Papi’s Taqueria serves lust-worthy tacos in a chic, laid-back space (Charleston City Paper) Oct31

Papi’s Taqueri...

“Ay, Papi!” is not something I’ve ever exclaimed … until this week. As the jubilation hit a notable peak, what can I say, except that Papi’s Taqueria made me do it. Whether Papi is a real boy or just a figurehead is unknown. Regardless, the Isle of Palms...

Two successful Charleston pop-up chefs talk about finding a semi-permanent niche in the city (Charleston City Paper) Oct24

Two successful Charl...

pop-up \ ‘päp-‘?p\ Phrasal verb of pop To appear or occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Used in reference to retail opportunities, dining experiences, and flashy ads promising untold sweepstakes riches, pop-ups are the surprise party of modern times. So what does it mean if a...

With its eclectic and thoughtful seafood offerings, Pier 22 is a welcome addition to Sullivan’s (Charleston City Paper) Oct24

With its eclectic an...

Nestled amongst the shops and eateries on the east side of Middle Street on Sullivan’s, Pier 22 is the latest in Chef Brannon Florie’s burgeoning restaurant dynasty. Sharing the upper level and some outdoor dining space with the adjacent High Thyme, Pier 22 focuses on the same mix...

Semilla puts down roots on President Street with solid food truck fare (Charleston City Paper) Oct17

Semilla puts down ro...

If there’s ever a case to be made for the existence of a collective unconscious, the sudden proliferation of like-minded restaurants should be studied. While 2017 brought us The Summer of Pizza Pie, fall of 2018 has ushered in a veritable bounty of taco shops. Enter the latest, Semilla,...

It’s always sunny at real deal mom and pop Yous Guys sandwich shop (Charleston City Paper) Oct10

It’s always su...

However cliche, if a city is known for a sandwich, it’s probably a good one. Enter Yous Guys on Folly Road, focused on sharing the love with a taste of the City of Brotherly Love. Set amongst a jeweler, a seamstress, and a Brazilian wax spa, the cozy joint is brimming with Eagles and...

With an expansive menu, stellar views, and friendly service, you’ll find something to love about Mill Street Tavern (Charleston City Paper) Oct03

With an expansive me...

Set on the less-populated east side of Coleman Boulevard, Mill Street Tavern is the latest to join the burgeoning Shem Creek Strip. In these parts, where the views are marshy and the menus are decidedly American, Mill Street is no exception. Similarly, it offers more than one bar, ample water...

Prices and portions aside, what’s not to love about Joséphine Wine Bar? (Charleston City Paper) Sep26

Prices and portions ...

Along with poke bowls, cold brew coffee, and mezcal, one of the most significant food trends to come down the pike as of late is the chef-driven wine bar. Forget cheese, crackers, and charcuterie, these establishments are significantly changing what it means to wine and dine, and the new...

You’ll get a taste of South America at Mario’s Peruvian Chicken (Charleston City Paper) Sep18

You’ll get a t...

Known for pisco, alpacas, and Machu Picchu, the stark, rugged landscape of Peru is about as far as one can get from the gently undulating Lowcountry. The food, however, is now available — at least in part — in a quiet end location in Sweetgrass Corner Shopping Mall in Mt. Pleasant. Much like...

At burgeoning Mexican-inspired chain Cantina 76, you can rely on the tacos (Charleston City Paper) Sep12

At burgeoning Mexica...

The new Cantina 76 on Coleman Boulevard is the fifth location in a seemingly burgeoning S.C. chain. With outposts in Columbia, Greenville, and Kiawah Island, the cantina offers “Mexican-inspired” fare, which seems to be another way of saying gringo chow. If flour tortillas filled...

With more focus on authentic Caribbean offerings, strip mall refuge JuJu could be the next locals hangout (Charleston City Paper) Sep05

With more focus on a...

Despite its residency in the relatively depressing Moultrie Plaza strip mall on Coleman Boulevard, JuJu is a sleek and stylish space. Presumably named for the West African spiritual practice, the sign declares the cuisine to be “Urban American Caribbean Fusion.” Considering...

Four local pizza makers prove beauty is in the eye of the beholder (DISH, Charleston City Paper) Aug29

Four local pizza mak...

Pizza is an equalizer. When tomorrow’s people look back on the strife and schisms that led to the decline and fall of our contemporary civilizations, they will laugh and ask, “Kial ne tauxga por pico?” which is Esperanto for, “Why didn’t they just meet for...

Daniel Island’s brewpub Dockery’s has ambitious goals to prove size matters (Charleston City Paper) Aug29

Daniel Island’...

After opening in early December of last year, Dockery’s — a mammoth, 10,000 square foot restaurant, brewery, and music venue on Daniel Island — brought in a new chef this spring. With stints all over the place, including The Macintosh and Obstinate Daughter, chef Chad Anderson’s...

Folly’s newest beach bar, Lowlife, serves up tasty fare with a side of laid-back vibes (Charleston City Paper) Aug22

Folly’s newest...

Let’s start with the obvious: The name is magnificent. At once self-deprecating and a clever nod to the area, Lowlife elicits a chuckle and covers a lot of sins. Like the Eggos in the chicken and waffles ($12). Eggos? By which you mean a locally sourced, hand-crafted, bespoke heirloom...

With a little ironing out, Revival has plenty of promise (Charleston City Paper) Aug15

With a little ironin...

High-backed chairs, warm lighting — both natural and electric — and exposed brick accents make Revival a sophisticated space that belies our idea of a stuffy hotel restaurant. But looking a little more closely at the interior of Revival, one may note that every table in the dining room is...

Despite a few shortcomings, Chubby Fish is an airy and welcoming addition to Coming Street (Charleston City Paper) Aug08

Despite a few shortc...

When you first walk in, Chubby Fish is reminiscent of an Apple store. While both are white and airy, the vibe has little to do with aesthetics. Rather, there’s the same busy, buzzy energy and the feeling of too many people happily packed into a table-filled space. Once inside, a man...

Woodward Tavern offers milkshakes and bar food galore — at a not-so-sweet price (Charleston City Paper) Aug01

Woodward Tavern offe...

In 1994, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction introduced the world to the concept of expensive milkshakes. “I’ll have the Durwood Kirby burger — bloody — and a five-dollar shake.” “Did you just order a five-dollar shake?” “Sure did.” “A shake?...

Parcel 32’s focus on indigenous cuisine is evocative, even if off-key at times (Charleston City Paper) Jul25

Parcel 32’s fo...

Before it was Fish, the Charleston single that now houses Parcel 32 was apparently the “peninsula’s highest volume bakery for 75 years.” Named for the original King Street block as noted on an 1888 map, the food, in kind, has an old-fashioned feel, with a focus on local,...

The Establishment’s dishes are so divine, you might just wax poetic (Charleston City Paper) Jul18

The Establishment...

If I should think of love  I’d think of you, The Establishment,  Your arms outstretched,  Offering me a bowl of razor clams ($13). Adorned with delicate, yet pungent garlic blossoms,  I blush as my breath grows bad. In contrast, the sweet, light shellfish meat luxuriates in a fresh...

Daps Breakfast & Imbibe serves familiar yet creative breakfast fare (Charleston City Paper) Jul11

Daps Breakfast &...

Daps Breakfast & Imbibe occupies a bright, Westside single renovated into something straight out of an Urban Outfitters catalog. Effortlessly trendy bordering on so-cool-they’re-not-even-trying, the menu similarly focuses on the breakfasts of champions: You know, English muffin egg...

Serving superlative seafood on a charming rooftop, Balao is the place to be on a sunny day (Charleston City Paper) Jul04

Serving superlative ...

On our first date, Balao stood me up. I’d made reservations under one of my ever-evolving pseudonyms and arranged to meet friends. But when we walked up to the hostess station at Burwell’s, the downstairs neighbor and gatekeeper of the rooftop location, we were met with a confused...

Betty’s Eatery does its best to invoke the simple comfort of Grandma’s kitchen (Charleston City Paper) Jun27

Betty’s Eatery...

Tucked behind Whole Foods in Mt. Pleasant, Betty’s Eatery is a breakfast and lunch joint, with a promise to “take you back to your grandma’s kitchen.” It does not stink of boiling cabbage and there wasn’t so much as a single TV playing an overly loud game show,...

Bistro A Vin is the French newcomer we didn’t know we needed (Charleston City Paper) Jun20

Bistro A Vin is the ...

As you walk into Bistro A Vin ­— the sister establishment and next-door neighbor to pastry-focused Cafe Framboise — the sound of Frank Sinatra fills the air. In accordance, the olive oil shop-turned-wine-bar is elegant, but cozy, with two high-tops, a handful of tables, and a bar with seating...

Uptown Social encourages conversation with solid bar food, boozy slushies, and rooftop views (Charleston City Paper) Jun13

Uptown Social encour...

As an introvert and an aspiring recluse, I first arrived at Uptown Social feeling a little … antisocial. Nonetheless, it was a mood that soon passed. Maybe it was the friendly waiter, with his go-getter hustle? Perhaps it was the late ’70s/early ’80s soundtrack, seemingly...

Renzo is exactly what a perfect neighborhood restaurant should be (Charleston City Paper) Jun06

Renzo is exactly wha...

In a town teaming with establishments serving small, thoughtful, farm-to-table dishes, it’s hard to stand out. Renzo, employing a seeming mantra of originality squared, has found a niche. It’s the bastard child of a well-heeled Spanish/Italian chef and a mad scientist. Not...

Creativity Reigns at Tu (Resy) Jun06

Creativity Reigns at...

Chef Joshua Walker of Tu began his career in design—working as an artist and designer in New York, prior to parlaying that creative vision to restaurants—and it’s a background that shines through at each of his establishments. The first, Xiao Bao Biscuit, a Pan-Asian eatery co-owned by...

There’s something for everyone, even pups, at Mainland Container Co. (Charleston City Paper) May30

There’s someth...

There’s dog friendly, and then there’s Mainland Container Co. “Four-legged friends!?” my dining companion read aloud, visibly aghast. “Why would they write it like that? That’s horrible! And chickens don’t have four… Oh.” Yep. Mainland...

Cannon Green menu needs time to mature (Charleston City Paper) May23

Cannon Green menu ne...

Walking into Cannon Green is like arriving at a perpetual garden party. With its moss-like chair cushions and charming country house facade, the bright, airy space is evocative of both a stage set and a putting green. The restaurant is undeniably beautiful, filled with reclaimed heart pine...

Peninsula Grill continues to impress 21 years on (Charleston City Paper) May16

Peninsula Grill cont...

There are milestones in life that require a fancy steak. Or at least the kind of place where one can get a fancy steak. If you’re in the midst of such an occasion, Peninsula Grill has got you covered. At the same time, Peninsula Grill is also something of a local institution. If you...

At Saltwater Cowboys, it’s the view that’s worth the wait (Charleston City Paper) May09

At Saltwater Cowboys...

If you’ve ever had any doubts about the validity of the old “location, location, location” adage, try to get a table at Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek. Be sure to bring a light snack, some correspondence you’ve been meaning to address, and a deck of cards, because the...

Millers All Day is great any time of day (Charleston City Paper) May02

Millers All Day is g...

Sometime in the last decade, large groups of strangers began standing in line on Sunday mornings. Gathering in hordes that often snake around city blocks, these spontaneous societies don’t congregate for religious or political reasons, but for access to bottomless mimosas and a variety...