A new Mediterranean concept landed downtown over the weekend, and it has a quietly impressive backstory.
Palmetto Pita opened April 18 at 141 Calhoun Street, directly across from Marion Square. It's the sister restaurant to Istanbul Shish Kabob in North Charleston — same family, same owner, same scratch kitchen.
The Post & Courier sat down with owner Emad Hammad on opening week, and the pitch is straightforward: build-your-own bowls, wraps and sandwiches, served fast, made in front of you.
How it works
You walk in. The kitchen is open — counter-style, almost behind-the-counter close.
"When you walk in the restaurant, you can see its open kitchen," Hammad told the Post & Courier. "Like literally you're behind the counter, you can pick your bowl, build your bowl or sandwich or wrap. And you can see your meat shaved from the shawarma."
You pick a base — lettuce or basmati rice. You pick a protein — chicken or lamb shawarma, chicken kabob or lamb kofta. Then you pile on toppings, all of which are made from scratch in the Istanbul Shish Kabob kitchen up the road. Tahini salad, tzatziki, hummus — none of it bought in.
The location bet
Across-from-Marion-Square is one of the better lunch addresses in the city. You've got the College of Charleston a block away, downtown office workers within walking range, hotel guests using the square as a pivot, and tourists trying to keep their feet moving from Lower King to Upper King.
A scratch-Mediterranean carry-out spot in that footprint? That's a smart play. There isn't a ton of direct competition for fast, real Mediterranean food on the Peninsula at lunch — and the price point will lock in repeat business if the food holds up.
The bonus
Friday and Saturday, Palmetto Pita stays open until 3 a.m. That's the line that should make every restaurant operator on the Peninsula sit up. Late-night, scratch-made shawarma four blocks off King Street is going to find an audience.
Hammad noted that opening weekend already had a few customers coming in twice in the same day.
"I really like to provide something authentic, something unique," he said. "We like to add (a) story to our visitor."
The details
• 141 Calhoun Street, across from Marion Square
• Closed Monday
• Open 11 a.m. otherwise
• Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m.
• More info: Istanbul Shish Kabob's Facebook page
It's not a flashy launch. No PR firm, no soft-opening dinner series, no chef collaboration. Just a family business expanding from North Charleston into the Peninsula with a cleaner, faster format.
That's the kind of restaurant Charleston needs more of, frankly.
This is a summary of an article published in the Post & Courier. Click here if you'd like to read that article.
