I visited the Charleston for the first time to celebrate my birthday. What an absolute treat! From start to finish the food and service were amazing. The cold sugar snap pea soup we started with was velvety and divine. I could have eaten that every day. The restaurant was elegant and the atmosphere was warm and cozy. I enjoyed every bite I had but my favorite was probably the goat cheese agnolotti. read more

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A wonderful dining experience!! A close friend who has dined here a few times before suggested Charleston for a girls dinner, and I'm glad she did. I initially thought I would only get 3 courses but I changed my mind and went with 4 courses. When I looked at the menu the day before I assumed that dessert counted toward the total number of courses and it DOES NOT. So my four courses were the Rich Lobster Soup with Curry, Zucchini Beignets, Pan-Roasted Sea Scallops and the Pan-Roasted Wild Rockfish. And for dessert I had the Sticky Toffee Pudding. I wouldn't get the Zucchini Beignets again because they are nothing more than Zucchini fries to me. My favorite was the Rich Lobster Soup with Curry...I could've had an entire bowl of that. I'll definitely be back. read more

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What an impeccable dining experience! I got three courses with wine pairings, and each course was delicious and unique. The white truffle fettuccini was a stand out and my husband is still talking about the shecrab soup. The service is perfect! I can't recommend this dining experience enough- and don't skip the cheese course! read more

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The epitome of fine dining in Baltimore. I've been here a dozen times - subtle decrease in attention to detail - needed to wave down waiter a few times - they need to be more aware Regardless- the dining rooms are beautiful and the meal exceptional Came here for a Friendsgiving dinner- for parties of 8 or more they recommend a set menu of all the favorites- makes ordering much easier for a group- menus were personalized and my favorite souvenir Must eats: Foie gras- like natures butter, savory and smoky- avoid if you have a heart condition-lol Cornmeal fried oysters- I could eat this everyday for the rest of my life- creamy and tangy Truffle fettuccine- fresh pasta with the most amazing truffle flavor- again, avoid if your hear arteries are about to clog Then again, if Charleston was your last meal on earth, you have lived a good life read more

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Treated my friends to a dinner when we could dress up and be fancy! This was the perfect place. Making a reservation for Charleston was easy and they call the day before the reservation to make sure that everything is still a go. They also asked me if there were any special occasions coming up, which there were but I totally neglected to mention! My friends got there before me and when I arrived, they were seated near the bar with drinks in tow and looked so pleased! They were recommending drinks to me and my date LOL. They had also already met the chef and owner and she exchanged greetings once more when we were seated at the table. They took our coats at the door and we were seated at our table. I already knew how many courses I wanted to pay for, so we were given the option to choose our courses beforehand or be surprised. We were all happy to be surprised and boy was that a good idea. My date was mostly pleased, besides one dish. So if you are not that adventurous, I recommend choosing your courses beforehand. Everything was really delicious. The lobster bisque was slightly chewing, but not off-putting at all. Really tasty. It's been a couple weeks since we went, so I can't remember everything we ate, but I know that we had a pasta dish that was to die for. I have never been big on pasta, but that was the best pasta I ever had. EVER. The desserts were also delicious. We all shared a a bit of ours with each other and you simply couldn't make a wrong decision. The guy who watched over our set of tables was really delightful and kept up with our playful banter and series of questions. Perhaps the dress code is business casual-cocktail-formal? We all dressed a little different but they were all appropriate. No one made me feel overdressed and I got to wear a dress that I hadn't been able to give some love recently! Paying was also really easy. I had made a note about wanting to pay away from the table and they helped me be very discreet about it. Can't thank them enough for that. Would definitely go back! read more

Food was absolutely amazing, the ambiance was perfect and the service was outstanding! Reasonably priced. An absolute must try. read more

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The restaurant is located right along the water. We went with a four course per person and shared. Honestly, I would have been fine with three course for myself. The dessert does not count towards the course number but comes with your meal. The service was spectacular - very attentive though out our experience. The décor was nice. We started off with Apple toast- Complements from the chef. The apples were seasonal and the toast was very crispy which was great texture. Next began the courses, in order of likes: Scallop BLT- Large perfectly cooked scallops. The bacon was a welcomed addition with the saltiness and crispiness. Rockfish- Flaky and juicy. Served on the side are buttered mushrooms which were to die for. Lobster soup- The lobster was cooked to perfection. The coconut lobster bisque was delicious and creamy. Octopus- Very tender but the capers and olives were too strong of a flavor. Lamb- Cooked perfectly and seasoned well. Bison- Cooked perfectly and seasoned well. The sauce was good but felt a lack of cohesion. Duck- Duck served two ways over rice and gumbo. The duck was a bit chewy. Shrimp and grits- Large shrimp but it was sadly over cooked. Next, was dessert which I had the mousse - Cappuccino flavor! Last, we finished with macaroons and bonbons- complements from the chef. read more

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From start to finish, this meal was incredible. The service was top notch and the restaurant was quiet and beautiful. There are so many good dishes on this menu but our favorites were the lobster soup, the squab, the duck broth, the duck main dish and the white truffle fettuccine. We would definitely come back and try more dishes if we were in the area! read more

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We had a memorable anniversary dinner at Charleston tonight. The setting, the service, the food were magnificent! We started with two soups - delicious lobster bisque and corn bisque. Then arugula salad with frisbee and also succulent lobster ravioli. The rockfish with artichoke hearts and also the rabbit leg with chanterelles were excellent. I had an extra dish - the venison with poblano and jalapeño. Our desserts were wonderful, peach and almond cake, and a strawberry mousse with almond cupcake. What an enjoyable, happy evening! read more

I absolutely do recommend this spot. My literal only issue is that it was silent,no music. Which means that when my friends were saying loving words to me on my birthday I heard it all. the food was fantastic. Small portions but I had 4 courses and it was perfect. I was full but not stuffed. I'm a lover of creme brulee. It has cardamom on it which my palate loved;it gave a common dessert some complexity. read more

Charleston - I don't remember what this was. But it was nice. - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Amazing food, wine and service. Definitely my go to for my next Baltimore staycation. It was wonderful.

I REALLY enjoyed the appetizers but both the pastas and steak was just ok. To be a fine dining establishment, I expect to be wowed by each course. Complimentary valet is a nice plus. I'd recommend the zucchini beignets (which weren't actually beignets but tasted great and fried perfectly), the lobster curry soup, and the fried oysters. Dessert is complimentary which is cool! I took off 2 stars because I was underwhelmed by our pasta dishes and I LOVE PASTA. The steak wasn't cooked to the temperature I initially requested. I'm sure they would've corrected it but I didn't bother sending it back. I just don't expect to have to send a steak back for being cooked to the improper temperature at a fine dining restaurant. I also noticed for one of the courses they mixed up the dishes, placing my husband's order in front of me, and mine in front of him. Which was resolved with a simple swap, but again to be fine dining all the little details matter. And last, between one of the courses we waited quite a bit before the next course came out. The menu is priced as bundles and not separated by courses. So you get 3 things for $90, 4 for $120, and so on. Price doesn't matter if you get 4 soups and salads or 4 meat dishes. Up to you to mix and match how you please! Service was overall good. If you're into fine dining, this is a spot you might want to check out. After going once and not being blown away, I don't think I'd make plans to go back. If I was invited here, I'd probably select different pastas and "entrees." Overall, I'm glad I got to experience The Charleston. read more

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The Charleston is a great special occasion spot. One of the finer dining restaurants I've been to and I think most notably, the service was perfect. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly and made the experience really special. I did the 4 course tasting with the wine pairing and genuinely felt like the price matched the meal/experience. The food was great! I enjoyed everything but the lobster bisque and the scallop in particular were fantastic. Very flavorful and well prepared. The space itself is also nice, comfortable and somewhat low key, which I appreciated! It didn't feel stuffy at all. I would love to return here another time for another nice night out! read more

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New to the Baltimore area and wanted to celebrate. Charleston did not disappoint. The lobster soup was amazing as well as the duck and octopus. Looking forward to our next meal there to try different dishes (although the lobster soup will be a must each time). read more

What an amazing first time experience! Upon arrival, the host was extremely friendly and they did take our coats for us. The atmosphere is what you would expect for fine dining. Plenty of space between tables so it's not loud and stuffy. Our server took us through the menu and made recommendations based on his preference and what are pallets were seeking that night and he did not disappoint! We ended up doing the wine pairing and for $149, that's a great deal. The Rich Lobster Curry was something that everyone had told us to get. It was rich but not too rich. It was perfect and something I could eat every day and never get tired of it. The lamb was cooked to perfection. It literally melted in your mouth and fell off the bone. The bison was perfectly seared and cooked just the way that I like it. Dress - slacks and a button up shirt should work perfectly here for the guys. Overall - what a culinary experience and one that I would love to go back for. read more

Charleston - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Cozy environment, fantastic food, and professional service. Definitely the right place to enjoy a great time with someone you love. read more

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Definitely old-school bougie (white table cloths, sommelier with a 50+ page wine list, cheese cart, and 4-6 course tasting menus), but don't get me wrong, I won't turn my nose up at a fancy fine-dining experience. Especially since you often get to taste flavors and try fare that you wouldn't normally be able to find at just any establishment. And for the most part, Charleston didn't disappoint. The scallop course was cooked to perfection, the breaded oysters were amazing - fried on the outside and creamy on the inside - it is RARE to get oysters that perfectly fried. My favorite dish was probably the duck. I am a fan of duck in all its forms... greasy over rice, fried and slathered in a bbq sauce... but this was on the scale of a dish I had in DC, where the duck was so tender it was like eating a seared, well-rested steak. Honest, perfection. I was a little disappointed in the white truffle fettuccini and their desserts. They had no wow factor like the rest of the meal and the pasta dish didn't even have real truffles. At over $200 per person for 5 courses, I would have expected a few shavings on the miniscule portion. But, 6 out of 8 of our party loved that dish, so maybe I am being too picky :) The restaurant itself is intimate and upscale, but still approachable. Most guests were dressed up, so it is definitely FANCY, but there is no specific dress code, or at least not one that is enforced from what I could tell. Our party of 8 was seated back in what I am going to call the wine room, where we were surrounded by dimly lit shelves of wine - it was old world and romantic and we had a delightful time. Their wine list is overwhelming - I am not kidding when I said it was over 50 pages! I asked for a Brunello and the Sommelier told me to turn to page 57... 57!!!! So, if you don't know what you are looking for or what might pair well with your upcoming courses, I would suggest asking for a recommendation. I also think our party-size was a little overwhelming for the staff. I am not sure they are used to serving that many people at once. There were times that the food didn't come out all at once, which is awkward for the pacing when you are eating a coursed meal, and one dessert came out a full 5 minutes after the rest of the table's. I know this is nit-picky, but it's an expensive meal at one of the premier restaurants in Baltimore, I would have just thought it would have been a little better coordinated. But, like I said, we had a big group. A smaller group may not have the same experience. Despite that though, the waiters and staff were friendly and helpful, explaining the dishes and the wine-pairings that came with them. All-in-all, I would recommend. It was a fun experience, very enjoyable meal, made all the better with a group of friends! read more

Service was truly fantastic. Food was excellent. Ambience was great- it's Charleston!!!excellent arrangement explaining small plates.

Stuffy place that probably hasn't changed in 30 years. The food is similarly uninspired. For all the great things we heard about this restaurant, I was sorely let down. The ambience was tired and old. Everyone in the restaurant looked tired and old. The service was surprisingly slow and inconsistent. Between my wife and I we had 8 dishes. Maybe two of them were actually ok. The vast majority were very salty, and even ignoring that, the flavors were very tired and old. Simple things like a steak. Cooked completely medium on half the steak and unevenly medium rare on the other side. Carrots not cooked long enough and giving me the end piece where the plant connected. Shrimp that tasted extremely sea watery. I don't think the chef tasted a single damn dish before serving them. Good wine list. read more

This isn't a restaurant, it's an experience. We were treated like royalty by the staff. They gently and knowledgeably explain every single dish with such reverence and care. The food was beautifully crafted and delicate. (small portion- so get 4+ courses or add a cheese course). While all of the food was good, the CHEESE rocked our world -- the most unique and flavorful selection we've seen. The ambiance is very formal so pull out your nicest outfit for this one. Baltimore is lucky to have Charleston and I hope they get a Michelin soon! read more

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A go to place for celebrations. Some dishes are special. Love the shrimp and grits. Veal is excellent. Complementary valet parking comes in handy. read more

Charleston - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Thanksgiving Day dinner was enjoyable. Seated 25 minutes after our reservation. Unfortunately our credit card was misplaced by the staff. Evidently never found as we did not hear back from them. read more

So underwhelming. Charleston is upscale, pricey; a place for date night or when someone else is paying. The restaurant is lovely with low, lighting, interesting art. The staff is extremely polite, as it should be. The chef/owner is a nine time James Beard award finalist. I always enjoy a good tasting menu. At Charleston you can choose the number of courses. My son and I were so looking forward to the food but most of the dishes just fell flat. In a nutshell, for the most part the food just lacked flavor! The dishes had fancy descriptions but were all under seasoned. Out of the parade of dishes offered, there was not one where we said,"Wow! That was delicious!" Even the crab cake was just okay. We have had much better in Baltimore. Maybe we were expecting too much, but for the price, I'm sure there are better options for an upscale dinner in the Baltimore area. read more

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We booked a reservation Friday evening at Charleston as a holiday present, and it was a nice treat to end the year. We didn't see the free valet sign from Lancaster St while driving, but there is also metered street parking and garages nearby. Our coats were taken by the hostess and we were seated promptly. Looking around I saw people dressed from jeans to suits and everything in between, so don't feel pressured to dress to the nines if you don't want to. We were seated in the smaller dining room off of the bar/lounge area and it was awkwardly quiet for about an hour until the room filled up with seated parties. The menu is somewhat of a tapas & entree hybrid, where you pick smaller plates from one list and price is based on the number of plates ordered. It makes for easy sharing and trying a larger variety of dishes. Between the complimentary bread, 3 plates, dessert, and the surcharge cheese course we elected prior to dessert, both of us left full. Our 2 favorite dishes were the duck, and the pappardelle with guinea fowl special. As nice as the main courses were, dessert for me was rather boring. My dark chocolate cake was light and airy, rather than rich and decedent like I had hoped. Fortunately they complimented our desserts with mini macarons and chocolate truffles our servers said was from the pastry chef that I really enjoyed. The overall experience was very nice and I would return for a special occasion. read more

We had the 4 course menu and it was fantastic. This is a true special occasion restaurant and worthy of its reputation. While spendy, you won't regret it. It will be memorable. The food, service, and ambiance are superlative. read more

I didnt even take pictures while I was here. That is how nice of a time I had. Another experience Cindy Wolfe has knocked out of the box. The service is top notch, I definitely have to come back to hang out at the bar and lounge I have heard so many good things. But the dinner was phenomenal. Me and the Boo came for an anniversary? a Bday? I cant remember but we were celebrating and this was the perfect choice to live it up. every course was so well curated and perfect. I dont always love when restaurants are confident in not having salt and pepper on the table but the Charleston was and for good reason. Now im not paying $10 per cheese selection for their cheese plates but everything else I have no problem shelling out for. Just have nothing but good things to say about this establishment. Im trying to retire Vibe in my lexicon but the Charleston was such a vibe! read more

Impecable service, always tasty food. Rabbit special dish was amazing. Classic lobster curry soup was delicious. As always, Chef wolfe delivers. Ambiance was on point as well. read more

Charleston - The venison tenderloin with polenta. Delicious. - New American Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Overall we had an amazing experience. They give us a candle with dessert to celebrate my friend's birthday, the service was great, the complimentary valet parking was much appreciated. The lobster curry was also amazing, they poured the soup table side. Highly recommend getting the 3 courses! We both were stuffed at the end. read more

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I was initially excited to go here when passing through Baltimore. Things started great, the servers and staff were very accommodating and welcoming and helped orient me to their menu (I'm vegetarian). But things started to turn at the first course. One of my courses was the zucchini beignet which sounded quite interesting. When it arrived I was a bit dumbfounded because what they served were half a dozen fried zucchini sticks with a dipping sauce... am I mistaken about what a beignet is? It's a fried pastry, is it not? Even if it could be interpreted more broadly it's quite misleading if there's a well-established understanding of what something is. I tried a few but was so displeased that I sent it back. Aside from the above experience, the rest of the dishes served were good, but that was it. They were just good. Not amazing, not phenomenal, not memorable. Just pretty good. For those who might contest that maybe my vegetarian diet prevented me from having the real specialties this restaurant has to offer, my friend had the lobster bisque, steak tartare, and the veal sweet bread and he left feeling the same underwhelm I had experienced. The problem I feel this restaurant had was no concept and no passion driving the menu. It was difficult seeing the cohesion between the courses or what the head chef was aspiring to give to their customers. I've had much better meals at upscale casual restaurants as well as fine-dining spots, but this meal was way too overpriced for what it was. Small portions, uninspired, overpriced. I would've felt like the caliber of food would better match a restaurant that charged roughly half and a far less stuffy ambiance. read more

Charleston, what has happened to you? We have been loyal guests since 2000, and we alway celebrate special occasions here. Tonight there was a notable step down in food quality, service, and overall feeling. The food was fine, but not exceptional, as we are used to. At least one entree was underseasoned. The desserts are just ok--the cheesecake being most disliked by several members of our party. the waiter took our order and then did not come back until cheese course, hence we were not able to get wine. The tables were not cleaned as we went (they used to be), and we were all just underwhelmed. A facelift on the walls does not make up for subpar service and food. The experience made our special occasion feel average. I'm not sure it's worth coming to an expensive restaurant only to leave feeling sad. Do better..... read more

Disappointed and underwhelmed. My husband and I are not from Baltimore and chose the Charleston for my birthday dinner. We are experienced diners and have had the good fortune to enjoy excellent meals across the US and abroad. Simply, the food was uninspired. The amuse-bouche was a tepid sip of one note soup and an unfortunate introduction. It did, however, set the tone for the entire meal. The portion sizes were very small, however the concept of diminishing returns would require an exciting first bite at all. The 3 courses out of 8 that were tasty were unremarkable. Only one course was served hot, the rest tepid. We longed for complexity. Given the choice, I would prefer to eat my own cooking. The service was inadequate, my husband and I had to pass a knife back and forth as we were not given appropriate table settings. There were several service misses. I ordered a cocktail that I sent back, which is a rarity for me. The red snapper with pecan rice was overcooked, dry, tough and half inedible. I am more than willing to compensate well the skill and expertise of a master chef, however I did not taste any of the love I would hope to, what I felt was sad and depressed. One bite into desert I just couldn't. I took it upon myself to search for a location still open in order to purchase a take out dessert to salvage my birthday celebration. We found one and it was the best part of the evening. From my perspective-hard pass. It felt bad paying the bill as we did not feel the quality of the experience was a fair exchange. I felt mislead by the praise this restaurant receives. Go elsewhere. read more

Amazing dinner. Service was top notch from the moment we sat down. Every course was fantastic. We were seated near the kitchen and it was clear this is a well oiled machine. Worth every penny! read more

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Very good experience. Good and service were excellent. Pricey but you get what you pay for

The food was delicious; they especially do interesting things with corn. Service was excellent, although they did give me one thing I didn't order; they discovered the error without my prompting and corrected it by giving me the wrong dish free of charge and making the correct one. It's rather embarrassing how attentive they are; does it really require this many people to wait on one couple? It's obviously not an economical choice; only go if you're a foodie who is happy to pay as much for meal as many decent families pay for a month's worth of groceries. Still, even with that caveat, it seems extreme to do this more than a few times in a lifetime. I did it once, and it didn't quite cost $400 for dinner for two, a shared dessert,a glass of wine each, and a cocktail for one of us. (I even probably undertipped slightly by some standards just to slide it in under that threshold.) Will I go again? Maybe not; definitely not often. But... it was good. Portions can be small and still quite satisfying when done so well. read more

In my opinion, this is the best restaurant in the entire Baltimore area. The food was more than excellent and the service was exceptional. They even ask if I want to take a menu home, and of course I say yes and they always roll the menu up like a scroll and tie a cute blue bow tie on top. Their menu system is quite unique, they don't have a regular appetizers, soups, salads entrees sections. Instead, Charleston a menu where you can order as many courses that you want and each course on the menu is around the same size and portion of food. You are then allowed to pick whatever you want on the menu as one of your courses. And a dessert is included no matter how many courses you order. So even a 3 course is technically a 4 course meal because your 3 courses plus dessert. I have only one minuscule complaint about Charleston and that in my opinion the atmosphere is a bit too stuffy. This is the restaurant for an elegant dining experience probably to celebrate some occasion quietly not a place for a party. On their menu they also have a little note to refrain from using your phone all night which I completely understand. They will still let you take photos of the food and interior if you so choose. Charleston changes their menu quite often based on what is the best and most seasonal ingredients that they have in stock. Most of the time the menu changes are a different sauce and sides to a same main protein or focal ingredient to smaller dishes but their most notable dishes like their lobster curry bisque or fried oysters stays the same year round. But when seasons change they'll generally change a few items around. When it comes to the food, there was not a singular bad course. Before the courses even start they generally serve you some kind of Amuse Bouche like a chilled tomato soup or some small but powerfully flavorful dish that is seasonal. When I last dined at Charleston I ordered the four course meal consisting of the: - Beef Tenderloin Steak Tartare - White Truffle Fettucine - Grilled Bison Tenderloin - Pan-Roasted Hudson Valley Margret of Duck with the Valrhona Dark Chocolate Mousse for my four courses. Dessert doesn't just end with what you ordered though, they also bring three small dessert bites per guest: a Macaron, a chocolate truffle and a fruit jelly for even more of that French elegance. Now each course was done very well. The temperature on the Bison and Duck were both perfect coming out the exact temp I ordered (rare and medium-rare respectively). The balance of southern flavors with diligent French techniques forces a strong combination of flavor and texture elevating dishes to some amazing statuses. I also tasted a couple of dishes that people I was dining with ordered as well like the rich lobster soup curry, definitely worth ordering as one of your courses, I would replace the white truffle pasta with this dish, it is truly amazing. Overall, this is the night to enjoy a celebration quietly and elegantly to the maximum in the Baltimore area. The food here is some of the best in the state and possibly more and the price is generally right for the quality and atmosphere that you're supposed to get for that price. read more

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My partner took me out for my birthday to the Charleston, which was the first time either of us have visited this restaurant. We were greeted by the nice valet team who took our vehicle and provided us with the pick up ticket. We then entered and were showed to a window seat for two which was a great location! The decor is what I would call traditional elegance. Not too modern not too old. The server approach and went over the cocktails for us. We decided to indulge in some cocktails, I chose their manhattan and it was delicious. A mix of whiskey and port wine I believe. It had a dark fruit note with the hint of whiskey heat but well blended. I started with the sweet corn bisque which was very good. Velvety texture with a hint of sweetness and mild spice. Not too sweet like many corn bisques can tend to be. Then I moved to the fried green tomatoes with fresh buffalo mozzarella, fantastic! The fried green tomatoes were crisp on the outside with a tart mostly soft tomato inside. The buffalo mozzarella was nice and soft with a subtle richness. Then I moved to the veal sweetbread empanada...the veal was tender and full of flavor and not over seasoned. The empanada was crisp and full flavored while the cauliflower was subdued adding balance to that dish. Then the bison filet, was cooked perfectly and tender over a nice slightly spicy pepper reduction sauce. A+ quality cut of bison and seasoned just enough to add flavor to a low fat cut of meat. The sweet touch was a dark chocolate cake with berries and an Irish coffee. The cake was rich in the dark chocolate flavor and had an ever so slight note of salt maybe.... The reduction under the cake provided a caramel bourbon note balancing out the richness of the cake. Oh and the Irish coffee wasn't half bad either :) All in all, a very special quality meal with great server service throughout. We were never unattended and always felt like the meal had a good tempo. Obviously the Charleston is a nice place and more expensive than most restaurants in this area but a great choice for a special occasion. We are looking forward to returning soon! Thanks Charleston team and to my amazing girlfriend! read more

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The ambiance, food, and service were all incredible. Overall, my partner and I had an amazing dining experience here in the dining room. This is definitely a restaurant for special occasions. This restaurant was unique in that we could tailor our own course number separately. Dessert is included and counts its own separate course. I chose to do a 3 course menu (+1 for dessert), and my partner chose to do a 4 course menu (+1 for dessert). We were both so full by the end of it. We were started off with complimentary french onion soup which was homey and comforting, exactly what I didn't know I needed. There was also bread and butter before the first course which we just had to ask for seconds for to go with the first course of soup. I had the butternut squash soup, pan-seared salmon, beef tenderloin, and dark chocolate mousse. My favorite dish were the pan-seared salmon and the dark chocolate mousse. Both dishes were so incredibly balanced and tasty. The mousse also came with panna cotta at the bottom which was surprising and added depth to the flavor. The beef tenderloin was cooked a perfect medium rare, though it wasn't as fragrant or aromatic as I would expected. My partner had the lobster soup, grilled octopus, white truffle fettuccine, pan-roasted duck, and creme brûlée. The grilled octopus was incredible and the white truffle fettuccine was so flavorful. I wish I was able to try more of the pan-roasted duck too which was super tender, but I was already so full at that point. All in all, I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to have an incredible fine dining experience for a special occasion or just for fun! I would love to come back again in the future. read more

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BEST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IVE EVER HAD. The best dinner ive ever had in my entire life. Every bite was absolutely scrumptious. I got the 5 course with drink pairings. Every course was delectable. Michelin star worthy, absolutely! Superb service. Absolutely stunning interior design and ambiance. If there's one place you want to try in Baltimore, it's the Charleston. It will blow your mind! read more

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A native Marylander who moved west about 25 years ago, just before Cindy Wolf opened Charleston, I love southern cooking, especially seafood. I also lived in France for several years, and appreciate a good French restaurant as well. Charleston blends these two genres effortlessly, wonderfully. It more than impresses. Honestly, it blew me away. This exquisite conceptual blend is in everything, from the technique used in classic southern dishes (e.g. fried oysters, or lobster bisque) to the dining room design and table settings, to the wine list to the cheese cart (this is a must!) and selection of portos. I felt as though I was eating in a French expat's old southern home. This restaurant is to Maryland and the south what Alice Waters' Chez Panisse is to northern California (alas, another old neighborhood restaurant of mine). The experience also evoked a certain nostalgia for fine dining from the turn of the century. Some specifics: guests choose courses in a prix fixe format; 3-, 4-, and 5-course options are available along with an option to pair wines (3 oz pours). Dessert is included and does not count as one of the courses. The cheese cart (again, IMHO a must) is $10 per slice. We chose the 4-course option and honestly I could probably have been fine with 3. But I'm glad I got 4 because I was visiting and it gave me the opportunity to taste some additional dishes. I met an old friend from high school whom I hadn't seen in a long time. I cannot imagine a better venue for a catch up like that. We chatted at a leisurely pace for nearly four hours. The service was superb. I cannot wait for my next trip to Baltimore. Charleston will definitely be on my itinerary. read more

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I've been eying this restaurant for a few years and I finally went with a couple friends who were willing to splurge. The inside is very nice and has an open kitchen concept. We all got cocktails to start which were great. I really enjoyed my Harbor East Martini! Complimentary bread was provided as well as a shot glass of cauliflower soup with a beet crostini that were both delicious. All three of us decided on the 4 course meal ($119 each). I got the lobster soup, white truffle fettuccini, pan roasted wild halibut and their crab cake special. It was all so amazing! My favorite was the lobster soup which was creamy and had a good amount of lump lobster pieces in it. Dessert is also included with any of the courses chosen. I got the blueberry-lime & grapefruit sorbet - light and refreshing after so much food! Complimentary macarons were also given to us with our desserts which was really good. With everything we had, I was quite full about 3/4 of the way through. Next time I would just get the 3 course meal which would be just as satisfying. Although this place is pricey, it was well worth it. Service is super top notch here with very friendly staff, food/presentation look and taste great, and cocktails were amazing. I highly recommend for a special occasion (or for any reason just to splurge on yourself!) and cannot wait to come back again! read more

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