Vern's

Tucked in Cannonborough-Elliotborough is Vern’s, a restaurant that might look like an unassuming corner store, but is actually a quiet and cute neighborhood American bistro with a great wine list. Start with the charred sourdough, which is almost always on the menu, and then explore the pastas, fish dishes, and a roast spring chicken with a brown butter jus that might just be the best roast chicken in all of South Carolina.

The creation of Dano and Bethany Heinze—who amount to downtown Charleston's culinary royal couple, having made their names at the much-missed McCrady's—Vern's is one of the many high-end restaurants in the American South masquerading as a cozy neighborhood joint. But don't let the chalkboard and uncovered tables fool you: Interpretations of local produce here are among the city's best.

An intimate neighborhood bistro serving up modern American fare, Vern’s menu emphasizes of-the-moment seasonal ingredients and shareable plates. Brought to you by husband-and-wife duo Bethany and Dano Heinze, Vern’s is located in Charleston’s Elliotborough neighborhood and is housed in a quaint corner building that dates back to 1881.

Newcomer Vern’s, opened in July 2022 by former staff of the city’s shuttered institution McCrady’s, boasts the most exciting wine list to debut in Charleston last year. This modern American bistro, occupying a windowed corner spot downtown, radiates a convivial, intimate ambience and is ripe for becoming a neighbourhood joint with a twist – an ambitious, fun but philosophical wine list. Bethany Heinze, co-owner and operations/ beverage director, together with her husband and executive chef Daniel ‘Dano’ Heinze, designed the food and wine selections around the local, seasonal and sustainable guiding principles.

Bethany and Daniel Heinze made a splash on the Charleston scene when they opened Vern’s in the summer of 2022, and a seat in its cozy dining room is now among the hardest in town to snag. Daniel is the chef, and his deceptively simple preparations belie an inventiveness and depth of flavor. His brilliant escargot preparation blankets tender snails with melted Gruyère and a buttery tarragon-laced sauce, and the roasted spring chicken with brown butter jus is an exercise in firm richness.

Two to three small plates, two pastas and two mains is a fantastic way for a group of three to four to enjoy an evening at Vern’s. Make sure one of those entrées is the roasted chicken, a seemingly boring choice that is anything but. Tender meat, spiced skin and a sauce supplemented with brown butter makes Vern’s deconstructed roasted spring chicken the type of familiar, yet comforting, dish that is worth coming back for on a regular basis.

If I’m recommending anything in or near the fine dining realm these days, it’s less likely to be a stuffy old-school steakhouse or French restaurant, and more likely to be a place like Vern’s. Elegant, considered meals from a limited menu served in a wonderfully unstuffy dining room are much more my jam when I’m searching for a special occasion meal. While Vern’s bills itself as a “neighborhood restaurant” I don’t know that I’d do the same.

Located within the charming Elliotborough neighborhood, Vern’s feels like one of those hidden city gems you just so happened to stumble upon and can’t stop telling all your friends about. Opened by husband-and-wife duo, Daniel “Dano” and Bethany Heinze and named in honor of Chef Dano’s grandfather. The menu showcases modern American cuisine based upon seasonality, with daily specials and delicious organic and biodynamic wines.

It feels like a cozy dinner party at this Cannonborough neighborhood haunt, where seasonal bistro dishes are the draw. A few recent standouts include escargot with tarragon and gruyère, gnocchetti with walnut arugula pesto, and bavette steak with sweet onions from Wadmalaw Island. Bethany, the co-owner, is a marvelous host, serving wine, hugging customers, and deftly maneuvering the crush of diners.

Tucked on the corner of Bogard and Ashe streets, Vern’s is the definition of a friendly neighborhood dining spot. And boy, is it popular. This New American restaurant offers family-style meals, which allow everyone at a table to enjoy dishes like gnochetti sardi, a rich and creamy gnocchi dish with arugula and walnut pesto, or the bavette steak with a sweet-tart balsamic glaze.

You’ll definitely need a reservation at this charming neighborhood bistro, tucked into a cozy space on the corner of Bogard and Ashe streets. With a menu constantly in flux, you’ll be surprised and delighted each time by fresh, delicious options. We love sipping selections from their carefully curated wine list, with its focus on smaller producers who utilize organic practices.

Vern’s is your go-to neighborhood spot for a unique dining experience. Located on the corner of Bogard and Ashe, Vern’s stands out with its eclectic wine list featuring pioneers, renegades, and old-school producers who emphasize low-intervention farming and winemaking. Vern’s is dedicated to sustainability and organic practices.

One of the hottest (and hardest) dinner tables in Charleston to snag a reservation for everything from escargots with delicious sourdough to pastas, rabbit, and Lowcountry mushrooms. It’s a small, intimate space on the corner of a charming downtown Charleston street (this restaurant is best for couples or parties of four).