Lance Avery Morgan
With A Richly Layered Redesign And A Renewed Emphasis On Live-Fire Cooking, Duro Hospitality’s First Concept Proves That Longevity Comes From Intention, Not Complacency
By Lance Avery Morgan Photography by Samantha Marie Photography
The Charles, Reimagined
In a city that loves the next new thing, The Charles has done something far more impressive: it has endured… and now, it has evolved. And gosh, is it ever sexy.
The very first concept from Dallas-based Duro Hospitality, The Charles, has anchored the city’s dining scene since opening its doors in 2018. From the beginning, it stood apart: confident, cosmopolitan, and just edgy enough to feel like a quiet rebellion against the expected. Now, the restaurant is stepping decisively into its next chapter, unveiling a thoughtfully redesigned space and a refreshed menu that leans boldly into live-fire cooking, all while preserving the soul that has made it a Dallas staple.
This evolution wasn’t born out of necessity. It was born out of intention.
“When we opened The Charles, we were underdogs challenging a well-established Dallas dining scene,” says Founding Partner Chas Martin. “We had one goal then, and it’s the same goal now: to be the most iconic, edgiest, best version of ourselves possible. This wasn’t about necessity; it was about intention. We felt The Charles deserved it. Staying fresh is how you earn longevity.”
A Space That Grows Deeper
The redesign, led by Duro Hospitality partners Corbin See and Ross See of Sees Design, began innocently enough. What started as a simple seating refresh quickly evolved into a larger creative reckoning: if The Charles were opening today, what would it want to be?
The answer came unexpectedly, during a trip to New York City, inside The Met.
Corbin See recalls being struck by a Roman bedroom with four black walls, mosaic floors, and painted wainscoting. “That moment at The Met became a catalyst for rethinking what The Charles could be today,” he explains. “We started asking ourselves, if we were opening The Charles today, how would we make it even more interesting while keeping its soul intact?”
The solution was not to reinvent the identity, but to deepen it. From the beginning, The Charles embraced the idea that Italian design across different eras can coexist beautifully, a curated collision of periods, textures, and moods. That philosophy remains intact, but it’s now more expressive, more layered, and more confident.
“The original space was about letting pieces from different periods live together naturally,” See says. “What’s changed is the depth. We’ve gone more elaborate, more expressive, less mid-century, more 18th century.”
The result is a space that feels richer and more immersive, one that rewards repeat visits and feels increasingly aligned with who Duro Hospitality has become as a group.
Turning Up The Heat
Alongside the visual transformation comes a meaningful culinary shift. While The Charles has always been anchored by its wood-fired grill, the refreshed menu brings that element front and center.
Most of the menu has been reimagined with a renewed emphasis on live fire… larger cuts, heartier preparations, and the unmistakable depth that only wood and flame can provide. The grill, once a supporting player, now commands the spotlight.
Guests can expect simply grilled, high-quality proteins, intentionally showcased, alongside the beloved classics that remain untouched. And yes, the house-made pastas, the dishes that helped define The Charles from day one, are still very much part of the story.
This isn’t about chasing trends or abandoning what works. It’s about refinement, clarity, and confidence: knowing exactly what to amplify and what to preserve.
Setting The Tone, Again
With a space that feels more aligned with its creative maturity and a menu that leans into bold, elemental cooking, The Charles once again sets the tone, not just for Duro Hospitality, but for Dallas dining at large.
It’s a reminder that the most compelling institutions aren’t static. They evolve thoughtfully. They honor their origins while refusing to calcify. And they understand that true longevity isn’t about playing it safe, it’s about staying interesting.
At The Charles, the fire is brighter, the layers are deeper, and the future feels every bit as confident as its past.
