Salt Shaker Deli & Inn — Restaurant in Lunenburg

We are not from the area and have eaten here twice (once last summer and then today). We were disappointed with our trip today after having such a positive experience last summer. The waiter was friendly but apparently there were problems in the kitchen with the deep fryer which they only told us about after 40 minutes of waiting. We could see tables around us getting their food when they had come in well after us and the waiter seemed to be avoiding our table so he didn’t have to deal with it. Eventually, I’m assuming it was the manager, came over and told us about the problems with the kitchen after almost an hour of being there. We asked how long because a person in our party was on a time constraint and he said two minutes. The food finally did come and it was very disappointing after loving it last year. I had the crispy chicken burger and while I wanted to love it the chicken was very dry and I’m assuming that’s from sitting under a heat lamp while this whole thing was getting sorted. There was a communication error between us and the waiter and instead of the pâté we had been waiting for as a starter they thought we said pad thai- which 100% communication error so we don’t blame that on them. We offered to just pay for it and have it taken home but he said not to worry about it and took it back to the kitchen. The two who had the burger said their burgers were both cold, also assuming from sitting while this was happening. And everyone who got the wedges (which I had raved about after last year) was disappointed because 90% of them weren’t cooked through and were hard in the middle. I ended up eating mine just because I was very hungry. When the checks finally came they still had the pad thai on the receipt and had added wedges to someone’s receipt that didn’t even have wedges. It was very busy so everything took so long to get through. In all we were there for almost two hours. He did take the pad thai off and the wedges and when he came to get the plate with the other wedges all still left on it we did say that they weren’t eaten because they were undercooked. He said he’d be right back and he ended up getting them taken off everyone’s checks which was nice. I feel bad for the waiter because I know he was busy and was trying to do his best and when you have unhappy customers it’s tough to keep a happy face. I just wish we had been informed as soon as there were issues instead of waiting for 40 minutes from the get go. Hoping to come back in the summer and try again once it’s back in peak season swing and forget about this...

The short:

Highly recommended , Beautiful local fare decent prices. if you can ...Go!! to you will not regret it.

The long :

We drop by after being really disappointed by a restaurant in Mahone Bay. Just on a whim not really knowing what to expect. it's a quint little restaurant without any real pretend, Wich is nice to see in that see of trying to hard place...

The service was friendly and efficient to make us welcome and comfortable, the evening menu offers local fav along with the all day menu Wich is more of pub fare choices...lots to choose from ..

The real surprise come out as the food arrived...and wow...what a nice refreshing and tasty fare they offer...we had the crab dip to start wich was just on the spot...not too hot, not over powering well seasoned...many try many fail in that department not the Salt and Shaker...Bravo,

Came the main course which was the linguini with scallops. and local Houlton pork shop (in Berwick) bacon ...they were beautiful together ...the dish was well balanced, the spinach and bacon danced with grace along the magnificent scallops..If you try only one thing on the menu I would recommend that dish.

The ambiance was convivial but never overwhelming...really pleasant.

Then came the desert list...do save some room for it..we tried the chocolate mousse and the creme caramel, all were up to par with the previous fare...rich unctuous and decadent....yum

The decor is simple and boasts amusing and cheeky paintings of an artist named Miller ...I wish I knew how he/she was...if someone know please msg me.

even the bathroom has this fun floor decor.

Overall if you need a really nice dinner spot without fuss in Lunenburg the Salt and Shaker Deli & Inn is it...

I haven't try the Inn part but seeing the kitchen prowess I can just hope it's just as great as the food was...

thank you for reading this far...really...

My husband and I have traveled to Nova Scotia two years in a row for hooked rug supplies and classes, a specialty of this beautiful Maritime setting. We drove 1,500 miles from Des Moines, Iowa, this year --and Lunenburg had to be on our itinerary again -- and of course the Salt Shaker Deli, which is much more than a deli. Don't let the name deceive you. Our innkeepers at the Boscawan Inn recommended the Salt Shaker, and we absolutely fell in love with this place last summer and had to come back this year. OK, we come from "flyover country," as the Midwest is often called, and the pizza in our town is not very good. But we know good pizza when we taste it. We must sing the praises of the delicate, wonderful "pies" prepared by the chefs here. The crust is perfect. The ingredients are fresh and flavorful. I recommend my favorite custom pizza: artichoke hearts, diced red onions, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. Alas, all I have to remind me of this culinary memory is a close-up image of this delightful "pie" on my computer's screen-saver. My husband, a garlic lover, enjoyed the "Stinky Charlie" and his custom "Stinky Charlie with Spinach." Yes, this place gets crowded because it is popular, and it is popular because the cuisine is excellent. We have a favorite waiter, Cameron Levy, who takes pride in the Salt Shaker and in this wonderful town of Lunenburg. What delight in wandering down to the beautiful, shimmery harbor after a lovely meal here. I don't write reviews for very many restaurants, but this place deserves 5 stars. Two years in a row it has been absolutely excellent, and if I lived nearby, I'd be a regular. Can't wait until next summer. All the best to all the folks who make this...