The South Shore Fish Shack

We had a great experience at The South Shore Fish Shack! We ordered the fish burger and the lobster bun—both were absolutely delicious and came with a generous serving of crispy fries. We also tried a couple of their local tap beers, and they were pretty good too! The guy working there was super friendly and helpful—he gave us great recommendations, and we were glad we followed his advice. The outdoor patio is a cool spot with a beautiful view of the ocean and the iconic Bluenose II. There’s also a cozy indoor dining room, which is perfect if the weather turns cold or rainy. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in Lunenburg!

Want good fried clams? This is the place in Lunenburg. Clams are lightly dipped in batter and fried to perfection. Amazing fries and also don’t forget the seafood chowder. Full of ingredients and taste great too. Highly recommended

So good. Perfect Nova Scotia seafood. Perfect spot for lunch. We stopped for lunch and had mussels (yes!!!), and lobster burger. The salmon dip was also delicious. Service was great. Food was great. Views/atmosphere even better.

The people very friendly but it’s sad that tourists leave thinking that their seafood is Nova Scotia’s best seafood. My husband had the two piece fish n chips. Too much tasteless batter, fries were string fries, both soaked in grease. The coleslaw was stale. I had their ‘seafood chowder’, the shrimp was canned and rubber, the potatoes and carrots were just barely cooked and it was watery rather than creamy as it should be. What a waste! Never again!

The restaurant has a beautiful view and the food quality is decent, but the service can be limited when it gets busy. Also, tips and the cost of food are collected before serving, which feels unusual. It would be better if the tip amount reflected the level of service provided.

The service was excellent and the food was really yummy! The fish was perfectly battered and cooked and the taste was delicious! They came downstairs after we collected our food at the counter to check and see how everything was. Great service, friendly team and I’m still full 6 hours later!

Shared a delicious lobster and fries with my partner on our visit here. The food was so good and cooked to perfection, and the size was amazing for the price. The girl who took our order was lovely and very friendly, although you pick up your own food so you do not interact much with any servers. We also had a beautiful view of the water, which made the food taste even better.

Perfect place for some quick fish and chips. We had a busy day kayaking and asked our guide where the best f&c were in Lunenburg. He recommended Fish Shack. Ordering was nice and simple at the till. They give you a buzzer when the food is ready. Main patio was bust so we went down the stairs where it was quiet. Food was just what we needed and delicious. The manager checked on us a couple of times and was really pleasant. We will be back next time we visit.

Great shack for some fish and chips or a lobster bun! They have plenty of outdoor seating and a covered patio downstairs for rainy days. Unfortunately very limited indoor seating. The lobster bun was fresh and filled with nice lobster chunks. Fish and chips were nicely fried, a great stop for a day trip here! The price point a bit higher for a "faster food joint" but still a decent option.

We ate here bc it was right off the harbor - it was Ehhhhhhh ... we probably ordered wrong. Got the lobster rolls and it was mehhhh - I've had better at Lobster West in Coronado, San Diego. The lobster was like shredded, not big hunks of lobster that I expect in a legit lobster roll. Service was quick though the girl at the front working there making a stern comment to me to only sit at a table for 2 so we don't take up a larger table, whilst there were 2 guys there sitting at a larger table - annoyed me. Just to note it wasn't busy at all - there was plenty of available tables in the lower indoor seating area. The food and prices were very underwhelming. I would've been better off eating at the Subway a couple doors down that had lobster rolls for $13.99 lol. Lesson learned. One extra star bc the bathrooms were plentiful and clean, and the view is beautiful.

Service was fabulous. The brunette who served us our food came out and checked on us a couple times and truly could not have been nicer or more accommodating. It's such a treat to be served by such a lovely, thoughtful human. The fish and chips were awesome. Huge pieces of haddock and the chips were the bomb. The thin stringy type of fries - so if you're into that then you'll love these. My husband had the lobster with the corn and potato salad and enjoyed it. Outdoor seating with great view. Nice atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Don't be afraid to come in after looking through the front door! In the very rustic looking setting you'll see a counter, a sign stating what they have, a door to an outside seating area and some steps going downstairs to who knows what! It turns out to be a very nice as well as very casual place for lunch/dinner. You order at the counter and pay. We went down the steps that led to a nice if sparsely decorated space that had maybe 5 or 6 tables. They give you a buzzer that when it goes off will definitely make you jump when it goes off. It vibrates so much on the table that everyone in the place knows your food is ready. So you climb back up the steps to get it. And now on to the food. The Fried Fish (Haddock Filet) sandwich with French Fries was very good, with the breading being delicious and not at all greasy. One person in our group ordered just the Haddock Filet and asked for 2 filets never imagining they would be so gigantic. Thank goodness they were very good. The deep Fried Scallops were also good to very good. Not many places offer beer on tap as well as cans of wine, so if you're in the neighborhood give this place a try, you'll most likely enjoy the experience.

Lobster roll was more like a seafood salad roll. Not much detectable lobster. Seafood chowder was watered down. It is October but still! We come a long way for quite the disappointment. Great view and pleasant people.

Beautifully breaded fish, tender fries, a deck that looks out over the Bluenose II! Yummy!

Great choice in Lunenburg. We sat on the outdoor porch with a fantastic view of the harbor. We watched the Bluenose II sail into the harbor and dock right below us. The view really is the best! My husband had fish and chips and I had the lobster sandwich with plenty of fries!! The menu choices were very good, and they also serve alcoholic drinks.

Given all the great reviews here, maybe I got the wrong thing because this sure seemed a bit tourist-trappy to me. Sure, there's a great patio outside that give you an outstanding view of the waterfront. But the food for me was overpriced and not that good. Got the Scallops & Chips, which was $25. Scallops (which were panko crusted and deep fried) were ok quality, but there were only around 10 pieces, and inconsistently cooked (some were rubbery, some were fine). Side coleslaw was a spoonfool in size. So really, most of the dish was fries, which were only fine. Again, maybe I got the wrong dish and hope you have a better experience if you drop by the Shack. But this is a pass for me.

Unhappy to be writing this review cause we had high hopes coming in. We got the mariners catch, chowder, and poutine Chowder - okay, enjoyed. Poutine - decent, enjoyed more. Mariners catch - possibly the worst clam and haddock I've had. I don't know how it was that bad to be honest. I was really looking forward to it to. Scallops were kinda okay though. However, No problems with staff. Very helpful and kind. Just the food was the problem. Also the fact that those seafood options were half the menu being worse than average. Try another restaurant in this town :(

Not bad, but nothing special. Had the chowder, which was barely hot. Fries were decent.

This is a little fish shack, like the name says. Order at a counter, sit outside, eat fresh, deep fried scallops, haddock, and, if you just don't like fish, burgers (I guess someone might come here in a group with non fish eaters...). We had fish, scallops, and fish chowder. The fish is sooooo good. Everything is so fresh--turns out, I just don't think deep fried scallops are the way to cook them. But they were still tasty. We had a disagreement on the fries--these are thin, and I would say, too soggy, but my kids loved them. The chowder was a lighter broth, with lots of potatoes and yummy haddock. Even the coleslaw was good, not a mayonnaise based coleslaw. Local beers on tap. Local hard cider that our 19 year old enjoyed. Overall, if we were staying another day, I would definitely come back.

Excellent fish and chips. Great scallops and the Half Shell oyster bar is awesome. Best on the South Shore.

Scallops were amazing! We got the platter with scallops, fish and clams. Fish was good although beer batter is not my favorite. The clams were delicious but small. Scallops were so good! Place is so cute! Unfortunately we came in the rain and sat inside but the outside looked so fun! Service was great they took the effort to walk downstairs to ask us how everything is (the place to order and the kitchen is upstairs, there is only seating downstairs and outside) would definitely recommend!

Agreed with some other yelpers that this is a bit of a tourist trap. This place was recommended by our tour guide and being a fish n chips lover, I had high expectation of this place. We arrived at the restaurant at around 2pm and there was a long line but it moved pretty quickly. Since there was a outdoor patio with additional seating downstairs, it was not difficult to find an empty table. The portion here huge ! Unless you are starving, I would recommend sharing a main between two adults (yes, they give that much food!) . For myself, I ordered a fish n chips . Even though they used fresh fish, it was pretty oily....and the chips werent that good (not very crispy). I am not sure if there are a lot of other food options in this town, but if there is, maybe it's worth trying a different place :(

Huge portions, the best fish and chips and beautiful restaurant view will make this visit unforgettable experience. In the busy tourist line with long food wait this is a clear winner for a restaurant choice.

Outstanding Fish and Chips! Fantastic fish! Try the spicy mayo with the chips, you won't be disappointed!

Come here for the fish-n-chips! It's a must order! After all, it is a "fish shack". The fish was fried so perfectly, super crispy and fresh that you can heard the crunch when you bite into it. The fish itself was soft and not overcooked. I'm not a fan of fish & chips and even I was surprised by how good it tasted. I also ordered the lobster roll. It was a typical lobster roll, nothing special or outstanding. I can't speak for any other items on the menu since I didn't try them. They have indoor seatings downstairs. But on a beautiful day, you will like to enjoy the outdoor seating with wooden tables and benches for a casual vibe.

Good food in a takeout atmosphere. There is a lot of variety to choose from, and the folks working. There are very nice and accommodating.

Came here specifically for the fish and chips and they were honestly one of the best i've ever had. The fish pieces are huge and they give so many fries. It was so crispy but also so soft and fresh inside and it had great flavour. The workers were super sweet too. If you're in the area, this is a must try.

Long wait for service food was greasy and lobster sandwich was underwhelming. I was looking forward to visiting this cute seaside restaurant and was disappointed unfortunately.

It's alright. I'm not crazy about the fries. I don't know if it's the oil, or just a lot of oil. The fish is great, but again the batter can be a bit greasy. I know it's fish and chips. But I've lived here my whole life, and there definitely are better places to go for this dish.

I stumbled upon the South Shore Fish Shack quite by accident, I was in search of a lobster roll and overwhelmed by options. I'm very glad I went through this doorway - not only is the lobster order notifier the cutest thing (besides the Snoopy I was traveling with), but the lobster roll was overflowing with deliciousness. The fries were well cooked and seasoned, better then your average run of the mill steak fries. There was outdoor seating, but since I was there in October opted for the downstairs indoor area instead.

Found this place on Yelp while still at home. Saw that they had a light-up lobster pager, at which point the list of restos in Lunenburg that I wanted to visit was reduced to one. I make no apologies for my love of gimmicks, toys and other enticements. Clearly they work, or else they wouldn't be offered. This was our first stop in Lunenberg after a nearly two-hour drive. My dining companion ordered. I ordered. They proffered a regular pager. My dining companion says to the nice lady "She's flown here from Ontario to see the lobster pager". Allow me to translate, gentle reader: "This is going to get ugly quickly for all if this woman doesn't have a flashing lobster in her hand immediately". Wisely, the woman handed over the coruscating crustacean with the explanation that they were low on juice, and therefore recharging. No matter, I only need one to work. Almost irrelevant, but our meals were delicious. Huge portions. I had enough for another whole sandwich the next day. They sell cans of beer and wine (hey, you're on vacation, so who does it hurt to have a lunchtime libation if you're not driving?). Somewhat high prices, but I comfort myself with the knowledge that I'm supporting the local fishing industry. We had to sit inside because it was raining, but still enjoyed the view of the harbour.

itIs like eating from a food truck, but the prices are 45% higher because of the cute wooden buoys that hang about in the cutest possible way. Oh my god so cute. Battered fish, so hot!

I didn't mind the wait and I'll own up to ordering a hamburger at a fish place but it's small size was sheer lunacy. I placed the take out plastic container over the burger for size comparison and you can not see the burger under it. I went back to the window to ask if indeed this was the normal size burger and was told yes. And it was really over cooked and dry. $14....

OMG perhaps the greatest fish and chips this side of the Atlantic - served on top of a mountain of the tastiest fries imaginable. Get a side of potato salad just to take it all the way to the basket. This place is the real deal and so worth the drive down the shore to try it. Staff are friendly but efficient as there always be a line down the street on summer weekends. Thanks Fish Shack for the nicest meal of our holiday!

Loved this place! The staff went way beyond normal to help their customers. You order at a counter and they give you a pager when your food is ready; however, they just brought us our food! The halibut sandwich was outstanding. So was the poutine! I was impressed that their fries are hand cut from Prince Edward Island potatoes. This is a "must come" restaurant in Lunenburg! They do not accept credit cards.

My husband and I popped in for a little afternoon snack and shared a clam strip basket. Boy, am I glad we shared it because it was huge. The clams were perfectly breaded and cooked and the fries were just right. We loved the spicy mayo based sauce that came with it as well as the typical tarter sauce. It had a great little view from there multi tiered patio of the marina!

Why can't you be down the street from my house.....this place really added to the experience of Lunenburg. A shack (not really) that offers seating indoors and outdoors, over looking a beautiful view of the main part of the harbour, offering some of the best tasting seafood you will ever find. The lightly dusted and fried scallops are simplying the best any where on this planet served with spicy mayo sauce. The fries are hand cut and fried to a crisp. The fried clams are whole digby clams. Perfection. A must try when in town.

Ate lunch here yesterday. I had 18 fresh oysters on the half shell from Malpeque, PEI. The oysters were delicious. They had a good size to them. They even grated fresh horseradish for me. Partner had the chowder. When sitting at the outdoor bar you can see the cook making your food. Hence we saw him make the chowder. The chowder was creamy, with plenty of potatoes and fish and very tasty. The interaction with the bar staff was fun and I had my first bourbon sour. It was very smooth. The outdoor bar is a must do when in Lunenburg.

When you walk by this place screams fish and chips. We'll take 4 of those please. Better have a couple Propeller Pilsners too! There is something delicious to fresh fish and batter perfectly done. Now if you want seething other than seafood, then you are pretty much out of luck. Our #1 is allergic and was referred to the Salt Shaker (also wonderful) The out door patio is excellent for harbour views and among the best perches in Lunenberg for watching the harbour.

Stopped in at the Fish Shack on a weekday about 1:30 in the afternoon. We finished up at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic and watches three tour buses roll into the parking lot. We booted it up the hill to the main shopping and eating establishments to try to beat the rush. This strategy worked we walked in, ordered and got a seat at a partially shaded table on their upper deck (they have two seating areas). My wife and I each ordered the full 1.5lb steamed lobster with dill potato salad and corn on the cobb. They also had a special on draft beer by the pitcher. It was 32C with the humidex. A great table, great weather, cheap local beer and a fresh lobster 5/5 stars. The lobster was cooked perfectly and tasted great. The accompanying potato salad was delicious and fresh and the corn on the cobb was also well prepared. The price was good especially considering you are in a top rated eatery in a highly tourist oriented location. The quality and price were actually pretty remarkable. i would recommend this restaurant and would definitely revisit the Fish shack should I ever find myself in Lunenburg again.

Fantastic Scallops and fried clams (separate meals). Make sure to try the spicy tartar sauce. Shoe string french fries were very good.

Fantastic. I had some amazing fish 'n' chips here: perfectly battered and fried, just the right amount of delicious fish, plenty of chips. Nothing fancy with the counter-order-and-get-it-when-your-lobster-buzzer-rings setup, but it fits in with the "shack" motif, like a takeaway spot on the beach. Lots of sunny outdoor wooden-table seating, and several shady indoor tables downstairs. It would be a tight contest between this and Catch of the Bay in Masstown as my favourite fish 'n' chips in NS. Could perhaps do with more than one bathroom, however.

A little shack in the middle of everything Lunenburg. Sitting outside, great fish & chips, and a cold beer, enjoying the view and the breeze from the sea. Portions are big, so, don't ask for two pieces of fish if you're not really hungry. Diggy clams were also a great choice. You won't regret paying a visit to this place. Have your cash ready to pay!

Good fresh food.. friendly service and interesting views.. drove all the way from Halifax for it.. it was worth the drive.. would come back for sure.. !

Great bite to eat while exploring Lunenburg on a sunny fall day. Husband loved his fish sandwich and I had a lobster roll.

I was only in town for the night but am I glad I stopped in here! There are several seafood places in the area but their sign said they accepted American money, which was a problem solved for me. The staff was friendly, the fish and chips were tasty and the seating offered lovely views. I will definitely stop in again next time I find myself in Lunenburg!

Waited outside for about 20 minutes, but worth the wait. Had the fried scallops, and they were excellent! The spicy sauce was a nice addition!

I came 10 months ago as a tourist from Vancouver, Canada and I still felt like the Fish Shack should be one of my first reviews after signing up for Yelp-- and that says a lot. The fish and chips are easily the best my friends and I ever had. Even though I got the deep-fried scallops, I can testify to the tastiness of the seafood here. My scallops were fried just right, with a crispy exterior and soft, sweet inside that I'm still reminded of today. It was battered just right so that crunch was there, but the taste of the scallop was still shown through. The fries were delicious as well, however, they were more soft than crunchy so be forewarned. They still managed to make it very delicious and the tartar sauce that they gave was amazing. My friends got the fish and chips and they were enjoying it so much I didn't even get to try a bite. The sizes of the fish were HUGE and after 2 pieces, they couldn't even manage to start on the fries. The service was also very nice, even with the busy line-up going down the street as they told us that everything was freshly made in store, and the seafood they had was all local. The Fish Shack is one of my fondest memories in Nova Scotia. With a nice view, a sunny patio, and the best fried scallops I've ever had, I can wholeheartedly recommend this place.

What a gem! Our best meal in Nova Scotia, no joke! Light, crispy, beer-battered fish and chips with coleslaw and tartar sauce was delicious! Generous portions. 1 pc. is enough. The fried scallops (mountain of scallops) was recommended by one of the cooks (the Blue Jays fan) and they were soo tasty! We were there when it was packed (during the Tall Ships) and we looked out at the ships on the back lower patio and it was lovely.

Freshness is the secret recipe at TSSFS. We ate at their new side bar and the entire experience was phenomenal, great staff and awesome food. A bit pricy, but worthy!

Simple and excellent! The menu only has a dozen or so choices, and nothing too elaborate, but everything was incredibly tasty. I had the fried scallops, which were fantastic. The fries were obviously homemade, and were really good. My boys had the fish & chips, which were huge portions and a perfect crispness. My wife & daughter shared the lobster, which was also good, although perhaps not as strong as our other dishes. This is a must visit if in Lunenburg.

Some of the most delicious lobster rolls/bun we've ever had. Food was ready within minutes, with a mountain of fries on the side. Options for a sunny or shaded patio for seating. Lots of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options.

Came here for lunch while visiting on vacation. Loved it. Excellent service. Not a long wait for food. Very tasty. Amazing patio. Lobster Roll had lots of chunks of meat. Arugula was fresh and added a nice spice. Crispy fries on the side. Excellent. Son had fish and chips. Fried perfectly and very tasty. Will have to order that the next time. It's not the cheapest place to eat in Lunenberg, but totally worth what you pay. Highly recommend.

If you're looking for a generous plate of deep fried sea food, then this is the place. Huge platters of fish and chips. I had the scallops in panko with chips. My wife had the scallop burger with chips. Both were great deep fried comfort food. They serve an ale and a lager (Propeller - a Nova Scotian brew). The staff are engaging and don't hesitate to steer you away from less popular choices. Lots of seating on their deck overlooking the harbour.

Relatively affordable, quick service, amazing views from the deck outside (albeit windy!), good fries, great fish. I got the two pieces of haddock and fries - it was too much! I left stuffed. Both beers on tap (a lager and a bitter) were nice and went well with fish and chips, weren't special otherwise. Not much for vegetarians. My partner just had chips. If you're in town, this establishment is worth a visit.

Best fish and chips I've ever had. I don't think I can say much more than that. Go here.

The lobster roll was a little pricey and took almost 20 minutes. We enjoyed it, but after 2 weeks driving around Nova Scotia and eatng lobster rolls we determined the best one can be found in Yarmouth at the Cap Forchu lighthouse. The hours are odd, but that roll can't be beat!