Village Squire, 1978-09, Page 32SQUIRE'S TABLE
Captain Zack's
offers seafood
If you're a sea food lover, Western
Ontario hasn't exactly been a paradise in
the past few years. If you're near London
there's an excellent spot of course in the
London Fishery and Oyster Hut, but
toward the north end of the area things
have been a little scarce. Oh several
restaurants offer some seafood but few are
brave enough to make it the main
attraction.
That situation has been remedied in the
Wingham area this summer by the opening
of Captain Zack's, a new establishment
specializing in seafood with a few dishes of
beef for those who aren't seafood buffs.
For those who have travelled through
Wingham often but haven't been there for
the past few months, the location of the
restaurant might be a bit of a shock. It's at
the south end of town in the building that
not long ago housed a machine shop selling
and servicing lawn mowers and other such
equipment. That. of course leads to the
easy wonder if this could be a greasy
spoon, but there is no evidence of this in a
visit to Captain Zack's.
Actually the management has done an
excellent job of making you forget that this
is a former machine shop. Everything is
clean and spotless inside. The high ceilings
give a touch of openness to the large dining
room and the use of wood and rope dividers
break up the room into more intimate
dining areas.
The nautical theme is carried through
with port holes and paintings of all kinds of
ships adorning the walls and the waitresses
dressed in nautical uniforms.
The menu offers a surprisingly large
selection of both seafood and beef dishes.
Entrees range from $4.50 to $9.00 for such
dishes as Alaskan King Crabs.
We tried to sample both seafood and
beef with- an order of deep fried scallops
and of wiener snitzel, two of the least
expensive dishes on the menu. We also
ordered a tossed salad. The salad came
with a selection of three dressings all of
which appeared to have been prepared by
the kitchen.
Two large warmed buns in a basket and
a small pot of butter arrived next.
The entrees were large servings. The
wiener snitzel covered most of a large
plate. Both dishes were nicely garnished to
give then an attractive appearance. The
wiener snitzel was tender, but perhaps a
little too dry for best taste. The home fried
potatoes were adequate but that old
bugaboo about vegetables was certainly
evident with the beans which were either
frozen, canned or badly over cooked. Some
attempt to liven them up had been made by
putting in little pieces of bacon and onion
but surely in a restaurant hoping to make a
name for itself, in the middle of the
summer, one can expect decent veget-
ables, fresh from the garden.
The lady enjoyed her scallops but felt her
baked potato was rather soggy, as if it had
been sitting around for too long.
For dessert, we chose cherry cheese cake
and received a small portion of the cake
which proved tasty.
Service at our table was not outstanding
with a waitress who was perhaps
inexperienced or shy who came to the table
only when she had to. This was in sharp
contrast, however. to the next table where
the waitress was friendly and outgoing and
always checking to see if everything was all
right and if there was anything else she
could get her customers.
The bill, by the way, without anything
from the bar came to $13.83, but as we said
this was for two of the least expensive
entrees on the menu.
At any rate, Captain Zack's makes an
interesting addition to the Western Ontario
dining scene. It is open 12-2 p.m. and 5-11
p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, 5-11 p.m. on
Saturday and 5-10 p.m. on Sundays. It is
closed on Mondays.
DINING INFORMATION
The listings provided are a service to our
readers. They are not paid advertisements.
BLYTH
GRAND VIEW LUNCH. Conveniently located at
the south west end of Blyth at the corner of
Highway 4 and County Road 25. This restaurant
specializes in chicken and rib dinners. They also
have home cooked meals with home baked pies.
Take out orders are also available at 523-4471.
Open weekdays 7:30 to 10:30 and Sundays 10 to
10:30.
TRIPLE K RESTAURANT. On Huron County
Road 25, southeast of Blyth this restaurant
specializes in home cooked meals with home
baked pies. Take out orders are available. Open
weekdays, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Fridays 6 a.m. to
12:30 a.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., and
Sundays 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
LONDON
FRIAR'S CELLAR, 267 Bathurst St., London.
This gourmet establishment features Black
Forest Platter, Chateau-Briand, Whole Dover
Sole with gracious service and pleasant music.
Dinner for two ranges from $13.90 to $25 plus
tax. Hours: Monday to Saturday 12 to 12;
Sunday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations advisable
at 438-2129. Licenced. Accept: Chargex,
American Express, Master Charge, Carte
Blanche, Diners Club.
THE BARN STEAK HOUSE AND TAVERN,
1310 Huron St., London. This popular dining
and night spot features smorgasbord dining and
live entertainment in the English Room.
Luncheon Smorgasbord: $3.50 per person;
Dinner Smorgasbord: $6.50 per person. Hours:
Dining room, noon to 2 and 4 to 9 Tuesdays to
Fridays; 4 to 9 Saturday and Sunday. Closed
Monday. English Room: noon to 1 a.m. Monday
•to Saturday. Closed Sundays. Reservations
accepted at 455-0810. Licenced. Accept
American Express, Diners Club, Chargex,
Master Charge.
banquet room, and the specialty is seafood.
Open daily 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 9
p.m. Sundays. Reservations accepted at
681-4430. American Express, Chargex, Master
Charge accepted.
GOLDEN PHEASANT MOTEL AND RESTAUR-
ANT. Located in London on Highway 22, one
mile west of Highway 4. The Golden Pheasant
specializes in home -style cooking. Open daily 7
a.m. to 9p.m. Sundays and holidays 8 a.m. to 9
p.m. Reservations not usually necessary. Master
Charge and Chargex accepted.
THE BARN STEAKHOUSE AND TAVERN.
This popular dining and night spot is located at
1310 Huron St., London and features steak,
smorgasbord and nightly entertainment. Open
4-10 p.m. daily. Reservations accepted at
455-0810. American Express, Diners' Club,
Chargex, Master Charge accepted. Licensed.
CHELSEA HEARTH DINING LOUNGE [THE
RAMADA INN]. Located at 817 Exeter Rd.,
London this gourmet restaurant is open for lunch
Monday to Friday 12:00 noon to 2:30 p.m. and
for dinner daily 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. For Friday
and Saturday reservations, phone 681-4900.
American Express, Master Charge, Chargex,
Diners' Club, Carte Blanche accepted. Licenced.
BAYFIELD
THE ALBION HOTEL, Main St., Bayfield. The
old Albion Hotel takes you back to another age,
not the artificial aging some dining places offer
with stucco walls and stained wood, but the real
thing. The 120 -year-old hotel offers a quiet,
homey dining room and is open for breakfast
from 9 to 12; lunch 12 to 2; dinner 5 to 7:30. They
specialize in spareribs, steaks, fish and roast
beef. Reservations are accepted at 565-2641.
Dinner for two ranges from $8 to $12. Licensed.
Accept Chargex, Master Charge.
THE LITTLE INN, Bayfield's Little Inn offers
AQUARIUS RESTAURANT, This spot at 1070 full course meals. It is open daily from May 13 to
Wellington Rd. in London features a the Canadian Thanksgiving for lunch from 12 to
fully -licensed dining room, coffee shop and 2 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/SEPTEMBER 1978. PG. 31.