Chef Johnny Curiel and his partner, Kasie Curiel, have opened Alteño, a Mexican restaurant on the ground floor of The Charlee on Cannon at 89 Cannon St. in downtown Charleston, according to an announcement published Nov. 5 by Holy City Sinner.
The Curiels founded Fonda Fina Hospitality, which is also behind three Michelin-starred concepts: Alma Fonda Fina, Mezcaleria Alma and Milpero, the announcement said. The Alteño website also lists locations in Denver and Austin, Texas.
Alteño cooks in the style of Mexico’s Jaliscan Highlands. It pairs Mexican cevichería traditions with Charleston’s coastal seafood, built around a hearth and wood-fired grill, according to the announcement. The restaurant honors the culinary traditions of Johnny Curiel’s father, a chef and restaurateur known in the region as the original Alteño, or “highlander.”
“Much of my cooking draws from Jalisco’s seafood culture, so it feels natural to connect that with Charleston’s own deep coastal identity,” Johnny Curiel said in the announcement.
The menu includes Aguachile Negro made with local Tarvin shrimp and Pesca a las Brasas, a rotating selection of South Carolina seafood. The bar focuses on Mexican cocktails, wines and agave spirits, including the group’s Avocado Margarita.
The 55-seat restaurant has an open kitchen and a 10-seat chef’s counter facing the raw seafood bar and hearth. It is the first restaurant the Curiels have designed from the ground up, working with Agatha Jane Interior Design, the announcement said. Charleston’s Ro Sham Beaux made an overhead beaded installation.
“For us, choosing Charleston was a deeply personal decision,” Kasie Curiel said in the announcement.
Alteño is open daily from 3 to 10 p.m. A small-bites menu runs from 3 to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with drink specials from 4 to 5 p.m.
