Char House Restaurant
Shop 1/224 Ruthven St, North Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia
About
Char House Restaurant brings the vibrant flavors of Spain to North Toowoomba, offering a modern take on traditional dishes. Guests can expect a lively atmosphere and a menu showcasing fresh, local ingredients cooked over a charcoal grill.
Features & Amenities
Reviews (5)
A bit disappointing. First time dining at Char House and left not sure if we will go back. Service needs a lot of work and it wasnโt just our table that was neglected. 20 minutes after sitting down before we got asked for drinks order - 30 minutes before taking our meal order. Then to find out 20 minutes later one of our entrees had sold out - to see our entree being served at two tables that had arrived after us. Lucky I ordered another round of drinks before we finished the previous ones because that took 30 minutes for them to arrive. Entree arrived that we were sharing with no extra plates to be told he would bring them back to them watch the waiter go and do other things and still no plates. French cut chicken was lovely and tender. Steak definitely not as expected for the price, slightly overcooked and a bit chewy. Table next to us commented to the waiter oh well the water was nice. Didnโt stay for dessert as the options were very light on and spent enough money for a disappointing experience. Best bit was the margarita and the cold beer.
This was my first visit to Char House, and overall it was a pleasant and relaxed dining experience. We ordered the French onion soup, 250g Flat Iron with Bรฉarnaise, the 200g Eye Fillet with red wine sauce, and hand-cut Russet frites cooked in beef fat, along with a lemon, lime & bitters. The atmosphere was great, relaxed, easy, and inviting. Hospitality felt high-end, with a nice mix of clearly experienced staff and young trainees who were working hard and attentive. The French onion soup was excellent. It had a deep umami flavour from the onions, and the melted cheese on top added extra depth and richness. Highly recommended. Our dedicated server was great. He explained the different sauces and made recommendations that paired really well with the steaks we ordered and his choices were spot on. The lemon, lime & bitters was also very good, nicely balanced with a good amount of bitterness. We ordered two steaks: one medium rare and one well done. The well-done steak initially came out closer to medium-well. We requested it to be cooked further to achieve a fully grey interior, and while it came back closer to well done, it still wasnโt quite there. We didnโt want to send it back a second time, so we kept it. On the other hand, the medium-rare steak was spot on juicy, evenly cooked, tender, with a nicely grilled surface. The chips deserve a special mention. Beef-fat cooked chips are something Iโve been missing for a long time, and these were excellent. As a chip lover, itโs hard to find good beef-fat fries these days, and these really hit the mark. Overall, Iโd give Char House 3.8 out of 5. Iโd come back to try different dishes and would happily return for another steak l, especially medium rare.
I liked the food. I loved the experience. The octopus was sweet and tender, but suffered from an overabundance of sauce. Octopi are vanilla baby, just let that tentacle do its thang. It was in and of itself, cooked to perfection, so hats off, or for the hat-less folk, a tip of the head, to the chef. My 'Flat Iron' steak was again cooked to perfection. Rare, soft and tender - like a kiss on the cheek from a beautiful woman. Again though, the beef was lost as you're waterboarded with sauce in every mouthful. I understand this is a French thing (racist?) Makes sense though: saucy language, saucy food. Portion sizes (like me) are 3XL. The chocolate mousse could feed 3. The French onion soup would do the whole table. Several teething issues on service. Of this i am understanding as I too was once 15yo and oblivious of service etiquette. Tiarnie (spelling tbc) was a true people's champion and knew not just her menu, but also her limitations. Knew how to read a table and make everyone laugh. For this, she deserves both a raise and a bonus. Only a true friend offers my 65yo dad (whom we love and cherish) a hit of her vape in lieu of candles for his birthday. Legendary play. In addition to the menu, classic cocktails are said to be available. If you're particular about what you like, you may be whelmed. I trust the bar will expand with time. I trust that staff can be trained, and service can be taught. I trust that the people calling the shots know what they're doing. The bones of greatness are here. It's always fun to see the start of something finding its feet, like videos of baby horses (foals(?)); A little shakey to start with, but not long before they're galloping and I can sink money on them.
Char House in Toowoomba is an impressive new addition to the local dining scene. We ordered the duck ร l'orange and the 300g picanha steak, accompanied by Paris mash and French beans. The steak was cooked to perfection, tender and full of flavour, and paired beautifully with a rich Diane sauce that elevated the entire dish. The duck was equally well executed, showcasing the classic balance of sweetness and citrus you expect from a French-inspired kitchen. The menu leans heavily towards French cuisine, with steak clearly taking centre stage. It is a refreshing change to see a venue commit to a theme so confidently, and the quality of the dishes makes it clear that the kitchen knows exactly what it is doing. The atmosphere was relaxed, comfortable, and welcoming, making it an easy place to unwind over a good meal. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. It is always a pleasure to dine somewhere that gets both the food and the service right. We thoroughly recommend Char House, and we are already looking forward to returning. Their breakfast menu is due to launch in the next week or so, and if dinner is anything to go by, it will be well worth a visit.
We had a truly fantastic experience during the opening night of our new house in Toowoomba. The service was exceptional,everyone greeted us with smiles and was always ready to help. The elegant, fancy dressing and overall atmosphere made the evening truly special. Our favorite plate was definitely the octopus with the amazing sauce,it was absolutely delicious! The chicken was wonderful too, and we loved ending the night with the crepes. Thank you for maintaining such grace and sophistication, creating a memorable dining experience for all the culinary enthusiasts of Toowoomba.









