Our taste-and-tell guide to some of the latest food and beverage openings in Charleston
Grace & Grit
The handsome modern building appears like something of a mirage on Mount Pleasant’s rather nondescript Wingo Way, and its wood-and-leather interior boasts a swankiness to match—yet with the cozy qualities expected from a place named “Grace & Grit.” On your first visit, at least, embrace the theme by ordering the grit flight—which includes smoked gouda, coconut cream, peaches ’n’ cream, and pimiento cheese varieties—and sample the complimentary sweet and savory cornbread delivered to each table. Chef-owner Frank Kline’s likely to stop by to say hello, and you’d be wise to select from his “Chef’s Creations” menu, choosing among four land-and-sea proteins to pair with one of six “presentations;” the sautéed scallops are delicious atop boiled-peanut succotash (pictured above). http://gracegrit.com/
Wood & Grain
Even if pizza seems de rigeur in today’s local food scene, the slices at this Mount Pleasant spot are anything but pedestrian. The sizzling lineup created by chef-owner Patrick Owens (who also runs neighboring fine-dining restaurant Langdon’s) includes everything from bubbly blanco to duck ham with garlic oil and goat cheese, each with a not-too-thin, not-too-bready crust. The pies are perfected inside a massive wood-fire oven in the corner of the dining room, which feels both comfy and chic, with a polished bar and high-top tables illuminated by candles. We suggest settling in with a glass of wine, then starting with a selection of raw and roasted seafood—try the market ceviche (on our visit, it was flounder), charred octopus with butterbeans, or a plate of grilled or chilled oysters—before selecting a pie that catches your eye. http://www.owensdininggroup.com/
Photographs by Taylor Drake & Julie Timmermann
