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After almost 40 years of operation, The Cannery Seafood Restaurant came to an end today. It’s not due to the lack of popularity or customers, but because of new Port Authority security measures that I’d call post 9/11 paranoia. To commemorate this, I visited The Cannery for the first and last time.

To see Joyce’s original post about The Cannery, click here.

Overview

Having to go through port security, telling the mysterious unseen man in the booth that you are just a patron of the restaurant, and not some fanatic looking to blow stuff up, getting to the restaurant was an experience on its own.

Located in midst of the port, The Cannery is instantly recognizable and unique. In addition to a parking lot, it has a boat and floatplane docking facility, for those that wish to arrive in 007-style. The décor is rustic (inside and out), with an amazing panoramic view of the inlet and the North Shore Mountains

What went in

To start, we shared a couple dishes to sample the shellfish: a half dozen of kusshi oysters, and roasted mussels. I’ve only had raw oysters once before, some freshly caught ones that I recently found out were actually too big to eat raw. Needless to say my experience of it wasn’t so great (some were the size of my palm, and I have decent sized hands). These had a much better texture, as well as a much more refreshing after taste. Though I have to admit, it’s a good thing they came with a tangy raspberry and red wine vinegar; it’s still going to take some time before I can truly enjoy their natural flavours. The mussels on the other hand were just perfect for me. Having gotten used to steamed and baked mussels, these skillet grilled ones were a welcoming change.

For the entrée, I went with one of the specials of the night, a half/half plate of grilled pink salmon and halibut. The salmon was flaky and moist, lightly seasoned just as I like it. The halibut was meaty. Although I think the halibut was probably done better, my personal preference leans me towards the salmon. The veggies were grilled as well, but they don’t quite stand out. All sat in a ginger cilantro sauce, which suited the fish nicely.

Joyce had the smoked black cod. The flavour was excellent, but the texture was a bit stringy; I suppose that’s difficult to avoid with a dish like this.

Our dessert was a chocolate pyramid with an apricot jelly centre. Although delicious, it wasn’t one of the more memorable desserts I’ve had. The apricot jelly centre wasn’t strong enough to add much to the overall experience.

What came out

The prices were unbelievable, but I suppose anything will seem affordable when I’m not one paying the bill.

Service

Our waitress was attentive and had many helpful suggestions for me, the newbie. I was surprised to find out that a younger version of herself is actually featured on the company’s website, so she must’ve been working there for quite a few years.

Conclusion

Despite paying patronage only once, I know I’d miss The Cannery when it’s gone. Everythings was either good or superb. There wasn’t anything I disliked.

Rating
(Max Score: 10; Base Score: 5)

What went in (+/-2, 0) = 2
What came out (+/-1, 0) = 0
Service (+/-1, 0) = 1
Mr.’s Bonus (+/-1, 0) = 1

Total Score – 9/10