This N.J. Michelin-starred chef leans on his international family heritage

Located on Prospect Street in Waldwick, New Jersey, Charlie’s Place may seem like your typical sports bar, with big-screen televisions and clients enjoying their meal while watching the latest game.

But Charlie’s Place is much more than a sports bar with a huge dining room in the back, and with Michelin-Starred Chef Joey Sergentakis, 41, whipping up dishes that rival fine-dining cuisine.

Chef Sergentakis gives a lot of credit to his family heritage.

“My father is Greek, and my mother is Italian, which has influenced my cooking greatly. I also spent a lot of time in Europe and Asia learning about a unique approach to food that draws from world cultures,” Sergentakis said. “I use bold and balanced techniques that result in elevated yet friendly dishes.”

This international influence has resulted in a menu with eclectic and diverse flavors.

Charlie’s Place owner James Mazzuto, 41, says the international influence has defined the cuisine.

“With all his international influences, Chef Sergentakis has created a menu that appeals to a wide range of people,” Mazzuto said. “We hear it all the time from our customers. The food at Charlie’s Place takes you on a trip around the world.”

Sergentakis points to his upbringing.

“I grew up eating the best Greek and Italian food,” he said. “My grandmother, Mary Paccione, would make me dishes I loved. Then she would sit there and watch me eat. Now, I peek out of the kitchen to watch people enjoy my food. That’s the ultimate for a chef, to see his customers reactions.”

One of those satisfied customers is Emily Ramirez, an Upper Saddle River resident and mother of four.

“The food here is creative enough for an adult night out, but still approachable when we’re dining as a family. My husband and I can enjoy a great meal and a cocktail while the kids eat something they love. It’s hard to explain, but there is this warmth and neighborhood feel that makes Charlie’s Place our go-to spot. It’s the kind of place you want to bring your kids to or celebrate a date night,” Ramirez said. “We love it here and are so lucky to have it in our community.”

I sampled a few of Chef Sergentakis’s creations, starting with the mozzarella sticks, whipped ricotta dip and the crispy calamari.

While those may seem like common appetizers, there was nothing common about them. The mozzarella sticks came with Calabrian chili and tomato jam, which gave the dish a delicate tang sweetly balanced by the tomato jam. The whipped ricotta dip included crispy honey, strawberry, lemon and pistachios, which added a deep and earthy flavor. And the crispy calamari had a sweet and spicy Thai chili that awarded this dish with lingering complexity.

Chef Sergentakis also brought out the seared king salmon with coconut red curry, eggplant Thai basil, pineapple salsa and steamed rice; along with a pasta dish that looked intriguing.

“My grandmother used to make this pesto linguini with clams,” Sergentakis said, his voice a little softer at remembering the woman who taught him how to cook. “It’s not on our menu, but I’m adding it for sure.”

I sampled the pasta made with shallots, onions, white wine and a pinenut pesto, and I found it outstanding in flavor and texture. It also had that intangible feel you get from old family recipes. Also, the salmon was decadent with a nice interplay of sweet and tart.

At this point, I was beyond full when Chef Sergentakis brought out one more dish. I raised my hands in surrender, but he insisted.

“You have to taste our French toast,” Chef Sergentakis said with a grin. “It comes with a crispy cornflake crust, whipped cream and a blueberry compote.”

The French toast looked appetizing, so I took a bite, and I literally moaned! It was flavorful with the whipped cream and blueberry compote, but the cornflake crust elevated the dish to an entirely new level. I’m not sure I can ever eat ordinary French toast again!

I highly recommend Charlie’s Place for your next culinary outing. The food is exceptionally tasty, the vibe is relaxed yet classy, the service is super, and the overall ingenuity of world flavors will leave you breathless.

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Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at kshamsi-basha@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram.

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