8 Highly Anticipated Summer Restaurant Openings

Random thunderstorms and the air conditioning on high — it must mean summer in the Lowcountry. While spring was busy, chefs, restaurateurs, and investors have even more new concepts coming this way. While deadlines always shift, this is what we’re expecting to see in the next few months.

BKeD SHoP

BKED SHOP

Location: 99 Westedge St. St., downtown
Key Players: Christopher and Kayla Garate
Projected Opening: Soon
Find fancy, creative doughnuts and more at the brick-and-mortar location of the popular Bked dessert truck. The airy, yeast doughnuts go really fast whenever the Garates show up with a seasonal flavor or a staple, like the cereal milk version.

Erin Perkins

CHUBBY FISH

Location: 252 Coming St., downtown
Key Players: Industry vets Geoffrey Shyatt and James London
Projected Opening: Soon
The name pretty much gives away the menu, but the restaurant will focus on local seafood for lunch, brunch, and dinner. Geoffrey Shyatt will man the front of house and James London will be in the kitchen.

Google Maps

THE CONTAINER BAR

Location: 2130 Mount Pleasant St., downtown
Key Players: Actor Bill Murray, Brad Creger, and co-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs Mike Veeck
Projected Opening: Late summer
Once dubbed Food Truck-O-Rama, this space will serve as a hub for Charleston food trucks, while also providing seating and a bar. And, yes, Bill Murray is a part of it.

Google Maps/Provided

JOSÉPHINE WINE BAR

Location: 64 Spring St., downtown
Key Players: Owner Jill Cohen, chef Shaun Connolly, advanced sommelier Ashley Broshious, and bar manager Melissa Yard
Projected Opening: Summer
Jill Cohen wants to channel contemporary Parisian wine bars for Joséphine. There will be lots of wine and “wine-friendly” foods on the menu.

Lowlife

LOWLIFE

Location: 106 E. Hudson Ave., Folly Beach
Key Players: Manhattan restaurateur/barman T.J. Lynch and Matthew McGarry, former bar director at Screen Door,
Projected Opening: Soon
Lowlife will be a casual neighborhood bar on Follly. There will be killer cocktails, a slushy machine, and plenty of beers. Co-owner T.J. Lynch co-owns Mother’s Ruin and Loverboy in Manhattan. Both are said to be super unpretentious with great drinks and above average bar fare.

MELFI’S

Location: 721 King St., downtown
Key Players: Restaurateur Brooks Reitz and chef John Amato
Projected Opening: Mid-2018
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.

Semilla

SEMILLA

Location: 218 President St., downtown
Key Players: Siblings Jill Schenzel and Macready Downer
Projected Opening: Summer
Food truck Semilla will find a permanent address at the former Lee Lee’s Hot Kitchen space. Look for Mexican street food, like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas from executive chef Macready Downer.

Workstead

TRADD’S

Location: 167 East Bay St., downtown
Key Players: Co-owners of waterfront eatery Fleet Landing Tradd and Weesie Newton
Projected Opening: Summer 2018
Described as “casually elegant and upscale but not uptight,” the first-floor dining room at Tradd’s will have a full bar and an “intimate and unexpected” champagne bar. The second floor will be home to an event space. The menu will focus on “classic, American cuisine” and “high quality versions of old-school favorites.”

Also, keep an eye on:

• Azul Mexicano (Park Circle)
• Big Bad Breakfast (Downtown)
• Dashi (North Charleston)
• Farmer & Exchange (Downtown)
• Garco Mill (Park Circle)
• Herd Provisions (Downtown)
• Maple Street Biscuit Co. (James Island)
• Mesu (Downtown)
• Mill Street Tavern (Mount Pleasant)
• MoMo Kitchen & Market (Goose Creek)
• The Royal Tern (Johns Island)
• Slice Co. (West Ashley)
• Vicious Biscuit (Mount Pleasant)
• Wahlburgers (Unknown)
• Wiki Wiki Sandbar (Folly Beach)