Menu limited. OK, Not great.
We went with another couple who had been happy with Charles last winter. We were all disappointed. The menu had changed and had fewer choices. I had the tiapala and my friend tried the mullet. Both were OK but not great by any means. Our husbands ordered the one "steak" offering and, after being assured it was not ground beef, were served ground beef patties.

Our waitress was new and very good but we had neglected to ask for separate checks and her trainer was perturbed with us and far more upset about it than we were.

The prices were reasonable, but we are not anxious to return there.    [20 Feb 2005 16:11:54]

Food:    Service: -   Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: None that we tried..

     ­Peggy   

Good Place for Seafood
We are recently relocated from New England so we have been looking for a good seafood place. We have made Charlie's one of our regular stops. The place is clean and the service is usually good.

One favorite is the fried seafood which is lightly coated and never over-cooked. The salad could be a bit larger but their own blue cheese dressing is excellent.

The selections are a bit limited but what we have sampled was good. All meals were prepared with fresh seafood, which you would expect from a place with a fish market attached. It definitely beats the chain seafood restaurants for both price and quality.    [12 May 2006 21:36:21]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Fried Shrimp Dinner

     ­D, Homosassa   

Not impressed
Don't go late (7pm). The stone crabs were good and affordable but the baked potato was old and brown and the salad was nothing special. The atmosphere was nothing special. I never saw the bay. I wouldn't recommend it.    [31 Dec 2006 07:35:21]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Stone Crab Claws

     ­Anonymous   

Crab Legs To Die For!!!
Hey, I don't know how often they have them, but I for sure have to find out! Best crab legs I've ever had!    [19 Sep 2007 02:35:59]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Crab legs

     ­Susan A Jones   willowdown at naturemail dot net

Excellent Value - Great Seafood!
We (4 of us) stopped in for lunch after a long week of being road warriors (Sales) and eating on the run the usual fast foods. What a reward after all the mfg'd food we ate all week.The Service was prompt and courteous; The food was excellent, both fried & broiled seafood platters. Stone Crabs out of this world, freshest we've ever had and we have eaten at the finest restaurants in South Florida. The fried Oysters were the best, lightly breaded which did not mask the flavor and served hot, fresh out of the frier. The prices were very reasonable and for the money I will make a point to stop by again. A definite "Taste" of Ol' Florida. .    [03 May 2008 09:07:18]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Any dishes made with'fresh seafood in season'

     ­asao, Central Florida   

Crystal River's Best Seafood
Charlie's has the freshest seafood when in season; Stone Crabs Claws are out of this world, best I've had in years(South Fla.move over!) My favorites are the "Panned oysters appetizer" and "Fried Softshell Crab as an appetizer or as the entree. Remember this is a seafood restaurant not a steak house, I always wondered why people go to a seafood eatery and expect steaks and such when it's plain as day that seafood is their specialty. Do you go to a Hungarian restaurant and expect them to serve the best Sushi?    [06 May 2008 07:41:12]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Try them all you Decide!!

     ­NaNa, Gainesville FL   

Great Seafood - Good Value
My husband and I ate at Charlie's last night. We were very pleased with the food and the service. It was still daylight, so we sat where we could see the bay and enjoy the water. A small boat was active, going back and forth, with a black Pug on the bow. Interesting.    [28 Jun 2008 11:34:36]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Fried Grouper and Salmon - both delicous.

     ­Jannas and Bill   

Very good place to eat
Seafood is always fresh (fisherman deliver to the market right next door) and good. Their side salads are very good-not just lettuce and tomato like served in some restaurants. We have been here many times and are never disappointed. What is best about this place is the location- right on the water. You see birds all over the place, sometimes landing on their balcony outside especially at feeding time when the market throws out scraps to them. The only negative thing I can say about the place is it needs to update their tables and chairs-getting really worn and rickety. Plus, they have a balcony that could be used to eat outside, but it needs to be fixed, so you cannot go out on it. Service is good. Check out the cute gift shop next door while there-across the parking lot north of the restaurant-very unique gifts.    [28 Nov 2008 19:55:04]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Key Lime Pie, Mullet, Catfish

     ­Lynn R., Homosassa Fl   

Fried, Fried, and more Fried
My friend ordered the so called grouper broiled. they should have gotten it fried. Everything tastes the same, everything was fried, even the waitress's brain. Cheap... and you get what you pay for.    [13 May 2009 19:29:47]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Doesn't matter it all taste the same

     ­Sal, Crystal River