Osler Fish Warehouse is an unassuming fish specialist and Portuguese grocery store tucked away on Osler Street at Dupont. At first glance it may not be noticeable, but turn into the parking lot and a giant fish painted leaping over their service door will let you know what they're all about: fresh, whole fish.

A sign at the edge of the parking lot is visible from Dupont, making this warehouse easy to find.

There are also a variety of other grocery items and Portuguese products here, but turn right upon entry and you'll find your real seafood money shots.

Wade through the gloriously fishy smell that seafood chefs know as a rite of passage to find rare whole moray eel, monkfish, skate, and dozens of other varieties of whole fish.

At the far end of this room is where you'll find shellfish like mussels and clams. All are priced reasonably, with mussels going for $7.99 a pound.

Behind a counter just beyond this room, staff wait to assist you with your fish selections, standing behind rows of fish heads.

A frozen area in the store contains frozen fish, and in another, there are a variety of dried, salted whole fish of differing sizes.

You can also get specialty Portuguese treats like shrimp patties.

Osler Fish Warehouse serves as a tantalizing one-stop shop for meals that could be either humble or very impressive. They have all the basics one might need from a typical grocer, like bread, bulk nuts, dairy, produce, meats, cheeses, and also sauces and desserts, so you can pick up everything you need to go with your catch of the day.

The cheese fridge boasts a range of mostly Portuguese cheese, both hard and soft, made from sheep's, cow's, and goat's milk. The best part is the bits and bobs of discount cheeses that go for as little as $4. Pastel de nata by the half-dozen also reside in this fridge.

Items here range from the nostalgic to the unique: this is the place your granny has been going all those years to get her tins of butter cookies. It's also where you can go if you've been watching too many cooking shows and are wondering where to easily obtain gelatin sheets.

A find for home cooks and seasoned chefs alike, Osler Fish Warehouse sends customers on their way with a smile and a bit of the sea in their shopping bags.

Photos by Hector Vasquez