The Resy Hit List: Where In Charleston You’ll Want to Eat in May 2024
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
We’ve designed it to be your essential resource for dining in and around Charleston: a monthly-updated (and newly expanded!) guide to the restaurants in that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Charleston Not to Miss This Month
- Top Options For Mother’s Day: It’s time to celebrate Mom on May 12. You can always grab a table at a spot like Halls or Chez Nous, but you know she’ll love Mother’s Day Tea at Thoroughbred Club, a “feast” at Hank’s Seafood to mark the occasion, or even a Mother’s Day cocktail class at Frannie and the Fox, conveniently scheduled for a Thursday the week after. (Frannie also has a solid brunch if that’s your pick.)
- Spoleto-Adjacent Spots: Catching a few shows during Spoleto Festival USA, kicking off in late May? Well then you’re going to want to grab a Resy nearby to round out the night out. Near College of Charleston’s Cistern Yard? Check out The Quinte (or Lowland next door). If you’re stopping at The Gaillard Center, grab a spot at the Restaurant at Zero George or Élevé. If you find yourself at the Cannon Street Arts Center for Piccolo Spoleto or if your Airbnb is in Cannonborough-Elliottoborough, Southbound, Wild Common, and Pink Cactus are going to be solid picks.
- Now Open: Looking for a chef’s table experience you likely haven’t tried yet? It’s time to make your way out to Cramer’s Kitchen in Mount Pleasant, where chef-owner Owen Bernstein serves up a five-course meal from a monthly menu, offered just twice a week. April specialties include tuna tartare, spring-forward gnocchi, steak, and more. (Check IG for updated May offerings.) And check out more recent openings in New on Resy.
- New Rules for Oysters: It wasn’t too long ago that old wisdom told us oyster season ended in warmer months, those without “R.” These days though, farmed oysters produced to ensure consistency are available year round. So, here we are in May, and we can say with 100% confidence that if you order from the raw bars at Delaney Oyster House, The Darling Oyster Bar, The Ordinary, or Pearlz locations downtown and in West Ashley, you’ll find an ample selection of oysters farmed in and around the waters near Charleston alongside those harvested elsewhere.
New to the Hit List (May 2024)
King BBQ, Sissy Bar, XO Brasserie.
1. FIG Ansonborough
In a city full of crowd-pleasing tourist fare, FIG remains an oasis. Celebrating 20 years in 2023, chef-owner Mike Lata’s first major restaurant still manages to lure locals downtown, either with a Resy in its modest, comforting dining room or to take a chance at the petite bar that’s always first come, first served. Diners return for seasonal offerings and well-executed specialties like chicken liver pâté and even the fresh catch (grilled triggerfish with mushrooms recently). For Lata, who also opened The Ordinary on King Street some 10 (!!) years ago, rock-solid preparations remain simple, but creative enough to leave an impression.
2. Kultura Cannonborough Elliotborough
One of the most validating moments for chef-owner Nikko Cagalanan is when someone who grew up eating Filipino food takes a bite of his pancit noodle dish, and is instantly transported by flavor memories — familiar, vibrant flavors of their past. At Kultura, those memories of Cagalanan’s upbringing in the Philippines serve as the foundation for the permanent location of his Mansueta’s pop-up. The pancit is a must, alongside braised meats like duck, irresistible pork ribs (tocino), and any number of sturdy tropical cocktails. (Get the halo halo, made with sake, ube, pineapple, and coconut milk.)
3. Costa Harleston Village
Chef Vinson Petrillo’s ode to coastal Italian fare opened in the Jasper complex last fall. Rich, satisfying panzanella, burrata, eggplant parmesan, and more land on the table in the bright, airy, all-new space — from the folks who brought you Wild Common, Cannon Green, and Petrillo’s other home kitchen, Zero Restaurant + Bar. Seafood may be on every corner in Charleston, but Costa sets itself apart with delicate preparations and attention to detail.
4. The Obstinate Daughter Sullivan's Island
We’re reaching beach season, which means you’ll find yourself on Sullivan’s Island more, not that you need an excuse to stop by O.D. Chef-owner Jacques Larson, recently nominated for a James Beard honor, continues to show his stripes as an O.G. Charleston cook — in this case with a menu that skews Italian, with locally sourced ingredients, highlighting seafood right off the boat, like shrimp, clams, and swordfish. Then there’s fresh pasta and pizza that bear the classic hallmarks of an Italian kitchen. Once you’ve ordered the menu, stop by Beardcat’s Sweet Shop downstairs for some knockout gelato.
5. Halls Chophouse – Charleston Harleston Village
This King Street hotspot is anchored by one of the best rooms on the block: a downstairs bar that does as good of a job of beckoning guests inside as the friendly staff does when you walk in the door. Then there are the steaks (wet-aged, dry-aged, exotic, and classic) and the chops (veal, lamb, and pork), with family-style sides begging for a spot on your table. Halls now has five locations across two states, but this is the original. And the look on our faces we get when we walk in — eyeing that corner bar seat like it has our name on it — is testament to how Halls always makes us feel at home.
6. Palmira Barbecue West Ashley
Those of us who’ve followed Hector Garate’s barbecue pop-ups rejoiced in February when he finally opened the doors to his West Ashley restaurant. Channeling the flavors of his native Puerto Rico, Garate dishes out variations on ubiquitous Southern ‘cue with a little more flair. We’re talking sofrito-infused pintos and all-star smoked beef cheeks so tender that you won’t even realize brisket is nowhere to be seen on the menu. And don’t miss Garate’s housemade sausage, whole-hog pork, and barbecue hash — an uber-savory traditional South Carolina side, made with chopped meat, pan drippings, mustard, apple cider vinegar, and more. Palmira may be a ways off-peninsula, but it’s worth the trip.
No reservations. More info here.
7. Vern’s Elliotborough
The low-key digs of this Cannonborough-Elliottborough spot belie the menu that chef-owner Dano Heinze serves up nightly, stacked with offerings you didn’t even know you needed in your rotation. Dishes include snails, fresh crudo, a simple-but-rewarding steak, and handmade pastas like gnocchetti. This classic but inventive view extends to the wine list, curated by Dano’s wife and business partner, Bethany. The couple spent time in famed Charleston locales like the now-defunct McCrady’s before a California sojourn that wound them back east to Charleston. Their deep experience has earned Vern’s a well-deserved national profile.
8. Lowland Lower King
Jason Stanhope departed FIG last summer after 16 years, during which the restaurant and his menu as executive chef piled up accolades. Now, Stanhope is hoping to recapture some of that magic at not one or two, but three concepts operated by The Pinch boutique hotel at the corner of King and George streets. Expect a comfortable, casual setting with a handful of craveable dishes that both frame Stanhope’s interpretation of New Southern cooking and that will warrant a return trip: lobster bucatini, a burger, grilled triggerfish, crudo, biscuits, deviled eggs, and more.
9. Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop Downtown
Born from chefs Hannah and Zachary Welton’s late pandemic roving pop-up and catering operation, the Tiny Bakeshop draws hordes of fans Wednesday-Sunday mornings (just look for the line) eager for a taste of housemade croissant, along with killer focaccia, pasteis de nata, kolache, and much more. Check the Weltons’ IG for special house-fired pizza pop-ups in their side driveway. Want to beat the weekend crowd? Stop by on a weekday morning.
Find more info here.
10. Bintü Atelier East Side
Chef Bintou N’Daw planned to return to New York City after a year in the kitchen Chez Nous. But finding local menus lacked the flavors of her native Senegal, she decided to stay a while. Traditional Gullah cuisine carries traces of West African influence, but N’Daw’s dishes represent inspired adaptations that make her dishes unique. Yet, Charleston’s African ties proved formative for Bintü Atelier — a common thread. And Bintü found its way on to our top picks of 2023 for a reason, after all. Dishes like pepper soup come served with chicken, yucca, yams and crawfish in a spicy broth. Tucked off a Line Street sidewalk in Charleston’s East Side, which has its own rich cultural history as a historically Black neighborhood, Bintü is open for lunch and dinner Thursday through Sunday.
11. Bodega Downtown
The downtown party brunch vibe has traveled over the bridge into Mount Pleasant, with Bodega’s latest location opening in March off Coleman Boulevard. With a sprawling deck under low-slung shade trees and an indoor-outdoor bar, the space (a former Andolini’s pizza shop, for you locals) now seems like it was destined to host the latest addition to the Uptown Hospitality empire. In addition to the all-day breakfast menu, there are lunch-leaning sandwiches that include The Gropfather (named for chef Alec Gropman), with a chicken cutlet, mozz, provolone, pesto, and nduja. And don’t miss light, bright cocktails like the Central Park (Hendrick’s, St. Germaine, lemon juice, basic green juice, and soda water).
12. Taco Boy Downtown North-Central
13. Bowen’s Island Restaurant Folly Beach
This might be Charleston’s longest-running restaurant, in operation by the Barber family since 1945. For generations, Bowen’s has lured Charleston-area residents for family dinners, weddings, parties, community and political events, or just to watch some of the best sunsets around. Enter by the stairs and walk past the oyster room, where steamed bivalves are available by the half tray, full tray, and all-you-can-eat. (Oysters, harvested right off the marsh during “R” months, when they’re in season, are the main event here.) Upstairs in the dining room, seafood platters, Frogmore stew, shrimp and grits and more await.
Find more info here.
14. Honeysuckle Rose Westside
One of the buzziest tasting-menu restaurants to open downtown in 2023, this Westside spot settles you into a moody updated interior for a surprise-and-delight experience. It’s pretty exquisite but also pretty simple: eight courses, wine pairings, three hours, $250 per person. The menu leans seasonal without pigeonholing the kitchen into a particular style. Offerings have included king crab, wagyu beef, dry-aged bluefin tuna, bison, and housemade desserts from pastry chef Heather Hutton. With only four seatings each week (6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday), get those Resys now.
15. XO Brasserie Nomo
Herman Ng opened XO Brasserie in early March on Morrison Drive, across the street from NoMo mainstay Edmund’s Oast. With time spent at bustling favorites like The Royal Tern, Ng has captured a buzzy, big-city vibe that’s also comfortable, both at the bar or in the dining room. Good-sized siu mai dumplings and crunchy crab rangoons await, along with showstopper family-style plates like whole lobster, salt and pepper shrimp, and lamb lollipops. Behind the bar, selections have included the Chinese Awakening, an oolong-infused twist on a martini. And the Guav-zilla: mezcal, Midori, and guava, with celery bitters and salt.
16. Ma’am Saab Downtown
This eagerly awaited opening in 2023 was a long time coming. Ma’am Saab is the brainchild of chef-owner Miriyam Ghaznavi, a former teacher, who first tried her hand at the restaurant game at the now-closed Workshop food hall, then opened various locations of her Pakistani street food spot, Malika. Now, Ghaznavi’s husband and business partner Raheel Gauba has crafted a cozy, pulsing, big-city vibe inside the venerable space once home to Jestine’s Kitchen. On the menu, look for Ghaznavi’s must-have butter chicken, fresh chaat and other unique bites you won’t find anywhere else in Charleston.
Find more info here.
17. Estadio Cannonborough-Elliotborough
This downtown tapas spot has everything you need if you’re looking for something new downtown. Tucked into a court a few blocks from King Street, Spanish-inspired specialties flow from the kitchen, like flavor-packed local shrimp, crudo, an Iberian twist on pigs in a blanket and gildas, a perfectly composed skewer of anchovy, olive, and picked pepper — we challenge you not to order another round. Securing a Resy is a surefire way to a good time, but the lively courtyard provides the ideal space to enjoy a bev and await your spot. Behind the bar, Spanish vermouth and sherry tempt curious patrons, whether poured into a citrusy spritz or served neat.
18. Sissy Bar North Charleston
From the folks who brought you cocktail oasis Dalila’s in Downtown Charleston, this Park Circle spot has reworked its East Montague space (previously Yobo Cantina and Three Sirens) into a jam-packed first come, first-served hot spot inspired by Southern California beachside hangouts. Opened in April, ceviche has proven to be an early crowd favorite, and the chargrilled aromas of the family-style barbacoa “Taco Party” platter has folks saying, “I want that.”
As at Dalila’s, cocktails are the name of the game, like the Luscious Lu, a spicy passion fruit margarita or the Ace Ventura, with mezcal, Mexican fernet, and (naturally), banana. A handful of bottled and canned local beers are also available.
Find more info here.
19. King BBQ North Charleston
The food coming out of the Chinese-Southern kitchen from chef-owner Shuai Wang (Jackrabbit Filly) already had a faithful following when the restaurant faced an unexpected closure due to a small fire in late March. But open once again in late April, there may be no better time to stop by this local favorite to see Shuai and co-owner and wife Corrie back together with their A+ team.
Meats smoked on-site anchor the menu, with a mustard-tinged pulled pork paying tribute to a South Carolina standard, and crispy smoked duck providing a little something extra that you won’t find anywhere else in Charleston. Stop by on Saturday and the duck comes served with all steamed bao — “duck service.”
Find more info here.
20. Leon’s Oyster Shop Downtown
For years, the faithful have started queuing outside on King Street well before opening at 11 a.m. Leon’s has carved out a niche among locals and tourists alike, who flock for hot oysters or super solid fried chicken and a vibe so lived-in that you’d never guess it’s just shy of 10 years old. Can’t show up early? Find your five closest friends and grab a Resy. And don’t be fooled by the rustic environs, there’s plenty to enjoy on the drinks list, from “cheapish wine” on draft to local beers and frozen cocktails.
