Spero

WOW what an incredible place, everything we gad was awesome, best to go when not busy, the place is small so when it is busy you will probably wait for a table and the food.

I’m kind of obsessed with Spero. I love everything about it. They don’t take themselves too seriously, but their food is seriously delicious. I love that the menu is seasonally inspired and has a great mix of fresh and inventive ingredients and flavors. One of my favorite examples is the Roasted Okra (jalapeño honey, bleu cheese, and peanuts). Spicy, sweet, savory, and full flavor.
Another of the many reasons I love Spero, is that you can order a flight of bread. A flight. Of. Bread. The bread = sourdough pretzel bread with ham and mustard butter, beef tallow biscuits with horseradish cream, and cornbread with burnt honey miso butter. So tasty.
For something more substantial, the Lamb Barbacoa Sammich (pulled lamb, lemon pickled jalapeño, mayo, queso fresco with a seasonal side) is a great choice. The lemon pickled jalapeño took away any gaminess the lamb might have had, leaving it perfectly tender and packed with flavor. The bread was nice and soft and the sandwich was a great size for sharing.
Bottom line: GO TO SPERO IT IS DELICIOUS.

I had heard from several friends, and Unilocal reviews that Spero was definitely a place to try. A friend and I decided to try and early dinner, and we were not disappointed. We started with the bread flight which was a very good decision. The biscuit was one of the best I have ever had. It was flaky, and absolutely delicious. The pretzel roll was good too, and we liked the Ham butter that accompanied it. The cornbread was outstanding, and the butter that went with it was just right. I told my friend that I think I will go back just for the bread flight!
We then ordered the clams, mussels and sweet potatoes. The clams were definitely the stand out. They were cooked to perfection with a delicious broth. We were disappointed with the mussels as they had a strong fishy taste. The broth was not what we expected, and we didn’t care to dip the bread in it. The sweet potatoes were really good.
We were still hungry so we ordered the pork kimchi sandwich to split. (see picture) It was accompanied by a delicious, homemade potato salad. We were very satisfied with the sandwich.
For drinks, we initially ordered the Tempranillo, but they were out. We tried a French red that was outstanding.
I would definitely recommend giving Spero a try soon!

I would have given Spero 5 stars, but it took so incredibly long for our food to arrive that I had to knock a star for that. We were a group of 8 and we walked in at 11:15. There was no one else inside. We figured we had maybe beaten the crowd. Nope. There was no crowd. No one else came in. We waited almost 30 minutes for appetizers to be delivered and then 15 minutes later, food arrived. Checks also took a while to be delivered/​processed.
Other than that: GO HERE AND EAT ALL THE DELICIOUS NOMS.
OMG SO GOOD.
We started off with the flight of bread. Save the cornbread and it’s butter for last. You’ll want it to be your last bite. Maybe even of your entire meal. No I’m not kidding. It’s ON POINT.
We also had a scotch egg. Perfectly cooked egg with a runny yolk with the white part done.
We followed that with the sweet potatoes. Perfect. A little bit of a kick, but nothing I couldn’t handle.
And since we were really hungry, we split the lamb barbacoa. I was afraid the mayo was going to be spicy, so we had it put on the side. Unnecessary as it wasn’t really spicy.
Other members of our group got the fried chicken sandwich (comments about how crunchy yet thin the breading was) and the korean and everyone had positive reports about everything tasting delicious.
I’d definitely eat here again. I would just hope that service would be much quicker.

Spero is my new five star standard. From the scotch egg containing a perfect 4 minute egg wrapped in a crispy sausage layer to delectable fresh baked cookies and milk, each course outdid the previous. The menu constantly changes and the chef utilizes local ingredients and ingenuity. Other highlights include a cool, laid back atmosphere and servers who are passionate about the menu. If someone asks me where the best food in this town is right now, my answer, unequivocally, is Spero.

Gourmet Tapas served with smart humor that reminded us of Zach Galifianakis. The restaurant is located in a small strip center, close to Mount Pleasant and downtown Charleston. The four of us each ordered a tapas entrée and had them served so that we could all share. The bread Tapas plate was a good starter. Carbs… Shmarbs.

Wow, this place is so good. Amazing service and fantastic food. The oysters were perfect, and we loved the Korean, Dem Buns Dough, and the clams. But mainly, the staff was just amazing. To have a truly great dining experience, there need to be a lot of different elements present. Here, food, service, music, the whole thing. Did I mention Happy Hour from 4 – 7???

these jokers are not dicking around. every bite I had tonight was magnificent. I really believe these guys are having a great time pursuing their passion for surprising combinations and relaxed perfection in execution. it results in some dead sexy food. redhead, get at me.
update: the Brave Little Sweet Potato is a masterpiece. eating now. can confirm.

Talk about a hidden gem, even though it has incredible ratings. Ambience is diner/​pub like, nothing fancy. Fun art and sarcastic comments abound. We came in on Xmas eve and we were one of two tables.
Do not judge this book by its cover. This is a total hidden gem. The menu is exceptional, almost inefficient with each dish crafted from scratch and with almost no overlap. Highlights:
— flight of bread, awesome, but my fave is the cornbread.
— scotch egg: well executed. Beware these are always a bit tough to share. Didn’t taste «Szechuan» spice in the sausage but a well executed scotch egg is tough enough
— clams: again, well executed. Think of this as tapas and you’ll be pleased with how it works in the meal. Don’t think of it as super seafoody seafood, as can be easily found in Charleston, BC that’s not the point of it
— ace basin blades: probably my least favorite but still good. I think if you put mustard and relish on anything, its going to taste like a hot dog, which is a shame here as the oysters were brilliant and fresh
— broccoli: maybe my favorite dish. White anchovies and garlic purée highlight the broccoli, make it pop and feel rich.
— sausage: probably my favorite dish. Housemade and tastes unbelievable.
Dessert was killer. Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and cold milk, and something they called a «chocolate thingy», which was ganache and whipped cream and salt. Knocked my socks.
Service was awesome, our server was really chill, attentive and nice. Chef/​owner came out to see how it was.
If I lived in Charleston, I’d come here all the time, to test consistency. But I experienced enough to give it the full 5. Get here now, both because I want to see it stay in business, and because there’s a chance it will explode once it is discovered.

Visited Spero again on a quiet Friday night. Thought it would be busier, but it was close to 9pm and I guess they were wrapping up for the night. We were 1 of only 2 tables so we got the full attention of the super friendly wait staff and kitchen. They confirmed our first review… really really inventive, tasty and high quality stuff! I will be back for sure.

Just what Charleston’s food scene needs– a daring new restaurant. Truly not for everyone (my mother was underwhelmed) but I appreciate their take on classic dishes. The squash was served with curry and caramel and the mackerel was paired with pears (both dishes delicious).
My favorite was their classic dull fried chicken sandwich. A+++. I would return when their menu changes over.

We will be back. Inventive… good people taking a chance to make great food from seasonal ingredients in an unpretentious way.
My wife found this restaurant when we were visiting family. It was on a top 5 new restaurant list she googled. We mapped it and discovered it is on Upper Meeting street near the highway and out of the thick of things in a little strip with a sports bar and soon to be Cuban place. Easy to park… easy to get around.
The décor sorta stunned me. I was expecting a fancy Charleston place that was fine tuned upscale operation with lots of takes on southern food and I was expecting a lot of seafood. Wrong on all counts. Instead the décor is laid back, almost like a bar, with old tables, no cloth, a little hipster, yet not.
The menu also surprised… lots of small plates, the back menu had several sandwiches and only two entrée items: short ribs and Half chicken (each at $ 16). We decided to try a bunch of things because it was simply hard to choose from the odd dishes. Everything here has a story to it or a lot of thought. Only one draft beer… I suspect because of keg space… and a great list of crafts and wines. I had a holy city Dark ale and they had Evil Twin.
The breads looked fab and we had a filling pretzel with delicious infused butter. We had a great deviled egg (each at 93 cents) with pork rind I believe. The Korean pork sandwich was pressed like a Cuban but with Kim chi. It’s was packed with flavor, spicy… excellent. The Kimcheez was s take off from your typical homemade pimento which some great little points to go with. Sharp… delicious and the ground kimchi was only detected in some added sharpness to the cheese. Great. My wife got a tomato and peach small plate and then eggplant. Each had spectacular offsetting and compleat art flavors. The Mexican corn was sweet. just this side of dessert.
The watermelon was the standout dish. Wow. Two slices with some thin sliced beef. One of the most inventive flavors I’ve had. The watermelon start with a little sour, moves to sweet watermelon and then to the cool flavor of mint or Thai basil depending on the bite. They are sprinkled. Turns out fish sauce is the sour we tasted. Just great.
Finally.cookies and milk… which take 15 minutes because the bake them as ordered.
Husbands and wives work together here with friends who care deeply about their restaurant. They are making a great affordable experience in a fast growing and expensive city. And an ever changing menu with the gardens of the south.
Oh yeah the service was great… they were exciting to talk about the dishes and the owners and chef kept leaning out to see what was up with us.
And yes we are all that… two craft beers each… and the total was $ 87.

With new restaurants opening what seems like every week in Charleston, the competition is fierce when it comes to newcomers leaving lasting impressions on diners in the Holy City. Of the 15+ new spots I have checked out this summer, I can honestly say SPERO has impressed me the most. Located in the fast growing section of upper Meeting Street, the Chef at Spero is extremely passionate about providing Charleston with a budget-​friendly option for top-​notch cuisine. His passion and energy made my friend and I even more excited than we already were after greeting us at the door and going over the specials for the day. The bulk of the menu is comprised of unique small plates, all of which were larger in portion, less expensive and just as delicious as the likes of some of the cities highest rated spots. Dare I say the food rivals FIG? Welp I just did. Everything we ordered was inventive and spot on in flavor including Chicken Liver Pâté, Miso Clams, Pork Fat Crostini and Asparagus with Hollandaise. The Bread and Butter flight for $ 6.50 was the best start to a meal I have had in a while and a must-​order item, comprised of Beef Tallow Biscuit with horseradish crème, Cornbread with honey-​miso butter and Pretzel Bread with ham and mustard butter. Priced at around $ 5 – 7 each, 4 small plates along with the bread flight was plenty of food for my friend and I to share, which made me very happy since many of Charleston’s new small plate eateries leave me broke and still starving (492 cough cough). I can’t wait to come back and give one of their sandwiches a try for lunch– as the Lamb Barbacao at the table next to us looked particularly incredible. If you are a foodie, looking for a memorable meal than wont break the bank, Spero is at the very top of my list for recommendations. Do keep in mind this spot is located in a slightly-​grungy hipster bar, so don’t be expecting white table clothes and high-​end décor. Go expecting killer food and you wont be disappointed.
Must-​order items:
Bread flight
Chicken Liver Pâté
Roasted Beet Salad

Came here for lunch today with a friend after hearing great things. We waited a good bit but we’re VERY pleasantly surprised by the sandwiches. We split the fried chicken and the lamb barbacoa. I was not very hungry because I’m fighting off a cold right now but couldn’t bear to leave any food on my plate– it was way too good! The lamb melted in your mouth with the creamy goat cheese and the fried chicken sandwich was the perfect combo of flavors. Loved it! I’ll be back for sure– I hope this place does well. Reasonably priced too. Loses one star for kinda crappy décor– the cheap chairs and tables were a little off putting. Overall great new funky addition to the charleston food scene.

If you want to revive dulled taste buds, this is the restaurant for you. Conveniently located right off the Ravenel bridge at Meeting St, there is even a parking lot right in front of the place.
We decided to share four small plates for lunch. Alternatively, Spero has a couple of sandwiches on the menu plus a couple of entrees.
We started with a sampler plate of bread — cornbread, a pretzel roll and a bisquit, each with its own unique butter. Wow, my taste buds came to life immediately.
Then, we had a beet salad with strawberries, followed by an egg salad and radish and arugula salad. The fourth dish we shared was a delicious squash and zucchini combo.
Portion sizes are good and service was top notch.
One of the owners stopped by our table to see if we were enjoying our lunch. Are you crazy? We were devouring our food and already discussing when we would return. Is tomorrow too soon?

Whenever I’m meeting someone for lunch and the restaurant choice is in my hands, I always try to find something new. It creates a great adventure for the both of us to experience something new. I had this opportunity recently and Spero had been on the brain lately and I knew they had parking. The parking was a bit of a bust considering it was full and I’m not sure of anywhere else around to park legally if that’s the case. I drove around for a few then came back to the lot out front and «created» my own parking space… problem solved!
From the get-​go, the staff was excellent. It’s somewhat difficult to describe why, but they were very friendly and welcoming and were genuine about it. The vibe of the staff rubs off on everyone creating a relaxing atmosphere for chowing down on some unique food. We were obviously having a meeting over lunch and when they brought the food out they suggested we take a break for a minute and just enjoy the food. It’s little things like that which make you realize you’re in a place that truly cares about your overall experience.
We didn’t get any of the larger entrees or sandwiches which I will definitely be back for. Instead, we opted for a sampling of small plates. The local roasted snap peas with lemon ricotta were the overall crowd pleaser. That lemon ricotta took a simple snap peas to a new level. If they’re on the menu, you must order them. Other excellent dishes were the beet salad and the cornbread. The unique flavors of the beet salad (beets, strawberries, and blue cheese) came together surprisingly well. The only dish that wasn’t for me was the citrus cured flounder. I was imagining more of a ceviche type of dish instead of a few shaved pieces of fish. I’m looking forward to stopping back in soon to explore more of the menu.

We got to Spero on a Saturday around 12:15 and were the third table (it’s not that big though). Both of the owners were very nice and upfront about the fact that they were a little overwhelmed after their glowing City Paper review. It was why we were there after all!
So not everything on the menu was available/​ready but they handled it very professionally I thought. I’m a small business owner too so I can relate and the two owners were definitely working like crazy.
The food was outstanding. Probably one of the best kale salads I’ve ever had and hubby’s smoked chicken sandwich was equally delicious. We also had the bread flight — pretzel, cornbread and biscuit with creative butters to compliment each. It was an excellent and bountiful meal for under $ 40 with tip (no alcohol since it was lunch and I’m a lightweight).
Still wish Unilocal would let me give half stars because I would say 4 ½! With how well they are handling their customer service during this flood of business and how good the food is, I know they’ll become a staple Charleston restaurant in no time at all.

The music is great! You order, sit at commune tables, eat, clean up after yourself. They did not spend a lot of $ on décor. It was lunch time, I ordered a $ 14.00 hamburger. Well, it was good but salty for my taste. $ 14.00 ?? I had to go next door to buy my beer, I guess no liquor license. All in all, an OK experience. I may go back in a year or so, no big deal. Did I mention that the 50’s, 60’s music was great?
Frank G

Trotter tots and pretzel app are amazing! Great portions, service, and atmosphere. Excited to try the mussels next time!!!

Heading downtown for a late lunch last Friday, my friends and I decided to check out the recently opened Spero. It’s on Meeting St. right next to the dump off of I-​26 if your coming from Mt. P. They have a nice big parking lot which is always a bonus when venturing downtown. Since it was almost 2 PM, we were the only customers in there when we arrived. This was awesome b/​c we were able to get Rob’s undivided attention and learn all about the beer, wine and food they offered.
The Stiegl Grapefruit Radler beer was a perfect option on this very warm day. It’s light and refreshing and not filling. My friend likes oaky chardonnay and since he didn’t have one he let her try three other options that he felt she would like. I don’t remember what she picked, but she liked it!
For food you can’t go wrong. Everything we had was delicious. The clams and the lamb sandwich were by far the best bites of the day for me. The miso cream with the clams is off the chain. If you want to check them out for yourself, hurry down b/​c Edisto clams will only be available and on the menu for a few more weeks. (Same with the oysters and mussels he said!) And as far as the lamb barbacoa, it’s a must try. It’s pulled lamb, lemon pickled jalapenos, mayo and queso fresco. The lamb is seasoned and so delicious. A little fatty in bites, but still an amazing sandwich. Plus the chef cut the sandwich into three’s for us to share which I find to be a very impressive touch. Saves us from making a mess trying to cut and pass around something were sharing.
Rob was also able to talk us into ordering a cookie and milk before leaving. They bake them as soon as you order so it’s about a 15 minute wait. Well worth it! I mean who doesn’t love a warm cookie straight out of the oven. With a cold glass of milk. Yummy.
Our experience was fantastic so Spero will stay on our hit list and I’m sure we’ll be back for a return visit sooner than later.