Shorebird Inn

I wouldn’t recommend this place. The management is bad, and the owner isn’t pleasant to deal with. I’d go somewhere else. It’s not worth your time, and the owner’s kid will jump people outside.

The food truck by the beach was delicious and honestly saved the day. Turn left instead of right. We never got to try the restaurant’s food. After waiting an hour with our loud, fussy toddler, we were told it might take another 20 minutes. The waitress strolled around casually, didn’t clear the dirty plates from several tables, and never offered refills. The kitchen managed only nine plates, with lots of broken-dish noise and frantic bell ringing. Service was a complete mess, and the staff need retraining. Zero stars, total dump.

The waitress gave us a useful rundown of the fishing around Tobin, which was our first visit. We found a couple of spots after driving around and caught something to fry up at home, though we didn’t get out on the water in a boat, so the fishing could’ve gone better. We also saw coyotes, foxes, pelicans, and plenty of bald eagles on our travels. Can’t wait to come back. As for dinner at the Shorebird Inn, I went in expecting the usual mediocre lake bar food. My two meals in Waskesiu had left me underwhelmed, and I’d worked at a lake bar for a summer without liking anything on its menu. I’m not picky, but after years as a cook and chef, I do want to enjoy the rare meal out. The redneck burger was delicious, with just the right habanero-like heat, though I could’ve handled a bit more. My wife loved the sundown(?) burger, but the poutine was so good she ate all of it and only a little of her burger, so I finished the rest. The draught was cold and clean. The cabin at the resort was great too.

There’s no elevator, and on a Saturday night the bar can be busy, with music and the occasional hoot or holler. That’s part of what to expect at this northern Saskatchewan resort community, where Tobin Lake draws fishing in summer and snowmobiling and ice fishing in winter. It’s a down-to-earth, blue-collar crowd, mostly men. The room was fine, very clean, and everything worked as expected. The bathroom was clean too. I’m giving the Shorebird Inn five stars because it’s a small hotel, and it’s best to know what kind of place you’re booking. Expect it to be what it is and you’ll enjoy your stay.