It took three visits to Uncle Charlie’s Bistro on High Street extension to convince ourselves that our take on the new restaurant in Chestertown was accurate. To the relief of many in town who have been disappointed with the local food scene for some time, we found Uncle Charlie’s on all three nights to be one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in Kent County in recent memory.
No, it’s not perfect. There are a few small things that don’t really add up for Uncle Charlie’s. The name for one. Having little dining success with any restaurant called ‘Uncle’ in the past, the name itself gave us pause, as did the somewhat sinister photo of Uncle Charlie on the menu. Nor where we thrilled to see five LCD displays switched on. And we suspect that those on gluten-free diets might have some challenges here.
But boy, do they know how to cook real food. The salads are fresh, the dinner rolls served hot, and Chuck Ministero, the owner, has gone out of his way to hire some of the friendliest and most attentive wait staff in Chestertown, including the lovely Cindy from the sorely missed old Andy’s in the historic district.
The menu itself is a nice blend of simply prepared pub sandwiches that start under $10, all the way up to the high-end evening entrees of pork shank or baked halibut, which can run as high as $29. While we would rather see a more simple menu, There is a clear pride in everything Uncle Charlie’s serves, not matter the cost. We were delighted from the perfectly prepared sweet potato fries to the homemade ice cream.
While the wine and beer selections are modest, and not particularly adventuresome, the prices are affordable with a dependable list of well-known standards. It is a bit disappointing that no local (Delaware) beer is served on tap, but it was nice to see that they offer a full bar for those seeking alternative libations.
What was surprising was the quality of the dinner entrees. Fresh ingredients, thoughtfully presented, come with every selection. We’ll take Uncle Charlie at his word that the produce is from local farms, but we sure would like to know which farms down the road. And it’s important to point out that not every entree is a home run. The halibut, for example, was a bit overwhelmed by its butter sauce the other night. But the kitchen shows extraordinary potential to quickly rival Chestertown’s beloved Brooks Tavern in creativity and choice.
Karen G says
Wonderful to hear! Haven’t been yet – the name gave me pause too, but have heard good things from another couple (one of whom DOES have to watch the gluten). This only makes we want to try it more.
Gren Whitman says
“…potential to quickly rival Chestertown’s beloved Brooks Tavern in creativity and choice”? Eh? We’ll give him a try, of course, but Uncle Charles will hafta go a long. l-o-o-n-g way to “rival” Brooks Tavern.
Alex Smolens says
Uncle Charlie’s isn’t as pretentious as Brooks Tavern, especially at dinner time.
Pro-tip: Bloody Mary bar for brunch.
Steve Payne says
“Bloody Mary bar for brunch.”
With Island music and followed by cheeseburgers made with really bad ground beef but great cheese!
Laura Ventura says
We recently dined at Uncle Charlie’s Bistro and were pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the Ahi Tuna on a bed of greens with asparagus and snow peas and my husband thoroughly enjoyed the prime rib. We will be back again! My neighbors have also had numerous delicious meals at this new establishment.
Dick C says
I’ve eaten at Uncle Charlie’s about 4 times and have never been disappointed. I agree with the person who said the sweet potato fries are great. My favorite dessert is the Strawberry Champagne Sorbet, however, I recently tried a homemade ice cream that had a hint of chili powder in it. (Yes, I said chili powder) and it was amazing. I also had a “make-you-own” Bloody Mary bar at the Sunday brunch and the selection of the many different ingredients was great fun, and I made a dynamite drink. Uncle Charlie’s is a great addition to the restaurant scene in Chestertown
Brian Cole says
With the bite in the words of the review, I am not sure I like the review at all. Chestertown has a lot of VERY good places to eat.
Doris Olsen says
My husband and I like Uncle Charlie’s, food if fresh and has always been good.
Abbey, (Eliza) says
Things are changing… keep your eyes open! The menu will be changing over the next several weeks. I’m back to play– with less pretense and more value, good and interesting flavors as well as old favorites and classics. The time is right for Charlie’s. Come see! Come taste!