LoLA Mount Pleasant
Experience Louisiana cuisine with a Lowcountry flair at LoLA. The popular Park Circle eatery has now opened its second location in the former Mustard Seed building on Chuck Dawley Boulevard. Chef and owner Jeff Filosa worked under famous New Orleans chef Paul Prudhomme and developed his love for Cajun and Creole cooking while living in the Big Easy. Seafood features heavily on the menu including oysters three ways, bacon-wrapped scallops, shrimp, crawfish and redfish. There are traditional Louisiana dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, boudin and etouffee served alongside Cajun-style pub fare, po’boys and LoLA’s own version of the Southern classic shrimp and grits made with andouille sausage. The happy hour food and beverage menu is sure to please with $3 champagne, $5 oyster shooters and shareable shrimp poppers for only $9.
For Filosa, the focus isn’t just on the food but also giving his customers a truly memorable and enjoyable experience. Said Filosa, “We want you to leave really excited about the fact that you got to dine here and how you were treated… we want to blow you away, not just send you out mildly happy.”
Taverna Philosophia: Aegean Brasserie
From the minds behind Philosophia, Mount Pleasant’s Greek mezze-style eatery, comes Taverna Philosophia, an upscale Aegean-inspired brasserie opening soon in the former Bacco location on Coleman Boulevard. Managing partners and lifelong friends Dimitri Hatgidimitriou and Justin Hunt’s newest endeavor will feature a larger format menu, raw bar, dry-aged meats, multiple whole fish selections, composed plates and a la carte preparations. The new location contains double the square footage of Philosophia, which allowed Hunt and Hatgidimitriou the room to expand the restaurant’s design and concept.
According to Hatgidimitriou, there will be nightly specials like whole roast lamb or whole roast pig that will be table focused for larger parties who want to enjoy a unique communal dining experience. The restaurant will also offer seafood towers, crudos and even a special Greek fondue. Though both restaurants are Greek-influenced, there will be no repeated menu items between the two locations.
Condado Tacos
With murals by local artists adorning the walls, a menu packed with premium tacos and more margaritas than you can shake a maraca at, Condado Tacos is ready to wake up taste buds in Towne Center. Founded in 2014 in Ohio, the growing taco joint features “craveable, clean, preservative-free tacos, dips and bowls, as well as an assortment of margaritas made with seven different fresh fruit purees,” according to PR and marketing executive Roger Drake.
Condado’s approach is unique; there are no freezers on the premises and all food is freshly prepared onsite. In addition to steak, chicken and house-made chorizo, they offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Top sellers include double-decker shelled tacos Lucy’s Fire and Blue Dream, but with build-your-own options like their Kewl Ranch or Firecracker taco shells, Thai chili tofu and tequila-lime steak options, and a mountain of toppings, salsas and sauces, you’ll want to make every day taco day. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. weeknights and until midnight on weekends.
By Sherry Whiting
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