The November Hit List: Pink Cactus, Harold’s Cabin, Revival, and More

It might be fall, but Charleston still often sees a sunny, warm day that feels like a gift, and when that happens, alfresco is just the thing. Cheers to a beautiful afternoon and the ability to enjoy it with one of Pink Cactus’ signature prickly pear margaritas, which also are available as a pitcher if you’re sharing the table with friends. It also pairs great with just about everything on the menu, although if you’re having trouble deciding, we suggest the Tacos de Coliflor, a vegan option that is a crowd pleaser for omnivores as well.

Located in the stunning Vendue Hotel (make sure and save time to check out the amazing art installations), Revival is a dress-up-and-show-up kind of restaurant for a special evening. Reinterpreted Southern ingredients, from Benton’s bacon to Carolina Gold Rice and okra, are featured on the menu, and there are also decadent classics such as Filet Mignon and Duck Confit, which is drizzled in a madeira wine and trumpet mushroom jus. Diners can also opt for a 3-course tasting menu coming up for Thanksgiving, which leaves all the deliciousness of the meal for the big day without any of the dirty dishes.

Reopened and reimagined after an extended pandemic pause, this corner store turned neighborhood fave is now doing counter service. It’s still a great place to get a Salty Raccoon, the cabin’s margarita riff with a cult following. It uses fresh rosemary from the rooftop garden, and now there’s a frozen version too — move over frosé — while the new menu features approachable comfort food, from cornbread to peel-and-eat shrimp, to the Cabin burger with cheddar and caramelized onions.

“See and be seen” isn’t the only game at this popular Upper King establishment. The menu game is strong too, from wine, which put them on the map, to cocktails, some available in large format with extra straws upon request. Share a Bougie Mind Eraser with friends: Ketel One Vodka, Coffee Liquor, and some soda bubbles, then keep the community vibe going by sharing some thin and crispy bar pizzas, 12 wings, or platter of truffle fries. Additionally, there are always events and entertainment listed on the well-updated website, so it’s easy to plan your outfit for prime party pics.

Located in a beautiful historic building that features exposed brick and heart pine floors in the dining rooms, High Cotton has a menu with plenty of seafood selections, from oysters on the half shell and seared scallops to Lowcountry legends She Crab Soup and Shrimp and Grits. Land lovers will find plenty to love as well, including a 14-ounce rib eye and rack of lamb. If it’s brunch you’re after, you can get plenty of sweet treats (and that She Crab Soup) during that service, along with a Mimosa trio that provides the table with orange and cranberry juices, as well as peach nectar to mix with sparkling wine.

If you just think this is just a bar with a wonderful selection of wine, classic cocktails, and one of the longest vermouth lists in the city, then you’re missing out. There are also some consistently excellent Mediterranean-inspired bites made for sharing and snacking, such as 36-month Iberico ham, octopus and olive skewers, cheeses and charcuterie, and a selection of gourmet tinned seafood. Snack enough and you can make a meal, but if you’re hungry, they often run nightly entree specials too. Have a light and delicate Vermillion snapper just aching for a chenin blanc pairing, and one killer grilled cheese.

Live music, NFL games on the television, and a pint of Guinness and a Shepherd’s Pie have kept people coming back to Tommy Condon’s for 35 years and counting. Located on Church Street, visitors can hear the bridles clinking and the horse hooves clomping on the carriage rides as they roll past. But there’s plenty to enjoy inside as well, including fish ‘n’ chips, a fun atmosphere and a large covered porch that can easily accommodate a group. The Reuben sandwich just might hit the spot after a long day walking around the historic cobblestone streets.

Known for its gourmet butcher shop with a stellar selection of beef cuts as well as bacon and housemade sausage, it’s easy to overlook the sandwiches and other cafe selections this East Bay eatery has been serving for years. A variety of panini, a weekly meatball sandwich, and Ted’s Signature Chili with housemade Italian sausage and his special mix of seasonings are welcome lunch options in a city that often doesn’t have enough. On Saturdays, the scent of burgers and charcoal wafting from the Big Green Egg out the back door are a siren call for neighborhood locals that know it’s one of the best-kept burger secrets in town.

The production brewery of Edmund’s Oast features a taproom with a full kitchen that dishes out plenty of delights including pretzels, hot wings, and one of our favorite gourmet hot dogs, housemade and served as it should be in the South with chili, slaw, and a slather of mustard. The kitchen also acts as an incubator for other ghost kitchens, hosting consistent pop-ups and special events, making the site a community hub where a pint of Something Cold Blonde Ale or Bound by Time American IPA flow freely from the 20 on-site brewed selections on tap.

It’s hard to get any closer to Folly Beach without a beach chair, as this restaurant, located at the end of Center Street, is located in the Tides, the only high-rise hotel on the island. If it’s nice enough weather, the only place to eat is under the stars in the open air deck that sits directly next to the sand. Seafood selections abound, of course, but there’s also lamb chops, ravioli with rich tomato sauce, and butterbean hummus, or a burger if you’re craving a juicy beef patty after a day in your flip-flops.