Kyla O
Google
This is a five star review because East 48th deserves a 5 star review. However, my family has been a customer since the very beginning - when it opened decades ago. We love the family owned business and I grew up knowing it as “Charlie’s.” I will always speak highly of this restaurant. However, I remember when the “cranky man” started working there. Everyone in my family does unfortunately. I’m not sure his relation to the family. I grew up knowing the daughters of Charlie and they were my favorite when I was a little girl. I would go in with my grandfather, who was a friend dear of Charlie’s and the family. Most importantly, they are a core memory of my childhood and I hold it near and dear to my heart. This review is 5 stars for the establishment, but 1 (honestly zero) star for the cranky old man. He is so absolutely rude and ruins the family-orientedness of this incredible market. Tonight, my family ordered a couple of different things off the menu, one of which being an Eggplant Parmesan. We ordered from Charlie’s tonight because I’m in town for the first time in 6 months (I now live out of state for law school) and wanted a piece of “home.” I am a vegetarian, and to my disappointment, I was given chicken Parmesan instead of eggplant. I was completely okay going back because I love looking around the market. Unfortunately, when my mother called to explain the mistake, the cranky old man answered and was absolutely rude to my polite mother. My grandmother and grandfather were shocked to hear the response to this. Charlie is beloved and well respected in my family and how this man acted was nothing like what my family had hoped for. When I drove back and arrived at the restaurant, he asked for the chicken Parmesan. Unfortunately, cranky man, no, I did not bring the chicken parm with me because my mother already had bitten into it. He also made it seem like it was my fault for not reading the label on the container. Contrary to what he had probably hoped for, the container did say “eggplant parm” (as you will see in the photo). Not only is that rude to ask for, but would a restaurant really want partially eaten food back? I had brought a photo (attached below) to show him; however, he had no care for me - and I just wanted to leave with how rude he was. When I double checked that this new batch was eggplant, he was absolutely atrociously rude and made me feel dumb for clarifying. I decided to open the container because I would be so upset that the one meal I wanted while I was home, would be incorrect - yet again. The man next to me was checking out and he also double checked that his eggplant was correct. This seemed to tick off the “cranky man” more. I want East 48th to know that our family every Christmas, Easter, and other holiday order from you. Growing up every Monday and Friday was “Charlie’s” for dinner. I will never go in there and say “hey you’re being rude to Dr. O’Brien’s family” when I encounter this awful man. But, tonight I decided that I’ve had it with this guy - who does not respect a regular. Whoever he is, I TRULY hope he offers something to this business (that I - and others - clearly do not see) because he surely does not offer it to customers. Please know, I love Charlie and his entire family. Again, I will always recommend it to friends and anyone visiting Atlanta, but it is a shame if they happen to visit on a night that this man works. I love the establishment and I hope they deeply consider who helps promote their family business and who diminishes the value of it.