Don’t just take our word for it…
New York Times, August 2015 — Play It Again, Charlie
“For most of its recent past, Mott Haven was known as a South Bronx industrial stretch, dotted with auto parts shops and vacant buildings. It had the woeful distinction in the last census of being in the poorest congressional district in the country. But longtime residents, and newcomers who venture across the nearby Third Avenue Bridge, see a neighborhood in full transformation, and many of them are drawn to a local watering hole with the sleek look of Lower Manhattan and the casual feel of the Bronx.
Charlies Bar & Kitchen is stationed at the ground level of the Clock Tower, a red-orange brick piano factory built in 1886 that now rents lofts for $2,500 — not a bad deal for a loft, but a big change for Mott Haven. Charlies, as it is known by all, is among a small number of intrepid establishments in a rapidly developing area.
The absence of an apostrophe in the name is intentional. According to the general manager of the place, Sam Toosi, the name honors not one particular Charlie but many. On a recent busy Saturday afternoon, Mr. Toosi, 39, pointed to one of several walls covered with framed portraits of pop-culture Charlies: Parker, Chaplin and Brown, to name a few.
The cavernous interior of Charlies, including a bar and ample table seating, is a homage to the last standing relic of a once-thriving piano manufacturing industry. The open layout and utilitarian architecture nod toward this industrial past, while the homey antiques and funky playlist add a hint of Southern charm.
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In Manhattan or parts of Brooklyn, the interior design, the weekly live music and the flowing mimosas during brunch (and boy, do they flow) wouldn’t particularly stand out in a crowded field. But in Mott Haven they merit attention.
“It’s obvious the Bronx is changing,” said Greg Ashby, casting a glance around the crowd of patrons gathered, most of whom live in the area. Mr. Ashby, 54, a superintendent in a nearby building, grew up here during the 1960s and ’70s, when buildings were abandoned and gangs like the Savage Skulls roamed. He sipped a Tanqueray on the rocks. “This is positive change,” he said.
Outside, a block party sponsored in part by SoBRO, a nonprofit organization that fosters renewal efforts in the South Bronx, was going full tilt. Judith Desire, 35, of Harlem had wandered into Charlies for the first time, looking for a reprieve from the heat. She also came for the chicken and waffles, ordering the Jacksboro Chicken Benny, a heap of fried egg and boneless chicken resting atop a waffle drizzled with homemade hot sauce — a brunch favorite among Charlies regulars. “I’m a bit of a connoisseur,” she said, having tried the dish in the four other boroughs. It was the Bronx’s turn.
Indeed, the menu at Charlies — Americana with a Southern twist and a bevy of signature cocktails — is meant to be crowd-pleasing. But most patrons will tell you the ambience is the selling point.
Jemaine Buchanan, 35, was seated with four friends at a table full of mimosa flutes. “I’m proud this is here,” he said. Mr. Buchanan lives in the Bronx, but only after frequenting Charlies did he think twice about boarding a downtown train to Manhattan when in the mood for a drink. And while he acknowledges that some might view the place as a sign of impending change on the scale of Brooklyn — that is, gentrification — he is pleased with the efforts of the management and the mostly local staff to cater to the community.”
Timeout NY, April 2018 — Brunch 101
“Nestled in the same borough that gave rise to hip-hop, this orange-brick pub inside a former piano factory spins 90s rap nuggets and hosts live jazz bands, all while slinging Southern-leaning plates every weekend starting at 11am. Belly up to the bar for DJ Menyu’s “Boogie Down Brunch” of old-school hip-hop and R&B remixes, so you can tune in (or zone out) alongside the Bronx natives and newcomers. Ask for a Henny from the Block, which spices up the caramely cognac with hints of ginger syrup, orange bitters and fresh lemon, before diving into a favorite dish of the locals: the Fried Chicken Benny, a rich hybrid of two brunch bastions that layers a sunny-side-up egg atop boneless fried chicken and a crispy waffle, then showers it in a sausage gravy good enough to make you forget your friends bailed.”
Thrillist, July 2018 — The Best Bars in New York City Right Now
“Charlies has anchored the South Bronx’s historic Clocktower Building since 2012. Golden light bounces off exposed brick walls, and framed photos of stars of bygone eras look over a cozy L-shaped bar where drinks are 2-for-1 during daily happy hour.”
…SEE FOR YOURSELF!
Thrillist, June 2016 — Best Restaurants in Bronx, NY
“Charlies has called the historic, landmark Clock Tower building in Mott Haven home since 2012. While food is predominantly modern American with Southern flair, plenty of other cultural twists are sampled throughout the menu (see the jerk chicken or spaghetti pomodoro). And the cocktail menu has just as many interesting options, like Rumble In The Bronx, made with rum, passion fruit, lime juice, agave, and mint -- which goes perfectly with the punchy, sweet CBK wings.”
Afar, 2019 — Charlies Bar & Kitchen
“Of all New York's boroughs, the Bronx has had the hardest time shaking the reputation left over from darker periods in the city's history. The South Bronx is not, however, the lawless, crime-ridden neighborhood you might imagine if you have watched too many Al Pacino and Robert De Niro movies of the '70s. Adventurous travelers are crossing the Harlem River to visit long-established destinations like the area's Antiques Row and new additions like the Bronx Brewery. A good way to start or end a day of exploring the district is with a meal at Charlies Bar & Kitchen, a lively local favorite that serves comfort-food favorites like barbecue ribs, burgers, and mac and cheese.”
New York Magazine, March 2014 — Best Bronx Bar
“Late last year in this bar-deprived stretch of Mott Haven, Clock Bar closed and was reborn as Charlie’s Bar & Kitchen. The place is now decked out with portraits of famous Charlies (Parker, Lindbergh, the Tuna), soft lighting, and redbrick walls. It’s one of the few bars where you’ll find fancy Cocktail Kingdom Japanese jiggers next to Kahlúa. Seemingly every guest is friends with the kind and eager staff; the out-there location means the bar is able to maintain a real sense of community. Another way they keep ’em coming: $10 for four cocktails at brunch and a daily happy hour that includes $1 oysters and half off the entire bar, meaning $2 pulls of Bronx Pale Ale and $5 drinks like the So Bro Mule, with Brooklyn Republic vodka and Maine Root ginger beer.”