After many failed attempts, I finally made it out to the Tattooed Moose on Morrison Drive this past week. I was excited to visit since I had heard nothing but good things about the bar.
Morrison Drive is off of Meeting Street and is essentially East Bay Street, but is far from any of the standard downtown landmarks. The closest “big name” is Santi’s, which is just down the road a little. Despite being far from the crowds, parking wasn’t the greatest. There appeared to be numerous spots but all were reserved for other businesses in the area. Luckily, there was some street parking on the afternoon I visited.
Besides being PETA’s worst nightmare (tons of stuffed animal heads throughout the bar), this is definitely your proverbial hole-in-the-wall. It’s a pretty small bar that looks as though it has been around forever (it actually opened in 2010). There is nothing too modern about the Tattooed Moose and that’s ok. The vibe is relaxed and the focus is on beer and food.
There was PLENTY of beers available, including the Pluff Mud Porter from Holy City Brewing. The bar staff was friendly and ready to help immediately.
After ordering some drinks, we put our food order in. I went with Mike’s Famous Duck Club (duck confit, apple smoke bacon, smoked cheddar, sweet Hawaiian bread and garlic aioli) while my girlfriend went with the “Moose” Burger. The Charleston City Paper has been raving about this sandwich for a month or so now, so I had to try it out.
The food came out quickly and was really good! I had heard the food was great, but if I hadn’t been told that, I probably would have been wary ordering anything. Looks can be deceiving. This little bar serves up some tasty food.
There are plenty of appetizers, sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts to go with your frosty brew. If you’re looking for a fancy cocktail bar, keep moving; the Tattooed Moose is all about food and cold beer.