Merci — Restaurant in Charleston

The Hungry Detective and Special Agent Deirdre had the most fantastic experience last night at Merci… If I could give six stars, I would right from the get go… all right let’s talk about the atmosphere first.

ATMOSPHERE: The location is in a true Charlestonian neighborhood just off the College of Charleston campus… there’s a small intimate dining area and then the chef‘s table where I like to sit, where there’s six spots. It’s just perfect and you can see all the action and how all dishes are cared for and prepped by Chef Alex and his wonderful staff!!!

SMALL PLATES/STARTERS: I don’t know where to start because everything looked absolutely fabulous. I would’ve ordered one of everything if I could’ve as I sat there and watched all these great plates come out. I will definitely get the focaccia bread with Benton’s cured ham and honey on my next visit and the tuna Crudo…we had the beef tartare with these delicate little mushrooms that were spread over this incredible handcrafted charcoal brioche bread and tallow aioli.

CUISINE: The Beef Wellington for two was our main course. It takes 50 minutes to prepare and it’s worth the wait, so if that’s on your mind, I would let them know as soon as you arrive. They really appreciate the heads up and let me tell you this is the best beef Wellington I’ve had and I will say that I have become a beef Wellington aficionado and this piece of beef was over the top and cooked to perfection and accompanied with an incredible sauce poivrade and surrounded by this fabulously decorated French pastry dough. The beef was accompanied by handcrafted vegetables that were absolutely incredible along with whipped duchess potatoes, served up steaming and piping hot in a French crock

WINE: Our server, Lucy and Chef Alex paired this beautiful French Bordeaux that was presented at the perfect temperature and accompanied to beef Wellington perfectly!!!

DESSERT: Chocolate mousse with these little black cocoa crumbles at the bottom it was better than sneezing and a great way to finish off the evening.

VERDICT: Guilty as sin for doing everything right with meticulous care and attention to every dish that leaves the kitchen. You will not find anything better in Charleston, that is so romantic and intimate with great food and wine and personality. I can’t wait to return.!!!

PSA: if you’re gonna order the beef, Wellington do it soon as you sit down the chef and staff, will appreciate your insight because there’s a lot going on at Merci!!!

“Good food brings good people together” and that’s what Merci is all about and such a blessing for the Charleston...

Hands down the most exceptional dining experience I’ve had in the five years I’ve lived in Charleston — truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with a warm, genuine welcome by the hostess, whose warmth, charisma, and attentiveness immediately set the tone for the evening. She made us feel like old friends returning home, not just guests.

The wine list was impressively curated, with a thoughtful variety of selections that perfectly complemented the menu — which itself was beautifully balanced and creatively composed. We sampled a bit of everything, and each dish was more outstanding than the last — bursting with flavor, artfully plated, and refreshingly inventive.

Our server, Bennet, was nothing short of phenomenal. Despite the restaurant being newly opened, he demonstrated an impressive command of the entire menu — confidently walking us through each dish and offering spot-on wine pairings with remarkable insight. His recommendations were thoughtful, his timing impeccable, and his warmth and professionalism elevated the evening to something truly special. He went above and beyond at every turn, making sure our experience was flawless from start to finish.

We cannot...

This was an awesome dinner. You can tell they are still tweaking things and were really intentional about everything. The head chef/owner was there putting the final touches on the dishes and the staff were clearly well trained and hospitable. When they asked if we liked a dish, you could tell they genuinely cared. Their space is super small and inviting with some modern French flair. Felt both lively and intimate. The food was excellent and they had some unique takes on dishes (see gnudi and duck ballotine). Seemed to me they are going for French w/ southern influence (chicken with greens as a good example). The tuna crudo, the duck ballotine, and the chicken were our favorites. We sat at the bar and it was entertaining to watch them put the dishes together and we talked with one of the cooks a good bit which was fun. Would...