Tattooed Moose works its voodoo in Charleston

Consider this a check-up column. About six months ago, I thought the newly opened Tattooed Moose promised to be one of the better new ventures in town.

Its Morrison Drive location (adjacent to Santi's Restaurant) was still in town, but had ample parking and was far removed from the occasional nighttime craziness of the City Market or upper King Street. This formula seemed to work well for the Recovery Room, and given that the folks from Voodoo Lounge were involved, it was hard to imagine Tattooed Moose not succeeding.

And it has. Tattooed Moose occasionally has live bands or puts on themed DJ parties or dance nights, but the No. 1 factor in its success is something you can find there any time of the week: It's just a cool environment. Now known citywide for their delicious duck club sandwiches, Tattooed Moose also has become a familiar haunt to the nighttime bar crowd, because it's relaxing, has character, the staff is friendly and the big outdoor front patio certainly hasn't hurt either. The crowds who frequent Moe's Crosstown, A.C.'s Bar & Grill, Upper Deck Tavern, Recovery Room, Tin Roof in West Ashley or The Mill in North Charleston are similar to what you'll find at Tattooed Moose, and it's no surprise that those bars' clienteles have made this new bar a regular favorite. As a bonus, it's fairly convenient to get to, and I've never had to search for parking.

And as the relatively new Tattooed Moose continues to establish itself, it is worth noting that for many, the newest kids on the downtown bar block already has become one of the best.