Charleston Living Magazine Nov-Dec 2023

FOOD | DINING OUT
By WENDY SWAT SNYDER
Photos by JAMES STEFIUK
Frannie & The Fox
Restaurant inside boutique hotel Emeline notches up the Charleston dinner scene
Iexperience involves mixing it up with an
element of surprise, step into the world
of Emeline, where boutique hotel concept
meets trendy eatery and so much more.
If your idea of a great dining
Inside the historic Church Street property, a
broad lobby bustling with good energy leads
past intriguing niches (to be explored later)
into the hotel's signature restaurant, Frannie
& The Fox. For those hungering for a unique
experience, Frannie is as much a chic
gathering place as a great place to eat.
The property debuted in July 2020, part of
Dallas-based Makeready's extensive portfolio
of curated hotels, restaurants, spas and retail
venues.
“The organization creates unique, luxury
lifestyle experiences within hotels, with a strong
focus on food and beverage,” says Adam Jimenez,
Makeready area general manager, food &
beverage.
Jimenez says the pandemic gave the team
the opportunity to grow slowly, with Frannie
taking cues from the local market and gradually
layering in hours and staff. He and executive
chef Tim Morton started up operations for services
like private events and banquets. A smaller
space within the restaurant was re-imagined to
fill a niche in the restaurant.
“We had lacked a lobby bar,” notes
Jimenez. “Classic cocktails like martinis were
trending nationally. It was an opportunity to do
something a little different, something there's
not a focus on here in Charleston.”
They hatched a plan for an intimate
“hideaway” dubbed The Den and rolled it out
in October 2023, serving craft martinis, champagne
and caviar—plus a few Frannie menu
favorites—for patrons looking for a more elevated
experience.
Across the lobby, Clerks Coffee Company
perks up specialty coffee drinks, a selection of
teas and light bites. Folks can grab a demitasse
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fresh from the La Marzocco espresso maker
and browse historic exhibits in the Archive,
Emeline's homage to the Charleston Renaissance,
a period of cultural renewal that fostered
a reawakening of the arts and literature in the
Holy City.
Inside Frannie, sleek Midcentury Modern
styling rules—super cozy easy chairs, tons of
potted plants and a scattering of Oriental rugs
conjure a comfortable living room vibe.
A central dining area with bistro style
tables and lively bar has a cafe feel, while an
adjacent room offers more privacy. A few steps
away, an open-air courtyard provides plenty of
seating for diners, and a standout, standalone
centerpiece fireplace is surrounded by couches.
The contemporary design concept by
Dallas-based Swoon starts with a cool white
palette that sets off warm earth tones: custom
olive green leather banquettes, forest Moroccan
tile walls, rich hardwoods and dark brick
flooring. Vintage lighting and furnishings add a
convivial feel to the ambiance. Tying the spaces
together is an open floor plan that floods the
interior with natural light and provides a sight
line of the entire restaurant from every seat.
Chef Morton's kitchen revolves around
a wood-fired oven, producing approachable
dishes like artisanal pizzas and other Italian
classics. The Minnesota native got his start in
hospitality as a teen washing dishes, and “fell
in love” with the high energy pace. Following
a fine dining stint in Jackson Hole, he signed
up for the three-year American Culinary Apprenticeship
in Sea Island, Georgia, where he
met mentor Scott Crawford, a five-time James
Beard Foundation nominee and former executive
chef of Woodlands Inn in Summerville.
That relationship would eventually take
him to Charleston, where he was tapped for the
executive chef role by The Indigo Road Hospitality
Group for the opening of Mercantile &
Mash and The Cedar Room.
“(Indigo founder) Steve Palmer and Scott
Crawford were good friends,” notes Morton.
“I was very excited to come to Charleston, and
Indigo Road is a great company. I honed my
leadership style there for over four years plus