Lowland — Restaurant in Charleston

I sometimes wish there was a direct 1/4 or at least 1/2 Star option on the ratings (rather than letting overall averages create the points in between) as there is a big difference between 4 and 5 star ratings; at least to me. Several places are better than a 4 but definitely not a 5 (highest rating)....So do you select a 4 and potentially bring a rating down or choose a 5 keeping a rating up even though you personally don't think the overall experience was a 5 across the board??? I only mention this because LOWLAND was a 5 in every way possible so I had no problem with the rating system, this time. Originally a house, this 3 story building is historic and beautiful. I'm sure there is a name for the style of décor (although I don't know such things) so I will just call it cozy: warm, nostalgic, and inviting. The (downstairs ) bar is beautiful and perfectly lit and both of the bartenders are friendly yet professional and have some unique signature cocktails that seem old world but at the same time; new. Tables are peppered throughout multiple rooms with some quaint sitting in bar area too. The second floor has additional tables in 2 open rooms and an additional bar up there. Our table of 2 was next to a fireplace with multiple candles lit, inside. Our waiter, Mateo was both professional yet affable and made many great suggestions including our wine which I had narrowed down to 2 but could not decide.... We shared the Cheryl Biscuit to start and it was amazing.It was soft, fluffy, and moist in the middle and great outside crust on top with a whipped butter and jelly. We also shared the Pickle plate which was pickled carrots, olives, onions, and some other goodies with a perfect sweet-to-vinegar ratio. Together, those two items were a perfect starter.... I had the 24 hour short rib which was perfectly smokey and tender. It came with chimichurri on top and was the perfect amount just to add the extra flavor without taking away from the slow roast savoriness. It was served with a side of puréed potatoes that make "mashed" ones look ordinary....My wife had the Fish of that night which was a Red Snapper with Brussels and it too was amazing. A smokey flavor that hit with a slight delay and subtleness which almost took a minute to recognize.... I often lament that most restaurants play it safe when it comes to desserts with the same usual offerings in different variations: Chocolate Cake, Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie and maybe a Creme Brulé. Not that these are bad but there are so many different amazing desserts (and flavor combinations) that exist and most people never get to try. Luckily, Lowland is different (and thankful we have places like Weltons Tiny bakeshop, Harbinger, and Merci trying new things and giving us the opportunity to explore the unique side of sweet and savory). Sorry...back to Lowland. We had a Panna Cotta on top of a large pistachio cake that was the best thing we have had for dessert, in a long, long time. We consciously slowed down with it to make it last longer and savor every bite and almost ordered a 2nd one to bring home ...The menu is not vast here (which I like) but that just means each item is well thought out and executed. A few items (or ingredients ) change daily but the rest of the menu remains the same. If you are a picky eater this may not be the place for you (although they do have a burger every night that sounded amazing). If you are not picky, then you will not go wrong with any decision, here. Even if you go to the bar for drinks only, it should be on...

Have been hearing about and seeing pictures of this place ever since it opened, so we had to get a reservation when we were in town for a wedding. First word of warning -- this place is kind of...weird as far as reservations and seating goes. There are 3 (or more?) separate seating areas, one of which is completely next door (in the Quinte, I'm guessing a sister restaurant/bar in the same group?). So make sure you know which room you're getting when you book, it's not very straightforward from pictures or Resy. The Tavern room is probably what you've seen -- long cozy bar and room with eccentric pictures lining wallpapered walls, leather chairs, low lighting, and close tables. This is what you want. The dining room is a little brighter room up front with more space and a little less character. And in distant last place, the bar (I think?), they take you outside and next door to The Quinte and seat you by the bathroom. I'm sure the Quinte is fine in its own right for a pre-dinner drink and some oysters, but seating for a $200+ meal it is not. Anyway, the vibe of this place is great - perhaps the best part about it. The food...not so much. I'd looked at the menu online beforehand and while there were only a few changes once we'd sat down, the main things I'd wanted to try (butterbean toast, bucatini & chanterelles) were nowhere to be seen. I figured it was outdated since chanterelles aren't in season, but still disappointed. We ended up getting a few starters, a few mids, and split an entree. Our server grouped them, but the timing was strange. I didn't need the pickles with the biscuit (which was just OK), but they would've really helped the sourdough & mayonnaise. More on the sourdough & mayo -- probably the best thing we had and that's saying a lot since it was a couple piles of mayonnaise hiding a boiled egg with some anchovies to spread on toasted bread. The tartare was...OK - definitely needed some brighter mustard, and the chips were near burnt. We split the schnitzel and while the salad on top was awesome, the pork itself was a little oily and not that flavorful. Overall, wish we would've had the sourdough/mayo with the pickles, the schnitzel salad as its own thing, and gotten a different entree. Drinks were good but pricey (I don't like living in an $18-22 cocktail world, but it looks like we're there now in Charleston), service was attentive, and again the atmosphere was great. Long-winded review, but this place has the vibe right but the food that we ordered wasn't stellar or that memorable for the price point (for a couple of regular ol people). I'm sure their menu changes constantly, but this place needs a signature, and we may have just ordered poorly. I'd probably go back to get a small plate and some drinks at the Tavern bar, and check out The Quinte as its own experience. Make sure you get the...

This review is a perfect example of how bad service can affect an entire review.

To start with the good, the food was incredible. My GF got the sweet potato ravioli and i got the bavette steak. I can see the appeal to the pickles and the biscuit, however i would have preferred our server specify that the "gourmet pickles" are pickled vegetable's and not pickles because i would have ventured into something else

Now the bad, the service was incredibly poor. It was just the 2 of us and we had additional 2-tops on either side. our server (Graham) i think his name was was extremely attentive to each table on either side, but not ours. To start off we didn't order anything fancy or were demanding. My gf and i both ordered cocktails and i asked for a lime garnish with mine and didn't get it, i had to ask. Whatever you know. However, as the dinner went on and i watched the tables next to us get their plates cleaned after each meal, their silverware replaced, my GF and I looked at each other because we experienced none of that throughout our entire dinner, the only thing we got from graham was him asking if we wanted more cocktails... I ordered the steak as mentioned above, and while it is already pre cut, i never got a steak knife. I wasn't also told that "the steak comes medium rare, is that okay?" Medium rare is fine for me but i would have expected a restaurant like this ask me about these little things, especially because it is very easy to overcook bavette. The tables next to mine got porkchops and a burger and a steak knife was provided to them before their meal, while i had to eat mine with a butter knife. We did not get dessert.

I am not sure if it was because we are young and there was a unconscious bias going on or what but I've been to plenty fine-dining restaurants in Charleston, I am not a stranger to the costs and expectation. The service i received here was comparable to an Applebee's. Extremely disappointing considering the prices. I still tipped close to 30% on a $125 bill(which graham most certainly did NOT deserve) in the hopes that if it was bias that he realizes he should have changed how attentive he was and that he could have gotten much more out of me in a tip if he was just a little more evenly attentive to my table as he was to the ones around us.

I always think maybe it was an off night but unfortunately i don't think i will return. There are many other restaurants in Charleston that can provide me with a far better experience for a similar price and this was by far one of the most disappointing dining experiences i had in Charleston. Maybe I'm the one guy that it happened too, but it definitely...