Restaurant Charlie Review

Reviewed by hereinvegas from Las Vegas, originally Philly on 2/6/09
I took my boyfriend here for his birthday last month, and was pretty let down. We were both excited to eat here, especially my boyfriend, who is an asst. executive chef for a major strip hotel.
The initial room you walk into, their 'lounge' reminded me of my veterinarians office. Slate floors, steel, and glass. Very cold and sterile.
We chose not to do a tasting menu of any sort, and we proceeded to order two courses of apps and two entrees with a bunch of side dishes.
We started with a watered down sake crab salad and smoked salmon that was decent. Then we proceeded to have dumpling soup that came out room temperature and a Lobster tart that had very little lobster, but decent flavor.
Our entrees were Big eye tuna over wilted greens (and they came out wilted, believe me) and the Rib Eye that the server raved about. The presentations were good, but that is about it.
The milk chocolate cheesecake was the best part of the meal by far.
The wine list was decent, but for a Trotter restaurant, pretty small. We paid $120 for a decent bottle of Pinot, but nothing special in that price range.
Service was good, but a little stiff and over-bearing.
The dining room was very boring, and the location of the restaurant is hideous. The furnishings are slightly uncomfortable as well.

We have eaten in almost every restaurant in Vegas, and this was a definite no-return for us. We could have gone to Alex or Guy Savoy for almost the same amount (we paid over $500 with tip), and those experiences were truly amazing. French laundry cost us under $700, and that is probably the best restaurant in the country!

p.s.
I responded to a customer survey on his website detailing everything, and didn't even get a courtesy e mail back.

Member Rating: 1.4
Ratings details: Food: 1.0 Atmosphere: 1.0 Service: 3.0 Value: 1.0

Reviewed by TravelingDiner from New York on 8/28/08
I wandered in for a drink about a month after this place opened, and it was very slow, so I put off dining here until my next trip out to Las Vegas.
Once again, My guest and myself were one of the few diners in the establishment, which is decorated without taste and as comfortable as a one legged rocking chair. It is very sterile in this restaurant, and if your looking for a view, you will only find the wall of waiters in your line of sight.
the food, while presented well, is really an over interpretation of what every gourmet chef in the world is trying to do... the less is more routine is not fooling me. Especially since my bill was not too far behind my damage from dining at French Laundry, and the experience was no where near that.
The service was nice, stiff, and well starched; with coached remarks about chef Trotters skill and technique. Of course, when I asked if he was there, the answer was no. It is a coached representation of himself, nothing more.
The wine list, the main reason why I dine out, was plain. Very safe selections, with not much excitement. The sommelier, who looked like he was not even old enough to drink, fit the environment well. He held his nose high enough in the air to succeed at such an establishment, but not likely anywhere else. his recommendations were lame, and his knowledge limited.
Like I previously stated, the meal was way too expensive for what you get. French Laundry was only one hundred more than my meal here, and Per Se only two hundred more, and those establishments are in the top 5 restaurants in the world.
If you want a good laugh, have them explain their 'Bar Charlie' concept.

Member Rating: 1.6
Ratings details: Food: 2.0 Atmosphere: 1.0 Service: 2.0 Value: 1.0