We know that holiday bonus is burning a hole in your pocket and wants to come out and play. We recommend eating and drinking your bonus with both the French dip and prime rib, washed down with a bottle of 1990 Chateau L’Evangile. This is the updated review of 4 Charles Prime Rib, where just like at the beginning, it was love at first sundae.

Atmosphere

4 Charles Prime Rib reopened in October after a late summer renovation hiatus. If you expected them to expand their dining room, it wasn’t that kind of renovation. Instead, it was a renovation of the kitchen, and thank goodness, that tiny bathroom, which is the only space that got the expansion allocation. Also, on the second floor, there’s now a private room space for those looking to bypass the still-near-impossible reservations downstairs.

If anything, after the recent clamp-down on outdoor seating structures, 4 Charles is even more intimate. Like many of the beautiful structures built for enclosed street seating, the Orient-Express-like cabins of 4 Charles Prime Rib are no longer. It’s a shame, as the cozy train-car-inspired outdoor tables were just as charming old-school-speakeasy as the OG dining room. And some things never change, even after a reno; the atmosphere is as packed, buzzy and convivial as ever.

Food + Wine

No matter how atmospheric the space is at 4 Charles, you came here to eat. And drink. A lot. 4 Charles achieves what greats like Alain Ducasse could not; it’s a popular outpost of the Chicago-based Hogsalt group, of Au Cheval fame that is crushing it in NYC. Normally, these transplant concepts don’t translate to the New York City big leagues. However, it’s 8 years later, and 4 Charles is still crushing it.

First, they know exactly who they are as an American restaurant. But then, they take it to the next level. The little gem salad sounds innocuous enough, but it illustrates the gift of 4 Charles to make magic. The massive salad comes loaded with chives that hides mounds of avocado. The dressing is lemony olive oil bliss. Same with the caesar salad, which is served with crispy potatoes. And these are just the salads — so don’t expect to eat light.

The perfect meal here will include the prime rib French dip as an appetizer — you know, to wet the palate. Just the sauce itself is worth it, and almost secondary to the prime rib. Of course, you can go prime rib for your main. However, then you would miss the double Waygu smash burger with a sunny side up egg, dripping egg yolk on top. The steaks also shine, where a filet or ribeye are never a bad choice. Like the French dip is an essential starter to share, the sundae bar should not be missed to end the meal.

The other aspect not to be missed at 4 Charles is the wine list. If you’re in it to drop some major coin, they stock rare wines acquired at auction. There is a premium, but it’s not as if you can easily get these wines at your local store. We weren’t just name-dropping the 1990 Chateau L’Evangile; it was as good as you could ever dream.

Service

This isn’t your basic Midwest affair, but nor is 4 Charles trying to be something that it’s not. The service at 4 Charles is highly polished but not slick, and well-informed but not pretentious. If you’re lucky enough to be a regular, they treat you like family — and with that, comes the ability to make a coveted reservation.

Overall: 8.8/10

The verdict is that 8 years on, 4 Charles Prime Rib is aging like a fine, rare wine.

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FAQs

Q: Where is 4 Charles Prime Rib located?

A: This isn’t a trick questions. 4 Charles Prime Rib is located at 4 Charles in the Village in New York City.

Q: What are the hours of operation of 4 Charles Prime Rib?

A: The hours of operation of 4 Charles Prime Rib are as follows:

Q: What type of food does 4 Charles Prime Rib serve?

A: 4 Charles Prime Rib serves elevated American cuisine, with a focus on meat dishes. And yes, as it name implies, prime rib.