First visit of the season to Charlie's Place and definitely not my last! We decided to sit at the bar, and it turned out to be the best choice. The bartender was friendly, funny, and made us feel right at home. The support waitress was just as welcoming--chatty, attentive, and genuinely kind. Even the regulars added to the experience, making the atmosphere fun, relaxed, and entertaining. The food was outstanding! The snow crab roll was an easy 10/10--fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The truffle fries were perfectly crispy and addictive. And the wine slushy? 1000/1000! It was the perfect summer drink. The prices were very reasonable for the quality of the food and service, which made the experience even better. Great food, great people, and a great atmosphere. I already can't wait to come back to try the wings and prime rib... and of course MANY more snow crab rolls! Highly recommend! read more

Charlie's Place Restaurant & Lounge - Hot snow crab roll! - American Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

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I stopped by Charlie's Place in Niantic, CT & inside was such a cute little spot! It had a nice, cozy feel to it & I liked the atmosphere. I ordered the pot roast, which came w/ mashed potatoes & asparagus. The pot roast itself was good & had a nice, tender texture, but I wasn't a huge fan of how much gravy they put on top. They were VERY heavy-handed w/ it, & unfortunately, it was overpowering. It took away from the actual taste of the pot roast. I think if they would've gone a little lighter on the gravy, it would've been SO much better because I really wanted to taste the pot roast itself. The mashed potatoes were creamy & really good, & I also enjoyed the asparagus. I liked the way everything tasted, especially the sides. I just wish there wasn't so much gravy because I think the pot roast would've been much better with less of it. I also sampled the Mac & cheese & it could have had more cheese in it. As for the service, our waitress could've been a little more attentive. I actually had to flag her down just to get some water, which was a little disappointing. She was nice, but I would've appreciated her checking on us a little more throughout the meal. read more

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BE AWARE "OWNER" TAKES DOWN NEGATIVE FEEDBACK OR COMMENTS ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE AND BLOCKS PEOPLE..... THESE ARE REAL CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AT CHARLIES... ALSO, MANY OF THE FOOD PICTURES ON HIS F/B PAGE ARE "STAGED"... NOT WHAT YOU REALLY GET IN THE RESTAURANT!! Go somewhere else... Food looks nothing like the posts on their Facebook page when you order it and see it in person! Wings suck... no meat at all.. supposedly.... award winning... to Funny!! During my visit with my wife for dinner, there were multiple complaints from other tables.. The prime rib is a rip off for $40... way smaller then the picture on facebook.. We have tried to give this place a chance, multiple times... The food they have coming in is poor quality and cheap! Do yourself a favor and drive about a mile further down the road and go to BlackSheep... Constantines by the Bay... etc. Way better food/drinks for the same price!! Also... the owner is so cheap there is never a actual manager present.... read more

Service was indifferent: They took our orders, delivered the food and then we didn't see anyone until they came by to clear the plates and give us the bill. The food was OK. The fish tacos were lousy. For fish and chips, the fish was OK and at least the fries were hot. read more

A cozy family restaurant in the heart of Niantic. The prices were decent and the specials had some good deals going on. My wife got the coconut chicken and I got a half a rack of ribs. We both really enjoyed our meals, the place was cute and the waitress was very helpful. Great unassuming dining. We really enjoyed it. read more

Yes, we had lunch at Charlie's Place. The lunch itself was good. Although the fish sandwich was tasteless, the pastrami reuben, with cole slaw instead of sauerkraut, was indeed tasty. The fries were hot and crispy. The service was excellent, but not sure about the ambience. We were there on a rainy day and it felt somewhat cold. Our coffee was hot when served but cooled off in due time. Would we go back? Yes. The menu is extensive with lots of choices. read more

Just when I thought this place couldn't get any worse.... So decided to give this local place ANOTHER shot.... Tried Charlie's for a third time LOL... And it was still terrible.... The wings aren't award winning anymore like they used to be at his old establishment Hot Rod's, they are TINY, no meat on them at all! The salad was bagged mix, and nothing to write home about, the fries are shoestring, very small portion, and tasteless, cheap tasting, the cocktails extremely over priced, Our server tonight was mediocre at best, zero personality, but what really stuck with us was the elderly couple next to us, they were welcomed and asked if they wanted their usual meals, the lady said no, she wanted the prime rib, heard her specify she wanted a nice big piece * It's $40.00 By the way, it arrived and looked like the smallest sorry piece of meat I've ever seen! I heard her say to her husband how disappointed she was, and heard her complain to the waitress how she asked for a nice big juicy piece and the waitresses response was " I know but that was what was next to be served" That's DEFINITELY NOT how you treat customers never mind your REGULAR clientele which you are very lucky to have REGULARS!! There were 3 tables full, rest of place EMPTY! You definitely need to get out of the restaurant business, seems you no longer have your chef aka business partner who knew how to cook, Hot Rod's was great, quality was great, you greeted folks at door and CARED... Clearly not the case with Charlie's! read more

I saw where someone posted they had the best lobster roll here and so I had to try it. It was amazing. It was the best one I've ever had. So much lobster in it. read more

Great food, love to sit at the lounge area with friends. Great food, service and a totally local vibe.

Best lobster roll I have ever had! And our server, Addy, was friendly and very efficient! We'll be back! Kim read more

Charlie's Place Restaurant & Lounge - I added sweet potato fries for $1.50 - American Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

How is it we've never been here!?! Food was delish! Husband had sea scallops and I had the chopped pasta salad! Service was excellent, environment was casual and overall atmosphere was chill. We will definitely be back - and soon I hope! read more

Food was great, my kids really enjoyed their meal. It was clean and service was great.

We went for dinner at Charlie's Place in Niantic. This is an American casual restaurant. Our server was Nick, he was super kind, friendly and responded to everything with "of course Miss". Nick seated us in a very cozy spot in the restaurant, where I felt like we were a bit too close to the other guests seated in the same area. These people kept having private conversations on speaker phone, and I could hear a bit too much of EVERYTHING! Please use common sense in a public setting and refrain from making private phone calls on SPEAKER PHONE! I got a clam chowder soup and a hard cider. I also got the Sugar Beet Salad. The others in my party got garlic bread and calamari with fries to share. The clam chowder was excellent, it was the best I've had in a while. It was thick, creamy and very tasty. My sugar beet salad was also very tasty. It had fresh feta cheese in it, fresh beets and it was perfectly filling for me. The garlic bread was gone in an instant. It was soft and warm. Overall we had a very pleasant experience at Charlie's Place! read more

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The pot roast was very salty. Very disappointed with the food. Used to be great, but this time was not up to the usual, sad to say. The waitress was nice, but the helpers were not Sa. My husband was just finishing his meal, and the helper took the plate away. Rod, I know you can do better!! read more

I don't do reviews very often these days but I will for this spot. This is one of the best seafood joints I have been to in the U.S.A. They aren't on the water. Who cares? I just ate incredible clam chowder, fried whole belly clams and a hot buttered lobster roll that blew me away! The prices are also very reasonable. I come to Niantic to go fishing. Now I will come to go fishing and come to Charlie's! read more

Food was great, wait staff attentive and friendly. I had prime rib, rare as I like. Whole belly clams were very fresh and fried to perfection. I will definitely be back. read more

Reliably good food, fast service whether dining in or out. My kids go nuts for their burgers.

From the moment we walked into Charlie's place we knew we were going to have a good experience ...... the place looked nice , staff were all friendly, and the food was awesome! We will be going back soon, and if you're in the area go to Charlie's you won't be disappointed! read more

Stopped in tonight for dinner around 6:30. The place was packed, but we were seated right away. Ordered the chicken florentine special and he got the stuffed cabbage. The chicken was served next to seasoned mashed potatoes and everything was so flavorful. The chicken had a nice crispy sear. Inside were spinach roasted red peppers and a creamy cheese. Every bite was a delight! The 3 huge stuffed cabbage was delicious. Plenty for lunch the next day. Ordered 2 sangrias - the second one I asked for more red wine as the first seemed a little light. It was adorned with cherries, blueberries and an orange slice and it was so refreshing. The restaurant has a new owner and the menu looked updated - more upscale. Our 3 waitstaff were courteous and attentive. The full bar looks like a great happy hour place! Definitely a go-to restaurant for us!! read more

Charlie's Place Restaurant & Lounge - Chicken Florentine - American Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

This restraint is very good for the money Big menu so everyone can find something they like Parking is easy too read more

Great food and always friendly service, with some of the best wings in the area. The bar is a great setup with plenty of tvs to watch your sporting event. Solid drink menu as well. read more

Consistently good food. Very family oriented & great kids meals. So many fabulous seafood entrees - shrimp scampi is delicious. Cooked perfectly. Fried fisherman's platter - terrific, not greasy. Have had the baked scallops and broiled seafood platter - also good portions, cooked to perfection. Staff are friendly, helpful and very nice. Place is clean and just a great place. read more

Love this restaurant. Very clean, great portions of food and delicious. Fast and friendly service. read more

Had a great experience here tonight. Walked in and was greeted by the new owner Rod - he is super nice and friendly. Awesome he is super excited to have the restaurant and be in niantic. Love the vibe and welcoming atmosphere. Sat down at a booth off the bar and the place was packed. Was glad there was no wait as this is the place to be. The noise levels was a bit loud, but expected as it was a bar type area. The booth was cozy and service was quick. Everyone was super kind and accommodating. I got sangria, while others got margaritas and white wine. We had buffalo wings that were amazing, and I had the California turkey wrap. I respect the new owner wanting to keep the menu the same or similar to the previous owners, but I am really hoping he will add some flare to it. He has a lot of amazing recipes that would be awesome to add to some menu items. My turkey wrap was good, but sort of missing something; some pizzazz. It had turkey, Swiss, tomato, lettuce (also comes with bacon but I asked them to hold). Would be awesome to leverage a sauce or other flavoring to add some flare. Overall the restaurant was great, and I'm excited to go back. Super family friendly and would recommend to anyone. read more

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Great little find...the waitress super nice! The clam chowder delicious. The coleslaw was out of this wold delicious. Burgers cooked to perfection. Highly recommend this restaurant. Atmosphere is homey and cozy!!! read more

From the greeting to the grub a perfect 10! Nothing was overlooked, overcooked, omitted or ordinarily. The service was superb, the surroundings seemed to nudge you to the shore. We'll definitely return as we have yet to try more! read more

I'm going to agree with other commenters and say stick to the basics here. The staff were all great and there was plenty of help in this restaurant. Good people. Salads were all good I had the "love" salad which is an antipasto salad, and it was piled high with cheese and meats. Apps were good too. But I ordered the steamed stuffed lobster, and was very disappointed. Lobster was steamed a while ago and was not hot. It shrunk down and stuck to the shell. The stuffing was Ritz crackers. Not seafood stuffing. The menu says it comes with steamed veggies. It was peas and carrots from a freezer bag, and the baked potato was barely warm enough to melt the butter. Not what I expected at this price point. The others in my party were happy with their meals. Standard bar fare. And I'm sure the other reviewers are right saying stick to the basics. I would definitely go back here for a salad or a sandwich. Not fine dining. read more

I tried Charlie's foe the first time last week. They offer online ordering, but do a surcharge for credit cards, which is illegal in the state of Connecticut. They can only discount their prices if you pay with cash, they cannot do a surcharge for using a card. I ordered the southwest chicken wrap with fries for 13 dollars plus the illegal surcharge. The wrap was good, fries just okay , and the food was ready on time. Hopefully the state cracks down on these owners that are stealing from customers. I won't hold my breath though. read more

A great casual local place. Went for an early lunch on a steamy summer day. Our server was friendly and welcoming, even though our party included a toddler! She brought a kids placemat and crayons, and brought her special drink (chocolate milk) quickly. The adults opted for spiked ice coffee that hit the spot in this weather. Lunch was one of the specials of the day, crispy chicken wraps, one with thai sweet chili, the other with honey BBQ. Every bit as tasty as Rod's wings were at Hot Rod's. The child's meal of hot dog and fries was plentiful, and the toddler was treated just as well as the adults throughout the process... This waitress made sure we got a takeout container and our check quickly when it was time for naps, so we will definitely be back to try more of the offerings. The menu had so many tempting choices for dinner. The happy hour specials all looked inviting, especially the apps! read more

This is a clean restaurant with upscale diner vibes. The service is excellent. The food is good . My Mothers Ruben was was a solid four starts but my bacon cheese burger; medium well was burnt on the bottom in places, not enough to send it back to the kitchen but just not great. read more

I found this place when I went to a ball game my grandson played in. Found a very quaint town having a fair. This restaurant is a bit out of town but On the main road. Very local and friendly place. The food was fresh and hot and the portions were good. Best onion rings I can remember. Great place for a family or quick meal. read more

Service great staff awesome Food... onion soup good Turkey dinner awful, stuffing tasteless pretty much wet bread mush, gravy awful turkey processed. Turkey BLT good Burger good Chicken parm good Jerk Wings dry and tasted old read more

Great food Great waitresses Always pleasant Have never had a bad meal highly recommend this place

Quaint, local Greek-inspired restaurant. Glad we stumbled upon this place on our way to the Book Barn. Food is very tasty. One star off only bc they don't have any soups for sides. Definitely recommend for sure read more

Charlie's Place Restaurant & Lounge - Ahi tuna salad seared to perfection. - American Near Me - Niantic, Connecticut

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We were across the street at the book barn Decided to try this place and we were not disappointed great meal well made and a warm friendly atmosphere we will be back read more

Good food, lots of choices and great staff including the owners who are always there chatting up guests.

Now with new owners and an increased menu, great things have happened to Charlie's. We'll miss Charlie and Penny but the staff remains the same and look forward to staying. read more

Everything is great at Charlie's Place, food, service and atmosphere. Very reasonable pricing for the area as well.

The staff & owners are very nice & responsive but I was not at all impressed with this restaurant. The past favorable reviews are not very accurate IMHO. It's definitely a locals haunt & a neighborhood watering hole. The small bar had a very animated local crowd sipping on very strong drinks. There were 2 tables pm at 7 pm in the restaurant. If you go, I highly suggest you stick to core menu classics like burgers, sandwiches & salads. I DON'T recommend venturing beyond that. I had the pot roast & it was completely lackluster in appearance & flavor. The portion size was moderate. The warmed soft dinner roll was disappointing. The bottom was hard. I couldn't actually cut it. The accompanying baby asparagus were undercooked & weren't even tossed in garlic & evoo or lemon butter. Nothing at all. Just steamed. The staff were friendly & accommodating but I will not be returning anytime soon. There are a ton of other places that have much better food & ambiance in the area. read more

This place is really good. We passed by saw the outside dining and stopped in. Fried Oysters very good. Burgers excellent. Raspberry Cheesecake I believe I taste the Chambord in it? Service was excellent the waitress has tried just about every entree!! We will return. read more