The Spoleto Festival USA is here, which means summer is around the corner, and the restaurant openings continue in Charleston. With the near future in mind, it's time to take a look at the summer tracking guide, running through the most anticipated restaurants set to begin service before fall arrives. While deadlines always shift, this is what we're expecting to see in the next three months. These are listed in alphabetical order.
CHUBBY FISH
Location: 252 Coming St., downtown
Key Players: Industry vets Geoffrey Shyatt and James London
Projected Opening: Summer
The name pretty much gives away the concept, but the restaurant will focus on local seafood for lunch, brunch, and dinner. Shyatt will man the front of house and London will be in the kitchen.
FÉLIX
Location: 550 King St., downtown
Key Players: Restaurateur Félix Landrum and chef/consultant Nathan Thurston
Projected Opening: Summer
A Parisian-style cocktail bar comes to Upper King with menu items for lunch and dinner and brunch on weekends.
NICO
Location: 201 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant
Key Players: Chef Nico Romo
Projected Opening: Summer
Billed as a brasserie with a raw bar, NICO will focus on local seafood, wood-fired French classics, and plenty of oysters. After years at Fish, Romo ventures out on his own.
MELFI’S
Location: 721 King St., downtown
Key Players: Restaurateur Brooks Reitz and chef John Amato
Projected Opening: Late 2017
Melfi’s will offer thin crust pizzas, easy pastas, and an American wine list. Fans of Brooks Reitz’s other projects, Leon’s Oyster Shop and Little Jack’s Tavern, will know to expect a highly curated, yet laid-back experience.
MILLER’S ALL DAY
Location: 120 King St., downtown
Key Players: Consultant/chef Nathan Thurston and farmer/miller Greg Johnsman
Projected Opening: Summer
Miller’s All Day will operate seven days a week, with breakfast, lunch, and, eventually, dinner services. The menu will focus heavily on brunch items, traditional Southern and Charleston dishes, and specialty produce from Greg Johnsman’s farm.
PURLIEU
Location: 237 Fishburne St., downtown
Key Players: Chefs John Zucker and Jeff Williams and beverage director Jacob Fuhr
Projected Opening: Summer
The menu at Purlieu will include a blend of traditional European cooking with Lowcountry classics. The setting will be neighborhood brasserie.
RENZO
Location: 384 Huger St., downtown
Key Players: Restaurateurs Erik Hutson and Nayda Freire
Projected Opening: “Hopefully before summer”
From the couple that renovated the Faculty Lounge into a hip cocktail hangout, Renzo will offer wine, wood-fired pizza, and a cool room to enjoy them in.
Also, keep an eye on:
• Bitty & Beau's (Downtown)
• Black Wood Smokehouse [West Ashley]
• Ember Wood Fired Kitchen [Mount Pleasant]
• Farmer & Exchange (Downtown)
• First Name Basis (Mobile)
• Food Truck-O-Rama (Downtown)
• Graft (Downtown)
• Herd Provisions (Downtown)
• IHOP (Downtown)
• Ink n Ivy (Downtown)
• Kristen Kish/Brooks Reitz Concept (delayed) (Downtown)
• Monarch Wine Merchants (Downtown)
• Pour Taproom (Downtown)
• Root + Spiller (delayed) (Downtown)
• Saint Alban (Reopening Downtown)
• Superica (Unknown)
• The Room (Downtown)
• Tu (Downtown)
• Us (Mobile)
• Wahlburgers (Unknown)