Where to Eat in November: 167 Sushi Bar, Melfi’s, Bowens Island, and More

Driven by a mature, comfortable vibe and a menu that you know will be promising at first glance, this has been one of Charleston’s hottest Resys for a long time for good reason. Settle into the long banquette and order a glass of nebbiolo, a Fat & Dirty Martini, or one of four Negroni variations that stay on the menu. When it comes time to eat: The starters are generous — the sort-of-spicy Caesar is a sure bet. The pastas hit the spot, but stay light — the Paccheri is perfectly hearty.  And the pizzas are cracker-thin, but satisfying — Mr. Wally is fresh and classic.

The Barber family has owned this Charleston-area institution for more than 75 years, steaming and shucking fresh oysters harvested off the pluff mud and dropped into bushels right from the creek out behind the restaurant’s old boat house. Cooler water temps mean we’re firmly in local oyster season, but if shellfish aren’t your thing, there are plenty of fried seafood options and a fully stocked bar. Grab a drink and order some traditional Lowcountry boil — shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes served steaming hot. Luckily, Bowens Island has a sunset view to go with it.

OK, you’ve already hit up 167 Raw, you grabbed a drink at Bar 167. Now, it’s time to stop by the group’s sushi bar, located in Charleston’s original 167 Raw on East Bay Street. As expected, the freshest catches land on plates as nigiri, with a handful of decadent rolls, like tempura shrimp, on standby as well. It’s a New England-born joint, so you know lobster will make appearances — most recently dressed and served as a lobster bao. Sidle up to the cozy bar and make your selections alongside a handful of bottled sake or a chilled grüner veltliner. Space is limited inside, so grab a Resy now.

This tiny cafe is punching above its weight along a stretch of upper King Street that’s chock full of restaurants, but with only a couple morning options. Cuban-style dark-roast coffee options livened up with spoonfuls of sugar highlight the coffee side of things. We’ve got no notes for the piping-hot (or iced!) cafe con leche, it’s simply a craveable compact morning sip. Flaky pastries shipped from a Cuban bakery in Miami will tease you from the counter, like the guava and cheese pastelitos. You can thank us later.

Call Cafecito at 843.801.7277.

G&M cafe, known just as “Fast & French,” is about the closest thing to a diner you’ll find on Broad Street these days. But with rich and filling French dishes like three variations on the croque monsieur, housemade soups, and copious amounts of wine, it’s a little bit of a different … Je ne sais quoi. When in doubt, just order the lunch special, served with your choice of tea, coffee, or the house French wine. A favorite of downtown office workers and lucky tourists who see the crowds outside, this is a real locals place in a city that’s felt the pressures of increased tourism over the past decade.

This boba tea and banh mi shop opened recently a few doors away from its sister restaurant Phuong, home to some of the best pho in North Charleston. Simple and to the point, Hi! is one of only a few bubble tea shops in the area and the only one in southern North Charleston. You can’t go wrong with the banh mi sandwich with traditional toppings (pork or your choice of meat, fresh cilantro, cuke, jalapeno, daikon, mayo and soy sauce) folded into a soft roll. But if you’ve never tried bubble tea, go ahead and grab an oolong milk tea with a topping of traditional tapioca boba.

Call and say Hi! at 843.593.5312.

There’s a reason why locals continue to pack this spot near the Old Village almost every night of the week: for an extensive menu of rock-solid favorites from steak and fish tacos to shrimp salad. An ideal meeting place for happy hour drinks and a comfortable spot to settle in for a leisurely dinner — you’ll feel the vibe as soon as you walk in the door. For a fresh, potent cocktail, check out the Hybrid Moment with luxardo sour cherry gin, sweet vermouth, and bitter orange syrup with soda. Order the fried shrimp and you’ve set yourself up for a good evening.

This cozy spot on the grounds of the Wentworth Mansion hotel may be about as quintessential Charleston as it gets. Traditional in some respects and thoughtfully innovative in others, the menu bears some hallmarks of Lowcountry staples, like the Southern grilled cheese served on brioche and wrapped in prosciutto. But chef Marc Collins, manning the kitchen since 2005, throws in fun twists on old favorites like sous vide pork belly and pumpkin souffle. Complement dinner with a cocktail or a variety of pocket-friendly bottles, like the Salcheto vino nobile di Montepulciano.

Whether you know chef-owner Nico Romo from Mount Pleasant’s NICO or from his decade at Fish (R.I.P.) downtown, the menu at his downtown restaurant veers closest to the French- and Asian-influenced fare he was famous for before he headed out on his own five years ago. With partner Domenique Chantepie, co-owner of Bistro a Vin, this kitchen just a couple blocks from King Street is turning out interesting plates like fresh-made escargot rice dumplings and beef carpaccio to start things off. And alongside a glass from the ever-changing wine list, rich short ribs over potatoes and bouillabaisse strike the perfect tones as fall weather kicks in.

Tucked into the Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, add this crowd-favorite spot to your date night to-do list. Graze on a selection of antipasti like grilled octopus or mussels with more than 35 wines available by the glass and plenty more by the bottle. Linguine with clams or eggplant parm await as the main attraction. Join the SAVI wine club now while the team preps its second Mount Pleasant restaurant, Sommba, a Spanish- and Mediterranean-inspired wine bar set to open later this year.