The May Hit List: Leon’s Oyster Shop, Momo, FIG, and More

This light and bright spot just off Market Street downtown is the perfect stop for a mid-afternoon cocktail or a leisurely evening bite. Polenta fries and a knockout brisket ropa vieja tostone set a base for a can’t-go-wrong slate of cocktails, including the Chilcano, a fizzy Peruvian specialty made with pisco and citrus on ice.

Around the corner from its big-brother spot, 167 Raw, this two-story bar and dining room offers much of the same fresh seafood and creative small plates, like top-quality crudo, yellowfin tuna, calamari, and crab toast. Plenty of chilled whites, bubbles, and rose available by the glass and bottle, plus a slew of specialty cocktails that fit the vibe, like the minty-fresh Fulton Street Rickey.

If you caught April’s High Water Fest in North Charleston, you know this spot tucked into an unlikely spot in Riverfront Park. Grab a glass of wine or a cocktail — this espresso martini is legit — and settle in outside, just steps from the water. The raw bar is the specialty here, with seafood towers available in a snap, but no shame for opting for the double-patty Momo burger.

Even locals will envy your Resy at this spot, one of the most popular restaurants in Charleston. They’ve got char-grilled oysters and fried chicken on lock, and filling sandwiches to follow up the must-order Siam Salad — probably one of the most beloved dishes in the city for those in the know. A wide-ranging, but well-edited drinks list will steer you toward light and bright, like a chilled muscadet or a frozen G&T.

This fast-casual barbecue and burger chain launched by Pat Martin, pitmaster at  Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint on James Island, is rooted in the local spots that served flavors that became childhood memories. Simple, but decadent burgers, dogs, barbecue, shakes … you know those kinds of places. Burgers are served single, double, with barbecue sauce, or with mushrooms and swiss, nothing’s too complicated. The ‘que is a smoky treat, helped by Martin’s laser focus on great pork. Add it to the list.

See the menu and get more details here.

It’s officially Post House Patio Season in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant. OK, not “officially” — the patio is tops year-round — but grab a friend, pick out a cocktail (Campari Spritz, duh), and settle in. Don’t be intimidated by the Paccheri Nero, the squid-ink tube pasta served with Miss Paula’s shrimp (just a few blocks away), is the perfect light bite for, ahem, patio szn.

Having now spawned four locations for Indigo Road group, this King Street hotspot is ideally located for date night downtown or any special occasion. The Neopolitan-style pizzas are solid (check the clam and Calabria varietals) and the pasta is rich and toothsome (tagliatelle, please). And the Indigo Sour features bourbon spiked with cardamaro, falernum, agave, and lambrusco — thank us later.

See the menu here; call (843) 727-1228 for more details.

After 20 years, there are still no skips at this downtown all-star, considered by many as the best restaurant in Charleston. The Nine Vegetable Salad remains a mainstay, and  the uninitiated are required to order the tomato tarte tatin once its star is in-season. The pasta, gnocchi and ravioli recently, is as fresh as the seafood, like B-liner snapper and swordfish. Pick out a cocktail, like the Fresa Flav made with mezcal and strawberries, or let the pros help you navigate the on-point wine list.

Reservations may be hard to come by at the restaurant upstairs, but the all-day-cafe and market downstairs is already a hit with the Broad Street set and lucky passersby. Serving coffee bar standards alongside pastries, sandwiches, Sicilian-style slices, and salads, your best bet is to try the handhelds, like the fried chicken or the agrodolce pizza with caramelized onions, Calabrian chili, mozz, and honey. Check out the cooler for beer, wine, and more alongside grab-and-go gourmet Italian treats.

Call (843) 974-1575 for more details.

Recently opening its second Charleston-area location on Rivers Avenue, this is not your typical Mexican grocery. With a whole taqueria inside, featuring al pastor fresh off the trompo, hard-to-source produce, and its very own panaderia (bakery) with all the sweets you want and more, you need to add it to the list for the next time you’re in North Charleston. They even sell their own freshly made corn tortillas.

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