Charleston Living Magazine May-June 2023

RESTAURANT GUIDE
made salumi and cured sausages plus a patio and extensive
wine list. Dinner nightly and Sunday brunch.
Le Farfelle (D) 15 Beaufain St., 212-0920. Bright and
airy neighborhood osteria for thoughtfully sourced, reimagined
Italian cuisine with a host of rotating freshlymade
pastas like duck confit agnolotti and squid ink
spaghetti. Shared plates include octopus carpaccio and
warm rosemary focaccia. Dinner nightly.
Melfi’s (D) 721 King St. 513-0307. Melfi’s is a trendy
classic Italian restaurant with fresh pasta, salads, larger
plates and inventive thin crust pizza. Sit at the long
wooden bar, indoor and outdoor dining tables or an
intimate pizza counter to watch the action of the two
wood burning ovens. Reservations recommended. Dinner
Monday-Sunday starting at 5 p.m.
Mondo’s Italian Restaurant (JI) 915 Folly Rd., 795-
8400. A favorite local hangout serving traditional Italian
baked dishes like Italian sausage lasagna and housemade
pasta with a number of sauces beyond traditional red
sauce, like vodka sauce over penne and gorgonzola
cheese sauce over fresh rigatoni. Patio dining available,
weather permitting. Dinner Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday.
Wild Olive (J) 2867 Maybank Hwy., 737-4177. Rusticchic
dining with a simple menu of artisanal Italian dishes,
excellent Italian desserts & a sizable wine list. Dinner nightly.
Mediterranean
Muse (D) 82 Society St., 577-1102. Eclectic cuisine in
a secluded and quiet atmosphere inside a Charleston
single house. Entrees include grilled swordfish, sea bass,
short ribs, duck, risotto, homemade pasta & bread and a
large wine selection. Dinner nightly.
Stella’s (D) 114 St. Philip St., 400-0026. Classy throwback
diner for Greek dishes and meze to share, plus
Mediterranean Sunday brunch. Check out the whole
fish of the day, topped with ladolemono, a traditional
blended extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon dressing.
Dinner daily and Sunday brunch.
Leylas (D) 298 King. St. 501-7500. Kebabs, meze and
other Lebanese dishes are served in an upscale-casual
space with a wine list that includes many Lebanese
brands. Try the pan-seared halloumi cheese, fattosh
salad, shawermas and more. Dinner nightly.
Mexican
Santi’s (D) 1302 Meeting St., 722-2633; (S) 114
Holiday Dr., 851-2885. An array of authentic Mexican
dishes in a comfortable dining atmosphere. Voted best
margaritas. Lunch & dinner, Mon-Sat.
Taco Bartina (WA) 1301 Ashley River Rd. 225-7426.
Expanded spot for all your taco and burrito cravings
with an impressively large menu, breakfast tacos served
all day and taco Tuesday specials. The blackened fish taco
is not to be missed. Margaritas include housemade agave
mix. Lunch and dinner daily.
Taco Boy (FB) 106 E Ashley Ave., 588-9761. Fresh
Mexican entrees like fish and fried avocado tacos and
an array of beer, margarita selections and their famous
frozen screwdriver. Lunch & dinner daily, along with
weekday discounted menu item specials.
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Pizza
Crust Wood Fired Pizza (JI) (D) (S) 1956 Maybank
Hwy. Locally sourced ingredients are piled atop hand
crafted artisan pizza. Three locations in the Charleston
area all have both indoor and outdoor seating. Fan
favorites include the arancini, butternut pizza and the
“Crustavore” pizza made with bacon, pepperoni, crispy
prosciutto, sausage, hot coppa, tomato sauce and mozzarella.
Lunch and dinner daily.
Evo Pizza (NC) 1075 E Montague Ave., 225-1796.
This local favorite serves creative Neapolitan-style woodfired
pizza using seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients.
Try the adventurous pastrami and corn or pistachio pesto
pizza or stick to classics like the margherita. Lunch &
dinner daily. A new location, Baker & Brewer opened in
downtown Charleston at 94 Stuart St. open for breakfast,
lunch & dinner daily.
Fams Brewing (JI) 1291 Folly Rd., 225-4646. Local
pizzeria and microbrewery serving New York and
Chicago style pizza. Pair the Chitown classic—loaded
with mozzarella, double pepperoni, double sausage
and chunky sauce—with an award-winning craft brew.
Large outdoor seating area. Lunch & dinner daily.
Seafood
Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar (D) 205 East Bay St.,
853-8600. Traditional raw bar with fresh seafood choices
including oysters, clams, flounder and shrimp. Extensive
beer and wine selections. Lunch & dinner daily.
Blu Restaurant & Bar (FB) 1 Center St., 588-6658. Fresh local
seafood at an oceanfront setting. Spend a day at the beach and
then enjoy tapas-style entrees. Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily.
Bowen’s Island (FB) 870 Bowens Island Rd. 795-2757.
Known for its locally-harvested oysters, fried shrimp, hushpuppies,
Frogmore stew, flowing beer and unmatched view of
the river, marshes and islands, locals and visitors flock to this
one-of-a-kind counter-service restaurant with their appetites
and cameras. Dinner 5pm - 9:30 pm Tues through Sat.
Charleston Crab House (JI) 45 Wappoo Creek Dr.,
795-1963; (D) 41 Market St., 853-2900. “Family owned
for 30 years and still crackin!” Fresh Lowcountry seafood
served in a casual, family atmosphere. Featuring fresh
blue crabs, snow crab legs, ahi tuna, fresh salads and sandwiches,
seafood platters and more. Lunch & dinner daily.
Coast (D) 39-D John St., 722-8838. Relaxed atmosphere
with an array of fresh local seafood dishes including fresh
ceviche and an outstanding drink list. Dinner nightly.
Chubby Fish (D) 252 Coming St., 222-3949. Small,
warm neighborhood eatery and raw bar offering a varied
and rotating menu of seafood—from seafood curry to
ceviche—and large selection of oysters alongside a creative
wine list and desserts. No reservations, two seatings
per night for dinner.
The Establishment (D) 28 Broad St., 608-8295. Impeccable
service and sophistication in the historic James
Gregorie House serving fresh and sustainable seafood
from Charleston and surrounding waters like swordfish
and seafood stew. Dinner Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday.
The Ordinary (D) 544 King St., 414-7060. Southern
seafood hall and oyster bar located in an old bank. The
fancy seafood menu celebrates the bounty of Coastal Carolina
waters supporting local and regional fishermen, crabbers, oystermen,
farmers and producers. A lively bar highlights the stunning
space. Dinner Tues-Sun. Closed Monday.
Pearlz Oyster Bar (D) 153 East Bay St., 577-5755; (WA)
9 Magnolia Rd., 573-2277. Fun, eclectic locations serving
the freshest seafood in a casual dining atmosphere. Oysters
prepared raw on the half shell, baked Rockefeller-style, fried
or steamed are served all day. Lunch & dinner daily.
The Royal Tern (J) 3005 Maybank Hwy. 718-3434. Nested
in the heart of Johns Island, The Royal Tern is an elevated
neighborhood eatery with daily seafood specials and inspired
cuisine. An array of freshly-prepared seafood and steaks as
well as seafood towers and tartares from the raw bar. Open for
dinner Monday-Saturday.
T.W. Graham & Co. (McClellanville) 810 Pinckney St.
843-887-4342. A charming, old-timey restaurant in the fishing
village of McClellanville that only uses fresh catch for
their platters of grilled and golden fried seafood along with
housemade sides and pies. Lunch Tuesday-Sunday, lunch and
dinner Friday and Saturday. Closed Monday.
Southern
82 Queen (D) 82 Queen St., 723-7591. A swanky bar &
intimate courtyard make this refined Southern spot a specialoccasion
favorite. Favorites include grilled salmon, seared
duck breast, Carolina crab cakes and seasonal mussels. Excellent
wine list. Lunch & dinner daily.
Slighty North of Broad (D) 192 East Bay St., 723-3424.
Delicious, upscale food like grilled Carolina quail, oyster stew
and shrimp and grits in a casual setting. Lunch, Mon-Fri.
Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat and Sun.
Virginia’s on King (D) 412 King St., 735-5800. Upscale
yet relaxed atmosphere serving up traditional fare like fried
chicken, deviled crab, po’boys and an array of side dishes.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily.
Steaks
Burwell’s Stone Fire Grill (D) 14 North Market St., 737-
8700. “The next generation of steakhouses” coined by those in the
know of beef trends, Burwell’s serves up choice cuts of beef, including
Wagyu hanger steak, along with local seasonal vegetables
and sustainable seafood. Great location on the Market. Full bar
and happy hour. Dinner nightly.
Grill 225 (D) 225 East Bay St., 266-4222. Upscale and fancy
with private booths and white-jacketed service, serving up
prime USDA steaks and select seafood entrees. Lunch &
dinner daily.
Halls Chophouse (D) 434 King St., 727-0090. Family-owned
and high-end dining with a rich interior setting and impeccable
service, offering up steaks cooked to perfection and choice seafood
dishes. Dinner nightly, Saturday lunch and Sunday gospel
brunch with signature steaks and Southern favorites.
Oak Steakhouse (D) 17 Broad St., 722-4220. Upscale steakhouse
fare in an impeccable setting, serving certified Angus beef and
freshly-caught seafood. Award-winning wine list. Dinner nightly.
The Ocean Room at the Sanctuary (KS) 1 Sanctuary Drive.,
768-6253. Rich mahogany sets the tone for this upscale eatery,
serving up choice dry aged beef and fresh local seafood
from an ever-changing menu. Dinner Tues-Sat.