Charlie Brown's Offers Meat, Sure, and Much More

I’ve been dining at as long as I can remember, which is a fact because the New Jersey-based chain was founded only a few years after me. My Charlie Brown’s is still at the same location, a windowless bunker that as a lad made me think that all steakhouses were dark, forbidding places.

Happily, the Charlie Brown’s in Chatham is in a grand renovated Colonial home, and offers a bright and airy setting to enjoy prime rib or any of the many entrées on an expansive menu that won't obliterate your wallet. We were seated at a comfortable table in the large main dining room by a window, but one can dine in the lounge, too.

My dining partner though young has a keenly developed sense of making the most of a meal, especially when he’s not paying, which is always. He ordered the filet mignon, and it’s always a wise choice. I ordered the Charlie’s Cut, 18 ounces of prime rib goodness served on the bone.

Our order delivered to the kitchen by our efficient server, we availed ourselves of the salad bar. Anyone might be tempted to fill their plate to heaping levels, but you can go back all you want. (We frequently fill a container-to-go for a snack later. Don’t forget the fresh-baked raisin bread!)

Order a drink from the bar, then peruse Charlie Brown’s expanded menu of appetizers. That is, if you JUST CAN’T WAIT for your prime rib, there’s Prime Rib Sliders, shaved beef served on English muffin slider buns with Havarti cheese, sautéed onions and horseradish sauce. Seriously.  Or try the grilled shrimp, crab cakes or spinach and artichoke dip. There also is a full array of soups and specialty salads.

Charlie Brown’s first opened for business when meat was king, and devout carnivores have plenty to choose from: four cuts of the signature prime rib; Porterhouse, ribeye, sirloin, chopped steak, and ribs. Oh, and the Grilled marinated rack of lamb topped with a roasted garlic aioli and crisp Parmesan bread crumbs, served with red wine demi glace, garlic mashed potatoes and frizzled onions. (I’m making you crazy, right?)

There’s plenty of fish and fowl on the menu, including salmon, flounder, lobster tail, crab cakes and scampi, as well as specialties such as bourbon-roasted chicken, pasta, meatloaf and steakburgers.

Just be sure to leave room for dessert.

522 Southern Blvd., Chatham
Phone: 973-822-1800

Lunch: Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Happy Hour Monday-Friday 4-7 p.m.

Dinner: Monday-Thursday 3-10 p.m. (dining room), 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. (lounge); Friday & Saturday 3-10:30 p.m. (dining room); 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. (lounge); Sunday
11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (dining room), 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.