Charcoal House — Restaurant in Rock Hill

My friend from Europe is visiting America for the first time, and was eager to have a steak. I told her that the Charcoal House would be the perfect place for an old-fashioned American steak experience. We went last night at 8PM and had the Chateaubriand, with the always-wonderful Demetra as our waitress. Business was slow, and at about 8:30, the owner, Mr. Angelos, sat down two tables away from us and began eating his dinner. Another employee then joined him and they talked and laughed very loudly, reverberating through the almost empty restaurant. I tried to ignore them. At about 9, Demetra cleared our plates and brought us after-dinner drinks, and then almost immediately dropped our check. This was harder to ignore, since we had just begun our drinks. But, worse yet, about five minutes later the restaurant lights were turned up. I wrote a note on the back of the check that it was unacceptable for the staff to be eating dinner loudly next to us, for the check to be dropped prematurely, and for the lights to be turned up. I gave the note and a nice cash tip to Demetra and told her I was sure she was just doing what she was told and it was not her fault. We finished quickly, and on the way out I went to a table where Mr. Angelos was sitting with two younger men. In a friendly voice I said that I was surprised that nobody had come to our table to apologize. Mr. Angelos never looked up or said anything, but a dark-haired man became very hostile. "Apologize for what? You were the last people in the restaurant!" Me: "I'm not sure how that is relevant." Him: "Well, the restaurant closes at 9!" Me: "I've been here many times, I know you close at 10, and every website says the same thing!" Him: "Many times? I don't know who you are." Me: "I don't know who you are either, and I don't know how that is relevant. But I do know that this will be the last time." Him. "I hope so." As we left, my friend said, "Well, I was telling you how America seems much friendlier to customers than Europe, but now I have to take that back." Not a...

Having lived in St. Louis for many years, I'd driven by the Charcoal House hundreds of times. But, never had the opportunity to eat there. My spouse surprised me by making a birthday reservation. The restaurant is a friendly throw back to a by gone era. Picture walking into a nice steakhouse from the late 60's to early 70's. It's no frills, but very clean and well laid out. There's a nice sized bar to enjoy a cocktail if you have to wait. The menu is straight forward, with a nice selection of fresh steaks and seafood. Wine and drinks were very generous pours. The special for the evening was rack of lamb with a rosemary sauce. It was excellent, cooked exactly right to medium rare. My spouse had the salmon. It was also cooked perfectly. Dee, our server, was phenomenal. She always had a smile, was pleasant and extremely attentive. You could tell she genuinely cared about our dining experience. I've read a few reviews complaining about how the menu pricing has risen. To those folks, I'd say get used to it. Covid changed everything. Dining out is not cheap anymore. Food and people costs have gone through the roof. I found the pricing to be very reasonable, considering the quality of the meal and the service. Family owned places like the Charcoal House are going by the wayside every day. It's a great place just to sit at the bar, enjoy a cocktail or two with an appetizer if you're on a tight budget. You won't be...

Took family along with my 89 year old recently wheelchair bound father there this weekend. As far as I could tell, they seem to have zero interest in making this place welcome to those with disabilities. Stairs entering the place, with no alternative offered. Very narrow and cumbersome doors to enter the main room, which we somehow negotiated without hurting anyone. The dining room was PACKED. So much that to make through the tables, customers and staff literally had to turn sideways to make it. The host (owner) seemed not very interested in helping, so we found a path through bar to our table. It was left to us to figure out how to get his wheelchair there. If it weren't for other nice patrons, there's no way he would've fit. The last I'll say about the lack of ADA compliance was the fact that I had to carry my father into the tiny restroom and stall. The chair was never going to fit.

As far as the food and service, I spent most of the evening being bumped every time the frantic staff (basically by the one male server) went past our table. Every. Single. Time. He was always in a mad rush to get to his tables. The place was surely filled way beyond capacity as there was no room for people to get around. The steak was fine (at $50), the $10 salad ridiculously priced and plain, and the desserts stale. What a massive disappointment. Look elsewhere for better service, food and above all,...