Char Steak & Lounge

Excellent food, service, and ambiance. My husband and I went here for dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We shared the pasta special appetizer, which was cooked perfectly al dente. I ordered the 5oz filet with the lobster tail and kale for a side. My husband ordered the Delmonico and risotto, and we both topped our steaks with the blue cheese and bacon option. So delicious! The lobster and sides were also tasty but the steaks were over the top good! After dinner we went to the rooftop bar to end the night with one last glass of wine and enjoy the view of the city. We will be back!

I ordered the ribeye steak and it was the best steak I have ever had. It was tender and the seasoning can’t be beat. Mac and cheese was delicious and service was good. Wonderful experience and can’t wait to go back.

Hands down best Sunday brunch in Rochester! Love the service and venue. Highly recommend!!!

Very upscale. nice atmosphere. great drinks. didn’t order food, but heard wonderful things about it!

The ONLY reason I gave as high a rating as I did is because the soup and dessert were excellent. Two of us ordered steaks medium rare, at every good steak house I’ve been at this means warm red center. Both steaks came medium well. When pointing this out to the waiter he said «cut into the middle» (what a dumb request), still medium well! The third person in our party ordered a lobster tail. What a surprise, it was over cooked and so chewy she never finished it.
The one thing they hit out of the park — the price… easily one of the most expensive restaurants in Rochester.
Save your money, go to a place that knows how to cook or at least a place that doesn’t charge a 5 star price for a 2 star meal.

After having dined at many of Rochester’s more highly regarded restaurants in this last year, I had resigned myself to accepting that I now live somewhere with only one truly high end establishment.
And then there were two.
Bread — excellent
Greens — excellent — somehow the anchovies on the Caesar were the best I have ever had
Steaks — excellent, maybe not the best I have ever had in my life, but definitely the best I have had in the last three years!
Service — outstanding — server was knowledgable, professional, and extremely competent
Ice cream — very very good
Olive oil cake — total failure — very dry, like no olive oil cake I have ever had — was as if they made it a week ago and forgot about it.
Ambiance — average furnishings, harsh lighting in most places, cheap lobby and elevators (of the hotel), though I believe it is considered special for Rochester
Beautiful rooftop for a drink (despite dirty wine glasses at Hattie’s)
I would eat here again for Char’s very good food and Char’s excellent service. But one star off for the olive oil cake, ambiance and furnishings, and Hattie’s dirty wine glasses.

My boyfriend and I came here for their Sunday brunch buffet and was overwhelmed by how much food they had right as we walked in. We knew it wasn’t going to disapoint. Our waitress was very nice and helpful and never let our glasses be half full. (Which is important to me at restaurants)
We were greeted by whom I believe is the manager within the first few minutes of our meal. He was very nice and made sure we were comfortable.
The dessert table was my favorite it had pretty much everything!
One thing is that the oysters were $ 18 for only 6. A little pricey in my opinion

Excellent atmosphere, service, beverages, and food. 5 stars.
Started off with the Bacon-​wrapped Veal (GF btw) and the Almond crusted Scallops with Foie Gras, both were a near decadent mixtures of sumptuous flavors.
Cut and pasted from the menu: «BACON-​WRAPPED VEAL SWEETBREADS —
poached chicken egg, sunchoke, sage, frisée, sherry-​brown butter» and «ALMOND-​CRUSTED SCALLOP and PAN-​ROASTED FOIE GRAS
acorn squash, apple, smoked maple syrup, mâche, aged balsamic vinegar»…or in a more pedestrian vernacular: YUM!
I had the Rohan Duck, described as: «crispy prune-​glazed breast, parsnip purée, thigh confit, five-​grain black rice ‘pilaf,’ pistachio, young carrots and turnips, peppercorn-​brandy-​duck jus» and yes, it was exceptional.
My dinning companion had a filet mignon that was one of the best prepared cuts of steak that she could recall ever having dined on — and after getting a taste I would agree. When you have a steak memory, (craving/​dream) that is how it tastes in your mind.
While my BFF loved their Fries with truffle salt (hand cut thick and fried to a crisp crust), I leaned more favorably to the Mushroom Risotto with mascarpone and truffle.
For drinks — the 75 EUROS (Aperol, gin, lemon juice, strawberry preserves, Moscato d’Asti) was a sweet and satisfying cocktail, while she liked their California Cab Sauv (as is her taste).
Service at every stage was crisp: quick, attentive, non-​intrusive in our conversation, and warmly professional.
Not at all like what may come to mind as a restaurant attached to a hotel. After dark, the mood could be described as modern, intimate/​romantic in that dark & dressy kind of way, and yet a little trendy/​club-​y with the bar and TVs. During daylight the wall of glass opens the space and the feeling is light and open. Both can be enjoyable.

Char, I’m into you. This spot is officially where I love to go to celebrate a special occasion and have done so in the recent past. The service from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave is on point. The staff is attentive, cordial, and extra accommodating. There’s a person for every step of the process from the coat check to water refills, wine drop off, ordering food, etc.
The filet mignon is my go-​to, cooked medium. Their approach to steak is simple seasoning with a distinctive crispy, charred exterior. It adds crunch and dense flavor. It’s exactly how I like my steak and rarely do I want to spoil that flavor with dipping sauces, but if I do I go for the salsa verde/​chimichurri style sauce or a traditional bernaise sauce.
Most recently, I tried the burger based on a recommendation from a friend. Seriously. Order this! The bun is so light that you take a bite and it meshes with the burger. No need for ketchup. All the flavor is packed in the bacon jam. Yes, bacon jam. The salty, savory, sweetness this adds to the burger makes this better than anything ever — all the umami flavor. The cheddar is super melty and does the classic cheesy string pull. Then the best part! The actual burger meat. Ground waygu beef full of flavor and so tender it nearly falls apart.
For sides, the steak fries are great — subtle truffle flavor, thick, and crispy. The risotto is good, slightly under seasoned last time we ordered it but a dash of salt made it all the better. The Brussels sprouts are a win too.
We always start the meal with oysters — often their from MA or PEI so their briney and delicious.
I was also recently introduced to a wonderful red wine — Devious Woman from Georges Vineyard. Full bodied, well balanced and great with steak. The guy who makes this wine has a connection to Rochester too. I also am a fan of the Mantanzas Valley Sauvignon Blanc.
If you’re getting the dessert, order the flourless chocolate cake, no questions asked. I’m normally a one-​bite dessert kinda gal, but I devoured most of this. It’s so rich, I couldn’t resist.
As for the atmosphere, it’s dark, trendy vibe with neon backlighting by the bar and throughout the décor. It’s great for an intimate dining experience and very comfortable space. Get dressed up and enjoy a night out!

We did NOT have a good experience. My wife and I had a reservation on Valentine’s Day around 3 for a later lunch. We’ve heard nothing but good things about the food here. When we arrived, we were surprised to find out they were serving brunch only until 3, and started serving a Valentine’s menu starting at 5pm. When we called to make the reservation, they failed to mention our 3pm reservation would be serving brunch only. We ended up only ordering one round of drinks and the cheese platter appetizer because we were already there, but we were not in the mood for breakfast foods.
The drinks (1 beer and 1 mimosa) took about 15 minutes to get to our table because the waitress told us the bartender was away from the bar. The cheese platter was decent, but was not worth $ 17. I wish I could say this was a good experience, but this fell very short of what we hoped for on Valentine’s Day.

the serving size for the price is really crappy. i understand its high end but give more than 4 tortellini for $ 25. thats what my boyfriend got and i got lobster soup and mac and cheese for around the same price. despite the price the food was delicious though. the atmosphere was also nice.
the drinks were super good as well and right for the price. i probably will not eat here again unless i have money to spend and i would like to try the duck, but i would probably drink here again if i was in the area.

Delicious petite filet Mignon (2 nights in a row) while staying at the Strathallan DoubleTree on business. Duncan was a pleasant and knowledgable waiter. Broccolini, brussel sprouts, oysters, mussels etc. all delish!
I wish all DoubleTree properties had this level scale of restaurants.

I ordered a salad and ribeye steak for my wife and I New Years dinner. Glass of red wine too. Dinner was good, Steak was cooked well (medium plus).

I am in between three and four stars for here. Everyone I know has always raved about the steak here and so I decided I would have to give it a try.
When we walked in we were seated right away and the waiting staff was very good. We got a shrimp cocktail for starters and it was fresh and pretty normal. For sides, we got the Brussel sprouts and truffle fries, which were delicious — especially the fries
Onto the steaks, we ordered a filet and a NY strip and they were okay — not the best steak I’ve ever had. I know their name is char butttt the steak was just too charred. It was cooked a perfect medium inside but the char was scratching my throat. Might have been an off night so I’ll try again

Very good place great menu, great food, great service, great desert. Ordered the porter house 32oz girlfriend ordered 5oz filet both agreed was fantastic cooked just right seasoned perfect. The smoked chocolate mousse cake was awesome taste just like smoke bacon and chocolate.
Will come back again.

5, all the way. Excellent service w a great ratio of professional demeanor and charm. Bottle menu and the Outer Borough cocktail were both fantastic. We started w crab and corn risotto, grilled octopus. Excellent combinations and a nice variety of smalls/​apps.
We both had Filet (w verde and garlic bleu). Sides were corn risotto and kale. Wtf had no clue kale could taste like that. Everything was exemplary. Then we got to dessert.
So, get the smaller piece of meat, pass on that last little bit of side. YOU WANT DESSERT
blueberry and goat cheese w yuzo. So much fun.
Great anniversary dinner. Thank you!

I’ve dined here in the dining room numerous times and had my bachelorette party dinner here in a private room. The food is excellent and the service is on point. The bar has a fun atmosphere and I like the décor and outdoor fire pit area. The sommelier always has great recommendations. I love the Amarone. I usually order the petite filet with a crab leg and it’s cooked perfectly. The beef carpaccio was great and we had a cool dessert with caramel and yes, bacon. There’s a new roof top area here, Hattie’s that’s worth checking out before or after dinner at Char.

My experiences here have been nothing but phenomenal. The entire staff are not only knowledgable but very personable. Although they have higher price points the food is well worth it.

Since my original review of Char, I’ve been there many times for work and personal dinners — and the food and service have been more impressive with each successive visit. The front of the house runs spectacularly well. Almost always busy, the bar welcomes diners with a loud, trendy din and belies the formal and tasteful service that awaits diners in the main dining room.
The best appetizers are any of the seasonal soups or the wood-​fired calamari. Stuffed with spices, herbs, breadcrumbs and flavorful smoked sausage, the calamari is fired up and accompanied by pesto: tender, flavorful and perfectly sized in portion. In the fall/​winter I’ve had some excellent mushroom soup and in the spring/​summer, the lobster bisque is amazing (ahem, full of cream).
Try the ribeye. It’s the best steak I’ve had in Rochester. So flavorful, smoked, tender. Get it medium rare. If this doesn’t float your boat, try the burger: charred (like the wordplay?) on the outside, covered in savory melted cheese, smoky bacon, on brioche. It’s not quite the GL burger, but it’s certainly up there. All the seafood I’ve tried at Char have been lovely as well — scallops, salmon, Arctic char. Always cooked to perfection, never overdone. There are few restaurants in rochester I feel comfortable ordering expensive fish. This is one place I have no qualms.
The sides. Truffle fries (large, more like chips) and the MAC AND CHEESE. Best Mac and cheese. I never miss this dish. You shouldn’t either.
The service at Char is outstanding. Plates, silverware and napkins are switched out and replaced effortlessly in the most unobtrusive manner. Courses are paced. Servers are attentive. Wines by the glass are reasonable. Cocktails are strong.
Really, if you have a special occasion or an important work function on the docket, I can’t think of a better place to convene. Valet parking too. Char stands out.

For the first time in what has felt like forever, I finally had a mind-​blowing, magnificent dining experience at a fine dining restaurant here in Rochester. And it was at Char. And I will surely remember it for years to come. Let the angels be heard and the masses be praised, because hallelujah someone in town has finally done this city proud!
Ten (yes, ten!) of my friends and I went to dinner at Char last night for my 30^th birthday and it was simply spectacular. They seated us in a separate room because we were such a large party and it’s really what made the evening so perfect. We had our own private area, people could get up and walk around to talk to other people at the table, and we could all laugh, eat delicious food, and drink awesome cocktails and mixed drinks on our own terms. I see other reviews have slammed the wait staff, but that is absolutely nuts to me — all three of our servers were masterful with their work, friendly, prompt, kept our glasses full, were extremely informative about the menu, and even more helpful when dividing the check at the end of the evening. ¹¹⁄₁₀ as far as I’m concerned — doesn’t get any better than this!
Now for the juicy details — the food (literally!)
Appetizers — We ordered a ton of appetizers for the table — the baby gem salad, the pork belly and fennel, the blue crab risotto, and I believe the chilled heirloom tomato king crab soup. Everything was outstanding! The pork belly was easily the most caramelized but soft pillow-​y pork I’ve had probably ever had and paired with the crunchy fennel and arugula — ugh! To die for. I could eat a plateful of that every day and die happy. The chilled tomato soup with crab was also a really strong star in my book — the tomato was punchy and zesty, but wasn’t so overpowering that you lost the mass of king crab on top of it. Topped with the garlic crostini and the incredibly soft but crisp-​edged garlic-​oil-​rubbed bread on the table? Good. Lord. It was smashing. Watch out V8, you’ve got a new wickedly amazing luxurious competitor in town!
Entrees — Just about everyone ordered steak, though one or two people had the stuffed squid, scallops, and duck and needless to say — all of it was perfect. When people asked for the steak and duck cooked medium rare, it actually came out at the appropriate temperature. Paired with the house sauce (or any other of the 7 or 8 accompaniments they had on their menu), they were some bites I won’t soon be forgetting. For me, the duck (what I ordered) was especially ridiculous. The fat was super caramelized, it was soft and tender, and the farro-​corn salad with it was the necessary sweet foil to the bitterness and tartness of the cocoa and tart cherry glaze. Easily the best duck I’ve had in Rochester by miles and miles. These chefs can cook.
Best of all, not only can their savory chefs cook, but so can their pastry chef! We almost got one of every dessert (flourless chocolate cake, strawberry petit gâteau, smoked chocolate mousse, and coffee crème brûlée) and it was all mouthwateringly picturesque and delicious. I have to specifically call out the smoked chocolate mousse because it was this amazing chocolate dome filled with bittersweet aerated chocolate mousse and what tasted like peanut butter foam in the center paired with applewood smoked bacon ICE CREAM and a crisp honey tuile. My arteries are still feeling it now, over 12 hours later. Seriously. amazing.
If you want to eat out and have a fancy dinner in Rochester, there is no other place worthwhile to go to but here. This is the seriously the type of quality I would expect at a restaurant in Chicago or Boston, not Rochester. Simply. stunning. I love you Char. I’m sure I’ll be back for years and years to come.