CHAR — Restaurant in Philadelphia

CHAR-red to a Crisp: A Comedy of Errors in Pizza Form

I entered CHAR hoping for a delightful pizza experience, but instead, I walked into a chaotic theater of the absurd where time stood still, and patience was tested to its limits.

The wait for our pizzas stretched beyond the reasonable, reaching a mind-boggling 1 hour and 15 minutes. Sadly, even our side dish options were limited, as they had already run out of one (the kale salad) just 2h 30 minutes after opening. By 7:15 PM, the entire restaurant was sold out of pizza, leaving latecomers bewildered and hungry.

While we waited, we witnessed a perplexing scene: the owner, also the pizzaiolo, seemed more focused on entertaining his friends at the bar than attending to the growing number of famished customers. Children fidgeted, couples grew restless, and a palpable tension filled the air. The sight of numerous yellow tickets at the pass did little to soothe our anxieties.

When our pizzas finally arrived, they were, well, charred – an ironic twist considering the restaurant's name. The burnt crust dominated the flavor profile, leaving little room for enjoyment. To add to the spectacle, the hostess had to step in and dress the pizzas herself, while the chef continued his lively chat with his buddies. The inconsistency in toppings and seasonings resulted in a symphony of saltiness, with flavors both underwhelming and overdone.

The menu itself was a riddle, lacking clarity on what could actually be ordered. Hidden gems like matcha and Oreo ice cream remained elusive, with no mention on the menu and no price in sight. The BYOB policy was equally enigmatic, with no drink menu and a lone wine fridge offering cryptic clues.

To top it all off, the restaurant's layout was a labyrinth of tables without chairs.

In conclusion, CHAR offers a dining experience that's memorable, but not in the way you'd hope. It's a place where time warps, expectations are subverted, and burnt crusts reign supreme. If you're looking for a night of entertainment, CHAR might just deliver, albeit...

I had the pleasure of knowing Viraj in high school and watching his business grow over the years. I hadn’t had a pizza from him since then, so I was very excited to see how his vision for Char turned out at his storefront. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was lively, yet the room carried a calm ambience. Viraj welcomed us and chatted with us for a while, along with the other customers in the shop.

One of the first things I noticed was how personable and talkative Viraj was with his patrons—something I think everyone there appreciated. While soaking in the pleasant vibes of the restaurant, we waited for our food, which took about 15–20 minutes for three pies to be ready. We ordered the Margherita, pepperoni, and vodka sauce pizzas. My favorite was the vodka sauce, though the hot honey on the pepperoni was also a great touch. The crust was crisp, the pizzas weren’t dry, and the toppings blended together really well.

Another detail I really appreciated was the attentiveness of the server, who promptly brought over another sharing glass of water as soon as we finished the first. As good as the pizzas were, what truly makes this place stand out is the energy of the staff and the welcoming atmosphere they create. I had such a fun time here and completely understand why Char is becoming more and more popular.

I can’t wait to see how much more popular Char will get—it deserves every bit of the hype. Viraj, congratulations! You’ve built a fantastic...

I’m disappointed leaving such a poor review because the food was actually amazing. The crust on the pizza was crispy. The vodka pizza had so much flavor. The pepperoni was more sweet from the honey than hot, but still very good.

HOWEVER, the service was SO poor. I’d rather go to another pizzeria in Fishtown with maybe not as good of pizza but at least get good service. First off, it is an absolute free for all when getting a table. There’s no host, no order, no list. You just fight for your life and hope you can get a table. Additionally, customers rearrange tables, push them together, etc for what they need. It’s completely chaos. We had to bus our own table. If I’m going to a restaurant, the whole point is to be served! If I wanted to do dishes and wipe tables, I would have stayed at home. When they bring the food out, there’s no table numbers or any delineation or whose food goes where. They just shout out your name (over blasting music) and hope to find you. And lastly (arguably the most upsetting), we waited OVER AN HOUR for our two pizzas. When we ordered another round of pizzas, it was another hour and a half. We spent 4 hours at this place just to eat some pizza. We also had to keep asking for an update, asking where our food was, etc.

I was so disappointed in this experience because the pizza was delicious. Unfortunately, it was such a terrible service experience, I will...