The Charleston Restaurants We Loved in February

If you’re looking for a perfect date night spot…

… Leon’s Oyster Shop is it. We started with oysters (both raw and chargrilled) and the Siam salad with poached shrimp, before enjoying the whole snapper as our main. The raw oysters and the salad were my favorite dishes, but the cocktails were also fantastic.

Pro tip: Always order the fried brussels sprouts as a side — they never miss!

— Magen Glaesner, Senior Product Operations Analyst

Our family loves crawfish…

… and we feel so lucky to have a restaurant who shares this love with us. Every Tuesday during crawfish season (the best time is from late February through May), LoLA will start taking orders for crawfish boils at 5 p.m., and I recommend getting there early because they sell out fast. But everything on their menu will hit that Cajun and Creole craving if you can’t make it then.

— Joseph McQueen, Senior Account Executive

If you’re in the mood for a swanky brunch (or dinner)…

… Marbled & Fin is your place, and is as consistent as they come. Between the bone marrow, steaks, and the smoothest gin & tonic I have ever had, this place is my go-to when I want to have a really nice meal. The service is also some of the best in town. As a former member of the F&B industry, I also just appreciate how friendly everyone is. Some restaurants have lost that “friendly Southern charm” that us Charlestonians are known for, and this place is the opposite. Also, they have one of the best crèmes brûlées (and the presentation is pretty neat, too).

— Elle Barton, Account Associate

My family’s favorite breakfast spot is…

… Eva’s on Main in Downtown Summerville. A quick 30-minute trip from Downtown Charleston, this old-school joint will absolutely have a wait on the weekends, but is worth it. I love Eva’s Big Stack (buttermilk pancakes with either sausage patties or bacon), but make sure you go on Tuesdays or Saturdays for the country fried steak. If you do come on a Saturday, walk off your meal and head over to the Summerville farmers market, which takes place every Saturday from April to December.

— Kathryn O’Brien Dolbir, Regional Sales Manager

Of all my neighborhood favorites…

… The Archer takes the cake. I go almost once a week, because it’s just that good. The dishes are creative, the vibe is immaculate, and most importantly, they make you feel like family the moment you walk through the door.

On my latest visit, we started with a bottle of house red, a chilled French blend and a tried-and-true favorite that usually complements everything on the menu. Every time we go, we say we’ll try something new, but the crispy fried eggplant is impossible to pass up — it’s the lightest, freshest-tasting eggplant I’ve ever had. We did try the tuna crostini and the crab and whipped ricotta, both new dishes, and the latter (served with a toasted baguette) is definitely going to be a go-to from now.

Next, we split the braised short rib and the walnut Bolognese. The short rib is my all-time favorite dish here — it’s served on a bed of potato purée that I want to swim in, and is topped with bourbon-glazed cipollini onions and a delightful black garlic jus (trust me, you’ve never eaten garlic like this before). The walnut Bolognese was another new menu item, a rigatoni dish served with cremini mushroom and a cloud of parmesan on top (never had a pasta dish like this before, it’ll definitely end up being a repeat offender).

Lastly, we couldn’t resist the chocolate mousse with hazelnut brittle and whipped cream for dessert, aka my favorite dessert in Charleston (I will never forget the first time I tasted it). All to say, when you go to The Archer, you will leave happy, full, and ready to book your next Resy. I already have mine on the calendar.

— Lauren Ducci, Sales Development Representative

For some of the best views of Downtown Charleston…

… and of the Ravenel Bridge, the Charleston Harbor Resort, nestled just past Patriots Point, is the place to go. Their restaurant, The Fish House, has an appetizer that leaves me speechless every time: their peach hot honey shrimp. (Though any of their seafood pastas, like the seafood fettuccine and lobster ravioli, is a close second.) Get yourself some oysters Rockefeller along with a beer (they’ve got a good variety of local craft beers), and pro tip: Head up to the bridge bar for a photo and a night cap.

— Kathryn O’Brien Dolbir, Regional Sales Manager

If you’re looking for a birthday group dinner…

… Muse is phenomenal. It’s been a consistent favorite of mine, and this meal simply exceeded all expectations. Our server, Donnie, offered us a surprise potluck dining experience, featuring all of the restaurant’s hits. This included the nduja shrimp, the meatballs, several pastas, seafood dishes, chicken two ways, and so much more. He also ordered us all drinks based on our preferences, and I ended up with a Tequila old fashioned, which was super unique and delicious. I will definitely be returning again for the amazing food, drinks, and top-tier service.

— Makenna Kaminski, Sales Development Representative

For an incredibly unique experience…

… that cannot be found anywhere else in Charleston, head to ROXA Desserts. How could you not love a multi-course dessert tasting menu in an intimate space that’s Willy Wonka-themed? Chef Heather Hutton goes above and beyond, and I especially loved the flambéed mallows and calamansi golden egg.

— Patrick Sudol, Account Executive

At a special tasting menu experience…

… at Costa, it was the caviar bump that stole the show — it was paired with a shot of specially distilled gin, which was perfect right after “shooting” the caviar. But all of the wine pairings they suggested for the prix-fixe were incredible — their team was spot-on and provided immaculate service.

— Meghan Angelo, Hospitality Coordinator

A perfect meal at…

… FIG goes like this: Starting off with the Nantucket bay scallop grenobloise with lemon, fennel, and croutons. Then onto the arugula salad with pecorino Canestrato and crispy shallot, followed by the forever classic ricotta gnocchi and lamb Bolognese with parmesan and mint. For mains, we loved the brioche-crusted jumbo flounder with a winter vegetable chowder, lardo, and tarragon, as well as the pork schnitzel served with cider vinegar, chicories, rock shrimp, and cornichons.

— Whitney Cornett, Hospitality Coordinator

Popped in on the fly…

… and was able to grab a bar spot at The Ordinary. Enjoyed their refreshing Mount Sage cocktail over crushed ice (Génépy, bay leaf, pineapple, lime, and cardamom) and dug into several excellent raw bar bites and appetizers, like caviar service with Jimmy Red corn hoecakes, a Wagyu steak tartare, and some stone crab claws. Service was top notch, too!

— Stephanie Bellacicco, Senior Specialist Hospitality Coordinator