Hale House — Restaurant in Charleston

For over a decade, I have traveled coast to coast for work, I am on the road about half of every year. I eat out a lot and always look for locally owned, well rated restaurants.

Upon walking up to Hale House, it is hard not to notice the trail of black filth coming from the front door and going around the corner to the alley. I probably should have stopped right there. Upon entering, I was delighted to see a packed restaurant after walking 15 minutes through a very quiet city at 5:30 pm.

We (I was with a group of four) were quickly greeted at the door and told we would have a 25-30 minute wait for a table. As we contemplated, we were made aware of a speakeasy in the basement that we could wait at, which sealed the deal that this was our place for the night.

We walked down the stairs (pictured), and we were really enjoying the ambiance of the space. Sure, some of the chairs were worn, and some of the decor looked to come from TJ Maxx, and the floors were a bit sticky... it was still cute. We sat at a table, and there was a small bar in the corner with four stools that were taken. More people entered the room after, and the bartender ignored them to make sure we were the first to receive menus. The drink menus showed off a large collection of whiskeys, wines, and beers. We are cocktail people, so we each chose a cocktail, and the bartender quickly returned to take our orders. At this time, the room began to fill even more, and it was obvious that this bartender should not be working in this room alone.

Two drinks came to the table, and the bartender ran off to make more. At this time, the front of house found us and told us our table was ready. It had been half the time we were told, but we also had to settle with that bartender before going upstairs. Strange, they couldn't carry that over to the bill upstairs, but okay.

We are seated at our table upstairs, and after having a taste of our drinks, we thought the cocktails were well balanced and tasty. Unfortunately, we were then told they don't make cocktails upstairs except martinis, mojitos, and mules, so we had to choose something else to drink. I ordered a classic mojito, and we put in an order for four appetizers.

Out came my mojito, easily the worst mojito I have had in my life. It was reminiscent of mouthwash. I told the water, he apologized and had a new drink made. He brought it over and waited for me to taste it. I didn't like this one either. He then spoke to his manager, who came and took the drink off of the check. The people at the table with me were not as upset with their drinks but noticed the drop in quality from what we had downstairs. I settled with water, which nobody had offered to bring to our table.

Our appetizers came out. Bacon wrapped shrimp, bruschetta, Buffalo chicken wontons, and cactus chili fries. This is where things started getting bad. The fries were sweet and mushy... just bad. The wontons were over fried and tasted like something frozen. They were garnished with blue cheese sauce (actually cheap dressing), Buffalo sauce (meh), two limp romaine leaves, and some crumbled blue cheese... ok, so the cheese was good. The shrimp were covered in a terrible sauce that I would call sweet ketchup, not tasty. The bruschetta was hard as a rock, the balsamic far too sweet, and no fresh basil... just tasteless freeze dried crumbles (I should have noticed this in the photos).

Out come the mains. I ordered the filet with asparagus and the added toppings. Thin sad asparagus, not tossed in parmesean, but it is melted on top and is just a solid mass that comes off like the asparagus was wearing a wig. Microwave anyone? My steak knife was laying in their bourbon glaze, literally the entire handle covered in it as well as another's steak that came to the table. The first bite of the steak wasn't bad. The next bite was so cold. I always eat rare steaks, but this was ridiculous. Lightly seared. Dissatisfied, we walked past the kitchen and noticed how filthy it was. The sticky floors... the black streak from the front door....

Hale House is a must-visit gem in the West Virginia dining scene! Even the WV locals will tell you that West Virginia isn’t a foodie state and doesn’t have any good dining options. Those people are WRONG! Don’t listen. We found plenty of great places to eat all over West Virginia and Hale House was just the beginning. From the moment you walk in, the stylish, modern decor sets the tone—chic lighting, sleek furnishings, and an effortlessly cool atmosphere make it the perfect spot for a date night or dinner with friends. Located right in the heart of downtown Charleston, it’s also within walking distance of charming shops and cafes, making it a great place to start or end an evening out. Now, let’s talk about the food—because WOW. The fried chicken tenders in the house-made caramelized pineapple bourbon sauce are next-level delicious. The tenders themselves are crispy and juicy, but that sauce? Absolute magic! Sweet, smoky, with just the right touch of bourbon warmth—it’s unlike anything else and completely addictive. The wedge salad is another winner. It’s huge, fresh, and covered in their house-made blue cheese dressing, which is rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced. Honestly, it’s one of the best wedge salads we’ve had anywhere! And of course, the angel hair crab cakes—these are incredible. Perfectly cooked, packed with fresh crab flavor, and seasoned beautifully. The only small critique? While the fried angel hair pasta topping is an interesting concept, it doesn’t really add much to the dish. But the crab cakes themselves? Absolute perfection. Hale House is a must-visit for anyone in Charleston, WV. With its inventive menu, stylish ambiance, and prime location, it’s easily one of the best dining experiences...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9/10 Experience Hale House – Charleston, WV

As someone visiting Charleston on business, I stumbled upon Hale House by chance—and I’m glad I did. From the outside, you’d never expect the transformation that happens once you step through the door. The aesthetics are stunning with a warm, dim-lit ambiance that gives the place a classy, almost otherworldly feel.

I arrived around 6:00 PM and was quickly seated by the friendly staff. The energy inside was lively yet refined,perfect for either solo dining or a social evening out.

I started with two appetizers: the Ahi Tuna and the Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp. Both were outstanding,solid 9/10s. The tuna was perfectly seared, and the shrimp had the kind of deep, seasoned flavor I appreciate coming from Louisiana.

For the main course, I ordered the 12 oz ribeye in bourbon sauce. The steak came out slightly overcooked at first, but the service team didn’t miss a beat. My waitress checked in promptly and, upon hearing my feedback, offered to have it redone. That’s when Ed, who appeared to be the front-of-house manager, came over personally to apologize. Ed was the definition of professional, respectful, kind, and genuinely committed to making things right. He brought out the new steak himself along with a complimentary serving of cookie dough cheesecake, which was a thoughtful touch.

The Potatoes Au Gratin also deserve a shoutout, rich, flavorful, and another 9/10.

All in all, this was a 9/10 experience for me. Hale House combines beautiful design, great food, and exceptional service. If you’re ever in Charleston, even if you’re just passing through,this spot is absolutely worth a visit. Ask for Ed if you can; he’s a prime example of what hospitality...