Charleston Restaurant
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 332-7373
- Best of Citysearch:
- Wine List 2005, Fine Dining 2004
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Charleston Restaurant – by Rachele Lawton
The Scene
Charleston's decor and ambience provide a visually stimulating feast for the eyes. Low-hung chandeliers and warm woodwork contribute an impression of dining on an elegant plantation with an open kitchen. The superb service is the epitome of Southern hospitality. Reservations are strongly recommended.
The Food
As with most fine-dining restaurants, owner-chef Cindy Wolfe's menu changes regularly. Two outstanding Southern-style starters are the cornmeal-encrusted oysters with lemon-cayenne mayonnaise and the paper-thin smoked salmon, which literally melts in your mouth. A perfect entree of veal medallions is served in rich, sweet reduction sauce; the bacon-wrapped filet mignon overflows with juices. Continue with a cheese course or move straight to dessert. Charleston's decadent selection includes creme brulee topped with soft raspberries and a chocolate Napoleon with fresh blackberries.
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Insider Tips
Where to SitOne large room and the wine library are available for private parties.
When to GoCharleston hosts special-menu dinners and wine tastings. Call ahead for a schedule and reservations.
Know Before You GoThe 1000 block of Lancaster has several businesses, but the door to the restaurant is actually on Exeter.
User Reviews for Charleston Restaurant
11/12/2007 Posted by jivyseid1
CHARLESTON- WORST FINE DINING IN BALTIMORE I would not recommend this establishment to anyone. I read the other reviews where diners had mentioned getting sick from the meals they ate at the Charleston! I, too, got sick after the meal, and remained sick the rest of the weekend. The person I dined with was sick by the middle of the meal. The food was so rich and heavy, upsetting his stomach, causing him to get up from the table (in the middle of our meal) to take a walk around the block to ease the pain in his stomach. I felt horrible since the bill for just the two of us was over $200 (we ordered just a few drinks)...and the person footing the bill had to get up and leave the table from feeling sick! Sometimes you can feel as though you are going to "burst" from eating too much food, maybe if you dine at Little Italy and go for dessert at Vacarro's; however, the food was so disguistingly rich at the Charleston that after eating a 3 oz. portion, that sickness of eating too much quickly approached us. Yes, the waiter warned up the portions were "smaller than the avg. ," however, these portions were so small they had to serve the soup in what looked like coffee cup saucers. The entrees were served in shallow soup bowls!! I guess if the portions served at the Charleston were any larger, a LINE OF AMBULANCES WOULD BE PARKED OUTSIDE THE ESTABLISHMENT, WAITING TO TAKE SICK DINERS TO ONE OF THE NEAREST BALTIMORE HOSPITALS.
06/12/2007 Posted by ryanbender4
I would not recommend to my worst enemy. Besides the fact that I ended up getting sick as I threw up the entire evening and besides the fact that 3 of the 4 people I dined with spent the next day on the toilet, I felt completely ripped off. The portions are extremely small, the quality of the food primarily the beef was of very poor quality, the service was professional but fair at best, the prices were absolutely rediculous ( and I dine regularly at The Prime Rib , Ruths Chris and Flemings) the atmosphere was fair but bright for fine dining and overall it was just a very poor experience. I will never again go to a Cindy Wolf restaurant. Even with the 8 pieces of bread each of us ate we still left hungry.
Pros: Free parking
Cons: Everything. We felt fleeced by poor food quality, small portions, & overpriced.
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