Worth A Try
TLDR: This is a great place to wow someone who loves a classic American steakhouse but doesn’t want to feel like they’re in the 1950s. With an upscale atmosphere and plenty of veggies on the menu, Jack & Charlie’s can suit a lot of eaters. It’s on the pricey side, so make it a special occasion and prepare to leave with a fuller stomach and emptier wallet.
Image credit: thrillist.com
Jack & Charlie’s is a great example of what I consider a “modern steakhouse” – basically a meat-focused American restaurant. The interior is moody but has high polish. It’s reminiscent of the sleek bachelor pad steakhouses you’d find in Midtown, but this bachelor went to a liberal arts school and has a decent relationship with his mom. The unique layout of the space lends itself to a cozier atmosphere too; more like an English pub but with white tablecloths.
To suit a millennial eater (I assume, since I was on the younger end there), the menu isn’t all Meat with a capital M either. There’s a nice balance of veggies, pasta, and fish mixed in, and they’re not last minute add ons for the one vegetarian at the table. The cauliflower side is delicious in its own right and I would happily eat it as an appetizer anytime. You can’t go wrong with any of the pastas and you should definitely make sure you have one or two to share at your table. Across the board, the non-meat is all very solid and worth ordering.
But meat at a restaurant like this does tend to stand out, and I’m a sucker for a good steak. For my birthday dinner, I shared the enormous Tomahawk between 6 people and was more than satisfied. Fries with that? You bet. And bearnaise? Absolutely. The burger was a standout as well, and seemingly people love the duck meatloaf, but I can’t confirm because I was sufficiently scared by the word “meatloaf”.
Admittedly, Jack & Charlie’s is expensive. Do I think you can buy a better steak for the same price? Probably. This isn’t the place to go bargain hunting. But for a special occasion or when you want to wow a picky eater, I think Jack & Charlie’s is absolutely worth it.
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