Charlie Brown's Steakhouse

Easily the worst food we've ever but our expectations weren't high to begin with. The staff who had to apologize multiple times for the missing ingredients on the Mediterranean Salmon and the overcooked, then undercooked NY Strip were very nice; they took the steak off our check without being asked. I got the feeling this happens a lot and they were just being proactive. When we left the restaurant my husband confessed he didn't bother to mention the insect he saw crawling across his plate because there was no point in making things worse.
The worst thing a restaurant can do is call themselves a steak house when they can't execute a steak. Nothing was good- not even the salad bar or the side of steamed broccoli. I'd like to believe that chain restaurants like Charlie Brown's must have some redeeming qualities and I try not to be a snob, but I'm never, ever right.

It's been about 10 months since my last review. I usually sit by the bar & it's excellent. This time the entire family joined so we got a big table in the back. Ok - where do I start. 1st- we were squeezed in a round table instead of putting together 3 squared tables (there was plenty of empty tables), 2nd- it took a while after seating for assistance, 3rd- waitress was nice but misinformed as we had to order 2 types of food because she was told they had run out & then we had piles of food. So we spent most of our time reading the menu rather then conversing. 4th- most importantly water was missing from the table. We were served once and would have appreciated if the pitcher was left on the table because we were too many having spicy food and not enough water. 5th- the cheeseburger was so bad that the college graduate left it, the ribs gave the girlfriend the runs, the chicken gave the wife heartburn & the hubby was the only satisfied one. I do thank YELP for the free shrimp as check-in prop. Maybe it was just not the chefs day. Better luck next time.

OK, for some reason I could not get the name "Beefsteak Charlie's" out of my mind - and indeed, this place takes me back to 1984 - but not in a good way.

The good parts?  Our server Brian was attentive and kind - and took the overly-salted French Onion Soup off our tab without hesitation - nor us asking.

The salad bar is also nice - and very '80's - one whole section is mayonaie-based salads (pasta, potato) so I skipped that part.

My friend ordered a "Queen Cut" prime rib - and I had 2 bites of it - he ordered it medium and it actually came out rarer than I had thought it would.  It was OK but no flavor to it other than (you guessed it) salt.

Do NOT order the French Onion Soup here - it looks great and the cheese/crouton are good - but the beef stock is like eating a salt lick.  I could not eat more than a few spoonfuls ($4.99) what a shame!

Just OK.  Not in a hurry to go back.
Strangely enough - with the exception of no "pick and peek" shrimp on the salad bar and no "Free Sangria" (remember that???) this place could be a Beefsteak Charlie's.

Ah, the '80's.
Childhood.
Recaptured.

I guess...