Coterie — Restaurant in Charleston

Charleston has among the highest average levels of restaurant quality anywhere. In fact, one downside of living in Charleston is that you get so used to excellent food, you almost dread eating out when you travel. It can only very rarely measure up to your norm in Charleston. As such, new restaurants in Charleston have to be on their game. And Coterie had big shoes to fill, as the last restaurant at this location (Pan E Vino) was outstanding. The venue is excellent and the decor is spot-on, with a cozy, tastefully exotic vibe inside and a breezy, tucked-away patio. We had dinner with a client on a Monday evening and sat on the patio. I was a bit hesitant to book a somewhat exotic cousine for a business dinner, as only half of us were professed Indian food fans, and one of our party was a decidedly unadventurous eater. We started with cocktails, all of which were unique and imaginative… but not so imaginative that you had to imagine you really liked them. The flavors blended beautifully, and every one was so pleased that we each ordered multiples of whatever we ordered the first time. We ordered multiple small dishes as starters to share, and every. Single. One was somewhere between very good and spectacular. Likewise with our entrees, all five of us were impressed, pleased, and also satisfied by the ample portions. Having had quite a bit of Indian food, I found the flavors in Coterie’s dishes to be— like the cocktails— balanced, well-blended, complementary. Even the non-adventurous eater among us loved everything he tasted. In addition, I love to go to a restaurant where the staff is free to be an individual. That was the case at Coterie. Everyone from the bartender to the waitress to the manager was professional without being plastic, helpful without being overbearing. I will return to Coterie over and over, and I will tell everyone I know about it. Because while I like how it is easy to get a table right now, I want this restaurant to be one of my mainstays for years to come. If they keep it up as they are now, I have no doubt that they will successfully retain a niche in this very competitive, high-quality market as long as...

Edited to add that this review is from 2023. The restaurant is no longer an Indian restaurant.

Coterie was westernized Indian food. Now, there’s really nothing wrong with that. I mean if it brings the people in…who cares? My 2 friends and I visited on a random Saturday night for dinner back in July 2023. It had just finished raining, and we were seated in the covered but outside patio. While it was refreshing and cool at first, it became humid way too quickly. Of the 3 of us, my 1 friend & I got drinks (the other was pregnant). I believe I got the Carlita which was a tequila based drink, and my friend got the Staycation which was a rum based drink. Both of our drinks were outstanding & our hopes on the food skyrocketed. We got our water in stainless steel cups which we got giddy about because as Indian girls ourselves, we grew up on drinking out of stainless steel cups as well. My preggo friend ordered a masala ginger beer at first hoping it would taste like a masala soda, but it was literally only ginger beer. So, we requested our waitress to see if she could bring her a mango lassi instead (she took only 1 sip of the ginger beer). While she did bring out the mango lassi and took the ginger beer, she still charged us for it.

We also noticed our waitress taking FOREVER to come to our table, so after she delivered all of our drinks, we quickly put in all the apps and dinner items that we wanted. For apps, we ordered the Kale Bhel, Veggie Ceviche, and Paneer 65. For dinner, we ordered Palak paneer and captain tikka with no paneer. The apps were our favorite part of the meal. The Kale bhel was absolutely amazing as was the ceviche – both were mouthwatering. The paneer 65 was good as well but we’ve had better – it was SO dry. The palak paneer and captain tikka we felt were very bland. There were not enough seasonings in either of these curries, and it was super disappointing. After the sun set, the place also gets really dark and we could barely see our food. I understand it’s an outdoor patio, but there needs to be some proper lighting. Overall, I would come back for apps & drinks, but definitely...

Coterie in Charleston is a culinary gem that I can't stop raving about! This charming restaurant seamlessly blends Indian-inspired flavors with Southern cuisine, and the result is nothing short of spectacular.

From the moment I stepped inside Coterie, I was enchanted by the cozy and inviting atmosphere. The ambiance sets the perfect stage for a memorable dining experience.

But let's get to the star of the show—the food! The Indian-inspired Southern dishes at Coterie are truly a revelation. The chefs have masterfully combined the bold, aromatic spices of Indian cuisine with the rich, comforting flavors of the South. The result is a unique and mouthwatering menu that's unlike anything I've ever tasted.

I had the pleasure of trying their Butter Chicken Biscuit, and it was a flavor explosion in every bite. The tender, succulent chicken paired with the flaky, buttery biscuit was a match made in food heaven. The fusion of Southern and Indian flavors in this dish was a delightful surprise.

Another standout was the Grits and Garam Masala Shrimp, a perfect blend of creamy Southern grits with the bold kick of garam masala-infused shrimp. It was a harmonious balance of textures and tastes that left me craving more.

The attentive and friendly staff at Coterie only added to the overall exceptional experience. They were knowledgeable about the menu and were more than happy to offer recommendations.

Coterie in Charleston is an absolute must-visit for anyone looking to embark on a culinary adventure. The Indian-inspired Southern dishes are a testament to the creativity and skill of the chefs. This restaurant deserves all five stars and more. It's a culinary journey you won't...