The Darling Oyster Bar
Whispers circulated when King Street eatery Union Provisions declared its plans to reopen as an oyster house. The same owners (plus culinary advisor Nathan Thurston) would be driving the overhaul—could a new concept cure what ailed the previous space? Well, skeptics be darned: The Darling is off and running, and diners are digging it and its seafaring menu, crafted by executive chef Joe DiMaio. After a half-dozen bivalves, try the Creole shrimp starter with Anson Mills rice cakes (pictured). Bring a date to the bar (raw, or the one with booze); the island-themed cocktails are a perfect start to a rollicking night out, and the seafoam-accented interiors add to the joint’s trendy yet low-key vibe. thedarling.com
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Home Team BBQ
Perhaps you’ve scarfed down some ’cue at Home Team’s original West Ashley location or slurped a frosty, boozy “Game Changer” after sunbathing on Sullivan’s Island. Now, you can join hungry millennials from neighboring tech firms (and fellow downtowners) for happy hour in the restaurant’s newest NoMo home on Williman Street. Less backyard-grit and more rustic-chic, this cavernous locale’s got all the trappings of a hipster hot spot (see: reclaimed barnwood, exposed ceilings, denim-aproned waitstaff)—plus fabulous fare to boot. You can still order all your favorites, but a larger kitchen led to an expanded menu: new items include revamped tacos, daily and seasonal specials (a recent visit saw soft-shell crabs and a spicy pork meatball sub), and lots of creative cocktails. A large enclosed outdoor area gives space for kiddos to roam, and a 50-foot bar lets a lot of sports fans in, too. hometeambbq.com
