The Westendorff

First time here. Very sharp interiors and great ambiance. Great fresh entrees for lunch and really good lattes. Looking forward to dinner there.

Amazing food! Great atmosphere & Service!!! 3 of us came to dine on a Saturday evening, and can’t say enough about the amazing food and service. Our server assisted us with our wine selection & let is try multiple options before selecting a liter of wine for the table.
Food was all amazing, I selected the house favorite Pork Shank which satiated my protein craving. We also ordered the mussels, chick pâté, & the dinner special.
The draft wine was a nice touch but I would appreciate a little wider variety of wines to select from. Other than that it was an amazing experience.
I love how the restaurant is open from 10 – 3 then re-​opens for a dinner menu at 5pm. Great way to get a lot of customers through the door to experience the restaurant, these operating hours help space out restaurant patrons so dinner hours aren’t outrageously overbooked.

I’ve been here twice so far. Once was for a dinner event in the upstairs space, and everything was AMAZING. The second time was for brunch, which was ok. The bacon is to die for, but the french toast had no flavor other than the blueberries that were on top. Service was good, though.

This great spot is a bit off the beaten path, so I hope it sticks around. The pot pie and salads were a delicious brunch before we left town after the holidays. The ambiance is fun and retro, and the service is great. We’d definitely make another stop the next time we’re in town. My gf also spotted Billy Hall there, so how bad could it really be?
As someone else said, the brunch menu is tight and focused. There were multiple items there that I wish I’d had the stomach room to try, but alas, we’ll have to wait for next time.

Awkward environment. They come across as trying to hard and the atmosphere was unjustifiably pretentious. The owner brashly yelled at a waiter right in front of me whilst I was uncomfortably blocked into a corner trying to get past. The food is good but the overall experience definitely left a bad taste in my mouth.

Up side — the kitchen is open late for this city. The establishment is better as a bar than as a restaurant. I stopped in for a nightcap and a bite to eat before going to bed. The service was poor, and the restaurant was noisy even though it wasn’t crowded. The mediocre fried oyster dish I had is apparently no longer on the menu, so perhaps improvements are being made.

I’ve been here twice now and I waited to see if the 2^nd time was better. Overall, I feel like higher costs are to pay for the hipster atmosphere. Additionally, for the amount of workers in the restaurant, our service was very poor.
We went for brunch and breakfast options were limited and slightly expensive. $ 5 for a side of bacon? I’ll pass. I opted for the french toast with bananas and pecan butter ($ 10). The pecan butter was AMAZING, but there were only 5 tiny slices of banana. $ 3 for a tea (unsweet, but delivered with simple syrup, which is cool yet annoying at the same time, but infinitely better than being delivered with sugar packets) and $ 3 for coffee.
Also, our food took well over 30 minutes to come out, which we didn’t complain about (we did discuss it amongst the table) because we had been occupied, but the manager did come and apologize about the wait on our food right as our bills were delivered.
If you love the hipster atmosphere, this is the place for you. For me, I’m not so sure.

I slept on this for a couple of days but the more I mull it over the worse I feel about having eaten here.
We were visiting Charleston for a couple days this week as a post-​holiday-​madness get away. As once-​residents of the area, we pride ourselves on knowing where to eat and finding great new places. I’ve had the Westendorff bookmarked for a while now and was looking forward to eating here based on reviews.
We came in on Tuesday night, party of three, to an empty restaurant. It was about 6pm; beautiful place, great ambiance, menu looked expensive but good. All good signs. Oh, how wrong I was. I will say at the end of this meal I was embarrassed I chose this restaurant.
We were seated in a booth and we started looking over the menu. Settled on a bowl of bucatini for myself, steak for the mister and the pork shank for our friend. As we were sitting in the dining room, we realized there were 10 people working in this empty restaurant. They were all at the bar and in the kitchen mixing and tasting drinks. One other person came in which must’ve been a friend because he sat at the bar and took part in the tastings, too. Am I supposed to not be here right now? The restaurant, which was already dim when we arrived, seemed to get darker and darker as we sat there.
My pasta came out overcooked and so heavily peppered it was almost perfume-​y. We’re taking it hadn’t even seen al dente. On top was a runny egg, a mountain of cheese and pepper. The steak came out very rare with no sides (not that the waitress asked us what temperature we’d like it or advised it would be just artfully plated steak). The real joke was on our friend who ordered the pork shank. It looked like something out of the Flinstones with two small side dishes. He took most of his meal to go.
Overall, it was expensive; $ 50 for just our portions alone with no alcohol. Honestly, I wish I was exaggerating and I somehow ended up at the wrong place. I wish I’d dined where the other reviewers dined on their visits. If this was an «off-​night», it was quite a doozy.

I went here on a date and left satisfied. Not excited, just satisfied. It is obvious that this restaurant is new and with time the negative aspects of it may improve.
Pros: The food is excellent! All the items on the menu looked delicious and my mac n’cheese and chicken were superb. The service was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. The setup of the restaurant was also good, with community and private table options.
Cons: The music was extremely loud to the point that talking turned into muffled yelling. I asked the waitress to turn it down and they did, but only slightly. Maybe some fabric would be helpful or to just turn down the music. The music was also very contemporary which did not fit the decorations or the quality of restaurant that the Westendorff presents itself as. If I want contemporary music at a volume that prevents me from talking to the person next to me then I will go to a bar.
The bar was unable to serve me a cocktail with Bulleit Rye in it. In fact, the bar didn’t have any type of rye whiskey.
Considering the experience I had here and the proximity to CofC, I feel like the Westendorff might be trying to attract college students by lessening their standards as a classy restaurant. Maybe this works for some students, but if I want to pay for a classy restaurant then I don’t want to yell at my date and listen to pop music.

!!!
I can’t wait to return. I came for lunch– had the burger, fries, and a Bloody Mary. All incredible. Terrific atmosphere. I could go on and on, but I’m in a food coma from loving this place already. The lunch /​brunch menu is short, but well-​crafted. You can see that the chef and kitchen staff take care in the food preparation. Waiter was totally friendly and not one of those awkward helicopter servers you get in many other places. Five Stars.

With an open kitchen and a very cool vibe to boot, this restaurant plates up some solid flavors. I found Asian influences in the fall of the bone in-​house smoked pork ribs, as well as creative ingredients and flavor within the po-​boy oyster mini sandwiches. the menu is to the point as well, which I like.
An intriguing list of desserts left me gasping for decisions, yet I settled on the maple-​bourbon pumpkin pie. Well hello fall! Good stuff going on here. Oh, and the service was excellent and friendly. Thanks Kevin for everything, as well as to the warm and friendly staff.

2÷8÷16 EDIT: A second visit came with the surprise of a new menu (and chef), and more of a fine dining focus whereas before I’d say this was a more up-​casual kind of place. It wasn’t exactly what we were expecting for the evening, so after a drink we decided we’d have to come back another time (after which I can give a full update). That said, my review below does not necessarily reflect what’s happening in the kitchen.
An initial visit for a quick bite brings a 4 star first impression with serious 5 star upside. The Westendorff managed to impress me beyond my expectations. The space is very nicely done, which is great to see since as a student at CofC many year back I’d pass by this once crumbling building on a daily basis. It is gorgeous on the inside and what I have heard about their plans for the upper levels sounds like a great addition to our city. The Westendorff is an eatery first and foremost, with no real bar area but they do boast a diner-​styled counter as an alternative. A concise menu with daily specials and a nice list of craft beer. wine and cocktails (featuring their house made sodas and ginger beer) keeps things simple and delicious. Above all else, the Westendorff impressed me with a level of service that went well above and beyond. I can see this as becoming a regular hub for locals and I’m already looking forward to my return.

The Westendorff is my new favorite restaurant downtown. The space itself is beautiful — it captures an upscale retro diner atmosphere without being too pretentious. And despite the fact they don’t take reservations, I’ve never had to wait long in the 5 times I’ve gone here during peak dinner hours. The front of house staff & servers are attentive and accommodating. There is one server in particular that I regret not getting her name that has been there every time I’ve brought someone who is a cut above most wait staff in town — I’ll amend this review when I can get her name next. Needless to say, beyond a rocky first week I have had nothing but excellent service here. The staff is knowledgeable, engaged, and not overbearing.
But I haven’t even gotten to the best part — the food! I’ve only been for dinner service but I cannot say a good things about the hanger steak. While it’s cut more like a tenderloin than a true hanger steak, the preparation along with the egg on top and brussel sprouts on the side can’t be beat. If you’re looking for more casual fare, you can’t go wrong with the burger here either, which consists of 2 thin patties on top of one another. I’ve had the pork shank as well — and while I was told it was a very popular item it was a little too heavy for me to enjoy completely. The green curry is a also a big hit here, but my friend who loves curry still favors Basil over Westendorff’s for the value.
And make sure to get some sides to go along with whatever you choose — I’d recommend the Mac & Cheese or the Geechie Boy Grit Arancini.
I have not been here for brunch yet but look forward to checking that out as well and wouldn’t hesitate taking a look based off their dinner service.

Sort of the old school ‘diner’ set up with a big «U» bar and everyone scurrying behind it. Now, modernize that vision and add the hip downtown Charleston vibe. There is your ambiance. The food was good — not great, but good. Service was a little hit or miss, but I think it was the guy who took care of us and not an assessment on the overall staff.

Great food, an attentive waitstaff, unique and eye-​catching interiors and a decent number of unique menu items, there really is nothing to complain about when describing my dinner at The Wesendorff. With that being said, with all the new restaurants Charleston is boasting every week, I wonder if this place will be a one and done spot for guests, or a place that attracts people time and time again. As for me, I am undecided– but here is what my friend and I thought of what we ordered, in case you cared, which you very well may not:
Po’Boy Oyster Sliders with remoulade and slaw:
Rivals the oyster sliders at The Ordinary any day. And at $ 9 for two, makes a perfect app if you are dining in a duo.
Maque Choux:
Essentially a large side dish of okra, peppers and corn cooked and topped with bacon. I was a fan.
Crispy Pork Shank over chive spaetzle with roasted apple and red wine braised cabbage:
MONSTEROUS in portion and the definition of comfort food. Although not on the normal menu, if it happens to be a special that evening, order it. You won’t be sorry. A great option to split with one other person, along with sharing an app or two and dessert.
Green Coconut Curry:
Just the right about of spice and you could tell the vegetables were extremely fresh and perfectly cooked. I ordered mine with the $ 9 seafood addition (with option from scallops, tilapia or shrimp) and am glad I did since without it I think I would have gone hungry. Or maybe just the bowl being super big confused me as to the true portion size. Am I confusing you? Im confusing myself.
Peach Macaroon w. basil syrup for dessert:
Was too sweet for me and off in texture. Could have done without.

We stopped in for lunch today and we were delighted. The service was excellent and fast too! I only had a salad, but it was fresh and tasty, no complaints there. I especially liked the pickled grapes but I can’t have walnuts so I wish I could have substituted pine nuts instead. Both salads on the menu had a nut from my food allergy. Oh well, still they were great about omitting the ingredient from my order. I want to come back and try more of their menu and their delicious sounding cocktails.

We thoroughly enjoyed our first experience at the westendorff. We came in for a quick drink while our apartment was being worked on, and ended up staying for a few hours as the atmosphere, food and drinks were so lovely. We both started off with Moscow mules made with their in house ginger beer– delish!!! After sipping on these for a while we ordered the arancini with some sort of a peach chutney which were amazing! I could’ve eaten many more of these! Gooey in the center and the savory and sweet balance was spot on. The atmosphere is cute and trendy. Our waiter hovered a bit but overall service was great. We then ordered the mint juleps which were described by our waiter as «an adult slushie». It definitely packed a punch. This wasn’t quite to my taste but overall was well done. We finished off by ordering the oyster Po boy sliders which were served piping hot and delicious. Overall we were impressed by the food, drinks and atmosphere. We will definitely be back for dinner and more amazing drinks! The wine selection deserves attention too!

A solid showing. Service was good. Food was good. Had the hanger steak and while I won’t write home about it, it was prepared well; could have used more seasoning. I was really looking forward to the smoked wings app but there’s a lot of competition in town and I would have these wings placing in the top 10.
I was with 3 other chaps and pretty much same rating.
Dorff is new so maybe they just need some more time to find their way.

With so many incredible restaurant choices here in the Low Country, rarely, if ever, do I eat at the same place twice in one week. Last week I made an exception and dined at one of Charleston’s newest additions to the dining scene, The Westendorff.
Given what has to have been a massive remodeling expense the restaurant is low key, comfortable and unpretentious. A large section is a Woolworth’s style counter with 28 seats. It reminded me of a retro version of a community table, where diners can either enjoy the company of others or enjoy a private meal.
The menu choices are purposely limited as the restaurant gets up and running. The «Firsts» consist of several salads, a slider, grit Arancini, Ricotta Gnudi and Smoked Chicken Wings. The «Mains» include 6 items which this week consisted of a local fish entrée that changes daily, a burger, spareribs, hanger steak, green coconut curry and a roasted chicken breast. Rounding off the menu are 4 «Sides» which are both standard and unique fare. There are additionally a few daily desserts not listed on the menu. The desserts are the creation of one the pastry chefs at The Sanctuary Resort, who splits her time between the two locations.
This week I visited the restaurant with a gal pal the first time and my husband and I joined another couple there later that week so we had a chance to sample a good portion of the menu.
Top picks:
Heirloom Summer Bean & Pickled Corn Salad with a corn bread crumble and a white balsamic gastrique.
The first night we were there we had an exceptional server. He walked us through the menu and highlighted some of his favorites. Surprisingly he picked this dish as one of his favorites of the entire menu. Although I probably would not have chosen this, with that endorsement we had to give it a try.
This quite possibly may have been the freshest summer salad that I’d had in a very long time. The combination of sweet corn, fresh butter beans, green beans, pickled yellow peppers and a corn bread crumble had a bit of both heat (yellow peppers) and sweet (crumble).
Geechie Boy Grit Arancini — Cheshire pork chorizo salad, mascarpone filling, peach chutney. These four bad boys were much better than I anticipated. They had a crisp crust sealing in the oozing cheese and sausage filling. The peach chutney was a nice ending to each bite.
The Lacinato (called cavolo nero or black kale in Italian), Salad was a heaping bowl including pickled beets, candied pecans, local figs, ricotta salad lightly topped with maple vinaigrette. Another winner.
Smoked Chicken Wings — Coleman NC wings finished with house made apricot hot sauce, pickled veg; Off the bone tender with just a hint of heat, also large enough to share.
Also high on the list:
Po’Boy Slider — Fried Oysters, remoulade, fresh slaw topped with an in-​house-​pickled pickle (No freezer at the Westendorff. They are curing, brining, and pickling to preserve seasonal produce). The menu description was a bit deceiving. We thought the dish would be on the small side since it was on the «Firsts» section, but there were two crispy sliders and this too, was very filling.
Green Coconut Curry — Carolina Gold Rice, Seasonal veggies and the addition of Seafood (+$ 9.00). With its unique fresh taste it received a two thumbs up from the table.
Desserts — Hummingbird and Chocolate Layer Cake — big tasty, sweet wins. We were surprised at the reasonable $ 6.00 price tag.
The jury’s still out:
Debragga Dry Aged Beef Burger — Two very thin burgers with American Cheese, Pickle Aoili and Hand Cut Fries (Kennebeck potatoes from Maine). A lot of effort goes into this dish. The beef comes from a butcher in NYC and the fries are soaked, fried, and flash fried when served — all told this dish was just OK.
Hanger Steak & Farm Egg — Garlicy Rabe, Crispy Potatoes, Sunny Side Up Farm Egg, Salsa Verde. Despite the fact the menu said it would be served with rabe it actually showed up with Brussels sprouts, which were tasty. The steak was tender but the egg was a touch over done. I was looking forward to having the yolk ooze over the steak but when I cut into the egg, it barley moved.
Cheshire Pork Spareribs — Smoked, Vietnamese Raw Slaw, Peanuts, Cilantro — this dish lacked flavor and the spareribs were over cooked and dry. Of all the options on the menu this item might be one you skip.
Although I might not be back to the restaurant a few times this week, I will be back! Looking very forward to their Sunday Brunch that they hope to start in the near future.

Excellent food and atmosphere. This place will do well. Not a lot of options on the menu but everything on it was well presented and delicious. Highly recommend that everyone try it. The lack of menu options might be from the fact that the restaurant wasn’t fully open for business yet.