Where to Eat in Canada

Where to Eat in Canada

Taken from the "Where to Eat in Canada" Guide for 2000-2001 by Anne Hardy

Mobile, Newfoundland
The Captain's Table
Highway 10
709-334-2278

Arthur Jackman, opened here fourteen years ago with a small cabin he brought to Mobile in two halves from St. John's. He and his wife opened "small and cosy", prospered and grew and now work all day to keep up with the business. Last year they had the house completely redecorated. A whole wall has been painted my Frank Lapointe, a local artist, as a mural depicting a sea-going ship tied up to the dock by the front door, surrounded by a straggle of houses typical of a Newfoundland outport. "It's unique", says Mrs. Jackman, still breathless with excitement.

Mobile is on the east coast of the Avalon Peninsula, near Witless Bay. The East Coast Trail passes through the village, where everyone is told the story of Captain William Jackman. He saved 27 people from a wreck off the coast of Labrador by swimming back and forth to shore with a rope between his teeth, and Arthur Jackman has named the restaurant after his grandfather.

Travelers all agree that the cooking is getting better every year. The two big dishes this summer are the cod's tongue dinner with soft pork scrunchions and the pan-fried cod. They make the best fish and chips to be had anywhere on this coast, a fine seafood chowder (stuffed with cod, shrimps, scallops and crab) and a first-class seafood platter, served with potatoes and vegetables. The sweets are fabulous. Everybody asks for a second helping of the warm apple dumpling with vanilla sauce, but our favorite is the bumbleberry pie, made with apples, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. There's a glowing fire in winter and good company and a warm welcome, whatever time of year.