Charlesworth Hotel & Restaurant

Our favorite restaurant ever! It was our 2nd time here and from the moment you arrive you are warmly welcomed by the owner Syboll and the amazing staff, who made us feel like family. Syboll is just such a kind soul and makes the whole experience exceptional. Everything from the appetizers to the deserts are delicious. On top of everything else, the view is just beautiful especially during sunset. You can truly feel the passion and care in every detail here. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience!

We enjoyed this restaurant. The food was skillfully prepared, tasty, and quick to arrive. Our server was Lane and he was extremely pleasant and accommodating. We were celebrating a birthday and had a large group. Lane expertly handled our request, chilled and served the champagne, as well as keeping things moving along. The bacon wrapped shrimp and scallops were delightful. We also enjoyed the octopus salad with fingerling potatoes. The menu was priced right where any respectable steak house should be and the menu items were what you would expect from a steak house(Steak, filet mignon, lobster, crab cakes etc). The location is right on the water so the view was incredible. We are already planning to come back when the weather is more favorable. Banana cream pie was the dessert special of the day but myself I had to try the bread pudding with the Madagascar vanilla ice cream. It was extremely tasty and a great way to wrap up our evening.

The Charlesworth is a little off the beaten path but worth the trip. The staff was very gracious and put a lot of effort in making us feel welcome. Service was quick and friendly. Our meals arrived as ordered. My steak was very good. We will be returning soon. I highly recommend this restaurant.

We celebrated our 40th anniversary at the Charlesworth Hotel and Restaurant. Our appetizer of Tuna Tartare, which was recommended by Amy (part owner and manager) was the highlight of our dinner. Also recommended was the Scallop Beurre Blanc which was perfectly cooked and delicious and the Brûléed Banana Cream Pie which was a standout dessert. The dinner was complimented by the beautiful waterfront view of the bay. This restaurant is worth visiting!

Extraordinary in every way! Customer Service was beyond anyone’s expectation! The food was exceptional! The view was breathtaking! A truly memorable meal complete with engaging connection with Amy and Syboll!

Restaurant is great!! View of the water makes date night that much more special. Have not stayed at the hotel.

What a nice Thanksgiving Buffet at the 12:00 seating. We had a outstanding delicious dinner and a great view of the Delaware Bay even though it was cold and cloudy. The owner and staff were kind and courteous. Also I received a nice present from the owner. We definitely will be going back.

My wife Liz took me here for my birthday to eat at the restaurant. The owner greeted us and he is definitely a people person. The ambiance is great with incredible views. We watched the sunset as we are dinner. I started with the Oysters Rockefeller, and clam chowder, then the steak, baked potato and mac and checked cheese. My with had the scallops with broccoli salad and mashed potatoes and we ended with the creme brulee. It was a great meal.

What a find! Took a drive on a Sunday and found this beautiful hotel and restaurant right on the waterfront! Great service and food is phenomenal! All the seafood was just superb! Even had local wine or can bring your own I think. Enjoy!

What a great hidden gem of a restaurant. The food is delicious and a really nice variety. The service is excellent with attentive staff. The views... well, you really can't get a better water view anywhere in New Jersey. The sunset was spectacular. Top it all off, the pricing is very reasonable as well. Sure, it's a bit "out of the way" but that's what makes this place special and worth the drive. 5 stars from this guy.

Finally checked this off my foodie bucket list! Drive 1h to come check it out. View is amazing, food and service were great. They has some really good drinks and food came out fast. The location is also a hotel

Immediately as we pull up it's hard to ignore the beauty of the location. I mean the stunning sunset to start our dining experience truly set the stage for what was to come. We all ordered appetizers, soups, specials and dessert and wished we could conjure more stomach space to eat more. Of course we all forgot to take pictures of our meals until dessert when Syboll kindly reminded us to! And thank goodness he did because we would hate for all of the detail in the presentation to go to waste! Everything was absolutely fantastic. Yes the view was breathtaking and the food was delectable, but the true heart and soul of the Charlesworth is Syboll. There is absolutely no dining experience like this. He creates a meal and experience that cannot be replicated, similar to the man himself. He is delightfully enigmatic and so is his restaurant. It is purely puzzling to see such a distinctively excellent establishment so empty. We were one of only 3 tables for the night. Experiences like this do not come often; I would rank this as a top tier dining experience as Syboll has masterfully blended the superb flavors of high quality dining with the cozy familiarity of your favorite hometown diner.

I was excited to try this out-of-the-way spot for my birthday, but the Hotel Charlesworth knocked my socks off. I had fried oysters for an appetizer, which were crunchy outside, sweet and tender inside, and came with a spicy remoulade. My pork chop was unassailably perfect: juicy, slightly pink (as it should be), with a memorable crust and apple topping. I am not one for dessert unless I'm sharing, but the key lime pie is canonical. My wife's ribeye has ruined her for my modest talent with a grill. The service was casual but professional, and the host most welcoming. You can get away with jeans and a ballcap, but most diners treat the Hotel as a classy affair. This remote corner of southern New Jersey hosts an ineluctable treasure.

What a transformation! I was dubious about the great reviews. We'd been here a few years ago and all was meh at best. Holy cow! What an incredible meal we had. Everyone was kind, welcoming and efficient. The food was really so so so good. Worth the trip from the big city. And the hotel is adorable. And so close to the water you'll feel like you're on a boat. The little shop next door run by Meghan is also fantastic. Perfect remote NJ getaway!

First of all the service is wonderful. I can't remember having such good service in a restaurant. The owner seemed to have love for his customers and it showed. I had a warm fuzzy feeling eating there. I had the fried oysters for an appetizer and some combination of goat cheese on bread with honey and it was all to die for. My entree was the scallops over pasta. I have never had scallops so delicious and tender. My sister and her husband raved about their meals as well. I am telling you, this is a restaurant that is hidden in Fortescue and I don't want to tell the world about it because there won't be enough room for me the next time I want to eat there. It sits right on the Delaware Bay and I think heaven will look similar if I ever get there. Definitely a five star restaurant and you won't be sorry if you make the trip.

The Charlesworth is so worth the trip. Dining there is special not just because of the food (which is delicious and so visually appealing) but because the staff and owners are incredibly friendly and fun. Sunday was our second time eating at the restaurant as well as staying upstairs in the hotel. The rooms are lovely. so bright and beautiful. Listening to the sound of the waves on the bulkhead Was so peaceful and relaxing. There's also a lovely deck to sit on outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of being on the water. An overnight and dinner filled with peace and love.

Party of 4 by the window greeted by Sybol who treated us like family. Also Andrew our Server was exceptional giving us suggestions. I love customer service and the food was delicious and the view? It's waterfront ! I hope I'm able to go back soon

Food, service, view all were excellent! Owner is FANTASTIC!!! He made our birthday dinner extra special!!! We will definitely be going back!

The absolute best food I have ever had Some of the best views I have ever seen and I love the people who work there. Fortescue is my favorite place on Earth.

As always everything was wonderful from start to finish. I had the clams with linguine, they were not only delicious but beautiful, I actually took the shells home to make angel wings for Christmas ornaments. Mark & Dawn enjoyed steaks & Keith Salmon. We also enjoyed our apps while watching the sunset over the bay & desert while enjoying George play his various genres of music. Actually even snuck a dance in on our way out ! Service was absolutely on point & professional as always. Although we were 4 minutes late we were still greeted with hugs from Syboll & Amy. See you'll soon

Outstanding place! The location, food and most of all Syboll and Amy are the best hosts ever! Well worth the trip. I enjoyed it so much I spent the night so I could dine there again the next day. Don't miss this little gem!!

We stayed in fortesque this past weekend and had to try this restaurant. We had incredible service (Thanks Bri!), interacted with the owner that explained his dishes and where the ingredients came from, and absolutely loved our dinner! We stayed in an Airbnb close by, so we brought o ur own wine and walked to and from the restaurant. Couldn't possibly recommend the crab bisque, filet mignon, and ALL of the desserts more!

My husband chose this restaurant for his birthday dinner. Due to circumstances beyond our control we were unable to dine in. However, when we called in our order the voice on the other end of the line was the friendliest most understanding and sincere person with obvious passion for the food he recommended. All of his recommendations were spot on. Hubby got the beef short ribs which he loved. His favorite though was the tuna tartare. He'll be back soon just for that (lol). I enjoyed the pork chop and could not believe how juicy and tender it was. The apple topping complimented the flavor of the pork very nicely. We both enjoyed the New England clam chowder as it had a nice smoky flavor along with chunks of clam. Our desserts (crème brûlée and cheesecake) were delicious as well. As an aside but not to be diminished Syboll came out to the car to greet me when we picked up our food and gave me the warmest most heartfelt hug...Needless to say the Charlesworth is our new favorite restaurant and it's so close to home. We tried it for the food but we'll return for the love.

Absolutely amazing!!!! The food! The service! Everything is absolutely wonderful, me and my wife will be coming back here for many years too come! From there fantastic seating arrangements too the mood they create they will never disappoint!!

Delicious food! Worth the drive from anywhere. The Charlesworth has it all these days. The staff is composed of fascinating people who really understand how to give GREAT service. The location is so beautiful.

My husband and I had dinner here last night, and as expected, it was incredible. We used to go to Fortescue Bayside, so we were excited to try Syboll and Amy's new place. The food was amazing, and this is also coming from my husband - who has very high expectations when it comes to food. The atmosphere was lovely, from the sunset view on the bay to the live piano to and Syboll and Amy are amazing. They make you feel right at home, are very attentive, and had us laughing the whole night. Highly recommend the Charlesworth!!

I so very much wanted to like the Charlesworth. The service is excellent. The views of Delaware Bay are spectacular. Lovely tables.The food and therefore the prices were the disappointment. It is indeed pricey; nothing under $10, and entrees about $26-$44. I had the $12 caprese salad, one okay tomato (It's summer, I thought?) with thin slices of mozzarella sandwiched in between, and balsamic vinegar drizzled over it. Eh, nice idea, but $12? Although you're in "The Weakfishing Capital of the World", with plenty of crabbers and fisherman nearby, there's actually a minimum of seafood offered. I had the $36 "crab stuffed flounder." It was edible, but seemed to have come straight from Sysco and the freezer. There was a stuffing, but if there was crab in it, it was undetectable. My compatriots all got the $44 sea scallop special; four sautéed scallops on a bed of pasta with a very good sauce. Creme brûlée was pleasing to two of our party, my peach cobbler was just okay. Good coffee. Again, the service superb. We met the owner, a super nice, hard-working and ambitious man. Wish his restaurant's menu would be less ambitious, though, and concentrate on maybe five solid entrees and a special, along with a few good salads and soups. Unfortunately, Fortescue is part of Downe Twp, one of the hypocritical towns in NJ that are dry. Charlesworth House, like so many independent restaurants in NJ, could truly benefit from the being able to sell alcohol with its meals, to allow them the extra funding to pay for the best chefs, staff and ingredients and the overall bottom line; to keep them in business! They are making a valiant effort despite this draconian, backwards, Prohibition-era regulation.

We wanted a different restaurant to celebrate our Anniversary! I heard about this place as a recommendation. We never heard of it and Fortescue is an hour away. First off the view is amazing and thanks to Syboll for accommodating us and gave us a table near the windows. The food was excellent and our server Amy was excellent as well! We will definitely return in the future! Thanks again for making our Anniversary dinner awesome!

My wife and I really enjoyed our visit to the Charlesworth Restaurant. The food, service and atmosphere are awesome. The view of the Delaware Bay as we sat and ate dinner was very relaxing.

absolutely gorgeous view, love the ambiance and Sybol is absolutely fabulous! the Chef is phenomenal , best restaurant In south jersey

I have always found the Charlesworth to have good food great ambiance and excellent service.

Nothing to write home about. Extremely loud dining room with a large mirrored wall (who likes looking at themselves while eating lol) Weird decor, with average food. The one thing I hated besides the gross mashed potato's was spending $28. a plate and being charged an extra $6.00 for a house salad maybe I'm spoiled but I feel like a salad should come with our meal. I wouldn't recommend it or go out of my way to eat here again but it was a beautiful view and I'm sure eating outside would be nice.

You just can't find a better place to tie the knot... My husband introduced me to this quaint little gem a few years back. We fell in love with the fresh local food, charming people, romantic atmosphere, and the most spectacular "sky meet water" sunsets EVER. The Charlesworth opened their hearts to host our wedding on September 15, 2018. There are no words to describe how perfect that weekend was. It seemed the whole town was part of our wedding, even Mayor Campbell. We've adopted Shirley and Jim and Rachel and can't thank the whole staff enough for all the love we received during our special time. Our wedding cake was non other then their pumpkin bread. Can't wait to go back!

Even if you aren't staying in the fun little town of Fortescue, NJ on the Delaware Bay, you must make the trip to the Charlesworth! The food is really, really good and made with so much love and thought. We started with the fried cheese curds and stewed tomatoes, then we had the clam chowder, which was perfectly seasoned with the right amount of cream, salt and a bit of citrus. I had the Chilean Sea Bass. I highly recommend! It literally melted in my mouth. My husband had the NY strip and seared sea scallops, both perfectly cooked and seasoned. Divine! We enjoyed the crème brûlée for desert. As good as the food is, you just can't beat the warm and caring service. Amy and Sybil were so kind and helpful. We left with full bellies and 2 new friends! Worth the trip from the shore or the city! We'll definitely be back!

Went there for an anniversary. Dinner had a great sunset view and the food was fabulous and the owners were so nice and polite and friendly gave us a tour of the restaurant very classy. Thank you.

Amazing views, fabulous atmosphere, owners/ employees are very friendly and welcoming and the food is consistently delicious. Never a bad experience! Amy and Syboll have created an experience more than just a restaurant and I look forward to going every chance I get.

Absolutely love the location and the food is absolutely fabulous. I have eaten there a half dozen times and never ate the same thing twice, everything has been delicious. It is so worth the drive out of town.

Just a wonderful experience! The host, perhaps owner, couldn't have been more helpful or gracious. The staff was wonderful and the food was even more delicious!! Will be returning soon and bringing my family. I couldn't find anything to criticize!! Happy as a crab!

Four of us went to dinner tonight. Although pricey, it was worth it. Crab bisque was outstanding. I had salmon which was the best I've ever had. Husband had crab stuffed flounder, daughter had pork chop with apples and bacon, and son in law had linguini with clam sauce. All agreed the food was delicious and excellently prepared. We were too full to eat dessert, but brought home to enjoy later. Service was excellent...very attentive and friendly. Definitely will return whenever in the area.

We had an early dinner on Saturday 9.28.19. We had never been to the restaurant prior. I had requested a window seat which they delivered on. Our server was Marybeth and she took very good care of us. We had the crab stuffed mushrooms and they were delicious and full of lump crab mounded high. There were five mushrooms. They use glassware at this restaurant. I am mentioning this because another review confused me. I had the crab imperial with baked potato and green beans. My girlfriend had the Marina Pasta with a scampi sauce rather than the creamy sauce it comes with. The pumpkin bread is the best I have ever had. The fresh dinner rolls were nice. This is a plainer menu with just good seafood on it. Nothing out of the ordinary. But our dinners were good and the view can't be beat. We will be back. Our bill was about the same as the bill at Longhorn the night prior. I did get a glass of wine at Longhorn but no appetizer. At Charlesworth we ordered an app. That gives you an idea of the value. I much rather eat from scratch food here than go to the Longhorn.

The Charlesworth is a quaint, out of the way restaurant in Fortescue. It has a great view of the Delaware river. I heard some good things so I decided to give it a try. My wife and I walked in and were promptly quizzed about whether or not we had reservations. We did not. But looking into the more than half empty dining area I suspected that they should have room for the two of us. They did indeed have a table just for us. To my surprise the hostess handed my wife two menus and said "see that table over across the restaurant? You can sit there." Also it's worth mentioning that we were standing in the entryway for a few minutes before we were greeted, because the hostess just assumed we were with the party directly in front of us. So much for first impressions. The wait staff seemed a little inattentive and disengaged (it took awhile to refill our glasses and they didn't seem to care if we liked our food or not). Also it seemed that the waitstaff kind of took turns waiting on us and the other diners , so we didn't have just one consistent waiter or waitress, but we did experience overall friendly service. The food: Well the appetizers arrived promptly. We ordered mushrooms stuffed with crab imperial. They were on the smaller side and only 3 for $12...not impressed. I also ordered the fried clams entree as an appetizer. Well they looked like someone just ripped open a box of frozen Gordon's and sent them out to our table. The entrees showed up in a timely fashion. My wife had ordered a special scallops and pasta dish that she enjoyed. Yet it too was on the small plate size for the price. I received my two uninspired small hockey puck-sized crabs cakes with a side of pasta. Definitely not lump crab cakes. They were over-seasoned with plenty of filler. So instead of paying $90 (at a BYOB!) for two people to drink out of plastic cups and eat mediocre seafood, save your money. Just pick up some filet-o-fish sandwiches and fries and sit on the Fortescue beach. The view is free....

Love the owners! Food is phenomenal!The ambiance is lovely. The view is breathtaking. Highly recommend!

The mashed potatoes were so good they made me cry. All the food was fantastic - seared scallops, potatoes, green beans, creme brule. Our server was so attentive, kind and fun. The atmosphere was relaxing and jubilant. It would be worth it to make the drive from anywhere to dine here.

Finally got a chance to meet some friends at the Charlesworth hotel in quaint little Fortescue, New Jersey today and cannot stop talking about our experience. I loved the caprese salad as my appetizer (the pesto was a pleasant surprise) and my chicken parm was sooooooo moist and such a light sweet marinara sauce...I looked over at my boyfriends plate of linguine and clams and couldn't believe the number of little neck clams in his dish. Of course our dessert of peach cobbler was scrumptious!!! DEFINITELY GOING BACK !!!! DEFINITELY RECOMMEND !!!! Robin from Cape May

Excellent food and unbelievable hospitality, would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area, Sybil and his staff are the nicest people you will ever meet

Delicious meal- warm, friendly service. Beautiful spot with great views, would never find unless you are looking for it. Worth the trip!

What a wonderful dining experience. The food was fantastic. The Sea Bass was melt in your mouth wonderful as we're all the sides. Everyone of the six of us could not stop raving about our meals. Great food is important, but it was surpassed by the wonderful and attentive staff. We could not have asked for a better dining experience. We had all this with one of the most breathtaking sunsets over the bay! How could this get any better. It would almlost be impossible but then the wonderful owner stopped by our table with a gift for each of the ladies. I really cannot thank this restaurant enough for one of the most pleasant evenings I have had in years. Thank you!

Lovely restaurant in the most unexpected spot. The atmosphere was bright and beachy and quite sophisticated for such a quirky little village. The food was amazing. Amy was our waitress and could not have been nicer or more attentive. Syboll made us feel like friends with his welcoming demeanor. Even the young food runners and bus persons were spot on.

So glad the Charlesworth was finally able to reopen after Sandy! Jim & Shirley are back at the helm, the views are still, of course, stupendous, the music nostalgic (live!), the crowd a mix of locals, 'regulars', long distance travelers and random couples, and, no surprise, the food was delicious. My son gorged himself on the signature homemade pumpkin bread while my husband went for the melt-in-your-mouth warm fresh rolls. Our whole group toasted the reopening with byo sangria and talked about our diets that we were ignoring for the occasion. Many ordered the crab cakes and the salmon while some of the non-seafood eaters had chicken parm and a heart healthy guest had grilled chicken. I had the 'Simple Shirley Salmon' to go ALL the way off my diet with a decadent cheese sauce on my fish. It was yummy! And our whole table reported a great meal. A local icon is back in business, yeah!!! Where else can you count the tugs and barges while watching the sunset - and the occasional eagle? My son didn't waste a minute to play on the beach while we awaited our meals. Does it get any better?!

I've lived in South Jersey almost all my life and had never heard of the Charlesworth until today. Its in a remote area on the bay... sort of a backwater secret area that tourists (and apparently some locals) are relatively unfamiliar with. I think because there's really nothing to do in the area (other than go fishing) and the area is notorious for biting flies and gnats, most people don't bother with the small towns along the bay. We were specifically going to the Charlesworth to see Steve Byrne's group play old time gospel and blues- the REAL kind with spoons, banjo and dense harmonies. We weren't sure what to expect as far as food and setting were concerned. The Charlesworth appeared to be a converted house which was very quaint and nicely landscaped. The hotel restaurant, which turned out to be our destination has a beautiful vista of the bay, and there is a large deck where you can sit and enjoy the water while you recover from your overindulgance. The Charlesworth's regular menu is apparently 90% seafood, and not a good place for picky eaters or kids. But since it was Sunday morning, they had an awesome brunch buffet. The selection was an interesting mix of dinner and breakfast foods, and all well prepared. The servers were attentive, unlike at most buffets. The small dining room is L shaped and the performers were in the crook of the L, so most diners have an unobstructed view. Only half of the restaurant has a clear view of the bay. The place was really cute in a clean, homey sort of way. The bathroom was immaculate and easily handicapped accessible, so points for that. The buffet attracted a lot of older people, who I presume were regulars based on their behavior. At almost $15 a pop, the buffet isn't cheap by Jersey standard, but people clearly go for the decent food and service. I would defintely go back to enjoy some good local music and food again. 3 1/2 stars. Closed from late fall through early spring with some exceptions on weekends. CASH ONLY. The menu probably varies based on what's locally available, fresh and on the whims of the chef. Today that had (as far as I can recall): salmon (looked perfect) beef & pork cacciatore (succulent!) swedish meatballs (nummy and tender) buttered shells (my picky kid loved them) mixed jersey fresh corn, zucchini and tomatoes (outrageously good, went back for thirds) cream chipped beef (the best I've ever had) french toast pancakes sausage (the real kind, my husband said it was insanely good) ham bacon (only thing that was eh... it was rubbery) homemade dessert breads (like grandma's pumpkin) sticky buns fresh watermelon canned peaches & pineapple and other stuff I can't remember

Located on the bay with a great sunset view, this throwback has several seafood specials on a small chalkboard at the entry. Once inside, one can hear the live accordion music and see a local radio broadcast going live over the airwaves. The appetizer menu was complete and included fresh oysters on the half-shell. The grilled tuna was fresh, and accompanied by a zucchini and squash medley, and grilled peppers and onions. Don't be fooled by the old beach cottages and trailers across the road.

What a charing spot again !It just reopened with a new owner. I used go there in my childhood so it was nice to relive moments . The food was so good . I had the chilean sea bass , it was perfect . Also the views and sunset is always awesome . Very friendly and inviting place Give it a try

Yesterday was the second time I was there. It is a very small restaurant on the water with a beautiful view during the sunset. The service was very good and the owners (brother and sister) and wait staff all felt like family. I had Chilean sea bass last time and the Rib eye last night were both incredible. I usually decline bread but when the roll arrived I couldn't say no. I could have ate the bread and butter for dinner and would have been happy. It was fresh baked and so soft and doughy. On top of everything else Sybil (one of the owners) brought a box of his mother's jewelry he brought to each table he wanted to give away. I picked a ring that matched coincidentally matched my jewelry I was wearing. My friend picked out a gorgeous pinky ring. We teared up over it! It was so sweet. I wish I lived closer to come more often. I can't believe this gem is located in Fortescue. I can't recommend this place enough.

What a great place! Syboll, the owner, was so kind to us and took our dinner experience to the next level. Really a great person who is making such a huge effort to create a great experience for everyone. The crab cakes were super fresh, as was everyone else's meal. The banana bread pudding was the standout dessert of the night but they were all fabulous. Thank you for a great experience and we will be coming back again!!!

I had a group of 6 with me and we came to the charlesworth for the first time giving it a try and are so glad we did the food was delicious the service was amazing from start to finish I highly recommend this place if you want a delicious meal we will be back!!

One of the best meals I have had in a long time. Syboll stopped by our table to see how our meal was going and recommend the tuna tartare, and what a reco it was. Ended up going twice for dinner, and would have gone again if they were open more. Thefresh baked rolls with Amish butter were top notch. All of our entrees were perfectly prepared, and even if you don't have room, get the desserts. Worth the drive no matter where you live.

We have been going to Charlesworth for ten years now always the Servers are efficient and extremely friendly. Food has always been very good. Only little complaint is during the annual Christmas dinner there is too much time in between soup to salad, salad to dinner other then that this place is awesham