Fish Shack as part of the Glowbal Passport Quest. As part of the promotion that Glowbal Group ran in February - March 2013, I visited all seven of the restaurants. Here is my post of The Fish Shack on Granville. I also have posts for:
Last year, this was Sanafir, and now the place has completely transformed and it's now The Fish Shack. We went there on a Sunday to celebrate a friend's birthday and to score some more stamps! To start, we were treated to an amuse bouche of mini Clam Chowders in a sour dough bread bowl. These babies are piping hot and super tasty, very much like the one served at Coast, but maybe a smidgeon better due to the bread bowl effect. We started off with a Spaghetti and Meatballs, the only non-seafood item of the night. The sauce was a little thinner than usual but the pasta and meatballs were bang on. The bread is there for those who don't think a plate of pasta is carb-heavy enough. The sauce was also a bit tangier than usual, but the pasta was al dente and the meatballs had a good dense mouth feel. For me, the best thing about The Fish Shack is the Fisherman's Catch. Available in two options (with or without lobster), we went all in and got the one that is was $30 but comes with a lobster. There is a $20 version available, sans lobster. There are 10 items in total with the $30 one, your basic corn and potatoes, but then add chorizo sausage, crayfish, shrimp, dungeness crab and snow crab, throw in some mussels and clams (not on the menu but we got some) and then calamari too, then top it all with lobster. This is simple, but so much fun, did I tell you they give you a mallet?? Because it was Sunday, our birthday girl got herself a whole Lobster, for just $19.95. If you are a seafood lover and love a good deal too, then this is the place to be on a Sunday night. Just know that you're going to get dirty, but I think it's worth it.
Take Note:
Buck a Shuck available from open until 5pm daily
Four types of Caesars available, but try the Shark Bite if you want something different
All Eggs Benny (and all other brunch items) are just $9.50 on weekends
After attending the Grand Opening of The Fish Shack last month, I've been wanting to take my parents there for dinner. And on Sundays, they have a great deal, with a whole lobster or crab for just $19.95.
Here is the menu, heavy focus on fresh seafood, as well as some sandwiches and burgers. There is also a Roasted Chicken and Spaghetti and Meatballs available for those who don't enjoy seafood as much. We started off the meal with a little amuse bouche, their New English Clam Chowder in a mini bread bowl. There was a lots of flavours here from the usual ingredients of onion, celery, potatoes, diced carrots, clams, and cream. The chowder was thick and creamy and the chunky vegetables super tender. The bread bowl was a little dry though. For the non-seafood lover amongst us, we got an order of Spaghetti and Meatballs, this is a dish found in many of Glowbal Group's restaurants, it's really a classic. Made with their signature meatballs in a tomato sauce, this pasta is a large portion and the flavours are very traditional. There are an assortment of Fish and Chips available, but if you want to eat a bit healthier, you can have your fresh fish Grilled or Blackened. We decided to go for a two-piece order of the halibut, simply grilled. Served with an Asian style coleslaw the flavours of this plate was very fresh and vibrant. The fish was very fresh and not much other than a light seasoning of salt and pepper was needed. The coleslaw had a great crunch to it and the mixed greens on the plate is something you can have in place of fries, extending the healthy factor. And this is the $19.95 deal, a whole lobster, served with a vat of melted butter. A little bit of slaw on the side to round out the dish, but the lobster is clearly the main event. The tail was meaty and juicy, and very easy to remove from the shell. The claws were a bit harder to extract but worth the effort. Fortunately for me, no one wanted to lobster head itself, so I got to enjoy it. I am a fan of tomalley, the liver and pancreas of the lobster. It's not something I eat often, as there are reports of PCBs and toxins in tomalley. And the other item were ordered was The Big Catch. But before the meal actually arrives, you get a set of tools. There is a mallet, seafood forks and a lobster/nut cracker. And you get your own chopping board to make a mess of too. This is how The Big Catch comes and what you see here is the serving for two people. What's inside? Wait until they cut the catch open tableside. Here we go, there is some lobster, dungeness and snow crab legs, crayfish, clams, mussels, prawns and calamari. As sides, you also get chorizo, potatoes and a few pieces of corn on the cob. The seafood is fresh and plentiful. Some of the prawns were a bit overcooked, but the lobster and crab were right on the money. I'm not a fan of calamari, but if you are, there is plenty here. Also, the chorizo was sliced lengthwise so it's not hard to find, and much of the fat had been rendered out in the cooking process. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty (yes, you do get a bib), this is a fun way of eating and I really enjoyed myself. We sampled two of their three desserts, with the first one being their Sticky Toffee Pudding. It comes with a huge pool of toffee sauce as well as the drizzle of chantilly cream. Although I am not normally a fan of desserts, I liked the richness of this one and found it soothing after a huge serving of seafood. The last dish we tried was the New York Style Cheesecake, served in a mason jar, complete with a graham cracker crust on the bottom. This was velvety smooth and a hit with others for its simplicity and clean flavours.
Take Note:
Four different Caesars available, all just $8 and delicious
All brunch items (Eggs Benny and more) are just $9.50
The GLOWBAL COLLECTION Trolls Fresh Waters with the Ultra-Casual Fish Shack Opening, Fall 2012
New quick-casual eats to shore up the Granville Street food scene.
Vancouver, BC (September 13, 2012): Emad Yacoub and Shannon Bosa-Yacoub owners of The GLOWBAL COLLECTION are going overboard for laid-back, quick fare with their newest spot to eat -- The Fish Shack -- opening later this fall. With casual, sun-bleached surroundings and a chalkboard menu of satisfying comfort food, The Fish Shack hooks guests with value and fast, fresh fun food from exceptional suppliers. Think daily fresh fish specials, fish & chips, chowder in bread bowls, fish boils, po'boy sandwiches and shellfish galore. "We are excited by the possibilities of a new down-home direction," says Yacoub. "This is not fine dining; it is laid-back at every turn, from the jeans-clad service team to the menu to the decor. The Fish Shack is a place to catch a sports game while enjoying a beer and a relaxed meal." As for design, the expansive bi-level, 100-seat space is undergoing a renovation led by Vancouver's BOX Interior Design. Given the concept, a nautical theme is a natural fit. Deep marine-blue walls complement the lifejacket red upholstered banquettes with a quick-trip-to-the docks feel. A blackboard painted wall beside the bar and upstairs above banquette seating, shouts out the daily food specials. Diners will have to wait with baited breath for further details regarding the new space. Be on the lookout.
About The GLOWBAL COLLECTION The GLOWBAL COLLECTION is comprised of eight restaurants: glowbal grill steaks & satay, COAST Restaurant, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria Italian Kitchen, SOCIETY, Black+Blue, two IK2GO locations; and two lounges: AFTERglow and O Lounge. A ninth restaurant, The Fish Shack, will open fall 2012. The energy, bustle and allure of these celebrated Vancouver restaurants are what most people notice first. In addition, flawless service, exquisite wine lists, and some of the most inventive, celebrated cuisine in Vancouver define every restaurant in the collection. glowbalgroup.com.
To start, we were treated to an amuse bouche of mini Clam Chowders in a sour dough bread bowl. These babies are piping hot and super tasty, very much like the one served at Coast, but maybe a smidgeon better due to the bread bowl effect. 
We started off with a Spaghetti and Meatballs, the only non-seafood item of the night. The sauce was a little thinner than usual but the pasta and meatballs were bang on. The bread is there for those who don't think a plate of pasta is carb-heavy enough. The sauce was also a bit tangier than usual, but the pasta was al dente and the meatballs had a good dense mouth feel. 
For me, the best thing about The Fish Shack is the Fisherman's Catch. Available in two options (with or without lobster), we went all in and got the one that is was $30 but comes with a lobster. There is a $20 version available, sans lobster. There are 10 items in total with the $30 one, your basic corn and potatoes, but then add chorizo sausage, crayfish, shrimp, dungeness crab and snow crab, throw in some mussels and clams (not on the menu but we got some) and then calamari too, then top it all with lobster. This is simple, but so much fun, did I tell you they give you a mallet?? 
Because it was Sunday, our birthday girl got herself a whole Lobster, for just $19.95. If you are a seafood lover and love a good deal too, then this is the place to be on a Sunday night. Just know that you're going to get dirty, but I think it's worth it. 
