Restaurant review: Chart House

(Credit: Chris Kridler, FLORIDA TODAY)

Chart House Restaurant
4 palms

Where: 2250 Front St., Melbourne
Hours: Dinner, 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday; 5 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 to 10 p.m. Friday; 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Sunday brunch, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Call: 321-729-6558
Other: It’s a good idea to make reservations; online reservations are available at www.chart-house.com. Aim for sunset, so you can experience the nice light on the Indian River Lagoon. Patrons look for the great blue heron hanging out on the shore. 

I expected more of a “chain” feeling at the Chart House Restaurant on Melbourne’s waterfront, since it’s one of multiple locations across the country. Instead, the Chart House gives you the sense of being in very good hands, with attentive service and delightful food.

From the valet parking to the white tablecloths, the atmosphere is upscale all the way. It should be, with the restaurant’s expansive view of the Indian River Lagoon. The Chart House is known for its huge salad bar, which can be purchased on its own or added to a meal for $6.99. They’ll serve up an excellent Caesar salad for you. Also keep an eye out for the caviar, which I enjoyed on crackers with sour cream. Mmmm.

The 2006 Trapiche Oak Cask Syrah from Argentina ($27 for a bottle) kept us good company all evening, as did a generous basket of rolls (try the sweet brown ones) and crackers. Our party ordered the Pupu Platter for starters ($21.99), starring a delicious lobster spring roll. Also on board were polenta fries, which we loved, and scallops whose flavor was obscured a bit by the accompanying mango coulis. We also tried the jumbo lump crab cake ($13.99), with chunks of moist, tasty crab.

My macadamia-crusted mahi special ($30.99) was very good with the sweet peanut sauce, and the mango-teriyaki sauce was nice, too. The fish was tender, but the flavors were much more about the nuts and the sauces, and that was fine with me. The coconut rice was a pleasant accompaniment.

My husband enjoyed his artichoke flounder special ($24.99); the fish was perfectly cooked. Our friends liked their cashew-crusted sole ($24.99), though they found the crust a bit salty.

We finished with two of the Chart House’s classic, huge desserts. One is the rich and divine Hot Chocolate Lava Cake ($9.99), which you should order early. The Mud Pie ($6.99) was fine, but it was the accompanying, decadent dark chocolate sauce that got me.

Clearly, the Chart House is meant for special occasions, and special it is.

Contact Kridler at 321-242-3633 or or ckridler@floridatoday.com.

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