East Bay Meeting Place Bar & Cafe — Restaurant in Charleston

When one expects a meal and is translated into an experience of the heart, soul and stomach, one takes notice. These are those stories. Clong Clong!

The Atmosphere When I stepped through the lilting wooden doors, I could scarce know that I had passed into a portal of joy. Immediately to the right sits a beautiful bar area, reminiscent of a romanticized time gone by. Behind it stands a wonderful human being.

Panning left, my eyes are met with the elegance of white cloth, goblet glasses and lovely place settings; some by the windows overlooking the street. There is an air of fancy but, it’s not stuffy. It’s warm. It’s inviting. It’s delightful.

The Staff Returning to the kind soul behind the bar, Emilee greets each patron with an air of whimsy and arms-wide-open love. She wants to be there. She wants you to be there. She wants to meet you there. Emilee is easy to talk to, takes her time to engage and does so joyfully. But this isn’t a monologue of warmth; it is a duet.

Out walks Samantha from the back kitchen. Passion for her craft is in her eyes and she reflects the openness and bienvenue characteristic of the meeting place. Sam is ready to dish about her culinary creations; creations which can be characterized as calafragilistic. She has things to do in the other room, but you’ll never feel like you are imposing in conversation. After all, it is a meeting place.

The Food My wife brought me here for high tea; I didn’t know what to expect. I like tea. I like having it at 3 o’clock. I didn’t know it would be this good though.

The tea itself was potted delight. The selection is precise and yet covers good ground. Blacks, white, green and herbal - all of top shelf quality. I opted for the rooibos: floral, fragrant, slightly fruity and forward enough to stand alone as well as open minded enough to play well with milk. My wife opted for masala chai: warming, welcoming, witty in its combination of rich flavors; a best friend of milk.

The food arrives on three-tiered Victorian-esque serving tray. It is an etude of existentialism; providing ample opportunity for the senses to sharpen as one is whisked away, down the jaunting lingual journey.

The bottom tier is savory. A wonderful blend of southern-charm and European flair, there are delightful texture combinations, flavors that have formed a family band (Jackson 5 level) and just a palpable joy in the experience. One of my favorites was actually one of the most simple: a fresh crunchy cuke whose crisp have way to a fleshy kalamata olive which melted into herbed mascarpone. A full experience in one bite. But let’s not forget the delightful curried chicken in a baked whole wheat tortilla cup; a toasty crunch complimented by savory, yet bright turmeric, curry and a surprising golden raisin.

Conclusion You’ve got to come here. You would have a delightful time if you come with the purpose of community and...

I planned a birthday celebration on Saturday, August 20, 2022, for my sister and her daughter, July birthdays, (12th and 25th, respectively) and sister-in-law's August 1st birthday. I gave each s monogrammed bathrobe, stemless wine glass with their birth month flower and a bottle of red wine for niece and sister-in-law and sparkling apple juice for my sister. I also chose an Afternoon Tea which started at 3pm. We really enjoyed ourselves. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch. They close at 4pm. They require 48 hours notice for the tea service. The hors d'oeuvre were delicious. Check out their Afternoon Tea Menu for more detailed information. We each chose our tea, I chose Organic Earl Gray, my niece chose the Chai tea, my sister and sister-in-law each chose Green Tea Tropical blend. Hors d'oeuvre served, were Spanakopita, (cucumber sandwich substitute), curry chicken salad, the egg salad sandwiches and even the smoked salmon sandwiches were delicious. I'm normally not a lover of smoked salmon, but it was very tasty. The mini ham sandwiches, (sandwiches were freshly made), assortment of scones, cookies and chocolate dessert were all very good. We topped it off with a glass of champagne for my niece and a glass of Prosecco for my sister and for myself. Even though I chose a Saturday for our tea date, I didn't think about how busy the area would be with tourist/visitors at 3pm. But it was not a problem, we parked in the nearby parking garage near East Bay Street. Restaurant only a short distance away, maybe 2 to 3 blocks away. Trust me, prior to my lower back surgery on May 23, 2022. I would not have been able to walk a quarter of block, my family would have needed to drop me or pick me up in front of the building. I highly recommend East Bay Meeting House for Afternoon Tea. We'll most definitely return to try their...

I used to come by here regularly with some friends for a coffee or drink. Usually, there was one female who worked there and she was usually pleasant. However, I went one evening recently and sat at a free table waiting for the rest of my group to arrive. The place was mostly empty, just a couple in the front and a group in the back that left a few minutes after my arrival. The owner asked me to change my seat as he wanted to rearrange the table for an event that was starting 1.5 hrs later. I was happy to oblige. Then the owner approached me and said "Are you gonna order? I need to arrange my place and I want it to look a certain way." I explained that I was waiting for the rest of my party and then I would order. He was rude and used a very negative tone towards me. He said, "I can't just have people coming here and sitting. I want my restaurant to appear a certain way to others. Are you gonna order? " I assured him we would order when my friends arrived. There was no need for his rude and abrupt tone. He did not speak to the other two groups this way. He was discriminatory towards me as I am a young looking person in my twenties and I was carrying a small backpack and bike lights. He clearly treated the older patrons with more courtesy and respect. After a few minutes, I confronted him about this interaction. I explained that this was unacceptable to treat a customer this way, especially one who has come to his cafe on several occasions and was happy to accommodate any table changes etc. He denied any wrong-doing and failed to apologize. I left very upset with the entire experience. It is surprising that he thought it was okay to address me in such a disrespectful manner. I will NEVER return to East Bay...