Thousands Attend Grand Opening Of Cantonese Restaurant Charisma Bay

Over 3,000 people turned out for the grand opening of a new Cantonese restaurant and catering hall on 86th Street and Bay Parkway this weekend.

Charisma Bay (2172 86th Street), created by husband and wife team Jenny Chu and Jacky Tan and their partner Richard Chin, opened its doors on Sunday, February 1, with a massive celebration, serving free food all day, from 11am until midnight.

Between the buffet table downstairs and the more intimate party space upstairs, where wait staff refilled plates all night, the couple told us they dished out $30,000 worth of food throughout the day.

Guests from Sunset Park, Florida, and even San Francisco – who heard about the event through a Chinese social media app called WeChat – were entertained by a traditional lion dance performance. So many brought gifts and flowers to the party that Chu said all the local Chinese-owned flower shops were sold out by the end of the day.

“Usually, whenever Asians open a business, we do a grand opening, but we just did it even more grand,” said Chu.

Charisma joins several Cantonese restaurants that have opened in the neighborhood recently – including Shun Deck, which we wrote about last year – and it highlights a growing trend of Cantonese immigrants from Sunset Park moving to Bensonhurst over the last decade.

Tan, who owns a cellphone store in Sunset Park, told us he got the idea to open a restaurant because he and his friends used to congregate at the store, and it soon became overcrowded.

“The whole idea was that me and Richard wanted to make a place where we would want to sit down and eat,” said Tan.

Two days after they launched, the festively decorated restaurant – which replaces a sushi spot – has already booked events for several weeks, according to Chu.

As for the food, the homestyle Cantonese food is presented beautifully, and in large portions, but is still affordable. The small dim sum menu includes a nice selection of pork and seafood dumplings, spring rolls, and buns for under $4. The spareribs rice and noodle roll costs $7.

Charisma also offers a wide selection of hearty soups that range from $10 to $12. The focal point appears to be Charisma’s extensive beef, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian stir-fries. Some ingredients, such as salmon, indicate a subtle American influence on the mostly traditional Cantonese fare.

“We have four main chefs and each has their own style. One is fantastic with steamed fish, one does American food, and another is great with appetizers,” said Chu.

This Valentine’s Day, the restaurant is offering a special prix fixe menu for $100, and all are invited.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Charisma, and good luck!