THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Charline's Urban Tapas & Lounge Restaurant Review
546 E. Main St. (California St.) 
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Ventura, CA 93001
805-652-2255
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Cuisine
Open
Lunch & Dinner dailyFeatures
- Full bar
- Live music Thurs.-Sat.
- Outdoor dining
- Open late
- Parking garage
- Casual
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| Homesick Southerners find haven at Charline’s, where classic ingredients like okra, collard greens, black-eyed peas and catfish are served with cool jazz. Not for the timid, the “Cajun soul food fusion” is huge on flavor---the small-plates approach works well. (Really, how many deep-fried pickles should one eat?) Smoky fried mac ‘n’ cheese balls come with a dipping sauce made from chipotle peppers and ranch dressing. A similar sauce, with the addition of red peppers, accompanies the deep-fried artichoke hearts, which alone are worth a visit. Another highlight is the buttermilk-fried chicken. Peppery and moist, it's served with sweet potato waffles and syrup. Desserts are as bold as the rest of the menu, and include buttermilk pie and luscious beignets. Despite the name, this is no wine bar; in fact, the wine list is very limited. The full bar tended by generous bartenders, live jazz music and Southern-style small plates offer a taste of something entirely new in downtown Ventura. |
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