O’Charley’s Restaurant and Bar is a casual dining American restaurant with locations throughout the South and Midwestern regions of the United States. The restaurant started out in Nashville, Tennessee. When the store first opened back in 1971, the menu consisted of just a handful of the founder’s wife’s recipes. The founder, Charley Watkins, operated the restaurant with the belief that “everyone who walks through the door is a friend of mine”. The idea was to serve great food to guests in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant was built on the foundation of southern hospitality.

O’Charley’s serves generous portions of delicious classic American food with influences from the South. There is also a full service bar that serves beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Everything from the decor, to the service, to the food is meant to make guests feel right at home. The staff provides warm and friendly customer service to its guests. The establishment serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The menu provides something for everyone in the family, including the kids. The meals keep guests coming back to enjoy delicious food and connect with family and friends in a welcoming and comfortable environment.

History

Mr. Charley Watkins opened the first O’Charley’s restaurant in 1971 in Nashville, Tennessee. This first location in Tennessee was on 21^st Avenue South, near Vanderbilt University. Mr. Watkins owned and operated this restaurant from 1971 to 1984. In 1984, he sold the O’Charley’s restaurant to Mr. David K. Wachtel. On January 19, 1984, Mr. Wachtel incorporated O’Charley’s, Inc. as a company that owned O’Charley’s restaurant. He opened several other locations and developed the establishment into a restaurant chain. By the year 1987, the chain had locations in Lexington, Kentucky; Huntsville, Alabama; and Nashville, Tennessee. Over the years, the chain continued to grow and the company went public in 1990.

The establishment began to experience a decline in sales and profits. The stock price started to decline as well. The company executives assessed the situation to determine ways to improve the business. As part of his strategy to find a solution to improve sales, Mr. Wachtel hired Mr. Charles F. McWhorter Jr. as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the company. Mr. McWhorter came up with the solution of a smaller menu. Other changes included further tweaks to the menu as well as price reduction. Meanwhile, the company continued to expand and by 1992, the establishment was a 37-unit restaurant chain.

In 1992, the company saw a great improvement with thirty percent increase in sales and a thirty-seven percent gain in profits. However, in February 1994, Mr. Wachtel resigned from his role at the company due to his commitments with other business interests. Mr. Charles F. McWhorter Jr. became the president and co-chairman of the establishment. Mr. George L. Burns became chief executive and co-chairman. Shortly after Mr. Wachtel’s resignation, the company was hit with a federal racial discrimination lawsuit, which Mr. Burns vehemently denied. The company eventually settled the lawsuit in 1996. The company also had a change in management as Mr. McWhorter decided to resign.

Nevertheless, the chain continued to grow. By 1999, the chain had over 106 units. By 2002, there were over 180 locations.  That same year, the company was listed on Forbes’ “200 Best Small Companies in America” for its third year in a row. Today, there are over 200 locations in 17 states. These locations are mostly in the South and Midwest regions. Some examples of these states are: Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Kentucky. In 2012, Fidelity National Financial acquired O’Charley’s, Inc. The company is currently owned by American Blue Ribbon Holdings, a subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial.

Review

The establishment provides a wide array of different types of classic American food. The restaurant has something for everyone. It provides pastas, seafood, steaks and ribs, sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads. Appetizers are priced between $5 and $8 and consist of chicken tenders, fondue, chili cheese nachos, chips and queso, spinach and artichoke dip, and the bacon and cheese quesadilla. The soup of the day is between $4 and $5 and examples include the Chicken Harvest, the Clam Chowder, and the Chicken Noodle soups. Salads range from $9 to $11 and include the Classic Cobb, the California Chicken, the Chicken Caesar, and the Southern-Fried Chicken salad.

The sandwiches and the burgers are priced between $7 and $11. The steaks include filet mignon, sirloin, and rib-eye and are between $11 and $20. The slow-roasted prime rib is priced between $13 and $14 for a half-pound cut and $19 and $20 for a full pound cut. Baby back ribs are between $13 and $14 for a half rack and $17 and $18 for a full rack. The seafood section is priced between $9 and $16 and includes the Savannah Crab Cake Dinner, Fresh Cedar-Planked Salmon, Panko-Crusted Shrimp, Fresh Grilled Atlantic Salmon, and Fish and Chips. The Classic Combos section combines the seafood section with the steak and ribs section and is priced between $13 and $20, depending on the size ordered.

The Chicken and Pasta section offers selections that are priced between $10 and $14. Options under the Chicken and Pasta section are the O’Charley’s Famous Chicken Tenders, Bruschetta Chicken, New Orleans Cajun Chicken Pasta, Shrimp Scampi Pasta, and Prime Rib Pasta. There is a desert menu that has a wide assortment of delectable pies, such as the French Silk Pie, Country Apple Pie, and the Southern Pecan Pie. The restaurant offers “Free Pie Wednesdays” where customers can get a free slice of pie with the purchase of any entrée.

The establishment is generally open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 pm. Mondays through Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays. The restaurants are clean and the service is great. Reservations are accepted but wait times may occur if there is a large crowd. The portions are very large and the food is great. The burgers, pasta dishes, and barbecue chicken strips are highly recommended. The Cedar Plank Salmon and the Prime Rib are also customer favorites. The ambiance is warm and friendly and customer satisfaction is at its best. Customers enjoy going to this restaurant to eat great food with family and friends in a warm, friendly atmosphere.