Small bar big on family

Art's Bar & Grill describes itself as the "biggest little bar in Mount Pleasant." Based on my experience, this is undoubtedly true.

The small- to medium-size structure along Coleman Boulevard ("intimate" might be a better term) is a not only a bar but a restaurant and live music club all rolled into one. It is also one of the most diverse and eclectic bars East of the Cooper, where young and old, entire families, and blue and white collar folks feel right at home. That's a "big" tent, indeed.

Art's is open 365 days a year and offers live music during 363 of them. Let me reiterate. Art's Bar & Grill treats their customers to live music every, single night of the week — all year long — with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. This writer, who has enjoyed live music in almost every venue in the Lowcountry that features it, doesn't know of anywhere else that offers live music seven nights a week.

Owner Kent Frits, who has 25 years of experience in the food industry, takes great pride in Art's menu, insisting his place "never serves bar food." The ground beef is fresh, as are the local shrimp — and it's the shrimp that are the biggest hit in the summertime.

Art's also features a nice outdoor patio, facing Coleman Boulevard, that will make the bar, according to Frits, a "nirvana for smokers" in the coming weeks, as the Mount Pleasant smoking ban takes effect Sept. 1.

Although Art's has been around for 15 years, Frits has only been owner for the last six, but he is quick to note the difference in the bar under his watch.

"When I first took over, the place was 90 percent male and 10 percent female. That's all changed. Now it's about 50/50," he explained.

The distinction is definitely worth pointing out. Today Art's is a first-rate, extremely clean and enjoyable experience. The service is excellent, the food is great (also very "Charleston") and who else offers this much live music? Frits encourages those who haven't visited Art's in a decade to stop by and experience it again. And again. And again. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.