The Bertossi Group

The Bertossi Group consists of several vibrant, casual fine dining restaurants & luxury cafes in Halifax, Nova Scotia committed to serving only the finest, freshest ingredients.

The Bicycle Thief, Ristorante a Mano, La Frasca and il Mercato Trattoria have become fixtures of the Nova Scotia culinary scene. Known for excellence and exceptional hospitality they have become destinations for both locals and visitors from around the world looking to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine.

In August 2024, Hakan Uluer opened the doors to Water Polo, The Bertossi Group's newest restaurant along the Halifax Waterfront. Highlighting locally and globally sourced seafood, Water Polo celebrates the incredible bounty from the seven seas, with the incredible open-arm hospitality that Nova Scotians have come to know and love from The Bertossi Group.

Owner Hakan Uluer has spent the past three decades of his career working in the restaurant and hospitality industry. As an ambitious youth, Hakan worked his way through various hospitality roles, eventually leading to a career in fine dining management.

His extensive hospitality training in the luxurious Conrad Hotel Istanbul, and with the Royal Caribbean International, gave him the expertise needed to lead culinary teams in award-winning dining establishments in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In 2009, he came to beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia to raise his family, and began working with the Bertossi family, whose award-winning restaurants were founded on traditional recipes from Friuli, Italy, and garnered a reputation for excellence through authentic Italian flavours and culinary delights.

Ownership of the company was a natural progression for Hakan, and he operates the business with a hands-on, no-nonsense approach. Providing excellence in hospitality is something Hakan is absolutely passionate about, and he wishes nothing more than for all his guests to feel as though they are visitors to his own home – as if they are family enjoying a unique, one of a kind culinary experience.