As bar gains popularity, likely to see full 'Recovery'

I have to admit, I smiled the first time I walked into King Street's newest bar, because if you asked me to design my own, the Recovery Room would be it, or pretty close to it.

After only four weeks of being in business, the Recovery Room has already begun to earn a reputation as multiple friends kept suggesting that I check out the "cool little bar under the Ravenel Bridge." While the Recovery Room had everything I could ask for in terms of amenities (Big Buck Hunter video game, cheap beer, corn dogs and tater tots, to name a few) what impressed me most was the vibe.

The Recovery Room is cool without being pretentious, intimate without being cramped and casual without being sloppy. "Charleston eclectic" also might be a good description, and if bars downtown like A.C.'s Bar & Grill and Big John's Tavern and West Ashley's Gene's Haufbrau and Tin Roof had a baby, you might call it the Recovery Room.

You might also want to throw Moe's Crosstown Tavern into the Recovery Room genetic mix, where owner Chris "Boston" Dimattia worked as a bartender for four years. In fact, Dimattia has noticed some "Moe's crowd crossover" at his new venture, which only makes sense.

As with hairdressers, people become attached to their favorite bartenders, and not only Dimattia but his entire staff gets an "A+" in the personality department.

Dimattia describes the Recovery Room as a "fun bar for working Charlestonians" with everyone from MUSC nurses to cab drivers becoming quick regulars, as well as the food and beverage crowd (the staffs of Lana, Cypress, Muse and Granville's in particular).

Dimattia's favorite experience as Recovery Room owner is that "when people come in once, they come back with four friends." This isn't surprising in the least.

And if you're reading this Mr. Dimattia, would you mind reserving a table for five this weekend?