The Charles
The Charles was one of the most recommended restaurants in Connecticut when I pulled my Instagram followers. So, we gathered a couple of friends, made a reservation, and checked it out. Overall, the food was good, the service was even better, and it turned into a beautiful evening. If you’re in the Hartford area, it’s worth checking out.
The Charles
Location: Wethersfield, CT (near Hartford)
Address: 161 Main Street
Food Type: Eclectic Americana
Meal Duration: 60+ Minutes
Dining Experience: Indoor and Outdoor (seasonal)
Price: $50+ per Person
Dress Code: Dressy Casual +
Special Diets: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian & Pescatarian
Ambience of The Charles
The Charles is located within a historic building that’s been everything from a militia house to an inn to a wedding venue. Now, the building’s antique-coastal vibe lends itself brilliantly to fine dining. Blues, rich, timeless brown, and mode make the interior cozy and inviting. There’s a private event space for dinners and celebrations, plus a dining room with a massive floral mural pretty enough to make any gardener envious.
Downstairs, the main dining room and bar are the perfect places to meet and make new memories.
Our Meals at The Charles
I was thrilled that The Charles had so many gluten-free options. Most of their menu can be made gluten-free if it isn’t already, and as a pescatarian, they had so many choices!
Above: Stone Fruit Salad
This seasonal salad with grilled apricot, ricotta salata, mango-yuzu vinaigrette, shaved fennel, arugula, and toasted slivered almonds was a delightful blend of colors, flavors, and textures. I really enjoyed this, and it tied with the gluten-free calamari as my favorite part of our meal.
Above: Gluten-Free Calamari
This was the best calamari I’ve ever had. Fresh from the coast of Rhode Island, these tiny squid were battered in rice flour and quick-fried. They weren’t oily, didn’t fall apart, and had fantastic flavor. Served with banana peppers, toasted fennel seed, and saffron-piquillo pepper aioli, this alone was reason enough to visit The Charles. I can’t remember the last time I was able to have something fried, and this was glorious!
Above: Spring Pasta Flora with Gluten-Free Pasta
This could have been much better. The gluten-free pasta was mushy and broke apart. The vegetables were barely cooked, making it a jarring combination of crunchy peas, sloppy pasta, and far-too-large chunks of tomato and radish with cold centers. The wild leek pistou had a nice flavor but wasn’t enough to save this unfortunate dish. I’d recommend the kitchen refine its gluten-free pasta offerings, serve vegetables at least cooked enough that they aren’t cold in the center, and cut large pieces into a manageable size instead of serving them whole.
Above: Boston Cod
Thankfully, my husband’s entrée was enough for both of us to share and redeem our meal. This delicious, buttery cod was perfectly flaky. It was naturally gluten-free and poached with wine butter, miso-ginger dashi broth, baby bok choy, seacoast farm mushrooms, and green papaya salad served with whi. This dish’s bright, rich flavors prove that The Charles can do much better than the pasta I ordered. In fact, I wasn’t going to write about this restaurant until I tasted this. Many gluten-free diners and people with Celiac disease trust me to guide them towards great meals, and this dish saved my opinion of The Charles.
Above: Limoncello Ricotta Cheesecake Gluten-Free
The limoncello ricotta cheesecake was served with Sicilian pistachio biscotto, Meyer lemon, marinated berries, and lemon zest. While it was good, it wasn’t quite a cheesecake, as it was an unusual consistency. I’m okay with trying variations of classics, but I’d like to see some notice on the menu that it’s a spinoff. Even though it wasn’t what we’d envisioned, it was tasty and a cool take on a classic.
Final Thoughts
While my dish was disappointing, the rest of our meal was great. Our server was kind and attentive, the atmosphere was lovely, and we had a wonderful evening with our friends, who had no complaints about their meat-based dishes. While it seems they need to work on their gluten-free pasta, everything else was recommendation-worthy. So, if you’re in Wethersfield or the greater Hartford area and looking for a place with bountiful gluten-free options, an ever-evolving menu, excellent service, and a fun atmosphere, check out The Charles.
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