Hall's Harbour Lobster Pound & Restaurant

Halls Harbour Lobster Pound & Restaurant

The Hall's Harbour Lobster Pound & Restaurant is definitely the place to go if you want to try fresh Bay of Fundy lobster. It is a "Lobster Experience!"

This is one of the largest lobster holding facilities in Canada. It can hold up to 65,000 pounds of lobsters in the "floating pools" holding system. From here they pack and ship lobster to customers all over Canada and the world.

You may start your experience here and learn a little about the lobster business, the lobster pound and the history of the area and buildings. The buildings that house the lobster pound and restaurant were built in the 1820's and have been used for several different businesses and uses over the years.

Next you may start your "Lobster in the Rough" dining experience. Take a look in the holding tanks and pick out your lobster. The friendly staff will take out your lobster and weigh it for you. They will even let you hold it, if you like you can have your picture taken with it! They are great at providing you with interesting information about the lobster and your up-coming meal.

Next you will take your lobster over to the "Cook Shack" and they will prepare it just the way you ask for. They do have several dishes you may select from but I recommend if this is your first time just have it steamed and served in the shell.

While you wait for your lobster the lobster pound also have a good selection of appetizers to choose from on their menu. They also have other seafood and Canadian dishes on the menu for those who do not feel like having lobster.

You are also welcome to enjoy a draft while you enjoy the scenery or a truly Nova Scotia beer- a Keith’s. Chances are, if they are not too busy the staff will come out to chat with you and if you are interested they will tell you a little about the village, it's history and maybe even show you some old pictures.

Back to your "Lobster in the Rough" dining experience. You may eat your lobster in their fine dining room with the large windows looking out over the Bay of Fundy, but if you really want the total experience then I suggest you take a table out on the large deck. It is believed that lobster taste best when eaten outdoors where you may take in the fishing village scenes like fishing boats, lobster traps, seagulls and the Bay of Fundy. The different smells from the Bay of Fundy also add to the taste like the salty air, the smell of pine and sea wrack.

Besides you are in the best position now to watch the phenomenon of the Bay of Fundy tides, the highest in the world. If you were there long enough you would be able to watch the completely full harbour inlet empty out it's water until the boats are sitting high and dry on the ocean bottom. Then the tide will turn and the inlet will fill back up so the boats are once again looking over the top of the wharf. The water will rise up to 45 feet here in Halls Harbour.

This process takes about six hours each way and even though you will not take anywhere near that long to eat your lobster, you will see a difference in the height of the tide while you are there. The water level changes about an inch a minute up or down depending on the ebb and flow of the tide.

Now your lobster arrives and you are about to dig in. The waiter will show you the proper way to eat your lobster. The cook has broken the shell for you but you will have to finish breaking it away from the meat. You will have to use those long skewers to dig the precious meat out of some of the shells. We Maritimers believe the work involved in digging out the meat make it taste all that much sweeter.

If, after you have finished your meal and still feel you have a little room left may I recommend their coconut cream pie for dessert, it is so good! After your meal make sure to stop by the great little gift shop in the building to pick up your souvenirs of this unique experience.

If you feel like walking off some of your meal you have lots to explore along the shoreline of the harbour. You may walk on the ocean floor while the tide is out and explore the many tidal pools left behind or search for precious stones.

If the tide is too high you can take in the new boardwalk which circumnavigates the entire harbour basin. Or explore one of the few surviving authentic fishing villages left which dates back to 1779. They offer a little museum, galleries and a 2 km ecotrail through the forest and coastline.

Especially for the first timer to our area I recommend a stop at the Hall's Harbour Lobster Pound & Restaurant, it is a true Maritime experience. If you want a truly perfect day plan your trip so that you may explore the area first, pick your lobster and have it arrive to your table around sun set. The sights of the sun going down over the bay are just breath-taking and a perfect backdrop to your meal.

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