Next Door

Locally sourced everything makes the body and palate good. And more so if those ingredients compliment one another. I’m oversimplifying it. In other words, Next Door Restaurant in Mount Pleasant is expert in marrying ingredients forming unique palate experiences. They take the best local ingredients and make pastas in house to proudly serve dishes that are memorable.

Buffalo Mozzarella and Roasted Beets with Carrots, Orange Supremes, Arugula

Fig and Goat Cheese Pizza, Bosc Pear, Arugula, White Truffle Oil

Fennel and Apple Soup with Celery Leaves, Candied Walnuts

Conclusion: Make your body and palate good, go Next Door.

Heirloom Eats (Mt. Pleasant)

Heirloom Eats is an important and delightful new addition to Charleston’s culinary scene. As its name suggests, the restaurant invokes a rich sense of family and tradition with farm fresh southern sophistication. The homelike ambiance welcomes you with french doors from an 1800's plantation within the bar, mahogany door from the Wentworth Mansion with suspended mason jars for lighting, and heart pine tables custom built by mortise and tenon. There’s even more to love about Heirloom Eats, the food!

So the food...well, the two of us usually get 3+ entrees and plates, enough for 4, just for the joy of tasting.

Smoked Pork Rillette (This was meant to be. I went to Whole Foods that day, and inquired about pork shoulder and pork fat, bought the spices, and was preparing to make a rillette, but VOILA, went to Heirloom Eats and there it was.)

Farro "Perlau" butternut squash, sweet potato, charred onions. I tried to replicate this at home. It didn't work. This dish's brussel sprouts are cooked perfectly.

Short Ribs with black pepper dumplings, parsnips and carrots, goat cheese cream

Butcher Steak with warm yukon potatoes, roasted root vegetables, applewood bacon demi.

Choose your own (one meat and two sides): we chose Fried Chicken with collard greens and "Heirloom" beans

S'mores Cake in a Jar (Imagine this. Wait, you don't have to, just go get it)

We have been to Heirloom Eats more than once, and have ordered more than pictured. That fact alone can tell you how much we think of this place. Come here on date night, or bring the family.

Also, brunch will be served starting January 15.

Conclusion: Mount Pleasant is privileged to have a place that takes fresh sophiscated southern to another level with surprising value. Welcome home.

Butcher and Bee (Charleston Peninsula)

It's all that it's cracked up to be, and a heaven for sandwich lovers, Butcher and Bee is becoming a staple in Charleston. Opened only several weeks ago, it's popularity is growing. You will understand once you go and taste for yourself. It features farm to table cuisine from local farms, with food so fresh that it's cut and delivered shortly before you consume it. And, the dishes on the menu run out so as to not waste food, or save food for later consumption. Truly fresh. Butcher and Bee also has a garden out back of leafy greens. Not to mention the bread is made in house. The dishes, prepared similarly to haute cuisine, will impress you. 

We had Egg in a Basket as our appetizer. Pan fried buttered toast with egg in the center sprinkled with powdered sugar. Simplified French toast sans the cinnamon. 

Pastor (pork shoulder/pineapple/crema/brioche) This presented a mosaic of flavors bursting through the buns of brioche bread. A little heat, little sweet, savory tenderness from the pulled pork. Side of deep sweet ripened mango. 

Beef kabob with hummus/salad/pita. Aka Mediterranean burger.  Tasted so clean, with grass fed local beef and tomato cucumber salad in a large pocket of a grilled pita. Elaborately simple. 

Grilled Cheese (pimento/okra/pecans/rustic bread)

What a surprise! Imagine it. Sweet from pecans and pimento,  pickling from okra, umami from the cheese, with a crunch from the pecans.  Amazing.  

The Good: There's too many to list. Along with the obvious (good food), they were so kind as to come around and asked how we were doing, delivered the food to the table (vs having to pick it up ourselves from the counter), and called our names (personal touch).

The bad: BYOB. But then again, this can be a good thing. Very good thing. Just expect it. 

In conclusion: Butcher and Bee is a gourmet, yet simple, farm to table cuisine taking fresh, organic, and fine food to a whole new level.

High Thyme (Sullivan's Island)

Take a little get away to a quaint bistro on the beach, and you’ll discover a fine treat. The restaurant is not large, so call for a reservation to make sure you get the experience.  

We had Wasabi Pea Crusted Seared Yellowfin Tuna over Ginger Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Aioli. It was difficult to share, and large enough to be an entree. I’m not complaining. I didn’t want to share.

This is Beet Salad over Arugula with Goat Cheese, Crispy Prosciutto, Truffled Lemon Vinaigrette & Balsamic Reduction. For beet extremists only. It had a generous portion of beets with crispy prosciutto which could have easily eaten them like chips. It also had a delicate and memorable flavor of truffles. 

The entree was Grilled Bone-In Brined Pork Chop over Green Chili Macaroni & Cheese and Haricot Verts with Blueberry Barbecue Sauce. The pork chop was cooked medium and was unbelievably tender. Could have had more blueberry bbq sauce so I found myself distributing the blueberries with every bite. In all honesty, too much would have over powered the naturally sweet taste of my pork chop. I had to take this entree home because I did not want to gnaw on the bone in public

Key Lime Pie, best I’ve ever had, I’m serious. But don’t count me as a key lime pie expert...yet.

The Good: High Thyme is a  quaint restaurant with a kitchen staff that prepares each dish with loving care and detail. We also had the mushroom and asparagus risotto, white chocolate pudding, and more that are not described. Not a usual beach side restaurant.

The Bad: The tables beside us were having such a good time resulting in a noisy experience. Guess that's what happens when good food mixes with good company. 

In Conclusion: High Thyme is a charming beachside restaurant that you will fall in love with after you taste the delightfully detailed dishes prepared for you.

Taco Mamacita (Sullivan's Island)

Take the main drag to Sullivan’s Island, and you’ll see it when you head toward the beach. Next to Dunleavy’s Pub, Taco Mamacita provides a colorful Mexican atmosphere with a menu that would satisfy any craving. However, there are no quesadillas on the menu.

Salsa sampler-house made salsas (mango jalapeno, salsa verde, and roasted tomato salsa). Roasted tomato salsa won in our book.

Mexican Chopped Salad and Oy Vey Taco (Beef brisket, Mama’s Ranchero Sauce, lettuce, pico, monterey jack cheese, guacamole, escabeche)

What is Escabeche? It's a meat that has been poached or fried, marinated in spices. Spanish in origin. I had to google this one.

The Memphis Taco (Braised pork, onion, dill pickle, jalapeno corn slaw, dry rub seasoning, BBQ sauce)

Blackened Mahi Taco (Mahi, jalapeno corn slaw, grilled pineapple, cilantro, tomatoes, baja sauce)

Side of Mexican Street Corn (Reminded me of Steven from Nacho Libre, when he carries the cob around with queso covering his lips)

Good: Fast service, got our chips followed by the entrees fast, within 15 minutes probably. However, we did go on a Friday around 2PM. Extensive selection of Tequila, note to Tequila lovers. Tops in the meal I had: Memphis Taco, Blackened Mahi Taco, Mexican Street Corn, and Roasted Tomato Salsa.

Not So Fabulous: No quesadilla on the menu. Also, the tortilla chips were thicker (maybe fried longer than what I would prefer). I also understand the value of house made salsa so, yes, you do have to pay for chips and salsa. 

In Conclusion: American style Mexican restaurant with a variety of options. It’s nice to have some Mexican fare at the beach too. Choose your taco combination...it’s fun.

Hello my name is BBQ

Do NOT be fooled by this inconspicuous truck parked by a scooter dealership. This food truck has been considered the best BBQ in West Ashley, and 100% who have voted has "liked it" according to Urbanspoon.

I am a fan of BBQ, but not quite a connoisseur YET. I'm learning though. As you walk up, you will find the menu to the right of the ordering window. This was the challenging part because I wanted to try everything.

My final answer, tacos! 

Inside the corn tortillas were jalapenos, pimiento, barbecued bacon chopped with pulled pork (with 2 homemade sauces), coleslaw, pickled onions, and tomato. What was not good about this! Absolutely nothing. Could have eaten more than two. Don't forget to order an authentic Coke from Mexico made from cane sugar instead of high fructose syrup. There's a huge difference.

The Bad: It's only one truck so I wish it could be parked where I want it to be. It's there Monday through Fridays at lunch only.

The Good: Fast and good BBQ, seating area under the shade of Lowcountry Scooter Store, and of course it's delicious.

In Conclusion: You will be surprised at the quality and taste of BBQ that comes out of this truck.   

Basil (King Street)

Shame on me for not reviewing this restaurant earlier. It’s become a standard or sorts in my life. Basil is always good. Always. I recently came back from Taiwan where I had some of the best Thai food, and where I experienced green papaya salad. I wondered if Basil’s had the same authentic taste.

The green papaya salad tasted so authentic (julienned green papaya, bell peppers, crushed peanuts, shrimp, and marinade that I can’t dissect). The  marinade/vinaigrette is one I could sip on, literally.

Soft Shell Crab is something I usually don’t pass up. It was in a.....here I go again with the sauce description, it was bold, slightly curried, slightly coconut. 

My usual is the Pad Thai (noodles, shrimp, chicken, cilantro, sprouts) and has more ingredients that bursts outrageous flavor with every bite. 

The beautiful sweet rice with mango. The rice was sticky and warm, with a savory sweet/salty coconut dressing topped with crushed sesame. Combined with the cool mango, it is one dessert that is unforgettable.

The bad: Lines of people to get in to eat one of the best meals in Charleston

The good: Basil has become a standard for me regarding quality and consistency of food. It’s always good. 

In conclusion: Go to Basil. It’s on the bucket list. The Thai flavor will make your mouth celebrate. Shame on you if you do not go.