Top Restaurants in Charlottetown | Great Local Eats

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First opened in 1983, the Olde Dublin Pub was the first authentic Irish pub to take up residence in Charlottetown. Tucked away down a side street in the old part of town, this Irish eatery is located above the Claddagh Oyster House in a beautifully restored building. Renowned for its ‘fun, food and foot stompin’ entertainment,’ the Olde Dublin Pub features many a draught beer on tap and an excellent range of delicious pub classics. On colder days tuck into a hearty portion of chicken pot pie, steak and Guinness pie, mild chicken curry or a truly British shepherd’s pie with creamy mashed potato topping. Regular live music draws the crowds every Friday and Saturday and the daily food specials means there’s always something new to try.

Popular with the local University students, Papa Joe’s Restaurant is a great place to go for an affordable lunch or dinner that promises delicious flavour. Enjoy the sizeable El Toro burger comprised of a seasoned beef patty infused with bacon and topped with black bean salsa, sour cream, fresh avocado, toasted cumin gouda, banana peppers, romaine lettuce and crispy corn chips in a toasted ciabatta bun garnished with a cocktail stick of jalapeno pepper popper corn chips. Enjoy their tasty American classics with a bottle of ale or a glass of wine and soak up the ambience of this laid-back space.

Despite its unassuming appearance, the Water Prince Corner Shop is the best place to go for incredible lobster in Charlottetown. The restaurant specializes in serving up the freshest seafood caught daily by local fishermen. Diners can choose to sit outside on the patio and gaze out over the water or dine inside surrounded by the extremely rare blue lobsters decorating the eatery’s walls. The menu is primarily seafood based with plenty of options to choose from including seafood chowder, mussels, scallop burgers and pan-fried sole, as well as the delicious signature boiled Atlantic lobster. For those wishing to veer away from seafood, there is also a selection of non-fish options on the menu such as chicken fingers and beef burgers with crispy French fries.

Only one place in town offers tabbouleh, nachos, fattouche, Caesar salad, yabrak and steak sandwiches side by side on the menu. Such quirky innovation and experimentation with flavour is the norm at the Lebanese-Canadian Cedar’s Eatery. Recognized for its vast array of tasty dishes, Cedar’s is a family-run restaurant that focuses on recreating secret recipes that have been handed down through the generations, drawing in locals and tourists alike. Boasting a menu that everyone can enjoy – from spice-lovers to the gluten-free – Cedar’s is a perfect spot for big family dinners and intimate meetings with friends. The upstairs bar, Baba’s Lounge, also provides the ideal after dinner hangout for those wanting to continue the celebrations into the evening.

Home to Prince Edward Island’s only microbrewery, The Gahan House serves traditional pub fare accompanied by fine craft ales. A typical meal at The Gahan begins with a starter of Island potato chips, chicken wings or dry ribs followed by brown bag fish and chips or a juicy lobster club sandwich with a pint of Island Red Amber Ale to wash it down. A relaxed restaurant perfect for long lunches and social suppers, The Gahan is situated above the brewery allowing guests to saunter down for a hearty evening meal following their tour and tastings.

For an exceptional dining experience, make a reservation at Sims Corner Steakhouse & Oyster Bar. Serving outstanding oysters, steak and other upmarket dishes, this is an ideal restaurant for enjoying an indulgent meal with a loved one or group of friends. They also provide catering for birthdays, anniversaries or just a special date night. The beef used in the restaurant has been raised on the island and aged in the restaurant for a minimum of 45 days. Likewise, all of the oysters have been caught locally from spots around the island including Raspberry Point, the Cascumpec Bays and Lucky Lime. Make an evening of it and enjoy a glass of red at the wine bar, appetizers from one of the two oyster bars, and then sit down at the table to enjoy an exquisite main course of rosemary and panko-crusted lamb rack; bacon wrapped, choco-coffee crusted specialty steak; or herb-crusted halibut with chipotle cream.

For a chance to sample Michelin Star cooking at a fraction of the cost, make a reservation at this unique Charlottetown eatery. Situated within the grounds of the prestigious Culinary Institute of Canada, the chefs at the Lucy Maud Dining Room are second-year culinary school students and the wait staff are studying for qualifications in hospitality. Overseen by world-class chefs and culinary gurus, the dishes are never anything short of exquisite. With so much effort and attention going into the preparation of every meal, diners can expect the very highest quality and cutting edge fusion. The menu changes each semester but has included inspired treats like beef tartar temaki, confit pork belly, and pan-roasted bison tenderloin. For those celebrating a special occasion, reserve a table at one of the restaurant’s monthly eight-course tasting menu evenings – truly not to be missed.