Two Bit Club, the newest restaurant concept from Charleston-based Indigo Road Hospitality Group, opens June 19 in Hotel Richemont, 93 Society St. Led by Executive Chef Jelo Tria, Two Bit Club honors the ingredients, traditions and vibrancy of Southeast Asian cuisine with a Lowcountry spin.
“Indigo Road has always believed in creating concepts that leave lasting impressions on guests, and Two Bit Club’s soulful and vibrant offerings will bring that and more,” said Steve Palmer, founder of Indigo Road Hospitality Group.
“Charleston diners are sophisticated and curious, and we think Two Bit Club’s blend of authenticity and our signature Indigo Road hospitality will be a great addition to our family of concepts and Charleston’s incredible dining scene. [Vietnamese is] a cuisine that I love, and as someone who is eternally curious and inspired, I was excited at the opportunity to explore the cuisine with Chef Jelo.”
Tria was born in Naga, a city in the Bicol region of the Philippines, and grew up as his mother’s right hand in the kitchen. From shopping the market at sunrise to preparing dishes for family meals, Tria said he loved to cook from an early age.
His family moved to the United States when he was 14. After initially studying medicine, he soon realized his heart was in the kitchen. He worked at a Filipino and a Japanese restaurant before enrolling at the Culinary Institute of Charleston, all while immersing himself in other Southeast Asian cuisines including Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese in friends’ home kitchens. He noted that Vietnamese became like “soul food” for him in large part due to it using the same fresh flavors that are found in Filipino food.
Small plates to large dishes
The menu at Two Bit Club offers small plates, salads, sandwiches, noodles, sides and large format dishes. Diners will find familiar items like spring rolls, bánh mì and pho, but the restaurant also offers a twist on the more traditional offerings. A yellowtail ceviche is prepared with coconut tamarind vinaigrette, basil oil, Thai basil and micro cilantro while Littleneck clams are accompanied by bamboo shoots, coconut broth, basil oil and baguette. The spice level varies, but Tria said guests can control the heat. For example, the Happy Tiger steak — his riff on the classic Crying Tiger steak — is a 16-ounce prime ribeye served with a spicy Vietnamese steak sauce on the side.
The club’s cocktail program complements the flavors found in the food. The cutely-named Eight-Pho-Three, for example, has Grey Goose vodka, St. George Basil Eau de Vie, pho broth, sherry, ginger, lemon and orange. The Yuzu Giai Khát features hibiscus-yuzu, citrus, cardamom, and rice lager. And the zero-proof Tonkin Time blends cream of coconut, ginger, lemon, pineapple and black tea. There is also an extensive wine and beer list as well as sake offerings.
Tria said he saw the opening menu as a starting point on his interpretation of Southeast Asian cuisine, one rooted in the classics with contemporary, local elements.
“This is definitely a new flavor in town so I’m very, very excited to introduce it,” Tria said. “And it’s going to keep evolving. We’re going to introduce traditional Vietnamese food, and hopefully in the future, we can go somewhere where we get more creative with Vietnamese ingredients. There’s no limit to it.”
Striking design
Indigo Road tapped Betsy Berry — a nationally celebrated, locally based interior designer — to create a space that looks as beautiful as the food that guests will find on their plates.
“Designing Two Bit Club was about striking the right balance between nostalgia and modern charm — it’s layered, intimate, and a little indulgent, in the best way,” said Berry. “While the menu draws from French-Vietnamese traditions, we let that influence whisper rather than shout — in the textures, palettes, and collected details. It’s a space that invites you to linger.”
Two Bit Club serves dinner and drinks nightly — from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays — and offers a year-round outdoor patio as well as a private dining space, the Garden Room, that seats up to 14 guests. More: twobitclub.com.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
