New In Town: Flavorful Grits and Rolled Ice-Cream: Restaurant Reviews

Article and Photo Credit to Alyssa Zaponski

As Charleston grows, plenty of restaurants are popping up to feed its hungry inhabitants. This past week, I had the pleasure of checking out two new spots. The first is Grace and Grit, located at the foot of the Bridge in Mount Pleasant. The building itself is eye-catching from the moment you pull into the parking lot. The building is modern, sleek, and enticing. The outdoor patio is lined with tables and features a lounge area as well. The first thing I noticed inside was a table near the bar. It displayed different flavored jams, crackers, and sweet tea. It’s important to note that if you want to sit inside, make a reservation.

The locally-inspired menu features grit flavors in two categories: The Grit (pimento cheese, gumbo, brussels pesto, and homemade bacon) and The Grace (peaches n cream, blueberry, local brie, and truffle). These are ordered a la carte or added to a Chef’s Creation dish. I enjoyed mine smothered in Grace and Grit’s shrimp and veggies. Talk about a must-try food!

If you aren’t interested in seafood, or grits, you can find as much flavor in their Buttermilk Fried Chicken. The seasonings here were unlike anything I’ve had in a fried food. It was filling but didn’t leave me feeling grease-filled or gross. Try with a side of bacon creamed corn.

If you’re still hungry, try their spin on the grilled Caesar salad. Instead of chopped lettuce in a bowl, Grace and Grit slices their romaine in half before tossing it on the grill. It’s then dressed with traditional anchovy Caesar. Who knew those creepy little fish could taste so good?

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A new spot on Lower King street creates one of social media’s newest obsessions: rolled ice cream. When you first see Ice and Pan, you may think you’re in the wrong spot. The storefront and window signage is dingy, at best.  Yet, what their exterior is lacking, the interior makes up for. Inside, artist Colette Miller has painted a stunning mural of technicolor angel wings. If you wait your turn, you can jump in for a picture with them.

One of the best parts of Ice & Pan is the Plexiglas window which allows patrons to watch the magic happen. Even at 2:00 pm on a Tuesday, I had to fight for a spot to see the employees do their thing. In fact, it was so busy that it took almost 55 minutes for my order to appear. So, if you’re going to stop by Ice and Pan, make sure to clear your schedule first.

The ice cream flavors are as unique as the technique used to make it: coco pineapple, salty caramel latte, matcha madness, cookie monster, pistachio, and more! Each bowl comes with your flavor, three toppings, whipped cream, and a drizzle!

If you’re not into the craze, you can instead get a variety of specialty drinks – some even come in a large light bulb. Yes, you read that correctly: a light bulb. There’s no lack of options in the array of milk teas, bubble teas, espresso teas, fresh teas, and smoothies. Bonus Points: the wait for these treats is significantly shorter.

Check out both restaurants below:

https://www.facebook.com/graceandgritmtp

https://www.facebook.com/Iceandpancharleston/

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