Restaurant Reviews

I’ve long been a fan of Bay Street Biergarten’s party scene. They sure know how to throw a killer brunch and trivia night. I’ve been to so many events there, and they’ve all been even more fun than the last. So when I heard they were introducing some new menu items in honor of their 5th birthday, I was excited to say the least.

Almost as excited as when I found out this tiara exists.

The first thing(s) I sampled was the The Biergarten Experience (the full meat and haus boards served on a giant platter. Serves 8 – 10, $40). And let me tell you, it was an experience. So you’ve got smoked wings, smoked ribs, smoked kielbasa, pickled veggies, a giant soft pretzel, pimento cheese bites, freaky taters, and the BSB Spatzle. Phew. It was all delicious, so instead of doing everything individually, I’m just going to highlight my faves: the freaky taters (tater tots topped with smoked cheese sauce, demi-glace, bacon jam, green onions) are always a winner, as are the pimento cheese bites and the soft pretzel. The BSB spätzle (spätzle, sautéed spinach, mushrooms, onions, smoked cheese sauce, smoked kielbasa, pretzel breadcrumbs, asiago cheese, served with fried pita chips) was basically like spatzle mac and cheese, and it was probably my breakout favorite of the entire board.

Ok, who’s on my squad to conquer this next time?

Because we hadn’t gotten enough pretzel, we also tried the Pretzel Bombs (Haus made daily, pretzel balls stuffed with sausage and white cheddar cheese, served over smoked cheese sauce with Lusty Monk mustard, $12). These made my tastebuds so happy! They were nice and doughy and soft and I loved the smoked cheese sauce and the sharpness of the mustard.

Is there such a thing as too much pretzel?!

One of their new sandwiches was really intriguing and tasty. The Beary Club (smoked turkey, bacon, avocado, swiss, blueberry jam, bibb lettuce, tomato, semolina, $14) was unexpectedly good. The blueberry jam, avocado, and swiss went really well together, and the bacon added a nice bit of crunch. This is something I’d definitely order again next time.

It was beary good.

I’m not normally a fan, but their Reuben (smoked pastrami, kraut, pickles, swiss, Lusty Monk mustard, remy, dark rye, $14) was actually pretty addictingly tasty. I loved the combo of the spicy mustard with sharp swiss and smokiness of the pastrami.

And dat potato salad, tho.

Because we needed to balance all those carbs with some veggies, I also tried a bit of their new Summer Spinach Salad (spinach, candied walnuts, blueberries, strawberries, feta cheese, red onions, champagne vinaigrette, $13). It was definitely very summery tasting with all the fruit, and honestly refreshing after the sea of brown foods I’d just ingested.

My body: VEGETABLES THANK GOD
Me: can we order more pretzels for the table? mmkthanks

The Nürnberger (two traditional german brats, garlic aioli, kraut, pickled onion, side of mustard, hoagie, choice of side $10) is their newest option under “brats & sausages.” Brats in general are not my favorite, and although this was definitely a good combination of flavors, a brat sandwich is just not necessarily my cup of tea. If you’re into that sort of thing, you’d probably enjoy it.

It wasn’t the wurst.

And if you’re ever there during brunch, I’d like to recommend their Chicken and Waffles (fried chicken, Belgian waffles, bacon, green tomato jam, hickory syrup, side of fresh fruit, $13). I’m normally just kinda meh about chicken and waffles, but I’m really a fan of their, especially if they’re being offered in sandwich form, which they occasionally do at their themed brunches.

Brunch isn’t a game. It’s a way of life.

So while this might not be the most authentic German cuisine you could eat, it’s pretty tasty for what it is, and you’re pretty much guaranteed a good time when you go.

Bay Street Biergarten
549 E Bay St,
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 266-2437

When it was announced that one of my favorite restaurants, Burwell’s, was opening up a rooftop seafood restaurant, I was pumped as hell. I went in to try it with my bar set really high, knowing already what the Burwells team was capable of accomplishing. I’m happy to say that Balao (pronounced Buh-Lay-Oh) met and exceeded my already high expectations. Let’s talk about everything I ate, shall we? (Just keep in mind that they change up the menu daily, so what I had might not be on the menu when you visit!)

The men behind the magic.

First up, it’s pretty much impossible to hang out on a rooftop bar without a drink in hand, so I started with the Summer Rose cocktail (pureed, rosé-soaked watermelon, tequila, elderflower liquer, mint, topped with sparkling rosé, $11). For as sweet as it sounds like it would be, it was actually super pleasant and very drinkable.

Summer rose, makes me feel fine…

Next up, a group of us split the Ahi Tuna Nachos (poblano queso, blackened tuna, guacamole, corn pico, pintos, chiles, crema, $18), and holy shitsnacks were they good. That poblano queso is something else! It’s the perfect combo of cheesy and smoky. My favorite part is that they layer the toppings throughout the chips, so you’d be hard-pressed to find a naked chip in the stack.

Naked chips are the bane of my existence.

Next up was the Ceviche (fresh catch, mango, chiles, cucumber, celery, cilantro, onion, fresh citrus, $15), which was like summertime in a bowl. It was served with more of the delish chips from the nachos (minus all those toppings, obvious). It was super fresh and refreshing and made me feel really healthy.

Luckily, I ate a crap ton of tortilla chips to cancel out the healthiness of the dish.

After that, we of course had to get some Roasted SC Oysters (ramp butter and herbed bread crumbs, $15). I’ll basically order anything on a menu if there are ramps involved and these oysters were buttery and garlicky and so decadent. Even if you’re not normally a fan of oysters, you should give these a try!

I’m a tramp for ramps! #TrampForRamps

Our next drink was the The Irie (Dark Rum, Frangelicao, Coconut water, Pineapple, Cinnamon, House Falernum, $11) which almost tasted like the tropical cousin of a Dark & Stormy. It was a little dark for my tastes, but if you’re into dark rum, you’d definitely enjoy this drink.

Anything with a roasted pineapple on it is gonna be delicious.

We followed up drinks with the Louie Sandwich (shrimp, Rouille Louie sauce, bibb lettuce, tomato, fresh shallot, (1) $9 or (2) for $17). These were basically like a really delicious shrimp roll served on the softest grilled bread you can imagine.

There’s a lot of shrimp hiding under those veggies, trust me.

We also ordered some Calamari (baby arugula, banana peppers, bresaola and soft cheese, $12), which typically isn’t my favorite, but I actually really enjoyed it! There was enough going on with the dish that I didn’t feel overwhelmed by all the breading and distinct “fried” taste that calamari always seems to have.

Who knew soft cheese and fried cephalopod went so well together??

Our final drink was the Lime In The Coconut (Rum, Coco Lopez, Lime, served frozen, $10), which was BY FAR my favorite, and tasted like the beach. I especially liked that it tasted fresh and not cloying like a lot of frozen beachy cocktails do. This was only the good stuff, people.

Gotta love a little narcissism (also, thanks Cookin With Booze for the stellar photo)

Our final dish of the night was the quintessential Charleston dish, Shrimp and Grits (SC white shrimp, black grits, yum yum peppers, duck tasso gravy, ramps, $15). Yay, more ramps! Also, I love that Balao put their own spin on it by including the black grits (which get their color from squid ink) and a duck gravy, which was super unusual. And the shrimp were huge and sweet (the way they should be). The whole dish was really well-balanced and a definite crowd pleaser.

Don’t be afraid of squid ink, guys, it just makes the grits a little brinier.

Now that the weather’s warming up, you should mosey on down to Balao and enjoy the rooftop with a few cocktails and snacks (again, if you don’t get the tuna nachos, I don’t know if we can stay friends).

If you need me, I’ll be hanging here all summer.

Balao
16 North Market Street
Charleston, SC 29401, US
843-737-8703

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of brunching at On Forty One in Mount Pleasant, Chef Brannon Florie’s post-Granary home. Living on Johns Island, it’s a bit of a trek for me to come out this way, but boy oh boy was it worth the drive!

Seriously worth it!

My besties from Atlanta were visiting, so we treated brunch like the sacred meal it was by ordering… pretty much everything on the menu. We started with a few brunch drinks, the Classic Bloody Mary ($5), the Spicy Bloody Mary ($5), and a Mimosa ($3). The mimosa was delicious, especially for it being only $3. This is the first time in my life that I’ve ever actually enjoyed a bloody mary, so that’s really high praise.

But I’ll probably still stick to Mimosas.

Sean and Christine both loved their bloody marys, as seen by this unnecessarily necessary photographic evidence.

Friends who brunch together stay together, amirite.

We started with our first appetizer (because duh we ordered more than 1) of the Deviled Eggs (three house bacon, three smoked salmon and capers, $8). They were a perfect starter to the meal, as they were light and refreshing. I personally preferred the bacon ones, but the salmon ones were also good (these were Christine’s eggs of choice as I’m pretty sure she’s actually part salmon at this point).

They were so pretty I almost felt bad for inhaling them in 1 single bite… almost.

Our second appetizer was the Totchos (tater tots, gravy, salsa, sour cream, jalapenos, smoked pork, $12) because I can never say no to tots. These were absolutely fantastic. The tots were nice and crunchy and didn’t get soggy despite being covered in delicious gravy. The pork was perfectly smoked, and the toppings themselves varies in texture and flavor in a way that made every bite blend harmoniously.

I would order these again at any time of the day.

For a third appetizer (don’t judge us, y’all) we decided to try something completely different, with the Strawberry Toast (House orange ricotta, maple honey, mint, $10) and I’m soooo glad we did! It was a huge hunk of toast that was nice and crispy, topped with super creamy orange ricotta, with just a light drizzle of the maple honey. Together it was 100x better than any other fruit toast I’ve had before (including avocado), and I’m not sure Christine has quite recovered from it yet.

Although TBH I’m not sure I’m over it yet either.

Finally, we moved on to the entrees. I opted for our waiter’s recommendation, the Fried Catfish (buttermilk biscuit, soft scrambled egg, pork belly gravy, $15), which although a bit out of my comfort zone, was a stellar recommendation. The fish was mild and crispy, and the breading was light and flavorful. The pork belly gravy is perfection, and I’m glad they weren’t stingy with it. And the biscuits were flaky, butter, and a standout all on their own.

Just go ahead and jar that gravy for me to take home and put on everything, kthanks.

Sean opted for the Country Fried Steak and Eggs (Tater tot hash, pepper gravy, sunny eggs, $16) which was decadent, but also delicious. The steak, much like the catfish, was lightly breaded and smothered in pepper gravy, and I personally would order anything if it came with more of these tots.

Tots for President, 2020.

Christine kept it classic by ordering the BEC Sandwich (brioche, applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, fried eggs, basil pesto mayo, spinach, home fries, $13). I liked that they added the basil pesto mayo, which gave it a fresh spin and set it apart from other BEC sandwiches. The downside is that it makes the bread soggy, so you’ll want to eat fast!

Which is not really a problem for us.

Instead of the homefries, Christine opted to switch them out for the Geechie Boy Grits (cheddar, monterey jack, $5 as a side), which were some of the cheesiest and creamiest grits ever.

And served in a mini cast iron skillet.

Because somehow we weren’t potatoed out yet (is there such a thing?), we also tried a side of the Truffle Fries (parmesan, smoked tomato ketchup, $7), which were also amazing. The truffle was really light and perfectly harmonized with the parmesan cheese. The fries themselves were thin and crispy while still being potatoey inside.

I don’t think I’ll ever potato out.

Whether you live in Mount Pleasant or not, you should definitely make the trip out to On Forty One, because Chef Florie is a magical kitchen genius. I can’t wait to come back for dinner!

On Forty One
1055 SC Highway 41 #600
Mt. Pleasant, SC, 29466
843-352-9235

As many of you probably already know, brunch isn’t just a meal, it’s a way of life. A way of life I take very seriously. In that I like to drink mimosas and eat eggs at pretty much any time of day. Also no one seems to frown on day drinking if you’re also eating a biscuit. What’s up with that.

The same does not apply to corndogs, but it really should.

For far too long, brunch has been confined to just 1 or 2 days a week. BUT NO MORE! Millers All Day has entered the Charleston culinary scene to make brunch approachable for all at any time of day, any day of the week.

Don’t worry, we ate a looooot more than what’s in this pic.

I recently had the opportunity to try Millers for #TastemakersCHS (a group of foodie influencers on Instagram like me who love to eat).

#Squadgoals

We tried a good portion of the food, drinks, happy hour, and dessert items, so I feel like I’m pretty qualified to offer a judgement on Millers. And that judgement is that IT’S DELICIOUS. Seriously, if you haven’t been, get there stat. Plus, it’s super cute and retro-chic inside.

Millers time > Miller time

My first drink was the Chai Greyhound (Cannon Chai Vodka, Grapefruit, Ginger, Cinnamon, $9). I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but it was perfection. A great mix of flavors that was lightly sweet, and totally different from anything I’ve tried before.

Plus, look at that glassware!

We ordered a couple of snacks off the Happy Hour menu. First, my love, Jimmy Red Corndogs (MAD sauce, $6.50). I loved their corndogs, because the breading was just so much better and fluffier and crispier than the carnival versions I’ve had in the past.

And the dipping sauce… so good!

My favorite thing off the HH menu, by far, was the Sausage Scone Sandwich (sock sausage, pepper jelly, pimento cheese scone, $6.50). It was sweet, savory, and cheesy. Basically all my favorite flavors. I’m glad we only ordered 1, because I could’ve demolished about 4 of these myself, easy.

Seriously. Order this.

The last thing we tried off the HH menu was the Bacon Jacks (popcorn, caramel, bacon, peanuts, $5). It was very sweet and had a very strong bacon flavor, which isn’t my favorite, but everyone else at the table seemed to really enjoy it.

If you’re into bacon flavoring, you’ll probably enjoy this!

My second cocktail was the Yogurt Daquiri (Rum, Strawberry, Yogurt, Honey, Lime, Blackstrap Bitters, $10). I was really on the fence about how yogurt would be in the cocktail. Well let me assure you that it’s delicious! It tasted like fresh strawberries right out of the garden, and it’s the most refreshing cocktail I’ve had in a really long time.

Seriously, just bring me a pitcher of this and a straw.

For main courses, the first thing we did was order a plate of Waffles (bananas, sorghum, caramel, meringue, $11) for the table. Well, I didn’t order them, Rachel Castejon ordered them even though I thought she was joking about table waffles. But I’m so glad she did! Because they were really good. The waffles themselves were very savory, and the toppings were only lightly sweet, so I didn’t feel gross about myself afterward.

Well I did, but not because of the waffles.

For my entree, I went with my old standard, the Fried Chicken Biscuit (sorghum mustard, pickles, $7). I had very high hopes for this biscuit, but unfortunately, it was the one thing on the entire menu that didn’t meet my expectations. The biscuit was definitely on the drier side, and there wasn’t really enough liquid in the toppings or in the chicken to counter that. It’s a good thing I had a lot of water to chase with.

But it is a gorgeous looking sandwich.

Because I can never resist a potato, I had to try their Homefries ($3) as well. They’re served super fat and fried, so you get a great combo of crispy on the outside and fluffy and pillow on the inside.

These are some quality taters.

Elise (aka Booze) got the Grits Bowl ($10), which varies daily based on what ingredients chef Madison Tessener has available and what she’s inspired by. This grit bowl used the Insta-famous unicorn grits, and were topped with veggies and an egg. They were quite tasty.

Happiness in a bowl.

Rachel ordered the BEC Sandwich (bacon, herb mayo, white cheddar, fried egg, romesco, everything brioche bun, $9.50), which was pretty quality as far as bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches go. The bun was soft and fluffy and the whole sandwich practically melted in your mouth.

But, like, in a good way.

Elise convinced me to try some of her Bloody Mary (they have 5 on the menu, y’all), thinking she could convert me into being a bloody mary fan. She’d opted for the Verde Bloody Mary (Tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde, Tomatillo, Jalapeño, Lime, $9) because she can’t resist anything with tequila in it. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, but if you’re already a fan, you’ll probably enjoy 1 (or 5) of these!

I’m just not into mixing tomatoes and vodka.

Rachel ordered a standard side of their Grits ($3), and I have to say, these grits looked like the epitome of grits. Like if you looked up “grits” in the dictionary, this would be the picture you’d find. They were super buttery and creamy, and so good. I highly recommend trying them!

I mean the restaurant is co-founded by a guy who’s spent his whole life milling grits… so.

Just when I thought I couldn’t eat a single bite more, dessert appeared on the table. I personally was pumped to try their Blubarb Pie (blueberry rhubarb, $5.5) because it has the best name in the world. It was pie-fection. I love a fruity pie, and this has the perfect balance of sweet, savory, warmth, and texture.

I’m gonna name my first kid Blubarb.

Their Brown Butter Coconut Pie ($5.50) was also to DIE for. Half the people I dined with are generally anti-coconut, but they all agreed that this pie is fantastic. Even if you think you’re not going to like it, you should give it a try, because it’s just that good.

Helloooooo nurse.

Whether you’re looking to go hard at brunch, eat BFD (breakfast for dinner) or stop by for pastries and a coffee to go, Millers is a breakfast lover’s dream. Be sure to give them a try if you haven’t already!

And also, invite me to go because I want to go back.

Millers All Day
120 King St.
Charleston, SC 29401
843-501-7342

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of dining at Felix Cocktails et Cuisine with a few of my badass foodie friends from #TastemakersCHS for an intimate dinner to try out some of the best of what the restaurant has to offer. Their menu is made up primarily of smaller, shareable plates, so our group was the perfect setting to try out the menu. We started with cocktails–because duh–and I opted for one of the draft cocktails, the St. Félix (brandy, Plantation Original Dark rum, peach, lemon juice, soda water, champagne, $10), which was very refreshing. It tasted a lot like sunshine in a glass.

This is my sunshine on a cloudy day.

Next up, we split an order of their Torsades (ham & cheese puff pastry twists, mornay dipping sauce, $7). They were light and fluffy and a perfect way to start off the meal. Puff pastry is so delicious on its own, and adding ham & cheese made it even tastier.

I could eat like 6 orders of these all on my own.

They had a special that night, of toast with crab and topped with radish and a bunch of other goodies. I forgot to take notes because I was so excited to eat these little bites of springtime. Basically anything on toast is good in my book and these were also quite tasty.

They look like they should go into a museum!

I don’t usually love mushrooms, but the Tarte Flambée (savory mushroom tart, black truffle, heirloom potato, onion, rosemary, arugula, $13) was so tasty and decadent that I didn’t mind all the ‘shrooms. When I come back, this will definitely be something I order again!

Not those kind of shrooms.

My favorite item of the night, however, was the Gnocchi à la Grand-Mère (chicken confit, pâte à choux gnocchi, squash, brussels sprouts, fìnes herbes, brown butter, chestnut honey, $14). My grandmother definitely never made anything as delicious as this. The gnocchi was so fluffy and full of flavor all on its own.

Veggies + pasta is winning combo.

Finally, the Raclette Burger (brasstown grass-fed organic beef, caramelized onion, dijonnaise, raclette, sesame bun, $15) came out for us all to drool over. I’ve seen all those raclette videos on Facebook, and this was like eating straight out of one of those videos. It was perfectly cooked and super greasy, just the way any good burger should be.

The burger is a must try!

We finished off the meal with their Apple Trifle (warm brown butter cake, cinnamon-cayenne ice cream, calvados, $10), which was tasty, but not worth the $10 price tag. It had a good flavor, but the portion size is super small, and it didn’t blow me away like a few of the other menu items we tried.

I ain’t triflin’ with you.

I love going out to eat with friends and sharing lots of little plates, and Felix is a great place to meet up and share food and good company! During the day, the restaurant itself is bright and lively and perfect for any Instagramming you might want to do. At night, it’s super intimate and cozy, and perfect for date night.

My favorite part of dining with other foodies is that no one else cares if you spend 5 minutes taking photos before you eat.

Felix Cocktails et Cuisine
550 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
843-203-6297

Not too long ago, I was heading to the airport and in the mood for something tasty before I got on the plane, so my mom (thanks for the ride!) & I ended up at The Junction for lunch. I’ve heard great things about it before we went, so I was worried it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but boy did they ever! I recommend coming with a group of people who are willing to share, because I had the worst case of menu indecision that I’ve had in a long time because everything looked so good!

As a quick glance at their Instagram will confirm.

We ended up splitting the Pimento Cheese Grits ($4.50) as an appetizer. They were delightfully creamy and cheesy, and you should definitely get them. If you like grits, you’ll love these!

Sorry, grits purists, but these were delicious.

I was also intrigued by the Fried Limas ($2.50)on the menu. We ordered them because I love ordering weird/unusual items and I’m so glad they did, because they were surprisingly delicious. Like fried chickpeas but much bigger and whatever spice they use on them should be bottled and sold by the pound.

Let’s just fry all our vegetables from now on, okay?

Fo an actual entree, I ordered the Mexican Hash (cactus-braised pork, black bean pico, crispy cheesy hash browns, honey jalapeño chutney, and an over-easy egg, $11.50). It was a little spicy, but so delicious I couldn’t stop eating.

So many delicious ingredients working together in perfect harmony.

My mom got the Cactus Pork Tacos (cactus braised pork, goat cheese, avocado, arugula, black bean pico, and lime, $8.50), which was similar to the hash, but also very much a stand out dish on its own. If you’re not in the mood for breakfast food, this is what I’d recommend!

Then again, I think tacos are appropriate for every meal.

If you’re ever in the Park Circle area and jonesin’ for something delicious, I highly recommend The Junction!

Remember that whole we serve breakfast all day?! Yep we are bringing it old school today….Country fried Steak with eggs and grilled sourdough, house made strawberry jam…#awwjunc #eggsoneverythang #countryinthecity #graaaavvvyyyyyme #pceats #pclunch

A post shared by TheJunctionKitchen&Provisions (@thejunctionkitchen) on Feb 20, 2018 at 7:00am PST

The Junction Kitchen & Provisions
4438 Spruill Ave
North Charleston, SC 29405
843-745-9189

So I read the same article that you probably read, calling Little Jack’s burger one of the best in the US and I’m here to tell you: The hype is real! They love the burger so much, in fact, that you can order it as an appetizer, an entree, or dessert, because it’s on all 3 menus!

I opted for the appetizer size of the Single Tavern Burger (American cheese, tavern sauce, sesame bun, $8) because I was told that the bun-to-meat ratio was better with a single than a double. I’ve eaten a lot of burgers in my life, so it would be hard to definitively say whether or not this was the best, but it was damn good.

The bun-to-meat ratio is very important.

We also split an order of Garlic & Herb Fries (sauce gribiche, $7), because you can’t order a burger without fries! The herbs were very strong on these fries, and it took me a few bites before I got used to the strong flavors. It was a lot of flavor on their own.

Although it takes a lot for me to *not* eat potatoes.

We also tried an order of the Baked Egg (celery root cream, peas, prosciutto, crusty bread, $12), and let me tell you: what a revelation! The sauce was fantastic (I think it would be amaaaazing over some pasta), and the soft cooked egg was so rich and decadent, it felt almost sinful. My one complaint is that they really need to give you more bread (or the option to have it over pasta, because dayum).

Seriously, give me this sauce on everything.

On a previous visit at lunch, I tried the Jack’s Chopped Salad with shrimp (kale, romaine, lots of vegetables, pickled onion, avocado ranch, $13. Add chicken $5, add shrimp $6 and crab $9). The salad was super fresh and really was packed full of veggies. The dressing was delicious and I loved it with the shrimp. What I didn’t love is that this salad cost me over $22 with tax and tip.

Then again, any salad that costs more than “free” is too expensive, IMO.

All in all, I’ve really enjoyed the food at Little Jack’s. The burger and the baked egg are the 2 “must-try” items on the menu. Have you tried it? Let me know what you think!

After the announcement that The Gin Joint had been bought by longtime bartender James Bolt, I was worried that the old Gin Joint I knew and loved would become unrecognizable (kind of like what’s happening to Blue Rose Cafe right now). But my fears have been proven completely unfounded. The Gin Joint has maintained its commitment to handmade cocktails and delicious food in a way that’s still familiar (but even better than it used to be).

gin-joint-boomerang from Sydney Gallimore on Vimeo.

My first visit to the new version of The Gin Joint was in December when they transformed into the Christmas bar “Miracle.” Lala and her husband Matt were in town, and whilst giving Matt a tour of downtown Charleston (his first visit!) we decided to rest our feet and give some cocktails a try.

Christmas bars, like theme parties, are my favorite.

There were Christmas lights ev. ery. where. and it was super festive, with all the staff in cute costumes and a special Christmas-themed cocktail menu.

Mo lights, mo betta’

Being a lover of gin, I of course opted to try the aptly named Fa La La La La La La La La (Gin, aquavit, hazelnut liqueur, cardamom, vanilla, lemon, egg white, club soda, $14), which was as much fun to order as it was to drink. It was a perfect balance of tart and sweet, and I found myself with a happy little buzz after just 1 cocktail.

Christmas + cocktails… what could be better?!

Lala ordered the Run Run Rudolph (blanco tequila, coffee liqueur, iced hot chocolate, Mexican spices, $14). It was very sweet, and perfect for those of you who like liquor with their coffee / hot cocoa. I’m not usually a fan, but I enjoyed this.

Lala makes such a good hand model.

We also paired our drinks with their Pimento Cheese (House Made Lavash, Quick Pickles, $6), as Matt hadn’t tried pimento cheese before (something which I find incredibly hard to believe). Their version was very cheese-heavy, but lacked some of the depth and sharpness I come to expect from pimento cheese. The quick pickles were crispy and sweet.

But all cheese is good cheese.

Most recently, I attended for a #TastemakersCHS dinner, where we were able to try a number of cocktails and some of the new bar snacks on the menu. I started with the Fortune Cat (Tom Cat Gin, ginger, sesame, caramel, lemon, $12), which will come as no surprise to anyone who knows how much I love cats. The drink was gorgeous to look at (in fact, my drink was stolen for multiple people to photograph at the table before I was able to even taste it). It was nice and refreshing with a nice level of tartness from the ginger + lemon.

It’s extra appropriate because last time I went to a fortune teller, all she saw for me was cats, too.

To pair with the cocktails, we also tried some of their charcuterie, which comes as part of the Chef’s Snack Board (You Pick Three Cheeses, Chef’s Selection of Meats, Grilled Bread, House Made Jam, House, Spiced Nuts, $32). I saw salami on the board and was immediately happy, as it’s my favorite cured meat. If you have a few friends, this is a great deal and perfect for an after work snack!

Charcuterie is bae.

Also part of the chef’s snack board, we were able to try a sampling of their cheeses (although they brought us all 4 instead of the 3 you’re limited to in the snack board). The options were black & bleu, Flory’s truckle, Mountaineer, and Rockets Robiola (which all sounded like names of Harry Potter dragons IMO). My favorite was the black and bleu, because as a blue cheese, it was super creamy and not as pungent as you usually find.

Actually, cheese boards are bae.

Additionally, they also brought out the House Made Soft Pretzels (Sriracha Cheese Sauce, Maldon’s Sea Salt, $8). I love soft pretzels, and these were no exception. They were nice and fluffy and glutinous, and I really enjoyed the sriracha cheese sauce.

Ok, wait… maybe soft pretzels are bae?! WHY ARE ALL MY BAES FOOD

For my second cocktail, I opted to do the Bartender’s Choice ($12), where you pick 2 adjectives from a predetermined list and the bartender makes you a custom drink based on your choices. I went for “refreshing” and “vegetal” and ended up with this cucumber and gin cocktail that is my new favorite drink. It’s just a shame I don’t actually know what’s in it.

“S” for Sydney… right?!

Our final bar snack was the Cola-Braised Ham Slider (Mornay, Brown’s Court Benne Seed Bun, $9) which were probably my favorite snack of the night. I don’t usually like ham, but the ham in these sliders was super thick (more like a slab of pork) and had just a touch of sweetness from the cola. The mornay sauce was nice and creamy, and altogether, this slider was perfection.

Miguel also makes a good hand model.

Before we left, they also gave us one of their signature desserts, a housemade Old Fashioned Lollipop (Whiskey, Angostura Bitters, Orange Zest, $1.50). It didn’t really taste like an old fashioned to me, but it was still really yummy!

It also made me feel 12 years old.

If you haven’t been to The Gin Joint lately, you need to give them a try! The improvements they’ve made have been fantastic, and they’re really in a league above when it comes to handmade cocktails (did I mention that they make their own ice? They use the same 300lb blocks of ice that ice sculptors use and cut it down for each cocktail). They have a lot more than just gin (except there’s no vodka, so don’t bother asking), and if you come in with an open mind, you’re likely to leave with a new favorite drink!

Also, they’ve started serving brunch, too!

The Gin Joint
182 East Bay Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-6111

Being half Italian (I know I don’t look it, but trust me, it’s there), I am pretty particular when it comes to Italian food, so despite having heard great things about Le Farfalle when it first opened, I was still skeptical. However, after having eaten there more times than I care to admit now, I can happily say that Le Farfalle is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Charleston.

Let’s start with the appetizers. All the apps I’ve had have been delicious. My favorite is probably the Ceci in Umido (Umbrian-style stewed chickpeas, preserved lemon, Aleppo Pepper, baguette, $9), which is essentially like an Italian hummus. The olive oil (which is amazing on its own, btw) mixed with the chickpea spread is light and bright and savory with just a little bit of bite from the Aleppo pepper. I order it pretty much every time I go.

I have been known to lick the bowl.

I also love the Whipped Ricotta (Honey, Black pepper, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Baguette, $10)… even typing that sentence makes my mouth water. It’s super creamy with just a little sweetness from the honey to balance out the creamy saltiness of the ricotta. It’s so light and refreshing, you forget you’re basically just eating straight cheese.

I have also been known to lick this bowl.

Also, if you love bread, you absolutely cannot miss the Warm Rosemary Focaccia ($6). If I baked bread, this is the only bread I’d ever bake. Plus it comes with their red sauce, their awesome olive oil, and the whipped ricotta I was bragging about earlier (sans honey).

If this bread came in a bowl, you bet I’d lick that, too.

Also if you’re there during happy hour (or apertivo hour, as they call it), I really enjoyed the Fried Mozzarella Sticks ($5), which are simple and just like you remembered them as a kid, but better. I think it’s because their marinara sauce is so much better than what you find elsewhere. Either way, it’s delicious.

Then again, I am just an adult toddler, so it makes sense.

For entrees, I’m absolutely in love with all of their pastas. I tend to opt for the Fusilli Lunghi (black pepper, pecorino romano, $15), which is their version of cacio e pepe. It’s really buttery and cheesy, and a definite crowd pleaser.

The butter at bottom of this bowl, I did not lick. 

I was also a big fan of the Fried Chicken Piccata (mustard greens, potato puree, lemon-caper sauce, $24), which is battered instead of breaded, so it comes out looking like fish & chips. It threw me a bit when we ordered it, and I usually don’t care for battered foods, but this dish was actually delicious! The batter was still light enough that it didn’t overpower the chicken, and the lemon-caper sauce is the perfect balance of tart and creamy. The potato puree and mustard greens really weren’t anything special, but the chicken was good enough that I was able to overlook that.

Piccata dish you like and we’ll split it.

For dessert, I really love their Olive Oil Cake (Olive Oil-Basil Gelato, Candied Almonds, Macerated Blackberries, $8), which sounds weird but isn’t. It’s kind of like a less sweet pound cake with creamy gelato and delicious berries. I like that it isn’t too sweet (most of the sweetness comes from the berries, actually), which was a nice way to end the meal.

(provided by the restaurant… I’m still working on my photography skills).

If you’re thirsty, like I usually am when I go out, I recommend the Swizzle Negroni (Plantation 3 Star Rum, Carpano Bianco, Coconut-Washed Galliano L’Aperitivo, Pineapple, Lime, $11), which tastes like summertime in a glass. It’s very tropical and ice cold (literally overflowing with ice), and if you close your eyes when you drink it, you can pretend you’re in the Caribbean.

Then again, I usually close my eyes and pretend I’m somewhere else.

All in all, if you like Italian food, you should definitely consider giving Le Farfalle a try!

But come hungry!

Le Farfalle
15 Beaufain Street
Charleston, SC 29401
843-212-0920