Barbecue | $$$ | West Ashley | 2366 Ashley River Road | palmirabbq.com Hector Garate launched Palmira Barbecue as a pop-up three years ago, serving whole hog, beef cheeks and more at breweries, events and a food hall in the Lowcountry. Lugging around an offset smoker, the Puerto Rican pitmaster built a brand serving high-end meats even before opening his brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2024.
A mix of two- and four-tops fill the modern but minimal space, whose walls are decorated with family photos and framed press clippings Garate has received since he launched Palmira Barbecue in 2021. A vintage Coca-Cola machine is tucked against the back wall behind a pillar holding a photo of Garate’s grandmother, who grew up on a sustainable cattle ranch. Palmira Barbecue is named in her honor.
Guests can line up to place their orders on the left side of the long restaurant, next to where a review by Post and Courier contributing restaurant critic Robert F. Moss hangs on the wall. Once at the front of the line, beef cheeks, sausage links, pork ribs and Garate’s signature whole hog barbecue are pulled out of a warming cabinet and placed on the scale before landing on a paper-lined red tray.
Others: Paddock & Whisky Page’s Okra Grill Palmetto Brewing Co. Park & Grove Park Pizza Co. The Pass Peninsula Grill Pink Bellies Pink Cactus Pizza a Modo Mio Poe’s Tavern Poogan’s Porch Post House Sandwiches | $ | Downtown Charleston | 133 Queen St.
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