Seaside Shanty is a waterfront favourite along Nova Scotia’s Lighthouse Route, where fresh Atlantic seafood meets an easy coastal pace. With more than forty years as a community fixture, the atmosphere is bright, welcoming, and shaped by the shoreline just beyond the deck.
From chowder and lobster rolls to oysters and seasonal plates, the menu celebrates from-scratch cooking and local sourcing, served with warm hospitality and views that invite you to linger. Whether stopping in for a relaxed meal by the water or returning to a longtime favourite, guests are encouraged to settle in, savour the coast, and come back often. Open seasonally.
Seaside Shanty: Home
The Seaside Shanty is a laid-back, oceanfront restaurant nestled in the heart of Chester Basin, Nova Scotia. … Chester Basin, NS B0J 1K0. Join Our Mailing List.
Lorna T
A lovely little restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. We came early afternoon and got outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the water. Service was excellent, our server, Jacky, was welcoming, attentive, and very friendly. I ordered the Halibut Ceviche and the Lobster Roll. The Ceviche was delightful, all the ingredients were light tasting and complimented each other very well. The Lobster Roll was amazing, very flavourful and well-loaded with lobster. It was a gorgeous day and we had a very relaxing lunch here on the patio, plus everything was fresh and tasted great!
… moreJen
Went around 11 AM and it wasn’t too busy. We got a nice seat on the patio with a beautiful view of the water, definitely the only best part of the experience.
Food was a bit overpriced for the portion and taste (fries were too salty). Service was 100% disappointing, our server forgot basic things like cutlery and water and never came back even if we nicely requested for it.
Felt like we weren’t treated the same as other guests. Not sure we’d go back and recommend this place to others.
… moreMaddi B
This is a must go if you are anywhere near! Stumbled upon this seafood spot and could not have been more pleased. Firstly, they have a great patio with beautiful view (and we were lucky enough to get a sunset). Each dish was better than the next! Everyone was a big fan of the fish and chips, scallops with gnocchi and lobster roll. Chowder and calamari were also delicious. Nice atmosphere with friendly waiters and good service. Already want to go back
… moreAmanda
Perfect setting for tranquil views and delicious food. We sat on the patio overlooking the ocean on a beautiful sunny day. We ordered calamari and fried oysters to start. Both were delicious. For our mains we had the seafood chowder and the seared scallop risotto. The scallops were cooked perfectly. The only criticism I have is that the risotto needed salt. Other than that everything was very enjoyable. We will return to try some different items as everything we saw come from the kitchen looked incredible.
… moreSteve Norman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my first visit to seaside shanty restaurant, and I was truly impressed! The atmosphere was welcoming, the service was excellent, and the food was beyond delicious — fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. You can really taste the quality and care in every bite. Highly recommended for anyone who loves seafood. I’ll definitely be coming back.
Very big thanks to Mitch who run the restaurant 10/10
… morePhil Walker
We live in Nova Scotia- Canada’s ocean playground! It’s been a long time ( 20 years) since I ate at the Shanty- it did not disappoint! Seafood chowder was great, no lobster but on point for sure! Great place to relax, refresh and take a breath of that Mahone Bay breeze- service was a little slow but excellent! Well done gang…
… moreN M (NM)
We had a fabulous lunch on the patio last week. It was a gorgeous day so the water view was glorious.
Our waiter [sorry did not get his name] was amazing. Super nice and he made us feel right at home.
I was dining with a friend, and we both chose the lobster roll. OH MY! Before ordering I asked our server about the bun [grilled], the lobster [very chunky, just the way I like it], and the amount of mayo. I ended up asking for a little less mayo. My friend was okay with a regular amount. PERFECTION! Probably the best lobster roll I have ever eaten!! Seconded by my friend. The fries were hand cut and also perfectly cooked. Our tastebuds were dancing doing the happy dance.
My friend enjoyed the strawberry shortcake for dessert. I opted out of desert, since the blueberry grunt is no longer on offer…boo hoo!
Thank you Sea Shanty for serving up such a delicious lunch. We’ll be back!
Highly recommend the Sea Shanty!
… moreMike M.
My wife and I had the fish and chips. It was the best we have ever had! The outdoor patio overlooking the bay was amazing and the staff were incredibly friendly.
… moreWade S. Howell
Best Mussels I’ve had in Nova Scotia, they were absolutely delicious! Excellent service and a beautiful setting right on the water. Highly recommend!
… moreFancy Travel
This place is deserving of 6 stars. The lobster roll, fish, and chips were the best we had on the trip. Katherine was extremely welcoming and accommodating. The decor is so cute, with a beautiful patio and gorgeous view. The patio also has barrier-free access from the parking lot, which is a nice touch. Give this place a try.
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