Prohibition: A Good Night Out Without the Sticker Shock
Sometimes you are not looking for the next transcendent Charleston dining experience. Sometimes you just need a Tuesday night with your hot lawyer friends, good food, good cocktails, and a place that lets you linger for a while without making you feel guilty about it.
That is exactly what we found at Prohibition.
Located on Upper King, parking is the usual downtown scavenger hunt, though our group was fortunate enough to find nearby street parking and garage options. Once inside, the restaurant feels much larger than its storefront suggests, with a substantial bar, plenty of high-top seating, and a pleasant outdoor space tucked behind the building.
The service struck a nice balance throughout the evening. Friendly and attentive without becoming performative or intrusive. The pacing was relaxed and allowed our group to decompress and catch up without feeling rushed.
The beverage program deserves mention. Cocktails are a major focus here with creative options, but the non-alcoholic offerings are stronger than many Charleston restaurants, and they provide proper tea service for those of us whose idea of living dangerously is ordering a second glass of unsweet tea.
We started with the deviled eggs topped with crispy chicken cracklins, American caviar, and dill. They were tasty enough, though at twelve dollars for three deviled eggs, the pricing felt a little ambitious relative to the execution.
The yellowfin tuna crudo was much stronger. Fresh, bright, and balanced with blood orange, yuzu aioli, smoked olive oil, and pea greens. It is not the most memorable crudo in town, but it is certainly a good one.
One member of the table enjoyed the Caesar salad and happily worked through the charred wings with Memphis dry rub, carrot hot sauce, and gorgonzola ranch. Both received enthusiastic approval from this young lawyer.
The most interesting dish of the evening was the hand-cut beef tartare. Presented beneath a smoke-filled dome, I initially assumed the tableside smoke was merely a gimmick. Surprisingly, it contributed meaningful flavor to the dish. In fact, the smoke was doing some heavy lifting because the beef itself needed more seasoning. A little more salt, perhaps some horseradish or garlic, and the dish would have moved from good to excellent. As served, it remained enjoyable but felt one step short of its potential.
My entrée was the PEI mussels frites. The saffron and Holy City Lager broth was absolutely outstanding. Deeply flavorful, aromatic, and worthy of being soaked up with every available potato wedge. Those wedges themselves were excellent. The only issue was that the mussels were just slightly past their prime. Not spoiled, not inedible, but lacking the freshness necessary to elevate the dish into something truly special.
The biggest success of the evening belonged to the filets. Three of my fellow diners ordered the eight-ounce filet mignon with Yukon gold potatoes, artichoke cream, asparagus, and anchovy bagna cauda. The steaks arrived properly cooked, beautifully presented, and generously portioned. At forty-six dollars, they also represented one of the better steak values currently available in downtown Charleston. The three-judge panel unanimously ruled in favor of these steaks.
Dessert was pleasant if not revelatory. The chocolate budino offered exactly what you want from the dish: richness, creaminess, and deep chocolate flavor. The apple cinnamon caramel cake leaned slightly dry, but the caramel elements won over its biggest fan at the table, who happily finished every bite.
And that is perhaps the best way to think about Prohibition. It is not trying to be the most ambitious restaurant in Charleston. It is trying to be a place where people gather, enjoy themselves, eat well, and leave feeling they received fair value for their money. Based on this visit, it succeeds. The food is generally strong. The prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is lively without being exhausting. The service is warm.
In a city increasingly crowded with restaurants charging luxury prices, there is something refreshing about a place that simply delivers a good evening out.
I am told their brunch is exceptional. Looks like I will have to investigate that claim myself.
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