Rich & Charlie's Crestwood — Restaurant in Crestwood

We've been going to Rich & Charlie's for many years although pretty infrequently (we live an hour away so we only go once a year or so). Yesterday was the first time in close to 20 years that we have left disappointed.

I had the Cajun Chicken Pasta, something that I have loved on numerous occasions previously. This time it was 1/5 stars. No flavor, sauce was thick and paste like consistency. It was bland and I ended up not even finishing the dish. I would have been embarrassed to serve that dish to my family at my own house, let alone a restaurant that specializes in Italian cuisine. I've had better chicken pasta at Domino's.

My wife had the Tutto Mare, and it was a little better than the cajun chicken pasta, but still nowhere near the outstanding quality we had come to love over the years. She said it was bland and the color of everything was gray. She was not impressed. Again, a dish that she previously loved on several prior occasions.

My daughter had the kids mac and cheese. She refused to eat it. I tried a bite to see if she was just being picky. It was the worst mac I've ever had. It seemed watered down with no flavor. Off brand box mac and cheese would have been a huge improvement. They did take the mac off the bill since she didn't eat even one bite, which I appreciated.

My son had a kids pizza which he enjoyed and ended up sharing with his sister.

If we weren't on a time crunch and didn't have the kids with us I would have asked to get something different or the dishes made again. I'll still probably give Rich & Charlie's another shot the next time we are in the mood. I'm not quite ready to write them off after 20 years of excellence, and I understand staffing issues might be to blame. Still, it was disappointing to have a place we loved so much leave such a bad taste...

Rich and Charlies in Kirkwood, MO: A Mixed Experience

My boyfriend and I recently visited Rich and Charlies in Kirkwood, MO, for dinner, and our experience was a mix of delightful and disappointing elements.

Starting with the positives, we began our meal with the fried zucchini appetizer, which was absolutely delicious. The breading was perfectly crispy, and the zucchini was tender and flavorful. For our entrees, we had the Cajun chicken and shrimp pasta and the Quattro Formaggio with chicken. Both dishes were fantastic, bursting with flavor, and cooked to perfection. We had no complaints about the food.

Our server, Spencer, was also excellent. He was very hospitable, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal.

However, there were a few aspects that detracted from our overall experience. The ambiance of the restaurant was rustic and dark, which is typical for an Italian eatery and generally acceptable. However, upon entering, we noticed a distinct smell that can only be described as old. This initial impression was somewhat off-putting and made me feel a bit hesitant and paranoid about the cleanliness of the kitchen. I truly hope that the smell does not reflect the kitchen's condition.

Another issue we encountered was with the drinks. We ordered lemonade and raspberry tea, but both were overly tappy and difficult to drink. This was a significant letdown, as a good drink can greatly enhance a meal.

Overall, while we enjoyed the food and appreciated the excellent service from Spencer, there are a few areas that could use improvement. With some attention to the ambiance and drink quality, Rich and Charlies could provide an even better...

I have only been to Rich & Charlie's a few times and never understood all the hype about it. I decided to try it again as a lot of my work friends were meeting there. I didn't want pasta so I decided on a fish sandwich & fries. The bread was good, but I could not believe how thin the fish was, plus it was heavily breaded with no flavor. I would compare the thickness of the fish to my cell phone thickness. Pitiful. The fries were 95 cents extra (ridiculous) and they were soggy & room temperature at best. And I don't understand why mostaccioli automatically comes with a sandwich, but fries cost extra. Doesn't make much sense to me. Just about every restaurant in the world serves fries with a fish sandwich at no extra cost. The soda was $3.00 which is ridiculous. So I paid almost $20.00 plus a tip for a meal that was barely edible and had to throw the other half of the sandwich away. I did not complain to the manager or anyone about my food because I was with a group, the server was super busy, and I didn't want to upset the flow of her routine. The atmosphere is dreary & depressing. Too dimly lit. The party that came in after a funeral service probably felt like they left one funeral home and entered another one. The ladies room was so small, two people can't even pass through the front of the stalls at the same time. With all the money that Rich & Charlie's is making, why don't you update the restrooms? The only positive thing I have to say is that our server, Danny, was great. She...