charleston, sc
This town is becoming, if it’s not already become, the culinary capitol of the south. Partly due to the misfortunes of New Orleans, and partly due to the influx of visitors and transplants of wealthy New Englanders, this town has a very lively and competitive restaurant scene. Just within the past two years, The New York Times has had articles here here and here about the city’s food attractions. The enormous amount of tourism that the city attracts, demands a great amount of tabletops in the downtown area. As you can imagine some of these places cater to hungry out of towners that may not realize all the options available to them. I would encourage you to spend some time here and on the internets, researching this town’s vast eateries if you are planning to visit.
The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene
106 Haddrell St.
Mount Pleasant, SC
843/884-0052
This place is a little hard to find but it is on Shem Creek near all the other neon signed seafood restaurants. The tricky thing is you can’t access it from Colman Blvd, you have to drive through the old village neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant to get there. Also, there is no signage on the building so like I said, it’s a little hard to find the first time but totally worth it (that is if you like fried seafood on paper plates.) It’s certainly not fine dining however it is not a fishcamp either. I need not remind whoever is reading this that fried seafood can be damn good. Even bad fried seafood is enjoyable on a certain level, but I can truly say that I have not had a more enjoyable strictly seafood dining experience. Perhaps it’s the lack of pretension or the simplicity of the preparations and the freshness of the food, but I have been there quite a few times, always with high expectations and have always walked away more than satisfied. Not so much a culinary showcase, but comfort food for out-of-towners looking to capitalize on the local harvest. (byce)
Sea Biscuit Cafe’
21 J C Long Blvd
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
843-886-4079
I guess this place would qualify for “hole in the wall” status, however it feels right at home on Isle of Palms (at least the one in my mind with the spring-loaded screen-porch doors and sand covered wooden floors). The food is good. It’s the place to get good breakfast or lunch on the island. And it’s relatively cheap which leads me to it’s only drawback. If you are trying to eat during peak hours (weekend mornings) expect to not have a parking spot and to wait for an hour or so. But while you are waiting just remember that you are at the beach and about to to eat some damn good food. Life could be worse. (byce)
EVO Pizzeria
1075 E. Montague Ave., (North Charleston)
(843) 225-1796
Price sensitive localvores in the area flock to this developing area of North Charleston to enjoy wood fired pies, homemade sausage, and Coast beers. They do have nice thin-crusted, wood charred pizzas and calzones, but that’s only the beginning. Soups and salads are made form local ingredients and they have homemade chocolates for desert.
(Fast and French) Gaulart & Maliclet French Cafe
98 Broad Street
Charleston, SC, 29401
843-577-9797
The fact that this place exists and thrives on Broad street makes me think that downtown Charleston folks aren’t too busy tying bow-ties and following Widespread Panic on their parent’s coin to appreciate some of the finer things in life; like French fast food. No, it’s not an oxymoron. What would you call pate, soft-ripened cheese, baguette and a glass of wine? Here, you would call it breakfast. And it’s like so cheap. It’s like they don’t know where their address is! But I do… (byce)
Hominy Grill
207 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC, 29403
843/937-0930
American Regional
Brunch from $10; main courses $5.25-$11 lunch, $8.50-$22 dinner
Solid! I am going to make a point of dining here whenever I am in the area. Lot’s of options at different prices and from what I can tell, none of them are losers. I had roasted cauliflower soup with mint and yogurt. Not the kind of thing that my dad might have ordered, but if he had, he would dig it. Then I had grilled triggerfish with hominy and turnip greens. It was simple, fresh and delicious. Helen ordered from the pedestrian side of the menu and got the Cobb Salad, which was as equally rewarding. For desert we shared a piece of pound cake. It had some ginger icing that kind of rubbed Helen the wrong way, but I had no problems finishing it. (byce)
Sermet’s Corner
276 King St, Charleston, SC
843/853-7775
Mediterranean
Main courses $12-$17
More than adequate food on King Street near Market. Don’t go out of your way to eat here, but it’s a nice room with decent food and not too expensive. More than I can say for some of it’s neighbors. (byce)
Fig
232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC
843/805-5900
American Regional
Main courses $17-$23
If you have one night to spurge, this is the only option. The chef Mike Lada has been called the east coast Alice Waters and is often a Beard award nominee (only to be edged out this year by Charleston’s Robert Stehling of Hominy Grill). The menus are a reflection of what is available locally and the preparations seem effortless.
The Red Drum
803 Coleman Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC
843/849-0313
American
Main courses $16-$32
From what I can tell, this is where the area foodies congregate on the North side of Cooper River. The room and location are neither outstanding nor dingy but sufficient. The prices are good for what you are served. The ingredients are fresh and the preparations are simple but inspired. If not for dinner, this would be a great spot for appetizers. Great beer options on tap and wine by the glass. (byce)
S.N.O.B.
192 E. Bay St, Charleston, SC, 29401
843/723-3424
American Regional
Main courses $9-$14 lunch; $17-$34 dinner
Part of the Maverick group that also operates High Cotton across the street, this is a restaurant that does well. High prices, high hype, and high volume generate high revenue on this high profile location on East Bay Street. Like the meals that I have had at other Maverick ventures, they deliver a rich experience complimented with mighty fine foods. Not particularly the type of establishment that is normally promoted on this site, but they have a bargain lunch menu which offers a glimpse of the high life for us proletariat types. The rueben and the chicken livers are noteworthy, but I would expect anything that comes out of their kitchen to be pretty darn tasty.
See Wee
4808 Highway 17 N, Awendaw, SC
843/928-3609
American Regional
Main courses $13-$14 lunch; $19-$23 dinner
A little ways out of town to the north is this road side, gas station looking place that has mighty fine fried seafood.
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 795-2757
Just before you get to Folly Beach, look for the sign and take a right. This low-country institution has been shucking oysters and frying hushpuppies for generations of beach goers. There are no secret recipes or elaborate presentations just massive amounts of freshly steamed oysters and domestic beer served on picnic benches in a screened in porch. How could this place not be successful?
Coffee in Charleston
City Lights
141 Market St
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 853-7067
On Market between King and Meeting. Great pit stop when you find yourself shopping for seagrass baskets and dodging horse poops. Counter Culture Beans. (byce)
160 East Bay street
843.577.2180
This high profile brooklyn bakery has opened up it’s one and only (as of yet) auxiliary location and it’s in the Palmetto State. They bring with them; confidence, ambition, pride, style, and most importantly, Stumptown coffee. In one since it’s really not fair. They bring their a-game baking chops to a c-game market and blow away the competition whose idea of quickbreads are bear claws out of a vending machine. But are they making any money? I would hope so, but if you buy a cup of coffee at this location you get a watered down cup of Stumptown brew. What gives! Your brownies are one of Oprah’s favorite things but you’re skimping on a scoop of grounds?
I’ll whine till I’m blue in the face but the question is, would I rather have a cup of watered down Stumptown or a strong cup of adulterated Counter Culture? Well, since i’m coming here to buy a bag of beans I might as well sample the goods, right? And pick up a few scones. and a muffin. and a few cupcakes. What, it’s $37.42?!? Well ok, but I get to vent about it on my blog. (burned)
Muddy Waters
1739 Maybank Hwy
James Island, SC 29412
(843) 795-0848
It’s worth going out of your way for this coffee. Fresh single origin beans from Counter Culture served by coffee enthusiasts. (byce)
Kudu
4 Vanderhorst St
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 853-7186
Afro-centric coffeeshop serving African only beans to mostly caucasian clientele. They use both hand powered and semiautomatic espresso machines. I’m not sure why they have both. (byce)
Beer in Charleston
14 Exchange Street
843.577.5446
Without a doubt, this is THE retailer in the state. They fill growlers of Coast and whatever else is available and of most interest at the moment. The bottle selection is bombastic. These guys are total beer nerds that have developed a business model that appears to be successful. Congrats to them! I hope them greater rewards than web log praise.