Community Table in Mount Pleasant--Based on my Experience, you will be Greatly Pleased

The restaurant's motto is as follows: "We believe in three pillars, when it comes to a memorable dining experience, quality food, clean and comfortable atmosphere, professional but approachable staff. These values are the building blocks on which it stands. We serve quality, modern comfort food in an approachable atmosphere by people who care." We were about to put it to the test.

The restaurant's owners, Ryan and Kelleanne Jones, have an impressive resumes in the culinary business. The Jones ran Pintore Catering together in Hartford, Connecticut for ten years. Then, they moved to Las Vegas for a brief stint where Ryan helped open a large, three-meal restaurant, open 18 hours a day. They opened The Mill at 2t in Hartford in 2009, and it quickly became “one of Hartford County’s top spots for fine dining." They sold The Mill in 2016 and relocated their family to Charleston, where they settled in the I’On area. They operated Free Reign at Workshop, offering a “wood-fired coastal” menu. After that three-month venture ended, they were looking for a more permanent location. Free Reign ended, and the Jones family set sights on their newest project.

Community Table opened in 2019. The space is filled with bright whites, ivory, and driftwood. It fits about 85 seats, with a community table for 20 in the side room, a 12-person community table adjacent to the bar, 25 high tops on the porch, and tables filling the rest of the dining room. The menu's locally sourced ingredients pairs nicely with the restaurant's expansive drink offerings, which include local beer, the most creative wine selections in the Lowcountry, cocktails with fresh, hand-squeezed juices, cold brew coffee, and kombucha.

The occasions that brought us to Community Table were Valentine's Day and my birthday, courtesy my partner. Reservations made in advance, we arrived and were seated on the heated porch just outside the main entrance. The porch was well-lit, and the high-top table was comfortable. A unique feature on the table was silverware placed on oyster shells. Even though we were not in the main dining area, the first part of the motto, comfortable atmosphere, was satisfied.

Our server was a smiling, young lady who was very welcoming. After a quick, enlightening conversation about the cocktail offerings, I chose Somewhere on the Beach--Flor de Cana Dark Rum, Orange and Pineapple Juices, Fresh Lime, and Cranberry Juice Floater for $12. My partner chose the Bees Knees--Striped Pig Gin, Fresh Lemon, Honey Simple, and a large cubbe for $12.

To start our dinner, we chose the French Fry Ceasar Salad with Escarole Lettuce, Radicchio, French Fries, Garlic Crouton Crumble, Lemon Pepper Aiola, and Parmesan Vinaigrette. I thought it to be interesting for a salad to contain French Fries, but it turned out to be an enjoyable addition to the crisp, fresh lettuce and garlic croutons. 

For our entree, even though the item was from the starters list, my partner and I chose the Spanish Octopus with Crispy Octopus, Pickled Pepper Relish, Preserved Lemon Chimichurri, Cousa Potatoes, and Smoked Egg Aiola for $18. The Octopus choice was influenced by a previous outing where I tried the delicacy for the first time and loved it. The Cousa Potatoes were delicious, and the tender, mouth-watering Octopus reaffirmed my recent conclusion it will be a favorite, goto seafood choice. My partner was convinced I had not eaten enough, so I ordered the Butternut and Burrata Toast($16) and a piece of Pumpkin Cheesecake($9). The cheesecake was a sweet finish to the affair. The second part of the motto, quality food, was aced. 

As to the professional but approachable staff, we had fun interacting with our server. She was attentive throughout our stay, checking in often. She was knowledgeable about the menu and offered input. She gave a rose to my partner at the end, which I viewed as very thoughtful. It was Valentine's Day after all. 

Community Table met all expectations as to quality food, clean and comfortable atmosphere, and professional but approachable staff. Its menu was diverse and balanced as to its selection, from starters to entrees to desserts. It is located in the sophisticated I'On district of Mount Pleasant. Give it a visit. Based on my experience, you will be greatly pleased.

Monday to Saturday: 11 am to 9 pm.

Sunday: 10 am to 3 pm.

Weekend Bruch: Saturday at 11am to 3 pm and Sunday at 10 am to 3 pm.

Happy Hour: Monday to Friday 3 pm to 5 pm.

Community Table, 148 Civitas Street, Mount Pleasant

Laura Convincingly Proved It is Rightly Classified One of the Hottest Restaurants in Summerville

It sits at a corner of crossroads in an area once upon a time was the beating heart of Summerville. The railroad brought Charleston's elite and visitors from north, west, and south to the station that sat on real estate nearby. Its name is simple in that it is simply a single name. However, it is not just a piece of cake. It is a lot more. Its name is Laura, and it is one of Summerville's hottest new restaurants.

Laura is a rustic Italian restaurant paying homage to the simple and incredible flavors you would find in Rome, Florence, Naples, and beyond. It is the latest conception of Chef Nico Romo, founder of Mount Pleasant's NICO and Charleston's Bistronomy. Laura was the name of Nico's grandmother. Her recipes are the inspiration behind the restaurant named in honor of her.

The evening we visited Laura, it was pouring rain. So taking pictures outside was out of the question. My first surprise when we stepped in through the door and approached the reception's podium was the restaurant's interior spaciousness, quite different than your perception of it from the exterior. We had a 5:30 reservation and were escorted to a table for two with booth seating on one side, which was very comfortable. The immaculately arranged table had a white cloth, drinking glass, wine glass, yellow decorated plates, and silverware. Our server for the evening immediately greeted us. She was dressed in a black and white striped top. The kind gondoliers wear in Venice.

She addressed our drink selections first, for which we had a few questions, such as, "What is your favorite?" At first, my partner asked about the Negroni for $13--Nolet's Gin, Campari, Carpano Antica--which she changed quickly after the server said without hesitation, "Blood Orange Martini--Firefly Vodka and blood orange for $14." It turned out to be the right choice. Garnished with a slice of Blood Orange, the drink was refreshing. My partner happily indulged on the alcohol-soaked slices of blood oranges.

After surveying the dinner menu, my partner chose Octopus with polenta parmigiano, artichoke, pesto, and crispy prosciutto for $18. I went with Gnocchi with asparagus, pancetta, parmesan cream, and herb crumb for $20. We split the Caesar Salad with white anchovy, shaved parmesan, and radish for $14. The white anchovies were succulent, and the salad was crisp. The Gnocchi was smooth and delicate. My partner allowed me a taste of her Octopus. It would be my first exposure to this creature of the sea as an entre, so it needed to impress. It passed the taste test with flying colors. I will describe the crispy prosciutto as being creme de la creme bacon. The whole affair was topped off with Strawberry Cheesecake, a sweet finish.

The interior space was comfortably lit. All the tables were cozily spaced, no crowded feeling, and you didn't hear your neighbor's conversations. The furnishings were appealing and apropos. Family portraits hung on the walls, and an unusual piece of nostalgia next to a large wine rack graced the entrance area, a Ducati. A large red polka-dotted pizza oven and an open kitchen were notable features.

The service was impeccable. Water glasses were always filled, and used dishes were quickly removed. All presentations were visually appealing and mouth-watering. Our primary server was conversational, attentive, helpful, and humorous.

 

After our visit to Laura in Summerville, it is understandable why it is one of the town's hottest new restaurants. It offers the complete Italian culinary experience patrons crave.

Photographs by Anne-Merle Bryant.

The Captain's Tour Aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown by Bulldog Tours--Excellent Guide and Narration

While you cross the impressive Ravenel Bridge spanning the Cooper River that separates Mount Pleasant and Charleston, it is impossible to miss. Anchored in the riverbed mud some 20 feet, it towers over the passing tidal currents like an immovable colossus. As a matter of fact, the only threatening force able to move it was Hurricane Hugo, which put a slight lisp in its profile. It has been a centerpiece of Patriots Point since 1975. It is the National Historic Landmark called the U.S.S. Yorktown, an Essex-class carrier of World War II.

Viewing the U.S.S Yorktown from the Cooper River bridge as you pass by in a car doesn't do it any justice. Stand on the pier just below its gaping entrance, and you experience the full scope of its massiveness. However, scale the broad, steel steps and enter its interior, and you will feel like you were just swallowed by a gigantic iron whale. Numerous antique aircraft spanned the total length of the main deck to the right, and to the left, a museum with a restored B-25B Mitchell medium bomber used in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo just beyond.

We had reserved the Captain's Tour: Steel Canva offered by Bulldog Tours. We checked in at the Information Booth and waited for our guide. There would end up being six people altogether in our group--a very manageable number. Upon arrival, the guide introduced himself and stated his credentials, along with a few humorous statements bunched in to lighten things up. A retired Navy man, Tom Simons had served on several ships as an aviation mechanic. His gentlemanly and personable demeanor was accentuated by a striking military stature.

He led us to a replica of the U.S.S Yorktown housed in a glass case, where he began a detailed history of the ship from its beginnings to its decommission and finally ended up stuck in the mud of Charleston's Cooper River to serve as a Naval and Maritime Museum. He also talked about the ship's first captain, Joseph James "Jocko" Clark--the first Native American to serve in that capacity.

Next, he made a brief stop to highlight a museum dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients and their stories--not a part of the tour but could be viewed anytime before or after. We took a short walk from the museum to the restored B-25 bomber used in the Doolittle Raid, where pictures of the 16 crews that partook in the raid and their stories lined an adjacent wall. We were afforded the opportunity to step aboard the display's bomber called the Ruptured Duck--a unique feature of this tour.

We now descended into the ship's guts to the crew's quarters, torpedo arming area, the galley, food preparation, dental offices, and medical quarters. A highlight was a stop at a drinking fountain, where the guide detailed the story that gave birth to the word "scuttlebutt."

We left the lower decks and trekked across the main deck to ascend several flights of steps at the very front of the ship to where the ship's huge anchor was stored, called the fo'c'sle or anchor room--each link of the long chain weighed 130 pounds with color coding positioned at various points of its length. From the anchor room, our group entered the upscale Captain's Quarter. Pictures of celebrity Ann Margaret, who once stayed on the Yorktown, hung on the wall. From there, we moved to the command centers and the flight deck, which was the end of the tour.

The tour was a total success, and that was because of our tour guide. He made it entertaining and enthralling. He spoke to each of us personally even though we were a group of six. His narrations were a balanced blend of facts and humor. As to the ship, it speaks for itself in many ways as you get an eyewitness look at its splendor and a glimpse into what it was like to live and serve on its decks. You get access to some things self-guided patrons do not on this tour. It is two hours long.

Photographs contributed by Anne-Merle Bryant

Adults: $42

Child (4-12): $29

Senior: $34

Military: $36

3 and under free

Bulldog Tours, 18 Anson Street, Charleston, SC