My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our 6 year anniversary of dating! Everything was going well until a flash flood came in; the power went out and the fire alarm started blaring. Everyone was so kind and attentive. We got our food just in time because they had to close the kitchen to deal with everything, and it was phenomenal. We got the chef's cut from the "secret menu", japanese Wagyu, the grilled chicken club and a side of mashed potatoes. Everything was so insanely good. I was kinda hoping we'd get some sort of comp for having to listen to that deafening fire alarm for 15 minutes, but I'm not surprised they didn't because we were still clearly having a great time. read more

Came here again for my birthday. 4 adults two kids. Everything took forever and there were only two other tables. The entrees took 45 mins. Steaks were ordered med rare. My surf and turf for $70' was disappointing. The lobster wasn't cleaned properly and the strip was cooked uneven. We got asparagus and mash potatoes. They had to bring us free Brussel sprouts ànd comp the potatoes cause they arrived 2/3 of the way through three meal. I was never asked if I wanted another drink. For the prices they charged this chain steak house needs to be doing it alot better. Very disappointed. 2.5 stars read more

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Ambiance is Awful sorry at those prices, no class at all no thanks no excuses to wear hats while eating dinner at the table or sweat suits ! read more

Char Steakhouse is such a cute restaurant and does give somewhat a classy vibe. You know like polo shirts and well put together outfits basically business casual. The ambience inside is super nice, but it was a little dark inside the restaurant. Luckily we didn't have to worry about the dimness of the inside because we ate outside. The outside patio area was super nice and aesthetically pleasing. If you want to eat inside, I recommend making reservations because if you don't have reservations, you may be seated outside like we were I'm assuming. Which I was fine with eating outside because it was nice out and the ambience inside is nice, but it is dark. As for the food it was pretty good. Funny enough I'm not much of a steak girly, but I did find other options on the menu. For the appetizer, we decided to try the Chicharron. It was my first time having chicharron. I really enjoyed the pickled onions with the chicharron. Then for my entrée, I got the crabcake sandwich and it came with fries. It was very tasty and my sister ordered the same and we both said we would return just for that. Our mother ordered the pork chop and she said it was actually juicy and well prepared. The service was fantastic from the hostess up front to our server Tania. She was attentive and very sweet. read more

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Char Steakhouse in Scotch Plains has all the vibes of a fancy night out... until the check comes. We went for dinner on a Saturday night. The staff was super friendly and accommodating, but wow, the prices are steep. $18 for a basic cocktail? That one stung a little. Started with the lobster dumplings (meh) and the bacon slab (solid). For mains, we had the NY strip and the Chilean seabass with mashed potatoes and asparagus on the side. The seabass was a bit undercooked and had that fishy taste you never want to admit out loud at a "steakhouse." None of the entrees come with sides, even the fish, so everything adds up fast. They do bring out a bread basket... but you can only pick one piece. Yep, just one. For these prices, I was expecting at least a carb sampler. The ambiance is nice - dim lighting, upscale feel, but definitely loud. Overall, it felt like a high-end LongHorn trying to be a Manhattan steakhouse. Great service, but the experience didn't match the price tag. read more

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We went to Char Steakhouse in Scotch Plains on a Saturday night. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere was nice, but the food didn't really justify the price. We shared the lobster dumplings and bacon slab to start both were decent, but nothing special. My wife ordered the Chilean sea bass, which was on the small side and came out a little undercooked. I had the New York strip, which was fine but not worth the premium price tag. When the check came, our total was over $300, and for what we got, it just didn't feel worth it. Everything was just okay not bad, but not memorable either. For that kind of money, I expected something closer to a true fine dining experience. Next time, I'll stick with my go-to Portuguese or Spanish restaurants, where the food is consistently flavorful and the value makes sense. read more

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If I could give this place no stars I would. Left feeling sick. Service was lack luster they have a bread guy with a basket and it's hard as a rock. The margarine was cold hard and tasted like it had been sitting in the fridge with other things. The place is decorated nice and has plenty of parking but the food was not good at all. read more

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Came here for the 1st time at the last moment to meet a friend . We sat at the bar and we had drinks and some appetizers Service was great I had oysters , shrimp cocktails and meatballs All very good I want to come back and have a proper steak dinner Let you know how it goes read more

Char Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Delicious food! Ambience was quite classy, with dark interior and modern finishings. Service was very friendly but a bit slow, although we were a larger party so maybe that explains that. read more

Char Steakhouse - NY strip - Steakhouses Near Me - Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Went to Char for date night on a Saturday, with seating reservations at 7:30pm. The restaurant was running behind, so I wasn't seated until closer to 8pm. This restaurant feels like an AI prompt that's come to life. The user input "do fancy stuff, but cool, and also fire." Certainly, you won't lack for flame motifs, from smoking cocktails to a rather large art piece that I thought was pretty clearly the devil. And if this restaurant does indeed have influences from the underworld, I'd say that nobody made a deal with the devil to up the food quality. I got the French onion soup, filet mignon, loaded potatoes, and truffle fries. The highlight of those was likely the steak, cooked as requested and served with fresh garlic (which I thought was a fun touch). The potato was completely bland, even though it was meant to be "loaded" - it was large, so it mostly overpowered the little amount of bacon included with the butter/sour cream. The French onion soup was fine, largely unremarkable. Lastly, the truffle fries were a mistake, overly oiled and very late to our table after our server forgot to bring them. So while I was hoping for a devilishly good time at the newest steakhouse in Scotch Plains, I'm left feeling like I heavily overpaid for rather mid-tier food. read more

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Per her request, I took my mom to Char for her birthday dinner. Not too many restaurants look at what occasion you book for when making reservations, but they wished her a happy birthday upon arrival! Our server, Leah, was very friendly and helpful. We'd go back just to dine with her again! The restaurant was dimly lit and there were fires roaring, perfect on a cold evening. Their bread service is always delicious with plenty of options. We shared the jumbo scallop "secret menu" appetizer that came with the most delicious lemon tartar sauce. The crab cake entree was our favorite of the night. The lobster mac and cheese was good, but we wish the lobster was spread throughout the dish instead of presented on top. To end the night, we shared a wonderful crème brûlée. We loved our dinner and will definitely return for another special occasion! read more

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Came to 'Char' to see what they had to offer. It was kinda weird being here, considering I was a regular when this place was 'Grillestone.' It has a classy upscale vibe. Low mood lighting, elegant, sophisticated. It gives all of those vibes. There's a private area, but it was in use so I didn't take any photos. Outdoor area looks like it's still under construction, but will be ready to go in the Spring. PLENTY of parking as it sits in its own lot. Staff were very friendly & knew the menu well for a place that's only been open less than a month at this point (I think). We had the complimentary bread, which you select your piece from different types of bread from a basket, Charita, Eh Hombre, Crab Cake Sandwich, Meat & Potatoes, Delmonico (steak) w/Truffle butter. The beer was just above cool each time I got it. Never that good "cold," which was disappointing. Even after pointing it out, same result. The food was VERY good, no complaints. A nice spot to go to for a more upscale lounge kinda feel. The pricing is as to be expected for a steak house. I would come back for another visit. Grades: Charita: A- Eh Hombre: B Crab Cake Sandwich: B Meat & Potatoes: A Delmonico w/Truffle butter: A read more

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The food was OK. I only had apps. The atmosphere was very nice though I'll give that a 10 the service is very fast also and the ambience of the place is very romantic and classy. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants. Staff is friendly, food is great and they have an amazing happy hour!

Nice place, high end, high prices! But..the "Cowboy Steak" was pathetic. Not substantial as a cowboy steak should be. Maybe 1/2 inch thick. Totally misrepresented. Call it a bone in ribeye at best. The portion of short rib was also really pathetic. I thought it was a joke. But the gnocchi was excellent. The lobster mac and cheese was solid, but I tasted absolutely no truffle. French Onion soup was spectacular. Nice flavor and mouthfeel for broth and lots of cheese. For desserts, the creme brûlée was standard but the banana foster bread pudding was spectacular. I would go again to give this another shot. They did put on a good show for my mom's birthday. read more

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First time coming here since they took over the space from a previous restaurant that closed that was here the brookstone. They did a total remodel it's nice and very upscale. I ordered a petite filet mignon and loaded baked potato both was very good,cooked perfectly and tasted good. My waiter was very attentive and friendly. My only gripe is the $7 credit card fee they charged me and my guest meals was over $230 so charging me a credit card fee just seems petty. So I suggest paying in cash like I will next time I visit read more

Char Steakhouse - Petite filet mignon - Steakhouses Near Me - Scotch Plains, New Jersey

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We had a fantastic dinner at Char Steakhouse and left already talking about when we'd return. To start, I had the meatball appetizer--simple but incredibly flavorful. For the main course, I went with the Cowboy Ribeye and mashed potatoes, and honestly, both were exceptional. Perfectly cooked, juicy, and full of flavor. My wife ordered the Delmonico steak, which she said was good, though I have a feeling she would've enjoyed the ribeye even more. Dessert came with some visual flair--a large sparkle in the middle--which was fun and definitely eye-catching. Taste-wise, it was just okay for me, but to be fair, I'm not really a dessert person to begin with. Wife loved it. Service throughout the night was excellent. Our waiter and the busboys were kind, attentive, and genuinely helpful. The ambiance was also on point: classy, upscale decor that matched the quality of the food, and plenty of free parking in their large lot--a rare bonus these days. Overall, no complaints. Great food, great atmosphere, and great service. We had an amazing time and will absolutely be back! read more

Char Steakhouse - Dessert was yummy - Steakhouses Near Me - Scotch Plains, New Jersey

A very fancy steakhouse! The steak was amazing and crispy on the outside (charred perfectly, hence the name) and cooked perfectly, the bread was good, all the sides are amazing, we got the spinach, parmesan fries, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. The dessert menu is amazing too. It's pricey, but the food is definitely worth it. Great service and a phenomenal dinner. read more

Completely perfect. The second I was walking towards the entry a hostess opened the door for me to enter. Then I spoke with the hosts and they were seriously perfect ambiance the moment I arrived. The food we each ordered was delicious and the vibe inside was super nice too. This is one of those prices that you should absolutely visit and have a meal with someone. This whole low place was amazing for sure. read more

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Took my wife here for her birthday, as I don't spend $300+ for dinner on any old night. The staff was welcoming and attentive, without being overbearing. The decor is beautiful, and the seating comfortable, but the noise level was very loud. I had the French onion soup. It was good, but nothing special. My wife had the crab cake, which was topped with a weird white foam, which looked like something unmentionable, but she enjoyed it. I had the Delmonico ribeye, which was cooked medium rare as requested, with a tiny ramekin of watery au poive sauce in which they seemingly forgot the peppercorns. My wife had a petite filet mignon, ordered medium rare, which was undercooked, raw in the middle. No excuse for that. The potatoes gratin were good, the sautéed mushrooms needed more seasoning. The creme brulee was nice as a light dessert. OK meal overall, but way too expensive for the experience. I don't plan to return. read more

Needed to kill an hour , so we came in and ordered some apps. Food was very good. I would definitely recommend not getting the lobster oysters. Place looked very upscale. read more

Char Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Scotch Plains, New Jersey

This was a long-awaited return and a birthday celebration. And while the service was fantastic and our waitress Leah was an absolute doll, the food itself wasn't as magical as I remembered. The crab cakes and creme brulee were next level, but the scallops appetizer had a lot of tasty stuff going on, but it seemed disjointed. The lobster Mac and Cheese, which some people consider sacrilege in and of itself, was good, but not mind-blowing like some others I have had. And as far as ambiance, it was a little too dark for me, like I was in a night club and not out to have dinner. I will return for my trusted and true favorites, but maybe not til spring to try out the solarium. read more

Char Steakhouse - Lobster Mac and Cheese - Steakhouses Near Me - Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Came here to celebrate our 18th anniversary. Easy to make reservations via open table. When we arrived at 7:05, we were greeted by 3 lovely hostesses and were sat promptly at our table. Serhat was our waiter for the evening and he was very pleasant. We ordered the escargot and fried calamari for apps. Both were very good. We were a bit disappointed that they ran out of bread and could not dip into the garlicky butter sauce of the escargot, but Serhat was nice enough to explain that they couldn't anticipate the popularity of the breadsticks on their first weekend of opening. Then we got the surf n turf, beef short ribs and gnocchi, and a porterhouse to share between myself and my daughter. The beef was cooked to our liking - medium rare - perfectly tender. My daughter was so surprised by how soft it was. Every dish was done well and everyone enjoyed them. The potato gratin was soft and velvety! We were too stuffed for dessert. The music is a bit noisy and conversations are a bit difficult. Lighting was acceptable for pics. Will be back again! read more

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Came in for date night, and everything about our experience at Char Steakhouse was wonderful from start to finish. We were accommodated immediately, and the service was warm and attentive throughout the evening. We started with a couple of martinis and the calamari, which was cooked perfectly -- light, crispy, and full of flavor. For my entrée, I ordered the gnocchi with short rib, and it was absolutely phenomenal. The short rib was so tender it practically fell apart, and the combination of flavors was spot-on. We also ordered the truffle fries and truffle mashed potatoes, and let me just say -- the mashed potatoes were the absolute star of the show. 10/10! Creamy, rich, and packed with flavor. For my main course, I had the ribeye steak, cooked perfectly to temperature. Ribeyes can sometimes be overly fatty, but this one had a great balance -- you could taste the signature ribeye flavor without being overwhelmed by fat. It was juicy, tender, and delicious. Overall, this was an amazing dining experience. Everything from the ambiance to the food and service made it a perfect spot for date night. 1000% recommend and will definitely be back! read more

It was about 10 of we was celebrating my daughter! We all were Church Women, Our Waiters were awesome! They let us know about the hors d'oeuvres first we order their came out nice and hot, they let us enjoy them we put in our main order! The food was delicious hot and well presented. It was well worth the price we paid. I would gladly recommend Char Steak house as place to go. read more

The wait staff was absolutely welcoming and amazing they made the meal even more top notch. We didn't wait for anything very long they were right there when needed to make sure our son's birthday dinner was memorable. The steaks were cooked perfectly, the appetizers were fun and different, and the wine pairing was very well balanced. This was our second time dining here and this time wad been more amazing then the first. Great spot give them a shot and get the coconut cake for dessert it's absolutely amazing. read more

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Came for my son's birthday last night, everything was perfect, food, atmosphere, wait staff, everything was amazing. A bit pricey! But worth it! *PS... Return the escargot to the menu!! Fan favorite. thankfully they had some left to make for us even though it was off menu :) read more

I visited for prime rib night and unfortunately the prime rib was not up to expectations. It was quite fatty, tough, and cooked more rare than the medium I requested. It wasn't something I would order again. On a positive note, the bartenders were excellent--very attentive and welcoming. read more

Char Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Serhat and staff was incredibly helpful. Steak was perfect. Family style sides were delicious and generous. Atmosphere is quiet and fashionable. Love it! Coming back! read more

Great place. Food was awesome. I ate the best steak of my life. I highly recommend it!

My friends and I had a dinner reservation at Char for 7:45 pm on a Thursday evening in the pergola. The restaurant had a nice, upscale ambiance both inside and outside and when it began to rain, we learned that the pergola can become covered and the windows can close via remote control. We ordered the calamari and fries to share as appetizers and for our entrees we got the chicken Milanese, spicy burrata gnocchi, and the char royale. My friend felt that her spicy burrata gnocchi tasted off, but I felt that it tasted fine, although it was not spicy. I was not expecting the char royale to come in sandwich format, but despite me asking for the steak to be cooked medium, I felt the sandwich was a bit dry and difficult to eat. However, when I heated it up the next day for leftovers, it tasted much better. We ordered the cookies and gelato for dessert (we originally wanted the crème brulee but they ran out) and the server asked if we wanted an additional cookie since the order only comes with two. The cookies were alright but were not warm and the sea salt on top made the cookies a bit too salty for our liking. However, the gelato was tasty and we enjoyed the char logo on top of the gelato. Of note, we informed our server that it was our friend's birthday, but there was no complimentary birthday dessert as I would expect from Overall, it was a nice meal and we definitely enjoyed the ambiance, but the food was nothing to call home about. read more

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Finally visited this new location, and it didn't disappoint!! The food was delicious, the wine was great and the service was top notch!! Our server was Diana, and she was very attentive and thorough! Very sweet! Actually, the entire staff was great! We had the ribeye and lobster. The lobster mac & cheese was great too! read more

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Ate at the Raritan Char and we were not exactly pleased with the poor attention our waiter gave us regarding what to order especially the french fries. There were way to many fries and my wifes baked potato never came out and we cancelled it and they still brought it to go. Then we were charged for it! Very poor way to treat a guest. Never going back. read more

Disappointed at the thin steak (1/2 inch) for a fancy steakhouse. Same thickness as those at Longhorn. Seasoned well and perfect temperature though but no need to come back. There are many other high end steakhouse choices. Service is fine with minor hiccups (bread service was halted in the middle when the server hurried off to grab butter, no water refill) Dining room itself was super loud because there is nothing to absorb the sound. read more

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Let me be honest here, I've been to Char in Bridgewater a handful of times and have never been impressed. I've always found it to be over-priced, over-fancied, and under-gooded (if that's not a word it should be). Friend said the SP location was excellent so we gave it a go - I have truly never had a restaurant make a simple meal so awkward and difficult both for me to enjoy and for them to serve. Meal started off fine - ordered drinks, all is well - they take a little while but it's father's day and they're packed, no big thing! Bread basket comes around and they're delivering pop-overs, which are a favorite to be had with a steak. These were a little overdone, but nothing I couldn't work through - we were off to a decent enough start...and then stuff flew off the rails. We ordered appetizers and mains. Before they would bring out the appetizers they insisted that the bread needed to be cleared. I'd kinda been saving that popover to drag through my meatball marinara appetizer but...alright, I guess I won't be doing that. I've truly never had 'bread' treated like an appetizer at a steakhouse...this aint an amuse bouche! So strange! Meatballs come out - they're fine. Nothing exciting, nothing particularly interesting, your average run of the mill italian meatballs topped with a dollop of cheese. They were fine..but when you give me a small dish of 3 unexceptional meatballs for more than I'd pay for a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs...now you're taking the piss, and I'm not digging it. Between apps and mains the busboy comes over and re-arranges the entire table. I mean he puts a hand on every glass, every piece of cutlery, a phone that was on the table, the freakin table light. He spends 5 minutes (no exaggeration) arranging the table while we all sit in awkward silence. SUCH unnecessarily affected behavior as to being ridiculous. I get it, you're trying to be high end - I've eaten at a lot of high end steakhouses - NEVER have I seen this. Wipe off the crumbs, move along. Steaks come out - they're fine. Not particularly well seasoned, no crust to speak of - it's like they were broiled but not seared. They were cooked to temperature for the most part so that was fine. I enjoyed the kung pao brussel sprouts. Strangely one of the multitude of folks who stopped by the table proceeded to pour the remainder of my wine into someone else's glass (who was drinking a different wine lol) - accidents happen again, I wouldn't ding for that. My wife, who doesn't eat land animals, got the kung pao lobster special which probably would have been good except they just took a lobster, shell and all, and submerged it in kung pao sauce making the shell mushy and the food messy and virtually impossible to eat. Table next to us got dessert - before they could get it AGAIN we watched as their table was rearranged for 5 minutes, with each glass being maneuvered etc. When it FINALLY comes out it's some kind of deconstructed ice cream sundae in a glass jar. I kinda expected that the jar had no bottom so it could be removed but nope - just pop the top and go. So now you've got 4 people having to reach into a 12" deep glass jar to try to eat an ice cream sundae. We opted to skip dessert at that point. Guys...simplify. There is NO reason that this meal should have been so unpleasant or seemingly so difficult from your side. Skip the fancy schmancy and focus on the food. Use your heads when designing specials - they should be not just delicious but something that can be eaten, while dressed up, without making a huge mess. If you can't be bothered de-shelling a lobster served in sauce: DON'T SERVE A LOBSTER IN SAUCE. With as many options in NJ in NY style steakhouses as there are, this was my last time visiting any Char location. WAY overpriced for what we had, and the awkwardness of the entire experience just left a terrible taste in my mouth. read more

The bartender was amazing, phenomenal drinks. Dinner was satisfactory. Service was average. He didn't go over and above in my opinion, he was nice in that "I'm going to provide basic service in case you aren't going to tip". I don't know what it is with the serving staff at Char. Is it the demographic, the fact that 3 out of my party of four were young ladies, I can't put my finger on it. A $600 bill, I expect a little more than basic service I get a Longhorn read more

Food is really good and service was great. We all enjoyed our meal and will be back again. Little pricey but everything was perfect. read more

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Atmosphere is cool, especially for large parties with celebrations. But it was just 2 of us on a regular date night. Staff was great. We had a particularly animated server who was adorable. Food was fine. Super pricey for the quality. It was fine, not amazing. Nothing against chain steakhouses, big fan of Ruth's Chris. My steak was decent (nicely prepared), appetizer & sides were just ok. Dessert was fine. For me, it really was just value vs quality. read more

The ambiance is nice, and the wait staff is excellent. However, I think they're way overpriced. The sides of course come separate, which is typical for a steak place, but it's like $13 for 10 pieces of asparagus. The waiter said they were "shareable" sides. No way. The piece of Chilean sea bass my mom got was so tiny. My stuffed lobster was waaay overpriced priced at $78. It was 1.5 pounds. Sorry, but there are other places where you get more for your money for excellent food and service. I will say the ny strip my stepdad got was excellent, and so was the calamari. But not sure I'd go back. I'll stick to Portuguese or Spanish restaurants for steak and seafood. read more

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We stopped here when passing and noticed that there were not a lot of cars because we don't like to wait. We went in and the decor is beautiful modern and reminded me of Las Vegas. The waiter Sean was very attentive and the service from the rest of the staff was excellent. We got the lobster mac and cheese and the Delmonico ribeye as well as the mixed Frito misto. Everything was excellent although a bit on the pricey side but reasonable for the atmosphere and quality of the food. I would recommend read more

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