It’s no secret that I like to eat, so when the Murphy Hospitality Group (MHG) approached me with a possible partnership, it was a no-brainer. If you’ve never heard of MHG, here’s a little bit of background: in 1980, owners Kevin Murphy and his wife Kathy opened their first restaurant. Fast forward to today and the MHG is celebrating their 40th year in operation, the family owned business having grown to include 16 food and beverage operations, 2 boutique hotels and the Prince Edward Island Brewing Company. They also played a pivotal role in the rejuvenation of Charlottetown’s downtown: along with their numerous culinary hot spots, MHG have restored many buildings in the city’s core in order to ensure Charlottetown stays true to its heritage look. MHG have restaurants in New-Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well, so if you’re in any of these areas and want to enjoy high-quality food, great drinks and top-tier atmosphere, MHG has you covered. This summer I had the opportunity to experience Sims Corner, Merchantman and Fishies on the Roof, and I’m so excited to share my experience with you!
Sims Corner Steakhouse & Oyster Bar
Not only does Sims Corner offer 100% island beef custom cut steaks, their beef is also 45 day aged, which had me salivating before I'd even sat down (speaking of seating, the gem hued velvet booths in this place are so bougie, I can’t even). The atmosphere was luxurious and inviting, and the service was spot-on. My partner and I tried several of their premium cocktails (perks of the job, what can I say?), my personal favourite being the Summer Wind which is a blend of gin, lemon, cucumber and dill. They also offer a selection of over 300 wines, so you know your girl was pleased. Sims houses an oyster bar, with oysters from various corners of Prince Edward Island, which was a treat to say the least. Chef Kyle Panton, a PEI native and graduate of the Culinary Institute of Canada, has developed a menu that is nothing short of world class. My partner had the rib eye, with a side of creamed spinach, herb garlic mushrooms and potato rosti, while I had the lobster roll with Sims Steakhouse Frites (these puppies were unreal).
Merchantman Fresh Seafood & Oyster Bar
You had me at “food, drink, fun”, Merchantman. Located at just minutes from the charming Charlottetown waterfront, Merchantman is PEI’s year-round fish house. Inside the beautiful historic building, you’ll find a welcoming staff and atmosphere. Continue on behind the building and discover a cool outdoor patio space complete with bar, games and seating. If you’re into seafood (which I totally am), the menu isn’t hard to love. Chef Andrew Cotton outdoes himself, his island roots shining through every item with options such as a Smoked Salmon Board, Seafood Cakes made with PEI rock crab and haddock, and an Island Seafood Boil. Merchantman has a killer drink menu as well, the Ceasar taking the top spot in our opinion (seriously, my partner has proclaimed it the best he’d ever had). If you’re looking for something warm and cozy to eat going into the fall season, I highly recommend trying their Cioppino, made of salmon, haddock, island mussels and soft shell clams. Absolutely delicious!
Chef Kyle Panton is back, and I’m not sad about it. I was invited to lounge on the only rooftop patio in Charlottetown with cocktails and pizza (yeah, I know - life’s hard, right?). I chose the Salty Peach, topped with prosciutto, peach, pistachio and ricotta, and the Deep Gold. At first, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about potatoes on pizza, but now that I’ve had it, I never want to live life without it. It's basically everything that I didn't know I was missing: caramelized onions, Yukon Gold potatoes, mozza, mushroom béchamel, pesto aioli… such a sexy slice. As far as cocktails go, the Elderflower G&T was an absolute showstopper for me but the Peach Sangria on a hot sunny day is a must.
The Murphy Hospitality Group invited me to eat in their restaurants, and I received compensation for my time. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the businesses and brands that make Cashmere & Cocktails possible!
