JAMES ISLAND — The owners of a Harbor View Road restaurant are preparing to open a second dining establishment on James Island.
Char House Social is the newest venture for Josh and Katie Drewry, who lead The Harlow. Slated to open at 1234 Camp Road this fall, the Texas-style steakhouse will pair char-grilled beef with cocktails and live music in a relaxed setting the couple says is fit for this part of the Charleston area.
“Our heart is with James Island,” said Katie Drewry, who grew up on the island. “I love doing things to better the island and giving the community what they want.”
The Drewrys opened The Harlow, which specializes in burgers and oysters, at 1015 Harbor View Road in November 2023. Named after their daughter and Katie’s great-grandmother, the restaurant is a family-friendly oasis for those in search of raw, grilled and fried bivalves, and burgers topped with everything from bacon and pimento cheese to crab and garlic blue cheese.
Brett Riley, executive chef of The Harlow, will also lead the Char House Social kitchen. Rather than the kind of formal, white tablecloth steakhouse you might visit in downtown Charleston, the restaurant will be much more casual, the Drewrys said.
It will serve ribeyes, filets, strips and other cuts of well-sourced meat, as well as a burger. Signature sides will include a loaded baked potato and what Riley is calling the “Tumbleweed onion,” a towering pile of thinly sliced, crispy fried onions served with a house-made dipping sauce.
The bar program will be highlighted by a broad selection of whiskeys and bourbons, as well as wine, local craft beer and cocktails.
The sprawling Camp Road space Char House Social will occupy has held three restaurant concepts over the past five years. Smoky Oak Taproom, which shuttered in 2021 after 13 years, was followed by Dills & Camp Sundries. That dining establishment was eventually replaced by Smoky Yolk Cafe, which quietly closed last November.
The Drewrys believe Char House Social will be built to last, since they based the concept on what James Islanders have been asking for, they said.
“The Harlow was our first love letter to James Island,” Josh Drewry said. “Char House Social is our second, created in response to what we kept hearing people wanted more of close to home.”
Extensive renovations will help promote an atmosphere that’s a haven for sports lovers and live music fans alike, with multiple televisions at the bar and a permanent stage situated nearby. Outside, guests will find multiple patio areas. A second stage is being installed in an area the couple is calling The Yard at Char House, which is intended to be a gathering place for those waiting for a table or socializing over cold beverages.
Char House Social will not accept reservations, though large parties will be able to call ahead to request a table. For updates on the opening date, follow the restaurant on Instagram @charhousesocial.
Dining and Cooking