Our taste-and-tell guide to some of the latest food-and- beverage openings in Charleston
Renzo
Located in a renovated Charleston single house on Huger Street, Renzo taps into many dining trends du jour: wood-fired pizza featuring ingredients like nutritional yeast and zhug (Yemeni hot sauce); natural wine; ice cream sundaes served with nostalgic and new-age toppings, including rainbow sprinkles and honeycomb; and sleek, modern booth and bar seating. But despite its trendiness, the restaurant feels laid-back, and the food, executed by former Xiao Bao Biscuit and The Ordinary chef Evan Gaudreau, strikes a balance between experimental and comforting flavors. Pizza steals the show—we suggest the Wrath of Kahan with spicy pork sausage and medjool dates or the Mayor Quimby clam pie—but artfully plated seafood dishes, such as trout conserva with crème fraîche, are close contenders. www.renzochs.com
Saltwater Cowboys
Don’t let the hour-plus wait times here deter you from Shem Creek’s newest tenant—the view alone is worth it. With ample space to linger on the patio and bars both indoors and out, you’ll hardly notice the minutes pass, as long as you keep a cocktail in hand and your eyes peeled for dolphins. Once seated, the large menu offers down-home appetizers such as smoked bacon pimiento cheese served with a sleeve of Ritz crackers, crispy pork rinds, and nachos featuring pulled pork and queso, as well as more upscale dishes like citrusy ceviche and ahi tuna poke dressed in a soy-brown sugar marinade. As for mains, the restaurant lives up to its name: fried seafood arrives with sides like Geechie Boy grits and red rice, and there are plenty of barbecue offerings. If you catch a seat at sunset, you just might find yourself declaring this your new go-to golden hour spot. www.saltwater-cowboys.com
