WEDNESDAYS @ RAW LAB

OYSTERS, CAVIAR & CONSERVAS

A GUIDED EXPLORATION OF CAVIAR, OYSTERS & TINNED FISH

Every Wednesday @ 7pm - 9PM with MASTER MERMMELIER KEVIN JOSEPH & INTRODUCING chef sandy ochOA

On Wednesdays we present an abbreviated version of RAW LAB’S 10 course, prix fixe, Omakase-style raw bar experience which is now available semi-privately (share the room with 12 guests) on Friday & Saturday @ 6:30pm or privately (book the entire room) whenever it is available.

WHAT TO KNOW…WEDNESDAY…DETAILS

ON WEDNESDAYS WE PRESENT AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF RAW LAB’S 10 course, prix fixe, Omakase-style raw bar experience (FRI & SAT). WEDNESDAY IS A GUIDED EXPLORATION OF CAVIAR, OYSTERS & TINNED FISH (CONSERVAS).

• RESERVATIONS WELCOME, BUT NOT NECESSARY. RESERVE YOUR SEATS OR COME WHEN YOU CAN.

• THINK OF IT AS…

  • AN AMUSE BOUCHE BEFORE DINNER ELSEWHERE, perhaps, OR A LIGHT DINNER

  • AN EXCELLENT WAY TO EXPLORE & LEARN ABOUT OYSTERS, CAVIAR & CONSERVAS (TINNED FISH)

  • A GREAT ESCAPE & EDU-TAINMENT FOR THE “bi-valve curious”

  • A NICE way to enjoy RAW LAB when you don’t have time for the full experience (FULL OMAKASE- STYLE RAW BAR EXPERIENCE NOW available Fri & Sat only with chef kevin joseph or by booking the entire room for your private gathering)

HOW

RESERVE A SEAT VIA RESY OR COME WHENEVER (FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED)

WHERE

@Raw Lab, Downtown Charleston (Market / French Quarter)

RAW LAB started as an experiment in MARINE CUISINE & DelicaSEAS in November 2021. 12 seats are shared around a custom designed and built U-Shaped Bar which is one solid slab of poured concrete. An ice moat is all that is between you and the Chef in this intimate dining space where sound and light are curated as beautifully as the food & wine. You’ll see the preparation and presentation of everything served. Enjoy this tiny space under a dense canopy of living plants with a friend or a group of friends, family or complete strangers.

HUMP DAY - OYSTER SERVICE

Wednesdays @ RAW LAB

Featuring Empire Oyster’s Signature ACCOUTREMENT PREMIER. This Ultra-Premium Oyster Service will generally feature ONE local oyster, dressed, topped or treated up to 15 different ways. In this way, there is a CONTROL for the EXPERIMENT. The control is the oyster and the experiment is which dressing, topping or treatment do you prefer.

On occasion we’ll feature a rare & exotic oyster from far away. And between November & February we’ll occasionally present all 5 species of oysters, side by side - an exceedingly rare offering. There are so many ways in which you can #RaiseTheRawBar with this offering. The experience is simply overflowing with discovery and the opportunity to learn about oysters & oyster wine pairings.

And what a great value! Experiences like this are routinely offered as stand-alone events at top tier Food & Wine festivals. Tickets for such average $150.

BUMP DAY - CAVIAR SERVICE

Wednesdays @ RAW LAB

Caviar is not just for the rich. Come learn why Caviar (Sturgeon Eggs) is different from Roe (eggs of all other fish). See the differences side by side. Get familiar with American Caviar (some of the best) and begin to understand the best ways to consume it, buy it for shipment direct to your home and learn about both the history, culture, cuisine, economy and ecology of one of the most nutrient dense foods on Earth.

SEA-COUTERIE

Wednesday @ RAW LAB

Tinned fish or Conservas are all the rage. They’ve been a tradition in Europe for centuries. Come experience the extraordinary variety of it all and discover the kinds you love with us in a fun setting. Everyone should be eating more of them. Learn more HERE.

WINE

Wednesday @ RAW LAB

Our wine game is different. RAW LAB is NOT the place for the same old standard hits (Chardonnay. Pinot Grigio or Sancerre or Sauvignon Blanc. Its a place and a collection curated to deliver to you your next favorite wine. On Wednesdays we’ll feature one white, rose and orange by the glass if you want to venture past the Muscadet / Oyster Pairing and the Diego Seco / Caviar pairing. Very few of our wines are sweet, in fact, most are dry to very dry. WE offer several Rose & Orange wines as well as a few light reds. Find something you love? Buy a bottle or two to go and avoid shopping around for it at the local wine shops.

LEARN MORE ABOUT RAW LAB’S FULL OMAKASE-STYLE RAW BAR EXPERIENCE

Featuring MARINE CUISINE by Master Mermmelier Kevin Joseph

WHAT RAW LAB IS & ISNT || OUR A-TYPICAL POLICIES & GUIDELINES

READ REVIEWS HERE

THE 10-12 course EXPERIENCE STARTS WITH a 90 minute ExPLORATION OF oysters, caviar & 5-6 wine pairingS. THIS IS followed by a FULL meal and 5-7 MORE COURSES & WINE PAIRINGS.

THERE ARE AT LEAST “20 POINTS OF DISCOVERY” IN THE EXPERIENCE WHERE THE INTERESTING & INTERESTED EPICUREAN OR GOURMAND WILL SEE, TOUCH or EAT SOMETHING THEY’VE NEVER HAD 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 WORLD-CLASS.

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

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!

$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.