Costa

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Coastal Italy Lands on Broad Street

Costa is the latest concept from Easton Porter Group, the family-owned boutique hospitality company behind some of Charleston's most respected tables — Zero George, Wild Common, and Cannon Green among them. Housed at The Jasper on Broad Street, the restaurant draws a clear line from Liguria down through the Amalfi Coast to Sicily, channeling the convivial spirit of the Italian shore into a fine dining room that takes the tradition seriously without taking itself too seriously.

As chef-driven thinking behind the concept put it to the Post & Courier: "When it seems like I might be breaking rules, what are the rules? I just didn't want to have another regular Italian restaurant." That instinct shows throughout the menu.

What's on the Table

The cooking leans on handmade pasta, the freshest seafood, and classic beef preparations — all grounded in seasonal, high-quality ingredients. The menu rotates to reflect what each season offers, including a daily changing raw selection. Among the current dishes: Beef Cheek Agnolotti with braised octopus and bone marrow gremolata; Gnudi finished with Ossetra caviar; Candele with anchovy, lemon, and Parmesan; and a Bistecca of Wagyu with salsa verde. Proteins from the sea include Grilled Cherry Point Swordfish with citrus, caper, and white acre peas, and a rotating catch of the day.

The dessert menu carries the same ambition. The Gelato al Caviale — house-made Parmigiano Reggiano gelato topped with Regiis Ova Golden Ossetra Caviar and extra virgin olive oil — is perhaps the clearest statement of what Costa is after: whimsical nostalgia backed by real technical craft.

The Beverage Program

The wine list earned Costa a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2024, a recognition that reflects the depth and curation Sommelier Mark McNeely brings to the program. Alongside globally sourced wines, the beverage menu features Italian aperitivi and digestivi, craft cocktails, and dessert wines ranging from a 2004 Château d'Yquem Sauternes to a Rare Wine Co. Madeira bottled specifically for Charleston.

The Team and the Room

General Manager Jovian Cortez and Chef de Cuisine Malcolm McMillan lead the front and back of house respectively, supported by a team whose Mediterranean Italian focus is matched by a genuine hospitality ethos. Vogue included Costa in its Charleston travel guide, and the local press has taken consistent notice — recognition that aligns with Easton Porter Group's broader mission: experiences that feel rooted in place, not imported from a template.

For a city with no shortage of good restaurants, Costa makes a specific and confident case for coastal Italian cuisine done with care.