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Restaurants & Bars

Family-Friendly Charlie's Joins Del Ray Restaurant Line Up

Former Fireflies location reborn with a Beer Garden on the way

Earlier this year, 15-year Mount Vernon Avenue veteran FireFlies – a diner (ish) spot that unofficially marked the start of Del Ray’s main street closed. Just a few months ago, with a refreshed interior and a new vision, Charlie’s On the Avenue opened in its place.

Part of the Live Oak Family of restaurants, Charlie’s brings a laid-back family-friendly vibe to Mount Vernon Avenue and a menu that has a little bit of everything. The appetizers and “shareables” section features a variety of fried items topped with cheese – a crowd pleaser if nothing else. When we visited for the first time we wanted to sample as many things as possible, so we ordered several items, mostly from this section. Here’s how our order stacked up:

  • The Ahi Tuna Tartare Dip (Sesame Crackers, Wasabi Sauce, Ginger). This sounded like a can’t miss but it fell flat in flavor and was difficult to eat – the sesame crackers didn’t hold up to the chunky tuna. I wonder if something in the pita chip family would serve as a better vehicle. Disappointed in this dish but I’m an ahi tuna lover so we’re hoping it was just not a great day and plan to order it again another time.
  • Meatballs. These were fine, definitely a good selection for kids and plenty to go around.
  • The Brisket Tacos (Onions, Cilantro, Taco Sauce, Avocado, Cotija Cheese +Gluten Free). Delicious! Really flavorful and three tacos are plenty for a group to sample or to serve as a light meal for one. We’ll look for these again next time – and we’ll want to try the shrimp and vegan (Avocado, Roasted Corn, Black Beans, Jalapenos, Sesame Seeds, Slaw, Taco Sauce) tacos, too!
  • German Style Pretzels with Beer Mustard and Dipping Cheese. You can’t go wrong with these. Plus, when something comes with a duo of sauces, you kind of have to give it a try. You won’t be sorry adding these for the table.
  • The Smoked Chicken Wings (+Gluten Free). These were the biggest surprise. We expected standard chicken wings but were delighted by the intense flavor. Our group would have gladly ordered more if we weren’t already so full!

In addition to these smaller plates, the menu features more than a dozen sandwiches and entrée options which come with a side salad or, for $2, an alternative side. Options here include tater tots, French friend, mac & cheese and onion rings. Charlie’s also has three entrée salads (Taco, Roasted Chicken and Seared Ahi Tuna) or you can build your own, an interesting perk for those who are all about customization.

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All items on the Kids Menu are $5 and typical of such a menu – grilled chicken, cheeseburger, chicken tenders, grilled cheese, cheese quesadilla and corn dogs.

Overall the food was good (not great) but there’s some potential for improvement as they get settled. Plus - a friendly staff and a 24-beer wine list go a long way. When the weather warms up again, the draw to Charlie’s will surely be the outdoor seating option and the restaurant’s beer garden - slated to open next year at some point.

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Cheers!

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