The Hottest Restaurants in Charleston Right Now, November 2017

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What are the new restaurants? What’s everyone talking about? While the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the “it” places of the moment. Enter the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to highlight the spots crowds are flocking to at the moment or generating a big buzz. The map welcomes The Shellmore to the list. Folks are asking, “Have you been yet?” Try one of these newbies today.

Note:Restaurants are not ranked

Super chef-driven cafeteria Workshop brings together Vietnamese eatery Pink Bellies, Indian space Sambar, Tex-Mex stall Juan Lewis, Japanese and Chinese stall Slider Gold, Bad Wolf Coffee, and Slice Co. The outdoor tables at Workshop quickly became the hottest spot to Instagram lunch from. Though, the space is open for dinner as well.

The new outpost of beloved cheese shop goat.sheep.cow offers more wines, meats, and dairy for guests in addition to a dining room. Now guests can enjoy a glass of chardonnay or slice of prosciutto in the expansive space.

Cafe/bakery The Harbinger brings pastries, coffee, light lunches, and happy hour drinks in a cozy setting. The cozy, hip space is perfect for meetings or catching up with friends.

Pitmaster Rodney Scott opened his whole hog barbecue restaurant in North Central, and Charleston has reached full pulled pork frenzy. When it opened, lines were out the door every day for the smokey delights that made Scott famous.

Mexican eatery Pancito & Lefty gathered buzz for the past two years while Charleston waited for the opening. Throngs of taco-seekers are filling in to sample the mezcal, tamales, and pozole in the bright white and neon-splashed dining room.

Italian eatery Juliet wants to bring more pizza and pasta to Charleston. Dinner offerings range from an octopus and potato salad with gremolata and olives to linguine in a lobster and wine sauce to a mushroom pizza with truffles and fontina cheese.

Everyone’s talking about rosé and half shell happy hour at the new Charleston outpost of Rappahannock Oyster Bar. The latest addition to the Cigar Factory offers patrons the best of local shellfish and seafood with lunch, brunch, and dinner services.

Former La Fourchette chef Perig Goulet reappears on the Charleston scene with Goulette. With chef Kyle Yarbrough in the kitchen, the menu features rotisserie chicken, duck fat fries, pulled pork, and other meaty mains

Coming Street newcomer Sorghum & Salt offers a hyper-local menu full of bounty from local waters and farms. Look for dishes like crab and farro salad with sunchokes, collard green tagliatelle with shrimp sausage, and Ambrose Farms strawberry gazpacho.

Restaurant owner Steven Niketas shut down new American concept The Westendorff in October of last year to transition the address to a Charleston version of the family Greek concept Stella’s. The newcomer is a partnership between Niketas and friends Johnny and Katrina Giavos, who ran the original Stella’s with chef Stella Dikos. The gamble to go Greek is winning over fans on the peninsula. Be sure to check out the brunch as well.

The latest piece of the Edmund’s Oast empire brings more beers, cocktails, and charcuterie to Charleston. Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company slid into downtown with a full menu of killer bar snacks, like pork and peanut stew or dry-aged steak, and lots of booze.

The opening of Grace & Grit by longtime Isle of Palms chef Frank Kline was met with excitement in Mount Pleasant. The menu features a multitude of grits, local seafood, and Southern staples like collards, butterbeans, and fried chicken.

Discover sleek wine bar The Shellmore in I’on for some of the freshest oysters and razor clams around. Chef Eric Milley also puts out a small menu of rotating specials, like beef ragu with cavatelli or salmon tartare with miso and crispy rice.