The November Hit List: Colectivo, King BBQ, Lamar’s Sporting Club, and More

Ex-Minero chef Alex Yellan is back at it on Johns Island, with housemade Mexican plates that riff on Yellan’s time growing up in Arizona, studying in Mexico, and experimenting during Minero’s Sean Brock era — the current iteration is coincidently now located nearby on Johns Island. Inside, creative Mexican American offerings like birria bone marrow sopes, ceviche tostadas, and carnitas ribs give the table something to talk about. And a series of house-created Tequila- and mezcal-forward cocktails round things out, like the Cap ‘N Cup, essentially a mezcal-spiked Negroni.

This counter-service Chinese barbecue joint is the long-awaited follow-up to Park Circle’s Jackrabbit Filly, just a couple miles north. With co-owners Corrie and chef Shuai Wang, the team has spent the past year perfecting smoky Southern staples, transformed into crave-inducing Chinatown tributes. We’re talking five-spice rotisserie chicken and duck, housemade kielbasa, chopped pork sandwiches, and even hash and rice — a South Carolina-specific dish of smoked barbecue scraps and drippings stewed and served over rice.

Behind the bar, Amy Kalligracas’ “trashy fancy cocktails” include Wonderwall, a chrysanthemum tea John Daly with popping boba; the Shimmy Shimmy Ya, a martini-adjacent crush with pickled pepper brine; and more.

If this spot flies a bit under the radar, it must be due to its cozy space, because the outsized flavors on the self-described “Indo-Caribbean” menu are unlike much anything else along upper King Street. But even that moniker doesn’t really do the place justice. Fingerprints of traditional Indian dishes line the menu, like paneer, appam, and lamb vindaloo. But explorations of southern American, West African, and Caribbean flavors also make appearances, like a dish of delicately halved okra, the Indian-by-way-of-NYC country captain. Even at the bar, the “Okroni” (see where this is going?) includes the traditional gin base, but with housemade okra amaro.

The couple behind Counter Cheesemongers has for years sourced and supplied unique and off-the-radar cheese selections to restaurants and markets. Now for two days a week, you can have your pick from their stock at their new walk-in retail spot on Rivers Avenue, near Park Circle. Procure supplies for dinner at home, or see what Nora and Eric have prepped for your enjoyment a la minute. Depending on the weekend (check the ‘gram), they’ll have sandwiches, Roman pizza, and fresh bread ready.

One of 10 Matador locations nationwide, this Meeting Street hotspot opened its doors in May. The menu leans Mexican, with everything from fajitas and tacos to burgers, salads, and wraps. Behind the bar, a slew of tequila and mezcal options await, along with seasonal offerings like the Campfire Marg, with Espolón reposado Tequila, Grand Marnier, and 400 Conejos joven mezcal.

This upper King Street spot, from the team behind Republic Garden & Lounge down the street, is out to offer something a little bit different for Charleston’s slam-packed bar and restaurant district. Billed as the city’s “first reservation-only nightlife experience,” your move is to grab a Resy and head to the corner of King and Spring streets. Inside, the hardwood-adorned bar and lounge space has all the trappings of a swanky cocktail space, plus a handful of TVs where you can watch the game.

Just like its tucked-away locale, inside a rehabbed historic building on Fulton Street, everything at Bar167 is sized just right. Ample for one, but perfectly shareable with the table, classic comfort dishes like focaccia and calamari are ready for you, alongside decadent lobster spaghetti alla chitarra and a swordfish sandwich. Wines by the glass and bottle lean light and seafood-friendly, perfect to pair with selections from the brand new downstairs raw bar. And since you’re asking: Yes, go ahead and order the caviar donut.

Chef-owner John Currence’s breakfast empire recently expanded across the river into Mount Pleasant. A Mississippi-based culinary multihyphenate, Currence has set up BBB to apply fine-dining attention to create new breakfast counter memories like the ones he had from childhood. The dishes remain as advertised, big and bad (in a good way, duh), featuring the usual suspects: omelets, sausage, bacon, biscuits, pancakes. You know the drill.

Recently opened in Mount Pleasant from the team behind Langdon’s, Wood & Grain, and Opal, this conveniently located spot near the I’On neighborhood offers ample outdoor seating perfect for fall. Inside, find delicate, but flavor-packed tacos (try the tempura fish) and other small plates, alongside potent cocktails like an Oaxaca old fashioned, with mezcal.

This is the second iteration of the popular King Street grab-and-go or  stay-a-while spot. With ample patio space and parking (try that anywhere else downtown), the crew is ready on the spot with avo toast, breakfast burrito, and even a fall veggie hash bowl. But don’t forget the Israeli upside-down latte, in keeping with the ownership’s Middle Eastern and Mediterranean explorations at Butcher & Bee (which recently closed in Charleston, but is still rockin’ in Nashville).