Charleston’s 4 hottest restaurant openings of 2023

No single place symbolizes the evolution of Charleston’s restaurant scene more than Ma’am Saab, a Pakistani restaurant that took over a revered meat-and-three in May. What was once a no-frills diner known for sweet tea and fried chicken is now a jewel-toned room where you can find mango lassi and lamb biryani, and the transformation—led by owners Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba—is nothing short of remarkable. Come for flavor-packed Pakistani hits with a dash of Southern charm, and you’ll see why this opulent new place is one of the most buzzed-about newcomers downtown.

When this multi-tiered party paradise landed on East Bay Street in September, it turned heads for revitalizing a part of Charleston that used to be the city’s nightlife headquarters (until Upper King Street took over). The Habit is a unique all-day dining destination complete with live music and burlesque performances. Its Art Deco interiors—gilded mirrors, peacock wallpaper, neon signs—have plenty of Instagrammable backdrops for the see-and-be-seen crowd, plus cozy corners for more private conversations. But its most popular perch is the rooftop bar where you can sip a killer dirty martini, dip fried chicken bites into ranch caviar dip, and take in delicious Charleston Harbor views.

Charlestonians have always been fans of third-generation chocolatier Christophe Paume’s hand-painted truffles and pastries at his namesake shop in Ansonborough. So when Paume and his wife Carly Paume opened a French spot in May, locals flocked here. The quaint restaurant quickly scored neighborhood gem status for its sunny patio and simply prepared bistro classics like steak frites, croque monsieur, and escargot. Paume flexes his dessert muscles on La Bonne’s brunch menu, so head to this charming newcomer on a weekend if you want to dig into the sweet treats he’s built his career on.

Charleston first heard about Bearcat in 2020 when acclaimed Chicago chef George Kovach was experimenting with pop-ups around town. But a permanent version landed in West Ashley in May, where Kovach brings MICHELIN firepower from restaurants like Elizabeth and Band of Bohemia to a modern American menu here. Stay tuned for a full chef’s tasting menu, but in the meantime, feast on creative New American dishes like Berkshire pork tenderloin with apple hoisin and wood-fired oysters with wagyu fat. Kovach’s giving Charleston a unique fine-dining experience—but without any of the fuss.