CHARLESTON — Tucked away on John Street, a French restaurant has quietly gone about its business for the past 25 years. It’s done so in a part of the peninsula that is far less reserved than it was when this brasserie debuted in 2001.
Serving a reliable range of French fare, 39 Rue de Jean helped lead the charge toward Upper King Street, a trend that continues today. Before Indaco, The Ordinary, The Darling Oyster Bar, The Cocktail Club and many more, it made its mark on Charleston’s now-bustling nightlife and entertainment district.
The eatery, part of the Holy City Hospitality restaurant group, endures today. Its owners are ringing in the New Year with programming to celebrate the milestone silver anniversary.
The festivities will include curated dinners, a social media campaign and specials that hark back to the restaurant’s earlier years.
And starting Jan. 12, 39 Rue de Jean welcomed the return of weekday lunch, available from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. It features a range of soups, sandwiches and entrees, such as steak-frites, escargot and a fried goat cheese salad.
Staying open longer goes hand in hand with being a brasserie, said general manager Mike Krajewski, making the service a sensible addition to the longstanding restaurant.
“It fits our ethos,” he said.
Krajewski, who worked as a bartender at 39 Rue de Jean from 2005 to 2009 before returning 14 years later to lead as general manager, said a lot has changed along Upper King Street since he joined the restaurant. Back then, there were just four or five restaurants, he recalled. Now, there are dozens.
Dining and Cooking