The Refinery, the open-air music venue and retail development that's been slowly building out at 1640 Meeting Street Road, just got its kitchen.
Lou Lou's Tavern on the Tracks opened to the public May 21 with a limited menu, and held its grand opening on May 26. It's the new restaurant from Dave and Chrissy Lorenz of Epic Hospitality — the same couple behind Isle of Palms waterfront staple Islander 71 and the Mex 1 Coastal Cantina locations in West Ashley and on Sullivan's Island.
The space. Where Mex 1 is bright and casual, Lou Lou's leans the other way. Dim lighting. Dark maroon walls. Antique mirrors stacked behind the bar. A mix of booths and tables inside, with additional seating outside, a short walk from The Refinery's amphitheater. It seats roughly 150 between the two areas.
The smart play. Concert tickets and a dinner reservation now work together. Patrons with show tickets can book a table at Lou Lou's for a few hours, roam the venue during the concert, and come back for a bite and a kegged wine between sets. That's the kind of bundling Charleston's been needing — restaurants and venues that actually coordinate instead of competing for the same dollar.
The food. Patrick Murphy and Alex Anderson — both veterans of the Lorenz family of restaurants — have built the menu around 20 to 30 small plates. Patatas bravas. Lobster bao buns. Roasted beets with goat cheese mousse. Orange Aleppo chicken wings. Four entrees (steak, fish, chicken, pasta) for guests who don't want to share. "Elevated tavern food," is how Dave Lorenz described it in the Post & Courier.
What's next. The opening hours are 4-10 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. In a few weeks, they're adding weekend brunch and lunch — a tavern burger, fish sandwich, huevos rancheros, kid-friendly enough that families can post up while the amphitheater crowd builds.
The bigger picture. The Refinery is the most ambitious project of its kind we've seen on the upper peninsula, and the food side was always going to determine whether it became a real Charleston destination or just a place to see a show. Lou Lou's gives it a real anchor.
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