Charlton Tavern

Have never had a bad meal here. The owners are as nice as can be. Waitstaff is always very good, and the food is delicious. Tuesday Night is burger night. Great burger with fries for $ 6.95. Can’t go wrong. I will continue to come for dinner.

Lunch with my parents today. I had reservations, and I’m glad! It was packed. Table for 6 in front of the fire. Our server, Michelle, was prompt and polite. Food was on point and the whole experience was top-​notch. My dad even had them pack a pint of the ‘warm bacon’ dressing to go for my husband. Overall, quality. Highly suggested!

We are frequent diners here. The food is very good. The specials are excellent. Love the place

Another nice dinner at the Charlton Tavern. We’ve been here twice and really enjoyed it both times. This time I had a dish called Stacked Chicken. It was thinly sliced chicken, eggplant and roasted red peppers over a bed of some kind of hearty rice.
Overall everone raved about their meals — and deserts.
The only reason I deducted a star is due to the chairs. I kind of have this thing that if I’m going to pay a hefty chunk for a meal that I should be comfortable while I eat it. These shaker style chairs may be period appropriate for the building but they are not appropriate otherwise. They look nice :)
It won’t keep me from going but It will keep it from being my regular spot.
Enjoy

We just had a wonderful experience with the Charlton Tavern, which I hadn’t visited since sometime in the ‘80s. Somehow it popped into my mind when we were casting about for a place to hold my daughter’s college graduation party. She made all the arrangements, and they were fantastic about walking her through the whole thing. When we got there, everything was all set up for us, and we were welcomed like we’d been there 100 times. The food was excellent, they were very accommodating with some changes we needed to make, they kept everything flowing and the service was just fantastic. Can’t say enough how pleased I was with our choice, and we’ll definitely be back.

Just finished my first experience of the Celtics Knott St Patrick’s Candlelight dinner, from start to finish it was off the chart, the owner Mike and his wife Sue welcomed us as if it was in their home. The waitstaff like the food was incredible. This has been an experience I am know adding to my annual calendar.

Ordered an entrée salad that the menu said came with romaine lettuce. Waiter came out with said salad and upon first glance, I noticed the lettuce had a striking lettuce to iceberg. Tasted it. Iceberg. Asked the waiter politely about why the salad did not come as described, and he argued that what was in my bowl was in fact romaine. Ummm… what? Now, while I did not go to culinary school, I do believe I know the difference between the two. Waiter said he talked to the «chef» who stated that is the lettuce they received from their romaine lettuce order and he swore it was romaine. It’s a shame because this place used to be great. The other people in my party all had something wrong with their order… either a forgotten ingredient or the wrong drink.

My wife is from the area and it had been a while since our last visit. We used to dine at the Charlton quite frequently and had not been since it was rebuilt after a fire a few years back. So we decided to check it out.
First off, let me say what a beautiful job they did rebuildung. Much of the tradition and feel of the old tavern was kept in tact. This was one of the main reasons we loved the old place and were glad it hadn’t changed. There was a bit of a wait to be seated (always a good sign) so we sat at the bar for a drink. Much to our suprise the owner, Mike, remembered us from when we used to come in. Mike, as well as his wife Sue, made us feel welcome and were genuinely happy to have us back.
After our drink and some catching up we were seated.
Our dinner was unbelievable! After some giant shrimp cocktail and warm bread, we were treated to one of the best meals we’ve had in a while. I had the chicken ala charlton which was perfectly cooked. The flavors came together wonderfully and it practically melted in my mouth. My wife loved her grilled salmon and commented that, while perfectly cooked also, it was the chef’s choice of sauce that made it special. Our server was friendly and informative and made sure we were well taken care of. At first I conceitedly thought that this was at Mike’s suggestion because he knew us but, as the night went on, I realized that everyone in the restaurant was receiving the same degree of attention and care. That is what has always made the Charlton such a special place, and it’s nice to know tgat some things never change.

As chance would have it, some friends invited us to dinner here, so I’m updating my review based on our dinner experience.
I came away less impressed than on our recent lunch visit. All of the food we had was mediocre at best. It’s overpriced for what it is, and the service while cordial, was lacking.
One of the appetizers the group ordered was stuffed mushrooms. The mushroom stuffing was ok, but it tasted like Kraft stove top stuffing mix.
Our entrees were similar to the apps. They were ok, but nothing special, and more than one person complained their food was bland. My dish arrived lukewarm which is a big no-​no in my book.
Flatware is placed on the table wrapped in cheap cloth-​like paper napkins, held together with those sticky paper wrappers. The dressings for our salads all came on the side in little plastic cups. At an inexpensive restaurant these kind of things are ok, but not when you’re paying $ 20-​$ 35 for an entrée.
The service was friendly, but dirty plates were left on the table that should’ve been removed. Forks that were on plates that were removed, were never replaced and we had to ask for more forks. Our food took too long to get to the table. Now, that might be the fault of the kitchen, but because our food was lukewarm, my guess is it sat in the kitchen for a little while before it was brought out to our table, and that’s the server’s fault.
They’re ok for lunch, but for dinner my recommendation would be to make the short drive north to Ballston Spa or Saratoga where a much better dining experience and much better food can be had for the same price.

My favorite spot in the area… good food, great atmosphere and the kids like it too. Had the duck special w/​cherry sauce tonight and it was awesome! Kids favorites are the calamari app (perhaps slightly over seasoned) and the lava cake. If you haven’t been definitely give it a try.

A refreshing and rustic alternative to the chain eateries closer to Albany. The french onion soup was perfect, the passion fruit martini was delicious. We brought our 7 month old and despite the crowd being older we didn’t feel like she was bothering anyone. The staff adored her. A man I assume to be the owner brought her a plate of oyster crackers before dinner, so sweet. I’m so happy they rebuilt after the fire.

My hubby and I have been here twice and left both times satisfied and impressed with our meals. Tonight we went for their Valentine’s Day dinner and it was fantastic. I had the pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon with garlic smashed potatoes, delicious! The hubs loved his chicken dish. I like the relaxed atmosphere, it makes me take a breath and enjoy the moment. Definitely will be back.

I loved the atmosphere! It was very cozy and rustic. Plus it was decorated for the holidays and looked very cute. The food was great. I had the tuna melt and loved it! It tasted fresh and the three types of cheese on top added a lot of flavor. The lemon cake I had for dessert was light and moist. Definitely a winner!
My only complaint was that our server was a bit curt and was slow. She forgot my friend’s soda and we had to flag her down and remind her twice. It took about thirty minutes for the soda to arrive! If you are in a hurry i would choose a different place but if you have time to linger and relax then this place is a great option.

Firstly, whoever described the cuisine of this establishment as barbecue is a dunce. One can find traditional American/​Irish pub fare, from soups and salads to sandwiches to fancier entrees, but in no way does this restaurant feel the slightest bit barbecuesque. The ambiance reflects a more country-​store feel, which reflects the buildings history, having been built in the mid 1700s. But it is quite far from being tacky. Wood furnishings, low ceilings, a large fireplace and a hint of Irish flair give the space quite a cozy feeling.
The grill sandwiches are fantastic, as most of the food would seem to be judging by the number of people usually dining there — I’ve been thrice in the last month. A full bar compliments a competent kitchen, and I would definitely say the establishment is on the high end of casual dining. Four stars for consistently enjoyable, relaxed, and casual experiences.

Given the fact that it was packed this evening (Friday), I guess I must be missing something. The lot was packed, too, almost rendering the handicap ramp useless. It was loud way beyond reasonable. It felt & sounded like a bar. Could hardly move & everybody seemed to be screaming. Actually, that might have been ok if it wasn’t for the clear attempts at an upscale ambiance, even with the flatscreen tvs. Also, the dinner entrée prices are all on the high end of the «moderate» scale.
The evening specials weren’t the least bit special, at all, given the $ 25 to $ 27 prices. The least expensive of them was «Airline Chicken — filled with spinach, roasted red peppers, capers and ricotta cheese, finished with lemon butter cream. $ 24.95» REALLY!!! C’MON, FOLKS! ITS CHICKEN, FOR GOD’S SAKE!
The salad, included, was an absolute joke. It came on a tiny plate and, still, the salad barely filled it.
I & my wife each had the «Haddock Pomadoro» for $ 19.95. It was just ok. Fairly bland but my rice wasn’t bad. Nothing, at all, to brag about and I wouldn’t get it again.
The only couple in our party of 8 who had no complaints happened to be those who suggested the place.
Private dirt parking lot with handicap parking right in the middle of a fairly steep incline. Long walk to the restaurant even from the closest parking spot.
Sorry folks. I’m just not getting it … but maybe its just me, huh? Apparently, the bar is the main attraction. Might try it for lunch some day but we won’t be back for dinner again. Hope the locals stay true because, for my money, you just can’t have it both ways.

This was my first time coming to this restaurant and I have to say that I liked it a lot. The service was very good and the place is actually really nice inside. The food was also very yummy (I got the fish and chips — amazing!). Everyone that was with me loved their food too and we all had a great time. One piece of advice though — make sure to have reservations on a Saturday night (walk-​ins are frowned upon). Otherwise, a really good place to get a meal!

I have been going to the Charlton Tavern my whole life… literally I spent my very first new years here shortly after I was adopted in December 1985. The owners are family friends, so I may be biased, but it is my home away from home. I love the tavern atmosphere and ambiance. You’re always bound to know at least a couple of people you know.
Now on to the food. You can get great pub fare, sandwiches, or full dinners. I have never had a bad meal here in 27 years. I love the onion soup and I would drink the house dressing if I could. It’s a sweet and sour warm bacon and you will not regret getting it. I also love the chocolate mousse. It’s to die for. Be sure to check out the specials menu, there are usually some great options!!!
I really can’t say enough good things about the Charlton Tavern. Check it out if you’ve never been or stop by for a drink with old friends. There is something for everyone!

I LOVE this place! I may be biased because I grew up in this small town and my parents went to school with the owners. It is so cozy inside and has a diverse menu so there is something for everyone.
I have dinner there every time I go home.

Now that the location of this restaurant has been corrected, hopefully others will not have a problem getting here by GPS. I’ve been here a few times over the past 30 years, both pre-​fire and post-​fire. While the «old» character was lost in the fire, the totally rebuilt building still has a rustic-​ness that will serve it well for many years to come.
We arrived about 7 pm on a Wednesday night and there wasn’t a single parking place left in their private lot. Lucky for us some of the early diners were just leaving and we were able to take one of their spots. Considering all the cars in the lot, the place was only about ²⁄₃ full.
The noise level inside is rather high. There is nothing to absorb the sound of people laughing and enjoying themselves as the sound bounces off all the rough hewn timber. It would seem that in addition to a number of «regulars» who dine here, there were also «former regulars.» I say this because as we were greeted by the host (maybe owner) another party of two came in behind us and got big hugs and a loudly exclaimed greeting while were were asked to wait while the host seated this couple. After we were seated at our table, another couple came in and got the same warm greeting as the couple behind us. During the course of our dinner, there were numerous other occasions of customers arriving or leaving and seeing and hugging other customers like it was a high school reunion. These are truly friendly people who congregate here.
Staff also seem warm and friendly. Our server joked with me when I had her confirm that I thought I heard her say one of the choices for dressing was hot-​bacon. She commented that she noticed my mouth start to drool when she mentioned it.
We started with a couple pints of beer ($ 5 ea.) and mushroom caps ($ 7.25) stuffed with sharp cheddar cheese, savory sausage and vegetable dressing. I believe there were 5 good sized caps and a very tasty filling. My salad was delivered at the same time as the appetizer so I didn’t notice right away that the dressing-​on-​the-​side might not have been what I ordered. When I did taste it, I realized that I had been given blue cheese dressing. While I kept an eye out for our waitress to let her know, we had now finished the app and I decided to simply eat the salad as delivered since blue cheese would have otherwise been my choice. By the time our waitress did reappear I had finished the salad and she was now serving a table of 7 not far from ours.
My wife ordered a Coners Fireside Burger ($ 8.25) with cheese (+$.75) and sauteed mushrooms (+$.75). It was properly cooked to the requested medium rare, came on an artisan roll that tasted like a sweet roll, and also came with lettuce, tomato, coleslaw, a pickle and french fries. My wife decided to eat the 8 oz. Angus beef without the roll. The burger was good enough that I’d return here just for that.
I ordered one of the nightly specials — a stuffed roast pork roulade with prosciutto, some bitter leafy greens and crumbled cheese (maybe goat) ($ 19.95). It came with sliced vegetables (carrots, zucchini and summer squash) and I chose mashed potatoes instead of rice. While the outer edges of the pork roll were just a bit dry, the inner portion was not over cooked and quite tender. This was a large enough portion that I brought home two slices of the pork roll and some vegetables and potato.
We had just enough room left for coffee ($ 2 ea.) and dessert. The lemon cream filled cake ($ 5.95) that we shared was actually worth the drive. The menu is large and diverse enough that there is something for just about everyone. I expect that we’ll be returning to explore more of it.

The food at Charlton Tavern is average to decent. I made reservations on a recommendation of a friend, which seemed strange since the place was not that crowded. After being seated for over 20 minutes and several other tables being served drinks, we finally asked a passing waitress if we could order drinks. I ordered a Cheeseburger with Pickwick Chedder cheese and carmalized onions, cooked medium. The cooks forgot to include the caramalized onions on my burger along with another guest in our party and every burger came out well done.
Im not sure of the issue, but our visit did not meet our expectations. There are better resturants in the area.