Our taste-and-tell guide to some of the latest food-and- beverage openings in Charleston
PHOTO: (Top) Dockery's; (Bottom) Grumpy Goat Cantina.
Dockery’s
One part brewery, one part music venue, Dockery’s arrives as the hip hangout Daniel Island was missing, complete with cornhole games out front, weekly musical performances, and plates with a farm-to-table mindset. Classic bar bites are updated: the double-patty burger is dressed with a bacon-shallot marmalade and comeback sauce; taquitos are served with avocado and radish; and Duck Tots, a sweet potato riff on tater tots, are stuffed with duck confit and topped with cherry jam. Inventive specials are also on the docket, including seasonal flatbreads, lobster mac-n-cheese, and seared scallops atop smoked gouda grits. Grab a pint and settle in for a show in the attached listening room, where local bands take the stage two or three nights a week and during Sunday brunch. www.dockerysdi.com
Grumpy Goat Cantina
On a weekend morning, you could do worse than sitting on a sunny patio, margarita in hand, biding time before devouring a plate of huevos rancheros. Despite its name, Grumpy Goat Cantina—a James Island eatery serving up Tex-Mex—radiates cheer. Don’t be deterred by the bland entryway; inside, you’ll find booths and a bar, but we suggest opting for outdoor seating. If you’re lucky, you’ll be served by co-owner Stephanie Warren, whose front-of-house skills were sharpened at Lana, Cypress, and Peninsula Grill. Start by sharing a plate of “Grumpy Chips” loaded with guacamole, black beans, and jalapeños. For brunch, try the tomatillo-topped fried eggs served on a crispy tortilla; at dinnertime, mix and match tacos with fillings like garlic-lime shrimp, steak, and fried goat cheese. Pair the dishes with a Bloody Maria (a tequila-based spin on a Bloody Mary). www.grumpygoatcantina.com
Photographs by Dockery’s-2) Taylor Jordan & (Grumpy Goat Cantina-2) Brett Tighe
