Maxwell’s Plum has been, for a number of years, one of my favourite pubs in a market that is saturated with good pubs. In other words, I keep going back. Now, this is not to say that the food is particularly memorable, but Maxwell’s does have its charms. You’ll find it on the corner of Sackville and Grafton Streets, and it appears to be a typical pub, although it describes itself as a "non-traditional English pub."
The menu consists of a selection of starters, salads, fish-and-chips, Philly cheesesteak sandwich, and a variety of things under the heading of "pub grub:" chicken, burgers, etc. at only C$3.99 per selection. Well, I’ve eaten there in the past, and I tried it once again… but there are few surprises. I had the "premium" steak, a 12-ounce offering that I ordered "blue." Well, it was blue; in fact, it was perfect, but what can one expect at C$8.99? My daughter, who is not so fond of Plum, ordered a salad, which she picked at and rejected as not particularly good, and my wife tried the burger platter, a deal at C$2.99 (plus C$0.75 for onions, and another C$0.75 for mushrooms). So, I guess it’s not about the food.
I do like the ambiance. It is very "pubby." There are now three or four levels with green tartan carpeting, lots of dark wood, a black Victorian ceiling, dark green walls, and loads of brewery paraphernalia. The bar is substantial, though not large, and seats half a dozen patrons. One draw may be the large barrel of roasted salted peanuts near the bar. By the end of the day, the floor and tables are strewn with peanut shells, and I admit that I am as guilty as anyone else.
So what does Maxwell’s have that others don’t? Well, there are as many as 50 imported beers in the bottle at C$6.50 and perhaps 25 imported draft beers at $4.95/12 oz. There are also local drafts and microbrewery selections from Nova Scotia. Add to that all the usual beers and there’s a fairly extensive menu. There is a full bar in this pub. Tthe "well" is complete, but add to it the over 20 single-malt Scotch whiskeys that are available and you may understand the attraction. The average Halifax pub has a very limited selection. Maxwell’s has variety that more than makes up for the menu.
On weekends, they serve a nice breakfast-brunch from 11am until 3 in the afternoon. It’s equally well-priced. During the week, happy hour takes place from 4:30 to 8pm. Well, those are the plusses and the caveats. In a city with so many watering holes, Maxwell’s is a cut above many. For lunch or a cheap dinner, it’s not a bad choice.