Best of The Hit List Charleston
The 10 Restaurants That Defined Charleston Dining in 2024
 |
We asked our contributors to the Resy Hit List to share their top dining experiences in their cities this year — to choose 10 restaurants that define the state of great dining right now. Welcome back our Best of The Hit List for 2024.
|
Charleston diners were treated to another banner year of new openings this year — in some ways, a repeat of 2023’s strength in restaurant newcomers. As 2024 hit its stride, Jason Stanhope’s Downtown regulars could dive into another slate of new delights. James Wozniuk opened the area’s first Malaysian restaurant. Taverna expanded on chef Justin Hunt’s Mount Pleasant hangout, Philosophia. And Michael Toscano sold a ton of porchetta from his new sandwich shop on President Street. There really is a little something for everyone, from date night spots like Legami or Marbled & Fin, to Hector Garate’s beef cheek ‘cue at Palmira, which everyone in Charleston has had at least a brief infatuation with over the past year.
We’re already tracking a few new notables for 2025, but meantime here’s the 10 restaurants that defined dining in Charleston this year.
1. Lowland Lower King
Chef Jason Stanhope may have opened Lowland in late 2023, but this was the year it earned a place in many locals’ rotations. Despite being one of the hotter openings in recent years, Lowland somehow remains low-key while still delivering on the expectations that came with Stanhope’s 16 years at nearby FIG.
Once you’ve secured a spot in the dining room of the updated circa 1834 Lequeux-Williams House, take a moment to appreciate the lived-in details like the custom mural upstairs, punctuated with the pint-sized corner bar. The menu represents the best version in the Lowcountry of many the items, as far as we’re concerned: biscuits, crudo, celery salad, bucatini, and a knockout tavern burger. Sneak around back and order from the full menu at the bar as well.
2. Legami Cannonborough Elliotborough
The space at 492 King St. was already one of the best on that high-profile shopping street, but with its transformation into Legami, it’s truly a stunner. The plates flowing from the updated kitchen appear just as immaculate. Housemade pastas stand out, such as the cappelletti, prepared just al dente enough to know they’re fresh. The filet mignon alla Wellington may be the most attractive riff ever on the rustic English classic. This is the first foray into Charleston from the proprietors of New England’s collection of Pasta Beach restaurants. And with hand-painted plaster walls lining the historic building, a luxe Italian Riviera-esque courtyard, and a posh bar just a step inside the corner entry, there’s not a bad seat in the house.
3. XO Brasserie Nomo
XO burst onto the scene in 2024 and quickly attracted a devoted following. Having grown up working in a Columbia, S.C., Chinese restaurant, owner Herman Ng created a buzzy space befitting its spot in the heart of a fast-growing Morrison Drive neighborhood. And the menu matches the vibe, with wontons and potstickers alongside Chinese-inspired venison osso buco.
The airy dining room, lined with windows, is accented by the open kitchen pass at one end of the room, flanked by a see-and-be-seen bar that has made XO a good date spot or the place for an early evening bite with friends. Cocktails are bright and surprising, with the menu buoyed by offbeat-yet-complementary ingredients like baiju, shrubs, and chai orgeat.
4. Taverna Mt Pleasant
Mount Pleasant residents and those hunting for Mediterranean flavors have been frequent fliers here since Taverna opened in early 2024. This latest addition serves up similar Mediterranean dishes to its sibling Philosophia, but with larger-format plates — whole fish or larger cuts like rack of lamb or a feta-brined Guinea hen. The Post and Courier took note in June, pointing diners to the whole snapper and branzino, pan-fried and flambeéd kefalograviera cheese, and other raw bar delicacies reminiscent of the Mediterranean coastline. Chef Justin Hunt clearly has a knack for craveable dishes and inviting formats, and of course there’s the convenient East Cooper location, just minutes over the Cooper River bridge.
5. Makan CHS Downtown
The second location of this popular D.C. restaurant brought some of the first flavors of Malaysian cooking to downtown Charleston when it opened in May. Chef James Wozniuk assembled his menu based on research travel when he helmed Cambodian and Taiwanese kitchens in D.C. In Charleston, Makan’s flavors balance between citrus-spiked sweet and sour, plus subtle (and/or searing) heat with some dishes that may be familiar for fans of Southeast Asian cuisine. For a few true surprises, navigate your way through chicken skewers, pickled pineapple, spicy hakka noodles, and red curry chicken. And do not forget to try one of the desserts, which combine light tropical flavors like coconut, with tapioca or pandan custard.
6. Palmira Barbecue West Ashley
Fans of his pop-ups breathed a sigh of relief earlier this year, when pitmaster Hector Garate opened his doors off the beaten path in suburban West Ashley. At Palmira, Garate channels the flavors of his native Puerto Rico, putting a unique spin on the beef barbecue that’s pulled from his pits, centering around whole hog pork barbecue and beef cheek rather than brisket. Sofrito-infused pinto beans and housemade sausage punctuate the menu with Puerto Rican flavors, along with barbecue hash, a quirky staple of South Carolina cuisine. Garate even rotates smoked chicken onto the menu, if you think you’ve tried it all. Palmira may be off the peninsula, but it’s worth the trip.
Find more info here.
7. The Archer East Central
The Archer was the latest project from the team at neighborhood favorite Berkeley’s. A little more upscale than its North Central sibling, the new spot scratched the same itch, but with things turned up a few notches. Think baked oysters, steak tartare, duck frites, and more. At the bar, specialty cocktails, including some on draft, helped further entire; Ambiguous Bird was a fave in the summer months, with rum, coconut tea Campari, pineapple, and lime. And then there was the sweet potato painkiller, with a balance of spices and tropical spirits that make for a perennial choice in all Charleston weather.
8. Porchetta Shop Downtown
Chef Michael Toscano knew he had something special in his spit-roasted porchetta after a series of pop-up offerings some two years ago. Now, the decadent sandwiches are the star of the show at Toscano’s second standalone concept in Charleston. (Of course, he’s also got at least two other ideas in the works, a residency at Revelry Brewing, and a couple spots in New York City’s Greenwich Village.) Da Toscano Porchetta Shop opened in late 2023 with a handful of sandwich options, including traditional porchetta variations, shaved beef, and a veg option — all ridiculous, no skips. And folks have started to catch on, because the shop routinely sells through its fresh-baked focaccia bread, which is a treat by itself. Local and Italian beer and wine are also available, and don’t sleep on the desserts. With success for the Porchetta Shop in Charleston, Toscano is keeping his eyes open for the next lucky location…
Find more info here.
9. Cleats Downtown
Chef-owner Jeremiah Shenzel put everything he’s learned from his experience with fast, crowd-pleasing concepts (including Daps) when he unlocked the doors here. A sports bar without the loud, macho, less-savory trappings, Cleats serves up satisfying and creative renditions of bar-food standards: a handful of inventive hog dogs, craveable starters like their hot bean dip, and a series of sandwiches ranging from a couple different Italian variants to a chicken sammie. Everything is ordered via QR code, letting you go at your own pace. Tucked into the new Refinery development, Cleats showed that our city’s love of sports bars is reflects that opening a great one is an artistic talent of its own.
Find more info here.
10. Marbled & Fin Downtown Charleston
It was almost impossible to walk into this unassuming dining room, tucked into the corner of a newly upfitted strip center, and not find something to grab your attention. At this point, the crew from Neighborhood Dining Group — which brought us Husk, Minero, and more — knows how to give the people what they want. Styled as a “modern steakhouse,” it made sure to you knew you could expect caviar and wagyu, lobster and tomahawk steaks. The raw bar is always stocked with fresh specialties, from stone crab to shrimp cocktail. The wine list goes long on wines by the glass, while cocktails lean classy with bits of flair, like I’ll Take Five, described as a “Pisco sour with Dave Brubeck.” (Along with several others, it’s available N/A.) In a year when more was definitely more, Marbled & Fin delivered.
