Dartmouth dining has long been associated with the familiar, in the form of chain restaurants, and the well-publicized tourist haunts with the view. But terrific food is often off the beaten path, which is where Occasions traveled to experience two restaurants that offer divergent, but satisfying dining experiences.
 Nectar, located in downtown Dartmouth on Ochterloney Street, is a showpiece for the city that has the look and feel of a Toronto hotspot. When Rae Kraushar designed the spare, elegant Nectar Social House, she wasn’t just choosing fabric and paint – she was creating a showcase for gorgeous food and fine wine. Nectar has it all. The indoor dining area manages to be bright without glare and sensual without the barest hint of fringe.
And, let’s not forget, a lounge that would make a ’30s film star feel right at home. It’s a beautiful environment, but its raison d’être – the food – is art on the plate and the palate. Dishes arrive nested on organic greens, seared to perfect caramelization and drizzled becomingly with fragrant sauces. They look tantalizing and, judging by the 2009 Best Restaurant (Dartmouth) award bestowed upon Nectar this year, tantalizing easily gives way to satisfying – even “succulent,” the word Rae Kraushar uses to describe Chef David Clark’s food.
It wouldn’t be Nectar without a fine wine list and Nectar doesn’t disappoint. The wine list includes red, white and sparkling wines from France, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, the U.S. and Canada. The Martini menu explodes with fruit liqueurs that create the adult version of a kid in a candy store.
And speaking of candy, diners face a serious dilemma when it comes to dessert: spring rolls stuffed with banana, mango and coconut-chocolate ganache are a must-have. But if you’ve paid proper homage to Chef Clark’s menu, you’re probably running out of space below decks. Go with friends and share the bounty – at least you’ll be able to get a bite or two, perhaps of crème brulée or the sticky date cake. Or, if you’re strong enough, just sigh, put down your fork and promise yourself a return trip for dessert.
 Across town, on Panavista Drive, Vines Pasta Grill sits perched atop a hill with ample parking in behind. The restaurant tacitly admits there’s not much to see: slatted wooden blinds enclose the room and let in just the right amount of light. But the view isn’t why people come to the Vines; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they come for “the love,” which in the case of Vines is the attention Chef (and owner) Hans Gerstenecker and wife Tina put into creating a welcoming experience.
Gerstenecker’s food philosophy is simple, practical and romantic. He loves food and wants his customers
to love it, too. He attributes his passion for great food to his mother’s delicious home cooking. “I like to think people can feel the love in my food,” he says – and you can.
The Mediterranean salad tasted freshly-picked, with split cherry tomatoes in glowing cabochons on the side. Sun-dried tomatoes, plenty of feta and an herb vinaigrette made it immensely satisfying. Budget conscious diners revel that Vines provides solid, simply and lovingly prepared foods that satiate any appetite, but Dartmouthonians can also now pamper themselves, thanks to Nectar, with a fine dining experience that rivals the best across the water.
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