I can confidently say that Brasserie La Banque delivers an experience that feels both elevated and…read moreinviting from the moment you walk in. The space alone is worth a visit -- soaring high ceilings, stunning architectural details, and a beautifully designed bar that immediately sets the tone. It feels grand without being stuffy. We were seated right away in a large semi-circle booth that was both cozy and spacious for our party of four -- the perfect balance of intimate and comfortable. Maddie, our server, greeted us promptly and took our drink orders. We started with a dirty martini, a crisp glass of Sancerre, and two Autumn Old Fashioneds -- all expertly prepared. From there, we asked Maddie for recommendations, and she absolutely nailed every single one. Her guidance truly shaped our evening. To start, we ordered the Pomme Frites and the Sweet & Beet Salad. The frites were a plate of crunchy, golden deliciousness -- yes, a touch salty, but in that can't-stop-eating-them kind of way. The Sweet & Beet Salad might sound like an unexpected pairing with sweet potatoes and beets, but somehow it worked beautifully. The flavors were balanced, thoughtful, and surprisingly harmonious. For mains, the Chicken Fricassée was well executed and comforting. The Boeuf Bourguignon, however, was the undeniable star of the night -- rich, deeply flavorful, and beautifully prepared. It's the kind of dish you think about the next day. The Gnocchi Parisienne was light yet decadent (if that even makes sense), pillowy and indulgent without feeling heavy. We also ordered the Market Catch -- a type of snapper none of us had ever tried before -- and it was cooked perfectly, flaky and packed with flavor. By the end of the meal, we were happily full and couldn't even consider dessert. Maddie suggested we at least pop downstairs to check out the speakeasy bar, even if we didn't grab another drink -- and we're so glad she did. I have to give Maddie the recognition she deserves. She was fantastic -- knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely fun. She made an already wonderful dinner even more enjoyable. An absolute delight. Ask for her if you can. If you're looking for a beautiful setting, classic French-inspired dishes done right, and service that elevates the entire experience, Brasserie La Banque should absolutely be on your list.

Beautiful and elegant atmosphere. Friendly, but slightly…read moreslow service. Excellent croissants. The other food was overly hyped. Definitely try the chocolate and the cookie butter croissants. We shared one of each for our table of four. Both were very good.

We ordered a baguette, curry crab soup, mussels and fries, goat cheese spring rolls, and the naked…read morefish. This place constantly hits it out of the park, and everything was just amazing. Our server was knowledgeable and helpful with our many questions about the menu, and was available but not intrusive. Highly recommended! We sat outside in the breezeway on a gorgeous afternoon, it was lovely out there

Bistronomy describes itself as offering a "cozy atmosphere" that "pays homage to classic French…read moredishes." The atmosphere is indeed cozy, although the entrance area feels overcrowded. Once seated, tables are well spaced, stable, and matched with comfortable chairs. One positive note: the restaurant is not excessively noisy, which makes conversation pleasant. Parking nearby is difficult, but there is a parking garage within walking distance. Bathrooms were clean and spacious. Unfortunately, the dining experience did not live up to the concept or pricing. The service felt casual to the point of being unprofessional. Staff were loud, informally dressed (jeans a Tshirt; though clean), and lacked the attentiveness and polish one might expect from a restaurant positioning itself around French cuisine. Also surprising: the menu is not available on the website. The biggest disappointment, however, was the food. Bistronomy needs a chef capable of honoring the culinary identity suggested by its name. The bouillabaisse was, frankly, an unrecognizable reinterpretation of the dish. The broth lacked the depth and defining elements traditionally associated with bouillabaisse; saffron, tomato, leeks, aromatic herbs such as bay leaf, and overall complexity. There was no meaningful presence of fish or scallops; just few shrimp and mussels out of a bag from supermarket dropped in hot water. And the rouille alongside just to check a box, placed on what appeared to be a failed crouton. Yet the dish was priced as though it were an authentic bouillabaisse. The "Wagyu" hamburger was equally disappointing. Whatever was served bore little resemblance to wagyu beef. Rather than rich and well-marbled, it was dry and lacked flavor, topped with inexpensive processed American cheese and served in a forgettable bun with overcooked fries. ... Yet the dish was priced as though it were an authentic wagyu beef. In summary: pleasant space, clean facilities, and decent acoustics. Good for a bar. But the food does not justify the concept, the execution, or the price point.

Food - 5 stars. Both my girlfriend and I got the blackened…read moreshrimp chowder. Absolutely delicious! I love how they fire the shrimp at the last minute, so they don't sit in a heated soup for hours on end, becoming rubber bands. Next, I got the scallops with the saffron risotto. Yum! Girlfriend got the a snapper dish on a butter bean medley. She doesn't like Lima beans (which these actually appeared to be), so she ate around them, but she loved the fish! Service - 5 stars Our waiter was a nice gentleman named Tony. He was very friendly and helpful and timely with his service. Did a good job of helping my girlfriend navigate the wine menu (she's quite picky). They've actually got some aged white wines (Sauvignon blancs) that are quite different than what she normally drinks (she likes New Zealand varieties), so he steered her clear of them. Ambiance - 5 stars I found the interior of the place to be very inviting. Tall ceilings and modern architecture. A little on the loud side (we had a family with young kids nearby), but not bad. They actually have sound absorbing panels mounted on the ceiling, so you can tell they've given this element some thought. Finally, our table had a nice view of the kitchen and, as an avid personal chef, I really appreciate that aspect. Only odd thing (to me, at least) was that they sat us at a table right away (we arrived right at 5pm, which was when they opened), but told us that the bar seating was by reservation only. Odd...but maybe be the Kentucky Derby was coming on later that evening? In summary, I highly recommend this place and we will certainly be coming back!

Royal Tern delivered some of the best seafood we've had in Charleston, even if a few other parts of…read morethe experience didn't quite match the food. We started with the Royal Tern oysters, and they absolutely stole the show. Fresh, briny, and perfectly prepared, they were easily one of the best things we ordered all night. If you're visiting for the first time, don't skip them. For our entrees, my husband ordered the whole fish with jalapeño cheddar rice and asparagus. The fish was cooked beautifully and packed with flavor, while the rice added a unique twist to the dish. I went with the swordfish and étouffée, and it was outstanding. The swordfish was perfectly cooked, tender, and flavorful, while the étouffée added richness without overpowering the fish. It was one of those meals where you find yourself thinking about it long after you've left. We finished with the angel food funfetti cake topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. While it was a fun way to end the meal, it didn't quite live up to the incredible seafood and felt a little forgettable compared to everything else. Service was adequate but not particularly memorable, and the atmosphere was pleasant enough, though it lacked some of the warmth and energy we expected. That said, the food alone is reason enough to visit. Between the oysters and the swordfish, Royal Tern proved why it's such a popular seafood destination.

Chez Nous feels like a little secret. The 200 year old house, tucked between streets, reads as a…read moretrue hideaway. We dined at night, when the patio glowed with lights, heaters, and long tables that felt instantly charming and warm. Inside, I loved the window at the end of the house looking straight into the kitchen. It felt like a front row seat at *The Bear*. The handwritten menu was a beautiful, elevated touch. The food was excellent. The burrata was the best I've had in ages, perfectly balanced with fresh, elegant flavors. The peppers with anchovies delivered a bolder, more dissonant note, but it worked beautifully. The bread was wonderful, the pork schnitzel hearty and satisfying, and my favorite dish was the snapper. Perfectly prepared, it came with a creamy but light sauce over a bed of onions. My only critique was the non alcoholic wine. The options tasted more like juice, and alcohol free wine can absolutely be refined and complex. These were not. Service? Yes. Yes. Yes. Warm, attentive, and genuinely gracious. I felt like a special visitor. Thank you.

Sometimes you go to a restaurant for a meal, and sometimes you go for an experience. The meal we…read morehad at Chez Nous went beyond a simple dinner. It was an experience from start to finish. We made reservations for the courtyard and I am so glad we did since it was perfect October weather. Tony and Hilton took care of us and did an exceptional job. They were attentive without being overbearing. The menu was difficult to read but it wasn't really needed as Hilton explained every single dish and was super knowledgeable on everything. We started with the veal sweetbreads with turnips and the salted cod stuffed peppers with Yukon gold potato puree. Both were exceptional and unlike anything I have ever tasted. They served fresh bread at the beginning and I loved dipping it in the sauce that came with the stuffed peppers. For entrees, my mom and I got the swordfish with vanilla saffron sauce. I was curious about this because I had never heard of vanilla being incorporated in a dish with protein. However, they did a remarkable job of bringing the ingredients together. The vanilla was vague but just enough to be identified. The swordfish was cooked beautifully. I don't usually lean towards ordering fish at a restaurant but I would order this again and again. My dad ordered the pork chop with chanterelle mushrooms, spinach, and walnut vinaigrette. I was lucky enough to snag a bite. It was cooked to perfection with the sous vide technique. It was cooked so perfectly I fear any other pork chop I will ever eat will pale in comparison. For dessert we once again tried both offerings-the chocolate meringue and the lemon rosemary cake. The chocolate meringue had a chocolate sauce and chopped pistachios on top. As someone who doesn't usually like meringue, I loved this dessert. The lemon rosemary cake was perfect and had a creamy lemon curd on top. I couldn't decide which one I liked more. My mom got the wine pairing with her meal and said they did a great job identifying the wines that complimented the meal well. I do recommend bringing mosquito spray if you are sitting on the courtyard. We were eaten alive. The communal table in the courtyard in a unique concept because you can mingle with other people dining at the restaurant but since everyone is being seated at different times be prepared to hear the menu being thoroughly described about 7 different times. If that is something that would bother you I recommend getting an individual table. The courtyard was also cool because there was a window looking into the kitchen where you could see the chef work. Service was excellent and attentive. When we got our dessert my mom did have to wait a while to get her last glass of her wine pairing for quite a bit even after asking. For the price point, the wine should be served immediately with the dish. Total was $377. $408 total with tip. Overall great experience. Would definitely come back.

We ordered the short ribs, shrimp Provencal, and the coq au vin. One way to tell the quality of a…read moremeal is by how all of us cleaned our plates! Very delicious and tasty entrees. Their bread was really good also. Wine was typically high priced. I always like their layout, we had a nice table in the rear where it's a little more quiet, so we were able to talk more easily.

I have very mixed feelings about our experience here. We…read moresat outside with our two dogs. The entire staff was very welcoming of this and brought two water bowls for them. That really stops the attentiveness of the staff. We were never told the special of the night. We listened to other tables be greeted and told about the muscles and shrimp special. We ordered soup and drinks. The soup came before the drinks. We ordered our dinner, and the drinks still didn't come. When we finally got our drinks, the cocktail was very watered down. Our food was fine. Nothing special. Be warned. The flies outside are horrible and ruined our entire meal. Our server really paid more attention to every other table than ours. We genuinely felt ignored the entire meal. We will not be back.

There's a part of me that doesn't want you to know about this place but they deserve the praise so…read morehere you go: take whatever reservation you can get, sit wherever they have space and come hungry. It is such a great menu with so many tasty items. I'd say don't miss the foie Gras mousse bc you'll never taste better. The restaurant is tiny but so nice and it's astounding what the chefs are able to accomplish in a small space. I'd also like to thank the staff for not dumping our many dishes all at once but coursing them nicely. It's was appreciated. An amazing addition to Charleston!

This place is amazing! The place is super small and cozy, so it can be difficult getting a…read morereservation. I understand because the food here is amazing! The crudo was top notch, my boyfriend could probably eat 100 of the foccaccia breads, and the leeks were also prepared super well. I'm not normally a chicken fan, but we ordered it here and it was enough for two people and was cooked so well. The skin was super crispy, the meat was juicy and it was 10/10. They had a nice wine menu. The staff was also really pleasant. We can't wait to go back.

I love the cozy and local vibe of this place, plus the nice servers and delicious food! Good wine…read moreselection too.

Gotta admit - I struggled with this one. I ended up getting the West Indies seafood chowder for an…read moreappetizer. It was...good...not great. Had a slight kick to it (spice wise) but very little evidence of actual seafood in it. After much debate about what to get for a main course (and after seeing what other patrons got at the bar where I sat), I decided to get the Moroccan salad with salmon. Again...it was good...not great. I cook way better salmon at home on a cedar plank over real charcoal, so maybe I'm being unfair here? I dunno. The salad itself was heavy on arugula, which I'm not a huge fan of. Which is odd, because I love the flavor of pepper! Anyway, the menu made it sound like it was more fennel-oriented, so... Ended up capping off the meal with the blackberry key lime pie. It was quite tasty. Not the best key lime pie I've ever had, but good. As to the atmosphere, it's nice. My girlfriend has actually convinced me several times that we shouldn't come here because we weren't dressed well enough. Well, let me just say: I saw several guys here wearing jeans, fishing shirts, and ball caps and they fit right in. So: not stuffy at all! Bottom line, it's a good, not great place to grab a meal. I love that it's off the beaten path (i.e., not close to Folly Road). Will def come back with my girlfriend next time. Might try the swordfish or maybe the meatballs next time.

We had dinner at Le Farfalle during our recent trip to Charleston and had a really enjoyable…read moreexperience. The atmosphere and ambiance were awesome and made for a great date night. This was actually one of the few restaurants we didn't reserve before our trip, and because of its popularity, the best reservation time we could get was 8:30 p.m. After eating there, I can see why it's so popular. The late reservation was absolutely worth it. We walked to the restaurant from our hotel, and with the later reservation time, the weather was perfect for an evening stroll through Charleston. It ended up being a really enjoyable walk both to and from the restaurant. Service throughout the evening was excellent. Our waiter did a great job all night. As we were ordering, he mentioned that the chefs prefer that guests place their entire order at one time and that the kitchen would pace everything appropriately. My wife and I usually like to stagger our order because we don't like feeling rushed, but we went along with their recommendation. Unfortunately, the timing didn't work out quite as planned. Our bruschetta came out quickly, and not long after, the kitchen sent over a complimentary braised artichoke appetizer. Soon to follow came the Caesar salads. Before we knew it, we had two appetizers and two salads on the table all at once. This was a disappointment because it made the meal feel rushed and took away a little from what was otherwise a special evening. We mentioned it to our waiter, and he was extremely apologetic. The restaurant did their best to make things right. They continued to check on us throughout the evening to make sure we were enjoying our meal. Our waiter brought each of us a complimentary plum spritz, and treated us to dessert. That level of service and attention did not go unnoticed. Both of us ordered the Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti, and it was really good. The chicken was crispy, just the way I like it, the marinara sauce was excellent, and the spaghetti made for a great accompaniment. We finished with the pistachio cheesecake. Yum, yum. Even though the pacing of the first part of the meal wasn't ideal, the food, atmosphere, and service were all excellent. We'd definitely go back the next time we're in Charleston.

The food was excellent and the service was very good. The pasta made fresh and was really good…read more Unfortunately, where I was seated every time I looked at my wife I also saw a load of dust between the mirrors above my wife. It was disgusting. I tried to get a good picture of it but the back light from a window was very bright. I included the picture. I would go back but I would definitely check the cleanliness before sitting down.