Charleston

Everything about our experience at Charleston was top-notch. The food was stellar and the service was exceptional. Our server was so knowledgeable about every little detail. Little complimentary surprises along the way made the night a real treat. We got the prix fixe menu with the wine pairings. Four dishes was a lot of food for us. We will definitely be back!

Braised lamb neck paparadelle and Lobster vol-au-vent with cognac cream and pastry puff. Wine pairings were spot on. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. My only suggestion would be a slightly more upbeat music but that is preference. All around, truly a memorable culinary experience that is hard to duplicate. Congratulations Charleston. You earned a spot in my top dining experiences.

About last night! We're in Baltimore and had a fabulous fine-dining feast at the 25-time James Beard nominated Charleston! ✨ Rohan duck, Beef Wellington, lump crab gratin, truffle mushroom linguine. A luxurious time was had. Stellar service and cuisine! ❤️

Visiting Baltimore with families, Charleston is the restaurant you should visit during the vacation. It’s classic, romantic and intimate. The food tastes delicious and well cooked! Overall it’s a great experience. The service was exceptional and people so so professional and friendly!

This has been on my "want to visit" list for quite some time and it did not disappoint. Absolutely exquisite from start to finish. Food, drink, service, and atmosphere were all top notch. We sat in the lounge area by the window. There was a pleasant view of the harbor and whatever they treat the windows with make passing car lights unobtrusive. The place is softly lit. The staff is friendly and sharply dressed. Always present right when you need them. And now onto the food. My goodness, one of the best meals I've ever had. I went with 4 courses but you could do more. The food is proportioned in a way that you can easily have as much as you'd like from the menu. Every single item I had was amazing from the lobster soup, to the scallop, to the truffle pasta, to the beef tenderloin. Well seasoned, with a good balance of salt and fat. The seafood dishes were exquisite, none of that ocean taste but just the pure flavor of lobster or scallop with a delightful texture to match. The truffle pasta was amazing with tender mushrooms that made me briefly consider giving up meat. And the beef tenderloin was divine. I'm not a medium rare person but had it as it was recommended and I do not regret it at all. A crisp sear on the outside and tender on the inside. Usually the coolness of rarer meats turns me off but the heat of the sear held and every bite was the perfect temperature. Dessert was extraordinary too and I haven't even mentioned the drinks but I'm rambling now. If you can afford it just go and order whatever appeals to you. Very pleased and well worth the cost. I will try to go back seasonally to enjoy the menu changes.

My first time here, incredible!!! I was served by Jocelyn and she was awesome. She took care a lot for me and how the food being served. Also, Alexis and Peter took very beautiful pictures for me and my mom, I really appreciate it. The food was so savory and tasty. I had lobster curry soup, fried oysters, and foie gras. Also, I am a person who doesnt like sweet flavor but their dessert was so nice, it wasn't sweet like I thought. I really appreciate it. Thank you for serving us tonight.

I've been to Charleston a couple of times for special occasions with my family and I was excited to go there for my brother's birthday dinner. I had never taken notes on my food experiences at the Charleston before but I was really really impressed by my experience here back in May. I got a passion fruit mocktail and thought it was quite good -- sparkly and sweet with some ginger flavor. The bread was unlimited and I ate too much of it (two pieces of olive bread and two pieces of cornbread). I thought the bread was pretty good but not amazing, so I don't recommend filling up on it. I got four courses which ended up being so much food -- I was full by the second course. I got the seafood soup, which I thought would be a soup with some pieces of seafood in it, but everything was blended together into a creamy liquid. I thought this was fine but nothing special. I then got the deep fried soft shell crab (a special at the time), which was probably my favorite iteration of soft shell crab I've had. The crab was quite juicy once you broke into the thin crispy batter layer. I thought this was quite good and filling, and would get it again. My favorite dish has to be the scallop. It's only one scallop but it's so big and perfectly cooked -- it melts in your mouth. You can eat little small pieces of it or bigger pieces -- either way, the experience is phenomenal. Lastly, I got the octopus. At this point I was quite full but I thought the octopus was quite good and enjoyed the octopus-olive combo. The Charleston is of course a pricey place but they treat you really well, the food is very well crafted, and they have a lot of amazing seafood options. My brother had a truffle mushroom pasta and he said it was the best pasta he'd ever had. We all had a really wonderful time here and we'll definitely come back someday in the future for a very special occasion.

This restaurant was an absolute delight to dine at. In a city that really doesn’t have a very good culinary scene this restaurant tops the list and dare I say sets a standard that should be strived for. I can see why they won a James Beard award and have zero clue why this isn’t at least a 1 star or recommended Michelin Restaurant? The menu is so well thought out, the ingredients are fresh. Every dish has the care and prep to it that it deserves. The colors of the food and flavors are vibrant and the staff is in sync like a well conducted orchestra. The views inside are beautiful. Every room has a different theme. Whether you want a comfy couch or a view into the kitchen it is available. I will definitely be back.

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

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

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

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

If you are looking for a upscale, Michelin Star type of setting ,than this restaurant is a place you need to make reservations for, the service is what I expected for a 4 course prefix menu, the food was amazing! Valet parking is free.

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

Finally made it to Charleston this past December to celebrate a special occasion. It was the perfect place for the perfect evening. As others have mentioned, if Michelin covered Baltimore (cough cough can't believe it's 2025 and they still overlook us), Charleston would definitely have a star by now. It is the epitome of fine dining. From the moment you step through the doors the service is top notch. Hand ironed white linen tablecloths, a cheese cart to die for, knowledgeable servers and sommeliers: everything is just exquisite. You can sit at the bar and choose to order al la carte but for the real Charleston experience, I recommend sitting in the dining room and ordering a few courses of their tasting menu. The courses are structured from 3 courses to up to 6 courses ranging in price from $89 to $179. In this day and age, that's an incredible deal. Especially considering the fact that you could select ANY dishes from the menu to fulfill those courses. Plus, they give you an amuse bouche to start and a dessert course to finish in addition to your selected courses. For those with dietary restrictions, the staff is incredibly knowledgeable and will go out of their way to ensure you're happy. The standout dishes for me were the lobster bisque (it's been on the menu for years now because it's just that good), the steak tartare (the best I've ever had), and the scallops (comes with a side of spaghetti my boyfriend happily ate but the little bite of scallop I had was heavenly). Each dish is small but you're getting so many courses that you definitely won't leave hungry. The wine list is expertly crafted, too - for the most cost effective option, I recommend buying a bottle or doing the wine pairing since individual glasses do add up. Our server was the absolute best and I learned she's been working at Charleston for 15 years, starting just as a teen polishing silverware. She really knew the menu and the restaurant like the back of her hand. Just thinking about the meal now makes me want to go back! I can't wait to return to celebrate more special occasions alongside Charleston.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

What a phenomenal dining experience. We had a very special night out celebrating an academic milestone and the staff at Charleston did everything perfectly to help us commemorate the evening. They were incredibly knowledgeable about the nuances of the menu and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the wine pairings. The ambiance was impeccable and the staff seemed to know what we needed next before we even did. It doesn't feel crowded inside even though every table is likely always full. The noise level is perfect. Just incredible vibes. Now the food. You can choose from a 3, 4, 5, or 6-course with or without wine pairings. The wine list was extensive but if a wine pairing is offered I'm going to get it! Every single item on the menu sounds delightful, and the 9 courses we had between us did not disappoint. My personal favorites were the vegan carrot ginger soup with a saffron oil, the salmon crudo, the pan-seated duck breast, and the halibut. Every wine pairing was spot on, as expected. Overall, 10/10 experience. Great food and drink, impeccable service, great environment. I can't wait for another reason to celebrate here!

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

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

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!

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.

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!

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.....

Charleston is an excellent dining experience. Having been on my list for a while, I was excited to finally dine here. From my first touchpoint at the host stand until leaving, it was beautiful, and I expected nothing less. Elegant service was set in a sophisticated dining room. I love great service and the Charleston servers are well-trained but friendly. I sat next to the kitchen, which was perfect as a solo diner, so I could watch the evening's choreography. I opted for the 3-course menu (technically four since dessert is included), but wish I had done the wine pairing, which I will do next time. I ordered a cocktail and it was quite unimpressive. Though I could have said something, I chose not to, and it's obviously not influencing my review. My meal consisted of the rich lobster soup with curry, goat cheese agnolotti en brodo, grilled lamb rack chop, and the Valrhona dark chocolate cake. Additionally, there was bread service, an amuse bouche, and truffles with dessert. Meal-wise, there was nothing that I did not love. It's hard to choose a favorite as I love both lobster and lamb and I'm always excited to see an agnolotti en brodo on a menu. The lobster soup was quite rich, as the name implies, and the savory agnolotti is accompanied by pork belly and fava beans, two other favorite items. Bread was addictive. However, the lamb truly stands out. It was the most tender, most flavorful lamb I've ever had. And the desserts were the sweetest way to end a perfect meal. But still...that lamb. I cannot recommend Charleston highly enough. It is one of my favorite dining experiences. As a particular eater, I am thrilled to find a tasting menu with enough options that I can enjoy. I'll return anytime.

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.

My lovely friend picked Charleston for me to settle up on a lost wager. I was looking forward to trying a new restaurant and catch up with a good friend even though I lost..LOL. We compete on who picks the best spots so the pressure was on!! Charleston is uber classy. Dimly lit, soft music, white linen covered tables.. you get the picture. We started off at the bar and to my surprise, half the bar seats were reserved which I have encountered before but still rare. Although Charleston looks and feels like a traditional high end restaurant with a traditional menu, it's not. Charleston only offers a tasting menu which ranges from 3 to 6 courses ($89-$179per person) respectively. I'm always subconsciously watching my food intake, so I went for the 3 course option. Well, I'm 6'4" and 200+ pounds, and given the portion size of the plates, I needed an 8 course meal to feel somewhat full! I stuck with the 3 courses so my waistline thanked me..LOL!! I chose the bison tenderloin, duck, and lobster ravioli and my friend chose the lobster soup, lobster ravioli and the grilled octopus. Everything was tasty, but she's 5'0" and maybe 120lbs. and she was still hungry..LOL! I guess the moral of the story is, if you want amazing ambiance, service and something good in your mouth, definitely come to Charleston! If you're hungry, do yourself a favor and go to Ruth's Chris down the street, this is not the place for you..LOL!!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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

Absolutely amazing. I was here for the Valentine's Day pre-fixe menu, and was throughly impressed with the food and staff. The service was extremely meticulous and staff were very knowledgeable. Additionally, the dimly lit restaurant felt warm and intimate. Now to my favorite part, the food. From beginning to end, each dish made me crave more, and I could not wait to have my next course. I would recommend Charleston to anyone. Kudos to a gem in Baltimore.

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

The food was remarkable. The service was first rate. A shout out to one of the servers, Lyriq, who was lovely and gracious. For a special night out, this place can't be topped.

My brother, father and I took out mom for her birthday and this was the most pleasant experience any of us of had at a restaurant. As soon as we walked through the door, they asked us for our coats and even through we were early they were able to sit us right away. The service was definitely the best service I have ever experienced while dining out. The waiter and his team were friendly, informational and courteous. I did not have one thing that wasn't delicious. I had Calamari, shrimp & grits, Foie Gras, and a Berkshire PorkChop (the pork chop was a special). If you can try the Calamari Beignets its a special so I am not sure how often it is offered. The calamari had the texture of funnel cake, it was so delicious lol. I will definitely make my way back to the Charleston as soon as possible!

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.

It's been our "go to" fine dining special occasion restaurant of choice for over a decade now. Same amazing food, same impeccable service, the Charleston never disappoints. Of the dozens of birthdays, graduations, anniversary's, holidays etc......I would never miss anything with black/white truffle. The rockfish and turbot are always perfection. We never miss the cornmeal fried oysters (even if not on menu definitely ask!) Any form of fois gras and sweetbreads are world class and must haves. Shrimp and grits and lobster bisque will change your mindset of what is possible and lastly buffalo and lamb when available will outshine the best filets or ribeyes at the best steakhouses anywhere. If you go with enough people ie. four or more, you can pretty much sample all the desserts which are always complimentary. If you want your kids or friends to get excited about going, check out the episode where chef Cindy appears on Bear Bobbly Flay!

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.

This is by far the absolute BEST restaurant I've ever dined at. It has that old school bougie feel. So from the moment we walked in, I felt catered to. They allowed me to come in prior to actually opening and sit at the bar until they could seat me when they officially opened at 5:30pm. We were seated as soon as they were seating people in the dining area. We were immediately greeted by our server and he was so acknowledgeable about the menu top to bottom. They have a tasting menu of which allows you to order three courses all the way up to six courses and experience the creativity of the Chef. I had the "Charleston She Crab Soup", "Shrimp & Grits", and the "Pan Roasted Wild Halibut " of which every single dish was splendid, I could literally taste the freshness of the ingredients used, the dishes were made perfectly!! I was very pleased and impressed (and it's extremely hard to impress me). The wine selection was immaculate, so many wines to choose from. The service was immaculate as well, our server (Brian) was very attentive, professional and pleasant. There isn't enough time or space on this review to express everything I loved about it, this was definitely an experience like no other!

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.