Our taste-and-tell guide to some of the latest food-and-beverage openings in Charleston
Ma Gloria’s Trinidad
Fans of Roxann Melville’s catering business can now visit this North Charleston outpost where soca beats and friendly service await. The menu reflects the vastly diverse cultural influence on Trinidadian food, which blends South Asian, Chinese, Creole, and West African flavors. Try the doubles (curried chickpeas tucked into pillowy pockets of flatbread) or the tender, umami-rich oxtail served with calypso rice and a Trini-style veggie chow mein. Patrons can sample a saucy, smoky version of Melville’s award-winning jerk chicken; or opt for the dhalpuri roti stuffed with yellow split peas, made from a family recipe. Sorrel and mango punches are thirst-quenchers fit for the tropical spirit. And if you become a regular, Melville might just ask you to autograph the twin island map on the wall. magloriastrinidadcatering.com
The Royal Tern
A seafood newcomer has landed off Maybank Highway, providing a breezy and bright respite for John’s Island diners. A tranquil yet modern color palette decorates this sunlit space, fit with marine-blue glass tiles and coral-like forms that float across the dining room walls. The food is as fresh as the decor. Baked oysters with chopped shishito peppers, bread crumbs, and goat cheese are crisp and elegant morsels, and the seasonal, caprese-ish heirloom tomatoes (with lump crab and avocado) are a stellar prelude to a host of satisfying mains. The blackened local swordfish or whole-fried catch of the day showcase the restaurant’s focus on quality ingredients and are delightfully uncomplicated—a relief from the often overwrought or flashy exertions of some downtown debuts. Service is warm, informed, and attentive, for a meal worth the drive. theroyaltern.com
