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When Eater last visited the space at 951 Folly Rd., restaurateurs Joe Walker and David LeBoutillier were hard at work on the interiors and menu, but hadn't completely settled on a name for their James Island eatery. However, today is the day that the Folly Road address shall be known as Stereo 8.
The moniker is a reflection of the shared love of music between the proprietors. Stereo 8 was the original title for the 8-track tape, popular in the mid-60s to late-70s. While the food will be contemporary (more on that later), the space is peppered with midcentury modern furniture from a time period closer to the the 8-track's heyday.
When asked what sort of music might be played during service, Walker whipped up a quick playlist: "Just What I Am" by Kid Cudi, "The Hop" by Radio Citizen, "Mutilated Lips" by Ween, "A Charm/A Blade" by Phosphorescent, "Cure for Pain" by Morphine, "Soldier" by DJ Vadim, "Drop the World" by Lil’ Wayne, "Patience" by Nas and Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley, "Fussing and Fighting" by Bob Marley and the Wailers, and "High Plains Drifter" by Beastie Boys.
It's an eclectic mix that could easily be imagined listed together at a summer concert series like Bonnaroo or Cochella.
And that's the sort of feeling Walker and LeBoutillier are trying to cultivate at Stereo 8 — it's summer, it's fun, it's relaxed. The food paired with this idea is what you might expect to eat at a West Coast beach party (if that beach happened to have a Korean taco truck). The menu is full of fresh crudos, juices, bulgogi tacos, and table shares of chicken mole. It's sort of like a family-friendly version of a Roy Choi menu (L.A. chef who popularized Korean-Mexican fusion).
Below is the working list of plates. Stereo 8 is a concept-driven restaurant, rather than chef-driven, so Walker and LeBoutillier are still searching for the correct person to execute their vision. The restaurant should be open by the end of June.
