Brasserie-inspired The Select now open on Meeting Street

The Select, a new American cuisine bar and restaurant, is now open in The Guild on Meeting Street. The restaurant, which has another location in Atlanta, is inspired by Paris’ Le Select, a 1920s brasserie known for expat clientele like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Chagall and Picasso.

Managing partner Jennifer Bresnahan, whose resume includes restaurants like Husk and Lenoir, has her finger on the pulse of Charleston’s restaurant scene. And she thinks the city is ready for a spot like The Select.

She referenced the original Le Select, in Paris, when talking about the kind of crowd Charleston’s iteration of the brasserie is looking to attract. “It was this place [Le Select] that was comfortable — you didn’t feel judged and you didn’t feel alienated,” she said. “I feel like it’s going to be a home away from home for a lot of people.”

Located on the first level of a multi-use apartment building, The Select has the potential to become a go-to spot for The Guild’s residents. “If all they do is come down for dinner once a month at happy hour, it will be a lot of regulars that cultivate that feeling of belonging, like Cheers, where everybody knows your name,” said Bresnahan.

Here for a good time

Drinks are the star of the show at The Select, with a cocktail menu that features stalwarts (hello, espresso martini) and inventive offerings, like the rum cocktail Goldfinch, which pays homage to the history of Charleston’s rum imports. Served in a bird-shaped cocktail glass, the drink is all part of the fun.

With 140 seats in the dining room and 60 in the bar area, The Select is quite large and ready and willing to host all manner of guests, from those looking for a boisterous evening out to those set on an intimate date night.

“I’m hoping that our size gives us that freedom for people to be a little more last minute and spontaneous,” said Bresnahan of The Select’s large floor plan. With so many seats, the restaurant has the luxury of having space for plenty of folks without the need for months-in-advance reservations.

The Select features a dedicated stage for live music, with acts performing several nights a week. “The vibe is going to be a little more lively in the bar,” said Bresnahan. “The dining room is a more classic dining experience. You still get to hear the music, but not necessarily be front and center.”

The restaurant’s food menu spans the globe with traditional French fare like French onion soup and steak frites, Peruvian ceviche, Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish garlic shrimp), miso golden tilefish and plenty of classic American flavors, from glazed salmon to a cheeseburger.

The Select recently launched two special promotions — F&B worker discounts and happy hour. From 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. every Sunday, local food and beverage employees can receive 15 percent off their orders, with proof of employment.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, bar guests can order from The Select’s happy hour menu which features a lobster slider, crispy chicken legs, truffle parmesan fries and more. Additionally, the bar offers happy hour specials all night long on Mondays. The Select also offers themed evenings, including Whiskey Wednesday (order a featured whiskey for just $10) and Ladies Night Thursday, with cocktail features for “the ladies.”

Late night revelers can order food from The Select on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and summer Olympics viewers can snag special cocktails now through Aug. 11. Specials include the Parisian 75, an elderflower French 75 and the Gold Medal, a riff on a Gold Rush with pineapple juice and falernum.

The Select at 465 Meeting St., Suite 120 is open for happy hour and dinner daily. Learn more online at theselectcharleston.com.