Brasserie la Banque Finally Opens After Months of Delay

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. For all the restaurants in the summer of 2021, check out this list.

December 1, 2021

SOUTH OF BROAD — Several months after the expected July openings, the Indigo Road Hospitality Group is finally able to welcome customers into the handsome dining room at Brasserie la Banque. Issues with the ventilation system created the delay, but now the French eatery is open for dinner nightly, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. with a menu full of classics like foie gras torchon, poulet rouge, bouillabaisse, steak frites, and dry-aged duck. Status: Certified open. 1 Broad Street; website.

JAMES ISLAND — Smoky Oak Taproom is now breakfast/brunch/lunch spot Dills & Camp Sundries. With eggs Benedict choices and stacks of pancakes, it’s like Sunday morning every day. Status: Certified open. 1234 Camp Road; website.

LOWCOUNTRY — Holy City Cannoli is the one of the latest food trucks to hit the Charleston streets. New Jersey natives Marissa and Mario Massarelli serve the Italian treats out of a cute trailer that they park around the Lowcountry. Status: Certified open. Facebook.

THE NECK — Looking for Korean corn dogs? The couple behind the South Philly Cheesesteak food truck, Lynn Hobart and Josh Hill, have launched Seol Ah’s at the Whale beer bar. In addition to super crispy corn dogs, the menu also includes other items like a Korean chicken sandwich and japchae. Status: Certified open. 1640 Meeting Street; Facebook.

NOMO — Petite cafe/bar Babas on Cannon now has a second location in the Goat Sheep Cow North establishment. Pre-pandemic, Goat Sheep Cow ran a small menu of sandwiches, soups, and salads for customers, but now the Babas team will take over the cafe, calling it Babas on Meeting. Status: Certified open. 804 Meeting Street; website.

NORTH CHARLESTON — Comfort food place Cozy Kitchen and Cafe serves an all day breakfast, Charleston wings, a “Good Burger,” red rice, a pork chop sandwich, and more. Status: Certified open. 3313 Meeting Street Road; website.

November 3, 2021

LOWER KING — The only brewery in downtown Charleston, Chucktown Brewery, offers a respite from all the retail on the stretch of King Street south of Calhoun. Owner Nate Tomforde (also owner of Pour Taproom) brought on former Indigo Reef brewer Kyle Lieving to offer household staples like IPAs and sours, along with seasonal selections. The food menu ranges from burgers to brats to wings. Status: Certified open. 337 King Street; website.

THE MARKET — Garden-inspired hotel the Loutrel has “extensive canapé offerings and punch bowl cocktails” at its bar dubbed Veranda Lounge. Status: Certified open. 61 State Street; website.

UPPER KING — Long-anticipated Vietnamese restaurant Pink Bellies is fully open, dining room and all. Chef/owner Thai Phi unlocked the doors recently and its already packed with fans looking to slurp garlic noodles and dine on spicy lamb dumpling in the stunning King Street space. Status: Certified open. 595 King Street; website.

UPPER KING — Brooklyn-based OddFellows Ice Cream Co. recently opened in the former Revelator Coffee space. OddFellows specializes in non-traditional flavors like olive oil, miso peanut butter brownie, and cheddar apple pie, created by James Beard-nominated chef Sam Mason. Status: Certified open. 550 King Street; website.

CANNONBOROUGH/ELLIOTBOROUGH — Sommelier Matt Conway and fiancé Carissa Hernandez came to Charleston by way of New York and opened open wine bar the Tippling House. Billed as a “a wine place for everybody,” the menu allows customers to purchase any bottle by the carafe, which helps folks try new varietals that may not typically be sold by the glass. Status: Certified open. 221 Coming Street; website.

THE MARKET — Located in the former Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. space, new food hall Port of Call offers an easy stop for hungry visitors near the Market. The stalls include up-and-coming names like smoked meats spot Palmira BBQ, Asian fusion setup Bok Choy Boy, Greek grill house Bapkó, acai place Iaca Bowls, and raw bar Empire Oyster. Status: Certified open. 99 South Market Street; website.

PARK CIRCLE — Brown liquor bar Paddock & Whisky now has a second location for fans of the original James Island address. The new outpost has a larger food menu with pairable items selected by Home Team BBQ chef Taylor Garrigan. Status: Certified open. 1074 East Montague Avenue; website

CANNONBOROUGH/ELLIOTBOROUGH — Spring Street bar Warehouse launched a residency program dubbed the Luxe. There’s now a menu of modernist cuisine, which is a big departure from the bar’s previous menus of fried chicken sandwiches, tater tots, and ramen. Now the selections read like a poem. One entry is simply “APPLE inception.” Status: Certified open. 45 ¹⁄₂ Spring Street; Resy.

THE NECK — Craft beer bar the Whale is the first retail space to open in Charleston’s latest mixed-use development the Refinery. The Whale offers a wide selection or beers from around the world for on-site consumption or available for purchase to take home. Status: Certified open. 1640 Meeting Street; website.

UPPER KING — Mexican restaurant Maya is King-Street-meets-Tulum chic. The in-house tortillas, with corn sourced from Mexico, are the backbone of Maya. The menu is heavy on tacos, with each taco having its own identity — for example, the duck carnitas version takes on a Veracruz style with escabeche, chicharrons, and salsa verde. Status: Certified open. 479 King Street; website.