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A bowl of bone-in goat meat.
Charsi Karahi, a goat dish, from Ma’am Saab.
Chrisman Studios

The Hottest New Restaurants in Charleston, June 2023

From charsi karahi to boeuf en croute

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Charsi Karahi, a goat dish, from Ma’am Saab.
| Chrisman Studios

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends, and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What are the new restaurants? What's everyone talking about? While the Eater 18 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the "it" places of the moment. Enter the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to highlight the spots crowds are flocking to at the moment or generating a big buzz. Folks are asking, "Have you been yet?" Try one of these newbies today.

New to the list:

June: Azur, Ma’am Saab
May: La Bonne Franquette, Legend Deli
April: Palace Hotel
March: Sorelle
February: Southbound, Harriet’s Delicatessen, Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop
January 2023: Ruby’s Bagels
December 2022: The Quinte
November 2022: Island Provisions, Iron Rose
October 2022: Port of Call
September 2022: Gingerline, King BBQ Pop-Up, Bar 167
August 2022: Vern’s, Spice Palette
July 2022: Bar Rollins, Cold Shoulder, Minero
June 2022: Sullivan’s Fish Camp, Laura, Islander 71 Fish House and Deck Bar

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Palace Hotel

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Hanover Street dive Palace Hotel has a new home on Meeting Street. The updated address has all the features of the previous space: funky decor, cold beer, innovative hot dogs, and frequent visits from Southern Charm star Shep Rose.

Two hot dogs with a side of onion rings.
Fancy hot dogs at Palace Hotel.
Palace Hotel

Welton's Tiny Bakeshop

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Chefs Zachary and Hannah Welton make some of the best pizza in Charleston with their wood-fired pop-ups, and now they are bringing more dough to Charleston with the opening of King Street storefront Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop. The new establishment is open Friday through Sunday, and puts out a stellar selection of croissants, benne seed loaves, kolaches, cookies, and more.

Tucked away in the Cannonborough/Elliotborough neighborhood sits American bistro Vern’s. Seats filled up as soon as the reservations opened, because Charleston was interested to see what former McCrady’s employees Dano and Bethany Heinze would do with the space previously held by Italian restaurant Trattoria Lucca. Vern’s is a thoughtful spot exuding easy comfort. Open for dinner and brunch, the menu draws from Dano’s culinary background working with hyperlocal Lowcountry products and California cuisine. Early standout items include a fresh campanelli with rabbit and a perfectly roast poussin in a brown butter jus.

A bar with seven stools.
The updated bar area at Vern’s.
Mike Ledford

Southbound

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After four years in the waiting, restaurateurs Ryan and Kelleanne Jones opened their live-fire cooking kitchen on Cannon Street. Southbound’s menu is “American influenced,” and features high-end proteins like dry-aged steaks and black sea bass, with a sprinkling of fine dining ingredients like foie gras and sweetbreads. The gorgeously renovated Charleston residence makes for a fun, yet refined, atmosphere for fine dining.

A green-tiled bar facing a large grill.
The chef’s counter at Southbound.
Mike Ledford

La Bonne Franquette

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The couple behind Christophe Artisan Chocolatier, Carly and Christophe Paume, opened all-day French cafe LaBonne Franquette. The quaint West Ashley restaurant serves traditional French fare, like quiche, croque monsieur, moules frites, beef tartare, escargot, and more. If the weather is nice, sit on the cheery pink and orange patio.

The Quinte Oyster Bar

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The most recent bivalve restaurant on the scene, the Quinte, comes from Philadelphia-based hospitality company Method Co., which runs the connected boutique hotel the Pinch. Method Co. is known for its luxury details and attention to branding in all its projects, which for the Quinte, means a seductive Paris-meets-old-New-York interior with a menu full of hyper-local seafood. The menu is tight, but it hits the highlights one would expect from an oyster bar —  from seafood towers to shrimp rolls to caviar service.

A low-lit bar with a white marble top.
Tuck into a corner stool and watch the staff shuck oysters.
Matthew Williams

Legend Deli

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Food and beverage vet Chaz Wendel joined forces with former Husk chef Tyler Hunt to open colorful sandwich shop Legend Deli on George Street. Looking to bring the best sandwiches to Charleston, the kitchen puts out the classics, like a club sandwich that they call In Da Club Sub, or new, creative combos like the Sweet Baby Jesus with shredded sweet potato in a Cheerwine barbecue sauce. Legend Deli also offers breakfast with steamed bagels and hash brown burritos.

Ma'am Saab

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Fans of Pakistani restaurant Ma’am Saab have waited for co-owners Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba to open their downtown spot for a few years now, and the time is finally here. The Meeting Street establishment offers butter chicken, lamb samosas, biryani, and nalli nihari in a hip and vibrant dining room. The music is loud and the cocktails are unique (each drink can be made without alcohol or with the addition of Delta-9 THC). It’s an experience like none other in Charleston right now.

Harleston Village is all a buzz about the latest addition to the neighborhood — sleek new European spot Azur. Executive chef Dominic Chantepie, son/beverage director Mathis Chantepie, and general manager Benjamin Boisson opened the restaurant to bring the flavors of France, Italy, and Spain to downtown Charleston. Expect classics like boeuf en croute, mussels, meatballs in tomato sauce, plenty of cheese plates, caviar, and plenty of fun cocktails.

Bar 167

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The team at popular oyster spot 167 Raw created a gorgeous Mediterranean bar right around the corner on Fulton Street. Bar 167 boasts a bar on each floor, and the interiors are full of easy, breezy nautical touches. Food includes fresh-baked focaccia, crudos, and a bistro steak. Cocktails have an emphasis on housemade tonics, along with spritzes and sangria.

Blue and white bar.
The upstairs bar at Bar 167.
Mike Ledford

Sorelle

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Reservations filled up for stunning Italian restaurant Sorelle as soon as they opened, but the bar is walk-ins only, so try stopping by to grab a seat or a table. The bar opens at 4 p.m. and serves the full dinner menu at 5 p.m. The menu focuses on southern Italian cooking, which means arancini stuffed with bolognese, pasta-baked branzino, ricotta tortelloni with prosciutto, and much more. During the day, the Mercato is open and serves Lamill coffee drinks and breakfast items like mascarpone and Nutella toast. For lunch, the shop offers sandwiches ranging from meatballs and ricotta to chicken and broccoli rabe, as well as salads and Sicilian-style pizza by the slice. Gelato, wines, craft beers, and dry goods are also available. Most items are made to grab and go, but there is a communal table and window seating in the bustling space.

The upstairs dining room at Sorelle.
Peter Frank Edwards

Palace Hotel

Hanover Street dive Palace Hotel has a new home on Meeting Street. The updated address has all the features of the previous space: funky decor, cold beer, innovative hot dogs, and frequent visits from Southern Charm star Shep Rose.

Two hot dogs with a side of onion rings.
Fancy hot dogs at Palace Hotel.
Palace Hotel

Welton's Tiny Bakeshop

Chefs Zachary and Hannah Welton make some of the best pizza in Charleston with their wood-fired pop-ups, and now they are bringing more dough to Charleston with the opening of King Street storefront Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop. The new establishment is open Friday through Sunday, and puts out a stellar selection of croissants, benne seed loaves, kolaches, cookies, and more.

Vern's

Tucked away in the Cannonborough/Elliotborough neighborhood sits American bistro Vern’s. Seats filled up as soon as the reservations opened, because Charleston was interested to see what former McCrady’s employees Dano and Bethany Heinze would do with the space previously held by Italian restaurant Trattoria Lucca. Vern’s is a thoughtful spot exuding easy comfort. Open for dinner and brunch, the menu draws from Dano’s culinary background working with hyperlocal Lowcountry products and California cuisine. Early standout items include a fresh campanelli with rabbit and a perfectly roast poussin in a brown butter jus.

A bar with seven stools.
The updated bar area at Vern’s.
Mike Ledford

Southbound

After four years in the waiting, restaurateurs Ryan and Kelleanne Jones opened their live-fire cooking kitchen on Cannon Street. Southbound’s menu is “American influenced,” and features high-end proteins like dry-aged steaks and black sea bass, with a sprinkling of fine dining ingredients like foie gras and sweetbreads. The gorgeously renovated Charleston residence makes for a fun, yet refined, atmosphere for fine dining.

A green-tiled bar facing a large grill.
The chef’s counter at Southbound.
Mike Ledford

La Bonne Franquette

The couple behind Christophe Artisan Chocolatier, Carly and Christophe Paume, opened all-day French cafe LaBonne Franquette. The quaint West Ashley restaurant serves traditional French fare, like quiche, croque monsieur, moules frites, beef tartare, escargot, and more. If the weather is nice, sit on the cheery pink and orange patio.

The Quinte Oyster Bar

The most recent bivalve restaurant on the scene, the Quinte, comes from Philadelphia-based hospitality company Method Co., which runs the connected boutique hotel the Pinch. Method Co. is known for its luxury details and attention to branding in all its projects, which for the Quinte, means a seductive Paris-meets-old-New-York interior with a menu full of hyper-local seafood. The menu is tight, but it hits the highlights one would expect from an oyster bar —  from seafood towers to shrimp rolls to caviar service.

A low-lit bar with a white marble top.
Tuck into a corner stool and watch the staff shuck oysters.
Matthew Williams

Legend Deli

Food and beverage vet Chaz Wendel joined forces with former Husk chef Tyler Hunt to open colorful sandwich shop Legend Deli on George Street. Looking to bring the best sandwiches to Charleston, the kitchen puts out the classics, like a club sandwich that they call In Da Club Sub, or new, creative combos like the Sweet Baby Jesus with shredded sweet potato in a Cheerwine barbecue sauce. Legend Deli also offers breakfast with steamed bagels and hash brown burritos.

Ma'am Saab

Fans of Pakistani restaurant Ma’am Saab have waited for co-owners Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba to open their downtown spot for a few years now, and the time is finally here. The Meeting Street establishment offers butter chicken, lamb samosas, biryani, and nalli nihari in a hip and vibrant dining room. The music is loud and the cocktails are unique (each drink can be made without alcohol or with the addition of Delta-9 THC). It’s an experience like none other in Charleston right now.

Azur

Harleston Village is all a buzz about the latest addition to the neighborhood — sleek new European spot Azur. Executive chef Dominic Chantepie, son/beverage director Mathis Chantepie, and general manager Benjamin Boisson opened the restaurant to bring the flavors of France, Italy, and Spain to downtown Charleston. Expect classics like boeuf en croute, mussels, meatballs in tomato sauce, plenty of cheese plates, caviar, and plenty of fun cocktails.

Bar 167

The team at popular oyster spot 167 Raw created a gorgeous Mediterranean bar right around the corner on Fulton Street. Bar 167 boasts a bar on each floor, and the interiors are full of easy, breezy nautical touches. Food includes fresh-baked focaccia, crudos, and a bistro steak. Cocktails have an emphasis on housemade tonics, along with spritzes and sangria.

Blue and white bar.
The upstairs bar at Bar 167.
Mike Ledford

Sorelle

Reservations filled up for stunning Italian restaurant Sorelle as soon as they opened, but the bar is walk-ins only, so try stopping by to grab a seat or a table. The bar opens at 4 p.m. and serves the full dinner menu at 5 p.m. The menu focuses on southern Italian cooking, which means arancini stuffed with bolognese, pasta-baked branzino, ricotta tortelloni with prosciutto, and much more. During the day, the Mercato is open and serves Lamill coffee drinks and breakfast items like mascarpone and Nutella toast. For lunch, the shop offers sandwiches ranging from meatballs and ricotta to chicken and broccoli rabe, as well as salads and Sicilian-style pizza by the slice. Gelato, wines, craft beers, and dry goods are also available. Most items are made to grab and go, but there is a communal table and window seating in the bustling space.

The upstairs dining room at Sorelle.
Peter Frank Edwards

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