CHARCOAL VENICE

Place is a staple on the West Side for a reason. A+ experience and our mains haven’t come out yet.

Best restaurant in Venice !

Rib eye and duck were phenomenal

Terrific dining experience all around! We loved everything about our meal. Great vibe in the dining room. The chicken wing appetizer was delicious and the Chefs infused vinegar really does add another dimension to all of the dishes. We shared the ribeye steak, the charred cabbage and the mushrooms. They all complimented each other well and with the three steak sauces every bite was a new flavor party.

I recently visited the Sunset location, only to discover that it had closed down. I was truly saddened because I had fallen in love with the duck dish they served there. The last time I visited and had such an amazing and delightful experience turned out to be their final night of operation. It left me feeling quite upset.

However, I received some fantastic news that Charcoal had an original location in Venice. I was thrilled and immediately called to make reservations. When I inquired about it being the same restaurant, the hostess confirmed it was.

Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by a lovely hostess and taken through the kitchen to the outdoor patio seating area. After being seated, we were ready to place our orders shortly after.

Once our orders were taken, we requested the waitress to decant our wine. She seemed a bit forgetful or possibly overwhelmed. After taking our order, she returned to the kitchen and then came out to take orders from other tables. I had to get her attention again to kindly ask her to open the bottle of wine.

Shortly thereafter, the first course of seven dishes was served. The tuna tartare was refreshing and set the stage for what promised to be an incredible culinary experience. The second and third courses followed, leading up to the highlight of the evening - the amazing 21-day dry-aged duck. This duck dish was the most memorable item I had at Charcoal.

Upon being served, the duck appeared different to me compared to the one I had at the Sunset location. While the taste was similar, it seemed like it had been overcooked and left under a heat lamp. We ordered two portions of the duck so that everyone in our group could enjoy it. I will illustrate the differences in the photos.

As we reached the final course, the dry-aged ribeye steak, we found it to be unusually fatty. Despite requesting it to be cooked medium-rare plus, it was served rare.

After considering our experience and the service provided, I would rate this restaurant a solid 4 stars. The restaurant was bustling both inside and outside, but it was evident that they were understaffed. Despite this, we had a wonderful time with our waitress, especially while discussing our wine choices.

I particularly appreciated that the waitress brought our orders in the requested courses, and the overall experience did not feel rushed.