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Health PEI Board Positions

Leo Steven, Health PEI board chair, has announced that 2 board positions....

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Lands Protection Act Commissioner Seeks Feedback

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Talk on Arrowsmith Program

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Taking Care—Caregiver Seminars

Starting April 8, a series of 6 workshops, developed by Ruth Anne Wicher....

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Bat WNS Confirmed

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National Volunteer Awards

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LABO Homestay on the Island

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Mini Barn Draw

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Submit to Island Literary Awards

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Atlantic Voices Choral Composition Contest

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Identifying Your Beach Glass

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Macphail Youth Camps

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Historical City Tour of Summerside for Seniors

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United Way Day of Caring

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Marine Atlantic History Circle

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Annual Hook-in

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Capital One Race for Kids

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Yard, Bake and Plant Sale

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Home | Articles | Columnists | Sa to Yo | Sprague, Andrew | A Place Downtown
August 2008
A Place Downtown

I’m Dining Out Here

by Andrew Sprague

It wasn’t that long ago that Fouad Haddad was toiling away, fixing and selling used computers, and renting DVDs to a handful customers at his Grafton Street hub, Variety Video. He’d been doing just that for at least fifteen years. However, deep down, Fouad wanted a change. He was tired of the daily grind, and he wanted to explore new avenues. So, he turned his attention to food, rolled up his sleeves, invested in a massive renovation, and is now the proud owner of one of the Island’s finest lunch counter eateries, The Downtown Deli. It’s my favourite new place for lunch in Charlottetown.

It takes a lot of guts to do what Fouad did. His original business was firmly entrenched and well known all over the city. He had a lot of loyal customers, and many people knew him to be very handy with electronics. But, with movies available free to the masses on dozens of download sites on the internet, the independent movie store was going the way of the dinosaur, and Fouad saw the writing on the wall. It was time for a change; a change Charlottetown foodies will likely benefit from for years to come.

I first tried The Downtown Deli a few weeks back. My girlfriend, another friend and I met for lunch just after noon on a beautiful summer Monday. When we arrived there was a relatively big line-up at the counter; a sure shot sign the word about The Downtown Deli was getting around. The menu consisted of a huge variety of grilled sandwiches and salads, gourmet pizzas, and a smattering of Lebanese favorites. It was a tough decision to say the least. The place smelled delicious, and the food that had already been served to other customers looked absolutely beautiful. I settled on the grilled beef sandwich on focaccia with a small side salad. Stef ordered the chicken shawarma and G had the special of the day, a turkey wrap with green salad. Each dish was also served with a massive dill pickle, which suited the rather large size of the meals. We thoroughly enjoyed each and every bite. The food was wonderfully fresh and delicious. The service was relatively quick, considering the line-up, and considering the fact that each meal is prepared on the spot. There are no waitresses, per se, since you order at the counter, receive a ticket, and wait for your number to be called. That kind of service will save Fouad money in the long run, and won’t really affect the quality of the lunch counter style experience. All in all the price is reasonable, (nine dollars on average), and I was more than happy with the the quality of the meal.

I think I’m going to make The Downtown Deli a regular stop on my weekday lunch regimen. It was quite a gamble for Fouad Haddad to close Variety Video and open a restaurant in this eatery-saturated city. He deserves success for the wonderful place he’s created.

 
 

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