Charlie Don't Surf

It's a bright winter day here in the lower mainland with the threat of snow tomorrow. Living all my life here in the GVRD has taught me one thing - if there is sunshine, you'd better take advantage of it. Thought long and hard of where to eat for lunch today and we drew a blank. Looked in the Entertainment book and alas, Charlie Don't Surf! What better place to spend a lunch hour than the sunny surroundings of the strip in White Rock! I hadn't been to Charlie Don't Surf in ages and we made the trek there for lunch. The dining room at Charlie Don't Surf is quite eclectic, with a bit of everything. It almost looks like a garage sale; yet it comes across as inviting. We were lucky to have a seat right by the window to enjoy the spectacular view of the water. On a sunny day, there is nothing better than the view on the main strip in White Rock. We decided on 2 appetizers, Dry Ribs and Calamari. The dry ribs were plentiful and meaty. Unlike most other places, the ribs were actually ribs and were not the cartilage type (which are not as easy to eat and are more fatty). The calamari was a miss, it was plentiful and tasted quite good. But, it was a bit greasy and there was more batter than squid. For our entrees, I had the West Coast Bouillabaisse, which had a generous amount of shrimp, halibut, salmon, prawns, clams and mussels. The extremely fresh seafood was bathed in a saffron spicy tomato pernod broth. The broth was outstanding, it was a complex combination of flavours - fresh tomatoes, basil, licorice (from the pernod), seafood (naturally), and a hint of saffron. No flavour was too strong to overwhelm the dish. Despite the rather messy appearance of the dish, do not let that fool you, it's very tasty! My colleagues had the Halibut and Chips and the Chicken Burger. The halibut had a very light batter which was not oily at all. The fish was again, very fresh. However, the fries were not very good. The chicken burger was a butterflied breast and was cooked perfectly, still maintaining a juicy texture. After our meal, we were completely stuffed, the portions are more than adequate and the prices are reasonable. However, the food definitely is not gourmet. You come here for the view and the late night. The service was friendly and efficient, our drinks were refilled promptly and our food was expedited properly. Charlie Don't Surf is a decent place to eat; but there are better choices on the strip in White Rock.

The Good:
- Good portions for the price
- Great view
- Good service

The Bad:
- Food is hit and miss
- Parking could be an issue
- Dining room is a bit tight
- Charlie don't know food presentation

Charlie Don't Surf
15782 Marine Drive
White Rock, B.C.
(604) 538-1988
www.charliedontsurf.ca

Business Hours:
11:00am - Late (7 days a week)