After living in NYC and Washington DC and working in the restaurant and wine industry, I was floored when I stepped into the McCrady's Wine Bar one Saturday night in early December to celebrate a birthday with some friends. The Wine Bar emotes an old basement jazz club style with the brick walls and huge couch like seating - like a fancy living room filled with couchs and ottomans and low coffee tables...makes you just want to sit and sink in for the night. When they say that the wine list is one of the largest in Charleston, they weren't kidding. When you read the menu you might be a little puzzled because it reads very simply and extremely appetizing - only the ingredients are listed leaving the technique and presentation up to the imagination and inventiveness of Chef Brock and his staff. We ordered the Roasted Artisan Foie Gras, 26 Hour Wagyu Shortribs and Fish & Chips which turned out to be Sashimi tuna with wasabi cream on a mustard cracker - holy cod on a stick, what a combination!!. The greatest shock was the Bacon & Eggs - don't think breakfast here..this was an assortment of tender pork with a poached egg and a confit of tomato with a rich consomme redolent of bacon - this is for all the pork-lovers of the world, I tell you. My night was serene, my belly full of the luscious wine and incredible food - I can't wait until I go back for the Tasting Menu. For anyone who is a fan of El Builli and the chefs who use their imagination and science instead of reciting a recipe from a book - this place is for you.
Pros: Food, Wine, Atmosphere, Staff
Cons: Expensive, Parking is tricky, Go early on weekends
more