The Charleston Restaurants We Loved in August

I haven’t had Italian food like this since I was in Florence…

With its rustic, old-world charm, Cane Pazzo is bringing an incredible dining experience to Hanahan. We started with their wood-fired sourdough made to order and smothered in melty Calabrian chile butter, the crispy fried mozzarella (who knew house-fried cheese could be so good), the chopped Caesar salad, and their beef-and-pork meatballs over creamy polenta. Then it was onto the housemade pastas, which were absolutely divine — the lumache with sausage ragu, the gramigna tossed in basil pesto, and finally, the agnolotti filled with creamed corn, ricotta, and heirloom tomato.

— Whitney Mele, Senior Hospitality Coordinator

Yet again…

… I went to Halls and it was delicious as ever. I stuck with my tried-and-true filet — which was absolutely to die for — and have officially decided they have the best martini in town. We asked for extra blue cheese olives with our dirty martini and ended up with a total of 16, no joke: every time we’d finish the olives, our server, unprompted, would bring us an extra four (and this happened three times). Gotta love Halls’ utmost sense of hospitality.

— Lauren Ducci, Sales Development Representative

It’s the definition of a neighborhood favorite…

… for me and my wife. With a location in a strip mall, you could easily drive by Opal and not realize it serves one of the best steaks in town.

On our most recent visit, we started with a collection of PEI and Massachusetts oysters that were the perfect way to begin the meal. From there, we had the CAB filet and the shrimp bruschetta as mains. No matter how many times I have the filet, I’m always blown away by it and the crust that they’re able to build, while maintaining that perfect medium-rare temp. The Barolo sauce it comes with is unlike any sauce I’ve ever had at a steakhouse, and when mixed with the mascarpone potatoes, it’s easy to lick your plate clean. As for the shrimp bruschetta, it’s one of those dishes that doesn’t really hit you until you taste it — the crispy fresh bread with perfectly cooked shrimp, just a kick of heat from the chiles, and the rich sauce creates a perfect bite every single time. Chef Patrick Owen’s collection of restaurants is as good as it gets.

— Matthew Beattie, Sales Development Representative Manager

After our first visit…

… Renzo quickly became one of our favorite restaurants in Charleston. Their food, drinks, and vibes are all stellar. The Korean chicken in an absolute must-have, along with the potatoes al limone. And the cocktails always keep you coming back for more — definitely get the the Devil’s Lettuce (Tequila, Faccia Brutto Centerbe, Ancho Reyes Verde, and lime).

— Makenna Kaminski, Resy Sales Manager

There’s no world in which I’m visiting Charleston…

… and not going to Vern’s. Every bite is considered, the dishes are beautifully composed, the vibes are immaculate — it’s all that and more. On my recent visit, chef de cuisine Rob Looney was holding it all the way down. I loved using the grilled shrimp to mop up as much of the aji dulce sauce it came with as possible. I was obsessed with the perfectly cooked tomatoes hidden under big basil leaves (Charleston seasonal produce at its finest). This was the first time I got the pappardelle and it won’t be my last. We splurged for the Wagyu ribeye and I’m so glad we did. Overall, the sauce situation at Vern’s is just otherworldly. Never skip Vern’s.

— Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel Benefit Marketing Manager

During a bachelorette party…

… everyone agreed that our favorite meal was at Stella’s. Everything was so delicious — the highlights were the spinach pies and the kotopoulo, a traditional oven-baked chicken dish served with herbs, lemon, and roasted lemon potatoes. The service was great for such a large group, and our server was super knowledgeable about wine and helped us with pairings. This is defiantly a must-try if you’re in Charleston.

— Lauren Pung, Colleague Experience Group Analyst

To start off our night right…

… we went The Ordinary, right when they opened. Rum drinks and a dozen oysters is what dreams are made of. But it’s the smoked oysters that are always a must-order: think buttered crackers served with smokey oysters in some magic herb oil and straight-up butter. It’s one of the best bites in town.

— Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel Benefit Marketing Manager

To celebrate moving…

… I went out for a celebratory lunch with a Resy colleague at Berkeley’s. I got their turkey wrap (absolutely delicious) and their homemade ice cream — it’s some of the best I’ve ever had, and I come from a small town that is very serious about their ice cream. All in all, Berkeley’s never disappoints.

— Makenna Kaminski, Resy Sales Manager

One must eat…

… fried chicken on the way out of Charleston, and Leon’s Oyster Shop is the newer spot that carries the torch from the institution that was Martha Lou’s. It’s my restaurant blueprint: the menu is just right — big enough that you can eat there multiple times a week with dishes of all sizes, so you can eat your favorites and try something new every time. My favorites are the hush puppies, the two-piece fried chicken set, and their oysters. This time, since it was so hot out, I tried the shrimp roll and Siam salad. I’ll be adding those to my favorites now, too — the shrimp roll was herby, cool, and crunchy. Same with the salad, honestly. Plus, Leon’s also proves Charleston is a small town: Every time I’m there, I see someone I know. And it’s nice to get one final Charleston hug before hitting the airport.

— Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel Benefit Marketing Manager

More Charleston staff picks, right this way.