Last Updated: 3 days ago
Phone: (312) 718-3209
Address: 4 CHARLES STREET 10014
Legendary West Village steakhouse w/ a "man cave" vibe & a burger hailed as NYC's best. Reservations notoriously tough, but the experience is worth the chase.
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.
4 Charles Prime Rib is a legendary West Village steakhouse that transports diners to a cozy, robber baron's private club with its moody, intimate atmosphere. Despite its small size and notoriously difficult reservation policy, the experience is consistently lauded as magnificent. The menu features exceptional American steakhouse classics, with the double Wagyu cheeseburger often hailed as the city's best, complemented by a decadent chocolate cream pie.
The restaurant is renowned for its exceptional American steakhouse fare, with the Wagyu cheeseburger being a standout, often called the best in NYC. Other highly recommended dishes include the French dip, prime rib, truffle mac and cheese, and the chocolate cream pie. Some diners found the creamed spinach to be hit-or-miss due to the blue cheese.
"The Wagyu cheeseburger, French dip, prime rib, truffle mac and cheese, and chocolate cream pie are frequently recommended. The shrimp cocktail and crab cake are also noted as good starters."
Customers generally have a very positive sentiment towards 4 Charles Prime Rib, frequently praising its food, ambiance, and overall experience. However, the extreme difficulty in securing reservations is a common point of frustration for many.
Important Note
Securing a reservation is extremely difficult and often requires persistent effort, including visiting in person or using specific Resy strategies. Some find the reservation fees inconvenient.
"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"The user mentioned that Au Cheval is part of the same restaurant group and could likely be a place to use the gift card."
Neutral"The user stated they have dined solo at the restaurant before, having gotten lucky and secured a reservation."
Positive"This commenter related their own difficulty in getting a reservation at Cote with a gift card, which required them to constantly check for last-minute openings."
Negative
