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I reserved a table for two at Char on 5/17/13 for 7:45. Char called me early Saturday afternoon to confirm. Arrived early to sit at the bar for a drink before dinner. The restaurant and bar was very hip and very trendy. I was greeted by three "Stepford Wives" disguised as hostesses. No smiles, no friendly hello. Hostess told me that someone would come for me in the bar when my table was ready. Got a seat at the bar fairly quickly. The drinks seemed watered down. At 7:55 I went back to the hostess area and inquired about my table. The hostess told me that they were running a little behind and that people were not getting up from their tables. I returned to the bar. At 8:15 I once again returned to the hostess area and got the same response. Returned to the bar which by this time had about 80 to 100 people standing in and around it. It appeared that no one was being seated. At 8:30 I went back to the hostess area and inquired once again about my reservation. I received the same uninterested, non-urgent, I really don't care that you have been waiting 45 minutes past your reservation time response. I advised the hostess that I was leaving and I thought their whole operation was unprofessional and not customer oriented. The hostess responded with "Ok."
I've been to Morton’s, Ruth's Chris, Old Homestead, Keene's, Del Frisco, American Cut, Smith and Wollensky Capital Grille; all world class steakhouses that wrote the book on customer service. Char would be best advised to take a lesson. Won’t be going back.›1 Reply-
re: trd15
Wow....although having still not been there myself I have heard second hand the same thing about the drinks. (I'm so pissed off at this place)
I have been a long supporter of their Raritan location, I am a "fan" of their facebook page. I wrote them not too long ago letting them know all the horrible feed back they are receiving, I never received the courtesy of a response to that either.
At this point I'm so disappointed I don't know if I will ever step foot in the place.
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Impressed with the space. Not so much withe food. Was there and ate at the bar. Ordered a stoli raspberry and club. Tasted different. Second time I went for drinks and ordered the same. The nice bartender I see @Downtown told me they only have Van Gogh. Strike one. Drinks were weak and expensive as is the rest of the experience. I don't mind paying top dollar if it's a top shelf experience. The rest of the meal was as follows underdressed very uninspired mixed green salad with nothing that I remember in it and it was 8$. Cowboy rib eye ordered med rare came closer to med well. Having worked in restaurants in another life I almost never send anything back ... My bad I know . Ever see the movie Waiting? 35$ steak . Person I was with ordered crabcake app. 14$ didn't want to say anything as it was too late and they brought some home but they charged me 28$ for the dinner. Overloaded potato was undercooked and far from cooked enough 8$. Best part of the meal was the 13$ chocolate layer cake which is ridiculous big and good. Next time I'll come for cake and a drink. 145$ with 4 drinks pretip. Was there last Friday and met a table of four friends as there meal was coming out. My friend who orders med rare got a beyond rare and sent it back. He likes a specific wine which Buona Sera gets for him and Goomba Johnny from Coco Pari who has some deal with the place if you drop 500$ you get a hundred off his over priced wares. He tells my friend oh they got your wine in . My friend pays 100$ a btl . It's about 62$ wholesale. They charged him 175$ per. I heard they spent 3$ mill renovating the space so I get it. Last story which belabors the buyer beware theme. Same friend had a company sponsored dinner there for 40 people. If you guessed 5 grand you'd be wrong by about 3 Gs, the guy who paid upon speaking with my friend said there was a $700 discrepancy in the bill and he called the restaurant and they NEVER called back. He will not be having another event so take this for what it's worth. Beautiful space but know going in 3$ million needs to be recouped on your tab
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corvette johnny
Mar 22, 2013 06:06 AM
How is the bar scene at char? I know this is a loaded question but can you actually sit and relax while chowing down a steak (or will it be a mad house with people reaching over you for drinks?)
The Wife has gone away for a few so I might have to stroll out on the town tonight.
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re: corvette johnny
Johnny,
Did you read the post by wgh4 where he ate at the bar ? Sounds like you don't want to bring your wife.
"Went on Friday (3/1) night and ate at the bar. First impression is that it's a great new spot. Maybe over the top for Red Bank but that's not the worst thing in the world. But subtle, it's not.
Well, if not over, staffed. Bartenders are friendly and make a good gin martini. Good wine list and many available by the glass. Two flat screen tv's had basketball on, no sound.
Had the dry aged NY strip (14 oz.) along with a wedge salad. Temp (medium rare) was cooked perfectly. Great steak and I'm thrilled to have this place down the street. Prices for steak are between $30-$44.
Had creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. Both were good, but nothing to rave about.
Looking forward to going back and getting a table. But I'll give the place two big thumbs up. Great for Red Bank."
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re: scrappyone
corvette johnny
Mar 22, 2013 06:29 AM
yeah I was just wondering if it has "calmed" down a little since opening. Maybe I will check it out or stick with my usual steak spot....time will tell.
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re: corvette johnny
MGZ
Mar 22, 2013 06:47 AM
You might get away with it if you skipped lunch and went for an early dinner on a weeknight. It's the newest trendy thing in RB and it gets a bit crowded. My wife would not be too likely to want to do it, but if I were in your shoes I'd approach it as I suggested and try to sit at the far south corner by the service spot.
Friday night though? I'm not sure how it might go . . . .
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re: jrvedivici
Well one positive note to Char being closed to the public yesterday......RED http://www.rednj.com/ which is where I parked because of the ridiculous no parking on the North side of the street for the valet parking, had a street sign for $5.00 Stoli Happy Hour.
Every Mon-Fri 4-7 and all day/night Thurs. is $5.00 Stoli products Happy Hour.......and guess what vodka I just happen to drink? ;-
)I haven't been inside RED in a few years and being I, my group, were the only ones there for happy hour I quickly remembered why.
Just a FYI.
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seal
Mar 10, 2013 08:30 AM
I have a reservation for an early dinner at Char tonight and I will report back afterwards.
But I wanted to comment on the negative attitudes expressed by my fellow respected hounds about Red Bank. I make no secret of the fact that I love this town. Growing up in Lincroft in the 1970s, Red Bank was always a destination town for me. Many a happy night of my youth was spent after my parents dropped me off in Red Bank.
And now, 40 years later I still feel the same way. With the possible exception of Asbury Park, this town is still my favorite spot in which to eat and then walk around. If I were to open an eatery myself this is where I would want it to be. My kids still ask to be dropped off here to meet up with and hang out with their friends.
Am I missing something?
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re: seal
MGZ
Mar 10, 2013 08:45 AM
What can I say, man? I date to the "Dead Bank" era of the 80s. I still love goin' to Mr. Pizza Slice or the Bagel Oven, but I'm just not the fancy type. As I said, I'm a Shore guy and RB ain't the Shore. Gimme flip flops and a baseball cap, not high top, suede sneakers and a pork pie.
I once followed up a dozen McDonald's twenty-five cent cheeseburgers with a sub at Elsie's before going down to Marine Park to get drunk on a bottle of Wild Turkey, but RB has none of that gritty soul left in it. I remember missing my train home because I was listening to the E-Street Band rehearse at Big Man's West - Isn't it a gym now? Doesn't that say anything?
Enjoy your dinner. The place is very Twenty Thirteen Red Bank, but I'm sure the steaks are great. The calamari was decent, but I wouldn't recommend it. Best bet would be to save room for a coupla tacos at North of the Border when you're done.
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re: seal
I still enjoy going to Red Bank and walking around or spending the day at one of the summer fairs etc. I'm very local to the area and have 2 kids in RBC (both St James graduates) so I spend plenty of time in the area.
The problem for me is with the popularity of places like Beuno Sera, Teak, Red, Blue Water, Ashes/Char the Red Bank scene has become being seen.
While from my exterior view of Char (passed last night at 6:30 on my way to Raven and Peach) the interior looks the exact same as their other location. However the shoulder to shoulder standing room only Red Bank wanna be seen in the scener's is enough to have kept me away since its opening. I'm planning on going tomorrow night figuring most of those whom annoy me should be nursing themselves from the weekend.
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re: seal
I still love Red Bank, too. I went to RBC. I loved 1/2 days when we got to walk around town. Now I love when my kids have 1/2 days so we can go walk around town. And, of course, stop at Mr. Pizza slice. It's a good place for a date with the hubs... drinks at one spot, dinner at another, and then a nice walk to end the eve. We will try Char, not to "be seen" but to get a steak, once the hullaballoo dies down. I look forward to your review.
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re: bgut1
seal
Mar 11, 2013 04:44 AM
Love Red Bank. Char not so much. I remember watching a tv sitcom once where the main character said that the best way to give bad news was to sandwich it in between two good things.
Let me start off with the good. Everyone enjoyed their salads and appetizers very much. The seafood tower was well sourced, and well presented - fresh and flavorful. Both the wedge and caeser salads were crisp and fresh, and the crabcake and stuffed mushrooms were thoroughly enjoyed.
As for the bad. Steak. They use a very nice piece of beef to start with, but then they drop the ball. My daughter's large filet was ordered medium rare and the server who dropped it off repeated "filet medium rare" as he set it down but it was clearly medium well with no pink much less red. To be fair, the other 4 steaks were properly cooked to order, but bland, almost to the point of completely unseasoned. As a long time cook I know the age old formula, salt+high heat=flavorful crust. And I have enjoyed many a steak simply seasoned with salt and nothing else, but you have to at least use salt! This same blandness was also in evidence in the side of au poive sauce (watery and bland) and the side of Char steak sauce (sweet and bland). Also, why put jalapenos on the fries if you don't describe them as such on the menu? Service. We were seated promptly for our 6:30 reservation by one of at least 4 very attractive young hostesses. But we ended up finishing our steaks more than 2 hours later. It took such a long time to get them it was bordering on ridiculous. Then we sat with our dirty plates for more than 15 minutes until our waiter finally cleared our table himself. Get some bus staff!
The other good. The managers are both on the ball. The upstairs manager was pitching in himself to help out the staff. They also took my daughter's steak off the bill and comped us a couple of desserts. Also the space is beautiful, as nice inside as any restaurant anywhere.
I will likely be back to give them another chance, but not that soon. Maybe early summer if I hear that these issues have been fixed. For their prices we all left saying we should have gone to Nicholas.
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re: seal
corvette johnny
Mar 11, 2013 06:49 AM
Seal,
I am not really a filet guy, but the wife eats them sometimes. Normally steakhouses realize the filet is the most bland/mild cut of beef and in turn a lot of them offer something to jazz it up (garlic butter, bluecheese, reduction, etc)
Does char have any such accoutrements?
MGZ, any decent craft beers on tap?
Apparently this place is doing really well. You can't even get a table there without reservations.
Do they use any wood by chance?
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re: seal
I've never tried the rib eye and as a rule I rarely order that out. I have either the porterhouse for 2 or strip on the bone. (generally cut off the bone).
I'm surprised to hear of your experience......however much of it goes along with what I've been hearing, especially regarding the service. I've been told they are very strict with their seating as not wanting to inundate the kitchen which really surprises me.
I'm going tonight and will report tomorrow. I'm going fairly early...around 5:30/6pm as I don't want it to be a late night and I will be sitting at the bar. (assuming I find a spot).
Anyone reading this feel free to stop by and buy me a post-birthday drink!! lol (don't worry I will reciprocate!)
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re: seal
corvette johnny
Mar 11, 2013 07:56 AM
Oh so you can order different sauces for any cuts? I know some steak houses will only offer certain sauces with certain cuts, kind of like how some steak houses will not offer ketchup (I don't eat ketchup on steak but I have seen people at work dinners get rejected when they ask for kethcup LOL.) Anyway , thanks for the review. I will post something up once I get there.
Did you have the "Gotham" ribeye? If so, it is hard to imagine a prime and dry aged ribeye to be bland. That's too great factors on top of an already great cut of meat. : )
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re: MGZ
corvette johnny
Mar 11, 2013 11:31 AM
Nice, do you go to the brewery at all? I used to go all the time but have slowed down recently. I run the boat beer on tap at my house. life is good...great session beer!
Are you friend's with Chris and/or Augie? They are some real cool and down to earth guys.
I can see the wine push there...much higher margins over beer.
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re: corvette johnny
MGZ
Mar 13, 2013 12:20 PM
I had posted a response to your inquiry yesterday, but apparently, I somehow crossed a line and it was deleted. Simply stated, I knew Chris in my lowercase days at RBC. We kinda learned to drink beer together and it was cool to see him makin' beer at the Shore nowadays.
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re: corvette johnny
Johnny,
I live in the Atlantic Highlands area and have been to Carton brewery a number of times. It was a novelty when it first came out but the quality of beers has not kept up with others in the area like Kane Brewing in Ocean Township as well as Flying Fish and River Horse.
I know a number of craft beer bars that don't carry Carton anymore. Most of their beers are too hoppy and there are much better true craft beers available in the area. You should look into them when you have the time.
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re: scrappyone
corvette johnny
Apr 16, 2013 06:47 AM
yes I am well aware of all those other brewers and visit breweries too. I LOVE the boat beer and its what I run at my bar at home. It's a great session beer. And yes, I am a big Kane fan too. I go through bottles of malus like they are going out of style LOL
On the char topic, do they cook with wood at all by chance?
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MGZ
Mar 10, 2013 08:06 AM
I stopped in for a drink last night. Nice space - a bit too fancy for the likes of me, but I could see why others might flock there. The place was pretty crowded by half past five on a Saturday night. Only about ten bucks for a Negroni seemed fair.
I may stop back in to have a steak someday, but the place is a little more "Red Banky" than this Shore guy will ever be drawn to.
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re: scrappyone
corvette johnny
Mar 7, 2013 12:15 PM
We can't compare the two on paper. I would expect it to be similar but we need to go to see what it is all about. Staff will be different, most likely different management, and even different decor/seating arrangements. There are a lot of variables.
I could expect James to be nearly as funny as John Belushi but it just didn't happen LOL
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re: corvette johnny
The feedback I have received is the decor is actually very similar to the Raritan location complete with the rain fountain and glass encased flames. The menu is identical as is the quality from what I'm told.
It's amazing that I was so excited for them to open and now that they have I loath Red Bank so much I still haven't gotten there.
One interesting thing I have been told is they will only accept 8 reservations per hour. They are strictly controlling the dinner flow to make sure they don't inundate their kitchen. While I can respect their desire to keep the flow going it seems rather amateurish for this organization to open like that.
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re: Papa Bing
AC Captain
Mar 8, 2013 10:28 AM
Really? You can't tell if a restaurant is worth going to if you haven't been there?
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corvette johnny
Mar 1, 2013 06:25 AM
I wonder what the prices will look like here. I know they won't be cheap but i wonder if they will add the "trendy red bank" tax onto the meals.
JR, any idea what the 20oz bone-in strip runs at the original?
›7 Replies-
re: corvette johnny
equal_Mark
Mar 1, 2013 10:18 AM
Hard to say until someone actually goes there. I tend to avoid establishments that don't include prices in their online menus.
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re: corvette johnny
Without trying to come across the wrong way by saying this but I never really look(ed) at the prices. I would say on the bone would be around the $40/42 range but as equal Mark pointed out I can't confirm that on the menu. That is the appropriate range for that cut and quality at a place like Char. (In my experience)
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re: jrvedivici
corvette johnny
Mar 1, 2013 11:30 AM
That sounds about right and would be a fair cost.
I'd like to chow down on the big 30oz ribeye
"The Gotham (30) Ribeye, dry aged"
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re: corvette johnny
Went on Friday (3/1) night and ate at the bar. First impression is that it's a great new spot. Maybe over the top for Red Bank but that's not the worst thing in the world. But subtle, it's not.
Well, if not over, staffed. Bartenders are friendly and make a good gin martini. Good wine list and many available by the glass. Two flat screen tv's had basketball on, no sound.
Had the dry aged NY strip (14 oz.) along with a wedge salad. Temp (medium rare) was cooked perfectly. Great steak and I'm thrilled to have this place down the street. Prices for steak are between $30-$44.
Had creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. Both were good, but nothing to rave about.
Looking forward to going back and getting a table. But I'll give the place two big thumbs up. Great for Red Bank.
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re: whg4
corvette johnny
Mar 4, 2013 05:59 AM
Nice to hear this good review. I tried to make a reservation but they were packed. I hope they do well in this location.
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