Char Restaurant — Restaurant in Huntsville

Update 02/07/25: This evening was our next opportunity to return and give Char a second visit after speaking with the management. Let me say they did not disappoint. We chose to eat in the bar and were pleased to have Tyler. I got the Lamb Chops (med rare) and my wife and daughter got ribeyes. Meat was seasoned well and cooked to perfection. Tyler was great, wine and martinis were fantastic and the piano player set the ambiance. Therefore, after this expirence we will wholeheartedly recommend Char, and I changed my ratings. Looking forward to the next time.

Update 11/12/24: One of the managers reached out to me to let explain my concerns from my review. It was a very good conversation and an opportunity for me to provide constructive feedback. Char “made it right” and I look forward to getting another opportunity to dine and try their steaks again.

I appreciate the quick response to reach out the next day after our visit. Again, service was great, the smoky old fashioned, bacon Brussel Sprouts, and wedge salad were fantastic.

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First and for most I want to say our server Sierra was great. However, arrived for our 7pm reservations for 4 at 6:50pm. Not a big deal they told us we would need to wait for a minute. We went to the bar to get drinks. I ordered a Bombay Sapphire dirty martini. It didn’t taste anything like Bombay Sapphire gin. The waiter was happy to have it re-made and the second one was slightly better so I drank it. Got to the table to order and they were out of Lamb Chops, Pork Chops and NY Strip. We ordered 3 Ribeyes and 1 Filet. The filet and 1 ribeye were supposed to be Med Rare and the other 2 steaks medium. The MR ribeye and Filet came out med to MW. While the filet was tender enough to eat, my ribeye was very chewy and all the steaks had ZERO flavor as if even salt and pepper were not used as seasoning before grilling. The Bearnaise topping was great and the blue cheese dressing on the wedge salad were fantastic.

Our server tried to get me another steak but the lack of flavor (seasoning) in my daughter’s filet, wife’s ribeye and my ribeye, I did not want to try it again. We continued on with dinner and basically all took leftovers to be used in a different dish tomorrow.

It was my daughter’s 23 birthday, and first time eating at Char after the good reviews and a recommendation from several friends. For these prices I would expect the highest quality cuts of meat and flavor.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend...

The ambiance at Char is warm and purposely reminiscent a traditional steakhouse. The ambiance is quiet with dark tones and private booths available. As with most traditional steakhouses, the wine list is excellent. For those who like a good cabernet at a reasonable price, go with the Tendra, Paso Robles. It is not that expensive and always goes well with many dishes.

The filet mignon is outstanding. It was cooked to perfection, served hot and the side dishes are always well prepared as well. To get the full benefit of this dish cooked by a chef, go for the medium rare.

I like a baked potato with a good steak but that is not available at lunch. There is a garlic mashed potato as a side. It tastes good and comes with plenty of garlic. In my experience, choose this side dish with caution. It tastes great. If your wife or girlfriend likes the smell of garlic, you are in luck.

On our most recent visit, we had steak frites and truffle fries. The steak was cooked perfectly and the serving was quite large.

I also had salmon with seasonable vegetables (squash) and garlic mashed potatoes. The salmon was moist and the seasoning on it was very tasty. This dish has always been an excellent selection.

Service has always been excellent in our visits to Char. The daily special featured at lunch are more comfort food than fine dining but well worth the price. While meatloaf (Thursday) and fried chicken (Wednesday) are often considered more of a staple at a "meat and three" restaurant common in the South, it is unlikely anyone ordering this special will confuse the quality at Char with some of the less expensive restaurants.

Servers have always been helpful, polite and knowledgeable. On a rare occasion when we were not completely satisfied, the problem was resolved promptly and to our satisfaction.

On our most recent visit, Katie was the server and did an outstanding job. She was very familiar with the menu, answered all of our questions, and the order arrived perfectly. The two glasses of wine were served in advance and the bottle had just been opened.

For desert, be sure to try the brownie with ice cream and caramel. It is more than enough for two people. We often eat the ice cream, some of the two brownie pieces and take some home.

While I have not tried all of them, this is one of my favorite restaurants...

"A Remarkable Turnaround at Char Restaurant, Thanks to GM Kim Burton"

Review:

My initial visit to Char Restaurant in Huntsville, AL, was unfortunately disappointing. I had brought a client for lunch, only to encounter undercooked chicken and overcooked catfish. It was an experience that left much to be desired.

However, the General Manager, Kim Burton, stepped in and completely changed my perspective. Despite my imminent travel to bury my beloved father in Namibe, Angola, (my birth country) and Okinawa, Japan, Ms. Burton reached out with empathy and a personal touch. She graciously offered to keep a gift card safe for me until my return, demonstrating an exceptional commitment to customer service.

Three months later, upon my return, I took Ms. Burton up on her offer and visited Char Restaurant again, (on Wednesday December 5th, a couple days ago) this time with my husband and son, who is preparing to join OCS Flight school for the Marines. This visit was a stark contrast to the first. The leadership and passion of Ms. Burton had transformed the establishment. Our server Marissa Cocco was exceptional superb, server and went above and beyond customer service, relations with outstanding knowledge in listening and guiding us in getting the perfect meal. We had a variety of wonderful delicious finger licking dishes… The crabcakes were a delight, packed with juicy crab meat and no fillers. The salad was a flavorful mix with bacon and a variety of ingredients, and the prime rib and steak cuts were cooked to perfection, accompanied by delicious add-ons.

The service was outstanding, complementing the high-quality, fresh dishes served. This experience showcased the remarkable difference that passionate and effective management can make. Kim Burton’s dedication to not just rectifying a poor experience, but also to ensuring ongoing excellence in food quality and customer relationship, is commendable. Char Restaurant, under the guidance of Ms. Burton a diamond in the food industry!! Thank you Ms Burton for...