Our taste-and-tell guide to some of the latest food-and-beverage openings in Charleston
Tradd’s
Tradd’s bright palette and green banquettes are a far cry from the brick walls and white chairs of Cypress, which used to occupy its space. Tradd and Weesie Newton have updated the East Bay restaurant with sophisticated details including an adjoining bar on the first floor, as well as paintings, like a giant abstract image of a chef, from their own home. Creatively plated classics are the name of the game on the menu, where seared scallops, roasted duck, pork tenderloin, and a rib eye are a few of the time-tested entrées. The appetizer side is a little more exciting with foie gras paired with a honeycrisp apple gastrique and a decadent lobster gnocchi. For dessert you can opt for the Deliciously Dark Chocolate Cake, but for our money, the boozy Coffee Milkshake made with Six & Twenty Carolina Cream is the way to go. tradds.com
Lowlife Bar
Anyone familiar with owner T.J. Lynch’s Manhattan outpost, Mother’s Ruin, won’t be surprised that his self-described “chill ass bar” on Folly is much more than a fruity drink dispenser. As the breeze blows through the open-air space just off Center Street, seafood ceviche arrives with crispy wantons and is a perfect starter paired with a Dark and Shady—fresh ginger and lime juice mixed with Cruzan Black Strap and Amber rums. Indoor and outdoor seating makes for a loud party atmosphere where dogs and well-behaved kids are welcome in equal measure. Guests rave about the burgers and waffle fries, and it’s true, they’re great. But if you really want a dish that goes above and beyond beach-eats expectations, try the shrimp roll. If this remoulade-tossed, open-faced sandwich forecasts the future of Folly dining, we’re in for a treat. lowlifebar.com
Photographs (4) Lilia Montero
