Every visit to CHAR Restaurant reminds me why it's one of my favorite dining destinations in Memphis. The crab claws were absolutely fire--perfectly seasoned, buttery, and cooked just right. Every bite was tender and packed with flavor, making them an unforgettable appetizer. The steak flatbread was equally delicious, layered with tender steak, fresh toppings, and perfectly melted cheese. The cocktails were expertly crafted and worth every sip. If you visit during Happy Hour (Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.), don't miss the discounted cocktails, featured wines, draft beers, and appetizer selections. It's one of the better happy hour values in the city. Char Restaurant +1 Then came dessert--the legendary Butter Pecan Cake. This dessert had to be created in heaven. Warm, buttery, rich with toasted pecans, and paired with creamy vanilla ice cream, every bite melted in your mouth. It's easily one of the best desserts in Memphis. Even better, this masterpiece is also served at CHAR's sister restaurant, Amerigo. From the exceptional food and handcrafted drinks to the polished service and elegant atmosphere, CHAR delivers a five-star dining experience from beginning to end. Highly recommended. Order the crab claws, enjoy Happy Hour, and whatever you do... don't leave without the Butter Pecan Cake. read more

See all

We visited Char for Easter, and overall, the experience was just okay. Unfortunately, nothing really stood out. The grits were hard, and the crabcake appetizer came out cold--though the sauce on top had great flavor. None of our food was served piping hot, which was disappointing. The crab claws were a highlight--buttery and well-seasoned. We did have to send our fries back for a fresh batch, and the shrimp and grits were just average. The best part of the meal was definitely dessert--the double brownie with pecan ice cream was delicious and saved the experience a bit. On a positive note, the service was good--Liz was great and very attentive--and the atmosphere of the restaurant is really nice. Overall: decent, but not a standout. 7/10 read more

See all

Please don't give the same amount of rice for a quart of gumbo as you do for a cup of gumbo. read more

Char Restaurant - Quart gumbo with very little rice. - Seafood Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Had a group of 6 pop in for a celebration. Bar area is open seating so it was perfect as a last minute choice. Ordered a bunch of drinks and appetizers. Our waitress was slow to bring items out including glasses of water. But gratuity was automatically included, so guessing she felt no need to be timely. Food was great as always and the ambiance was so on point. Really enjoyed the live pianist. Made our celebration feel extra special. read more

See all

Date Night!! The food was delicious, the drinks were lit, and the deemed lights ambiance was great for intimate conversations. We ordered: Appetizers: - SPINACH BACON CRISP crispy flour tortilla | spinach | bacon | mozzarella | baby greens | tomato-basil relish -CRAB CLAWS Half/Half fried & sautéed | cocktail sauce PORK CHOP - garlic mashed potato | broccolini | Cognac and green peppercorn cream sauce SCALLOPS - roasted red bell pepper risotto | asparagus | thyme roasted grapes | caramelized leek creme Drinks: Long Island iced tea & Dirty Martini read more

See all

What an amazing meal we had! Started with a blueberry lemon drop, old fashioned and sautéed crab claws. All were delicious. Char has one of the best lemon drops in the city. I had the pork chop (served with garlic mashed potatoes and broccolini). It was phenomenal. The pork chop was cooked perfectly! My husband had a filet with mashed sweet potatoes. He enjoyed his as well. We ended with the brownie dessert with vanilla ice cream instead of the bourbon pecan. We had a great meal and the ambiance is very romantic. read more

See all

Friday lunch was just as delicious as dinner. The Char burger is always a favorite pick for lunch along with the onion rings. The crab claws...well they were good, but I wouldn't order again. The sautéed crab claws had a nice kick and really good seasoning and the fried claws were good also. Service was quick, they were very busy and the parking lot was PACKED!!! So my previous statement about parking is no longer a true statement. I circled that lot at least 3 times before I got a spot. They do offer daily lunch specials and Friday is catfish Friday, so that's a "good to know" about lunch hours. Once again, if you haven't been to Char, please give them a visit. read more

See all

My favorite appetizer is the butter tasting. I'm a big bread and butter girl, and they change up the butter menu occasionally. I tried the blueberry lemons drop that all the other reviews are talking about and it was pleasant, more on the tart/sour side but a tasty drink. This time I got the shrimp and grits. The dish was delicious. I felt the portion size for this dish was small, but then I quickly realized it was reflected in the price. I would love an option with more, and I don't mind if it affects the cost; the dish was SO GOOD. I was hungry again a couple of hours after dinner. Our server was very friendly and knowledgable about the menu. This restaurant has a low-light and intimate seating vibe. It's perfect for a date night or a dinner to catch up with friends. Next time I'm trying the ribeye! read more

The gumbo was amazing. If I could've boxed up. I would have that's how good it was. Me and my home girl are definitely going back for that. read more

Char Restaurant - Char Filet and baked potato. - Seafood Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

We went in today at 3. No wait for a table. We were greeted by the waiter. Friendly ! We ordered and the rest was history. The ambiance was quiet due to transitioning to the evening. I love it. Service 5/5 Food 5/5. The redfish was flaky and savory. The crab claws made me order bread to get the drizzle. Iykyk! Great way to start a Friday evening! read more

See all

Wow! Mad at myself for taking so long to dine at this great restaurant. The ambience was perfect the service was great and the food even better. I plan to return to take pictures and of course eat. We sat in the bar on a Saturday afternoon for a lunch date and I can't imagine a better choice. I am very happy and will visit again in the very near future. read more

Tonight we came for dinner to celebrate a birthday and we had a very nice time ! The service was good , always had our drinks filled , our server was very informative about the menu and beer options. I got the redfish , the server said it was one of her favorite dishes and I'm so glad I took her advice ! It was definitely one of the best dishes I have ever had out , my husband got the duck and was very pleased with his meal. The broccolini was the best I have had from anywhere . One person got the ribeye and said it was over cooked to his liking and what he had ordered but said the flavor was so good that he ate the whole thing . The butter tasting is a must , and the crab claws were decent and the crème brûlée was delicious! Overall I cannot wait to go back and enjoy another meal ! read more

I had dinner at Char about a year ago and remembered it as a great place to celebrate a special occasion, so I chose it for my birthday this year. Unfortunately, I had no idea how much things had changed.The first thing I noticed was the disheveled appearance of both our server and the manager. It immediately made me question whether we should stay, but I was celebrating with a dear friend for her birthday as well and didn't want to make a scene. I was also surprised that there didn't seem to be any dress code or standards being enforced for guests, which gave the restaurant a much more casual atmosphere than I remembered. It simply no longer felt like the upscale dining experience Char once offered.Service was painfully slow from start to finish. We waited 20 minutes before anyone took our drink order, another 18 minutes for the drinks to arrive, and then 64 minutes after ordering before our food finally reached the table. By then, everything was only lukewarm.My friend and I shared the ribeye so we could try several of the sides. Every single one was disappointing. The garlic mashed potatoes looked as though they had been sitting under a heat lamp, with a dried crust on top. The creamed spinach was overwhelmed by nutmeg and topped with partially melted pre-shredded cheddar cheese. The mushrooms were, by far, the worst--they tasted as though they had been soaking in balsamic vinegar for days before being reheated.As disappointing as the food and service were, the most concerning part of the evening came near the end of our meal. A baby cockroach crawled across the dusty ledge beside our booth lamp. I photographed it because I was so shocked. Seeing any cockroach in a restaurant is unacceptable, especially one that markets itself as a fine dining establishment.This was an expensive meal that failed on every level: atmosphere, service, food quality, and cleanliness. I won't be returning, which is especially disappointing because I genuinely enjoyed Char during my previous visit. I sincerely hope management takes these issues seriously, as the restaurant I remembered no longer seems to exist. read more

Char Restaurant - Our little cockroach dinner guest on our dusty booth ledge at Char. - Seafood Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

The service here has unfortunately gone downhill. This was my fourth or fifth visit to the Memphis location, and while the first few were good, the last two have been very disappointing. If you sit in the bar area (after being directed there as a solo guest), be prepared to go long stretches with no attention. I sat for a long time before being acknowledged, and my drink sat empty from the time my entree arrived until the end of the meal. Management really needs to support the bartenders better when it's busy. I'm actually writing this review at the bar right now because I'm still waiting for someone to come by so I can ask for my check or ask if I want dessert. The food is good, --certainly not good enough to make up for the lack of attentiveness. Next time, I'll wait for a table in the dining room or go elsewhere. Update: I eventually had to ask a busboy for my check, seemingly a manager brought it out but she wasn't dressed and the same uniform. I tried to hurry and put my card down not even attempting to use any of the four rewards I've earned over the last 2 months. Before, I couldn't look up she was gone and I waited another couple minutes. That's why I changed to a one-star. read more

Char is a staple of refined casual dining in Memphis. The atmosphere is a mix between New Orleans chic with steakhouse cool. Our server was impeccable, detailed and fast. The food was great too. We missed out on the crab fingers (sold out), but the gumbo and crab cakes were very tasty. Our steaks were seasoned and cooked perfectly. The creamed spinach was a little overcooked but still flavorful. Would definitely go again. read more

See all

In reply, I did request more water- never came I did tell a 'manager' that the red cabbage on my grouper sandwich was too bitter to eat- he said he would tell the kitchen- never offered any remedy for my food. I did remove the grouper from the sandwich and it was great! My wife ordered the chopped salad- she had to use her knife to cut up the lettuce. Not exactly a 'chopped' salad. But the salad tasted fine. read more

Amazing brunch. Good drinks! Very elegant atmosphere to have dinner or brunch with friends. Prices are very reasonable too!!

Absolutely amazing!! Always a fan of their crab claws every meal is an experience in flavor heaven!! Their pork rinds & crab claws are definitely their unforgettable signature dishes, but the Chef feature of Seafood Pasta Alfredo was decadent!! Full of grilled shrimp, crawfish, andouille sausages, grilled cherry tomatoes and fresh parmesan it is a delight in every bite!! The Alfredo sauce was rich and satisfying without overpowering the seafoods!! Our waiter, Zach was impressive!! He checked in often and was very pleasant and engaging! Char Restaurant, "Thank you" for never disappointing me!! read more

Attempted to make a reservation for Father's Day for party of 15 and initial hostess stated no problem. Another associate got on the phone and stated she would book the reservation until she realized it was a party of 15. She then stated I would have to use there private room and it's already reserved. I said can I sit in general seating without sitting together and she stated they are booked. I then asked for clarity-are you stating your entire resturant is booked for Father's Day....her response Yes. I just don't believe your entire restaurant is booked up for Father's Day from open to close read more

Very good meal and consistent in the cooking. Only problem it would have been better experience if they had the help in service needed for a busy restaurant. Oysters appetizer was outstanding! Redfish cooked to perfection. Prime NY strip good char but wrong temp for medium rare was only thing not consistent and did not make my honey happy for a birthday dinner. Otherwise you would be happy for food but not for the price you pay for the experience. read more

Terrible feel, management is disconnected and complains loud enough for patrons to hear. I had a question about a dish and the manager , Randy . Was rude and complained about the waitress. I feel like there is an underlying current of seediness. I've been in several char restaurants and this is the only one with questionable food and poor management. I have been in twice on my last 2 visits and it's sub par. Needs revamping and new leadership. The steak and salad had issues and it seemed like the menu doesn't match the dish. When I asked the waitress, the manager seemed put out to answer a question. The place had a shortage of serving materials. read more

Stopped in here in last night in town. Ordered the shrimp and grits and did not like it at all. Way too spicy and I was expecting smooth creamy grits not lumpy. The crab claws were delicious. Did not like our servers attitude. read more

Char Restaurant - Shrimp & Grits - Seafood Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Char has wonderful dinner offerings, but I wanted to focus on the weekday lunch specials available 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. I went on a Monday and the fried chicken was the special of the day. My waitress was great! She encouraged me to try the chicken, she said it sells out every Monday, so how could I not give it a try. I'm glad I did; it was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The mac and cheese was also very good. If you have never visited Char lunch would be a great way to give it a try. The restaurant is very pleasant and makes for an enjoyable dining experience. The bar area is spacious and inviting and would be a great place to grab a cocktail after work. read more

Char Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Char was the best dining experience I had in quite some time. From the staff to the quality of the food: everything was first-rate. Finished our meal with a homemade pecan pie (more like a thick tart than a pie). Stop by before a Graceland tour (about 7 miles away). This way you can walk off all the goodness you've ingested. read more

My family reserved one of the banquet rooms for our holiday gathering. The event was planned out weeks prior to the event date. However, the total event was a disappointment. When we arrived the room had heating on when it was 75 outside. So about 90 degree's inside the room. I requested a full menu, but there was confusion on whether we order from brunch or dinner menu. As I mentioned we had 17 family members. We only had 1 waiter and no bus service. So it took forever to order. Wanted to get desert but didn't have the time. The room reservation time had ended. Don't use this establishment for your special event. read more

Wonderful service and chill atmosphere. I sat at the bar for appetizers and drinks one nice October afternoon. The bartenders and runner were a great team... Tiffany keep us giggling and our drinks refilled. The drinks were delicious. We ordered a Expresso martini, Manhattan, Washington Apple, etc. I don't eat crab but the Crab Claws seemed to be a crowd favorite especially if ordered half fried and half grilled. I will definitely be coming back again for a date night or an after work drink. Happy Hour from 4pm-6pm (not all drinks and food ordered were on happy hour menu). read more

See all

Very bad service in the bar area . The manager walked around all night without greeting guests - just running food to the tables . I sat down for ten minutes before anyone greeted me and after I ordered the bartender didn't even ask if I wanted to order a drink ..fine on end restaurant side if you desire service ! read more

See all

Food was okay. Steaks are cooked in lots of oil/butter. The wedge salad was also just okay. Wilted and no bacon or things a wedge should have read more

Great Location, Wonderful selection of food, Wine is always perfect, Staff is so respectful and helpful. Very clean, tasteful decor !

The food was delicious and Tim, our server was wonderful! There were 7 of us with each person having a different lunch & each liked their food but everyone loved Tim! read more

I honestly thought I had written a review for Char! Well, I guess not, so here goes. I visited for the first time about 2 years ago and had a wonderful experience. My first time, I had the lump crab cakes for an appetizer. They are so good. They have no filling, so you are literally eating all crab meat that is cooked to perfection. I also tried the fried green tomatoes. They were delightful as well. For dinner, I went to my favorite thing to order, which is shrimp and grits. I literally order this everywhere I eat (if they offer it), lol! It was good as well. We also had the bread and butter sample. The various types of butter was really good...especially the strawberry! My drink was really good too. The only thing I didn't get was the blueberry bread pudding, which led me to the visit the other day. During this visit, I had a cup of gumbo for the appetizer. It came with a half of bread. It was really good. The andouille sausage really added flavor to it. Let me hurry up and tell y'all about the Blueberry Lemon Drop!!!! Whew, it is the best I have had. If you go it is a MUST try! Ok, now back to the food. I tried the salmon with loaded potatoes, and sautéed zucchini and squash! It was soooo good and flavorful. The salmon had a bit of a crisp to it. The potatoes were so creamy and buttery that I couldn't stop eating it! I was with hubby, so of course I put my fork in his plate, lol! He had the pork chop and I must say whatever that gravy sauce was...chefs kiss* Finally, I had the blueberry bread pudding. It was really nice serving. It was top with a fresh blueberries and a blueberry sauce. I had vanilla ice cream to compliment it. Great experience as always! read more

See all

Our favorite neighborhood fine dining spot! The drink specials dont disappoint. We love the piano you that plays in the bar. Service is always great! read more

Char is a steakhouse. Impeccable service and amazing food at a price of course. Really nothing sets them apart from the other chain steak restaurants. read more

I've been to Memphis so many times, and I can't believe it took me this long to discover Char! I'm a sucker for crab claws, so I had to give them a try, and they absolutely delivered. Most places I come across only serve them fried, but Char's sautéed version was a rare and delightful treat. I received about 40 claws, which was incredible value for the price. They were buttery, tender, and had just the right hint of lemon. The No-Filler Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes were just as impressive. Packed with enormous lumps of crab, they truly lived up to their "no filler" claim. Each cake was about 2 inches tall and easily 4 ounces of pure, flavorful crab meat. It was served with a velvety tarragon butter that enhanced the flavor, though the only thing it could have used was a lemon wedge. Char really impressed me with its combination of quality, portion size, and reasonable pricing. Even though I got takeout, the staff was friendly and professional, and the restaurant itself had a great atmosphere. If you are a seafood lover visiting Memphis, make it a priority to check out Char. It is absolutely worth it! read more

Char Restaurant - Sautéed Crab Claws - Seafood Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

We decided to go to Char as a belated Valentine treat. We've come to Char for anniversaries, birthdays, when he popped the question, and we normally have a really nice experience. Char is located in the University of Memphis area. Over the years, there are many more shops and residences in the area, so it's easy to find. Parking is available right in front of the restaurant. You are greeted upon entering. The lighting is slightly dimmed, making for more of an intimate setting. The space is open and they have regular seating with tables and booths, a full bar, along with space and private areas for larger parties. *side note: restrooms passed Our menus were placed on the table, and the waitress greeted us. They have a happy hour menu from 3/4:30-6 during the week. There are several appetizers and entrees to choose from in addition to shareable sides. For our vegetarian/vegan friends, there are still options available. While there are no meat alternative products specifically, Char does have several sides to share and salads available. Both the mashed and sweet potatoes are really good, and a lot of the sides with the main entrees are tasty also. I feel most restaurants are more than willing to accommodate, and Char provides a note on the bottom right of the menu for what items are prepared in the kitchen itself. We didn't get cocktails this time, but we did order crab cakes as an appetizer. The crab cakes are a good size, but they came out not even 5 minutes after the order was placed and weren't exactly piping hot. A sign of the service to come? Maybe. The crab cakes still tasted good though. For entrees, he got the porkchop and I got the grilled grouper with a wedge salad. What really piqued my curiosity to choose the grouper was the orange pecan butter. I really liked my entree! Both the fish and orzo were tender, and the orange pecan butter made for a nice touch. The wedge salad was fine. The porkchop was well seasoned and tender, the broccolini was fine, and the mashed potatoes were flavorful without being too heavy. For dessert, we got the brownie. It comes with a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream, and a little bit of strawberry. The brownie is warm, and the dessert itself is definitely for sharing. Pricing for most restaurants generally depend on what you want, but definitely prepare to open your wallet wider for this visit. I enjoyed the food and the ambiance, but my only hangup was the service as the evening went along. It was fine in the beginning, but I felt like we were getting "water table" treatment as the night went along. While the food was really good, our server was generally nice, she wasn't that attentive to our table as the surrounding tables that had more people and items. It was a bit of a letdown, because we love Char and the service is usually excellent. Upon further observation, I noticed the staff seemed to be much younger than what I remember. I won't say a younger staff means an inattentive staff. I know each time we've gone, our servers have been a little older and seemed more experienced. So I'll be a little lenient since all of our prior experiences went really well. I'll give this one a rating: close nights under dim lights. I feel like it's definitely a place you bring someone you're close to. This makes for a nice date night, meet up, or celebration. read more

See all

Well, I finally made my return to Char after 4 years lol. This time, I was with a group of coworkers celebrating a new edition soon to arrive :). Our waitress was super nice and helpful. I wasn't starving this time so the only thing I ordered was the crab claws, half fried and half sautéed. They give you a pretty good amount. Once again, the claws were SO good. I really could've ordered another round lol. Overall, we had a great time and I will likely be back to visit. Maybe hubby and I can have a date night here soon. read more

Char Restaurant - Crab Claws - Seafood Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I went to the Duckhorn wine dinner 10 out of 10 the food was superb. Definitely Chef kiss. Everything was cooked perfectly. The items served is not on the usual menu they should definitely consider as a special. The experience was great would definitely attend again. read more

See all

I always love the food at Char, but on my last visit, I was with a party of 8. Unfortunately, we could not be seated until 6 of us arrived. That kind of soured the mood, but once we were seated, our dining experience was great. And I had the best calamari ever. Great food. Great service. But ensure your entire party is ready when you arrive. read more

I'd like to give this place a 4.5, but I will round down because of the scale. Service was great. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. To start we got a wedge salad split which was the perfect amount and a single crab cake. The crab cake was delicious, but it was more just a pile of crab meat in the shape of a cake. Cocktails: the old fashioned is great, but definitely don't get the smoke unless you like drinking firewood. The entree was cooked perfectly, but the sides were the clear winners tonight. We got the cowboy ribeye (medium rare) and the tuna (seared blue). The tuna sides were to die for which included a Brussel sprout and gnocchi side. Smashed potatoes were also delicious. The tuna and steak itself were great, but not the best steak/tuna we've had. We ended the night with pecan pie and house made gelato (egg nog flavor). The pecan pie was warm and delicious. The gelato is the only thing I didn't enjoy. For $7, it was icy and not flavorful enough. I live egg nog and it was a big disappointment. Another note is that when I made the reservation, I told them it was for my fiancés birthday. Nothing special was done for that. It is good food and good service. I don't know if a $250 bill was worth it for two people with out the extra finesse. read more

See all

We were super excited to come dinner at Char! However, we were told to lower our voices at the bar while Saturday football games were projected. To add insult to injury a medium steak was given as medium well/well done. The manager begin to challenge us about the cook and tell us to cut more into the steak instead of rectifying the situation. 1/10 experience. read more

Char Restaurant - Manager stated to cut it open instead of fixing the situation of the steak not being medium. - Seafood Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee