Charleston is, for many folks around the country (and the world!), a dining destination. We’re lucky enough to live and eat here every day and we never take our local bars, restaurants, bakeries and breweries for granted.
We polled our staffers and writers for their best bites and sips of 2024. We’ve detailed them here, and we challenge you to get out there and try some of the city’s best bars and restaurants this year.
Cris Temples, Associate Publisher
Temples kept it both decadent and classic with his recommendations, which include:
- East Bay Deli’s chocolate cake
- Loaded tots with pulled pork and runny egg at The Triangle
- Fried crawfish at Gene’s Haufbrau
- Brisket from Lewis Barbecue
- Any cupcake from Sugar Bakeshop
Libby Swope Wiersema, cuisine writer
Lenoir’s Blueberry BBQ Chicken Wings
Confession: I’ve never been a fan of chicken wings. So, I am just a bit flummoxed that Lenoir’s Blueberry BBQ Chicken Wings have been weighing on my mind. Smokey, crispy wings tossed in a tangy-sweet blueberry barbecue sauce and served with a scattering of thinly sliced celery, scallions, benne seeds and fresh blueberries — well, it was a game-changer for this hard-core thigh girl.
Everything Bagel, Holey City Bagel
Because I owned a bagelry in a former life, sitting down to a generously encrusted Everything bagel (my favorite!) at Holey City is comforting and nostalgic for me. Rising before the sun to hand-roll, boil and bake a heap of bagels requires a whole lot of sweat equity. I appreciate the aesthetic of this little shop that churns out bagels good enough to represent the entire Southeast at New York BagelFest. (Last year, they snagged third place finishes for Most Creative Bagel and Schmear of the Year for their pimento cream cheese.) My overall assessment: These bagels are banging.
Old Fashioned Tacos, Rancho Lewis
When I’m craving tacos, I’m not dreaming of drippy little hand-helds made with flour tortillas. Give me crunchy! Rancho Lewis’s Old Fashioned Tacos speak to my affinity for crispy corn tortillas, freshly fried and filled with chunky pico, savory proteins (in this case, chicken tinga and beef picadillo) and a nest of cool lettuce and shredded cheese. As a native Southern Californian, I grew up eating the likes of Pup-n-Taco, Taco Lita, Del Taco and Taco Bell — no apologies. While my adult palate won’t tolerate the indulgences of my childhood, the tacos at Rancho Lewis capture the simplicity and texture I love with an elevated flavor profile to please my more grown-up sensibilities.
Samantha Connors, CP contributor
Crispy Fried Eggplant and Gin & Tonic Salmon Crudo from The Archer
I had a difficult time resisting the urge to order every small plate on The Archer’s menu, but these two were standouts. I’ve never had an eggplant dish quite like this one. The whipped buttermilk, lime and Thai chili provide a light, acidic balance to the rich flavor of the lightly fried eggplant, which literally melts in your mouth. And, the G&T crudo is an inventive take on a simple dish with gin-cured salmon, crunchy cucumbers and locally made tonic from Sweatman’s Garden.
Tamal Montado from Kooben Cafe Mexicano
A new restaurant in Hanahan on Yeamans Hall Road, this breakfast and lunch cafe offers authentic Mexican dishes and fun coffee drinks, aguas frescas and smoothies. The tamal montado is a delicious breakfast offering with two tamales over beans topped with an egg and red sauce.
Adult Four Loko from Sissy Bar
If y’all want to relive the early days of Four Loko without the malt liquor and heart palpitations, this cocktail is for you. An upgraded espresso martini that swaps vodka for anejo tequila, the Adult Four Loko is a delicious, classy cocktail for a quick pick-me-up.
Gabriela Capestany, cuisine writer
Da Toscano Fugazzi at Revelry Brewing
I truly don’t know why my initial expectations were low when first trying the new food at Revelry — maybe because brewery and pub food can be so exceptionally hit or miss. Chef Michael Toscano delivers (per usual) with such satisfying, delicious “unauthentic” Italian food that pairs perfectly with a beer (or several). The chicken parm quesadilla is unmatched. Take this recommendation for Fugazzi as another reason to visit Revelry, which remains my favorite brewery in Charleston and brews the best IPA in the city: Never Sunny!
Drinks at Coterie
It’s no secret that the trellis patio at Coterie is one of the most relaxing places in town. This is not an easy feat considering its proximity to the buzz of King Street, but the convenient location is all part of the appeal. The outdoor bar has quickly become a staple in my rotation and offers a distinctly laid-back yet upscale vibe when you need that sort of thing — the kind of place where I’ve taken a pre-wedding-night bride and groom who wanted a lowkey sip with friends, but also my lively Cuban father who wanted a pre-dinner gin martini (shout out to the bartenders for playing along with his hijinks). Best of all, they have some of the most complex, interesting cocktails in town where I can always try something new and exciting.
Pho Lucky and Boba Tea
I’m from Seattle, so I know the importance of a solid neighborhood pho spot. It’s frequently a topic of conversation among my friends in the Pacific Northwest, as everyone has their own opinion on who provides the best value, broth and meat slices. My boyfriend, who is Vietnamese, excitedly told me that he finally found a spot in Charleston that has “the most authentic” pho in town and took me to Pho Lucky. Sure enough, this place takes me right back to the no-frills pho spots he and I would frequent around the University of Washington. Not only was their Pho Tai delicious, I also had enough leftovers for a second meal.
Connelly Hardaway, cuisine editor
Fra Diavolo at The Establishment
Last year, The Establishment implemented some roof-to-table dining with a new collaboration with hyper-local hydroponic farmer Garret Fleming of Ghost Grow 843. Two of Fleming’s hydroponic towers live on The Establishment’s rooftop, where executive chef Elliott Howells and his team pick fresh herbs and produce to incorporate into the restaurant’s dishes. The Fra Diavolo, named for a spicy Italian tomato sauce, is made with tagliatelle, shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes and, of course, rooftop peppers and basil. It’s both decadent and fresh and made even better if you snag a seat at the chef’s counter to watch the magic happen before your eyes.
Coast Brewing Company’s OBD?
Coast Brewing makes great beer, of course, but don’t sleep on the brewery’s killer craft cocktails. The “ODB?” is made with Arbol mezcal, Suze, St. Germain, lime, simple syrup and celery bitters and is tart, refreshing and just a little bit unexpected. Pair it with the brewery’s tallow fried chicken wings.
Makan’s stink beans (RIP)
Recently shuttered Malaysian restaurant Makan served up an inventive shrimp dish, Sambal Udang Petai, that featured the cheekily named “stink beans.” You can find the bitter, nutty bean in Southeast Asia, where it grows on trees and, with its high concentration of amino acids, puts off a smell reminiscent of methane gas. The slight crunch of the bean with the spice of the dish was so interesting and delicious that I knew I’d never think of the word “stink” the same way again. Sadly, Makan closed last month, serving as a reminder that Charleston’s great restaurants cannot exist without the city’s support. If you like a restaurant, spend money there!
Harbinger Cafe’s winter caprese sandwich
I’d already come up with my best bites of the year when I bit into The Harbinger Cafe’s winter version of its caprese sandwich and I knew the sammy needed to be added to the list asap. The cafe serves a different iteration every season and the winter version is made with housemade bread, beet butter, marinated sundried tomatoes, mozzarella, asiago, spinach pesto and house salad. Get it warmed up and enjoy it in the cafe — or scarf it down in your car, as god intended.
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