When an auto accident happens unexpectedly, anyone can become a victim. One moment you're commuting back home after a long day at the office. The next, your car is totaled, and you're injured in the hospital due to another person's negligence. It's not fair, but it happens every day. Unlike the irresponsible party who caused the accident, personal injury victims often suffer the most in auto accidents. They have to worry about lost days at work, the long road to recovery, and the inability to provide for their family. Sadly, many people injured in car accidents don't have the luxury of worrying about bills because they're fighting for life in the emergency room.
And while modern cars come equipped with safety features like blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic alerts, motor vehicle accidents are still a huge problem in South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, in 2020, one person was injured every 11 minutes in a car collision. Even worse, one fatal collision was recorded every 9.1 hours.
Unfortunately, victims of auto accident negligence often don't know what to do when another driver hits them. They have questions like:
These same innocent people provide official statements to insurance agencies without knowing the consequences.
However, if you or your loved ones are victims in a car crash, there's good news. Laws in South Carolina mandate that guilty parties must compensate for pain and suffering. But in order to get the compensation you deserve, it's crucial to work with a personal injury attorney in Johns Island, SC. Experienced personal injury lawyers know how to bolster your case by securing witnesses for questioning, obtaining accident scene information, and documenting vehicle damage. If these tasks aren't completed quickly, you are far less likely to receive the compensation you and your family deserve.
Theos Law Firm exists to fight for your rights and to ensure negligent drivers are held responsible for the damage they do to your family. It's really that simple. We aren't afraid to trade blows with selfish insurance agencies. Because, unlike Theos Law Firm, they couldn't care less about your best interests.
Here are just a few reasons why so many hardworking people choose Theos Law Firm:
When you're involved in a car or truck accident, it can be a life-changing event. Having represented hundreds of personal injury victims, we understand that you may be confused and frightened. You know you need to speak with a lawyer, but you need a calm, cool presence to ease your anxiety. You need someone who understands what you're enduring, and we know how you feel. Unlike other auto accident attorneys, we believe that personal injury claims are more about the people involved and less about money and settlements. When you reach out to Theos Law Firm, you can rest easy knowing our team will treat you with dignity, compassion, and empathy.
With many years of combined personal injury experience, there's nothing that our team hasn't seen in terms of auto accidents. With that said, we understand that there is no "common" type of accident or scenario - no two accidents are the same. We have represented clients involved in DUI accidents, truck rollovers, reckless drivers, interstate pileups, rear-end collisions, and even Uber driver crashes. With such extensive experience, our team has the tools and talent to take care of you, regardless of how complicated your case might be.
The recovery process involved with automobile accidents changes with every person we represent. There are dozens of details to account for, from car repairs to insurance questions and everything in between. These small but necessary details aren't easy to accomplish for injured parties. That's why our team goes the extra mile to help cut through the red tape to ensure your medical bills are paid, and your car gets fixed. The less weight you have on your shoulders to worry about, the faster you can focus on recovering.
Unlike other personal injury law firms, our team is 100% committed to protecting your rights, and we're uniquely positioned to do so with decades of combined experience. We offer robust representation for many types of auto accidents, including:
If you have been the victim of an accident listed above, please understand that time is of the essence. There is limited time to seek compensation for your injuries, hospital bills, lost wages, and more. As such, there is only a short time to obtain experienced representation for your personal injury case.
Our team knows that finding the right attorney to represent you is an important choice. Therefore, we believe that an initial consultation is imperative to understand your needs and identify your goals fully. When we sit down with you to learn the nuances of your accident, we'll cover all aspects of South Carolina law pertaining to your case. That way, you're armed with information and have an idea of the next steps our firm will take to represent you.
Remember - the sooner we can dig into the details of your case, the sooner we can pursue your rightful compensation. As seasoned personal injury attorneys, our team specializes in several types of automobile accidents:
Car accidents are a serious problem in South Carolina. If you're an adult, you probably know someone involved in a bad car crash in our state. When you look at the stats, it seems like car accidents are always on the rise. One person was killed every 8.2 hours in a car collision. Even more sobering is that one teen driver is involved in a fatal or injury-causing collision every 1.6 hours. The unfortunate truth is that many people involved in car crashes were hurt due to the other driver's negligence.
Common car crash injuries in South Carolina include:
Car accident victims in South Carolina are often left to pay their medical bills but can't do so because they're too hurt to go to work or take their car in for repair. These life-changing scenarios can snowball into a series of scary events, leaving victims hopeless and unsure where to turn.
Fortunately, a car accident attorney in Johns Island, SC can help you avoid these pitfalls and obtain the money you need to survive. At Theos Law Firm, our team has a deep understanding of the rules that dictate fault in South Carolina. We know that thorough representation is needed to receive maximum compensation, and we're well-prepared to achieve that goal for you.
Our car accident lawyers in South Carolina can recover compensation for injuries and damages:
The moments following the crash are often a blur when you're involved in a car accident. However, per South Carolina law, those on the scene must adhere to legal responsibilities and obligations.
First, try to stop your car and ensure it is positioned safely near the scene of the crash. Then, call 911 to report the accident. While most folks go into full-blown panic mode, you need to stay calm so you can process the situation. If you notice that there are injured people, give them "reasonable assistance." Per South Carolina Code of Laws, that could include transporting hurt people to a hospital or calling an ambulance for them.
If you're in a car crash, you need to be prepared to exchange contact information with other drivers at the accident scene. If the person who caused the collision is present, make sure to get their name, phone number, address, and insurance info. If witnesses are present, get their contact info, too, in case our team needs to obtain their account later.
Next, try to piece together how the car crash happened. This is an appropriate time to take photos of the cars, wreckage, and debris. Ask yourself if you think a vehicle failed to follow the rules of the road, like speeding or failing to stop at a stop sign.
Regardless of how minor your injuries may appear and who may be to blame for the accident, get legal advice from Theos Law Firm first before giving any recorded statements or refusing medical care.
Tractor-trailer and semi-truck crashes are often more complicated than two car crashing. Because these cases are more complex and nuanced, it's imperative that you contact a truck accident attorney in Johns Island, SC to help you through the recovery process and win the compensation you deserve.
After a semi-truck crash, you must take steps quickly to preserve evidence so that the crash may be recreated. In serious semi-truck accidents where people are injured or killed, trucking companies usually send a team of investigators to the accident site immediately. These investigators will do their best to obtain evidence that can hurt you in court or even attempt to hide or destroy evidence. The last thing a trucking company wants is for you to win a settlement against them.
That's especially true since various entities may be liable for your truck accident injury, not just the driver. The trucking company, the trucking manufacturer, and the team responsible for truck maintenance could also be responsible. Additionally, if dangerous or inadequate road conditions factor into your accident, you could actually sue some government departments. For those reasons, it's critical to retain quality representation ASAP after a truck accident in South Carolina.
At Theos Law Firm, our team has experience winning compensation in many types of truck accidents, such as:
As your truck accident lawyer in South Carolina, we work hard to fight for your rights and win your case. In order to do so, our team will:
We'll arrive on-scene to notate skid mark length and the locations of vehicles involved. We will also capture detailed pictures and measurements pertinent to your crash.
Obtaining the trucking company's records and discovering the info they have on the semi-truck driver involved is an important part of our process. We will also secure access to the trucker's driving log notes, which they must maintain according to law.
Like airplanes and helicopters, big rigs have a "black box" that records real-time truck data, like speeds, changes in direction, and brake application.
We'll arrive on-scene to notate skid mark length and the locations of vehicles involved. We will also capture detailed pictures and measurements pertinent to your crash.
Sometimes an expert is needed to digest all the evidence and provide an expert opinion on the cause of the semi-truck collision. When needed, our team will hire such an expert to ensure your case is robust and air-tight.
We will obtain the police's investigation report and any accident photos, measurements, or other documentation taken by officers while investigating your semi-truck crash.
It's imperative to find all the witnesses of your accident and interview them to get recorded statements in a timely manner. Doing otherwise may result in faded memories and inaccurate facts.
Time and again, auto accident victims agree to early settlements provided by insurance companies because the offer seems like a lot. But what if you return to work after recovering from an accident, only for your pain to return?
With adjusters, lawyers, and investigators at their disposal, insurance agencies will do everything in their power to minimize the compensation you deserve. Don't let them pick on you or silence your voice. If you or a loved are victims of a negligent car or truck accident in South Carolina, contact Theos Law Firm today. We have the team, tools, and experience to fight back on your behalf, no matter how complicated your case may seem.
To schedule an appointment for your free consultation, contact Theos Law Firm in Johns Island today.
A new development is coming to a neighborhood right off of Maybank Highway has some neighbors talking.JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - A new development is coming to a neighborhood right off of Maybank Highway has some neighbors talking.As you hit Timberline Drive and Maybank Highway, it takes you directly into the new neighborhood, Maybank Village. The new development is hard to miss as it sits at the front of the community.The groundwork for a new Spinx gas station has just begun. The project has been in the works since ...
A new development is coming to a neighborhood right off of Maybank Highway has some neighbors talking.
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - A new development is coming to a neighborhood right off of Maybank Highway has some neighbors talking.
As you hit Timberline Drive and Maybank Highway, it takes you directly into the new neighborhood, Maybank Village. The new development is hard to miss as it sits at the front of the community.
The groundwork for a new Spinx gas station has just begun. The project has been in the works since 2021, and members of the neighborhood say they’re not happy with the development. There is only one way into the upcoming gas station, and it requires drivers to enter the neighborhood first, then turn right to get into the station.
Residents say they don’t understand why Maybank Highway needs another gas station with several stretching across the highway already.
“Why? We don’t need a gas station here. If you go a mile down Maybank that way, there’s two gas stations. If you go down Maybank that way two miles, there’s two more gas stations. So why do you need a gas station here in the middle of Maybank that’s going to cause horrendous traffic jams,” Treasurer for the Homeowners Association Bill Antonucci said.
There are serious concerns about the bright lights and noise that might come along with the Spinx Station as well.
“This gas station is coming so close to our residential properties. These people in this house right here are going to have gas pumps and gas tanks right in their backyard. The people that are building this site, people in the city council, and the people in the zoning departments don’t seem to care. We’ve had people write to them and nobody seems to care. Nobody is responding,” Antonucci said.
Despite the frustration from members of the community, the City of Charleston is allowed to do this based on zoning regulations.
“The business in question is being built under the site’s base zoning, which is a property right protected by state law,” a city spokesperson said in a statement. “That’s why the city strongly supports a comprehensive, all-of-the-above traffic-relief strategy for Johns Island, including the widening of Maybank Highway, the construction of both the northern and southern pitchforks and the completion of I-526. The city will continue to work closely with our state and county partners until Johns Island residents see real traffic relief as a result of these and other critical roadroads projects.”
Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.
JOHNS ISLAND — Five miles from the line of cars crawling through the island’s busiest intersection, three miles from a sparkling subdivision strewn with strollers, half a mile from a shabby horse stable, right off a road of mossy oaks, inside a farm stand spilling with wet tomatoes, cayenne peppers and kale, Janice Lane is furious about traffic.“It’s just gotten crazy,” said Lane, who on a recent Thursday afternoon was bagging squash at Fields Farm Market. “Too many people. Too many subdivisions.&rd...
JOHNS ISLAND — Five miles from the line of cars crawling through the island’s busiest intersection, three miles from a sparkling subdivision strewn with strollers, half a mile from a shabby horse stable, right off a road of mossy oaks, inside a farm stand spilling with wet tomatoes, cayenne peppers and kale, Janice Lane is furious about traffic.
“It’s just gotten crazy,” said Lane, who on a recent Thursday afternoon was bagging squash at Fields Farm Market. “Too many people. Too many subdivisions.”
Lane is old Johns Island: She moved to its rural, southern part in 1985, back when downtown was only a half-hour drive away. Now, it takes her the same time to reach the intersection of River Road and Maybank Highway from her house — 1.5 miles down the road.
Lane doesn’t live within the city of Charleston’s boundaries, but all of Johns Island is growing. Population surged from around 15,100 people in 2010 to nearly 22,900 in 2021, census data shows. A single-family home now goes for $687,000 on average. Fast-food restaurants line Maybank Highway, and subdivisions keep cropping up.
The island’s growth coincides with a political development. For the first time, residents within the Charleston city boundaries of this historically rural, yet rapidly urbanizing, area will elect their own Charleston City Council member; that council member will no longer represent parts of outer West Ashley, allowing them to concentrate on island-specific concerns.
Redistricting created a newly drawn District 3, which includes the parts of Johns Island and a sliver of James Island within Charleston city limits. District 5 Councilman Karl Brady currently represents Johns Island voters in a bloc covering parts of outer West Ashley. City Council adopted the new map last fall, which takes effect for the approaching Nov. 7 election.
It’s an exciting change for residents who have lamented the dilution of their political voice. It’s also a testing ground for three candidates, all of whom say they’ll address the island’s biggest problem — development without the infrastructure to match.
Stephanie Hodges, Jim McBride and Bill Antonucci will vie for a seat at City Hall. At stake is the future of a fast-growing area some residents worry is losing its rural quirk.
Traffic is the most common gripe among District 3 voters. The area, they say, wasn’t designed for so many cars.
Only two routes transport drivers on and off the island. Limited lanes lead to bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic, and a busy intersection at River and Maybank aggravates the congestion.
Some say the proposed Interstate 526 extension, which would connect West Ashley to Johns and James Island, is a salve. But that project is years away, if ever. Plans to widen parts of Main Road and build a bypass around the clogged intersection are distant, too.
A bumper sticker sums up residents’ frustration.
“Sorry I’m late,” it reads. “I live on Johns Island.”
Dated infrastructure hasn’t slowed development. A builder in July purchased 300 acres of land, a tract large enough to accommodate 430 homes. Over 200 rental homes will hit the market soon. And new businesses — a butcher shop, wine bar and gym — will start opening this year.
Construction is especially dense along Maybank Highway, which bisects the island. A Circle K, CVS and bank of storage lockers are landmarks. Cars amble down the road as early as 3 p.m., two hours before rush hour.
Driving is the best way to navigate the terrain. Bus access is limited, and few sidewalks line thoroughfares, forcing children to walk to school beside speeding cars.
Some residents dislike the big box stores cropping up on the island, an area renowned for its tomatoes and towering oaks. Others welcome the convenience. Most everyone says better roads are a must.
Infrastructure was the issue animating an Oct. 5 candidate forum, where Hodges, McBride and Antonucci pitched themselves as the best candidate to address traffic woes.
Hodges, the owner of a nutrition policy consulting business, moved to the island in 2018. She cites several proposals to relieve traffic — a roundabout at Cane Slash Road, another lane off the island that dodges trees.
Bike lanes, bus routes and sidewalks would ease congestion, Hodges told a crowd of 40 people at the Berkeley Electric Cooperative. And the area needs more affordable housing: “People who have grown up here and want to raise their families here can’t afford homes,” she said before the forum.
Hodges points to her policy research background as preparation for City Hall. McBride says his military experience will help him handle infrastructure projects.
The retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel floated ideas for reducing traffic, including creating reversible lanes along parts of Maybank Highway during rush hour. That proposal could require trimming an oak canopy to install signals. He told The Post and Courier that idea isn’t set in stone, adding he’d balance “the pain of the traffic is causing with the impact to the trees.”
“Growth is OK as long as it’s controlled,” he said at the forum.
Advocating for zoning rules limiting the number of units per acre is a “consideration,” he told The Johns Island Advocate, a community newspaper. McBride moved to the island in 2021.
The first steps are underway toward a proposed golf course as Charleston County leaders considered it at a meeting Monday.CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The first steps are underway toward a proposed golf course as Charleston County leaders considered it at a meeting Monday.The new course would be built between Bohicket and River Roads and Charleston County Planning Commission discussed the golf cou...
The first steps are underway toward a proposed golf course as Charleston County leaders considered it at a meeting Monday.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The first steps are underway toward a proposed golf course as Charleston County leaders considered it at a meeting Monday.
The new course would be built between Bohicket and River Roads and Charleston County Planning Commission discussed the golf course and the accompanying neighborhood.
Dana Beach, the Founder of the Coastal Conservation League, said the development is important because it will set a precedent for the rest of Johns island. He said it’s important to clearly define the edges of Charleston County’s Urban Growth Boundary to avoid increased development on the island in the future.
The Orange Hill Project pushes right up against that boundary, which was set by the county to limit urban sprawl.
The 933-acre project includes a private golf course and 121 homes. While a plan for a golf course and neighborhood was already approved by the County for this area in 2004, the plan developers presented Monday actually reduces the number of homes plotted on the land and changes the location of the golf course and its entry point.
Beach said he’s happy to see the number of homes decreasing; however, he thinks the best thing Orange Hill developers could do for the Island is to place the undeveloped land under a conservation easement, essentially protecting the undeveloped land from further development forever.
“It really signifies a commitment to the future of the island, as a place that is not highly developed,” Beach said.
When asked if they would put a conservation easement on the undeveloped land in the project, developers said it was something they would consider. But they said over 200 acres of the property already have wetland covenants in place that protect the property from being developed.
“It’s difficult to have preservation covenants placed on wetlands, we have to get through the permitting process before that would happen,” Ray Pantlik, with South Street Partners, said.
Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, so there's plenty time to abandon plans to actually cook a turkey or battle traffic to get home. Presenting a map of restaurants that will be open, for those looking for a place to get ham and fixin's prepared by some of the best chefs in the South. Plus, insight on who is serving prix fixe options and where to gorge on pie.Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. ...
Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, so there's plenty time to abandon plans to actually cook a turkey or battle traffic to get home. Presenting a map of restaurants that will be open, for those looking for a place to get ham and fixin's prepared by some of the best chefs in the South. Plus, insight on who is serving prix fixe options and where to gorge on pie.
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.
Kiawah offers plenty of experiences for Thanksgiving from the super fancy Ocean Room to a traditional buffet at the Jasmine Porch. Book early.
If there’s a football game playing somewhere then Uptown Social is open, including on Thanksgiving. The rollicking sports bar will serve high-caliber bar pies, wings, chicken Parmesan sandwiches, frozen cocktails, and plenty of beer.
Thanksgiving dinner at Marion Square restaurant Gabrielle will be a multi-course meal from newly appointed chef Edgar Kano. For $95, customers can dine on heritage turkey and all the sides in the elegant dining room at the Hotel Bennett.
White tablecloth restaurant Charleston Grill tends to sell out Thanksgiving service early, but perhaps snag a seat at the bar. This year, the team put together a three-course meal for the occasion.
Enjoy Thanksgiving high above the city at rooftop hotel restaurant the Watch. Linger in the sunset with a few drinks and friends. This year, there will be a Thanksgiving buffet including roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and much, much more. The cost of the spread is $65+ per adult.
On Thanksgiving Day, Southern restaurant Poogan’s Porch will serve a $75 prix fixe menu with classic items from its daily menu and a traditional holiday feast — they also offer pick-up orders for customers to feast at home.
Sorelle will serve an Italian-American feast on Thursday, November 23. Chef Nick Dugan and his team will create dishes like chestnut agnolotti, porcini sformato, and heritage turkey. The multi-course menu is $125.
Thanksgiving is traditionally a sold out event at Peninsula Grill, but give the reservation line a try. Better yet, slide into the champagne bar if there's a free seat.
Go Italian for Thanksgiving at Frannie and the Fox. The restaurant offers wood-fired pizzas and creative cocktails, along with seasonal items like the apple panzanella salad and the squash agnolotti with guanciale. Bonus: For locals with out-of-town family members needing a hotel, the Emeline is extending a 20% discount to friends and family of locals during the week of Thanksgiving with the code LOCALSLTO23.
Steakhouse Burwell's opens on Thanksgiving Day with a menu of wedge salad, baked oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktails — and, of course, steak.
Kiawah offers plenty of experiences for Thanksgiving from the super fancy Ocean Room to a traditional buffet at the Jasmine Porch. Book early.
If there’s a football game playing somewhere then Uptown Social is open, including on Thanksgiving. The rollicking sports bar will serve high-caliber bar pies, wings, chicken Parmesan sandwiches, frozen cocktails, and plenty of beer.
Thanksgiving dinner at Marion Square restaurant Gabrielle will be a multi-course meal from newly appointed chef Edgar Kano. For $95, customers can dine on heritage turkey and all the sides in the elegant dining room at the Hotel Bennett.
White tablecloth restaurant Charleston Grill tends to sell out Thanksgiving service early, but perhaps snag a seat at the bar. This year, the team put together a three-course meal for the occasion.
Enjoy Thanksgiving high above the city at rooftop hotel restaurant the Watch. Linger in the sunset with a few drinks and friends. This year, there will be a Thanksgiving buffet including roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and much, much more. The cost of the spread is $65+ per adult.
On Thanksgiving Day, Southern restaurant Poogan’s Porch will serve a $75 prix fixe menu with classic items from its daily menu and a traditional holiday feast — they also offer pick-up orders for customers to feast at home.
Sorelle will serve an Italian-American feast on Thursday, November 23. Chef Nick Dugan and his team will create dishes like chestnut agnolotti, porcini sformato, and heritage turkey. The multi-course menu is $125.
Thanksgiving is traditionally a sold out event at Peninsula Grill, but give the reservation line a try. Better yet, slide into the champagne bar if there's a free seat.
Go Italian for Thanksgiving at Frannie and the Fox. The restaurant offers wood-fired pizzas and creative cocktails, along with seasonal items like the apple panzanella salad and the squash agnolotti with guanciale. Bonus: For locals with out-of-town family members needing a hotel, the Emeline is extending a 20% discount to friends and family of locals during the week of Thanksgiving with the code LOCALSLTO23.
Steakhouse Burwell's opens on Thanksgiving Day with a menu of wedge salad, baked oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktails — and, of course, steak.
JOHNS ISLAND — A Mexican-inspired restaurant is now open in a brand-new building, just like many of the structures that line this busy stretch of Maybank Highway. Like its modern home, the cocktail menu at Colectivo, which debuted Sept. 6, is firmly planted in this era of dining.Classic cocktails are turned up a notch ...
JOHNS ISLAND — A Mexican-inspired restaurant is now open in a brand-new building, just like many of the structures that line this busy stretch of Maybank Highway. Like its modern home, the cocktail menu at Colectivo, which debuted Sept. 6, is firmly planted in this era of dining.
Classic cocktails are turned up a notch with house-made ingredients (see: Butterfly Southside) and served in the correlating glass — the Cap n’ Cup with Cappelletti Aperitivo and mezcal arrives in a Nick & Nora, while lighter options like the Spice Tea with amaro, lemon and coconut milk are served in tall Collins glasses. The list of 10 drinks is joined by local craft beers, a non-alcoholic margarita and a multi-page list of mezcals, a smoky spirit that has become trendy of late.
The dinner menu has its contemporary flair, too.
Birria bone marrow sopes capitalize on diners’ fondness for the unctuous, fatty tissue meat, which can be scooped straight from two bones and placed on a masa tart with sweet potato. Seasonal fruit — watermelon and jicama when we went — is tossed in a sticky chamoy sauce and sprinkled with Sour Patch Watermelons. (Yes, the sour chewy candy.) An Arizona-style quesadilla glistens with bubbling cheese while resting on a pizza stand.
At Colectivo, traditional Mexican dishes are paired with creative cheffy spins, showcasing the spirit of a chef who doesn’t take himself too seriously.
That chef is Arizona-born Alex Yellan, who owns Colectivo with business partners Chad and Holly Dennis. Yellan spent time at Mexican restaurants D.F. in Portland, Ore., and Empellon Taqueria in New York City, among others, before moving to Charleston to join Sean Brock at Minero, where he helped launch the tortilla program.
He left Minero for a few years to work at Tu before returning in 2019 as executive chef. (This was before Minero closed its East Bay Street location and moved to Johns Island, two miles away from Colectivo.) Yellan ran the kitchen at The Tippling House before striking out on his own.
Drawing on his many years of experience, Yellan is honoring the home-cooked meals he had during two long stints in Mexico. Colectivo’s food is representative of the dishes he started to crave when he came home.
“There were just piles of tortillas everywhere, there was chicharron as far as the eye could see,” said Yellan, recalling meals cooked by the family he was staying with in the Yucatán. “It just changed what I thought about Mexican food.”
Rather than stacked on the table, tortillas are neatly wrapped and presented at Colectivo. Patrons can choose between flour and corn before filling the tortilla with braised beef belly, charred spring onion, salsa verde, onions and cilantro — that’s the Suadero. It pairs particularly well with the aromatic flour tortillas, made with White Sonora that is sourced from Hayden Flour Mills in Arizona.
To make those tortillas, the heirloom flour is combined with salt, lard and, later, warm water. After resting for an hour, it is cut into balls. Some head for the big iron press that forms the base for Colectivo’s open-faced quesadilla, while the rest are run through a tortilla machine and finished on the griddle, bringing out the flour’s nutty scent.
Another labor of love, the beef belly is salted for 24 hours and paired with lard, onions and bay leaf, then braised for eight to 10 hours. Colectivo’s barbacoa (lamb), carnitas ribs and cochinita pibil (Yucatán-style pork) are also cooked overnight.
Platters come with meat, tortillas, small sides and salsas ($22-$26), more than enough for two people. Make sure to leave room for Colectivo’s shareable botanas (snacks) and mariscos (seafood).
Seafood is a big part of Mexico’s culture and cuisine — the country has 7,000 miles of coastline, 4,500 of which faces the Pacific Ocean. That means mariscos restaurants and food stands are prevalent in Mexico. One of the mariscos dishes often found is the cóctel, a Mexican shrimp cocktail that is much different than ones served at fancy American steakhouses.
Yellan’s take on a classic cóctel arrives in a tall glass, brimming with shrimp and octopus submerged in a spicy gazpacho-like sauce and served with saltines and tostadas for dipping. A dish steeped in tradition, this is one botana that should be ordered at Colectivo, though I must note that the sauce has a gentle but persistent kick.
While this and the candy-topped watermelon and jicama appetizer require a slight sense of adventure on the part of the diner, other nostalgic Colectivo will please even the pickiest of guests.
Choose from guacamole, tamales, ceviche and shrimp tacos, with sides like Mexican red rice and and fingerlings with liquid gouda cheese. The other night, it was hard not to spot the other tables with pizza stands, holding the thin open-faced quesadillas colored by roasted poblano pepper spirals slicing through melty cheese.