Opened in August, the restaurant is the latest endeavor from the owners of Berkeley’s
The Archer, a downtown neighborhood bistro with a killer bar program and loads of character, serves elevated, comfort-food fare from its quaint and quirky spot near the on-ramp to the Ravenel Bridge.
The Archer
Liz and Marc Hudacsko debuted their casual eatery Berkeley’s on Rutledge and Huger three years ago to a pretty tough crowd. Spoiled by the world-class dining scene below the Crosstown, their Uptown neighbors can be fussy when it comes to dining spots down the street. But Berkeley’s cheesesteaks, chicken Parm, and friendly energy packed in the patrons even on the sleepiest of school nights. Now, the New Jersey transplants are hoping to replicate that winning formula on a more elevated scale with their second place, The Archer, which opened in August in the former Gale Restaurant in the Meeting Street Lofts building.
Much like at Berkeley’s, the bar is The Archer’s beating heart, albeit with a full-on cocktail program dreamt up by Proof alum Jimmy Chmielewski. Parking yourself at one of the comfy counter stools and savoring, say, a Freezer Door gin martini made with olive oil or the bourbon-based See You on the Other Side, touted as a “buttered popcorn piña colada,” seems like a pro move for grown-ups who want to avoid the crush of King Street bars.
(Left to right) The salad of local lettuces, gin-cured salmon crudo with cucumber and Sweatman’s tonic, roasted wreckfish, and crispy fried eggplant; seared duck breast with shoestring fries and béarnaise and a nitro espresso martini.
The handsome barback sets the tone of the smartly designed interior, accented in a chirpy royal blue and decked with eclectic art finds. Opposite the bar, four-tops line a counter that separates the main dining area with an inviting banquette along the back wall—cozy but a little fancy, too.
You could say the same about chef Paul Farmer’s menu. There’s comfort fare—beef stroganoff on pappardelle, roast chicken atop potato puree, and a satisfying seared duck breast dish worth ordering for the shoestring fries and béarnaise alone. But it’s the more creative plates that wow. The crispy fried eggplant defies expectation: spiked with fish sauce and Thai chili, the mini roulades are airy, umami delights. Local lettuces dressed in juniper vinaigrette shine in a simple salad studded with pecans, fennel, and currants. And wreckfish is roasted and paired with fall flavors of celery root, squash, mushrooms, and hazelnuts.
All in all, the welcoming space, boozy fun—with bonus points for a refreshingly unpredictable beer and wine list—and solid menu, plus parking (!) add up to another win for the Hudacskos.
601 Meeting St., Ste. 140
Wednesday-Monday, 4 p.m. -12 a.m.
thearchercharleston.com
