Charlie's Family Restaurant — Restaurant in Maryland

Charlie’s family restaurant has the best Stromboli I have ever had. Even the marinara that is served with it is amazing! I order the Stromboli often probably too much, but I’m pregnant and it’s my craving. I rave on and on about this Stromboli to everyone I see, it’s that good. Now with that being said, my experience with Charlie’s today was less than desirable and I doubt I will ever go back. I called in an order today and asked for what I thought was a simple request. I just wanted to make sure the sausage and ham in the stromboli were well done. Every time I get the Stromboli the pepperoni is perfect, but the ham and sausage are just warm. The server on the phone very rudely informed me that it’s cooked in a 500 degree oven and it will be fully cooked. I told her I eat it all the time and the sausage and ham are merely warm when I pick it up. (Side note: while my husband is driving I eat it on the way home, so I’m consuming it right after I pick it up, it isn’t sitting out until we get home.) I told her I’m pregnant and just taking precautions and want to make sure it’s fully cooked. She interrupted me and said I don’t need to explain anything to her.

Well I’m sorry ma’am obviously I do need to explain something to you. You have terrible customer service the proper response should’ve been “oh yes ma’am I will make sure it’s prepared according to your liking.” Instead of talking down to me like I’m an idiot. Now you could’ve probably thrown in that info about the oven if you liked, after you told me you would take care of it. But it was the way you said it. I don’t know if you’re having a bad day or this is just your demeanor all the time, but just some advice check your personal problems at the door before you go to work...

The food here has always been pretty good. I can never recollect a time I had a problem with the taste or quality. I’ve eaten here for many years but ALWAYS ordered to-go. Yesterday I decided to dine-in and unfortunately I didn’t enjoy myself! The restaurant was basically empty and an employee who was sitting at a table and working on a computer gave us direct eye contact and never said hello welcome not even a cracked smile. The woman behind the counter greeted us very friendly and asked were we staying or ordering to go. When we said staying and took a seat a different gentleman brought us beverages and was friendly like the woman behind the counter. Long story short the man who never spoke came over and took our order and another female employee who he was heavily engaged in a conversation with she brought us bread. Both of them were rude and dry. We weren’t checked on until our meal was literally finished and we were never asked if we needed more beverages or napkins. We were barely thanked for coming...and even though the food has never been problematic in the past I can say yesterday it was ok but not as tasty as prior visits and because the staff were NOT welcoming or friendly (just the lady behind the counter) I don’t have to patronize this establishment ever again. Not to mention the horrible very potent and strong odor of cigars that overpowered the air and hits you outside the door. It’s offensive to spend your money in a place where you don’t feel appreciated. There are plenty of restaurants that can replace here and I’ll just...

The atmosphere is great, it’s clean and bright; sometimes too bright. We love the desserts. The pizza is good. The hamburger is good. We tried spinach pie and it was bland, as was the taco salad. The taco salad comes in a flour tortilla bowl with ice burg lettuce, lots of white onions, a couple tomatoes and some chopped up very dry hamburger meat(not taco meat) and shredded cheese. No pico di gilo, no taco seasoning, no dressing or creama. It’s did have some cold thick sour cream with it. It was very bland. We watched as one employee ran around trying to do everything! She waited on every table and the place was full, she answered all the phone calls, checked out all the Togo orders and took the payments and ran all the food to the tables while the 4 people in back just stood around doing nothing. Oh they did keep ringing the bell for her to come get the food. I guess a one of them cooked the food but, we observed a lot of people just doing nothing. I am in the restaurant business and I have never seen such poor team work. Someone could have been running the food to the tables or bussing the...