Photo Credit: Cameron Wilder
The Neighborhood Dining Group (NDG) opened its newest concept, Cheeky, on Sept. 30.
Led by Executive Chef Gabriel Lindsey, the seafood-driven menu is inspired by coastlines around the world, highlighting seafood and ingredients from carefully selected purveyors.
“I have loved this project from the beginning because it has reminded me how much fun it is to create a restaurant with a team you believe in and care a lot about,” said Kenny Lyons, president of The Neighborhood Dining Group. “Our team has poured so much of themselves into Cheeky, and you can feel their talent, care and personality in every part of it. We can create the room, the food, the drinks and all the little details, but a restaurant does not really come to life until it’s full of guests. I hope people settle in, lose track of time, and have a damn good time.”
On the Menu
The restaurant's menu begins with an extensive raw bar and cold preparations such as Bluefin Toro Sashimi with yuzu kosho and shoyu, Bluefin Tuna Tartare with tonnato, bottarga and toast, and Snapper Carpaccio with cucumber, white ponzu and bay.
A selection of Seafood Mistos includes calamari, clam strips, peppers, squash and lemon, with options to add Kaluga caviar, chilled oysters and hand-cut fries to create a signature Misto Tower.
The menu continues with playful takes on starters and salads, a build-your-own hand roll experience, handmade pastas including Mussel Gemelli with merguez, soft herbs, white wine and chile, and Lobster Spaghetti, as well as seafood-forward entrees such as Ora King Salmon with teriyaki, herbs, lettuce wraps and rice; Miso Yellowtail with honeynut squash, chanterelles and brown butter; and Steamed Halibut with leeks and sunflower beurre blanc.
Designed for sharing, the menu also features sides ranging from Tempura Enoki Mushrooms with green ranch to Charred Cabbage with chili crisp and Brothy Gigante Beans with crispy garlic.
Photo Credit: Cameron Wilder
“We wanted to take Charleston’s natural connection to the coast and have some fun with it — to create food that’s thoughtful and well-executed but doesn’t take itself too seriously,” Lindsey said. “Yes, there’s a lot of technique behind the menu, but we also want it to feel approachable and effortless. Guests should be able to sit down, order a few things for the table, have a great drink, and just enjoy themselves.”
The beverage program brings the same playful spirit to the bar, with a cocktail menu that balances classic techniques with inventive interpretations. Highlights include a Tiny Frozen Yuzu Marg, Nitro Swan Dive, Martini Set with vodka or gin and a sidecar, Miso Old Fashioned, Sakura Sour, Dirty Spritz with kombu and Pink Spritz, alongside a menu of tiny cocktails called “cheekies” and a selection of highballs from Cheeky’s own highball machine.
Photo Credit: Cameron Wilder
Beyond cocktails, the bar menu includes a lineup of bubbles and a selection of zero-proof drinks, including Green Tea + Yuzu, Grapefruit + Spritz and Guava + Cosmo. True to Cheeky’s playful approach, drinks are organized by “sheets,” giving guests the choice to be Well Behaved, Loosening Up, Feeling Cheeky or embracing a little more Mischief.
The wine list spans the world’s great wine regions, emphasizing coastal areas where food and wine are intertwined, creating natural pairings with Cheeky’s seafood-driven menu.
The Space
Designed by Charleston-based design firm MB Within, the 5,300-square-foot space features an expansive bar, intimate banquette seating dressed in bold fabrics and open-air windows that connect the lively indoor dining room with the energy of Meeting Street.
Credit: Ruta Smith
Alongside the 122-seat dining room, the 18-seat bar is designed as a destination in its own right, inviting guests to settle in for a drink. Outside, a 32-seat patio overlooking the buzz of the city provides an open-air setting.
The Details
Cheeky is located at 151 Meeting St. in Charleston. The restaurant is open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday beginning at 5 p.m., with additional hours to be announced at a later date.
Reservations are available via Resy. For more information, visit CheekyRestaurant.com and follow @cheekyrestaurant on social media.