Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar opened its doors in 2016 and quickly became a premiere seafood destination in Downtown Halifax. It’s one of our favourite restaurants to visit for any occasion and a spot we often recommend to people visiting the East Coast who are craving delicious, fresh seafood.
Their raw bar features the freshest fish and shellfish – perfect for a treat yourself-kinda date night. They have snacks, sides, and starters that are perfect for sharing on a night out with friends. Their mains also elevate comforting classics that are prepared like you’ve never experienced before.
They’re currently opened for socially-distanced interior dining and amazing al fresco dining on their TWO patios (it’s still patio season, right?). But what we’re really excited about is their amazing Happy Hour special available daily from 4-6 p.m.
We tried some local craft beer and wine, oysters, and raw bar items, and are here to share our experience so you can plan your date night visit to Shuck.
So you're feeling a little thirsty...
Atlantic Canada has a thriving craft beer scene from strong IPAs to fruity sours, delicious lagers and more. Garrison Brewing Co.‘s Tall Ship Light is the first ever offshoot from the brewery’s popular Tall Ship East Coast Ale. This crisp, light beer is perfect if you’re in the mood for a couple throughout the night. If you’re looking for something a little stronger, you may want to try Upstreet Craft Brewing‘s White Noize – a generously hopped IPA. It’s like a zesty orange juice with a kick.
Don’t fret if you’re more of a wineo – Nova Scotia is also home to some of the best wines in Canada including the premier white wine, Tidal Bay. This crisp white pairs perfectly with seafood, making it our top drink recommendation when visiting Shuck. The Tidal Bay from Blomidon Estate Winery is our personal fave! If you’re looking to celebrate with a glass of bubbly, we suggest Benjamin Bridge NV Brut for a luscious and elegant night.
During Happy Hour, enjoy $2 off glasses of wine and $5 draught beer!
Next up, Oysters
Now of course you want to visit to try the oysters! These gems of the sea are half priced during Happy Hour so you can try the wide variety Shuck has to offer from without breaking the bank.
Although the oysters available for the day were not on a menu (they’re listed by the raw bar at the entrance), our server was so knowledgable and explained the various strains and flavour profiles to us. She was also kind enough to suggest her personal favourites – something we really appreciated as oyster newbies. They were all so fresh, delightfully salty, and delicious. We highly recommend trying a couple different ones to see what you like best! Here’s what we ordered:
- Pristine Bay (Nova Scotia)
- Eel Lake (Nova Scotia)
- Cabot (Nova Scotia)
- Boss Gibson (New Brunswick)
- Beausoleil (New Brunswick)
- Fin de la Baie (New Brunswick)
- Devil’s Bandit (New Brunswick)
- Cascumpec (Prince Edward Island)
And a few bites from the raw bar
Lastly, we had to try some of the raw bar menu items to complete our Happy Hour experience. This is a must-try for seafood lovers especially since Shuck is known for their fresh raw bar!
Their Tostada with its sustainable blue salmon tataki, pickled red onion, black bean puree, and cilantro is an incredible medley of Latin flavours. So crunchy, fresh, and well-composed.
We also tried their Marinated Mussels with whisky sake soy marinatedi, radish, sesame lemon crunch, and pickled chillies. Now we know mussels aren’t a unique menu item here in Nova Scotia but these are truly one of a kind. Sooo flavourful with a little bit of heat.
Enjoy half off raw bar menu items during Shuck’s Happy Hour!
Next time you’re planning a date night, we highly recommend visiting Shuck. Each dish is thoughtfully created and elevated. It’s the perfect celebration of Nova Scotia’s seafood scene that’s executed in a brilliant way. Plus their Happy Hour deals are all the more reason to check it out.
Are you a looking for a new restaurant to check out in Halifax? Click here for inspo to plan the perfect foodie date!
