My husband and I went to Charlie's on the Lake tonite and had a wonderful time. We started with a cocktail I had the raspberry lemonade martini and Bill had a beer. the martini was poured at our table was cold and very tasty. We started off our dinner with a shrimp cocktail that was disappointing because the shrimp were tiny any frozen shrimp that were thawed. Hyvee has much better shrimp you can buy at their seafood counter. We both had a surf and turf combo for dinner his with Salmon and mine with bacon wrapped shrimp. My husband thought his steak was great but the salmon only so so. I really enjoyed my steak and my bacon wrapped shrimp. The rice pilaf side was ok and the fries were really good. The French bread was also good. We enjoyed a millionaire martini and a Jim beam Manhattan after dinner. The bartender was really good. Our service was excellent! We had a young man named Danny who was our server and he really attended to our needs and was very friendly and efficient and made us feel at home!
We were very disappointed. The reviews made it sound good but frankly the flavor of the food was poor. We had salmon and filet mignon and ate less than half of each. They were not worth the price we paid! The salad and the rice pilaf were good but you could get those with a must cheaper meal. We do not plan on going back.
(1)
Rebecca H.
3 stars really sums this place up-A OK. I visited this place near the tail end of a Groupon so it was quite busy. Even with the business, the service was good, not great, but considering the circumstances I was pleased. I had the fish and chips which was 2 hearty sized pieces of breaded fish and fries. While I know I am in the minority with this belief, I really prefer a high breading to fish ratio. I really like the breading. The breading was a nice batter though and was crispy but not hard. If I return, which I may since I didn't get to try a martini on my first visit, I would order this again. My other half ordered a streak with salmon. It was just alright and on the super rare side though it was ordered medium rare. The salmon was just okay but we're not huge salmon fans. Overall, I was satisfied with my dinner here and would return if the opportunity arises.
(3)
Jeff M.
Went to Charlies last night. Haven't been there for about a year. When we've gone in the past, we were pleased with the food, drinks AND service. Last night ONLY the drinks were good. Food was mediocre at best. Service has really gone down hill. Our server was not prepared - did not know the specials, did not ask how I wanted my steak and did not offer dessert. We will think VERY hard before we decide to return.
(1)
Tailored Dreams L.
Haven't been here in years. Wanted a good prime rib. Charlies always satisfies that craving. And I always get the Broder topping with it. Absolutely delicious!!!
(5)
Matt M.
I had not been to Charlie's for quite some time and we were pleasantly surprised last night. The place was pretty much empty but our service and food were outstanding. I ordered the cajun prime rib and it was topped with tons of crawfish pieces and mushrooms. The clam chowder that came with it was very disappointing until I added salt, pepper and cajun seasoning (on the table) - then it was great. Maybe someone in the kitchen should be tasting what they are sending out. The rice pilaf that came with the prime was wonderful. My gf ordered the baked cod over rice pilaf and loved it. Her salad was fresh and the bread was perfect.
(4)
Rachael R.
This used to be the place to go for date night, but now it's looking... well, dated. The bar area is nice and was pretty hopping, and my husband and I enjoyed our custom cocktails. The food was just above average, and the decor was not up to par with what we paid for our meal. Ugly, green vinyl booths that look like they're straight out of the late 70s. (Maybe they are?) It was nice and unexpected to get a loaf of their bread to take home, though I would have much rather had them put their bread money into redecorating the booths so they feel less like Village Inn.
(3)
Tom D.
I attended a corporate dinner at Charlie's on the Lake, remembering it for the restaurant I enjoyed quite a few years ago. Nope! Charlie's ain't what it used to be. It's in bad need of an interior refresh and while they're at it they need to refresh their menu's food quality. Our appetizers were just OK. The bread, served bakery style in a white paper sleeve, was very good. But my 18 ounce New York Strip steak was not up to the standards one would expect for the price and expectations one has for a finer dining restaurant like Charlie's. This steak could have been served in Applebee's. So I'm sorry Charlie...but you've slipped. Can't recommend you.
(3)
Kelly W.
Charlie's ROCKS! My husband and I LOVE going here for a special occasion, or for a cocktail and appetizer in the bar. The bar atmosphere is awesome, and their Cosmo's can't be beat! At 5.75, they are a steal! Trust me, after two of these, you may have a hard time sitting up in your stool. All of the shrimp and crab based appetizers are amazing, as well as the soft bread served with many items. On a recent trip, we opted for dinner and got the special, which was filet and crab legs...SO SO GOOD! The service here is always spot-on, and overall it is a great value price-wise.
(5)
Ben G.
I was looking forward to this place. I love seafood and steak houses! I couldn't have been more upset. I ordered a medium rare prime rib covered in a lobster sauce. The prime rib was so rare that it was hard to swallow. Besides the sauce, the steak had no seasoning. It was as if they just cut the steak of the rib-eye and dipped it in boiling water, covered it in sauce and served it. The lobster sauce was already separated, which let me know it was sitting in a pot for a long period of time, or, just very overcooked. I did not finish my meal and I did not take it to go. FOOD - 3 SERVICE - 6 ATMOSPHERE - 5 BEER/WINE - 5 OVERALL SCORE - 4/10
(2)
Arnie P.
What the heck happened to Charlie's? This used to be a solid choice for lunch or dinner a few years ago. Last night the wife and I ordered Maryland Crab dip appetizer, 16oz New York Strip with Sugar Snap Peas as a side, and Asparagus Stir Fry. Maryland Crab Dip was great. New York Strip - I do not remember telling them to smother it with crappy brown gravy, or serving it nearly raw when it was ordered Medium Rare. Are Sugar Snap Peas supposed to have sugar on them? Asparagus Stir Fry with Pesto Sauce was like soup. This was a real disappointment and don't see a reason to ever return
(2)
Ava W.
We had a group of 12 at 5:45 and expressed that we had to leave by 7:15 pm. It took almost a half hour to get our first drinks, then another 45 minutes to get our food. Several of us went to the bar to get our own second drinks. We had to gobble our food, and then press the waiter for our checks at 7:30. We were then 15 minutes late for our group dance lesson that started at 7:30. They added an automatic 20% gratuity for having separate checks per couple, and the service was not worthy. The food itself was great. It's too bad they can't get their service act together.
(2)
Steven M.
Not bad. I got the ribeye, it was alright. I've had better. Service was good, environment was great as well because we got to sit outside next to the lake.
(3)
Ema N.
Do not believe the reviews about new management. My husband and I dined at Charlie's on 5/23/14. While waiting for a table outside, we ordered drinks at the bar. The drinks were good but we had the displeasure of listening to wait staff complain about other diners to the bartenders while we waited. This was the theme of the evening: inappropriate, unprofessional, inept staff. At this point we debated about leaving. We should have. Our waiter was actually fine but we were lucky in that regard. One staff member was wearing shorts so short, they could hardly be called appropriate restaurant attire. They would hardly be appropriate stripper attire. We were eventually sat outside at a random hodgepodge of uncomfortable old patio furniture. We had the Gorgonzola crusted oysters as an appetizer. They were not good at all. You could identify the bacon and only the bacon. Even the Gorgonzola had barely any flavor. Then came our actual meals. My husband had the seafood enchiladas which were a crusted hard mess that had almost no flavor. I had the Charlie's Grouper that was a hair above sending it back. The sauce was somehow over salted and still lacked any discernible flavor. Some of the asparagus was cooked to mush while other pieces were under cooked. The fish itself was very bland and I highly doubt was Grouper at all. When we complained to our waiter, he apologized and said he would send over the manager. No one appeared so we paid our ridiculously overpriced garbage and left. We will not be back.
(1)
Ron W.
The most telling aspect of how bad Charlie's has gotten is a response I received from Yves Menard, whos is the owner of Charlies. I wrote him to express my disappointment in a recent visit. His response was exactly as follows: "Hey Seriously. Brett talked with you the night you were here. Now what do you want." As a result, we won't ever be back. The food was terrible, and their customer relations is absolutely insulting. Charlie's has gone severely downhill. Here's exactly what I let Menard, which also serves as my review... On Sunday night, we had a party of five:...my wife, son, daughter, mother-in-law and me. Things initially started out fine, but the food was very disappointing. My son and I each ordered New York strips medium rare. They both came out closer to medium well. I informed the manager on duty, and he offered to cook two new steaks, but we were already eating dinner. To do so would be wasteful, and would take away from the fact that we all wanted to eat dinner together. He did, however, take one of the steaks off of the final bill. But there were more issues than that. My steak was very bland and flavorless, which is unusual for Charlie's. I don't know what you use to season your steaks, if anything, but I'm certain there was no seasoning used the night were there. My steak was swimming in a bath of brown gravy. Way more than what I've seen in the past. To add to that, the asparagus I ordered was way overcooked. I asked my son later how his steak was, and he commented that it wasn't very flavorful and that the gravy was the only thing that added flavor to it. My mother-in-law ordered the baked scampi havarti and a dinner salad as her dinner. When she received it, she commented that it didn't look like it normally does. I asked if she wanted to send it back, and she didn't want to. I've ordered this in the past, and I agree that it didn't appear like it normally does. From what I saw, it was lightly sprinkled with havarti on top, whereas my experience has been that there is enough cheese to twirl around the shrimp as you remove it from the dish. As I said, it was just lightly sprinkled. Even your menu online states, "smothered with creamy Havarti cheese." If you have changed your preparation method, you should really change the description, as it is very misleading. It was very clear that things were not working properly that night. For example.... - We observed the manager bringing a free round of drinks to the people next to us because apparently the server had never come by to get them started. - At one point, a male server literally ran by our table saying, "Man, this is freaking me out!" He ran to the south end of the restaurant to help the manager on duty clear a table. - My wife said that she also observed a cook, presumably the head cook on duty, walk out of the kitchen and out of the restaurant. She later observed someone else who appeared to be an off-duty manager back in the kitchen trying to help get things organized for several orders. Yes, the manager did take off one of the steaks. But we didn't get any sense that he was concerned about other aspects of our meal, or whether or not we would return. If I was in his position, I would want to do everything I could to assure my customers that this was not the norm, that I appreciated the business, and hope that the customer returns. I know he was busy, but that's his problem, not mine. Why not show that he actually cared? "Hey, I'm really sorry about your steaks, that's not how we do things here... let me buy your kids dessert." We did get dessert for them, but we paid for it, and never saw the manager again to see if the rest of our meal was acceptable. All in all, it was a terrible experience. When we were there in July, I enjoyed a steak that was very good, and my mother-in-law enjoyed a baked scampi havarti that she was accustomed to. Something has changed, and you need to be aware that it is affecting the quality of your food and service. Certainly, something was very wrong on Sunday night, and your customers paid the price for it.
(1)
Sarah B.
I don't like West Omaha (yeah, yeah, back in my day "West Omaha" was 90th St.) but my friends do so I end up there against my will. My friends like Charlie's..a lot. I met one of my girlfriends for lunch. We each had two Millionaire Martinis. All I will tell you about it is that I have a severely messed up/bruised knee. Swagger, Sway, Ooops, Ouch! We also shared the artichoke dip and each had a salad. The food has never wowed me here but those drinks might make up for it. For now, I'm staying back in my 'hood while in town.
(3)
Chris H.
Appetizer menu is worth your time! If you like to graze and your party doesn't mind sharing, you can eat your way though the appetizer menu and feel like you've had a delicious meal. We had the Gorgonzola Shrimp, Fried (Portabella) Mushrooms, Oysters, and the Seafood Ravioli. All were delicious and I would totally go back to try some of the other appetizers that looked equally delicious. We were there on a Friday night and were able to get a booth and hear each other without the usual need to raise our voices. Our waitress was attentive and kept our glasses full.
The customer service on management was poor and ridiculous! Two out of the four in our group ordered prime rib, which was the most disgusting cut of meat which moved like rubber as it was attempted to be cut. After the waiter was notified the managaer came over and asked what was wrong. our response was this is the worse piece of meat, You can't cut it, let alone chew it. The manager proceeds to explain that prime rib is just a fattier type of meat and that the two gentlemen from Ohio sitting behind us thought it was the best meat they've ever eaten. Really you say that to Omaha customers who could potentially come back?!!! She only took one of the two prime ribs off the bill. The only thing that will be worth going back for is the martini's.
(2)
Mike D.
I think Yelp has the wrong address for Charlies on the Lake. The Charlie's we ate at was at 4150 S. 144th Ave in Omaha. Here are some ratings from our respective meals: 1) Mac & Cheese is the Kraft variety - 1 star according to my 15 year old daughter 2) Chicken fingers were 3 stars according to my 9 year old son 3) My New York Strip was cooked to perfection and had great flavor - 5 stars. The twice baked potato was flavorful as well and gets 5 stars. So, all in all, I'd rate this 5 stars for adults but the kids meals were nothing special. My steak was HUGE and yet was still cooked to perfection. The place has a large wine selection but I did not sample them. The service was excellent as well.
(4)
Matt J.
Almost 15 minutes (yes I was counting) after being seated, we were still waiting for a waitress. We had to go up to the hostess counter and tell them we were waiting for our waiter/waitress. The waitress came over and apologized for the confusion... So far I had a bad taste in my mouth. I almost walked out... But I am glad that I didn't. After ordering our food, the manager came up and also apologized for the confusion. They weren't really busy and the person in charge of that table must have been cut. He asked if we ordered any appetizers and offered to buy us some. We declined since we had ordered large meals so instead he bought me another beer and dessert was on the house. Very clever move. I realize that shit happens and that sometimes people get forgotten and I have had that happen before. But I have never had them actually "make it right". It's hard to find a place that cares that much about the customer, even if we were sitting there forever. I had the a Charlie's grouper. I was kind of surprised it didn't come with any sides, but after I got it I realized why. It's a huge plate of grouper with asparagus, king crab, spinach and lobster sauce covering a large grouper filet. I could barely eat it all even though it was really tasty. They give you a whole baguette of french bread to snack on before your meal as well (and it is really good..). Maybe I am bought out too easy, but you know what, that is what makes the difference between me never going back and me thinking that the place was great. If they wouldn't have offered that gesture, I would have never went back. But now after it seems they really care, I will be going back sometime soon. Dinners range from around $15-30. Most around $20.
(4)
James U.
I think this place is carried mostly by all the cred it banked back in the day. It was once the GO! TO! place for an awesome surf and turf experience. They have been through several suppliers of beef and seafood in the last few years, supposedly in an attempt to find the best, but more likely because they were looking for the cheapest they could get away with. It's now at a nice equilibrium where the food is decent, but no where near as good as it used to be. At least the free bread is still awesome. The service is always good, and the servers don't give you any attitude, so that's always nice, but if it's really busy expect things to move very s.l.o.w.l.y. Overall, I would say that even though you will hear how awesome this place is, temper your enthusiasm and expect a reasonably good place to get food for people who like beef /and/ seafood.
(3)
Autumn S.
My boyfriend and I who live in Colorado now, reminisced about this place for about an hour tonight. Phenomenal food, awesome martinis, great service, literally the best restaurant in Omaha by far. All recipes are home-made , and the martinis will knock you on your ass. One of the few things I miss about OMAHA!!!
(5)
Stacey N.
I use to love Charlie's. Over the years the food, service and atmosphere has gone completely down hill. We have been there 2 times over the last year, each time the food was horrible. Last night I had the sauteed shrimp over rice which tasted like paste! The service is slow. With all the restaurants in Omaha, I certainly would NOT recommend this place.
(1)
Scott B.
Very dissapointed! Overpriced... Alfredo sauce tasted like paste. The decor is way outdated. The only redeeming quality is their appetizer menu. I understand that they have a lot of rent to pay for, but not by this guy! I live right acrossed the street and Never feel the urge to eat there again
(1)
Sam M.
Great steak! Wonderful wait staff. And a lady who is devoted to nothing but the dessert tray!
(5)
Lisa V.
I seriously do not remember a lake being here. And no, I didn't arrive when it was dark, nor was I tipsy upon arrival. It was just blah. We had our reservation for 22 of our corporate folk here and it was their decision as they LOVE the place. Oy. Seriously. This is just a large bar that happens to have a large menu, therefore I guess we can call it a restaurant. They are known for having the freshest seafood in Omaha. There are two ironic words in that last sentence..... So the variety of what we ordered was escargot, clams, spinach dip, fries and quesadillas.... for dinner the majority of everyone got filet or some sort of beef. I mean, we are in Omaha for freaks sake. It was just blah.... nothing to write home about. I was expecting so much more since we were in the land of cattle, cattle everywhere! Definitely not cheap, but at $1200 for 22 ppl.....that seems like a deal to me.
(2)
Joanna L.
not bad for the money, but the menu sounds better than it is. had the po'boys and a few different appetizers. a little bland and unimaginative, but still a nice place to have dinner/lunch, and the patio is really pretty for West Omaha. I'd come here more for drinks and apps with a group of friends than for a night of really good dining.
(3)
Stephanie P.
Went with a large group and found it tasty. Great drink menu! Had the seafood cakes which were good and not too greasy. Also got the crab Rangoon spring rolls which were also great. Make sure to save room for dessert because they have a great cheesecake selection. Restaurant isn't really on a lake and recommend rservations in weekend
(3)
Mopsie B.
Phrases that come to mind about our early dinner/late lunch at Charlie's this weekend: Old school, old fashioned, boozy, smoky, old. We sat on the patio because it was a nice day and we wanted to look at the "lake." Being from Chicago and having lived in Denver for 10 years, it never even occurred to me that smoking would be allowed. Oh, but it was...And we were surrounded by the lung cancer/need-an-ashtray-now set. Fortunately, there was a breeze, so I wasn't coughing or breathing into my napkind too much but...come on! Why can't there be any consideration for those of us who don't want to kill ourselves? Or just taste our food?? Charlie's could easily make the place smoke-free and I wish they would. As it is, the food was ok (I ordered the only non-cream drenched seafood pasta on the menu) but I really could have done without the distractions of the smokers and a little girl wih full pageant make up who would not sit down in her seat the entire time we were there! The big thing at Charlie's aside from the emphasis on seafood and steak is the martini menu. I ordered the Simply Cucumber which simply got me wasted after about two sips! We skipped the cheesecake desserts after dinner and talked about coming back when they ban smoking so that non-smokers can enjoy the outdoors, too. Oh- bonus for the entire baguette they bring to your table!
(3)
John W.
So not good.....food mediocre, service irritating, atmosphere borderline cafeteria....would not recommend although my husband liked the steak he had, but then this is OMAHA!...who doesn't do good steak here!!
(2)
Stacia M.
Best prime rib ever. Flavorful, juicy, tender, and they also had good fresh horseradish to go along with it. The helpings were large and even the sides dishes were of good size. Wine was great, too. While I only ordered beef, my family that lives there says that their seafood is excellent. Will definitely go again next time I'm out there.
(5)
Sarah G.
Charlie's has some delicious options and a nice variety, but I don't get out there too often. Still, as I recall they have reasonable happy hour specials and can accommodate large groups on short notice. Also, I really enjoy the fact that while I wouldn't call the body of water it's on a lake per se, it does attract ducks and other waterfowl. Nothing enhances a dining experience like geese cruising past the floor to ceiling windows and staring in at you. Once after a heavy rain the ducks migrated out into the parking lot and I felt compelled to heard them back towards the pond.
(3)
A J.
Been to Charlies since the early days. It was great back then. Disappointing now. Over-priced bland food. Got the special last night, the meat was not even warm. Who serves The Special that isn't table ready? Escargot Havarti used to be one of the best around. Now it looks like it was just slapped together. Not prepared with care and not enough Havarti. Smells moldy near the entrance. Not an appetizing aroma to welcome guests. We're probably done at Charlies. Makes me sad.
(2)
Gail T.
We just recently gave Charlies another try after a few years away and have been pleased with both the food and the service. The outdoor patio is very nice and the seating inside is comfortable, too. The best part is the PEI mussels appetizer. It's 2 pounds of big, juicy mussels in a really delightful broth. Even the kids inhaled them and we all needed a spoon for the broth. I can't imagine coming here and not ordering that as an appetizer. Portions are very generous and tasty as well. Another plus is the fresh and warm baguettes that seem to appear exactly when needed. Nice venue to come out for date night, an evening with friends or even a family dinner with the kids.
(4)
Reid R.
Wasn't impressed... been coming here for years and now its super bright in the bar - can't even read the menus (too much glare). I used to love the cosmos (thought they were pink now they are blue) Display of my $32.00 meal wasn't impressive at all... reminded me of a truck stop... super dead and I know why
(2)
Elizabeth B.
I love seafood, and Charlie's on the Lake seems to rise to the occasion of leaving me satisfied. Off the bat, I am going to state that I feel the prices here are about 20% high in comparison to other comparable places, and I had forgotten this until we arrived and sat down. But the food is absolutely delicious, and there is no denying that. Starting of with the Baked Scampi Havarti ($10.95) appetizer gives me just enough of a flavor explosion to make ready for the meal. For the main course I like the New York Surf & Turf ($30.95 for a strip and some shrimp!) but without the bacon wrap on the shrimp. Bacon and shrimp should never be together in my world...it just seems to break some fundamental law of nature. But, for some reason, steak and shrimp doesn't bother me...hmm. Anyway, one of the cool things about this place is they have "Steak Toppings". Prices range from $5.95-$8.95 for everything from mushrooms and cheese to lobster cream sauce. No room for desert this time, but it looked spectacular. Our waiter was amazing, and he made the meal that much more enjoyable. We went with another couple, and we all tried each ap. From that experience I can tell you the things not to try are: *Crab cakes *Tuna Sampler Not much flavor happening with those, and that was the consensus among the four of us.
(4)
Tony W.
WORST dining experience ever!!! Just met the owner Eve for the first time tonight. I've been eating at this restaurant for over 10 years. Had I known the owner was a complete tool with a complete disregard for customer service I never would've stepped foot in this place. We had an experience with a waitress "Kiki" and we complained about a comment that she made, and then in earshot of the entire restaurant she told me "you are F***ing rude sir!" In front of the on-duty manager!! They did NOTHING about it. The waitress embellished a story to save her job and the owner rationalized her behavior!!! Unacceptable!!!!! Avoid this dump at ALL costs. Eve also tells me they've been there 21 years so......he says "I don't care". Charlie's on the Lake Seafood Restaurant · 1,082 Likes
(1)
Zach F.
My girlfriend and I took a road trip to Omaha for our anniversary, after a day at museums and zoo's we were ready to chow down. We got here and walked in and was immediately impressed with the professional look of the place. They had a wine room as soon as you walked in. It was a beautiful night so we asked to sit outside. The waitress took us to a nice outdoor patio with a view over a nice little lake. It was by no means a natural lake with wildlife all over, but it was beautiful nonetheless. The waitress sat us right next to a waterfall where there were ducks swimming around 10 feet from us. Very fun experience. The food was outstanding. I got a garlic shrimp fettuccini, my girlfriend got a lobster alfredo. We were blown away by the quality. Absolutely delicious. So much food we were able to take leftovers to serve as an awesome late night snack. Presentation of the food and staff were both very professional, friendly and inviting. After dinner we were able to take a walk around the lake on a nice little trail. It just overall made for a nice night. Whenever we're in the neighborhood you can bet we'll be back.
(5)
Louise M.
Being a visitor from out of state, when I heard the name of the restaurant, I was expecting a quaint classy restaurant off somewhere by a beautiful lake. I didn't quite expect that it was in a strip mall. I kept saying to my friend and coworker, "where's the lake?" Finally, once you were in, you would see a man made lake off a housing development. It was quite a picturesque view looking at it through the glass door to the patio. However, it wasn't what I expected. It started with a baguette in a baguette sleeve. It was nice! Wish it was warm though! It would be so much better. Then, we ordered boneless wings tossed in Cajun butter and seasoning. When it arrived, we were floored on the portion size. Holy cow!!! There were so many!! They also tasted wonderful. It was the best part of this whole entire meal. At first, after the wings came, we almost thought we shouldn't have ordered appetizer. We would have been too full. However, glad we did. The soup and salad came. My New England Clam Chowder was delicious but it was missing some salt. After adding salt, it was very nice. I ordered fish and chips. The server said it was very good. I begged to differ. It was bland bland bland. It seems someone forgot the salt at home. The fish had absolutely no taste. My friend ordered a steak and shrimp combo and she said her shrimps were also bland. No trace of seasoning. Her steak was okay and she said the steak she had the night before at Johnny's Cafe was much better. Service was nice and friendly. The manager came to chat a couple of times. They were so nice that I didn't have the heart to tell them about their bland under-seasoned food. Maybe it was just an off night. However, for someone coming from out of state, they only had one chance to wow me for me to consider coming back next time I'm in town. Not sure I would. Maybe for the wings.
(3)
Average J.
Charlie's seems to be going in the wrong direction. Slow service, well more like the Walking Dead service! Mediocre food. Properly cooked shrimp should look like a comma and not a doughnut! Twice baked potatoes are nothing more than instant potatoes with some cheese and fake bacon in it then scooped in a bowl like it was freshly made for you! Bread was cold, tea was weak, well more like non-existent. All of the other waitresses and waiters were taking the desert tray around, but ours just asked and didn't even try to see if we wanted anything by showing us the tray! Good job on the up-sell! Then I noticed on the ledge around the place had a nice layer of dust on it! Then that made all of us at the table stop and look closer at the rest of the place and it's cleanliness and WOW was that an eye opener! CLEAN THE PLACE PEOPLE! We used to like Charlie's, but we won't be going back since they don't feel they need to give better customer service than what they do for their over inflated prices. I can see why @ 7pm on a Saturday night they were so slow. It's the poor service and over-priced food! Let's just chalk this one up as one more of Omaha's finer restaurants going down the tubes. It seems this is happening more and more and if the staff doesn't care about the customers, then how can they care about the place that furnished s them with a paycheck? YES! This is a place that Jon Taffer would have a field day with!
(1)
Aubrey G.
I love their patio and went there for lunch with my mom today, but the experience was lack luster at best. We just ordered a few appetizers to share and they were bland and boring, needs some fresh flavors. But my biggest issue is the staff. Our waitress didn't smile once. The wait staff looks incredibly sloppy; I don't think anyone should be serving food in leggings. The girls also need some training that people on lunch have limited time to spend. It took an hour and a half because she would disappear inside forever. This was the 3rd time I've been there and gotten poor service, don't think I'll go back again.
(2)
Bob A.
Always like this place but a bit off my beaten path. Went there for lunch, been awhile, and found that they had changed their menu to "all items are $11". I thought this was great idea. I ordered one of their lunch salads and then you get to pick a protein to put on top.... CLAM STRIPS!. Salad was awesome. Nice mix of ingredients, good dressing and of course the clam strips. Friend ordered the Chicken Parm lunch... massive! Both chicken breasts plus pasta. He ate half and took the rest home. The only miss for us was the appetizer. We ordered the grouper fingers. The texture made me think they were undercooked but the waitress said that grouper was a "creamy" fish. Either way... I did not enjoy the texture or the taste. Would definitely recommend for lunch!
(4)
Pam S.
Best Lump Crab Quesadilla filled with lots of lump crab meat, Jack and cheddar cheese Served with sour cream, salsa and black olives on the side. Super yummy & filling! Along with a fruity tickle tackleberry drink or 2 on the patio by the water is most relaxing! The wait staff is friendly & tentative. We've been going for yrs & it's always been a good time.
(4)
Leah B.
Went yesterday with high hopes of a good steak as I promised my best friend who is visiting from Denver a great one! We were extremely disappointed!! The steaks were very bland and I won't be back for those menu items!!! :(. On the up-side, the apps (shrimp havarti and artichoke dip) were amazing. Service was great and the French bread was awesome!
(3)
Lianna N.
Nice atmosphere, dark, classy, and kinda divey. Martinis are great!!!! I think that is what they won Best of Omaha 2012 for. The food was ok, standard steakhouse/seafood fare but pretty pricey. Everything we ordered was dunked in cream or cheese, so it was not very healthy..and very rich. My taste buds were begging me for a break. I'd give the martinis a 5 and the food a solid 3. Service was good, but something was lacking about my experience here. Maybe I'd give it another try sometime in the future.
(3)
Robert B.
The old manager, whom I mentioned in my previous review as the source of its decline, is no longer with Charlie's on the Lake! Mitch, the new manager, who has been with the restaurant for over ten years, has taken over and has completely turned the place around. I can't begin to enumerate the positive changes he's made! The food quality is back to what we remember. Appetizers were terrific... My chicken was cooked perfectly... My wife's salmon was done absolutely right... The bread was warm and delicious! Oh, and the drinks were top notch! We sat on the patio last night and enjoyed the first warm evening of spring. Lots of other patrons had the same idea. Building the new expanded patio was a great business decision and the views of the lake are excellent. Special mention goes to our server, Denae. Her vibrance, personable attitude, and professionalism makes her a real star! She is absolutely tops! If you've not been to Charlie's recently, it's time to go again. Mitch and his team have done great things and we can't wait to go back!
(5)
Fly_Gu Y.
Charlie's On the Lake was so promising on the first visit but then we returned several weeks later to assess consistency and things went down hill fast. Without going into details, our second visit made us question whether we returned to the same place. As much as the food, customer service, and overall experience was glowing on the first visit, it was just as much a disappointment on the second. So much so we vowed never to return. Unfortunately I am just now getting around to finishing this review even though our last visit was in the Jan/Feb time frame.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual, Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Michele J.
My husband and I went to Charlie's on the Lake tonite and had a wonderful time. We started with a cocktail I had the raspberry lemonade martini and Bill had a beer. the martini was poured at our table was cold and very tasty. We started off our dinner with a shrimp cocktail that was disappointing because the shrimp were tiny any frozen shrimp that were thawed. Hyvee has much better shrimp you can buy at their seafood counter. We both had a surf and turf combo for dinner his with Salmon and mine with bacon wrapped shrimp. My husband thought his steak was great but the salmon only so so. I really enjoyed my steak and my bacon wrapped shrimp. The rice pilaf side was ok and the fries were really good. The French bread was also good. We enjoyed a millionaire martini and a Jim beam Manhattan after dinner. The bartender was really good. Our service was excellent! We had a young man named Danny who was our server and he really attended to our needs and was very friendly and efficient and made us feel at home!
(4)Terese T.
My sautéed lobster was supposed to be lightly coated in Parmesan crackers. It looked like and tasted like Cheez-its. Seriously, it was orange. My husband's tasty ribeye was drenched in Gorgonzola and onions. We didn't finish or food because it was so disgusting. We haven't eaten here for years. And now we remember why.
(1)Jan F.
We were very disappointed. The reviews made it sound good but frankly the flavor of the food was poor. We had salmon and filet mignon and ate less than half of each. They were not worth the price we paid! The salad and the rice pilaf were good but you could get those with a must cheaper meal. We do not plan on going back.
(1)Rebecca H.
3 stars really sums this place up-A OK. I visited this place near the tail end of a Groupon so it was quite busy. Even with the business, the service was good, not great, but considering the circumstances I was pleased. I had the fish and chips which was 2 hearty sized pieces of breaded fish and fries. While I know I am in the minority with this belief, I really prefer a high breading to fish ratio. I really like the breading. The breading was a nice batter though and was crispy but not hard. If I return, which I may since I didn't get to try a martini on my first visit, I would order this again. My other half ordered a streak with salmon. It was just alright and on the super rare side though it was ordered medium rare. The salmon was just okay but we're not huge salmon fans. Overall, I was satisfied with my dinner here and would return if the opportunity arises.
(3)Jeff M.
Went to Charlies last night. Haven't been there for about a year. When we've gone in the past, we were pleased with the food, drinks AND service. Last night ONLY the drinks were good. Food was mediocre at best. Service has really gone down hill. Our server was not prepared - did not know the specials, did not ask how I wanted my steak and did not offer dessert. We will think VERY hard before we decide to return.
(1)Tailored Dreams L.
Haven't been here in years. Wanted a good prime rib. Charlies always satisfies that craving. And I always get the Broder topping with it. Absolutely delicious!!!
(5)Matt M.
I had not been to Charlie's for quite some time and we were pleasantly surprised last night. The place was pretty much empty but our service and food were outstanding. I ordered the cajun prime rib and it was topped with tons of crawfish pieces and mushrooms. The clam chowder that came with it was very disappointing until I added salt, pepper and cajun seasoning (on the table) - then it was great. Maybe someone in the kitchen should be tasting what they are sending out. The rice pilaf that came with the prime was wonderful. My gf ordered the baked cod over rice pilaf and loved it. Her salad was fresh and the bread was perfect.
(4)Rachael R.
This used to be the place to go for date night, but now it's looking... well, dated. The bar area is nice and was pretty hopping, and my husband and I enjoyed our custom cocktails. The food was just above average, and the decor was not up to par with what we paid for our meal. Ugly, green vinyl booths that look like they're straight out of the late 70s. (Maybe they are?) It was nice and unexpected to get a loaf of their bread to take home, though I would have much rather had them put their bread money into redecorating the booths so they feel less like Village Inn.
(3)Tom D.
I attended a corporate dinner at Charlie's on the Lake, remembering it for the restaurant I enjoyed quite a few years ago. Nope! Charlie's ain't what it used to be. It's in bad need of an interior refresh and while they're at it they need to refresh their menu's food quality. Our appetizers were just OK. The bread, served bakery style in a white paper sleeve, was very good. But my 18 ounce New York Strip steak was not up to the standards one would expect for the price and expectations one has for a finer dining restaurant like Charlie's. This steak could have been served in Applebee's. So I'm sorry Charlie...but you've slipped. Can't recommend you.
(3)Kelly W.
Charlie's ROCKS! My husband and I LOVE going here for a special occasion, or for a cocktail and appetizer in the bar. The bar atmosphere is awesome, and their Cosmo's can't be beat! At 5.75, they are a steal! Trust me, after two of these, you may have a hard time sitting up in your stool. All of the shrimp and crab based appetizers are amazing, as well as the soft bread served with many items. On a recent trip, we opted for dinner and got the special, which was filet and crab legs...SO SO GOOD! The service here is always spot-on, and overall it is a great value price-wise.
(5)Ben G.
I was looking forward to this place. I love seafood and steak houses! I couldn't have been more upset. I ordered a medium rare prime rib covered in a lobster sauce. The prime rib was so rare that it was hard to swallow. Besides the sauce, the steak had no seasoning. It was as if they just cut the steak of the rib-eye and dipped it in boiling water, covered it in sauce and served it. The lobster sauce was already separated, which let me know it was sitting in a pot for a long period of time, or, just very overcooked. I did not finish my meal and I did not take it to go. FOOD - 3 SERVICE - 6 ATMOSPHERE - 5 BEER/WINE - 5 OVERALL SCORE - 4/10
(2)Arnie P.
What the heck happened to Charlie's? This used to be a solid choice for lunch or dinner a few years ago. Last night the wife and I ordered Maryland Crab dip appetizer, 16oz New York Strip with Sugar Snap Peas as a side, and Asparagus Stir Fry. Maryland Crab Dip was great. New York Strip - I do not remember telling them to smother it with crappy brown gravy, or serving it nearly raw when it was ordered Medium Rare. Are Sugar Snap Peas supposed to have sugar on them? Asparagus Stir Fry with Pesto Sauce was like soup. This was a real disappointment and don't see a reason to ever return
(2)Ava W.
We had a group of 12 at 5:45 and expressed that we had to leave by 7:15 pm. It took almost a half hour to get our first drinks, then another 45 minutes to get our food. Several of us went to the bar to get our own second drinks. We had to gobble our food, and then press the waiter for our checks at 7:30. We were then 15 minutes late for our group dance lesson that started at 7:30. They added an automatic 20% gratuity for having separate checks per couple, and the service was not worthy. The food itself was great. It's too bad they can't get their service act together.
(2)Steven M.
Not bad. I got the ribeye, it was alright. I've had better. Service was good, environment was great as well because we got to sit outside next to the lake.
(3)Ema N.
Do not believe the reviews about new management. My husband and I dined at Charlie's on 5/23/14. While waiting for a table outside, we ordered drinks at the bar. The drinks were good but we had the displeasure of listening to wait staff complain about other diners to the bartenders while we waited. This was the theme of the evening: inappropriate, unprofessional, inept staff. At this point we debated about leaving. We should have. Our waiter was actually fine but we were lucky in that regard. One staff member was wearing shorts so short, they could hardly be called appropriate restaurant attire. They would hardly be appropriate stripper attire. We were eventually sat outside at a random hodgepodge of uncomfortable old patio furniture. We had the Gorgonzola crusted oysters as an appetizer. They were not good at all. You could identify the bacon and only the bacon. Even the Gorgonzola had barely any flavor. Then came our actual meals. My husband had the seafood enchiladas which were a crusted hard mess that had almost no flavor. I had the Charlie's Grouper that was a hair above sending it back. The sauce was somehow over salted and still lacked any discernible flavor. Some of the asparagus was cooked to mush while other pieces were under cooked. The fish itself was very bland and I highly doubt was Grouper at all. When we complained to our waiter, he apologized and said he would send over the manager. No one appeared so we paid our ridiculously overpriced garbage and left. We will not be back.
(1)Ron W.
The most telling aspect of how bad Charlie's has gotten is a response I received from Yves Menard, whos is the owner of Charlies. I wrote him to express my disappointment in a recent visit. His response was exactly as follows: "Hey Seriously. Brett talked with you the night you were here. Now what do you want." As a result, we won't ever be back. The food was terrible, and their customer relations is absolutely insulting. Charlie's has gone severely downhill. Here's exactly what I let Menard, which also serves as my review... On Sunday night, we had a party of five:...my wife, son, daughter, mother-in-law and me. Things initially started out fine, but the food was very disappointing. My son and I each ordered New York strips medium rare. They both came out closer to medium well. I informed the manager on duty, and he offered to cook two new steaks, but we were already eating dinner. To do so would be wasteful, and would take away from the fact that we all wanted to eat dinner together. He did, however, take one of the steaks off of the final bill. But there were more issues than that. My steak was very bland and flavorless, which is unusual for Charlie's. I don't know what you use to season your steaks, if anything, but I'm certain there was no seasoning used the night were there. My steak was swimming in a bath of brown gravy. Way more than what I've seen in the past. To add to that, the asparagus I ordered was way overcooked. I asked my son later how his steak was, and he commented that it wasn't very flavorful and that the gravy was the only thing that added flavor to it. My mother-in-law ordered the baked scampi havarti and a dinner salad as her dinner. When she received it, she commented that it didn't look like it normally does. I asked if she wanted to send it back, and she didn't want to. I've ordered this in the past, and I agree that it didn't appear like it normally does. From what I saw, it was lightly sprinkled with havarti on top, whereas my experience has been that there is enough cheese to twirl around the shrimp as you remove it from the dish. As I said, it was just lightly sprinkled. Even your menu online states, "smothered with creamy Havarti cheese." If you have changed your preparation method, you should really change the description, as it is very misleading. It was very clear that things were not working properly that night. For example.... - We observed the manager bringing a free round of drinks to the people next to us because apparently the server had never come by to get them started. - At one point, a male server literally ran by our table saying, "Man, this is freaking me out!" He ran to the south end of the restaurant to help the manager on duty clear a table. - My wife said that she also observed a cook, presumably the head cook on duty, walk out of the kitchen and out of the restaurant. She later observed someone else who appeared to be an off-duty manager back in the kitchen trying to help get things organized for several orders. Yes, the manager did take off one of the steaks. But we didn't get any sense that he was concerned about other aspects of our meal, or whether or not we would return. If I was in his position, I would want to do everything I could to assure my customers that this was not the norm, that I appreciated the business, and hope that the customer returns. I know he was busy, but that's his problem, not mine. Why not show that he actually cared? "Hey, I'm really sorry about your steaks, that's not how we do things here... let me buy your kids dessert." We did get dessert for them, but we paid for it, and never saw the manager again to see if the rest of our meal was acceptable. All in all, it was a terrible experience. When we were there in July, I enjoyed a steak that was very good, and my mother-in-law enjoyed a baked scampi havarti that she was accustomed to. Something has changed, and you need to be aware that it is affecting the quality of your food and service. Certainly, something was very wrong on Sunday night, and your customers paid the price for it.
(1)Sarah B.
I don't like West Omaha (yeah, yeah, back in my day "West Omaha" was 90th St.) but my friends do so I end up there against my will. My friends like Charlie's..a lot. I met one of my girlfriends for lunch. We each had two Millionaire Martinis. All I will tell you about it is that I have a severely messed up/bruised knee. Swagger, Sway, Ooops, Ouch! We also shared the artichoke dip and each had a salad. The food has never wowed me here but those drinks might make up for it. For now, I'm staying back in my 'hood while in town.
(3)Chris H.
Appetizer menu is worth your time! If you like to graze and your party doesn't mind sharing, you can eat your way though the appetizer menu and feel like you've had a delicious meal. We had the Gorgonzola Shrimp, Fried (Portabella) Mushrooms, Oysters, and the Seafood Ravioli. All were delicious and I would totally go back to try some of the other appetizers that looked equally delicious. We were there on a Friday night and were able to get a booth and hear each other without the usual need to raise our voices. Our waitress was attentive and kept our glasses full.
(4)Jimmy H.
Okay... First off: save some room for dessert! I recommend the Creme Brûlée, but there are other epic options as well. I have only gone there for dinner, but we always have great Waiter's and Waitresses! Real characters who are always nice and attentive. The drinks are wonderful and the food... Well... It's why we go there. The steak and seafood is phenomenal! Oh... Out of the few times I have been there this year... We have gotten free dessert each time! Just because the staff is so nice. Just thinking about it makes me want to go there and get their escargot!
(5)KL E.
The customer service on management was poor and ridiculous! Two out of the four in our group ordered prime rib, which was the most disgusting cut of meat which moved like rubber as it was attempted to be cut. After the waiter was notified the managaer came over and asked what was wrong. our response was this is the worse piece of meat, You can't cut it, let alone chew it. The manager proceeds to explain that prime rib is just a fattier type of meat and that the two gentlemen from Ohio sitting behind us thought it was the best meat they've ever eaten. Really you say that to Omaha customers who could potentially come back?!!! She only took one of the two prime ribs off the bill. The only thing that will be worth going back for is the martini's.
(2)Mike D.
I think Yelp has the wrong address for Charlies on the Lake. The Charlie's we ate at was at 4150 S. 144th Ave in Omaha. Here are some ratings from our respective meals: 1) Mac & Cheese is the Kraft variety - 1 star according to my 15 year old daughter 2) Chicken fingers were 3 stars according to my 9 year old son 3) My New York Strip was cooked to perfection and had great flavor - 5 stars. The twice baked potato was flavorful as well and gets 5 stars. So, all in all, I'd rate this 5 stars for adults but the kids meals were nothing special. My steak was HUGE and yet was still cooked to perfection. The place has a large wine selection but I did not sample them. The service was excellent as well.
(4)Matt J.
Almost 15 minutes (yes I was counting) after being seated, we were still waiting for a waitress. We had to go up to the hostess counter and tell them we were waiting for our waiter/waitress. The waitress came over and apologized for the confusion... So far I had a bad taste in my mouth. I almost walked out... But I am glad that I didn't. After ordering our food, the manager came up and also apologized for the confusion. They weren't really busy and the person in charge of that table must have been cut. He asked if we ordered any appetizers and offered to buy us some. We declined since we had ordered large meals so instead he bought me another beer and dessert was on the house. Very clever move. I realize that shit happens and that sometimes people get forgotten and I have had that happen before. But I have never had them actually "make it right". It's hard to find a place that cares that much about the customer, even if we were sitting there forever. I had the a Charlie's grouper. I was kind of surprised it didn't come with any sides, but after I got it I realized why. It's a huge plate of grouper with asparagus, king crab, spinach and lobster sauce covering a large grouper filet. I could barely eat it all even though it was really tasty. They give you a whole baguette of french bread to snack on before your meal as well (and it is really good..). Maybe I am bought out too easy, but you know what, that is what makes the difference between me never going back and me thinking that the place was great. If they wouldn't have offered that gesture, I would have never went back. But now after it seems they really care, I will be going back sometime soon. Dinners range from around $15-30. Most around $20.
(4)James U.
I think this place is carried mostly by all the cred it banked back in the day. It was once the GO! TO! place for an awesome surf and turf experience. They have been through several suppliers of beef and seafood in the last few years, supposedly in an attempt to find the best, but more likely because they were looking for the cheapest they could get away with. It's now at a nice equilibrium where the food is decent, but no where near as good as it used to be. At least the free bread is still awesome. The service is always good, and the servers don't give you any attitude, so that's always nice, but if it's really busy expect things to move very s.l.o.w.l.y. Overall, I would say that even though you will hear how awesome this place is, temper your enthusiasm and expect a reasonably good place to get food for people who like beef /and/ seafood.
(3)Autumn S.
My boyfriend and I who live in Colorado now, reminisced about this place for about an hour tonight. Phenomenal food, awesome martinis, great service, literally the best restaurant in Omaha by far. All recipes are home-made , and the martinis will knock you on your ass. One of the few things I miss about OMAHA!!!
(5)Stacey N.
I use to love Charlie's. Over the years the food, service and atmosphere has gone completely down hill. We have been there 2 times over the last year, each time the food was horrible. Last night I had the sauteed shrimp over rice which tasted like paste! The service is slow. With all the restaurants in Omaha, I certainly would NOT recommend this place.
(1)Scott B.
Very dissapointed! Overpriced... Alfredo sauce tasted like paste. The decor is way outdated. The only redeeming quality is their appetizer menu. I understand that they have a lot of rent to pay for, but not by this guy! I live right acrossed the street and Never feel the urge to eat there again
(1)Sam M.
Great steak! Wonderful wait staff. And a lady who is devoted to nothing but the dessert tray!
(5)Lisa V.
I seriously do not remember a lake being here. And no, I didn't arrive when it was dark, nor was I tipsy upon arrival. It was just blah. We had our reservation for 22 of our corporate folk here and it was their decision as they LOVE the place. Oy. Seriously. This is just a large bar that happens to have a large menu, therefore I guess we can call it a restaurant. They are known for having the freshest seafood in Omaha. There are two ironic words in that last sentence..... So the variety of what we ordered was escargot, clams, spinach dip, fries and quesadillas.... for dinner the majority of everyone got filet or some sort of beef. I mean, we are in Omaha for freaks sake. It was just blah.... nothing to write home about. I was expecting so much more since we were in the land of cattle, cattle everywhere! Definitely not cheap, but at $1200 for 22 ppl.....that seems like a deal to me.
(2)Joanna L.
not bad for the money, but the menu sounds better than it is. had the po'boys and a few different appetizers. a little bland and unimaginative, but still a nice place to have dinner/lunch, and the patio is really pretty for West Omaha. I'd come here more for drinks and apps with a group of friends than for a night of really good dining.
(3)Stephanie P.
Went with a large group and found it tasty. Great drink menu! Had the seafood cakes which were good and not too greasy. Also got the crab Rangoon spring rolls which were also great. Make sure to save room for dessert because they have a great cheesecake selection. Restaurant isn't really on a lake and recommend rservations in weekend
(3)Mopsie B.
Phrases that come to mind about our early dinner/late lunch at Charlie's this weekend: Old school, old fashioned, boozy, smoky, old. We sat on the patio because it was a nice day and we wanted to look at the "lake." Being from Chicago and having lived in Denver for 10 years, it never even occurred to me that smoking would be allowed. Oh, but it was...And we were surrounded by the lung cancer/need-an-ashtray-now set. Fortunately, there was a breeze, so I wasn't coughing or breathing into my napkind too much but...come on! Why can't there be any consideration for those of us who don't want to kill ourselves? Or just taste our food?? Charlie's could easily make the place smoke-free and I wish they would. As it is, the food was ok (I ordered the only non-cream drenched seafood pasta on the menu) but I really could have done without the distractions of the smokers and a little girl wih full pageant make up who would not sit down in her seat the entire time we were there! The big thing at Charlie's aside from the emphasis on seafood and steak is the martini menu. I ordered the Simply Cucumber which simply got me wasted after about two sips! We skipped the cheesecake desserts after dinner and talked about coming back when they ban smoking so that non-smokers can enjoy the outdoors, too. Oh- bonus for the entire baguette they bring to your table!
(3)John W.
So not good.....food mediocre, service irritating, atmosphere borderline cafeteria....would not recommend although my husband liked the steak he had, but then this is OMAHA!...who doesn't do good steak here!!
(2)Stacia M.
Best prime rib ever. Flavorful, juicy, tender, and they also had good fresh horseradish to go along with it. The helpings were large and even the sides dishes were of good size. Wine was great, too. While I only ordered beef, my family that lives there says that their seafood is excellent. Will definitely go again next time I'm out there.
(5)Sarah G.
Charlie's has some delicious options and a nice variety, but I don't get out there too often. Still, as I recall they have reasonable happy hour specials and can accommodate large groups on short notice. Also, I really enjoy the fact that while I wouldn't call the body of water it's on a lake per se, it does attract ducks and other waterfowl. Nothing enhances a dining experience like geese cruising past the floor to ceiling windows and staring in at you. Once after a heavy rain the ducks migrated out into the parking lot and I felt compelled to heard them back towards the pond.
(3)A J.
Been to Charlies since the early days. It was great back then. Disappointing now. Over-priced bland food. Got the special last night, the meat was not even warm. Who serves The Special that isn't table ready? Escargot Havarti used to be one of the best around. Now it looks like it was just slapped together. Not prepared with care and not enough Havarti. Smells moldy near the entrance. Not an appetizing aroma to welcome guests. We're probably done at Charlies. Makes me sad.
(2)Gail T.
We just recently gave Charlies another try after a few years away and have been pleased with both the food and the service. The outdoor patio is very nice and the seating inside is comfortable, too. The best part is the PEI mussels appetizer. It's 2 pounds of big, juicy mussels in a really delightful broth. Even the kids inhaled them and we all needed a spoon for the broth. I can't imagine coming here and not ordering that as an appetizer. Portions are very generous and tasty as well. Another plus is the fresh and warm baguettes that seem to appear exactly when needed. Nice venue to come out for date night, an evening with friends or even a family dinner with the kids.
(4)Reid R.
Wasn't impressed... been coming here for years and now its super bright in the bar - can't even read the menus (too much glare). I used to love the cosmos (thought they were pink now they are blue) Display of my $32.00 meal wasn't impressive at all... reminded me of a truck stop... super dead and I know why
(2)Elizabeth B.
I love seafood, and Charlie's on the Lake seems to rise to the occasion of leaving me satisfied. Off the bat, I am going to state that I feel the prices here are about 20% high in comparison to other comparable places, and I had forgotten this until we arrived and sat down. But the food is absolutely delicious, and there is no denying that. Starting of with the Baked Scampi Havarti ($10.95) appetizer gives me just enough of a flavor explosion to make ready for the meal. For the main course I like the New York Surf & Turf ($30.95 for a strip and some shrimp!) but without the bacon wrap on the shrimp. Bacon and shrimp should never be together in my world...it just seems to break some fundamental law of nature. But, for some reason, steak and shrimp doesn't bother me...hmm. Anyway, one of the cool things about this place is they have "Steak Toppings". Prices range from $5.95-$8.95 for everything from mushrooms and cheese to lobster cream sauce. No room for desert this time, but it looked spectacular. Our waiter was amazing, and he made the meal that much more enjoyable. We went with another couple, and we all tried each ap. From that experience I can tell you the things not to try are: *Crab cakes *Tuna Sampler Not much flavor happening with those, and that was the consensus among the four of us.
(4)Tony W.
WORST dining experience ever!!! Just met the owner Eve for the first time tonight. I've been eating at this restaurant for over 10 years. Had I known the owner was a complete tool with a complete disregard for customer service I never would've stepped foot in this place. We had an experience with a waitress "Kiki" and we complained about a comment that she made, and then in earshot of the entire restaurant she told me "you are F***ing rude sir!" In front of the on-duty manager!! They did NOTHING about it. The waitress embellished a story to save her job and the owner rationalized her behavior!!! Unacceptable!!!!! Avoid this dump at ALL costs. Eve also tells me they've been there 21 years so......he says "I don't care". Charlie's on the Lake Seafood Restaurant · 1,082 Likes
(1)Zach F.
My girlfriend and I took a road trip to Omaha for our anniversary, after a day at museums and zoo's we were ready to chow down. We got here and walked in and was immediately impressed with the professional look of the place. They had a wine room as soon as you walked in. It was a beautiful night so we asked to sit outside. The waitress took us to a nice outdoor patio with a view over a nice little lake. It was by no means a natural lake with wildlife all over, but it was beautiful nonetheless. The waitress sat us right next to a waterfall where there were ducks swimming around 10 feet from us. Very fun experience. The food was outstanding. I got a garlic shrimp fettuccini, my girlfriend got a lobster alfredo. We were blown away by the quality. Absolutely delicious. So much food we were able to take leftovers to serve as an awesome late night snack. Presentation of the food and staff were both very professional, friendly and inviting. After dinner we were able to take a walk around the lake on a nice little trail. It just overall made for a nice night. Whenever we're in the neighborhood you can bet we'll be back.
(5)Louise M.
Being a visitor from out of state, when I heard the name of the restaurant, I was expecting a quaint classy restaurant off somewhere by a beautiful lake. I didn't quite expect that it was in a strip mall. I kept saying to my friend and coworker, "where's the lake?" Finally, once you were in, you would see a man made lake off a housing development. It was quite a picturesque view looking at it through the glass door to the patio. However, it wasn't what I expected. It started with a baguette in a baguette sleeve. It was nice! Wish it was warm though! It would be so much better. Then, we ordered boneless wings tossed in Cajun butter and seasoning. When it arrived, we were floored on the portion size. Holy cow!!! There were so many!! They also tasted wonderful. It was the best part of this whole entire meal. At first, after the wings came, we almost thought we shouldn't have ordered appetizer. We would have been too full. However, glad we did. The soup and salad came. My New England Clam Chowder was delicious but it was missing some salt. After adding salt, it was very nice. I ordered fish and chips. The server said it was very good. I begged to differ. It was bland bland bland. It seems someone forgot the salt at home. The fish had absolutely no taste. My friend ordered a steak and shrimp combo and she said her shrimps were also bland. No trace of seasoning. Her steak was okay and she said the steak she had the night before at Johnny's Cafe was much better. Service was nice and friendly. The manager came to chat a couple of times. They were so nice that I didn't have the heart to tell them about their bland under-seasoned food. Maybe it was just an off night. However, for someone coming from out of state, they only had one chance to wow me for me to consider coming back next time I'm in town. Not sure I would. Maybe for the wings.
(3)Average J.
Charlie's seems to be going in the wrong direction. Slow service, well more like the Walking Dead service! Mediocre food. Properly cooked shrimp should look like a comma and not a doughnut! Twice baked potatoes are nothing more than instant potatoes with some cheese and fake bacon in it then scooped in a bowl like it was freshly made for you! Bread was cold, tea was weak, well more like non-existent. All of the other waitresses and waiters were taking the desert tray around, but ours just asked and didn't even try to see if we wanted anything by showing us the tray! Good job on the up-sell! Then I noticed on the ledge around the place had a nice layer of dust on it! Then that made all of us at the table stop and look closer at the rest of the place and it's cleanliness and WOW was that an eye opener! CLEAN THE PLACE PEOPLE! We used to like Charlie's, but we won't be going back since they don't feel they need to give better customer service than what they do for their over inflated prices. I can see why @ 7pm on a Saturday night they were so slow. It's the poor service and over-priced food! Let's just chalk this one up as one more of Omaha's finer restaurants going down the tubes. It seems this is happening more and more and if the staff doesn't care about the customers, then how can they care about the place that furnished s them with a paycheck? YES! This is a place that Jon Taffer would have a field day with!
(1)Aubrey G.
I love their patio and went there for lunch with my mom today, but the experience was lack luster at best. We just ordered a few appetizers to share and they were bland and boring, needs some fresh flavors. But my biggest issue is the staff. Our waitress didn't smile once. The wait staff looks incredibly sloppy; I don't think anyone should be serving food in leggings. The girls also need some training that people on lunch have limited time to spend. It took an hour and a half because she would disappear inside forever. This was the 3rd time I've been there and gotten poor service, don't think I'll go back again.
(2)Bob A.
Always like this place but a bit off my beaten path. Went there for lunch, been awhile, and found that they had changed their menu to "all items are $11". I thought this was great idea. I ordered one of their lunch salads and then you get to pick a protein to put on top.... CLAM STRIPS!. Salad was awesome. Nice mix of ingredients, good dressing and of course the clam strips. Friend ordered the Chicken Parm lunch... massive! Both chicken breasts plus pasta. He ate half and took the rest home. The only miss for us was the appetizer. We ordered the grouper fingers. The texture made me think they were undercooked but the waitress said that grouper was a "creamy" fish. Either way... I did not enjoy the texture or the taste. Would definitely recommend for lunch!
(4)Pam S.
Best Lump Crab Quesadilla filled with lots of lump crab meat, Jack and cheddar cheese Served with sour cream, salsa and black olives on the side. Super yummy & filling! Along with a fruity tickle tackleberry drink or 2 on the patio by the water is most relaxing! The wait staff is friendly & tentative. We've been going for yrs & it's always been a good time.
(4)Leah B.
Went yesterday with high hopes of a good steak as I promised my best friend who is visiting from Denver a great one! We were extremely disappointed!! The steaks were very bland and I won't be back for those menu items!!! :(. On the up-side, the apps (shrimp havarti and artichoke dip) were amazing. Service was great and the French bread was awesome!
(3)Lianna N.
Nice atmosphere, dark, classy, and kinda divey. Martinis are great!!!! I think that is what they won Best of Omaha 2012 for. The food was ok, standard steakhouse/seafood fare but pretty pricey. Everything we ordered was dunked in cream or cheese, so it was not very healthy..and very rich. My taste buds were begging me for a break. I'd give the martinis a 5 and the food a solid 3. Service was good, but something was lacking about my experience here. Maybe I'd give it another try sometime in the future.
(3)Robert B.
The old manager, whom I mentioned in my previous review as the source of its decline, is no longer with Charlie's on the Lake! Mitch, the new manager, who has been with the restaurant for over ten years, has taken over and has completely turned the place around. I can't begin to enumerate the positive changes he's made! The food quality is back to what we remember. Appetizers were terrific... My chicken was cooked perfectly... My wife's salmon was done absolutely right... The bread was warm and delicious! Oh, and the drinks were top notch! We sat on the patio last night and enjoyed the first warm evening of spring. Lots of other patrons had the same idea. Building the new expanded patio was a great business decision and the views of the lake are excellent. Special mention goes to our server, Denae. Her vibrance, personable attitude, and professionalism makes her a real star! She is absolutely tops! If you've not been to Charlie's recently, it's time to go again. Mitch and his team have done great things and we can't wait to go back!
(5)Fly_Gu Y.
Charlie's On the Lake was so promising on the first visit but then we returned several weeks later to assess consistency and things went down hill fast. Without going into details, our second visit made us question whether we returned to the same place. As much as the food, customer service, and overall experience was glowing on the first visit, it was just as much a disappointment on the second. So much so we vowed never to return. Unfortunately I am just now getting around to finishing this review even though our last visit was in the Jan/Feb time frame.
(3)