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    Charlene's Bayside Restaurant

    4.4 (54 reviews)
    ModerateCanadian (New)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Charlene's Bayside Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    CHARLENE'S BAYSIDE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Fish Cakes (with a side caesar salad and biscuit)
    David Y.

    OMG THE SEAFOOD CHOWDER!!! In looking for spots to eat as we passed through Whycocomaugh, we chanced up Charlene's Bayside Restaurant and it's "award winning seafood chowder". I'm usually skeptical about these claims, chalking it up to marketing. But after I took my first spoonful of that seafood chowder, yup, I don't care who the rest of the competition was, I'd give all the awards to Charlene's chowder. While this was soupy more than thick, the sheer amount of seafood in it made it super filling. And I'm not talking about potato fillers (none of that here!), but a shipload of fish, shrimp, scallops, crab, and clams. The side biscuit was also a great soup-soaker which just made the whole dish amazing. On that alone, I'd come back again and again to this spot (worth the drive if you're staying in the nearby areas like Baddeck). But we also got a few other things which we liked: - Scallop and Shrimp Kebab: We ordered this dish but they had run out, and just gave us the last skewer for free. Each skewer is 3 scallops wrapped in 3 shrimps. Perfectly grilled and juicy. - Fish Cakes: The cakes had almost a mashed potato quality to them (would have preferred a stronger fish taste). That said, 2 for $6 is a great value. We got them with a side caesar salad which was generous on the bacon and garlicy with the dressing. - Pies: Homemade small-town pies are the best. We got blueberry (which was absolutely oozing and jammy) and coconut cream (super delicate cream with the perfect level of coconut flavour). It's a small, family-run restaurant where everyone seems to know each other. Vibe is friendly, service tries their best, and with Charlene in the kitchen running the show, you're in for a great meal.

    Breakfast menu
    Tricia G.

    Surprising this place was not very busy on a Friday morning. Breakfast was great, very good coffee and good service. Home fries were great, crispy bacon, eggs perfectly cooked.

    'Bowl' sized seafood chowder comes with a biscuit (5/5). Lobster roll (2.5/5)
    Jasmine L.

    LOVED THE SEAFOOD CHOWDER. All the seafood meats were cooked just right & plentiful and the delicious seafood broth was thinner (not thick, so it doesn't feel heavy in the tummy). We also got the Lobster Roll at $20 market price. There was a decent amount of lobster chunks and just about the size of a standard hot dog bun. Here's my unpopular opinion: a lobster roll is what it is, just a bun sandwiching lobster meat that's usually mayo dressed. Nothing mind-blowing. Apparently Charlene's biscuits, buns, and desserts are also homemade. Overall they had a homey diner feel.

    Pictures are worth a thousand words

    Had lunch here twice on a motorcycle trip. once in the way to cabot trail and once coming back. Just had a salad and chowder. Chowder is amazing.

    Seafood chowder bowl (has fish, clams, scallops and lobster claw) with complimentary homemade biscuit

    I am in love with Charlene's seafood chowder. Truly the best I ever tasted. We have been travelling around Nova Scotia tasting different seafood chowder...yes, Charlene deserves the award. This local diner is worth the detour - warm hospitality and delicious home cooked meals and desserts. We tried the bowl of seafood chowder (so full of seafood no extenders at all) which came with a free biscuit. The caesar salad side order was generous ..and in case I wasn't impressed enough ...the homemade coconut cream pie and blueberry pie were just heavenly. No wonder locals frequent this place too. I wish I lived nearby! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

    Seating in the storage room.
    Paul M.

    Our annual visit to Charlene's was a disappointment tonight. I get space is limited, so we were understanding with being seated in the storage room at the back (see picture). However the most disappointing was that not one of the four bowls of chowder ordered had a lobster claw. The menu says it includes one. The picture says it includes one. From pasts visits I know it includes one. When we mentioned it to the waitress, she said "oh". That was it.

    Chowder- one of the best ever!
    Erika L.

    While driving from Halifax to Cape Breton, I kept looking for places to stop for a bite to eat and after looking at pictures online of the food, this is where we decided to stop. We got some clam chowder and fish and chips and we were definitely not disappointed. This has to be the best clam chowder I have had in years- it is not as thick as others which may be better for some (me!). The fish is also excellent. It is a small place but they provide good service. They also seem to have good dessert though we didn't try any.

    The Seafood Chowder at Charlene's is spectacular. Huge chunks of lobster and fish, clams, shrimp and scallops in a light, creamy broth can warm your soul on the coldest of days. The biscuits are light and fluffy and the coconut cream pie is not to be missed.

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    4 years ago

    I'm sure it's wonderful and the people were very polite but it closes at seven!!! Slightly disappointed.

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    3 years ago

    Had the chowder and it was phenomenal! The homemade biscuits were perfect! Great stop for a bite to eat!

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    4 years ago

    The best seafood gumbo I have ever had!! Great service and great food...highly recommend you stop at Charlene's!

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    7 years ago

    Best Seafood Chowder! It is definitely worth the detour. It was recommended to us by our hotel & it was a great recommendation.

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    The Freight Shed - Homemade Carrot Cake

    The Freight Shed

    3.9(90 reviews)
    31.5 km

    We had some good food at the freight shed, but also had our order come out wrong. The wait took a…read morewhile, and in the end, we weren't sure it was worth it. I ordered the seafood fettuccine with no peppers, but it came with peppers anyway. The waiter remembered putting the order in without peppers, but the kitchen had messed up. They remade it, but when it came back out it had a very different presentation and seemed smaller. It no longer was served with bread, and it had less seafood. It was just odd. I had to sit there while the rest of my party had their food, just waiting for a long time. But the remade version did taste better, so I appreciated it. With the mixup, we found it very strange that the waiter did not apologize or offer to discount the meal or make it up in any way. The prices for the crab cakes also seemed very high! Compared to the other things we got, we were quite surprised with the small serving for the price. It was served with a smaller version of the house salad that I ordered as a side. The salad was good, but not worth the price, especially as the only thing paired with the crab cakes. Overall, I'd skip going here again. We appreciated that the outdoor seating was dog-friendly, but that was the only perk.

    Great place to eat all around. The staff are the best, especially Michelle! SO appreciative of…read morehaving a nice place to eat year round!

    Photos
    The Freight Shed
    The Freight Shed - Fresh hand made in house Pistachio gelato!

    Fresh hand made in house Pistachio gelato!

    The Freight Shed - Waterfront view

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    Waterfront view

    Charlene's Bayside Restaurant - newcanadian - Updated May 2026

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