downtown restaurants Archives - Matt Anderson Properties

photo credit: Olivia Rae James photo credit: Squire Fox

In the gastronomic center of South Carolina, it can be hard for a restaurant to stand out. Charleston has dozens of award-winning restaurants that cater to all budgets and tastes, but only one has won the Charleston City Paper’s Readers’ Pick for both “Best Restaurant Downtown” and “Best Restaurant in Charleston” three years in a row: FIG restaurant. While FIG has excellent food, a James Beard-award winning chef, and a casual-cool environment, it is a combination of all three that keeps locals coming back and visitors lining up to try whatever FIG has to offer.

photo credit: Olivia Rae James photo credit: Squire Fox

Helmed by Executive Chef Mike Lata and business partner Adam Nemirow, FIG has charmed Charleston since its opening in 2003. Both business partners bring extensive experience to FIG; Lata and Nemirow are both Le Cordon Bleu-trained. Lata has been nominated twice for (in 2007 and 2008) and awarded once (in 2009) the James Beard “Best Chef Southeast” accolade. Nemirow’s background also includes an MBA from Johnson and Wales. In short, these men know and love the food industry, and their passion is obvious in every part of FIG.

photo credit: Olivia Rae James photo credit: Squire Fox

Lata and Nemirow had a vision for their restaurant from the start: they wanted a place that was “a haven for people who simply love food.” This focus is still evident in FIG’s mission statement, which promises that the restaurant will be a “unique restaurant that…feature[s] simple, seasonal food in a sociable, unpretentious setting.” Ten years later, the rotating food and wine menus still focu on these tenants. The ingredients for the menu items are locally sourced and cooked so that their basic flavors are highlighted. The value-based wine menu is selected to accompany these delicious, basic tastes.

photo credit: Olivia Rae James photo credit: Squire Fox

See samples of the dinner, drinks and wine menus. Reservations are accepted up to one month in advance. FIG’s dining area is open Monday through Thursday 5:30-10:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 11:00 PM. The bar opens at 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays. FIG is located at the corner of Hasell Street and Meeting Street at 232 Meeting.

Sources:

“About: Adam Nemirow.” FIG restaurant. http://eatatfig.com/about/view/adam_nemirow/

“About: Mike Lata.” FIG restaurant. http://eatatfig.com/about/view/mike_lata/

“Best Restaurant and Best Restaurant in Charleston: FIG.” Charleston City Paper. March 2012. http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/best-restaurant-and-best-downtown-restaurant/BestOf?oid=4032685

Jones, Scott. “Three Special Restaurants.” Southern Living Magazine. December 2007. http://www.eatatfig.com/assets/press_uploads/SouthernLiving_Dec07.pdf

82 Queen has been at the forefront of the Charleston dining scene since 1982–and it is still going strong despite an increasing number of competitors. Named after its French Quarter address, 82 Queen is composed of three buildings clustered around a central courtyard; the historic buildings have been there since 1866, making 82 Queen one of the oldest restaurants locations in the downtown area. Each of the restaurant’s eleven dining areas provides a unique, intimate, and memorable experience.

The term “Lowcountry Cuisine” has nearly single-handedly been defined by the culinary staff at 82 Queen, as they combined African, French, Caribbean and English influences with traditional Southern food to create the menus. This combination has since been copied–though never perfected–and 82 Queen remains the standard when it comes to classic, traditional Lowcountry food. Executive Chef Steven Lusby has included slight twists on old favorites as a way to update the menu, but still remains true to the original vision of the 82 Queen owners.

82 Queen Crabcake

As The Charleston City Paper puts it, “[82 Queen] is classic, and it works.” The She-Crab soup has been voted “Best of Charleston” by the City Paper readers, no small feat considering that she-crab soup is a staple of local eating. The restaurant is also the three-time winner of the Best City Restaurant by Southern Living magazine, which is further evidence of the enduring quality and service that 82 Queen provides. The menu offers classics such as fried green tomatoes, crab cakes and local mussels, as well as that Charleston favorite, shrimp and grits (one of their top-selling menu items).

See the lunch, dinner and brunch menus. Lunch is served Monday-Friday from 11:30 AM to 3 PM. Brunch is offered Saturday 11:30 AM-3 PM and Sunday 10:30 AM-3 PM. Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday 5:30-10:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 10:30 PM. Reservations are recommended.

Sources:

“A 300-year-old address.” 82 Queen. http://www.82queen.com/#

“About Us.” 82 Queen. http://www.82queen.com/about-us/

Doksa, Eric. “82 Queen.” Charleston City Paper. Winter 2013. http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/82-queen/Location?oid=1069327

The Ordinary Downtown Charleston. Photo Credit: Squirefox

Visitors coming to Charleston often look for one thing when choosing a restaurant: fresh seafood. Locals know that there’s no better place in South Carolina for local, just-off-the boat shrimp, fish and oysters than this area, and there is strong competition among Charleston restaurants to provide just that. Recently, a new competitor in the seafood genre has opened up downtown: The Ordinary Fancy Seafood and Oyster Hall.

The Ordinary. Photo Credit: SquireFox.

Launched by award-winning FIG restaurant owners, chef Mike Lata and business partner Adam Nemirow, The Ordinary aims to provide the freshest, highest quality seafood to their patrons. The Charleston City Paper stated that The Ordinary’s December 2012 debut was “perhaps the most anticipated restaurant opening of 2012.” And for good reason. Lata has long been a heavy-hitter of the Charleston restaurant scene. After being nominated for James Beard’s “Best Chef Southeast” in 2007 and 2008, he won the title in 2009. He’s also been featured on the Food Network multiple times, including a stint on “Iron Chef America.” His commitment to excellence in the kitchen has been a major component of the success of FIG, his first Charleston restaurant, and is what ensures that The Ordinary will be successful for years to come.

The Ordinary. Photo credit: SquireFox

The Ordinary, in the few months that it has been open, has proven to be anything but. True to its (full) name, this Charleston restaurant has all but a handful of dishes that aren’t exclusively seafood-based. The raw bar includes dozens of oyster option, most of which are provided by local suppliers. The menu mixes seafood favorites like New England fish chowder with favorites-with-a-twist like grouper schnitzel and lobster ceviche. The unique menu is complemented by The Ordinary’s setting: a former Bank of America building constructed in 1927. Lata and Nemirow has kept much of the bank’s elegance, including the original 22-foot ceilings and the bank vault, complete with massive metal door.

The Ordinary Photo Credit: SquireFox

Located at 544 King Street, The Ordinary has become another contributor to the Upper King Street revitalization effort of recent years, and will no doubt become a staple in the Charleston restaurant line up.

Shrimp and Oysters at The Ordinary. Photo Credit: SquireFox.

See the dinner and drinks menus. The Ordinary is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday 3- 11 PM and is closed Monday. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Sources:

Gorsline, Susie. “The Ordinary Fancy Seafood Oyster Hall.” Dining Around Charleston. 3 January 2013. http://www.diningaroundcharleston.com/2013/01/the-ordinary-fancy-seafood-oyster-hall.html

“Mike Lata.” FIG Restaurant. http://www.eatatfig.com/about/view/mike_lata/

Moss, Robert. “The Ordinary.” Charleston City Paper. Winter 2013. http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/the-ordinary/Location?oid=4255589

Wise, Warren Lance. “The Ordinary Restaurant Opens on Upper King Street.” The Post and Courier. 20 December 2012. http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20121220/PC05/121229955

Snob at lunch

Charleston is a wonderful place to visit or to live for many reasons: there are beautiful beaches within easy driving distance of all corners of Charleston County, the climate is warm nearly all year, and the residents are known for their hospitality. In the last decade or so, Charleston has also become known as an epicenter for excellent cuisine with dozens of award-winning restaurants within easy walking distance of the major sites downtown.

Lunch Special

Open since 1993, Slightly North of Broad (known affectionately as S.N.O.B.) is one of the oldest and most respected of these restaurants. It is located at 192 East Bay Street in the heart of downtown Charleston and only a block off of the famous City Market. Under the leadership of executive chef Frank Lee, Slightly North of Broad has led a revolution in Charleston dining where the emphasis is placed on incorporating fresh, local ingredients supplied by area farms.  Lee, a forty year veteran of the food service industry, has won multiple accolades for his work at Slightly North of Broad, including being honored as a guest chef at the James Beard House and being awarded a Golden Dish award by GQ for the Maverick Shrimp and Grits that S.N.O.B. is now famous for.

Slightly North of Broad is known for its inventive mix of classic French cooking techniques and traditional Southern dishes. This unique combination draws in crowds consistently for both the lunch and dinner seatings. A particular draw (and great value!) is the express lunch, offered daily for $10.95, which includes the chef’s entree du jour, tea or coffee, and your choice of soup or salad.

Chef Lee with Annie Keegan of Keegan-Filion Farms

The open plan restaurant–with only one large seating area that overlooks the kitchen–manages to retain an intimate feel, which makes the venue perfect for a business luncheon or a start to a special night out on the town. Owner Dick Elliott wanted the space to be a “relaxed, neighborhood-style restaurant for patrons who appreciated fine dining without the attendant fanfare.” Twenty years later and counting, S.N.O.B. still manages to be that with no signs of slowing down.

See the lunch and dinner menus, then make your reservations at this classic Charleston restaurant today.

Sources:

Barna, Stephanie. “Slightly North of Broad.” Charleston City Paper. http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/slightly-north-of-broad/Location?oid=1068382

“Frank Lee.” Slightly North of Broad. http://www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com/pdf/snob_lee.pdf

Slightly North of Broad. Maverick Southern Kitchens. http://www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com/slightlynorthofbroad/

Snyder, Wendy Swat. “Slightly North of Broad.” Charleston Living Magazine. http://charlestonlivingmag.com/2013/02/18/slightly-north-of-broad 18 Feb 2013.