Hello Winnipeg, we are Mr. and Mrs. Restaurant. We’re passionate about food, but not about cooking. After growing tired of everyday chain restaurants, we began our search for the best hidden eateries the city has to offer. Ever wonder if that trendy new place is worth the money; or if that greasy burger joint lives up to all the hype? Just ask Mr. and Mrs. Restaurant!
Charlee’s Restaurant & Lounge
[flickr style=”border:none; padding:4px; border:1px solid #BDBDBD; float:right; margin-left:5px;”]photo:7676358728[/flickr]Charlee’s Restaurant and Lounge is one of our favorites. You know the kind of place where anything you try on the menu seems to be good? That’s Charlee’s.
When you walk into Charlee’s Restaurant, the décor is plain but the space is clean and comfortable. You quickly realize that you’re in a locally-owned restaurant because the staff is welcoming, and naturally knowledgeable about their menu. You can tell that this place has a number of “regulars” and after a couple of visits to Charlee’s, we became “regulars” ourselves.
The menu items are home-made; from scratch and the chef’s personal touch shines through on even the most basic of choices. One of our favorites at Charlee’s is the Sweet Caramelized Pork Bun. The shredded meat is flavored in a marinade similar to Tocino (a style of pork used in Filipino breakfasts). The chef recognized the universal lovability of this marinated pork and made a burger out of it. Topped with cucumbers, tomatoes and an egg done to your liking, this burger is unlike anything you’ve ever had but something you will come back for!
[flickr style=”border:none; padding:4px; border:1px solid #BDBDBD; float:right; margin-left:5px;”]photo:7676359226[/flickr]The Monte Cristo sandwich tastes like it came from a local delicatessen and with a side of their always-delicious poutine or their tangy caesar salad; it makes for a great meal. More than just burgers and sandwiches, Charlee’s offers dinner options, like Shepard’s Pie, Atlantic Cod, and a number of Pasta and Stir-fry dishes.
Their daily soups deserve a mention; because they too are made from scratch and the chef experiments with many unique varieties (the Chicken Pot Pie Soup is a must!). As for the most important meal of the day, Charlee’s serves up an All-Day Breakfast with hash browns so good; we’ve often ordered a side of them as our appetizer! Charlee’s Restaurant is comfortable, laid-back and reasonably priced (meals run from $8 to $17).
When it comes to the concept of restaurant and lounge we find that most places are clearly better at either one or the other. There are those places you would “go for drinks” but the food is just-okay, or the restaurants that have a lounge you wouldn’t normally venture into. This is not the case with Charlee’s, they’ve got the bases covered for an awesome place to go for drinks, wings (many unique flavors!), karaoke or a game of pool.
[flickr style=”border:none; padding:4px; border:1px solid #BDBDBD; float:right; margin-left:5px;”]photo:7676358924[/flickr]A few steps from the main eating area and passed the VLT machines is a laid-back, comfortable lounge that feels like “drinks at a friend’s place” when you’re there. A great alternative to the usual spots for wings and beer!
Charlee’s is a cult-favorite that many Winnipegers haven’t heard of. We give Charlee’s 3.5 out of 5, because the atmosphere doesn’t exactly make for a fancy dining experience. However, if you’re looking for a casual restaurant that offers home-cooked meals at a decent price, this is a place to try!
Charlee’s Restaurant & Lounge
185 Stadacona Street
(204) 663-6484
