Charlie’s Bar and Grill

Closed.
To reopen as EMBERS on September 25^th 2012.

Nice, modern bar with the requisite black and white stark interior. The bar is the dominant feature here taking up at least half of the floor space. Presentation of food is upscale yuppie, food itself is good, pretty standard bar type, burgers, salads, apps. All in all an ok place to go for a quiet evening with friends.

So I’ve been here a few times and it fails to impress me.
I’ve only been downstairs which is more like a sports bar/​pub feel. I know they have a dj upstairs and the last time I was there all of the college kids emptied out once that opened up. It is a younger crowd on the weekend while during the week it seems like more locals who come to catch a game or dinner.
I’ve eaten here twice and both times I was disappointed with the food. The only decent thing I’ve had are the chips and guac (although the chips are really greasy).
Ok place to come during the week for a drink, but otherwise I’d steer clear.

What set this place apart from an «eh» 3-​star bar was the service. The waitress was attentive and made sure our large group was taken care of, even though we hogged a HUGE table for 4 hours. My glass was never empty for more than a couple minutes before she’d come around and bring me a new one. The beer selection is large, and the food is decent, but the only difference between this and any other random bar is the SERVICE and it makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE. I’ll be back simply because of that.

Very chill atmosphere, couches included inside AND outside.
They did a great job accommodating our 10 year reunion. For $ 45 dollars they had appetizers and drinks from 7 pm to 10 pm. We Had the whole upstairs to ourselves and it was a great outcome. The best part about that was that the bartenders weren’t shy about pourin drinks and I would say I defo got my money’s worth.
As far as the food goes, I didn’t really eat much but the bugfalo wing I had was pretty good as well as the chips and guacamole. I must say though that the Chicken salad sandwich was a no go! It had an odd flavor that didn’t agree with my taste buds.
Like Angie P. said, we were rushed to finish up our party. The DJ pretty much threw our stuff out of the DJ booth come 10 o’clock. I mean really, the whole downstairs was EMPTY! Annoying, but I’d go back for drinks and the atmosphere.

I started coming here the beginning of the summer because a bunch of friends who attended Elmhurst College always encouraged me to come out; so I did.
They have a nice outdoor patio area with about a dozen tables that’s located right in front of the bar. The lower level is fairly small. There’s a large rectangular bar that’s the center point, with tables that line the walls all the way around, and a few tables located in the back right behind the miniature dancefloor. There is also an upstairs with a much larger dancefloor, another bar, and plenty of more space to enjoy yourself.
The service is average, and I suppose inconsistent; sometimes I can get a drink within the first two minutes, sometimes it takes a half hour.
The prices are normal in comparison to most suburban bars, but they do have specials on certain nights. One of the nights I happened to go, it was a Charlie’s anniversary so everything was $ 1 off the original price and they had specialty shots for $ 1.
The crowd is pretty mixed but I imagine most of the people who go are Elmhurst College students or alum.
The location is nice, the «downtown» Elmhurst area, with an array of different restaurants/​shops. So if you planned some late evening shopping or dinner, you could hit up Charlie’s right after for drinks. I enjoy convenience.
I wouldn’t mind coming here regularly.

So this was the venue that we chose to have our 10 year high school reunion since it was kind of a cross between a banquet room and a bar, seeing that we had the entire second floor to ourselves from 7 – 10 for a mere $ 45 per person! And that price included an array of appetizers and an open bar with call liquor and domestic and imported bottles. Yeah, I know, a total steal!
The managers were so helpful when it came to choosing appetizers that would work best for our group and also working with us on the price. They couldn’t have been more helpful in the whole planning process, to be honest. The only flaw I found was when it came to be 10 PM and they were going to be letting the public upstairs, everything was being rushed when it came to getting our stuff out, some items even went missing. But, maybe that is to be expected.
I had the pleasure of bringing home all the leftover food, yikes… there was A LOT! =] But of all the food we had, chips with guacamole and salsa, wings (jerk, buffalo and bbq), onion rings and mini chicken salad sandwiches, the chicken salad was BY FAR my favorite! The flavor combination was not something you would think you would find at a bar! So good! Everything else was just okay for me, nothing special.
I could definitely see myself having another get together here since the space is nice and the price is more than right!

I’ve been here a few times to meet up with friends. The girls I party with always get the martinis. They’re pretty strong, trust me, I’ve witnessed the transformation the girls go through after a few martinis and they are dangerous. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of whatever it is that they ordered. All I know is that I’m glad the majority of my friends stick to beer, vodka red bulls, and shots or that place would get wrecked everytime we’d show up!
The service at the bar downstairs is awesome. My friends and I have always been taken care of everytime we’re here, whether it’s at the bar or at a table. Upstairs, the service at the bar can be awesome as well, it just depends on who’s bartending. The atmosphere upstairs is a little more lively than downstairs because they have a DJ spinning club hip-​hop & dance music and a dancefloor to shake your booty on.
I like Charlie’s. They have a good crowd, great service, strong drinks, and they have one of my favorite beers, Hacker Pschorr. This place is definitely a good time when you’re here with your friends. I recommend coming here on Friday nights, you’re pretty much guaranteed to leave with new friends. ;-)
Holla!!!™

Big fan of Monday nights here — $ 1 drafts/​Trivia Night/​Monday Night Football. Can’t beat it. Elmhurst is DUI country IMO so don’t get too trashed unless you are within walking distance or have a DD with the group (good advice anywhere, I suppose). Had the tacos and O-​Rings here the one time I ate — being that it’s Elmhurst — naturally overpriced for average food.
If it’s not a weekend night /​special occasion I say wear whatever the hell you want.

Sweet spot, great atmosphere, great beer selection, awesome guacamole!
Found a new favorite beer here. The food is typical bar fare, but it does have some interesting options. Including a house made smoked chicken wrap. Beware it’s SMOKEY… but I liked it. Would definably recommend over other nearby establishments.

Sorry, Charlie.
The service here is really nice. We had a terrific waitress and our food came out quickly.
The food… is awful. I’ve stopped eating meat (except for special occasions) and there are literally four things on the menu that I could order (including the fish dishes). We got the nachos, which looked like a vat of grease and came out with concession-​stand style fake cheese goo on top. I had a fish sandwhich which was actually tasty, and some decent onion rings… but that night I thought the food was obscenely overpriced. And I spent a good chunk of the next morning in the bathroom regretting my decision to go out for dinner. :(

I really wanted to like this place and based on the list of beers on the menu it looked really promising.
The vibe at Charlie’s is boring, boring, boring, boring. I went during March Madness and opening day of the baseball season. Both times the bar was half full & had no problem getting a seat.
The food was ok, interesting list of beers and unfortunately it’s not enough to make this place as one of my faves. I really wanted to like this place.
It could use a big dose of something maybe a big shot of red bull!

Interesting menu, good food and friendly service. We loved the goat cheese and pancetta appetizer with pita bread. It’s definitely a step above your typical bar food. They also have a wide selection of beers, including La Fin Du Monde.
As transplants to the ‘burbs, this is the best we’ve found locally.
We’ll be back for sure and we can’t wait for the patio to open!

I was surprised to really enjoy this place. From everything my mom and I had heard, we thought it was the typical macho sports bar. But it wasn’t, there were mainly families at the tables and couples at the bar. We went on a Friday at 6:30 and it was busy, but not overly noisy. The beer selection is great, I love how they have stuff from the New Holland Brewery because it’s one of the local bars where I went to college. Mom ordered the tilapia dinner and I got the shrimp tacos. They were both yummy, and portioned properly aka no leftovers. We ran into a few friends that we haven’t seen in ages, so mom and I are going to go back to see who else we find.

As stated previously by other reviewers, this place could have some potential, but fails to impress.
First off, why on earth are there so many bouncers at this place? Instead of paying eight guys $ 8 an hour, how about hiring more than two bartenders per floor? A 2-​to-​1 ratio of bouncers to bartenders in Elmhurst seems excessive. Most of the crowd in the 20 – 40 range and fairly peaceable. Why all the fuss with the security?
If there were more people manning the taps and kitchen, it wouldn’t take so long to get a beer or your food you’ve ordered. I ordered a beet salad (sounded out of the ordinary, why not pass on the nachos?) and it was surprisingly fresh and with a really tasty, tart, vinaigrette.
I also ordered chips and guacamole, which were reasonably priced. My beef is that when the tiny cup of guacamole ran out, I asked for a refill. The bartender said «no problem», then proceeded to at $ 3 to my tab for another cup that held *perhaps* 3 tablespoons of the green stuff. That, my friends, is a good way to destroy goodwill on the part of your patrons.
The upstairs has a small dance floor which people use from time to time, but it is hardly a «happening» club. They have the music a tad too loud for my tastes, as this supposed to be a more «chill» atmosphere than a place to bust your moves. The 2^nd story seems to have an identity crisis. Thankfully, the 1^st floor has quieter music and more attentive staff.
My final strike against this establishment is when I was upstairs and leaning against the bar waiting to be serviced is that one of the shot girls came up from behind me and literally grabbed me by the waist and told me to move. I hadn’t noticed that I was standing near the area where she refills (as it was crowded). I would have politely moved if she asked, but one wonders if I had laid my hands on her in the same way if I wanted *her* to move, what the eight security guards would have done.
To the management, learn some basics about customer service and please take this review to heart. Elmhurst doesn’t have much of a nightlife, lets try to try harder, even if you don’t have much competition. Agreed?
If you do visit this place, there is additional free parking available in the public garage right behind the building.

3.5 actually.
We were invited out to dinner by my dear inlaws… the choice tonight was Charlie’s. They have been there a couple of times, and my husband and I have wanted to check it out. We, my husband and I have been there when it was McNally’s… we both loved that place and was sad to see it go.
So we met up with the folks at around 5:30. It was really empty, but you figure it was A) A Monday night, B) it was 5:30 & C) It was the Monday after the Superbowl. The perfect storm for a quiet evening, which was fine by us!
The atmosphere was actually pretty tranquil… dark wood all over the place, dark wood tables and chairs… a huge bar… good colors, i’m all about good paint choices… TV’s everywhere… and some pictures about. But it seemed pretty sterile…
They have a good selection of beers via bottle or by tap… they even have Dogfish Head and Three Floyds beers. You can’t go wrong with that.
The menu seems pretty diverse and something for everyone.
We started off with a couple of apps. a smoked trout spread served on paper thin apple slices & grilled crostinis and also a baked spicy goat cheese with pita & cured bacon. These were fantastic!
For dinner we ran the gamut. the HB ordered the Beef Brisket served open face on Texas Toast and hand cut fries, I ordered the Blackened Tilapia on a great flat bread bun of sorts w/​a great garlic aioli & homemade chips, Dad ordered the Steak Sandwich with grilled onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese and Mom went off and ordered their 10oz Prime cheeseburger w/​a nice little salad. Amongst them there were a couple of stars and a couple of misses…
Stars… The steak sandwich tasted like French Onion Soup on a bun… the seasonings were awesome. And it melted in your mouth.
The Blackened Tilapia Sandwich had a great kick and I loved it… the only bad thing I can say is that I had ordered the chips and they brought out fries instead… and then when we got the chips they were not seasoned enough (ie no salt) and they tasted like fish. Which means one thing. they had fried fish in the same oil at some point during the day.
Misses… The Brisket was dry… like they had reheated it from earlier. You can’t do that with brisket. It makes it tough and chewy… BUT, the bbq sauce they use is really good. And the burgers are way too big. They are like a meal and a half. Some may say why is that a problem? But some people don’t take home leftovers, and wouldn’t you like to see a client eat the whole thing? Just kick it down a couple of oz’s.
We will probably go back… sit at the bar, throwback some great apps. and watch a game or two… during the week. I have heard and read that Thurs. thru Sun. are college nights, who needs to deal with that?

We crossed over the 38^th parallel for NYE to visit Uncle Charles. What a mistake. 10+ bouncers in 55 sq. ft., $ 50 drinking/​eating package, and a few hours later, our night was over. If I had wanted to continuously ask for drinks to have the waitress show up empty handed every single time, I could have stayed home with the G/​F. But oh no, daddy couldn’t get his Jack and Coke from the server like our other nine guests. Don’t worry though, it’s cool. I really did enjoy slapping your cat woman bartender in the face with sarcasm.
This place made me feel like I was Harriet Tubman as I escorted our guests to the bathroom all night long under the cover of darkness while trying to elude the D-​bag bouncers. Honestly, wipe up the wet floors and you might not have to worry about people falling. But wait, that would be too simple, and entirely too easy. A better idea? Kick out every girl in heels that bites it in front of your OUTSTANDING employees. Thanks for the help guys.
The food was nothing to write home about, so I won’t. Drink selection for the 5 hour drinking package was incredible, if you could get served. The music was great, if you are Helen Keller. Overall, you can have your establishment Mr. Kim Jong II, and all the glory that it might entail.
P. s. Whoever created your website sits on a throne of lies.

Thursday nights are busy here. Since that’s my night out with the band after practice we go.
Downstairs — acoustic cover dude.
Upstairs — DJ.
It’s the busiest bar on Thursdays in downtown Elmhurst right now and the dance floor here is better than others. (still kind of lame)
Their beer special always magically run out if it gets busy. (completely intentional) I understand if it’s a loss leader, but 2.50 pabst…
This place is good because of the people, music, and dance/​atmosphere on Thurs.
You can get a free mug on Mondays with a beer. (wasn’t busy like Thurs.)
I also understand why people don’t like it. It has shortcomings that others have described. It’s not a great bar from what i’ve seen on days when they don’t have live music. I would prefer McNallys over Charlies, but I would rather go here than most other places in downtown e-​hurst.

Not EVERY restaurant that is built in Elmhurst is for FAMILIES and this isn’t. It is what it is, a sports bar with bar food. I think it is for ²⁰⁄₃₀ something crowd

Formerly McNally’s, I am so glad this local spot reopened under new ownership as Charlie’s! It has a sleek, modern sports bar/​lounge vibe with a full menu. Great beers on tap! I had Bells… really good! Lots of appetizers and entrees to choose from. We had the chips (homeade!) that came with 2 salsas and guacamole for under $ 5. The steak bite skillet with onion rings on top is actually large pieces of juicy filet for $ 10.99! Fast service too. Looking forward to going back!