The October Hit List: LoLA, Honeysuckle Rose, Cru Cafe, and More

Ask any Charleston local for a reliable downtown lunch spot and Cru is going to be on their list. Grab a Resy for a quick bite to talk business or enjoy some of the city’s best old-meets-new cooking, with pan-Asian accents setting off familiar dishes, to the tune of Chinese chicken salad and ginger-glazed salmon. A few Lowcountry staples make appearances on the dinner menu too: fried oyster salad, fried chicken, and of course, the fresh catch in a variety of preparations.

A block from Isle of Palms’ main drag, the island’s all-day mainstay serves upscale Southern classics three meals a day. The menu leans toward breakfast and brunch through 3 p.m., when biscuits and Benedicts give way to Lowcountry standards and shrimp and grits six ways. But this ain’t no meat and three — add an Aperol Spritz or the rum-based Wave Chaser cocktail to your dinner. (Or brunch, we won’t tell.)

In a town of farm-to-table restaurants, seasonality at this neighborhood spot on Line Street means frequent menu changes depending on ingredient availability. Recent offerings include a limited selection of honeynut squash with creamed kale, or late-summer figs atop South Carolina-made Anson Mills risotto. Cocktails lean bold and botanical, like the recently highlighted fernet sour, a specialty on Monday industry nights.

Don’t say we didn’t warn you when tables are in short supply on the patio outside this North Central hot spot. Whether you’re feeling like one of the trademark chicken cutlet sandwiches, or the solidly craveable spicy shrimp app, they’re waiting for you. Easing into warm early-fall nights? Slightly chilled Gamay is available by the glass, alongside a generous beer list that plays the hits.

Let’s be clear: You do not need an excuse to order gumbo any time of year. But it’s finally October, and this is the place to order it. Or tuck into one of the massive po’boys, like the Big Easy, loaded with (not a typo) shrimp and crawfish. Of course Abita brews are on draft, and category 5 hurricanes are ready in a jiff.

Refreshing and new-feeling without being too fancy, this strip-mall sushi spot in the heart of downtown is a local favorite for a reason. For lunch and dinner, some of the best sushi flows from the quick sushi bar, alongside offerings like housemade katsu and tempura plates. The spot has taken on a new life since a full renovation spearheaded during the pandemic by its multigenerational family owners, so be sure to grab a Resy for a weekend table.

This brand new, eight-course tasting menu spot recently stepped into the space vacated by Hampton Park-area neighborhood favorite Purlieu. From Kelleanne and Ryan Jones, the couple that also run Community Table in Mount Pleasant and the recently opened Southbound in Cannonborough-Elliottborough, look for a different vibe at Honeysuckle Rose compared to almost everything north of the Crosstown Expressway. Courses highlight creative, hearty seafood and meats, tweaked and changed based on diners’ preferences. Expect a personalized and interactive experience, running $250 per person, wine pairings included, and no tipping.

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First opened in 1946, this is one of the Charleston area’s oldest restaurants, and one where tourists and locals flock year after year. Perched over the marshes between James Island and Folly Beach, this two-story indoor-outdoor space boasts some of the best old-school seafood platters and steamed oysters you’ll find anywhere. (Don’t forget the hot Frogmore stew and cold beer.) Plan accordingly, because some of the best sunset views in Charleston are waiting for you off the back deck.

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Comforting and not-too-serious, this West Ashley diner draws a crowd on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but holds its own every day of the week. Order up an egg breakfast plate or stop by for lunch for diner classics like fried chicken, a meatloaf melt, and more. Your local buddies already know this, but under no circumstances should you order without checking the chalkboard for EBD specials.

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You may have missed out on this Eastside mainstay before it hit The New York Times’ recent “36 Hours in Charleston” installment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make up for it now. This unassuming family-owned spot a block off East Bay Street is known for Gullah Geechee-influenced preparations that highlight local seafood, like the crab rice, which may be worth the trip to Charleston by itself.