Once upon a time I worked at a restaurant overlooking the beautiful white dunes of Mavillette Beach on the Baie Sainte-Marie. Those were two wonderful summers of dressing as a Gabriel (of Evangeline fame) serving fried seafood, Coquille Saint Jacques and rapure in both English and French. I think the only reason I stopped was because the second summer had so many foggy days that many of the tourists who visited couldn’t believe there was a beach just a stone’s throw away.
I finally revisited Clare this past summer, and would’ve been remiss if I didn’t stop for lunch at Le Restaurant Cape View. Very little has changed over the past ten years in terms of décor and menu, and that’s a good thing, since we all know if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
I went all in and ordered the four piece seafood platter, which includes deep-fried haddock, shrimp, scallops and clams on a plate of fries with cole slaw. With some malt vinegar, tartar sauce and ketchup, this is exactly what anyone should think of when they want a big seafood platter, and it tasted as good as it ever has. No surprise as after I ate I visited with the cook, Holly, who I shared many laughs with in the kitchen when I worked here a decade ago.
Mavillette Beach
After lunch I walked down to Mavillette Beach. The white stretch of beach was as inviting as ever in the summer sun, but I was sad to see the dunes where I’d spent many relaxed afternoons had completely eroded. Across the road from the beach is a viewing platform overlooking the marsh popular among birds and, of course, birders.
I wished I had more time to spend the day here and revisit memories. I recommend others set a day to come to Mavillette, bring a blanket and some binoculars, grab some lunch at Le Cape View and make some memories of your own.
Location:
Le Restaurant Cape View
157 John Doucette Road
Mavillette Beach, NS
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