nor I could resist a hot soup on a cool evening. The cream-based broth infused with pancetta, tomato, parsley and potato was topped with a liberal dollop of fresh crab. We felt no shame in mopping up the remains in the bowl with slices of warm bread served with the soup. (Our server generously brought a second basket when we finished the contents of the first.) Our only regret was the rather modest portion of soup that was served in a large bowl. Fill up the bowl, I say, and keep your patrons happy.
Haro’s offers three choices of entrees. We bypassed the panko-crusted lingcod for roasted Cowichan chicken and braised lamb shank. I love lamb and was delighted to see my generous-sized joint that had been slow-cooked and properly braised. The moist, flavourful meat was excellent. A bed of polenta infused with blue cheese gave the dish a delightful zing. No complaints about portion-size with this dish. I chose a glass of the respectable Rosemount Estate Shiraz, with its blackberry and spicy notes to escort the rich, full-bodied meat.
My partner’s chicken was equally well crafted with a clever side dish of root vegetable hash, topped with a green peppercorn cream. He paired it with a glass of Vieille Fermer Cotes du Luberon, a lovely, crisp libation made from a blend of Grenache blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni blanc, and Roussanne. All must have been well with his dish, as there was nary a bit for me to try when I looked up from my plate.
Haro’s offered a lemon tart and chocolate cake for dessert. We opted to try both. The tart was a sliver of lemon curd on pastry. The refreshing citrus tang spoke of fresh lemon. The chocolate cake was more substantial in size, but we found it heavy and lacking any defining quality. We finished our evening with a fragrant cup of jasmine green tea served in a press.
Haro’s also provides a $25 Dine Around option. The room is also open for breakfast and lunch. We are keen to return. The friendly, efficient service, satisfying meals and relaxing ambience make it an ideal spot to catch your breath while in Sidney.
- The Secret Diner
T: (250) 655-970, 9805 Seaport Pl.
