Chew on This

Chew on this Diamonds

The AAA Five Diamond designation sparkles for the following South Carolina properties: The Wentworth Mansion, Charleston; The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort; and Woodlands Resort & Inn and The Dining Room at Woodlands in Summerville. This recognition is a tribute to the staff and standards at these hotels and restaurant.

Now open

--Cafe Medley, 2213 Middle St. on Sullivan's Island. Winter hours are 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. On the menu will be breakfast, desserts, smoothies, pastries, ice cream, wine, beer and an espresso bar. Call 793-4055 or e-mail cafemedley@gmail.com.

--The Pearl, 1419 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Mount Pleasant. On the menu will be natural cuisine, organic specialty breads and cuisine-to-go, all washed down with the favorite brew of Papa Hemingway, Baby's Coffee. Call 856-9946.

--Palmetto Pit, located in the former Moneyhun's at 1757 E. Clements Ferry Road. Lunch is served 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday- Friday. Dine in for all you care to eat at a barbecue buffet for $9.49. Carryout, catering and daily specials are on the menu. Call 654-7500.

--Athens Pizza Express and Greek To Go, 1798 Ashley River Road (Skatell Center). Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Visit its Web site for more information and complete menu at www.athensofcharleston.com or call 302-8888.

Closed

The Trusted Palate has poured its last glass of wine. Ian Johnson has shut the doors at 563 King St.

Closing

Mimi's Creekside Cafe, a popular James Island restaurant at 1241 Harbor View Road, will serve its last meals Dec. 28.

In its place

Upon the closing of Mimi's, the restaurant then will be renovated and transformed into The Boathouse on Ellis Creek, joining The Boathouse at Breach Inlet and The Boathouse on East Bay. A February opening is planned. Crew Carolina owns the Boathouse properties, Carolina's, Carolina Catering and a specialty foods retail line, Simply Southern Products.

King steaks

Beaufort native and Clemson graduate Tom Hall and family are bringing Halls Chophouse to King Street. The family-owned and operated restaurant will feature prime steaks, fresh seafood, an extensive wine list and signature desserts.

The Hall family has extensive backgrounds in the hospitality and culinary industries. Tom Hall is the general manager of Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House in Dallas. Bill Hall spent time running hotels in Pinehurst, N.C.; on Hilton Head Island; and in Napa Valley and Pebble Beach, Calif. He also has run outposts of Ritz-Carlton Hotels and the Cloister Hotel and Beach Club in Sea Island, Ga.

The restaurant is slated to open in mid-January. Housed on two rustic floors at 434 King St., the 160-seat restaurant will feature exposed brick walls, leather banquettes and warm lighting true to Old World traditional steakhouses.

Live entertainment and a private function room will be available. For inquiries and reservations, call 727-0090.

New menu

The popular "Mercy of the Chef" menu is back at Fish Restaurant. Offered 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays, the program works like this: $25 gets you three courses of the chef's choosing, and for $5 more, wine can be paired with your dinner. Check out its recently renovated bar, restaurant and patio. Fish is at 442 King St. For reservations, call 722-FISH (3474).

Easy eating

Caviar & Bananas, the newest player in the specialty foods arena on the Peninsula, announces a Thanksgiving menu that can be cooked to order or prepared for pickup to cook at home. Offerings include corn and andouille sausage stuffing, wild mushroom savory bread pudding, stuffed pumpkins and vanilla-scented sweet potato souffle.

Other menu options are available.Caviar and Bananas is at 51 George St. Call owners Kris and Margaret Furniss at 577-7757 or e-mail info@caviarandbananas.com.