Our Team
John House – Owner
John hails from Newfoundland and journeyed to Edmonton at 18 to start his culinary career, continuing his training in PEI, and eventually settling in Halifax in 2011. After roughly 5 years as a Chef for Gio Restaurant, he decided to create his own business and cooked up the idea for Black Sheep.
Brett – Head Chef
Growing up in Tatamagouche, Brett’s family spent much of their time in the kitchen and garden, setting the stage for a life-long passion for food. While studying Culinary Arts at NSCC Akerley, Brett completed his co-op at Grandview Golf & Country Club, and continued his work there afterwards, sparking a love of professional kitchens. Brett spent the next 8 years working his way up at the Prince George Hotel, eventually overseeing Gio’s lunch and dinner services, where he met and worked with John! Brett’s favourite cuisines are French, Mediterranean and Asian, and in his down-time he enjoys movies, trivia, history and learning new languages.
Noah – Sous Chef
Noah started his career in restaurants working as a dishwasher at the age of 17. Following graduation from Holland College’s Culinary Arts Program in 2018, Noah began working at Dune’s Cafe in Brackley Beach, P.E.I. (coincidently where he grew up). It was here he worked with Chef Norman Day, previous Head Chef and friend of Black Sheep owner John House. When Noah made the move to Halifax, Chef Norman put him in touch with John and the rest is history! Noah has been an integral part of the Black Sheep team since 2019, working his way up the ranks in the kitchen to Sous Chef. Some of his favourite cuisines include Asian, French and South American, all of which influence the dishes he helps to create in our kitchen! When he isn’t at work he enjoys cooking, playing video games and listening to music.
Anastasija – Pastry Chef
Anastasija’s culinary career began at just 16, when she started a co-op placement at the Prince George Hotel’s Gio, where she would continue perfecting her craft for 8 years before joining the Black Sheep family in August of 2023. She finished top of her class in Baking and Pastry Arts at NSCC, during which time she competed in the Nova Scotia Skills Competition, winning gold and ultimately representing Nova Scotia on a national level. However, her passion for baking began much earlier, nurtured through countless evenings and weekends spent in the kitchen alongside her father. The intricate designs and original flavour profiles of Anastasija’s desserts are inspired by her Balkan identity and personal cultural experiences, combined with her exceptional skill as a Pastry Chef. The result is a harmonious collection of visually striking and evocative desserts.
Lola – General Manager
Lola (Lorinda, to some) began her career in hospitality in Toronto more than 30 years ago. Originally from New Brunswick, a move to Halifax in 1999 was a welcome return to the Maritimes. Lola joined the Black Sheep family in 2020, aiding in our transition from Dresden Row. When not in the restaurant, you might find Lola in her garden, taking drawing classes or just chilling with her furry friends.
Morgan – Assistant Front of House Manager
Coming to Nova Scotia in 2019 from Ontario, Morgan joined the Black Sheep family as a server when the new location opened on Lower Water. Working in the industry for the past 19 years, in several countries, and having an extraordinary passion for food and drink has allowed her to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience, making her transition into a management role quite natural. She’s always excited to share her expertise with anyone who asks!
Darryl – Bar Manager
Darryl brings with him over 20 years experience in the industry. Starting in back of house, Darryl jumped behind the stick 17 years ago and was immediately hooked. He has worked as a General Manager, Bar Manager, and Consultant, tending bars across Ontario before moving to Halifax in 2019. Darryl believes that tending bar is more than just making great cocktails, that a great bartender holds court every night and provides true hospitality to all who grace the bar. He also, to the chagrin of our staff, tells bad jokes.
Rebecca – Brand Manager
Our behind-the-scenes creative, Rebecca is a seasoned restaurant professional with 15+ years of experience in customer service and hospitality management in both Halifax and Toronto. Rebecca’s expertise extends past restaurants too – as a professional actor in both musical theatre and film/tv! You might spot her around the restaurant snapping photos or entertaining team members with a song and a dance (requested or not!)
Our Story
Previously located on Dresden Row, Black Sheep was a humble hole-in-the-wall and exclusively word-of-mouth. Opening our doors in 2015, the focus was food and the goal was simple: to serve awesome and inspired dishes in a non-pretentious environment. As word began to spread, Black Sheep on Dresden quickly became known for doing things a little differently, line-ups around the block, and its friendly, personable staff.
During our time on Dresden, we gained recognition for our cocktail program, competing in local events like Made With Love, Imbibe and Speed Rack, and our menu was recognized in local publications such as Curated Magazine and The Coast. Creative cocktails, elevated meals and exceptional service brought in locals and out-of-towners alike. Guests became regulars, who became friends, who sometimes even became a part of our team!
Our new location offers three times the space for guests to enjoy the same quality service and exceptional fare. Our mission remains to make awesome food and drink from scratch using quality, locally sourced ingredients. We make as much in-house as we can, we partner with as many local producers and brands as possible, and our new, harbour adjacent home has influenced a menu focus on fresh, East Coast seafood. Our menu is globally inspired, yet approachable; our team, with a variety of backgrounds, experience, and knowledge help us bring that inspiration to life.
