If you live or work in the South Bronx, you probably have seen the many new businesses popping up in the area. Nestled within all of the new spots in Mott Haven is Charlies Bar and Kitchen, a local favorite since 2015. I was able to pop in during happy hour, dinner, and brunch to get a real feel for the place.
Charlies Bar and Kitchen: 112 Lincoln Ave, The Bronx, NY 10454
Ambiance
Charlies is a super chill neighborhood bar, so skip the heels and fancy clothes and come as you are. The bar is an ode to Charlies throughout history, so you’ll find photos of every Charlie from Chaplin, to Brown, to Charlie’s Angels along the walls. Charlies has a full bar in front with bar seating and a few high-top tables surrounding the bar. There are regular sit-down tables to the left of the bar leading all the way to the back where there is back section with additional seating, perfect for hosting large groups or private functions. Brunch can get busy so definitely get a reservation, but no need for drinks or dinner. The bar area gets super intimate at night, so it’s great spot to bring a romantic date for some cocktails.
Food and Drinks
If I could only go to Charlies after work during happy hour, I’d be ok with that. A selection of beer, wine, and well drinks are discounted from 3-7 during weekday happy hour. My suggestions would be their white or red sangria, or the passionfruit mojito. Not sure what magic they add to their mojitos, but I am addicted. For food, I’d recommend the rosemary fries, fish tacos, fried chicken, or the 454 burger. The fish tacos are my absolute fav, small but packed with a lot of flavor. The fried chicken is made with both honey and hot sauce, so it has a kind of twang that leaves you scraping the plate.
Dislikes
As much as I love most of the food and drinks at Charlies, there is one area it falls short for me: Brunch. The atmosphere during brunch is upbeat and fun, but that’s sadly where it falls short. I tried the shrimp and grits, but it was so packed full of chorizo that it became inedible. Prior to ordering I asked how much chorizo was in it and the waiter said just a few bits on top, so clearly some of the staff aren’t too knowledgeable of the food items. My friend had the steak and eggs and said it was tasty but not memorable. Additionally, the mimosas and bellinis were underwhelming, mostly filled with juice. They offer bottomless but the amount of juice only allowed us to drink a few before our stomachs were full.
Final Rating
I rate Charlies a 4 out of 5 fish tacos. The ambiance and happy hour drinks make it a great spot to check out, but the brunch fell flat. Hopefully Charlie’s will make some changes to their brunch to make it a prime weekend destination. But until then I’ll be back for some drinks and those dang fish tacos.
