A venerable Boston institution, Charlie’s is a restaurant located literally around the corner from our place, yet we only seem to get there for special treats (the day of a Madonna concert, for example). It is a classic, old-school-style diner, where patrons sit at the counter (my preference) or with other patrons at the small smattering of tables set up. There is something comforting about a diner – with its griddle smoking and spattering just a few feet away, the easy casual camaraderie that overcomes all who enter, and the promise of good old-fashioned greasy grub.
This has not gone unnoticed by many in Boston, including a number of celebrities and politicians, whose photos line the walls, and who keep coming back for the (pretty) low prices that have remained remarkably consistent over the years. There’s also the tight-knit group that runs the place – friendly and amiable to all, if no-nonsense when it comes to serving up food and turning over tables. Personally I like that approach in a diner. This is not the place for fancy frills and excess – and God knows I create enough of that in the rest of my life.
