The Charles occupies the Design District with a room built to feel like a Roman home turned formal — dark, moody, dressed in dramatic drapery and ornate lighting after an early-2026 refresh. It's Italian in both look and menu, the kind of place where dressing up for a birthday or a first date feels expected rather than optional.
The menu leans on handmade pasta, including creste di gallo with rock shrimp and gnocchi, alongside heartier plates like short rib. The BBQ pork jowl has become a standout, smoky and meaty with a garlicky sauce, and dinner here tends to move slowly over wine.
Service and staff knowledge come up often among regulars, along with the room's polish and its pull as a special-occasion destination — the kind of restaurant that builds repeat visitors rather than one-time diners. D Magazine named The Charles one of the best restaurants in Dallas in 2025.
The menu leans on handmade pasta, including creste di gallo with rock shrimp and gnocchi, alongside heartier plates like short rib. The BBQ pork jowl has become a standout, smoky and meaty with a garlicky sauce, and dinner here tends to move slowly over wine.
Service and staff knowledge come up often among regulars, along with the room's polish and its pull as a special-occasion destination — the kind of restaurant that builds repeat visitors rather than one-time diners. D Magazine named The Charles one of the best restaurants in Dallas in 2025.