Fresh Out of the Water: Screaming Mimi’s Seafood Deli and Steamer ~ Just a Date

Located in Lonsdale Quay (map)

Accessible by Seabus. Street parking available

Casual ambiance and great fresh seafood

Having never been to North Vancouver before this year, the discovery of Lonsdale Quay (Quay is pronounced ‘key’, as in house key) really fun for me. Ever since, it has always been a market of unique and special things. The easiest method, I think, of visiting Lonsdale Quay Market is by taking the SeaBus. While I plan to assemble the marvels of Lonsdale Quay in a post, for now, I would like to share a quick lunch place located inside the Quay.

The night before I met up with JS, I told a friend that I really wanted to try Screaming Mimi’s. So when JS asked if I wanted to this restaurant, I was extremely stoked to see him. (Great minds think alike!)

Screaming Mimi’s is located right next to the entrance that is closest to the Seabus terminal in Lonsdale Quay. This is definitely a good place to have a quick bite or a casual lunch.

If you are a seafood lover, specifically oysters, you must try Screaming Mimi’s Seafood Deli and Steamer. Oysters seem like their specialty; they offer creamy baked oysters, jalapeno oyster on a bun, fried oysters, and raw oysters. You can even pick your own live lobster or crab and have them steam it for you.

They have buckets of various fresh mussels, crabs, lobsters, clams, and oysters on the counter. Seating is limited in the store – there are a few tall bar-stools and tables. The décor is really interesting but beware that this place smells like fish. Not everyone may be able to stand this smell.

Jumbo Steamed Beach Oysters with Butter and Lemon

$19.95 for half a dozen

Always on a lookout for oysters with the perfect balance between fresh and sea water, JS and I ordered half a dozen of their Jumbo Steamed Beach Oysters served with butter and lemon. Like I mentioned at an early post (Cardero's), the oysters' growing environment affects how they taste. The ones I tried at Screaming Mimi’s were different from those at Cardero’s. These plump oysters were bolder with a saltier taste of the ocean. I sprinkled lemon juice on them and savoured their taste.

Halibut Clam Chowder with Tomato Base

Small $3.99

Like kids, JS and I both jumped at the option of adding halibut to our Clam Chowder. Unfortunately, they were sold out of their crema rosa base and we had to try the tomato base instead. Not being a fan of tomatoes, this soup didn’t stimulate my taste buds at all. However, they did use a lot of fresh ingredients to prepare the soup; the halibut was delicious.

Mediterranean Seafood Cocktail$3.95 for 100g

Screaming Mimi’s also sold small appetizer dishes of freshly cooked seafood. We decided to try two of these: Cocktail Prawns with Lemon Garlic Sauce (shown on the top of the post) and Mediterranean Seafood Cocktail. At first glance, the only difference between these two dishes is their sauce. The main ingredient in both dishes is prawns but the seafood cocktail also included bits of halibut and other seafood.

As a seafood lover, I love how casual this place is. Everything about this place evokes memories of the ocean and the fish smell guarantees fresh ingredients. Definitely give this place a try next time you visit North Vancouver!

Have fun ♥♥♥

Screaming Mimi's Website: http://www.kostathefishmonger.com/deli.shtml