The Pioneers: An Irish pub, a burger joint, and wood-fired pizzeria led the charge in Park Circle, with more adventuresome eateries following suit, (clockwise from top left) Paddock & Whisky, EVO Pizzeria, Stems & Skins, Sesame Burgers & Beer, & Madra Rua Irish Pub.
For more than two decades, East Montague Avenue, one of the eight spokes projecting off Park Circle, has been North Charleston’s main restaurant row. Long-running favorites like EVO Pizzeria, Madra Rua Irish Pub, and Sesame Burgers & Beer have drawn curious eaters to the neighborhood that has slowly but steadily evolved into a prime dining destination.
The opening of Stems and Skins in 2016—a wine bar featuring natural wines from small producers—reflected an increasingly adventurous culinary spirit, and more recent arrivals are pushing south from Montague Avenue down Spruill, expanding the frontiers of North Charleston dining in the process.
Jackrabbit Filly
In November 2019, Shuai and Corrie Wang converted their popular Short Grain food truck into the brick-and-mortar Jackrabbit Filly, bringing unconventional twists on Chinese- and Japanese-American cuisine to the edge of Park Circle. Comfort food mash-ups like braised lamb pot pies and reuben fried rice (complete with beef tongue, collard kraut, and Thousand Island dressing) are served alongside tender potato-leek dumplings and the restaurant’s signature karaage fried chicken.
The Wangs aren’t resting on their laurels, either. Two miles south on Carver Avenue, the couple’s forthcoming King BBQ—a fusion of Piedmont North Carolina and Chinese barbecue styles—promises to be one of the most-anticipated openings of 2023. 4628 Spruill Ave., jackrabbitfilly.com
Paddock & Whisky
There’s now plenty of top shelf Bourbon and rye to be discovered in Park Circle thanks to Paddock & Whisky, which opened its second location in October 2021 in a former bank building on Montague Avenue. The old vault now guards treasures of a different sort—rare premium whiskeys, including the bar’s own barrel picks. The selection tallies nearly 300 varieties, and there’s no need to drink on an empty stomach. A full dinner menu features plates curated specifically to pair well with aged spirits, from Wagyu tartare and fried Brussels sprouts to thick New York strips. 1074 E. Montague Ave., paddockandwhisky.com
(Left) JackRabbit Filly; (Right) Three Sirens.
Three Sirens
In December 2021, Stems & Skins co-owners Justin Croxall and Matt Tunstall headed across the street to open a seafood restaurant highlighting fresh local catch with a few playful twists. Shrimp and grits fritters and hot hickory-smoked fish dip tee up larger plates like olive oil-poached monkfish and chicken-fried grouper. And, yes, there are plenty of interesting wines by the glass and a solid selection of beers and craft cocktails, too. 1067 E. Montague Ave., threesirenschs.com
MOMO
New York has long had Tavern on the Green. Now, North Charleston has park-side dining of its own at Riverfront Park. Housed in a two-story white building that once served as officers’ quarters at the old Navy base, the New American restaurant offers a dramatic view of the Cooper River from a spacious outdoor patio. The raw bar’s oysters and ceviche are joined by small plates like roasted-carrot hummus and smoked chicken thighs with peanuts and hot maple sauce. Burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and a few hefty plates like steak frites round out the bill. On Sundays, hearty Southern staples like biscuits and gravy and barbecue hash over Cajun-spiced potatoes are fast making MOMO a brunch favorite. 1049 Everglades Ave., momocharleston.com
Tattooed Moose
The Tattooed Moose was a fixture in downtown Charleston for more than a decade, but last summer it cut loose from its original Morrison Drive location and headed six miles up the Neck. Its new home boasts a large outdoor dining area and plenty of parking, but the menu still features the same kicked-up creations like hand-cut duck fat fries, Philly cheesesteak eggs rolls, and perhaps the plumpest chicken wings in the Lowcountry. Don’t skip Mike’s Famous Duck Club—a triple-decker delight that layers duck confit, bacon, and smoked cheddar between sweet, squishy slices of toasted Hawaiian bread. It’s famous for a reason. 4845 Chateau Ave., tattooedmoose.com
Rebel Taqueria
The two-block spur of Reynolds Avenue stretching north from Spruill is quickly becoming North Charleston’s new taco row, thanks in part to this team, who found a permanent home for their taco truck in the shadows of the old Navy base. Tacos, tequila, and cold beer anchor the offerings along with a few tempting novelties like Yoda Balls (jalapeno hush puppies) and tuna poké nachos. 1809 Reynolds Ave., rebeltaqueria.com
Maya Del Sol Kitchen
Since moving from Chicago a decade ago, chef/restaurateur Raul Sanchez has delighted North Charlestonians with upscale twists on traditional Mexican fare. His latest venture, Maya Del Sol Kitchen, opened in early 2021 with a dual-faceted format inspired by his stint cooking at the downtown tasting menu-only restaurant R. Kitchen. Three days a week, Sanchez’s lunch service features a rotating selection of tacos, burritos, and tortas at a simple diner-style counter. At night, that counter is transformed into a chef’s table for a fixed price, five-course dinner with a creative array of Mexican-themed plates that blend comfort food and fine dining, like pot roast with mole and beef tenderloin with Brussels sprouts and cilantro jalapeño chimichurri. 1813 Reynolds Ave., raulsmayadelsol.com
Photographs by (Paddock & whisky-2) Andre Hinds, (EVO) Andrew Cebulka, (Stems & Skins) Amy Luke, & (Three Sirens) Maggie WILCOX & Courtesy of (3) the Restaurants
