Bidding A Loved One Farewell at Charleston's
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Cuisine Style: American / Chain / Bar and Grill
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 1/5
Article Updated: February 2020
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
By Cuisine / By Country
By Cuisine / By Country
Charleston’s is a casual restaurant with a modestly priced menu featuring traditional American classics. The atmosphere is pleasant and somewhat upbeat using dark woods and gaslighting to create a comfortable and relaxing dining experience. They are a chain restaurant located in 5 States; Indiana, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.
Menu:
- Starters
- Salads
- Soup Calendar
- Sandwiches and Burgers
- Specialties
- Chicken
- Steak & Prime Rib
- Sides
- Desserts
more menus:
- Gluten-Free
- Wine list
I spent three days in Indianapolis with family members to say goodbye to another family member who passed away. To celebrate her 93 years of life, the family and I went to Charleston’s Restaurant on my recommendation from some reviews I had read.
Well, in the city of the Colts and the Indy 500, I didn’t get what I was hoping for, but overall the experience was good. It will teach me to look at a menu and do more research before I make a reservation and bring my family. By the name, I was expecting Lowcountry Cuisine like you get in Charleston, South Carolina, versus a casual American chain, but that was my fault.
The atmosphere was very nice for a chain, the serving staff was well dressed, and so it looked like it was going to be the start of a good evening. The embarrassing part was letting my family see the menu, after telling them there would be some great Southern Food available LOL!!. The only thing Southern was the Gumbo for their Sunday Soup, unfortunately, we had our reservations on Wednesday so I couldn’t try that either. I settled for the Shrimpcargot appetizer which was shrimp topped with mushrooms and Havarti cheese broiled and served in a sauce, a very pleasant starter.
For the entrée, I had the fillet that was charred with hickory smoke, which did add a lot of flavor to the dish, with fresh vegetables and Burgundy mushrooms. Now the mushrooms were supposed to be a Burgundy recipe, but they tasted like plane sautéed mushrooms with Onions. I didn’t pick up any nice earthy or minerality like you get from Bourgogne reduced wine flavors. Overall, the steak was prepared correctly as ordered, though the vegetables were nuked in a microwave, so bye-bye to the nutrients inside them.
 |
| Charleston's Restaurant / Fillet |
My Father ordered the ribs which had the same smoky flavors, and as he commented on them being one of the better recipes for ribs that he had eaten.
 |
| Charleston's Restaurant / Hickory smoked spareribs |
My Mother in law had the grilled pork chops, again with the same hickory smoke, but she didn’t take to the flavors to well and wished she had some apples to go with the chops, which they didn’t offer as a side item. Pork and Apples are like Peas and Carrots, but then this wasn’t my menu setup.
 |
| Charleston's Restaurant / Grilled Pork Chops |
For the menu and the style of food, I also expected a really nice wine list, but unfortunately, they had what I like to call very basic brand name wines versus cult or family estate-style wines. So to toast out the departed family member, I chose what I felt was the best bottle they had, which was a good Cabernet that I had had in the past, but not enough body to match the strong hickory smoke flavors of the food. If the food was without the smoke flavor, then this wine would have been perfect. It was the Twenty Bench from Napa Valley, a very smooth wine, with excellent structure, 14.5% alcohol, with plum, coffee, and dark chocolate flavors.
Dessert:
They had bread pudding and a brownie on the menu but we did not have room for dessert.
But check out some of these wonderful selections from Wine Dine and Play:
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
Other Noteworthy Casual American eats similar to Charleston’s Restaurant:
Also known as American fare, comfort, or classic American, as large as the United States is, it also encompasses many cuisine variations. These include the native Indians prior to European colonization, Hawaiian, and not forgetting the melting pot of immigrants that came and fused their styles together to make America. This list will be of restaurants that represent the broader base of American cuisine, using styles from all parts of the country on their menus. Pot roast, chicken fried steak, BLT’s, and hamburgers make up some of the junk we eat. This section is not to be confused with New American Cuisine techniques. New American is listed further down.
10 Pin Lanes Improved food and lots of fun. Bowling alley’s join better dining in St Petersburg, Florida
91 Wood Fire Oven Refined rustic American fare in Canton, Ohio
725 South Casual American eats at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island, Tampa, Florida
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s A family-friendly chain restaurant based in Florida, reviewed from St. Petersburg
Bon Appétit Waterfront Restaurant An Eclectic Blend of American and European Cuisine in Dunedin, Florida
Brandon’s A contemporary twist on American favorites in Palm Beach, Florida
Charleston’s Restaurant Casual American eatery; reviewed in Indianapolis, Indiana
Cypress Refined creative American eats in Charleston, South Carolina
Grace 17.20 Modern and contemporary American cuisine in Peachtree Corners, Georgia
Jungle Prada Tavern American Bar/Tavern next to the Narvaez historical site in St. Petersburg, Florida
Mad Fish A casual Gourmet American Cuisine restaurant in a Retro-Style Diner in St Pete Beach, Florida
Murder Mystery Train 5-course American meal with a show in Fort Myers, Florida
Ozona Blue An American Grill with small Asian twist serving cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere in Palm Harbor, Florida
Parkshore Grill Sophisticated American dishes in St. Petersburg, Florida
Periscope Restaurant American cuisine in the Magnuson Hotel, Marina Cove, St Petersburg, Florida
Reflections Bar and Grill American favorites in the Westin Hotel at the airport in Detroit, Michigan
Ruth Eckerd Hall A Star Trek Experience with dinner in Clearwater, Florida
Salt Rock Grill Fine dining waterfront spot for grilled fish and steaks with a raw bar in Indian Shores, Florida
The Avenue Eat + Drink Rustic restaurant known for its burgers in St. Petersburg, Florida
The Biltmore Dining Room Seasonal American cuisine in Asheville, North Carolina
The Cafe by Mis En Place A Wine Bar by Mise En Place restaurant in Airside F, Tampa Airport, Florida
The Cheesecake Factory American chain with 200+ locations, large menu; reviewed in Tampa, Florida
The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge Relaxed eatery, and comfort foods St. Petersburg, Florida
The Zink Kitchen + Bar Modern and sleek American cuisine in Centennial, Colorado
Yacht Starship Seasonal American cuisine dinner cruise in Tampa, Florida
Z Grille Colorfully inspired twists on American classics in St. Petersburg, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Final notes, review basics, and observations:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating I give Charleston’s Restaurant a 1 out of 5 stars, meaning were an average dining experience like most restaurants and did not really wow me or exceed any expectations. I would return to try them again though.
Scores are detailed in the chart below
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Charleston's
|
Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
Food quality
|
9
|
5
|
4
|
Plate presentation
|
8
|
5.5
|
2.5
|
Customer service
|
8.5
|
4.5
|
4
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
10
|
7
|
3
|
Total regular points awarded
|
45.5
|
30
|
15.5
|
Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.659340659340659
| ||
“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0
| ||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.659340659340659
| ||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
|
0 - 5
|
1
|
**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
1 of 5 Stars:
66% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
An Average Dining Experience
|
Wine List:
| |
Wine rating:
|
4 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Spain, Italy
New World selections:
Argentina, California, Oregon, Washington State
|
Corkage fees:
|
This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
|
Restaurant-style:
|
Casual dining
|
Cuisine Style:
|
American
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Pescatarian, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
|
Reservations:
|
Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted
|
Dress code:
|
Casual or Conservative attire
|
Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
|
Experiences:
|
Contemporary, Modern, Good for special occasions, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
|
Payments:
|
Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
|
Parking:
|
Private lot
|
Wifi
|
The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
|
Noise level:
|
Medium
|
Smoking:
|
Charleston's is a non-smoking restaurant
|
Patio or terrace:
|
No
|
Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricy)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
££
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€€
|
Charleston's Restaurant:
Charleston’s Castelton
6815 East 82nd St.
Indianapolis, IN 46250
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
| |
Maître d or host:
|
(317) 841-0442
|
Online reservations
| |
Serving hours:
Central Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 6:00)
|
Daily: Mon-Sun
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
|
Social Media
and
Accolades for Charleston's:
| |
****
The world's best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Sustainable & regional German cuisine
Berlin, Germany
|
Safari + Upscale African Cuisine
Sabi Sabi, South Africa
|
Farm-to-fork new American fare
Sonoma, California
|
|
Impeccably prepared French fine dining
Dublin, Ireland
|
Blend of Argentinean & Brazilian cuisine
Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE
|
Classic Mediterranean dishes and wine bar
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
|
Other Pictures:
 |
| Charleston's Restaurant / Picture courtesy of TripAdvisor |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
