Following the Eater tradition, our end of the year is a survey with friends, industry types and bloggers. To start at the Carolinas, Eater asked the group eight questions, ranging from the restaurants they frequent to take to the saddest surprises of the year. The responses are not in a specific order and readers are encouraged to leave responses in the comments.
Q. Which newcomer in the scene has you excited this year?
KJ Kearny, Founder of Black Food Fridays
Neon Tiger for sure. Their vegan pizzas don’t leave you with a “I’m losing meat” feeling because the flavor combinations were so out of this world!
Hanna Raskin, Post & Courier writer and food critic
Chasing Sage. They are doing a tremendous job from the culinary point of view, but the food aside, the team’s commitment to a travel-only model, despite the financial consequences, bodes well for the future hospitality location, which involves looking after the guest’s well-being.
Eric Ginsburg, Eater Carolinas contributor, covering NC
Chef Harry Monds’ Lula and Sadie’s (ex-Table Thyme and Bull City Street Food) is a promising new southern restaurant where nothing disappoints. Although there are many southern restaurants, the quality and creativity of Monds cuisine is a rarer delight.
Stephanie Burt, writer and presenter of Southern fork:
Delaney Oyster House. Everything I ate there was excellent and I love a well edited menu!
Kenneth Andrews, Contributor to Eater Carolinas, covering SC
Jackrabbit Filly swung out of the gate and never stopped. Anyone who has followed them this year has seen so many fun and innovative dishes coming out of that kitchen that I don’t think they could question the luck of Charleston having this restaurant in town.
Mike Ledford, Eater Carolinas photographer
Jackrabbit Filly
Matthew Lardie, Eater Carolinas contributor, covering NC
It was great to see Durham Food Hall finally open!
Barbara Skidmore, Eater Carolinas collaborator, covering SC and Savannah
Little Miss Ha – moving from the workshop to Mount Pleasant perfecting the take-away and dumpling game.
Brooks Reitz, Restaurateur (Melfi’s, Little Jack’s Tavern, Leon’s Oyster Shop)
George Bar – I love a well-edited menu and a firm bet that says “this is what we do well”. Their oysters are fantastic and the chicken is one of my favorites.
Dave Schuttenberg, owner / chef in Kwei Fei and Micho
Tina [David’s wife] and I love the Bodega sandwiches, which is remarkable, because Tina usually hates sandwiches. Maryam’s Pakistani flavors at Ma’am Saab are so well balanced, and her homemade approach to cooking really speaks to us. Most recently, Tina and I ordered the menu in the new Lupara Fine Italian Foods red sauce pop-up. The lasagna was excellent. I can’t wait to see what these boys will do here.
Erin Perkins, editor Eater Carolinas
I really like what Bar George is doing on James Island. The menu is apparently simple with roasted Peruvian chicken, oysters and fancy hot dogs, but this chicken is one of the best items I’ve eaten all year. It is perfectly crunchy on the outside and comes with an incredibly spicy and fresh green sauce. You will never be able to eat those roasted grocery birds again after that.
Jenn Rice, Eater Carolinas contributor, covering NC
I am very excited that Jake Wood will finally open Lawrence Barbecue in 2021. He has proven to be resilient for months and I can’t wait to see what comes to life for the Boxyard RTP team.