Restaurant Review: Cypress Lowcountry Grille

Cypress Lowcountry Grille is located at 167 East Bay St. in Charleston, SC. It's a casually elegant restaurant with a sleek design, yet the lighting and seating create a warm and intimate ambiance. My husband and I ate there recently and had a wonderful and delicious dining experience.

We waited for our table in the bar and enjoyed a glass of wine. Their wine list is quite extensive and they serve a wide variety by the glass. One entire wall consists of bottles of wine showcased by glass panels. When our table was ready we sat downstairs in the main dining room. There are quite a few tables but their arrangement creates the illusion that nobody else is around you.

I started with the special, which was roasted fig wrapped in prosciutto served over parmesan custard on a bed of arugula. It was the perfect combination of texture and flavor. The sweetness of the fig, the salty crispness of the prosciutto, the creamy delicacy of the custard and the sharp bite of arugula were a masterful marriage. My husband enjoyed the sashimi tuna and oyster appetizer. The flavor was fresh and delicate yet the serving sizes were quite small compared to mine.

My entrée was the crispy wasabi tuna, one of the most popular items on the menu. Its flavor was superb; once again the balance of flavor and texture was perfect. The tuna is wrapped in wasabi paste and phyllo dough and quickly sautéed at a medium high heat. The tuna is served rare, with edamame, baby shiitake mushrooms and a chili garlic glaze. It was outstanding.

My husband had the grilled filet of beef topped with boursin cheese, and served with asparagus, fingerling potatoes, and Madeira sauce. The steak was perfectly medium rare and the creamy cheese was the perfect touch. The sauce had just the right flavor to add, not detract, from the flavor of the beef and cheese. It was absolutely delicious.

The menu at Cypress also offers tableside presentations for two, such as Caesar salad and Chateaubriand. There are many amazing dishes such as smoked salmon Wellington and garlic and herb rubbed rack of lamb. There are also seasonal offerings that change during the year. Cypress is also a supporter of the Sustainable Seafood movement towards conservation of all commercially harvested species.

Although we didn't indulge in dessert that night, Cypress offers some delicious temptations, such as the Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brulee, a Grand Marnier soufflé, molten lava chocolate cakes, and a coconut soufflé with chocolate sauce to name a few. They also offer seasonal desserts which change accordingly.

If you live in or near Charleston or are planning a visit to our beautiful city, make it a point to dine at Cypress. It's a delicious fine dining experience of the highest caliber. If you can't get to the restaurant check out the cookbook written by Cypress' executive chef Craig Deihl. It's an accessible way for home cooks to experience some of the amazing offerings available at Cypress in their own home.