Charleston Restaurant
(410) 332-7373
1000 Lancaster St
Baltimore,
MD
21202
39.2825
-76.6001
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Reviews & Ratings for Charleston Restaurant
21 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 21 reviews
too expensive for great bread
by mfsimm
March 21, 2009
Call me crazy but I think for $278 for 2 before tip you should be raving about the restaraunt the entire ride home, My husband(who I surprised for his birthday ) was poliely quiet about my choice! I had cashed an expense check for $285 thinking that would be enough. Wrong I had to use my visa!! My husband & I go out every Friday night & this place is a rip off. Too bright for romantic seating, We felt rushed. The food was o.k. but hard to enjoy when for this price you expect perfection. Would not recommend
- Pros: service location
- Cons: prices; too bright no ambiance
Amazing and Decadent by Crystal G. at InsiderPages
Contributor
December 09, 2008
My only complaint about Charleston would be that it is a bit out of my price range. That being said, it is worth a special occasion splurge - the service was exceptional and made me feel like a princess. The food was delightful and full of thought and love. Things were a bit on the salty side, but I prefer that so I was pleased. The cheeses are phenomenal, and the staff have a plethora of information about how they're made and where they're from (actually, the staff is very knowledgeable about all of the food). They make a mean martini with blue cheese stuffed olives. I'm saving my pennies for a return trip!
Great night out! by Svati L. at InsiderPages
Contributor
November 04, 2008
We have dined here several times and think the food and service are always great. I enjoy the location along the water and the great atmosphere inside the restaurant. The menu options are also always interesting and delicious!
The Definition of World Class by Tonia B. at InsiderPages
Contributor
September 26, 2008
The best restaurant in Baltimore for fine cuisine and exceptional service. A unique menu with the freedom to order several small dishes to get a tasting of the Chef's creations without getting stuffed. Also, a world class wine list. Expensive, but worth every dollar.
Manager with an Attitude
by bluemariner
June 09, 2008
Took guests on Saturday evening. Food was fine, staff knowledgeable and helpful with special diet requests, but service was spotty as it was hard to get the attention of the staff which seemed to be somewhat over worked. Perhaps the lesson is don't dine there on a Saturday night. My wife spoke to the manager (Bill) today thinking they would like to know of the service problem. He asked the name of the waitress and my said she could not recall but the girl was "heavy set". The manager then stated that he would be sure to her my wife said that. He then noted that perhaps we simply cannot meet your expectations implying that the issue was our fault.
After the discussion with the manager the lesson change to don't dine there.
OVERPRICED AND OVERRATED
by jivyseid1
November 12, 2007
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.
Charleston.....Worst Fine dining in Baltimore
by ryanbender4
June 12, 2007
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.
Move it in and Move it out
by johnlocke
January 20, 2007
Highly disappointed with the overall experience. This is merely another attempt for the Baltimore "elite? to attempt to fit in. If you want high class dining experience please do not go to the Charleston. While you will find the menu, both wine and food, to be exceptional your overall experience is stifled by the cattle like herding of the staff. First, they shuffle you in to the bar for an over priced cocktail. This move is expected however very low rent in my opinion. The next move is to rush you through the menu followed up by slamming each course down one after another barely giving you time to enjoy your wine, which is marked up the 400% instead of the standard 200% - 300%. Overall I felt as if we were being pushed through our evening instead of enjoying each course accompanied by a little conversation. If I want a fast food experience I will go to my favorite burger joint and not the Charleston..
- Pros: Food and wine
- Cons: High Speed Dining and lack of ambiance
Expensive but well woth it!
by wolfgangc
December 06, 2006
I am a total foodie and I was in heaven! Amazing. The plates are small, but it's a tasting menu so this is to be expected. The service staff is knowledgeable on both the dinner and wine menus. Every dish was mouth watering from the soup down to the desert. If you can afford it, ask the wait staff to pair a fresh glass of wine with each course and go for the full tasting menu. It will be well worth it! Definitely a date night or special occasion restaurant, as dinner and drinks and gratuity for two will cost well over $300.
The Standard to judge other restaurants by
by seitschu
April 13, 2006
Every time it seems we do high dollar dining... and go somewhere else... I always say...well, that was nice, but it's not as good as 'Charleston'. Worth every penny.
- Pros: Exquisite food, surroundings, service
- Cons: none
