The Block

A nice surprise in the challenged landscape of dining in and around the greater Charleston area. Was great to find a restaurant which was not fast food based and cared about crafting solid cocktails and an expansive menu with a diverse range of offerings.
Atmosphere: 4 stars. Laid back and comfortable. A hint of modern with underlying tones of trendy. Soft lighting and ample light from two walls of window. Bar has high tables and the main bar had very comfortable high backed seats. Patio outside with an overhang to protect again the sudden rainstorms.
Staff: 4 stars. Engaging and focused on getting your drink and food order right. Jay at the bar did a solid job of follow-​up after a drink was served.
Drinks: 4 stars (Martini only). I had 3 during happy hour. Ample portion of vodka with a backside hit of vermouth to give them a nice element of dryness. They were topped off with a small hit of water, which is usually not how I like them, but the well vodka was a tad rough, so it contributed to an overall decent drink.
Value: 3 ½ stars. Happy hour 4 – 6 PM is a solid deal. $ 5 wells, $ 6 wine. Free mini-​Buffett with cheese cubes, grapes, hummus, pita chips and a pasta dish (this changes). Didn’t look at the beer selection — sorry.
Main Course: 3 ½ stars. I had the French bone-​in pork chop with couscous $ 25. Large chop, seared and flavored with an overbite of charbroil. The chop was flavorful, but a tad bit overcooked, as the juiciness did not permeate all the way through. Couscous was flavorful with an underlying lemon base.
Overall: 4 stars. If you are looking for a fairly intimate and tasty experience — whether it is meeting friends after work, or a dinner with a special someone — I would say give The Block a shot.

I really don’t understand how some of the reviews on here can be so bad. I’ve been here a few times, and I’ve never had any aspect of my experience be less than amazing. The atmosphere is great, they’ve done an excellent job of renovating this place and making something that really adds to downtown! The service is always great, and the food is top notch. Not to mention, the incredible section of beer and wine. I highly recommend the cheese plate, as I’ve yet to have any that were not delicious. The staff are knowledgeable as to what is on the menu and can usually guide you in the right direction if you’re unsure of what to try. This place is still pretty new, but give them a chance. I know I certainly wasn’t let down.
Update: I ate here last night. It was late and not far from closing time. They didn’t seem to mind a bit and service was still amazing. Our waiter Josh did an excellent job.

The interior design is chic and unique. Food and service are unbeatably good. The crowd looks young and causal. Fun place to hang out after work.

I would agree with Adrian H that this a very good dining experience — I would classify as Bistro with Mediterranean influences (feta on the fries, excellent hummus appetizer. Superior food quality and a very friendly staff. The ability to open the front of the bar and the al fresco dining are nice options, especially on a pleasant Sunday evening such as tonight.

Overall quality experience. Very «anti-​chain». Not exactly «fine dinning» but pretty close.
I’ve yet to have anything bad here. Filet is better than expected and sea bass is as good as I’ve had in coastal cities. Apps are moderately priced and plenty big enough to share the cheese plate is a little pricey for the amount served, but «you get what you pay for» — always good. Amazing wine selection.
Didn’t rank 5 stars because the menu is getting old and never changes, rarely are special items offered, the sides that come with the meals (outside the feta fries) are boring/​bland, and it could use a better atmosphere (maybe less depressing music for starters).

Been open for almost a year and the they have got it down pretty good.
Service is excellent and the atmosphere is very modern and makes good use of glass and dark woods to give a clean simple but elegant look.
Menu is very interesting and offers a broad variety of items. Food is excellent but it can be a bit misleading.
My wife ordered a Cashew Cauliflower Soup which she gave me taste and it was delicious with a great texture. She was a little less impressed with The Block Salad which was little more that Arugala, Red Onions, Parmeasan with White Truffle Oil.
I had their Muffaletta Sandwich and it was outstanding but it’s not a Muffaletta. A Muffaletta Sandwich originated with the Italian Dock Workers in New Orleans and the word Muffaletta itself refers to a rather thick Scilian Bread. It’s really almost a loaf and very thick. A Muffaletta also has a variety of meats including Mortedella and is finishted off with an Olive Tapenade.
This Sandwich which I love has two types of Salami and Serrano Ham and have the profile of a Rueben. It does have a pickled vegetable dressing of which olives may be a component but does not have the distinctive Olive taste to it.
I don’t care what you call it. It’s a great Sandwich and I’ve a fan but don’t call it a Muffaletta.
The sandwich can stand on it’s own, it’s that good.

Went with a group of business colleagues. Had options for everyone — seafood, chicken, and vegetarian choices as well.
The sampler appetizer was good — had a few interesting bites that were quite good (quinoa and dip).
We had a bit of everything: crusted chicken salad, fish, scallops, and salads and all were good. Extensive wine list too! The selection of cheeses was nice — I’ll try that the next time I go back.

Fantastic selection of modern European/​American cuisine. A lot of the charcuterie portions are small but still very tasty. The Goat Cheese Brulee Salad is my favorite. Downside is there is no parking like most of downtown. Atmosphere is more upscale which is a nice change from most of the bars downtown.

Restaurant Week with a $ 30 three course Prix Fixxe. Excellent scallops appetizer, pork chop entrée, and crème Brule dessert. Service very good

I was always intrigued by the beautifully designed & decorated new restaurant in town, but I never got the chance to give it a try. Luckily for me, Charleston Restaurant week rolled into town and I was able to finally give this place a go. After a quick over glance of their regular menu, a three course meal for $ 30 per person is quite a steal! Most of their dinner entrees alone (or «gran tapas» as they refer it to) starts at $ 16 and goes up all the way to $ 47 dollars.
The Block offered two choices each for appetizer, entrée, & dessert. Hubby & I thought it would be fun (and the waitress also greatly appreciated us for making things easier on her) to just order each of the choices.
Appetizer:
*Spinach & mushroom gnocchi with prosciutto in light parmesan cream sauce– Tasty! but I would have liked it if the gnocchi was a bit softer & fluffier. Cream sauce was indeed light but still oozing with flavor. I didn’t see or taste any of the prosciutto. Ah well~
*Seared jumbo scallops with tomato tartar and wilted arugula– My, my! This was definitely a GREAT start to our meal. The two pieces of scallops was simply not enough! I wanted more! The scallops were cooked perfectly and it paired beautifully with the tomato tartar. Not sure what sauce was on the arugula but it was divine!
Our of the two, go with the scallops! Hands down!
Entrée:
*Chicken over grits with caponata salad– Chicken was WAY too tough. My arm got sore trying to cut it into pieces. It would have been better if the grits were a smoother/​creamier texture, but it still tasted good. The caponata salad was a bit too tangy for my taste. I didn’t think it meshed well with the overall creaminess of the dish. Too much of a contrast.
*Pork chop with white bean cassoulet and glazed carrots– Porks chops were also a bit tough, but not as bad as the chicken. The meat was seasoned well and the dark glaze was delicious. The white bean cassoulet was definitely the star of the dish. I hate beans, but this one was amazing! Perfectly creamy without being heavy.
Out of the two, go with the pork chops (mostly for the cassoulet).
Dessert:
*Tres Leches– Not my style. Definitely not the restaurants fault. I just don’t like soggy cake.
*Blackberry crème brûlée– Custard was delicious and the sugar was caramelized to the perfect consistency.
Out of the two, go with the crème brûlée!
Interior:
Whenever I passed The Block– I only saw it from the bar side, so I didn’t expect the restaurant to be as big as it is. The dining area has an elegant gothy feel with the all-​black booth cushions. Me likes.
Service:
Our waitress was good. She was efficient with service and dropped by our table multiple times throughout our meal to check on us (as did the manager, I believe).

Excellent selection of wines and beers. Atmosphere is 2^nd to none in Charleston. Very clean and sparkly setting, including the restrooms. Lawrie, our server, was extremely knowledgable and proficient in her service. My burger was indescribably delicious. Huge patty on fresh bread. The cheese was very tasteful and the burger was juicy beyond description. My wife got the Muffaletta sandwich and found it very salty. Barely mentioning that to Lawrie, we were greeted with the chef who instantly took it back and cooked my wife a burger. We will be back here

Great service, knowledgeable staff about all the menu items and wines. We had gotten the burrata with prosciutto– very nice. Handmade pasta, I wish I could’ve tasted the pasta more under the sauce. The wine selection was lovely as well. The prices were too high considering the quality, portion, as well as the location of the restaurant. $ 50 for a filet mignon? Eh. I’ll probably come back for the wine, cheese, and charcuterie however.

Came in for a Sunday lunch and was pleasantly surprised! The interior was beautiful and clean, and we were seated in a cozy booth with windows. Our server Kevin was attentive and gave helpful suggestions, which was good because everything on the menu sounded amazing. We started off with a cheese platter from their extensive selection, and I recommend whichever cheese is studded with mango. I ordered the scallops with brussels sprout hash and a side of garlic roasted potatoes and loved every bite of it. I tried some of my fiancé’s flatbread which was awesome and huge, and my mom’s seabass and brother’s burger were cooked to perfection. Also, our desserts were on the house because the gelato wasn’t fully frozen, but honestly we thought it tasted better that way! Definitely coming back for dinner sometime, when I can try some of their 400+ wines and not feel guilty (not that there’s anything wrong with drinking on a Sunday afternoon…)

I met a friend for appetizers and drinks one recent Tuesday after work. Service and food were very good. I was a little disappointed they don’t have the vast array of wine flights as are available at the owners’ restaurant The Wine Valley in Teays Valley, but they have such a great selection of wine at a variety of prices it’s easy to overlook this. The space is beautiful.

Watermelon feta stack was decent. Everything else? Meh.
The sriracha crusted chicken was way overcooked, and presentation of all our dishes was mediocre. The sea bass cioppino was the best of the three entrees that we got, but even that was average at best. Really dissapointing.
Watermelon Feta Stack: ²⁄₅
Seafood Cioppino: ²⁄₅
Sriracha Maple Chicken: ¹⁄₅
Tapas Valencia: ¹⁄₅
Service:2/5
Diversity: ²⁄₅
Price: $$/​$$$$
Satisfaction:Price– ²⁄₅

After reading the mixed reviews below, we decided to give it a try. Many of the negative reviews seemed picky, or didn’t give detail. There’s no way to judge a place based off those type of reviews!
We had really good service. Quick seating on a Friday evening, but only being a party of two helps with that!
I enjoyed a glass of Riesling. The wine menu was extensive. I would love to see the Viognier that they have served by the glass instead of bottle. What a tasty, crisp, wine that is!
For dinner we ordered the crab cakes, siracha and maple crusted chicken, and the feta fries. Everything was very, very tasty! I liked the crab cakes, and I’m not even a crab cake fan. Or, a crab fan for that matter.
This restaurant was certainly a nice change from all of the chain restaurants in the area. We will be returning!

Sunday evening last minute stop for dinner. Sat at the bar and was immediately waited on. Great service. The spinach soup was a total miss — it was more like rice soup w/​a few spinach leaves. Too peppery.
The burrata cheese app was delicious although not enough bread is served — so we added a small bowl of toast for .10 more. This app had more spinach than my soup. And the flatbread was great but the «flatbread» was a little thick like real pizza bread.
I will definitely return — Charleston needed a restaurant like this!

I waited until we had dined at The Block a few times before writing this review.
First let’s talk about the good…
The atmosphere at The Block can’t be beat in Charleston. the wine cellar and cheese/​charcuterie room make for excellent centerpieces to the dining area. The inset booths provide a nice view of the dining room while feeling intimate. The flatware and plates are nice… it is obvious that someone put alot of thought into how the The Block should look and feel and they did a great job.
The service has exceeded our expectations each time we have dined at The Block. Prompt service, adequate knowledge of the menu from staff, visits from managers and owners, all of this attention even when the place is packed.
The wine selection is outstanding! They offer a few flights which is nice and unique to Charleston. And if you can’t find a wine you like at The Block then you must not like wine.
The Tapas and soups we have had are very good. I am quite fond of the Cashew Cauliflower soup. The flat breads we have tried are delicious. They offer better than average Charcuterie, veggie balls are unique and delicious, and none of the tapas feel overly priced.
That’s the good. Now lets talk about the bad…
The entrees («gran tapas») leave ALOT to be desired. As I said before I waited until we dined here multiple times before writing this review because I wanted to make sure I hadn’t chose weak entrees or been there on an off night. Im sad to say that was not the case. Of the six entrees we have had, only one was very good. Even the one that was good was so overpriced I am not likely to order it again. The other four entrees were just average. They were not horrible but at the same time they were not memorable. Im more than happy to pay $ 23 for a chicken breast (with no sides) but I expect it to be delicious, wonderful, and something that leaves me craving more. I dont want to focus on the pricing too much because I don’t mind spending $ 200 on dinner but when I do I expect a great meal. I’m a firm believer that you get what you pay for but unfortunately The Blocks entrees don’t live up to that standard., they are simply over priced and not very good.
One other small note… as I stated before the restaurant looks great, inside and out, aside from one small exception… the «open» signs. Why put so much effort into making an attractive restaurant then put up cheap, Sam’s Club, fake neon, signs? It seems a small, black and white, open closed sign would be more fitting.
I will definitely return but from now on skip the entrees. For me this will be a place we go and have great wine, tapas and conversation but not a great meal.
so overall here is my break down…
Atmosphere — * * * * («open» signs cost them a *)
Service — * * * *
Tapas/​Soups — * * * *
Wine Selections — * * * * *
Entrees (Gran Tapas) — * * *

The Block opened about a week before my wedding anniversary. What better reason to try out a new place, right? The Block is located on Capital Street where Café De Paris once was. We made a reservation at a nearby downtown hotel, so that we could walk to the restaurant. We strolled hand in hand through the most attractive part of Charleston’s downtown. The owners have done a bang up job of updating the exterior. They’ve added an outdoor seating area surrounded by black metal fencing. The exterior really looks sharp and as if it’s always been there. Our reservation was at 8:00 and we arrived a little early. Having just recently opened the place was pretty crammed, as expected. Surprisingly though, we were taken to our table straightaway. The interior is parsimonious, but beautiful– the effort and care in selecting finishes is apparent. The ceilings are high, there’s a lot of windows, there’s exposed brick and beams, and the palette is black and white. Think Crate & Barrel with ebonized wood. Much to a fire marshall’s chagrin, there is a lot of seating in limited square footage. It doesn’t read as cramped though. The place is intimate in a good way. Rubbing elbows is good medicine and you may get to know those at the adjacent table. We met a really cute couple: two girls in their twenties trying the place for the first time as well. Paralinguistics and a mutual desire to make a good impression suggested they were on their sixth date. You know, somewhere between the first romantic interlude and jointly leasing a Subaru Outback? I liked them and they offered to share their feta and watermelon appetizer. One thing I would suggest is dimming the place a bit. It’s bright. I’m 35 year old. I’m not 25 anymore, I need softer lighting to look my most handsome.
On to the actual food and service. The server was Jaime. We started with wine. We both selected a red flight. Jaime let me swap one of the reds for a white. Anyone who puts up with my menu altering proclivities is alright by me. He didn’t bat an eye. We both enjoyed our wines. Jaime was shockingly well versed in cheese mongering. I was interested in the tete de moine, as I enjoy a Swiss cheese. This Jaime character knew so many nuances of Swiss cheesery! We ordered charcuterie and cheeses. We enjoyed all of our selections. One, among the charcuterie, was a particular standout. Small and spicy, I only wish I could recall the name. Jaime comped the meats as an anniversary gift. Salad came next. Delicious goat cheese speckled, beet bedazzled, honey balsamiced yumminess. Truly, the highlight of the meal. That’s saying a lot, because next came our entrees and they were no slouches. She had filet– like always. It was velvety and bloody and seasoned just so. I had the sea bass. It was over a rosemary and mint couscous. It was so good that my wife kept unstealthily poaching bites throughout dinner, which is unlike her. Though nearly stuffed, Jaime popped in and offered dessert. He was hocking those truffles pretty hard– he promised that they are the same truffles placed in celebrity swag bags at red carpet events. Do starlets eat truffles? Somehow, we ended up with a piece of tres leches cake in front of us. It was highly edible, but not craveable.
Clearly, I’m a bit verbose today. If you’ve read this to fruition, I hope that the take away message is clear: The Block is a welcome addition to West Virginia’s dining landscape. Do yourself a favor and order the honey bruleed salad. Turn other patrons into cool new besties. Lastly, that watermelon feta salad is probably worth considering.

Everything on the menu looks amazing. We had a cheese plate, snowflake dip, watermelon feta stack, and veggie hater flatbread. To drink we had the white wine flight and a sazerac. Dessert: truffles. Everything was out of this world!
Prices are really reasonable and the atmosphere and vibe is great – upscale but not at all pretentious.
Our server, Scott, killed it on customer service. We’ll be back soon!