Pirate's feast in Bouctouche, NB
"My lobster roll was also excellent, a generous serving with lots of big meaty chunks, hardly any mayo, so the taste of the lobster came through. "
Pirate de la Mer on Industrial Drive in Bouctouche (next to the Mall) has recently moved and expanded. For a restaurant, that's a good sign—they know their customers and are successful enough to get bigger and better.
Pirate is a fish market as well as a take-out or sit-in restaurant. Here's a place to buy the local catch, clams, lobster or crab, you name it. Point to what you want in their glass front display case and take it home to cook. Or you can let them do the job of cooking and shell cracking and just enjoy their fresh seafood. The menu is up on the wall, you order at the counter and wait for you number to be called.
Big screen TV's are tuned to the country music channel to keep you entertained while you wait. The cooks really are pretty fast and efficient, but if you're not a country music fan the wait can seem longer than it actually is. Inside, the restaurant is comfortable, but maybe a little stark. I prefer warm colors in a restaurant, but their walls are pale blue, ocean-inspired, perhaps.
Archie ordered the fish and chips snack—two pieces of battered fish, fries and a small cup of cole slaw for $6.50. I got the lobster roll with fries for $7.75.
They also have picnic tables, it was a nice day, so we ate outside. Archie reports that the fish was excellent. Freshly made, not too much batter. The fish (haddock) was cooked through, not slimy or soggy, a little dry, just the way he likes it.
The portion of fries was generous. They were the thin, hand cut type, really crispy and tasty. They did serve them already salted. If you're watching your sodium, like I am, be sure to ask them to "hold the salt." For Archie's taste, the coleslaw had a little too much mayonnaise. We're not sure if it was made there or if it came out of a plastic tub.
My lobster roll was also excellent, a generous serving with lots of big meaty chunks, hardly any mayo, so the taste of the lobster came through. There was lettuce on the bun, too. I always appreciate a little green. I liked the fries as well. Tasty!
I didn't get any coleslaw with my meal and thought that it should have been included. I like coleslaw with the cabbage thickly cut with lots of grated carrot and a little onion. Just a hint of mayo, or a vinaigrette dressing would be just perfect. That's my pet peeve with the usual seafood meals you get around here—they don't pay much attention to how they prepare their vegetables and they don't serve enough of them. Fish and chips isn't the healthiest meal (mainly because it's fried), but this could be offset somewhat with lots of crispy, healthy vegetables. Good coleslaw would do it!
We were pretty satisfied with Pirate de la Mer. I even liked their logo—a lobster dressed up like a pirate, wearing a bandana. These restaurateurs are pirates that give you a generous, good deal—hmm, but isn't that a contradiction?