I’ve visited Charleston many times and each trip usually includes several meals. At the upcoming NGS 2011 Family History Conference, the Hospitality Booth, across from Attendee Check-In, will have copies of the 2011 Official Visitors Guide for Charleston (Guide). The Guide is almost 200 pages and includes “what to see” and “where to dine.” My preference is to have lunch in Charleston because the servings are smaller, the prices are lower, and the quality is the same. If you are in Charleston over the weekend, several of the restaurants mentioned below have a brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
One of my favorite restaurants for Lowcountry cuisine, including fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits, is Magnolia’s, 185 East Bay St., Charleston, 843-577-7771, http://www.magnolias-blossom-cypress.com/.
Poogan’s Porch, 72 Queen St., Charleston, 843-577-2337, http://www.poogansporch.com/, is another choice for southern hospitality and Lowcountry fare in the historic area.
Virginia’s on King, 412 King St., Charleston, 843-735-8500, http://www.virginiasonking.com/, has great barbeque sliders, pimento cheese sandwiches, and cornbread.
If you want to eat seafood on the water, the choice is Fleet Landing, 186 Concord St., Charleston, 843-722-8100, http://www.fleetlanding.net/.
Another tourists’ favorite is Hyman’s Seafood, 215 Meeting St., Charleston, 843-723-6000, http://www.hymanseafood.com/. They don’t take reservations and there is usually a line at peak meal times. The specialty is crispy flounder which fills your plate and the sides are served in separate dishes. When you think you’re done you turn the flounder over and eat the other side. My husband always orders something else because he knows he’s getting about half of my flounder.
If you are a vegetarian, I would recommend the Hominy Grill, 207 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, 843-937-0930, http://www.hominygrill.com/, which has a vegetable plate entre in addition to its other southern fare. The Hominy Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
If you are looking for an upscale restaurant and an outstanding dinner you will remember, my choices are Anson’s, Fig, and McCrady’s which are only open for dinner: Anson’s, 12 Anson St., Charleston, 843-577-0551, http://www.ansonrestaurant.com/; Fig, 232 Meeting St., 843-805-5900, http://www.eatatfig.com/; and McCrady’s, 2 Unity Alley, Charleston, 843-577-0025, http://www.mccradysrestaurant.com/.
There are many great restaurants to choose from and I have only listed those in which I have personally dined in the last couple of years. If you have others you would like to recommend to conference attendees, send you recommendations to conference@ngsgenealogy.org for posting on the blog or simply post back under the comments section at the end of this post.
Jan Alpert
Conference Chair
One of my favorite restaurants for Lowcountry cuisine, including fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits, is Magnolia’s, 185 East Bay St., Charleston, 843-577-7771, http://www.magnolias-blossom-cypress.com/.
Poogan’s Porch, 72 Queen St., Charleston, 843-577-2337, http://www.poogansporch.com/, is another choice for southern hospitality and Lowcountry fare in the historic area.
Virginia’s on King, 412 King St., Charleston, 843-735-8500, http://www.virginiasonking.com/, has great barbeque sliders, pimento cheese sandwiches, and cornbread.
If you want to eat seafood on the water, the choice is Fleet Landing, 186 Concord St., Charleston, 843-722-8100, http://www.fleetlanding.net/.
Another tourists’ favorite is Hyman’s Seafood, 215 Meeting St., Charleston, 843-723-6000, http://www.hymanseafood.com/. They don’t take reservations and there is usually a line at peak meal times. The specialty is crispy flounder which fills your plate and the sides are served in separate dishes. When you think you’re done you turn the flounder over and eat the other side. My husband always orders something else because he knows he’s getting about half of my flounder.
If you are a vegetarian, I would recommend the Hominy Grill, 207 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, 843-937-0930, http://www.hominygrill.com/, which has a vegetable plate entre in addition to its other southern fare. The Hominy Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
If you are looking for an upscale restaurant and an outstanding dinner you will remember, my choices are Anson’s, Fig, and McCrady’s which are only open for dinner: Anson’s, 12 Anson St., Charleston, 843-577-0551, http://www.ansonrestaurant.com/; Fig, 232 Meeting St., 843-805-5900, http://www.eatatfig.com/; and McCrady’s, 2 Unity Alley, Charleston, 843-577-0025, http://www.mccradysrestaurant.com/.
There are many great restaurants to choose from and I have only listed those in which I have personally dined in the last couple of years. If you have others you would like to recommend to conference attendees, send you recommendations to conference@ngsgenealogy.org for posting on the blog or simply post back under the comments section at the end of this post.
Jan Alpert
Conference Chair
I'd like to add one of my personal favorites. Try Husk Restaurant(http://www.huskrestaurant.com). Husk is Beard Award winner Sean Brock's (of McCrady's fame) new venture into a celebration of southern food. No ingredient comes in the door unless it is raised or produced in the south, the more local the better. The quality of the dishes is excellent, and the experience is wonderful. There is a blackboard at the entrance showing where the day's ingredients came from and who raised/produced them. Be sure to try the cornbread. Reminds me of my mama's... baked in a cast-iron skillet in a wood-fired oven. YUM!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a few years since I've been to Charleston, but the 82 Queen in the historic area is another good choice. Their she-crab soup is excellent, and I've enjoyed the meals I've eaten there as well.
ReplyDeleteTwo of the finest meals I've ever had were at the Peninsula Grill at the Planters Inn (www.peninsulagrill.com). Very, very pricey, but if you're a foodie, not to be missed. Reservations and semi-formal dress recommended.
ReplyDeleteLooking for great places to eat in Charleston? My favorites include Lana
ReplyDeleteRestaurant and Bar at Rutledge and Cannon, www.lanarestaurant.com.; Fish on King
St., www.fishrestaurantcharleston.com; and Basil on King St.,
www.eatatbasil.com.