Unless I left something there that I didn't realize, I see no reason to ever return to Chart House. We came on a Wednesday night, busy with lots of business travelers as you'd expect. My wife ordered king crab ($45), I ordered seared mahi with a lobster/crab topping ($35). My wife's crab was overcooked and rubbery, like it'd sat under a heat lamp or otherwise been prepared well ahead of time. My mahi was not seared in any way that I could recognize, the sauce/topping was bland, and the fish itself was mushy -- you could tell it wasn't fresh, despite being on the fresh fish list on the menu. The orzo served with my fish was overcooked, almost like porridge. We both had the salad bar, which was good, but probably overrated. There was no attendant at the salad bar to prepare Caesar salads or otherwise look over matters, disappointing for a $9 add-on. I should have been suspicious when one of their fresh fish listings was farmed tilapia -- not exactly sourcing the best ingredients. I'm not convinced my Mahi wasn't frozen -- I'm not even really convinced it was Mahi. The Morton's that used to be nearby, owned by the same corporation as Chart House, actually served an excellent king crab entree, which was cooked perfectly, and presented beautifully -- funny their remaining corporate cousin, specializing in seafood, manages to bung up this simple dish. I complained, something I rarely do. I have probably sent back 2 dishes in the last 5 years... The waitress said the manager would be right over. After about 10 minutes, she arrived, after making a big show about checking on other tables, presumably so as to not appear to be coming to our table specifically. It was odd to watch. Her attitude was kind of lousy -- after explaining the issue with my wife's dinner, she turned to me and asked "and what is the problem with yours?" with a saccharine smile on her face. The service overall was below what you would expect at this price point. The staff tries hard but seems stretched thin. Service was hurried and sparse. Our table was scarcely bussed between courses, and certainly not reset/crumbed like you might expect. We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert to try and end on a high note, it did not disappoint, something I can't say for the rest of the experience. This place is obviously surviving on people who don't know good seafood, business people with expense accounts, and the Chart House name. I think the fact that diners here are often in big groups, with someone else paying has something to do with it. I know in that kind of situation I would be disinclined to complain. Perhaps this lack of feedback is contributing to the problem -- customers arent complaining, and the management doesn't enforce any standards? Despite our entrees being comped, I can't give this place more than 1 star, they are just too far off the mark.
(1)
Emily A.
This review is solely for happy hour - I did not venture into the restaurant... bar only! It was my first time there and I love their happy hour. A great selection of $4 wines, $5 cocktails, and $3/3.50 beers, as well as inexpensive appetizers. I had the hummus platter for $4 which included 3 different types of hummus, loads of pita slices and plantain chips. There were tons of other appetizers that looked great in that same price range. There is a lot of free parking right in front.
(4)
Jordan D.
My mouth was watering as I looked at the menu. I finally decided on a combo platter with blue chunk crab cakes, shrimp and salmon! All were exceptional. Highly recommended. I chose it over Mortons which is nearby and was very satisfied with my choice
(5)
William R.
Tried to have a romantic $200.00 dinner when a group of 8 young African American woman celebrating a birthday got seated next to us. They turned the dining area into a loud picture taking obnoxious event to the point several tables moved including myself finishing my dinner in the lounge. Management has no balls and i would never return. No wonder the place was quarter full.
I might be too sensitive to numbers but this made me feel disappointed. I had dinner at their restaurant, the total bill was $36.38. I looked at their suggested Gratuity chart: 20ï¼… Gratuity: $9. 10, 18% Gratuity: $8.19, 15% Gratuity: $6.83. BUT! When I was back to my hotel, the receipt dropped out of my pocket then I found out I paid $ 45.48 for my dinner. I looked at the numbers...$36.38 times 0.2 is $7.276. $9.1 is 25% tip! To be honest, the food was pretty good I would give 5 starts for the food but minus 2 starts for the dishonesty.
(3)
Rich T.
We attended the Chart House last night after the JAX Craft Beer Festival as we were both thinking of the mysteriously huge shrimp cocktail served over a bed of dry ice. Using Open Table to announce we would be there in 30 minutes, we caught the late dinner procession. Sitting together at one of the many tables with the waterside view, we were served by a very efficient character named Barrett. Clearly, he was well educated and trained to give us the best picture of the menu we could illicit from a few questions. We took his suggestions to the plates as the specials of the grouper and prime rib were stunning, one fork at a time. One did not need a culinary degree to see how good this was flowing from one course to the next. As for the mysterious shrimp, the venue was out of dry ice by the time we had arrived, but they still tasted great. I think I could have gone through another three servings of them. We departed the Chart House into the darkness of San Marco with thoughts of returning another evening in the near future to see what our server Barrett would recommend again.
(4)
Errol J.
My wife and I made reservations at the Chart House thinking we would enjoy a nice dinner with a beautiful view. Unfortunately when we arrived we sat 15-20 and NO ONE came to our table!! We got up an informed the manager an his response was let me re sit you an start over!! For the prices they charge someone should've been to our table waiting!! Chart House gets 4 thumbs down!! I will never ever as long as I live walk thru those doors again!! Still never saw a waiter or waitress when we left!! TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO A RESTAURANT THAT WILL APPRECIATE YOU AS A PATRON!!
(1)
Joe S.
Longtime Landry's Select member and have been to this CH location no less than 30 times over the last 6 years. It used to be my favorite restaurant/bar. Unfortunately, I've watched this location decline in service and food quality over the years. Gave it another shot tonight and here's how it played out (in concise form): 1. Pulled in, no valet in sight 2. Parked myself and when I got out, was told that this very empty portion of the parking lot was reserved exclusively for "web cafe" customers and that I should park "between the cones" 3. There were no spaces available between the cones 4. Went back to valet who eventually showed up and parked my car 5. Went in for dinner/drinks (solo) at bar, and surprisingly, no seats available- there were, however, plenty of disgruntled guests awaiting drinks, food orders, and checks 6. Finally got a drink order in, and informed the bartender I'd be having dinner and another drink once a seat was available 7. Returned to the bar, where I waited for 10 minutes only to receive no words, no drink, and no food order. Instead, I received my bill with the card already run for my one drink 8. Signed and left Bummer and sadly, no longer an anomaly at this location.
(2)
Michelle M.
I don't know about dinner, but I've no complaints about happy hour. Good cocktails, yummy appetizers, service was decent. What keeps me coming back quite honestly is the architecture and the view. The entire experience is what keeps me coming back for Happy Hour. I could do without the lone teenaged valet (poor dude) who made me very nervous about trusting him with my vehicle (especially after he backed a truck into another car). But I would be very sad if the Chart House closed so I am always game to return to the hour that makes me happiest there.
(4)
Christine C.
My husband and I had dinner here on May 5, 2015. The service was excellent and courteous. Although we were there early we were not offered the early menu. The food was not fresh. For example we ordered the shrimp, crab, mango salsa avocado appetizer and the avocado was brown. Also I ordered a house salad and the lettuce was brown. I also had a shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce was odd tasting almost too sweet. My husband's steak tasted like chalk it was over cooked and dry. I would not eat here again.
(1)
Ralph B.
I've been a big fan of the Charthouse for quite some time now, while having some exceptional dining experiences. Tonight- Thursday 12-04-2014 we had reservations for 7:00 and were seated right away in the lower-part section of the restaurant that I'd not experienced before, during a peak time. The restaurant was full and this area was rather noisy. Our conversations required a lot of leaning-in to keep up. The lighting in this section was really bad (very low). While it may lend itself to a romantic setting, actually seeing the menu was a chore. Our party of four's entrees took some time to arrive, but once they did all enjoyed the meal. My own choice of pan seared scallops over garlic mashed potatoes was superb. One constant I have found in returning to the Charthouse over the years. Service staff was friendly and accomodating. I think in going back (and I will) I'll try a different time of the evening and day. The company in my party made up for any shortcoming I found in our outing. Close Family and good friends go a long way to enhancing an evening out.
We came here for their happy hour specials on Friday of the GA/FL weekend. We arrived around 4:40 and there were plenty of empty tables around the bar. The service was terrible! Rude waiters! As we were about to order apps from the happy hour menu, the manager came over and snatched the menus from our table without saying anything to us. When our server came by they told us they would not be honoring the happy hour specials because it was a "holiday". They seemed stressed about there being a lot of customers there, but it was less then half way full of people. Really odd. We left thereafter.
(2)
Carla V.
This place is a chain...owned by Landry's. I dined here for dinner with a large group of peers, so it was understandable that our visit would be lengthy. The server was great, and the meal started off well with the appetizers. We even had a coupon for a free app up to $12, but more than half the selections were over $12. I enjoy the "best of soup" but then the plateaued. Entrees arrived and the food was bland...lukewarm at best and expensive. I would skip it...it's overpriced for the quality if food, which is on par with the namesake of this brand. I don't mind Landry's Seafood but Chart House was a disappointment.
(2)
Gabe M.
Third time that I have come to this Chart house. Always disappointed. Fish was overcooked, place was smokey and the poor server had too many tables. Food took forever that we missed the fireworks. Not worth the money.
(2)
Mellie D.
So amazing... Every item we all ordered including appetizers were great. Party of 6 was served fast and our server was wonderful. Would definitely recommend! The food won't disappoint.
(5)
Jose P.
Wow I feel like we just got kicked out of this place, as soon a we walked in we saw there was nobody in the front desk and there was already a group of 5 waiting to be seated, after about 8 minutes a girl asked if we had a reserved seating and we said know, she told us there would be a 35 minute waiting for walkings when the whole place was empty only about 4 tables were taken, glad BB's was minutes away now we are good and about to enjoy our dinner
(2)
Bret A.
The salad bar was fantastic and my steak heavenly. I traveled for business and appreciated the supportive, friendly wait service without being intrusive. You should know that everything is a lot carte at the restaurant - but the portions are large so you don't need much other than an entree and salad. Excellent view of the river with a relaxing environment. I will be back!
(4)
Brynn H.
Amazing food but service was little slow. If you go there you have to try the steak I know it's a seafood restaurant they make amazing steak. you have to try the clam chowder it's amazing the clam they have celery and onion and potatoes to every bite.
(4)
Tracy F.
Terrible! Average food for 3x the price what it should be. When at the salad bar I could hear the cooks talking and saying foul words. The kids meal for my son was $8 for cold and dry Kraft Mac n cheese...I could still even see the caked up cheese powder! I left feeling completely ripped off. Will never be back again and never recommend anybody to go there.
(1)
Rzap Z.
We had a wonderful time, staff was friendly, prompt and professional. Great view of the water. Had the Prime Rib and it wasnto die for. Would highly recommend.
(4)
Cindy L.
Waitress was wonderful an dinner was great as usual. It was a bit hot inside and our table was broken but not bad enough for us to move.
(5)
V P.
This place is just very overpiced. Kinda weird that they had to check if they had room in an almost empty restaurant (which never filled up). Food was good, but not worth the money. Lava cake tasted a lil burned, not that good...
(3)
Chad W S.
Not the best experience for the money. Mind you it was a dead night and cook was probably off...but still....really?
(2)
Marty S.
After having left Jacksonville over 20 years ago my wife thought that our anniversary would be a perfect time to see if The Chart House was as good as she remembered that it was. We used complimentary varlet parking and the attentive valet went after me to obtain the digital key that I usually just kept in my pocket. A reminder of what we have in today's electronic age. Anyway, we arrived in time for happy hour at the bar. Seating is available at the long bar, large tables and small cocktail tables for two. There is a great selection of appetizers for $4, $5, $6 and $7. These appetizers are only available in the bar and lounge, so going early for both them and the happy hour priced drinks is a very good choice. We tried the Calamari and friends as well as the fried artichoke hearts. To go along with the appetizers, we had the generously poured $5 happy hour martinis. The service is fast, efficient and friendly. My selection of fried Calamari included fried tomatoes and fried onion rings. Included were two different sauces, a dipping sauce and a tarter mixture. The fried artichokes were nicely breaded and included seasoning and a spicy dipping sauce. Although, given the portions and the price, you could make a great dining experience just sampling the appetizers. We had dinner reservations and as we entered the nautical themed dining area and were greeted and noting our name, were congratulated on our anniversary. The dining area has a stupendous view of the Jacksonville river and the downtown skyline. Full length windows provided a pararamic view that was warm and inviting. While the dining area was very large, the vast amount of wood trim and carpeting, resulted in a very quiet dinning environment. The menu is extensive has a great selection of fresh fish noted as "Today's Fresh Fish". A great notation given the proclivity for many restaurants to relay on frozen fish caught who knows when or where. There also is a selection of red meat steaks, rib eye as well as poultry. Since we already had our appetizer fill at the bar, we opted for soup and entrees. My wife picked the Best of Soup consisting of clam chowder, lobster bisque and gazpacho. I went directly to the gazpacho. The soups were exquisite. The taste was wonderful as was the aroma. I need to mention our waiter, who was knowledgeable, friendly and informative. He was very attentive and engaging. For our entrees we had had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and Spiced Yellowfin Ahi tuna. Both dishes were light, flakey and delicious. The flavor was exquisite. Ambiance was quiet elegance. Overall the experience was refreshingly romantic. Loved the dinner and everything about the experience. This is a dining experience we will repeat.
(4)
Food I.
Absolutely HORRIBLE. Showed up on a Sunday before a show at thenTimes Union. Wasn't say until 30 min after our reservation time, bad service, never saw a manager. Food was cold and we only had 7 minutes to eat it due to them only having 1 server on staff and our 30 minute reservation delay. Will never return.
(1)
Sarah P.
I was excited about this restaurant because the location is incredible, right one the water, and the architecture of the building is really neat. But it was one of the worst dinners I've ever had. When we went in, the restaurant was mostly empty, but the hostess gave us attitude about not having a reservation. The food was abysmal (and I'm really not a picky eater)!! We tried the chopped salad, crab and avocado stack, lobster bisque, grouper special, and spring rolls. We sent back the spring rolls because they were basically inedible. I filled up on the complimentary bread because it was the only decent thing on the table. And our bill was almost $100 for a party of 3. The waitress was also slow and inattentive. Do not go to this restaurant!!
(1)
Kasey G.
The Chart House is usually great. I recommend trying the lava cake.
(4)
John S.
I've experienced better...like at Chart House three years ago. The place with a beautiful view and convenient location for dining before an event downtown has gone downhill.
(2)
FoolMeOnce...Again T.
My husband and I went there on 6/15/15 around 6pm for happy hour drinks/apps. The place was busier than I thought it would be but not packed since we easily found a place to sit in the bar table area. After sitting for 4-6 minutes and watching the bartender walk by us twice without looking we knew we were in trouble. Another waiter also walked by us without looking our way. Finally, about 10 minutes after we sat downmy husband says to the bartender as he is once again walking by us without so much as a glance, "Excuse me can we order some drinks?". The bartender still doesn't look at us but loudly says "Give me a minute please!". We promptly got up and left - this bartender is in the wrong profession and needs to go. This was actually our 4th time in 6 weeks going to the CH (3 at the bar and 1 for dinner). The difference this time was the bartender was frazzled and couldn't take the pressure of the crowd. If he just would have looked our way ONCE and politely said he was swamped and it would be a few minutes we would have been completely understanding. We ended up going to BB's and having an INCREDIBLE $4 tempranillo for their HH. We live very close by and it may be awhile before CH get's anymore business from us as my husband has a LONG memory when it comes to this type of thing. Sorry CH - you LOSE!
(2)
Jamie T.
I found Chart House while browsing for open locations on Christmas day. The view looked spectacular and the menu seemed to accommodate all guests in my party of six, including one vegetarian. We had a table facing the river, which was nice. Our server was pleasant, but not terribly attentive or informative. The kitchen ran out of a few things that came with each of our meals and instead of alerting us, the server brought us replacement sides that we neither asked for nor wanted. The cuisine was overpriced, mediocre hotel food. The mashed potatoes were like wallpaper paste. If you don't mind paying $40 for a tough cut of meat and a couple of broccoli florets, by all means check this place out. We won't be returning, unfortunately.
(2)
S D.
Dinner for Valentines Day was horrible! Chart House is Over Over priced for the quality of food that is served. My wife ordered Scallops Gluten Free. She was served four quarter sized scallops on a plop of mashed potatoes with a scoop of plain steamed string beans for $31.00!! They put no effort to make it a tasty dish. It was like she was on a bland diet. My niece ordered a filet mignon well done. The first time they brought it to her, blood was coming out of it. She sent it back again. It comes back pink. She sent it back again! It returns medium well. Frustrated she didn't send it back again. Mind you there was mashed potatoes on her plate that kept going back and forth with the meat. They never changed out the potatoes so along with the meat that was not to her liking she had a cold lump of dirty, unpeeled mashed potatoes! By this time all of our food was cold because we were trying to eat at the same time. Instead of having a quiet nice dinner together it was frustrating and disappointing. The meals were served either with a vegetable or a starch. So you had to order side dishes to accommodate what was lacking. There were many other things wrong with our dinner experience. Our waiter was like a zombie. He never smiled, he had no enthusiasm. He made a terrible experience worse than it was!! We were angry and frustrated that we spent $400 and walked away with disappointment!! I could go on but reliving this experience makes me upset especially when I think we spent $400 for this CRAP!!!
(1)
Ken R.
Recommended by a family member as a nice place for dinner and wasn't disappointed. Coconut Shrimp was a great appetizer. I had the Snapper Hemingway which was very nice. Kaye had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and loved its flavor and sauce. Staff was wonderful. Not cheap but worth the price.
(5)
Jill C.
Three friends and I went to the chart house for dinner before a concert. It was my suggestion since I had worked at the Coronado chart house in the 80s while I was in college. Two friends ordered the lobster bisque and salad bar, I had a lobster tail and baked potato with chop salad, and another friend had fish and chop salad. Our server was excellent. The wine was very good as well. The unfortunate part is that the two friends who ate the lobster bisque and salad bar got food poisoning that night. 12 hours after we ate they were both violently ill. I and two other of the diners contacted the chart house to explain what it happened and were all promised a call back from the general manager. After three calls I have still not received a call back from any person from the chart house who has try to make restitution to my sick friends. This is all very disappointing since the chart house was a big part of my young adult years and I felt proud to take them there. I guess when Landry's took over the chart house Aloha Spirit left with it.
(2)
Don B.
Great food and outstanding service from Marissa.
(4)
Alex S.
Happy hours specials are cheap, so it's a good place to drink up and feel classy on the cheap! It's right on the river, so you can check out the boats that pass. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. They remember you, and they check on you regularly.
(4)
Jean G.
As someone who once worked as a waitress myself, I am VERY relucatant to leave a bad restaurant review because I know how many factors are beyond the waiter's control--slow kitchen, overbooked tables, bad juju--but tonight's supremely poor experience--at all levels of service--just begs for comment. We were a party of 8 celebrating a 75th birthday. We last dined here two years ago and had a nice experience, and my in-laws didn't want to deal with the crowds at the (so-called, which is nowhere near downtown) St. Johns Town Center. The reservation was for 6:30 pm; admittedly, a portion of the party was 10 minutes late, but no one even got water at the table until 7 pm. After another 20 minutes, we got the wine we'd ordered, but on telling the waiter we were ready to order, he disappeared for another 15 minutes. Orders were finally taken, but not correctly--salads came with the wrong dressing, which after being brought to the waiter's attention, still were never corrected; a seared tuna showed up as the wasabi-crusted tuna, which then took another 20 minutes to correct; asparagus that was specifically ordered to be soft came out undercooked and stringy; and a lava cake that was ordered with the entree (it typically needs 30 minutes preparation) showed up well after every one else had finished their desserts. We didn't finish dinner until after 9 pm, and had to bring the check up to the hostess stand because we were tired of waiting for the waiter to clear our check. In terms of the food's quality--and we're talking about a place where the average entree is $30+, and even the salad bar option is over $18 (with less offerings, candidly, than you'd find at a Sweet Tomatoes)--what we were served this evening was surprisingly mediocre. My chopped salad looked like something off a cafeteria line, the bread rolls had a frozen-too-long taste, the tilapia was mushy, the prime rib my father-in-law ordered was tough, the short ribs my daughter ordered weren't even as good as the ones I cook at home, and the mussels my sister-in-law ordered made her quite visibly nauseous. On the plus side, my son enjoyed his shrimp platter, my husband's crab cakes were tasty, and my daughter's clam chowder was nicely seasoned. Seriously, this has the feel of a place that is coasting on its name brand and its proximity to several downtown hotels. The view is lovely, and the interior is quite striking in a 70s avant-garde way, but the restaurant seems BADLY in need of new management and real-world wait staff training. There are many excellent dining options in Jacksonville, especially for the expense-account crowd, but this is no longer one of them. Looking at prior reviews, it's clear we're not the only ones who've had a disappointing experience. When you factor in the significantly overpriced entrees, this place just isn't worth it. If you're downtown and looking for a great food, try either Ruth's Chris (also on the river), bb's (very close to CH, locally owned, and consistently excellent), or any of the many wonderful restaurants in nearby Riverside Avondale (about 4 miles from downtown). My favs there are Black Sheep, Orsay, Biscotti's, 13 Gypsies, Pele's, The Salty Fig, and The Brick--all WAY better, and far friendlier for your wallet. Sorry to be so negative, but sometimes you've just got to tell it like it is.
(1)
Amra K.
Worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant! My med-rare prime rib was well done and by the time I got another one, the rest of my party was done and dessert already came out. Oh, and I guess they let it sit for quite a while because when it was brought out, all the ice cream was completely melted. The server was not apologetic, what so ever, and seemed like he would rather be elsewhere. Not to mention, he smelled like an ashtray!
(1)
Jorge U.
Nice view. Wish we had stopped with that. Worst experience at a Chart House ever. Bad food, bad service, and bad attitudes. They should just shut this train wreck down.
(1)
Colleen Z.
I just read Bob J.'s review and our experience was very similar if not exact to his. The only positives about the restaurant was the on-time reservation and very nice professional valet service. Our wait staff was kind but very slow including we waited so long for our bottle of wine that my client called the manager over to ask for service. Even then we didn't receive the bottle for quite some time, although I didn't time I would say 10-15 minutes and this was after we had waited 10-15 minutes for our drink order to be taken. The bread was brought at the time our bottle was brought. We all had fish dishes that were over or under cooked. I was shocked when my $33 fish with a lobster sauce dish was served. The look of the dish was of diner quality and had I been with my husband or friends I would have sent it back or left altogether. Even the sauteed spinach was overcooked and bland. Bob J's description of the self-serve salad bar is spot on. The bar looked like it could have been in a Denny's or all-you-can-eat buffet line. We eventually ordered another bottle of wine instead of dessert which was probably a good thing. Something is just out of place in this restaurant. The kitchen on several occasions filled the restaurant with smoke even catching our tables attention because we wondered if all was OK. Overall, the restaurant is overpriced for the quality of service, atmosphere and food provided on the night we visited. Save yourself money and time. Go somewhere else.
(1)
R L.
food is bad for what you pay for. View is great but restaurant has bad food. Sorry to offend others if they have their opinion that its a wonderful place. sadly it is not.
(1)
Tiffany B.
Happy hour specials are great. The prices on regular menu are crazy expensive. The interior super nice and high end. Will be back soon
(4)
Jeff C.
The location of the restaurant is great, with a fantastic water view from most tables. The interior architecture is very nice as well. The service was average. They were very nice, just a little on the slow side. It was about a 2 hour affair for our party of 5 during a period of time where there were many free tables. The food was excellent. Two in our party said it was the best dish of the type they ordered that they'd ever had. I found the self service salad bar a little strange for a restaurant of this caliber. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with it, it is just hard to present a self service bar without it looking like a budget restaurant. I would return without question.
(4)
Marc P.
Molten lava cake--what is this monstrosity?!
(3)
Brandi P.
I've been here several times & I have always received great food and even better service.
(5)
Paul C.
Been here a few times; I was always fascinated by the architecture of this place; come to find out it was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, and was once the costliest building built in all of Florida, as per sq. ft. cost. Great view of river, good parking....and now the food; well that's just OK for me, but good all around as per taste, presentation, and selection; I would lean towards their fish entrees. The bar is very good, and efficient, and the wait staff is friendly, and knowledgeable. This restaurant is a regular stop using the river taxi too. Their desserts are outstanding!
(3)
Chip B.
Used to eat at the Chart House 20+ years ago when i lived in Jacksonville. It was excellent then. Ate there September 20, 07, after a long time away and the food and service are still excellent. You get what you pay for and the food is worth every dollar you'll spend. Try the molten chocolate volcano dessert - I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Angle for a river walk view. I can't imagine you'll have anything but an excellent meal at the Chart House.
(5)
Timmy T.
Went here again not by choice. If I had to pay for the meal I would be very disappointed. Since it was free I guess I will eat here. I would never come here on my own dime nor would I recommend anyone going here.
(1)
Ryan B.
Great food, great drinks, good view, just a little overpriced.
(3)
Laura B.
Beautiful view over the river (saw the fireworks over the stadium). The kitchen was perhaps overworked; some appetizers were cold, one of the entree orders was wrong, the vegetables were oily. The scallops were nicely done. We were a fairly large party (business) and they jury rigged some tables together and covered them in linen. This uneven surface resulted in ice water being spilled all over one guest and wine glasses sliding down the table throughout the evening. Much more expensive than other restaurants with better food. You are paying for the view. I think they get a lot of customers from the hotels who are not ever going to come back. With the view and this clientele, they can get away with the prices and the food.
(2)
Duane M.
Sweet tea vodka is a new treat for me. Goes well with the lettuce wraps and firecracker shrimp.
(3)
Judy K.
Good food and service. Will definitely be returning.
(4)
Maureen P.
Way overpriced and below par food. Our soup sampler was stone cold, the stuffed mushrooms were luke warm and tasted like they had been sitting around a long time. It felt like my grandparents would have loved the early bird special. It was a blast from the 80's. We won't be going back.
(2)
Kim J.
Unfortunately The Chart House is getting long in the tooth and has seen better days. But alas, if you hit it right, it is still very good, albeit pricey. With a great happy hour and appetisers that you can fill up on, good prime rib and steaks, and thoughtfully prepared fresh fish of all kinds, but preparation can be hit and miss. Like many chain restaurants, the bean counters (In Texas?) seem to be looking a the bottom line, not what is necessary to make a good restaurant great. The salad bar used to be a focal point, but now it's just ho-hum. I loved the crab and avacado stack appitizer until last night. They have replaced the natural crab with some sour cream based "spread" that ....well, just don't bother putting it on the menu if you're going to ruin it. But all in all, Chart House is a dining gem, the architecture is one of a kind and a landmark on Jacksonville's riverfront. On the negative side on the location, an internet cafe opened next door...ah..well it's a gambling parlor, plain and simple with all the riff raff that one would expect at the nickle slots in downtown Vegas....sadly the once squeaky clean neighborhood has gone down hill.
(3)
Antony C.
Flight got grounded in JAX due to bad weather. But, I was hoping to turn lemons into lemonade when I found a Chart House local to the area. Growing up in Daytona Beach, I had frequented the Chart House there for special occasions. The ambiance was great. I had a table with a view of the water. I wonder if Frank Lloyd Wright built all the Chart House restaurants? I started off with some Blue Point oysters from Delaware. They were medium-sized, not too salty and very tasty. Next I had a cup of the New England clam chowder, which was real good. It was creamy and rich with clams and potatoes, unlike some others I've tried. Being in FL, I figured I had to hit a seafood dish. I opted for seared scallops that were prepared Asian fusion style with rice and bokchoy. Unfortunately, this dish wasn't up to par. The scallops were small, not well seared and didn't taste fresh. The bokchoy was overcooked, and the dish was too salty with the soy sauce. I also had a glass Sauvignon Blanc from St. Supery. I've had the pleasure of visiting this vineyard, which has some great value on whites in my opinion. I think I hit the bottom of the bottle as it was pretty oxidized. I should have sent it back but didn't have the heart to do it. Service was good, not great. For the prices, I would have expected it to be a bit more attentive. Net-net: not sure I got the value for my spend. But, I'm willing to give it another chance next time I'm in town.
(3)
Tony M.
What last night. Had stuffed mushrooms and the Georgia Mahi on the chef's menu both were excellent. View of the river is awesome
(5)
Kai R.
This is one of the nicer waterfront restaurants in Jacksonville. Service was very attentive, menu had some great selections of seafood and meats / everyone in my party of 7 enjoyed their dinner very much. This place is a thousand times better that River City Brewing, which is nearby / prices are comparable.
(4)
Bob J.
I took some colleagues here for a meal - I hadn't been to a Chart House in years, the last one being in San Diego. Well... The service was slow and amateurish. Some of our food was cold. The salad bar looked miserable - I've seen salad bars in pizza joints that look better. The bread was hard and not warm. I could go on and on and on, but for the price and ambience I would expect something first rate, instead, we got third rate service with food that had been kept under a warming light way too long. Stay away by all means - if you want upscale in this area do Morton's or Ruth Chris or something else. Forget this Chart House until the management gets some professional help.
(1)
Lisa L.
Crab stuffed mushrooms - Yes! Banana foster fish - no, thanks, I'll try something else. Very attentive service and a great view, but somehow the interiors remind me of a cross between a terrarium and an old folks home. Maybe it's the salad bar. But, it's all you can eat, and I hear there is caviar!
(4)
Grace D.
I've only been here once (who can afford to go on a regular?!). It was actually a special occasion (my birthday!). I had a great experience. Service was excellent (they gave me a black napkin to match my black dress!). It's the type of place where you really can't go wrong no matter what you order.
(4)
Holly H.
I went here with my husband and in-laws for Easter lunch. We weren't horribly impressed with it and I definitely don't think it was worth the price. The restaurant is nice looking, though the chairs were a bit ugly...and hard to slide back and forth into the table. Our table was also two tables plac together with a big dip between the two that the waiter warned us about. I personally didn't get the salad bar, but my little sister-in-law did. The quality looked good, but I was a bit confused when the hostess told us they were famous for their salad bar. It simply looked like a plain salad bar. I am also not a fan of small water glasses. I understand that many high end restaurants have small water glasses that they fill in addition to whatever drink you order, but I drink water by itself in most cases. I also drink a lot of it. I would much prefer a real glass, instead of a wine glass filled with water, especially if you aren't going to keep it filled for me. I ran out of water two or three times and sat without for some time. My husband and father-in-law emptied their drinks by the time the appetizers came and the waiter never filled them until our entrees came...he didn't even fill them when he came to bring the soup. We ordered a crab cake and calamari and friends for appetizers. The crab cake was delicious. We all thought it was the best one we had ever had. I should have ordered it for my meal. The waiter said it was about 95 % crab, which was totally right and it was delicious. The calamari was delicious as well. It came with tempura battered veggies as well...I think it was carrots, jalapeños, and red peppers. It came with a delicious slightly spicy/tangy/sweet sauce. The guys both got the clam chowder and it was very yummy and came in these awesome metal kettle like bowls. I instantly wanted them :) My husband and his mother both had stuffed shrimp. I think they both enjoyed it, though didn't seem to rave about it. My father-in-law and I both had the spiced yellowfin ahi. They were cooked well, but the seasoning was way too much. The seasoning was too salty and overwhelmed the tuna. You couldn't taste much of the actual fish. The saffron risotto was delicious...though I might have an addiction to risotto in general, so it may just be me. For dessert we got the molten lava cake. We are molten lava cake fiends. Eat couple shared one on the recommendation of the waiter, though he made them out to be a lot bigger than they were. They were still share worthy though. I thought it was weird that he brought us little plates to eat them on and knives to cut it with. Really? That is not how you share a molten lava cake. You have to dig in on the late because of the gooey deliciousness. When the dessert arrived the first thong ,ymhusband did was du,p the giant scoop of ice-cream off to the side. It was just too difficult to cut through it all. The molten lava cake was cooked too long. The center was just barely fudgey and didn't ooze at all like a good molten lava cake should.mthe outside of the cake with crispy as well, which I didn't enjoy. I also wasnt a fan of the fact that they sprinkled broken Heath bars over the top. I have never liked heath bars and didn't like them on this. Over all I felt the food was so-so other than the crab cakes, and the service was slow. We will probably never go back unless someone else really wants to go.
(3)
Rick B.
Great food....This was my first time visiting the Chart House Restaurant. The view was good. Although the food was Great, the wait service needs improvement.
(3)
Natalie B.
I have enjoyed every meal I have had at Chart House. I find it to be a nice place for special occasions, regardless if it is a quiet dinner with your special someone or a celebratory dinner with your family. The building itself is very cool-it feels like you are inside a boat! The dishes are delicious and if you can score a seat facing the river, that is a bonus. The service here is polished without being uncomfortable. Special props to the waitstaff--when I made a reservation for my parents to go on their anniversary, they printed a special menu for them upon arrival that read "Happy Anniversary" with their names and the date on it. Classy.
(4)
Charlie P.
We arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early and went to the bar to take advantage of happy hour. It took 20 minutes for someone to take our drink and appetizer order by which time happy hour was over. The appetizers finally arrived just as we were being seated at the table, so Katina (manager) comped them. Seated at a nice table overlooking the river and ordered our food. Melissa took our order and then we waited. Wife's soup arrived cold and we sent it back. Our dining companion's chopped salad was unedible and we sent it back. Scallops were tasty as was coconut shrimp. They were advertising a peach crisp desert, but were out of it, so had to settle for apple/cranberry something. Manager ended up comping everything except scallops, shrimp and desert.
(1)
Karen F.
The Chart House Haiku Review Organic forms and swooping curves set the stage for succulent seafood.
(5)
Rob L.
This restaurant used to be one of the best places to eat in Jacksonville as recently as five or six years ago. The architecture is stunning and one of the most unique buildings you'll ever eat it. That said, the service and presentation did not live up to Charthouse standards. The food was very good but kind of thrown on the plate. There was no color or garnish or sauces to give it a gourmet touch. The salad bar used to be one of the highlights at Charthouse but the night I was there it looked like the one at Golden Corral. We had to find someone to make our Cesar Salad. The bottom line is this place needs to step it up and return to the very recent past of service and ambience. The wait staff used to be highly professional and our waiter was just a waiter. The first time I ate here twenty years ago the wait staff was absolutely top notch. This time it was only adequate. I want this place to be great. I love the place but it almost felt like it's just biding it's time. Make it excellent again!!
(3)
Bob J.
I took some colleagues here for a meal - I hadn't been to a Chart House in years, the last one being in San Diego. Well... The service was slow and amateurish. Some of our food was cold. The salad bar looked miserable - I've seen salad bars in pizza joints that look better. The bread was hard and not warm. I could go on and on and on, but for the price and ambience I would expect something first rate, instead, we got third rate service with food that had been kept under a warming light way too long. Stay away by all means - if you want upscale in this area do Morton's or Ruth Chris or something else. Forget this Chart House until the management gets some professional help.
(1)
Lisa L.
Crab stuffed mushrooms - Yes! Banana foster fish - no, thanks, I'll try something else. Very attentive service and a great view, but somehow the interiors remind me of a cross between a terrarium and an old folks home. Maybe it's the salad bar. But, it's all you can eat, and I hear there is caviar!
(4)
Grace D.
I've only been here once (who can afford to go on a regular?!). It was actually a special occasion (my birthday!). I had a great experience. Service was excellent (they gave me a black napkin to match my black dress!). It's the type of place where you really can't go wrong no matter what you order.
(4)
Ed L.
The Chart House has always been one of my faves from Los Gatos, to Monterey, from San Diego to San Antonio, guess I've made the rounds. But the Jax location is one of the most unique, not just it's architecture, but it's level of service. I've found all location serve consistently quality food, although I've been disappointed that Jax serves no steamed artichokes. With that said, the crab stuff sh-rooms more that make up for it. All the appetizers are superb and the entrees all always perfectly cooked to order. This trip, I ordered the rack of lamb, served with garlic mashed taters and steamed vegges. The waiter stood-by while I cut and check it to make sure it was to my liking. I had ordered my rack med-well, but it came out medium. He gladly whisked it away to cook a little further, and returned in just minutes. It was perfect in taste and tenderness. The other person I was with ordered a fillet Mignon, which was perfect in every way. She compared it to Morton's, and said it's flavor was even better. I happen to know that the coconut crunchy shrimp, served with sweet plum sauce is also excellent. The view on the river is nice, although not real scenic. Our waiter was excellent, delighting us in conversation, he could not have been more personable. This was my third or fourth visit here and I wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)
Tiffany B.
Happy hour specials are great. The prices on regular menu are crazy expensive. The interior super nice and high end. Will be back soon
(4)
Gabe M.
Third time that I have come to this Chart house. Always disappointed. Fish was overcooked, place was smokey and the poor server had too many tables. Food took forever that we missed the fireworks. Not worth the money.
(2)
Mellie D.
So amazing... Every item we all ordered including appetizers were great. Party of 6 was served fast and our server was wonderful. Would definitely recommend! The food won't disappoint.
(5)
Jose P.
Wow I feel like we just got kicked out of this place, as soon a we walked in we saw there was nobody in the front desk and there was already a group of 5 waiting to be seated, after about 8 minutes a girl asked if we had a reserved seating and we said know, she told us there would be a 35 minute waiting for walkings when the whole place was empty only about 4 tables were taken, glad BB's was minutes away now we are good and about to enjoy our dinner
(2)
Tracy F.
Terrible! Average food for 3x the price what it should be. When at the salad bar I could hear the cooks talking and saying foul words. The kids meal for my son was $8 for cold and dry Kraft Mac n cheese...I could still even see the caked up cheese powder! I left feeling completely ripped off. Will never be back again and never recommend anybody to go there.
(1)
Rzap Z.
We had a wonderful time, staff was friendly, prompt and professional. Great view of the water. Had the Prime Rib and it wasnto die for. Would highly recommend.
(4)
FoolMeOnce...Again T.
My husband and I went there on 6/15/15 around 6pm for happy hour drinks/apps. The place was busier than I thought it would be but not packed since we easily found a place to sit in the bar table area. After sitting for 4-6 minutes and watching the bartender walk by us twice without looking we knew we were in trouble. Another waiter also walked by us without looking our way. Finally, about 10 minutes after we sat downmy husband says to the bartender as he is once again walking by us without so much as a glance, "Excuse me can we order some drinks?". The bartender still doesn't look at us but loudly says "Give me a minute please!". We promptly got up and left - this bartender is in the wrong profession and needs to go. This was actually our 4th time in 6 weeks going to the CH (3 at the bar and 1 for dinner). The difference this time was the bartender was frazzled and couldn't take the pressure of the crowd. If he just would have looked our way ONCE and politely said he was swamped and it would be a few minutes we would have been completely understanding. We ended up going to BB's and having an INCREDIBLE $4 tempranillo for their HH. We live very close by and it may be awhile before CH get's anymore business from us as my husband has a LONG memory when it comes to this type of thing. Sorry CH - you LOSE!
(2)
Jamie T.
I found Chart House while browsing for open locations on Christmas day. The view looked spectacular and the menu seemed to accommodate all guests in my party of six, including one vegetarian. We had a table facing the river, which was nice. Our server was pleasant, but not terribly attentive or informative. The kitchen ran out of a few things that came with each of our meals and instead of alerting us, the server brought us replacement sides that we neither asked for nor wanted. The cuisine was overpriced, mediocre hotel food. The mashed potatoes were like wallpaper paste. If you don't mind paying $40 for a tough cut of meat and a couple of broccoli florets, by all means check this place out. We won't be returning, unfortunately.
(2)
Cindy L.
Waitress was wonderful an dinner was great as usual. It was a bit hot inside and our table was broken but not bad enough for us to move.
(5)
John S.
I've experienced better...like at Chart House three years ago. The place with a beautiful view and convenient location for dining before an event downtown has gone downhill.
(2)
Bret A.
The salad bar was fantastic and my steak heavenly. I traveled for business and appreciated the supportive, friendly wait service without being intrusive. You should know that everything is a lot carte at the restaurant - but the portions are large so you don't need much other than an entree and salad. Excellent view of the river with a relaxing environment. I will be back!
(4)
Brynn H.
Amazing food but service was little slow. If you go there you have to try the steak I know it's a seafood restaurant they make amazing steak. you have to try the clam chowder it's amazing the clam they have celery and onion and potatoes to every bite.
(4)
V P.
This place is just very overpiced. Kinda weird that they had to check if they had room in an almost empty restaurant (which never filled up). Food was good, but not worth the money. Lava cake tasted a lil burned, not that good...
(3)
Chad W S.
Not the best experience for the money. Mind you it was a dead night and cook was probably off...but still....really?
(2)
Laura B.
Beautiful view over the river (saw the fireworks over the stadium). The kitchen was perhaps overworked; some appetizers were cold, one of the entree orders was wrong, the vegetables were oily. The scallops were nicely done. We were a fairly large party (business) and they jury rigged some tables together and covered them in linen. This uneven surface resulted in ice water being spilled all over one guest and wine glasses sliding down the table throughout the evening. Much more expensive than other restaurants with better food. You are paying for the view. I think they get a lot of customers from the hotels who are not ever going to come back. With the view and this clientele, they can get away with the prices and the food.
(2)
Duane M.
Sweet tea vodka is a new treat for me. Goes well with the lettuce wraps and firecracker shrimp.
(3)
Judy K.
Good food and service. Will definitely be returning.
(4)
Brian F.
Unless I left something there that I didn't realize, I see no reason to ever return to Chart House. We came on a Wednesday night, busy with lots of business travelers as you'd expect. My wife ordered king crab ($45), I ordered seared mahi with a lobster/crab topping ($35). My wife's crab was overcooked and rubbery, like it'd sat under a heat lamp or otherwise been prepared well ahead of time. My mahi was not seared in any way that I could recognize, the sauce/topping was bland, and the fish itself was mushy -- you could tell it wasn't fresh, despite being on the fresh fish list on the menu. The orzo served with my fish was overcooked, almost like porridge. We both had the salad bar, which was good, but probably overrated. There was no attendant at the salad bar to prepare Caesar salads or otherwise look over matters, disappointing for a $9 add-on. I should have been suspicious when one of their fresh fish listings was farmed tilapia -- not exactly sourcing the best ingredients. I'm not convinced my Mahi wasn't frozen -- I'm not even really convinced it was Mahi. The Morton's that used to be nearby, owned by the same corporation as Chart House, actually served an excellent king crab entree, which was cooked perfectly, and presented beautifully -- funny their remaining corporate cousin, specializing in seafood, manages to bung up this simple dish. I complained, something I rarely do. I have probably sent back 2 dishes in the last 5 years... The waitress said the manager would be right over. After about 10 minutes, she arrived, after making a big show about checking on other tables, presumably so as to not appear to be coming to our table specifically. It was odd to watch. Her attitude was kind of lousy -- after explaining the issue with my wife's dinner, she turned to me and asked "and what is the problem with yours?" with a saccharine smile on her face. The service overall was below what you would expect at this price point. The staff tries hard but seems stretched thin. Service was hurried and sparse. Our table was scarcely bussed between courses, and certainly not reset/crumbed like you might expect. We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert to try and end on a high note, it did not disappoint, something I can't say for the rest of the experience. This place is obviously surviving on people who don't know good seafood, business people with expense accounts, and the Chart House name. I think the fact that diners here are often in big groups, with someone else paying has something to do with it. I know in that kind of situation I would be disinclined to complain. Perhaps this lack of feedback is contributing to the problem -- customers arent complaining, and the management doesn't enforce any standards? Despite our entrees being comped, I can't give this place more than 1 star, they are just too far off the mark.
(1)
Joe S.
Longtime Landry's Select member and have been to this CH location no less than 30 times over the last 6 years. It used to be my favorite restaurant/bar. Unfortunately, I've watched this location decline in service and food quality over the years. Gave it another shot tonight and here's how it played out (in concise form): 1. Pulled in, no valet in sight 2. Parked myself and when I got out, was told that this very empty portion of the parking lot was reserved exclusively for "web cafe" customers and that I should park "between the cones" 3. There were no spaces available between the cones 4. Went back to valet who eventually showed up and parked my car 5. Went in for dinner/drinks (solo) at bar, and surprisingly, no seats available- there were, however, plenty of disgruntled guests awaiting drinks, food orders, and checks 6. Finally got a drink order in, and informed the bartender I'd be having dinner and another drink once a seat was available 7. Returned to the bar, where I waited for 10 minutes only to receive no words, no drink, and no food order. Instead, I received my bill with the card already run for my one drink 8. Signed and left Bummer and sadly, no longer an anomaly at this location.
(2)
Christine C.
My husband and I had dinner here on May 5, 2015. The service was excellent and courteous. Although we were there early we were not offered the early menu. The food was not fresh. For example we ordered the shrimp, crab, mango salsa avocado appetizer and the avocado was brown. Also I ordered a house salad and the lettuce was brown. I also had a shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce was odd tasting almost too sweet. My husband's steak tasted like chalk it was over cooked and dry. I would not eat here again.
We came here for their happy hour specials on Friday of the GA/FL weekend. We arrived around 4:40 and there were plenty of empty tables around the bar. The service was terrible! Rude waiters! As we were about to order apps from the happy hour menu, the manager came over and snatched the menus from our table without saying anything to us. When our server came by they told us they would not be honoring the happy hour specials because it was a "holiday". They seemed stressed about there being a lot of customers there, but it was less then half way full of people. Really odd. We left thereafter.
(2)
Ralph B.
I've been a big fan of the Charthouse for quite some time now, while having some exceptional dining experiences. Tonight- Thursday 12-04-2014 we had reservations for 7:00 and were seated right away in the lower-part section of the restaurant that I'd not experienced before, during a peak time. The restaurant was full and this area was rather noisy. Our conversations required a lot of leaning-in to keep up. The lighting in this section was really bad (very low). While it may lend itself to a romantic setting, actually seeing the menu was a chore. Our party of four's entrees took some time to arrive, but once they did all enjoyed the meal. My own choice of pan seared scallops over garlic mashed potatoes was superb. One constant I have found in returning to the Charthouse over the years. Service staff was friendly and accomodating. I think in going back (and I will) I'll try a different time of the evening and day. The company in my party made up for any shortcoming I found in our outing. Close Family and good friends go a long way to enhancing an evening out.
(4)
Sarah P.
I was excited about this restaurant because the location is incredible, right one the water, and the architecture of the building is really neat. But it was one of the worst dinners I've ever had. When we went in, the restaurant was mostly empty, but the hostess gave us attitude about not having a reservation. The food was abysmal (and I'm really not a picky eater)!! We tried the chopped salad, crab and avocado stack, lobster bisque, grouper special, and spring rolls. We sent back the spring rolls because they were basically inedible. I filled up on the complimentary bread because it was the only decent thing on the table. And our bill was almost $100 for a party of 3. The waitress was also slow and inattentive. Do not go to this restaurant!!
(1)
Kasey G.
The Chart House is usually great. I recommend trying the lava cake.
(4)
Carla V.
This place is a chain...owned by Landry's. I dined here for dinner with a large group of peers, so it was understandable that our visit would be lengthy. The server was great, and the meal started off well with the appetizers. We even had a coupon for a free app up to $12, but more than half the selections were over $12. I enjoy the "best of soup" but then the plateaued. Entrees arrived and the food was bland...lukewarm at best and expensive. I would skip it...it's overpriced for the quality if food, which is on par with the namesake of this brand. I don't mind Landry's Seafood but Chart House was a disappointment.
(2)
Michelle M.
I don't know about dinner, but I've no complaints about happy hour. Good cocktails, yummy appetizers, service was decent. What keeps me coming back quite honestly is the architecture and the view. The entire experience is what keeps me coming back for Happy Hour. I could do without the lone teenaged valet (poor dude) who made me very nervous about trusting him with my vehicle (especially after he backed a truck into another car). But I would be very sad if the Chart House closed so I am always game to return to the hour that makes me happiest there.
(4)
S D.
Dinner for Valentines Day was horrible! Chart House is Over Over priced for the quality of food that is served. My wife ordered Scallops Gluten Free. She was served four quarter sized scallops on a plop of mashed potatoes with a scoop of plain steamed string beans for $31.00!! They put no effort to make it a tasty dish. It was like she was on a bland diet. My niece ordered a filet mignon well done. The first time they brought it to her, blood was coming out of it. She sent it back again. It comes back pink. She sent it back again! It returns medium well. Frustrated she didn't send it back again. Mind you there was mashed potatoes on her plate that kept going back and forth with the meat. They never changed out the potatoes so along with the meat that was not to her liking she had a cold lump of dirty, unpeeled mashed potatoes! By this time all of our food was cold because we were trying to eat at the same time. Instead of having a quiet nice dinner together it was frustrating and disappointing. The meals were served either with a vegetable or a starch. So you had to order side dishes to accommodate what was lacking. There were many other things wrong with our dinner experience. Our waiter was like a zombie. He never smiled, he had no enthusiasm. He made a terrible experience worse than it was!! We were angry and frustrated that we spent $400 and walked away with disappointment!! I could go on but reliving this experience makes me upset especially when I think we spent $400 for this CRAP!!!
(1)
Ken R.
Recommended by a family member as a nice place for dinner and wasn't disappointed. Coconut Shrimp was a great appetizer. I had the Snapper Hemingway which was very nice. Kaye had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and loved its flavor and sauce. Staff was wonderful. Not cheap but worth the price.
(5)
Jill C.
Three friends and I went to the chart house for dinner before a concert. It was my suggestion since I had worked at the Coronado chart house in the 80s while I was in college. Two friends ordered the lobster bisque and salad bar, I had a lobster tail and baked potato with chop salad, and another friend had fish and chop salad. Our server was excellent. The wine was very good as well. The unfortunate part is that the two friends who ate the lobster bisque and salad bar got food poisoning that night. 12 hours after we ate they were both violently ill. I and two other of the diners contacted the chart house to explain what it happened and were all promised a call back from the general manager. After three calls I have still not received a call back from any person from the chart house who has try to make restitution to my sick friends. This is all very disappointing since the chart house was a big part of my young adult years and I felt proud to take them there. I guess when Landry's took over the chart house Aloha Spirit left with it.
(2)
Don B.
Great food and outstanding service from Marissa.
(4)
Alex S.
Happy hours specials are cheap, so it's a good place to drink up and feel classy on the cheap! It's right on the river, so you can check out the boats that pass. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. They remember you, and they check on you regularly.
(4)
Jorge U.
Nice view. Wish we had stopped with that. Worst experience at a Chart House ever. Bad food, bad service, and bad attitudes. They should just shut this train wreck down.
(1)
Marty S.
After having left Jacksonville over 20 years ago my wife thought that our anniversary would be a perfect time to see if The Chart House was as good as she remembered that it was. We used complimentary varlet parking and the attentive valet went after me to obtain the digital key that I usually just kept in my pocket. A reminder of what we have in today's electronic age. Anyway, we arrived in time for happy hour at the bar. Seating is available at the long bar, large tables and small cocktail tables for two. There is a great selection of appetizers for $4, $5, $6 and $7. These appetizers are only available in the bar and lounge, so going early for both them and the happy hour priced drinks is a very good choice. We tried the Calamari and friends as well as the fried artichoke hearts. To go along with the appetizers, we had the generously poured $5 happy hour martinis. The service is fast, efficient and friendly. My selection of fried Calamari included fried tomatoes and fried onion rings. Included were two different sauces, a dipping sauce and a tarter mixture. The fried artichokes were nicely breaded and included seasoning and a spicy dipping sauce. Although, given the portions and the price, you could make a great dining experience just sampling the appetizers. We had dinner reservations and as we entered the nautical themed dining area and were greeted and noting our name, were congratulated on our anniversary. The dining area has a stupendous view of the Jacksonville river and the downtown skyline. Full length windows provided a pararamic view that was warm and inviting. While the dining area was very large, the vast amount of wood trim and carpeting, resulted in a very quiet dinning environment. The menu is extensive has a great selection of fresh fish noted as "Today's Fresh Fish". A great notation given the proclivity for many restaurants to relay on frozen fish caught who knows when or where. There also is a selection of red meat steaks, rib eye as well as poultry. Since we already had our appetizer fill at the bar, we opted for soup and entrees. My wife picked the Best of Soup consisting of clam chowder, lobster bisque and gazpacho. I went directly to the gazpacho. The soups were exquisite. The taste was wonderful as was the aroma. I need to mention our waiter, who was knowledgeable, friendly and informative. He was very attentive and engaging. For our entrees we had had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and Spiced Yellowfin Ahi tuna. Both dishes were light, flakey and delicious. The flavor was exquisite. Ambiance was quiet elegance. Overall the experience was refreshingly romantic. Loved the dinner and everything about the experience. This is a dining experience we will repeat.
(4)
Food I.
Absolutely HORRIBLE. Showed up on a Sunday before a show at thenTimes Union. Wasn't say until 30 min after our reservation time, bad service, never saw a manager. Food was cold and we only had 7 minutes to eat it due to them only having 1 server on staff and our 30 minute reservation delay. Will never return.
(1)
Maureen P.
Way overpriced and below par food. Our soup sampler was stone cold, the stuffed mushrooms were luke warm and tasted like they had been sitting around a long time. It felt like my grandparents would have loved the early bird special. It was a blast from the 80's. We won't be going back.
(2)
Chip B.
Used to eat at the Chart House 20+ years ago when i lived in Jacksonville. It was excellent then. Ate there September 20, 07, after a long time away and the food and service are still excellent. You get what you pay for and the food is worth every dollar you'll spend. Try the molten chocolate volcano dessert - I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Angle for a river walk view. I can't imagine you'll have anything but an excellent meal at the Chart House.
(5)
Paul C.
Been here a few times; I was always fascinated by the architecture of this place; come to find out it was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, and was once the costliest building built in all of Florida, as per sq. ft. cost. Great view of river, good parking....and now the food; well that's just OK for me, but good all around as per taste, presentation, and selection; I would lean towards their fish entrees. The bar is very good, and efficient, and the wait staff is friendly, and knowledgeable. This restaurant is a regular stop using the river taxi too. Their desserts are outstanding!
We attended the Chart House last night after the JAX Craft Beer Festival as we were both thinking of the mysteriously huge shrimp cocktail served over a bed of dry ice. Using Open Table to announce we would be there in 30 minutes, we caught the late dinner procession. Sitting together at one of the many tables with the waterside view, we were served by a very efficient character named Barrett. Clearly, he was well educated and trained to give us the best picture of the menu we could illicit from a few questions. We took his suggestions to the plates as the specials of the grouper and prime rib were stunning, one fork at a time. One did not need a culinary degree to see how good this was flowing from one course to the next. As for the mysterious shrimp, the venue was out of dry ice by the time we had arrived, but they still tasted great. I think I could have gone through another three servings of them. We departed the Chart House into the darkness of San Marco with thoughts of returning another evening in the near future to see what our server Barrett would recommend again.
(4)
William R.
Tried to have a romantic $200.00 dinner when a group of 8 young African American woman celebrating a birthday got seated next to us. They turned the dining area into a loud picture taking obnoxious event to the point several tables moved including myself finishing my dinner in the lounge. Management has no balls and i would never return. No wonder the place was quarter full.
(1)
Errol J.
My wife and I made reservations at the Chart House thinking we would enjoy a nice dinner with a beautiful view. Unfortunately when we arrived we sat 15-20 and NO ONE came to our table!! We got up an informed the manager an his response was let me re sit you an start over!! For the prices they charge someone should've been to our table waiting!! Chart House gets 4 thumbs down!! I will never ever as long as I live walk thru those doors again!! Still never saw a waiter or waitress when we left!! TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO A RESTAURANT THAT WILL APPRECIATE YOU AS A PATRON!!
(1)
Chang L.
I might be too sensitive to numbers but this made me feel disappointed. I had dinner at their restaurant, the total bill was $36.38. I looked at their suggested Gratuity chart: 20ï¼… Gratuity: $9. 10, 18% Gratuity: $8.19, 15% Gratuity: $6.83. BUT! When I was back to my hotel, the receipt dropped out of my pocket then I found out I paid $ 45.48 for my dinner. I looked at the numbers...$36.38 times 0.2 is $7.276. $9.1 is 25% tip! To be honest, the food was pretty good I would give 5 starts for the food but minus 2 starts for the dishonesty.
(3)
Colleen Z.
I just read Bob J.'s review and our experience was very similar if not exact to his. The only positives about the restaurant was the on-time reservation and very nice professional valet service. Our wait staff was kind but very slow including we waited so long for our bottle of wine that my client called the manager over to ask for service. Even then we didn't receive the bottle for quite some time, although I didn't time I would say 10-15 minutes and this was after we had waited 10-15 minutes for our drink order to be taken. The bread was brought at the time our bottle was brought. We all had fish dishes that were over or under cooked. I was shocked when my $33 fish with a lobster sauce dish was served. The look of the dish was of diner quality and had I been with my husband or friends I would have sent it back or left altogether. Even the sauteed spinach was overcooked and bland. Bob J's description of the self-serve salad bar is spot on. The bar looked like it could have been in a Denny's or all-you-can-eat buffet line. We eventually ordered another bottle of wine instead of dessert which was probably a good thing. Something is just out of place in this restaurant. The kitchen on several occasions filled the restaurant with smoke even catching our tables attention because we wondered if all was OK. Overall, the restaurant is overpriced for the quality of service, atmosphere and food provided on the night we visited. Save yourself money and time. Go somewhere else.
(1)
R L.
food is bad for what you pay for. View is great but restaurant has bad food. Sorry to offend others if they have their opinion that its a wonderful place. sadly it is not.
(1)
Jeff C.
The location of the restaurant is great, with a fantastic water view from most tables. The interior architecture is very nice as well. The service was average. They were very nice, just a little on the slow side. It was about a 2 hour affair for our party of 5 during a period of time where there were many free tables. The food was excellent. Two in our party said it was the best dish of the type they ordered that they'd ever had. I found the self service salad bar a little strange for a restaurant of this caliber. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with it, it is just hard to present a self service bar without it looking like a budget restaurant. I would return without question.
(4)
Marc P.
Molten lava cake--what is this monstrosity?!
(3)
Brandi P.
I've been here several times & I have always received great food and even better service.
(5)
Timmy T.
Went here again not by choice. If I had to pay for the meal I would be very disappointed. Since it was free I guess I will eat here. I would never come here on my own dime nor would I recommend anyone going here.
(1)
Ryan B.
Great food, great drinks, good view, just a little overpriced.
(3)
Jean G.
As someone who once worked as a waitress myself, I am VERY relucatant to leave a bad restaurant review because I know how many factors are beyond the waiter's control--slow kitchen, overbooked tables, bad juju--but tonight's supremely poor experience--at all levels of service--just begs for comment. We were a party of 8 celebrating a 75th birthday. We last dined here two years ago and had a nice experience, and my in-laws didn't want to deal with the crowds at the (so-called, which is nowhere near downtown) St. Johns Town Center. The reservation was for 6:30 pm; admittedly, a portion of the party was 10 minutes late, but no one even got water at the table until 7 pm. After another 20 minutes, we got the wine we'd ordered, but on telling the waiter we were ready to order, he disappeared for another 15 minutes. Orders were finally taken, but not correctly--salads came with the wrong dressing, which after being brought to the waiter's attention, still were never corrected; a seared tuna showed up as the wasabi-crusted tuna, which then took another 20 minutes to correct; asparagus that was specifically ordered to be soft came out undercooked and stringy; and a lava cake that was ordered with the entree (it typically needs 30 minutes preparation) showed up well after every one else had finished their desserts. We didn't finish dinner until after 9 pm, and had to bring the check up to the hostess stand because we were tired of waiting for the waiter to clear our check. In terms of the food's quality--and we're talking about a place where the average entree is $30+, and even the salad bar option is over $18 (with less offerings, candidly, than you'd find at a Sweet Tomatoes)--what we were served this evening was surprisingly mediocre. My chopped salad looked like something off a cafeteria line, the bread rolls had a frozen-too-long taste, the tilapia was mushy, the prime rib my father-in-law ordered was tough, the short ribs my daughter ordered weren't even as good as the ones I cook at home, and the mussels my sister-in-law ordered made her quite visibly nauseous. On the plus side, my son enjoyed his shrimp platter, my husband's crab cakes were tasty, and my daughter's clam chowder was nicely seasoned. Seriously, this has the feel of a place that is coasting on its name brand and its proximity to several downtown hotels. The view is lovely, and the interior is quite striking in a 70s avant-garde way, but the restaurant seems BADLY in need of new management and real-world wait staff training. There are many excellent dining options in Jacksonville, especially for the expense-account crowd, but this is no longer one of them. Looking at prior reviews, it's clear we're not the only ones who've had a disappointing experience. When you factor in the significantly overpriced entrees, this place just isn't worth it. If you're downtown and looking for a great food, try either Ruth's Chris (also on the river), bb's (very close to CH, locally owned, and consistently excellent), or any of the many wonderful restaurants in nearby Riverside Avondale (about 4 miles from downtown). My favs there are Black Sheep, Orsay, Biscotti's, 13 Gypsies, Pele's, The Salty Fig, and The Brick--all WAY better, and far friendlier for your wallet. Sorry to be so negative, but sometimes you've just got to tell it like it is.
(1)
Amra K.
Worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant! My med-rare prime rib was well done and by the time I got another one, the rest of my party was done and dessert already came out. Oh, and I guess they let it sit for quite a while because when it was brought out, all the ice cream was completely melted. The server was not apologetic, what so ever, and seemed like he would rather be elsewhere. Not to mention, he smelled like an ashtray!
(1)
Emily A.
This review is solely for happy hour - I did not venture into the restaurant... bar only! It was my first time there and I love their happy hour. A great selection of $4 wines, $5 cocktails, and $3/3.50 beers, as well as inexpensive appetizers. I had the hummus platter for $4 which included 3 different types of hummus, loads of pita slices and plantain chips. There were tons of other appetizers that looked great in that same price range. There is a lot of free parking right in front.
(4)
Jordan D.
My mouth was watering as I looked at the menu. I finally decided on a combo platter with blue chunk crab cakes, shrimp and salmon! All were exceptional. Highly recommended. I chose it over Mortons which is nearby and was very satisfied with my choice
(5)
Kim J.
Unfortunately The Chart House is getting long in the tooth and has seen better days. But alas, if you hit it right, it is still very good, albeit pricey. With a great happy hour and appetisers that you can fill up on, good prime rib and steaks, and thoughtfully prepared fresh fish of all kinds, but preparation can be hit and miss. Like many chain restaurants, the bean counters (In Texas?) seem to be looking a the bottom line, not what is necessary to make a good restaurant great. The salad bar used to be a focal point, but now it's just ho-hum. I loved the crab and avacado stack appitizer until last night. They have replaced the natural crab with some sour cream based "spread" that ....well, just don't bother putting it on the menu if you're going to ruin it. But all in all, Chart House is a dining gem, the architecture is one of a kind and a landmark on Jacksonville's riverfront. On the negative side on the location, an internet cafe opened next door...ah..well it's a gambling parlor, plain and simple with all the riff raff that one would expect at the nickle slots in downtown Vegas....sadly the once squeaky clean neighborhood has gone down hill.
(3)
Holly H.
I went here with my husband and in-laws for Easter lunch. We weren't horribly impressed with it and I definitely don't think it was worth the price. The restaurant is nice looking, though the chairs were a bit ugly...and hard to slide back and forth into the table. Our table was also two tables plac together with a big dip between the two that the waiter warned us about. I personally didn't get the salad bar, but my little sister-in-law did. The quality looked good, but I was a bit confused when the hostess told us they were famous for their salad bar. It simply looked like a plain salad bar. I am also not a fan of small water glasses. I understand that many high end restaurants have small water glasses that they fill in addition to whatever drink you order, but I drink water by itself in most cases. I also drink a lot of it. I would much prefer a real glass, instead of a wine glass filled with water, especially if you aren't going to keep it filled for me. I ran out of water two or three times and sat without for some time. My husband and father-in-law emptied their drinks by the time the appetizers came and the waiter never filled them until our entrees came...he didn't even fill them when he came to bring the soup. We ordered a crab cake and calamari and friends for appetizers. The crab cake was delicious. We all thought it was the best one we had ever had. I should have ordered it for my meal. The waiter said it was about 95 % crab, which was totally right and it was delicious. The calamari was delicious as well. It came with tempura battered veggies as well...I think it was carrots, jalapeños, and red peppers. It came with a delicious slightly spicy/tangy/sweet sauce. The guys both got the clam chowder and it was very yummy and came in these awesome metal kettle like bowls. I instantly wanted them :) My husband and his mother both had stuffed shrimp. I think they both enjoyed it, though didn't seem to rave about it. My father-in-law and I both had the spiced yellowfin ahi. They were cooked well, but the seasoning was way too much. The seasoning was too salty and overwhelmed the tuna. You couldn't taste much of the actual fish. The saffron risotto was delicious...though I might have an addiction to risotto in general, so it may just be me. For dessert we got the molten lava cake. We are molten lava cake fiends. Eat couple shared one on the recommendation of the waiter, though he made them out to be a lot bigger than they were. They were still share worthy though. I thought it was weird that he brought us little plates to eat them on and knives to cut it with. Really? That is not how you share a molten lava cake. You have to dig in on the late because of the gooey deliciousness. When the dessert arrived the first thong ,ymhusband did was du,p the giant scoop of ice-cream off to the side. It was just too difficult to cut through it all. The molten lava cake was cooked too long. The center was just barely fudgey and didn't ooze at all like a good molten lava cake should.mthe outside of the cake with crispy as well, which I didn't enjoy. I also wasnt a fan of the fact that they sprinkled broken Heath bars over the top. I have never liked heath bars and didn't like them on this. Over all I felt the food was so-so other than the crab cakes, and the service was slow. We will probably never go back unless someone else really wants to go.
(3)
Rick B.
Great food....This was my first time visiting the Chart House Restaurant. The view was good. Although the food was Great, the wait service needs improvement.
(3)
Rob L.
This restaurant used to be one of the best places to eat in Jacksonville as recently as five or six years ago. The architecture is stunning and one of the most unique buildings you'll ever eat it. That said, the service and presentation did not live up to Charthouse standards. The food was very good but kind of thrown on the plate. There was no color or garnish or sauces to give it a gourmet touch. The salad bar used to be one of the highlights at Charthouse but the night I was there it looked like the one at Golden Corral. We had to find someone to make our Cesar Salad. The bottom line is this place needs to step it up and return to the very recent past of service and ambience. The wait staff used to be highly professional and our waiter was just a waiter. The first time I ate here twenty years ago the wait staff was absolutely top notch. This time it was only adequate. I want this place to be great. I love the place but it almost felt like it's just biding it's time. Make it excellent again!!
(3)
Charlie P.
We arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early and went to the bar to take advantage of happy hour. It took 20 minutes for someone to take our drink and appetizer order by which time happy hour was over. The appetizers finally arrived just as we were being seated at the table, so Katina (manager) comped them. Seated at a nice table overlooking the river and ordered our food. Melissa took our order and then we waited. Wife's soup arrived cold and we sent it back. Our dining companion's chopped salad was unedible and we sent it back. Scallops were tasty as was coconut shrimp. They were advertising a peach crisp desert, but were out of it, so had to settle for apple/cranberry something. Manager ended up comping everything except scallops, shrimp and desert.
(1)
Natalie B.
I have enjoyed every meal I have had at Chart House. I find it to be a nice place for special occasions, regardless if it is a quiet dinner with your special someone or a celebratory dinner with your family. The building itself is very cool-it feels like you are inside a boat! The dishes are delicious and if you can score a seat facing the river, that is a bonus. The service here is polished without being uncomfortable. Special props to the waitstaff--when I made a reservation for my parents to go on their anniversary, they printed a special menu for them upon arrival that read "Happy Anniversary" with their names and the date on it. Classy.
(4)
Karen F.
The Chart House Haiku Review Organic forms and swooping curves set the stage for succulent seafood.
(5)
Ed L.
The Chart House has always been one of my faves from Los Gatos, to Monterey, from San Diego to San Antonio, guess I've made the rounds. But the Jax location is one of the most unique, not just it's architecture, but it's level of service. I've found all location serve consistently quality food, although I've been disappointed that Jax serves no steamed artichokes. With that said, the crab stuff sh-rooms more that make up for it. All the appetizers are superb and the entrees all always perfectly cooked to order. This trip, I ordered the rack of lamb, served with garlic mashed taters and steamed vegges. The waiter stood-by while I cut and check it to make sure it was to my liking. I had ordered my rack med-well, but it came out medium. He gladly whisked it away to cook a little further, and returned in just minutes. It was perfect in taste and tenderness. The other person I was with ordered a fillet Mignon, which was perfect in every way. She compared it to Morton's, and said it's flavor was even better. I happen to know that the coconut crunchy shrimp, served with sweet plum sauce is also excellent. The view on the river is nice, although not real scenic. Our waiter was excellent, delighting us in conversation, he could not have been more personable. This was my third or fourth visit here and I wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)
Antony C.
Flight got grounded in JAX due to bad weather. But, I was hoping to turn lemons into lemonade when I found a Chart House local to the area. Growing up in Daytona Beach, I had frequented the Chart House there for special occasions. The ambiance was great. I had a table with a view of the water. I wonder if Frank Lloyd Wright built all the Chart House restaurants? I started off with some Blue Point oysters from Delaware. They were medium-sized, not too salty and very tasty. Next I had a cup of the New England clam chowder, which was real good. It was creamy and rich with clams and potatoes, unlike some others I've tried. Being in FL, I figured I had to hit a seafood dish. I opted for seared scallops that were prepared Asian fusion style with rice and bokchoy. Unfortunately, this dish wasn't up to par. The scallops were small, not well seared and didn't taste fresh. The bokchoy was overcooked, and the dish was too salty with the soy sauce. I also had a glass Sauvignon Blanc from St. Supery. I've had the pleasure of visiting this vineyard, which has some great value on whites in my opinion. I think I hit the bottom of the bottle as it was pretty oxidized. I should have sent it back but didn't have the heart to do it. Service was good, not great. For the prices, I would have expected it to be a bit more attentive. Net-net: not sure I got the value for my spend. But, I'm willing to give it another chance next time I'm in town.
(3)
Tony M.
What last night. Had stuffed mushrooms and the Georgia Mahi on the chef's menu both were excellent. View of the river is awesome
(5)
Kai R.
This is one of the nicer waterfront restaurants in Jacksonville. Service was very attentive, menu had some great selections of seafood and meats / everyone in my party of 7 enjoyed their dinner very much. This place is a thousand times better that River City Brewing, which is nearby / prices are comparable.
(4)
S D.
Dinner for Valentines Day was horrible! Chart House is Over Over priced for the quality of food that is served. My wife ordered Scallops Gluten Free. She was served four quarter sized scallops on a plop of mashed potatoes with a scoop of plain steamed string beans for $31.00!! They put no effort to make it a tasty dish. It was like she was on a bland diet. My niece ordered a filet mignon well done. The first time they brought it to her, blood was coming out of it. She sent it back again. It comes back pink. She sent it back again! It returns medium well. Frustrated she didn't send it back again. Mind you there was mashed potatoes on her plate that kept going back and forth with the meat. They never changed out the potatoes so along with the meat that was not to her liking she had a cold lump of dirty, unpeeled mashed potatoes! By this time all of our food was cold because we were trying to eat at the same time. Instead of having a quiet nice dinner together it was frustrating and disappointing. The meals were served either with a vegetable or a starch. So you had to order side dishes to accommodate what was lacking. There were many other things wrong with our dinner experience. Our waiter was like a zombie. He never smiled, he had no enthusiasm. He made a terrible experience worse than it was!! We were angry and frustrated that we spent $400 and walked away with disappointment!! I could go on but reliving this experience makes me upset especially when I think we spent $400 for this CRAP!!!
(1)
Ken R.
Recommended by a family member as a nice place for dinner and wasn't disappointed. Coconut Shrimp was a great appetizer. I had the Snapper Hemingway which was very nice. Kaye had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and loved its flavor and sauce. Staff was wonderful. Not cheap but worth the price.
(5)
Jill C.
Three friends and I went to the chart house for dinner before a concert. It was my suggestion since I had worked at the Coronado chart house in the 80s while I was in college. Two friends ordered the lobster bisque and salad bar, I had a lobster tail and baked potato with chop salad, and another friend had fish and chop salad. Our server was excellent. The wine was very good as well. The unfortunate part is that the two friends who ate the lobster bisque and salad bar got food poisoning that night. 12 hours after we ate they were both violently ill. I and two other of the diners contacted the chart house to explain what it happened and were all promised a call back from the general manager. After three calls I have still not received a call back from any person from the chart house who has try to make restitution to my sick friends. This is all very disappointing since the chart house was a big part of my young adult years and I felt proud to take them there. I guess when Landry's took over the chart house Aloha Spirit left with it.
(2)
Don B.
Great food and outstanding service from Marissa.
(4)
Alex S.
Happy hours specials are cheap, so it's a good place to drink up and feel classy on the cheap! It's right on the river, so you can check out the boats that pass. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. They remember you, and they check on you regularly.
(4)
Jorge U.
Nice view. Wish we had stopped with that. Worst experience at a Chart House ever. Bad food, bad service, and bad attitudes. They should just shut this train wreck down.
I might be too sensitive to numbers but this made me feel disappointed. I had dinner at their restaurant, the total bill was $36.38. I looked at their suggested Gratuity chart: 20ï¼… Gratuity: $9. 10, 18% Gratuity: $8.19, 15% Gratuity: $6.83. BUT! When I was back to my hotel, the receipt dropped out of my pocket then I found out I paid $ 45.48 for my dinner. I looked at the numbers...$36.38 times 0.2 is $7.276. $9.1 is 25% tip! To be honest, the food was pretty good I would give 5 starts for the food but minus 2 starts for the dishonesty.
(3)
Rich T.
We attended the Chart House last night after the JAX Craft Beer Festival as we were both thinking of the mysteriously huge shrimp cocktail served over a bed of dry ice. Using Open Table to announce we would be there in 30 minutes, we caught the late dinner procession. Sitting together at one of the many tables with the waterside view, we were served by a very efficient character named Barrett. Clearly, he was well educated and trained to give us the best picture of the menu we could illicit from a few questions. We took his suggestions to the plates as the specials of the grouper and prime rib were stunning, one fork at a time. One did not need a culinary degree to see how good this was flowing from one course to the next. As for the mysterious shrimp, the venue was out of dry ice by the time we had arrived, but they still tasted great. I think I could have gone through another three servings of them. We departed the Chart House into the darkness of San Marco with thoughts of returning another evening in the near future to see what our server Barrett would recommend again.
(4)
William R.
Tried to have a romantic $200.00 dinner when a group of 8 young African American woman celebrating a birthday got seated next to us. They turned the dining area into a loud picture taking obnoxious event to the point several tables moved including myself finishing my dinner in the lounge. Management has no balls and i would never return. No wonder the place was quarter full.
(1)
Errol J.
My wife and I made reservations at the Chart House thinking we would enjoy a nice dinner with a beautiful view. Unfortunately when we arrived we sat 15-20 and NO ONE came to our table!! We got up an informed the manager an his response was let me re sit you an start over!! For the prices they charge someone should've been to our table waiting!! Chart House gets 4 thumbs down!! I will never ever as long as I live walk thru those doors again!! Still never saw a waiter or waitress when we left!! TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO A RESTAURANT THAT WILL APPRECIATE YOU AS A PATRON!!
(1)
Joe S.
Longtime Landry's Select member and have been to this CH location no less than 30 times over the last 6 years. It used to be my favorite restaurant/bar. Unfortunately, I've watched this location decline in service and food quality over the years. Gave it another shot tonight and here's how it played out (in concise form): 1. Pulled in, no valet in sight 2. Parked myself and when I got out, was told that this very empty portion of the parking lot was reserved exclusively for "web cafe" customers and that I should park "between the cones" 3. There were no spaces available between the cones 4. Went back to valet who eventually showed up and parked my car 5. Went in for dinner/drinks (solo) at bar, and surprisingly, no seats available- there were, however, plenty of disgruntled guests awaiting drinks, food orders, and checks 6. Finally got a drink order in, and informed the bartender I'd be having dinner and another drink once a seat was available 7. Returned to the bar, where I waited for 10 minutes only to receive no words, no drink, and no food order. Instead, I received my bill with the card already run for my one drink 8. Signed and left Bummer and sadly, no longer an anomaly at this location.
(2)
Michelle M.
I don't know about dinner, but I've no complaints about happy hour. Good cocktails, yummy appetizers, service was decent. What keeps me coming back quite honestly is the architecture and the view. The entire experience is what keeps me coming back for Happy Hour. I could do without the lone teenaged valet (poor dude) who made me very nervous about trusting him with my vehicle (especially after he backed a truck into another car). But I would be very sad if the Chart House closed so I am always game to return to the hour that makes me happiest there.
(4)
Christine C.
My husband and I had dinner here on May 5, 2015. The service was excellent and courteous. Although we were there early we were not offered the early menu. The food was not fresh. For example we ordered the shrimp, crab, mango salsa avocado appetizer and the avocado was brown. Also I ordered a house salad and the lettuce was brown. I also had a shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce was odd tasting almost too sweet. My husband's steak tasted like chalk it was over cooked and dry. I would not eat here again.
We came here for their happy hour specials on Friday of the GA/FL weekend. We arrived around 4:40 and there were plenty of empty tables around the bar. The service was terrible! Rude waiters! As we were about to order apps from the happy hour menu, the manager came over and snatched the menus from our table without saying anything to us. When our server came by they told us they would not be honoring the happy hour specials because it was a "holiday". They seemed stressed about there being a lot of customers there, but it was less then half way full of people. Really odd. We left thereafter.
(2)
Ralph B.
I've been a big fan of the Charthouse for quite some time now, while having some exceptional dining experiences. Tonight- Thursday 12-04-2014 we had reservations for 7:00 and were seated right away in the lower-part section of the restaurant that I'd not experienced before, during a peak time. The restaurant was full and this area was rather noisy. Our conversations required a lot of leaning-in to keep up. The lighting in this section was really bad (very low). While it may lend itself to a romantic setting, actually seeing the menu was a chore. Our party of four's entrees took some time to arrive, but once they did all enjoyed the meal. My own choice of pan seared scallops over garlic mashed potatoes was superb. One constant I have found in returning to the Charthouse over the years. Service staff was friendly and accomodating. I think in going back (and I will) I'll try a different time of the evening and day. The company in my party made up for any shortcoming I found in our outing. Close Family and good friends go a long way to enhancing an evening out.
(4)
Sarah P.
I was excited about this restaurant because the location is incredible, right one the water, and the architecture of the building is really neat. But it was one of the worst dinners I've ever had. When we went in, the restaurant was mostly empty, but the hostess gave us attitude about not having a reservation. The food was abysmal (and I'm really not a picky eater)!! We tried the chopped salad, crab and avocado stack, lobster bisque, grouper special, and spring rolls. We sent back the spring rolls because they were basically inedible. I filled up on the complimentary bread because it was the only decent thing on the table. And our bill was almost $100 for a party of 3. The waitress was also slow and inattentive. Do not go to this restaurant!!
(1)
Kasey G.
The Chart House is usually great. I recommend trying the lava cake.
(4)
Carla V.
This place is a chain...owned by Landry's. I dined here for dinner with a large group of peers, so it was understandable that our visit would be lengthy. The server was great, and the meal started off well with the appetizers. We even had a coupon for a free app up to $12, but more than half the selections were over $12. I enjoy the "best of soup" but then the plateaued. Entrees arrived and the food was bland...lukewarm at best and expensive. I would skip it...it's overpriced for the quality if food, which is on par with the namesake of this brand. I don't mind Landry's Seafood but Chart House was a disappointment.
(2)
Gabe M.
Third time that I have come to this Chart house. Always disappointed. Fish was overcooked, place was smokey and the poor server had too many tables. Food took forever that we missed the fireworks. Not worth the money.
(2)
Mellie D.
So amazing... Every item we all ordered including appetizers were great. Party of 6 was served fast and our server was wonderful. Would definitely recommend! The food won't disappoint.
(5)
Bret A.
The salad bar was fantastic and my steak heavenly. I traveled for business and appreciated the supportive, friendly wait service without being intrusive. You should know that everything is a lot carte at the restaurant - but the portions are large so you don't need much other than an entree and salad. Excellent view of the river with a relaxing environment. I will be back!
(4)
Brynn H.
Amazing food but service was little slow. If you go there you have to try the steak I know it's a seafood restaurant they make amazing steak. you have to try the clam chowder it's amazing the clam they have celery and onion and potatoes to every bite.
(4)
V P.
This place is just very overpiced. Kinda weird that they had to check if they had room in an almost empty restaurant (which never filled up). Food was good, but not worth the money. Lava cake tasted a lil burned, not that good...
(3)
Chad W S.
Not the best experience for the money. Mind you it was a dead night and cook was probably off...but still....really?
(2)
Marty S.
After having left Jacksonville over 20 years ago my wife thought that our anniversary would be a perfect time to see if The Chart House was as good as she remembered that it was. We used complimentary varlet parking and the attentive valet went after me to obtain the digital key that I usually just kept in my pocket. A reminder of what we have in today's electronic age. Anyway, we arrived in time for happy hour at the bar. Seating is available at the long bar, large tables and small cocktail tables for two. There is a great selection of appetizers for $4, $5, $6 and $7. These appetizers are only available in the bar and lounge, so going early for both them and the happy hour priced drinks is a very good choice. We tried the Calamari and friends as well as the fried artichoke hearts. To go along with the appetizers, we had the generously poured $5 happy hour martinis. The service is fast, efficient and friendly. My selection of fried Calamari included fried tomatoes and fried onion rings. Included were two different sauces, a dipping sauce and a tarter mixture. The fried artichokes were nicely breaded and included seasoning and a spicy dipping sauce. Although, given the portions and the price, you could make a great dining experience just sampling the appetizers. We had dinner reservations and as we entered the nautical themed dining area and were greeted and noting our name, were congratulated on our anniversary. The dining area has a stupendous view of the Jacksonville river and the downtown skyline. Full length windows provided a pararamic view that was warm and inviting. While the dining area was very large, the vast amount of wood trim and carpeting, resulted in a very quiet dinning environment. The menu is extensive has a great selection of fresh fish noted as "Today's Fresh Fish". A great notation given the proclivity for many restaurants to relay on frozen fish caught who knows when or where. There also is a selection of red meat steaks, rib eye as well as poultry. Since we already had our appetizer fill at the bar, we opted for soup and entrees. My wife picked the Best of Soup consisting of clam chowder, lobster bisque and gazpacho. I went directly to the gazpacho. The soups were exquisite. The taste was wonderful as was the aroma. I need to mention our waiter, who was knowledgeable, friendly and informative. He was very attentive and engaging. For our entrees we had had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and Spiced Yellowfin Ahi tuna. Both dishes were light, flakey and delicious. The flavor was exquisite. Ambiance was quiet elegance. Overall the experience was refreshingly romantic. Loved the dinner and everything about the experience. This is a dining experience we will repeat.
(4)
Food I.
Absolutely HORRIBLE. Showed up on a Sunday before a show at thenTimes Union. Wasn't say until 30 min after our reservation time, bad service, never saw a manager. Food was cold and we only had 7 minutes to eat it due to them only having 1 server on staff and our 30 minute reservation delay. Will never return.
(1)
Jose P.
Wow I feel like we just got kicked out of this place, as soon a we walked in we saw there was nobody in the front desk and there was already a group of 5 waiting to be seated, after about 8 minutes a girl asked if we had a reserved seating and we said know, she told us there would be a 35 minute waiting for walkings when the whole place was empty only about 4 tables were taken, glad BB's was minutes away now we are good and about to enjoy our dinner
(2)
FoolMeOnce...Again T.
My husband and I went there on 6/15/15 around 6pm for happy hour drinks/apps. The place was busier than I thought it would be but not packed since we easily found a place to sit in the bar table area. After sitting for 4-6 minutes and watching the bartender walk by us twice without looking we knew we were in trouble. Another waiter also walked by us without looking our way. Finally, about 10 minutes after we sat downmy husband says to the bartender as he is once again walking by us without so much as a glance, "Excuse me can we order some drinks?". The bartender still doesn't look at us but loudly says "Give me a minute please!". We promptly got up and left - this bartender is in the wrong profession and needs to go. This was actually our 4th time in 6 weeks going to the CH (3 at the bar and 1 for dinner). The difference this time was the bartender was frazzled and couldn't take the pressure of the crowd. If he just would have looked our way ONCE and politely said he was swamped and it would be a few minutes we would have been completely understanding. We ended up going to BB's and having an INCREDIBLE $4 tempranillo for their HH. We live very close by and it may be awhile before CH get's anymore business from us as my husband has a LONG memory when it comes to this type of thing. Sorry CH - you LOSE!
(2)
Jamie T.
I found Chart House while browsing for open locations on Christmas day. The view looked spectacular and the menu seemed to accommodate all guests in my party of six, including one vegetarian. We had a table facing the river, which was nice. Our server was pleasant, but not terribly attentive or informative. The kitchen ran out of a few things that came with each of our meals and instead of alerting us, the server brought us replacement sides that we neither asked for nor wanted. The cuisine was overpriced, mediocre hotel food. The mashed potatoes were like wallpaper paste. If you don't mind paying $40 for a tough cut of meat and a couple of broccoli florets, by all means check this place out. We won't be returning, unfortunately.
(2)
Tracy F.
Terrible! Average food for 3x the price what it should be. When at the salad bar I could hear the cooks talking and saying foul words. The kids meal for my son was $8 for cold and dry Kraft Mac n cheese...I could still even see the caked up cheese powder! I left feeling completely ripped off. Will never be back again and never recommend anybody to go there.
(1)
Rzap Z.
We had a wonderful time, staff was friendly, prompt and professional. Great view of the water. Had the Prime Rib and it wasnto die for. Would highly recommend.
(4)
Cindy L.
Waitress was wonderful an dinner was great as usual. It was a bit hot inside and our table was broken but not bad enough for us to move.
(5)
John S.
I've experienced better...like at Chart House three years ago. The place with a beautiful view and convenient location for dining before an event downtown has gone downhill.
(2)
Bob J.
I took some colleagues here for a meal - I hadn't been to a Chart House in years, the last one being in San Diego. Well... The service was slow and amateurish. Some of our food was cold. The salad bar looked miserable - I've seen salad bars in pizza joints that look better. The bread was hard and not warm. I could go on and on and on, but for the price and ambience I would expect something first rate, instead, we got third rate service with food that had been kept under a warming light way too long. Stay away by all means - if you want upscale in this area do Morton's or Ruth Chris or something else. Forget this Chart House until the management gets some professional help.
(1)
Lisa L.
Crab stuffed mushrooms - Yes! Banana foster fish - no, thanks, I'll try something else. Very attentive service and a great view, but somehow the interiors remind me of a cross between a terrarium and an old folks home. Maybe it's the salad bar. But, it's all you can eat, and I hear there is caviar!
(4)
Grace D.
I've only been here once (who can afford to go on a regular?!). It was actually a special occasion (my birthday!). I had a great experience. Service was excellent (they gave me a black napkin to match my black dress!). It's the type of place where you really can't go wrong no matter what you order.
(4)
Paul C.
Been here a few times; I was always fascinated by the architecture of this place; come to find out it was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, and was once the costliest building built in all of Florida, as per sq. ft. cost. Great view of river, good parking....and now the food; well that's just OK for me, but good all around as per taste, presentation, and selection; I would lean towards their fish entrees. The bar is very good, and efficient, and the wait staff is friendly, and knowledgeable. This restaurant is a regular stop using the river taxi too. Their desserts are outstanding!
(3)
Chip B.
Used to eat at the Chart House 20+ years ago when i lived in Jacksonville. It was excellent then. Ate there September 20, 07, after a long time away and the food and service are still excellent. You get what you pay for and the food is worth every dollar you'll spend. Try the molten chocolate volcano dessert - I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Angle for a river walk view. I can't imagine you'll have anything but an excellent meal at the Chart House.
(5)
Charlie P.
We arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early and went to the bar to take advantage of happy hour. It took 20 minutes for someone to take our drink and appetizer order by which time happy hour was over. The appetizers finally arrived just as we were being seated at the table, so Katina (manager) comped them. Seated at a nice table overlooking the river and ordered our food. Melissa took our order and then we waited. Wife's soup arrived cold and we sent it back. Our dining companion's chopped salad was unedible and we sent it back. Scallops were tasty as was coconut shrimp. They were advertising a peach crisp desert, but were out of it, so had to settle for apple/cranberry something. Manager ended up comping everything except scallops, shrimp and desert.
(1)
Jeff C.
The location of the restaurant is great, with a fantastic water view from most tables. The interior architecture is very nice as well. The service was average. They were very nice, just a little on the slow side. It was about a 2 hour affair for our party of 5 during a period of time where there were many free tables. The food was excellent. Two in our party said it was the best dish of the type they ordered that they'd ever had. I found the self service salad bar a little strange for a restaurant of this caliber. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with it, it is just hard to present a self service bar without it looking like a budget restaurant. I would return without question.
(4)
Marc P.
Molten lava cake--what is this monstrosity?!
(3)
Brandi P.
I've been here several times & I have always received great food and even better service.
(5)
Timmy T.
Went here again not by choice. If I had to pay for the meal I would be very disappointed. Since it was free I guess I will eat here. I would never come here on my own dime nor would I recommend anyone going here.
(1)
Ryan B.
Great food, great drinks, good view, just a little overpriced.
(3)
Natalie B.
I have enjoyed every meal I have had at Chart House. I find it to be a nice place for special occasions, regardless if it is a quiet dinner with your special someone or a celebratory dinner with your family. The building itself is very cool-it feels like you are inside a boat! The dishes are delicious and if you can score a seat facing the river, that is a bonus. The service here is polished without being uncomfortable. Special props to the waitstaff--when I made a reservation for my parents to go on their anniversary, they printed a special menu for them upon arrival that read "Happy Anniversary" with their names and the date on it. Classy.
(4)
Karen F.
The Chart House Haiku Review Organic forms and swooping curves set the stage for succulent seafood.
(5)
Ed L.
The Chart House has always been one of my faves from Los Gatos, to Monterey, from San Diego to San Antonio, guess I've made the rounds. But the Jax location is one of the most unique, not just it's architecture, but it's level of service. I've found all location serve consistently quality food, although I've been disappointed that Jax serves no steamed artichokes. With that said, the crab stuff sh-rooms more that make up for it. All the appetizers are superb and the entrees all always perfectly cooked to order. This trip, I ordered the rack of lamb, served with garlic mashed taters and steamed vegges. The waiter stood-by while I cut and check it to make sure it was to my liking. I had ordered my rack med-well, but it came out medium. He gladly whisked it away to cook a little further, and returned in just minutes. It was perfect in taste and tenderness. The other person I was with ordered a fillet Mignon, which was perfect in every way. She compared it to Morton's, and said it's flavor was even better. I happen to know that the coconut crunchy shrimp, served with sweet plum sauce is also excellent. The view on the river is nice, although not real scenic. Our waiter was excellent, delighting us in conversation, he could not have been more personable. This was my third or fourth visit here and I wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)
Rob L.
This restaurant used to be one of the best places to eat in Jacksonville as recently as five or six years ago. The architecture is stunning and one of the most unique buildings you'll ever eat it. That said, the service and presentation did not live up to Charthouse standards. The food was very good but kind of thrown on the plate. There was no color or garnish or sauces to give it a gourmet touch. The salad bar used to be one of the highlights at Charthouse but the night I was there it looked like the one at Golden Corral. We had to find someone to make our Cesar Salad. The bottom line is this place needs to step it up and return to the very recent past of service and ambience. The wait staff used to be highly professional and our waiter was just a waiter. The first time I ate here twenty years ago the wait staff was absolutely top notch. This time it was only adequate. I want this place to be great. I love the place but it almost felt like it's just biding it's time. Make it excellent again!!
(3)
Jean G.
As someone who once worked as a waitress myself, I am VERY relucatant to leave a bad restaurant review because I know how many factors are beyond the waiter's control--slow kitchen, overbooked tables, bad juju--but tonight's supremely poor experience--at all levels of service--just begs for comment. We were a party of 8 celebrating a 75th birthday. We last dined here two years ago and had a nice experience, and my in-laws didn't want to deal with the crowds at the (so-called, which is nowhere near downtown) St. Johns Town Center. The reservation was for 6:30 pm; admittedly, a portion of the party was 10 minutes late, but no one even got water at the table until 7 pm. After another 20 minutes, we got the wine we'd ordered, but on telling the waiter we were ready to order, he disappeared for another 15 minutes. Orders were finally taken, but not correctly--salads came with the wrong dressing, which after being brought to the waiter's attention, still were never corrected; a seared tuna showed up as the wasabi-crusted tuna, which then took another 20 minutes to correct; asparagus that was specifically ordered to be soft came out undercooked and stringy; and a lava cake that was ordered with the entree (it typically needs 30 minutes preparation) showed up well after every one else had finished their desserts. We didn't finish dinner until after 9 pm, and had to bring the check up to the hostess stand because we were tired of waiting for the waiter to clear our check. In terms of the food's quality--and we're talking about a place where the average entree is $30+, and even the salad bar option is over $18 (with less offerings, candidly, than you'd find at a Sweet Tomatoes)--what we were served this evening was surprisingly mediocre. My chopped salad looked like something off a cafeteria line, the bread rolls had a frozen-too-long taste, the tilapia was mushy, the prime rib my father-in-law ordered was tough, the short ribs my daughter ordered weren't even as good as the ones I cook at home, and the mussels my sister-in-law ordered made her quite visibly nauseous. On the plus side, my son enjoyed his shrimp platter, my husband's crab cakes were tasty, and my daughter's clam chowder was nicely seasoned. Seriously, this has the feel of a place that is coasting on its name brand and its proximity to several downtown hotels. The view is lovely, and the interior is quite striking in a 70s avant-garde way, but the restaurant seems BADLY in need of new management and real-world wait staff training. There are many excellent dining options in Jacksonville, especially for the expense-account crowd, but this is no longer one of them. Looking at prior reviews, it's clear we're not the only ones who've had a disappointing experience. When you factor in the significantly overpriced entrees, this place just isn't worth it. If you're downtown and looking for a great food, try either Ruth's Chris (also on the river), bb's (very close to CH, locally owned, and consistently excellent), or any of the many wonderful restaurants in nearby Riverside Avondale (about 4 miles from downtown). My favs there are Black Sheep, Orsay, Biscotti's, 13 Gypsies, Pele's, The Salty Fig, and The Brick--all WAY better, and far friendlier for your wallet. Sorry to be so negative, but sometimes you've just got to tell it like it is.
(1)
Amra K.
Worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant! My med-rare prime rib was well done and by the time I got another one, the rest of my party was done and dessert already came out. Oh, and I guess they let it sit for quite a while because when it was brought out, all the ice cream was completely melted. The server was not apologetic, what so ever, and seemed like he would rather be elsewhere. Not to mention, he smelled like an ashtray!
(1)
Colleen Z.
I just read Bob J.'s review and our experience was very similar if not exact to his. The only positives about the restaurant was the on-time reservation and very nice professional valet service. Our wait staff was kind but very slow including we waited so long for our bottle of wine that my client called the manager over to ask for service. Even then we didn't receive the bottle for quite some time, although I didn't time I would say 10-15 minutes and this was after we had waited 10-15 minutes for our drink order to be taken. The bread was brought at the time our bottle was brought. We all had fish dishes that were over or under cooked. I was shocked when my $33 fish with a lobster sauce dish was served. The look of the dish was of diner quality and had I been with my husband or friends I would have sent it back or left altogether. Even the sauteed spinach was overcooked and bland. Bob J's description of the self-serve salad bar is spot on. The bar looked like it could have been in a Denny's or all-you-can-eat buffet line. We eventually ordered another bottle of wine instead of dessert which was probably a good thing. Something is just out of place in this restaurant. The kitchen on several occasions filled the restaurant with smoke even catching our tables attention because we wondered if all was OK. Overall, the restaurant is overpriced for the quality of service, atmosphere and food provided on the night we visited. Save yourself money and time. Go somewhere else.
(1)
R L.
food is bad for what you pay for. View is great but restaurant has bad food. Sorry to offend others if they have their opinion that its a wonderful place. sadly it is not.
(1)
Tiffany B.
Happy hour specials are great. The prices on regular menu are crazy expensive. The interior super nice and high end. Will be back soon
(4)
Laura B.
Beautiful view over the river (saw the fireworks over the stadium). The kitchen was perhaps overworked; some appetizers were cold, one of the entree orders was wrong, the vegetables were oily. The scallops were nicely done. We were a fairly large party (business) and they jury rigged some tables together and covered them in linen. This uneven surface resulted in ice water being spilled all over one guest and wine glasses sliding down the table throughout the evening. Much more expensive than other restaurants with better food. You are paying for the view. I think they get a lot of customers from the hotels who are not ever going to come back. With the view and this clientele, they can get away with the prices and the food.
(2)
Duane M.
Sweet tea vodka is a new treat for me. Goes well with the lettuce wraps and firecracker shrimp.
(3)
Emily A.
This review is solely for happy hour - I did not venture into the restaurant... bar only! It was my first time there and I love their happy hour. A great selection of $4 wines, $5 cocktails, and $3/3.50 beers, as well as inexpensive appetizers. I had the hummus platter for $4 which included 3 different types of hummus, loads of pita slices and plantain chips. There were tons of other appetizers that looked great in that same price range. There is a lot of free parking right in front.
(4)
Jordan D.
My mouth was watering as I looked at the menu. I finally decided on a combo platter with blue chunk crab cakes, shrimp and salmon! All were exceptional. Highly recommended. I chose it over Mortons which is nearby and was very satisfied with my choice
(5)
Judy K.
Good food and service. Will definitely be returning.
(4)
Maureen P.
Way overpriced and below par food. Our soup sampler was stone cold, the stuffed mushrooms were luke warm and tasted like they had been sitting around a long time. It felt like my grandparents would have loved the early bird special. It was a blast from the 80's. We won't be going back.
(2)
Brian F.
Unless I left something there that I didn't realize, I see no reason to ever return to Chart House. We came on a Wednesday night, busy with lots of business travelers as you'd expect. My wife ordered king crab ($45), I ordered seared mahi with a lobster/crab topping ($35). My wife's crab was overcooked and rubbery, like it'd sat under a heat lamp or otherwise been prepared well ahead of time. My mahi was not seared in any way that I could recognize, the sauce/topping was bland, and the fish itself was mushy -- you could tell it wasn't fresh, despite being on the fresh fish list on the menu. The orzo served with my fish was overcooked, almost like porridge. We both had the salad bar, which was good, but probably overrated. There was no attendant at the salad bar to prepare Caesar salads or otherwise look over matters, disappointing for a $9 add-on. I should have been suspicious when one of their fresh fish listings was farmed tilapia -- not exactly sourcing the best ingredients. I'm not convinced my Mahi wasn't frozen -- I'm not even really convinced it was Mahi. The Morton's that used to be nearby, owned by the same corporation as Chart House, actually served an excellent king crab entree, which was cooked perfectly, and presented beautifully -- funny their remaining corporate cousin, specializing in seafood, manages to bung up this simple dish. I complained, something I rarely do. I have probably sent back 2 dishes in the last 5 years... The waitress said the manager would be right over. After about 10 minutes, she arrived, after making a big show about checking on other tables, presumably so as to not appear to be coming to our table specifically. It was odd to watch. Her attitude was kind of lousy -- after explaining the issue with my wife's dinner, she turned to me and asked "and what is the problem with yours?" with a saccharine smile on her face. The service overall was below what you would expect at this price point. The staff tries hard but seems stretched thin. Service was hurried and sparse. Our table was scarcely bussed between courses, and certainly not reset/crumbed like you might expect. We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert to try and end on a high note, it did not disappoint, something I can't say for the rest of the experience. This place is obviously surviving on people who don't know good seafood, business people with expense accounts, and the Chart House name. I think the fact that diners here are often in big groups, with someone else paying has something to do with it. I know in that kind of situation I would be disinclined to complain. Perhaps this lack of feedback is contributing to the problem -- customers arent complaining, and the management doesn't enforce any standards? Despite our entrees being comped, I can't give this place more than 1 star, they are just too far off the mark.
(1)
Kim J.
Unfortunately The Chart House is getting long in the tooth and has seen better days. But alas, if you hit it right, it is still very good, albeit pricey. With a great happy hour and appetisers that you can fill up on, good prime rib and steaks, and thoughtfully prepared fresh fish of all kinds, but preparation can be hit and miss. Like many chain restaurants, the bean counters (In Texas?) seem to be looking a the bottom line, not what is necessary to make a good restaurant great. The salad bar used to be a focal point, but now it's just ho-hum. I loved the crab and avacado stack appitizer until last night. They have replaced the natural crab with some sour cream based "spread" that ....well, just don't bother putting it on the menu if you're going to ruin it. But all in all, Chart House is a dining gem, the architecture is one of a kind and a landmark on Jacksonville's riverfront. On the negative side on the location, an internet cafe opened next door...ah..well it's a gambling parlor, plain and simple with all the riff raff that one would expect at the nickle slots in downtown Vegas....sadly the once squeaky clean neighborhood has gone down hill.
(3)
Antony C.
Flight got grounded in JAX due to bad weather. But, I was hoping to turn lemons into lemonade when I found a Chart House local to the area. Growing up in Daytona Beach, I had frequented the Chart House there for special occasions. The ambiance was great. I had a table with a view of the water. I wonder if Frank Lloyd Wright built all the Chart House restaurants? I started off with some Blue Point oysters from Delaware. They were medium-sized, not too salty and very tasty. Next I had a cup of the New England clam chowder, which was real good. It was creamy and rich with clams and potatoes, unlike some others I've tried. Being in FL, I figured I had to hit a seafood dish. I opted for seared scallops that were prepared Asian fusion style with rice and bokchoy. Unfortunately, this dish wasn't up to par. The scallops were small, not well seared and didn't taste fresh. The bokchoy was overcooked, and the dish was too salty with the soy sauce. I also had a glass Sauvignon Blanc from St. Supery. I've had the pleasure of visiting this vineyard, which has some great value on whites in my opinion. I think I hit the bottom of the bottle as it was pretty oxidized. I should have sent it back but didn't have the heart to do it. Service was good, not great. For the prices, I would have expected it to be a bit more attentive. Net-net: not sure I got the value for my spend. But, I'm willing to give it another chance next time I'm in town.
(3)
Tony M.
What last night. Had stuffed mushrooms and the Georgia Mahi on the chef's menu both were excellent. View of the river is awesome
(5)
Kai R.
This is one of the nicer waterfront restaurants in Jacksonville. Service was very attentive, menu had some great selections of seafood and meats / everyone in my party of 7 enjoyed their dinner very much. This place is a thousand times better that River City Brewing, which is nearby / prices are comparable.
(4)
Holly H.
I went here with my husband and in-laws for Easter lunch. We weren't horribly impressed with it and I definitely don't think it was worth the price. The restaurant is nice looking, though the chairs were a bit ugly...and hard to slide back and forth into the table. Our table was also two tables plac together with a big dip between the two that the waiter warned us about. I personally didn't get the salad bar, but my little sister-in-law did. The quality looked good, but I was a bit confused when the hostess told us they were famous for their salad bar. It simply looked like a plain salad bar. I am also not a fan of small water glasses. I understand that many high end restaurants have small water glasses that they fill in addition to whatever drink you order, but I drink water by itself in most cases. I also drink a lot of it. I would much prefer a real glass, instead of a wine glass filled with water, especially if you aren't going to keep it filled for me. I ran out of water two or three times and sat without for some time. My husband and father-in-law emptied their drinks by the time the appetizers came and the waiter never filled them until our entrees came...he didn't even fill them when he came to bring the soup. We ordered a crab cake and calamari and friends for appetizers. The crab cake was delicious. We all thought it was the best one we had ever had. I should have ordered it for my meal. The waiter said it was about 95 % crab, which was totally right and it was delicious. The calamari was delicious as well. It came with tempura battered veggies as well...I think it was carrots, jalapeños, and red peppers. It came with a delicious slightly spicy/tangy/sweet sauce. The guys both got the clam chowder and it was very yummy and came in these awesome metal kettle like bowls. I instantly wanted them :) My husband and his mother both had stuffed shrimp. I think they both enjoyed it, though didn't seem to rave about it. My father-in-law and I both had the spiced yellowfin ahi. They were cooked well, but the seasoning was way too much. The seasoning was too salty and overwhelmed the tuna. You couldn't taste much of the actual fish. The saffron risotto was delicious...though I might have an addiction to risotto in general, so it may just be me. For dessert we got the molten lava cake. We are molten lava cake fiends. Eat couple shared one on the recommendation of the waiter, though he made them out to be a lot bigger than they were. They were still share worthy though. I thought it was weird that he brought us little plates to eat them on and knives to cut it with. Really? That is not how you share a molten lava cake. You have to dig in on the late because of the gooey deliciousness. When the dessert arrived the first thong ,ymhusband did was du,p the giant scoop of ice-cream off to the side. It was just too difficult to cut through it all. The molten lava cake was cooked too long. The center was just barely fudgey and didn't ooze at all like a good molten lava cake should.mthe outside of the cake with crispy as well, which I didn't enjoy. I also wasnt a fan of the fact that they sprinkled broken Heath bars over the top. I have never liked heath bars and didn't like them on this. Over all I felt the food was so-so other than the crab cakes, and the service was slow. We will probably never go back unless someone else really wants to go.
(3)
Rick B.
Great food....This was my first time visiting the Chart House Restaurant. The view was good. Although the food was Great, the wait service needs improvement.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Brian F.
Unless I left something there that I didn't realize, I see no reason to ever return to Chart House. We came on a Wednesday night, busy with lots of business travelers as you'd expect. My wife ordered king crab ($45), I ordered seared mahi with a lobster/crab topping ($35). My wife's crab was overcooked and rubbery, like it'd sat under a heat lamp or otherwise been prepared well ahead of time. My mahi was not seared in any way that I could recognize, the sauce/topping was bland, and the fish itself was mushy -- you could tell it wasn't fresh, despite being on the fresh fish list on the menu. The orzo served with my fish was overcooked, almost like porridge. We both had the salad bar, which was good, but probably overrated. There was no attendant at the salad bar to prepare Caesar salads or otherwise look over matters, disappointing for a $9 add-on. I should have been suspicious when one of their fresh fish listings was farmed tilapia -- not exactly sourcing the best ingredients. I'm not convinced my Mahi wasn't frozen -- I'm not even really convinced it was Mahi. The Morton's that used to be nearby, owned by the same corporation as Chart House, actually served an excellent king crab entree, which was cooked perfectly, and presented beautifully -- funny their remaining corporate cousin, specializing in seafood, manages to bung up this simple dish. I complained, something I rarely do. I have probably sent back 2 dishes in the last 5 years... The waitress said the manager would be right over. After about 10 minutes, she arrived, after making a big show about checking on other tables, presumably so as to not appear to be coming to our table specifically. It was odd to watch. Her attitude was kind of lousy -- after explaining the issue with my wife's dinner, she turned to me and asked "and what is the problem with yours?" with a saccharine smile on her face. The service overall was below what you would expect at this price point. The staff tries hard but seems stretched thin. Service was hurried and sparse. Our table was scarcely bussed between courses, and certainly not reset/crumbed like you might expect. We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert to try and end on a high note, it did not disappoint, something I can't say for the rest of the experience. This place is obviously surviving on people who don't know good seafood, business people with expense accounts, and the Chart House name. I think the fact that diners here are often in big groups, with someone else paying has something to do with it. I know in that kind of situation I would be disinclined to complain. Perhaps this lack of feedback is contributing to the problem -- customers arent complaining, and the management doesn't enforce any standards? Despite our entrees being comped, I can't give this place more than 1 star, they are just too far off the mark.
(1)Emily A.
This review is solely for happy hour - I did not venture into the restaurant... bar only! It was my first time there and I love their happy hour. A great selection of $4 wines, $5 cocktails, and $3/3.50 beers, as well as inexpensive appetizers. I had the hummus platter for $4 which included 3 different types of hummus, loads of pita slices and plantain chips. There were tons of other appetizers that looked great in that same price range. There is a lot of free parking right in front.
(4)Jordan D.
My mouth was watering as I looked at the menu. I finally decided on a combo platter with blue chunk crab cakes, shrimp and salmon! All were exceptional. Highly recommended. I chose it over Mortons which is nearby and was very satisfied with my choice
(5)William R.
Tried to have a romantic $200.00 dinner when a group of 8 young African American woman celebrating a birthday got seated next to us. They turned the dining area into a loud picture taking obnoxious event to the point several tables moved including myself finishing my dinner in the lounge. Management has no balls and i would never return. No wonder the place was quarter full.
(1)Valley J.
The bad... Got there for happy hour well before our 7pm reservations and couldn't get bar service to save a life! Quinn is fun but needs to stick to weekday service. Didn't get a waterview table as we requested with our reservations a month prior to our visit. The good... Andrew, our waiter, was phenomenal! He saved our experience from being a bummer after the bar service and table disappointment. He was attentive and knowledgeable, great demeanor, professional, and the food was AMAZING. We had oysters on the half shell, the ménage of soup, Alaskan king crab legs, and molten lava cake. Even the skin of the baked potato (which I never eat) was DELICIOUS! Look at the salad bar before you add it to your meal.
(3)Chang L.
I might be too sensitive to numbers but this made me feel disappointed. I had dinner at their restaurant, the total bill was $36.38. I looked at their suggested Gratuity chart: 20ï¼… Gratuity: $9. 10, 18% Gratuity: $8.19, 15% Gratuity: $6.83. BUT! When I was back to my hotel, the receipt dropped out of my pocket then I found out I paid $ 45.48 for my dinner. I looked at the numbers...$36.38 times 0.2 is $7.276. $9.1 is 25% tip! To be honest, the food was pretty good I would give 5 starts for the food but minus 2 starts for the dishonesty.
(3)Rich T.
We attended the Chart House last night after the JAX Craft Beer Festival as we were both thinking of the mysteriously huge shrimp cocktail served over a bed of dry ice. Using Open Table to announce we would be there in 30 minutes, we caught the late dinner procession. Sitting together at one of the many tables with the waterside view, we were served by a very efficient character named Barrett. Clearly, he was well educated and trained to give us the best picture of the menu we could illicit from a few questions. We took his suggestions to the plates as the specials of the grouper and prime rib were stunning, one fork at a time. One did not need a culinary degree to see how good this was flowing from one course to the next. As for the mysterious shrimp, the venue was out of dry ice by the time we had arrived, but they still tasted great. I think I could have gone through another three servings of them. We departed the Chart House into the darkness of San Marco with thoughts of returning another evening in the near future to see what our server Barrett would recommend again.
(4)Errol J.
My wife and I made reservations at the Chart House thinking we would enjoy a nice dinner with a beautiful view. Unfortunately when we arrived we sat 15-20 and NO ONE came to our table!! We got up an informed the manager an his response was let me re sit you an start over!! For the prices they charge someone should've been to our table waiting!! Chart House gets 4 thumbs down!! I will never ever as long as I live walk thru those doors again!! Still never saw a waiter or waitress when we left!! TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO A RESTAURANT THAT WILL APPRECIATE YOU AS A PATRON!!
(1)Joe S.
Longtime Landry's Select member and have been to this CH location no less than 30 times over the last 6 years. It used to be my favorite restaurant/bar. Unfortunately, I've watched this location decline in service and food quality over the years. Gave it another shot tonight and here's how it played out (in concise form): 1. Pulled in, no valet in sight 2. Parked myself and when I got out, was told that this very empty portion of the parking lot was reserved exclusively for "web cafe" customers and that I should park "between the cones" 3. There were no spaces available between the cones 4. Went back to valet who eventually showed up and parked my car 5. Went in for dinner/drinks (solo) at bar, and surprisingly, no seats available- there were, however, plenty of disgruntled guests awaiting drinks, food orders, and checks 6. Finally got a drink order in, and informed the bartender I'd be having dinner and another drink once a seat was available 7. Returned to the bar, where I waited for 10 minutes only to receive no words, no drink, and no food order. Instead, I received my bill with the card already run for my one drink 8. Signed and left Bummer and sadly, no longer an anomaly at this location.
(2)Michelle M.
I don't know about dinner, but I've no complaints about happy hour. Good cocktails, yummy appetizers, service was decent. What keeps me coming back quite honestly is the architecture and the view. The entire experience is what keeps me coming back for Happy Hour. I could do without the lone teenaged valet (poor dude) who made me very nervous about trusting him with my vehicle (especially after he backed a truck into another car). But I would be very sad if the Chart House closed so I am always game to return to the hour that makes me happiest there.
(4)Christine C.
My husband and I had dinner here on May 5, 2015. The service was excellent and courteous. Although we were there early we were not offered the early menu. The food was not fresh. For example we ordered the shrimp, crab, mango salsa avocado appetizer and the avocado was brown. Also I ordered a house salad and the lettuce was brown. I also had a shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce was odd tasting almost too sweet. My husband's steak tasted like chalk it was over cooked and dry. I would not eat here again.
(1)Ralph B.
I've been a big fan of the Charthouse for quite some time now, while having some exceptional dining experiences. Tonight- Thursday 12-04-2014 we had reservations for 7:00 and were seated right away in the lower-part section of the restaurant that I'd not experienced before, during a peak time. The restaurant was full and this area was rather noisy. Our conversations required a lot of leaning-in to keep up. The lighting in this section was really bad (very low). While it may lend itself to a romantic setting, actually seeing the menu was a chore. Our party of four's entrees took some time to arrive, but once they did all enjoyed the meal. My own choice of pan seared scallops over garlic mashed potatoes was superb. One constant I have found in returning to the Charthouse over the years. Service staff was friendly and accomodating. I think in going back (and I will) I'll try a different time of the evening and day. The company in my party made up for any shortcoming I found in our outing. Close Family and good friends go a long way to enhancing an evening out.
(4)Anna-Marie W.
We dined at the Chart House during Jacksonville's annual Eat Up Downtown event in August. A handful of restaurants in and around the immediate downtown area of the city sponsor a three-course bill of fare with a fixed price of $15, $25 or $35, depending on the establishment. The Chart House was offering a $25 menu which is an amazing for a place that is usually no less than about $50 a person for a similar meal. We made reservations for an early meal at 6pm and when we arrived, we were presented with not only the Eat Up Downtown menu but also a list of early bird specials, also three courses and with most prices set at $20-25. Suddenly, the Chart House has become a lot more affordable to the average Joe and we were on board. I hoped, however, that the lower prices didn't mean lower quality. Luckily, they didn't. Chad decided on the Herb Crusted Salmon from the early bird menu. He chose the Caesar salad as his first course. The salad was crisp and creamy. Just how we love our salads. His salmon was lightly crusted with a variety of herbs. The fillet was flaky and meaty and cooked perfectly. Served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes, this dish hit the spot for a light and fresh summer dinner. I ordered from the Eat Up Downtown menu. I had four selections for a first course including a chopped salad, Caesar salad, clam chowder or a cup of gazpacho. I went for the chilled gazpacho. It was delicious, slightly spicy and tangy, not too thick, not too thin- just perfect for a little taste of what the Chart House has to offer. For my main dish I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Snapper with a tangy Béarnaise sauce and a side of fried rice. I was very pleased with the consistency and flavor of the fillet. If there is one thing Chart House has always done right in my eyes, it is the ability to cook the perfect piece of fish. So delicious. Both of our meals also came with desserts. My menu only offered the Mud Pie (one of Chad's favorites) while he had a few more choices from his Early Bird menu. He ordered the Crème Brulee and we ended up swapping our desserts. Good thing too because we both loved what we had. I am not a huge fan of desserts to begin with so I was especially pleased with the Brulee. I am glad that the Chart House had participated in the Eat Up Downtown event as we would have probably not dined here otherwise with so many other restaurants to choose from in the area. I have dined at the Chart House in other cities and have also been pleased with the food, service and atmosphere. The Chart House in Jacksonville is just as sophisticated and upscale as any of the other locations, even in a town that doesn't have a lot of fine dining establishments or a large selection of upscale hotels. The Jacksonville location is romantic, overlooking the St. John's River. We were even warned by our server that we may even see some dolphins jumping around in the water. (We didn't see any during dinner but we did find some dolphins in the river the next morning- so they do exist.) If you want to experience the Chart House without the hefty prices be sure to go early when they are offering the early bird menu. We will surely be back soon.
(4)Sam P.
We came here for their happy hour specials on Friday of the GA/FL weekend. We arrived around 4:40 and there were plenty of empty tables around the bar. The service was terrible! Rude waiters! As we were about to order apps from the happy hour menu, the manager came over and snatched the menus from our table without saying anything to us. When our server came by they told us they would not be honoring the happy hour specials because it was a "holiday". They seemed stressed about there being a lot of customers there, but it was less then half way full of people. Really odd. We left thereafter.
(2)Carla V.
This place is a chain...owned by Landry's. I dined here for dinner with a large group of peers, so it was understandable that our visit would be lengthy. The server was great, and the meal started off well with the appetizers. We even had a coupon for a free app up to $12, but more than half the selections were over $12. I enjoy the "best of soup" but then the plateaued. Entrees arrived and the food was bland...lukewarm at best and expensive. I would skip it...it's overpriced for the quality if food, which is on par with the namesake of this brand. I don't mind Landry's Seafood but Chart House was a disappointment.
(2)Gabe M.
Third time that I have come to this Chart house. Always disappointed. Fish was overcooked, place was smokey and the poor server had too many tables. Food took forever that we missed the fireworks. Not worth the money.
(2)Mellie D.
So amazing... Every item we all ordered including appetizers were great. Party of 6 was served fast and our server was wonderful. Would definitely recommend! The food won't disappoint.
(5)Jose P.
Wow I feel like we just got kicked out of this place, as soon a we walked in we saw there was nobody in the front desk and there was already a group of 5 waiting to be seated, after about 8 minutes a girl asked if we had a reserved seating and we said know, she told us there would be a 35 minute waiting for walkings when the whole place was empty only about 4 tables were taken, glad BB's was minutes away now we are good and about to enjoy our dinner
(2)Bret A.
The salad bar was fantastic and my steak heavenly. I traveled for business and appreciated the supportive, friendly wait service without being intrusive. You should know that everything is a lot carte at the restaurant - but the portions are large so you don't need much other than an entree and salad. Excellent view of the river with a relaxing environment. I will be back!
(4)Brynn H.
Amazing food but service was little slow. If you go there you have to try the steak I know it's a seafood restaurant they make amazing steak. you have to try the clam chowder it's amazing the clam they have celery and onion and potatoes to every bite.
(4)Tracy F.
Terrible! Average food for 3x the price what it should be. When at the salad bar I could hear the cooks talking and saying foul words. The kids meal for my son was $8 for cold and dry Kraft Mac n cheese...I could still even see the caked up cheese powder! I left feeling completely ripped off. Will never be back again and never recommend anybody to go there.
(1)Rzap Z.
We had a wonderful time, staff was friendly, prompt and professional. Great view of the water. Had the Prime Rib and it wasnto die for. Would highly recommend.
(4)Cindy L.
Waitress was wonderful an dinner was great as usual. It was a bit hot inside and our table was broken but not bad enough for us to move.
(5)V P.
This place is just very overpiced. Kinda weird that they had to check if they had room in an almost empty restaurant (which never filled up). Food was good, but not worth the money. Lava cake tasted a lil burned, not that good...
(3)Chad W S.
Not the best experience for the money. Mind you it was a dead night and cook was probably off...but still....really?
(2)Marty S.
After having left Jacksonville over 20 years ago my wife thought that our anniversary would be a perfect time to see if The Chart House was as good as she remembered that it was. We used complimentary varlet parking and the attentive valet went after me to obtain the digital key that I usually just kept in my pocket. A reminder of what we have in today's electronic age. Anyway, we arrived in time for happy hour at the bar. Seating is available at the long bar, large tables and small cocktail tables for two. There is a great selection of appetizers for $4, $5, $6 and $7. These appetizers are only available in the bar and lounge, so going early for both them and the happy hour priced drinks is a very good choice. We tried the Calamari and friends as well as the fried artichoke hearts. To go along with the appetizers, we had the generously poured $5 happy hour martinis. The service is fast, efficient and friendly. My selection of fried Calamari included fried tomatoes and fried onion rings. Included were two different sauces, a dipping sauce and a tarter mixture. The fried artichokes were nicely breaded and included seasoning and a spicy dipping sauce. Although, given the portions and the price, you could make a great dining experience just sampling the appetizers. We had dinner reservations and as we entered the nautical themed dining area and were greeted and noting our name, were congratulated on our anniversary. The dining area has a stupendous view of the Jacksonville river and the downtown skyline. Full length windows provided a pararamic view that was warm and inviting. While the dining area was very large, the vast amount of wood trim and carpeting, resulted in a very quiet dinning environment. The menu is extensive has a great selection of fresh fish noted as "Today's Fresh Fish". A great notation given the proclivity for many restaurants to relay on frozen fish caught who knows when or where. There also is a selection of red meat steaks, rib eye as well as poultry. Since we already had our appetizer fill at the bar, we opted for soup and entrees. My wife picked the Best of Soup consisting of clam chowder, lobster bisque and gazpacho. I went directly to the gazpacho. The soups were exquisite. The taste was wonderful as was the aroma. I need to mention our waiter, who was knowledgeable, friendly and informative. He was very attentive and engaging. For our entrees we had had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and Spiced Yellowfin Ahi tuna. Both dishes were light, flakey and delicious. The flavor was exquisite. Ambiance was quiet elegance. Overall the experience was refreshingly romantic. Loved the dinner and everything about the experience. This is a dining experience we will repeat.
(4)Food I.
Absolutely HORRIBLE. Showed up on a Sunday before a show at thenTimes Union. Wasn't say until 30 min after our reservation time, bad service, never saw a manager. Food was cold and we only had 7 minutes to eat it due to them only having 1 server on staff and our 30 minute reservation delay. Will never return.
(1)Sarah P.
I was excited about this restaurant because the location is incredible, right one the water, and the architecture of the building is really neat. But it was one of the worst dinners I've ever had. When we went in, the restaurant was mostly empty, but the hostess gave us attitude about not having a reservation. The food was abysmal (and I'm really not a picky eater)!! We tried the chopped salad, crab and avocado stack, lobster bisque, grouper special, and spring rolls. We sent back the spring rolls because they were basically inedible. I filled up on the complimentary bread because it was the only decent thing on the table. And our bill was almost $100 for a party of 3. The waitress was also slow and inattentive. Do not go to this restaurant!!
(1)Kasey G.
The Chart House is usually great. I recommend trying the lava cake.
(4)John S.
I've experienced better...like at Chart House three years ago. The place with a beautiful view and convenient location for dining before an event downtown has gone downhill.
(2)FoolMeOnce...Again T.
My husband and I went there on 6/15/15 around 6pm for happy hour drinks/apps. The place was busier than I thought it would be but not packed since we easily found a place to sit in the bar table area. After sitting for 4-6 minutes and watching the bartender walk by us twice without looking we knew we were in trouble. Another waiter also walked by us without looking our way. Finally, about 10 minutes after we sat downmy husband says to the bartender as he is once again walking by us without so much as a glance, "Excuse me can we order some drinks?". The bartender still doesn't look at us but loudly says "Give me a minute please!". We promptly got up and left - this bartender is in the wrong profession and needs to go. This was actually our 4th time in 6 weeks going to the CH (3 at the bar and 1 for dinner). The difference this time was the bartender was frazzled and couldn't take the pressure of the crowd. If he just would have looked our way ONCE and politely said he was swamped and it would be a few minutes we would have been completely understanding. We ended up going to BB's and having an INCREDIBLE $4 tempranillo for their HH. We live very close by and it may be awhile before CH get's anymore business from us as my husband has a LONG memory when it comes to this type of thing. Sorry CH - you LOSE!
(2)Jamie T.
I found Chart House while browsing for open locations on Christmas day. The view looked spectacular and the menu seemed to accommodate all guests in my party of six, including one vegetarian. We had a table facing the river, which was nice. Our server was pleasant, but not terribly attentive or informative. The kitchen ran out of a few things that came with each of our meals and instead of alerting us, the server brought us replacement sides that we neither asked for nor wanted. The cuisine was overpriced, mediocre hotel food. The mashed potatoes were like wallpaper paste. If you don't mind paying $40 for a tough cut of meat and a couple of broccoli florets, by all means check this place out. We won't be returning, unfortunately.
(2)S D.
Dinner for Valentines Day was horrible! Chart House is Over Over priced for the quality of food that is served. My wife ordered Scallops Gluten Free. She was served four quarter sized scallops on a plop of mashed potatoes with a scoop of plain steamed string beans for $31.00!! They put no effort to make it a tasty dish. It was like she was on a bland diet. My niece ordered a filet mignon well done. The first time they brought it to her, blood was coming out of it. She sent it back again. It comes back pink. She sent it back again! It returns medium well. Frustrated she didn't send it back again. Mind you there was mashed potatoes on her plate that kept going back and forth with the meat. They never changed out the potatoes so along with the meat that was not to her liking she had a cold lump of dirty, unpeeled mashed potatoes! By this time all of our food was cold because we were trying to eat at the same time. Instead of having a quiet nice dinner together it was frustrating and disappointing. The meals were served either with a vegetable or a starch. So you had to order side dishes to accommodate what was lacking. There were many other things wrong with our dinner experience. Our waiter was like a zombie. He never smiled, he had no enthusiasm. He made a terrible experience worse than it was!! We were angry and frustrated that we spent $400 and walked away with disappointment!! I could go on but reliving this experience makes me upset especially when I think we spent $400 for this CRAP!!!
(1)Ken R.
Recommended by a family member as a nice place for dinner and wasn't disappointed. Coconut Shrimp was a great appetizer. I had the Snapper Hemingway which was very nice. Kaye had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and loved its flavor and sauce. Staff was wonderful. Not cheap but worth the price.
(5)Jill C.
Three friends and I went to the chart house for dinner before a concert. It was my suggestion since I had worked at the Coronado chart house in the 80s while I was in college. Two friends ordered the lobster bisque and salad bar, I had a lobster tail and baked potato with chop salad, and another friend had fish and chop salad. Our server was excellent. The wine was very good as well. The unfortunate part is that the two friends who ate the lobster bisque and salad bar got food poisoning that night. 12 hours after we ate they were both violently ill. I and two other of the diners contacted the chart house to explain what it happened and were all promised a call back from the general manager. After three calls I have still not received a call back from any person from the chart house who has try to make restitution to my sick friends. This is all very disappointing since the chart house was a big part of my young adult years and I felt proud to take them there. I guess when Landry's took over the chart house Aloha Spirit left with it.
(2)Don B.
Great food and outstanding service from Marissa.
(4)Alex S.
Happy hours specials are cheap, so it's a good place to drink up and feel classy on the cheap! It's right on the river, so you can check out the boats that pass. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. They remember you, and they check on you regularly.
(4)Jean G.
As someone who once worked as a waitress myself, I am VERY relucatant to leave a bad restaurant review because I know how many factors are beyond the waiter's control--slow kitchen, overbooked tables, bad juju--but tonight's supremely poor experience--at all levels of service--just begs for comment. We were a party of 8 celebrating a 75th birthday. We last dined here two years ago and had a nice experience, and my in-laws didn't want to deal with the crowds at the (so-called, which is nowhere near downtown) St. Johns Town Center. The reservation was for 6:30 pm; admittedly, a portion of the party was 10 minutes late, but no one even got water at the table until 7 pm. After another 20 minutes, we got the wine we'd ordered, but on telling the waiter we were ready to order, he disappeared for another 15 minutes. Orders were finally taken, but not correctly--salads came with the wrong dressing, which after being brought to the waiter's attention, still were never corrected; a seared tuna showed up as the wasabi-crusted tuna, which then took another 20 minutes to correct; asparagus that was specifically ordered to be soft came out undercooked and stringy; and a lava cake that was ordered with the entree (it typically needs 30 minutes preparation) showed up well after every one else had finished their desserts. We didn't finish dinner until after 9 pm, and had to bring the check up to the hostess stand because we were tired of waiting for the waiter to clear our check. In terms of the food's quality--and we're talking about a place where the average entree is $30+, and even the salad bar option is over $18 (with less offerings, candidly, than you'd find at a Sweet Tomatoes)--what we were served this evening was surprisingly mediocre. My chopped salad looked like something off a cafeteria line, the bread rolls had a frozen-too-long taste, the tilapia was mushy, the prime rib my father-in-law ordered was tough, the short ribs my daughter ordered weren't even as good as the ones I cook at home, and the mussels my sister-in-law ordered made her quite visibly nauseous. On the plus side, my son enjoyed his shrimp platter, my husband's crab cakes were tasty, and my daughter's clam chowder was nicely seasoned. Seriously, this has the feel of a place that is coasting on its name brand and its proximity to several downtown hotels. The view is lovely, and the interior is quite striking in a 70s avant-garde way, but the restaurant seems BADLY in need of new management and real-world wait staff training. There are many excellent dining options in Jacksonville, especially for the expense-account crowd, but this is no longer one of them. Looking at prior reviews, it's clear we're not the only ones who've had a disappointing experience. When you factor in the significantly overpriced entrees, this place just isn't worth it. If you're downtown and looking for a great food, try either Ruth's Chris (also on the river), bb's (very close to CH, locally owned, and consistently excellent), or any of the many wonderful restaurants in nearby Riverside Avondale (about 4 miles from downtown). My favs there are Black Sheep, Orsay, Biscotti's, 13 Gypsies, Pele's, The Salty Fig, and The Brick--all WAY better, and far friendlier for your wallet. Sorry to be so negative, but sometimes you've just got to tell it like it is.
(1)Amra K.
Worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant! My med-rare prime rib was well done and by the time I got another one, the rest of my party was done and dessert already came out. Oh, and I guess they let it sit for quite a while because when it was brought out, all the ice cream was completely melted. The server was not apologetic, what so ever, and seemed like he would rather be elsewhere. Not to mention, he smelled like an ashtray!
(1)Jorge U.
Nice view. Wish we had stopped with that. Worst experience at a Chart House ever. Bad food, bad service, and bad attitudes. They should just shut this train wreck down.
(1)Colleen Z.
I just read Bob J.'s review and our experience was very similar if not exact to his. The only positives about the restaurant was the on-time reservation and very nice professional valet service. Our wait staff was kind but very slow including we waited so long for our bottle of wine that my client called the manager over to ask for service. Even then we didn't receive the bottle for quite some time, although I didn't time I would say 10-15 minutes and this was after we had waited 10-15 minutes for our drink order to be taken. The bread was brought at the time our bottle was brought. We all had fish dishes that were over or under cooked. I was shocked when my $33 fish with a lobster sauce dish was served. The look of the dish was of diner quality and had I been with my husband or friends I would have sent it back or left altogether. Even the sauteed spinach was overcooked and bland. Bob J's description of the self-serve salad bar is spot on. The bar looked like it could have been in a Denny's or all-you-can-eat buffet line. We eventually ordered another bottle of wine instead of dessert which was probably a good thing. Something is just out of place in this restaurant. The kitchen on several occasions filled the restaurant with smoke even catching our tables attention because we wondered if all was OK. Overall, the restaurant is overpriced for the quality of service, atmosphere and food provided on the night we visited. Save yourself money and time. Go somewhere else.
(1)R L.
food is bad for what you pay for. View is great but restaurant has bad food. Sorry to offend others if they have their opinion that its a wonderful place. sadly it is not.
(1)Tiffany B.
Happy hour specials are great. The prices on regular menu are crazy expensive. The interior super nice and high end. Will be back soon
(4)Jeff C.
The location of the restaurant is great, with a fantastic water view from most tables. The interior architecture is very nice as well. The service was average. They were very nice, just a little on the slow side. It was about a 2 hour affair for our party of 5 during a period of time where there were many free tables. The food was excellent. Two in our party said it was the best dish of the type they ordered that they'd ever had. I found the self service salad bar a little strange for a restaurant of this caliber. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with it, it is just hard to present a self service bar without it looking like a budget restaurant. I would return without question.
(4)Marc P.
Molten lava cake--what is this monstrosity?!
(3)Brandi P.
I've been here several times & I have always received great food and even better service.
(5)Paul C.
Been here a few times; I was always fascinated by the architecture of this place; come to find out it was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, and was once the costliest building built in all of Florida, as per sq. ft. cost. Great view of river, good parking....and now the food; well that's just OK for me, but good all around as per taste, presentation, and selection; I would lean towards their fish entrees. The bar is very good, and efficient, and the wait staff is friendly, and knowledgeable. This restaurant is a regular stop using the river taxi too. Their desserts are outstanding!
(3)Chip B.
Used to eat at the Chart House 20+ years ago when i lived in Jacksonville. It was excellent then. Ate there September 20, 07, after a long time away and the food and service are still excellent. You get what you pay for and the food is worth every dollar you'll spend. Try the molten chocolate volcano dessert - I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Angle for a river walk view. I can't imagine you'll have anything but an excellent meal at the Chart House.
(5)Timmy T.
Went here again not by choice. If I had to pay for the meal I would be very disappointed. Since it was free I guess I will eat here. I would never come here on my own dime nor would I recommend anyone going here.
(1)Ryan B.
Great food, great drinks, good view, just a little overpriced.
(3)Laura B.
Beautiful view over the river (saw the fireworks over the stadium). The kitchen was perhaps overworked; some appetizers were cold, one of the entree orders was wrong, the vegetables were oily. The scallops were nicely done. We were a fairly large party (business) and they jury rigged some tables together and covered them in linen. This uneven surface resulted in ice water being spilled all over one guest and wine glasses sliding down the table throughout the evening. Much more expensive than other restaurants with better food. You are paying for the view. I think they get a lot of customers from the hotels who are not ever going to come back. With the view and this clientele, they can get away with the prices and the food.
(2)Duane M.
Sweet tea vodka is a new treat for me. Goes well with the lettuce wraps and firecracker shrimp.
(3)Judy K.
Good food and service. Will definitely be returning.
(4)Maureen P.
Way overpriced and below par food. Our soup sampler was stone cold, the stuffed mushrooms were luke warm and tasted like they had been sitting around a long time. It felt like my grandparents would have loved the early bird special. It was a blast from the 80's. We won't be going back.
(2)Kim J.
Unfortunately The Chart House is getting long in the tooth and has seen better days. But alas, if you hit it right, it is still very good, albeit pricey. With a great happy hour and appetisers that you can fill up on, good prime rib and steaks, and thoughtfully prepared fresh fish of all kinds, but preparation can be hit and miss. Like many chain restaurants, the bean counters (In Texas?) seem to be looking a the bottom line, not what is necessary to make a good restaurant great. The salad bar used to be a focal point, but now it's just ho-hum. I loved the crab and avacado stack appitizer until last night. They have replaced the natural crab with some sour cream based "spread" that ....well, just don't bother putting it on the menu if you're going to ruin it. But all in all, Chart House is a dining gem, the architecture is one of a kind and a landmark on Jacksonville's riverfront. On the negative side on the location, an internet cafe opened next door...ah..well it's a gambling parlor, plain and simple with all the riff raff that one would expect at the nickle slots in downtown Vegas....sadly the once squeaky clean neighborhood has gone down hill.
(3)Antony C.
Flight got grounded in JAX due to bad weather. But, I was hoping to turn lemons into lemonade when I found a Chart House local to the area. Growing up in Daytona Beach, I had frequented the Chart House there for special occasions. The ambiance was great. I had a table with a view of the water. I wonder if Frank Lloyd Wright built all the Chart House restaurants? I started off with some Blue Point oysters from Delaware. They were medium-sized, not too salty and very tasty. Next I had a cup of the New England clam chowder, which was real good. It was creamy and rich with clams and potatoes, unlike some others I've tried. Being in FL, I figured I had to hit a seafood dish. I opted for seared scallops that were prepared Asian fusion style with rice and bokchoy. Unfortunately, this dish wasn't up to par. The scallops were small, not well seared and didn't taste fresh. The bokchoy was overcooked, and the dish was too salty with the soy sauce. I also had a glass Sauvignon Blanc from St. Supery. I've had the pleasure of visiting this vineyard, which has some great value on whites in my opinion. I think I hit the bottom of the bottle as it was pretty oxidized. I should have sent it back but didn't have the heart to do it. Service was good, not great. For the prices, I would have expected it to be a bit more attentive. Net-net: not sure I got the value for my spend. But, I'm willing to give it another chance next time I'm in town.
(3)Tony M.
What last night. Had stuffed mushrooms and the Georgia Mahi on the chef's menu both were excellent. View of the river is awesome
(5)Kai R.
This is one of the nicer waterfront restaurants in Jacksonville. Service was very attentive, menu had some great selections of seafood and meats / everyone in my party of 7 enjoyed their dinner very much. This place is a thousand times better that River City Brewing, which is nearby / prices are comparable.
(4)Bob J.
I took some colleagues here for a meal - I hadn't been to a Chart House in years, the last one being in San Diego. Well... The service was slow and amateurish. Some of our food was cold. The salad bar looked miserable - I've seen salad bars in pizza joints that look better. The bread was hard and not warm. I could go on and on and on, but for the price and ambience I would expect something first rate, instead, we got third rate service with food that had been kept under a warming light way too long. Stay away by all means - if you want upscale in this area do Morton's or Ruth Chris or something else. Forget this Chart House until the management gets some professional help.
(1)Lisa L.
Crab stuffed mushrooms - Yes! Banana foster fish - no, thanks, I'll try something else. Very attentive service and a great view, but somehow the interiors remind me of a cross between a terrarium and an old folks home. Maybe it's the salad bar. But, it's all you can eat, and I hear there is caviar!
(4)Grace D.
I've only been here once (who can afford to go on a regular?!). It was actually a special occasion (my birthday!). I had a great experience. Service was excellent (they gave me a black napkin to match my black dress!). It's the type of place where you really can't go wrong no matter what you order.
(4)Holly H.
I went here with my husband and in-laws for Easter lunch. We weren't horribly impressed with it and I definitely don't think it was worth the price. The restaurant is nice looking, though the chairs were a bit ugly...and hard to slide back and forth into the table. Our table was also two tables plac together with a big dip between the two that the waiter warned us about. I personally didn't get the salad bar, but my little sister-in-law did. The quality looked good, but I was a bit confused when the hostess told us they were famous for their salad bar. It simply looked like a plain salad bar. I am also not a fan of small water glasses. I understand that many high end restaurants have small water glasses that they fill in addition to whatever drink you order, but I drink water by itself in most cases. I also drink a lot of it. I would much prefer a real glass, instead of a wine glass filled with water, especially if you aren't going to keep it filled for me. I ran out of water two or three times and sat without for some time. My husband and father-in-law emptied their drinks by the time the appetizers came and the waiter never filled them until our entrees came...he didn't even fill them when he came to bring the soup. We ordered a crab cake and calamari and friends for appetizers. The crab cake was delicious. We all thought it was the best one we had ever had. I should have ordered it for my meal. The waiter said it was about 95 % crab, which was totally right and it was delicious. The calamari was delicious as well. It came with tempura battered veggies as well...I think it was carrots, jalapeños, and red peppers. It came with a delicious slightly spicy/tangy/sweet sauce. The guys both got the clam chowder and it was very yummy and came in these awesome metal kettle like bowls. I instantly wanted them :) My husband and his mother both had stuffed shrimp. I think they both enjoyed it, though didn't seem to rave about it. My father-in-law and I both had the spiced yellowfin ahi. They were cooked well, but the seasoning was way too much. The seasoning was too salty and overwhelmed the tuna. You couldn't taste much of the actual fish. The saffron risotto was delicious...though I might have an addiction to risotto in general, so it may just be me. For dessert we got the molten lava cake. We are molten lava cake fiends. Eat couple shared one on the recommendation of the waiter, though he made them out to be a lot bigger than they were. They were still share worthy though. I thought it was weird that he brought us little plates to eat them on and knives to cut it with. Really? That is not how you share a molten lava cake. You have to dig in on the late because of the gooey deliciousness. When the dessert arrived the first thong ,ymhusband did was du,p the giant scoop of ice-cream off to the side. It was just too difficult to cut through it all. The molten lava cake was cooked too long. The center was just barely fudgey and didn't ooze at all like a good molten lava cake should.mthe outside of the cake with crispy as well, which I didn't enjoy. I also wasnt a fan of the fact that they sprinkled broken Heath bars over the top. I have never liked heath bars and didn't like them on this. Over all I felt the food was so-so other than the crab cakes, and the service was slow. We will probably never go back unless someone else really wants to go.
(3)Rick B.
Great food....This was my first time visiting the Chart House Restaurant. The view was good. Although the food was Great, the wait service needs improvement.
(3)Natalie B.
I have enjoyed every meal I have had at Chart House. I find it to be a nice place for special occasions, regardless if it is a quiet dinner with your special someone or a celebratory dinner with your family. The building itself is very cool-it feels like you are inside a boat! The dishes are delicious and if you can score a seat facing the river, that is a bonus. The service here is polished without being uncomfortable. Special props to the waitstaff--when I made a reservation for my parents to go on their anniversary, they printed a special menu for them upon arrival that read "Happy Anniversary" with their names and the date on it. Classy.
(4)Charlie P.
We arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early and went to the bar to take advantage of happy hour. It took 20 minutes for someone to take our drink and appetizer order by which time happy hour was over. The appetizers finally arrived just as we were being seated at the table, so Katina (manager) comped them. Seated at a nice table overlooking the river and ordered our food. Melissa took our order and then we waited. Wife's soup arrived cold and we sent it back. Our dining companion's chopped salad was unedible and we sent it back. Scallops were tasty as was coconut shrimp. They were advertising a peach crisp desert, but were out of it, so had to settle for apple/cranberry something. Manager ended up comping everything except scallops, shrimp and desert.
(1)Karen F.
The Chart House Haiku Review Organic forms and swooping curves set the stage for succulent seafood.
(5)Rob L.
This restaurant used to be one of the best places to eat in Jacksonville as recently as five or six years ago. The architecture is stunning and one of the most unique buildings you'll ever eat it. That said, the service and presentation did not live up to Charthouse standards. The food was very good but kind of thrown on the plate. There was no color or garnish or sauces to give it a gourmet touch. The salad bar used to be one of the highlights at Charthouse but the night I was there it looked like the one at Golden Corral. We had to find someone to make our Cesar Salad. The bottom line is this place needs to step it up and return to the very recent past of service and ambience. The wait staff used to be highly professional and our waiter was just a waiter. The first time I ate here twenty years ago the wait staff was absolutely top notch. This time it was only adequate. I want this place to be great. I love the place but it almost felt like it's just biding it's time. Make it excellent again!!
(3)Bob J.
I took some colleagues here for a meal - I hadn't been to a Chart House in years, the last one being in San Diego. Well... The service was slow and amateurish. Some of our food was cold. The salad bar looked miserable - I've seen salad bars in pizza joints that look better. The bread was hard and not warm. I could go on and on and on, but for the price and ambience I would expect something first rate, instead, we got third rate service with food that had been kept under a warming light way too long. Stay away by all means - if you want upscale in this area do Morton's or Ruth Chris or something else. Forget this Chart House until the management gets some professional help.
(1)Lisa L.
Crab stuffed mushrooms - Yes! Banana foster fish - no, thanks, I'll try something else. Very attentive service and a great view, but somehow the interiors remind me of a cross between a terrarium and an old folks home. Maybe it's the salad bar. But, it's all you can eat, and I hear there is caviar!
(4)Grace D.
I've only been here once (who can afford to go on a regular?!). It was actually a special occasion (my birthday!). I had a great experience. Service was excellent (they gave me a black napkin to match my black dress!). It's the type of place where you really can't go wrong no matter what you order.
(4)Ed L.
The Chart House has always been one of my faves from Los Gatos, to Monterey, from San Diego to San Antonio, guess I've made the rounds. But the Jax location is one of the most unique, not just it's architecture, but it's level of service. I've found all location serve consistently quality food, although I've been disappointed that Jax serves no steamed artichokes. With that said, the crab stuff sh-rooms more that make up for it. All the appetizers are superb and the entrees all always perfectly cooked to order. This trip, I ordered the rack of lamb, served with garlic mashed taters and steamed vegges. The waiter stood-by while I cut and check it to make sure it was to my liking. I had ordered my rack med-well, but it came out medium. He gladly whisked it away to cook a little further, and returned in just minutes. It was perfect in taste and tenderness. The other person I was with ordered a fillet Mignon, which was perfect in every way. She compared it to Morton's, and said it's flavor was even better. I happen to know that the coconut crunchy shrimp, served with sweet plum sauce is also excellent. The view on the river is nice, although not real scenic. Our waiter was excellent, delighting us in conversation, he could not have been more personable. This was my third or fourth visit here and I wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)Tiffany B.
Happy hour specials are great. The prices on regular menu are crazy expensive. The interior super nice and high end. Will be back soon
(4)Gabe M.
Third time that I have come to this Chart house. Always disappointed. Fish was overcooked, place was smokey and the poor server had too many tables. Food took forever that we missed the fireworks. Not worth the money.
(2)Mellie D.
So amazing... Every item we all ordered including appetizers were great. Party of 6 was served fast and our server was wonderful. Would definitely recommend! The food won't disappoint.
(5)Jose P.
Wow I feel like we just got kicked out of this place, as soon a we walked in we saw there was nobody in the front desk and there was already a group of 5 waiting to be seated, after about 8 minutes a girl asked if we had a reserved seating and we said know, she told us there would be a 35 minute waiting for walkings when the whole place was empty only about 4 tables were taken, glad BB's was minutes away now we are good and about to enjoy our dinner
(2)Tracy F.
Terrible! Average food for 3x the price what it should be. When at the salad bar I could hear the cooks talking and saying foul words. The kids meal for my son was $8 for cold and dry Kraft Mac n cheese...I could still even see the caked up cheese powder! I left feeling completely ripped off. Will never be back again and never recommend anybody to go there.
(1)Rzap Z.
We had a wonderful time, staff was friendly, prompt and professional. Great view of the water. Had the Prime Rib and it wasnto die for. Would highly recommend.
(4)FoolMeOnce...Again T.
My husband and I went there on 6/15/15 around 6pm for happy hour drinks/apps. The place was busier than I thought it would be but not packed since we easily found a place to sit in the bar table area. After sitting for 4-6 minutes and watching the bartender walk by us twice without looking we knew we were in trouble. Another waiter also walked by us without looking our way. Finally, about 10 minutes after we sat downmy husband says to the bartender as he is once again walking by us without so much as a glance, "Excuse me can we order some drinks?". The bartender still doesn't look at us but loudly says "Give me a minute please!". We promptly got up and left - this bartender is in the wrong profession and needs to go. This was actually our 4th time in 6 weeks going to the CH (3 at the bar and 1 for dinner). The difference this time was the bartender was frazzled and couldn't take the pressure of the crowd. If he just would have looked our way ONCE and politely said he was swamped and it would be a few minutes we would have been completely understanding. We ended up going to BB's and having an INCREDIBLE $4 tempranillo for their HH. We live very close by and it may be awhile before CH get's anymore business from us as my husband has a LONG memory when it comes to this type of thing. Sorry CH - you LOSE!
(2)Jamie T.
I found Chart House while browsing for open locations on Christmas day. The view looked spectacular and the menu seemed to accommodate all guests in my party of six, including one vegetarian. We had a table facing the river, which was nice. Our server was pleasant, but not terribly attentive or informative. The kitchen ran out of a few things that came with each of our meals and instead of alerting us, the server brought us replacement sides that we neither asked for nor wanted. The cuisine was overpriced, mediocre hotel food. The mashed potatoes were like wallpaper paste. If you don't mind paying $40 for a tough cut of meat and a couple of broccoli florets, by all means check this place out. We won't be returning, unfortunately.
(2)Cindy L.
Waitress was wonderful an dinner was great as usual. It was a bit hot inside and our table was broken but not bad enough for us to move.
(5)John S.
I've experienced better...like at Chart House three years ago. The place with a beautiful view and convenient location for dining before an event downtown has gone downhill.
(2)Bret A.
The salad bar was fantastic and my steak heavenly. I traveled for business and appreciated the supportive, friendly wait service without being intrusive. You should know that everything is a lot carte at the restaurant - but the portions are large so you don't need much other than an entree and salad. Excellent view of the river with a relaxing environment. I will be back!
(4)Brynn H.
Amazing food but service was little slow. If you go there you have to try the steak I know it's a seafood restaurant they make amazing steak. you have to try the clam chowder it's amazing the clam they have celery and onion and potatoes to every bite.
(4)V P.
This place is just very overpiced. Kinda weird that they had to check if they had room in an almost empty restaurant (which never filled up). Food was good, but not worth the money. Lava cake tasted a lil burned, not that good...
(3)Chad W S.
Not the best experience for the money. Mind you it was a dead night and cook was probably off...but still....really?
(2)Laura B.
Beautiful view over the river (saw the fireworks over the stadium). The kitchen was perhaps overworked; some appetizers were cold, one of the entree orders was wrong, the vegetables were oily. The scallops were nicely done. We were a fairly large party (business) and they jury rigged some tables together and covered them in linen. This uneven surface resulted in ice water being spilled all over one guest and wine glasses sliding down the table throughout the evening. Much more expensive than other restaurants with better food. You are paying for the view. I think they get a lot of customers from the hotels who are not ever going to come back. With the view and this clientele, they can get away with the prices and the food.
(2)Duane M.
Sweet tea vodka is a new treat for me. Goes well with the lettuce wraps and firecracker shrimp.
(3)Judy K.
Good food and service. Will definitely be returning.
(4)Brian F.
Unless I left something there that I didn't realize, I see no reason to ever return to Chart House. We came on a Wednesday night, busy with lots of business travelers as you'd expect. My wife ordered king crab ($45), I ordered seared mahi with a lobster/crab topping ($35). My wife's crab was overcooked and rubbery, like it'd sat under a heat lamp or otherwise been prepared well ahead of time. My mahi was not seared in any way that I could recognize, the sauce/topping was bland, and the fish itself was mushy -- you could tell it wasn't fresh, despite being on the fresh fish list on the menu. The orzo served with my fish was overcooked, almost like porridge. We both had the salad bar, which was good, but probably overrated. There was no attendant at the salad bar to prepare Caesar salads or otherwise look over matters, disappointing for a $9 add-on. I should have been suspicious when one of their fresh fish listings was farmed tilapia -- not exactly sourcing the best ingredients. I'm not convinced my Mahi wasn't frozen -- I'm not even really convinced it was Mahi. The Morton's that used to be nearby, owned by the same corporation as Chart House, actually served an excellent king crab entree, which was cooked perfectly, and presented beautifully -- funny their remaining corporate cousin, specializing in seafood, manages to bung up this simple dish. I complained, something I rarely do. I have probably sent back 2 dishes in the last 5 years... The waitress said the manager would be right over. After about 10 minutes, she arrived, after making a big show about checking on other tables, presumably so as to not appear to be coming to our table specifically. It was odd to watch. Her attitude was kind of lousy -- after explaining the issue with my wife's dinner, she turned to me and asked "and what is the problem with yours?" with a saccharine smile on her face. The service overall was below what you would expect at this price point. The staff tries hard but seems stretched thin. Service was hurried and sparse. Our table was scarcely bussed between courses, and certainly not reset/crumbed like you might expect. We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert to try and end on a high note, it did not disappoint, something I can't say for the rest of the experience. This place is obviously surviving on people who don't know good seafood, business people with expense accounts, and the Chart House name. I think the fact that diners here are often in big groups, with someone else paying has something to do with it. I know in that kind of situation I would be disinclined to complain. Perhaps this lack of feedback is contributing to the problem -- customers arent complaining, and the management doesn't enforce any standards? Despite our entrees being comped, I can't give this place more than 1 star, they are just too far off the mark.
(1)Joe S.
Longtime Landry's Select member and have been to this CH location no less than 30 times over the last 6 years. It used to be my favorite restaurant/bar. Unfortunately, I've watched this location decline in service and food quality over the years. Gave it another shot tonight and here's how it played out (in concise form): 1. Pulled in, no valet in sight 2. Parked myself and when I got out, was told that this very empty portion of the parking lot was reserved exclusively for "web cafe" customers and that I should park "between the cones" 3. There were no spaces available between the cones 4. Went back to valet who eventually showed up and parked my car 5. Went in for dinner/drinks (solo) at bar, and surprisingly, no seats available- there were, however, plenty of disgruntled guests awaiting drinks, food orders, and checks 6. Finally got a drink order in, and informed the bartender I'd be having dinner and another drink once a seat was available 7. Returned to the bar, where I waited for 10 minutes only to receive no words, no drink, and no food order. Instead, I received my bill with the card already run for my one drink 8. Signed and left Bummer and sadly, no longer an anomaly at this location.
(2)Christine C.
My husband and I had dinner here on May 5, 2015. The service was excellent and courteous. Although we were there early we were not offered the early menu. The food was not fresh. For example we ordered the shrimp, crab, mango salsa avocado appetizer and the avocado was brown. Also I ordered a house salad and the lettuce was brown. I also had a shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce was odd tasting almost too sweet. My husband's steak tasted like chalk it was over cooked and dry. I would not eat here again.
(1)Anna-Marie W.
We dined at the Chart House during Jacksonville's annual Eat Up Downtown event in August. A handful of restaurants in and around the immediate downtown area of the city sponsor a three-course bill of fare with a fixed price of $15, $25 or $35, depending on the establishment. The Chart House was offering a $25 menu which is an amazing for a place that is usually no less than about $50 a person for a similar meal. We made reservations for an early meal at 6pm and when we arrived, we were presented with not only the Eat Up Downtown menu but also a list of early bird specials, also three courses and with most prices set at $20-25. Suddenly, the Chart House has become a lot more affordable to the average Joe and we were on board. I hoped, however, that the lower prices didn't mean lower quality. Luckily, they didn't. Chad decided on the Herb Crusted Salmon from the early bird menu. He chose the Caesar salad as his first course. The salad was crisp and creamy. Just how we love our salads. His salmon was lightly crusted with a variety of herbs. The fillet was flaky and meaty and cooked perfectly. Served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes, this dish hit the spot for a light and fresh summer dinner. I ordered from the Eat Up Downtown menu. I had four selections for a first course including a chopped salad, Caesar salad, clam chowder or a cup of gazpacho. I went for the chilled gazpacho. It was delicious, slightly spicy and tangy, not too thick, not too thin- just perfect for a little taste of what the Chart House has to offer. For my main dish I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Snapper with a tangy Béarnaise sauce and a side of fried rice. I was very pleased with the consistency and flavor of the fillet. If there is one thing Chart House has always done right in my eyes, it is the ability to cook the perfect piece of fish. So delicious. Both of our meals also came with desserts. My menu only offered the Mud Pie (one of Chad's favorites) while he had a few more choices from his Early Bird menu. He ordered the Crème Brulee and we ended up swapping our desserts. Good thing too because we both loved what we had. I am not a huge fan of desserts to begin with so I was especially pleased with the Brulee. I am glad that the Chart House had participated in the Eat Up Downtown event as we would have probably not dined here otherwise with so many other restaurants to choose from in the area. I have dined at the Chart House in other cities and have also been pleased with the food, service and atmosphere. The Chart House in Jacksonville is just as sophisticated and upscale as any of the other locations, even in a town that doesn't have a lot of fine dining establishments or a large selection of upscale hotels. The Jacksonville location is romantic, overlooking the St. John's River. We were even warned by our server that we may even see some dolphins jumping around in the water. (We didn't see any during dinner but we did find some dolphins in the river the next morning- so they do exist.) If you want to experience the Chart House without the hefty prices be sure to go early when they are offering the early bird menu. We will surely be back soon.
(4)Sam P.
We came here for their happy hour specials on Friday of the GA/FL weekend. We arrived around 4:40 and there were plenty of empty tables around the bar. The service was terrible! Rude waiters! As we were about to order apps from the happy hour menu, the manager came over and snatched the menus from our table without saying anything to us. When our server came by they told us they would not be honoring the happy hour specials because it was a "holiday". They seemed stressed about there being a lot of customers there, but it was less then half way full of people. Really odd. We left thereafter.
(2)Ralph B.
I've been a big fan of the Charthouse for quite some time now, while having some exceptional dining experiences. Tonight- Thursday 12-04-2014 we had reservations for 7:00 and were seated right away in the lower-part section of the restaurant that I'd not experienced before, during a peak time. The restaurant was full and this area was rather noisy. Our conversations required a lot of leaning-in to keep up. The lighting in this section was really bad (very low). While it may lend itself to a romantic setting, actually seeing the menu was a chore. Our party of four's entrees took some time to arrive, but once they did all enjoyed the meal. My own choice of pan seared scallops over garlic mashed potatoes was superb. One constant I have found in returning to the Charthouse over the years. Service staff was friendly and accomodating. I think in going back (and I will) I'll try a different time of the evening and day. The company in my party made up for any shortcoming I found in our outing. Close Family and good friends go a long way to enhancing an evening out.
(4)Sarah P.
I was excited about this restaurant because the location is incredible, right one the water, and the architecture of the building is really neat. But it was one of the worst dinners I've ever had. When we went in, the restaurant was mostly empty, but the hostess gave us attitude about not having a reservation. The food was abysmal (and I'm really not a picky eater)!! We tried the chopped salad, crab and avocado stack, lobster bisque, grouper special, and spring rolls. We sent back the spring rolls because they were basically inedible. I filled up on the complimentary bread because it was the only decent thing on the table. And our bill was almost $100 for a party of 3. The waitress was also slow and inattentive. Do not go to this restaurant!!
(1)Kasey G.
The Chart House is usually great. I recommend trying the lava cake.
(4)Carla V.
This place is a chain...owned by Landry's. I dined here for dinner with a large group of peers, so it was understandable that our visit would be lengthy. The server was great, and the meal started off well with the appetizers. We even had a coupon for a free app up to $12, but more than half the selections were over $12. I enjoy the "best of soup" but then the plateaued. Entrees arrived and the food was bland...lukewarm at best and expensive. I would skip it...it's overpriced for the quality if food, which is on par with the namesake of this brand. I don't mind Landry's Seafood but Chart House was a disappointment.
(2)Michelle M.
I don't know about dinner, but I've no complaints about happy hour. Good cocktails, yummy appetizers, service was decent. What keeps me coming back quite honestly is the architecture and the view. The entire experience is what keeps me coming back for Happy Hour. I could do without the lone teenaged valet (poor dude) who made me very nervous about trusting him with my vehicle (especially after he backed a truck into another car). But I would be very sad if the Chart House closed so I am always game to return to the hour that makes me happiest there.
(4)S D.
Dinner for Valentines Day was horrible! Chart House is Over Over priced for the quality of food that is served. My wife ordered Scallops Gluten Free. She was served four quarter sized scallops on a plop of mashed potatoes with a scoop of plain steamed string beans for $31.00!! They put no effort to make it a tasty dish. It was like she was on a bland diet. My niece ordered a filet mignon well done. The first time they brought it to her, blood was coming out of it. She sent it back again. It comes back pink. She sent it back again! It returns medium well. Frustrated she didn't send it back again. Mind you there was mashed potatoes on her plate that kept going back and forth with the meat. They never changed out the potatoes so along with the meat that was not to her liking she had a cold lump of dirty, unpeeled mashed potatoes! By this time all of our food was cold because we were trying to eat at the same time. Instead of having a quiet nice dinner together it was frustrating and disappointing. The meals were served either with a vegetable or a starch. So you had to order side dishes to accommodate what was lacking. There were many other things wrong with our dinner experience. Our waiter was like a zombie. He never smiled, he had no enthusiasm. He made a terrible experience worse than it was!! We were angry and frustrated that we spent $400 and walked away with disappointment!! I could go on but reliving this experience makes me upset especially when I think we spent $400 for this CRAP!!!
(1)Ken R.
Recommended by a family member as a nice place for dinner and wasn't disappointed. Coconut Shrimp was a great appetizer. I had the Snapper Hemingway which was very nice. Kaye had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and loved its flavor and sauce. Staff was wonderful. Not cheap but worth the price.
(5)Jill C.
Three friends and I went to the chart house for dinner before a concert. It was my suggestion since I had worked at the Coronado chart house in the 80s while I was in college. Two friends ordered the lobster bisque and salad bar, I had a lobster tail and baked potato with chop salad, and another friend had fish and chop salad. Our server was excellent. The wine was very good as well. The unfortunate part is that the two friends who ate the lobster bisque and salad bar got food poisoning that night. 12 hours after we ate they were both violently ill. I and two other of the diners contacted the chart house to explain what it happened and were all promised a call back from the general manager. After three calls I have still not received a call back from any person from the chart house who has try to make restitution to my sick friends. This is all very disappointing since the chart house was a big part of my young adult years and I felt proud to take them there. I guess when Landry's took over the chart house Aloha Spirit left with it.
(2)Don B.
Great food and outstanding service from Marissa.
(4)Alex S.
Happy hours specials are cheap, so it's a good place to drink up and feel classy on the cheap! It's right on the river, so you can check out the boats that pass. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. They remember you, and they check on you regularly.
(4)Jorge U.
Nice view. Wish we had stopped with that. Worst experience at a Chart House ever. Bad food, bad service, and bad attitudes. They should just shut this train wreck down.
(1)Marty S.
After having left Jacksonville over 20 years ago my wife thought that our anniversary would be a perfect time to see if The Chart House was as good as she remembered that it was. We used complimentary varlet parking and the attentive valet went after me to obtain the digital key that I usually just kept in my pocket. A reminder of what we have in today's electronic age. Anyway, we arrived in time for happy hour at the bar. Seating is available at the long bar, large tables and small cocktail tables for two. There is a great selection of appetizers for $4, $5, $6 and $7. These appetizers are only available in the bar and lounge, so going early for both them and the happy hour priced drinks is a very good choice. We tried the Calamari and friends as well as the fried artichoke hearts. To go along with the appetizers, we had the generously poured $5 happy hour martinis. The service is fast, efficient and friendly. My selection of fried Calamari included fried tomatoes and fried onion rings. Included were two different sauces, a dipping sauce and a tarter mixture. The fried artichokes were nicely breaded and included seasoning and a spicy dipping sauce. Although, given the portions and the price, you could make a great dining experience just sampling the appetizers. We had dinner reservations and as we entered the nautical themed dining area and were greeted and noting our name, were congratulated on our anniversary. The dining area has a stupendous view of the Jacksonville river and the downtown skyline. Full length windows provided a pararamic view that was warm and inviting. While the dining area was very large, the vast amount of wood trim and carpeting, resulted in a very quiet dinning environment. The menu is extensive has a great selection of fresh fish noted as "Today's Fresh Fish". A great notation given the proclivity for many restaurants to relay on frozen fish caught who knows when or where. There also is a selection of red meat steaks, rib eye as well as poultry. Since we already had our appetizer fill at the bar, we opted for soup and entrees. My wife picked the Best of Soup consisting of clam chowder, lobster bisque and gazpacho. I went directly to the gazpacho. The soups were exquisite. The taste was wonderful as was the aroma. I need to mention our waiter, who was knowledgeable, friendly and informative. He was very attentive and engaging. For our entrees we had had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and Spiced Yellowfin Ahi tuna. Both dishes were light, flakey and delicious. The flavor was exquisite. Ambiance was quiet elegance. Overall the experience was refreshingly romantic. Loved the dinner and everything about the experience. This is a dining experience we will repeat.
(4)Food I.
Absolutely HORRIBLE. Showed up on a Sunday before a show at thenTimes Union. Wasn't say until 30 min after our reservation time, bad service, never saw a manager. Food was cold and we only had 7 minutes to eat it due to them only having 1 server on staff and our 30 minute reservation delay. Will never return.
(1)Maureen P.
Way overpriced and below par food. Our soup sampler was stone cold, the stuffed mushrooms were luke warm and tasted like they had been sitting around a long time. It felt like my grandparents would have loved the early bird special. It was a blast from the 80's. We won't be going back.
(2)Chip B.
Used to eat at the Chart House 20+ years ago when i lived in Jacksonville. It was excellent then. Ate there September 20, 07, after a long time away and the food and service are still excellent. You get what you pay for and the food is worth every dollar you'll spend. Try the molten chocolate volcano dessert - I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Angle for a river walk view. I can't imagine you'll have anything but an excellent meal at the Chart House.
(5)Paul C.
Been here a few times; I was always fascinated by the architecture of this place; come to find out it was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, and was once the costliest building built in all of Florida, as per sq. ft. cost. Great view of river, good parking....and now the food; well that's just OK for me, but good all around as per taste, presentation, and selection; I would lean towards their fish entrees. The bar is very good, and efficient, and the wait staff is friendly, and knowledgeable. This restaurant is a regular stop using the river taxi too. Their desserts are outstanding!
(3)Valley J.
The bad... Got there for happy hour well before our 7pm reservations and couldn't get bar service to save a life! Quinn is fun but needs to stick to weekday service. Didn't get a waterview table as we requested with our reservations a month prior to our visit. The good... Andrew, our waiter, was phenomenal! He saved our experience from being a bummer after the bar service and table disappointment. He was attentive and knowledgeable, great demeanor, professional, and the food was AMAZING. We had oysters on the half shell, the ménage of soup, Alaskan king crab legs, and molten lava cake. Even the skin of the baked potato (which I never eat) was DELICIOUS! Look at the salad bar before you add it to your meal.
(3)Rich T.
We attended the Chart House last night after the JAX Craft Beer Festival as we were both thinking of the mysteriously huge shrimp cocktail served over a bed of dry ice. Using Open Table to announce we would be there in 30 minutes, we caught the late dinner procession. Sitting together at one of the many tables with the waterside view, we were served by a very efficient character named Barrett. Clearly, he was well educated and trained to give us the best picture of the menu we could illicit from a few questions. We took his suggestions to the plates as the specials of the grouper and prime rib were stunning, one fork at a time. One did not need a culinary degree to see how good this was flowing from one course to the next. As for the mysterious shrimp, the venue was out of dry ice by the time we had arrived, but they still tasted great. I think I could have gone through another three servings of them. We departed the Chart House into the darkness of San Marco with thoughts of returning another evening in the near future to see what our server Barrett would recommend again.
(4)William R.
Tried to have a romantic $200.00 dinner when a group of 8 young African American woman celebrating a birthday got seated next to us. They turned the dining area into a loud picture taking obnoxious event to the point several tables moved including myself finishing my dinner in the lounge. Management has no balls and i would never return. No wonder the place was quarter full.
(1)Errol J.
My wife and I made reservations at the Chart House thinking we would enjoy a nice dinner with a beautiful view. Unfortunately when we arrived we sat 15-20 and NO ONE came to our table!! We got up an informed the manager an his response was let me re sit you an start over!! For the prices they charge someone should've been to our table waiting!! Chart House gets 4 thumbs down!! I will never ever as long as I live walk thru those doors again!! Still never saw a waiter or waitress when we left!! TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO A RESTAURANT THAT WILL APPRECIATE YOU AS A PATRON!!
(1)Chang L.
I might be too sensitive to numbers but this made me feel disappointed. I had dinner at their restaurant, the total bill was $36.38. I looked at their suggested Gratuity chart: 20ï¼… Gratuity: $9. 10, 18% Gratuity: $8.19, 15% Gratuity: $6.83. BUT! When I was back to my hotel, the receipt dropped out of my pocket then I found out I paid $ 45.48 for my dinner. I looked at the numbers...$36.38 times 0.2 is $7.276. $9.1 is 25% tip! To be honest, the food was pretty good I would give 5 starts for the food but minus 2 starts for the dishonesty.
(3)Colleen Z.
I just read Bob J.'s review and our experience was very similar if not exact to his. The only positives about the restaurant was the on-time reservation and very nice professional valet service. Our wait staff was kind but very slow including we waited so long for our bottle of wine that my client called the manager over to ask for service. Even then we didn't receive the bottle for quite some time, although I didn't time I would say 10-15 minutes and this was after we had waited 10-15 minutes for our drink order to be taken. The bread was brought at the time our bottle was brought. We all had fish dishes that were over or under cooked. I was shocked when my $33 fish with a lobster sauce dish was served. The look of the dish was of diner quality and had I been with my husband or friends I would have sent it back or left altogether. Even the sauteed spinach was overcooked and bland. Bob J's description of the self-serve salad bar is spot on. The bar looked like it could have been in a Denny's or all-you-can-eat buffet line. We eventually ordered another bottle of wine instead of dessert which was probably a good thing. Something is just out of place in this restaurant. The kitchen on several occasions filled the restaurant with smoke even catching our tables attention because we wondered if all was OK. Overall, the restaurant is overpriced for the quality of service, atmosphere and food provided on the night we visited. Save yourself money and time. Go somewhere else.
(1)R L.
food is bad for what you pay for. View is great but restaurant has bad food. Sorry to offend others if they have their opinion that its a wonderful place. sadly it is not.
(1)Jeff C.
The location of the restaurant is great, with a fantastic water view from most tables. The interior architecture is very nice as well. The service was average. They were very nice, just a little on the slow side. It was about a 2 hour affair for our party of 5 during a period of time where there were many free tables. The food was excellent. Two in our party said it was the best dish of the type they ordered that they'd ever had. I found the self service salad bar a little strange for a restaurant of this caliber. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with it, it is just hard to present a self service bar without it looking like a budget restaurant. I would return without question.
(4)Marc P.
Molten lava cake--what is this monstrosity?!
(3)Brandi P.
I've been here several times & I have always received great food and even better service.
(5)Timmy T.
Went here again not by choice. If I had to pay for the meal I would be very disappointed. Since it was free I guess I will eat here. I would never come here on my own dime nor would I recommend anyone going here.
(1)Ryan B.
Great food, great drinks, good view, just a little overpriced.
(3)Jean G.
As someone who once worked as a waitress myself, I am VERY relucatant to leave a bad restaurant review because I know how many factors are beyond the waiter's control--slow kitchen, overbooked tables, bad juju--but tonight's supremely poor experience--at all levels of service--just begs for comment. We were a party of 8 celebrating a 75th birthday. We last dined here two years ago and had a nice experience, and my in-laws didn't want to deal with the crowds at the (so-called, which is nowhere near downtown) St. Johns Town Center. The reservation was for 6:30 pm; admittedly, a portion of the party was 10 minutes late, but no one even got water at the table until 7 pm. After another 20 minutes, we got the wine we'd ordered, but on telling the waiter we were ready to order, he disappeared for another 15 minutes. Orders were finally taken, but not correctly--salads came with the wrong dressing, which after being brought to the waiter's attention, still were never corrected; a seared tuna showed up as the wasabi-crusted tuna, which then took another 20 minutes to correct; asparagus that was specifically ordered to be soft came out undercooked and stringy; and a lava cake that was ordered with the entree (it typically needs 30 minutes preparation) showed up well after every one else had finished their desserts. We didn't finish dinner until after 9 pm, and had to bring the check up to the hostess stand because we were tired of waiting for the waiter to clear our check. In terms of the food's quality--and we're talking about a place where the average entree is $30+, and even the salad bar option is over $18 (with less offerings, candidly, than you'd find at a Sweet Tomatoes)--what we were served this evening was surprisingly mediocre. My chopped salad looked like something off a cafeteria line, the bread rolls had a frozen-too-long taste, the tilapia was mushy, the prime rib my father-in-law ordered was tough, the short ribs my daughter ordered weren't even as good as the ones I cook at home, and the mussels my sister-in-law ordered made her quite visibly nauseous. On the plus side, my son enjoyed his shrimp platter, my husband's crab cakes were tasty, and my daughter's clam chowder was nicely seasoned. Seriously, this has the feel of a place that is coasting on its name brand and its proximity to several downtown hotels. The view is lovely, and the interior is quite striking in a 70s avant-garde way, but the restaurant seems BADLY in need of new management and real-world wait staff training. There are many excellent dining options in Jacksonville, especially for the expense-account crowd, but this is no longer one of them. Looking at prior reviews, it's clear we're not the only ones who've had a disappointing experience. When you factor in the significantly overpriced entrees, this place just isn't worth it. If you're downtown and looking for a great food, try either Ruth's Chris (also on the river), bb's (very close to CH, locally owned, and consistently excellent), or any of the many wonderful restaurants in nearby Riverside Avondale (about 4 miles from downtown). My favs there are Black Sheep, Orsay, Biscotti's, 13 Gypsies, Pele's, The Salty Fig, and The Brick--all WAY better, and far friendlier for your wallet. Sorry to be so negative, but sometimes you've just got to tell it like it is.
(1)Amra K.
Worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant! My med-rare prime rib was well done and by the time I got another one, the rest of my party was done and dessert already came out. Oh, and I guess they let it sit for quite a while because when it was brought out, all the ice cream was completely melted. The server was not apologetic, what so ever, and seemed like he would rather be elsewhere. Not to mention, he smelled like an ashtray!
(1)Emily A.
This review is solely for happy hour - I did not venture into the restaurant... bar only! It was my first time there and I love their happy hour. A great selection of $4 wines, $5 cocktails, and $3/3.50 beers, as well as inexpensive appetizers. I had the hummus platter for $4 which included 3 different types of hummus, loads of pita slices and plantain chips. There were tons of other appetizers that looked great in that same price range. There is a lot of free parking right in front.
(4)Jordan D.
My mouth was watering as I looked at the menu. I finally decided on a combo platter with blue chunk crab cakes, shrimp and salmon! All were exceptional. Highly recommended. I chose it over Mortons which is nearby and was very satisfied with my choice
(5)Kim J.
Unfortunately The Chart House is getting long in the tooth and has seen better days. But alas, if you hit it right, it is still very good, albeit pricey. With a great happy hour and appetisers that you can fill up on, good prime rib and steaks, and thoughtfully prepared fresh fish of all kinds, but preparation can be hit and miss. Like many chain restaurants, the bean counters (In Texas?) seem to be looking a the bottom line, not what is necessary to make a good restaurant great. The salad bar used to be a focal point, but now it's just ho-hum. I loved the crab and avacado stack appitizer until last night. They have replaced the natural crab with some sour cream based "spread" that ....well, just don't bother putting it on the menu if you're going to ruin it. But all in all, Chart House is a dining gem, the architecture is one of a kind and a landmark on Jacksonville's riverfront. On the negative side on the location, an internet cafe opened next door...ah..well it's a gambling parlor, plain and simple with all the riff raff that one would expect at the nickle slots in downtown Vegas....sadly the once squeaky clean neighborhood has gone down hill.
(3)Holly H.
I went here with my husband and in-laws for Easter lunch. We weren't horribly impressed with it and I definitely don't think it was worth the price. The restaurant is nice looking, though the chairs were a bit ugly...and hard to slide back and forth into the table. Our table was also two tables plac together with a big dip between the two that the waiter warned us about. I personally didn't get the salad bar, but my little sister-in-law did. The quality looked good, but I was a bit confused when the hostess told us they were famous for their salad bar. It simply looked like a plain salad bar. I am also not a fan of small water glasses. I understand that many high end restaurants have small water glasses that they fill in addition to whatever drink you order, but I drink water by itself in most cases. I also drink a lot of it. I would much prefer a real glass, instead of a wine glass filled with water, especially if you aren't going to keep it filled for me. I ran out of water two or three times and sat without for some time. My husband and father-in-law emptied their drinks by the time the appetizers came and the waiter never filled them until our entrees came...he didn't even fill them when he came to bring the soup. We ordered a crab cake and calamari and friends for appetizers. The crab cake was delicious. We all thought it was the best one we had ever had. I should have ordered it for my meal. The waiter said it was about 95 % crab, which was totally right and it was delicious. The calamari was delicious as well. It came with tempura battered veggies as well...I think it was carrots, jalapeños, and red peppers. It came with a delicious slightly spicy/tangy/sweet sauce. The guys both got the clam chowder and it was very yummy and came in these awesome metal kettle like bowls. I instantly wanted them :) My husband and his mother both had stuffed shrimp. I think they both enjoyed it, though didn't seem to rave about it. My father-in-law and I both had the spiced yellowfin ahi. They were cooked well, but the seasoning was way too much. The seasoning was too salty and overwhelmed the tuna. You couldn't taste much of the actual fish. The saffron risotto was delicious...though I might have an addiction to risotto in general, so it may just be me. For dessert we got the molten lava cake. We are molten lava cake fiends. Eat couple shared one on the recommendation of the waiter, though he made them out to be a lot bigger than they were. They were still share worthy though. I thought it was weird that he brought us little plates to eat them on and knives to cut it with. Really? That is not how you share a molten lava cake. You have to dig in on the late because of the gooey deliciousness. When the dessert arrived the first thong ,ymhusband did was du,p the giant scoop of ice-cream off to the side. It was just too difficult to cut through it all. The molten lava cake was cooked too long. The center was just barely fudgey and didn't ooze at all like a good molten lava cake should.mthe outside of the cake with crispy as well, which I didn't enjoy. I also wasnt a fan of the fact that they sprinkled broken Heath bars over the top. I have never liked heath bars and didn't like them on this. Over all I felt the food was so-so other than the crab cakes, and the service was slow. We will probably never go back unless someone else really wants to go.
(3)Rick B.
Great food....This was my first time visiting the Chart House Restaurant. The view was good. Although the food was Great, the wait service needs improvement.
(3)Rob L.
This restaurant used to be one of the best places to eat in Jacksonville as recently as five or six years ago. The architecture is stunning and one of the most unique buildings you'll ever eat it. That said, the service and presentation did not live up to Charthouse standards. The food was very good but kind of thrown on the plate. There was no color or garnish or sauces to give it a gourmet touch. The salad bar used to be one of the highlights at Charthouse but the night I was there it looked like the one at Golden Corral. We had to find someone to make our Cesar Salad. The bottom line is this place needs to step it up and return to the very recent past of service and ambience. The wait staff used to be highly professional and our waiter was just a waiter. The first time I ate here twenty years ago the wait staff was absolutely top notch. This time it was only adequate. I want this place to be great. I love the place but it almost felt like it's just biding it's time. Make it excellent again!!
(3)Charlie P.
We arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early and went to the bar to take advantage of happy hour. It took 20 minutes for someone to take our drink and appetizer order by which time happy hour was over. The appetizers finally arrived just as we were being seated at the table, so Katina (manager) comped them. Seated at a nice table overlooking the river and ordered our food. Melissa took our order and then we waited. Wife's soup arrived cold and we sent it back. Our dining companion's chopped salad was unedible and we sent it back. Scallops were tasty as was coconut shrimp. They were advertising a peach crisp desert, but were out of it, so had to settle for apple/cranberry something. Manager ended up comping everything except scallops, shrimp and desert.
(1)Natalie B.
I have enjoyed every meal I have had at Chart House. I find it to be a nice place for special occasions, regardless if it is a quiet dinner with your special someone or a celebratory dinner with your family. The building itself is very cool-it feels like you are inside a boat! The dishes are delicious and if you can score a seat facing the river, that is a bonus. The service here is polished without being uncomfortable. Special props to the waitstaff--when I made a reservation for my parents to go on their anniversary, they printed a special menu for them upon arrival that read "Happy Anniversary" with their names and the date on it. Classy.
(4)Karen F.
The Chart House Haiku Review Organic forms and swooping curves set the stage for succulent seafood.
(5)Ed L.
The Chart House has always been one of my faves from Los Gatos, to Monterey, from San Diego to San Antonio, guess I've made the rounds. But the Jax location is one of the most unique, not just it's architecture, but it's level of service. I've found all location serve consistently quality food, although I've been disappointed that Jax serves no steamed artichokes. With that said, the crab stuff sh-rooms more that make up for it. All the appetizers are superb and the entrees all always perfectly cooked to order. This trip, I ordered the rack of lamb, served with garlic mashed taters and steamed vegges. The waiter stood-by while I cut and check it to make sure it was to my liking. I had ordered my rack med-well, but it came out medium. He gladly whisked it away to cook a little further, and returned in just minutes. It was perfect in taste and tenderness. The other person I was with ordered a fillet Mignon, which was perfect in every way. She compared it to Morton's, and said it's flavor was even better. I happen to know that the coconut crunchy shrimp, served with sweet plum sauce is also excellent. The view on the river is nice, although not real scenic. Our waiter was excellent, delighting us in conversation, he could not have been more personable. This was my third or fourth visit here and I wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)Antony C.
Flight got grounded in JAX due to bad weather. But, I was hoping to turn lemons into lemonade when I found a Chart House local to the area. Growing up in Daytona Beach, I had frequented the Chart House there for special occasions. The ambiance was great. I had a table with a view of the water. I wonder if Frank Lloyd Wright built all the Chart House restaurants? I started off with some Blue Point oysters from Delaware. They were medium-sized, not too salty and very tasty. Next I had a cup of the New England clam chowder, which was real good. It was creamy and rich with clams and potatoes, unlike some others I've tried. Being in FL, I figured I had to hit a seafood dish. I opted for seared scallops that were prepared Asian fusion style with rice and bokchoy. Unfortunately, this dish wasn't up to par. The scallops were small, not well seared and didn't taste fresh. The bokchoy was overcooked, and the dish was too salty with the soy sauce. I also had a glass Sauvignon Blanc from St. Supery. I've had the pleasure of visiting this vineyard, which has some great value on whites in my opinion. I think I hit the bottom of the bottle as it was pretty oxidized. I should have sent it back but didn't have the heart to do it. Service was good, not great. For the prices, I would have expected it to be a bit more attentive. Net-net: not sure I got the value for my spend. But, I'm willing to give it another chance next time I'm in town.
(3)Tony M.
What last night. Had stuffed mushrooms and the Georgia Mahi on the chef's menu both were excellent. View of the river is awesome
(5)Kai R.
This is one of the nicer waterfront restaurants in Jacksonville. Service was very attentive, menu had some great selections of seafood and meats / everyone in my party of 7 enjoyed their dinner very much. This place is a thousand times better that River City Brewing, which is nearby / prices are comparable.
(4)S D.
Dinner for Valentines Day was horrible! Chart House is Over Over priced for the quality of food that is served. My wife ordered Scallops Gluten Free. She was served four quarter sized scallops on a plop of mashed potatoes with a scoop of plain steamed string beans for $31.00!! They put no effort to make it a tasty dish. It was like she was on a bland diet. My niece ordered a filet mignon well done. The first time they brought it to her, blood was coming out of it. She sent it back again. It comes back pink. She sent it back again! It returns medium well. Frustrated she didn't send it back again. Mind you there was mashed potatoes on her plate that kept going back and forth with the meat. They never changed out the potatoes so along with the meat that was not to her liking she had a cold lump of dirty, unpeeled mashed potatoes! By this time all of our food was cold because we were trying to eat at the same time. Instead of having a quiet nice dinner together it was frustrating and disappointing. The meals were served either with a vegetable or a starch. So you had to order side dishes to accommodate what was lacking. There were many other things wrong with our dinner experience. Our waiter was like a zombie. He never smiled, he had no enthusiasm. He made a terrible experience worse than it was!! We were angry and frustrated that we spent $400 and walked away with disappointment!! I could go on but reliving this experience makes me upset especially when I think we spent $400 for this CRAP!!!
(1)Ken R.
Recommended by a family member as a nice place for dinner and wasn't disappointed. Coconut Shrimp was a great appetizer. I had the Snapper Hemingway which was very nice. Kaye had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and loved its flavor and sauce. Staff was wonderful. Not cheap but worth the price.
(5)Jill C.
Three friends and I went to the chart house for dinner before a concert. It was my suggestion since I had worked at the Coronado chart house in the 80s while I was in college. Two friends ordered the lobster bisque and salad bar, I had a lobster tail and baked potato with chop salad, and another friend had fish and chop salad. Our server was excellent. The wine was very good as well. The unfortunate part is that the two friends who ate the lobster bisque and salad bar got food poisoning that night. 12 hours after we ate they were both violently ill. I and two other of the diners contacted the chart house to explain what it happened and were all promised a call back from the general manager. After three calls I have still not received a call back from any person from the chart house who has try to make restitution to my sick friends. This is all very disappointing since the chart house was a big part of my young adult years and I felt proud to take them there. I guess when Landry's took over the chart house Aloha Spirit left with it.
(2)Don B.
Great food and outstanding service from Marissa.
(4)Alex S.
Happy hours specials are cheap, so it's a good place to drink up and feel classy on the cheap! It's right on the river, so you can check out the boats that pass. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. They remember you, and they check on you regularly.
(4)Jorge U.
Nice view. Wish we had stopped with that. Worst experience at a Chart House ever. Bad food, bad service, and bad attitudes. They should just shut this train wreck down.
(1)Valley J.
The bad... Got there for happy hour well before our 7pm reservations and couldn't get bar service to save a life! Quinn is fun but needs to stick to weekday service. Didn't get a waterview table as we requested with our reservations a month prior to our visit. The good... Andrew, our waiter, was phenomenal! He saved our experience from being a bummer after the bar service and table disappointment. He was attentive and knowledgeable, great demeanor, professional, and the food was AMAZING. We had oysters on the half shell, the ménage of soup, Alaskan king crab legs, and molten lava cake. Even the skin of the baked potato (which I never eat) was DELICIOUS! Look at the salad bar before you add it to your meal.
(3)Chang L.
I might be too sensitive to numbers but this made me feel disappointed. I had dinner at their restaurant, the total bill was $36.38. I looked at their suggested Gratuity chart: 20ï¼… Gratuity: $9. 10, 18% Gratuity: $8.19, 15% Gratuity: $6.83. BUT! When I was back to my hotel, the receipt dropped out of my pocket then I found out I paid $ 45.48 for my dinner. I looked at the numbers...$36.38 times 0.2 is $7.276. $9.1 is 25% tip! To be honest, the food was pretty good I would give 5 starts for the food but minus 2 starts for the dishonesty.
(3)Rich T.
We attended the Chart House last night after the JAX Craft Beer Festival as we were both thinking of the mysteriously huge shrimp cocktail served over a bed of dry ice. Using Open Table to announce we would be there in 30 minutes, we caught the late dinner procession. Sitting together at one of the many tables with the waterside view, we were served by a very efficient character named Barrett. Clearly, he was well educated and trained to give us the best picture of the menu we could illicit from a few questions. We took his suggestions to the plates as the specials of the grouper and prime rib were stunning, one fork at a time. One did not need a culinary degree to see how good this was flowing from one course to the next. As for the mysterious shrimp, the venue was out of dry ice by the time we had arrived, but they still tasted great. I think I could have gone through another three servings of them. We departed the Chart House into the darkness of San Marco with thoughts of returning another evening in the near future to see what our server Barrett would recommend again.
(4)William R.
Tried to have a romantic $200.00 dinner when a group of 8 young African American woman celebrating a birthday got seated next to us. They turned the dining area into a loud picture taking obnoxious event to the point several tables moved including myself finishing my dinner in the lounge. Management has no balls and i would never return. No wonder the place was quarter full.
(1)Errol J.
My wife and I made reservations at the Chart House thinking we would enjoy a nice dinner with a beautiful view. Unfortunately when we arrived we sat 15-20 and NO ONE came to our table!! We got up an informed the manager an his response was let me re sit you an start over!! For the prices they charge someone should've been to our table waiting!! Chart House gets 4 thumbs down!! I will never ever as long as I live walk thru those doors again!! Still never saw a waiter or waitress when we left!! TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO A RESTAURANT THAT WILL APPRECIATE YOU AS A PATRON!!
(1)Joe S.
Longtime Landry's Select member and have been to this CH location no less than 30 times over the last 6 years. It used to be my favorite restaurant/bar. Unfortunately, I've watched this location decline in service and food quality over the years. Gave it another shot tonight and here's how it played out (in concise form): 1. Pulled in, no valet in sight 2. Parked myself and when I got out, was told that this very empty portion of the parking lot was reserved exclusively for "web cafe" customers and that I should park "between the cones" 3. There were no spaces available between the cones 4. Went back to valet who eventually showed up and parked my car 5. Went in for dinner/drinks (solo) at bar, and surprisingly, no seats available- there were, however, plenty of disgruntled guests awaiting drinks, food orders, and checks 6. Finally got a drink order in, and informed the bartender I'd be having dinner and another drink once a seat was available 7. Returned to the bar, where I waited for 10 minutes only to receive no words, no drink, and no food order. Instead, I received my bill with the card already run for my one drink 8. Signed and left Bummer and sadly, no longer an anomaly at this location.
(2)Michelle M.
I don't know about dinner, but I've no complaints about happy hour. Good cocktails, yummy appetizers, service was decent. What keeps me coming back quite honestly is the architecture and the view. The entire experience is what keeps me coming back for Happy Hour. I could do without the lone teenaged valet (poor dude) who made me very nervous about trusting him with my vehicle (especially after he backed a truck into another car). But I would be very sad if the Chart House closed so I am always game to return to the hour that makes me happiest there.
(4)Christine C.
My husband and I had dinner here on May 5, 2015. The service was excellent and courteous. Although we were there early we were not offered the early menu. The food was not fresh. For example we ordered the shrimp, crab, mango salsa avocado appetizer and the avocado was brown. Also I ordered a house salad and the lettuce was brown. I also had a shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce was odd tasting almost too sweet. My husband's steak tasted like chalk it was over cooked and dry. I would not eat here again.
(1)Anna-Marie W.
We dined at the Chart House during Jacksonville's annual Eat Up Downtown event in August. A handful of restaurants in and around the immediate downtown area of the city sponsor a three-course bill of fare with a fixed price of $15, $25 or $35, depending on the establishment. The Chart House was offering a $25 menu which is an amazing for a place that is usually no less than about $50 a person for a similar meal. We made reservations for an early meal at 6pm and when we arrived, we were presented with not only the Eat Up Downtown menu but also a list of early bird specials, also three courses and with most prices set at $20-25. Suddenly, the Chart House has become a lot more affordable to the average Joe and we were on board. I hoped, however, that the lower prices didn't mean lower quality. Luckily, they didn't. Chad decided on the Herb Crusted Salmon from the early bird menu. He chose the Caesar salad as his first course. The salad was crisp and creamy. Just how we love our salads. His salmon was lightly crusted with a variety of herbs. The fillet was flaky and meaty and cooked perfectly. Served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes, this dish hit the spot for a light and fresh summer dinner. I ordered from the Eat Up Downtown menu. I had four selections for a first course including a chopped salad, Caesar salad, clam chowder or a cup of gazpacho. I went for the chilled gazpacho. It was delicious, slightly spicy and tangy, not too thick, not too thin- just perfect for a little taste of what the Chart House has to offer. For my main dish I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Snapper with a tangy Béarnaise sauce and a side of fried rice. I was very pleased with the consistency and flavor of the fillet. If there is one thing Chart House has always done right in my eyes, it is the ability to cook the perfect piece of fish. So delicious. Both of our meals also came with desserts. My menu only offered the Mud Pie (one of Chad's favorites) while he had a few more choices from his Early Bird menu. He ordered the Crème Brulee and we ended up swapping our desserts. Good thing too because we both loved what we had. I am not a huge fan of desserts to begin with so I was especially pleased with the Brulee. I am glad that the Chart House had participated in the Eat Up Downtown event as we would have probably not dined here otherwise with so many other restaurants to choose from in the area. I have dined at the Chart House in other cities and have also been pleased with the food, service and atmosphere. The Chart House in Jacksonville is just as sophisticated and upscale as any of the other locations, even in a town that doesn't have a lot of fine dining establishments or a large selection of upscale hotels. The Jacksonville location is romantic, overlooking the St. John's River. We were even warned by our server that we may even see some dolphins jumping around in the water. (We didn't see any during dinner but we did find some dolphins in the river the next morning- so they do exist.) If you want to experience the Chart House without the hefty prices be sure to go early when they are offering the early bird menu. We will surely be back soon.
(4)Sam P.
We came here for their happy hour specials on Friday of the GA/FL weekend. We arrived around 4:40 and there were plenty of empty tables around the bar. The service was terrible! Rude waiters! As we were about to order apps from the happy hour menu, the manager came over and snatched the menus from our table without saying anything to us. When our server came by they told us they would not be honoring the happy hour specials because it was a "holiday". They seemed stressed about there being a lot of customers there, but it was less then half way full of people. Really odd. We left thereafter.
(2)Ralph B.
I've been a big fan of the Charthouse for quite some time now, while having some exceptional dining experiences. Tonight- Thursday 12-04-2014 we had reservations for 7:00 and were seated right away in the lower-part section of the restaurant that I'd not experienced before, during a peak time. The restaurant was full and this area was rather noisy. Our conversations required a lot of leaning-in to keep up. The lighting in this section was really bad (very low). While it may lend itself to a romantic setting, actually seeing the menu was a chore. Our party of four's entrees took some time to arrive, but once they did all enjoyed the meal. My own choice of pan seared scallops over garlic mashed potatoes was superb. One constant I have found in returning to the Charthouse over the years. Service staff was friendly and accomodating. I think in going back (and I will) I'll try a different time of the evening and day. The company in my party made up for any shortcoming I found in our outing. Close Family and good friends go a long way to enhancing an evening out.
(4)Sarah P.
I was excited about this restaurant because the location is incredible, right one the water, and the architecture of the building is really neat. But it was one of the worst dinners I've ever had. When we went in, the restaurant was mostly empty, but the hostess gave us attitude about not having a reservation. The food was abysmal (and I'm really not a picky eater)!! We tried the chopped salad, crab and avocado stack, lobster bisque, grouper special, and spring rolls. We sent back the spring rolls because they were basically inedible. I filled up on the complimentary bread because it was the only decent thing on the table. And our bill was almost $100 for a party of 3. The waitress was also slow and inattentive. Do not go to this restaurant!!
(1)Kasey G.
The Chart House is usually great. I recommend trying the lava cake.
(4)Carla V.
This place is a chain...owned by Landry's. I dined here for dinner with a large group of peers, so it was understandable that our visit would be lengthy. The server was great, and the meal started off well with the appetizers. We even had a coupon for a free app up to $12, but more than half the selections were over $12. I enjoy the "best of soup" but then the plateaued. Entrees arrived and the food was bland...lukewarm at best and expensive. I would skip it...it's overpriced for the quality if food, which is on par with the namesake of this brand. I don't mind Landry's Seafood but Chart House was a disappointment.
(2)Gabe M.
Third time that I have come to this Chart house. Always disappointed. Fish was overcooked, place was smokey and the poor server had too many tables. Food took forever that we missed the fireworks. Not worth the money.
(2)Mellie D.
So amazing... Every item we all ordered including appetizers were great. Party of 6 was served fast and our server was wonderful. Would definitely recommend! The food won't disappoint.
(5)Bret A.
The salad bar was fantastic and my steak heavenly. I traveled for business and appreciated the supportive, friendly wait service without being intrusive. You should know that everything is a lot carte at the restaurant - but the portions are large so you don't need much other than an entree and salad. Excellent view of the river with a relaxing environment. I will be back!
(4)Brynn H.
Amazing food but service was little slow. If you go there you have to try the steak I know it's a seafood restaurant they make amazing steak. you have to try the clam chowder it's amazing the clam they have celery and onion and potatoes to every bite.
(4)V P.
This place is just very overpiced. Kinda weird that they had to check if they had room in an almost empty restaurant (which never filled up). Food was good, but not worth the money. Lava cake tasted a lil burned, not that good...
(3)Chad W S.
Not the best experience for the money. Mind you it was a dead night and cook was probably off...but still....really?
(2)Marty S.
After having left Jacksonville over 20 years ago my wife thought that our anniversary would be a perfect time to see if The Chart House was as good as she remembered that it was. We used complimentary varlet parking and the attentive valet went after me to obtain the digital key that I usually just kept in my pocket. A reminder of what we have in today's electronic age. Anyway, we arrived in time for happy hour at the bar. Seating is available at the long bar, large tables and small cocktail tables for two. There is a great selection of appetizers for $4, $5, $6 and $7. These appetizers are only available in the bar and lounge, so going early for both them and the happy hour priced drinks is a very good choice. We tried the Calamari and friends as well as the fried artichoke hearts. To go along with the appetizers, we had the generously poured $5 happy hour martinis. The service is fast, efficient and friendly. My selection of fried Calamari included fried tomatoes and fried onion rings. Included were two different sauces, a dipping sauce and a tarter mixture. The fried artichokes were nicely breaded and included seasoning and a spicy dipping sauce. Although, given the portions and the price, you could make a great dining experience just sampling the appetizers. We had dinner reservations and as we entered the nautical themed dining area and were greeted and noting our name, were congratulated on our anniversary. The dining area has a stupendous view of the Jacksonville river and the downtown skyline. Full length windows provided a pararamic view that was warm and inviting. While the dining area was very large, the vast amount of wood trim and carpeting, resulted in a very quiet dinning environment. The menu is extensive has a great selection of fresh fish noted as "Today's Fresh Fish". A great notation given the proclivity for many restaurants to relay on frozen fish caught who knows when or where. There also is a selection of red meat steaks, rib eye as well as poultry. Since we already had our appetizer fill at the bar, we opted for soup and entrees. My wife picked the Best of Soup consisting of clam chowder, lobster bisque and gazpacho. I went directly to the gazpacho. The soups were exquisite. The taste was wonderful as was the aroma. I need to mention our waiter, who was knowledgeable, friendly and informative. He was very attentive and engaging. For our entrees we had had the Macadamia Crusted Mahi and Spiced Yellowfin Ahi tuna. Both dishes were light, flakey and delicious. The flavor was exquisite. Ambiance was quiet elegance. Overall the experience was refreshingly romantic. Loved the dinner and everything about the experience. This is a dining experience we will repeat.
(4)Food I.
Absolutely HORRIBLE. Showed up on a Sunday before a show at thenTimes Union. Wasn't say until 30 min after our reservation time, bad service, never saw a manager. Food was cold and we only had 7 minutes to eat it due to them only having 1 server on staff and our 30 minute reservation delay. Will never return.
(1)Jose P.
Wow I feel like we just got kicked out of this place, as soon a we walked in we saw there was nobody in the front desk and there was already a group of 5 waiting to be seated, after about 8 minutes a girl asked if we had a reserved seating and we said know, she told us there would be a 35 minute waiting for walkings when the whole place was empty only about 4 tables were taken, glad BB's was minutes away now we are good and about to enjoy our dinner
(2)FoolMeOnce...Again T.
My husband and I went there on 6/15/15 around 6pm for happy hour drinks/apps. The place was busier than I thought it would be but not packed since we easily found a place to sit in the bar table area. After sitting for 4-6 minutes and watching the bartender walk by us twice without looking we knew we were in trouble. Another waiter also walked by us without looking our way. Finally, about 10 minutes after we sat downmy husband says to the bartender as he is once again walking by us without so much as a glance, "Excuse me can we order some drinks?". The bartender still doesn't look at us but loudly says "Give me a minute please!". We promptly got up and left - this bartender is in the wrong profession and needs to go. This was actually our 4th time in 6 weeks going to the CH (3 at the bar and 1 for dinner). The difference this time was the bartender was frazzled and couldn't take the pressure of the crowd. If he just would have looked our way ONCE and politely said he was swamped and it would be a few minutes we would have been completely understanding. We ended up going to BB's and having an INCREDIBLE $4 tempranillo for their HH. We live very close by and it may be awhile before CH get's anymore business from us as my husband has a LONG memory when it comes to this type of thing. Sorry CH - you LOSE!
(2)Jamie T.
I found Chart House while browsing for open locations on Christmas day. The view looked spectacular and the menu seemed to accommodate all guests in my party of six, including one vegetarian. We had a table facing the river, which was nice. Our server was pleasant, but not terribly attentive or informative. The kitchen ran out of a few things that came with each of our meals and instead of alerting us, the server brought us replacement sides that we neither asked for nor wanted. The cuisine was overpriced, mediocre hotel food. The mashed potatoes were like wallpaper paste. If you don't mind paying $40 for a tough cut of meat and a couple of broccoli florets, by all means check this place out. We won't be returning, unfortunately.
(2)Tracy F.
Terrible! Average food for 3x the price what it should be. When at the salad bar I could hear the cooks talking and saying foul words. The kids meal for my son was $8 for cold and dry Kraft Mac n cheese...I could still even see the caked up cheese powder! I left feeling completely ripped off. Will never be back again and never recommend anybody to go there.
(1)Rzap Z.
We had a wonderful time, staff was friendly, prompt and professional. Great view of the water. Had the Prime Rib and it wasnto die for. Would highly recommend.
(4)Cindy L.
Waitress was wonderful an dinner was great as usual. It was a bit hot inside and our table was broken but not bad enough for us to move.
(5)John S.
I've experienced better...like at Chart House three years ago. The place with a beautiful view and convenient location for dining before an event downtown has gone downhill.
(2)Bob J.
I took some colleagues here for a meal - I hadn't been to a Chart House in years, the last one being in San Diego. Well... The service was slow and amateurish. Some of our food was cold. The salad bar looked miserable - I've seen salad bars in pizza joints that look better. The bread was hard and not warm. I could go on and on and on, but for the price and ambience I would expect something first rate, instead, we got third rate service with food that had been kept under a warming light way too long. Stay away by all means - if you want upscale in this area do Morton's or Ruth Chris or something else. Forget this Chart House until the management gets some professional help.
(1)Lisa L.
Crab stuffed mushrooms - Yes! Banana foster fish - no, thanks, I'll try something else. Very attentive service and a great view, but somehow the interiors remind me of a cross between a terrarium and an old folks home. Maybe it's the salad bar. But, it's all you can eat, and I hear there is caviar!
(4)Grace D.
I've only been here once (who can afford to go on a regular?!). It was actually a special occasion (my birthday!). I had a great experience. Service was excellent (they gave me a black napkin to match my black dress!). It's the type of place where you really can't go wrong no matter what you order.
(4)Paul C.
Been here a few times; I was always fascinated by the architecture of this place; come to find out it was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, and was once the costliest building built in all of Florida, as per sq. ft. cost. Great view of river, good parking....and now the food; well that's just OK for me, but good all around as per taste, presentation, and selection; I would lean towards their fish entrees. The bar is very good, and efficient, and the wait staff is friendly, and knowledgeable. This restaurant is a regular stop using the river taxi too. Their desserts are outstanding!
(3)Chip B.
Used to eat at the Chart House 20+ years ago when i lived in Jacksonville. It was excellent then. Ate there September 20, 07, after a long time away and the food and service are still excellent. You get what you pay for and the food is worth every dollar you'll spend. Try the molten chocolate volcano dessert - I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Angle for a river walk view. I can't imagine you'll have anything but an excellent meal at the Chart House.
(5)Charlie P.
We arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early and went to the bar to take advantage of happy hour. It took 20 minutes for someone to take our drink and appetizer order by which time happy hour was over. The appetizers finally arrived just as we were being seated at the table, so Katina (manager) comped them. Seated at a nice table overlooking the river and ordered our food. Melissa took our order and then we waited. Wife's soup arrived cold and we sent it back. Our dining companion's chopped salad was unedible and we sent it back. Scallops were tasty as was coconut shrimp. They were advertising a peach crisp desert, but were out of it, so had to settle for apple/cranberry something. Manager ended up comping everything except scallops, shrimp and desert.
(1)Jeff C.
The location of the restaurant is great, with a fantastic water view from most tables. The interior architecture is very nice as well. The service was average. They were very nice, just a little on the slow side. It was about a 2 hour affair for our party of 5 during a period of time where there were many free tables. The food was excellent. Two in our party said it was the best dish of the type they ordered that they'd ever had. I found the self service salad bar a little strange for a restaurant of this caliber. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with it, it is just hard to present a self service bar without it looking like a budget restaurant. I would return without question.
(4)Marc P.
Molten lava cake--what is this monstrosity?!
(3)Brandi P.
I've been here several times & I have always received great food and even better service.
(5)Timmy T.
Went here again not by choice. If I had to pay for the meal I would be very disappointed. Since it was free I guess I will eat here. I would never come here on my own dime nor would I recommend anyone going here.
(1)Ryan B.
Great food, great drinks, good view, just a little overpriced.
(3)Natalie B.
I have enjoyed every meal I have had at Chart House. I find it to be a nice place for special occasions, regardless if it is a quiet dinner with your special someone or a celebratory dinner with your family. The building itself is very cool-it feels like you are inside a boat! The dishes are delicious and if you can score a seat facing the river, that is a bonus. The service here is polished without being uncomfortable. Special props to the waitstaff--when I made a reservation for my parents to go on their anniversary, they printed a special menu for them upon arrival that read "Happy Anniversary" with their names and the date on it. Classy.
(4)Karen F.
The Chart House Haiku Review Organic forms and swooping curves set the stage for succulent seafood.
(5)Ed L.
The Chart House has always been one of my faves from Los Gatos, to Monterey, from San Diego to San Antonio, guess I've made the rounds. But the Jax location is one of the most unique, not just it's architecture, but it's level of service. I've found all location serve consistently quality food, although I've been disappointed that Jax serves no steamed artichokes. With that said, the crab stuff sh-rooms more that make up for it. All the appetizers are superb and the entrees all always perfectly cooked to order. This trip, I ordered the rack of lamb, served with garlic mashed taters and steamed vegges. The waiter stood-by while I cut and check it to make sure it was to my liking. I had ordered my rack med-well, but it came out medium. He gladly whisked it away to cook a little further, and returned in just minutes. It was perfect in taste and tenderness. The other person I was with ordered a fillet Mignon, which was perfect in every way. She compared it to Morton's, and said it's flavor was even better. I happen to know that the coconut crunchy shrimp, served with sweet plum sauce is also excellent. The view on the river is nice, although not real scenic. Our waiter was excellent, delighting us in conversation, he could not have been more personable. This was my third or fourth visit here and I wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)Rob L.
This restaurant used to be one of the best places to eat in Jacksonville as recently as five or six years ago. The architecture is stunning and one of the most unique buildings you'll ever eat it. That said, the service and presentation did not live up to Charthouse standards. The food was very good but kind of thrown on the plate. There was no color or garnish or sauces to give it a gourmet touch. The salad bar used to be one of the highlights at Charthouse but the night I was there it looked like the one at Golden Corral. We had to find someone to make our Cesar Salad. The bottom line is this place needs to step it up and return to the very recent past of service and ambience. The wait staff used to be highly professional and our waiter was just a waiter. The first time I ate here twenty years ago the wait staff was absolutely top notch. This time it was only adequate. I want this place to be great. I love the place but it almost felt like it's just biding it's time. Make it excellent again!!
(3)Jean G.
As someone who once worked as a waitress myself, I am VERY relucatant to leave a bad restaurant review because I know how many factors are beyond the waiter's control--slow kitchen, overbooked tables, bad juju--but tonight's supremely poor experience--at all levels of service--just begs for comment. We were a party of 8 celebrating a 75th birthday. We last dined here two years ago and had a nice experience, and my in-laws didn't want to deal with the crowds at the (so-called, which is nowhere near downtown) St. Johns Town Center. The reservation was for 6:30 pm; admittedly, a portion of the party was 10 minutes late, but no one even got water at the table until 7 pm. After another 20 minutes, we got the wine we'd ordered, but on telling the waiter we were ready to order, he disappeared for another 15 minutes. Orders were finally taken, but not correctly--salads came with the wrong dressing, which after being brought to the waiter's attention, still were never corrected; a seared tuna showed up as the wasabi-crusted tuna, which then took another 20 minutes to correct; asparagus that was specifically ordered to be soft came out undercooked and stringy; and a lava cake that was ordered with the entree (it typically needs 30 minutes preparation) showed up well after every one else had finished their desserts. We didn't finish dinner until after 9 pm, and had to bring the check up to the hostess stand because we were tired of waiting for the waiter to clear our check. In terms of the food's quality--and we're talking about a place where the average entree is $30+, and even the salad bar option is over $18 (with less offerings, candidly, than you'd find at a Sweet Tomatoes)--what we were served this evening was surprisingly mediocre. My chopped salad looked like something off a cafeteria line, the bread rolls had a frozen-too-long taste, the tilapia was mushy, the prime rib my father-in-law ordered was tough, the short ribs my daughter ordered weren't even as good as the ones I cook at home, and the mussels my sister-in-law ordered made her quite visibly nauseous. On the plus side, my son enjoyed his shrimp platter, my husband's crab cakes were tasty, and my daughter's clam chowder was nicely seasoned. Seriously, this has the feel of a place that is coasting on its name brand and its proximity to several downtown hotels. The view is lovely, and the interior is quite striking in a 70s avant-garde way, but the restaurant seems BADLY in need of new management and real-world wait staff training. There are many excellent dining options in Jacksonville, especially for the expense-account crowd, but this is no longer one of them. Looking at prior reviews, it's clear we're not the only ones who've had a disappointing experience. When you factor in the significantly overpriced entrees, this place just isn't worth it. If you're downtown and looking for a great food, try either Ruth's Chris (also on the river), bb's (very close to CH, locally owned, and consistently excellent), or any of the many wonderful restaurants in nearby Riverside Avondale (about 4 miles from downtown). My favs there are Black Sheep, Orsay, Biscotti's, 13 Gypsies, Pele's, The Salty Fig, and The Brick--all WAY better, and far friendlier for your wallet. Sorry to be so negative, but sometimes you've just got to tell it like it is.
(1)Amra K.
Worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant! My med-rare prime rib was well done and by the time I got another one, the rest of my party was done and dessert already came out. Oh, and I guess they let it sit for quite a while because when it was brought out, all the ice cream was completely melted. The server was not apologetic, what so ever, and seemed like he would rather be elsewhere. Not to mention, he smelled like an ashtray!
(1)Colleen Z.
I just read Bob J.'s review and our experience was very similar if not exact to his. The only positives about the restaurant was the on-time reservation and very nice professional valet service. Our wait staff was kind but very slow including we waited so long for our bottle of wine that my client called the manager over to ask for service. Even then we didn't receive the bottle for quite some time, although I didn't time I would say 10-15 minutes and this was after we had waited 10-15 minutes for our drink order to be taken. The bread was brought at the time our bottle was brought. We all had fish dishes that were over or under cooked. I was shocked when my $33 fish with a lobster sauce dish was served. The look of the dish was of diner quality and had I been with my husband or friends I would have sent it back or left altogether. Even the sauteed spinach was overcooked and bland. Bob J's description of the self-serve salad bar is spot on. The bar looked like it could have been in a Denny's or all-you-can-eat buffet line. We eventually ordered another bottle of wine instead of dessert which was probably a good thing. Something is just out of place in this restaurant. The kitchen on several occasions filled the restaurant with smoke even catching our tables attention because we wondered if all was OK. Overall, the restaurant is overpriced for the quality of service, atmosphere and food provided on the night we visited. Save yourself money and time. Go somewhere else.
(1)R L.
food is bad for what you pay for. View is great but restaurant has bad food. Sorry to offend others if they have their opinion that its a wonderful place. sadly it is not.
(1)Tiffany B.
Happy hour specials are great. The prices on regular menu are crazy expensive. The interior super nice and high end. Will be back soon
(4)Laura B.
Beautiful view over the river (saw the fireworks over the stadium). The kitchen was perhaps overworked; some appetizers were cold, one of the entree orders was wrong, the vegetables were oily. The scallops were nicely done. We were a fairly large party (business) and they jury rigged some tables together and covered them in linen. This uneven surface resulted in ice water being spilled all over one guest and wine glasses sliding down the table throughout the evening. Much more expensive than other restaurants with better food. You are paying for the view. I think they get a lot of customers from the hotels who are not ever going to come back. With the view and this clientele, they can get away with the prices and the food.
(2)Duane M.
Sweet tea vodka is a new treat for me. Goes well with the lettuce wraps and firecracker shrimp.
(3)Emily A.
This review is solely for happy hour - I did not venture into the restaurant... bar only! It was my first time there and I love their happy hour. A great selection of $4 wines, $5 cocktails, and $3/3.50 beers, as well as inexpensive appetizers. I had the hummus platter for $4 which included 3 different types of hummus, loads of pita slices and plantain chips. There were tons of other appetizers that looked great in that same price range. There is a lot of free parking right in front.
(4)Jordan D.
My mouth was watering as I looked at the menu. I finally decided on a combo platter with blue chunk crab cakes, shrimp and salmon! All were exceptional. Highly recommended. I chose it over Mortons which is nearby and was very satisfied with my choice
(5)Judy K.
Good food and service. Will definitely be returning.
(4)Maureen P.
Way overpriced and below par food. Our soup sampler was stone cold, the stuffed mushrooms were luke warm and tasted like they had been sitting around a long time. It felt like my grandparents would have loved the early bird special. It was a blast from the 80's. We won't be going back.
(2)Brian F.
Unless I left something there that I didn't realize, I see no reason to ever return to Chart House. We came on a Wednesday night, busy with lots of business travelers as you'd expect. My wife ordered king crab ($45), I ordered seared mahi with a lobster/crab topping ($35). My wife's crab was overcooked and rubbery, like it'd sat under a heat lamp or otherwise been prepared well ahead of time. My mahi was not seared in any way that I could recognize, the sauce/topping was bland, and the fish itself was mushy -- you could tell it wasn't fresh, despite being on the fresh fish list on the menu. The orzo served with my fish was overcooked, almost like porridge. We both had the salad bar, which was good, but probably overrated. There was no attendant at the salad bar to prepare Caesar salads or otherwise look over matters, disappointing for a $9 add-on. I should have been suspicious when one of their fresh fish listings was farmed tilapia -- not exactly sourcing the best ingredients. I'm not convinced my Mahi wasn't frozen -- I'm not even really convinced it was Mahi. The Morton's that used to be nearby, owned by the same corporation as Chart House, actually served an excellent king crab entree, which was cooked perfectly, and presented beautifully -- funny their remaining corporate cousin, specializing in seafood, manages to bung up this simple dish. I complained, something I rarely do. I have probably sent back 2 dishes in the last 5 years... The waitress said the manager would be right over. After about 10 minutes, she arrived, after making a big show about checking on other tables, presumably so as to not appear to be coming to our table specifically. It was odd to watch. Her attitude was kind of lousy -- after explaining the issue with my wife's dinner, she turned to me and asked "and what is the problem with yours?" with a saccharine smile on her face. The service overall was below what you would expect at this price point. The staff tries hard but seems stretched thin. Service was hurried and sparse. Our table was scarcely bussed between courses, and certainly not reset/crumbed like you might expect. We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert to try and end on a high note, it did not disappoint, something I can't say for the rest of the experience. This place is obviously surviving on people who don't know good seafood, business people with expense accounts, and the Chart House name. I think the fact that diners here are often in big groups, with someone else paying has something to do with it. I know in that kind of situation I would be disinclined to complain. Perhaps this lack of feedback is contributing to the problem -- customers arent complaining, and the management doesn't enforce any standards? Despite our entrees being comped, I can't give this place more than 1 star, they are just too far off the mark.
(1)Kim J.
Unfortunately The Chart House is getting long in the tooth and has seen better days. But alas, if you hit it right, it is still very good, albeit pricey. With a great happy hour and appetisers that you can fill up on, good prime rib and steaks, and thoughtfully prepared fresh fish of all kinds, but preparation can be hit and miss. Like many chain restaurants, the bean counters (In Texas?) seem to be looking a the bottom line, not what is necessary to make a good restaurant great. The salad bar used to be a focal point, but now it's just ho-hum. I loved the crab and avacado stack appitizer until last night. They have replaced the natural crab with some sour cream based "spread" that ....well, just don't bother putting it on the menu if you're going to ruin it. But all in all, Chart House is a dining gem, the architecture is one of a kind and a landmark on Jacksonville's riverfront. On the negative side on the location, an internet cafe opened next door...ah..well it's a gambling parlor, plain and simple with all the riff raff that one would expect at the nickle slots in downtown Vegas....sadly the once squeaky clean neighborhood has gone down hill.
(3)Antony C.
Flight got grounded in JAX due to bad weather. But, I was hoping to turn lemons into lemonade when I found a Chart House local to the area. Growing up in Daytona Beach, I had frequented the Chart House there for special occasions. The ambiance was great. I had a table with a view of the water. I wonder if Frank Lloyd Wright built all the Chart House restaurants? I started off with some Blue Point oysters from Delaware. They were medium-sized, not too salty and very tasty. Next I had a cup of the New England clam chowder, which was real good. It was creamy and rich with clams and potatoes, unlike some others I've tried. Being in FL, I figured I had to hit a seafood dish. I opted for seared scallops that were prepared Asian fusion style with rice and bokchoy. Unfortunately, this dish wasn't up to par. The scallops were small, not well seared and didn't taste fresh. The bokchoy was overcooked, and the dish was too salty with the soy sauce. I also had a glass Sauvignon Blanc from St. Supery. I've had the pleasure of visiting this vineyard, which has some great value on whites in my opinion. I think I hit the bottom of the bottle as it was pretty oxidized. I should have sent it back but didn't have the heart to do it. Service was good, not great. For the prices, I would have expected it to be a bit more attentive. Net-net: not sure I got the value for my spend. But, I'm willing to give it another chance next time I'm in town.
(3)Tony M.
What last night. Had stuffed mushrooms and the Georgia Mahi on the chef's menu both were excellent. View of the river is awesome
(5)Kai R.
This is one of the nicer waterfront restaurants in Jacksonville. Service was very attentive, menu had some great selections of seafood and meats / everyone in my party of 7 enjoyed their dinner very much. This place is a thousand times better that River City Brewing, which is nearby / prices are comparable.
(4)Holly H.
I went here with my husband and in-laws for Easter lunch. We weren't horribly impressed with it and I definitely don't think it was worth the price. The restaurant is nice looking, though the chairs were a bit ugly...and hard to slide back and forth into the table. Our table was also two tables plac together with a big dip between the two that the waiter warned us about. I personally didn't get the salad bar, but my little sister-in-law did. The quality looked good, but I was a bit confused when the hostess told us they were famous for their salad bar. It simply looked like a plain salad bar. I am also not a fan of small water glasses. I understand that many high end restaurants have small water glasses that they fill in addition to whatever drink you order, but I drink water by itself in most cases. I also drink a lot of it. I would much prefer a real glass, instead of a wine glass filled with water, especially if you aren't going to keep it filled for me. I ran out of water two or three times and sat without for some time. My husband and father-in-law emptied their drinks by the time the appetizers came and the waiter never filled them until our entrees came...he didn't even fill them when he came to bring the soup. We ordered a crab cake and calamari and friends for appetizers. The crab cake was delicious. We all thought it was the best one we had ever had. I should have ordered it for my meal. The waiter said it was about 95 % crab, which was totally right and it was delicious. The calamari was delicious as well. It came with tempura battered veggies as well...I think it was carrots, jalapeños, and red peppers. It came with a delicious slightly spicy/tangy/sweet sauce. The guys both got the clam chowder and it was very yummy and came in these awesome metal kettle like bowls. I instantly wanted them :) My husband and his mother both had stuffed shrimp. I think they both enjoyed it, though didn't seem to rave about it. My father-in-law and I both had the spiced yellowfin ahi. They were cooked well, but the seasoning was way too much. The seasoning was too salty and overwhelmed the tuna. You couldn't taste much of the actual fish. The saffron risotto was delicious...though I might have an addiction to risotto in general, so it may just be me. For dessert we got the molten lava cake. We are molten lava cake fiends. Eat couple shared one on the recommendation of the waiter, though he made them out to be a lot bigger than they were. They were still share worthy though. I thought it was weird that he brought us little plates to eat them on and knives to cut it with. Really? That is not how you share a molten lava cake. You have to dig in on the late because of the gooey deliciousness. When the dessert arrived the first thong ,ymhusband did was du,p the giant scoop of ice-cream off to the side. It was just too difficult to cut through it all. The molten lava cake was cooked too long. The center was just barely fudgey and didn't ooze at all like a good molten lava cake should.mthe outside of the cake with crispy as well, which I didn't enjoy. I also wasnt a fan of the fact that they sprinkled broken Heath bars over the top. I have never liked heath bars and didn't like them on this. Over all I felt the food was so-so other than the crab cakes, and the service was slow. We will probably never go back unless someone else really wants to go.
(3)Rick B.
Great food....This was my first time visiting the Chart House Restaurant. The view was good. Although the food was Great, the wait service needs improvement.
(3)