WINE SERVICE

OUR WAY IS DRIVEN BY OUR SPACE AND MODEL

The size of our space, how hidden it is and the fact that we have very very little storage space all drive how we handle the wine service. Also, our business model for a room that only seats 12 limits our ability to do the standard / traditional wine thing. Good news is, we’ve found that it actually liberated us, and our guests. It created all kinds of new opportunities. The benefits far out weight the limitations. It’s less, “we cant do that” and more, “look what we get to do!”

HOW IT WORKS - JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD

12-14 wines are sampled in 12-14 small pours (about 1/4 to 1/3 of a glass of each). Most are very intentionally paired with a bite or a dish or a series of bites. We take you AROUND THE WORLD with wine, literally.

We feature lesser know grapes and natural processes from all 6 wine producing continents. Wines from Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia or New Zealand, N. America and S. America are all sampled. We’ll get weird with Pet Nats and grapes many have never heard of or tried. We’ll travel through time and space with wines from The Republic of Georgia (the birthplace of viticulture), The Canary Islands (an Volcanic African Archipelago) and onward to Chile, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany and New York!

We enjoy busing myths and telling stories about wine just as much as we do with seafood. Our tiny space and intimate setting leads to discussions about all things and often we have guests who have amazing perspectives on wine. So, we ALL learn from their experience and observations. We didn’t design for that or even anticipate it but it is truly magical to see how our guests can add value to the experience.

GAIN IN EQUAL PROPORTION TO WHAT YOU GIVE UP

Our model allows our guests to try things many of them have never heard of. Join us and GET WEIRD together…you will find something you are surprised by in the the process. We promise. Like an Orange Pet Nat? How about a Diego Seco from a Volcanic African Archipelago? A fizzy Chilean Rose?

Put your palate on “Discovery Mode” like you might your ears when streaming music, and we’ll find some new favorites, together. Let’s juxtapose a traditional Spanish Albarino with a bubbly version of the same grape, grown in CA. Drink Txacoli from the Porron like a Basque! We challenge you to experience wines in fun new way. If you fall in love with one of these wines, great. Now you know. We’ve just expanded your wine universe and that’ll bring you joy in the future. Also, if you want to take some bottles home, great. We can do that too. This way you don’t have to go wine hunting to find it at retail.

THE STANDARD / TRADITIONAL WAY DOES NOT FIT OUR MODEL

Wines by the glass or bottle don’t work with RAW LAB. Or, to say it better, its not the best way to do it. Also, a few other things:

You can get that EVERYWHERE ELSE, every day of the year
The “go to” varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio) will be there, elsewhere, everywhere, forever.
A full glass of wine would last for several bites or courses, in some cases. We’d like to mix up the pairings for you more since we have the time, space and attention to share with each other. We are able to compare impressions, explore preferences more deeply and learn much more in the process.

RED WINE DRINKERS

Those who drink red wine exclusively can be hesitant to join us. We can certainly appreciate the dedication to fine red wine (and we can accommodate you, if you like). But more often than not, red wine drinkers come away from this saying: “ Wow, I had no idea I could enjoy white, rose and orange wines so much!”.

THREE WAYS TO GET THE PICTURE: 3 FILMS BELOW

RAW LAB IS A CULINARY ADVENTURE, not just a “dinner”. As such, it requires and delivers a lot more from and to the guest. Here’s an analogy: If you drive 60 miles to the beach for a weekend get away there are not that many things to consider, do, plan, bring or prepare for. But when you fly to Colorado to go skiing for a week you’ll need plan, prepare, do and bring a lot more. RAW LAB is much more like a ski trip to CO than a weekend at a nearby beach.

MISSION WHAT IS IS / ISNT IS IT FOR YOU A-TYPICAL POLICIES VALUE PROPOSITION PRICING DISCOVERY

RESERVATIONS ONLY

ONLY ON RESY & FOR SMALL GROUPS ONLY (UP TO 4 GUESTS)

FOR LARGE GROUPS (5 OR MORE) - TEXT OR CALL US @ 843 580 7729

! PLEASE NOTE !

RAW LAB is NOT a “traditional restaurant” or A “TRADITIONAL SUSHI OMAKASE”

RAW LAB is not a typical dining experience or culinary offering AND WE DO NOT MAKE OR SERVE SUSHI!

RAW LAB is not A FIT FOR EVERY PERSON OR EVERY OCCASION. The experience is not always a good fit for every circumstance, individual or group as it is not a typical “restaurant” product, service or experience. Please make sure it is a fit for you, your group and your circumstances before you book.

RAW LAB IS **a next generation “Raw Bar” (NOT A SUSHI BAR) featuring MARINE CUISINE & DelicaSEAS presented via an Omakase STYLE of service IN a semi-private oR private dining ENVIRONMENT.**

RAW LAB has SEVERAL RATHER A-TYPICAL POLICIES that may or may not be agreeable to you. We strongly recommend you make yourself familiar with them.

4.9 - 5 STAR RATED ACROSS THE MAJOR / RELEVANT RESERVATION PLATFORMS

READ REVIEWS HERE || RESERVATIONS ONLY @ RESY

BOOK THE WHOLE ROOM - GROUPS OF 12 - 20

We will send the limo for ya if all start and end in one spot, basically.

Routes include Daniel Island, Kiawah and IOP.

RAW LAB LIMO

WORTH THE TIME & MONEY?

THAT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE, HOW YOU EXPLORE FOOD & WINE, HOW YOU SOCIALIZE, WHAT YOU DO & DO NOT DRINK, AND WHAT YOUR VALUES ARE FOR MUSIC, ATMOSPHERE, PRIVACY & ENTERTAINMENT. For some people, RAW LAB is a nightmare. For most, however, it is AMAZING!

RAW LAB has proven itself to be a truly world-class CULINARY EXPERIENCE by the very simple fact that after 2.5 years of operations we have maintained a 4.9 STAR rating on RESY. That’s just a fact which reveals a truth - RAW LAB is a world-class dining experience.

THE 10-12 course EXPERIENCE STARTS WITH a 90 minute introduction that consists of a MASTER CLASS for OYSTERS followed by another MASTER CLASS in CAVIAR. Our OYSTER SERVICE and our CAVIAR SERVICE are singular.

This is followed by another 7 - 9 COURSES of MARINE CUSINE & DELICASEAS. ITS A FULL MEAL, NOT AN APPETIZER. And it is NOT SUSHI or FORMAL like every other “omakase-style” dining experience has always been.

The entire experience is accompanied by a rather unique if not SINGULAR WINE SERVICE. WHITE, ROSE & ORANGE & RED WINE PAIRINGS take our guests to 6 continents. Wines from 13-15 wine producing regions and 8-10 countries are featured. This is a GLOBAL WINE TOUR WHERE WE FEATURE up to 15 different wines, many of which are rather unusual or uncommon. Ask yourself: Where can I taste 12 - 15 different wines from 10 countries and 6 continents in a single meal without ordering 12 - 15 glasses of wine?

FINALLY, THERE ARE AT LEAST 30 POINTS OF DISCOVERY IN THE EXPERIENCE WHERE THE INTERESTING & INTERESTED EPICUREAN OR GOURMAND WILL SEE, TOUCH or EAT SOMETHING THEY never have BEFORE. THIS IS WHY VERY WELL FED, VERY WELL TRAVELED CONSUMERS LOVE RAW LAB. FROM THEIR EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH FINE DINING THEY KNOW RAW LAB IS TRULY UNIQUE & WORLD-CLASS.

MISSION WHAT IS IS / ISNT IS IT FOR YOU A-TYPICAL POLICIES VALUE PROPOSITION PRICING DISCOVERY

WINNER OF OPEN TABLE’S 2022 DINER’S CHOICE AWARD

A Singular Semi-Private or Private Dining, Test Kitchen, Chef’s Table Experience for up to 12 guests

ONE OF THE TOP RATED CULINARY OPPORTUNITIES IN CHARESTON. SEE THE LIST OF TOP RATED RESTAURANTS HERE

RAW LAB MENU

@ 99 S. MARKET STREET, CHS, SC (843) 580 7729

LOCATION & DIRECTIONS

RECENT PRESS BELOW

FOOD & WINE MAGAZINE || TOWN & COUNTRY MAGAZINE || PASTE MAGAZINE || SC LIVING MAGAZINE

FOX 24 CHS || CITY PAPER CHS || CHARLESTON LIVING MAGAZINE || THE LOCAL PALATE || LUX LIVING MAGAZINE

WE #RaiseTheRaw Bar. YOU #SeasTheBay!

$200 -$250 per person ++ (PLUS tax & tip)

**INCLUDED: 9-12 Rounds oF Marine Cuisine & DelicaSEAS + 12 - 14 PREMIUM Wine Pairings**

SERVICE WED - SAT || ONE SEATING || 6:30pm - 10PM

RESERVATIONS ONLY - RESERVE SEATS HERE

21+

843 580 7729

READ REVIEWS ON YELP & OPEN TABLE

BROWSE RECENT PRESS HERE

15 GREAT REASONS WHY THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY VALUE & EXPERIENCE

WHAT IT IS / ISNT || LOCATION & DIRECTIONS || VIEW PRIX FIXE OMAKASE MENU HERE

RESERVE THE ROOM || CANCELLATION & NO SHOW POLICY || MEET OWNER & MASTER MERMMELIER KEVIN JOSEPH

#RaiseTheRawBar

Empire Oyster created this concept in 2017 and have been perfecting it ever since. This is a vanguard Chef’s Table / Test Kitchen experience for up to 12 seated guests at a time, where the focus is on rare, exotic and luxury seafood from the bottom of the seafood chain. Part of our offering is an exploration of the most sustainable, responsible and healthy seafood choices. We call it MARINE CUISINE and describe it as Seafood v. 3.0. Here we #MakeUglyFishesDelicious in a smart, fun and sexy way.

Our model is the magic. Instead of being ANOTHER seafood restaurant that ALSO offers a raw bar, we have removed the raw bar from the restaurant and eliminated the restaurant. We are focused on being the finest raw bar in the history of the world because we are ONLY a Raw Bar! We #RaiseTheRawBar so you can #SeasTheBay. This is not an appetizer or tasting menu, its a meal…a food & wine experience and, for many, an epiphany in both seafood and fine dining.

We feature a host of marine species and dishes informed by an elegant culinary ethic which is designed around eating “Whole, Live, Raw & BioAvailabe”. These days, we guarantee our guests at least 15 “Points of Discovery”. These are things we deliver in our service that even the most sophisticated foodie, gourmand or epicurean is likely to have never seen before. It delights and enchants, while, at times confusing and challenging your senses in an exciting way. The entire time, you are only inches away from the chef who prepares everything in front of the guests. Every dish is enjoyed by all of the guests at the same time. The process and the chef de-mystify seafood and seafood wine pairings in an un-pretentious presentation that empowers our guests to experiment at home or to feel more comfortable ordering seafood and pairing wine to it elsewhere. Its also FUN! This is not a formal or “stuffy” omakase experience.

Raw Lab also delivers an elevated wine experience. Each course is paired with a great seafood wine and any of the wines could be paired with any of the dishes. Guest’s commonly discover new varieties and styles of wines they love. The focus is on obscure or lesser known varieties of dry white, rose and orange wines. A luxury back bar offers a very high end collection of sake & spirits and some nice red wines, by the bottle.

Enjoy private dining in a salon like atmosphere with other interesting & Interested guests who have the opportunity to ask dozens of questions about oysters, seafood and the wine pairings. No other oyster or seafood experience is designed around a 12 seat u-shaped bar where all of the dishes are presented to the world’s only “Ice Moat”, at the same time. Everyone in the room is on the same page and in proximity to everyone else. It creates a unique opportunity for Edu-Tainment and connecting to others which rewards much more than your palate.

Also, the space itself is designed and managed to deliver a strong sense of ESCAPE! If you are visiting, you won’t feel like you are a tourist, you’ll feel like a traveler. If you are local, you’ll feel transported to another time, place and dimension. You wont feel like you are in a restaurant, because, well, YOU ARE NOT! The decor, the music, the light…it all transports our guests and time flies.

Finally, this room is very private. You can’t see anyone walking by and nobody walking by can see you! Our guests enjoy total discretion, always. This very discreet room is also available for private events.

MARINE CUISINE & DelicaSEAS

Learn more about this culinary ethic HERE and check out some pictures at that link or in the gallery below.

HOW IT WORKS

Enjoy 9 - 12 rounds of WHOLE, LIVE, RAW AND/OR BIO-AVAIALBE DISHES & UP TO 14 WINE PAIRINGS

It’s all VERY VERY VERY different @Raw.Lab.CHS. On many levels, this is an entirely new value proposition and Food & Wine experience, It is impossible to explain in writing or in words but it will make perfect sense once you’ve experienced it personally.

Omakase is an ancient Japanese service style typically applied to sushi service. The word means “to entrust” or “I leave it to you”. In this style of service guests do not order anything, they simply “entrust” the chef to deliver his or her best product, service and experience based on seasonal access to the finest and freshest product. We’ve applied it to oysters & MARINE CUISINE & DelicaSEAS, a collection of dishes created by Master Mermmelier Kevin Joseph. Our OMAKASE STYLE service is not a SUSHI Omakase which many gourmands, foodies and epicureans are familiar with. No, this is an RAW BAR OMAKASE, something different, entirely.

For starters, our oyster service launches the experience and features our Accoutrmement Premier, which is a proprietary collection of toppings, dressings and treatments for oysters available absolutely nowhere else on earth. All of the dishes are constructed right in front of you, and just for you. This is “seafood porn” and “food theater”, presented, in your lap, almost literally. But you’re not just watching it, you are a part of it as you interact with the chef and other guests. Also, this is not a little “tasting menu”. You will leave FULL. View the MENU HERE but dont expect exactly that menu as it is evolving fast and changes every night. LEARN MORE HERE

READ REVIEWS ON YELP & OPEN TABLE

RESERVATIONS VIA RESY || LOCATION & DIRECTIONS || CANCELLATION & NO SHOW POLICY

843 580 7729

RESERVATIONS FOR PRIX FIXE OMAKASE & SEMI-PRIVATE DINING

LOCATION & DIRECTIONS || CANCELLATION & NO SHOW POLICY

843 580 7729

THIS IS A FIT FOR THOSE WHO…

…seek the unprecedented, unique and original.
…have been to all the great CHS restaurants 10 times each and seek something completely different.
…value elite food & wine experiences and have 3-4 hours available to do enjoy our service.
…are NOT allergic to shellfish, mollusks or crustaceans. Fin fish allergies can be worked around by skipping a course or two.
…are comfortable with or seek a community table type of setting and a salon like atmosphere.
…appreciate elite food, wine and service without any pretension.

PRIVATE DINING

Book the room privately and we’ll serve you anything we can make.

When you book the room privately for your group it is yours, privately. We’ll play whatever music you would like and even allow you to bring in your own DJ. Bring your favorite wines or spirits from your private collection. The room is your oyster and your guests are the pearls!

2 - 12 guests for $4,500 ++ (Food, Beverage & Service Included, Taxes & 20% Gratuity NOT included)

13 - 14 guests for $5,500 ++ (Food, Beverage & Service Included, Taxes & 20% Gratuity NOT included)