Charley's Steakhouse of Tampa

  

    

                                    Charley's Steakhouse

                                      Fine Dining at its Best

    

             Charley's Steakhouse has several locations all over Florida, but it couldn't feel less like a chain.  Charley's has the feel of a very traditional, almost old fashioned steakhouse.  Inside it's dark and cozy, complete with a fire pit where Charley's steaks are  flame-grilled using 1200-degree temperatures over a combination of oak & Florida citrus wood.  Tables are lit by candle light, and large fish tanks give the bar area some flair.  Walls are covered in bottles of wine, and vintage bottles of scotch and whiskey, the perfect after dinner drink.

Charley's "fire pit"

         My date and I were at first overwhelmed by Charley's huge wine menu (at least 20 pages long), but David, our server, was extremely well trained and was able to answer, and elaborate on every question we had.  After we listed qualities we like in a wine (red, full bodied, non acidic, etc.) David brought us several wine samples to help us decide which bottle to go with.  Servers at Charley's bring around a large tray filled with different cuts of steak, similar to desert trays that other restaurants use, to help you choose a steak.  For the vegetarian diner, or non steak lover, there are a ton of seafood options, including fresh fish and jumbo lump crab cakes, lobster pasta, etc.

                                    

                  Based largely on David's advice that this was the best steak he had ever had, my date and I decided to share the 20 ounce Kobe Ribeye.  Kobe beef comes from Hyogo Prefecture, Japan where cows are grass fed and humanely treated, according to strict Japanese tradition. The type of meat is a delicacy renowned for its flavor, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture.  We ordered a lobster tail on the side.  (At Charley's you can add a large lobster tail to any entree for 15 dollars.)

the massacre

steak + lobster butter =  500 calories of heaven

                 Our steak came out cooked to a perfect "medium" temperature just like we'd asked.  The meat literally melted in your mouth.  I almost could have cut mine with a fork.  Absolutely delicious.  David had not led us wrong.  The only downside to the meal was the price.  The steak alone was 40 dollars, which is the main reason why we had chosen to share out entree.  (Although we weren't exactly slumming it, as we each got to enjoy 10 ounces of beef.)  Charley's is definitely a place for special occasions such as holidays or birthdays.  Depending on your budget, it's a great date restaurant (traditional romantic candle lit dining, huge drink list, etc.) 

 

         After we had polished off our bottle of Cabernet, as well as our steak, lobster, twice baked potato, and asparagus, there was simply no room left for the chocolate souffle I had been eyeing on the desert menu.  (#first world problems.)   We left completely satisfied, and with some leftovers that proved to be just as delicious two days later.  The only downside to Charley's Steakhouse was the high prices.  So if you come prepared to spend some big bucks, your experience will definitely be worth it !  They say you get what you pay for, and what we got was a meal fit for a king.