Fall 2025
This issue’s CP Hotlist shines a spotlight on notable, relatively new hot restaurants that impress our cuisine team. We encourage you to check them out and let us know whether you think they should be added to our Top 50 list. Now on the CP Hotlist (in alphabetical order):
The Archer (2024), Downtown.
Marc and Liz Hudacsko, the couple behind popular downtown spot Berkeley’s, opened a buzzier, “more grown up” sister restaurant, The Archer, last summer. Featuring what’s described as “elevated fare” (think oven-roasted wreckfish, duck confit salad), The Archer is located at 601 Meeting St., near the base of the Ravenel bridge. The bar program is curated by Jimmy Chmielewski, previously of Proof and Estadio. Drinks include cocktails like the Ambiguous Bird, made with rum, coconut oolong Campari, pineapple and lime, and a nitro espresso martini on draft. Moderate. thearchercharleston.com. Dinner, Wednesday through Monday.
Cane Pazzo (2025), Hanahan.
Chef-owner and Charleston native Mark Bolchoz,an alumnus of Peninsula Grill, The Grocery, Indaco and a former culinary director of Italian concepts for the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, opened Cane Pazzo in June along with his wife Ariana. The Hanahan restaurant’s name translates to “Mad Dog,” Bolchoz’s childhood nickname. It was given by his grandfather, a Hanahan entrepreneur for decades. Handmade pastas, wood-fired proteins and shareable plates highlight Lowountry seasonality; dishes like heirloom tomato toast with burrata, pickled sweet peppers, arugula and sherry vinaigrette shine alongside risotto with corn, confit peppers, red onion, Serrano and pancetta. A thoughtful cocktail list accompanies an exclusively Italian wine list, followed by desserts like tiramisu and affogato. Moderate. canepazzorestaurant.com. Dinner, Tuesday through Saturday.
La Cave (2024), Downtown.
La Cave, an elevated sipping lounge and salon privé inspired by the south of France, opened on King Street last fall, just down the block from its sister restaurant, Félix Cocktails et Cuisine. La Cave is the Parisian-inspired cafe’s softer sister, with natural wood finishes and exposed stone walls designed by Landrum’s wife, Leslie. Diners can look forward to small plates like a petit crab roll with lump crab cake topped with jalapeño-leek aïoli and pickled red onions that is served on a sized-down sesame bun; raw bar offerings ranging from oysters to crudo to caviar service; and roasted prawns with coriander, piquillo pepper butter and grilled lemon. Order the Martini de Luxe, made with fromage washed vodka, saline and Lillet Blanc — and get a caviar crisp on the side. Moderate. lacavechs.com. Dinner, Tuesday through Saturday.
Merci (2025), Downtown.
Neighborhood bistro, Merci, from chef Michael Zentner and his wife Courtney, opened at 28 Pitt Street this March. The European-inspired restaurant features a small but mighty menu in a cozy, 1820’s Federal-style building, with a dining room that seats just under 30 diners. Merci’s current, carefully honed list of offerings features dishes like focaccia stracciatella with Benton’s ham and pistachio; spring pea salad with boucheron and green goddess dressing and striped bass with white bean fondue, fennel and olives. Expensive. merchichs.com. Dinner, Wednesday through Saturday.
Pelato (2025), Downtown.
This Brooklyn-inspired, garlic heavy, red sauce Italian restaurant opened in May in the former Butcher & Bee space at 1085 Morrison Drive. A seasonally changing, casual, sharable menu is available nightly in the main dining space, the bar and al fresco. Potato croquettes with mozzarella, garlic aioli and Parmigiano Reggiano and crispy cauliflower piccata with lemon-caper butter are starter choices along with mains like campanelle with shrimp limone and creamy lemon as well as a classic chicken parmigiana with tomato, basil, Parmigiano Reggiano and mozzarella. Sundays host a traditional Italian Sunday sauce, also known as Sunday gravy, dinner serving fusilli with tomato, ribs, braciola, sausage and meatballs. Moderate. pelatorestaurant.com. Dinner daily.
Tutti (2025), downtown.
Femi Oyediran and Miles White, co-owners of Charleston’s Graft Wine Shop, have brought the same expert touch to pizza that they brought to wine. Tutti opened next door to Graft earlier this year and offers thin crust pizza (aka “round”) and thick, focaccia-like pizza (aka “square”). You can pick a red or white sauce for the foundation and then sky’s the limit with toppings. Tutti’s wine program features by-the-glass and bottle offerings and highlights the same types of organic, biodynamic, low-intervention or sustainably farmed wines on its menu. And for those that prefer to eat their pizza in pajamas on the couch, Tutti offers a handy to-go window. Pro tip: add sesame seeds to your square pizza for an umami flavor bomb. Moderate. tuttipizzachs.com. Dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Lunch Friday through Sunday.
Volpe (2025), Downtown.
Ken Vedrinski, chef of Isle of Palms restaurant Coda Del Pesce and former beloved, downtown Italian restaurant Trattoria Lucca, opened Volpe at 161 Rutledge Ave. in April. Communal dining is the name of the game here, and the menu changes daily and offers a four-course, family-style meal priced at $65 per person (a la carte items are also available). The family-style option includes four different antipastos, a pasta duo, a segunda course that consists of meat and fish followed by dessert. Recent dishes included farro with asparagus, mortadella and roasted peppers, pork Marsala, and a lime and Amaretti cheesecake. The wine list has about two dozen bottles and all white wine costs $44 with all reds being $4 more. Moderate. volpecharleston.com. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
Summer 2025
This issue’s CP Hotlist shines a spotlight on notable, relatively new hot restaurants that impress our cuisine team. We encourage you to check them out and let us know whether you think they should be added to our Top 50 list. Now on the CP Hotlist (in alphabetical order):
The Archer (2024), Downtown.
Marc and Liz Hudacsko, the couple behind popular downtown spot Berkeley’s, opened a buzzier, “more grown up” sister restaurant, The Archer, last summer. Featuring what’s described as “elevated fare” (think oven-roasted wreckfish, duck confit salad), The Archer is located at 601 Meeting St., near the base of the Ravenel bridge. The bar program is curated by Jimmy Chmielewski, previously of Proof and Estadio. Drinks include cocktails like the Ambiguous Bird, made with rum, coconut oolong Campari, pineapple and lime, and a nitro espresso martini on draft.
Moderate. thearchercharleston.com. Dinner, Wednesday through Monday.
Cane Pazzo (2025), Hanahan. NEW!
Chef-owner and Charleston native Mark Bolchoz, an alumnus of Peninsula Grill, The Grocery, Indaco and a former culinary director of Italian concepts for the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, opened Cane Pazzo in June along with his wife Ariana. The Hanahan restaurant’s name translates to “Mad Dog,” Bolchoz’s childhood nickname. It was given by his grandfather, a Hanahan entrepreneur for decades. Handmade pastas, wood-fired proteins and shareable plates highlight Lowountry seasonality; dishes like heirloom tomato toast with burrata, pickled sweet peppers, arugula and sherry vinaigrette shine alongside risotto with corn, confit peppers, red onion, Serrano and pancetta. A thoughtful cocktail list accompanies an exclusively Italian wine list, followed by desserts like tiramisu and affogato.
Moderate. canepazzorestaurant.com. Dinner, Tuesday through Saturday.
La Cave (2024), Downtown.
La Cave, an elevated sipping lounge and salon privé inspired by the south of France, opened on King Street last fall, just down the block from its sister restaurant, Félix Cocktails et Cuisine. La Cave is the Parisian-inspired cafe’s softer sister, with natural wood finishes and exposed stone walls designed by Landrum’s wife, Leslie. Diners can look forward to small plates like a petit crab roll with lump crab cake topped with jalapeño-leek aïoli and pickled red onions that is served on a sized-down sesame bun; raw bar offerings ranging from oysters to crudo to caviar service; and roasted prawns with coriander, piquillo pepper butter and grilled lemon. Order the Martini de Luxe, made with fromage washed vodka, saline and Lillet Blanc — and get a caviar crisp on the side.
Moderate. lacavechs.com. Dinner, Tuesday through Saturday.
Lillian’s Petite Market & Eatery (2024), Downtown.
Owner Heather Greene, working with chef Todd Garrigan, pastry chef Allison Brown and mixologist Ruth Wentenhall, has created a comfortable follower for the space formerly occupied by much-loved Harold’s Cabin. The restaurant, which is open from 7:15 a.m. every day until 10 p.m., showcases locally-sourced dishes and craft cocktails designed around a seasonal menu. The all-day menu features breakfast favorites and a great burger. Dinner is satisfying with everything from fried oyster stew to barbecue shrimp. An all-around winner.
Moderate. lillianschs.com. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Merci (2025), Downtown.
Neighborhood bistro, Merci, from chef Michael Zentner and his wife Courtney, opened at 28 Pitt Street this March. The European-inspired restaurant features a small but mighty menu in a cozy, 1820’s Federal-style building, with a dining room that seats just under 30 diners. Merci’s current, carefully honed list of offerings features dishes like focaccia stracciatella with Benton’s ham and pistachio; spring pea salad with boucheron and green goddess dressing and striped bass with white bean fondue, fennel and olives.
Expensive. merichs.com. Dinner, Wednesday through Saturday.
Pelato (2025), Downtown. NEW!
This Brooklyn-inspired, garlic heavy, red sauce Italian restaurant opened in May in the former Butcher & Bee space at 1085 Morrison Drive. A seasonally changing, casual, sharable menu is available nightly in the main dining space, the bar and al fresco. Potato croquettes with mozzarella, garlic aioli and Parmigiano Reggiano and crispy cauliflower piccata with lemon-caper butter are starter choices along with mains like campanelle with shrimp limone and creamy lemon as well as a classic chicken parmigiana with tomato, basil, Parmigiano Reggiano and mozzarella. Sundays host a traditional Italian Sunday sauce, also known as Sunday gravy, dinner serving fusilli with tomato, ribs, braciola, sausage and meatballs.
Moderate. www.pelatorestaurant.com. Dinner daily.
Volpe (2025), Downtown. NEW!
Ken Vedrinski, chef of Isle of Palms restaurant Coda Del Pesce and former beloved, downtown Italian restaurant Trattoria Lucca, opened Volpe at 161 Rutledge Ave. in April. Communal dining is the name of the game here, and the menu changes daily and offers a four-course, family-style meal priced at $65 per person (a la carte items are also available). The family-style option includes four different antipastos, a pasta duo, a segunda course that consists of meat and fish followed by dessert. Recent dishes included farro with asparagus, mortadella and roasted peppers, pork Marsala, and a lime and Amaretti cheesecake. The wine list has about two dozen bottles and all white wine costs $44 with all reds being $48 more.
Moderate. volpecharleston.com. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
Spring 2025
This issue’s CP Hotlist shines a spotlight on notable, relatively new hot restaurants that impress our cuisine team. We encourage you to check them out and let us know whether you think they should be added to our Top 50 list. Now on the CP Hotlist (in alphabetical order):
Abbracci (2024), Mount Pleasant.
Local restaurateurs Don and Joanne Migliori opened the popular North Mount Pleasant pizza joint Migliori’s Pizzeria in 2020. They are also investors in downtown Italian restaurant Legami. “We wanted to have a downtown [quality] restaurant in North Mount Pleasant,” Joanne Migliori said of their new upscale Italian restaurant, Abbracci. Abbracci Italian Cuisine & Cocktails features Executive Chef Devin Sansone’s take on Italian dishes like arancini, ricotta gnocchi, pollo al mattone and fresh, housemade pasta. At Abbracci, the Miglioris want to embrace family, friends and good food. Moderate. abbraccichs.com. Dinner (Wed.-Sun.)
The Archer (2024), Downtown.
Marc and Liz Hudacsko, the couple behind popular downtown spot Berkeley’s, opened a buzzier, “more grown up” sister restaurant, The Archer, last summer. Featuring what’s described as “elevated fare” (think oven-roasted wreckfish, duck confit salad), The Archer is located at 601 Meeting St., near the base of the Ravenel bridge. The bar program is curated by Jimmy Chmielewski, previously of Proof and Estadio. Drinks include cocktails like the Ambiguous Bird, made with rum, coconut oolong Campari, pineapple and lime, and a nitro espresso martini on draft. Moderate. thearchercharleston.com. Dinner (Wed.-Mon.)
La Cave (2024), Downtown.
La Cave, an elevated sipping lounge and salon privé inspired by the south of France, opened on King Street last fall, just down the block from its sister restaurant, Félix Cocktails et Cuisine. La Cave is the Parisian-inspired cafe’s softer sister, with natural wood finishes and exposed stone walls designed by chef-owner Félix Landrum’s wife, Leslie. Diners can look forward to small plates like a petit crab roll with lump crab cake topped with jalapeño-leek aïoli and pickled red onions that is served on a sized-down sesame bun; raw bar offerings ranging from oysters to crudo to caviar service; and roasted prawns with coriander, piquillo pepper butter and grilled lemon. Order the Martini de Luxe, made with fromage-washed vodka, saline and Lillet Blanc — and get a caviar crisp on the side. Moderate. lacavechs.com. Dinner (Tues.-Sat.)
Chef Loong Dim Sum (2024). West Ashley.
If you haven’t ever tried authentic Chinese soup dumplings, or Xiaolongbao (which means “little basket bun”), you don’t know what you’re missing. But now there’s a shopping center restaurant where you can revel in these delicious bites. These delicate, addictive pouches contain a sweet or savory filling suspended in soup and wrapped in a thin dumpling dough. “We make everything ourselves,” Chef Emely Yan told the City Paper recently. “Like our own chili oil and different kinds of peppers to make our own spices.” Also featured are hand-pulled Xi’an noodles, Peking duck, five-spice chicken and entrees with Sichuan chili heat. Moderate. chefloongdimsum.com. Dinner (Wed.-Mon.), Lunch (Thurs.-Sun.)
Joyland (2025). Downtown.
James Beard Award–winning chef Sean Brock, who made his name at Husk before departing for the climes of Nashville, returns with an ode to fast food at Joyland, which also has locations in Birmingham and the Music City. If you’re looking for one of the tastiest smashburgers you’ve ever had, this is the place. And if you top it off with a chocolate malt shake, you’ll be living in dreamland as well as joyland. The joint across from Marion Square also has biscuits and burritos at breakfast. And later, if you’re in the mood, you can get a boozy shake, too. Moderate. eatjoyland.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (daily)
Lillian’s Petite Market & Eatery (2024). Downtown.
Owner Heather Greene, working with chef Todd Garrigan, pastry chef Allison Brown and mixologist Ruth Wentenhall, has created a comfortable follower for the space formerly occupied by much-loved Harold’s Cabin. The restaurant, which is open daily from 7:15 a.m. until 10 p.m., showcases locally-sourced dishes and craft cocktails designed around a seasonal menu. The all-day menu features breakfast favorites and a great burger. Dinner is satisfying with everything from fried oyster stew to barbecue shrimp. An all-around winner. Moderate. lillianschs.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (daily)
Merci (2025) Downtown.
Neighborhood bistro Merci, from chef Michael Zentner and his wife, Courtney, opened at 28 Pitt St. in March. The European-inspired restaurant features a small but mighty menu in a cozy 1820’s Federal-style building, with a dining room that seats just under 30 diners. Merci’s carefully honed list of offerings includes dishes like focaccia stracciatella with Benton’s ham and pistachio; spring pea salad with boucheron and green goddess dressing; and striped bass with white bean fondue, fennel and olives. Expensive. merchichs.com. Dinner (Wed.-Sat.)
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.