Char Restaurant reviews . (Restaurant) in Darwin (Northern Territory).

Char Restaurant

491 Reviews

299 Comments

Restaurant

Restaurant

70 Esplanade, Darwin City NT 0800, Australia

Description

Here you'll see all the information of Char Restaurant, Restaurant in Darwin (Northern Territory)

Char Restaurant it's a Restaurant and next to this lines you'll see the hours of service, busiest hours, website, phone and real reviews done in Internet

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Situation

Service hours of Char Restaurant

Busiest hours

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Comments of Char Restaurant

J. C. L.

My favorite restaurant in Darwin! If you like meat that is the place to go! The T bone melts in your mouth. Service was very good fast and friendly. The restaurant is beautiful on the esplanade and have a nice breeze too. The outdoor area is very green with lots of interesting plants. The history of the place is interesting and worth the trip.

G. A.

The food is very good, tasty and well presented. The steak is properly cooked and it is a quality cut. Although, I do not like that you pay huge amount for a steak then buy sides and sauce separately. But apart from that - good food, nice venue, attentive waiters.

S. M.

Delicious cocktails served in one of the two surviving Burnett style houses in Darwin. Known for the steak which wasn't disappointing. A special treat

R. S.

Cocktails were amazing to start! We had the French Empire Martini & Heading Home to Waterloo. Beef cheek Spring rolls for an entree, Whole baby Barramundi, Brodetta of Seafood and a couple of oysters kilpatrick. We would have loved desert but were full on our main meals. The desert would have been just as amazing im sure! Caroline out waitress was super smiley, helpful and served us professionally, with respect and attention to detail. Gagan and Alice also put an effort in for us to ensure we were well looked after. I am a wedding photographer and thought this place would be amazing to have you reception at! Just loved the food, the cocktails the service and aircon was so comfy inside but outside looked nice too! wish we had time to come back again. Thanks Admiralty House - Char team for an awesome experience full of value!

V. R.

We visited Char this evening & found the food & service to be exceptional. Very attentive waitress & the food was one of the best experiences we have had with an otherwise forgettable dining scene in Darwin since Boxing Day. Darwin needs to remember tourists visit all times of the year & provide quality dining opportunities ever day of the year.

E. Y.

It was a pretty good experience overall. We found the food to be tasty. The service was pretty decent as well. We didn’t find the noise complaint some others are whinging about. It is a restaurant after all.

S. D.

Had a beautiful Saturday night... Amazing view! Amazing food!! Amazing staff!!! Eye fillet was cooked to perfection. Dessert so good, had to get another one too... Will be back for more soon..

M. D.

Great restaurant, great food, polite staff, but expensive!

E. E.

We attended Char this weekend for a dinner to celebrate what should have been our wedding night. Alice & her offsider and all of their staff went above and beyond. The food was 10/10 amazing. We ordered the ribs for starters and the meat was so tender and the sauce was to die for. We had steaks for our mains and can safely say they were the best steaks we have ever had. All food aside - nothing could beat the service of their team. We will back! Thank you so much Erin & Scott xx

M. K.

Char is a steakhouse famous for its quality steaks and an excellent selection of wines. Very busy the night we went and quite a few people were turned away without bookings so words to the wise...book! Service was high quality, our meals came out rather quickly and the actual meals were of a very high standard indeed. Well done all around.

A. S.

Gorgeous outdoor seating. Attentive wait staff and delicious food. Really relaxed, casual but also up market dining

M. N.

We had dinner tonight ar Char. Food was amazing. We ordered the 300 gram rump and te 500 t bone with the mash and bone marrow as the sides. Rump was fine but the t bone came warm not hot. I asked my t bone to be medium rare but it was almost rare. But i am not too picky with the food. Just poiting out couple of things so that next time we come we can have a better experiene. And also the sauces we ordered got swapped with each other. But its okay as we did not get any wrong order. Great atmosphere and very friendly and nice staffs. Great experience overall. Will definitely come back again!! Giving 4 star because of the warm t bone. Sorry guys.

P. T.

Very good service and food. Reaching out to be excellent. The Fillet Steak was superb, but the Onion soup was very sweet and there wasn't enough soup. Service was good, but not excellent. Wine prices started from circa $40 and went to $1,100 A bottle. The wines were good.

S. M.

We chose this restaurant for our last meal in Darwin and loved it. The service was first class, the food and wine divine (try the truffle arancini) and the view of the water though sunset is an ever changing stunning backdrop. To top it off, the trees under which our table nestled gave us great protection. Thanks for a memorable end to our holiday.

a.

It was ok, pricy but the food is very tasty, the wagyu spring roll was nice, three is enough per person as it feels a bit heavy, gnocchis looked homemade which is nice but felt too soft and over cooked (doughy) but the ragout itself was delightful, i was expected a bit more cheese on top as it is described in the menue, crab linguini were also very tasty, (no chilli at all though), too oily to my liking, maybe too much butter/olive oil thrown in the pan at the end, we did not grab desert, felt too full already Overall experience ok

z. w.

4 of us had dinner here whilst in Darwin. Think we had very high expectations after reading reviews. The food was average, nothing really to note. Staff ok, drinks ok. Good selection of wines. Would I go back if in Darwin, maybe, as the view of the sunset is great from the deck outside but food is nothing special.

K. B.

The service every time I have visited Char has been fantastic. The staff are helpful and professional and the food is always great. One of my favourite places to eat in Darwin for sure

D. S.

Thankyou to the fabulous staff at Char for once again welcoming us with the best service and food!! Your help in celebrating our daughters 21st is much appreciated! Thanks again and we’ll see you again soon. The Seats family x

D. K.

Lovely food, good service. Beautiful view in front, so insist upon sitting outside and don’t let them bully you into sitting inside on some pretence that all the outside tables are booked - it’s never true. No idea why they do that but it has annoyed quite a few people I’ve mentioned it to. Worth a try if you want to splash out.

J. G.

Haven't been in for a few years but had fond memories,certainly wasn't disappointed.This is Darwin's finest steakhouse without doubt,it is fairly expensive but absolutely worth it as a treat,not only are the steaks fantastic but the side dishes and entrees are excellent in conception and execution,the drinks are good and the service friendly.If I was on death row this is the place I would choose for my last meal.

G. J.

The cocktails were perfect, right amount of strength. Beautiful outdoor area esp in the evenings. Received great service and hospitality

R. S.

When the 4 of us arrived we were greeted by a gentleman who wasn’t welcoming, we asked if we could sit outside, he told us they were booked, so had to sit inside. It was freezing. Meals were nice, although a mix up with 1 dish. Between our main & sweets, my GF & I wandered outside to get warm, the waitress asked if we were ok, we asked if we could sit outside for sweets, she said no problem, as there were 3 tables empty 🤷‍♀️. Then when we went to pay, we were asked for a tip and put in a awkward situation, and couldn’t do no. We ate out every night while in Darwin, that definitely was the worst experience. Not going back.

A. D.

Amazing food, well presented and absolutely delicious. As good or better than some food in France and Italy. One of the best restaurants in Darwin. Highly recommended

R. R.

Sumptuous dining, the food was absolutely delicious and the cocktails made us feel more relaxed. Always enjoy Char 👌

D. R.

5 star dining. Not cheap at all but the food, the cocktails and the service was worth every cent. Definitely the best restaurant in Darwin.

S. R.

Beautiful restaurant. Delicious food. Lovely outlook at sunset. Friendly staff

E. D.

Food was delicious we ordered salt and pepper squid, pork belly and some sides followed my dessert which was amazing. Service was good and cocktails yummy.

D. R.

One of the best steaks I've ever eaten, had the 200g eye fillet with a side of steamed greens and mashed potatoes. Started with the special entree, which was meatballs with house baked bread - very yum! Had the banoffee pie for dessert, it was amazing. Excellent wine list with heaps of variety and international wines. Service was a little on the slower side, but I think our waitress was still in training. Towards the end of our meal another server took over who was prompt, friendly, attentive - really brightened the evening. Would return.

I.

GREAT LOCATION, DELIGHTFUL ALFRESCO TABLES, GOOD SERVICE Four of us went to Char for dinner on a recent visit to Darwin. Wait staff were very well informed, options for indoor or outdoor tables and an extensive menu with a seafood feature. Fully licenced with a good wine list.

J. J.

Fantastic food! Friendly staff! A fantastic night and one I won't forget in a hurry. Definitely be coming back again.

J. P.

Head and shoulders above anything else I Darwin first class service and excellent food. Busy most nights so recommend booking a table.

L. B.

Fantastic dinner. The service was top notch and really friendly staff who helped choose the perfect cut of meat for us. Really beautiful atmosphere. Really wonderful night

D. K.

Fabulous helpful service. Beautiful lunch. We shared mixed entrees and all were perfect. Fantastic sitting under the big tree with a lovely breeze. Very relaxing

A. G.

5 stars is not enough. We were greeted by Lizzie who was very friendly and helpful. All our meals were superb, well presented and very tasty . A gourmet delight. All staff very friendly. If Lizzie leaves to return home this will be the Chars loss and Australia's loss. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone coming to Darwin. Bon appetite

J. R.

Char Restaurant 、。。 Glass-fronted steakhouse with a big courtyard, for select grilled meats and Modern Australian food 、。。 So Great Restaurant in Darwin 、。。 素晴らしい 、。。

M. G.

Best food I had in Darwin. The quality of food was top notch. You can see they are making a difference in the Culinary industry. I will definitely go back and have their delicious Arancini, karage and Barramundi. My partner had the steak and it was just memorable. Keep up the great work!

S.

One of the nicer dining options in the city. Always happy with the food, service and wine selection. The tables are way too close to each other though. Hoping this changes once they open up the out door dining areas over the dry.

E. D.

Good taste but meat was a little tough for what we paid. Got the wagyu rump. For being wagyu expected better. Didn't dislike it but for price could have gotten a better steak elsewhere.

K. B.

Absolutely delicious. Steak was cooked perfectly. Dessert was amazing. Staff were attentive, the service was excellent. Highly recommend.

M. G.

Good location and good overall but not more…. For me not worth it for all that money. For a quite pricey restaurant in Darwin you would expect an excellent food and service, I personally do not think I received either of those.

M. W.

Excellent service, the team ensured our party was well looked after. Beautiful outdoor setting, fine dining under the stars indulging in a great wine selection and appetizing food.

S. 2.

Food and service were exceptional Vibrate atmosphere, price was as expected for the quality of the meals. We had a great experience 😋

D. P.

Amazing food, service & sunset view from outside under the tree. I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading mixed reviews on TripAdvisor but we absolutely loved it and would recommend to everyone.

D. R.

Steaks are very delicious and the waitresses are very attentive. They don't let you take leftovers with you. This is a no go, especially when you pay premium prices.

D. T.

Very cozy environment to spend with your loved ones. Food and service were quite appreciable. The staffs were very generous to help you out.

s. F.

Amazing food and fantastic service. Not many of the restaurants are service oriented in Darwin. Char is excellent!

B. B.

Good food small kitchen busy staff good service and very popular with local workers getting lunch

P. D.

For the prices Char charge, I expected something a little more special than a pub feed. We made a reservation a few days out, only to find that it had been “lost in the system” - the staff however were more than happy to find us a table, and did so quickly and efficiently. The table we were seated at would have been more at home at a pub named “the beach” or “Sal’s surf shack” - lots of plastic, and chairs straight from my nan’s back garden. The waiter serving us was attentive, but definitely new to the business (and I believe I overheard him recommend a steak cooked medium to another customer...) and seeming a little flustered. Rather than the traditional notepad and pen, he had a small iPad thing that... didn’t work. When he replaced this with a working iPad, things went a little better, but maybe traditional is best here. Ordering sparkling water was another palaver - we were told only “soda water” was available as they were “running low” on sparkling. They weren’t out yet, but just running low. A bottle of tap soda water did eventually appear, but only after asking twice more. Onto the food. The Arancini balls were good. I would recommend them. The “Popcorn” Chicken Kaaraage... less so. The batter didn’t seem particularly attached to the chicken, and the chicken itself was either thigh that had been cooked much to quickly, retaining that toughness that leads to the use of breast for this style of chicken, or it was the greying breast of a very unhappy chook. A common complaint I have about restaurants is the starters not coming out quickly enough - often you’re waiting half an hour for something that the chef didn’t realise people would want in five minutes. No such issues here - the starters came out very promptly. Steak was, of course, ordered for the main. An Eye fillet and a Sirloin, both ordered rare. The Eye fillet was spot on. The sirloin was medium, and in need of a sharper steak knife. Talking of the steak knives, one had definitely been used to open something, with the tell-tale twisted point. The steaks also looked very... lonely coming out on the plates - I understand that this is the style, with the table sharing sides and adding to the plate, but for a moment there was nothing but steak on the plates, and the plates did seem very... desolate. The sides followed the mains quickly, and were mostly as described - the rocket and pear salad was unremarkable, but in a good way, as a salad should be. The carrots were a particular favourite, and the wagyu fat potatoes good, if outnumbered by the garlic cloves they were served with. Circling back to the plates and cutlery - the plates looked reminiscent of something I recently saw at Kmart, but a quick google confirmed they are in fact Target, so very much more upmarket. The rest of the table setting was very well worn, so possibly another trip to down to Palmerston to visit Target for cutlery wouldn’t go amiss. All in all, I suspect visiting one of the nicer pubs in the area would have been a better proposition, even without the price difference factored in. I was hoping for good things from the renovated Char, and what I got was a three star experience at best.

H. B.

Nice steak, good quality wine list. Ambience is a little 'pub' like for a restraunt of this price e.g. plastic chairs. Upstairs at Admiralty feels more premium

J. A.

Located Overlooking Scenic Botanical Gardens Park, The Esplanade. Upper Echelon Of Aussie Cuisine!!! Yum! 🇵🇳🐂🍷🦂🦀🐟

S. F.

Very nice food and excellent service.

J. W.

Located in the old Admiralty House, Char has recently been refurbished (not that I’ve been there before). Enjoyed the food immensely and the service was excellent. Do yourself and everyone you love a favor - go there!

N. T.

What a perfect way to spend a birthday. We had a beautiful table out in the courtyard under the fairy lights. The service was brilliant & the food was absolutely delicious. Generous serves & we weren't rushed to finish & leave. What a wonderful restaurant in a spectacular location. Perfect way to start a holiday.

R. M.

Service was good, ambience was nice, but for the price of the meat cuts, did not stack up. Maybe the chef had an off night but left dissapointed.

J. P.

Fantastic experience at Char. The service was amazing, probably some of the best in Darwin. They were quite busy but still attentive. The food was incredible, so yummy. It was prompt, tasted amazing and presented so nicely. The atmosphere was brilliant. It is value for money, the serving sizes are decent. Definitely recommend Char for a special event.

d. a.

While I didn't get any of the fish this establishment is famous for, I still had a three course meal with wines and I wasn't overly impressed. For price vs. Quality, it doesn't justify itself enough for me. The staff are very friendly and the establishment has a lovely atmosphere. There were a few other little things that cost them a star, such as the extremely wobbly table that led to me losing a wine, and some customer service things. It isn't on my list of places to visit in Darwin.

J. A.

I went to Char with my partner and we had an amazing dinner. The customer service was impressive, the food was delicious and the venue is beautiful with a great view. As we went before the sunset, we could appreciate the sunset while we had dinner. I definitely recommend it. You will not regret of going there. The best restaurant I've been in Darwin so far. Cheers! : )

A. P.

Having landed in Darwin that day and just happening upon this restaurant while out exploring ...we were definitely not dressed for a fine dining experience and (unhelpfully) had not booked a table on what was obviously a very busy night. We were however welcomed and a table found for us without hesitation. We were provided with prompt and polite service. The wine list was terrific and the food wonderful. The meal was probably on the more expensive side of what we would have sought out but well worth it as we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend a visit to others.

S. H.

I had the steak dish and I must say, this was one of the best steaks I have had. Cooked to perfection. Wine list is solid, good beers available. Service was impeccable and friendly. Thanks for a great lunch. I will be back for sure.

D. P.

This restaurant has a fantastic atmosphere, combined with elegant dining. I also really appreciated the advice that the french bartender (Allan) gave us with the cocktails selection. He was so professionally, friendly and patient with us. All the staff there helped us enjoy our night. As I'm new to Darwin, I'll definitely be back there soon to try some more of those amazing cocktails.

Q. P.

Great food and Wine selection. However, sneakly added $4 for the steak sauce and other charges.

J. G.

Wow! This has been the best place I have eaten at in Darwin so far, absolutely superb. My wife and I walked in and we're greeted and seated by a very charismatic man by the name of Gavin, he was perfect. I ordered a spice rubbed rump steak and my wife a normal rump, they we're to die for! Please keep up the great work we will be back for sure! The atmosphere was lovely with the sun setting over the beach also, really clean and modern looking venue.

M. B.

Wow what a steak! One of the best steaks I have had in a long time. Great and friendly staff, great wine list with both low, middle and high range selection. Would be a great couple night out but also good for a business dinner. Not surprised they have won a number of rewards, and i will be visiting again.

S. P.

Arrived thirty minutes before the kitchen closed and were greeted warmly , still had the choice to sit inside or outside and they prepared a table for us. Fantastic service and atmosphere .We ordered to entrees of squid and a side of chips and dip to share, the food was nice enough although it came with a fairly steep price for the portion. Overall a nice treat if you have some extra cash to spend .

G. S.

Dinner for 2 gnocchi and seasonal green side was plenty, couple of beers each all good value. Wants to promote its wine list.

G. O.

The venue is in a scenic location and has a nice sunset. Our service started off really good. The classic beef tartare was amazing and set the bar high. We then waited an hour for our mains and the staff were incredibly hard to track down for drinks. My wife had The smoked duck breast which lacked A’La Orange flavor and for $44 only had two slithers of duck. I ordered the rib eye on the bone, cooked perfect, tasted great, potatoes where really good, hardly any vegetables. Not worth the $68 though. Was offered no accompaniments, was not given a steak knife, the side of crisp fat chips came half way through our meal. They were crisp but certainly not fat, the aioli was top notch. We had three drinks each, the beer and wine was really good. Total bill $219 did not match the experience.

B. W.

The service staff very attentive perhaps a little over the top. We tried the degustation menu. It was a little hit and miss. The fried elements - fish and squid were not pleasant. Other elements were a little under seasoned. I think a little more attention to this would help to improve what is a pleasant restaurant.

P. S.

It’s really hard to go past this place for fine dining in Darwin. The atmosphere is quiet but refined. The air conditioning good (which is important). Importantly the food was amazing, the wine selection long and the service was prompt and regular. Highly Recommended.

C. P.

Good food, good location and vibe, unfortunately very poor service. The entree we ordered was out of stock, ok, not a huge deal but should have been anticipated, then the entree's were brought out 10 minutes apart, after the entree the staff seemed to forget we existed, could not get a drink, had to find and pour our own water, entree plates not cleared for 45 minutes. These things would not normally be a big deal but when your are spending $200 on a two person meal they should. The icing on the cake though was when I went o pay they had two staff at the station who, despite seeing me waiting to (over) pay for the experience decided to have a long conversation with the guy in front of me about fishing etc. They made eye contact several times but seemed to have the opinion that I should stand and wait until they had finished discussing what mattered to them, after all my custom is worth less than their preference. By all means go for a good steak but be aware that its pot luck on service. Have been there 8 times for both business and pleasure, its lucky dip what you get.

A. P.

Char is usually amazing. They have an award winning wine list and their steaks are (usually) cooked to your requested perfection. However on this visit all 4 of our steaks were overcooked and subsequently replaced. Sit outside in their terrace for an even better dining experience.

D. N. E.

I ate the 2015 steak of the year, watched a gorgeous sunset, and drank excellent, reasonably priced wine. The wait staff were kind, and attentive (remember you are on "Darwin" time here folks, take a deep breath and chill!), and I look forward to coming again. Be sure to call ahead if you want an outside table on the ocean side, and bring your sunnies for that sunset! The steak was the best I have ever eaten (and I know my steaks!). This Canberra bloke recommends! Enjoy!

A. M.

Marketed as the “Rockpool” of Darwin I was very much looking forward to trying Char. The menu looked really good and I had looked at pages of the 5 star reviews online. Started off with a great entree but went down hill fast. Waited over an hour for our main and the restaurant wasn’t even a quarter full. During that hour wait we received basically no service and sat waiting to order drinks for quite some time. During our hour wait we were updated on our meals a few minutes before they arrived. We should have been given and update after 30 minutes not over an hour. I would be a a bit more understanding if the restaurant was busy but it was basically empty. We ordered the Rib Eye on the bone ($68) and the menu said it came with sides. There was basically nothing on the plate except the stake. For $68 I’m sure a few vegetables wouldn’t break the bank. We also ordered the Duck which was $44 and got two slithers of duck and it didn’t have any orange flavour on the plate/ sauce as stated on the menu. We also ordered the Crisp Fat chips, was expecting thick fat chips. It was a bowl of normal chips you get at the pub. Photo below (they are half eaten) Over all for a $200+ dinner for two I would expect a lot more. I’m really disappointed to give such a poor review as this restaurant was a must try for our visit to Darwin. Hope we just caught you on a bad night Char.

H. F.

Been there multiple times over the last 8 months, about 5 times. The food is good, but the menu is limited, they focus on seafood and steaks and do better than most in Darwin. They also provide table service and its usually pretty good. The only bad experience I had was during the Dry Season. Our service was almost non-existent, we saw our waitress twice and had to go looking for someone to get additional drinks, and my steak was over cooked. I attributed this to the Dry Season and with that comes seasonal waitstaff, who have no experience or desire to provide good service, their only goal is to earn enough dollars to "backpack" to their next destination. The restaurant was also very busy too, and I expect the kitchen had a difficult time keeping up with the demand and quality control. We will be back, but will likely only visit outside the dry season when the service and food quality has been consistently pleasant.

R. T.

The shoestring fries that came with my fish were barely warm and tasted like they had been cooked quite some time before. We had to ask twice for one drink we had ordered. Waitress Kelsey was very overbearing and condescending, so much so that the couple at the table beside us got up and left without ordering. We asked for an outside table.....told they were all booked. Some outside tables had not even been set, other tables had no one sitting at them the whole time we were there. The food overall was nice, but expensive. When paying we were asked to leave a tip, which I found rude..... if I want to leave a tip I will leave one without being asked. Also I found it quite intrusive that I was asked for my name, phone number and email address before I was seated. When I asked why I was told "we have to enter you in our reservation system", never had that happen anywhere else. Char seems quite pretentious....not worth a return visit.

R. G.

This high class restaurant is situated on the Esplanade in Darwin. It serves high end steaks cooked to your liking and they pride themselves on giving you a fine dining experience. The waiters are well presented and efficient, however the prices are very expensive. Over the last 4 years the quality has seem to have gone down as well. The steaks are no longer as tasty as it seemed 2 or 3 years ago and on my last visit the dessert that I normally have, the deconstructed banoffee pie, has shrunk in size a great deal whilst the price has increased. Sadly I have decided not to visit this restaurant again due to the inflated prices for the food, the decreased portion sizes and the disappointment of paying over $400 for a 3 course meal for two, including only one drink for each person.

S. U.

Food was incredible but a little too much effort- no need to over do it as it comes across a pretentious

R. B.

Really good experience. My cousin recently got married in this restaurant. The decoration included all kind of flowers and ribbons everywhere, really tasty. I especially loved the tree right in the middle of the outside deck. Also I have a good memory that we ate there the best steak I've ever tried .

G. H.

Top class food and wines, bit pricy but you expect that for "A" grade service.

C. L.

Went for a family dinner with 9 at the table and had a decent night. We sat outside under the trees and enjoyed a seafood dinner. The staff are mostly backpackers who have some restaurant experience so you might find that some staff dont get some of your requests. We asked for more water 4 times without success but were served more wine immediately each time we requested another bottle.

A. R.

We wanted to go somewhere really nice for our last night in Darwin and we chose Char. I was really happy with the great selection of food on the menu and the number of gluten free items. Our entrees and desserts were excellent and the steaks were some of the best we’ve ever had.

K. B.

Very friendly, nice people! Diverse menu with plenty of options.

A. K.

We were a group of 17 celebrating the success of our national event. Not one negative comment from anyone. Staff were very attentive and helpful. Food was cooked exactly as ordered and was very satisfying. Would recommend Char as the place to go for that special occasion.

P. S.

Darwin has a fine restaurant named Char Restaurant. Beautiful setting, near perfect location very tasteful layout with wonderful staff who do service right. Bar staff were brilliant. Chef did an exquisite job with the produce supplied.

A.

Pros: Lovely outside area and setting for catch ups and business meetings. Cons: The service was a little bit slow. Ordered a steak to be cooked rare and when it came to the table, it was more medium.

D. P.

Very expensive for what you get. Would expect more than one small dollop of butter for two orders of bread. They also only brought out one small balsamic oil dip with the two orders of bread - skimping on both of these at the price they charge is rude. Took 5 minutes to get some water to the table and then they forgot about the wine until they were reminded. Oysters were outstanding and steak was very good, but very overpriced. Wouldn't spend my hard earned here again.

J. A.

Visited in the wet season. Outside seating closed. Good points: They know how to do a steak. Food was great. Bad points: Dinner for one is impractical - Steak, chips, salad and a glass of house red came to $108.

E. L.

Delicious food and cool drinks. The staff were friendly and kind. Also, the steak was delicious. Very expensive but worth it. It took a long time to receive our food. I would recommend it to other people.

G. H.

While I've titled my review as Char probably being the best in Darwin, please bear in mind that Darwin is really a small and likewise its fine dining arena. Compare this against other restaurants in places like Melbourne, Sydney or Perth and it would be consider mediocre. The restaurant gave a nice first impression when we walked in. Nice lighting in a elegant atmosphere set in a heritage listed house. I questioned one of the staff if they were particular with regards to their dress code as I expected some restrictions but was given the answer that they would encourage it rather than enforce it (I later spied some individuals in shorts during the course of the evening).

C. Y. Z.

Love Friday lunch at Char with my girlfriends. Especially today with great service and delicious food. Can’t go past the coldest, freshest, natural oysters with champagne and the vegetarian menu offers so much in tasty healthy choices.

J. P.

The seafood dishes were stylish and well executed. (I didn't try any steak dishes.). Staff were attentive and friendly. Perfect outdoor atmosphere for evening dining during the Dry.

A. H.

Food way too expensive for what I was served. Service needs improvement. Better value elsewhere. The outdoor area really good. Very cozy. Perfect to meet friends for a glass of wine if you have time.

M. &. G. E.

So happy with our dining experience. The food was timely, cooked beautifully and very filling. Environment was relaxing yet colorful and The personnel People were so approachable and accommodating.

R. C.

We dined here on our last night in Darwin. It's a lovely setting where there is seating inside and outside under trees. The service was good. We were served by two different wait staff that were very friendly and provided good service. We shared an entree of Nummus’ cured local fresh fish, shallot, egg yolk and sweet potato chips and for the main we shared the whole baby barramundi in bonito soy with sides of Steamed Broccolini roasted almond, honey mustard dressing and Potato Purée chives & truffle oil. The barramundi was amazing but the broccolini was a bit oversteamed for me and the potato puree had strong flavours which were a bit strong. Overall, we enjoyed it and it was very busy for a Tuesday night.

H. B.

Food was really good. One of our party must have done something wrong. They forgot his entree and he was ok about it. Then they gave him the wrong main meal which I swapped with him. Nail in the coffin was they ran out of his dessert. Kind of ruined the evening. Understand hospitality can be tough but at least share the stuff ups around

J. F.

Very expensive for what it is. Steaks are good but $70 each. Average price for a bottle of wine is also around $100 so take your cheque book. If you go in dry season get a seat outside as the alfresco area is great.

S. &. T.

You can’t deny the rumours…Char is great, and does do an incredible steak. The staff are very knowledgable and helpful, and sitting outside on a warm evening (who’s kidding when is it not perfectly warm in the dry) is just lovely. You know it's good when you've tried and listed half the menu... See you next time @Char The Rib Fillet is particularly superb, and the `Numus’, Szechuan squid, Spring rolls, Pan Seared Scallops, and Banoffee pie are all top notch.

N. J.

High expectations sadly not met. For $67 a steak should be magic but sadly this was only okay and under seasoned. $10 for a bowl of chips was a bit rich also and the harissa Mayo tasted like wasabi? Service was fine but if this is the best steak in the NT that's sad.

B. J.

Great service. Very friendly wait staff. Extensive wine list. Well presented dishes. Seafood & steak specialties. A bit pricey but great quality and worth it.

J. L.

A fairly average steak. T Bone without the bone. They offered to replace it after I finished what I could eat. Scrappy and thin. Service over attentive. Better value elsewhere. And better steak too.

S. W.

Meal, service, location thoroughly enjoyed. But, the beer was warm, and when they another that was warm as well. He said i will but on ice, but the bucket which contained my bottle of Moet had water in it. The sparkling wine was not chilled. This spoilt a bit if the evening and the rating

G. H.

Dined with my family for my birthday. Was very impressed with attentiveness of staff and catering for our dietary requirements. Food was delicious and the restaurant has a lovely ambiance.

J. G.

From Sydney I organised a 50th birthday dinner party for my daughter at Char. It was a wonderful evening . It was a balmy Darwin magic night with a spectacular sunset over the water. The setting is unique. Char is a heritage building - it is the original Old Admiralty House for Darwin. Even the garden is heritage listed. The staff were very helpful and efficient, the service was prompt and attentive, and the food was delicious. I give it 5 stars.

a.

Very Friendly staff. Very accomodative. They made our experience with kids wonderful. Excellent Sirloin Steak. Four of their steaks are halal. If muslim faith people want to eat, it is excellent option

N. N.

Fantastic steak. Everyone on table was happy with their steaks too. Staffs were great. Friendly and informative about their menu and choices of meat. Happy with the price we paid.

D. N.

To say the steak was good. Would be an understatement. It was cooked to perfection. Fats were dripping down my tongue and it was orgasmic. The first bite was a climax. Thank you to Char. Worth the money.

P. K.

Interesting when arriving to be asked for personal details in front of people waiting to sit. Felt uncomfortable to give my details as part of requesting a table. First name ? Second name? They could not spell it so I had to use phonetics.....how embarrassing in front of a crowd. Then they wanted my mobile number ... not for marketing but to send a text to confirm my booking. ???? Hello I am in front of you and do not need a reminder where I am. I was that close to leaving as I felt my privacy was being violated in front of the public. Anyway, after that it’s Darwin’s fancy schmancy dinner experience. Nice food , very professional service that you pay top price. My only other negative is privacy. Tables are close together so intimacy is not there. It was very busy for off-season and Tuesday night, so I would expect you would need to book.

L. H.

We dined at Char two years ago and I rated it 10/10, this time it wasn’t quite the same experience. We noted some slight changes in service and 4 out of 8 steaks weren’t cooked as ordered

I. “.

Best food ever in Darwin. Chorizo was amazing, juicy, soft, well cooked. I am not fan of red meat person but I had an eye fillet which was delicious, juicy, rose but not bloody, well cooked with satisfactory mushroom with cafe de Paris. Well done.

K. L.

Great atmosphere and service with a smile. Very fresh food especially the seafood. Good selection of meals. Pleasant location with nice sea breezes and views of the sunset. Worth paying a little extra for this enjoyable experience.

B. O.

Very expensive, but always delicious food. I never walk away hungry or disappointed. I often hear about Char supporting local groups and events by offering discounted drinks, e.g. NT Young Professionals group and entrepreneurial groups. 4 out of 5 stars only because of the pricing

B. B.

Amazing whiskey sour made by Flore

J. I.

We went for our Christmas lunch, using the upstairs room of Old Admiralty House. Food was excellent and the wait staff were very attentive. We had a great time.

F.

Best steak I’ve had ever. Great and professional service, atmosphere (inside and outside) amazing, it is pricy, but for a special night well worth it.

L. B.

Food was excelled, however, the staff could not cope with the work load. Considering the price tag, i would not go back as we waited for ages to get our orders delivered. Luckily, we don't live here.

R. H.

Happy great steak and sides nice place for a meal.

P. B.

Good steak, decent service and nice environment. However prices are silly and I ate nearly as good a steak at one of the Irish pubs in town for less than half the price.

J. W.

The moo jus is the most delicious sauce and the rib fillet was the best steak I've ever eaten. Sit outside under the tree and you'll have an excellent night

g. t.

A little noisy, and in this era of social distancing, tables were a little close, but the service was good and the food just great.

B. M.

The steak was amaaaaazing but you expect that for the price. Would recommend for a special occasion if you feel like meat. OK service.

N. K.

Very friendly Spanish waitress. Mouthwatering giant Tbones and interesting yummy sides.

V. S.

We only had a cold non- alcoholic drink, but the service was pleasant and what we saw of the menu looked like good quality. We did not have the opportunity to actually eat here

S. R.

Superb customer service and food. Thank you for making our wedding anniversary special

J. M.

One of the better steak houses in town. Quality service, meat and wines. Be sure to check out the art in the bathrooms.

J. M.

Happy Valentine's Day. Char definately made mine. Amazing wait staff, phenominal bar staff - who went above and beyond to accomadate my request and the chef , what can I say!!!! Everything, and I mean everything he made was exceptional. Thank you Char, we will be back

T.

It was delicious, definitely recommended!

B. D.

We had a function at the Darwin Club,was very good.

V. P.

Excellent service and food, i will be back!

n. v.

Food was excellent, staff was very helpful and cordial but service could have been a little faster. Ambiance was very relaxed.

T. S.

Wow, worth every cent. One of the nicest meals of my life. Staff were great with their service.

B. C.

States best steak in northern territory which may be true but definitely too chewy despite being wagyu cooked in medium.

S. K.

Great steaks, great food. You pay a little more but receive quality. Best wine selection in Darwin.

n. b.

Great quality food, good service, just dont book a meal outside before 6pm unless you are prepared for the heat.

A. L.

Amazingly fresh and quality food and ingredients, superior and respectful service and attention to detail, no attitude. While it is not cheap it is definitely worth it. Great for a special occasion.

s. t.

Good food, great view and pricey

M. C.

If you are looking for the perfect steak, this is the perfect place. All staff regardless, bar and waiting, all very accommodating. Marty.

M. T.

Fantastic food, great staff. A bit too pricey though. But definitely worth to go.

P. R.

Very good meal we had in the Char restaurant steaks were excellent

K. M.

Excellent service and the food was just great! We had dinner twice during our short five-day stay.

g.

Very over priced. Paid $52 for a tough steak. Wine prices are ridiculous and wines poorly cellared.

R. M.

Nice elegant restaurant. Good setting outdoors and lovely rib eye steak. Melbourne standard of nice.

F. M.

Loved the atmosphere, service and food. Came here to celebrate 30th wedding anniversary and they helped made our night special.

A. G.

One of the best seafood restaurant Love it. Worth every penny

C. H.

Awesome food. Great relaxing atmosphere. Good service. Exceptional wine list

P. B.

Best steak in Darwin. Their "moo juice" (homemade beef gravy) is a must.

M. S.

Excellent service and excellent food. The wine list extensive with a great variety

S. H.

Very nice place with a good view out over the bay. Great menu with loads of local cuisine on offer.

J. P.

Everything excellent. Staff great. Luka our waiter was excellent. Food same.

S. R.

Great range of food only made better by the wine selection. They have what you need.. Full stop.

C. M.

Pricey. But well worth it. Unreal food, well presented and excellent service. Possibly best restaurant in town.

A. L.

Excellent wine,moderate service,tasty fresh meal, poor dessert menu.

D. A.

Great location. Excellence with the food especially the steaks. Good quality service.

S. T.

Great service, amazing steak and the scallops were superb Love Char, thanks guys

R. B.

Awesome food, awesome service at a good price. Know wheel to go whenever I'm in Darwin if I want a good meal.

M.

Love it all! Bat, restaurant, garden. Go there!

n. s.

Food was great! But recommend going as a couple not a Christmas party!

K.

Fantastic service. Amazing food. Darwin's best wine list.

P. M.

Nice steak nice change for us both the service was pretty good

r. d. r.

Dropped in for our anniversary, was totally worth it! The team also put in a little something to make it extra special! Cheers guys!

S. F.

Big shout out to Spanish person Vanessa - excellent service

y. s.

Nice food and atmosphere. Had a good time with my mum from overseas. Thank you.

S. C.

Excellent food, totally enjoyed.

T. G.

Expensive but easily one of the best steaks I've ever had.

S. H.

Great steak, good service, excellent location a bit pricey

K. D.

Expensive but worth it. Favourite steak house in Darwin which has never disappointed

A. T.

Waited over an hour for our meals!

B. E.

Amazing food and great wine list - if you can afford it

T. W.

Great steak and wine selection. A bit too salty. I like the bailey affogato.

P. D.

great steaks but poor service. mostly transient tourist/backpacker staff (who are usually hungover)

S. M.

Beautiful atmosphere, knowledgeable and friendly table service and delicious steak.

B. P.

It is definitely expensive for what it is. But the food IS good. If money isn't a consideration then go for it. If it is, there is better value around.

T. M.

Top notch steak and locally brewed beer. Great night out

A. L.

Great food, Great service. Loved the squid entrée from South OZ!!

R. M.

Wow! Truely the best Rump steak I've ever had! Amazing!

G. C.

very good restaurant. very friendly staff. delicious food

L. P.

Beautiful food and place.

A. M.

In and out. Wagyu ragout papardelle (?) - just delightful. Delicious. Good wine, attentive service. Worth it.

E. M.

Overpriced for the top of Australia but steak on menu well prepared, not prepared for the waiters though.

T. S.

A good occasion. Friendly service and good food made for a pleasant and productive dinner meeting

J. T.

Only been twice, bit pricey but food and service is well worth it....

J. M.

Fantastic steaks and a lovely atmosphere, lovely waiting staff as well.

M. H.

Nice meals, but service can be a bit inconsistent at times.

L. N.

Loved lunch here today, great service, great food and great view.

M. H.

Very nice. Lovely staff. Great food.

C. M.

Good steak. Portions huge. Service great!!

J. H.

Great place to eat and have a few drinks. Amazing service

R. M.

Great service, nice food but very expensive

m. a.

Good food and even better service. Good range of wines.

T. B.

Great service and food

M. W.

Great food Excellent service Enjoyed all round ....will be back

P. C.

Excellent food and great company always a good recipe for a great night

A. P.

Great food and dining experience

w. g.

Pretty good

B. C.

Great food

E. P.

Great tasting steak and superb wine selection.

A. M.

Great good, nice venue, and super friendly staff

M. K.

Lovely meal. Need to learn how to make hot chocolate drink.

B. H.

Great Steaks, I would recommend to go hear for best Steaks in NT

B. W.

Delicious food and excellent service.

M. L.

Great steak restaurant ..has oysters as well ..very expensive 450 for 3

J. S.

Great steak, service and hospitality!

D. M.

Really nice meals and a great atmosphere

K. M.

Best ravioli I have evee had. Perfection.

M. C.

Extremely slow service. Tasty food. Extremely overpriced.

R. B.

Great meals there rib eye is awesome

Y. M.

Nice food but over the top in price.

J. M.

Service was fantastic, and the food was delicious.

I. D.

Pricey but good food and friendly service.

J. S.

Every dish was brilliant.

M. B.

I come here all the time! Best wine list in Darwin :)

L. P.

Service was a little Lax. Still a great venue though

M. B.

Very nice venue, friendly staff, delicious food 😉

A.

Great quality, really enjoyed my night out

S. P.

Good ambience.

B. T. (.

Lovely breakfast, friendly efficient staff.

L. F.

Little expensive but worth trying their Steaks and cocktails

M. G.

Good food, excellent service, great location.

J. D. B.

Excellent steak. A bit expensive

K. H.

Excellent steaks...great food!

K. G.

The whole baked fish was an incredible experience

D. D.

Lovely setting & delicious meals.

M. E.

Great steak and great service.

T. J.

First class food and wine. Best in Darwin

D. B.

Amazing food, average service.

D. H.

Great service. Brilliant food.

C. M.

Meat quality did not match the price.

R. C. B.

Bit over priced but food is worthy

S. S.

A good getaway for a romantic dinner nite

J. R.

Amazingly delicious food and good service.

W. B.

Great food and wine list

I. D.

Excellent food and great service

M. D.

Great cuts of meat. Friendly staff

B. O.

Great steaks, great service

J. S.

Great food and polite staff

M. R.

Excellent meal and service by Selina

T. B.

Great lunch and 5 Star

W. J. C.

Good food but very overpriced

L. B.

Relaxed& looked after.superb food.

G. T.

Great food and great service

D. M.

Great location, food and ambience

P. S.

Excellent food and atmosphere

L. G.

Nice food but very expensive

M. L.

Great food and atmosphere

B. M.

Good steak and seafood.

Z. F.

Most likely the best steak in town! And the sides that come with it: mesmerising! Had the good fortune of being served by a very helpful and friendly staff! If you are looking for a great dining experience on a special occasion, then his is the perfect place! Highly recommended!

P. M.

Great food and wine

H. J.

Best steaks in NT

L. J. T.

yummy yummu yum

O. S.

Nice for dry season

G. M.

Pasta main was excellent

J. C.

Great food and service

M. R.

Superb dining experience

A. K. T. H.

No too bad

G. A.

Best steaks in Darwin

A.

Great steaks

S. M.

you can not walk in off the street have tried 5 times and been turned away evrry time once there was only 10 tablss of people but they still turned us away only 2 of us wehen we booked ahead and experienced the food and service was great portions are too small and we had to call the bank for a loan to pay the bill

M. S.

Five star with everything

L. D.

Great steaks

R. S.

Great streak!

M. M.

Delicious

D. W.

Disappointed relative to expectations

U. K.

Good food!

A. B.

Fantastic

C. O.

Good steaks

S. S.

Very nice location, service and meal (but quite expensive)

R. S.

Delicious fish

L. H.

Excellent service.

P. S.

Lovely food

G. H.

Great Barramundi

M.

Lovely place

D. C.

Wow the food

H. T.

Disappointing. Char was recommended as the best fine dining in Darwin. The service was great, but not fine dining. Mains were good, but starters were average at best. Garlic bread was terrible. Overall the only fine dining element was the price, and hence didn't represent value for money.

W. B.

A really good experience

J. S.

Always quick to serve the main meal, good quality and taste too.

L. A.

(Translated) Excellent cuisine, but overpriced! Tried for dinner for two by reservation.The place is very nice, organized in a very large indoor and outdoor area, in a unique Victorian-style location in Darwin. We eat extremely well cooked meat and fish dishes on large tables. The menu features a wide selection of organic, controlled and certified Australian and New Zealand meats, and their flavor tells it very well. The service is also very accurate, with waiters who alternate according to the needs: water, wine and courses. Don't be surprised to eat among Opossums that come down from the trees. :) Unfortunately, however, neither the goodness of the food nor the quality of the service justify the cost of the dinner, which is actually inappropriate. Valid for romantic dinners or groups of friends, but not recommended from a quality / price point of view. (Original) Cucina eccellente, ma eccessivamente caro! Provato a cena in due dietro prenotazione.Il locale é molto bello, organizzato in un'area interna ed esterna molto ampia, in una location unica a Darwin in stile vittoriano. Si mangia in tavoli larghi piatti di carne e di pesce cucinati estremamente bene. Il menù dispone di un'ampia selezione di carni australiane e neozelandesi biologiche, controllate e certificate, e il loro sapore lo racconta benissimo. Anche il servizio é molto curato, con camerieri che si alternano a seconda delle occorrenze: acqua, vino e portate. Non sorprendervi di mangiare tra Opossum che scendono dagli alberi. :) Purtroppo però né la bontà del cibo né la qualità del servizio giustificano il costo della cena, effettivamente inappropriato. Valido per cene romantiche o comitive di amici, ma non consigliato dal punto di vista qualità/prezzo.

y. s.

(Translated) In Darwin it was quite a fine restaurant rib with ribs was delicious (Original) ダーウィンではなかなかの高級レストラン❗骨付きリブ美味しかった🎵

V. Z.

(Translated) Celebrated here 30 years! Liked)) (Original) Отмечал здесь 30 летие! Понравилось))

a. t.

K. K.

D. M.

(Translated) Good! (Original) Bon !

ภ. ค.

(Translated) The food is very delicious. (Original) อาหารอร่อยมากกกกกกกก

H. F.

(Translated) Best establishment in Darwin (Original) Meilleur établissement à Darwin

J. F. R.

(Translated) Excellent !!! (Original) Excelente !!!

M. L.

(Translated) The best (Original) Il migliore

B. F.

e. t.

S. B.

I. O.

L. “. B.

J. D.

D. W.

C. S.

P. M.

H. C.

L. L.

A. C.

P. L.

D. M.

G. C.

M. R.

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