Charred Swift Creek — Restaurant in Virginia

Entrance and layout are poorly done. You're forced against a wall or a door if there is more than four people waiting. Food is burned or bland every time I've went in the past but I decided to try it again after twelve months. I made a to-go order and was asked for my number and name which I obliged. I had waited thirty minutes and decided to check if there was an update on the status of my order, only to find out it had been sitting around unattended for an uncertain amount of time. I had declined the food and was told by someone at the front they were going to talk with the manager, for reasons I do not know. Before leaving I was approached by the 'manager' who ended up being the owner. He came across as confused as he kept asking if I wanted the food remade even though I mentioned I wasn't interested in waiting. Maybe it's the loud music but the question was redundant when asked more than once. I won't be going back, but I'm most likely not the intended audience. If you like loud music and a bar, you're in for a treat. If you want decent food and consistently, you'd probably not like it.

Update

To the partner. For starters, the facility was busy and people were waiting to be seated. I'm kind enough to get out of the way when I recognize a facility can use the space. Furthermore, was I supposed to wait two days to post a review? I was sparring in my reviews because I wanted to give a local institution an opportunity to be better. To be extremely honest, I'd have left a bad review a year ago if it wasn't for the bartender who was kind enough to hold onto my wallet when I had left it by mistake. I generally leave negative reviews open ended and use them sparingly. If you'd like, I'll happily check out the other facility and leave a bad review as soon as I got poor food again. But I don't see why either of us would want that. Finally, when I am told that the hostess needs my number and name and states it is 'policy' I expect it to be used. Why would I have any idea what the company policies and procedures are? Maybe you should consider a sign. You should revisit your company's policies and fix your mistakes rather than taking it out on once again someone who has no stake or...

I took my mom to Charred Swift Creek for lunch after a doctor’s appointment close by.

When we arrived a server held open the door as I maneuvered Mom in her wheelchair. That may seem like a small thing, but I just want to mention how much that matters. Swinging a wheelchair in and out of a car is no easy feat so when someone in the restaurant sees you coming and opens the door, it’s a godsend.

It’s also very welcoming, which the Charred staff was.

Mom ordered a Margarita. She said Deana, the bartender and our server, makes a delicious one. You know when you really like a drink and you look at it hard like it’s telling you a secret? She did that.

I ordered a cocktail with vodka, elderflower liqueur, and strawberry purée. I can’t recall the name, but it was pretty and very tasty.

Mom ordered a steak sandwich and collards. She was happy with her meal. She said the sandwich was very good and really liked the collards. They had a little spicy kick.

I ordered the catfish sandwich and a side Caesar salad. My fish sandwich was sooo good. It was flavorful with the right amount of spice and crunch to the batter. The Cajun tartar sauce was a perfect complement. It’s served on a brioche bun, which I barely ate because the fish was the star.

Although the Caesar dressing on the salad was a bit thick and lemony for my taste, the meal overall was really good.

Also thank you to the manager, Will, who surprised us with a discount off our meal. I helped another diner and he acknowledged it that way. Very kind.

I have to admit, I overlook Charred because Hull Street dining doesn’t typically spark joy, but Charred surely did. We look forward...

I really want to like Charred. I've been three times now and I've left disappointed on 2/3 visits. First, the good: generally friendly staff, clean dining room, good recipes (just poorly executed), easy parking. The bad: the tap water is warm - not just room temperature, legitimately, "prank your sleeping friend" warm. Ice seems to be reserved for paid drinks. While the recipes have potential, their consistency is extremely poor. Some food comes out perfect, some food comes out under-seasoned, and, on our last two visits, at least one item on the table was served both cold and overcooked. The first time it happened, they made it right no questions asked. This last time, it was cold biscuits and gravy, with one egg over easy, and one egg fried beyond recognition. We asked them if they could at least warm it up and we were told "sorry, we can't warm up food since we don't have a microwave. We can re-make it, but you'll have to wait (insinuating it would be an inconvenience)." Apparently they haven't heard of an oven? What's sad is that their chicken and waffles would be amazing if the waffles were warm and the chicken wasn't over-fried. At this point, I'm tired of spending money on wildly inconsistent food and I doubt we'll be back. Advice to management: visually inspect plates before serving food (fried eggs shouldn't look like slightly burnt plastic), ice the tap water, take food temperatures so dishes don't go out cold or over-cooked, and train the staff on how to fix easy things without making it sound like an inconvenience. 2/5, easy improvement to 4/5 if they get their...