Yes, it's time for FOOD HIGHLIGHTS! As mentioned a few weeks ago, we were in Charleston at the beginning of March before for a quick vacation. The top two reasons to make a trip to this city is it's beautiful historic homes and ridiculously good (and southern!) food. We were there from Sunday-Tuesday AM; and prior to our arrival I secured two dinner reservations, which I highly recommend. It should come as no surprise that Charleston is also a city that loves to eat out---how can you resist when there are so many great options?! Even though I made our reservation for Monday night the week prior, I still had slim pickings for available 2-person dining times. For Magnolia's on Sunday night, however, I was able to make our reservation the day before.
We met some local friends for lunch on Sunday, the day we arrived. Having only really picked out places for breakfasts and dinners, we left the place up to them! Fleet Landing is surprisingly one of the only restaurants located on the water in Charleston. It's exterior isn't much to look at, having originally been naval (then ferry) building. It's flat and concrete. Almost magically, they've managed to make it feel open and airy from inside. There are high ceilings, large windows, and outside dining options.
Their menu includes casual southern and seafood options. Best decision of the meal: the fried oyster appetizer. REALLY. The fried oysters came on grits garnished with cheddar, bacon and barbecue sauce. I wish this had been my actual meal. Instead, for my entree I ordered the surprisingly tasteless fried green tomato BLT. I think subbing pimento cheese for the gouda would have made the difference.
The Gin Joint (182 E. Bay Street, website)
Garland and I aren't sophisticated or snobby drinkers. We're actually the least adventurous as they come. The fanciest we get are bourbon ginger for him and gin and tonic for me. Yes, the predictable classics. The Gin Joint was probably not the best place for us. To be honest, we mainly went because they had a patio AND it was conveniently located across the street from dinner. The Gin Joint is a cocktail-focused establishment. The drinks contained hardly anything I recognized or could imagine together. Also: pricey. I stuck with the house punch made of rum, lemon and lime juice, and demerara (fancy sugar) and Garland ordered one of the two beers on the menu.
We might be back in a few years....You know, once we can actually afford the risk of purchasing a beverage we may not understand and like.
Magnolia's (185 E. Bay Street, website)
When talking about and searching through Charleston dining options, Magnolia's comes up a lot. The wow-factor starts with the interior decor; the front dining room has columns embellished with ironwork magnolia branches (vines?) and gorgeous dark-stained wooden ceilings.
This ended up being a meal for the history books: I ate--and enjoyed--cream cheese (on my food "hate list") in the form of chive cream cheese butter served with our bread basket. And Garland discovered he "kind of" likes southern greens, an accompaniment to his fried chicken, sausage gravy & biscuits entree. My entree was their highly-recommended parmesan crusted flounder. It came with jasmine rice, lump crab and shrimp, as well as my favorite springtime veggies! It was a melt-in-your-mouth meal that I gladly polished off.
I was so full and drunk on love that Garland talked me into getting dessert with him. Not just dessert, but the lamest thing on the menu: ice cream. Who get's ice cream when there's homemade chocolate pudding garnished with a peanut butter cookie, red velvet lava cake or pecan pie on the menu? I selected the strawberry shortcake. And, yes, it was great.
Eli's Table (129 Meeting Street, website)
We got an early start on Monday and headed to Eli's Table for breakfast. On top of lunch and dinner, they serve breakfast everyday starting at 8AM---a good option to have in your back pocket for weekend early-risers! We were optimistic and chose a seat in their courtyard with promises of sunshine. Although it never really warmed up, the space was open and relatively quiet. Their menu had a variety of food for different tastes, everything from Benedicts to beignets. I had a difficult time choosing between the lowcountry Benedict (with fried oysters), sweet potato pancakes, and praline french toast. For Garland, it was an obvious choice: chicken and biscuits with gravy (a meal that seemed all-too-familiar...ahem *last night's dinner*). I ultimately decided on french toast for a slight change in pace. The spiced brown sugar butter was AMAZING.
We walked too far and waited too long to eat lunch on Monday. The result was a hangry and indecisive Valerie. Garland chose the Noisy Oyster because we'd walked past it so many times to and from our Inn. Plus, they had large windows that made you feel like you were eating outside. It felt like I should be on a boardwalk, rather than at the Charleston market. Our meals were comprised of fried seafood: oysters, me and shrimp, him. It was nothing rave-worthy, but good and simple.
Poogan's Porch (72 Queen Street, website)
We visited Poogan's Porch during my first trip to Charleston and LOVED it so much, I knew we had to go back. This time I was more sober and beyond ready to eat my weight in delightful southern fare. As mentioned in my original Charleston post, they bring you a basket of subtly sweet and flaky biscuits instead of bread. Hello! I was in heaven! This was, after all, our spurge meal so we ordered an appetizer of pimiento croquets with green tomato jam. THESE THINGS WERE INSANE. Imagine fried mozzarella sticks but instead of mozzarella, these were oozing with creamy, spicy pimiento.
Garland's entree was from their nightly specials: grilled pork tenderloin medallions with brie ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce. BRIE RAVIOLI?!? I ordered the crispy skinned snapper, which was so much better than the delicious menu description: snapper on top of a cheddar grit cake, pulled pork, wilted arugula and finished with NC BBQ reduction (which tasted like a honey hot sauce). The flavors and textures of the dish were mind-blowing...and I about died trying to finish every last bite of this. But after wine, biscuits and croquets, it was mission impossible.
Dixie's Supply is the little dive we stumbled upon during our first visit to Charleston. It's quaint, serves simple food, and is located next to a convenience store. It's the perfect option for a quick, reliable and cheap morning meal. I said farewell to low country with grits and a biscuit with my standard bacon and over medium eggs. And again: more biscuits and gravy for my silly travel buddy.
My fingers are crossed for another trip back in the fall...and can you believe I already have a list of other places I still want to try? Butcher & Bee, High Cotton, Virginia's on King, Eli's Table for lunch or dinner, and Poogan's Porch for brunch to name a few.
Have you been to Charleston? What did I miss and should add to my list?
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