Charkol

Last night, we experienced the fire and flavor of Charkol in Freehold, NJ — a must-visit modern steakhouse where wood-fired magic meets culinary craftsmanship. We kicked things off with their house-made ricotta, creamy and rich with the perfect drizzle of EVOO and sea salt. The charred octopus was tender with a smoky finish, plated beautifully over roasted potatoes and herbs. Then came the famous hot honey pepperoni pizza — a sweet, spicy, crispy masterpiece that lives up to the hype. If you’re a pizza lover, this one’s non-negotiable. The porterhouse for one was cooked to perfection — juicy, buttery, and packed with bold, chargrilled flavor. We also had the pan-seared scallops, delicate and briny with a golden sear that melted in your mouth. To finish, a bevy of desserts that were almost too pretty to eat — almost. What makes the experience even more unforgettable is the stunning interior — glowing lights, warm wood accents, and modern design touches that create a chic, upscale vibe without feeling pretentious. It’s the kind of spot where you can sip cocktails under ambient lighting and lose track of time in the best way. Charkol is Freehold’s hidden gem and it’s BYOB — perfect for date nights, celebrations, or when you’re craving elevated comfort food with an upscale vibe. This place is a must visit if you’re a foodie or just a lover of great aesthetics!!

This was our first time dining at Charkol after seeing information about it on TikTok and Instagram. Our server, Christine, was great. She informed us that they were a BYOB and we could go next door to the craft brewery for some adult beverages. Upon returning, Christine gave us the rundown of the menu as well as recommendations. My wife had a seafood pasta dish, and I went for the halibut. Everything was delicious!!!!! As we plan our return, I would also like to thank Dani and Dave for their hospitality…

I hate not having anything nice to say about a dining experience. But I don't. Too loud, too expensive, too sneaky. Poor food. Oh what do I mean by sneaky. They have this tiny print at the bottom of the menu, I would say font size 4 that says posted prices are cash only. And in say size two font is 3% additional for credit. So our $298 bill went to over 300 and then added NJ tax! Husband had to wait for a refill on his drinks so long he was chewing his ice. My brother waited so long for a refill he added his lemonade ice to his water for some flavor. I saw what was happening with them and slowed my drinking down and asked for a refill when they finally came around to get their requests. I understand that the server was training, I understand that they had tables both upstairs and down, maybe that's the problem tables spaced too far apart. Don't really care. If that was the issue then management should get their asses on the floor . And yes there should always be some kind of management if those doors are open. I shouldn't be comparing an upscale restaurant to a Longhorn steakhouse, and yet I am. I asked for medium rare, the only reason I can't call it medium is because it was a cool pink center. Not because it was cooked correctly just because it came to the table cool. I know the server said Be careful the dish is hot. My morning coffee MUG was hotter than that dish. I can go on, you get the idea. Go here if you want to test a bitchy inlaw but don't take someone you think might care about one day

I had an amazing experience at this restaurant! The service was top-notch—our server was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was delicious, well-prepared, and came out in a timely manner. What really stood out was the manager—super personable, welcoming, and genuinely interested in making sure every guest had a great experience. Plus, it’s BYOB, which is always a great perk. I highly recommend this spot to anyone looking for great food, excellent service, and a relaxed atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back!

I took my boyfriend here to celebrate his birthday and it was such a great experience. The food was amazing as well as the service. The music and atmosphere was perfect. Our bill just for the two of us, came out to $400 but it was well worth it. We will definitely be back.

It was mine and my girlfriend first times at Charkol and we had a wonderful experience. The food and atmosphere was great and Christine was an amazing server. 10/10 would recommend to anyone in the area.

Best steaks I've ever had. End of story. Emily was our waitress and she knew the menu and have us great service. The ambience is very unique, lots of lights and a very high ceiling. Overall a cool place. Did I mention that the steaks are out of this world?

Everything about our experience at Charkol was top notch. Our server - Marisa - was one of the best we've had in any restaurant. She was attentive but not overbearing and made excellent recommendations. The crispy gnocchi appetizer could have been a meal and the short rib gnocchi, skirt steak, and garlic mashed potatoes were absolutely incredible. Portions were so big that we took leftovers of everything. We split the peanut butter ice cream pie, which was delicious. Would absolutely recommend Charkol and we plan to be repeat customers.

This was a last-minute choice in picking a restaurant and we could not have been happier with our experience.. OMG from the incredible service and patient staff to the quality of food and the beautiful decor Char-Kol is top notch.

this place is absolutely amazing for big groups we came on a friday night and the vibes were just AMAZING! all 10 of us said the service was fast, they were also attentive to the very minimal mistakes made, and super nice/all around great personalities the food was cooked to perfection. we all got various dishes and it was impressive the way they got all of our food out in a decent amount of time will 100% be coming back. it's also a BYOB so you can vege out on soo much food!

Char-Kol has been quite popular on social media since its opening so I was looking forward to dining here on a date night with my husband. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the food and turned off by the overall ambiance. The greatest feature of Char-Kol is the gorgeous interior, which has potential for hosting a fine dining experience, but the restaurant had fallen way short of my expectations. 5:30 reservations on a Sunday - I was surprised to see so many tables with children dining in. Some were in baseball uniforms, there was also a toddler wandering the dining area... just weird vibes for an "upscale" steakhouse. I definitely appreciate family-friendly dining options, but it didn't make for an ideal environment for date night. I almost felt silly for dressing up, especially after seeing the very dressed down host and even more dressed down... manager? There was a man wearing a hoodie, jeans and sneakers, who was hanging out in the kitchen, bringing food out to tables, and clearing plates. I was genuinely in shock to see an employee wear such a casual outfit in the restaurant, especially someone who I believed to be in management? I also caught a server drinking wine with one of their tables. This made me audibly let out a "WTF." Our server was nice, but my husband and I had to see if either of us fully understood what he said after each time he talked to us. As soon as we sat down, he let us know that it was super busy over the weekend so they were out of the tomahawk steak for 2 and about to run out of the tomahawk steak for 1 so we need to let him know if we wanted that so special arrangements could be made? Something like that. I went with the dry aged cowboy ribeye, which tasted as unappetizing as it looked. No flavor whatsoever, and their famous "char" just tasted burnt. It was served with a tasteless black pepper bourbon sauce and roasted garlic. For $79 I was expecting some flavor. I would even go as far as saying it was one of the worst steaks I've had in my life. Prior to the steak I had their roasted middle neck clams as an appetizer, which was accompanied by a hair right on top of one. I removed the hair and went about my business (you can judge me if you'd like) so I can't say how they would've handled the situation. But hair or no hair, I wouldn't recommend the clams. I thought it would be served with the lemon shallot butter on the side, but only came with lemon slices. Definitely was not impressed. The best thing we ordered was the side of Brussels sprouts (these were actually delicious). I was between a 2- and 3- star rating for Char-Kol, but honestly couldn't find a reason to bump it up other than that I WANTED to love this place. I definitely get the vibe of "anything goes" here. Between the sloppily dressed staff and wine-drinking servers, I could see why patrons don't take this place seriously either. On our way out, a family of 5 was being sat, all of whom were wearing sweatpants. Yes, sweatpants. Hard pass on returning.

We were at Artemis Brewery next door and decided to order from Charkol since they partner with them for small bites delivered to the brewery. My husband got the burger, I got the margherita pizza, and we shared the jalapeño poppers. After tax and tip, our total came to $62, which felt a bit pricey for what we got. I'm keeping in mind that there was a baby shower happening at Charkol when we ordered, which may have affected the quality and service. Our food took about 35 minutes to arrive, but luckily, we were keeping busy with a game of Uno. My husband really enjoyed his burger, especially the bacon jam, but his fries were unevenly seasoned--some were way too salty, while others had no seasoning at all. It seemed like they just sprinkled salt on top instead of tossing them properly. As for my margherita pizza, they forgot the basil, even though it's listed on the menu. The sauce was concentrated in the center instead of being spread evenly, which made the cheese slide off every time I picked up a slice. That said, the crust had a nice char and was thin but still chewy. The server also mentioned he would come back with plates for us but he never returned. Thankfully, the brewery had extra paper plates. Overall, I was underwhelmed, but given the circumstances, I'm willing to give them another shot. My husband and I plan to return for a proper dine-in experience to see if it's better than takeout.

It hurts me to write this review because I love Char-Kol. This is our go-to special occasion spot. Usually everything is superb and beautifully executed. Not so last night. Let me be clear, the food was fantastic. But, there were several operational issues that affected our experience. We had a 6:00 reservation for 2. When we were seated, it became obvious that the table was so wobbly I was afraid that our champagne was going to fall over. We brought the issue to our server's attention who tried unsuccessfully to fix it. He said, "This is the best it's going to be at this time of night." He then explained that he didn't have any champagne chillers & would bring one if it became available. We had a very expensive bottle and expected it to be chilled . When he returned, we reminded him that we were waiting for an ice bucket. He said none were available and there wasn't anything he could do. While he was not rude, he was not going over & above to be a problem solver either. To my dismay, our bread basket came with 1 piece of bread. Between the wobbly table & the lack of a champagne bucket, it became obvious to me that this was adversely affecting our night. I went to the maitre d & conveyed our experience & expressed my displeasure. They were VERY apologetic and moved our table immediately. However they missed moving our bread basket. But I let that one go. My husband explained to our server again that he wanted our champagne chilled & asked if we could have a table bucket like other tables had. Our server apologized & said that the table buckets were all rusty and he didn't want to use them. My husband said we weren't drinking out of it, we were chilling our champagne and would prefer that over nothing , so the server brought one. The meal was wonderful. We had the Grilled Caesar Salad, shared the Cacio e Pepe. I had the dry aged Cowboy Ribeye & my husband had the Filet. We shared the chocolate bomb (which came with a sparkler for my birthday). All were delicious While enjoyed the rest of our evening, I was surprised & disappointed that no one from management ever came over to the table to see how everything was. I expect this at any fine dining establishment but especially when there was a problem brought to their attention. The owner was there and made it a point to visit the table next to ours. When we left the maitre d did apologize for the problem. I am leaving this review because there were operational issues that were out of our server's hand but could & should be fixed by management. Tables should be checked before opening and there should be enough items that are in working condition that enhance their guest's experience like lovely champagne buckets. This will not impact our going to Char-Kol. It will still be our special occasion spot.

Ambience is great. The steak was cooked to perfection. For appetizers we had the octopus. I love that you can BYOB.

First time coming here and we came for Valentines Day 2025! The place itself is absolutely gorgeous. We didn't even try to find parking, valet is 100% worth it. The staff is amazing, Jeff our waiter was absolutely magnificent! We cannot wait to bring our friends and family here. Food was to die for! Dessert is not their forte but everything else is absolutely perfection! The char on the STEAK OMG! They are BYOB! Again Jeff our waiter was the BEST!!

Went for dinner on a Friday night and it was pretty packed. Definitely recommend making a reservation for weekend dinner. The decor is beautiful and the staff was great. Our waiter was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. Our food was very flavorful and fresh! We will definitely be going back.

We had reservations for dinner , been wanting to check this restaurant out as I've heard nothing but good things about it ! The staff were very friendly, and helpful when deciding to order ! We were doing a low key gender reveal and the staff was very accommodating and creative in helping us with this special moment ! I ordered seafood tagliatelle, but with no sausage! Honestly it was very good, the flavors were cooked to perfection ! We also order Mac and cheese which was very good ! The bread they brought out for the table was ehh I didn't really care for it felt like it was kinda hard and burnt for me to eat! I love the atmosphere very relaxing and such a good vibe ! The prices were fair , and not as expensive as I thought it was gonna be ! I'd definitely come back if I'm in the area !

Celebrated my birthday with my family. The restaurant is very upscale in appearance and ambiance but it is pretty loud too. The waiter was very informative but a little hard to hear over the background music. The charcuterie platter was plenty to share for six of us, the shishito peppers were also plentiful. The bacon appetizer left us wanting for more, 2 slices for $19. The Porterhouse for 2 was big enough for 3 with leftovers. The Dry Aged Rib steak, big enough for 2. Both steaks were perfectly cooked to temp but both were over salted. The salmon was delicious I was told. BYOB keeps an expensive from becoming too expensive

I've been wanting to try Char-Kol for quite some time. I really it was a pleasant experience. The ambiance is great, a real rustic but modern feel. Located right off Main Street it is easily accessible with parking near by. Food: quite good. The burrata app was fantastic and I don't normally like burrata. We also got the oysters but they didn't serve it with the normal fixings you'd get (horseradish, etc) there was a lemon and tobacco, that was about it. For entrees I got the New York strip. Cooked perfectly and tasty. Wish it had a bit more salt but nothing to complain about really. Lobster Mac was good but pricey for the little lobster we got. The garlic mash was tasty. But the Brussel sprouts were fantastic. Pros: food was quite good and tasty, BYOB, easy to get to, was not hard to get a reservation on a Thursday. Cons: very pricy. I thought the wait staff could have been friendlier and more attentive. That is why this is a four star and not a five star.

Our first visit to this restaurant and I was looking forward to a tasty steak. For starters we ordered the octopus and tempura shrimp. The octopus was well cooked and tender. It came with some grilled peppers which unfortunately did not have much flavor. Some long hots would have been better for my taste. I didn't try the shrimp but they disappeared so I assume they were tasty. For my main course I ordered a dry aged cowboy ribeye, medium rare. The steak was cooked as ordered. There was more of a char on the steak than I liked. It did not have the flavor I've come to expect from dry aged meat but it was tender. One of the people in our party ordered the skirt steak but was served the strip steak. The waiter referred to his notes to defend the error but he obviously just misheard person. He did offer to bring a different steak but said something a little funny. He said " I can bring you different steak because I can resell this one" I thought that was a weird thing to say and hopefully not the policy of the restaurant. My wife ordered the filet mignon sandwich. She asked for it to be cooked medium rare but it was served closer to medium well. She wasn't a fan. We ordered two sides, the Brussel sprouts and garlic mashed potatoes. Both were good, I thought the potatoes were delicious if not overpriced at $14 for a small portion. As far as the service I would say that our server needs to be given some training. Twice he leaned over the table to serve food but his armpit was right in my face as he leaned across. He should be taught to walk the extra steps and place food directly in front on the patron. Not happy with that. Overall the food was not bad but given the prices I would expect better. They charge premium steak house prices but didn't offer a premium steak house experience. I saw no reason to return given the price/quality equation.

I came here last night with my best friend to celebrate her birthday. She really wanted to try this place so it was my treat! We did not make reservations but we came on a Thursday so I figured it would be fine. It did get a little busy around 7-7:30pm, but no need for reservations. It is also really nice in there. I love the high ceilings, comfortable seating, and overall look. We started with the 'Thick Cut Bacon' which was DELICIOUS, and they are not kidding when they say thick. We were stuffed after the bacon. For our entrees, my friend ordered the 'Char Burger' which came with fries. The fries were really good. They looked like fresh cut fries, and they tasted just like Nathans fries which are good. They were very salty but it worked for them. My friend loved the burger and fries. I ordered the 'Cacio e Pepe' for my entrée. I love that meal. I order it whenever I see it on a menu. It could have used a little more black pepper as it was more bland than I like but it was still VERY good, and a great portion as well. We also shared 'Garlic Mashed Potatoes' which were very creamy, soft, and very garlicky which I enjoy. They do not have desserts on their menu online, but they did have a dessert menu with about 6 options - all sounded amazing! We were very full but we both went home with a slice of smores cake. I did not try it so I cannot comment on it but it looks really good. The service overall was great. They were always on top of our waters, always asking how everything is, cleaning the table in between entrees and desserts. It is very expensive. With tip, it came to $151 total for 2. Would I come back or recommend? 100% for special occasions.

Party of 6 on a Saturday night. We all agree that the meal was phenomenal. Highlights were filet, Brussels Sprouts, creamed mushrooms, fig pizza, and garlic mashed potatoes. Everything was delicious!! The problem was the service. Meal took 3 1/2 hours from arriving to finishing dessert. Water was not filled and we were not kept informed on the status of the main course and why it was taking so long to get our food. 5 star meal but 2 star service.

I am so happy I picked this place for my birthday dinner!! The food was AMAZING!!! The service was AWESOME!!! We will be going back! And I highly recommend you go as well

A truly beautiful restaurant in down town freehold that is just spectacular! The service is truly impeccable and the chef curates the menu weekly. Every detail is attended to from the crazy bread to the outstanding steaks , anything from the 30 day dry aged menu is a must !

Last min plans for ladies night and Char-Kol did not disappoint. I was able to get a reservation pretty much last min. The ambience was great. They have a nice area where you can wait to be seated and take pictures. There was a guy who greeted us and the hospitality top tier. Everyone from when we came in to our waiter was great. I'm not a pizza fan however the pizza was delicious and the truffle fries. We couldn't stop eating them. The seared shrimp is a must actually if you are not a heavy eater you can have them as a main dish and salad just my opinion, nice size and cooked to perfection. Oh the ice cream sliders be careful not only delicious but you get three and they are not small. Oh best part BYOB. This is def a fav and I will be returning

Place has a great vibe, large space with an upstairs and an outside room. Food was ok. And service was ok. It was busy. It is a byob steakhouse. Valet is $11. Small menu. Tomahawk for 2 was ok. I would change the side. Not the best I had. You're paying a lot of money for a tomahawk for two people and you are giving fries as a side? lol and the filet mignon was very dry. Would probably go back because everyone has an off night. The spicy vodka rigatoni with Burrata was good

I honestly cannot say enough good things about this place! We come from almost 2 hours away because it is simply the best of the best! The atmosphere is amazing, upscale, classy, and chic, but the food and service are absolutely 5 stars. All the steaks are amazing and aged in house. But my menu favorite is definitely the house made ricotta! This is the perfect place for a special occasion or date night!

Celebrated my brother's birthday here with family. Let's start off with its BYOB so we had bottles of Moët flowing the entire time that we were there. Our waitress was a doll and I'm sorry that I forgot her name. She was knowledgeable and very attentive to our table. She was kind enough to get us ice buckets to put our bottles out to chill. Everything we ordered came out fast and fresh. The food was delicious and I absolutely can't wait to go back and try other items on the menu. The restaurant itself was beautiful and I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get a chance to take pictures of the decor. Char-Kol I will be back very soon!

We had the misfortune of dinning here last night. First off they put us up against the temporary canvas on the patio, we were freezing even with the heaters. Then they took our order, app comes out first which was fine and for 2nd we were splitting pasta with a 3rd course of Tomahawk steak. 30 minutes after our starter the second and third course come out together instead of seperate. Pasta looked like it spent some time under a warming lamp and the steak was cooked but served room temp. This was a $300+ dinner for 2. Unless they know you seems like staff could care less, the expect a reasonable tip. One and done for us.

I came here to celebrate my birthday tonight and the whole experience was just a really big disappointment. It's a shame because we've been here before and tonight was not like any other visit, it's a shame. The place is beautiful but this the only good thing about the evening, the ambiance. The server was really subpar compared to our previous experiences here. Unfortunately, he was a big reason for the bad experience tonight. The food didn't come out to our preference and we let him know, and he just didn't seem to care or attempt to rectify the situation. Also, they knew it was my birthday and we saw other tables getting candles and our table got nothing. We asked to speak to a manager and apparently there wasn't one there even on a Saturday night.. On the way out, the host and hostess asked how our evening was as they knew we were celebrating my birthday. They seemed shocked they didn't do anything or sing to me. My friend left her phone number with them and they said a manager will definitely be in touch. She never got a call from anyone .. Overall, I regret celebrating my birthday here because it really was not a celebration at all.

I had been wanting to try out Char-Kol since I heard it opened so my brother and I decided to try it out. I had seen how beautiful the restaurant was and was excited to go. We arrived and they seated us outside so I was a bit disappointed not to get to take in the full ambience of the restaurant but it was a nice night to be out on the patio. I love ricotta so we got the House made ricotta to start. I ordered the fig and honey pizza and my brother a Char Burger. The ricotta was amazing but when the pizza came it came with hot honey and I'm not a fan of spicy food. I asked our server about it and he apologized had them remake the pizza for me. It was delicious when it came out. Overall I think it's a great place for a nice night out and would recommend. From reading the other reviews it's clear it's not perfect but the food was definitely yummy!

went here the other night for my friend's birthday we got a reservation. It's really nice inside. The atmosphere is great. The waiter was awesome. I got the chop burger was really good with the fries is also a BYOB here so we got some wine steak is on the little expensive side but you expect it because it's a steakhouse. Definitely a good spot for a date and a nice dinner.

Top notch service and amazing food. I had the scallops which were tender and tasty . Husband and son shared an aged steak made to perfection. The bacon appetizer was crispy and flavorful. Ambience oozes cool vibes.

If you're making a drive longer than 30 minutes this is not worth it. The only saving grace was our server but other than that the food was extremely underwhelming and the dry aged strips we got came out overcooked. The roasted vegetables and the cream mushrooms sides were truly inedible. The bone marrow was a joke in size.

Discovered this gem on Instagram and couldn't resist trying it out with my wife, despite the hour-long drive from Hudson County. Situated in a charming small town adorned with historical homes, it's worth strolling around if you have the time. The restaurant has a shared parking lot with pay-by-kiosk or app. Inside, the ambiance is top-notch with upscale décor and great acoustics. There are various seating options including booths downtown, an upstairs area, and a patio. They offer complimentary fresh bread and are BYOB, with nearby liquor stores for convenience. For appetizers, we enjoyed the corn chowder (slightly sweet) and shared the gnocchi brisket and eggplant bisque (akin to tomato soup). Moving to mains, we had the cowboy ribeye, Cacio e pepe pasta, mac and cheese, creamed spinach, and fries. The 24-ounce dry-aged steak was well-cooked with a flavorful butter sauce on the side, thanks to their open flame cooking technique. The gnocchi brisket was creamy and delicious, showcasing homemade freshness. All dishes were expertly prepared and beautifully presented. Despite the fact my cardiologist wouldn't be pleased, we indulged in the chocolate cake s'mores dessert--an inventive take on a classic treat. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate the food a solid 7 for overall quality. Unfortunately, our experience was marred by lackluster service from our server, David. He was inattentive, leaving us without water and generally disengaged. In contrast, other servers seemed more attentive and upbeat, which is crucial for a restaurant of this caliber. I'd give the service, based on our server's performance, a 5 out of 10.

Great ambiance. Enjoyed date night with the Mrs. Service was good but it was quite crowded resulting in a bit of delay.

Visited Charkol for an earlyish (6) Sunday dinner without reservations and was quickly seated. It's BYOB and they don't serve alcohol. Overall the meal was great but could use a few improvements that would make me come back. For the appetizers, we ordered burrata pizza, ricotta, oysters and the shrimp. The ricotta is an absolute must order closely followed by the burrata pizza. The pizza had a nice crispy crust and the combination of sauce with burrata was chefs kiss! The shrimp was overcooked but edible and the oysters were fresh and tasty, but not particularly special. For entrees, we ordered the scallops and skirt steak. The scallops were delicious - seasoned well and cooked to perfection. But, the risotto was a huge miss - tasted like play doh, not sure that anyone tasted it before it left the kitchen because it was horrible! We ordered a side of lobster Mac and cheese which was fine but I wouldn't order again. The steak was delicious but sauces could have been more flavorful. Dessert absolutely hit the mark - yummy bread pudding with the perfect portion of ice cream. One suggestion - Nutella as the topping over chocolate syrup.

Where to begin? I held off on writing this review for a few weeks just to gather my thoughts. Do I recommend the restaurant for the food? I'm going to have to say for the moment "NO." Do I recommend the restaurant as a venue to get your drink and party on? I would have to say "YES!" The restaurant is BYOB and has plenty of space for large parties. There is also a private room on the second floor available for events but the room is encased by glass so it's really not all that private. The music is extremely loud so if you want to throw a rave like party this is the place for you. If you are looking for quiet sit down dinner this is definitely not the place for you. If you want to have a romantic night out this is definitely not the place for you, the restaurant is so loud from the overbearing rave like music and the extremely loud and mostly drunk patrons you'll have to text your date to communicate with one another. Parking, they have their own private lot but it is valet only. There is plenty of public parking that is a short walk from the restaurant. If you suffer from respiratory diseases I wouldn't recommend this place it lacks sufficient exhaust fans to effectively ventilate the overbearing smoke that permeates the entire restaurant. Those seeking gender neutral bathrooms there is one on the second level. Onward to the night, we were there for our anniversary and I booked ahead via their website. We were seated in what is probably the smallest bistro like table I have ever sat in next to the stairs against a railing on the second floor and extremely close to some booth seating. We ordered a lot of food and kept asking the waitresses are they sure all this food is going to fit? They kept saying it would all fit. It was completely impossible for the meal to fit on the table the staff didn't want to move us to a bigger table until they stop taking patrons in, saving a booth for potential incoming diners but refusing to move 2 paying diners who have already ordered a meal well over $300. They get dinged for poor customer service for this, the waitresses actually argued about moving us because one didn't want to move us. Meanwhile there were other diners in there just drinking the wine they brought in being seated at booths without any fuss. Onward to the food review! Let me begin with informing everyone this restaurant will give you a little rundown that all their food is "charred" which we were aware of but there is a huge difference between charred, burnt and inedible. We ordered 2 starters: the Charred Octopus and the Grilled Caesar Salad. The Charred Octopus dish had a very strong fishy stench but did not taste fishy. The octopus was not overcooked, the flavors weren't anything exciting to rave about there wasn't really any strong flavors from the espresso beurre blanc I was expecting to be wowed. The fried oysters that accompanied the charred octopus were very light and fresh but once again lacked some flavor a little salt could have been added to the entire dish the charred shishito peppers also lacked flavor and was overly greasy. My husband said he thought the charred octopus dish was bitter. The Grilled Caesar Salad was a bit too salty for me but my husband said it wasn't salty enough for him so there are mixed reviews about it. The main course we ordered the Dry Aged Tomahawk For 2, it comes with french fries, black pepper bourbon sauce and a roasted garlic bulb. The black pepper bourbon sauce had zero taste we don't know if our tastebuds were just ruined from the overly bitter char or if it was just bland. The char on the steak ruined the nice cut of meat good char is supposed to add smokey flavor profiles to the meat and fat if done correctly but this just tasted bitter. In addition, we added side dishes: the Garlic Mash Potatoes, Roasted Vegetables, and Blistered Shishito Peppers. The garlic mashed potatoes were extremely gummy and the portion was probably enough for a baby the texture was so unappealing we didn't eat it but I did taste it the flavor wasn't bad. The roasted vegetables were mostly severely burnt and inedible almost entirely bitter. The blistered shishito peppers lacked flavor and was overly greasy. I will commend the restaurant on the fries! The fries were absolutely amazing and are basically the only reason I gave them 3 stars instead of 2. The dessert, the ice cream was bland and underwhelming the chocolate dome was very hard. Would I attend this restaurant and give them another chance? Maybe.

Cute spot in Freehold's little downtown. They have a shared parking lot shared with other businesses that you have to pay for later in the day. We came for lunch so there was free parking. We were a bit confused walking it because they were hosting a baby shower on their first floor which has a few of the baby shower decorations in the front and there wasn't a host. So we were standing around wondering if they were closed for the event. Someone finally came around and We asked if there was seating for two and a baby. We were seated in their second floor loft. The inside is very nice and vibey. Definitely good for date nights or a nice night out with the girls or friends. They had a good selection on their lunch menu. We decided to get the Short Rib Gnocchi and the Ricotta, prosciutto, pesto, cherry tomatoes pizza. They were both so filling and delicious. We were tempted to get dessert but after looking at the menu there wasn't anything that made us want to get it. We agreed though that we would come back to try more of the lunch menu and to try the dinner menu.

Man- there's some spots in Monmouth County, char in Redbank, the block in long branch, and I'm gonna put this place right up there with those two previous places. Only downside, is that it's BYOB, after that, there's no downside it's all straight uphill from there. Leif our server was hands-down, the best server I've had in a very, very long time. Personable attentive really made the meal enjoyable. Food quality in preparation was outstanding. We had a top full of guys from a conference and this dinner smashed it out of the park. My new favorite place

Went here with a few friends recently. As a foodie, and someone who tries new restaurants often, I think (friends agreed) the food was mediocre, and flavorless. My friend got the scallops, but was totally turned off by them paired with vanilla brown butter risotto. Just a weird combo. Service was decent, ambiance was beautiful. But I personally do not find this restaurant to be worth the hype or the price point for what it is.

If you want to listen to house music blaring in your ears while eating overpriced food and sitting elbow to elbow with strangers then come here

Food was very good but the service was atrocious. The waiter was a complete ass and the food took an hour to come out and the waiter couldn't care less. Unfortunately will not be back because of him and the service.

Burnt steaks at NYC prices. They warn you they char their steaks, but I didn't expect it burnt to a crisp. They ruined an $80 dry-aged, medium-rare Ribeye. I had to cut off the burnt outside of the steak to eat it. When I asked the waiter if I could have ordered the steak less charred he said "No, that's how we cook them." The appetizers, sides, and dessert were delicious. My wife enjoyed her Halibut. And the wait staff are very attentive. Hence, why I'm giving it 3 stars. Decor was nice but they played loud club music, which I didn't expect from an upscale steakhouse. And when people are spending over $100+ per person on dinner, charging $11 for valet is tacky. True steak lovers should go elsewhere. Or order their seafood, pizza, or pasta.

We had a great time here on New Year's Eve! Our server, Christine, was so attentive, kind and helpful! The filet mignon was cooked perfectly. The kitchen staff, Kevin, Liam, James, Kendall and Justin perfectly cooked the salmon and steaks. Overall, a great experience!

So disappointed! Drove here over 40 minutes only to feel ignored and slighted. Checked in and everyone else got seated immediately. Husband and I had to wait ten minutes. Okay, we were a few minutes early but plenty of tables were opened. Waiter appeared to be attentive but took 20 minutes to refill our water but had no issues joking with and attending to adjacent table. I understand it's BYOB but these places don't offer to pour it for you or give you ice?!! A tip is expected but good service didn't? Butter was salty & broccoli rabe bland. Disappointed big time!

Wife and I went there last Friday for our 10th Wedding Anniversary. Arrived and within minutes we were seated. Unfortunately I asked to change seats because we were put outside and there's no ambiance and was like sitting in the parking lot. Absolutely boring outside. This being our first time there and it being our anniversary, I wanted a better sense of the restaurant and belonging, not feeling like an outcast or second class guest. We were sat upstairs and had a nice view of the restaurant. We ordered our drinks, appetizers and meal all at one. Drinks came out relatively quick but apps took a little time. We got 2 apps, the ricotta and the bacon. Ricotta was a little bland but put a piece of the bacon on the bread crisp and top with the ricotta mixture and it was a hit. For dinner I had the short rib gnocchi and my wife the double pork chop. Both were moist, juicy and delicious. Only problem was we waited over 45 minutes from when we finished our apps (took about 25 mins to finish) till we received our meals. During this time we had little to no interaction with our waiter or staff unless we asked someone passing by for water. We ordered the charred brussel sprouts with the sweet chili sauce. Sauce was sparse and the sprouts were overcooked and very dry, not enjoyable. For dessert, we had the ice cream cookies. They were 3 large ice cream cookie sandwiches stuffed with vanilla ice cream. One was sugar, one was chocolate chip and the other chocolate brownie cookies. So much we couldn't finish the cookies but it's a sin to throw away ice cream so I forced that down. There was supposed to be chocolate sauce and cherries. Chocolate sauce was there but no cherries. If it was mixed in the sauce there wasn't enough and got lost in the chocolate. Overall it was a rather enjoyable evening. Once again, the wait between courses is was too long. Also, waiter was awol quite a bit rarely checking on us if we needed anything. On a side note, our anniversary was acknowledged by staff when we checked in and by our waiter when seated but noting afterwards. The couple at the table next to us was celebrating something and their dessert came with a sparkler or something similar. Felt a little forgotten at the end.

Hubby and I had a lovely dinner here with friends on Friday August 12th We were seated downstairs and I can see what fellow Yelpers mean when they say it is loud- it is incredibly loud, you can barely hear your dining partners, because everyone is talking loudly to be heard over the other diners and the over the top club music being played- vying to be heard is an Olympic race here. We brought our own spirits since there is no bar. Nor do they have even basic mixers that you can buy, if you bring hard alcohol. Appetizers: We ordered two orders of the pork belly, 1 house made ricotta, both were delicious. Now, we ordered everything at one time as instructed- so how did our ordered get so royally screwed up? Our friends ordered the Dry aged Porter 40oz ($150.00) for two obviously to share: they were served before us- It was not cooked correctly they requested medium well- it was rare and it was cut. They asked for it to not be cut. So our friends requested it to be taken back to be cooked a bit more, so the waiter, took it, but during this Jax took a bite and the steak was very cold. So he asked - how can it be ice cold? it was literally just cooked. Their Porterhouse was all in all - sent back twice- so he asked again, the second time- -- "At $150.00 wouldn't you want it cooked correctly and served as requested, why is this not being done? the Man helping our servers from the kitchen, could not answer this- our friends were very very disappointed and no one came to talk to them about this, they ate it, but were not happy. When looking at this Porterhouse- all four of us agreed- this may say 40oz-but in reality, this really is, a single person Porterhouse- and more like a super big T-bone, but not a two person Porterhouse, and sides are not a filler, they are a accompaniment. We have all eaten at other steak houses and, upon comparison- definitely this is a 1 person Porterhouse. After they received their steak back the second time- my hubby and I were finally served our meals... why? so long? I ordered the New York Strip (Prem hand cut at $55. ) med rare and I was served the (Dry aged $77.) Cowboy rib eye well done. Frankly it lacked seasoning, it was cold as well and tough, I boxed it to go. Hubby ordered the Filet 12oz at $64.- it was supposed to be medium rare and it was welllll done and by well I mean well done! he boxed it to go as I did mine. All steaks needed seasoning at least salt and pepper. Our sides were two of mashed potatoes, one roasted root vegetables, one brussels sprouts- the mashed potatoes were pretty much the highlight of our entree's. The sprouts were hard and burnt- I think there was supposed to be a balsamic reduction but it just tasted like vinegar. We didn't bother taking them to go or the root vegetables. For dessert we ordered the 1-Peaches and crème dessert- no great shakes, the peaches were hard and the crunchy candy was good. Also the 2 dark chocolate mouse dessert was ok. We skipped coffee, paid and went on our way. At almost $500.00 for our food - it was s serious disappointment. I can't for the life of me, go back to Char-Kol until the kinks are worked out, I think it's just still new and working out the kinks. It has huge potential. But I cannot give 5 stars or say it was mind blowing fantastic, because that was not our experience and my reviews have to be 100% true and honest. Food & service is what makes a restaurant, not lighting, décor or ambiance. Hubby and I agreed to give this another go, next year once the kinks are worked out.

Gets an "a-ok" in my book, let's go! Likes: - Scratch kitchen/high quality food - Salad (caesar) was solid/excellent! - Loved the sides (creamed mushrooms + mashed potatos) - Service - Atmosphere Dislikes: - Small details that miss the mark for what (I think) they are targeting/aiming for, which is a high-end restaurant (ie- "hostest" wearing her flip flops) - Odd steak portions, specially most options were 20oz, however- no way I could eat that much steak, and no- the waiter played down us sharing one Ok: - Our steak we had for our main course Would I be back? Ehhhhh- probably not, as overall the night out/experience was just "ok" in our book.

Uhh.... Tldr: * Wrong pizza. Although they offered to bring the right one. * Second dish ( seafood tagliatelle) was never delivered. * For the price I was expecting way better quality food. * Waitress did not acknowledge the pasta goof. The little longer version: Hostess took us upstairs and outside which was the only open spot for walk-in. It was nice since it wasn't too warm. They brought water and bread for us while we looked at the menu. We eventually chose the pesto pizza, the seafood tagliatelle and the octopus. The octopus was over cooked or old as it wasn't very tender. The pizza was delivered to us but it was the wrong one. They offered to correct it by letting us keep the margherita pizza and then making a pesto one. However we thought that is too wasteful and just kept the one they had made already. It was nothing to write home about a bit blend. The other house special was supposed to be the seafood pasta which must have been eaten on the way to the table. All kidding aside though, the waitress didn't even acknowledge she forgot when we mentioned that we no longer wanted the dish she simply said ok. Nice ambiance. Hopefully they figure out the seasoning issues and well the service.

This place has a really great atmosphere and is so roomy inside. The appetizers were great but my steak was very underdone. I ordered it medium and it came out rare. When I asked to send it back the waiter was very defensive and rude. The truffle butter was also $10 extra and when they took the steak back to cook it correctly, they forgot to give back the butter and didn't take it off the bill. Once the filet was the correct temperature it was just okay. A little disappointed because I wanted to like this place.

Food was amazing. We got the tomahawk steak. Our friends got the porterhouse. The vegetables were great. The ricotta was fabulous. The wedge salad was perfect. The service was incredible and the ambience is beautiful.

Went here for an anniversary date. Vibes were very dark and industrial chic. The food was pretty good, nothing crazy. The service was decent.

Homemade Ricotta was incredible. Tasted like caramel. Wedge Salad could use bleu cheese crumbles, but was passable. Porterhouse was excellent as were the fries, Mac and cheese and brussel sprouts. Server Kelly was amazing, attentive, helpful.

Overall good experience. Waiter was very nice and helpful. My only complaints were the brussel sprouts were terrible. They were not cleaned properly and all the hard ends were left on. They were also extremely sweet. I would not spend $12.42 on these. My only other gripe was when they take the order for your steak, they say would you like some chimichurri sauce on the side and some truffle butter.. so i said yes.. only to find out each item was nearly $10! For 2 tablespoons of sauce. They should let you know this is going to be an add-on charge. It was presented as if it was included. Other than that. The mac and cheese, the house fries and the octopus appetizer were fantastic. The steak and short rib were excellent as well. The braised short rib bad a sauce all over it which was similar to a basic gravey taste which was ehh.. but the Polenta and the meat itself was fantastic. 28oz Premium cut porterhouse was med rare and cooked perfectly. Potentially a tad too much salt on certain pieces. Next time i would just ask to go slightly less on the salt. Would come back again for sure

Nice location, Great food, service and ambience. ++++ BYOB!! Two levels and outside seating. Will be back again!

Nice ambiance, the staff was knowledgeable, but the food is overpriced. Menu is a la carte.