Charleston Restaurant Week, organized by the South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association, returns today through Jan. 21. The bi-annual event features more than 20 participating restaurants in all parts of town. With so many participants, it can be tough to choose which restaurant week deal to take advantage of. We’ve narrowed it down to our top five picks based on best bang-for-your-buck menus and the chance to check out some newer restaurants.
Bar167
3 courses for $40, optional wine and zero-proof pairings for an additional $30 and $18, respectively
The restaurant week menu at Bar167 can be as indulgent as you make it — lean into dry January with a reasonably priced zero-proof pairing option or go all-in with wine pairings. Or skip both and focus on the food, from crispy calamari and diver sea scallops to baklava cheesecake. We love a restaurant week menu that highlights fresh, local seafood.
Basil
3 courses for $30
The Basil restaurant week menu is a favorite of current and former City Paper cuisine editors — and a classic for a reason. It’s a great value and offers plenty of food, and you can find it at both the Park Circle and Mount Pleasant locations. Choose from a wide variety of appetizers, soups and salads for your first course; curries, noodles and rice for your third course; and the option of dessert or a glass of wine for your third course.
Florence’s Lowcountry Kitchen
3 courses for $30
Florence’s Lowcountry Kitchen recently reopened in a new spot on James Island with a revamped menu inspired by owners Jonathan and Patrick Kish’s great grandmother Florence. Reacquaint yourself with the Southern staples on this restaurant week menu, including fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits and pecan pie.
The Habit
3 courses for $40, option to add half-glass wine pairing for each course for $18, option to sub a cocktail for dessert for an additional $4
Restaurant week is a great time to check out East Bay Street newcomer The Habit, which is serving up an extensive restaurant week menu. From crispy chicken wings to pan-seared crab cakes to limoncello mascarpone cake, there’s a little something for everyone. Our favorite part of this menu, though, is the option to swap dessert for a cocktail — for an extra $4 you can sip on an espresso martini (“elevated by a local smoked pecan liqueur,” no less) or sweet dessert wine.
Pink Cactus
3 courses for $30
Grab a coworker and head to lunch at Pink Cactus, where a restaurant week menu keeps things simple (and flavor-forward) with dishes like nachos, enchiladas and prickly pear key lime pie. At just $30, this deal is one of the more affordable restaurant week options. Might we recommend pairing your meal with one of Pink Cactus’ signature cocktails? You can’t really go wrong with any of the house margaritas (which are just $7 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday).
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