The Dunes Studio Gallery & Cafe — Attraction in Brackley Beach

Charming garden, acceptable restaurant, interesting gallery/shop. This review is based off of one visit.

Popped over to Dunes last month for an early dinner. Restaurant was booked solid for the evening, but I managed to snag a table at 4:50PM. I was seated on the lower level near the window overlooking the gardens. Decor-wise, things feel very colourful (flowers!) yet a bit dated; hip urban youngsters is not their target demographic. Literally the first things you see when you walk into the gallery shop upstairs are cremation urns, so that might give you an indication of clientele. I like my reminders of the impermanence of existence too, but that seems like strange placement.

Dinner orders aren't taken until 5PM, so I order a beer to kill time. Selection seems pretty standard for PEI - the typical Gahan/Lone Oak. There's two menus, but both say the same thing just in different formatting, and both come in large books that feel too heavy and solid for the waiters to carry en masse, and for customers to easily read. The table decorations also feel a bit cluttered, just too much unnecessary stuff there. It all just feels like they're faffing about, and trying to add gravitas to the experience when none is needed. The downstairs is also annoyingly warm - and a large fan has been set up to keep air circulating (to questionable efficacy). I'm not super keen.

As it's only 5PM and I'm not super hungry, I get two appetizers - their island crab cakes ($18) and "award winning" seafood chowder ($18). What award? Unknown. I'm brought some bread and some molasses butter, which the waiter later informs me are from family - the bread is his grandmother's recipe, and the molasses butter is something that his dad used to eat growing up in Newfoundland. The molasses butter is a real winner, and is one of the more enjoyable things I've had in the last few months/year. The same can't be said for the crab cakes or seafood chowder, both of which are pretty average but certainly aren't average in terms of costs. The Water Prince in Charlottetown does a more successful rendition of the seafood chowder, though I reckon Charlene's Bayside in Whycocomagh in Cape Breton Island is still the gold standard. Presentation for both are beautiful and very colourful, including an edible chive flower that doesn't do anything for me taste-wise but is visually striking. Service is attentive and relaxed, though not particularly warm. Meal comes to $60.50 incl tax/tip. It's an acceptable albeit expensive meal, but aside from the butter, there's not much for me to recommend.

Outside in the licensed garden which apparently was inspired by time spent in Bali, there's a hodgepodge of different Asian statues, pools, flowers, and herbs. The stone iconography is a bit all over the place, borrowing from various parts of East Asia and SE Asia (lots of Buddhist imagery even though Bali is Hindu), but it's generally pretty, and there's a serene feel to it. Unfortunately, this is still PEI in the summer alas - so mosquitoes are afoot, and one can't be too chill walking about.

Back in the building, the gallery and shops sell all sorts of artisanal stuff non-consumables, from paintings to clothing you'd find on backpackers in India to random pottery (cremation urns!). Made in China? Hmm maybe. The younger ladies working in the shop with clothing were quite friendly.

All in all, an OK experience in general, with a nice little wander in the gardens. I would not be opposed to eating at Dunes Cafe again, but I would probably check out other nearby places first...

So much to see, both indoors and in the gardens. Wow! No matter your appreciation level for artistic creations, whimsical to classical, jewelry, pottery, glassworks, paintings, sculpture, metals, woodworking, carvings, etc., There is something around every corner to amuse, inspire, and outright awe your appreciation for quality items created by talented hands, for the enjoyment of others. The gardens are simply breathtaking to say the least. Each garden bed is perfectly created and curated, to showcase the finest examples of native and naturalized flora. Worth the visit alone just for the art and gardens, and if you work up an appetite while taking all that in, a truly 5 star Epicurean menu awaits your indulgence, featuring the finest ingredients, many of which are sourced from the very gardens on site. Plan for at least an hour or two just to take everything in, and then take the time for some of the finest and freshest food to be found on the island,...

The gallery itself is fairly decent. There is ample amount of art to appreciate and keep you engaged. The gallery itself would deserve at least 4 stars.

However, we had a terrible experience at the cafe. We were not hungry so we passed on the opportunity to have lunch and told the maitre d' that we will most likely get something to drink. I asked if we could be seated, seeing the 85% of the seating was available and the cafe was not busy. She replied that we can get it to go. No explanation, whatsoever. If it's against their policy, we shouldve been informed. Anyway, we decide to order some drinks and instead of giving us disposable cups, she gave us our coffee in ceramic cups which meant we could not leave the premises. When she looked at our confused looks, she said we can walk around (which we had already done). Needless to say, we did not tip her and neither did we appreciate the lack of...