The Charles
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A Culinary Gem in Wethersfield's Historical District I recently had the pleasure of dining at a remarkable restaurant located in the historical district of Wethersfield, CT. From the moment I arrived, I knew I was in for a treat. The restaurant's charming location, coupled with its phenomenal menu choices and impeccable service, made for an unforgettable dining experience. First and foremost, the menu at this restaurant was truly outstanding. The variety and quality of dishes available were unparalleled. Whether you were craving traditional favorites or looking to explore innovative culinary creations, this restaurant had it all. The chef's expertise was evident in every dish that arrived at our table, as they were all prepared to perfection. Each bite was a delightful blend of flavors and textures, leaving our taste buds longing for more. We had the pleasure of dining outside under a tent, with a table accommodating our group of 20. The ambiance was delightful, allowing us to enjoy the beautiful weather while savoring our delicious meals. The attentive and efficient service provided by our server further enhanced our experience. He gave us ample time to peruse the menu, answered all our questions with a smile, and once we placed our orders, the food arrived promptly. The staff's attentiveness and professionalism were commendable, making us feel truly cared for during our visit. One aspect that truly impressed me about this restaurant was its contribution to the local community. After our satisfying lunch, we observed other patrons leaving the establishment and exploring the charming streets of Wethersfield. It was heartwarming to see people engage in window shopping and appreciating the historical properties surrounding the area. This restaurant not only serves as a culinary destination but also as a catalyst for exploration and appreciation of the local heritage. In conclusion, my experience at this restaurant in Wethersfield's historical district was nothing short of exceptional. The outstanding menu choices, the chef's culinary prowess, the attentive service, and the positive impact it had on the community made it clear why this establishment has garnered rave reviews. If you find yourself in Wethersfield, I highly recommend paying a visit to this hidden gem. It promises a memorable dining experience and a chance to immerse yourself in the historical charm of the area.
Geena Becker, REALTORGeena Becker, REALTOR
00
Great food okay service. We started with a reservation. Had a big group of 9 that had to call to set up a reservation same day. We understood that it was last minute, so we had it set up for 8pm. The hostess on the phone said that we can arrive earlier and they might be able to set up sooner. I was hesitant to make the reservation and save it for another day so I had asked if the kitchen closes at 9 like it says on the website. The hostess had said it closed at 10. I decided to follow through. We arrive 15 min early and are able to wait outside on a beautiful patio with couches and astounding decor. There is a waiter who checks up in this area if you want to order drinks or apps while you wait. Around 8 we ask if our table is ready and they let us know that they are cleaning it up, we are seated around 8:20 and told that the kitchen closes at 9. I didn’t say anything at the restaurant but was disappointed because now our meal had to be rushed, when I was told it closed at 10. We are waited on shortly after being seated and are able to put in for food. All of the negativity from waiting went away when we were able to enjoy our meals. Every dish was expertly prepared and delish. We had the poutine, calamari, deviled eggs, pork, lamb, cod, cob salad, and a grilled cheese. All of these dishes shined in their own way. In fact we are planning to go back to try more. Lastly we had issues with the check where some food we ordered actually never came out and was placed on our check. It took a couple min to clarify payments. Main takeaway. Great food some of the best in the area. I was disappointed in the service since there were complications in the beginning and the end. For the price and reputation of the restaurant I expected a better more honest service experience. The quality of service was low compared to other restaurants of similar reputation in the area.
AllysaAllysa
00
I made a reservation for our anniversary and we were so excited to have a lovely time but it fell short on most things. We travel all over the world and are huge foodies ( I also work in the industry) so with the reviews and romantic atmosphere we thought this place would be it. Sadly we were mistaken. From the get go our waiter seemed almost annoyed when we were asking questions and really didn’t give much when asking for recommendations. We wanted to feast down so we ordered a variety of dishes, one of which he forgot and we had to take to go at the end. We also had to ask the waiter multiple times to refill my husband’s soda, when we were the only table left. It was not busy at all. I also made a note in the reservation that we love having a candle in dessert for make an anniversary wish, and that was also forgotten. Now, on to the food and drinks: Peas and thank you cocktail - nice and refreshing but nothing exciting. French onion soup - love the concept with the dumplings, but it was so SWEET. My husband had to dump so much salt in to balance the flavors. Tuna tartare - Excellent! One of the best I’ve ever had! Green goddess salad - 4/5 very fresh but the poached egg was under done. Steak Frites - steak cooked properly but mustard sauce did not hit. Fries were perfect though! Pork chop - beautifully cooked but sauce didn’t quite fit but was ok, the red cabbage was phenomenal, almost as good as my mom’s! Fingerling potatoes were under cooked and lacked flavor. Carrot cake - delicious but dry without the ginger ice cream. Peanut butter Bomba - too sweet, too much pb cream with no flavor. Espresso - outstanding. As someone who works in the industry the whole experience was so disappointing. We were so looking forward to a great experience on our anniversary but with all the mishaps and our waiter barely taking care of us, we left super disappointed and probably won’t be back.
Agnes FohnAgnes Fohn
00
TL:DR: solid all around with great cocktails, no bad bites, and even some great/surprising dishes. Solid service and excellent treatment for special occasions. While none of the food was exceptional, there were no subpar bites across a diverse array of appetizers, entrees, and drinks, an unfortunately rare occurrence. There was consistently good preparation and flavor across the board and some items, such as the soup de jour (a squash apple soup) had a pleasant apple forward tartness that made it stand out. Everything was cooked well and as ordered, their frites were surprisingly well crisped, and all of the cocktails were well considered and interesting. As you can tell from reading the menu, they cover a wide variety of flavors and cuisine inspirations while delivering consistent quality: something few places manage. The atmosphere is charming as is the historic town of Wethersfield The Charles is located in (I believe the house is from the 1700s). Service was attentive and warm. We really appreciate host of complimentary items to help make our anniversary celebration special: a hand signed card by all the staff, a table snack to start, a chocolate truffle type dessert, and two glasses of champagne to finish the night. All in all, this place delivers what you'd hope it would and deserves its many accolades. Will it blow your mind? Unlikely, though if you haven't been to many great restaurants this may recalibrate your future expectations. However, I get the sense that this is a reliable choice for quality and that delivers on the promise. Definitely would recommend, especially for a special event.
Samuel WenningerSamuel Wenninger
00
If you are looking for great service, this is the place! We wanted to stay in town so we picked the Charles for a date night on a Saturday. Got there earlier than our reservation time so went to the bar to start off with drinks. Our drinks were great! I had the sangria (had 2 of them, it was that good). Chirag asked the bartender to make him something off the menu for his second drink, and the guy made something we both liked! I'm not even a whiskey person but I liked it. We ended up ordering food there too. The bread was delicious! It tasted like they just took it out of the oven. While we were having our apps, the host said they had a table ready for us but we asked to stay at the bar because they were treating us so well at the bar lol! This was our second visit. The first time we went was when the restaurant was just couple months old. We set upstairs that time. Our waiter was amazing at that time as well. I still remember how he let me try a drink first because I wasn't sure if I would like it. I will say that the chicken and dumpling entree tasted different than the first time we had it. This time it was a bit too tangy. And I can't remember if there were green beans originally. But the dumplings (gnocchi) and mushrooms were good. Very friendly group of staff and great atmosphere.
Jaclin DasJaclin Das
00
Short review: + Food: 5/5 + Service: 5/5 + Vibe: 5/5 => Overall: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ------------ Detail review: I and my wife went to The Charles for a Sunday dinner. They have outside seats but it's hot when I got there so we decided to stay inside. They have bread and butter for the beginning. The butter is good, slightly salty. From our server, we learned that they have add sea salt into the butter to make it taste better. We ordered a Crispy Port Belly for appetizer. I had a Steak Frites, my wife had The Charles' Sunday Sauce. My steak was good but The Charles' Sunday Sauce was even better. Our server was George (or Joss, I am sorry if I wrote your name wrong), we asked for his recommendation and he's very friendly and helpful. For the dessert, we got a Strawberry Mango Pavlova, it's not too sweet with strawberry and mango, very refreshing. For drinks, I had "Sincerely, Sangria" (it's non-alcohol since I have to drive), my wife had Figgy Small, we both like our drinks. All in all, we really enjoy the dinner here. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone who's reading my review. The check was $108 (excluding tip), which is very reasonable for 2 drinks, an appetizer, 2 entrées, and a dessert. I hope you will have a good time at this restaurant. Trust me, I am an engineer! 😊
Phúc VõPhúc Võ
00
Nearby Attractions Of The Charles
Old Wethersfield Country Store
Broad Street Green
Webb Deane Stevens Museum
Noci Gelato
Gillette Furniture Consignment
Keeney Memorial Cultural Center
Anderson Farms
Cottonwood & Church
Buttolph-Williams House
Wethersfield Historical Society
Old Wethersfield Country Store
4.7
(145)Click for details
Broad Street Green
4.6
(88)Click for details
Webb Deane Stevens Museum
4.7
(59)Click for details
Noci Gelato
5.0
(39)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of The Charles
River: A Waterfront Restaurant and Bar
Lucky Lou's Bar and Grill
Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre
Edo Ichi Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse
Vito's Restaurant and Pizzaria
Village Pizza Restaurant
Stella's Pizza and Italian Restaurant
The Donut Station
Max Bibo's
Aroma Bistro
River: A Waterfront Restaurant and Bar
4.1
(894)$$
Click for details
Lucky Lou's Bar and Grill
4.4
(460)Click for details
Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre
4.7
(438)Click for details
Edo Ichi Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse
4.5
(425)Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
161 Main St, Wethersfield, CT 06109
Map
Phone
(860) 785-8499
Call
Website
thecharlesct.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.6
(403 reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
attractions: Old Wethersfield Country Store, Broad Street Green, Webb Deane Stevens Museum, Noci Gelato, Gillette Furniture Consignment, Keeney Memorial Cultural Center, Anderson Farms, Cottonwood & Church, Buttolph-Williams House, Wethersfield Historical Society, restaurants: River: A Waterfront Restaurant and Bar, Lucky Lou's Bar and Grill, Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre, Edo Ichi Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse, Vito's Restaurant and Pizzaria, Village Pizza Restaurant, Stella's Pizza and Italian Restaurant, The Donut Station, Max Bibo's, Aroma Bistro
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