This restaurant is located at the southern end of the strip on the east side of Estero Boulevard, close to the Pointe Estero and Gullwing resorts.
We noticed this restaurant as we arrived on our first day. It is touted as one of the leading, quality steak and seafood houses in this area. The outside has a rustic look and you can tell this establishment has been here quite awhile. There is really no view, but it is close to the beach (across the street).
After spending the day at Sanibel Island exploring various beaches and shelling, I felt too tired to cook dinner at the condo. Trying out Charleys seems to be a good idea. After showering at our condo, I slipped on a pair of dress jeans and a pastel print jacket in anticipation of dinner at Charleys.
As we enter the somewhat noisy and boisterous environment at Charleys, we realize that this is as much of a bar and party environment as it is a restaurant. There are a few locals mixed in with the tourists here, and it seems that many are having a liquid dinner mixed with an appetizer or two.
After we were seated right next to a loud party of four adults who had already obviously had too much to drink, we waited for our server…and waited…and waited. Finally, after about 30 minutes, a waiter shows up. No apology for the wait. We ordered our iced teas and the stuffed mushroom caps as an appetizer. We proceed to peruse the menu. Twenty minutes later, the waiter shows up with our drinks and takes our entree order. My husband ordered the filet mignon, while I desired the shrimp scampi. An hour and 20 minutes later, our main course arrives. I was hoping that the main course was going to taste better than the mushrooms caps had. I found the shrimp rubbery, cold, and greasy. My husband stated that the steak he had was of poor quality, dry and tough, and yet bloody in the middle (he ordered it medium-well; not medium-rare). The steak was sent back. Twenty minutes later, my husband was presented with the same tough, dry steak - minus the bloody middle.
In summary, the food was barely edible, and, had we not been so hungry, we probably would have walked out. Total tab was just over $100, and we didn't have any alcoholic beverages. The bathrooms were not clean and service was extremely poor. It was a sore disappointment since the reviews on this establishment had been so good. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant unless it's convenient for you and you just want appetizers with drinks.