Our taste-and-tell guide to some of the latest food-and-beverage openings in Charleston
Binky’s Oyster Bar
As the sandwich board out front playfully suggests, there’s no kids menu, no salt and pepper, and no craft cocktails at Coda del Pesce’s feisty younger sibling spot, located below Ken Vedrinski’s iconic Isle of Palms seafood cucina. But the “rules” aren’t a drag. Corrugated metal and azure accents lend an elevated fish-shack vibe, where classics get a chef’s touch. Try the poblano guacamole sauce with local oysters. Then indulge in the luscious crab Rangoon (crunchy wonton pockets generously stuffed with whipped cream cheese, fresh blue crab, and chives, served with chili aioli). Lighter fare is hard to come by (even the Caesar is topped with fried flounder), but crack open a can of wine or beer and remember: A day at the beach is meant to feel like vacation. @binkysoysterbar
Community Table
What debuted as Free Reign at Workshop has found a permanent home on a quaint corner of I’On. The highlight of this newcomer is the porch, ideal for supping alfresco year-round. Cozy up with house chenille blankets while enjoying the breakfast BLT on brioche (fortified with fried egg, cheddar, and “everything bagel mayo”). Or for an elegant, easy weeknight out, retire to the fetching dining room, outfitted with rattan light fixtures and powder blue walls. Get the cast iron-seared local fish with butternut squash, roasted potatoes, and preserved fennel, in a sweet corn bisquey broth. Don’t miss a dreamy rendition of the Pittsburgh salad (crisp french fries tossed with little gem lettuce and crunchy radish in peppercorn dressing). Servers are all smiles at this pleasant addition, destined to be a neighborhood staple. communitytablechs.com
