At Charlie’s On Prior, the lake stays in view while lunch, brunch, dinner or a round of drinks unfolds around it. The restaurant sits directly on the water, with an outdoor patio and an upper deck that put the shoreline front and center.
It is a useful sort of waterfront place: scenic enough for a sunset table, but broad enough in its food and seating choices to suit a family lunch, a casual burger-and-beer stop or a lively evening out. Indoors, there are booths, a bar area and dining space; outside, the patio, terrace and deck offer different ways to settle in near the water.
Warm weather brings the most obvious reason to linger. The changing light over the lake gives dinner its own backdrop, while the social energy can range from an easygoing meal to a busier weekend crowd with entertainment in the mix.
Pick Your View
The upper deck provides the elevated version of the lake view, a good perch for watching boats move through the water as a meal arrives. It is also reachable with a stroller, which helps make the deck more practical for family outings than its name might suggest.
Down closer to the water, the patio and terrace seating put diners nearer to the activity along the shoreline. The restaurant can be reached by boat or jet ski as well as by road, adding a distinctly summery option for people already out on the lake.
The lakeside stage is set over the water and faces the lake, giving live entertainment a notably open setting. Some nights have a more energetic atmosphere, including DJ programming, while other meals leave more room for conversation.
Comfort Food With Some Curveballs
The menu has the reassuring breadth of a gathering-place restaurant. Tacos, burgers, wings, pizza, fried fish, brisket dishes, appetizers, brunch plates and children’s meals make it easier for a mixed table to find its lane without much negotiation.
Fish and chips is one of the orders worth a close look. The batter has been praised for being crisp, flavorful and substantial rather than wispy, a welcome detail when fried fish is the main event. Seasoned fries have their own following, and regular French fries and waffle fries keep appearing across the menu.
Chicken tinga tacos stand out among the taco choices, while blackened walleye tacos offer a lake-country turn. Shrimp tacos and elote corn bring more Mexican-inspired flavors into a menu that otherwise moves comfortably between American bar food and hearty entrées.
Brisket shows up in more than one guise, including brisket stroganoff and a barbecue-oriented meat plate. Chicken Parmesan and cheese pizza are also among the meal-sized choices, useful reminders that the kitchen is not trying to funnel everybody toward one signature dish.
Start With Tuna or a Pretzel
Ahi tuna gives the appetizer list a little lift from the usual fried-and-shareable routine. Ahi crisps and another tuna appetizer have been singled out as especially enjoyable ways to begin, particularly if the table wants something lighter before burgers, fish or brisket arrive.
There is still room for the familiar starters. A large pretzel works for passing around, and chips can come with queso, salsa and guacamole. Wings fill the classic bar-food role, while the appetizer selection makes it easy to build a casual meal from several smaller plates.
Brunch Has Its Own Personality
Charlie’s does not simply carry its lunch menu into the morning. The breakfast skillet brings large fresh vegetables and vegan chorizo to the table, giving brunch a plant-forward option with more character than a token substitute.
A brunch burger with waffle fries keeps things firmly in weekend-comfort territory. For families, children’s meals include burgers, and portions have been notably generous on family visits.
Watermelon Margaritas at the Bar
The bar menu suits the waterfront mood without limiting itself to one style. Watermelon margaritas and watermelon habanero margaritas offer the sweet-and-spicy option, while old fashioneds and other fruit-forward mixed drinks cover a broader range of tastes.
There is some room for a conversation with the bartender, too. In one improvisational moment, a coconut-rum drink with mango and Sprite stepped in when pineapple juice was unavailable. That sort of flexibility is handy when a group has different preferences.
Pull tabs are available inside, another small diversion for a drink at the bar or a pause between dinner and whatever the evening brings.
From Family Tables to Bigger Celebrations
The staff is known for being friendly, attentive and ready with menu suggestions, which matters with a menu this wide-ranging. The setting works for parents with children, couples lingering over a sunset drink and groups meeting for a louder Friday night.
For occasions that outgrow a regular reservation, Charlie’s also provides catering for larger celebrations, including weddings. Its catering experience includes working through dietary needs for event guests, an important consideration when the guest list includes many different eaters.
A Few Details Before You Settle In
The restaurant has a free parking lot and valet parking, though spaces can be tighter during busy weekend, warm-weather and favorable-weather periods. Water arrivals are an appealing alternative when lake conditions and current operations allow.
Patio and indoor dining areas may offer different menus, so the available food selection is worth confirming when choosing a table. Outdoor comfort can also vary with strong sun and small flying insects during warm-weather meals.
The patio route by the water includes a raised ramp section that may be difficult for some manual-wheelchair users. Some areas also use high-top tables; lower or more accessible seating arrangements are best confirmed in advance.