Now Open on Resy: Lenoir, Bistronomy By Nico, Lowlife Bar, and More

Chef Vivian Howard of PBS fame is Southern culinary royalty, so it was inevitable she’d open a restaurant in one of the South’s culinary capitals. That’s exactly how Lenoir feels on the Charleston scene — inevitable, or meant to be — since Howard’s approach to cooking is so in line with how the city likes to dine: a menu with a solid sense of place, plenty of snackable share plates, solid Southern ingredients (including a good dose of collards and country ham) treated in creative ways, and an oval-shaped cocktail bar where you’ll want to linger.

Chef Nico Romo vacated the peninsula when he left Patrick Properties’ Fish to open Nico in Mount Pleasant in 2017, and now, with Bistronomy, he’s back downtown. A French bistro with hints of Asian influence, it’s a combination familiar to diners who remember his Fish menu: there are classic French dishes and ingredients, Lowcountry seafood, plenty of ginger, and even a spring roll. Of note: The wine list leans French, and there’s a petite, charming outdoor space, too. Local industry vets staff the kitchen and the management, making this French spot a quintessential Charleston spot.

Originally called Annie’s Bistro when it was located in Towne Centre, this restaurant rebranded when it landed closer to “the bridge” on Johnnie Dodds. Parisian-born chef Carole Robert is still at the stove, crafting her daily menus of French regional dishes from local ingredients. Robert’s husband, Mark, runs the front of the house in a leisurely, welcoming pace; the wine list is abundant with solid picks, and the menu always highlights what’s in season, from coq au vin to soft shell crabs.

Ty’s is built for a group with lots of different tastes because there’s something to please just about everyone on this varied menu, from coal-roasted beets and pizza to burgers and shrimp. With ample seating in this airy space to accommodate them all, you’ll want to grab a seat near the center of the action, where you can see the open kitchen with its wood-fired ovens.

The setting in a single house is the first charming thing about this tucked-in spot on Society Street, complete with a covered patio that begs for for couples who like to hold hands across the table. The second is its Italian menu, including exceptionally executed classics like calamari and eggplant parmigana. But the biggest appeal here might just be Muse’s long-established regulars, the banter at the bar, and the relaxing dinner party vibe of the whole experience.

This latest outpost of the growing Poogan’s brand is part of a growing number of Charleston restaurants replicating up I-26, but there’s no way to replicate the single house charm of the original, so the owners didn’t even bother. Instead, this inviting spot has a sleek mid-century diner vibe with lots of windows, but the pillowy, buttery biscuits and the meatloaf are just as good as always, minus any downtown parking hassles.

Everyone in Charleston calls G&M “Fast and French,” and it’s been an enclave of cafe culture on Broad Street since 1984. These days, it’s run by longtime employees and current owners Jennifer Bremer and Lawrence Mitchell. The classic Fast & French combos of soup, a loaded baguette, and a glass of wine make for one of the best deals in the city, but it’s the welcoming, cozy, tucked in feeling that you get whenever you walk through those doors that make it feel like a discovery every time.

When you want a craft cocktail on Folly but you don’t want to get all serious about it, Lowlife is the place to be. Helmed by TJ Lynch of New York’s Mother’s Ruin, it also has an all-day brunch menu and the Mother’s Double Cheeseburger of its NYC counterpart, but the cocktails are crafted for sea breeze sipping. Pro tip: The spot to sit is at the bar facing East Hudson.