Mother Tucker's

[wmd]

Does anyone know the scoop on Mother Tucker's restaurant in downtown
Halifax?

It has been closed now for two or three months. "Closed until further
notice" is what the sign in the door says, and that is never a good sign.

I wonder if their closure had anything to do with the Herald's feature
on restaurant inspections. There were rumors for years about Mother
Tucker's being infested with mice/rats/cockroaches.

My wife and I used to enjoy eating there... we never had a negative
experience, and if the place was infested we were never the wiser! The
food always tasted good and seemed fresh (especially the salad bar).

They also had the best lunch buffet in town! It was essentially the same
as the dinner buffet, but for 1/4 of the price!

Here's hoping that the place reopens at some point, although "until
further notice" usually means "forever".

wmd

[lucretia borgia]

Post by wmd
Does anyone know the scoop on Mother Tucker's restaurant in downtown
Halifax?
It has been closed now for two or three months. "Closed until further
notice" is what the sign in the door says, and that is never a good sign.
I wonder if their closure had anything to do with the Herald's feature
on restaurant inspections. There were rumors for years about Mother
Tucker's being infested with mice/rats/cockroaches.
My wife and I used to enjoy eating there... we never had a negative
experience, and if the place was infested we were never the wiser! The
food always tasted good and seemed fresh (especially the salad bar).
They also had the best lunch buffet in town! It was essentially the same
as the dinner buffet, but for 1/4 of the price!
Here's hoping that the place reopens at some point, although "until
further notice" usually means "forever".
wmd

Depressing, one way and another I had to eat there three times and it
was all bad. Uninteresting food, badly presented I found. Maybe I
went at the wrong times ?

[wmd]

Post by lucretia borgia
Depressing, one way and another I had to eat there three times and it
was all bad. Uninteresting food, badly presented I found. Maybe I
went at the wrong times ?

When we dined at MT, we almost always had the buffet. For me, the salad
bar was the main part of the buffet - I loved the many varieties of
salad, veggies and cheese they had.

The hot buffet was just okay, IMO. At times the beef was beautiful, but
more often it was fatty. The side dishes were mostly decent, and I
enjoyed their turkey when they offered it from time to time. I stayed
away - far away - from the sausage! :)

Although we did dine there in the evening sometimes, most of my time
there was at lunch: the buffet and a drink (pop) could be had for under
$10, taxes in. When I worked in the insurance industry my office was
downtown, and a group of us would go there quite often. In recent years,
SWMBO and I have enjoyed lunch there throughout the summer months and
during our other breaks.

wmd

[Donna Whitman]

On Fri, 05 Jan 2007 22:41:29 GMT, lucretia borgia

Post by lucretia borgia

Post by wmd
Does anyone know the scoop on Mother Tucker's restaurant in downtown
Halifax?
It has been closed now for two or three months. "Closed until further
notice" is what the sign in the door says, and that is never a good sign.
I wonder if their closure had anything to do with the Herald's feature
on restaurant inspections. There were rumors for years about Mother
Tucker's being infested with mice/rats/cockroaches.
My wife and I used to enjoy eating there... we never had a negative
experience, and if the place was infested we were never the wiser! The
food always tasted good and seemed fresh (especially the salad bar).
They also had the best lunch buffet in town! It was essentially the same
as the dinner buffet, but for 1/4 of the price!
Here's hoping that the place reopens at some point, although "until
further notice" usually means "forever".
wmd

Depressing, one way and another I had to eat there three times and it
was all bad. Uninteresting food, badly presented I found. Maybe I
went at the wrong times ?

I had the same experience and stopped eating their ages ago. They
needed a lot of work if they were going to compete with some of the
good restaurants in the area and they weren't willing to do it.

[Rick Walker]

Post by Donna Whitman
On Fri, 05 Jan 2007 22:41:29 GMT, lucretia borgia

Post by lucretia borgia
Depressing, one way and another I had to eat there three times and it
was all bad. Uninteresting food, badly presented I found. Maybe I
went at the wrong times ?

I had the same experience and stopped eating their ages ago. They
needed a lot of work if they were going to compete with some of the
good restaurants in the area and they weren't willing to do it.

The last year I ate there would have been 1986, so after that I have
no idea what went on behind their closed doors. But it would seem to me
that from what I've read, MT had ample time to correct any problem such
as infestation, so the reason for not doing so would have to be a
financial one. Too bad, I used to recommend the place back then, as
well as one that perhaps others might remember... "The Beanery" in
Bedford! They would serve baked beans in a little black pot coupled
with brown bread, and you had full access to their salad bar as well,
all before the main course came along! Whoa!

Rick

[Rick Walker]

Post by wmd
Does anyone know the scoop on Mother Tucker's restaurant in downtown
Halifax?
It has been closed now for two or three months. "Closed until further
notice" is what the sign in the door says, and that is never a good sign.
I wonder if their closure had anything to do with the Herald's feature
on restaurant inspections. There were rumors for years about Mother
Tucker's being infested with mice/rats/cockroaches.

That's probably the reason, wmd. Rumours in this case led to the
truth, and that in turn to the inspections and so forth. Tucker's was a
favourite of mine too, all during the 80s when I had the money and the
time to go out for a nice meal. I had *one* of the best steaks I've
ever eaten there!

Post by wmd
My wife and I used to enjoy eating there... we never had a negative
experience, and if the place was infested we were never the wiser! The
food always tasted good and seemed fresh (especially the salad bar).

That salad bar was a meal unto itself in days gone by! Everything,
including different cheeses, were at that bar, and more than once I
remember saying to myself "I don't think I should have had so much
salad." I used to pay about forty bucks for a meal for two (minus the
bar tab, which is a whole other story), and leave a mighty tip for the
waiter/waitress that "hosted" us for the evening.

Post by wmd
They also had the best lunch buffet in town! It was essentially the
same as the dinner buffet, but for 1/4 of the price!
Here's hoping that the place reopens at some point, although "until
further notice" usually means "forever".

Especially if they have a rodent problem. That close to the water,
my guess is "time's up". :)

Rick

[Picasso]

Post by Rick Walker

Post by wmd
Does anyone know the scoop on Mother Tucker's restaurant in downtown
Halifax?
It has been closed now for two or three months. "Closed until further
notice" is what the sign in the door says, and that is never a good sign.
I wonder if their closure had anything to do with the Herald's feature
on restaurant inspections. There were rumors for years about Mother
Tucker's being infested with mice/rats/cockroaches.

That's probably the reason, wmd. Rumours in this case led to the
truth, and that in turn to the inspections and so forth. Tucker's was a
favourite of mine too, all during the 80s when I had the money and the
time to go out for a nice meal. I had *one* of the best steaks I've
ever eaten there!

Post by wmd
My wife and I used to enjoy eating there... we never had a negative
experience, and if the place was infested we were never the wiser! The
food always tasted good and seemed fresh (especially the salad bar).

That salad bar was a meal unto itself in days gone by! Everything,
including different cheeses, were at that bar, and more than once I
remember saying to myself "I don't think I should have had so much
salad." I used to pay about forty bucks for a meal for two (minus the
bar tab, which is a whole other story), and leave a mighty tip for the
waiter/waitress that "hosted" us for the evening.

Post by wmd
They also had the best lunch buffet in town! It was essentially the
same as the dinner buffet, but for 1/4 of the price!
Here's hoping that the place reopens at some point, although "until
further notice" usually means "forever".

Especially if they have a rodent problem. That close to the water,
my guess is "time's up". :)
Rick

Well thats a shame, that restaurant was recommended to me by someone
here at this news group... and it was a good place!

[wmd]

Post by Rick Walker
That's probably the reason, wmd. Rumours in this case led to the
truth, and that in turn to the inspections and so forth. Tucker's was a
favourite of mine too, all during the 80s when I had the money and the
time to go out for a nice meal. I had *one* of the best steaks I've
ever eaten there!

I never did try the steak. I was a buffet man... I love good buffets,
and there aren't nearly enough of them in HRM.

Post by Rick Walker
That salad bar was a meal unto itself in days gone by! Everything,
including different cheeses, were at that bar, and more than once I
remember saying to myself "I don't think I should have had so much
salad." I used to pay about forty bucks for a meal for two (minus the
bar tab, which is a whole other story), and leave a mighty tip for the
waiter/waitress that "hosted" us for the evening.

It was just as good as recently as the summer. They still had the
various cheeses (although for some reason they switched from cubed
cheddar to shredded), and the large variety of salads. That was the main
part of the meal for me, as it sounds like it was for you! :)

Post by Rick Walker
Especially if they have a rodent problem. That close to the water,
my guess is "time's up". :)

I'm surprised that Mother Tucker's had such a problem, while the upscale
fish restaurant (McKelvie's ??) just down the road doesn't seem to be
inflicted. The Great Wall Chinese restaurant shares the same building as
Mother Tucker's - just on the Bedford Row side - and they are still
there, busy (and delicious) as ever.

Perhaps management at Mother Tucker's didn't take rodent prevention
seriously enough?

wmd

[Rick Walker]

Post by wmd
I never did try the steak. I was a buffet man... I love good buffets,
and there aren't nearly enough of them in HRM.

wmd, it was the most enjoyable tenderloin (yes, those were the days)
I had ever eaten to that point! At first glance, the portion seemed
small; taking up half the space on a plate that any steak normally
would. But it was twice as thick as any steak I'd ordered before,
cooked perfectly... This diet sucks! :)

Post by wmd
It was just as good as recently as the summer. They still had the
various cheeses (although for some reason they switched from cubed
cheddar to shredded), and the large variety of salads. That was the
main part of the meal for me, as it sounds like it was for you! :)

Oh yes. I used to sample other types of cheese that I'd never seen,
and if I recall they had small portions of meat as well back then. You
would grab your plate and wander around this huge table, from the front
to the back, and back to the front on the other side, all the while
filling up your salad plate. Immense plate of food!

Post by wmd
I'm surprised that Mother Tucker's had such a problem, while the
upscale fish restaurant (McKelvie's ??) just down the road doesn't
seem to be inflicted. The Great Wall Chinese restaurant shares the
same building as Mother Tucker's - just on the Bedford Row side - and
they are still there, busy (and delicious) as ever.

I have eaten meals at both of those other establishments as well,
and they were fantastic as well.

Post by wmd
Perhaps management at Mother Tucker's didn't take rodent prevention
seriously enough?

How could any restaurant not take that problem seriously? That is
what has me baffled, especially one that has been around for as long as
MT.

Rick

[wmd]

I have eaten meals at both of those other establishments as well, and
they were fantastic as well.

I love The Great Wall... fantastic Chinese! We usually go there about
once a month for a feed.

We dined at the seafood restaurant once (McKelvies), and to be honest I
wasn't at all impressed with it. The food was somewhat bland and the
portions were laughable! For the price we paid, I was very disappointed.

We much prefer Salty's, and MacAskill's in Dartmouth. We haven't yet
tried The Five Fishermen, although the reviews tend to be good.

wmd

[Peter]

<Snip>

I love The Great Wall... fantastic Chinese! We usually go there about once
a month for a feed.

<snip>

While nothing beats good home made Chinese food, Stacy and myself both
agree that Great Wall is excellent. So far they are the only chinese food
that tasted authentic without over use of corn starch and oil. I have not
tried all the well reviewed places in town yet though.

[lucretia borgia]

Post by Peter
<Snip>

I love The Great Wall... fantastic Chinese! We usually go there about once
a month for a feed.

<snip>
While nothing beats good home made Chinese food, Stacy and myself both
agree that Great Wall is excellent. So far they are the only chinese food
that tasted authentic without over use of corn starch and oil. I have not
tried all the well reviewed places in town yet though.

Fan's in Dartmouth, just the other side of new bridge is good, but my
top vote goes to the King Wah on Quinpool, but it's very small so
picking the non popular eating times is wise.

Fan's does an excellent Peking Duck but need 24 hours notice for that
which is understandable, it can't be done in less.

[Rick Walker]

Post by wmd
We much prefer Salty's, and MacAskill's in Dartmouth. We haven't yet
tried The Five Fishermen, although the reviews tend to be good.

I first ate there in the 70s (yeah, old bugger lol) and a few times
during the 80s. Also, back when MacAskill's appeared, I was a frequent
customer there too, as it was just down the street from the shop. If
The Five Fishermen is as good as it used to be, that's another tip of
the hat from me.

Rick

[lucretia borgia]

Post by wmd
I love The Great Wall... fantastic Chinese! We usually go there about
once a month for a feed.

Agreed

Post by wmd
We dined at the seafood restaurant once (McKelvies), and to be honest I
wasn't at all impressed with it. The food was somewhat bland and the
portions were laughable! For the price we paid, I was very disappointed.

Disagree, very nice food, but not low end.

Post by wmd
We much prefer Salty's, and MacAskill's in Dartmouth. We haven't yet
tried The Five Fishermen, although the reviews tend to be good.
wmd

Saltys comme ci, comme ca, and the Five Fisherman can vary. I once
had the steamed clams and made them take them back, full of sand and
hateful. The grittiness remained with me for the rest of the meal.
Other times I have enjoyed their food though.