Charcoal House

Charcoal House Restaurant Review:

While its fans lovingly argue over which decade is best represented here (the ’50s or the ’70s?), everyone agrees that the best way to experience this retro steakhouse is to order the tender and tasty filet mignon, a twice-baked potato and a Scotch "for dessert." Charcoal House could easily fit in back in the Eisenhower administration. Families and seniors come for comfort food from the iceberg era, which is exactly what the salads are, and for service that’s old-fashioned and friendly. Steaks like the porterhouse are noteworthy but not as popular as said filet mignon. There’s not much of a wine list, but you’ll find a few satisfactory choices in what is primarily a beer and highball spot. There are good, somewhat more contemporary desserts like chocolate suicide cake, but this is really a place to finish a meal with something from the bar, like the Tumbleweed: Kahlúa and ice cream whizzed in a semi-antique blender.