The April Hit List: Post House, MOMO, Euro Foods, and More

This restaurant made our Best Of Charleston list for 2021, but now they’ve gone and gotten even better by adding lunch. In a town where the fresh lunch options often skew salad or “freshly fried,” Post House keeps true to themselves with clean, modern interpretations of classic, comfortable fare, from shrimp wraps and a tuna melt to a seriously spring-tastic green gazpacho that is one of the best iterations of the soup we’ve slurped in South Carolina (its base is cucumber accented by other fresh elements, including fennel and cilantro). The breezy dining room and beautiful outdoor patio make a suitable setting for a proper lunch, so linger a little longer and enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine.

Neither Maka Aptsiauri, from the Republic of Georgia, or her Ukrainian husband, Aleksandr Pavlichenko, spoke English when they arrived in the United States, but both were following the American dream. They started the business in 2006, got married, and are both now U.S. citizens, sharing their love of culture through the cuisines of their respective regions. Euro Food’s signature dish is most likely the Acharuli Khachapuri, a bread boat filled with fresh cheese and topped by a sunny egg, but they have plenty of cafe offerings, including borscht, pelmeni, blini, and plov, a rice pilaf with beef and vegetables, as well as a small grocery of packaged and canned goods. Look for the blue and yellow hearts on the window in support of Ukraine.

It’s almost — if not already — the perfect time of year for al fresco dining in the Lowcountry, so why not take it to the park, literally? Housed in the former event space in North Charleston’s Riverfront Park, enjoy the season at MOMO with a seasonally shifting menu that right now includes a fresh beet salad with honey and pickled peppers, or maybe South Carolina flounder and oysters on the half shell, available at dinner, the bar, and brunch on Sundays. You can even take your oyster as a shooter with tomatillo juice and local Nippitaty Gin.

One of the most stunning spaces in a city full of them, Little Palm in the Ryder Hotel opened last year with a flourish of its pink pool umbrellas, palm-patterned wallpaper, and cocktails from the folks at New York City’s Death & Co. The Easy Breezy — a mix of gin, passion fruit, and cucumber juice — is the appropriate first sip as you slide onto a barstool surrounded by afternoon breezes, but if you’re hungry, there’s also plenty to eat, from shrimp cocktail to oysters to a burger or a popcorn snack, so no need to take the party elsewhere. You will, however, want to bring your bathing suit; the pool is open to Little Palm guests as well as those staying at the Ryder.

Little Miss Ha took its popularity from The Workshop, moved to Mount Pleasant’s Houston Northcutt Boulevard, and opened a beautiful navy-colored dining room, with a bar and outdoor seating for plenty of space. The restaurant still seems to be carrying around a “hidden gem” designation for some Instagram followers, but we aim to change that as the steamed bao buns have changed our day from blah to #blessed on more than one occasion. There are also (of course) the spring rolls, the dumplings, and plenty more Vietnamese specialties from owner Janice Hudgins, and she even does to-go boat and picnic boxes for days on the water and in the sun.

Chef Orlando Pagan just scored Charleston’s solo chef nomination to the James Beard Awards this year, but he’s been quietly making magic at this upscale tasting menu restaurant since it opened. Settle in for an evening of elegance that meanders from baked oysters and foraged mushroom to a New York strip with foie gras and a deconstructed strawberry shortcake for dessert. Of course, there are plenty of other snack stops along the way, but we don’t want to spoil it for you. We do, however, suggest you go for the optional wine pairings — it begins with Champagne.

From halloumi to shrimp kebab and falafel to stuffed grape leaves, Leyla has been delivering on Lebanese flavors for years, tucked into a cool and charming spot on King Street. The hours can vary (especially for lunch) so plan accordingly, but the planning is worth it. The dining room is laid-back yet refined, and the staff can walk you through just the right plan for a feast to pace the meal for a luxurious experience for the evening, or a quick bite before a concert at Sottile Theater. Whichever you choose, choose the pistachio rice, even if you have to order it as a side. It makes for wonderful leftovers, that is, if you can save some for later.

After announcing its move months ago, Tattooed Moose, the famed home of the duck club, has pulled up stakes and moved to Park Circle from its original location on Morrison Drive. Although the tiny parking lot, stickered door, and shall we say, “patina,” may not have made the trip, all the goodness and irreverence of the moose is alive and well in its new spot. There’s a Patch Whisky mural to welcome you in, that basket o’corn dogs that always settles the table, and fries, wings, burgers, and the Thanksgiving sandwich (turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and fried onions) you want all year. If the crowds streaming in the door are any indication, the team hasn’t missed a beat. The band just went from acoustic to electric with more space to play their hits.

If one weekday afternoon the weather hints that cold oysters and rosé are in order, then listen to the whims of the spring breezes and make your way to Nico. There are nine rotating oyster varieties on the raw bar menu, plenty of still and sparkling wines to accompany them, and choices for the other diners in tow, too, from a cheeseburger to a fire-roasted whole fish or sea scallops with mushroom parsley cream. The outdoor space is charming and easy to relax in as the sun sets, or instead opt for the oyster bar inside to see the action of the kitchen and the shuckers.

Although the original 167 has moved on up to lower King Street in digs fit for a king’s court, its original building on East Bay didn’t sit dormant for too long. The restaurant group opened 167 Sushi Bar, serving nigiri, sashimi, and futomaki rolls along with some hot items from the “izakaya” side of the menu. Although the small spot opens at noon every day but Sunday, with only 24 seats, reservations are seriously suggested, which means you can guarantee your seat for crab rangoons, tuna tataki, and plenty of sashimi, sake, and stellar wine from the well-written wine list for which the restaurant group is known.