The Most Anticipated Charleston Restaurant Openings, Spring 2016

Ah, spring — warmer temperatures, fresh produce popping up, and new restaurants in the Lowcountry. Chefs, restaurateurs, and investors have a slew of new concepts coming this way. While deadlines always shift, this is what we're expecting to see in the next few months.

HENRIETTA'S AND THE CITRUS CLUB

Location: 334 Meeting St., Downtown
Key Players: The Dewberry, chef Wes Morton, and mixologist Ryan Casey
Projected Opening: Spring
Henrietta's will rest on the ground floor of forthcoming hotel The Dewberry. The walls will be mahogany, the ceilings will be tinned, and the room will percolate with old world sophistication. The Dewberry pitches the eatery as a "a modern, yet southern Brasserie." Chef Wes Morton takes charge of the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus for Henrietta's.

On the top floor of the hotel, The Citrus Club overlooks Marion Square and all of Charleston, as it will be the highest rooftop bar on the peninsula. The Dewberry describes The Cocktail Club as "[w]himsy meets timeless in this colorful take on the classic rooftop cocktail bar." Longtime fixture in the Charleston bar world, Ryan Casey, will be in charge of the libations.

[The Dewberry]

REOPENING OF BLIND TIGER

Location: 36 & 38 Broad St., Downtown
Key Players: New proprietor Mike Shuler
Projected Opening: "Soon Rather Than Later"
With Mike Shuler and his team, the Blind Tiger space will be restored, the bar will have a larger booze selection, and the kitchen will have an expanded menu (including bringing back a killer burger). "Nobody wants the Tiger to change," Shuler says, "we just want to put something into there that the neighborhood deserves."

[Eater Charleston]

LEWIS BARBECUE

Location: 464 Nassau St., downtown
Key Players: John Lewis 
Projected Opening: March
John Lewis, the acclaimed pitmaster of La Barbecue in Austin, will bring Texas-style brisket to Charleston later this year. If the long lines for his summer pop-ups are indication, the Holy City is ready for Lewis's brand of beef. The brick-and-mortar location will be tricked out with one of Lewis's custom-designed smokers, and the menu features smoked classics like brisket, beef and pork ribs, "Texas hot guts" sausages, plus pulled pork shoulder and basic sides like potato salad and slaw.

[Stitch Design Co.]

Le Farfalle

Location: 15 Beaufain St., Downtown
Key Players: Co-owners Michael and Caitlin Toscano
Projected Opening: Spring
Chef Michael Toscano made a name for himself in NYC with restaurants like Perla, Montmartre, and Jeffrey's Grocery. Toscano's forthcoming Charleston restaurant will feature Italian fare. For a preview of what may be to come, the chef's agnolotti al sugo d’arrosto was named a "Best New Pasta Dish" by Eater New York in 2013.

Toscano and wife Caitlin plan to open Le Farfalle this spring, after a few renovations to Leaf. Caitlin will run the front of house, while Michael will head the kitchen.

[Le Farfalle]

Cane Rhum Bar + Caribbean Kitchen

Location: 251 East Bay St., downtown
Key Players: Chef/owner Paul Yellin
Projected Opening: Spring
"The Rhum Chef," Paul Yellin, took on the task of transforming the former Big John's Tavern space into a bar/restaurant with a "laid back tropical oasis" feeling. The concept Cane Rhum Bar + Caribbean Kitchen will obviously serve rum drinks and Caribbean cuisine. It will be a slice of island life on East Bay Street.

[Eater Charleston]

LITTLE JACK'S TAVERN

Location: 710 King St., downtown
Key Players: Restaurateurs Brooks Reitz and Tim Mink and chef John Amato
Projected Opening: March
According to co-owner Brooks Reitz, Little Jack's "will be a classic tavern serving familiar but smart pub standards and a full bar with an emphasis on classic cocktails." Expect perfect Manhattans, thoroughly-researched burgers, pastrami on rye, and hours for lunch and dinner.

[Eater Charleston]

LUKE'S CRAFT PIZZA

Location: 271 Ashely Ave., Downtown
Key Players: Co-owners Luke and Brittany Davis
Projected Opening: Spring
The Luke in Luke's Craft Pizza is Luke Davis, whose most recent pie knowledge comes from cult-favorite EVO Pizzeria (he also worked at Mellow Mushroom and attended the Columbus Culinary Institute). Joining Davis in the shop will be his wife, Brittany, who will run the counter. Luke says, "the menu will be very simple, with 14-inch whole pies, carryout only."

[Provided]

PANCITO & LEFTY

Location: 708 King St., downtown
Key Players: Restaurateur Jimmy Poole and chef Robert Berry
Projected Opening: Spring 
Jimmy Poole and Robert Berry are renovating the former Zappo's Pizza space to become their ideal Mexican restaurant, complete with a lively atmosphere, tequila and mezcal drinks, and, of course, tacos.

[Provided]

HAROLD'S CABIN

Location: 247 Congress St., downtown
Key Players: Co-owner John Schumacher, chef Justin Moore, and horticulturalist Leslie Wade 
Projected Opening: Any day now. 
Proprietor John Schumacher plans to honor the history of the building and the original owner Harold Jacobs' concept with a locally-sourced comestibles shop and two floors of dining space. The menu will focus on Lowcountry products and produce and will include the famous Harold's snowballs that so many people remember enjoying at the original establishment.

[Brian Stetson]

Turquoise restaurant

Location: 357 King St., downtown
Key Players: Owner Recep Dinli
Projected Opening: Soon
Proprietor Recep Dinli and his family were encouraged to bring traditional Turkish cuisine to Charleston after opening Turkish home decor and fashion store Kissmet at 177 King St. The menu will offer traditional Turkish foods ranging from breakfast to dinner. Look for homemade börek, pide, mezze plates, and more.

[Eater Charleston]

Also, keep an eye on:

• 843 Korean BBQ & Sushi House (North Charleston)
• Butcher & Bee's New Location (Downtown)
• Crooked Crown (Downtown)
• Crust Wood Fired Pizza (Summerville)
• Delish! Bakery & Bistro (Downtown)
• Eclectic Cafe & Vinyl (Downtown)
• Farmer & Exchange (Downtown)
• Ink n Ivy (Downtown)
• Rumored Sean Brock Burger Shop (Downtown)
• Saint Alban (Reopening Downtown)
• Seed (Downtown)
• Superica (Unknown)
• Unnamed Huger Street Pizza/Wine Bar (Downtown)
• Wahlburgers (Unknown)
• The Workshop (Downtown)
• Westside Deli (Downtown)