Buster's Sea Cove - St. Lawrence Market

Just had lunch at Buster's Sea Cove inside the St. Lawrence Market, and it turned out to be one of the best seafood meals I've ever had in Toronto. I ordered fried calamari, clam chowder, and grilled octopus with rice, and each dish was delicious in its own way. The fried calamari was crispy, tender, and perfectly seasoned—light enough to be enjoyed without feeling heavy. The clam chowder was warm, creamy, and full of flavor with plenty of clams, making it the perfect comfort food. The star of the meal, however, was the grilled octopus: beautifully grilled, incredibly tender, and served with delicious rice that complemented it perfectly. The service was prompt, the staff friendly, and the food tasted fresh—just what you'd expect from a seafood restaurant in a historic market. If you're visiting the St. Lawrence and want delicious, well-prepared seafood, Buster's Sea Cove is definitely worth a visit!

Ouch! I had higher expectations from a “seafood”place. Now FYI i’ve eaten probably a good chunk of the ocean and eating and seeing what i saw there is unforgivable (blasphemous IMO) Let’s start with the good: order was ready within minutes, calamari portion was wayyyyyy bigger than expected. Crab roll was edible but not at all to delight, those frozen shoestring fries were yuck and that pickle smelled of formaldehyde eww. Nothing was fresh and i mean nothing. I saw them prepare frozen cubes of chowder. It was very unappealing. I didn’t want to see how the crab rolls were made that’s for sure. Save your money for fresh seafood elsewhere. Believe me…

The popular lobster roll was really good. The big lobster chunks inside were a nice touch. The fries were moderate. Love the branding with the “newspaper” wrap. It’s a nice seafood spot in the corner and the girl with the blue hair gave excellent service. Would recommend for people visiting the market.

First time trying after coming to the market for years I tried the seafood orzo, was expecting more of a risotto style dish. Although it was fresh and flavour with some seafood in it, it wasn’t my style of dish Also tried the crab cake which was hot, fresh and flavourful Next time I’ll order something different that’s more suited to my palette. Wish they offered a buttered lobster roll - PEI style as I don’t eat mayo!

The lobster roll is definitely not the cheapest meal, but it is actually so good. I was expecting it to have an overwhelming taste of mayo like others, but it was actually felt lighter and well balanced. You can taste the lobster meat and also a little zestiness. They also got the order out fast with an efficient system even with a busy crowd. Overall, pretty great if you want to splurge a little.

St. Lawrence Market is such a fun place to explore, with so many food options to try! We ended up eating there twice at the same spot — Seafood Buster’s Cove — because it was just that good. The seafood is super fresh and flavorful. The lobster roll is definitely a must-try, and the octopus was excellent as well. Everything tasted so clean and perfectly prepared. seating is an obstacle. better to wait for the spot then order your food. outdoor seating is also available next to busters sea cove.

Almost been a year since I last ate here and while I used to rave about the halibut and chips, this was not up to the standard I expect. The quality and quantity of Halibut was very good but the batter was passable (darker than usual, more spice/flavor…possibly used to make up for batter changes?). Chips were decent but had some “leftover, overcooked” pieces that took away from the quality. Hoping the next time will be a return trip to their quality product. Note: was a frequent customer at Market Street Catch (which was/is? associated with Busters) but their frequent changes resulted in a product that was just frequently inconsistent.

The fish was great quality but could’ve definitely used some more seasoning. It’s located inside a beautiful market though and there is outdoor seasoning. It’s nice if you like to enjoy the taste of the fish itself though. 🐟🍤

This is a very popular eatery at St. Lawrence Market. Set up is food court style where you order from the counter and wait for your order to be called when ready. There is limited seating in the area and it's first come first serve style. Menu is all seafood from fish to calamari to many shellfish items. Sandwiches can be made into a combo for about 4 dollars more and you have the choice of salad, rice or fries. What was ordered: Calamari Po'Boy with a side salad Grilled Mahi Mahi Sandwich The sandwiches include lettuce, tomato and onions, in some cases, and also a little container of coleslaw. The grilled Mahi Mahi was fresh and flakey with a light seasoning. Generous portion of fried calamari in the po'boy which is drizzled in a aioli. A bit messy to eat. This is a pricier option in the market but worth a try if you like seafood.

My gf and I came to St Lawrence Market for my bday and we saw a massive line over at Buster's Sea Cove. It had been in my bookmarks for awhile, so we eagerly headed over and got in line. We got a lobster roll with fries. The food was good! The bun was buttery, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. There was decent amount of lobster running through it and the squeeze of lemon was just perfect to provide some cutback on the mayo and some zestyness. The fries were also of the shoestring variety and very crispy. They also included a pickle in the box. Food was good. Was it worth the price of $20+? I'm not so sure tbh. It's teetering right there for me on worth it and not worth it territory. For charging $20+ I felt like they could've added slightly more lobster to the roll. Nevertheless, I'd return in the future. The soups piqued my curiosity.

I loved Buster's sea cove and forget the yelp reviews....the line was long and the seafood fresh. Great lobster roll....heads up....it is a lobster salad with light mayo and seasonings. Great fries. Crab, shrimp, and fish looked great. I would come back

St Lawrence market location is an anchor of the market. Limited communal seating, large menu and very fresh seafood is offered. The Lobster bisque is delicious. More red pepper forward.flavour, the lobster is in every spoonful. We didnt love the clam chowder flavour, maynr we should have insiater the server ladel from the bottom of the pot inatead of the surface like we witnessed. The clam strips are great and large portioned, the coleslaw lightly drrssed crisp and flavourful. The Poboy shrimp were a bit overbattered, but the crab cakes were busting out with crab and shoe string potatoes were great. Loved the tartar sauce and cocktail sauce had a nice bite to it.

No wonder why they have a very long line... bec their food is undeniably good! U just have to learn to eat standing up or wait for people to finish so you can enjoy your meal sitting down

We walked to St. Lawrence Market after visiting the Underpass Farmer's Market looking for something to eat for dinner. I wanted the clam chowder, but unfortunately was told it sold out. We ended up going for the crabcake sandwich and the featured crabmeat sandwich combo. The featured sandwich was good but I found my crabcake sandwich could use some more sauce as i found it on the dryer end. There's limited seating with one bigger communal table that can fit 8 and some bar seating around the corner.

Busy busy busy ... the line is the longest in St. Lawrence Market but it moves pretty quick. It helped that there was someone who wrote down my order on a piece of paper and radio'ed it in to the people at the counter/kitchen. When I asked the young lady who took my order what was the most popular item was, she said that most people wait on line for their lobster roll. So of course I ordered it. I never had a lobster roll that was chopped up. Can't really say I like it that way .. I enjoy substantial pieces of lobster, not chopped up pieces. Will I return? Maybe ... but I'll definitely order something else.

NO CREDIT CARDS. But they allow debit card and cash. Located in the very back from the main entrance of St Lawrence Market. Came on a weekday around 10AM, and there was no line. There was a shared table with 8 seats, as well as counter top seating on stools. Food: Overall, I would probably try a different fish option for the fish&chips because the halibut was a dry. I still recommend the lobster roll, because holy moly, that is the most lobster meat I have seen in a lobster roll, but I really wish they would add more mayo sauce or alternatively drench it in butter (the latter may be the more American Connecticut-style). - Fries were fairly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Not as salted as I was used to, but I am from the USA so probably am accustomed to eating way too much salt in my dishes. - Lobster roll and fries ($22.15): This was the most abundant amount of lobster meat I have ever eaten in a lobster roll, and more so considering the low price (compared to every other lobster roll I have ever eaten in the United States, which is a lot of lobster rolls). Yet ... I was not satisfied. The amount of mayo dressing was scant, so it was basically like I was just eating a lobster. Which is perfectly fine (again, SO MUCH meat for the price), but I was expecting a lobster roll with the meat and dressing. The bread was also a bit strange, with a harder shell than the toasted fluffy buns I am accustomed to. -Fish (halibut) and fries ($21.25): The white fish meat was a bit dry, but the batter was crunchy. The included tartar sauce was creamy and a nice accompaniment.

Out of all the options at St Lawrence market, this was the most popular it seemed on this Friday night. Even so, it wasn't very crowded at this time. We got the lobster roll, which came with lots of quality meat but I wish it was a warm roll instead of cold. The seafood orzo pasta, made spicy, was a huge filling dish. There were good pieces of seafood in a nice tomato broth. Overall, everything was okay and nothing stood out. I liked the salads and how much fresh veggies were packed in the small containers.

STAY AWAY Ordered $26 lobster roll, they gave it to someone else after 20+ min wait, then REFUSED a refund, saying it was MY fault & they don't care. Worst customer service ever. Terrible experience at Buster's Sea Cove today. $26 for nothing + rude staff who blame customers for their mistakes. So many better seafood options at St Lawrence Market!

People who are saying that Buster's lobster roll is the best and delicious probably haven't tried other lobster rolls. Quite the contrary, it was the worst lobster rolls I've ever had. From the hard bun to the tasteless lobster, everything about this sandwich is so terrible. The lobster meat has a fishy odour so you already know it's not fresh which is surprising since they have access to fresh seafood within the market. It's also doused with too much mayo that it overpowers the sweet delicate flavour of the lobster. Ordered their Haddock & Chips and it's so greasy and oily. Order comes with a generous serving of shoestring fries which are mostly bland. The free side coleslaw is flavourless and best not to get. Overrated/overpriced/overhyped, I'm not coming back nor recommending this place.

A great food spot in St Lawrence Market in Toronto!! This market is overwhelming with the number of options and people, but I was really impressed with the quality, price, and efficiency of this food spot! I got the crab cake sandwich which was a substantial size and came with slaw, cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce (a nice surprising and refreshing touch) and a delicious sauce. It was a great balance of crab to bread too. All of their seafood options were quite affordable and sounded delicious. The food was prepared so quickly! There aren't a ton of tables around, so you kinda have to wait for someone to leave to take their seat inside, but the food is totally worth it!

great place for sea food. definitely will be coming back. it is inside the St. Lawrence market. and just be prepared when it is weekend it very hectic line ups are long. but worth the wait. lots of sea food selection from grill to fired ones.

There was a long line to order but it moved fast and the food was ready in a few minuets. Most of the food stalls in the market were overpriced and this one was no exception ($17 for fish + lettuce). The fish was good, but overall I don't think the meal was worth the price.

Always a long line (that moves relatively quickly) and a fun spot inside the St. Lawrence market for a basket of fresh seafood. We decided to share a lobster roll as a snack, for fueling up for the rest of our market tour. Plenty of outdoor seating (along with some cramped quarters inside) made for a lovely respite from all the walking on both market levels. The lobster rolls were quite good, plenty of lobster chunks as well as bits and pieces, and the grilled roll was warm and slightly crispy on the outside. Sandwich came with a pickle spear and a side of cole slaw, making for a whole meal. We added a side salad [for health reasons! ;-) ] and were fully satisfied afterwards.

Buster's Sea Cove in St Lawrence Market is a very popular spot to grab some fresh seafood meals. They offer a wide variety of fresh fish, shellfish, soups, salads, and so much more. On this visit, with friends visiting from Florida, we all had sandwiches and an order of fries. * Crab Salad Sandwich * Haddock Sandwich * Mahi Mahi Sandwich * Fries Everything was fresh and delicious. The crispy fries were more than enough for us to share. The service was efficient and friendly, and the ambiance was rustic, adding to the charm of this place. Check them out!

Delicious, fresh, generous lobster roll served with tasty fries! Don't miss the fried calamari, too - very tasty. Accommodating service. Good outdoor seating at bench tables - careful with the aggressive pigeons, though!

A food booth in St Lawrence market, I didn't intend to stop by here originally, but their food smelled too good to not indulge. It seems fairly popular, but despite the line, the service was reasonably quick. I ended up getting the fried calamari and while it was really good, if the serving size I received is representative of the rest of the menu, you can probably split one meal between a couple of people. Based upon that, their prices are super reasonable. Totally worth a visit if you like seafood at all

I've done research before going to St. Lawrence Market. This place seems pretty popular with their seafood items. It is all the way in the back of the market. I had to ordered the 100% crab cake sandwich and the clam chowder. The bread was toasted well and very thin. the crab cake was crispy and hot. I can really taste the crab meat. Sooo good, and not too salty. Chowder was delicious also. If I had a bigger stomach, I would try their other sandwiches too!

I was excited to try this place strictly based on the Octopus on the menu - especially given a plethora of options all around, up & downstairs at the St. Lawrence market. You know, sometimes, we just don't get it right. And unfortunately, for me, this was one of those times. It was utterly disappointing! And even worse, being my first *official* meal in Toronto - the place I drooled about prior to coming (as a foodie since forever). It was simply way overpriced for not the best quality or flavor. Its bad enough to lack one, but BOTH?! Yeah that was almost $40 down the drain. [You're welcome for the donation smh]. The octopus was okay, definitely edible, lacked flavor/seasoning (and i KNOW octopus - not much is needed, which means the chef just didn't care - convince me otherwise.... you can't!). The fries. The FRIES. THE FRIES. Aw-ful. They were fried way too hard - i mean tooth breaking at each bite hard, inedible and infuriating. It made me wish I'd just ordered octopus by itself, because it sure wound up being that way. The coleslaw helped as a palate cleanser for the oversalted everything else. It was the absolute driest coleslaw I've ever had in my life. I mean, it doesn't have to be soupy or drowning but it at least needs to be A LITTLE wet, or else you're just crunching on what tastes like staunchy lettuce. Whatever! This wasn't a great experience, obviously, lol. I think the icing on it all was the rude customer service. That never helps! But, this is how we learn. And now i know! Not recommended for a (first or) second go!

I was looking for a quick lunch at St Lawrence Market. Ordered Fish fry (Haddock) served with fries. Impressed by the super quick service - the food was ready 3 mins after the order, and there was a self-serve counter where you can pick a pack of coleslaw (I picked one package, but the packs are out there piled, so you can technically help yourself to a couple if you want).You can get a plastic bag there if necessary. The fish was juicy and thick and the butter was light and crispy. Loved the super-thin shoestring fries. Both went well with the tartar sauce. Came with refreshing lemon wedges as well. A bit expensive $17 + for the volume, but worth it.

This place is inside St.Lawrence market,went here for lunch, we ordered lobster bisque,lobster roll,fish and chips ,salad.the bisque is too watery,and the roll was minced lobster,salad was ok.they have very limited seating here.

I tried the lobster sandwhich with fries. The lobster quantity was good and it tasted fresh. The sandwich itself was smaller. The fries portion size was massive and they tasted great while hot. Overall I enjoyed the sandwhich but it wasn't creamy which I prefer on lobster sandwiches. Service was fast and ambiance is food court market vibes. It didn't meet my expectations since it was very hyped up but the food itself was good. Although, there are better options in the market.

Got the lobster roll and crab cakes. Both contained shredded meat that lacked flavor. If you love Long John silvers this might be for you. It wasn't my idea of good.

Vastly overrated and decidedly mediocre. Don't bother. I wish I could recommend something else at St. Lawrence Market, but the only delicious thing we found there was a green curry pot pie from one of the butcher shops and some amazing produce vendors.

Went here before for the Haddock and Fries which were good, but the second time was underwhelming. It's located in the St. Lawrence Market, making it super busy. The prices are alright, and there is a seating area in front of the place. It's very loud and busy. I ordered fried calamari and onion rings, but the cashier got my order wrong and I ended up getting grilled instead. I went back to change it and they ended up giving my fried calamari and fries. At that point I felt bad about bothering them and didn't want to waste any more food, so I just took it. It tasted okay, but was rather underwhelming. The sauce they gave was nice and the calamari was crispy on the outside, not chewy on the inside, which was really good. The fries are bland, and similar to McCain's. In general there didn't seem to be much seasoning. Overall, underwhelming and disappointing. I wish I could've enjoyed it more but for the price, I ended up being dissatisfied.

After having my last time "not good" experience, I knew this time I have to order fish and chips. We ordered a fried haddock with fries and a grilled fresh tilapia with fish. I really loved the flavour of grilled fish. I would give it a 9/10. The fried fish was fine but too greasy, 7/10. They provided a lot of french fries so I would suggest people have one dish with salad instead to have a more balancing dietary.

Shrimp po boy was decent. It could be crispier. There was a creamy green herb sauce which was decent. Fries were so so, as was the coleslaw (vinegar, not creamy)

Was at St Lawrence market and was craving fish and chips. Saw this place also at The Well so I decided to give it a try. Fish was bland, had fries and not chips, no mushy peas. Coleslaw wasn't anything to write home about. Wouldn't go back.

I came here specifically to try their lobster roll, and it didn't disappoint. When I came here, there was a line, but it was a relatively short wait. I read other reviews about this place, which talked about their service. I didn't experience quite the same, but I did notice that the staff taking orders maybe not be attentive sometimes. Price-wise, it was okay, given the portion. I think it's worth a try if you haven't tried it already, but I don't see myself coming back to St Lawrence Market just for this place.

Walking into St Lawerance market and looking for some good food. We came across Buster's Sea Cove and there was a line for this place at 2:30pm, which passed lunch time and all the other places has no line. So we decided to try this place. They are fast on ordering and staff is very efficient. They are nice and kind. We ordered Lobster Bisque, fish sandwich, and BBQ Shrimp. I love fish sandwich, it is flavorful. Lobster Bisque tasted great, but doesn't seems to have any type of lobster meat in it, the bbq shrimp tasted great and fresh but it is very expensive for only 5 shrimps. If I have choice again I will not ordered the shrimp and lobster bisque. Will wanna try this place again just order different items.

This is a popular spot for tourist to have lunch. I found them through Yelp. They are located in St. Lawrence Market. They are known for their seafood or their lobster sandwich. I arrived around 11:30 am and there was not much of a line up. I ordered their lobster sandwich. It was very different from the American style. Their lobster is shredded and mixed with seasoning, mayo, cucumber and etc and served in a bun. It was good (not wow). I prefer just lobsters and less fillers. I got my sandwich with fries. The fries were skinny fries and again they were ok. I would say the fries were nothing special. The lobster sandwich with fries after tax came to $20.06. The price is not bad when you compare Lobster sandwiches in the USA. Note that they only take debit card or cash only. There are limited tables and seating at this location. The good thing is that most people just eat and go. We didn't have any issues finding a seat. It is definitely worth coming here if you have never been.

The fish and chips is one of the best in the city. Love how well done it is. Also tried the seafood chowder. Was ok and could do withput it. Also tried the fish Sandwich, which is good but not a must either.

If you're looking for something good, reasonable priced and seafood, then head to Buster's at St. Lawrence market! Once there, there was a little bit of a line but it moves so do stick to it! We ordered the fried calamari and my goodness! These were probably the most tender fried calamari that I've ever had. It was so delicious with a nice bread coating - not too oily and not too bready. JUST PERFECTION. Highly recommend!

I remember watching YouTubers and they kept mentioning how great this place was. Did it live up to the hype? First of all, it's cash only. Second, I decided to get the snow crab roll. It only comes with fries or salad. I wished you could substitute them for soup. I ordered clam chowder soup. When I first ate it, it was 6 pm on a week night so there were tons of seating available. I ate downstairs. I'm not a huge fan of the grilled bun, I would have liked it if it was soft and buttery. Seattle does it better. I do how fresh, plentiful, and flavorful it was. I ate it pretty fast. I did not care much for the fries since they were bland and dry. If they seasoned it, it would have been a different story. Clam chowder was good but there weren't a lot of clams. I definitely had way more in Boston and the Southern States. Overall, it's about a 3 because I did like the snow crab. I didn't try the haddock and chips. Prices were reasonable.

Food: 4/5 I ordered the octopus po'boy. The octopus tasted fresh and I enjoyed the fact that it was cooked well and not chewy. The chipotle sauce added flavor to the sandwich, but the octopus itself could have used some flavor. Service: 5/5 Cooks and the host were friendly and attentive. Ambiance: 4/5 This little gem is in a very busy market, so as expected, it was difficult to find any seating at all unless you wait. Towards the exit of the market, there were some seats available.

Came here for the famous lobster roll, and it was yum! Lobster meat was very fresh, the sauce only added the flavor and didn't overkill the meat's taste. The bun was thin and warm, a bit crispy on the outside. A bit overpriced but totally worth to try.

This was an average lobster roll spot. Paid $60US for 2 lobster rolls and calamari. We should have eaten somewhere else.

Decent lobster roll. Still not good enough to justify the price but when you want one, you'll pay just about anything. I like it better when there's chunks of lobster.

Very popular spot at the St. Lawrence market. We arrived around 11am on a Saturday and it just starting to get busy. The line was pretty long by noon. We all agreed that the halibut was better than the Haddock, and had a lighter batter, but both tasted good. The sandwich was well dressed and the bun had a nice herby flavor. Would recommend the sandwich!

Pro-tip: Beat the lunch rush by arriving 11:30 am to get your food fast and a seat to enjoy it. Located inside the St. Lawrence Market, this place is all the way at the back on the street level. Great fish and chips (get the haddock). The haddock was tender, moist, and flaky. The batter really adhered to it and it was very tasty. The coleslaw was good and included. As a purist, I love the malt vinegar and salt. Delicious!

Apparently it is the most popular place on St. Lawrence Market. A very long line, but no more than 10 minutes wait. Great seafood! The tables are very limited, as this is a market, so you would need to find a seat somewhere else. It's not fancy place, but has its sea vibe.

Walking by this place, I noticed all the fresh various seafood meats being prepped and knew I had to try this place. The person working the cash register recommended the Halibut and Chips, so we went with that. Service here was relatively quick, with our food being ready in about 15 minutes. The halibut was piping hot, having come straight from the fryer. The meat was tender and the batter was crunchy. As far as fish and chips go, I found it not too heavy, as in there weren't many bites where all you were eating was batter. The amount of fish given felt appropriate and the amount of fries to be quite generous. Overall, I recommend checking this place out for some good fish and chips. They have a selection of different fish available and if you don't know what to get, you can definitely ask.

tasty lobster rolls! good portions of the sides as well. i'd definitely recommend this place.

Since we arrived around 4 pm on Sunday, many of the popular dishes had already sold out, so there weren't many options to choose from. If you have a specific dish in mind, be sure to arrive early, as this is a popular tourist spot and there are often long lines. We ordered the lobster roll, which was generously filled with lobster meat throughout the bread, and came with two pickles. Eating it together gave us the feeling that we were eating a high-end version of a lobster burger. The meal also came with fries, which ensured that we left feeling full. We also ordered the steamed mussels, which were cooked in a tomato-based soup that was flavorful and delicious. We enjoyed the soup so much that we drank it like a broth. We noticed that many people were ordering the fried fish, and you can even choose which type of fish you would like. We will have to try it next time we come. 因為我們是周日下午四時左右去到，所以已經很多熱門的菜式都已經賣光了，選擇不多，如果有指定想要吃的東西，記得要早點到，可能因為是遊客區，也挺多人排隊。 最後我們點了lobster roll，用料豐富，整個麵包裡頭都是滿滿的lobster絲，再配有 兩條酸瓜，配起來一起吃，有種像在吃高級版龍蝦漢堡包的感覺。這個餐還有配上薯條，保證很飽地離開。 我們再加多了一份steamed mussels，是用蕃茄熬湯製成湯底再煮mussels，味道濃郁，很好吃，喜歡得把那個汁當成湯喝了。 我們眼見很多人點炸魚來吃，這邊還可以選想要那種魚，有機會下次會來試一下。

Lots of options to choose from and condiment selection was great. Had the halibut & chips, very crispy.

We made a stop here when we were at St. Lawrence market, and it was perfectly fine. There isn't seating specifically for this restaurant, but plenty of picnic tables outside and around the market to sit. In terms of food, the lobster roll was very small, but pretty tasty. I felt like it was a little overpriced, but that is expected for a tourist location like this. The pickles were perfectly pickled, maybe a little on the too pickled side. The fries were thick and a little under salted for me. Overall, it was a perfectly fine meal. Would I go again? I probably wouldn't make a special stop for this place, but if I was in the area and really hungry, I wouldn't be against having another lobster roll.

One of my favorite seafood spots, always tasty really fresh when I go and they sometimes have a long line but it goes quickly. I highly recommend this place. 5 stars all day.

Great place inside the St. Lawrence Market to grab a quick bite anytime. Seafood is super fresh, cooked to order and won't break the bank. The line of locals tell you whatever you order is going to be really good! We ordered the fried calamari to share and there was like at least a 1/2 pound w/fries. Calamari was soft, not tough and melted in your mouth! They had a vast array of many different fish, oysters etc.... Definitely a place to get to on your list. Don't be intimidated by the line as they provide super fast service. Staff is very friendly.