In the heart of Lunenburg’s UNESCO World Heritage designated Old Town sits Chef Martin Ruiz Salvador’s South Shore Fish Shack. Nova Scotia’s Chef Martin and his wife Sylvie are local food celebrities who have received accolades as owners of two of the town’s top restaurants Fleur de Sel and The Salt Shaker Deli.
The duo’s third outpost launched at the beginning of the 2014 season and became an instant hit with locals and throngs of hungry visitors. Chef Martin has scaled back on the creme de la creme experience of his other restaurants to open a shack-style fish and chip takeout. Fish Shack offers a simple chalk board menu with fresh seafood, hand-cut fries and local beer on tap courtesy of Propeller Brewing Co.
We arrive for a late lunch and wait in line for a brief moment before placing our orders. The petite restaurant offers a sun-soaked deck with phenomenal views overlooking the harbour, its star the Bluenose II schooner. The place was so packed that we headed downstairs to a second patio where we tanned in the sun al-fresco clutching a lobster shaped buzzer in anticipation for our order to ring in.
The food is darn right good here. Simple honest fare made with fresh ingredients. We spent the next hour devouring our feast around a picnic table. Highlights included: sweet lobster bun, steaming poutine and crispy fried haddock fish burger.
The Feast:
Propeller Brewing Co Pilsner
Fish & Chips
beer-battered haddock, coleslaw, tartare sauce, hand cut fries
Fish Burger
beer-battered haddock, viennois bun, tartare, arugula, tomato, red onion
Lobster Bun
nova scotia lobster, mayo, viennois bun, arugula
Poutine
hand cut fries, cheese curds, gravy
