CHARLESTON — The opening chef of popular downtown steakhouse Marbled & Fin is preparing for another restaurant debut, this one inside a hotel at the corner of Meeting and Woolfe streets.
Miami native Eucepe Puntriano unveiled his take on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine at Terra on March 19. The restaurant is located inside Live Oak, Marriott’s first “Tribute Portfolio” brand hotel in the Palmetto State.
The property, which recently underwent a $25 million-plus renovation, spent part of the last decade flying the Holiday Inn flag and the last few years as The Limited — a colorful and lively brand. It closed in early January 2025 so the property could begin the transition into the more upscale, earth-toned Live Oak.
The refined and elegant but casual Terra fits that aesthetic, general manager Kris Betz said. The dimly lit, 88-seat space will deliver a menu whose influences span from Greece to Morocco and other countries in between.
Puntriano.
Angela Conners Treimer/Provided
That means guests can expect “fresh, bright, balanced and light flavors and dishes,” chef Puntriano said, from a dry-aged sheepshead crudo to a “show stopper” chicken tagine.
“We want to tell a story,” Puntriano said. “I’m very fortunate to be involved in this project.”
The chef’s culinary storytelling will continue upstairs at Bloo Pool & Provisions, Live Oak’s rooftop eatery, but the tale will be one of Nikkei-style cuisine, the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian. Fish will be a common denominator, as will vibrant modern-day riffs on the dishes historically born from Japanese immigration to Peru starting in the late 19th century.
With 50 seats inside and another 30 poolside, the majority of which are open to non-hotel guests, the casual dining venue will offer hand rolls, anticuchos, a swordfish rice bowl and a tostada topped with yuzu and soy-dressed tuna, among other options.
Betz described Live Oak as “a place that feels like the city you know, but with fresh experiences.” That includes a craft coffee shop, located steps away from Terra.
Owned by Gina Cordoba, Tracer Coffee will specialize in “farm-to-cup” single-origin Colombian coffees, as well as a full espresso bar pouring specialty lattes and traditional cappuccinos. The shop’s first brick-and-mortar location comes after Cordoba hosted a months-long pop-up at the Harbor Entrepreneur Center in Mount Pleasant, which helped drive the menu she’s opening with at the hotel.
“We specialize in very high quality coffees,” Cordoba said. “We’re so excited to get started at Live Oak.”
Terra, Bloo Pool & Provisions and Tracer Coffee are now open daily. For more information, visit liveoakhotelcharleston.com.
Dining and Cooking