Charly‘s Of Charlevoix

July 5, 2006

When Helen and Tim Coon sold Charly’s (pronounced shar-lees) Restaurant in 2000 they thought permanent retirement from the restaurant world was a given. They were wrong.
Since last summer, Charly’s Restaurant – named in 1997 by the Coons for the town of Charlevoix and tourist Father Pierre Francois Xavier de Charlevoix who visited Fisherman’s Island in 1721 – has been back in the hands of the Coons and owner/chef Helen is back in the kitchen.
With years of experience in the restaurant industry – she had two restaurants in Australia and met her American husband at one of them – Helen is an Indian-Malaysian-Australian-American whose inspiration comes from her Indian grandmother. Curry and other Malaysian spices are staples in Helen’s creations and she takes pride in her restaurant’s cleanliness and the homemade dishes she creates.
“The menu we offer here is fairly international,” says Helen, “but we still have basic dishes for people that don’t want anything exotic.”
Last summer’s late acquisition and opening caused a shortage of help, but this year the 70-seat bar and restaurant’s kitchen is staffed by Helen and two assistant chefs who plan on keeping customers content.
“This year we are to full capacity,” says Helen, “and we are hoping that we’ll be able to fill it up.”
Each day starts off at 8 a.m. with traditional breakfast foods – waffles, pancakes and an omelet of the day – along with specials such as an egg and smoked salmon frittata to please those wanting more variety.
The dinner hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with appetizers such as Curry Puffs and Won Tons leading into more ethnic fare like Malaysian linguine or chicken and Whitefish and Shrimp Ravioli. Standard entrees of salad, steak and fish are offered, as well.
“We try and use all the local farms,” reveals Helen, “like Kitely’s, Friske’s, Rosenthal’s, Bill’s Farm Market… so we try and use the local produce as far as we can.” Daily specials, soup, pasta, vegetarian entrees and drinks of the day are offered during summer.
“Everything (is made from scratch) including the salad dressings, the sauces, the desserts… and we try and use the local fruit,” continues Helen. “I do an almond torte and I have Friske’s tart cherry sauce on it. We try and incorporate whatever is available up here.”
In addition to the Brown Butter Almond Torte for dessert, Charly’s offers a Margarita Flan Cake (butter cake with lime-tequila cream and lime and orange zest), Chocolate Almond Rum Cake and Profiteroles (pastry puffs filled with vanilla and chocolate ice cream topped with butterscotch sauce). Fruit desserts – blueberry, peach, cherry and strawberry – are offered as specials when in season.
With its intimate setting and windows overlooking Charlevoix’s Pine River Channel, Charly’s atmosphere is picturesque and peaceful. The interior of the restaurant is simply decorated with modern furnishings and art Tim has collected through the years – some Australian, aboriginal, Santa Fe, southwestern – all of which is for sale.
The restaurant itself is attached to Charlevoix’s Edgewater Inn, although each business is separately owned. “We have a special license for the hotel, [so] people can take drinks back to their rooms,” says Helen. That license also extends to the public. Those wishing to buy a bottle of wine to take home from Charly’s extensive wine list are able to do that, too. The full bar also offers wine by the glass to complement each meal, starting at $6 and bottles ranging in price from $20-$190.
Like many Northern Michigan locales, the restaurant is only open for the tourist season. “We close at the end of October and I spend four months in Australia, because that’s where I’m from,” says Helen. “I’ve got lots of friends (there) because I lived there for 25 years, and I’ve got my two sons there.”
Helen and Tim’s return to Charly’s creates an alternative to the area’s well-known seafood and steak restaurants. “It’s just a unique place,” says Helen, “and it offers something really different for the people that are fussy about good food.”

Charly’s Restaurant is located at 100 Michigan Avenue, attached to the Edgewater Inn, in downtown Charlevoix. Reservations are appreciated. Please call 231-547-1700. Summer hours are breakfast 8 a.m.-Noon, dinner 5:30-10 p.m. six days a week. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.