2 weeks Ago
A new bar and restaurant from a group of successful local operators is settling into its new home on Spring Street, where a former South Carolina Chef Ambassador is leading the kitchen. By The Way — from the owners of Uptown Social, Share House and Bodega — has brought an elevated dining and drinking den to the Cannonborough-Elliottborough neighborhood of Charleston since opening in December. Where Uptown Hospitality Group’s other destinations cater to a younger demographic, By The Way is supposed to feel more grown up.
And it does. The bar, a partnership with two stars from “ Southern Charm ,” truly came to life after a research trip to New York City. The group found inspiration in about a half-dozen establishments, including The Spaniard , an upscale West Village bar designed by Home Studios.
Partner Keith Benjamin and his team were thrilled when the New York City firm agreed to fly down to Charleston to renovate By The Way. Gavin Wall pours two espresso martinis at the end of the bar inside By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. “What translated to reality was literally 100 percent of our vision,” Benjamin said.
The 451⁄2 Spring St. space is noticeably brighter than its previous days as Warehouse, with a skylight window welcoming in natural light during the day and the stars at night. It’s framed by a brick barrel ceiling and walls adorned in various art pieces, from murals to a vintage print collage above the kitchen.
A pair of distressed mirrors flank the long granite bar, lined with stools and hooks to hang a purse or small bag. Behind the bar, circular high tops and tables are attended to by watchful servers who place Nick & Nora, rocks and martini glasses next to plates of sweet soy chicken wings, ‘nduja deviled eggs — a nod to Warehouse — and steak-frites. The slate of beer, wine and cocktails was curated by Alec Gropman, the group’s classically trained culinary leader and self-taught mixologist.
Headlined by a range of martinis, the drinks menu promotes the type of lively atmosphere By The Way patrons should expect, while also demonstrating a technical prowess found at top cocktail bars. I’m especially drawn to the cherry New York sour, a rye-based sipper with a frothy finish of pinot noir foam. One of three statewide Chef Ambassadors in 2023, Marcus Shell joined Uptown Hospitality Group in April to lead By The Way.
He went through four iterations of the menu before arriving at the opening day offering, which delves into elevated American fare through a Southern lens. Guests are welcomed in at the front door of By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. Gavin Wall pours two espresso martinis at the end of the bar inside By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston.
Kate Hawley and Justin Dalleva chat at the bar inside By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. A server emerges from the kitchen door as seen in a reflection on the ceiling of By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. Riley Chandler takes the order of Jen Haggerty and Jasmine Falcon at By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston.
An open table sits in the corner of By The Way facing the corner of St Phillip and Spring streets, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. Guests crowd the tables inside By The Way, a new restaurant at the corner of St Phillip and Spring streets, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. A bouncer minds the door on Spring Street outside By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston.
Hand-painted art covers the wall inside By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. An espresso martini is dusted with a trotting fox logo at By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. Illustrations show a fox and its paw prints on the windows of By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston.
Photos: By The Way is now open in downtown Charleston By The Way, the newest restaurant venture for Uptown Hospitality Group and Southern Charm's Craig Conover and Austen Kroll , is now open to guests in the Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood in Charleston. Guests are welcomed in at the front door of By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. Gavin Wall pours two espresso martinis at the end of the bar inside By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston.
Kate Hawley and Justin Dalleva chat at the bar inside By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. A server emerges from the kitchen door as seen in a reflection on the ceiling of By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. Riley Chandler takes the order of Jen Haggerty and Jasmine Falcon at By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston.
An open table sits in the corner of By The Way facing the corner of St Phillip and Spring streets, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. Guests crowd the tables inside By The Way, a new restaurant at the corner of St Phillip and Spring streets, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. A bouncer minds the door on Spring Street outside By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston.
Hand-painted art covers the wall inside By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. An espresso martini is dusted with a trotting fox logo at By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston. Illustrations show a fox and its paw prints on the windows of By The Way, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Charleston.
That this is the chef’s first restaurant opening becomes more surprising with each bite of fried oysters with caviar and brown butter crab, which rests on a wedge of just-warmed baguette. The menu will subtly shift with the seasons, Shell said, and his team will constantly refine the dishes that exit the kitchen. “The great thing about this company and the way that they operate is they continually push and challenge each other,” Shell said.
By The Way’s hours of operation are 4 p.m.-2 a.
m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and noon-2 a.m.
Friday through Sunday (closed Tuesday). For more information, visit bythewaychs.com .
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