Inside Craig Conover and Austen Kroll’s new Charleston bar By the Way: ‘Killer’ cocktails, caviar and more

“Southern Charm” stars Craig Conover and Austen Kroll have teamed up with Uptown Hospitality Group to open their new establishment, By the Way, in Charleston, SC.

The cozy den opened its doors last Thursday with an intimate party attended by guests like the dynamic duo’s “Southern Charm” co-stars Shep Rose, Venita Aspen, Rodrigo Reyes, Salley Carson and Ryan Albert, as well as “Southern Hospitality” stars TJ Dinch and Bradley Carter.

“Craig and I are ecstatic to partner with Uptown Hospitality Group to share our idea of the ideal all-day, all-night neighborhood hang; a spot where friends old and new come together on the regular for good food, killer drinks and great fun,” Kroll, 37, said in a statement to Page Six.

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The bar, nestled just one block from trendy King Street in the buzzy Cannonborough Elliotborough neighborhood, serves up comfort cuisine and craft cocktails and is open seven days a week late into the night.

Oliver Haslegrave of the Brooklyn-based interior architecture and design firm Home Studios was behind the aesthetics of the space, which features plush leather booths and banquette seating.

Additionally, custom textured plasterwork was done by artisan Benjamin Lai while artist Katherine Frost completed a stunning entrance mosaic.

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The entrées — served best with a side of shoestring fries — are elevated versions of classic tavern fare dreamed up by Executive Chef Marcus Shell.

Main dishes include a burger topped with tomato jam, caramelized onions and cheddar, Steak Frites with garlic butter and chimichurri sauce, a duck confit sandwich with cranberry duck jelly and goat cheese and wild mushroom ravioli with Champagne Cream.

Stand-out appetizers on the menu include French onion dip and kettle chips, a brown butter crab crostini, stuffed Caesar salad, Fox Den wings with ranch and fried oysters and caviar with citrus crème fraîche.

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While the desserts are seasonal and on a constant rotation, the cocktail selection is reliably creative and offers an option for everyone.

Martinis come in several variations including a porn star martini, an espresso tini and a “freezing cold” martini shaken with a base of either Ketel One Vodka, Tanqueray No. TEN Gin or both for the venue’s take on James Bond’s go-to Vesper martini.

Other bespoke beverages include a hot honey margarita, an elderflower spritz, a lavender gimlet, a Hemingway daiquiri and a cherry New York sour. 

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Zero-proof concoctions, like a grapefruit and basil “martini” and Spiritless Kentucky 74 on the rocks, are also offered for guests.

“Our hope is for By the Way to settle in and become a beloved, long-standing staple of this city’s outstanding hospitality landscape,” Uptown Hospitality Group’s co-founder and Director of Operations, Keith Benjamin, said in a statement.

The property is now open weekdays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and weekends from noon to 2 a.m. The team is also planning on introducing weekend brunch hours and weekday happy hours, as well as a Wednesday Night Steak Frites option in early 2025.