Southern Charm backed “By The Way” now open in downtown Charleston, South Carolina

BY THE WAY IS NOW OPEN!

By The Way, the highly-anticipated neighborhood den from Charleston-based Uptown Hospitality Group and Southern Charm stars Craig Conover and Austen Kroll, has officially opened its doors. This marks a first-time partnership between the celebrated hospitality outfit and longtime friends Conover and Kroll, whose shared vision is to create a warm and welcoming neighborhood establishment that guests can tuck into at all hours of the day and night for stellar food and drink, genuine Southern hospitality and nonstop good vibes. Nestled just one block off King Street in the buzzy Cannonborough Elliotborough community, By The Way offers a cozy atmosphere, comforting American cuisine and well-crafted cocktails seven days a week, well into the night.

“We are thrilled to [finally!] introduce By The Way to our Charleston community alongside our great friends Austen and Craig,” said Keith Benjamin, Co-Founder and Director of Operations at Uptown Hospitality Group. “Our hope is for By The Way to settle in and become a beloved, long-standing staple of this city’s outstanding hospitality landscape,” Benjamin added.

“Craig and I are ecstatic to partner with Uptown Hospitality Group to share our idea of the ideal all-day, all-night neighborhood hang; a spot where friends old and new come together on the regular for good food, killer drinks, and great fun,” shared Austen Kroll, Co-Founder.  

MENU HIGHLIGHTS
By The Way’s menu offers an elevated take on classic tavern fare from Executive Chef Marcus Shell. Guests can expect familiar dishes – a mixture of appetizers, entrées, and shareables – that benefit from Chef Shell’s thoughtful preparations and commitment to spotlighting local ingredients. Signature dishes include:

• Fried Oysters & Caviar (kettle chip breading, citrus crème fraîche)
• ‘Nduja Deviled Eggs (Duke’s mayo, spicy spreadable sausage)
• Steak Frites (NY strip, garlic butter, chimichurri, shoestring frites)
• Duck Confit Sandwich (cranberry duck jelly, arugula, goat cheese, crispy Normandy Farm baguette)
• The Burger (house blend, bibb lettuce, caramelized onion, tomato jam, cheddar, sesame semolina bun)

 View the full menu HERE. 

RAISE A GLASS

By The Way’s bar program celebrates a mix of old and new classics that speak to the moment, with a selection of premium spirits from global beverage alcohol leader Diageo. A passion for well-made martinis is central to the By The Way experience, with an entire section of the menu dedicated to several variations, including the quintessential Freezing Cold – a freezer door martini with a choice of Ketel One Vodka or Tanqueray No. TEN Gin, olive or lemon twist. The beverage menu features well-balanced cocktails like theHot Honey Margarita with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Grapefruit Elderflower Spritz, Lavender Gimlet, or a large-format Old Fashioned to share featuring Blade and Bow Bourbon. The wine list is approachable, intentional, and carefully culled, and beer selections span favorite local, domestic, and imported brewers, as well as canned seltzers and spritzers. Rounding out the menu is a selection of seasonally-rotating Zero Proof (N/A) concoctions.

A FOXY DESIGN

The team collaborated closely with Oliver Haslegrave of the Brooklyn-based interior architecture and design firm Home Studios to create a time-honored, sophisticated, and playful space rooted in storytelling. The design features bespoke lighting and furniture crafted by Home Studios, natural materials like leather, marble, metal, and stone that will age gracefully with time, a glittering skylight, a dramatic back bar, custom plasterwork by Benjamin Lai, and an entrance mosaic by Katherine Frost. With plush booths and banquette seating, the restaurant is designed to evoke the warmth and casual elegance of an inviting, modern establishment while paying homage to Charleston’s charming architectural heritage. By The Way aspires to be a space rich in history yet continuously evolving—a gathering place and a beloved go-to for Charlestonians and visitors alike.

STOP BY & STAY AWHILE

To start, By The Way will be open weekdays from 4 PM – 2 AM, and weekends from Noon – 2 AM. The team plans to expand its hours early in the New Year, eventually introducing Weekend Brunch, a weekday Happy Hour from 4 PM – 6 PM, and a Wednesday Night Steak Frites feature. Music is an integral part of the By The Way experience, with curated playlists by some of the team’s favorite local DJs. By The Way’s opening schedule will adjust according to the holidays; please visit bythewaychs.com for the most-up-to-date information.

Photo Credit: Luke Higgs

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