New Orleans, LA, is quite fortunate in this regard, as one of the popular and reputed steak houses is stationed there. New Orleans is already renowned as a tourist location, and thousands of visitors flock to the streets and go to Charlie’s for a perfectly cooked meal.
Be it potatoes, dessert, filet, or service, Charlie’s is a favorite of everyone. The tourists go around the chaotic parts of the city during the day and return to this place at night for a peaceful dinner. People also make reservations early so they get to taste the food and even return for dinner in the future.
1. What is a Steak?
Steak is a mouth-watering meat-based dish that is most consumed by the lucrative lot. It is predominantly a Western food and uses meat from animals like cattle, buffalo, and fish, but mostly beef. Due to the popularity of this delicacy, it is very difficult to look for trustworthy dine-ins that can provide quality steaks without disappointing its consumers.
2. Origin of Charlies Steak House:
Charlie’s Steak House is the oldest steak house in New Orleans and is run by the Petrossi family. The restaurant was started by Charlie Petrossi in 1932. The place has been run for seven decades now, and all three generations of the family have taken up the responsibility for its smooth running.
Charlie’s Steak House is known for its everlasting tradition that was sustainable only because the people showed interest in the place. Charlie’s fits the definition of being a family restaurant in its actual terms.
2.1 The Speciality of Charlie’s Steak House:
Charlie’s Steak House is reputed as a traditional steakhouse with a tinge of modern culinary. Charlie’s was on the verge of closing down when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. The house remained closed for three years.
However, the locals and even new visitors who had heard enough about the restaurant started coming up and inquiring as to when Charlie’s would start again. This phenomenon was so widespread that even local food critics were questioned. This motivated Charlie’s (the owner) son, daughter, and daughter-in-law to bring the restaurant to the forefront.
In this endeavor, they also received aid from Matthew Dwyer, who worked as a bartender and went on to purchase Charlie’s with his father, and carried on its traditions for another 12 years until COVID hit. While taking all the safety measures into account, when they decided to open up again, Matheww passed away. The tragedy hit hard, but Charlie’s has been committed to great service and therefore continued their tradition to date.
2.2 How is it Different?
Charlie’s is a classic steakhouse, and yet starkly different from any of its contemporaries. The restaurant apparently has no concept of a menu. The waiters available approach the table of customers, and the customers state how they want their steak to be. This is how they provide a unique dining experience.
Charlie’s Steak House is often mistaken for Charley’s Steak House, which is another different steakhouse and runs on different ethics.
3. Location:
Charlie’s is located at 4510 Dryades St, New Orleans, LA 70115.
The location attracts consumers in abundance and is up for takeaways and to-go food orders. At the same time, the menu at the location promises to give the customers a fulfilling experience with their tasty range of food, which includes seafood as well. They are also open to reservations and private dining experiences.
3.1 St. New Orleans
St. New Orleans, LA, is a city located in Louisiana, USA. New Orleans is famous for its tourist visits, and this eatery charms them. People come all the way to try the famous steaks, even though the location is away from the hustle and bustle of the typical tourist areas. This way, the location is also perfect for the locals if they want some peace away from the chaos.
4. Menu:
As mentioned, Charlie’s Steak House does have a unique way of ordering with regards to steak. However, the restaurant has a section for steaks if anyone wants to go with the basics, along with starters, sides, and its own unique wine list.
The place has a full bar, which is one of the amenities that the customers can use at their own discretion. The place and its meals are perfect for a dinner night between a newly married husband and wife or even for someone who is looking forward to celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. Both couples can choose from the amazing variety of tasty food that the menu promises.
4.1 What is Popular?
Well, according to personal preference and the chef’s magic, there’s a range of popular meals.
4.2 Sides
Their sides include a wonderful assortment of thin and crispy onion rings, wedge salad, their famous dressing of blue cheese, Charlie’s potatoes au gratin, wedge steak fries, garlic bread, grilled asparagus, and creamed spinach.
The cream spinach, onion rings, asparagus, and potatoes au gratin are some of the most popular sides.
4.3 Potatoes Au Gratin:
4.4 Steaks
For the steak, most of it depends on what the customer prefers, but the oz. Ribeye, oz. Filet, oz. NY strip, oz. t bone, etc.
The steaks are the customer’s favorite, and they claim to have the best steaks in this place. The chefs make sure that the steaks are cooked perfectly, and that is what gives this place its top-notch reputation.
4.5 Wine List
Charlie’s Steakhouse is also famous for its bar and its awesome collection of drinks. The place is perfect for a sweet, intimate date night with a partner. The wait staff or the waiters escort the couple or direct them towards the bar area. The wine menu at the steakhouse provides a decent collection for the best experience for the customers.
Not only excellent food but also a decent accompaniment of a liquid is also available to make the customer’s night.
5. Private Dining
Charlie’s provides ample space for reservations in case of private celebrations, including anniversaries, birthdays, or even date nights. On such occasions, the management makes arrangements for a customized menu and even gives the customers the freedom to choose a dining space according to their own preferences and needs, along with good food and excellent quality wine. They also promise a room with a suitable ambiance that is specifically tailored to the needs of the events.
5.1 For Booking:
They have ample space for booking, and customers are welcome to celebrate their anniversaries, birthday parties, get-togethers, or even a date night. The location, which is away from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans, may be the perfect getaway for couples.
The management makes arrangements for party-size rooms and makes sure that they accommodate the guests. Furthermore, the wait staff are posted around the reservation area, so they can lend a hand of help whenever required.
Furthermore, with its popular sides of creamed spinach, medium rare steak, crunchy onion rings, and most importantly, the potatoes au gratin, and lastly, the filet, the place draws in customers all the time. People always talk about how different the food has been since the last visit, and it’s always good things. Rest assured, the customers and their guests are sure to have tasty food and an amazing experience. The flavor of the steak house will stick with them, and they will make sure to keep visiting.
6. When do They Operate?
They operate from Tues-Wed-Thurs, 5: 00 pm-8: 30 pm
Friday-Saturday 5: 00 pm – 9: 00 pm
Furthermore, online orders and catering are also available. The website has a request form that will allow customers to request a private event.
7. Parking:
Parking is available, and the customer needs to enter off of Dryades St. between the iron fences. The premise has ample space for parking.
8. Atmosphere:
The atmosphere is relaxed and mostly gives out an old-school vibe. One can spend a perfect evening with their loved ones in Charlie’s dining room. Munching the onion rings, with an accompaniment of a wedge salad and a good drink from the full bar. The customers can lull their taste buds with the intoxicating potatoes au gratin. The unique factor is that the spot is perfect for late-night dinner or for bar hopping with your girl gang.
9. Attire:
Following the vibe of the atmosphere, the dress code to be followed is casual, with a pinch of smartness. The waiter or the valet will escort the customer and ensure that they have an amazing and fantastic night.
10. Customer’s Review
A customer’s review goes on to decide how a place will fare. The customers have put up their reviews of the house on a number of websites, too, and these reviews help to draw in more customers.
10.1 Food:
Most of the customers at Charlie’s Steakhouse are charmed by its age-old legacy and traditional ways of grilling. They are a fan of wedge salad, ribeye, potatoes au gratin, sweets, and drinks. Good food is what charms people, and this is how they recommend it to other people.
With its popularity, there are occasions when the customers may have to wait, but that is worth it. At the end of the day, they are looking for a good meal with salad, fillet, and drinks and to have a fantastic night. Even though it is primarily a steakhouse, the delicious seafood, the wine list, and even the deserts pull people in.
10.2 Great Service:
All the customer reviews have one thing in common, which is the praise for the waiter and management. The behavior of the management and the waiter impresses the customers and leaves a sense of satisfaction in them. This is another factor that encourages them to come back.
More so, since the steak house does not have an actual menu with regards to steak, the waiter is the one who is responsible for them to have an awesome experience. Not only is the food, such as rib eye, creamed spinach, potatoes au gratin, and the famous onion rings served with great care by the waiters tasteful, but in general, the great service provided by them is commendable.
10.3 Other Facilities:
The other facilities that Charlie’s assures to provide, like a parking lot, a dining space with a good capacity, a full bar, and arrangements for private events, which include personalized menus and catering, are also eye pleasers. The staff and management ensure the smooth functioning of events with the display of excellent food.
In addition, the safety measures that they took up may also be a plus point. No customer would like to go to a place that does not ensure their safety or puts it at risk.
In lieu of the above-mentioned factors, customers have started loving this place and ensuring that every time they visit, it is not the last visit. They turn up with their families, loved ones, and friends for anniversaries, birthday parties, date nights, get-togethers, or just work parties. All groups of people are welcome and can enjoy the space offered to them. The customers have claimed that the place is clean and hygienic and always mention how good of a waiter they have been assigned.
The valet parking is another factor that amazes the customers. From the moment they get down at the parking lot, they are greeted by a valet and escorted to their table. They receive their assigned wait staff, who not only serve them but even talk to them so there is no confusion when they decide what they need to order. They make sure to explain how their steaks are cooked and even recommend dishes that could suit the customer the best.
Some customers have commented that the recommendations they have received from the waiters seemed unbiased and unrelated to price. This just means that they were genuinely interested in recommending food without thinking about the idea of profit. The customers are also awed by the way their waiters decide to present their dishes. In short, the customers are always full of praise for the great service Charlie’s has to offer.
11. Conclusion
Overall, all one needs to know about Charlie’s is that they are an excellent eatery with amazing staff management and food. Anyone who goes into Charlie’s will return with a wonderful experience and, in turn, also promote the restaurant to other people.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
