Lewis Barbecue
Turn right onto Isabella Street from Meeting and you’ll start to see the signs—parking around the eatery is plentiful. That’s thanks in part to a deal with nearby Union Baptist Church sealed on July 10, when the eatery raised more than $30,000 to re-roof the century-old house of worship. In return, Lewis devotees don’t have to walk far for some of the most succulent meat around. Plus, the extra spaces come in handy: there’s rarely a moment when the polished joint isn’t packed or without a long line of hungry carnivores waiting for ribs, pulled pork, sausage, and the almighty smoked brisket. The latter is owner John Lewis’s specialty—folks from Austin (where the pitmaster worked at famed Franklin Barbecue before opening La Barbecue) know its melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Add a side of green chile corn pudding and an ice-cold cocktail, and you’ll see why this ’cue (and queue) is worth the wait. www.lewisbarbecue.com
Le Farfalle
Joining the ever-growing list of Big Apple chefs making a name for themselves here is Michael Toscano, who, in New York, helmed Perla and Montmartre kitchens and earned a James Beard Award semi-finalist title. Yet Toscano’s fledgling Italian osteria on Beaufain Street is a family affair, and wife Caitlin comes with an impressive résumé, too, including front-of-house positions at Eataly and Per Se. Head to Le Farfalle for a memorable meal with standout dishes from start (like fluffy pork meatballs or the multi-layered veal tartare, pictured) to finish (don’t miss the chocolate gelato) and everything in between, especially the house-milled, hand-rolled pasta. Even the Sicilian extra-
virgin olive oil accompanying warm focaccia is distinctly tasty. www.lefarfallecharleston.com
