Charcoal Restaurant

I am a lover of steak, so I was happy when I received a very juicy and perfectly cooked steak. However, it was SUPER expensive (and I’m not entirely sure it was worth it).
We were the only people in the restaurant at the time when a second party was sat right next to us. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but the tables are so jam packed together that we felt like they were sitting on top of us. This resulted in dinner time conversation being pretty awkward.

Good food but not worth the money you paid for it. I think I would pay a quarter of the price for the same quality of food in a pub. .it boasts being an award winner but I can’t see how it has been termed an «award winning» restaurant. .it has a good selection of wines however it is not at all worth wasting the money on the food here…

SO WHAT?
That is the nicest review I can provide for Charcoal Restaurant.
It’s a meal from a cow. Not your ordinary cow, but one who has lived a tough life in the drought stricken Outback. It might have been through a number of years of drought and famine. With that as a backdrop, it would explain why a tough, bland steak landed in front of me one night in 2008. I almost wondered if they had indeed served the hide and left the steak in the kitchen, somehow.
It is not even at the standards of a Sizzler steak (American chain restaurant known for cheap, low quality steaks).
What they charge is a King’s ransom for mediocre cow. The baked potato was a baked potato — excuse me, as I snooze through the rest of this review…

Great continental cuisine. The spaghetti marinara is a favorite. I went often as a child and 30 years later, it was still as good as I remembered. I make a point to go every time I’m in Canberra.

Charcoal is a fantastic little restaurant hidden on the wrong side of the Melbourne/​Sydney building (can never get the building name right). From the outside, it might not seem like much, but on the inside, it looks like a little cowboy tavern.
Don’t be mistaken though, this is a great restaurant, more famous amongst its peers for its steaks. Steaks are served cooked to your preference, with baked potatoes and vegetables (those come with it, don’t make the mistake of ordering sides or you might not finish it!). Steaks are cooked to perfection, juicy on the inside as well.
We went on a busy night, however service was prompt and the cook time didn’t take too long either. However, due to the size of the place, the space between tables wasn’t much, leading to a tight squeeze. So, not only is getting in and out sometimes difficult, but conversations can be easily «shared»
Also, please remember to book before you go. We got lucky on our third attempt to walk in, but this isn’t a common occurrence due to the aforementioned small space.