Resy’s New Charleston Office is Open
We Asked the Team for Restaurant Recommendations
Charleston is a charming Southern town with lots to love – the food, the people, the scenery. Now, after opening a Charleston office in 2019 but closing it during the pandemic in 2020, Resy has a new space at 741 Meeting Street in the East Central neighborhood. The office occupies the top floor (with rooftop!) of the recently opened building and has approximately 35 employees on site.
“Resy launched in Charleston in 2016 and we’ve loved growing with the market,” says Conley Rollins, VP of Restaurants and Chief Revenue Officer at Resy. “We are excited for our next chapter in the city which is filled with people who – like us – are passionate about food, hospitality, and creating a thriving restaurant community.”
Today, Resy’s footprint in Charleston of 150+ restaurants includes mainstays in downtown and newcomers in neighborhoods like North Charleston. Over the first ‘family meal’ in the new office, a standing Wednesday lunch where Resy brings in food from local restaurants, the Resy Charleston team shared what makes the city’s food scene unique and where they’re currently eating.
Charleston is quaint, and some of the best places – local hangs or internationally-acclaimed spots – can be right out your front door. You can often find me at Estadio, Bar George or Chubby Fish. For a casual bite, I love Home Team. And Sushi-Wa has been on my list for too long now!— Kaylin Foard, Implementation Specialist
“For a small town, Charleston is brimming with restaurants to choose from and a variety of amazing cuisines,” Kathryn O’Brien Dolbir, a Resy Regional Sales Manager said. “If you stay downtown, you can walk off most of your meals, so you have room for more.”
“When you walk into a restaurant, you feel at home and in many cases, your experience isn’t rushed,” Resy senior sales manager Jordan Andersen said. If you’re taking a trip to the Charleston suburbs, however, you can have a different experience and try out local spots like Jackrabbit Filly (Kathryn’s favorite) and Wild Olive. As for new spots you must try if you’re in town, Kathryn recommends Azur on Market Street.
The city’s farm-to-table culture makes Charleston a unique dining destination. “My time working in the food service industry in Charleston gave me an inside glimpse of the connections between farms and restaurants,” Joe McQueen, account associate at Resy, said. Limehouse Produce, a local Charleston vendor, is committed to providing seasonal produce to restaurants in town, he pointed out. “The hospitality demand here is unmatched,” Joe emphasized. Restaurants struggle or close if they don’t have great hospitality, he said, adding that the competitive nature of the restaurants to be hospitable almost guarantees a positive experience.
Right now, Joe’s go-to spot is Kwei Fei on James Island, and after having an amazing time at Chez Nous for his birthday, Malagón, the spot’s sister restaurant, is on his Hit List. FIG, however, is on Notify. When it comes to dining trends, McQueen is focused on sandwich shops. He’s obsessed with Cold Shoulder Gourmet, and while he hasn’t been to Legend Deli – recently opened downtown – it’s on his list.
Ryan Wash, a restaurant success manager at Resy, is also a regular at Kwei Fei and Southbound is the next restaurant on his list. “
As Charleston evolves, it’s bringing in all that’s great about other big cities with a twist of Charleston charm. That makes it an exciting time for the dining scene.— Ryan Wash, Restaurant Success Manager
It’s evident that Kwei Fei is a hot spot. Kelley Travers, an inside sales manager at Resy, says she’s also a regular at Kwei Fei, along with Hall’s, Berkley’s and Jackrabbit Filly. Similar to Ryan, Southbound is also next on her list. “Not only do we have top notch culinary teams here, but we also have extremely talented sommeliers, brewers and cocktail creators that are constantly teaming up with different restaurants to create some creative pairings,” she pointed out.
When it comes to seafood, you can’t go wrong in Charleston. “Charleston is home to some of the best seafood on the east coast, and many of our restaurants do an incredible job showcasing what local fishermen are bringing in,” Lana Auerbach, a Resy Support Manager, said. She’s a regular at Post House and Jackrabbit Filly. Her teammate Meghan Emery, also a Support Manager, echoed her sentiment adding that Charleston has a wide variety of restaurants from neighborhood bars to fine dining spots. Right now, she’s a regular at Shiki.
As for the office reopening, Resy’s Charleston team is excited. Kaylin Foard worked in the Charleston office for a mere three weeks before the pandemic hit. Now, she’s looking forward to being in a collaborative space again, having friends to talk to, and sharing a family meal together. “Having a smaller team in the office allows us all to interact and really get acquainted.”
Enjoying the first ‘Family Meal’ on the roof
Lunch provided by Home Team BBQ
Back to work!
