Breakfast Tacos Appear in Lewis Barbecue Parking Lot

Having a tough time keeping up with all the new dining options? Welcome to the Opening Report, a regularly-updated round-up of restaurant openings big and small across the Lowcountry. Visit the winter openings for an archive of the newcomers from December through March.

November 20, 2020

CANNONBOROUGH/ELLIOTBOROUGH — Chef Nico Romo has a following around the Lowcountry. After helming the kitchen at former King Street restaurant Fish for nine years, customers got to know his French-meets-Asian cuisine. His newest venture Bistronomy brings a similar menu back to downtown Charleston. From duck confit steam buns with truffled frisee to bouillabaisse with udon noodles, the fare is an unexpected and comforting twist on traditional French. Status: Certified open. 64 Spring Street; website.

JOHNS ISLAND — Winners of Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race Season 8, Brandon Lapp and Steve Klatt, announced that their first brick-and-mortar will open on Sunday, September 27. They have turned their prize-winning food truck Braised in the South into a permanent kitchen with a takeout window for outdoor dining. Status: Certified open. 3338 Maybank Highway; website.

September 18, 2020

NOMO — Pitmaster John Lewis brings back his popular Tex-Mex concept Juan Luis to the Lewis Barbecue backyard. He’s erected a very stylish food truck to serve breakfast tacos, like the Juanito with crispy potatoes, avocado, egg, and cheese, with a chili sauce. Eventually the concept will offer lunch and dinner as well. Status: Certified open on Saturday, September 19. 464 North Nassau St.; website.

JOHNS ISLAND — New Haven restaurant Tolli’s has expanded to Johns Island with a menu of Italian favorites. The trattoria specializes in pizzas and parma subs. Status: Certified open. Status: Certified open. 1803 Crowne Commons Way; Instagram.

Erin Perkins/Eater Charleston

September 8, 2020

JOHNS ISLAND — Warehouse owner James Groetzinger wanted to bring a casual coffeeshop/cafe/wine store to his Johns Island neighborhood, so he decided to open Island Provisions. “We are ecstatic to launch our newest concept on Johns Island this week and bring the community a new quick service cafe and market,” he says, “2020 has been a wild one but we are committed to the people of Charleston and truly hope Island Provisions will be a comfortable place for people to nourish their bellies and souls.” Look for sandwiches, salads, bagels, quiche, and more. Status: Opening Wednesday, September 9. 1803 Crowe Commons Way; website.

NORTH CHARLESTON — Entrepreneur Kabiera Singleton, previously with famed Bertha’s Kitchen, now has a food truck named B’s Soul Creations. She set up in the Bertha’s parking lot in the evening with a menu of Lowcountry classics like crab rice and shrimp and grits. Status: Certified open. 2332 Meeting St.; Facebook.

MOUNT PLEASANT — The Old Village Post House is back with a makeover and a new menu of “seasonal contemporary American food.” The lineup includes grilled lamb skewers with wild onion ranch, bar steak with hotel butter, a “back-bar” cheeseburger, eggplant parmesan, chargrilled mahi, and more. Status: Certified open. 101 Pitt St.; website.

THE MARKET — The group behind Market Street restaurant 5Church will opened its newest space Tempest, which is an upscale seafood restaurant. Chef partners Jamie Lynch (of “Top Chef” fame) and Adam Hodgson put out a menu full of local shrimp, king crab legs, chilled lobster with allium aioli, monkfish liver mousse, and more. Status: Certified open. 32C N. Market St.; website.

LOWER KING — Award-winning chef/author/television host Vivian Howard brings a new cafe to Charleston. Handy & Hot is an extension of the online bakery that Howard started in Kinston, North Carolina. Look for hand pies, biscuits, shrimp salad, and more. Status: Certified open. 68 Wentworth St.; website.

August 3, 2020

UPPER KING — Uptown Social came to Charleston through the NYC Best Bars group, so it only makes sense that the team would also want to bring bodega breakfast sandwiches (ubiquitous in New York) to the Lowcountry. The menu includes classics like the egg-and-cheese sandwich, a Southern take with country gravy and sausage, and lunch items like a club sandwich and a house lox on a kaiser roll. The Bodega menu is available from Thursday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Status: Certified open. 587 King St.; website.

WESTSIDE — Ever-changing restaurant Tu declared last week that the kitchen will switch from an Indian menu to more street food find throughout Asia: think bao buns, noodles, vada pav, grilled meat skewers, Korean fried chicken, and “some really cool surprises and dishes that are lesser known,” according to chef Joshua Walker. Expect the big bold flavors typical of XBB and Tu. Status: Certified open. 430 Meeting St.; website.

NOMO — The newest tenant at food hall Workshop is Saha. Chef/owners Natheer Salman and Aboud Al-safadi, along with co-owner Sarah Salman, decided to bring the cuisine of their home country of Jordan. Menu highlights include gyros, tabbouleh, and falafel. Status: Certified open. 1503 King St.; website.

July 16, 2020

WEST ASHLEY — Newly opened Mexican grocer El Molino Supermarket also serves tacos, ceviche, and traditional baked goods. Status: Certified open. 1610 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.; Facebook.

DOWNTOWN — Vegan cocktail bar Neon Tiger offers pizza, falafel, and salads to go. The establishment comes from the Rarebit owner John Adamson, who is a vegan himself. Status: Certified open. 656 King St.; website.

WEST ASHLEY — Previously located downtown, Florence’s Lowcountry Kitchen has now moved to the South Windermere shopping center. The restaurant serves Southern classics like crab cakes, fried chicken, and shrimp and grits. Status: Certified open. 90 Folly Rd Blvd Suite B-4; website.

JAMES ISLAND — Kwei Fei owner David Schuttenberg opened Mexican cantina Micho behind the Pour House. He originally tried to open the outdoor container restaurant in December, but the cold weather and permitting issues halted sales. Micho serves tacos, tortas, and border dogs. Status: Certified open. website.

DOWNTOWN — Opening inside of the newest hotel to the Market, Emeline, is Italian restaurant Franny & the Fox. Chef Tim Morton offers wood-fired pizzas, fresh takes on local produce, and more. Status: Certified open. 181 Church St.; website.

DOWNTOWN — Co-owners Dan Sullivan and Conor Sullivan decided to go ahead with the opening of French Quarter bar Bumpa’s on June 22. “We’re eager to open our doors to the community after the true labor of love we spent restoring this historic space,” said Dan. The menu at Bumpa’s includes customizable fries with over 30 toppings, burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and sausages. Status: Certified open. 5 Cumberland St.; website.