Charleston restaurants

Pakistani Restaurant Opening in Downtown Charleston

Ma’am Saab, a Pakistani Restaurant is coming to downtown Charleston.

Ma’am Saab first began as a pop-up at the popular exploratory restaurant venue Workshop Charleston and was widely popular amongst patrons. The concept was even able to deliver food to customers during the pandemic while Workshop was closed.

Raheel Gauba, co-owner of Ma’am Saab, said “Workshop was a true incubator. It truly served its purpose. We got 10 years worth of experience in one year.”

According to Maryam Gauba, chef and co-owner of Ma’am Saab, is eager to continue to share her culture and love of food with Charleston. She said, “Growing up in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, one can say that I have enjoyed some of the most flavorful foods from an early age….Ma’am Saab was born out of my incurable insistence to share the flavors I crave with my fellow Charlestonians.”

The new restaurant will be located at 251 Meeting Street, where they will be taking the place of Jestine’s Kitchen, a beloved Charleston staple that was forced to close during the pandemic.

Ma’am Saab is expected to open this summer – either by July or August.

Eat & Drink

Popular New Orleans Restaurant Coming to Downtown Charleston

Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group, owners of the popular Louisiana-based restaurant Ruby Slipper Cafe, recently announced they will be opening a new restaurant in Charleston.

The restaurant, Ruby Sunshine, will be taking the place of Blossom, a long-standing restaurant located at 171 East Bay Street and is expected to open in the fall of 2021.

According to their website, Ruby Sunshine’s all-day brunch brings “the same Big East twist to breakfast and brunch classics.” Some of their menu items include BBQ Shrimp and Grits, Sweet Heat Chicken and French Toast Bites and Biscuits and Gravy.

Ruby Sunshine currently has a variety of restaurants throughout the South in places like Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina. This upcoming Charleston location will be the first Ruby Sunshine location in South Carolina.

Peter Gaudreau, CEO of the restaurant group, said “Charleston is a natural next step for our expansion, and we think the city captures that sense of New Orleans’ hospitality and Southern charm that Ruby Sunshine is all about.”

News

Long-standing Downtown Restaurant Closing Its Doors

A long-standing restaurant situated in the heart of downtown Charleston will soon be closing their doors.

The Macintosh, which is located on Upper King Street, will officially be closing on March 7th after serving their staple brunch menu to patrons. The restaurant has been in business for over a decade and helped get Charleston’s food scene noticed by tourists and critics alike.

While the COVID-19 pandemic was not the primary reason they chose to close their doors, it certainly played a part in the ultimate decision.

In a statement on the decision to close The Macintosh, Steve Palmer, founder and partner of The Indigo Road restaurant group, said, “The Macintosh’s moment in time has come and gone. Our tastes have changed: We’re just in a different universe now…Sales is the ultimate report card, I believe the restaurant would be in a different place had COVID not happened, but COVID is not the reason.”

While The Macintosh will be closing, the Cocktail Club located above the restaurant will remain open.

News

City of Charleston Extends Outdoor Dining For Another Year

The City of Charleston recently voted to approve the extension of outdoor dining through January of 2022.

Charleston City Council approved the new ordinance, which allows restaurants to expand their outdoor dining areas onto private and public property. The tourism and hospitality industry has certainly been hit hard by the pandemic so officials are hoping this provides some aid to restaurants and restaurant workers as they navigate this difficult time.

This move comes in the wake of a push from some South Carolina lawmakers to get restaurant workers vaccinated as soon as possible.

South Carolina Representative JA Moore introduced a concurrent resolution to “intensify efforts to restore the state’s hospitality industry by prioritizing hospitality workers in COVID-19 testing and including hospitality workers in Phase 1A of this state’s vaccine distribution plan.”

As a former hospitality worker himself, Moore explained the need to vaccinate restaurant workers saying, “We have so many men and women in our industry who have been risking their lives to feed people in South Carolina, so I think it’s important we protect them.”

Currently, restaurant workers are in Phase 1C of the vaccination rollout plan.

Eat & Drink

Charleston’s Restaurant Week Has Begun

South Carolina’s annual restaurant week has officially begun. Each year the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association hosts a week-long celebration of local restaurants in various cities across the state, where participating restaurants provide special menus and pricing on some of their most popular items.

This year’s event will last from January 7th to January 17th. Foodies can find either lunch or dinner menus ranging in price from $10 to $55 depending on the number of courses and chosen restaurant.

Some of this year’s participating restaurants include 5 Church, Grace and Grit, High Cotton, Slightly North of Broad and Vicious Biscuit. Each restaurant has fully customized their restaurant week menu to create a tailored and indulgent experience for restaurant-goers.

It’s no secret the restaurant industry has suffered immensely during the course of the past year so we encourage people to support some of Charleston’s local hotspots during this year’s restaurant week.

Hungry to help out? Click here for a full list of participating restaurants and their restaurant week menus.

New In Charleston

New Restaurants And Shops Coming To Charleston

Even in the midst of a pandemic, Charleston is still expanding, with the addition of new restaurants and shops.

Downtown Charleston is welcoming a new restaurant that is serving up fresh poke bowls. Sweet Bowl Poke & Tea is opening in the WestEdge area of downtown Charleston and has a variety of made-to-order items as well as boba tea available for customers.

Over in Mount Pleasant, the Panera Bread will soon be serving early risers with a new cafe on Muhlenbergia Drive. The cafe will offer customers indoor dining options, drive-thru, and delivery services, as well as curbside pick-up.

Mount Pleasant also recently welcomed a new Maple Street Biscuit Co. in the Queensborough Shopping Center. This popular chain offers patrons delicious comfort food through a variety of biscuit-based meals.

In addition to restaurants, a new vintage women’s apparel store, Portal, recently opened on St. Philip Street in downtown Charleston. Portal allows customers to buy, sell, trade, and/or rent clothing.

A new 11,000 square foot Dollar Tree Store is also opening on College Park Road in Ladson.

Be sure to check out some of the new businesses coming to town!

Eat & Drink

Charleston Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Meals

A variety of Charleston restaurants are serving up delicious Thanksgiving dinners for you and your family to enjoy this year. Choose between a sit-down dinner at your favorite Charleston hotspot or pick up some side dishes to round out your Thanksgiving meal.

For those individuals who do not want to lift a finger this Thanksgiving holiday, many Charleston restaurants are also providing full Thanksgiving meals to go. Here are some Charleston restaurants serving up Thanksgiving meals around town.

Caviar & Bananas

A full a la carte menu provides you with the power to pick and choose what you want for your Thanksgiving meal. From whole turkeys to cornbread dressing to mashed potatoes and gravy to blueberry cobbler, you can find something for everyone. Be sure to place your order by November 21st.

Crave Kitchen and Cocktails

Offering a “Take and Bake” menu, Crave Kitchen and Cocktails can do most of the heavy lifting on Thanksgiving. Pick an entree, appetizer, two sides, and a dessert to complete your Thanksgiving dinner this year. They are also offering options for both pick-up and delivery.

The Dewberry/Henrietta’s

Looking for a sit-down dinner in someone else’s dining room other than your own? The Dewberry is providing a family-style Thanksgiving meal in the beautiful dining room at Henrietta’s. Make a reservation for either 1:00 PM, 3:30 PM, or 6:00 PM.

Edmund’s Oast

For just $245, you can get a full Thanksgiving Dinner package to go. Edmund’s Oast is providing classic dishes like green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. They are also adding their staple beer Something Cold to their package in addition to three bottles of wine – all of which are available for curbside pickup on Thanksgiving Day.

High Cotton

Traditional Thanksgiving dishes meet southern staples at High Cotton’s sit down Thanksgiving meal. Enjoy classic dishes like stuffing, sweet potatoes, and corn pudding, or opt for Charleston favorites like shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and broiled oysters. High Cotton will be open on Thanksgiving day from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM so, be sure to make a reservation soon.

Other Charleston restaurants offering Thanksgiving meals and side dishes include Butcher & Bee, Dockery’s, Home Team BBQ, Magnolia’s, Mercantile and Mash, and Zero Restaurant.

Eat & Drink

The Best Rooftop Bars in Charleston

Open-air restaurants are all the rage this summer, as establishments adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. Luckily, Charlestonians already love to dine outdoors. While many restaurants are finding ways to create more patio seating, nothing quite compares to a rooftop view. Here’s a roundup of the best rooftop bars in Charleston for the next time you decide to hit the town.

Stars Rooftop & Grill Room

This King Street beauty has a short, but sweet, rotating menu. With stellar drinks and a downtown view, this establishment is nothing short of fabulous. Locals love the weekend Brunch as it’s known iconically for their decadent selection. Pop a cork and cheer mimosas with friends on their open-air rooftop.

The Rooftop Bar at The Vendue

Enjoy al fresco lunch on the highrise patio at this chic hotel. For lively atmosphere and Southern architecture views, join the folks at the Vendue. On hotter days, a Strawberry Basil Lemonade will quench your thirst. Their plethora of seating offers options for parties of all sizes.

The Watch

You’ll forget to check your watch as time spent on the rooftop of the Restoration Hotel is time well spent. Guests will want to head to the restaurant at sunset for an incredible Holy City golden hour. As you soak up the last of the sun, share appetizers while picking through their selection of sweet libations.

Revelry Brewing

Calling all IPA drinkers! This rooftop brewery is young, lively, and perfect for an evening escape. Their large selection of home-brewed beer is iconic in this city. Crack a cold one safely outdoors at this large beer garden.

Red’s Ice House

Ditch downtown and head to Shem Creek for sunset drinks at Reds. The motto here? “Inside is boring!” Enjoy this laid back setting for seafood and drinks as you watch boats float by. The occasional dolphin even makes an appearance along the creek!