Charlie's of Lincroft — Restaurant in Middletown Township

Well, where do I begin... We have patronized this place since they opened. We dine there at least once a month. Never had a bad meal. Have also purchases several gift cards for family and friends. Last night changed all that, we will not be going back. Now I understand you can have an off night or a bad meal. They will not all be winners. What I am upset about is how we were treated by management when we complained. It was my husband's birthday dinner, and I had raved to my other family members about their award-winning burgers. Four of us order burgers. Three of those burgers came out basically raw when we ordered medium. We started eating and were instantly disgusted. Our waiter asked how everything was, and we told him the burgers were way undercooked. The guys at the next table overheard our conversation and agreed the burgers were raw. It took about 20 minutes for some manager girl to come to our table to address our issue. She proceeded to tell us how their line cooks use thermometers to ensure all burgers are cooked accordingly. She said the temperature was registered at 130 for medium. If you check any meat chart, medium is 140-145 degrees not 130. She basically said at that we should have told them earlier because they could have taken them back to add some additional cooking time. At that point our food had been sitting there and we were fed up with her attitude as if we were the problem. Not friendly at all offering ZERO apology. We asked for our bill (at this point we just wanted to get out of here due to her poor attitude). We got the bill and them my husband who was upset asked to speak to another manager. Well, we waited once again for another 20 or so minutes for someone to talk to. They had the bill and my credit card. We then had the pleasure of speaking to another manager who was far worse than the second one. Very combative, nasty and not apologetic at all. Treated us like we were losers trying to get over on the bill. We have dined in the finest restaurants, and we have never tried to get over on a bill. He abruptly disappeared with no explanation still with my bill and my credit card and we waited yet another 20 mins. Our waiter finally appeared with our bill, and they took of (3) of the burgers. What a horrible experience! It was like they adjusted the bill under duress. No apology was made! This was supposed to be a happy occasion to celebrate my husband's birthday. The waiter had the nerve to ask us if we wanted to take home our meals. We declined. The food had been sitting there throughout this whole ordeal. Shame on you Charlie's of Lincroft! You lost a good customer. I was preparing to book our whole family there for Christmas Eve dinner because of how nicely you decorate for Christmas. I will go find a business that will appreciate a good customer. Your management really needs to take a course in Customer Service. I am in the Service business, and I would NEVER treat customers...

We recently had the most INCREDIBLE experience at Charlie's of Lincroft. From the moment we arrived to check out the location until the moment we left, everything was absolutely amazing. We decided to have our wedding in the wine room, and it turned out to be the perfect choice for our intimate ceremony. The room felt so cozy and romantic, creating a beautiful atmosphere for our special day.

One of the standout features of our experience was Corey, who was absolutely incredible!!!! He went above and beyond to make sure that every detail was taken care of and that we had everything we needed. His accommodating nature and attention to detail made us feel truly valued as customers heard and taken care of. Corey is an absolute gem!!!

Furthermore, the chefs at Charlie's were exceptional in catering to our gluten-free requirements. They provided a wide range of delicious options, ensuring that everyone could enjoy the meal without any worries. The great communication from the staff throughout the planning process was also commendable. They kept us in the loop at all times, ensuring that there were no surprises or uncertainties.

The value we received for the price we paid was outstanding. We were able to drop off our decorations the day before the wedding, and the staff took care of setting everything up. This made the entire process stress-free for us, allowing us to fully enjoy our special day. Our guests were blown away by the venue, particularly the spectacular lighting that created a magical ambiance.

The service provided by the waiters and bartender was top-notch. They were incredibly helpful and sweet throughout the entire night, ensuring that our guests were well taken care of. We had our own floor in the restaurant, separate from other guests, which made it feel like our own private venue. With about 20 people attending, there was plenty of room for everyone to move around, hang out by the bar, and simply enjoy the evening.

Overall, our experience at Charlie's of Lincroft was beyond our expectations. We are already looking forward to hosting more events at this fantastic venue in the future. If you're searching for a place that offers excellent service, a cozy and intimate atmosphere, and a team that goes the extra mile, Charlie's of Lincroft is definitely the place to go. It's worth every...

I've taken each moment into consideration for star count of this review after my family's visit at Charlie's last night.

The architecture both inside and out is gorgeous and very much original. That's where 80% of their investment has gone. 20% must be the amount of food runners they have staffed standing around with all the laughs and minimal service to give (did not expect much from a bunch of 16 year olds). But I'm here to talk about our server, service, food, and a touch more on some other aspects of the night.

Our server was very friendly. He was decently attentive, remembered after asking twice for a second round of drinks for my dad, my sister-in-law, and myself. He also thoroughly explained how the food is prepared. That's about it.

We sat down at 7:15, ordered our mains around 7:40 (give or take a few), and waited until 8:50 to receive our entrees. Yes, they are a new establishment and yes it was awkwardly busy for a relaxing Sunday evening.

One of my side orders, the truffle whipped potatoes was completely forgotten about. I requested this to be served with our salads/appetizers. Entrees came over an hour after we ordered, still no side potatoes. I mentioned it to our server, he apologized and brought them over within two minutes. Never have I ever tasted such artificial truffle oil in any dish ever.

As other reviews mentioned, they are pricey. The portions are small, as they expect you to share a few appetizers and load up on bland, but flaky bread. The butter served with the bread was yummy but too cold and solid to spread.

We were celebrating both my brother's and sister's-in-law birthdays. They gave us a cute card that read "Happy Anniversary". Not happy birthday. So mom sent this one back.

The verdict:

I am in no rush to return in the next few weeks or months. Charlie's needs to reconsider their staffing on food runners and add more line cooks. Portion control is important. $12 to add one, thin piece of chicken breast to a salad (or in my case spinach gnocchi) is unjustifiable. $40 for spinach gnocchi with chicken. And waiting over an hour for entrees is unacceptable. Sorry Charlie's, Rumson called and wants their identity back.

DO NOT hear me wrong. There is potential. But far too many kinks need to be straightened out before I make a...