By The Way

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Unforgettable Experience – I’ll Be Back Again and Again! From the moment we walked in, the vibe of this restaurant was on point — warm, lively, and welcoming. The ambiance struck the perfect balance between relaxed and elevated, making it a great spot for both casual nights out and special occasions. The food? Incredible. Every dish was flavorful, fresh, and clearly crafted with care. The drinks were just as impressive — creative, well-balanced, and expertly made. Like the espresso martini and the spritz! But the real showstopper? The cheesecake. Hands down the best I’ve ever had — rich, smooth, and absolutely unforgettable. I will dream of this cheesecake. Service was top-tier from start to finish. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely invested in making the night a great one. I left full, happy, and already planning my next visit. This place is an absolute gem — can’t recommend it enough!

Truly blown away! I’ve been a huge fan of Southern Charm for years and when I heard Craig and Austin were opening up a restaurant I was skeptical, but hopeful. After stopping by on vacation a few weeks ago, I must say, I was very impressed. For starters, the deviled eggs are absolutely delicious. Can’t recommend enough. The spritzes on the cocktail menu were perfectly balanced & refreshing! For entrees, we tried the mushroom ravioli and the duck confit sandwich- both were divine. The duck was probably the best sandwich I’ve had in years. Service was great (we went for lunch so it was slow) and the interior was beautifully styled. Overall, definitely worth a stop if you’re visiting! Great spot for a date night or a quick cocktail.

Maggie was an absolute standout server—friendly, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. From the moment we sat down, she made us feel welcome and taken care of. She knew the entire menu inside and out, offering thoughtful recommendations that ended up being some of the best drinks we’ve ever tried. Her timing was perfect, and she checked in just the right amount without being overbearing. It’s rare to come across someone so passionate and professional—Maggie truly elevated our dining experience. We’ll definitely be back, and we’ll be asking for her by name!

We had a wonderful girls' night in downtown Charleston, and since we just moved here, we were really excited to explore the local restaurants. One of our friends has a shellfish allergy, so we were a bit worried about what she could eat. Our waitress, Maggie, was amazing! She took the time to double check with the cook to make sure there was no cross-contamination. We could see that she was truly concerned for our friend's safety. Later, the cook even came out to apologize when we found out that some food had been cooked in a fryer that wasn't safe for her. It really meant a lot to us that they were so careful and considerate. This attention to detail made our first experience in Charleston memorable and enjoyable. We left the restaurant feeling happy and looking forward to more fun nights in our new city!

Great vibes, waitress was a little odd was talking to the hostess most of the time. If I saw the pictures of the kettle chips and onion dip I wouldn’t have ordered, I get more at the grocery store than at a restaurant claiming to charge $8 smh. The drinks were good I mean you can’t mess up in a can. My husband got the fancy ones and I would have stayed for another but I was disappointed our server, I asked for more from the other guys cleaning up. Maybe a redo and maybe the guys that own it will be there and show their faces. Especially when it’s $50-$100 per person.

we had dinner tonight at btw and it was so wonderful! the attention to detail and the atmosphere of the place were so good! we had the brown butter crab crostini, steak frites and i had the grapefruit basil martini which were all wonderful! the matchbooks were also such a nice touch. will definitely be coming back!

BTW was a highlight of our “Southern Charm” hot spot self tour! Totally inconspicuous exterior but wow what a gorgeous interior design that blew us away. This is a true cocktail bar and Jack, our bartender, was super friendly and served up some amazing cocktails! He also gave us cute to go cups and we even stopped back later that night for the hot honey margarita again! Def a favorite stop of our first time to Charleston and can’t wait to come back. Nice job Austen and Craig…cheers!

Sean, the manager was amazing. Super attentive and hospitable! The waiter was new but kind and friendly. My burger order -without bun/cheese came with - bun and cheese so it had to be reordered. They were out of tomato jam sadly. The fries were slightly too crispy. My husband ordered the steak and frites. The visual presentation was lacking. Steak (a filet) lacked flavor and salt. Wished the cut was either a ribeye, hanger, or strip. (Husband has an egg allergy so was unable to use the béarnaise sauce on the side, maybe that would have helped?)Fries weren’t that hot for him and pretty underwhelming as well. Drinks were rather impressive tho, fun and unique. They were out of the deviled eggs so we were unable to try those as well. Not our favorite experience overall but the staff was very kind and attentive.

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!