Charcoal

Recommends

Jeffrey Scharf

Joined 2 years ago

The view , the food, the staff in any order are the best.. My wife and i try to eat here every few months. The menu is constantly changing yet there is always something that we enjoy. The chef/ owners are always trying new and upbeat ways of preparation at a reasonable price. The views, if you get there during daylight hours , of the Delaware are really pretty. Windows to the ceiling, on three walls , makes for no bad seat in the house. Breakfast on the Delaware is a treat , and the coffee cups are always kept full. Remember to BYOB (for dinner)

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alpat

Joined 3 years ago

A must try!. Charcoal BYO is a favorite of ours, we recommend to everyone we know. The atmosphere is friendly and casual; the service is great, you feel like one of the family. The food will blow you away, you won't expect what you find. Breakfasts are consistently good, they always have an interesting special on Saturdays. I crave their lunch sandwiches, from their cornbeef sandwiches to the chicken panini - they are to die for! Dinner though, is what will blow you away. The food is beyond anything else you can find in the area. It is interesting, always testing limits, always enjoyable. I love trying new things, so Charcoal is a staple on our monthly restaurant rotation. Check it out! And don't leave without trying a dessert special!

Recommends

bouchonfan

Joined 3 years ago

Most flavorful steak I have ever had? at a byob?. Let me start by saying, the tranquil views of the Delaware river framed out by this bistro are breathtaking. I brought my favorite bottle of wine and I am ready to have an excellent steak.

My dining partner and I make some well informed dining decisions with a little bit of guidance from our server.

We went for the appetizer special- crab and lobster salad and a grilled romaine salad, we do sharesies of course. What an amazing flavor combo- the seafood salad was perfection!! Tender pieces of crab and lobster tossed lightly with parsley, freshly snipped chives lemon and celery, these succent bits were placed in some lemon flowers and were an excellent accompaniment with the smokey, crisp lightly dressed grilled romaine. We enjoyed the seafood so well, we ordered a second. (shh! we needed to try it without the romaine)

For our main meal I chose the 14oz strip steak medium rare with Charcoal's homemade mashed potatoes and a saute of mushrooms and onions. Partner ordered the Halibut special panseared and over a small arugula with a little herbed rissoto and a side of bacon braised brussel sprouts.

I will start with the honest assessment- best steak I ever had- barr none. It was heavily portioned, juicy seasoned and cooked to perfection. The accompaniments only added to my satisfaction.

Sharesies always = partners dish was delish, a nice carmelized sear on the halibut, white, meaty and moist inside- the arugula was wilted perfectly with the vinaigrette and warm juices from the halibut and the risotto perfectly creamy with a little parmesan and fresh chives. I do wonder what they do to those brussel sprouts to make them taste so good... I think it is the smoked bacon...

We skip coffee and discuss dessert.

I get the warm chocolate bouchons with homemade cherry sorbet. Counterpart goes for the textures of chocolate with pineapple and banana sorbets.

When I cut into my warm and chewy brownie looking cake- I was surprise to see a slow puddle of warm chocolate come out of the little parcel!! The warmth of the chocolate and the bright cold of that sweet and tart sorbet- sublime.

Now my table partner's dessert? Amazing!! A large piece of chocolate ganache surrounded by banana sorbet, pineapple sorbet, carmel sauce, peanutbutter powder, chocolate tuile cookie and fresh banana. This dessert is about finding as many flavor combinations as you can. Peanut butter and chocolate, banana and chocolate, pineapple and chocolate, pineapple and peanutbutter... true genius.

Zen decore, relaxed setting, good service this eatery is on my list for seconds-

perhaps for lunch next time...

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BethL77

Joined 3 years ago

Great local place. It's so nice to have a place like charcoal so close. I have always gone for breakfast & lunch, recently tried dinner for the first time and had all my expectations far surpassed.The cuisine was that of a big city restaurant, but with that small town feel, and of course the scenic view. Our server suggested the skate & filet medallions, They were both amazing, particularly the skate. Make sure to save room for the homemade desserts! we had the meyer lemon & blueberry sorbet with spun sugar, soo good!

Recommends

Delriverfoodhound

Joined 4 years ago

Good place for breakfast. Cosy restaurant by the Delaware with a great view of the river. The breakfast food has always been good and plentiful. Staff goes out of their way to make you comfortable. They keep special condiments that the 'regulars' bring in.

Recommends

ajcj

Joined 5 years ago

Great place...try it yourself and you will see. Been there a ton of times in the old building and new; and have no complaints. The 2 negative complaints posted on this site must be from employees from one of the other local restaurants set out to once again sabatoge this local business reputation.

Try it yourself and see if you like it. If its so bad, why is it always busy then? duh!

Going tonight for dinner! :)

Doesn't Recommend

DonnerParty

Joined 5 years ago

decent breakfast menu. cheap and loud music system makes for tacky, stressful diner experience not recommended

unresponsive service

Recommends

kakaku

Joined 5 years ago

I worked there and STILL love to eat there. All the time I hear from waitresses and waiters that after working at a restaurant for a time they can't eat there because they've eaten and smelled the food too much and are turned off merely at the smell of the restaurant's food. I had the opposite reaction to working at Charcoal Steaks. I got a job there because I loved the food and friendly people so much. Now, two years later, I live an hour away and miss the delicious home-cooked food. If you're looking for a fancy restaurant with tasteless overpriced food, try the Yardley Inn two buildings down. I'll drive the hour to go to Charcoal for a good meal anyday. And you can trust me, I've eaten and smelled their food more than the average customer and I still keep coming back!

And the person who said they have high school students at cooks is wrong. The cooks are the owner and his adult sons plus long-time family friends who are all adults. And all of them have been professionally trained. Some of them look young, but they've certainly been out of high school for years and don't deserve to be called children.

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mtgari

Joined 5 years ago

great home style food. Great consistent food. I enjoy dinning there at least once every few weeks. friendly service and a wonderful view of the river, Love the new look. I recommend the Gorgonzola steak for dinner!

Recommends

Akcfangel

Joined 5 years ago

Top Notch. Warm and friendly, great view, excellent food, outstanding service. Go there at lease once a week. Dinner specials are unique and creative.