4 stars because it's Mother's Day and we waited for our food a little longer than expected..BUT when it came out it was correct, delicious and HOT..For some odd reason a lot of restaurants in the Huntsville area serve cold food..(my experience) AND I will also say that this is ABSOLUTELY NOT a restaurant for small children..someone's kid was running full force through the restaurant with his dad chasing him and our server had to step in and catch him!..Now on to the reason behind the review..Because I eat out A LOT I've had my fair share of rude and condescending waitstaff in the HUNTSVILLE/MADISON area..So when you go ask for T.K. SHE'S AWESOME!!..We gave her an extra tip jst for being so professional & for NOT calling us "BUBBA" & "HUN"..(yes I'm serious)..Honestly I'm surprised at so many younger servers who want to give customers condescending "PET" names..WHAT HAPPENED TO MA'AM AND SIR? I'M NOT YOUR GIRL/ DARLING/SWEETHEART/BOO/ SWEET PEA/LOVE/BUBBA (my husband was in a suit and tie when a server kept calling him"BUBBA") OR THE INFAMOUS "HUN".She treated us with dignity and respect when addressing us!..I really appreciated her for that!..THANK YOU T.K!!!!!!!! read more

Hey Everyone, we have have a treat for you! Char restaurant in Huntsville is so great! It is located in a shopping center and it doesn't stand out. But, when you walk through their doors the elegance and charm will take you in. Piano bar area is very nice. The decor is classic. Our waitress Mackenzie was so attentive and knowledgeable. We never had to ask for a refill it was right there. Let's get into the food! We started with the crab cakes!! Listen you better get the crab cakes! Very full layered with a fresh and rounded flavors. Next, I had the Ashley Farm chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans. Chicken was tender and juicy. Potatoes nicely whipped hearty and full of flavor. The sauce was light and complimented the chicken well. Steak Frites uhhhh it was so delicious!! My daughter order it and she is 10 and she could cut the steak on her own. Buttery and juicy! Truffle fries came with the steak. Lastly, my husband had the red snapper with cheddar grits! Honey he cleaned that plate. None of us left a crumb! We will definitely be back for a date night! Char will be on our regular rotation!! I hear the Brunch is Amazing! read more

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Dropped in for lunch on Wednesday. They were pseudo busy. It took a while to get in, we phoned ahead, still about 15-20 to get seated. Once seated another 10 min for drinks and 10 more to order. Good news is the food arrived quickly after ordering. I had the shrimp and crawfish gumbo and cornbread dusted redfish. The gumbo was solid with good flavor, needed a little hot sauce for my pallet. The cornbread redfish was also good. The grits were tasty and there was a liberal amount of crab and crawfish in the sauce. In all a good meal, plan on at least an hour and 15 min if you are going to lunch. read more

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The no filler crab cakes are amazing and a good value on the happy hour menu. The NOLA BBQ shrimp is also recommended read more

On a rare day off work, favorite Sister and I visited Char last Monday for lunch! Pro tip: Get a reservation! We had one for 12:15 and really needed it because the main dining room was packed! I don't think the private room on the north side was being used, but still, they were doing a great business! To their management's credit, they still have a great, well-trained bar and service staff as they always have! The servers are consistently incredibly polite, conversational, knowledgeable, friendly, hardworking, and attentive! Our meals (both had redfish with varying sides) and I had a Caesar salad and she had their tomato soup of the day, were great! The only dings, and they were slight, were we were seated at the worst table in the main dining room, a 4-top right at the entrance and were constantly interrupted by servers brining new sheets of white table toppers, and various dishes to patrons. Still, not a deal breaker. Also, the hostess was distracted and not friendly, remarking, "have a great day" in a super low voice, when Sister and I were returning from the restroom, and not actually departing. Still, we had to stand there said hostess helped two other parties to their tables rather than being situationally aware that yeah, we had reservations (Sister had already spoken to her) and just needed to be seated. The other thing that struck me about Char is I'm actually tired of their menu. I only get two things at Char: their crabcakes or their redfish. I do splurge on their fried house-made pork rinds, and I do enjoy their bar happy hour menu, but for meals, it's the same two items. I wish they would offer season menus to detract from my menu boredom. Despite these minor complaints, I'm really happy to have Char here and especially their professional staff! read more

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My friend and I stopped by Char for supper. The restaurant was crowded with most tables full. There was seating at the bar. We were greeted by our waiter and decided on a glass of Chardonnay while we perused the menu. The Chardonnay was French and was good. 4/5 We were given delicious bread and butter. 5/5 I wasn't overly hungry and decided on the steak snd bleu salad. When my steak snd bleu salad arrived, it looked great. I asked for bleu cheese dressing. My steak was cooked like I asked for and the greens were fresh. 4/5 My friend opted for a filet with French fries. She loves fries and tries them at most restaurants. She said her filet was good. It was a little pinker than she cared for so she ate about three quarters of it. I ate the last quarter of her filet. It was good. 4/5 The fries were good. They are cooked in soybean oil. To me the fries were underwhelming and not as crispy as I like. 3/5 Overall my meal was good and better than average. My wow for this meal was the bread and butter. If you are in the area, please stop by. I recommend a reservation. Sunday at 6pm and the restaurant was full. Overall score is 4/5. read more

Char Restaurant - House-Cut Fries - Steakhouses Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

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Char dining room experience was excellent. Brian, the server, was upbeat, knowledgeable, and the food was first-rate. The pecan crunch dessert was divine. Char bar service experience was disappointing -- went for the piano player and drinks. Thankfully, dinner in the dining room did not disappoint! read more

Horrible experience. One steak overcooked and one undercooked. We both ate separately. Spend several minutes staring at food with no utensils. Had to pour our own wine. Lucky to get one glass of water each. Terrible service. read more

Service was great. We had large party in town and they made acomodations for us in a private room. We had a prie fixe menu and all the choices were good. I had porterhouse steak which was amazing. read more

This is a must hit when visiting Huntsville. The BBQ shrimp dish had a mixture of creole spices with large fish over delicious cheesy grits. The pecan pie was a quarter of a pie pan drizzled in caramel with a delicious crust too. I went midweek and the place was packed with incredibly attentive staff members. Overall, wonderful Southern cooking in a well designed restaurant. read more

While in Huntsville I dined here during the week of Space and Missile Defense symposium. Many of the local restaurants were booked so I tried this place for the first time. I had a filet and it was very good, properly cooked and presented well. Service was also good with easy parking as well. read more

Char Restaurant - Steakhouses Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

Sorry. No pictures. I'm a little rusty. This was my 2nd time visiting Char. The first time was a few years ago and I didn't really remember the experience. This experience? Top notch. My ribeye was seasoned to perfection and to my desired temperature. The loaded potato and wedge salad went nicely with the steak. I forgot to mention the pork rinds we had to start... delicious. What steak restaurant fries pork rinds to order? I'm glad Char did. I finished with the brownie sundae. Great way to end the meal. I could only eat half though. Our server was great - very attentive. He had great recommendations for the table. read more

I love Char. Always a good experience for dinner but we also love happy hour. Favorites on the menu are crab claws (1/2 fried 1/2 sautéed) and the pecan dessert. read more

Char Restaurant - Crab Claws - Steakhouses Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

Had a quick business dinner here one night recently. I ordered the NOLA BBQ Shrimp. It was outstanding. The shrimp were peeled to the tail and cooked just right. The sauce had that great Worcestershire sauce and butter flavor, just like New Orleans. It was served with a dollop of grits. After I had finished it, I advised the waiter, the only thing to make it better, would be some crusty French bread to sop up the sauce. He told me next time to ask for it. The service was top notch. We had a table off to the side which was perfect to discuss business in a bustling restaurant. Easy free parking in a strip mall setting. I'll definitely be back for some more BBQ Shrimp (and French bread). read more

Char Restaurant is always a good spot to choose! They consistently have great food and service. Their restaurant is always clean and inviting. We went during the week and had to sit at the bar because they were packed, so I highly recommend you make a reservation. Despite having to sit at the bar, our visit was still great. I ordered crab claws, a side salad, and their seafood pasta, which was on special. Everything was delicious, served hot, and was seasoned well. They even had an awesome piano player who was very good and added a nice touch to our evening. read more

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A fantastic evening! We started at the bar for cocktails and appetizers. My wife had a Mocktail and I had my usual, classic dry Martini. Both were perfect. We ordered a shrimp cocktail as our appetizer. It came out pronto. Nice and cold over a bed a lettuces. The cocktail sauce tastes homemade and delicious. The dining room is gorgeous and elegant. Nice soft music playing, perfect lighting that really sets the tone. For dinner we shared the spinach salad that for one could be a dinner. The wife had Cornmeal dusted Redfish which was on top of delicious grits and a bed of spinach. I had the Sea Bass with bok choy, jasmine rice and shishito peppers...amazing!! Our server was Juanita and she was fantastic, very friendly, very knowledgeable, and very timely. We can't wait to go back and try the Prime Rib. read more

Steaks are prepared to taste perfectly every time I've been there. Good service. Best steak in Huntsville read more

I visited this restaurant on a recent business which turned out to be a mini chain with 4 locations in AL, TN, and MS. They were actually not bad at all for a chain. The interior is upscale and prices are fairly reasonable. I tried the burger and my colleague had the red snapper. His red snapper came out with a lot of the gray flesh which you don't usually see as chefs usually cut this off the fish. He said the dish was good regardless, even though it didn't even taste like red snapper. When I questioned if it was actually a red snapper, the waiter said it was farm raised. I thought it sounded somewhat fishy as I haven't ever heard of farm raised red snapper as they are a salt water fish. However, after further research it is becoming more common and even being sold to US markets. I'm still not a fan of farm raised anything. My burger was pretty good tasting although it was a pre formed patty, not hand formed. read more

I went with a group of friends to celebrate some birthdays and overall had a Char-ming experience. The wedge salad was fine but I was disappointed with the sea bass entree. The fish was perfectly cooked-light and airy-can't get much better of a piece. However the accoutrements lacked. The white rice was bland and the bok Choi and shishito peppers under the fish were drenched and soggy. Maybe switch the two so the rice could sop up what little there was of a ginger sauce. I would have ordered the redfish but when the server compared it to catfish I passed. Not good to compare something to such a low quality fish if charging that price. Thankfully I ordered a side of mashed potatoes to share, and they were nice and fluffy! The real star was in the dessert. I absolutely loved the Pecan Butter Crunch! The kind of dessert that would challenge even grandma's best! My friends enjoyed their bread pudding and pecan pie respectively. read more

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I honestly don't understand the attraction to this place. The food is decent, but I've never had anything that made me Look forward to coming back and the prices are expensive. read more

I was in town for a business trip and, after searching online, Char Restaurant came up, so we decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, I had a very disappointing experience from the start. We waited at the entrance for about five minutes with no staff in sight to greet or seat us. I ordered the salmon, and it was by far the worst I've ever had. I have never seen an upscale restaurant serve the tail end of a salmon fillet. The portion was thin, dry, and overcooked, and the overall quality did not match the price point or the restaurant's reputation. For a place that presents itself as fine dining, I expected much better attention to both service and food quality. This experience did not meet even basic expectations. I hope they take this feedback seriously and improve their standards. read more

We've been 3 times now, so I feel like I can finally give a fair review. Each time we have had great service and have enjoyed our time. It is upscale but not stuffy. The servers are very friendly and attentive. I'd recommend a reservation. We've tried various options. My favorite appetizer so far has been the NOLA shrimp. This also can be done in an entree size. The appetizer size comes with about 6 perfectly cooked shrimp. The sauce has the right amount of spice, and the grits are delish. Make sure you use the complimentary bread to soak up any leftovers! We have also enjoyed their crab claws and their crab cakes, but the NOLA shrimp are definitely my fav of the 3. I also really like their Caesar salad. It's nicely dressed with delicious pieces of cheese and croutons on top. It's $7 to add this with an entree. My fav main dish is the crusted redfish. This past time I got the scallops instead, and I regretted it. The scallops were good, but the dish felt overly creamy and rich. Maybe a squeeze of lemon would have helped. I feel like I make better scallops at home, so it wasn't worth the price to me. I'll probably stick with ordering the redfish next time. My husband got the steak special last night. He said it was "like butter." He raved about it. We don't usually order steaks at restaurants since we also feel this is something that we cook better at home, but he was very impressed with his filet! I didn't try it myself, but it looked very good. We tried a couple of cocktails this past visit, and they were fine. Nothing too special. Each cost $13-14 or so. They seem to have a nice wine list as well. We want to try their happy hour next time! All in all, a lovely spot! read more

Char Restaurant - Scallops - Steakhouses Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

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This is really a 3.5-star review, but since Yelp doesn't allow half-stars, I'm rounding up. The atmosphere alone gives it the .5 to a 4 rather than a 3. I visited Char on a Saturday at 3 PM. No college football on TV, so no distractions, lol. The lighting is dark and almost movie-like, giving it a relaxed, cinematic feel. There is an entry or "mud room" before walking into the main restaurant, which adds a nice transition. Plenty of wine selections are available, though that is not my thing. I was impressed to see Oban Scotch on the menu, which I rarely find in restaurants. The restaurant aesthetic feels straight out of Babylon (the movie). Red curtains divide sections like theater backdrops, and incredible metal wall art reflects Huntsville roots. There is a scentless candle at the center of each table, and subtle jazz music plays in the background. I do not usually like carpet in restaurants, but it really helps the acoustics. Conversation stays at a comfortable level compared to tile-floor places where sound bounces everywhere. Service and Staff My waiter, Morgan, provided nothing short of excellent service. The staff was calm, professional, and sharp in appearance. Their uniforms were clean and crisp, and they maintained a polished yet relaxed vibe. I appreciated that the waiter did not pressure me or rush with the check. I could ask when I was ready. The team seemed genuinely happy to work here, and I did not see managers barking orders, which I think translates into better customer service. One small thing: white paper on white tablecloth feels a bit tacky. It cheapens the atmosphere a little when everything else is so well done. Little Details I loved that my side plate came out warm even before ordering. That is one of my favorite things at a restaurant because it shows attention to detail. The silverware was oddly long, maybe it is a fancy thing, but it felt a little out of place for me. Hand-crank pepper grinder on the table, is a nice touch for freshness. Drinks I ordered a Char Old Fashioned, made with Woodford Reserve, an excellent bourbon choice. The balance of simple syrup sweetness to bitterness was spot on. The dark cherry was perfect, but the orange peel garnish needed help. The cut looked sloppy, which stood out since so many other details here were so polished. A neater, more refined garnish would elevate the presentation. Starters Soup and salad came out unusually fast. * Crab, Shrimp and Andouille Gumbo The plate was a normal temperature, but the gumbo itself was scorching hot. Lots of pepper, sausage, crawfish, and celery, if you are into that. The rice, though, did not feel fresh. I have honestly had better rice at Asian buffets. * Caesar Salad This was the highlight of the appetizers. The plate was ice-cold, perfect. Lettuce was extra crunchy, the homemade croutons had a chili kick, and the dressing clung perfectly to the leaves without drowning the plate. Cheese levels were balanced, not overwhelming like most Caesars. French bread arrived extremely hot, but it was too soft and sticky inside for my taste. Main Course I ordered the 8oz filet with garlic mashed potatoes and collard greens. * The steak was tender and perfectly cooked with no knife required. It was overly buttery for my taste, though, and only one side had char marks. There was no bloody runoff on the plate despite being medium rare, a sign the chef knows what he is doing. * The potatoes were hot but watery and under-seasoned. I added salt, but the shaker dispensed too much at once, ruining the balance. * The collard greens were flavorful but too firm and missing something. I like them softer and wished they came out hotter. Overall, the steak was worth the $50 price tag, but I would want to try other sides next time. Dessert I had the blueberry bread pudding with whiskey sauce. The blueberries were perfectly cooked, not soggy or tough, but the temperature was all wrong. Some bites were cold, some scorching hot, and the plate itself was neither warm nor chilled. It came across as microwaved even though I know it was not. The sauce was too sweet and lacked the promised whiskey punch. Final Thoughts As I left, I kept thinking about the silky steak, the perfectly crunchy croutons, and the professionalism of the staff. But the dessert's inconsistent temperature and small presentation misses, like the orange peel garnish, left me wanting a bit more refinement in spots. This feels like a perfect 6 to 8 PM dinner location, and I would happily come back for the steak and Caesar salad alone. read more

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After the underwhelming experience the first time. I was sent a gift card so went back to try it again Was hoping to get the crab claws and the sea bass or the fish of the day. First thing I was told was they were out of crab claws, sea bass and fish of the day. Which it does say on the menu crab claws are not always available. Ordered a glass of wine. Temp was good. Started with a salad. Fresh vegetables and balsamic was very good. Decided to go with the ribeye with a side of shrimp and Brussel sprouts. Brussel sprouts were great. Steak was overcooked and cold. Didnt eat it. And the shrimp was overcooked. Manager did come out and take the steak off even though I didnt complain. He did offer to get me another steak, but I was ready to get home. So I did appreciate that Waiter was a nice guy. Really want to love this place. But 0-2. Overall. Good people, food below ave. read more

Our first dinner in Huntsville was at Char (thank you Yelp!) We walked in with no reservation, and snagged a seat at the bar area table. Our server was amazing! He recommended the tomatoe bisque to start and it was delicious! The homemade croutons were amazing. I also took his suggestion to go with the rockfish. It was layer with spinach, lump crab meat, and cheese grits. The fish could have had a bit more flavor but overall tasty. The smoked old fashion was strong! read more

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Fine, not worth the price. J Alexander is better. Would not return. Crab cake was very fishy. Whole restaurant smelled like a fish market. Fancy atmosphere but food was just fine read more

Food was amazing. Service was amazing. And the place was set up great with white table cloths. They have some very good mixed drinks the bartender knows what he is doing. read more

Char Restaurant - The sautéed crab claws were amazing. - Steakhouses Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

Delicious food and cocktails. Great service. They have a good happy hour on cocktails and appetizers. read more

The food was well above expectations with a generous portion size. The restaurant was not overly crowded and the live piano player was a nice touch (Sunday). The servers were engaging and polite. They really make me want to come back. read more

Char Restaurant - Old fashioned. Fantastic bar and service. - Steakhouses Near Me - Huntsville, Alabama

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We came for Christmas Eve brunch and it was delicious. I made a reservation a week or so in advance. Luckily they still had some availability. We had to wait about 10 minutes for our table even though we had a reservation. I got the steak Benedict and cheese grits with a side salad. All of which were delicious! Everyone seemed to enjoy what they ordered. I even ended the meal with some lemon sorbet. That was delicious. I only wish they had the ability to make espresso drinks. That would be nice. They only have drip coffee or French press. read more

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I gotta admit, even though I had heard about this place, I had low expectations, but they impressed me. Went for Christmas Eve brunch with friends, and the experience was great. Place is very pretty, which led me to assume it was gonna be pricey, but for brunch and lunch items, most everything was $20 or under. Drink prices were also pretty average. I got a cup of the gumbo and the redfish with grits. Everything was delicious, and the redfish hit the spot perfectly. My friends also had some pretty good entrees and desserts. In all, a wonderful meal and a lovely atmosphere. Looking forward to going back. read more

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Top notch service, top notch food and top notch employees. Was here on business a couple weeks ago with customers and a peer. I had the Veal Oscar and it was perfect, no complaints here. Small wine list however great chardonnay options and they don't need additional from the 2 Chardonnays they have. Creme brulee dessert put them over the top and of course my whole table dug into it before I could then they ate their desserts which looked amazing. Going back 100% when I am back soon. Also price point for this quality all around is very good and worth it. read more

We had a decent experience. The service was acceptable and the atmosphere was nice. The food was cooked properly and tasted fine. I ordered the filet, and to rate it, I would a say it's a bit pricey for the quality of the cut of meat. 3/5 read more

I loved the upscale atmosphere of this restaurant, dim lighting nice booths or tables. Perfect for date night or celebrations. My husband and I went for our anniversary dinner. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful with menu items. We had two cocktails both wonderful. ( Around the Bend/ One Night in Tokyo) Appetizer: NOLA BBQ shrimp delicious, a tad spicy but very flavorful, served with grits (pro-tip save some bread to lap up the sauce) Entrees: NY strip with fries and Scallops with risotto and asparagus NY strip for my husband - he enjoyed his medium rare which he said could have been cooked slightly less but still tasted great; fries were hand cut always a plus. Scallops - in a fantastic butter sauce and cooked to perfection. I loved the pairing with risotto. We saw other patrons enjoying the blueberry bread pudding which looked amazing we were just stuffed! Another nice restaurant in HSV for a fun night out. They have happy hour 3-5 M-F which we've gone to before and it is wonderful. Good drink prices and yummy apps to try. read more

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I've eaten here several times and I haven't been disappointed. The service is good, the food is great and the ambiance is soothing with the live music. read more

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Service was extremely inattentive. Waited an hour for cold food after ordering. Extremely disappointed in the food that was provided by this establishment. My husband and I ordered 2 Prime Rib entrees and my kids ordered 2 French Toast brunch entrees. The prime rib was cold, undercooked, and tough. The French Toast was cold and soggy. We were extremely eager to eat here after the recommendations. We were headed to Space Camp and wanted to ensure that my kid had something good to eat before drop off. We will not be returning. *Not pictured is the raw and cold prime rib that I ordered* Best thing was the Fried Okra and Sweet Tea read more

My boyfriend and I went here for our anniversary dinner and they made it so special for us! The atmosphere was so nice and our waitress, Marissa, was so amazing. She brought us a brownie with a candle for our anniversary and she put a little happy anniversary card on the table! The service was quick and great! The food was AMAZING! The steak was so so so good! They also have a great rewards system so we already earned a $10 off for next time! We will definitely be back! read more

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The food is excellent!! My husband and I ordered to go and everything was great! We had the sautéed crab claws, the barbecue shrimp, and the crabcakes! read more

My family and I stopped in on a whim while in town for college orientation, and we are sold! Everything was so good. Great service. The food was delicious. And the ambiance was as well. This will definitely be a spot for us whenever we come in town. read more

I'll update my previous reviews. I tried Char once again. Once again I find it sort of a mixed situation. The staff seems to care and is very attentive, but the place seems a bit strained to meet its mission. The food is sometimes great and then sometimes off. My ribeye had no seasoning. If I ask for steak sauce, you wasted a good cut of meat. I'd recommend adding a topping. They have multiple toppings. Great place with a nice ambiance, but it doesn't always live up to expectations. read more

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