The Southern soul food platters here are so tasty, generous and inexpensive, that the line starts forming well before they open for lunch. Head up Meeting Street until you see a two-story robin’s egg blue building with purple trim and a line stretching out the door. As for dinner selections, Towill said, “We wanted to narrow our focus by adding more classical entrees.” -Parker Milner BK’s lunch menu is divided into small plates, bowls, salads, sandwiches and sweets. “We want to provide massive flavor and a meal that’s hearty but still feels light.” Since taking over as Basic Kitchen executive chef in July 2019, Robin Hollis has homed in on this mission by creating more wholesome dishes that highlight vegetables from local purveyors. Not so at Basic Kitchen - according to co-owner Ben Towill, that has been exactly the goal since opening the restaurant with his wife Kate in 2017. In a city filled with hearty Southern cuisine, sometimes it’s tricky to find a flavorful, light meal. Serving Lunch, Dinner (Mon.-Sat.) Weekend Brunch Robert Donovan Basic Kitchen’s market fish comes served with local fish, golden beets, horseradish yogurt and Heron farms sea beans | Steve Freihon The gnocchi bolognese are little airy pillows tossed in meaty bolognese and the Risi e Bisi is a buttery parmesan packed risotto with peas and pancetta. The primi course is where chef Michael Scognamiglio shines. The Italian focused cocktail menu is no slouch with a barrel-aged negroni and the Ficcho Bello, a fizzy drink with fig infused vodka with rosemary and cherry bitters. The insalata di polpo, tender braised and grilled octopus, is a highlight of the antipasti. Start your meal with the fire-roasted olives, warm multi-varietal and multi-textured olives straight out of the wood burning oven. Serving Lunch (Tues.-Fri.), Dinner (Tues.–Sat.)įor more than a dozen years, Mount Pleasant’s Bacco has successfully pulled off the idea of that fabled “neighborhood Italian place” you hear about in other cities: small, friendly service with straightforward Southern Italian food that creates regulars out of customers. With a welcoming space and the food to match, Babas on Cannon delivers on its promise to mimic an old world European cafe. Babas’ ability to maintain that comfortable neighborhood vibe while keeping customers’ safety front of mind is truly a work of art. If you’re staying awhile, you’ll find it to be the type of place where the employees want to know your name and remember your order. Want to get in and out in a jiffy? Babas has its own app for easy online ordering. Arrive early to tuck into your 10-hour carnita taco and bay scallops in stud butter. Even with four times (at least) as much seating as their original space, 167 Raw gets packed. Bar vet Teddy Nixon is behind the long bar, shaking up the good stuff, while owners Jesse Sandole and Darren Harrison-Panes, donning matching aqua hues, greet regulars at the door. The first floor of the ever-so-charming 19th century building is long and narrow, with original brick walls and a walnut bar.
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The renowned eatery is still boasting the same lineup of New England bivalves and lobstah rolls that were much-lauded at its original (teeny) East Bay spot. Surrounded by high-end boutiques, swanky inns, antique stores and art galleries, 167 Raw’s King Street home sits along a quiet stretch of storefronts. The list is organized in alphabetical order. When our friends, family, acquaintances or folks “from off” seek our guidance on dining enlightenment, these are the spots we don’t hesitate to recommend. This list isn’t about price or location, but about an establishment’s dedication to creating a memorable dining experience through authenticity, quality and care put onto the plate. Thus, what follows in our Spring Dish Top 50 is a rundown that continues to evolve along with The Holy City. Meanwhile, plenty of newcomers have joined the fold. We not only have world-class establishments across the whole Charleston area, we’ve seen dozens of restaurants - including some iconic ones - close their kitchens for good in the past couple of years. In fact, in a famed food town like ours, it’s a pretty hefty challenge. Picking the 50 best restaurants in the Charlston area is no easy task.