Overall one of the best restaurants in Baltimore. Ambiance and food options are tremendous. Food: you have the option to select from 3-5 choices. These do not need to be from different sections, you could select 5 from the land if you so pleased. The choices were delicious and they did a great job with the presentation. Alcohol: a som is available which provides great advice for good options. Fun, but standard, cocktails. Service: overall great, they did an excellent job catering to everyone at the same time and ensuring dishes were distributed at the same time. read more

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Tomatoes from Chef's Farm, Fresh Buffalo Milk Mozzarella Fried Green Tomatoes, Saffron Vinaigrette - 5/10 Red Snapper Ceviche, Red Onion, Jalapeño, Cilantro, Fresh Lime - 9/10 Low Country She Crab Soup, Maryland Lump Crab, Manzanilla Sherry - 10/10 Rich Lobster Soup with Curry, Intense Lobster Stock Reduction Butter-Poached Maine Lobster, Curry Oil, Arugula Oil - 9/10 Cornmeal-Fried Oysters, Lemon Cayenne Mayonnaise - 7/10 Lobster Ravioli, English Peas, Cognac and Lobster Cream - 7/10 White Truffle Fettuccine, Royal Trumpet Mushroom, 24-Month Aged Reggiano, Butter Sauce - 8/10 Goat Cheese Agnolotti, Walnut Brown Butter, Royal Trumpet Mushrooms, Baby Arugula and Sherry Vinaigrette - 9/10 Crispy Softshell Crab, Julienne Cucumber, Lemon Brown Butter - 7/10 Pan-Roasted Red Snapper, Oyster and Button Mushroom Fricassee Lemon Beurre Blanc - 8/10 read more

Visit: (8/10/26) Total: $574.716 ($478.93 + $95.79 Tip) Food: 1/10 *SEVERELY LACKING FLAVOR Service: 10/10 (*Marcie & staff provided exceptional service!) Review: I must start off my honest review by saying that I usually try once a year for the past couple of years to give the Charleston a chance in hopes that I would be able to be blown away by the food, but each year I am continually disappointed. This year I am finally going to write a review as I took my wife here this evening for her birthday hoping to surprise her with the flavors which I hoped would match the reputation that Chef Wolf is known for, but unfortunately the food was so underwhelming especially for the price I paid that I feel like I should finally leave some feedback. *Quick note: I must admit that I am a little biased and used my wife's and my favorite restaurant The Milton Inn as a benchmark to compare our visit to as it seems like every single time we visit the Milton Inn, every single dish that comes out of Chef Scanga's kitchen never ceases to amaze us. 10/10 - Beverage & Beverage Service: (Champagne, Klepka Sausse Grand Cru "Blanc de Blancs - Mille Or" 2017 - $144.00) I will 100% back the Charleston's 2025 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. Just like The Milton Inn, they have brought an amazing champagne to both of their restaurants and I HIGHLY recommend this bottle to anyone as it is amazing find. 1/10 - FOOD: 8/10: Husk-Roasted Corn "Chowder," Andouille Sausage, Tasso Ham: (corn was deliciously sweet, but it was sad that the andouille sausage was barely noticeable on the palate, and this was just the start of a long and unfortunate decent of "lack of flavor" with every corresponding dish.) 1/10: Local Heirloom Tomato Salad, Fresh Buffalo Milk Mozzarella, Basil Vinaigrette: (While both my wife and I loved hearing about how the tomatoes and basil were sourced directly from Chef Wolf's garden, the basil vinaigrette was so underwhelming and lacked any depth that my wife and I commented to each other that we literally could have made the same dish at home and it would have easily had more flavor.) 8/10: White Truffle Fettuccine, Mushroom Fricassée, 24-Month Aged Reggiano, Butter Sauce: (this is the only dish where being a little more subtle helped the dish in regard to the truffle not overpowering the taste of the homemade pasta.) 1/10: Pan-Roasted Bacon-Wrapped Sea Scallop with Tomatoes from Chef's Farm: (my wife and I both love scallops and we ordered two of these entrees. 1) our scallops were cold and fishy and potentially undercooked that in order to prevent my wife from being embarrassed she put the majority of the scallop on my plate and I just ate the bacon. 2) on a scale of 1-10 in regards to the flavor of the bacon it was a 1. 3) the purée of tomatoes surrounding the scallop was so under seasoned that it clashed w/ the scallop and could have been the only thing that saved the dish if it was seasoned at all.) 1/10: Grilled Veal Tenderloin, Creamy Polenta Vidalia Onion Beignets, Red Wine Reduction: (the veal was so unseasoned and had a non existing sear that it literally tasted and look "boiled". I was hoping that the red wine reduction would at least provide some sort of bang of flavor, but again the trend of this sauce was a continuation of all the sauces that we tried before which was a 1/10 on the flavor scale. The temperature of the entire dish was the temperature of a dish that had been sitting in the window aka semi warm) Conclusion: Again by no means is this review meant to be malicious as I was truly hoping for an amazing dining journey of flavor, but I felt that Chef Wolf should receive some honest feedback about our very disappointing dining experience. This was so disappointing that we would rather pay twice as much to be blown away by the flavors of Woodberry Kitchen or The Milton Inn even though they are all around the same price point. Hopefully this review doesn't go unnoticed as I would be happy to change my review if somehow things got better. read more

Charleston - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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During a business trip to Baltimore, I made a reservation for Charleston, a James Beard Foundation Award winning restaurant along the Harbor. It was a short and lovely walk from my hotel, and I was dining alone and initially I wasn't sure how I felt about having a solo dining experience at an upscale restaurant. My concerns were immediately dispelled as soon as I opened the restaurant door. Two men greeted me and were incredibly gracious and welcoming. They quickly found my reservation and asked me if it was my first time at the restaurant and what brought me to town. Since it was pretty early for dinner (6pm on a Monday) they gave me options for where I wanted to sit, confirming that the lounge seating I reserved was best for me because it placed me near the large bay windows that faced the harbor and the setting sun. My waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. He not only knew the menu, but he had tasted several items and gave me direct feedback on items. I decided on the three-course menu with wine pairing. For starters, I had the fried oysters. The fry was light and crisp, and oysters were flavorful, still holding the freshness of the ocean. The olive bread serving was a nice touch. The second course was white truffle fettuccine with mushrooms. The mushrooms were tender, absorbing the flavor of the seasoning. The fettuccine was fresh, light and richness of the white truffle was a perfect compliment, but not overpowering. The third course was crispy wild halibut with a zucchini beignet. Again, they do a beautiful job with frying fish. The fish with lightly fried enough to get a nice crispy, but with no oily after taste. The zucchini beignet was crisp and fresh. The tartar sauce for the halibut gave the elevated dish a hearty, fun, comfort food finish. The wine pairings were perfection. From the Cremant d'Alsace Brut bubbly, which offered a refreshing and bright flavor to go with the light oysters, and even the Chardonnay, Dehlinger, which offered a citrus accent that was a nice balance with the warm, rich embrace of the fettuccine dish, Charleston sommelier experts make every effort to ensure that pairing enrich the dining experience. For those looking for an elevated dining experience in Baltimore by the Harbor, where you really feel taken cared of, I'll suggest visiting Charleston. Every staff member I engaged with, even as a solo diner, made me feel like I was a treasured guest. read more

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My partner and I returned to Charleston for our annual Christmas dinner. While the food was generally very good, we were a little less impressed with the service this year. The major hiccup we experienced was my gluten free lamb shank pasta being sent to the vegetarian sitting at the table next to us. Watching this unfold and the server's exasperated reaction was very awkward. That being said, the manager (or maitre d?)'s graceful handling of the situation thereafter was great. He told us what happened, played it off well, explained that it would be a bit of a wait for our next course as a result, and ended up comping all our wine. Really classy touch. However, even after the long wait for the pasta, it was ultimately under-salted under-seasoned and not impressive at all. As much as I appreciate the gluten free option, I wish I had just gotten something else especially after all that trouble! The rest of the service throughout the night was also oddly paced. We ordered less courses than last year (only three) but we were there for almost four hours. Tables around us who arrived after us were served their first courses before we even had a chance to order. We were asked to pick out a wine first before choosing our food and since we weren't sure what we were eating, we weren't ready to select a wine. Even just getting the food menu took a bit of waiting around. Our server didn't inquire about any food allergies either so it was tough making decisions when I wasn't sure what was gluten free - and this was an allergy that was noted in our reservation, too. At another point, I asked for a glass of red wine three different times until finally the maitre d grabbed it for me after the pasta debacle happened. As for the rest of my meal, the scallops and lobster soup were both yummy but not anything life changing. However, my boyfriend's lamb chop dish was very very delicious. The one bite I had, paired with the pomegranates, was heaven. By the way, they offer gluten free bread service too. Has the Charleston lost their touch after the recent James Beard press? I'm not sure but I do hope they step things back up again. You come to expect a little more from an institution like this, especially after being totally blown away last year. read more

Charleston - Scallop - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Charleston deserves a Michelin star, it's an elegant Southern/French diamond tucked into the Baltimore inner harbor. The service is impeccable, they truly make you feel like royalty. The dining room is both refined and comfortable, like spending an evening at your most posh aunt and uncle's home. You can even watch the quiet choreography of the kitchen from the main dining room which is the coolest thing. The entire tasting menu is so delicious but I've been to Charleston many times and my favorite dish hands down is the lobster bisque since day one. It's so rich and creamy. I've also heard that their wine program is nationally recognized! I can go on and on about Charleston. Immense gratitude for Chef Cindy Wolf for creating such an exceptional experience in the heart of Baltimore read more

10 out of 10 all the way around. We went for our anniversary dinner and it was fantastic. We had the three courses with pairings. Phenomenal. The Service was so attentive and had so much knowledge of everything on the menu. The food was outstanding I had the duck, the shrimp and grits, the gem salad and the crème brûlée. All were so good. The cheese cart was amazing as well. The staff took so much care to make the place look impeccable. Anytime they had to turn over a table. Someone came and literally ironed the tablecloth after they put it on. I want to go back ASAP. read more

Charleston is a great fine dining experience for special occasions as it is definitely one of the more expensive restaurants I've been to in the city. It is quiet and tastefully decorated with pressed white linens and soft music. A very nice anniversary spot if you feel like splurging! I chose the 3 course tasting menu with the wine paring because I wasn't starving. Had I been really hungry, the 4 course would have been more appropriate. The portions are really small but you do get bread for the table, an amuse-bouche, and desert included in your meal. There is also an optional cheese course at the end if you are still feeling peckish. The food was 4/5. Good flavor for every dish but I was left feeling like each one was missing something. I was hoping for better given the expensive price tag. The wine pairing was a nice addition to the meal and I'm glad I decided on the option. Service was 5/5. Each course was presented and explained beautifully by the wait staff. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. read more

Charleston - Lobster bisque - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Food We came as a party of two, and each of us went for the four-course menu. Overall, the dishes were solid--around a 7-8/10 for me. Everything was good, though nothing was wildly outlandish. Grilled Octopus I personally loved the octopus; it was tender and flavorful. They cooked it so well that it was easy to bite into--none of that usual chewiness you often get with octopus. It also carried more flavor than expected, since octopus doesn't absorb seasoning easily. They really nailed the preparation. Duck Breast with Foie Gras The foie gras was velvety and tender. It came with cooked apple underneath, which I enjoyed--the sweetness worked for me, though I can see how it might be a bit too sweet for some people's taste. Lobster Soup It's worth the hype--fragrant and rich. Other Dishes Desserts were all good. We also had the risotto, fettuccine, scallop, and fried chicken. The risotto's flavoring leaned a little too salty for me. The fettuccine was fine, but nothing particularly special. Including tax and tip, the meal came out to around $180 per person. We didn't order wine but did try two mocktails. The hospitality was wonderful, and the ambience was elegant and delightful. Overall, a solid establishment and a must-visit in Baltimore. read more

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The most delicious tapas-style place I've visited throughout my entire restaurant experience. Very classy, upscale feel to it- and you are treated like royalty! The course choices are delectable; having a taste of so many different gourmet dishes is heaven, and I always leave satisfied. Highly recommend for a date night or special occasion! read more

As perhaps Baltimore's premier fine dining restaurants, I had been saving Charleston for a special occasion since moving to Baltimore. I finally had the opportunity to check it out last week with three friends. Charleston is a tasting menu restaurant - you cannot order a la carte in the dinning room. But for a tasting menu restaurant, it's incredibly flexible! What do I mean by that? I've done a lot of tasting menus where you show up, they tell you get eight courses, and those are the dishes that you get. Charleston doesn't work quite like that. You choose how many courses you want (as few as three, as many as six - this does not include dessert, which is included, or the cheese cart, which is not included). As of now, the three course tasting is $99, and the six course is $189. The wine pairing ranges from $60-100+ depending on how many courses you order. That's not all that's flexible about Charleston. We all decided to do three courses (I had heard this was enough food to fill you up). The menu is split into five sections: Cold; Hot; Pasta & Risotto; Fish & Shellfish; and Birds, Game & Meat. Typically at a restaurant with a coursed menu, you would choose one starter, one entree, one dessert, etc. Not at Charleston. Order three courses? That can be any three courses. You can order three courses from the Birds, Game & Meat if you want. For my three, I selected: their special ceviche of the night (I remember it was rockfish); a scallop from the hot portion of the menu (I also don't remember details about this and it's not on the online menu currently, but I do remember it was simple and had cherry tomatoes); and the pan-roasted halibut (also a little different than the halibut on their online menu currently). I really enjoyed the ceviche; it was my favorite course hands down. The scallop and halibut were well-cooked, but just lacked a little ... excitement? Maybe it's just because I love acid so much, but these two dishes - while very well-prepared - were a little underwhelming, perhaps even a bit flat, for me. Then they asked if we wanted the cheese cart to come by. I ALWAYS want the cheese cart to come by. They wheeled it around and have several minutes of talking about cheese, we were eating some. Yum, yum, and yum. (My friends thought they didn't want cheese; they were wrong.) Dessert is included, so we all chose a dessert course after our three courses. I really enjoyed mine - strawberry mousse with a layer of vanilla cake and a fresh mint and lime sauce. Delicious and very pretty. I had done the wine pairing and did enjoy the pairings very much. The staff were wonderful about coming by and really describing the wines that were being paired with our upcoming courses. I also added on a dessert wine with my dessert course. The beverage program really deserves that James Beard award it just got. I really enjoyed the wines throughout dinner. The restaurant is understated, which I really appreciated. So many restaurants now are more style than substance. They have an Instagram wall and drinks with bubbles of smoke...only the quality of everything isn't so great. That's not the case with Charleston at all. If anything, you wouldn't know there's a great restaurant inside looking at the building from the outside. And the inside is classic and traditional, comfortable and elegant. I definitely recommend dressing up a bit, as it is quite an elegant dining room (the dress will range from guest to guest, but you never want to be the most casually dressed person, right?). The service was perhaps the best thing about Charleston. Every staff member that helped with our service (and there are a lot) were amazing at their jobs. They described dishes beautifully (it's a lot of describing for a table of 4 with three dishes each plus four desserts plus a cheese course plus wine pairings for three people). They offered suggestions, answered questions, and were very friendly. Charleston is good at what it does. It's probably Baltimore's finest dining establishment, so it's great for a special occasion, dinner with someone you want to impress, or if you just want some fancy, well thought out but still Chesapeake Bay-focused food! read more

WORTH IT. I was worried about the value proposition... ~$300+ for food and cocktails for 2 people.... but i was so genuinely happy to have worried for nothing. The food was exceptional. Many of the dishes were rich with beautiful layers of flavor; fish and duck cooked to perfection... lobster soup insanely good. The ambiance was perfect - had everything dialed in and not too much noise. The service was incredible with numerous staff checking on us every 3-5 minutes, not in an intrusive way, just letting us know they were there. Beverage program is A+ and the desserts were a great surprise - go with the Raspberry Gateau! read more

Charleston - Menu. - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Absolutely ah-mazing dining experience! Celebrated my birthday as a gift from a very dear couple... what a memorable experience! The ambience was absolutely perfect. It established the ideal pace to enjoy each course without rushing though. The service was impeccable. Each course was explained in detail with the appropriate wine pairing. Yes, I recommend the wine pairing. This was a gastronomical experience which exceeded my expectations... I only have one regret. I regret that I didn't get a picture with Chef Cindy Wolf when she visited our table. Maybe next time! Please do yourself a favor, make a reservation, relax and enjoy the experience. read more

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*visiting from houston* Whew, what an experience!! I will highly recommend this place to folks local or not. It is worth it!! Upon entering the establishment, the ambiance is romance and nicely dimmed. All the staff here were great, including our waiter, Dylan. Dylan was helpful and gave an excellent rundown of the menu. Food? 4 courses were more than enough for us. Portion sizes seem small but it was very filling. We did (2) 4 courses with wine pairings. 1st course: I thoroughly enjoyed the rich lobster soup; I was hesitant because of the curry oil but it was a great all together. 2nd course: lobster ravioli was decent. Nothing spectacular but enjoyable. 3rd course: lobster vol-au-vent! This was my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE and the wine pairing with it was FREAKING YUMMY. The vol-au-vent, to me, is like a lobster pot pie as the puff is the same puff I use for chicken pot pie. My 3rd course was THE ABSOLUTE BEST. I should have stopped there Lolol but the 4th course: duck with the gumbo. And wow. The duck was cooked perfectly and the gumbo with it paired nicely!! DEEP KISSES TO THE CHEF AND THE OWNERS OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT. The dessert I got was the chocolate espresso with a cappuccino! A sweet way to top off the evening! HIGHLY recommend this place, expensive but WORTH IT. read more

Charleston - Chocolate espresso with cappuccino - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I made a reservation for the Charleston with the manager, Jorge, to celebrate my birthday and on a later date, my graduation. Our server, Jocelyn V., was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu. Jorge was also very accommodating to my party as well. This is fine-dining restaurant has complimentary valet parking which is very convenient in the Harbor East area. When you enter, there is the bar area - which does not require reservations or has a dress code. The dining area, has very comfortable seating. All portion sizes at the Charleston are relatively small and they have a pre-fixe menu where you choose how many courses you would like to try: 3 courses $99 w/wine $159 4 courses $129 w/wine $205 5 courses $163 w/wine $258 6 courses $189 w/wine $303 For cocktails, I usually get the Ipanema Fizz ($18), which has sparking wine, passion fruit, and honey. It is crisp and not overly sweet. Now their menu items constantly change and are seasonal, but if available for food, I recommend trying the following dishes: Foie Gras - This is the perfect balance of rich and creaminess from the fatty liver cut with the sweet tartness of the strawberry/rhubarb compote, all atop a cornmeal cake for a nice crunchy texture. Rich Lobster Soup with Curry - The buttery lobster and the creaminess of the lobster stock reduction pair perfectly with the savory curry oil. Grilled Marinated Octopus - The octopus was so tender atop of light salad consisting of French coco beans, cherry tomatoes, arugula, and the acidity of the whole grain mustard vinaigrette to compliment the entire dish. My only drawback was the Pan-roasted Red Snapper with pecan rice. The pecan rice was a unique component which I thought worked very well. My disappoint was that my fish was overcooked and dry. It was very stringy and hard to cut. My mother, who was sitting next to me, got the same dish and her fish fillet was cooked perfectly and was buttery. It does bother me that there is an inconsistency in the dishes. I sent my dish back and opted to not replace it. Other than that, I know that no restaurant is ever perfect in a execution all the time so I am able to overlook that. The Charleston is definitely a wonderful restaurant for upscale dining and incredibly delicious food. read more

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We are "regulars" for sure, but as usual, just flawless. From the warm greeting, to the outstanding serving staff, and the incredible food and warm ambiance, always 5 stars! Chef Wolf is currently sourcing fresh corn from her farm. This super fresh sweet corn combined with the Charleston kitchen magic resulted in a roasted corn, Tasso ham and andouille sausage soup that was truly one of the best things I have ever tasted. My wife had not initially chosen the soup but when she tasted mine she added another course to her meal just to be able to get this soup for herself! Everything was terrific and the heirloom tomato gazpacho, the crab cake and the beef tartare were other highlights as well. Peter and his serving staff, as usual, provided an outstanding service experience. Life is short! Treat yourself to a memorable experience at Charleston. read more

The highlight of my day, a wonderful meal at a beautifully comforting restaurant. They were able to accommodate our change of day for a reservation. Although there was a bit of a mix up and did not have bottles still water left, the service made up for it and I did not feel slighted at all. Overall, all of the food was actually very good. One of the notable parts was the spinach soup they gave us at the beginning of the meal. It was a great start and a smart way to incorporate vegetable starters when the tasting menu offers high customization. You are able to choose pretty much whatever you want for a fixed price. Price-wise, it makes more sense to load up on the bottom part of the menu. However, the menu is still organized in a way where you can easily choose a more traditional experience. Along with the menu are some specials that change, but we did not partake. The standouts were the oysters, lobster bisque, and surprisingly the agnolotti due to the delicate corn taste. Along with the food, I found the plate ware to be very beautiful and marine-like. The tablecloths are nicely pressed and the lighting is very comforting. Definitely a place I'd recommend to someone coming to Baltimore! read more

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I'm not even sure where to start with this amazing experience. Just know you should go with an empty stomach. You choose between 3-6 courses and then each course can be anything on the menu. I went with a four course with wine pairing, which was waaayyy too much food but I just couldn't give up trying that many things. I would describe what I had, but literally anything you get here will be high quality ingredients and made beautifully. The restaurant itself has a beautiful interior and comfy seats. It is very formally set up and they will replace your napkin when you use the restroom! All the small touches that go into the service just make it even more of an experience. It is 100% worth the price tag and I would highly recommend. I cannot wait to go back! read more

Charleston - Dessert is complimentary so save room! - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Charleston was honestly such an amazing experience. We did the six course tasting menu, and every single dish looked beautiful and tasted even better. You can tell they put so much thought into everything. My favorites were the scallops, soft shell crab, duck, and beef, and somehow even the vegetables were incredible, which I was not expecting to say. The service was great too. Everyone was super nice, explained the dishes really well, and made the night feel special without being stiff or awkward. The biggest surprise was how big the portions were. For a tasting menu, we thought it would be tiny bites, but we were so full by the end of the sixth course that we couldn't even handle the cheese board, which we were actually excited about. Overall, it was an unforgettable meal and totally worth it. Just make sure you show up really hungry. read more

an exquisite fine-dining experience with impeccable service and a phenomenal wine selection. the french-and-southern-inspired tasting menu is beautifully executed, and the sophisticated atmosphere makes it perfect for a memorable special occasion! read more

Enjoyed another great meal at Charleston The turbot and tenderloin were great. The oysters were surprisingly really good- had a very light fry. I wasn't a super big fan of the risotto but I don't usually like risotto- it was more runny and had more liquid than other risottos than I've had. Husband and I wanted to try the white truffle since it was in season but we were both a bit underwhelmed. read more

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Charleston delivered one of the most beautifully balanced meals I've ever experienced in Baltimore. Every course felt thoughtful and paced like a perfectly curated story. The flavors were elegant without being fussy, and the menu flowed in a way that kept us excited from the amuse bouche to the final bite of dessert. We were celebrating our anniversary and the entire staff seemed to be in on the celebration. Everyone who came to the table wished us well, and they surprised us with both a complimentary amuse bouche and a complimentary dessert. The hospitality felt completely genuine. Valet is complimentary which already makes arrival smooth. They didn't even give me a coat ticket. Somehow they just knew who we were when we stepped back to the door at the end of the night, and our car was pulled right up in front like magic. A flawless experience from beginning to end. read more

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Still.... one of my all time favorite places to be spoiled; a culinary delight. We came to celebrate my partner's birthday. The entire staff wished her a Happy Birthday. Everybody here is so attentive, down to the details. We love their octopus so of course we had to have it. Another favorite is the rich lobster soup with curry. It's divine and I love the way they pour it at the table. It's rich with a slight kick. We also had shrimp & grits, cornmeal fried oysters, white truffle fettuccini, pan roasted by scallops, and the buffalo milk mozzarella salad. I really didn't plan to eat so much following the Thanksgiving holiday, but....... the food is so divine! Desert is included so we had praline ice cream and the cheesecake. Just being greedy I suppose, but that too was delicious. We'll keep coming back for more! read more

Took a while to post this review, but my husband and I had a wonderful anniversary dinner at Charleston. Everything from the food and wine to the service and ambiance was fantastic. The standout dish was the foie gras, at the time it was being served with a corn cake and blackberry reduction. It was one of my all time favorite tastes! The portions look small (this is a tasting menu) but after sampling 4 plates I was full. I'm a lady with a healthy appetite and don't think I could have done the full 6 courses. Definitely recommend for special occasions. read more

My sister took me to Charleston for my birthday and what a wonderful dinner it was! Located in Harbor East, Charleston is swanky and cozy and feels like the fancy restaurant that it is. We learned there was a cheese cart so did the 3 courses (I believe dessert is included and doesn't count as a course which was a delightful surprise!). Every staff member we interacted with were wonderful and so kind! We were given a cauliflower soup which was delicious and you get sourdough (standard, good with butter), biscuits (kind of dense and cold), and cornbread (warm and flavorful!). Our first course was the octopus (flavorful and went well with the greens) and the oyster fritters (well cooked but sauce was mostly mayonnaise). Second course was truffle fettuccine (DELICIOUS and so creamy) and the lobster ravioli (my least favorite bites as they were cold and the pasta was hard, a little too al dente). Third course was fried halibut (piping hot with a yummy sauce but so small!) and the guinea fowl raviolini (I was nervous after the ravioli but this one was well cooked and the pumpkin filling was sweet and creamy and yummy). Dessert was the best crème brûlée we've ever had and an almond cake with ice cream. I got the Ipanema Fizz, one of their signature drinks, and it just tasted like a mimosa. We love cheese so wanted to explore the cheese cart but there were 4 blue cheese options and only a few other medium hard cheeses. We did the manchego and another cheese and both were tasty and served with crisp toasted baguette slices. Overall an excellent meal and I can't wait to go back to try more dishes! read more

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Had an absolutely amazing time at the Charleston celebrating a friends birthday. It's truly one of the best restaurant experiences in the city and well worth the splurge. The waiters and hosts were very attentive. Each course was explained in detail and the host was great at making suggestions based on our individual tastes. My favorites were veal, foie gras, and bison but several people at our table enjoyed the truffle pasta as well. The meats were cooked to perfection and the foie gras quite literally melted in your mouth. Their menu is very extensive so there is something for everyone. read more

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This place is so fancy it's scary. I genuinely walked in and was intimidated by the ambiance. It didn't help that we were one of the first tables of the night, so I felt like I couldn't speak above a whisper. However, once the meal started, I mostly forgot about that discomfort. I got the lobster soup, crispy soft shell crab, and grilled veal tenderloin. The dishes got progressively better, and there was bread service throughout, which got progressively worse (I tried amazing cornbread, then really good olive bread, then a standard baguette-like bread). For dessert, which was included with our meal, I had an espresso and Vermont maple mousse, which was delicious. The pastry chef also sent our table four mini black raspberry macarons, which were phenomenal. For drinks, I skipped the wine pairing and just had a cocktail - the Gold Rush - which tasted like a tangy old fashioned. It tasted good, but there was too much ice, which watered it down a bit. I also had a glass of tawny port with my dessert, which paired excellently with the mousse. We were celebrating my grandma's birthday, and the staff didn't do anything huge - just a complementary glass of champagne and a candle in her dessert - but honestly that was perfect; anything more would have felt tacky. I'm convinced they placed us by the kitchen as a birthday treat; we had such a great view of the kitchen, and while I loved being able to see the chefs at work, I did feel a little guilty being nosy. Shoutouts to everyone in the front of house - and a special shoutout to Mina, Brian, and Nadira (sorry if I spelled any of those incorrectly!) for their exceptional hospitality. read more

Wonderful! Service impeccable, Food glorious, atmosphere pleasant. Very quiet and intimate, servers on que when to come around. Dinner is served according to how many courses you choose, with wine pairing or not. Located in downtown Baltimore. Old school white table cloth well trained staff. Loved it!!! read more

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Whatever you do, DO NOT get the ribeye that's an upcharge of $50. Huge disappointment. It's 1/2 inch thick steak , definitely not Prime, Choice at best. I ordered medium rare and it came back medium Well, it goes with the territory with a thinly cut steak. For 80 bucks (30 for course and 50 upcharge) go to ANY other steakhouse. This just aint worth it Foodwise Everything ELSE was great, the other food was remarkable and the drink was above average. Ambiance was adorable and i love the facet that the tables have room to breathe. Waiter was pleasant and patient. read more

The best upscale dinner my wife and I have had in a long time. Service was impeccable, not overdone. Great table, wonderful bar. Entrees delicious and generous. Expensive but well worth it. read more

Arguably Baltimore's crown jewel. Chef Cindy Wolf's tasting menus are a master class in Southern-influenced fine dining. The shrimp and grits alone are worth the trip -- creamy, rich, and perfectly balanced. Service is polished but warm, and the wine pairings are impeccable. Yes, it's a splurge, but for a special occasion, Charleston is hard to beat. read more

A spectacular restaurant in the Inner Harbor that should be your choice for any special occasion or even just enjoying some delicious and creative cuisine. Diners choose the number of courses they would like and may select from any of the roughly couple dozen menu options to build their meal. We opted for a three-course dinner, adding a caviar course (1oz of Royal Ossetra caviar for an unbelievably low $100 price tag) and some cheeses preceding dessert. Their James Beard award-winning alcohol program is particularly noteworthy with pages upon pages of excellent cellar selections at a shockingly reasonable markup. Service was polished and fabulous. read more

I came here for the first time for my birthday dinner not too long ago and really enjoyed it. I was told by some friends that Charleston (the Charleston?) is one of the few truly fine dining places in Baltimore and while I think there are other fine dining restaurants around, the Charleston felt possibly the classiest. From the moment we entered we were greeted by staff. Our waiter was amazing, he explained how the menu works, answered questions, and made amazing suggestions. Everything we ate was delicious and the wine was good too (also I didn't feel like the sommelier was trying to up sell us which was really nice!) I can't remember the exact names of our dishes but basically, between two of us we got steak tartare, ceviche, the scallop dish, truffle pasta (so so good!), branzino, lamb chop, and the venison dish. We got a bottle of wine too that I really enjoyed, and for dessert we got chocolate creme brulee (I didn't love this unfortunately but it wasn't bad, just not my taste) and panna cotta. I think the meal was worth the money it cost and I'd go back, so I definitely recommend going if you can! read more

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I loved everything about this restaurant. The complimentary valet; the ambiance and decor of the restaurant; the staff EVERYONE was amazing. The food was impressive and pairings perfect. The experience was amazing from the moment we walked in the door - this is truly 5 Star dining. An awesome occasion I will never forget. read more

First things first: I want to thank the PHENOMENAL STAFF that took care of us on our anniversary. Brian and Sandy especially made our evening stupendous. Their clear love and care for what they do and attention to detail made this 6 course dinner and experience, not just a meal. Next- when you enter the Charleston. Expect to be wowed. You are entering a place of such love and care of finely crafted food. Every day the menu changes, you will choose 3-6 plates and choose if you want a wine pairing. The interior is stunning, the plates are gorgeous. The table is cared for throughout your meal. You'll receive complimentary bread and dessert. All of which is amazing. This restaurant, this place, this food, is truly something to behold and experience. You don't have to leave the city to have fine dining. It's right here in our laps. Don't overlook the Charleston. read more

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Hands down the most expensive restaurant in Baltimore, the pinnacle restaurant of the Foreman Wolfe group. I've been here once before for a work dinner (and the most memorable item was the haricot verts in 2019 and a good bottle of wine) and came most recently with a girlfriend to celebrate a random Tuesday. I love a bougie fine dining experience, and the Charleston is not too pretentious it's not approachable, but it's definitely an OLD SCHOOL kind of place. Ultimately it's a fun experience, career waiters, white table cloth and cheese carts, but it's not my favorite restaurant nor favorite experience I've ever had. We started off the course with the complimentary amuse bouche of an asparagus soup (delightful) and decided on a four course with wine paring for $195pp, my friend ended up getting another course for a total of five for $248 to get all the specials. My favorite bite of the night was definitely the Grilled Bison Tenderloin - with a grilled poblano and jalapeno. The white asparagus with an incremental $25 fell flat for me, and the foi gras, which I will never say no to, in the presentation with two other fried things on the plate was too much fat. I'm a huge fan of their cornbread (which they used to serve at Cindy Lou's) -- the hard thing with restaurant groups is they do recycle some of their items across restaurants. The mango and coconut panna cotta - I've had at Chingale before and was disappointed. Overall a fun food and wine pairing experience that truly elevates the experience - I got to try the most herbacious Sauvingon Blanc that I will be purchasing at their wine store: Bin 604! But in terms of food and service, I have had better in Baltimore. read more

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This was an excellent time for my anniversary dinner. Definitely something that is good for a celebratory meal, as it really is about the food and the overall dining experience. We were greeted and sat by the kitchen, which has a direct view into the operations of creating these fine meal options. I've never seen a kitchen so orderly and put together, Gordon Ramsay would be proud. While going through our 5 courses, some options were better than others, but I didn't have anything that I didn't like. I did have to send the squab back, as I didn't realize it was red meat, similar to the duck. I also suggest not wasting a course on a salad if want to get the most out of your selections. 4 -5 courses seems to be a good amount considering there is complimentary bread to start and a complimentary dessert after. If you do wine pairings, you might need even less options. I could have certainly done all 6 courses, but I think I'm a special case. The complimentary valet is a very nice inclusion, and the only thing missing was a door attendant to get the door for me on the way in and out. After paying the hefty bill, and feeling quite stuffed, I didn't want to push the door open myself--- perhaps this is something they can think about adding. read more

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My best friend treated me to dinner for my birthday this week and we had an amazing experience. The service was top notch, starting with the valet, which made parking simple. The menu had a lot of variety. I had the lobster soup, fettuccini with truffle sauce and the bison filet. All great dishes. The waitress was very knowledgeable and even let my friend swap out a dish that she didn't like without any drama. They don't play music, which was a little different, but it wasn't that big of a deal. I'd definitely come back here for a special occasion. read more

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Located in the Inner Harbor, the Charleston proves to be an elegant, dining experience. First, and really important, valet is free! So, please do tip! Before dining, we sat at the bar for a bit and indulged in a cocktail and wine. The bar area is dimly lit, but very nice. After we finished our drinks, we were seated in the main dining room. While the decor of the restaurant is simple and a bit a sophisticated, I felt there was too much crown-molding. I know that is a random critique, but I couldn't get past this detail as I was thinking about my experience. Anyway, on to the food... I tried the lobster bisque, the lobster ravioli, and octopus. The lobster bisque was delightful; the broth/bisque was poured tableside. It is worth noting that the same bisque used for the soup is the same used for the lobster ravioli -- speaking of which, I have had better. The portion is on the smaller side. Also, I don't care for the filling to be grinded; I prefer to have chunks of meat or whatever the filling is inside the ravioli. Lastly, the octopus was such a star. I thoroughly enjoyed it. All-in-all, I would visit Charleston again. I'd probably opt to dine at the bar. read more

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Beautiful restaurant with friendly staff and fantastic food. Very special experience, perfect for a celebratory occasion. Would absolutely return!! read more

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