The May Hit List: Rancho Lewis, Sushi-Wa, Chasing Sage, and More

El Paso native John Lewis threw open the doors to his latest project, Rancho Lewis, in mid-April. One of Charleston’s most eagerly anticipated restaurants of 2022, it’s no surprise a reservation already is hard to come by. (All’s not lost: Just set a Notify to get first dibs on any tables that come available.) This is the pitmaster’s second spot in Charleston, an evolution of the Juan Luis trailer outside Lewis Barbecue that grabbed a loyal following with tacos and enchiladas.

Serving plates inspired by Lewis’ childhood memories of growing up in diverse Texas-Mexico border communities, Rancho Lewis makes liberal use of red and green chiles shipped from the American Southwest, and fresh tortillas flowing from the in-house tortilleria, which can be found in everything from chips to enchiladas and tacos. Also, just a look at those “half the cow” racks of mesquite-smoked beef back ribs lets you know they’re more than worth ordering. Only thing to do next, if you’re asking us, is order up a Margarita de la Casa and peek behind the bar to see each one “shaken extra-cold” in a mechanical French cocktail shaker.

Note: Rancho Lewis is walk-in-only for parties of four or fewer.

Stop by any weekend night and you’ll see LoLA is one of the most popular spots in the Park Circle area of North Charleston. You’ll find traditional Louisiana specialties on the menu and riffs on Lowcountry cuisine as well, all served from the food truck parked out back. Stop by on a Tuesday and you may be lucky enough to join a crawfish boil on tap for the night — at least until the end of crawfish season later this spring. Potent cocktails, huge po’boy sandwiches, rich étouffée and jambalaya, and char-roasted oysters on the half shell all team up to make this a Park Circle favorite.

Four nights a week, Sushi-Wa serves some of the best sushi in town, omakase style, the traditional Japanese chef’s choice format. Walk into the small, intimate shop — situated beside Rancho Lewis and Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co. — and you’re in the hands of generous chef-owners Kazu Murakami and Chris Schoedler, who offer a unique sushi experience unlike anywhere in Charleston. They’ll make all the hard decisions for you, assembling courses of nigiri and rolls that hit all the right notes.

Pro tip: Plan ahead for unrivaled takeout. Check Resy with 24 hours notice and order Sushi-Wa’s massive chef’s choice takeout tray, which gives 21 pieces of nigiri and five rolls for $120.

The team from The Royal American has done it again on Folly Beach. Riffing on the rock hall and biker bar vibes of its sister establishment, The Bounty Bar last month set up shop on Center Street, taking over the original Taco Boy spot, most recently occupied by Wiki Wiki Sandbar. Royal American regulars will find familiar faces behind the bar and some of the same comforting menu items, like wings, sandwiches, and more coming out of the kitchen. Even the icy souvenir cup punches made the transition, in rum, bourbon, and vodka varieties… As if you needed an excuse to head out to the Edge of America for a bite and a drink.

The corner of Rutledge Avenue and Grove Street has for years been a go-to gathering spot for thoughtfully composed, farm-fresh dishes — today and during the building’s first life as Park Cafe. With a new look, a reworked menu as of last year, and new dinner service, Park & Grove continues to offer lighter daytime fare and flexes its muscles in the evening, with seasonal veggies in addition to seafood, steak, pasta, and more delicate cuts like duck and lamb.

For a place that can really make that produce you’ve seen at the farmers market shine, look no further than Chasing Sage. Dishes on the small plate menu may appear to showcase one particular star player, but it’s the supporting cast that brings all the flavors together. This is the place to try everything at peak season, but make sure to save room for sweet and sneaky-savory desserts. And with new brunch service for spring, you can even pop in for a Sunday treat.

Cocktails are the name of the game at Last Saint, one of the newest additions to the downtown cocktail bar scene, with a team bringing serious chops. Bartender and partner Joey Goetz charmed behind the bar for years at The Belmont and Bar George, while his business partners Brandon Bramhall and Zachary Pease worked at Attaboy in Nashville and New York, respectively. The menu features traditional, inventive, and even tiki cocktails — try the Old Salt, which combines blanco Tequila, lime, whipped grapefruit and, you guessed it… salt. Reservations are available for the intimate back bar, or walk in and grab a spot on the leather banquette.

Email info@lastsaintchs.com for more information.

In-the-know Mount Pleasant residents have been making Malika a stop in their rotation of favorite local spots for a while, so it’s probably time you checked it out if you haven’t already. Born from the Ma’am Saab pop-up, which garnered a cult following during the pandemic, Malika’s unique cuisine ultimately landed in the now-defunct Workshop food hall. The interplay of spice with rich chicken, beef, paneer, and chickpeas make for wildly craveable bites, and the masala and biriyani dishes are required reading. Don’t forget extra naan.

Three Sirens firmly planted its flag last year on the Park Circle strip when it opened, with unique dishes packed with surprises. The second project from the team at Stems & Skins, a natural wine-focused bar across the street, Three Sirens also has serious cred behind the bar, with 13 wines by the glass and great cocktails. Of course for those looking for more specifics. But you’ll never go wrong with a fresh-catch seafood entree like black sea bass over grits spiked with harissa and tomato. And if you’re more into making a meal out of starters, don’t sleep on the mushroom toast.

It’s that time of year when we’re heading toward the water, namely to Sullivan’s Island, so it’s about time to start planning ahead to grab a seat at The Obstinate Daughter. An ideal landing spot for a celebration or to cap off a beach day, The O.D.’s menu gives French, Spanish, and other European cuisine a proper Southern treatment, with locally sourced ingredients highlighting the latest seafood from the docks. But some of its standouts — fresh pasta and pizzas with pancetta, pepperoni, ricotta, Calabrian chile, and more — bear the hallmarks of originating from an expert Italian kitchen. Once you’ve finished your main, stop by Beardcats downstairs for some knockout gelato.