Having recently traveled to France for my birthday, upon receiving a lunch invitation from the owners at Félix Cocktails et Cuisine, my team and I jumped at the chance to dine like Parisians– while only having to travel to Upper King Street.
Ranked as one of the ‘15 Best Bars in Charleston’ by Condé Nast Traveler, the interior is bright + airy, featuring stark white subway tiles interlaced with the deep navy hues of the barstools + restaurant logos cast across the walls. Walking into Felix feels as though you are walking into a classic French café– where patrons spill out onto the streets, sipping their espressos or cheersing a glass of champagne. 🥂
But let’s be honest– while the entire atmosphere is completely #Instagrammable, we were there for the grub. Having first opened as a cocktail bar + dinner spot, the establishment– which is celebrating their one year anniversary this Wednesday (complimentary bubbles included 🍾)– recently added both a lunch and Sunday brunch service to their repertoire.
Le déjeuner (i.e. lunch) is served from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. daily and boasts small plates created with the flair of today’s Paris. From the classic French onion soup, to a croque monsieur, to their heavenly petit raclette burger (where petite does not describe the way your taste buds will water) the menu has been crafted to captivate every type of foodie.
While everything sounded delicious (and affordable– the lunch plates range from $12-$16 with ample portion sizes), the team decided to divide + conquer– ordering a little of this + that in order to snack on all the possible flavors.
Nicole: Shrimp po’ boy 🍤
Dusted with cornmeal, the shrimp– while fried– are light + crisp, removing any ounce of worry from the typically greasy fried fair. The remoulade is creamy, providing the perfect dressing to the crisp lettuce + tomato which provide farm freshness with every bite.
Justine: Caesar salad 🥗
The salad was presented with fresh, crispy romaine hearts, and the dressing (while classic) was full of flavor. My favorite part, however, was the shredded parmesan cheese carefully placed in little spirals on top.
Jen: Petit raclette burger 🍔
The burger easily ranks among the best I’ve had in Charleston (or ever, TBH). I ordered the petit in an attempt at moderation, but instantly regretted it. I’m still dreaming of what could have been...
The dapper frog (as seen stamped on rice paper, floating atop The Green Fairy cocktail) is the restaurant’s mascot, and was actually designed by owner Felix Landrum’s 16-year-old daughter. In fact, the decor was hand-picked by Felix’s wife, making the eatery a family affair.
So the next time your stomach starts to growl and you’re looking for a fair deal on fine cuisine, head to Félix for lunch, dinner, and everything in-between. And don’t you dare even think of missing their one-year anniversary party this Wednesday, Nov. 21 from 6-8 p.m.… hello… free champagne! 🥂
