Brasserie La Banque & Bar Vauté

Located on the corner of Broad and East Bay, at 1 Broad—Brasserie La Banque & it’s basement bar, Vauté, call this architectural dream home. The building used to hold the City Bank, dating back to the 1700s and sits across from the Exchange building.

History Speaks for Itself

Their incredible entryway draws you in from the very beginning

Knowing that it’s been one of our favorite Charleston restaurants (between one of our first dates being here and the food being so damn good), I knew I needed to include it here—but, I ended up having to wait, sneaking in to celebrate Bastille Day to do it!

Inspired

Their menu varies seasonally, maintaining the staples of French Cuisine

Brasserie La Banque is a fantastic place to take out of town guests, coworkers or have an intimate candlelit date night. The offer a multitude of delicious French Cuisine, modeled after traditional French Brasseries.

I can honestly say that Western Massachusetts didn’t offer a whole lot of culture with their culinary scene, something I’m grateful to experience here in Charleston.

Beet Salad & French 75

-goat cheese, endives, candied walnuts, blueberries, herb vinaigrette

-butterfly pea flower-infused gin, citrus, bubbles

It’s difficult not to fall back into the same habits when looking at their menu. They do so many things so well, and yet we generally repeat-order specific items while having many fresh choices. Today we had to live a little.

I strong-armed my partner into trying the beet salad; and boy was he glad I did!

He usually avoids beets and when we split almost everything, I usually consider this when we order. The other components of the salad ended up winning him over— and he got a French 75 to sweeten the deal. This salad was so fresh and well balanced, the perfect way to start the meal.

C‘est Parfait

grey goose, local berries, lemon, mint

Their cocktail program is outstanding. Brasserie and Vauté each have their own respective cocktail menus and were offering specials for Bastille Day as well. The drinks pictured above— the French 75 and the C’est Parfait can both be found on Brasserie’s cocktail menu.

Not pictured, I also tried one of their specials from the Bastille Day menu as well— Respect Your Elders, made with Bombay dry, St. Germaine, citrus and cucumber. Both were refreshing with the heat we’ve been experiencing in Charleston this summer.

Chef's Selection of Cheeses & French Onion Soup

-Choose 2 or 3 cheeses, served with preserves, olives, almonds, baguette

-sweet vidalia onion, provolone, croutons

Warm bread accompanied with cheese, fig preserves and honey… So good yet so simple, it should almost be a sin.

No matter what cheeses are picked, this appetizer stands the test of time. Flawless (where ever or whenever ordered). It’s always the perfect pairing to chatting with company and imbibing. And when you show up hungry—it’s the best shareable to hold you over before your meal.

POULET PROVENÇAL

Joyce farm chicken, chestnut mushrooms, flageolet beans, leeks, olives, tomato, red wine jus

Perfectly crispy skin with a juicy inside— Brasserie nailed this dish. Typically we have ordered their Steak Frites or Cassoulet (both outstanding options), however with the Cassoulet rotating off the menu the Poulet Provençal was reminiscent. It kept the end of the meal lighter, on the same wave length as the appetizers we shared.

Bananas Foster Crepe Cake

salted caramel, vanilla bean chantilly, bruléed banana

After that incredible meal, with the best company and seeing that cake walk out of the kitchen… How could we not? We postponed our after dinner drink downstairs to share a few heavenly bites of their Bananas Foster Crepe Cake.

Then descended the stairs, pulling the curtain back for one last cocktail (or two) before we called it a night.

Bar Vauté

The “Bar below the street” at Brasserie La Banque

One of the only bars located below-street-level, Bar Vauté is located below Brasserie La Banque. When entering, you’ll get to travel down the building’s original staircase to the lower level and this intimate, low lit bar.

Slip into a barstool and soak in the room (and your drink). Their cocktail menu differs from Brasserie’s, featuring it’s own unique drinks and some French classics.

Right Under Your Nose

Below the building, and the sidewalk— Bar Vauté is a little slice of Charleston history

Perfectly tucked away below the surface of the bustling streets, Bar Vauté capped our evening with a Negroni and a Kir Royale. We sipped, laughed and made a few new friends before wondering back up the staircase and into the world above— and eventually our car.

Check out more about Brasserie La Banque and Bar Vauté here https://www.brasserielabanque.com/