How cool is that?! (Barry is my dad, in case you couldn't guess). The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating, and everything about the restaurant was really inviting. The decor was cozy and made you feel very at-home. Holiday lights and decorations adorned the fireplace and bar, as well as the banisters and hostess stand. It was really a beautiful place. I like that it could serve as a romantic spot for a date, but also works nicely as a night out with family like we were having. Not only was the restaurant itself appealing, but the food (taste and presentation) waseven more impressive.
We all started out with a soup, salad or appetizer. I chose mine off the seasonal menu: Roasted Acorn Squash Soup with toasted pepitas and a maple sour cream. One taste of this soup and I was sold. It was the exact taste you want during the fall. I don't usually eat sour cream so I asked for it on the side and tried a little of it. The maple syrup flavoring gave it a sweet taste instead of the usual tartness I don't particularly enjoy. Please excuse the mess on top of the cauldron in the first picture. That was my fault, not the waitress! :)
Another beautiful and delicious appetizer was ordered by my mom and Aunt Patty. The Roasted Beet Salad was full of red and golden beets, goat cheese and a pistachio vinaigrette. The presentation of this dish was so cool it was painful to watch someone dig in. But when it tastes that good, you just have to do it! I had been debating between this salad and soup as my first course. Although I was really happy with my decision, I tried some of this salad and it was delicious! Finely chopped beets tossed with creamy goat cheese (my favorite!) is a go-to combination that very seldom fails in my book. The dressing had just enough pistachio that it didn't overpower the sweet taste of the beets and cheese. Other starters had by the rest of the table included New England clam chowder, caesar salad and oysters on the half-shell.
Then came the entrees... Charley's has a pretty extensive list of seafood options, as well as chicken and steak so it is an ideal menu for any diner. My sister got the Herb Roasted Chicken with garlic mashed potatoes, glazed baby carrots, and asparagus. My mom and Bubby split the Seafood Mix Grill, which included jumbo lump crab cake, fresh grilled fish, grilled shrimp, seasonal vegetables and coconut ginger rice. My dad got the Baked Stuffed Shrimp with seasonal vegetables and coconut ginger shrimp. The rice on each of these dishes was presented in the form of a pyramid. It baffles me how they shape the food like this! Mine was presented similarly to the beet salad shown above. I got the Crab, Avocado and Mango Stack appetizer as my dinner, and it really was the perfect amount of food. The bottom layer was avocado, the middle was chopped mango and red pepper, and the top was a heaping layer of succulent jumbo lump crab meat. The combination of mango, red pepper and avocado was so refreshing and even better with the crab. I don't usually choose appetizers as my entree, but after having such a rich soup for a starter, I felt that something light and cool would be a good way to go, and I was definitely right.
Then, as always, comes dessert. My sister and I opted for our own dessert to share while the rest of the table had the restaurant's signature dish: the chocolate truffle cake. It's a chocolate cake filled with a chocolate center and frangelico creme anglaise topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge and Heath Bar crunch. They dug in so fast I couldn't even get a picture! But I did manage to snap a picture before devouring the Heath Bar Crunch & macadamia nut cheesecake. My favorite part of this dessert was the crust. It wasn't flakey but instead it was extremely dense and filled with graham cracker flavor. Paired with the cheesecake and toffee bits, it was like taking a bite of perfection.
