1 week Ago
The owners of a popular Northern restaurant group have brought a new concept to Charleston. Legami , from the family that brought New England Pasta Beach, is now open at 492 King St. Gianni and Susie Ropolo, who opened the original Pasta Beach in Newport, R.
I., own Legami with their sons Tyler and Eldredge. The restaurant’s kitchen is helmed by Andrea Congiusta, whose menu will be adjusted seasonally.
A set table at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Legami’s two-story setting includes multiple dining areas and a lounge that will eventually stay open as late as 2 a.m.
The food, though, is the main focus. Think of Legami as a vibey destination you might find in a large U.S.
city. New Italian restaurant to open in former 492 space on King Street in Charleston Chef Congiusta, who previously led Michelin-star restaurants in Italy, said he was inspired by the historic structure, whose renovated main dining room is wrapped in plaster walls hand-painted with palm trees. In the semi-open kitchen, Congiusta and his team roast scallops in bone marrow and serve with risotto.
They’re cooking lamb in a fig leaf emulsion and slathering grouper in a tomato reduction, an Italian nod to Southern barbecue. Chelsea Rennhoff sits with Elizabeth and Michael Rennhoff at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Mallie Taylor and Tripp Hamilton sit at the upstairs bar at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston.
A set table at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Christina Curran (center) talks with Sadie Loving and Ellie Baldecchi at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston.
Keaton Griffin a server at the now open Legami takes food orders from Matt Johnson, his daughter Lyla Johnson, Kerry Shannon and Maddie Johnson Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston.
The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Darren Fallon, head bartender at the now open Legami, preps for the day Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston.
Fresh herbs seen on the upstairs patio at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Dominique Pilosi takes a sip at the bar at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Photos: Legami is now open on King Street in downtown Charleston New Italian restaurant Legami is now open in downtown Charleston with New England roots.
Chelsea Rennhoff sits with Elizabeth and Michael Rennhoff at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Mallie Taylor and Tripp Hamilton sit at the upstairs bar at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. A set table at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston.
Christina Curran (center) talks with Sadie Loving and Ellie Baldecchi at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Keaton Griffin a server at the now open Legami takes food orders from Matt Johnson, his daughter Lyla Johnson, Kerry Shannon and Maddie Johnson Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston.
The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston.
The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Darren Fallon, head bartender at the now open Legami, preps for the day Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. Fresh herbs seen on the upstairs patio at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston.
Dominique Pilosi takes a sip at the bar at the now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. “We see people getting pretty much everything that we have based on their tastes,” said Congiusta when asked how his take on Italian food has been received. “I think for now our challenge is that we are trying to serve something that is not that common.
” Beverage director James Ruggiero, also drawn to the reimagined restaurant setting that formerly housed 492 , said he compared curating a drinks offering to designing a room in a home. The space dictates the drinks, he said, which range from booze-forward to bright and refreshing. Former Macintosh space in Charleston is now a Mexican restaurant.
Here's where it misses the mark. The Charleston Water pairs rye with amaro, brown sugar, peach emulsion and tea, and Legami's martini is filled with Calabrian chili olive oil-washed vodka, olive brine and burrata-stuffed olives. Also noteworthy are the bubbly Venetian spritz and Quasi-Mojito with coconut water-infused rum.
The now open Legami Thursday, October 31, 2024 in downtown Charleston. It all adds up to an exciting new option on Upper King Street , Charleston’s bustling nightlife district. Legami opens at 4 p.
m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit legamichs.
com . A new restaurant will open inside the former Butcher and Bee space in Charleston.
