Flavors of Lebanon

In every city, there is always a resaurant that pops up everywhere. In Charlottetown, is the case of a family-owned Lebanese restaurant, full of history and unique flavors.

By Val Mandujano,

Feb.12, 2023

Ellen McQuaid was in high school. 

It was 1992. 

One of her friends suggested them to meet at a small restaurant downtown.  

When they arrived, they chose to sit at one of the wooden tables of Cedar’s Eatery. 

One with a tall-back booth ornamented with gold tapestry. 

McQuaid and her friends didn’t have much money, so they decided to share some fries, hummus and tea.  

The ambience lights at Cedar's are warm and the walls and shelves are filled with small figurines, curious decorations, pictures, frames, banners and ceramic vases. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO

The lighting of the petal-shaped hanging lights was low.  

Everywhere they looked, there were signs, banners and pictures hanging on the walls. 

Some corners were decorated with stained glass in blue and green shades, with different figure patterns. 

Wen, the waitress, served them. 

"We were in high school, jobless, with very little money, so our budget for restaurants was very lean. I distinctly remember how cozy it felt,” said McQuaid.  

Thirty-two years later, McQuaid still enjoys diners at Cedar’s with her friends or cousins. And now, she has enough money to order other menu items like Falafel or Tabbouleh, rather than just fries.  

Cedar’s Eatery opened 45 years ago in 1979. 

Since its beginnings it has become one of the city’s favourite spots to enjoy food and warm ambiance.  

There's a small bar on the dining room of Cedar's. They have water, wine and glass cups for serving customers right away. The restaurant in downtown Charlottetown is open all week except Sundays. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO

Back in the 70’s, Maroun and Nawal Abdallah moved to Prince Edward Island from Lebanon to visit family and decided to stay. 

Initially the family opened a small grocery store and sold burgers and fries at a small spot in Spring Park Road.  

Eventually they closed that and decided to open the restaurant in University Avenue to share their culture through authentic Lebanese dishes.  

Since there were no other places that offered that type of food, the business started to gain popularity.  

Years later in 1991, they opened a bar upstairs for people to enjoy live music.  

It was called Baba’s Lounge, after staff heard Ryan and his siblings calling their father Maroun, ‘Baba', which means ‘dad’ in Lebanese.  

Some of the articles where Cedar's appeared, can be found at the main entrance of the building. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO

Since 1979, the restaurant has been featured in articles, magazines and top-10 lists of most recommended places to eat in Canada, attracting people from all over the country and over the world. 

At the entrance of Cedar’s, there is a small square lobby with some glass frames with the old magazine cut-outs of the articles the restaurant has appeared in, like Canadian Geographic, Canadian Living and Health Naturally. 

Ryan Abdallah, son of the founders and now owner, loves to share his culture with Islanders and hopes the business continues to succeed in the future years. 

“For a small family business to have that kind of a name, and being in business since that long, people still come in for the food and the experience. It’s what it has always been,” he said.  

“They really believe in what we do. They come here for the atmosphere, and that’s what I appreciate. I love that about this place.” 

Ryan Abdallah became the owner of Cedar's in 2010. But he has been in the business for as long as he can remember. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO

With so many years in town, there are frequent diners who have been going for decades.  

“If anyone comes to town to visit and wants to go out to dinner, I would suggest Cedar’s. I’ve had many birthday suppers there over the years,” said Ellen McQuaid.

“Eventually it became my favourite restaurant. I definitely recommend it anytime anyone asks where to get good food in Charlottetown.” 

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