Charlie’s Restaurant, Amsterdam NY
Posted by amsterdamfood on July 4, 2008
Charlie’s Restaurant jumped the shark the day they opened.
The menu is all over the map, with ridiculous Wild n Crazy names to attract your attention. Can they really be good at so many things?
From Mexico you can have an “Authentic” ‘Botana Casa Mexican Sampler’ with chorizo queso stuffed mushrooms, potato taquitos and carne nachos. I’ve never seen a mushroom or a potato in any of my travels in Mexico, and nachos are an American invention. Not that there’s anything wrong with serving this, but it’s not “Authentic” Mexican. You can also get ‘Slammin Shrimp Chimmichanga’ (sic).
From the South they offer ‘Cajun Grilled Chicken & Lobster Claw’ and ‘Cajun Ahi Tuna “Rare”‘. It’s on the menu, not a special. Are they really getting tuna, fresh enough to serve rare, delivered every day? In Amsterdam?
They’re doing Japanese. ‘Hibatchi (sic) Steak & Lobster’.
From the Mediterranean they’ve got ‘Tuscan Chicken Cordon Bleu’, ‘Loaded Chicken Alfredo’ and ‘Classic Rustic Bruschetta’.
They’re a steak house. Burgers (‘Dirty Love Burger’, ‘Smash Burger Americano’ among others), steaks, prime rib (smoked), roast beef.
From China they offer ‘Chinese Seafood Rangoons’, ‘Crispy Singapore Sticky Wings’ and ‘Red Jade Almond Chicken’. Did a Chinaman ever actually eat anything like this?
They’ve got seafood. Lobster, ‘Bourbon Glazed Salmon’, ‘Shellfish Scampi ala Charlie’ and ‘Deadliest Catch King Crablegs’.
Vegetarian too. ‘Tres Tostada Grande’.
You can even mix and match your cuisines. ‘Mojito Chicken Oscar’ and ‘Daves Grilled Chicken and Four Cheese Penne’.
Plus, sandwiches, soups, pizza, chicken…
Is there anything they don’t do? Thank God there’s no curry. Oh! heaven help me! I may have just given them another idea!
The food seems to be competently prepared, but I wish they would figure out what they like, and what they want to do. And ditch the TV inspired ‘Deadliest’ entree names.
Prices are moderate to spendy (for the area). Sandwiches and burgers are $8 to $11. Entrees start at $11 for Chicken Tenders, with some of the beef and seafood going into the twenties. There’s a nice bar, and beer on tap.
They have a lock on the uber-pretty teen and twenty-something waitresses. If you want to have Ruby Tuesday’s without actually going there, this is your place.
Charlies Restaurant
4465 State Highway 30
Amsterdam, NY 12010
518-842-7399
Claire B said
I couldn’t agree more with the review. The service is a nightmare (really disorganized and couldn’t answer any basic questions about the food) and the food was room temperature. I’d rather go to a chain like Ruby Tuesdays than this wannabe chain. It felt like we were having dinner as actors in a movie doing a spoof on a chain restaurant. I saw their article in the paper about being a “green” restaurant. I wonder about that. It needs some investigating. Someone needs to call this place out. They can’t be all things to all people. Maybe they could help me with my laundry, or perhaps I can order baby formula and diapers to go?
Anonymous said
This is a poor review. Who cares what the names of the meals are – would you rather a boring name? You didn’t say anything about the quality of the food which is excellent. What’s wrong with having a variety of things on the menu if you know what you’re doing. What’s up with the comment on the waitresses? What is the preferred look that you’re looking for? Seems like you had a bad day before you went to dinner. Come on, lets get back to what people actually care about when they’re eating dinner. Try Charlie’s folks, if you want a good dinner i guarantee they’ve got one waiting for you.
Beth said
Give them time to settle in there, I am sure the menu is a work in progress, seeing that they’ve only been open a few weeks. What a nice change that someone in Amsterdam is being fresh, creaative and fun! The management is very experienced, and the chef has a great reputation and comes from some very well-known and respected establishments.
aunt katie said
Charlie’s the new kids on the block? Not actually. Seems Chef Bob has some pretty deep roots in the restaraunt world (Longfellows, Olde Brian Inn…and a vintage airplane collector to boot!). His wife Carla the competant manager as well as “sweet” dessert creator. Don at the bar rounds out the trio. I have been there for dinner and couldn’t believe how packed the joint was, buzzing with flying waitresses and hungry customers. You can eat at a high top near the bar, in the glassed in Adirondack room, the main dining room or steal away to a private upstairs room for special occasion. The menu at Charlie’s is inventive, colorful, and the food is actually very tasty. I am digging the special diet options (vegetarian, gluten free and celiac,good for you Bob even knowing what a celiac is!) they offer upon request. Finally someone in Amsterdam thinking outside of the LUNCHBOX! Give these guy’s some time to work out the kinks and you’ll have a standing reservation!
Bob, Carla and Don, thanks for adding some COLOR to the blah Amsterdam dining world.
amsterdamfood said
Whoah there Claire. I didn’t say anything bad about their service. And while I did question whether they’re really getting fresh tuna every day, I didn’t say anything bad about their food either.
anonymous said
I totally disagree with your review. I have been to Charlie’s numerous times since it has opened and, each time, have had an excellent meal and service. The staff is welcoming, personable, and knowledgeable. I also love the variety that the menu offers; it extends a fresh twist on the cuisine presently available in this area and the dishes are skillfully inspired by many diverse cultures. I am insulted that you would even compare this family run business to a “Ruby Tuesdays” or any other “chain style” franchise-run restaurant. Perhaps, it is you who are confused about what you like! In my opinion, their consistent business speaks for itself! I have, and will continue to, highly recommend Charlie’s restaurant to all of my friends and family. I
Claire B said
I do agree with your review, but I suppose I had more to add about my own experience. I certainly did not mean to put words into your mouth. I just have a feeling we are being duped with this place. I saw the advertorial in the paper a week or two ago and although they seem like a nice group of people I think they are not being completely honest with the public when they say the food is all locally grown, organic, farm-raised without steriods, etc. My experience was horrible. Although I would otherwise give a place like this a second shot (especially since we don’t have a whole lot to choose from around here) I just have the feeling the place is trying to be green, organic, ethnic, and trendy without actually being any of those things. Time will tell and you all may be right….but I think once the surface is scratched and the newness wears off we will see the real deal.
Laura said
Claire you need to try it again. The food I had was wonderful and the service was great.
I disagree with you, I don’t think this restaurant is like a chain at all. Personally I prefer to stay away from chain restaurants, there is no variety there. You could go to any Ruby Tuesday’s in any state and the menu is always the same in each one. All their food is pre-prepared; like from freezer to table. If that’s what you like you go girl, some people like food that is actually prepped and cooked at the establishment not in some factory.
The staff all have years of experience. Bob and Carla have always prepared excellent food and still do.
Sounds like you Claire can’t be outside your comfort zone; meaning a chain or a franchise.
Claire B said
Apparently some of you dislike my comments because you are friends with the owners. I come to this site to view fair recommendations/comments, etc. I am not concerned with who the owners are as much as I am concerned with what they are trying to sell to the public. I have a problem with a restaurant (or any business) that claims to be all things to all people. If they get their food from the local wholesaler then they shouldn’t claim they are getting it from the local organic farmers. We are being duped. If you don’t get that,Laura, you are the one outside of your comfort zone.
Robert R said
In general I never write about bad experiences in restaurants. But the other day my wife, six year old daughter, and I stopped for a quick bite at a fairly new restaurant called Charlies on Rt.30 in Amsterdam. The experience was so bad that it bordered on being hilarious. By meals end my wife and I were shaking our heads in disbelief. And no, I did not mention anything to management as I could not help but think that it would be similar to the reality show that has Gordon Ramsay complaining about food produced by people who have no clue or experience anyhow.
First we were sat in the bar area with my daughter when other tables were available. We waited twenty minutes before any server approached the table. We ordered sodas, and my daughters bottled soda was warm. We asked if she could have some ice, and the waitress replied, “I already put some in.” She then proceeded to read us the early bird specials, only to say it was to late to order them. Why take the time to read them in the first place then? Let me also add that obviously this lady was completely frazzled.
I ordered a fried fish sandwich which must have been over a foot long sitting on a 5 inch roll. Completely tasteless; it could have been breaded cardboard for all I know. Came with a side of coleslaw that obviously was sitting on the line and not refrigerated. My daughter ordered a pizza that was barely edible. My wife ordered a burger that supposedly came with sliced vidalia onions but had fried onions instead. One burger on the menu offers deep fried onions but not fried. The reasoning for adding them is unclear to me. This burger had to be seen to believed. It was such a gloppy mess(Is gloppy a word?)
I kid you not that you could not even pick it up. It had to be eaten with a knife and fork. I doubt my wife ate a quarter of it. Now I understand that the preference in the Amsterdam area is for large portions, but this was ridiculous. We waited forever for the check, and then was told my daughter got a free ice cream with her pizza. But if we wanted it, we had to get up and get it out the cooler ourselves. LOL.
Even though we considered we may be on candid camera, let me say that it appears this place is doing a good business. But with that said, so does the Old Country Buffet.
James Devanny said
After reading mixed reviews from this site, I went to Charlies last week with my wife and two children. It was busy, but we got a table right away. For appetizers we had the mexican sampler platter, and the cajun ahi tuna “rare”. The platter was excellent, the nachoes were loaded with goodies, and the stuffed mushrooms were excellent. The rare tuna was also very good, It was fresh and even came with some sort of asian noodles. For entrees i had the chicken parmasan, which was a large portion, and the best I ever had. My wife had the shrimp chimmichanga, which she said was excellent. The thing was so big, and topped with many things, that she brought most of it home. My youngest daughter(6) had the kids “breakfast for dinner”. She thought getting breakfast for dinner was the bomb.She even got the choice of an ice cream sundae, or, as she chose, got to pick a novelty ice cream out of a cute little novelty freezer. My son(17) got a “buffalo Chicken” pizza. He said it was one of the best pizzas he ever had. Growing up eating Russo’s pizza, I was inclined to try a piece, and i was amazed how great crust was, although i would prefer a sausage pizza over chicken. I tried the carrot cake for dessert, and it was phenominal. They also have Magic Hat beer on tap, which, for me anyways, is a plus. The service was good, and our waitress was nice, and i liked thier matching uniforms, which are tasteful and not “skanky”.
they have a nice u-shaped bar, and a fairly modern dining room decorated with different antiques and memoribillia. Over all, I enjoyed it very much, and it was not expensive at all for the quality we got. Thier menu might be all over the place, but it is does offer a different selection for the area, and they can back up thier menu with quality food.
Jay Anderson said
have three bad experiences with Charlies.
The first time my “deadliest catch” crab legs were dry and tasteless. It was actually difficult to finish them. The second time the prime rib was so fatty that there was little meat to actually eat.
Tonights experience – Had a bloody mary at the bar. It was decent, not the best, not the worst. The service at the bar was very good. Friendly, and interacted well. Got a table for 5. My previous experiences led me to order something safe. At the table, my Stella Artois beer was skunky and past their due date already. I was told that is all that was in stock. They came back to the table with one in hand and already opened as if to say “drink it or leave it”. The waitress clearly does not know how to pour a beer!
I had the chicken and lobster claw sandwhich. This was messy, however very tasty. There were no complaints there. Two chicken oscars were ordered and were said to be very good by my friends who had it tonight. I tasted one of them, and it seemed to be a little too tasteless for me. Good thing for the sauce that came on it and the asparagus too! The steak ordered had no complaints and was very good. The prime rib was fatty and not edible. It was ordered medium and came to the table on the rare side. My friend picked through it looking for some meat and finally gave up in defeat. It was taken off the bill.
Service was good, there are no complaints there, whether it was the bar area or the dining area. We were checked on several times and service was done in a timely fashion. Though its the food the makes me likely never to return here.
It was $119 for the 5 of us. That included drinks which everyone had a few.