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Basque Lunch at Chez Nous
A multicourse Basque lunch at Chez Nous in Charleston with Katie Button, Steven Satterfield, Jill Mathias, and Juan Cassalett.
Restaurant
Chez Nous
Cannonborough/Elliottborough, Charleston
Restaurant in Charleston, United States
The Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Chez Nous is worth booking for a quieter Charleston meal when intimacy matters more than a marquee reservation. The appeal is lower-friction booking and a smaller-feeling experience, especially for dates or personal celebrations, but diners who need a clear cuisine style, public price tier, or award-backed credentials should cross-shop before committing.
About Chez Nous
Chez Nous is a Charleston venue with lunch and dinner service from Tuesday through Sunday. Monday is closed, and the dress code is smart casual.
Use Chez Nous when the schedule fits: lunch is served from 11:30 AM to 3 PM and dinner from 5 to 10 PM Tuesday through Sunday.
Who should choose this over a bigger Charleston reservation
Choose Chez Nous if its Charleston location, smart-casual dress code, and Tuesday-through-Sunday lunch and dinner hours match the occasion. It may be a practical option for diners who want a venue with both midday and evening availability outside of Monday.
Do not build the decision around awards, chef biography, menu style, or a named specialty. For diners comparing Charleston options, the best confirmed distinction here is simple: Chez Nous has lunch and dinner hours Tuesday through Sunday and is closed Monday.
The booking call
Use the decision this way: consider Chez Nous when its Charleston setting and service windows work for your plans. For broader planning around the city, the Charleston restaurants guide is the better starting point.
The takeVibe and best for
Venue detailsWheelchair Accessible
Know before you goBefore you book
Recognition and awards1 source
Also considerAlternatives
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: Closed · Tuesday: 11:30 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM
- Location
- 6 Payne Ct, Charleston, SC 29403
- Reservations
- Book on Resy
- Website
- cheznouschs.com
- Phone
- +1 843 579 3060
Restaurant contextCharleston, United States
Explore CharlestonNearby
Around this placeMore Pearl picks
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Chez Nous presents a quietly determined dining experience centered on a courtyard and a chef-led, rotating chalkboard. The restaurant sits down a narrow residential passage in Harleston Village, which sets expectations before you even enter: this is a place meant to be sought out. The restaurant follows a Lowcountry sourcing logic, with seafood from the Atlantic and specialty produce from nearby growers, and the mood centers on seasonal discipline in ingredient-driven cooking. The room reads as small and intimate, an elegant, historic-pocket escape for diners who value provenance and quiet discovery.
Best For
This is a destination for diners who plan to seek out a thoughtful, ingredient-first meal: particularly well suited to date night or a special-occasion dinner. The small, off-the-main-drag room and its courtyard setting reward guests who prioritize atmosphere and provenance over casual convenience. Because the menu changes with what arrives each morning, the restaurant is best for groups or couples who enjoy chef-driven surprises and a focused, seasonal experience rather than predictable à la carte options. It appeals to those who appreciate quiet historic neighbourhoods and intentionally sourced cuisine.
Ordering Tips
Approach the chalkboard as the night’s program: the menu shifts entirely based on arrivals and local availability, so flexibility is the best ordering strategy. Ask servers what came in that morning, seafood and Lowcountry produce are highlighted in the description, and let the kitchen’s choices guide your selections. Because the point of the meal is sourcing discipline rather than signature plates, consider sharing dishes to sample the rotation. Expect a concise, changing menu and prioritize what’s freshest rather than hunting for familiar standbys.
Venue details
Ambiance
Elegant and romantic atmosphere in a petite historic home with soft lighting conducive to long conversations and slow sips of wine.
Tags
Vibe
IntimateRomanticElegant
Best For
Date NightSpecial Occasion
Experience
Historic Building
Sourcing
Local Sourcing
Accessibility
Wheelchair Accessible
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
- Kitchen
- Seasonal
- Menu Format
- A la carte, Small plates
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 6 Payne Ct, Charleston, SC 29403
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- 11:30 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM
- Wednesday
- 11:30 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM
- Thursday
- 11:30 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM
- Friday
- 11:30 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM
- Saturday
- 11:30 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM
- Sunday
- 11:30 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
If Chez Nous is full or the group wants a clearer cuisine direction, book Malagón Mercado y Taperia for Spanish food at a $$ tier. If the occasion calls for a more overtly upscale Charleston dinner, Vern's is the cleaner splurge comparison.
Restaurant context
How Chez Nous compares in Charleston
Chez Nous is the lower-friction choice in this group: better for a quiet date or small celebration than for diners chasing a defined category. Vern's carries the clearer upscale signal with its $$$ American Contemporary positioning, so choose that when the occasion calls for a more polished spend. Chez Nous makes more sense when the reservation itself needs to be easier.
If cuisine direction matters, Malagón Mercado y Taperia is the clearer call for Spanish food at a $$ tier, while Chubby Fish is the stronger match for seafood-focused diners. Chez Nous is less category-specific, which helps for a flexible date night but hurts if the group wants a firm menu promise before booking.
Sorghum & Salt belongs in the same cross-shop set for a more dining-led evening, while Annie Mae's Bakeshop is the better daytime or dessert-side move. For value, Malagón has the clearest price anchor; for atmosphere with less planning pressure, Chez Nous is the practical pick.
Explore Charleston
Around this place
Read more on Pearl
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Chez Nous guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Chez Nous
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chez Nous | Charleston | 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Best Restaurants in Charleston | |
| Annie Mae's Bakeshop | Charleston | Bakery | No published awards |
| Sorghum & Salt | Charleston | No published awards | |
| Malagón Mercado y Taperia | Charleston | $$ · Spanish | 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Best Restaurants in CharlestonMichelin Guide American South 20262025 Michelin 1 Star |
| Chubby Fish | Charleston | Seafood | 2026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #212026 Condé Nast Traveler Best Restaurants in CharlestonMichelin Guide American South 20262026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #192025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #882025 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 New York Times America's Best Restaurants |
| Vern's | Charleston | $$$ · American Contemporary | 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Best Restaurants in CharlestonMichelin Guide American South 20262025 Michelin 1 Star2025 Resy Best of the Hit List |
How Chez Nous Charleston compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about Chez Nous?
Chez Nous is in Charleston and is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, with Monday closed. The dress code is smart casual.
What are alternatives to Chez Nous in Charleston?
If you are comparing options, you can also look at Annie Mae's Bakeshop, Sorghum & Salt, Malagón Mercado y Taperia, Vern's, and Chubby Fish, along with other Charleston dining rooms.
Is Chez Nous good for a special occasion?
It can be considered if the basics fit the plan: Charleston location, smart-casual dress, and lunch and dinner hours Tuesday through Sunday.
How far ahead should I book Chez Nous?
Chez Nous is open for lunch from 11:30 AM to 3 PM and dinner from 5 to 10 PM Tuesday through Sunday, and closed Monday, so use those hours as the starting point and check current availability directly.
