Charlie's Seafood
Charlie's Seafood
Has anyone been to Charlie's yet?
"We dance when there is no music. We drink at funerals. We talk too much, and live too large and, frankly, we’re suspicious of those who don’t." -Chris Rose
Re: Charlie's Seafood
No. Where is it? I need a new seafood joint uptown.
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EatinAintCheatin
- Senior Member
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:56 pm
Re: Charlie's Seafood
It's in Harahan on Jeff. Hwy. It's been there for decades but is now owned by Frank Brigtsen. And I don't think it has opened yet.
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
- Redd Foxx
- Redd Foxx
Re: Charlie's Seafood
Opened Wednesday, July 8.
Re: Charlie's Seafood
I can't wait to go! I've been waiting and waiting for them to open. Sadly, found they are closed on Sundays but will definitely hit it this week. I found this review on another forum:
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720. Scrumptious seafood lunch at reopened Charles Seafood in Harahan !
by JCG, 7/9/09 18:25 ET
A little bit later than hoped for, Charles (aka Charlie’s) Seafood reopened yet again in the 8300-block of Jeff Hwy - with Chef and Mrs Frank Brigtsen at the helm - yesterday.
The place has been nicely redecorated and well staffed and seems to have retained its neighborhood look, feel and bill of fare. The out-of-date telephone numbers still appearing at some websites for the former Charlie’s Seafood & BBQ have been superseded by 504-737-3700. The restaurant is open from 11-9 but is dark on Sundays.
We had a wonderful seafood lunch there today: I had one of my benchmark dishes, a splendid soft shell crab platter with the largest, perkiest, meatiest, best-cooked SSC that I’ve faced in quite a while. Accompaniments were very good French fries and a tasty fresh cole slaw.
My wife chose the grilled gulf fish (a drum) with large succulent shrimp and lemon garlic butter; and sautéed, very fresh vegetables.
Our friendly waitress, Desirée, retained from Charlie’s previous incarnation, gave us a taste of the restaurant’s not-too-spicy seafood okra gumbo – made with a dark roux (possibly very, very slightly burned today but the dish was one to try again next time).
Some of the other diners’ choices looked good, too, ranging from onion rings to a delicious-looking crabmeat Parmesan au gratin to a white chocolate bread pudding dessert that we had no room for.
The reborn Charlie’s has dropped the “& BBQ” from its name and become very largely a seafood place; but its menu offers a good range of 12-inch po-boys and 8-inch “po-babies” [sic], including several seafood choices; but also a Chisesi ham and Swiss; a slow-roasted pulled pork offering; and a roast beef po-boy described as homemade from scratch.
The eatery has its beer and wines license but the small mezzanine-level bar is not yet quite ready for primetime with a liquor license (applied for, I gather). The main dining room has enough pleasant, airy space for about 20 wooden tables with plain, comfortable chairs.
There is a small semi-private area up some steps to the mezzanine level with four 4-tops that looks as though it would be suitable for a small group luncheon. Unfortunately for some disabled people, the mezzanine level is not yet accessible except by the few steps; and the ground-floor restrooms (especially the men’s room) are quite cramped and not fully ADA accessible (eg, by someone confined to a wheelchair). The restaurant aims to be family-friendly and has high-chairs available for small children.
The prices are bit higher than for comparable items at Charlie’s in its 2007-2008 incarnation – roughly comparable with those at The Galley; but the food at Charlie’s is excellent and the bussing and wait-service brisk and friendly.
Warmly recommended.
********************
720. Scrumptious seafood lunch at reopened Charles Seafood in Harahan !
by JCG, 7/9/09 18:25 ET
A little bit later than hoped for, Charles (aka Charlie’s) Seafood reopened yet again in the 8300-block of Jeff Hwy - with Chef and Mrs Frank Brigtsen at the helm - yesterday.
The place has been nicely redecorated and well staffed and seems to have retained its neighborhood look, feel and bill of fare. The out-of-date telephone numbers still appearing at some websites for the former Charlie’s Seafood & BBQ have been superseded by 504-737-3700. The restaurant is open from 11-9 but is dark on Sundays.
We had a wonderful seafood lunch there today: I had one of my benchmark dishes, a splendid soft shell crab platter with the largest, perkiest, meatiest, best-cooked SSC that I’ve faced in quite a while. Accompaniments were very good French fries and a tasty fresh cole slaw.
My wife chose the grilled gulf fish (a drum) with large succulent shrimp and lemon garlic butter; and sautéed, very fresh vegetables.
Our friendly waitress, Desirée, retained from Charlie’s previous incarnation, gave us a taste of the restaurant’s not-too-spicy seafood okra gumbo – made with a dark roux (possibly very, very slightly burned today but the dish was one to try again next time).
Some of the other diners’ choices looked good, too, ranging from onion rings to a delicious-looking crabmeat Parmesan au gratin to a white chocolate bread pudding dessert that we had no room for.
The reborn Charlie’s has dropped the “& BBQ” from its name and become very largely a seafood place; but its menu offers a good range of 12-inch po-boys and 8-inch “po-babies” [sic], including several seafood choices; but also a Chisesi ham and Swiss; a slow-roasted pulled pork offering; and a roast beef po-boy described as homemade from scratch.
The eatery has its beer and wines license but the small mezzanine-level bar is not yet quite ready for primetime with a liquor license (applied for, I gather). The main dining room has enough pleasant, airy space for about 20 wooden tables with plain, comfortable chairs.
There is a small semi-private area up some steps to the mezzanine level with four 4-tops that looks as though it would be suitable for a small group luncheon. Unfortunately for some disabled people, the mezzanine level is not yet accessible except by the few steps; and the ground-floor restrooms (especially the men’s room) are quite cramped and not fully ADA accessible (eg, by someone confined to a wheelchair). The restaurant aims to be family-friendly and has high-chairs available for small children.
The prices are bit higher than for comparable items at Charlie’s in its 2007-2008 incarnation – roughly comparable with those at The Galley; but the food at Charlie’s is excellent and the bussing and wait-service brisk and friendly.
Warmly recommended.
Re: Charlie's Seafood
NOT Laura's quote but what she found elsewhere...LauraMc wrote: There is a small semi-private area up some steps to the mezzanine level with four 4-tops that looks as though it would be suitable for a small group luncheon. Unfortunately for some disabled people, the mezzanine level is not yet accessible except by the few steps; and the ground-floor restrooms (especially the men’s room) are quite cramped and not fully ADA accessible .
I'm glad that someone else remembers what a mezzanine is...
But - I find it hard to believe that any restaurant is operating without an ADA accessible restroom...there should be at least one and the men's room may not be the one there.
This is a requirement in a standard Fire Marshall inspection that has to be complied with before any business is allowed to open.
Jerry Sherlock / Jazz Boutique
JazzBoutique.net
JazzBoutique.net
Re: Charlie's Seafood
I couldn't stand waiting any longer and went for lunch today with a friend. Whoever did the post I found on the other board and posted here had obviously never been to Charlies in any of it's previous lives.
The place is cleaner and brighter and even seems to look bigger but is not. There are actually strip carpets to divide the tables so you don't just squeeze between tables like you used to. It does seem they pushed the lower bar back some or maybe it's just because there were no bar stools there that it looked bigger. I think they just cleaned and painted for the re-model and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned.
Anyway, I didn't check out the bathrooms but they look like they are in the same place. Buildings of a certain age do not have to comply with the ADA rules for bathrooms. I've seen people go in there in the past with a wheel chair and the staff (previous version) went out of their way to assure their privacy and help them. The ladies room was no problem but I can see how the mens would be. I don't know what is underneath that upper section with the small bar and dining room but it has always been raised. I took it that there was some structural reason they couldn't flatten it to the rest of the building.
On to the food........it's a small menu but they said they want to be sure they can get food out timely and will be growing the menu as they grow. They have a few apps but I can't recall them now. One was Shrimp Remoulade with deviled eggs. Not sure quite how that works but will try it one day. They have 12" po-boys and 8" po-babys. I thought that was cute. The typical shrimp, oyster, soft-shell crab, roast beef (home made), pull-pork (slow-roasted 5 hours) and one called Dirty Rice. My friend got that one. It's like dirty rice without the rice on a pistolette. It sort of looks like a sloppy joe without sauce. She said it was delicious as was her side of cheese grits. I had the Seafood Salad: mixed greens and spinach with a few crab claws, shrimp and a large mound of lump crabmeat in the middle with a pesto vinaigrette. It was fabulous and just the right size for me. My friend had lemon crème brulee for dessert and I had a bite. Very lemony but she and I both love lemons. On the way out, I saw them serving onion rings and wanted to grab one. They look thick sliced but not over-breaded or greasy.
I'll definitely be back and maybe hubby and I can get back to our Friday evening dinners.
The place is cleaner and brighter and even seems to look bigger but is not. There are actually strip carpets to divide the tables so you don't just squeeze between tables like you used to. It does seem they pushed the lower bar back some or maybe it's just because there were no bar stools there that it looked bigger. I think they just cleaned and painted for the re-model and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned.
Anyway, I didn't check out the bathrooms but they look like they are in the same place. Buildings of a certain age do not have to comply with the ADA rules for bathrooms. I've seen people go in there in the past with a wheel chair and the staff (previous version) went out of their way to assure their privacy and help them. The ladies room was no problem but I can see how the mens would be. I don't know what is underneath that upper section with the small bar and dining room but it has always been raised. I took it that there was some structural reason they couldn't flatten it to the rest of the building.
On to the food........it's a small menu but they said they want to be sure they can get food out timely and will be growing the menu as they grow. They have a few apps but I can't recall them now. One was Shrimp Remoulade with deviled eggs. Not sure quite how that works but will try it one day. They have 12" po-boys and 8" po-babys. I thought that was cute. The typical shrimp, oyster, soft-shell crab, roast beef (home made), pull-pork (slow-roasted 5 hours) and one called Dirty Rice. My friend got that one. It's like dirty rice without the rice on a pistolette. It sort of looks like a sloppy joe without sauce. She said it was delicious as was her side of cheese grits. I had the Seafood Salad: mixed greens and spinach with a few crab claws, shrimp and a large mound of lump crabmeat in the middle with a pesto vinaigrette. It was fabulous and just the right size for me. My friend had lemon crème brulee for dessert and I had a bite. Very lemony but she and I both love lemons. On the way out, I saw them serving onion rings and wanted to grab one. They look thick sliced but not over-breaded or greasy.
I'll definitely be back and maybe hubby and I can get back to our Friday evening dinners.
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EatinAintCheatin
- Senior Member
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:56 pm
Re: Charlie's Seafood
Good report, thanks. I have a copy of their menu. PM me your email if you're interested.
I will be there with my wife Thursday evening to give it a try. Can't wait. It's great to have another fine place in my hood.
I will be there with my wife Thursday evening to give it a try. Can't wait. It's great to have another fine place in my hood.
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
- Redd Foxx
- Redd Foxx
Re: Charlie's Seafood
I'm going to try it this weekend as I'm house sitting in River Ridge Friday until Monday morning. I'll report.
Jonathan
Jonathan
"He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." Winston Churchill
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EatinAintCheatin
- Senior Member
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:56 pm
Re: Charlie's Seafood
Well, we couldn't wait. We went tonight. Here's the review:EatinAintCheatin wrote:Good report, thanks. I have a copy of their menu. PM me your email if you're interested.
I will be there with my wife Thursday evening to give it a try. Can't wait. It's great to have another fine place in my hood.
Got there around 6:30 and parking was a problem. We lucked out and got a spot across the street on some grass, but I can see this being a problem in the future.
We were seated in the back in the "upper" section. It was noticeably cooler in the back. Actually very comfortable. The main dining room was a little warm.
Beer selection is very limited. Domestic bottles, only one Abita (Amber on draught) and a few typical imports (Amstel Light type).
The place is immaculately clean and comfortable. Nice tables with very good staff.
We ordered an entrée seafood salad to split as an app. It was very, very good. 6 marinated crab claws, very generous portion of jumbo lump crabmeat, and three large boiled shrimp on top of mixed greens. The menu says pesto dressing but I would swear that it wasn't on our salad. But I was too busy savoring the crabmeat and shrimp to pay attention.
We split a 12 in fried shrimp poboy for our main course. Ordered it dressed with mayo on the side. Came with mayo on the bread. Not a big deal, and the waitress offered to fix it but we declined since it was such a light coat of mayo. The shrimp were plentiful and perfectly fried. One of the best I've had in a long time.
Service was good, food quality was excellent, atmosphere very clean and comfortable, and price is a couple dollars above the norm. But for the quality I think it's well worth it.
I recommend it. But as soon as the word gets out it will be hard to get a table.
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
- Redd Foxx
- Redd Foxx