The Charleston Restaurants We Loved in July

Shoutout to an all-time neighborhood favorite…

… Stella’s in downtown Charleston! When choosing where to dine out this past week, I was debating taking my friend to try somewhere new, but knew I just had to take her to Stella’s for a tried-and-true treat.

We started out with some drinks (a crisp glass of sauvignon blanc for me and a cocktail for her that was like an Aperol spritz but with a twist). We munched on the complimentary bread and oil (which alone makes me come back again and again), and then I ordered my all-time favorite, Yia Yia’s skillet. I get this every time because it’s vegan and I have a tricky diet, so it’s an automatic go-to. And though it’s technically an app, I still bring half home — between the pita and the huge bean-based deliciousness, it’s such a comforting homestyle dish. My friend ordered the kotopoulo, which was a giant helping of a half chicken with potatoes.

Needless to say, at Stella’s, you will always leave with leftovers and a smile on your face from the lovely atmosphere and service.

— Makenna Kaminski, Sales Development Representative

From the warm and lively ambiance…

… to the beautiful wine list, to every perfectly executed dish, and to the exceptional service, Vern’s is one of my favorite experiences of the year so far. A word of advice: Just order two of the sourdough from the start, and get all of the vegetable dishes you can handle. Dining with a party of four ensures you can try almost everything on the menu, and each person might just walk away with their own personal favorite. And you can usually sneak in at the bar if dining solo!

— Chandre Geis, Director of Restaurant Partnerships

A perfect meal at…

… FIG goes something like this: Start with the yellowfin tuna crudo and the forever famous ricotta gnocchi with lamb Bolognese. Next course, order the slow-baked wreckfish — the dish was served with artichoke dashi and paired perfectly with a glass of Austrian rosé. The Wagyu bavette was cooked to perfection, accompanied by king trumpet mushrooms and Bordelaise. But the most unsuspecting gem of the evening was the parmesan-stuffed olives in my martini.

— Whitney Cornett, Hospitality Coordinator

For brunch or dinner…

… Nico is a must! Nestled in Shem Creek, it’s the perfect way to enjoy a quality meal before or after a day outside. Their covered patio is refreshing any time of day, too, and they hands down have the best seafood tower in all of Charleston.

Pro tip: Come with a group of friends and share the plateau royal. The dream trio for brunch is the salade Lyonnaise, Nico cheeseburger, and the frites + fondue. So simple, but so good. There isn’t a single skip on their dinner menu, but the duck confit with potato gratin ranks high on my list.

— Kathryn O’Brien Dolbir, Regional Sales Manager

This place is always a win…

I recently had a great meal at The Darling. We started out with some cocktails — I had the Pink Pearl with spicy tequila, which was perfect. For food, we got a dozen oysters, the Creole shrimp (definitely the best thing on the menu that keeps me coming back time and time again), and fried oysters.

— Makenna Kaminski, Sales Development Representative

For a weekend brunch in Shem Creek…

… don’t skip out on The Mill Street Tavern. The Southern staple that is chicken and waffles with hot honey was outstanding, and the cinnamon roll is perfectly ooey and gooey. The views are stunning and there is nothing better than a rooftop cocktail while soaking up the sun on Shem Creek. Did I mention they have free parking, too?

— Kathryn O’Brien Dolbir, Regional Sales Manager

The atmosphere is amazing…

… at Tempest, with its stained-glass ceiling and A+ service. We had the amazing ocean rolls (like if the ocean were mixed with bread, but in a good way), and the flounder, which had a curry sauce that was so delicious. They also deliver the check in a copy of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” alongside a complimentary flower and drink tasting.

— Makenna Kaminski, Sales Development Representative