The Best Thing I Ate All Week: Crab Cakes from Smitty’s Oyster House on Main Street

Controversial: the best thing I ate at an oyster house wasn’t the oysters.

The thing is, the lunch menu at Smitty’s Oyster House on Main is pretty freaking spectacular: somehow, the freshly shucked, beautifully presented, delightfully sauce-accompanied oysters weren’t the most notable thing on the menu. They say the best athletes compete against themselves, and Smitty’s menu is practically at war with itself. It’s a delicious, delicious battle.

Of course there’s the oysters. The Gibsons-born restaurant is famous for shelling out fresh oysters (many from Fanny Bay, the winner of our 2023 Restaurant Award for Producer of the Year) and serving up house-made sauces in varying levels of spice (psst—we’ve heard on good authority that those will be available for sale soon—keep your eye out).

But what took top prize on the lunch menu (available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) was the butter fried crab cakes. These crispy, decadent flavour bombs of Baffin Bay crab are insanely good. They’re the perfect size—not tiny, not massive—and served atop a grilled lemon dijon aioli that provides a beautiful kick of freshness. Then, there’s the sweetness: a dollop of bell pepper relish on top brings sugar and heat to the table.

Yes, you’ve got to try the oysters at Smitty’s. Obviously. But don’t sleep on the crab cakes.

Crab Cakes from Smitty’s Oyster House on Main
$22
3124 Main St.
smittysoysterhousemainstreet.com

Here’s a full look at Smitty’s lunch menu. (Served on a giant board, because why not?)

 

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