Octobachi, Charleston

At OctoBachi, chefs dynamically chop, slice, sizzle, and roll a menu of hibachi-grilled meats, sushi rolls, and nigiri right before diners' eyes. The exotic dishes are artfully plated using locally sourced ingredients, including chicken, veggies, and certified Angus beef. Lorded over by a colorful illustration of the restaurant's mascot—a determined-looking, neon-green octopus wielding a cleaver—the bar area's lively atmosphere welcomes guests to join OctoBachi's beer club, in addition to participating in beer-brewing, sake-tasting, and sushi-making classes. The staff is committed to recycling as much as they can, further illustrated by the fact that the bar itself is made from recycled stair planks and the stools are rehabilitated milk crates, rescued from a life of crime in landfills.