Muse

Barely a block away from the College of Charleston, Muse cooks up its signature selection of Mediterranean fare every night for visitors to downtown Charleston. Inspired by Pompeii's Villa of the Mysteries, owner Beth Anne Crane is committed to preserving the culinary traditions of the Mediterranean region encompassing Spain, France, Italy and Greece. While Italian standards seem to dominate the menu more than the region's other cuisines, the remaining options certainly cover the remaining ground. Of course, it wouldn't be proper Mediterranean cuisine without an exceptional wine list, something Muse has made sure to include. One hundred wines are available by the glass, running the gamut from reds to whites, dry to off-dry, fruity to bitter. With a cozy dining space in the living room of a historic Charleston home, Muse is a unique restaurant with equally individual fare.