A new restaurant opens today in the former Black Duck space on Bridge Street, beside Quality Grocery. Moot Point Tavern will be an evening-focussed restaurant, and for the time being, will be open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday starting at 5pm.
Co-owner Al Barbour, of the Black Duck and Quality Grocery, says he felt it was time for a change in direction. “We had been doing the Black Duck for 10 years,” says Barbour, “and when we started it, there was a real need for a cafe.” But with more cafe options available in town, that need has dropped off, and Barbour says he now sees a new opportunity. “There’s definitely a need for somewhere to go in the evening and get some some good food and maybe a beer or a glass of wine or a cocktail.”
Barbour says there will be familiar faces at the new restaurant, though some former Black Duck staff have moved on. One new face will be taking over the reins in the kitchen at Moot Point, having recently moved to Sackville from Nova Scotia, where he worked in a number of popular kitchens.
Phil Benitez most recently worked at Canteen in Dartmouth, a popular spot opened up by chef Renée Lavallée. Benitez moved to Sackville for a relationship, and sounds positive about his new career at Moot Point. “I always like to give a helping hand wherever I can,” says Benitez, “And I just decided that Al and I could do something great together.”
Moot Point opens for the first time Thursday at 5pm. Barbour says that eventually the new back deck will re-open when the weather warms up. “We still have our garden, all of that stuff as well,” says Barbour. In addition to the hours change, “it’s going to be a little bit more food-focused that what you would be able to do in a cafe,” he says. “And it’s going to be table service, so come in and sit down, and a server comes to your table,” says Barbour. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
