With soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, Venetian plaster, and marble floors, Mister Charles is nothing like the old Highland Park Soda Fountain that it replaced (the remodel is courtesy of Duro Hospitality, which also owns popular destinations the Charles and El Carlos Elegante, among others). The main dining room is gorgeous, lively, and very loud. An equally posh, more dimly lit room is its slightly quieter alter ego. The menu features steaks, seafood, and pastas, both classic and with global influences. Sadly, of the twelve dishes we sampled, only three matched the caliber of the decor, the stellar service, and the rather stunning prices. Our favorites were blue-fin tuna crudo, cubed (like poke) in a Thai-style passion fruit dressing with fiery chiles; a fine Akaushi filet mignon, served with a righteous Bordelaise sauce and tangy-sweet caramelized shallots; and imaginative tandoori cauliflower, crowned with a celery-pistachio salad. Disappointments included soggy-crusted lamb Wellington (though the meat was quite good), overcooked branzino (which was two filets, not a whole fish,  as stated on the menu) accompanied by undercooked green beans, and duck confit Berlingot (clunky, thick pasta pyramids and a bland filling). Even the beautiful banana pudding baked alaska missed the mark, lacking banana flavor and frozen so hard it was impenetrable even even after a five-minute wait.