Our story · September 2026
The meaning behind Vinea
How a beloved courtyard brought us back to the food we had missed—and became the home Vinea was meant to find.
Vinea did not begin with a business plan or a search for just any second location. It grew from a feeling we had carried with us for years: that one day, when the place and the moment were right, we would return to the broad European style of cooking that first brought us into Charleston’s restaurant community.
Our story here began with Mezzo European Cuisine in Mount Pleasant. At Mezzo, we served the kind of food we have always loved—Italian, Mediterranean, German, Austrian, and French dishes, brought together by the spirit of the European table. It was a menu with room to travel, from fresh seafood and pasta to the comfort foods we knew from Germany.
Over time, our guests’ enthusiasm for the German side of the menu became impossible to ignore. Mezzo evolved into Nick’s German Kitchen, where we could give those traditions a home of their own. Nick’s allowed us to share classic German cooking in a way that felt personal, polished, and welcoming. We are immensely proud of what it became and of the community that grew around it.
Still, we never stopped thinking about the food we had served at Mezzo—or hoping that one day we might offer that style of cuisine again.
We looked at possibilities for another restaurant, but nothing felt quite right. Then we learned that Sermet Aslan was preparing to retire and that Sermet’s Courtyard would become available. We had known Sermet for years and had always admired what he created on Daniel Island: a beautiful, relaxed place where neighbors gathered, celebrations unfolded, and dinner never felt hurried.
Suddenly, the idea made sense. This was not simply an available restaurant space. It was a courtyard already filled with character, greenery, and memories—a place with the same warmth and sense of connection that we wanted our own restaurant to have. We refreshed the room and kitchen while honoring the spirit that made the courtyard so special, including keeping some of Sermet’s artwork as a gesture of friendship and continuity.
Vinea opened its doors in September 2025 with a menu inspired by the Mediterranean and the many cuisines of Europe. House-made pasta, risotto, fresh fish, slow-braised meats, thoughtful wines, and changing nightly features gave us the freedom to cook broadly again. In many ways, it felt like returning to a conversation we had begun at Mezzo, now shaped by everything we had learned along the way.
The name came from the Latin word for vineyard. It speaks to our love of wine and to the vines that climb and curl through the courtyard. More importantly, it captures what we hope will grow here: conversations, friendships, traditions, and a true sense of community around the table.
Vinea is different from Nick’s German Kitchen, but the heart behind the two restaurants is the same. We want every guest to feel comfortable, cared for, and genuinely welcome—whether you are joining us for a casual glass of wine, meeting friends for dinner, or celebrating one of life’s milestones.
Looking back, perhaps we had not found the right second restaurant because this was the place we were meant to find. Vinea gave us the opportunity to return to a style of cooking we had missed, while becoming part of a neighborhood and carrying forward the generous spirit of a courtyard Charleston already loved.
We are grateful to everyone who has joined us beneath the vines. The story is still young, and we look forward to all that will grow here.