Last Updated: ~1 month ago
Phone: (312) 718-3209
Address: 4 CHARLES STREET 10014
NYC's coveted steakhouse for a legendary burger & intimate vibe; reservations are notoriously tough.
Bryan Kim reviews 4 Charles Prime Rib, a West Village steakhouse celebrated for its legendary atmosphere and arguably the best burger in NYC. Despite its small size and tough reservation policy, the restaurant delivers a magnificent dining experience.
This intimate West Village steakhouse has earned legendary status for its exclusive, "man cave" atmosphere and an arguably unparalleled burger. Reservations are exceptionally difficult to secure due to the small dining room and high demand, but the experience, including dishes like prime rib and a decadent chocolate cream pie, is consistently praised as worth the effort.
The menu features American steakhouse classics, with the Wagyu cheeseburger, prime rib, and French dip receiving consistent acclaim. Sides like truffle mac and cheese and creamed spinach are popular, though can be inconsistent. The chocolate cream pie is a standout dessert. Some diners find the .99 pricing strategy to be tacky.
"The Wagyu cheeseburger, prime rib, French dip, truffle mac and cheese, and chocolate cream pie are highly recommended by diners."
Customers overwhelmingly praise the restaurant's food quality, particularly the burger, and its intimate atmosphere, though many note extreme difficulty in obtaining reservations.
Important Note
Reservations are extremely difficult to secure, often requiring persistent effort, early arrival for walk-ins, or preferential access. Some find the pricing, particularly for certain dishes like salads, to be high.
"The commenter suggests the strawberry ice cream with chocolate fudge from 4 Charles, noting it's also available at Monkey Bar and is gelato from il laboratorio del gelato."
Positive"The commenter states that the chocolate pie from 4 Charles is divine for chocolate lovers, though it cannot be ordered separately."
Positive"4 Charles is mentioned as a place that also serves good burgers, but notes that getting a table can be difficult."
Positive"This user questioned why the prime rib itself was not ordered during the visit to a restaurant specializing in prime rib."
Neutral"This commenter expressed interest in trying 4 Charles Prime Rib, having heard good things, and wondered how it compares to San Francisco's House of Prime Rib."
Negative"The meal lived up to the hype, with the creamed spinach and French dip being highlights. The ribeye had an excellent crispy, aromatic crust, though the shrimp scampi and mac and cheese were tasty but not exceptional."
Negative"The author expresses disappointment with the $38 burger from 4 Charles, finding it not worth the cost and noting that the fries were better. This experience lessened their excitement for trying it."
Negative"This user recommended emailing the restaurant rather than calling and mentioned they are able to get reservations frequently, possibly due to being a Global Dining Access member."
Positive"This user confirmed that the restaurant is indeed clear about the terms when selling gift cards."
Neutral"This user included 4 Charles in a price comparison, stating their French dip costs $54 ($40 for the sandwich, $14 for fries)."
Positive"In response to a comment about their late reservation, this user clarified that they did not leave until midnight, implying the late hour was indeed a reality."
Neutral"The user hopes the restaurant is very clear about the terms when selling gift cards, especially if they are intended as gifts, otherwise, they consider it a poor practice."
Negative"In response to BkSusKids, this user inquired about the best method for securing a reservation."
Neutral"Despite the restaurant's exclusivity, the user praised the staff as incredible and stated they would definitely be helpful."
Positive"This user questioned the accounting logic of the previous comment, stating that revenue is recognized when the gift card is purchased, and using it represents a loss of potential income."
Neutral"This user clarified that the gift card is for the entire restaurant group and explicitly states that it does not guarantee a reservation but can be used at any of their locations."
Neutral"This user mentioned they recently secured a reservation for September, indicating that getting one is difficult but not impossible."
Positive"This user stated that gift cards offer no reservation advantage and can be used at sister restaurants like Au Cheval or Monkey Bar. For 4 Charles, they suggested trying for a reservation from Monday to Wednesday, especially during August when business travel is lower."
Neutral"This commenter explained that gift cards are not recognized as revenue until redeemed, and seating gift card holders helps the restaurant realize revenue, potentially make excess sales, and clear the liability off their books."
Positive"This user stated that 4 Charles does not have bar seating."
Neutral
