Best steaks this side of Manhattan Save room for dessert Bar seating is as cool as table and appetizers are a full meal also read more

I've driven by it a thousand times, but finally decided to give the Char Steakhouse in Raritan a try. I opted to sit at the bar where I enjoyed a delicious and juicy burger. Regarding cocktails, I tried the "Char Manhattan" - a perfectly prepared and generously-sized Manhattan. Later I enjoyed a whiskey pour from one of their proprietary bottles from Rock Town (an Arkansas Distiller). I was served by Tom and Candace - who were fantastic and went the extra mile! I look forward to returning to Char to try their steaks. read more

Char Steakhouse - "Char Manhattan" - Steakhouses Near Me - Raritan, New Jersey

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I was here for a private event which was reserved in a quiet intimate room towards the back of the restaurant. The staff was friendly and welcoming. It was a prix fixe menu that included a little bit of everything. For the appetizers, we had: Fried Calamari with a side of marinara and spicy aioli Meat & Potatoes (braised short rib, potato gnocchi, garlic cream sauce) Thick-Cut Maple Glazed Bacon Slab with mustard, black pepper Caesar salad My entree was the Petite Filet Mignon 8 oz. with roasted garlic. I had the Truffled Creamed Corn as the side. DESSERT Tahitian Crème Brûlée Everything I tried was very good. The thick cut maple glazed bacon was a highlight. I'm not sure if these items are on their regular menu, but I am planning on returning for dinner. read more

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Food was good but not worth the $$$. Idk, I was expecting more for that kind of money. To add to the ambiance we had a couple call over the manager to complain about the waitress for petty little things like bringing the food too early. Next time I spend that kind of money I'll just go elsewhere. read more

Char Steakhouse - Porterhouse for Three (48oz) - Steakhouses Near Me - Raritan, New Jersey

We dined for an early dinner and the food was okay, not great, but service was very good. The elevator music might be reconsidered and the restroom definitely needs more frequent service and a general update! I was surprised at the rundown condition of the women's restroom; not what I expect at a high end steakhouse. read more

This was my first time trying a Char restaurant! There are a couple in New Jersey. At first we were sat near the bar and it was very loud, but then a hostess came by to move us without us asking - it's like they read my mind which was nice lol. We got sat in the back instead in the more formal dining room. We got the crab cocktail, Asiago truffle fries, kung pao Brussels sprouts, porterhouse for two and the sea salt chocolate chip Nutella cookies for dessert with chocolate gelato. For drinks I got a strawberry basil mocktail which was so yummy and a glass of Argentinian Malbec wine. Our server was great - so friendly, chatty, enthusiastic and personable which is so welcoming at a restaurant. The crab cocktail was so fresh. The Brussels sprouts had such a nice flavor to them. The fries could've used more of a crisp in my opinion but still had a yummy taste. I love a more crisp fry with steak. The porterhouse was delightful! There were some tough pieces in the meat that I couldn't chew but I feel like that always happens. The cookies tasted stale and were dry which was a disappointment ! I was expecting a nice warm and fresh cookie especially for the cost of the dessert. read more

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Everything was great but our server could have been a little more enthusiastic. The tables next to us had a server with a lot of energy. He told them of all the specials and sides while our server was very quiet and more to the point. I ordered the surf and turf medium which was excellent and my boyfriend said his burger was the best he ever had. We also shared a loaded baked potatoe qnd the corn for our sides. The corn was soooo yummy and tasted so fattening. It was my Dad's birthday so we shared a banana bread pudding which was quite tasty. It was definitely a good meal and we will be back for a special occasion. read more

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It's been a while since I've been back. The renovations are beautiful. The outdoor area is perfect. The service was quick. The wait staff was very attentive. I attended a bridal shower. For appetizers we had gnocchi. The sauce had a spicy kick. It was delicious. We had a Cesar salad and then the main meal. I had the chicken milanese with arugula, tomatoes, and mozzarella. The chicken was tender. It was a large piece of chicken. For dessert I had the chocolate brownie with ice cream. The brownie was gooey and tender. The food was plated elegantly. Making it appealing to the eye. I ordered a lemon drop martini. The alcohol and lemon juice were perfectly balanced. I can't wait to come back and try other menu items. read more

Char Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Raritan, New Jersey

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Had an amazing time here with my family as we celebrated closing on my first home. Nothing better than being surrounded by family and great food. The lamb chops were amazing. Can't wait to come back to try more things that caught my eye on the menu. Top notch service too. read more

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Too expensive for mediocre food. Ambience is ok, services average. We did like the tiramisu cake.

Without a doubt it was 5 Star service and food. The hostesses were awesome and owner, Matteo greeted us and welcomed us. We really enjoyed the perfectly cooked steaks and all side dishes The waitresses and servers were amazing as well. A great high level Steakhouse that is well worth the price. read more

Char Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Raritan, New Jersey

Food was amazing Steak was amazing But with that being said I sat at the bar for about 2hours And I watch the hostess sit black people In the back near the kitchen every time a black person came in or couple was sat away from the main dining area and seen them sit all the white couples and family In the main dining room I was so disappointed seen it happen over 12 times I'm not even the person that looks for things like this but I did I even waited to see if I was seeing things but it was definitely happening this was disgusting and hurt me to the core I'm extremely upset and hurt I will be seeking legal advice for counseling read more

Char Steakhouse - Bone-in rib eye - Steakhouses Near Me - Raritan, New Jersey

The main course was decent, the appetizers were the real stars of the show. Good spot for a large group to gather. read more

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Food was delicious! Wait staff phenomenal Looking forward to going back! Seafood Tower and Lobster Mac and Cheese delicious read more

Char Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Raritan, New Jersey

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Wonderful food, service, and atmosphere. Our steaks were fantastic, and the drinks were all great. It's on the pricey side but totally average cost for a steakhouse of this caliber - you get what you pay for. We will be back! read more

Seafood tower 9.86/10- this was fantastic. Includes lobster, crab meat, tuna tartare, east and west coast oysters, shrimp and clams. All the seafood was so fresh, and their presentation was also great. The condiments were also great, however they didn't include melted butter which would have been great for the lobster. The tuna tartare was also phenomenal, honestly one of the best I've had. It was so fresh and flavorful and I'm not the biggest fan of tuna. The oysters were so good and they give small Tabasco bottles for it which was pretty cute decor. Lobster Mac and cheese 9.94/10- so good, includes bacon, scallions, and truffle. I really liked the breadcrumbs on top as it added texture and lots of flavor too. The pieces of lobster were also huge, and there was a lot. Portion size was also great. The truffle made the Mac and cheese very decadent and rich in flavor, without being overwhelming. The lobster was also definitely buttered in this dish Crab cakes 9.96/10- these crab cakes were so good like close to Gulfstream level. The crab cake was breaded which was a really interesting take but highly complemented it. The crab cakes had huge chunks of crab meat in it. The dish was complemented by fire roasted corn and spicy aoili which gave it a hint of spice. The photo doesn't do justice, we were in a rush my bad. Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em 10/10- this cocktail was excellent. Made with mezcal, Averna, grapefruit licquor, lime, and ginger beer. We were all intrigued and got it lol. Really strong drink, but the ginger beer and like surprisingly balanced it well and it was kind of refreshing too. Highly recommend this steakhouse, they have a pretty extensive menu and you honestly can't go wrong with any of the options on the menu. The service is also great, and they have a wide variety of breads to start off with. Definitely a more intimate restaurant highly recommend. Great start to sidepiece read more

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I have now been to Char several times and I love the menu and the specials. Both times I was served by VICTORIA, who was beyond excellent with her recommendation ( which were spot on)and her service. Great dining experience. I will go back again. read more

well we have been coming here for years and it is our go to place for a great steak. However last night all 3 steaks ordered did not come out as ordered. Whoever was cooking last night did not do a good job. two steaks were ordered medium and both came out with a raw center. one steak was ordered medium well and it came out well done. for the prices those steaks should come out perfect. everyone was too hungry to complain & when you send a steak back it never comes back right. But on another note we had Maddy for a wait staff and she was wonderful on her 2nd night working. We miss the smoking dry ice served with the crabmeat cocktail too. The little things that add so much read more

Definitely not a place to go when you are on a budget however if you want to splurge and get spoiled this is the place to go. It all starts with great service, and thanks to Joseph S., we did. We started off with a bottle of the Catena Malbec, which we enjoyed. One individual liked white wine so she had the Riesling The appetizers were The Bacon Slab and Lamb Lolipops. Our entrees were Bone-in Filet, Delmonico and a Halibut. Our sides were Potato Gratin and the Kung Pao Brussel Sprouts. We all shared the Char Chocolate Cake, which was easily enough for the three of us and was "delicious." A very nice meal and highly recommended. read more

During my recent visit to CharSteak House my family and I came to celebrate my birthday and spent over $275 on dinner at the Rariton NJ branch. After I paid and we were leaving, a server actually ran after us outside and confronted my wife and children, saying the tip I left was not enough and pressuring my wife to add more. This was humiliating, completely unprofessional, and unacceptable. No guest should ever be chased out of a restaurant and shamed in front of their family. What should have been a special night was ruined. Never dining again to CharSteak house. read more

This was just a giant no from start to finish. I was wary to begin with given the 3.4 star average and how evenly balanced the entire spread of 1-5 star reviews were. Usually means an extremely inconsistent kitchen, which is a business killer for a place in this price point and niche market sector. Came by on a Wednesday, early evening, after work to give this place a try when it's not insanely busy so I could give a fair review, and give the kitchen the best chance to succeed. This place has always given off a fancy steakhouse vibe every time I've driven by, so I'm basing this off of some of my higher end steakhouse experiences (Burke steak, Jean Georges steakhouse, Ruth's Chris, etc) as a baseline reference, especially given their prices. Ordered the bacon slab and stuffed mushrooms for appetizers... bacon needed to be rendered so much more than it was. Glaze was shiny, looked so inviting, but was just a mouthful of chewy, fatty bacon that didn't have any give. Mushrooms were average, and the crab wasn't very prominent in them. Gave off a very frabby vibe instead of fresh lump crabmeat. Could have done better with managing the liquid the mushrooms gave off, or at least made sure to not serve so much liquid with them. For dinner, I grabbed the surf n turf, medium rare. Lobster tail, for $25 left a LOT to be desired. Not much meat, overcooked a touch to create that unpleasant rubbery mouth feel. Butter was just that - no creativity in flavors etc... The steak was closer to medium, but when going to a subpar steakhouse I always order one temp lower than I want, as food tends to be forgotten on the grill, or dies carryover cooking in the window. I'm glad I did in this case, instead of giving the restaurant the benefit of the doubt that it was a high end establishment. Filet is so lean, it becomes a challenge to cook. While not exactly tough, the steak didn't cut or chew like butter. The "charring at 1800 degrees" is nothing more than a gimmick that can lead to wildly inconsistent cooking, as evidenced here. Sides were death by potatoes (gummy mash with a little shave of truffle to justify a $22 price), and the truffled cream corn. Not sure what the truffle obsession is, but it's just putting lipstick on a pig at that rate. Corn would have been fine on its own - truffles didn't add anything extra to the flavor, especially when you're focused on a chewy steak and lobster, and wallpaper paste mashed potatoes. Was too disappointed to throw anymore money at this establishment for dessert. Given the prices, I expected so much more attention to detail and proper cooking, especially on a slower weekday evening. Taking all that into consideration, I feel generous giving 2 stars for something that I'd maybe put a step or two better than Outback or Texas Roadhouse, but not much more than that. Char has a lot of improving to do to justify wanting to charge those prices for the quality that was served. read more

Yeah. Objectively One Star on the most recent and probably last time dining here. There is a lot more that contributed to the rating but the short story: service was non existent after expressing dissatisfaction with one meal (out of 4 meals ordered). When we got up to get server's attention, got a rude "I'll be right there". Would have given 2 stars but Final nail was the credit card surcharge. They did that the last time and was hoping it was just a temporary thing despite not disclosing the practice up front. Pro tip: add 3% to your menu prices. read more

The food was very average for the price. I ordered the crab cakes. There was nothing lump about them. There was a total of 2 tablespoons of crab meat between the two it was 90% bread crumbs and over broiled. read more

it was our 40th anniversary. One of the worst restaurant experiences we ever had. We will never return. The average noise level made it difficult to hold a conversation. And one staff member was extremely rude (more below). Expensive: price for two: $205 not including tip (no drinks, no wine, no extra food). Food was very good and well prepared. Large portions. Why the bad review? A young buss boy seemed to get pleasure out of banging tableware and plates together. Not only when he cleared a table, but again when he reorganized used plates etc on a work table in the dining area - really? The wait staff seemed blind to the noise. I asked one of them to remedy the situation to no avail. I finally walked over to the young buss boy and asked him to consider the customers. He had the gall to swear at me. Never again. read more

Food good, well prepared and flexible to variations from menu Service also good, a bit busy when I was there so some aspects were slower than desired, but did not have to wait long Ambiance lively, a bit noisy and crowded, but the action was entertaining read more

This is one of my Go To places for exceptional service, consistently delicious meals and well executed martinis with a cool upscale vibe. The updated outdoor space is beautiful! To be honest, I usually order one of the amazing appetizers and the Chopped Cobb Salad with with either steak or salmon for dinner, but I have had several other entrees from the steaks to crab cakes. Again...delicious. From the bread service to dessert presentation, the staff and management were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. This restaurant is not inexpensive and it's odd that I considered it a neighborhood hangout, but I do. In an area with tons of options, Char remains in my Top 3. read more

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Had a delicious Easter dinner at Char's. The service, the food and the charm of this place was over the top. Definitely a return visit. Thank you Char's read more

Went to Char for the first time last night (Wednesday). Not too busy. Service was excellent. Food was inconsistent. The Caesar Salad was very well done and they probably made the dressing from scratch. The bead was very good too. My wife and I both ordered the aged cowboy ribeye, medium rare. I think it was cooked slightly past medium, but was not as tender as I was expecting for a $70 steak. I will probably give them a 2nd chance to win me over, but sofar, a bit underwhelmed. read more

Food was great. Steaks were cooked perfectly and the char was crispy and delicious. Service could have been better. Had to flag down several staff members to get our waiter more than a few times. Would definitely recommend and return read more

Although the service was fine, there was nothing special. The waitress was very attentive at the beginning, but then seem less interested despite the fact that we ordered close to $400 worth of food. Only came by once to ask for a refill of water, and seem like I was imposing on her. Despite the less than average service, I was expecting better in terms of food. The escargot was good but nothing above average and actually relatively small and perhaps a little overwhelmed by all the garlic and butter. The calamari was a relatively small portion and about average. I had high hopes for the Wagyu tartare but felt it was overwhelmed with added ingredients, which took away from the very small portion of beef. The Delmonico was very thin and wasn't as good as I would've expected for a $50 steak. The advertise marbling, disappointed as there was way too much fat. The death by potatoes was the only highlight and was very creatively done and tasty. Really could not endorse this place with so much better competition nearby, including Wolfgang steakhouse. Oh, and don't be surprised with a "check out adjustment" hidden at the bottom of your check, which apparently is the cost of using a credit card. Another way to pad an extra $10 to an already overpriced menu. read more

Char Steakhouse - Delmonico ribeye and added Lobster Tail - Steakhouses Near Me - Raritan, New Jersey

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Great place with great food! Come hungry! Took wife here for her Bday while we had a quick get away and really enjoyed our visit!

Damn good steakhouse. I've eaten at some of the best steakhouses including Gibson's, Benjamin,. Post House (closed) and Butcher and Singer. All great (Gibsons in Chicago still #1) This place ranked right up there. Steaks, lobster, mashed potatoes, and lobster were a 10+ Great bourbon and wine list. Fair pricing on food and drinks. Ehab server was outstanding! Go have dinner in Raritan NJ at Char Tell them Jeff Gordon sent you! read more

Good spot with an outside seating area. It is easy to get to off the highway. I would have rated higher but I had a bad incident where a waiter got my order wrong. It wasn't a big deal until he got upset and got nasty with me about the order. The food is always good and I usually have a great experience with the staff. I will come back. read more

Char Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Raritan, New Jersey

The emperor's new clothes steakhouse (hope you get the allusion if not Google the story). This place is a total ripoff. The 70 dollar steak I had was one of the worst tasting pieces of meat I have ever had. Had that liver scent which tells you the cut is very cheap. The sides were also diner quality and were very bland. Once again do not go here you could save a lot more money going to a steak house chain and not feeling ripped off. The only solace I felt is when I dissuaded some people at work who wanted to have a get together there. 20 people I told them: save your money ,and they listened to my advice. RIP Charcoal testing steak house! read more

Char Steakhouse - charcoal tasting steaks blah - Steakhouses Near Me - Raritan, New Jersey

The service, and ambiance were great, even the food at the restaurant was delicious... Until we got two 2 pound lobsters to go. We had them for dinner the next day, and one was burned, hard, and unable to eat. I emailed the restaurant directly, 2 times, with pictures and not even a response was given to me. When you spend $160 on 2 lobsters, plus a meal, you would think that someone would at least respond. We have been to the one in Red Bank many times and were thrilled. It also bothered me that they put the over-cooked lobster at the bottom of the bag in case I checked prior to leaving. Understanding that people complain to receive discounts or additional money/gift cards I am sure the restaurant gets many complaints that are unjustified, but the picture speaks for itself. Very disappointing that an acknowledgement was not even given. read more

I've been here on several occasions for birthdays and celebratory dinners, this place never disappoints. All the appetizers are delicious and handcrafted, we started with the calamari and the shrimp cocktail and the bacon all of which were great. Our server was very attentive and was very cleanly with the whole meal. I shared the Tomahawk steak with my boyfriend and it was the perfect portion for both of us. I also wanted some seafood so I got the stuff lobster which was amazing, the crab meat stuffing was incredible. For dessert I had the fish bowl Sundae which was great but I could've do without that peanut butter and jelly haha but needless to say we will definitely be back! read more

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loved the food & Kara made my experience 10 times better even gave me a cake for a early bday gift thanks Kara

My go to steakhouse in New Jersey. Favorite birthday spot every year , special events place. Service can vary but the food is always excellent, even the leftovers the next days made my mouth water. Great environment to eat in. Looking forward to the outdoor bar. read more

One of my friend's was in town and booked reservations for a few of us to go to this spot. When we arrived we parked in their private lot and we walked in the main entrance and was greeted by the hostess and sat outside. The ambiance was really nice. Our server was named Sergio and he was such a great, attentive server. He took our orders and I ordered the Cabernet and jumbo shrimp and spinach. While we waited for the food and drinks they brought out fresh bread and that was tasty. The wine came out and that was pretty good as well. The food came out and it looked so good. When I went to taste I wasn't too fond of the sauce it was in. I had to add salt and pepper to get it to a taste I liked. The price for everything was about $45. Overall it was a good experience. read more

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Let me start by saying the food was outstanding and is deserving of 5 stars hands down. This was not my first time I travel to NJ several times a year and always eat at Char. This was the first time I left unhappy. I actually was very excited because I had a couple first timers with me from VA and MO and this was their last night in NJ. WHY did we have the most obnoxious, loud and condescending waiter Joe. It started with the drinks we ordered 4 Long Island ice teas that had so much lemon in it that you couldn't swallow. When we finally got Joe's attention he proceeded to give us a lesson on how they make them in his very loud voice while other guests looked. Mind you I know how they are supposed to be made because I always get a Long Island. Not once did he offer to get us something else or make another one. We literally had to pour water in them to drink them. Thankfully the food came and it was excellent! Then the check . I stated when we sat down that we wanted it split. He brings one check . I ask could he please split it 4 ways. Then came the very loud math lesson. "I can put it on different cards but it's has to be divided evenly and it would still be the same only a few cents difference". How is that when we all ordered 3 or 4 different things off the menu and it is 5 people and 3 checks . Mind you again he is loud enough for everyone in the dining area to be disturbed. SMH Joe you ruined our last night in NJ. Please someone tell Joe he needs to use his inside voice and we didn't come for a bartending class or a math class. Maybe Joe needs to attend a class on customer service. read more