The Butcher & The Bee: 5 Shocking New Updates On Nashville’s Culinary Powerhouse And Charleston’s Legacy
Butcher & Bee has long been a pillar of the Southern culinary scene, celebrated for its bold, seasonal, and ever-changing menu. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the restaurant's narrative is one of dramatic change, with a surprising closure in its birthplace and a major expansion of its influence in a new city, cementing its status as a dynamic and must-visit dining destination in the United States.
The story of Butcher & Bee is now a tale of two cities—Charleston and Nashville—and the evolution of its parent company, Honest To Goodness Hospitality. While the original King Street location is gone, the spirit of farm-fresh, honest-to-goodness eats lives on, not just in its thriving Nashville outpost, but through exciting new concepts launched by the same visionary team.
The Visionaries: Founder and Executive Chef Biography
The success and evolution of Butcher & Bee are driven by two key figures who have shaped the restaurant’s philosophy from its Mediterranean-inspired roots to its current focus on playful, seasonal American cuisine.
Michael Shemtov: Founder and Partner
- Role: Founder and Partner of Butcher & Bee and Honest To Goodness Hospitality (HTG Hospitality).
- Origin: Born in Israel, he emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 10.
- Education: Graduated from the College of Charleston.
- Hospitality Group: Shemtov is the co-owner of HTG Hospitality, which operates multiple concepts including Butcher & Bee, The Daily, Redheaded Stranger, and the new fine-dining venture, FancyPants.
- Charleston Legacy: Before Butcher & Bee, Shemtov was instrumental in the success of other popular concepts in the Charleston area, including Mellow Mushroom.
Bryan Lee Weaver: Executive Chef and Partner (Nashville)
- Role: Executive Chef and Partner of Butcher & Bee Nashville. He is also the Chef/Partner of Redheaded Stranger and FancyPants.
- Cuisine Style: Known for his Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, Weaver is a local food wizard who is passionate about using the freshest, locally sourced ingredients.
- Nashville Move: Weaver moved to Nashville in 2015 specifically to open the East Nashville outpost of Butcher & Bee.
- Current Focus: He is now driving the culinary direction for the entire Nashville group, including the new FancyPants concept, which he calls a chance to "flex food-wise."
The Shocking Charleston Closure and the Rise of Nashville
The most significant news surrounding the brand is the dramatic shift in its geographical footprint, moving the primary focus entirely to Tennessee.
The End of the Charleston Era (August 2023)
After 12 successful years, the original Butcher & Bee on King Street in Charleston, South Carolina, closed its doors permanently in August 2023. The restaurant had been a culinary beacon for over a decade and was even recognized as a James Beard Foundation Award finalist for Outstanding Restaurant in 2022. While the closure was a surprise to many, the ownership group stated they were "certainly not going away."
The New Charleston Concept: Pelato
The promise of "not going away" was fulfilled by the introduction of a new concept in the same physical space. The former Butcher & Bee location was quickly taken over by Pelato, a new Italian restaurant with roots in Brooklyn. This shift demonstrates the Honest To Goodness Hospitality group’s strategy of evolving its concepts to meet new market demands, as they are also expanding their other Charleston concept, The Daily.
Nashville: The Flagship Location
The Butcher & Bee in East Nashville, located at 902 Main St, now stands as the sole, thriving flagship restaurant. Since opening in late 2015, the Nashville location has carved out its own unique identity, moving past its Charleston origins to become a distinct culinary powerhouse. It continues the tradition of an ever-changing menu built around the freshest local and seasonal ingredients.
The Culinary Philosophy: Mezze, Seasonal Plates, and the Iconic Whipped Feta
Butcher & Bee’s enduring appeal lies in its unique culinary approach, which centers on shared experiences and a deep commitment to quality sourcing. The restaurant champions a concept of honest, adventurous, and lovingly crafted food.
The Ever-Changing Menu and Ingredient Focus
The core of the menu is its commitment to seasonality. The chefs write the menu by selecting from the finest and freshest seasonal items, meaning the offerings are constantly updated—sometimes daily—to reflect the best available produce. This philosophy is why the restaurant prizes heirloom vegetables and pasture-raised meats, ensuring every dish bursts with rich, wholesome flavor.
Signature Dishes and Mezze Style
The dining experience at Butcher & Bee is designed around Mezze, or small, shareable plates, which are brought to the table as soon as they are ready. This tapas-style service encourages a communal and adventurous approach to dining. While the menu rotates, one dish has achieved legendary status and is considered a must-try signature item: the Whipped Feta. Other popular items often include seasonal variations of hummus, adventurous vegetable sides, and expertly prepared meat dishes that highlight the quality of the ingredients.
The Latest Evolution: FancyPants and Honest To Goodness Hospitality
The Butcher & Bee team is not resting on its laurels. The company, operating under the umbrella of Honest To Goodness Hospitality (HTG Hospitality), is expanding its influence in East Nashville with a highly anticipated and unique new concept.
Introducing FancyPants (Opened 2024)
The most current and exciting news is the launch of FancyPants, a new restaurant concept that opened in East Nashville at 921 Dickerson Pike in July 2024. Described as a "fancy not fussy" or "playful fine dining" experience, FancyPants is the brainchild of Chef Bryan Lee Weaver, who serves as the Executive Chef/Partner.
The new venture is a departure from the casual, all-day dining of Butcher & Bee and Redheaded Stranger, offering a more elevated but still irreverent take on fine dining. The interior is noted for its 70s-inspired decor and funky tunes, promising a unique atmosphere that matches its adventurous cuisine. This expansion solidifies HTG Hospitality’s commitment to East Nashville as a major culinary hub.
The HTG Hospitality Ecosystem
Honest To Goodness Hospitality is building an ecosystem of diverse dining concepts in Nashville. Besides the flagship Butcher & Bee, the group also operates Redheaded Stranger, a popular taco and burrito shop. The addition of FancyPants provides a full spectrum of dining options, from casual and quick (Redheaded Stranger) to seasonal and communal (Butcher & Bee) to elevated and playful (FancyPants), all united by the group's commitment to high-quality, honest ingredients.
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