Method Co has debuted a new food and beverage venue and relaunched an old favourite at The Pinch, Charleston. The restaurant openings mark The Pinch’s completion, after an extensive five-year renovation journey.
A new neighbourhood Southern tavern named Lowland has been launched in partnership with chef Jason Stanhope. Located across the cobblestoned alleyway from The Pinch, Lowland occupies a three-storey Greek Revival-style building from 1834, a dependency building, and a late nineteenth century hyphen connecting the two.
The restaurant features two distinct dining concepts housed throughout several dining areas. On the ground floor is Lowland Tavern, offering a laid-back experience with two separate dining rooms comprising comfortable furniture and seating nooks accompanied by exposed brick fireplaces and a bar.
Paying homage to the nostalgic appeal of the neighbourhood’s historic Ansonborough Residences and Palmetto-lined streets, Lowland Tavern has been designed by Method Studios to evoke the style of a classic English pub, complete with folk art, taxidermy and vintage secession chairs from Czechoslovakia. Remnants of an 1890s renovation were retained to emphasise the building’s historic character, intermixed with contemporary design elements. A few steps beyond the Tavern Room in the former carriage house, The Parlour Room features soaring 12ft ceilings, original 12-pane windows framed by porcupine shades with sliding pocket doors, and hand-painted black and white geometric artwork on the floor.
The food at Lowland Tavern embodies Chef Stanhope’s signature style, utilising local ingredients to create dishes rooted in nostalgia, such as the Tavern burger, served with Jojo potatoes; grilled fish with green curry clams, peanut and lime; and a banoffee pudding plated a la minute for dessert.
Opening in December 2023 on the second floor, The Dining Room at Lowland is an elegant backdrop for an unpretentious tasting menu, set to frequently change. The venue features a hand-painted mural of Spanish Moss on Bald Cypress Trees by artist Dean Barger Studios, setting the tone for a space that carries the aesthetic of Japanese painter Hasegawa Tohaku. At the centre of the room is an intimate six seat multi-tiered bar, topped in a polished mahogany and surrounded by vintage lamps and an antique mirror. Deep olive green leather banquets with curved wood trim flank the perimeter of the room, while a series of leather and bentwood upholstered chairs are arranged near two historical fireplaces.
As well as new restaurant launches, Method Co has introduced a new chapter for The Pinch’s beloved oyster bar The Quinte.
Named after the original billiards hall that opened in the same location in 1918, the new iteration of The Quinte sports moody and quirky decor, reflecting Stanhope’s approach to hospitality. A collaboration between Method Studios, Stokes Architecture + Design and Stanhope, interiors see a draped sail covering the ceiling, alongside hand-painted globe lights by artist Reverend Michael Alan and a Wes Anderson-inspired colour palette. A 12-seat custom-made marble oyster bar, hand clipped Calcutta marble tile flooring with a custom floral mosaic, stained wood panelling and a collection of vintage rock ‘n’ roll prints and oil paintings complete the space.
The Quinte continues to offer inventive takes on regional coastal cuisines, with an extensive raw bar providing a selection of local shellfish. Diners are now also able to create their own seafood towers, selecting the raw bar items they want to consume with a sushi-style ordering card.
“We are so excited to not only open the doors to Lowland, but re-introduce locals and visitors of the city to a new iteration of The Quinte,” said Executive Chef Jason Stanhope. “Our team has worked tirelessly to bring these inviting culinary concepts to Charleston’s dining scene, and we hope these restaurants provide a place people return to time and time again for quality food and great conversation.”
