Meet Phil Crouch of Chargrill Charlie’s in Camberwell Junction

Chargrill Charlie’s has become a much-loved staple among locals since opening its doors in Camberwell Junction in March 2019.

With its signature home-style meals and a focus on friendly service, the eatery delivers a winning combination of comfort food and casual charm – a welcome addition to the local food scene.

At the helm is store owner and manager Phil Crouch, who brings both passion and experience to the business. For Crouch, the Camberwell Junction store is more than just another location – it’s a continuation of a family-run legacy that began in Sydney more than three decades ago. The Chargrill Charlie’s brand first launched in 1989 and has steadily grown its presence, with Melbourne one of its key expansion points.

The store has built a loyal following by offering customers simple, satisfying meals that feel like they’ve come straight from the family kitchen. With a focus on freshness, consistency, and connection to the community, Chargrill Charlie’s continues to thrive in a competitive food landscape.

Home-style cooking at its best

At its core, Chargrill Charlie’s is all about food that feels familiar, nourishing, and made with care. Whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch or picking up a family dinner, the menu revolves around hearty, home-style dishes using high-quality ingredients.

“It’s gourmet food at its best. It’s home-style cooking – it’s food you would cook or your mum would cook for you, but you don’t always have the time to cook it,” Mr Crouch said.

“Everything is made fresh daily in the store. That differentiates us, and ensures that it [the food] is beautiful and fresh.”

In the warmer months, diners can opt for their famed chicken paired with a fresh salad or seasonal vegetables. As the weather cools down, the menu shifts to more robust offerings like lamb shanks with mash potato, lasagne, curries, soups, cottage pies and mac and cheese – all comforting choices that suit the season.

The store is also committed to keeping meals affordable, offering individual meal packs and generous family deals, making it a go-to option for feeding households of any size.

Customers with dietary needs will also find plenty of options.

“The Portuguese chicken is gluten free, and a lot of the salad and veggie options are gluten free as well. For vegetarians, we do lots of vegetable dishes, lots of salad dishes and we’ve got veggie burgers. There’s a lot of options,” Mr Crouch said.

Famous for chicken

Of course, chicken is the undisputed hero at Chargrill Charlie’s. Their signature rotisserie chicken is prepared using a patented ‘clean’ rotisserie system, offering a healthier, flavour-packed result. Customers can choose between the classic traditional seasoning or the popular Portuguese-style, which is marinated with Portuguese herbs and spices.

And for those looking for something different, the store regularly rotates new chicken flavours such as Jamaican jerk and Texas barbecue.

“That’s really designed to offer customers something that’s a bit different – they’re really popular,” Mr Crouch said.

Yet, there’s more on offer than just chicken.

“People don’t always realise we do things like salmon or lamb shanks… so people won’t really know [what’s on offer] until they come in and have a look,” Mr Crouch said.

“The range is a lot more than chicken,” he said.

Family at the heart of the business

As a family-run business, Chargrill Charlie’s prides itself on creating a welcoming environment and offering personable, friendly service. This philosophy extends from the management team to the staff and right through to the way customers are treated.

“It’s the coupling of the good food and the service. And being hands-on, the family being involved and having a great time, we definitely stand for that friendly service and making sure that all of our staff are well trained,” Mr Crouch said. “That’s a really important part of the business.”

The welcoming atmosphere is part of what sets Chargrill Charlie’s apart. With its laid-back vibe, casual dining space, and warm service, it aims to feel like an extension of home.

“It’s relaxed, casual, cosy,” Mr Crouch said.

Customers can choose to dine in – with the Camberwell Junction store offering a large, family-friendly seating area – or opt for takeaway, which remains a strong focus of the business.

“The business’ roots are in takeaway, but we’ve built quite a large restaurant in Camberwell [for dine-in]. It’s obviously family friendly but loads of people come in and eat on their own as well, especially during the day.

“And takeaway is a huge part of our business.”

Catering is another arm of the business that’s quietly gained traction, especially with local offices, sporting clubs, and community events.

“A lot of people don’t realise that we offer catering… but we have a strong connection to the local community through our catering. We’ve got a lot of options, whether it’s finger food or full meals,” Mr Crouch said.

When asked what he hopes Chargrill Charlie’s will be known for, Mr Crouch keeps it simple.

“We definitely survive and thrive based on regular customers… and that’s achieved through great food and friendly service. I’d say that consistency has been the secret to our success,” Mr Crouch said.

In Camberwell Junction, that formula seems to be working – and locals wouldn’t have it any other way.

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