South Carolina is one of the most beautiful places in the United States to call home. However, our local weather can be extreme - high temps and thick humidity in the summer and chilly winter weather during cold months. As a local HVAC company in Charleston, SC, we know how crucial it is to have a quality HVAC system in your home and experienced technicians to keep it working correctly.
With more than 35 years of serving the Lowcountry, we are proud to be an active part of our local community. As your neighbors, we are here for all of your HVAC needs, whether you need a new AC unit installed this summer or a heat pump replacement this winter. With a reliable team of NATE-certified technicians and decades of experience in our industry, no HVAC project is too big or small for us to handle.
We offer highly competitive pricing and convenient financing options for all of our clients. At the end of the day, our goal is to make it easy and affordable to live comfortably in your home all year long. We are committed to hard work, honesty, and integrity with every service we offer. If you aren't 100% satisfied with our work, we'll do our part to make it right.
Here are just a few of the reasons why homeowners and business owners in South Carolina trust Action Heating & Air Conditioning:
If you need a trusted AC repair company in Charleston, know that our team is geared up and ready to help you today. While you browse our website, have a look at just a few of our specialties here at Action Heating & Air Conditioning:
Summers in the Lowcountry are hot, humid, and sticky. After a long day at the beach or downtown with your friends, nothing feels better than kicking back on the sofa while your air conditioning cools you off. On the other hand, nothing feels worse than walking into your home and feeling warm, stale air hit your face. Those who know, know - having your AC go out during a South Carolina summer is no joke. With time, a relatively minor inconvenience can turn into a real health problem.
In situations like these, something has probably gone wrong with your HVAC system. If your AC has stopped working in the middle of summer, it's time to call Action Heating & Air Conditioning right away. Our team of certified HVAC professionals has years of experience repairing and servicing AC equipment. It doesn't matter how old your unit is or what brand you bought - we have the skills to get your home comfort system up and running in no time.
Over time, condensation builds up in your AC equipment because of its cooling process. This accumulated byproduct must be drained regularly, or the increased amounts of moisture can damage your air conditioner's components.
Refrigerant is the substance responsible for keeping your home nice and cool in the summer. When refrigerant levels drop due to a leak, it will affect your AC equipment's ability to cool your home. If your HVAC unit isn't blowing cold air, this could be a reason why.
This is a common AC issue in South Carolina and the U.S. in general. Sometimes this problem is fixed by switching your thermostat to "auto." If that doesn't work, you may have a broken thermostat or a wiring issue that needs to be addressed quickly.
It's normal for your heater to produce a slight burning smell if it hasn't been used in a while. However, if you are experiencing a persistent burning smell during the summer months when your air conditioning is on, it could be a serious problem. Turn off your HVAC system immediately and call our office as soon as possible so that we may send out a technician to diagnose your problem.
This fan plays an important role in your AC unit's heat transfer process. When your air conditioning fan breaks, your AC equipment won't be able to cool your home off in the summer when it's needed the most.
One of our goals as a company is to provide HVAC repair services at fair and competitive prices. In addition, we want you to feel confident about investing in high-quality heating and cooling systems without having to worry a lot about the costs. We make sure to provide honest and accurate quotes and we offer a variety of financing options. We want you to get the best bang for your buck, so here are some special offers.
See Our OfferIf you are experiencing any of the problems above, be sure to hire a professional contractor to fix your issues. For your safety, don't ever try to make HVAC repairs on your own unless you are trained. When the time come to have your air conditioning system repaired, our team of licensed AC technicians will handle all of the hard work on your behalf. That way, you can stay safe and have peace of mind knowing you're in good hands.
Your HVAC system works hard all year long. If you have gone years without much maintenance or AC repair, you probably bought a great HVAC unit. However, with constant use and even normal wear and tear, even the highest-quality HVAC systems are prone to malfunctions. Eventually, it will need to be replaced.
If you need an energy-efficient, reliable cooling system for your home or business, you have come to the right place. We have decades of experience installing new AC systems for our clients and can handle any installation project you have. As a Carrier® Factory Authorized Dealer, we have the most top-rated AC systems available in South Carolina.
At Action Heating & Air Conditioning, we know that buying a new air conditioner and installing it can be a huge source of stress. But when you work with us, it doesn't have to be that way. We have made it our mission to make the AC installation process easy and efficient for our customers. That way, they can focus more on living life and enjoying their home while we work hard on their AC install in Charleston.
Whether you plan to replace a faulty air conditioning system or need a Carrier unit for your new construction home, we have got you covered. We will work with you directly to find the best fit for your home and budget. We are also happy to answer all of your AC installation questions prior to and during your initial service appointment.
Trying to figure out whether your air conditioner needs to be repaired or replaced can be a tricky decision to make. Most people have a hard time letting things go, and that includes AC units. It can be hard to know when to let go of the old and welcome in the new. To help save you time and make your decision a little easier, keep the following signs in mind. If you find yourself saying, "that sounds like my AC unit," it might be time for a new air conditioning installation.
Your air conditioning system works very hard every day, all year long to keep your home comfy and cool. Machines that work hard year-round are going to require maintenance and ongoing services to stay operational.
As a family-owned and operated HVAC company in Charleston, SC, we know better than anyone how expensive it can be to maintain an AC unit. We know that money doesn't grow on trees. We also understand that finding last-minute resources to fix an air conditioning system can be challenging. That is why we offer extended warranties for your new or existing AC equipment. With an extended warranty from Action Heating & Air Conditioning, you benefit from repairs, replacement, and additional services covered under warranty. That way, you can enjoy your HVAC products as long as possible.
From The Bachelor Mansion to a sprawling Southern dream home!After getting engaged on Thursday’s ...
From The Bachelor Mansion to a sprawling Southern dream home!
After getting engaged on Thursday’s Golden Bachelor finale, Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist tell PEOPLE they plan to start their lives together in Charleston, South Carolina.
“One of the things that I think fate played a hand in is the possibility of where we might wind up living,” Gerry says. “For the last couple of years, when my family gets together, I've talked about moving to South Carolina, and it's an idea I've toyed with. And then in conversation with Theresa, a private moment, she's saying, ‘Well, yeah, my son lives near Charleston in South Carolina.’”
Gerry currently lives in Indiana and Theresa hails from New Jersey, but that conversation made it easy for the couple to decide where they should reside.
“And all of a sudden it's like, there's a big problem that is gone,” Gerry says. “The issue of compromising on where to live and how to reconcile families and all of that is, it's no longer an issue.”
The reality stars hope their families will visit often. “We want to have a house that's so inviting that everyone would want to come,” Theresa, 70, says. “Maybe a pool so they all want to come and have fun.”
Lucky for Gerry and Theresa, their kids have already bonded.
“Our daughters, they're like sisters now,” the father of two says.
Theresa agrees. “My daughter says, ‘Thank you for giving me two more sisters,’” the financial services professional says. “She has a sister-in-law already but now, two more sisters.”
After his hometown date with Theresa’s family, Gerry saw her family as his own.
“I looked at Jen and it was like, ‘This could be my own daughter,’” Gerry says of his fiancée’s daughter. “ I literally was having those thoughts because she was so kind and she was so sensitive to the situation, to her mom and to me. The whole dynamic just worked.”
Theresa and Gerry plan to bring their families together to celebrate Hanukkah this month. “We'll have a holiday dinner together with everyone,” Gerry says.
As they’ve continued getting to know each other over phone calls and text messages these last few months, Gerry and Theresa learned they share similar views on one very important — albeit unromantic — facet of combining their lives.
“Financially, we're the same,” Gerry says. “The way we handle money is the same.”
Theresa clarifies that that means the pair consider themselves “somewhat frugal.”
While Gerry and Theresa look forward to moving in together, they don’t have an exact plan for when that will happen.
“We've had conversations and we've narrowed it down to a time window, but that's always in flux,” the retired restaurateur says. “We have two homes to sell. We have other events that we're going to have to deal with and so forth.”
One major event: their live, televised wedding that will air on ABC in January.
“??When you're in your 20s and you put something off for a year, it's a very small percentage of your life,” Gerry says. “In your 70s, the clock ticks faster. And I'm 100% certain I found the right girl for me. So it's like, why not?”
Gerry can’t wait for his future to unfold, but Theresa keeps him grounded.
“Fortunately, Theresa is the more patient, I think, of the two of us,” he says. “Me, I'm like, ‘Come on, let's go, it's time to go have fun. Life's a wasting. Let's go.’”
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The Golden Wedding will air Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
The state of Rhode Island will be featured heavily on Sunday’s college basketball board and the Rhode Island Rams will look to do the state proud when they play host to the College of Charleston Cougars.Rhode Island Rams vs College of Charleston Cougars (-10, 148.5)Since Pat Kelsey took over as Charleston’s head coach prior to the 2021-22 season, the Cougars have been an uptempo team, but the team has decided this season to slow things down, entering Saturday 150th in the country in possessions per ...
The state of Rhode Island will be featured heavily on Sunday’s college basketball board and the Rhode Island Rams will look to do the state proud when they play host to the College of Charleston Cougars.
Rhode Island Rams vs College of Charleston Cougars (-10, 148.5)
Since Pat Kelsey took over as Charleston’s head coach prior to the 2021-22 season, the Cougars have been an uptempo team, but the team has decided this season to slow things down, entering Saturday 150th in the country in possessions per game.
Injuries have been a big reason for Charleston’s tempo shift as Kelsey likes to have a rotation of nine or 10 players that he can rely on and three of the 10 players that are averaging at least 10 minutes for Charleston have missed at least one game this season.
One of the Charleston players that has not missed a game to this point is Reyne Smith, who leads the team in made 3-point shots and is tied for second on the team with 11.1 points per game, but left the team’s most recent game against Florida Atlantic after suffering a lower body injury.
The Charleston offense scored 55 points in the first 25:11 of game time with Smith on the floor in their game against Florida Atlantic before being outscored 38-19 the final 14:49 of the game to lose 38-19 after holding a lead at halftime.
Even if Smith can play, as the extent of his injury is unknown to the public, he likely will not be at 100 percent for a Charleston team that has struggled with their outside shooting as their 28.9% 3-point shooting percentage entered Saturday 302nd in the nation’s top.
As for the Rhode Island offense, they have their own shooting problems, making only 56.5% of their free throws, which ranks 360th among the 362 Division I teams.
On defense, Rhode Island has failed to generate turnovers, ranking 356th in turnovers forced per play on defense, but have forced teams to work for points, ranking 306th in the country in total possessions per game.
With Charleston dealing with the possibility of Smith missing this game for a team that was 190th in points scored on a per possession basis to begin with coupled with Rhode Island’s slow tempo and it leads to Sunday’s game being one that will feature plenty of defense.
The Play: Rhode Island vs. Charleston Under 148.5
An infrastructure investment firm has acquired a Lowcountry warehousing and logistics company.NOVA Infrastructure has added A&R Bulk-Pak a South Carolina-based provider of contract packaging, transloading, warehousing and other critical supply chain services for the petrochemical industry, to its lineup.The strategic investment positions A&R to usher in its next stage of growth and continue to serve leading global chemical providers, a NOVA news release stated.Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed....
An infrastructure investment firm has acquired a Lowcountry warehousing and logistics company.
NOVA Infrastructure has added A&R Bulk-Pak a South Carolina-based provider of contract packaging, transloading, warehousing and other critical supply chain services for the petrochemical industry, to its lineup.
The strategic investment positions A&R to usher in its next stage of growth and continue to serve leading global chemical providers, a NOVA news release stated.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Over the past decade, the Port of Charleston has been one of the fastest-growing export hubs for the North American chemicals industry, and A&R has grown into a leading provider of critical supply chain solutions during that time,” Allison Kingsley, founder and partner of NOVA Infrastructure, said in the release. “We believe this industry will continue to be a leading exporter into large and high-growth global end markets, and we are excited to support A&R as it expands its service offerings, grows its market footprint and further entrenches its long-term customer relationships.”
Located 26 miles from the Port of Charleston in Moncks Corner, A&R operates a 240,000 square foot warehouse which features two high-speed automated packaging lines, rail access to the CSX main-line, and onsite storage for over 120 railcars, the release stated. The facility primarily focuses on transloading and packaging polyethylene pellets for a blue-chip customer base comprised of chemicals producers and trading houses.
“Ever since Avinoam Ron founded A&R in 1985, we have worked hard to establish a reputation for quality, reliability and safety, which has afforded us the privilege to serve some of the leading global chemicals producers and traders,” said Jason Blinkoff, executive vice president of A&R, said in the release. “Our partnership with NOVA will allow A&R to pursue growth opportunities in support of our customers’ long-term strategic goals.”
In tandem with this acquisition, A&R has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Harbor Logistics, the release stated. Harbor, a portfolio company of NOVA, is a provider of transportation, logistics and warehousing services in Charleston. The agreement aligns Harbor, A&R and NOVA as long-term partners to deliver a broader suite of comprehensive supply chain solutions in North America. The partnership will utilize each company’s resources, operational capabilities, and experience to develop, construct, finance and operate specialized logistics infrastructure across North America.
“I have had the pleasure of working with A&R and Jason for many years when I was at the Port and welcome the opportunity to bring Harbor’s commercial and operational capabilities to this partnership,” Micah Mallace, president of Harbor Logistics and the former chief commercial officer of the South Carolina Ports Authority, said in the release. “The pairing of Harbor’s core competencies with A&R’s chemicals packaging expertise offers our mutual customers an even higher level of service. In addition, Harbor’s dominance as the largest drayage provider in Charleston will afford A&R customers unparalleled cost and service to further strengthen A&R’s offering.”
NOVA and Harbor Logistics were advised on the transaction by Scudder Law Firm, P.C., L.L.O. and Jones Day. A&R was advised on the transaction by IMG Business Advisors and legal counsel was provided by Brown Moskowitz & Kallen, P.C. and The Law Office of Joshua F. Laff.
A seat at one of Malagón’s wooden barstools is a wonderful place to be on a cool Charleston night.With your jacket hanging on a rack near the kitchen and feet resting on a brass bar rail, the time has come to order a glass of wine. While you’re perusing the nearly 10-page food menu, a server wearing a red-and-white striped shirt brings over a sample from the all-Spanish list featuring full-bodied reds, refreshing cavas and nutty sherries.Wine chosen — with guidance from a server who strikes a deft balan...
A seat at one of Malagón’s wooden barstools is a wonderful place to be on a cool Charleston night.
With your jacket hanging on a rack near the kitchen and feet resting on a brass bar rail, the time has come to order a glass of wine. While you’re perusing the nearly 10-page food menu, a server wearing a red-and-white striped shirt brings over a sample from the all-Spanish list featuring full-bodied reds, refreshing cavas and nutty sherries.
Wine chosen — with guidance from a server who strikes a deft balance between attentiveness and nonchalance — you’re ready to listen to the daily specials.
Tonight, Malagón executive chef and co-owner Juan Cassalett has thinly shaved house-cured duck, placing the darkened sheet over endive dressed in a vinaigrette — bright and bursting with acidity. Swordfish skewers have been cooked over charcoal, and house-made sourdough is receiving the ‘pa amb tomàquet’ treatment of local tomatoes and jamón ibérico, capped with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of chives.
With a prime view of Malagón’s tight open kitchen, where Cassalett cooks on most nights with two sous chefs and three line cooks, you can choose from those options and be perfectly content. You could then return the following night with a small group of friends, allowing for full exploration of the menu.
That’s exactly the type of restaurant Cassalett, his wife and Chez Nous chef Jill Mathias, and restaurateurs Patrick and Fanny Panella set out to create when they opened Malagón in 2018. Even with a specific regional focus, the plates stay fresh.
“We want there to be something for everybody without sacrificing the purity of the concept,” Patrick Panella said.
On any given night, parties of one or two can be seen grabbing a quick bite after work next to a group of tourists, table filled with marinated lamb skewers; crab rice with squid ink and paprika; jamón-wrapped grouper; white asparagus with anchovies; and La Bomba de la Barceloneta, a pork-packed mashed potato “bomb” with tomato and aioli.
For years, the West Ashley restaurant space at 25 Magnolia Road was a place where food and beverage professionals escaped the chaos of downtown Charleston over an array of Italian classics, including gnocchi and pasta tossed in vodka sauce or Bolognese.
Though many adored Al Di La, a crowded bar area and dining room at the address in late November suggests Avondale diners have taken a liking to Bearcat, which opened to the public after a monthslong delay Oct. 27.
Helmed by former Chicago fine dining chef George Kovach, the new restaurant is split in two.
Located on the right, Bearcat’s bar has all the elements of a neighborhood watering hole — frozen drinks, energized chatter and diners donning casual clothing. Alongside that laid-back vibe are some more formal bites, including smoked chicken yakitori, wagyu beer tartare, and crab and foie gras bao buns, made by blending liver, cured overnight, with crab meat.
Walking through a tight wood-framed doorway takes diners into Bearcat’s dining room, where Kovach and head chef John Coleman are dusting smoked maitake mushrooms with porcini mushroom dust and placing three scallops on a fluffy parsnip puree mattress, dotted with droplets of paprika oil. A golden beet salad with whipped yogurt, duck liver mousse with house-made brioche bread and Carolina Gold crab rice with uni hollandaise are some of the other fanciful small- and medium-sized plates guests can expect to find at the new West Ashley hot spot.
The current 10-item a la carte menu will expand as the team settles into this half of the space, which opened to the public after the bar side in mid-November. In the future, Bearcat’s dining room will add a chef-curated tasting menu, drawing inspiration from Kovach’s fine dining experience. The chefs plan to adjust the tasting menu to accommodate plant-based diners.
Pop-Up Picks is a recurring series in The Post and Courier’s Food Section that previews an upcoming pop-up breakfast, lunch or dinner and the chefs behind it.
Now ubiquitous in Charleston, the term “oyster roast” first started appearing in the Lowcountry in the late 1890s, though oyster houses in the 1820s were a significant precursor to the later defined roasts. Several Charleston “oyster cellars,” modeled after ones in New York, would serve oysters raw, in stew or cooked over charcoal fire.
Though oyster roasts were not exclusive or original to Charleston, they stuck around here when they fizzled out in the Northeast. And historic shell mounds in areas such as Edisto Beach suggest that Native American people were gathering to eat oysters long before oyster houses or oyster roasts were a fixture in Charleston.
Today’s Lowcountry oyster roasts usually feature a long wooden table piled high with buckets of fresh roasted oysters. Standing elbow-to-elbow, people can be found pulling apart the clusters and shucking away with an oyster knife. Oyster roast season typically includes the months ending in “R,” and two Charleston-area establishments are leaning into the tradition all season long.
In North Charleston, Firefly Distillery (4201 Spruill Ave.) has brought back its Sunday Oyster Roast Series, featuring roasted Lowcountry Oyster Co. clusters, a Bloody Mary bar and bites from local food trucks. Led by chef Graham Calabria, the roasts — taking place Dec. 17, Jan. 21, Feb. 25 and March 24 — are all-you-can-eat, with tickets starting at $35.
NORTH CHARLESTON — A new barbecue option is coming to Park Circle after the New Year.Swig & Swine, helmed by pitmaster Anthony DiBernardo, will take over for Florie’s Dining Group as the food provider at popular brewery Commonhouse Aleworks. The change is expected to take place in the beginning of January.At Swig & S...
NORTH CHARLESTON — A new barbecue option is coming to Park Circle after the New Year.
Swig & Swine, helmed by pitmaster Anthony DiBernardo, will take over for Florie’s Dining Group as the food provider at popular brewery Commonhouse Aleworks. The change is expected to take place in the beginning of January.
At Swig & Swine locations in West Ashley, Mount Pleasant and Summerville, DiBernardo and his team highlight barbecue that’s cooked low and slow. The three full service restaurants pair smoked turkey, prime beef brisket and smoked chicken wings with mac and cheese, corn pudding, hash and rice, and other sides.
At Commonhouse Aleworks, the pitmasters will serve smoked brisket sausage with pimento cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, brisket burgers and more. A full menu will be released closer to opening.
The move comes as both establishments expand to different parts of the state.
Last month, Commonhouse Aleworks opened a second outpost in the Charleston International Airport where Samuel Adams Brewhouse was located near Gate B5 beyond the security checkpoint. In addition to craft brews, the 1,250-square-foot site is home to a full bar, pub fare and dining area that is all being overseen by Delaware North, the airport’s contracted concession operator.
Swig & Swine is taking its brand and barbecue beyond the Lowcountry, with locations in Moncks Corner and Myrtle Beach slated to debut in the coming months. When the Myrtle Beach location opens its doors just off Broadway Street, it will join restaurants like Vietnam House, Crazy Mexican Restaurant and Bar, El Rey del Taco, Homestyle Jamaican and Sabor Caseiro Restaurante.
The owners of Florie’s will continue to serve at Commonhouse Aleworks’ flagship brewery (4831 O’Hear Ave.) until the transition is complete. They will then turn their attention to their other restaurant locations, which include Pier 41 in Mount Pleasant and Coach’s Canteen on Daniel Island.
A seat at one of Malagón’s wooden barstools is a wonderful place to be on a cool Charleston night.
With your jacket hanging on a rack near the kitchen and feet resting on a brass bar rail, the time has come to order a glass of wine. While you’re perusing the nearly 10-page food menu, a server wearing a red-and-white striped shirt brings over a sample from the all-Spanish list featuring full-bodied reds, refreshing cavas and nutty sherries.
Wine chosen — with guidance from a server who strikes a deft balance between attentiveness and nonchalance — you’re ready to listen to the daily specials.
Tonight, Malagón executive chef and co-owner Juan Cassalett has thinly shaved house-cured duck, placing the darkened sheet over endive dressed in a vinaigrette — bright and bursting with acidity. Swordfish skewers have been cooked over charcoal, and house-made sourdough is receiving the ‘pa amb tomàquet’ treatment of local tomatoes and jamón ibérico, capped with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of chives.
With a prime view of Malagón’s tight open kitchen, where Cassalett cooks on most nights with two sous chefs and three line cooks, you can choose from those options and be perfectly content. You could then return the following night with a small group of friends, allowing for full exploration of the menu.
That’s exactly the type of restaurant Cassalett, his wife and Chez Nous chef Jill Mathias, and restaurateurs Patrick and Fanny Panella set out to create when they opened Malagón in 2018. Even with a specific regional focus, the plates stay fresh.
“We want there to be something for everybody without sacrificing the purity of the concept,” Patrick Panella said.
On any given night, parties of one or two can be seen grabbing a quick bite after work next to a group of tourists, table filled with marinated lamb skewers; crab rice with squid ink and paprika; jamón-wrapped grouper; white asparagus with anchovies; and La Bomba de la Barceloneta, a pork-packed mashed potato “bomb” with tomato and aioli.
For years, the West Ashley restaurant space at 25 Magnolia Road was a place where food and beverage professionals escaped the chaos of downtown Charleston over an array of Italian classics, including gnocchi and pasta tossed in vodka sauce or Bolognese.
Though many adored Al Di La, a crowded bar area and dining room at the address in late November suggests Avondale diners have taken a liking to Bearcat, which opened to the public after a monthslong delay Oct. 27.
Helmed by former Chicago fine dining chef George Kovach, the new restaurant is split in two.
Located on the right, Bearcat’s bar has all the elements of a neighborhood watering hole — frozen drinks, energized chatter and diners donning casual clothing. Alongside that laid-back vibe are some more formal bites, including smoked chicken yakitori, wagyu beer tartare, and crab and foie gras bao buns, made by blending liver, cured overnight, with crab meat.
Walking through a tight wood-framed doorway takes diners into Bearcat’s dining room, where Kovach and head chef John Coleman are dusting smoked maitake mushrooms with porcini mushroom dust and placing three scallops on a fluffy parsnip puree mattress, dotted with droplets of paprika oil. A golden beet salad with whipped yogurt, duck liver mousse with house-made brioche bread and Carolina Gold crab rice with uni hollandaise are some of the other fanciful small- and medium-sized plates guests can expect to find at the new West Ashley hot spot.
The current 10-item a la carte menu will expand as the team settles into this half of the space, which opened to the public after the bar side in mid-November. In the future, Bearcat’s dining room will add a chef-curated tasting menu, drawing inspiration from Kovach’s fine dining experience. The chefs plan to adjust the tasting menu to accommodate plant-based diners.
Pop-Up Picks is a recurring series in The Post and Courier’s Food Section that previews an upcoming pop-up breakfast, lunch or dinner and the chefs behind it.
Now ubiquitous in Charleston, the term “oyster roast” first started appearing in the Lowcountry in the late 1890s, though oyster houses in the 1820s were a significant precursor to the later defined roasts. Several Charleston “oyster cellars,” modeled after ones in New York, would serve oysters raw, in stew or cooked over charcoal fire.
Though oyster roasts were not exclusive or original to Charleston, they stuck around here when they fizzled out in the Northeast. And historic shell mounds in areas such as Edisto Beach suggest that Native American people were gathering to eat oysters long before oyster houses or oyster roasts were a fixture in Charleston.
Today’s Lowcountry oyster roasts usually feature a long wooden table piled high with buckets of fresh roasted oysters. Standing elbow-to-elbow, people can be found pulling apart the clusters and shucking away with an oyster knife. Oyster roast season typically includes the months ending in “R,” and two Charleston-area establishments are leaning into the tradition all season long.
In North Charleston, Firefly Distillery (4201 Spruill Ave.) has brought back its Sunday Oyster Roast Series, featuring roasted Lowcountry Oyster Co. clusters, a Bloody Mary bar and bites from local food trucks. Led by chef Graham Calabria, the roasts — taking place Dec. 17, Jan. 21, Feb. 25 and March 24 — are all-you-can-eat, with tickets starting at $35.