The Wooden Monkey

The Wooden Monkey
(902) 444-3844
1707 Grafton Street
Halifax, NS
www.thewoodenmonkey.ca

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My boyfriend and I decided one day that we just HAD to go on vacation this year, so we decided to check out the Canadian East Coast! While we were planning our way around the Atlantic provinces, we realized there was just too many things to do in the EC and with insufficient time to cover everything, we just decided to spend our days in Nova Scotia.

Luckily and unintentionally of us, we decided to head to the EC just when the G20 was about to hit Toronto, just as it was Fleet week in Halifax and just as the Queen of England was to arrive! Halifax was a bumpin’ city!!! We met up with my friends the night we arrived and checked out the night scene. There were lots of sailors there…so yeah – love sailors!

While we were deciding on the activities for the next day, my friends had asked me if I had any dietary restrictions (even though they fully know I don’t), but I told them I prefer to eat vegetarian if I can. I think they just wanted an excuse to take me to the Wooden Monkey – although none is needed! We had walked by the Wooden Monkey while bar-hopping and decided to meet up there for lunch the next day.

The Wooden Monkey serves up food for everyone. They had gluten-free, veggie and vegan options as well as, meat any  meat lover would be proud of! All four of us got pizzas that day!

The Cheese Pizza (with gluten-free crust)

My friends got extra goat cheese on their – good call, that’s all I gotta say!!

“THE” Veggie Pizza

This was the most epic of epic vegetarian pizzas ever! Conan and I were not feeling that hungry (as we went for breakfast at the Wired Monk) so we shared this pizza.

I don’t even think I need to describe to you all how excellent this pizza was. It’s pretty clear this veggie pizza did not need meat to make it edible. It was a thin crusted pizza jam packed with spinach, onions, tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, pesto, potato, zucchini, feta and mozza cheese. It absolutely deeeeelicious!!!

The Wooden Monkey was so memorable and so delicious that when we returned back to Halifax at the end of our vacation, that was the ONLY thing on my mind. Needless to say, we returned for our last meal in Nova Scotia.

The Lamb Burger

Again, I don’t even know if any description is necessary. It was not a “special” lamb burger in any sense – I mean it was a typical lamb burger patty with some goat cheese. Except the lamb burger was free-range lamb seasoned with rosemary and garlic and the cheese was seasoned and creamy. The fries were SOOO GOOD! Spiced and perfectly fried – not too crispy or soggy – like I said, perfect.

Lentil Burger

Most people who love meat just cringe at the idea that something which isn’t meat can taste good. Well, this burger is awesome. Made with lentils, carrots, miso, garlic, onions, daikon, seeds and oats, it’s more filling than any meat product could ever be! It was served between a fat free 5-organic grain pita. I paid some extra for the apple salad vs. the potato roasties. If a meatless burger is made properly, it will never be crumbly or dry and this burger was definitely made properly!

After some reflections of our epic trip through Nova Scotia, a couple cups of Just Us coffee (a fair-trade coffee co-op originating in Nova Scotia) and eavesdropping on a young family beside our table, we paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant. I felt sad and I walked out slowly because I didn’t know when it will be the next time I will ever come back to Halifax, breathe in the salty ocean air, taste the sweet red Nova Scotia wine (Blomidon Estate Winery being my all time favourite!), feast at the Wild Caraway and  chill out with friends at the Wooden Monkey.