CHARCO

What a great place! The service, the food, the music selection, the incredible view—it has it all. (The onions are amazing!)

Very good restaurant, good and different flavors well enhanced, friendly staff and a pleasant, beautiful place with good views

The food was delicious and the service spectacular, we will definitely be back

A bittersweet visit. We went to this place because of the many recommendations we received. The location is amazing, with an incredible view and a design and ambiance that are truly something to behold. Among the dishes worth trying are the onions in squid ink, the empanadas, and the pappardelle. The other dishes didn't seem particularly special to me (to be clear, they weren't bad, they just lacked that "wow" factor). The place is ideal for a romantic date or for relaxing after a day of exploring the city center; the views and ambiance are what make it worthwhile. However, we weren't impressed with the service. Honestly, we expected more from a restaurant that serves fine dining. Initially, it was great; they explained the dishes to us, etc. But when we asked for a refund for some raw bread, the waitress said it wasn't raw (mind you, I've been baking bread since I was little, and most importantly, I'm a bread fanatic). Then she realized what she was doing and said she would speak to the chef. We didn't hear anything more about that bread until the bill arrived. They charged us for it, but they didn't return the bread or give us any feedback. Out of a bill of over 6,000 pesos, they couldn't return or exchange a 70-peso loaf of bread? Anyway, the place is great; we just didn't like how they handled the situation.

To be honest, I left a bit disappointed, especially after seeing so many recommendations praising the food here. As someone who loves duck magret, this was unfortunately the biggest letdown. The duck was sliced much too thick, and I assume the chef intended to serve it medium to preserve its tenderness. However, the thickness made it extremely difficult to cut. I was initially given a regular table knife, and although the staff later offered me a steak knife, it was still a struggle. By the end of the meal, my hand was genuinely sore, and I couldn’t even finish the dish. The pumpkin seed mole was flavorful, but the broccoli stems were overly salty. I also think the dish could benefit from something brighter or lighter to balance the richness of the duck. I also ordered a sake cocktail, but the coconut milk and creamy flavors completely overpowered the sake. It ended up feeling quite heavy, and it took me a long time to finish. For dessert, I had the OnlyFlans, which is one of the restaurant’s most recommended dishes. Overall, I enjoyed it—the texture was silky, and I appreciated the different layers of flavor. That said, it was sweeter than I personally prefer. The caramel syrup was a bit too generous, and the citrus notes slightly overshadowed the delicate vanilla flavor of the flan. It’s clearly a well-executed dessert, but I think a lighter touch with the caramel would make it even better. On the positive side, the atmosphere is lovely. The lighting creates a warm, intimate setting, and the overall ambiance is very inviting. Service was also attentive, especially when the staff noticed I was struggling with the duck and brought me a steak knife. (But it’d be nicer if they know the table ordered the duck so placed the appropriate knife already) Overall, I’d give Charco 4/5. The space is beautiful, and I can see why people enjoy it, but I personally found the food didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by the many glowing reviews.