Portfolio

My recent articles, reviews & other pieces from magazines, newspapers, and the web

This seafood restaurant has been flying under the radar. We're not sure why.

Charleston counts several quality seafood restaurants, including 167 Raw, Chubby Fish, Royal Tern and Leon's Oyster Shop. Add The Establishment to that list.

Malagón takes diners on a tour of Spain

A reviews of Malagón, a Spanish tapas restaurant with a robust wine menu and standout dishes like tortillas, racks of lamb and more.

These Are The South's Best New Barbecue Joints Of 2024

Contributing Barbecue Editor Robert Moss selects his top 22 new barbecue joints for 2024. The list represents the best new barbecue in the South this year.

After 30 years of serving Charleston, does Slightly North of Broad still deliver?

A review of Slightly North of Broad (SNOB), which opened in downtown Charleston in 1993 and is now owned by Hall Management Group (High Cotton, Halls Chophouse.)

Porchetta Shop adds more global flavors to a dynamic Charleston dining neighborhood

Caitlin and Michael Toscano, the owners of Italian eatery Le Farfalle, opened Da Toscano Porchetta Shop at the corner of President and Cannon streets in 2023.

20 Best Restaurants In Charleston, SC

Charleston’s restaurants offer a vibrant blend of old and new, embracing the region’s unique culinary traditions but looking outward around the globe for fresh inspiration, too. Here are 20 must-try restaurants for your next visit.

Lowcountry restaurant’s beguiling bites stray from the fish camp format. Does it work?

Sullivan’s Fish Camp on Sullivan’s Island is owned by Basic Projects, the hospitality group behind Post House in Mount Pleasant and Basic Kitchen in Charleston.

How does a new Charleston BBQ restaurant stack up against the competition?

Charleston's top BBQ restaurants include Lewis BBQ, Rodney Scott's BBQ, Swig & Swine and Home Team. Count newcomer Palmira Barbecue among them.

James Beard Award-winning chef's new restaurant sits between luxury and comfort

New Jason Stanhope restaurant Lowland is located in The Pinch hotel, where the James Beard Award-winner serves biscuits, quail, fresh pasta, steaks and more.

Bearcat's chefs take big swings. Does it lead to home runs at the Charleston restaurant?

Bearcat serves an American menu in the Avondale neighborhood of Charleston, SC. The restaurant’s chef cooked in multiple Michelin-starred kitchens in Chicago.

Bintü Atelier is a restaurant deeply rooted in Charleston. Here's why.

West African food like crab rice is served at Bintü Atelier in Charleston, SC. The owner, of Senegalese and French descent, previously cooked at Chez Nous.

The South's Best Barbecue Joints In Every State (2024 Edition)

Southern Living's annual South's Best issue is back, includes the round up of the South's best BBQ joints in every state as voted on by our readers (and written up by me.)

Restaurant Review: Ma'am Saab

Ma'am Saab pushes global flavors toward the heart of Charleston's tourist district

King BBQ in North Charleston shines with a modern style unlike any other in the country

A Review of King BBQ, which specializes in Chinese- and Carolina-inspired barbecue, like ribs and pork.

7 Joints Making Raleigh-Durham the Meat-Smoking Capital Of NC

The Raleigh-Durham area has started to make a name for itself in the Carolina BBQ world. Check out the joints that are making Raleigh-Durham a meat-smoking mecca.

Holy City Spirits: A look at a decade of dedicated growth among Charleston distillers

The future is bright—and smells like whiskey

The Year in Restaurant Reviews: A critic's take on Charleston restaurants in 2023 and beyond

A look back at 2023 reviews, including Sorelle, 167 Raw, The James, Lola Rose, and Rancho Lewis.

Restaurant review: Beautiful South delivers an energetic presentation of Chinese fare

Beautiful South is the second Charleston venture from David Schuttenberg and Tina Heath-Schuttenberg, the owners of Kwei Fei.

Restaurant Review: Lola Rose delivers high-quality coastal Mediterranean cuisine

From the owners of The Grocery comes Lola Rose, located in north Mount Pleasant in the Bend at the Carolina Park

Restaurant Review: Southbound sets the bar high. The food doesn't consistently clear it.

Southbound in downtown Charleston makes a dramatic first impression . . . until the food arrives.

15 Minutes with Vinson Petrillo

Chef Vinson Petrillo shares a sneak peek at Costa, a new southern Italian spot in The Jasper

Restaurant review: Kultura presents a parade of colors and vibrant Filipino flavors

The menu at Kultura in downtown Charleston puts creative twists on traditional Filipino preparations.

Restaurant Review: The James

With prime rib and Parker House rolls, The James, the latest venture from Charleston’s Neighborhood Dining Group, is a throwback to an earlier era.

15 Minutes With: Sarah O’Kelley

One of Charleston’s favorite wine pros shares what’s next in her formidable career. Learn about her intriguing culinary path and her new venture, Grape to Table

Restaurant Review: Hannibal's Kitchen

The side dishes star at Hannibal's Kitchen, and crab rice remains a can't-miss specialty.

These Are The South's Top 50 Barbecue Joints Of 2023

Contributing barbecue editor Robert Moss selects his top 50 Barbecue Joints for 2023. The list, which includes old standbys and brand new winners, represents the best barbecue in the South.

Restaurant Review: FIG

20 years in, FIG remains as impressive and relevant as ever. I lucked into a seat in the dining room on the very night it was announced that executive chef Jason Stanhope would soon be leaving after 15 years in the kitchen.

Restaurant Review: Pink Bellies

On Upper King Street, Pink Bellies' daring, unexpected twists delight . . . when they land

Meet The Women Reinventing BBQ In Texas

Texas is known for their barbecue, and these women are making a name for themselves in the competitive world of Texan BBQ. Read more about their stories and food that is putting them on the map.

Charleston Barbecue, Generation Next

All about the evolution of Holy City barbecue with a focus on of what local pitmasters are serving up next . Explore local barbecue history ranging from the last century’s mustard-sauce migration to the modern craft ‘cue boom

Restaurant Review: El Molino is a promising place for satisfying tacos, tortas and more

At two locations in Charleston, El Molino Supermarket serves savory tacos on soft corn tortillas, hefty tight-wrapped burritos, tortas on warm fluffy rolls and more.

Restaurant review: Does new Charleston hot spot Sorelle live up to its high expectations?

Amid a lot of gaps, Sorelle shines best not with the big, brash plates nor with the produce of the Lowcountry but rather with expensive ingredients sourced from far away,

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The True Story of Hushpuppies, a Genuine Carolina Treat

No barking dogs required

Restaurant Review: 167 Sushi Bar

At 167 Sushi Bar in Charleston, veggies and small plates are as much in the foreground as raw fish, and they’re really impressive, too.

Restaurant Review: La Bonne Franquette

Save room for dessert at West Ashley newcomer La Bonne Franquette. Over the years its building has been home to a range of restaurants, but perhaps the location was destined to be a French café?

Restaurant Review: The Longboard

Long on sleek beachy style, The Longboard isn't short on bright bites

Restaurant Review: Lenoir

At Vivian Howard's Lenoir, inside the Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel, the plates pair Lowcountry notes with international flourishes

Restaurant Review: Charleston Grill

The Southern accent may be more muted, but the Charleston Grill still shines with luxurious flavors and pitch-perfect hospitality

Restaurant Review: Heavy's Barburgers

Heavy’s turns it up loud with 'barburgers' and margaritas in the old Tattooed Moose space on Morrison Drive

Everything You've Heard About Toasted Ravioli Is Wrong

Who really invented this St. Louis classic?

15 Minutes with Mike Lata

Chef Mike Lata reflects on his acclaimed restaurant FIG’s 20th anniversary and Charleston’s evolving culinary scene

The South's Best Barbecue Joint In Every State 2023

A state-by-state guide to the region's top-notch 'cue that's bound to make you hungry. Here are the South's best BBQ joints in every state as voted on by Southern Living's readers.

Saw's Is the Most Popular BBQ Joint in Alabama

Discover the most popular barbecue joint in Alabama, as recommended by Southern Living's readers. Learn about the restaurant's history, menu, and more.

Restaurant Review: Vern's

Is fine dining dead? Visit Vern's for signs of a promising future.

Restaurant Review: Husk

Despite the remodels and chef changes, Husk seems unaltered in any fundamental way. The larger dining scene, though, has evolved and shifted around it.

Plate Tectonics: Charleston’s Expanding Culinary Scene

Charleston's dining landscape has shifted dramatically in the last five years, with many new culinary destinations in spots that were once well off the beaten path.

Restaurant Review: Rancho Lewis

The bold flavors of the border — hatch chiles, beef back ribs, mesquite smoke — are prominent and compelling at Rancho Lewis, John Lewis's El Paso-inspired restaurant.

8 Restaurants That Prove Arkansas Barbecue Is Here To Stay

Arkansas often gets skipped in discussions of Southern barbecue—and unfairly so, for the state has plenty of smoky treasures to share.

Restaurant review: MOMO satisfies with hearty plates at the edge of Riverfront Park

MOMO Riverfront Park is not your typical park concession.

The Secret History of Celery

How the crunchy stalks went from Victorian centerpiece to ubiquitous football snack.

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9 Simple Questions About Hopping John

Everything you need to know about a Carolina New Year's icon — the history, the right (and wrong) ingredients to use, and more

Restaurant Review: Bar George

Bar George opened in the summer of 2020, bringing the passion and focus of the downtown scene out to James Island, and its bar fare twists are filled with high notes

Restaurant Review: Malika Canteen

The Lowcountry's only Pakistani restaurant blends street fare with sit-down flair

Restaurant Review: Chubby Fish

Small in size and scope, Chubby Fish is bucket list restaurant material

South Carolina's Hash & Rice Might Be Having a Moment

South Carolina's traditional barbecue side dish dates back to the 19th century, and now it's starting to migrate into neighboring states and beyond.

15 Minutes With: Hannah and Zachary Welton

Catching up with Husk alums Hannah and Zachary Welton, who opened a brick and mortar bakeshop on Upper King after traveling from Charleston to Mexico and back.

Restaurant Review: Savi Cucina + Wine Bar

Savi's culinary reboot delivers uneven experience, except at the bar

Restaurant Review: Bistronomy By Nico

Downtown Charleston's Bistronomy By Nico is upscale fine dining for sure, but is it looking forward or glancing backward? Conservative plates outshine the avant-garde.

Restaurant Review: Gillie's Seafood

In a single visit to Gillie's Seafood you can check off half your bucket list of classic Lowcountry dishes: purloo, she crab soup, shrimp and grits, red rice, okra soup. and more

The South's Top 50 Barbecue Joints

The bar for top-notch Southern barbecue has only gotten higher, and it shows in this year's Top 50 list, which blends old-school icons and impressive newcomers.

Restaurant Review: Berkeley's

Berkeley’s dishes seem simple, but behind the scenes someone has put a lot of thought into each element and took the time to really dial it in.

Restaurant Review: Coterie

Coterie experiments with inserting upscale Indian flavors into a casual Lowcountry environment, and the playful, genre-bending aesthetic carries over from kitchen to bar.

15 Minutes With Dano & Bethany Heinze

Meet the husband-and-wife duo behind new Cannonborough-Elliotborough restaurant Vern’s

Restaurant Review: Palmira Barbecue

Palmira signals a new era in Charleston's barbecue scene

Restaurant Review: Post House

In Mt. Pleasant's Old Village, bold Post House plates cause the more timid ones to pale in comparison

Restaurant Review: Chasing Sage

Chasing Sage is at its best with fresh produce front and center alongside a strong but not overwhelming dose of spicy heat, with fresh herbs adding a fragrant accent.

Restaurant Review: Bexley Fish & Raw Bar

Bexley's local plates in Summerville take flavors in unexpected directions

Restaurant Review: Maya del Sol

At Maya del Sol, chef/owner Raul Sanchez's made-from-scratch sensibility straddles comfort food, fine dining

Restaurant Review: Nick's German Kitchen

Nick’s German Kitchen stands out with unapologetically German comfort cuisine

Restaurant Review: Laurel

Laurel’s larger plates are the most impressive, with due in large part to the charcoal heat from a big Spanish-made Josper oven.

How Camp Stew Became a South Alabama Icon

Unless you've spent time in south Alabama, you've probably not heard of camp stew, but a bowl of it might look familiar if you're a fan of the savory dish that Georgians call Brunswick stew.

The Story Behind the "Rendezvous Special" Plate

Memphis classic, Rendezvous, has been serving their "Rendezvous Special" even longer than they've been serving their famous ribs.

Restaurant Review: Brasserie la Banque

The fare at Brasserie la Banque shines brightest when it steps out of the familiar groove and delivers a few bold twists. The offering is billed as “authentic and familiar,”

The South's Best Brewery 2022: Palmetto Brewing Company

Our readers' favorite brewery in 2022 was the brainchild of two friends who discovered microbrewing in Oregon and brought it home.

The Tradition Behind Virginia Tech's Smoked Turkey Legs

"Touchdowns, Tailgates, Turkey Legs"

The South's Top Spots for Tailgate Takeout

While tailgates don't require home cooking, you do need to know the best spots for takeout.

The South's Best Tailgate Spreads

These two universities top the pack year in and year out.

7 Must-Visit BBQ Joints in Memphis

Memphis is one of the few Southern cities that can claim its own widely recognized barbecue style.