CHARLESTON — The couple behind a trio of Michelin-star Colorado restaurants is opening their first in Charleston this week.
Chef Johnny Curiel, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, and his partner, Kasie Curiel, will debut Alteño at 89 Cannon St. on Nov. 12.
The Mexican concept honors the culinary traditions passed down by Johnny Curiel’s father, a chef and restaurateur. It follows the original Alteño in Denver, Colo., and an outpost in Austin, Texas, that opened in September.
In addition to Alteño, the Curiels own Alma Fonda Fina, Mezcaleria Alma and Milpero, each of which holds a Michelin star and operates under the Fonda Fina Hospitality umbrella.
Alteño, for its part, is “Michelin-recommended” for the way the menu “moves from bright seafood and raw plates into soulful appetizers, tacos and larger-format entrees meant for sharing.” The Charleston location will follow that structure, with Curiel utilizing its expansive hearth and wood-fired grill to celebrate the centuries-old Mexican tradition of cooking vegetables and whole animals over open fire.
Johnny and Kasie Curiel.
Shawn Campbell/Provided
Before the shareable main courses hit the table, patrons can sample cevichería-inspired crudos and other items highlighting regional fish, drawing on Charleston’s coastal location and the seafood culture of Curiel’s native region of Jalisco.
“We’ve always been inspired by Charleston’s vibrant restaurant community and strong sense of place,” Curiel said in a press release. “We’re excited to highlight the region’s beautiful local ingredients through our cultural lens.”
Among the options on the chef’s opening menu are oysters topped with Yahualica chile butter and grilled over an open flame; jalapeño cornbread with huitlacoche butter and fresh truffles; costilla al albanil, Angus short ribs with fresh nixtamalized tortillas; and carnitas de puerco, a Peculiar Pig Farm pork jowl dish that nods to Guadalajara, where, according to the release, “a working-class food culture rooted in whole-animal butchery and the use of offcuts has sustained generations of Jaliscans.”
Alteño’s beverage program plays into its communal, celebratory atmosphere. Guests can expect an expansive wine and agave spirits portfolio and signature cocktails, such as the avocado margarita and Oaxacan Old Fashioned.
The restaurant, located inside The Charlee on Cannon, features more than 50 seats, 10 of which are at an onyx chef’s counter with views of the raw bar and wood-fired hearth. The space, which the Curiels designed in partnership with Agatha Jane Interior Design, “brings together Mexican craftsmanship and Charleston’s coastal character through natural materials, rich textures, clean lines and warm lighting.”
Starting Nov. 12, Alteño will open from 3-10 p.m. daily. For more information and to book reservations, visit altenorestaurant.com.
Dining and Cooking