Chef Josh Keeler’s 492 redux is mostly on point (Charleston City Paper) Dec07

Chef Josh KeelerR...

There’s a new 492 in town. Elegant as ever, the space is a knockout both inside and out. Between the open kitchen, the outdoor patio, and the enviable collection of stylish lighting fixtures, I would like to live in the house version of 492, should that ever be an option. During brunch...

McCrady’s Tavern has plenty of hits and some unique B-sides too (Charleston City Paper) Nov23

McCrady’s Tave...

Getting to McCrady’s Tavern requires that one head down an unassuming, narrow alleyway. It’s just the kind of place where you’d expect Harry Potter to stumble upon the entrance to Diagon Alley. And while there were occasional moments of wizardry while at said tavern, this is...

Blues Burger Joint knows what’s up with a steak sandwich (Charleston City Paper) Nov02

Blues Burger Joint k...

joint noun \joint\ a shabby or disreputable place of entertainment Granted, Merriam Webster may be coming down a bit hard on the genre, but first-time visitors to the new Blues Burger Joint on Folly Road should note the large clue dropped by the name. Upon entry, the joint is dark and a bit...

Go for the cocktails at Cane Rhum Bar & Caribbean Kitchen (Charleston City Paper) Oct12

Go for the cocktails...

Take, for example, the Instant Vacation ($12). Tasting exactly like those Gin Gins chewy ginger candies you can get at Trader Joe’s, it’s sweet and spicy with house-made ginger beer and a zippy finish. Imperceptibly alcoholic, plan to have a spotter cut you off as this could prove...

Lewis Barbecue’s brisket will make you moan (Charleston City Paper) Oct05

Lewis Barbecue’...

It was like that scene out of When Harry Met Sally. Only louder. And much, much greasier. “Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh. My. God.” But this was no cheeky reenactment, just the throes of pure, smoked meat ecstasy. If you had asked me a few weeks ago what the best barbecue I ever had was,...

Chef Michael Toscano serves near-perfect food at Le Farfalle (Charleston City Paper) Sep28

Chef Michael Toscano...

If Le Farfalle were a person, you’d want to be seen with her. Soundtrack by Alabama Shakes, wardrobe by Ralph Lauren: She’s effortlessly cool and unquestionably popular, yet exerts a polished restraint. And then there’s the food. You see it and your heart sinks. Just look...

Delicate dishes and impeccable service make for a winning combination at Henrietta’s (Charleston City Paper) Sep07

Delicate dishes and ...

Billed as a Southern brasserie, Henrietta’s is the flagship restaurant of the new Dewberry Hotel. Housed in the former L. Mendel Rivers Federal Building overlooking Marion Square, the building’s exterior retains much of its bureaucratic severity, while the revamped inside boasts a...

Chef April Robinson uses her powers for good at Butter Tapas (Charleston City Paper) Aug03

Chef April Robinson ...

In hindsight, I’m kicking myself after my visits to Butter Tapas. Sure, both times the food was on point — thoughtful, flavorful, and beautifully plated — and both times the service was skillfully handled by a gracious waitress. But how am I supposed to feel after discovering that a...