Idiosyncrasy ranks as a high priority at this inventive home for cuisine that skews toward the southern and the otherworldly at once, with backing from actor Bill Murray.

Website: haroldscabin.com

Address: 247 Congress St.

Phone number: 843-793-4440

Number of seats: 42

Entrée price range: $15-$21

Popular dishes: Sunchoke with black garlic, chick pea panisse, mushrooms and peppers; bison burger with onion jam, sharp cheddar, bread & butter pickled green tomato and smoky cabin steak sauce; beignets: savory cheesecake, roasted carrot, turmeric and benne seed.

What others say: “In the simplest terms, Harold's Cabin is an homage to a former neighborhood corner store set in what looks like a Wes Anderson movie set.” –Vanessa Wolf, Charleston City Paper

The interior

Forage Board

A welcoming tropical air blows serenely in this home for creative cocktails and islands-intensive food to match.

Website: facebook.com/canechs

Address: 251 East Bay St.

Phone number: 843-277-2764

Number of seats: 90

Entrée price range: $10-$25

Popular dishes: Coconut curry chicken with potato & soft roti flat bread, fruit chutney and coconut curry sauce; three-spice seared ahi tuna with shaved red onion, shaved mango, shaved cucumber and beet, lime vinaigrette and cilantro; Haitian griot: crispy fried pork, pickliz (spicy vinegar slaw), plantain chips and garlic herb oil.

What others say: “Get out the flip-flops and sarongs because Cane Rhum Bar & Caribbean Kitchen wants patrons to chill in an island atmosphere with a few rum drinks.” –Erin Perkins, Eater Charleston

Haitian griot

Bar

Creativity runs rampant in tapas that stray far from the Spanish template for flavors that can chef April Robinson can mix and match, and plate with a high degree of visual elan.

Website: buttertapas.com

Address: 5070 International Blvd., North Charleston, S.C.

Phone number: 843-202-0468

Number of seats: 49

Entrée price range: $9-$19

Popular dishes: Jerk lamb pops with pineapple chutney and plantain chips; shrimp-n-grits with gravy and chicken andouille sausage; braised beef short rib with sweet potato grits and sautéed string beans.

What others say: “How am I supposed to feel after discovering that a superhero is alive and well, and running a restaurant in North Charleston and I didn't even realize it?” –Vanessa Wolf, Charleston City Paper

Crab sandwich

Interior

Vaunted pitmaster John Lewis moved from Austin, Texas, where he figured in the legacy of Franklin Barbecue and La Barbecue, and opened this home for things like 18-hour smoked brisket and other Texas specialties.

Website: lewisbarbecue.com

Address: 464 North Nassau St.

Phone number: 843-805-9500

Number of seats: 100 inside, 200 outside

Entrée price range: $15-$20

Popular dishes: Prime beef brisket; Texas Hot Guts homemade sausage; “El Sancho” sandwich with pulled pork or chopped beef, hot guts sausage and pickled red onion; green chile corn pudding.

What others say: “His classic Texas-style BBQ is just damn good — we’re getting hungry just thinking about the super-moist and perfectly baked brisket.” –Sydney Gallimore, Thrillist 

Brisket

Bar

Transplanted from New York, chef Michael Toscana turned his experience cooking in kitchens led by Thomas Keller and Mario Batali — plus his own revered Perla — in a new direction with this refined but approachable Italian osteria.

Website: lefarfallecharleston.com

Address: 15 Beaufain St.

Phone number: 843-212-0920

Number of seats: 76 in dining room, 15 at bar, 35 outside
Entrée price range: $15-$31
Popular dishes: Fazzoletti verde pasta with ragù bolognese; octopus carpaccio with roasted tomatoes, pickled eggplant and fett’unta; short rib pressato with butter beans, Jimmy red corn polenta and fungi sugo.

What others say: “If Le Farfalle were a person, you'd want to be seen with her.” –Vanessa Wolf, Charleston City Paper

Fazzoletti verde pasta

Bar