By The Way

My girlfriend and I visited this spot for dinner one evening, and it was absolutely delightful. We were seated at a charming corner table with a lovely street view, setting the perfect atmosphere. The food? FANTASTIC. We started with a bottle of white wine that paired beautifully with our appetizer of fried oysters topped with caviar and crème fraîche—a decadent treat. Next, we shared the stuffed Caesar salad with steak, which was beyond incredible. Every bite was perfection. The entire experience was lovely from start to finish. Highly recommend!

Came to By The Way for lunch and it was Spectacular. Being the new kids on the block they showed out with the food and ambiance. I love all the pictures on the wall and the bar is fully stocked to make all your favorites or new favorites recommended by the server. We got the fried oysters with caviar on top and it was fried to perfection and the caviar was the perfect topper. The espresso Martini was smooth and not too heavy on the coffee. Last was the duck confit sandwich. After speaking to the chef I see why it's on the menu is full of flavor and you get a mouth full of duck in each bite. The vibe is fun and sociable. They have half off on Wednesday on Steak Frites. Parking may be a challenge but there is a parking garage near and street parking is an option.

We went last night, a Friday night. We thought for sure no way we would get in or the line would be crazy. It was extremely busy. The front door hostess was on top of her job. Bubbly and outgoing. Sent us to the hostess inside. She sat us right away at a great high top in the back which was perfect for me to people watch and enjoy the atmosphere. Music was great. Atmosphere was lively and fun. Molly was our waitress and she was fantastic from start to finish. Tentative, gave suggestions and checked on us just enough. Drinks and food were 10/10! We will definitely be back! Only thing that would have made it better is if we had seen Craig and Austen!

Went to By The Way for the first time this Sunday night. I want to start off by saying what an amazing experience this was all around. The place itself is absolutely gorgeous and this is just what Charleston needed. A New York City inspired vibe with Southern Hospitality. An elevated, intimate, experience with great music, great service, and delicious food. Not to mention the cocktails were very unique and tasted incredible. The hot honey marg was my favorite with the pornstar martini coming in right behind it! The apps did not disappoint. Fried oysters with caviar as well as a delicious crab crostini. I didn’t think it was going to get better but it sure did when the mushroom ravioli hit the table. The steak frites also had such tasteful flavor and were cooked to perfection. One of the best meals I have had in my life. Lastly, the phone did in fact not eat first when it came to the crème brûlée dessert. I can’t wait to return back to this incredible space and bring all of my friends and family! 100/10 stars for this amazing spot!

If you’re ever Charleston, this is a must stop! We were greeted by Cara and team, and Chef Marcus were outstanding! Best cocktails, fantastic food, fun, lively atmosphere. Riley our server took great care of us….just go!!

Recommend. Spent a wonderful evening with my bride of 40 years at Charleston’s newest venues, By The Way. Nestled in midtown peninsula (Spring & St. Philips streets), the proprietors hit the trifecta pinnacle in quality food, awesome service, and a warm and inviting environment. Although I could go on and on about anything and everything, let me give some highlights. Favorites: Oysters & Caviar (hit!); shrimp cocktail, steak frites, mushroom ravioli (my second favorite), ending with an Espresso Crème Brûlée. Thoroughly enjoyed, my bride and I shall return.

By The Way was so much fun!!! Great service and the martinis are so good. The atmosphere was such a vibe, I can’t wait to go back!!! Shout out to Gavin! I love having a super friendly fun bartender!!

BTW delivers an elevated Charleston dining experience, perfect for both date nights and friend gatherings. Don't miss their champagne and caviar bumps. 10/10.

I had a great experience! The bartenders are an amazing group of people - very knowledgeable- very friendly! Burger is great and the cocktails are delicious!

Came to By The Way for lunch and it was Spectacular. Being the new kids on the block they showed out with the food and ambiance. I love all the pictures on the wall and the bar is fully stocked to make all your favorites or new favorites recommended by the server. We got the fried oysters with caviar on top and it was fried to perfection and the caviar was the perfect topper. The espresso Martini was smooth and not too heavy on the coffee. Last was the duck confit sandwich. After speaking to the chef I see why it's on the menu is full of flavor and you get a mouth full of duck in each bite. The vibe is fun and sociable. They have half off on Wednesday on Steak Frites. Parking may be a challenge but there is a parking garage near and street parking is an option.

Taken aback by their being a door attendant at 5pm. The information online suggested this spot, several blocks off King, was attracting a more mature crowd. Door attendants/bouncers suggest otherwise. We were stopping in for a cocktail before our dinner reservation elsewhere. The decor is lovely and warm, however my first impression was how loud it was. Although only 3/4 full, we had to lean in and yell a bit to hear each other. Not music loud, maybe just the acoustics of the place. Waitstaff were friendly, drinks were good and arrived promptly. A note about the cocktail menu: again, if you're looking to attract a more mature crowd than the rowdy King St type, offering cocktails called "pornstar martini" and the like isn't the way to do it.

As fans of Southern Charm and eager to check out Craig and Austen's new spot, my group of three was excited to try By The Way. Unfortunately, the experience did not live up to the anticipation. First, the positive: the bartenders were friendly and the ambiance was cute, with a trendy vibe that made the place feel inviting. We had high hopes as we settled in, eager to experience what the restaurant had to offer. However, the service and overall experience left much to be desired. Upon arrival, we were told by the door attendant to wait at the end of the bar by the server bay, as we were put on a list for a table. We were happy to wait, but after 30 minutes, the situation took a turn for the worse. What seemed to be the manager on duty pointed out that we were standing in the server bay and told us to move out of the way. When I clarified that we had been told to wait there until our table was ready, she questioned who had given us that direction. To make matters worse, she proceeded to talk poorly about us to the host and even complained about her own staff, making the entire situation feel uncomfortable and unprofessional. We were left feeling unwelcome and frustrated. After spending an hour waiting with no progress, we decided to cancel our reservation and leave. On top of that, the $120 tab for four drinks was steep, especially with the excessive taxes, fees, and service charges added to the bill. It's unfortunate, because the potential for a great experience was there, but the rude behavior from management and the poor handling of seating and service completely soured the evening. We won't be returning anytime soon, and frankly, we found it hard to justify spending any more money at a place that made us feel so uncomfortable.

I was chomping at the bit to try this place. What I will say is that this restaurant has a lot of potential and is a great addition to the Charleston area. The atmosphere is warm and unique, the staff were friendly and attentive, and the food was good. However, personally, I didn't have anything I'd come back for. The fried oysters, in my opinion, lacked flavor, and the burger wasn't anything special. As the evening went on, the volume of the music seemed to steadily increase. By 7:30 or 8 PM, my friends and I were practically yelling across the table to hold a conversation. While it wasn't my cup of tea, no one else in the restaurant seemed bothered by it. That said, the vibes were great, and the staff was efficient. It's definitely worth a visit.

We went around 2pm on a Saturday and sat at the bar. There was lots of open seating but still decently busy. The bartenders were super friendly! I loved the cherry bourbon cocktail and my bf loves his espresso martini. We also ordered the nduja deviled eggs and the chips and onion dip with caviar which were all amazing!!!! My bf loved his steak frites! I saw on Wednesdays the steak frites are half off! The bathrooms were super clean. We had a great time!

My mom and I are huge fans of Southern Charm. Especially love Craig and Austen so we had to stop in and check out their new venture- BTW. Swanky, dim, modern yet whimsical vibes. We were stuffed from eating our way through Charleston, but saved room to try a few signature drinks and an app. The crab crostini was the perfect bite. Salty, briny, buttery with the crunch and chew of the bread. Pro tip: add caviar. Service was great, no wait for 2 even though it was a packed house. Check it out!

We were in Charleston to celebrate my best friend's 40th. By the Way definitely reminded us of our favorite spots in NYC. The burrata and wings were amazing, as were the drinks. Lemon was the absolute SWEETEST server. She gave us the best recommendations for our weekend. We stayed for hours and she never made us feel rushed. Austen was gracious and stopped to take a picture with my friend. Their hospitality is unmatched. It was such a vibe! 10/10 would recommend.

Always looking for a new place downtown in our neighborhood. Since this new establishment recently opened we decided to check it out. Not really impressed. The service was fine, bartenders were friendly and quick to acknowledge us at the bar. Our issue was the quality of the drinks. A $17 martini should be served in a traditional martini glass, not a miniature goblet. Second - glass type aside, a half full mini goblet for $17 dollars is not appealing to Charlestonians. Following this disappointment, I decided to lend a second chance and ordered a short simple Tito's and soda. I'm not asking for a super strong drink but purposely order a short glass for taste of the liquor. Nope, short glass and still tasted like drinking a straight Topo Chico for $12. We acknowledge the decor feels like a nice Charlestonian neighborhood establishment. Wine list was appealing. The door attendant was courteous upon entry and the entire staff was welcoming. Hopefully some kinks get worked out, as we will be giving this local another chance.

"By the Way" would benefit from clarifying its concept. While it has strong potential as a cocktail lounge, the extensive food menu seems to detract from this focus. To enhance the experience, I recommend streamlining the menu to just 3-5 carefully curated items, allowing them to concentrate on perfecting their cocktail offerings. The pre-made cocktails, at a $17 price point, are difficult to justify and could benefit from more attention to craft. Although I was eager to try this new venue, it ultimately did not meet expectations. By narrowing the menu, refining the cocktails, and continuing to invest in the ambiance, "By the Way" could position itself as Charleston's premier cocktail lounge.

Great ambiance and amazing food & drinks! The wings & stuffed Caesar are a must have!