Charles

Charles is a name I have always liked. I even feel a kinship towards it (had I been born a boy you would now be reading the blog of Charles Logan Billingsley), maybe that's why I feel so offended that this restaurant is so unoriginal. I realize that truly unique restaurants are few and far between but Charles manages to rip off so many recently opened "cool" restaurants that it ends up having no personality of its own.

The copycat theme starts with the lighting (Bobo) is emphasized by the back bar (Smith's) and is driven home by the prices (Waverly Inn).

The menu is interesting enough, there were quite a few items I wanted to order: Grilled Herb Stuffed Whole Branzino, Grilled Lamb Rack with caponata & pomegranate, Pan Roasted Cod Fillet with poached san marzano tomatoes & cerignola olives, were among the few but I was disappointed to see the Charles Burger, yet another reminder of the great New American menu rip off.

We ended up deciding on two appetizers (Grilled Octopus; Endive Salad with blue cheese) and two entrees (Salmon with Citrus Salsa and a special Stuffed Red Snapper). The food was good--octopus was flavorful and served in full tentacle form, salad was fine, snapper tasted moist and must have been cooked sous vide and the salmon was meaty with a nice char on the outside--but for the price ( mid teens for apps and $30+ per main course) it was not special enough.