4 Charles Miami
INFATUATION
It Started With A Rumor
Back in December, the local newsletter What’s Good Miami broke the news that 4 Charles was going to open up in Swan’s former Design District home, citing vague “industry sources.” The rest of Miami food media aggregated the story without confirmation. But I wanted proof. I searched online for licenses and permits. The Miami team and I even went by the space to see if there was a posted Notice of Commencement on site. Nada.
So I emailed their marketing team. The response was vague. It wasn’t a confirmation, but it gave me just enough confidence to plan a visit to 4 Charles in New York.
I convinced our accounting department to fly me up to NYC. Kidding. Their generosity has limits. We were actually going to be in town anyway for our annual full team gathering. It felt like the perfect excuse to see if I could get some intel. There was just one gigantic problem: I didn’t have a reservation.
The Investigation
Bryan, NYC’s editorial lead, who wrote the 4 Charles review, said getting a reservation was impossible. He was right. The moment they went live, they were gone.
I’d almost lost hope, but then he gave me a tip. It involved eating at 4pm and waiting in line.
After dropping off my bags, I stuffed my pockets with hand warmers and booked it to the West Village. I got there at 2pm and was second in line. I waited for two hours in 20-degree weather. When they finally opened at 4pm, they only took four of us in and turned away everyone else.
It’s small in there—just nine tables—which is why it’s so hard to get in. The servers wear three piece suits. Mine had slicked hair and was highly proficient in tableside banter. He slid his entire body into my booth to talk to me (it was more charming than weird). 4 Charles servers treat you like an old friend, and my old friend told me everything he knew about 4 Charles Miami.
What I Learned
The food at 4 Charles is fantastic, but the service is everything. My server was an absolute pro, and after telling him about the restaurants I used to work at in DC and Palm Beach, we bonded, and he asked me where I live now. I said Miami. That’s when he lit up, dove into my booth, and said, “Oh! We’re opening a 4 Charles in Miami!”
🦩 Yes. It’s happening. They’re calling it 4 Charles Miami (naturally), but we learned that there will also be another concept attached to the space called The Flamingo Room. Our best guess is that it will be some sort of cocktail lounge that’ll take advantage of the upstairs bar at Swan, which very much feels like a space begging to be called The Flamingo Room.
📅 It’s supposed to open by the end of this year, which Miamians know really means the beginning of next year. He mentioned something about redoing the kitchen, so don’t expect to be eating at 4 Charles Miami this winter.
⚖️ Don’t expect an exact replica of 4 Charles Prime Rib in New York. That place is very dark and very small. 4 Charles Miami is going into the old Swan space, which is much bigger and brighter. It won’t have that same Manhattan magic. But it will have a lovely patio, should they choose to use it. It won’t be hard to get into because of the space. It will be because of the hype.
🍔 That burger is coming, and it will be worth it. I’ve had every gimmicky burger in Miami. But this is the best burger I’ve ever had. It’s all about the thick bacon and the white glove theatrics. If you get in here, you’re ordering it, along with their creamy mac and cheese and chocolate cream pie. A couple of vespers are also a great call, especially if you’re on an investigative mission and can’t feel your toes.
🗽 Why is this happening? Fomo. My server name-dropped a few high profile New York transplant restaurants: Rao’s, Carbone, and Cote. They figured: Why not 4 Charles? I wish them the best of luck. And I really hope they don’t lose their personality. It’s easy to give in to cliches, and I hope they stick to what they do best: personal, confident service and amazing steakhouse dishes.
