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AW SHUCKS ? That is a Dallas Texas restaurant I bet
they're copying. It is extremely casual, you can eat outside where you
walk on clamshells and eat on picnic tables; or go inside and sit on a
stool. Best shrimp imaginable, best seafood gumbo (as they call it) I've
ever eaten. If you go to google and put in aw shucks dallas it brings up
their menu. suzy Our book club went to Jestine's Kitchen on 1/16/05
after visiting the wonderful aquarium. It was wonderful. We had to wait a
little while on the sidewalk (kind of chilly) but it was well worth it! We
all had different entres and all were great. Our seafood dishes were
perfect (fried shrimp, fried oysters, and pecan crusted whiting), someone
had spinach spoonbread served with creamy grits, and another had the
grilled meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. My friend and I split a
piece of coconut cream pie that was heaven on a plate. The prices were
reasonable and the service was first It breaks my heart to read the comments about one of
my favorite restaurants, Poogans Porch. The last time I had the pleasure
of dining at Poogans Proch was about 10 years ago and I was enchanted
about the story of the little dog Poogan -- I have a little dog named
George. I absolutely loved the meal -- from soup to nuts. The service was
excellent and each course was better than the one before. When my friends
or co-workers tell me they are going to visit Charleston I tell them that
they must go and eat at Poogans Porch. I can but hope they are at least
somewhat as good as I remember, I cannot wait to visit Charlestown once
again and to dine at the delightful Poogans Porch. I travel to Charleston as much as I possibly can!
One place stands out in my mind that I just have to go to when I want some
good food! That place is A.W. Shucks. I never had tried a crab cake until
I ate one of theirs & I have tried them at places since then without
finding one as good as they have! I also love the stuffed shrimp. I
usually get the combo! This is a must try if you get to visit Charleston. I want to find the address of a restraunt I ate at
in North Charleston. It was either "The Screaming Oyster" or "The
Screaming Clam". I want to contact them. Do they have "email" Thanks, A
past residence of N. Charleston. Jim Henderson While staying in Charleston I went to Folly Beach. I
went to this newly opened bar on the island, it was the Folly Pelican. I
truly had a blast! They had live music, wonderful service, and even better
the ambience was out of this world. Part of the bar was done after one of
my heros Jimmy Buffet. I truly recommend this bar. There number is
558-4095.
I am looking for a family friendly restaurant that
offers a seafood buffet in the Charleston area. I live in the Lowcountry just out side of wonderfull
Charleston. One place that I love to dine at for BBQ is Dukes. The Dukes
in Summerville is good but the Dukes in Walterboro is awesome. Large
selection of local sothern favorites. If you want to taste the best barbecue in the low
country, stop by Rev's Open Pit Barbecue on Miles Jamison Road in
Summerville. The ribs, the chopped and the baked beans were just delicious
and the sauce is the best. Do not eat at Hymans. We ate there because of all of
the recommendations from the past years. It has obviously gone way, way
down hill. We ordered many of the selections from the menu and were sorely
disappointed. The fried oysters were good. Nothing else. On a scale of
1-10, we argued on wheather to give it a 3 or 4. The fish was bad, the
seafood bisque was way, way below par. Again, our favorite place was
Peninsula Grill. We can't say enough good things about this outstanding
resturant. It had the freshest food, and the service is outstanding. On a
scale of 1 - 10, it is an 8 or 9+. We loved it. Our favorite resturant was Penninsula Grille where
our favorite table service person was Rhonda. She not only chose our wine,
but moved us inside when it started to rain, practically, insisted on
moving us. The food here is an A+++, but the service is an A+++++++. This
episode is the only reason we will return to Charleston. Altough quaint,
we were not that impressed with Charleston. We are New Orleans and
Savannah lovers, and found Charleston to be a New Orleans wantabe. New
Orleans wraps its arms around you the second you arrive. We never felt
that in Charleston. Too Bad. It's a wantabe that couldbe. We recently camped at James Island County Park which
was very nice, ate at the "Noisy Oyster" which has delicious food-I want
to know where to get that fabulous caramel cheesecake they serve for
dessert. I want to order some!! My husband and I went to Charleston for our
honeymoon last summer. We had a blast. Our favorite place to eat there is
Jestine's Kitchen. We stumbled upon it our first evening there, and we
went back three more times. We went to some very nice expensive places as
well, but none of them compared to Jestine's. I really wish the restaurant
would publish a cookbook, because I want some of those recipes--especially
for the picked cucumbers. Our son is a Charleston Cty. Firefighter and we are
interested in purchasing a gift ceriticate at a fine dining resturant in
the city for his (their) wedding anniversary. I have been searching the
net for while and this service is not "user friendly." My husband and I
are orginally from Charleston and we know there are LOTS of nice
resturants and would like to treat our son and dtr.-in-law to a nice
evening out... Please help us purchase a surprise "gift certificate" for
them.. Thanks! Pam Young Hi, I'm getting married in Charleston June 14th and
having trouble finding a romantic restaurant for app. 20 guest after the
wedding. I'm looking something special. Any suggestions will be very
helpful. Thank you! Donna Just returned from Charleston, SC where we
absolutely loved the Steak Diane at Garibaldi's! January 03, 2003 Jeff and I spent two lovely days in
Charleston before continuing or trip north to visit our children. Wow,
were we glad we made the stop! Our dining experience at Mistral's
Restaurant on Market St. was fabulous, The food was nothing but perfect,
but I really want to comment on the service. Honestly some of the best
service we have received in a restaurant. Our waiter, Kevin, made
everything perfect! We were a little intimidated by the size of the wine
list, and he recognized this by asking if we would like some suggestions.
He very non-chalantly asked us our price range, which we greatly
appreciated...rather than simply trying to sell an expensive bottle. His
choice was perfect for the Filet Mignon and Peppered Steak which Jeff and
I had for dinner. While I ordered the fish soup, Kevin shook his head!! I
didn't understand at first. I thought maybe they had sold the last of it.
Jeff quietly told me that maybe I would like to try the onion soup, and
Kevin nodded his head. We were so appreciative that he would be honest
enough to "inform" us if we were making good choices for our dinner or
not. We couldn't help but laugh. Thereafter we looked up at him for
approval while making menu decisions. It was priceless. I should ad that
if you have Kevin as your waiter at Mistral's, don't expect him to be your
"server". When the table next to us tugged on his shirt, he promptly
turned to them and said "Please don't touch me". As he was describing the
deserts to us, that same couple asked him if he could call a cab for them.
He merely turned and glared at them for a moment, then returned to
describing the deserts to us. It was quite the show, I'm just grateful
that Jeff and I behaved ourselves while Kevin guided us through the night.
Thank-you Kevin! We'll be back on our return home to CA. Carol & Jeff
Hilton A Nov.'02 trip to the Charleston area was our first
and, hopefully, will not be the last. We stayed on Edisto Island and made
numerous trips into Charleston, but loved exploring the Island. We found
the "Old Post office" a fantastic place for dinner with superb seafood and
impeccable service. The locals were helpful in directing us to the
plantations, antique stores (we attended an antique auction at a
plantation the day after Thanksgiving), and sources for excellent seafood
and for shelling. The drive to Beaufort/Hunting Island on Thanksgiving Day
resulted in our eating the holiday meal at the Episcopal Church in
Beaufort with other travelers (from Wisconsin and Florida) as well as
local folks of all ages. It was an incredible experience and is a yearly
event. There are so many historic places to see and so many restaurants to
try, we can hardly wait to return. I do hope this site is updated soon, so
that it might be more helpful to potential visitors. For casual dining, I highly recommend Jestine's
Kitchen. Wonderful low country food - delicious! Save room for dessert!
Also recommend the Hominy Grill on Rutledge & Cannon. We had to wait in
line for lunch but it was well worth it. I'm sure everything is equally
delicious here, but I had the shrimp and grits and would certainly try it
again. Next time we'll go for dinner - different menu, sounds great! Also
worth looking up is the Wreck in Mt. Pleasant. Deceiving from the outside,
but the dining room is cozy with two fireplaces (we were there in
November). Seafood is fried or broiled, and they admit they aren't into
red meat, though you can order it. It's a romantic little place with oil
lamps on the tables, and that's about it for lighting except for the
kitchen. You can go outside from the dining room to see the fishing boats
that probably brought your dinner. Casual place, off the beaten path.
Can't say enough about Charleston - anyone who has been there would
understand! To anyone who plans on visiting the Charleston area
check out this place it is called dukes bbq its on highway 76 in
Summerville grate food and reasonable prices I highly recommend it also in
West Ashley there is a very romantic restaurant called California Dreaming
they have some of the best food in town not to bad in price .it is on the
Ashley river. Because of our love of Charleston & the most
relaxing vacations we've ever had, my wife & I took the plunge and
purchased a vacation/rental property on Wild Dunes (1998). So far we've
been very pleased. The beach, relative privacy, and proximity of all
Charleston offers is an unbeatable combination. On our last visit, we
discovered the pleasures of The Boathouse. It is located near the channel
between IOP and Sullivan's Island. I would describe it as upscale seafood.
The bleu cheese cole slaw is unique. We're also partial to the Long Island
Cafe on IOP. Hymans': The lobster was too soft, the grilled tuna
was not sufficiently cooked and the cole sloe was flaccid at Hyman's at
2:00 pm on 10/20/98. We will never eat there again and will recommend that
others not eat there. 10-12-98 I will try and keep this shprt but I have a
hard time whenever I speak of Charleston. We discovered Charleston in 1990
and have gone back every year since. We have nevewr visited a more
beautiful, historical or friendly city. After visiting 10 times we have
decided to retire there in 6 years. We have always had many interesting
things to do. Visit the forts, take a tour (Old South-Red Sash), eat, tour
plantations, browse market street, eat, walk the beaches, visit a museum,
tour the homes, eat, take a bike ride, relax at colonial lake, drive to
the Islands, eat, visit the churches, tour the cememteries, eat, golf,
shop,walk-walk-walk. My husband and I just visited Charleston Sept.
20-24, 1998 for the second year in a row and stayed at the Meeting Street
Inn. This charming Inn serves a Continental breakfast every a.m. and wine
and cheese 5:30-6:30 p.m. The Inn keepers were helpful and friendly and
steered us to one of the best restaurants called The Mint Julep. The fried
green tomatoes are a must! Another excellent restaurant was 82 Queen,
quite elegant with a beautiful outdoor garden. We also enjoyed Hymans for
seafood, Bocci's for Italian and Blossoms for their mushroom stuffed
ravioli! We took a horse and carriage tour for two, a little pricey, but
better than being cramped into the larger tour carriages especially on a
hot day. Enjoyed our visit to Boone Hall Plantation and Drayton Hall. A
walk to Waterfront Park in the evening and using the swings was enjoyable.
The best thing about staying in town was that everything was in walking
distance. We also enjoyed the Fall Candlelight Tour of homes in historic
Charleston, put on by the Historic Society. Beautiful homes filled with
antiques, and even met some of the homeowners. Since this was a night
tour, each home had candles outside to guide you to the right house. It
was the best! We will certainly be back to this charming city again. Katie
H. submitted 10/4/98 3DI fell in love with Charleston and the Lowcountry
the summer afte= r graduating high school and have been returning as often
as possible ever since. I'm sorry. Your Travelogue appears to be hopelessly
out of date. Maybe I'm wrong, but even so, feel I must educate some of
these kind people who have written about their experiences. Gill and I went to Charleston between Thursday 29th
July and Sunday 2nd August 1998. We had a really lovely time staying at
the Barksdale House Inn which was excellent. The service was first class
we had breakfast in our room served on a silver tray. A wonderful
centrally located Inn which didn't charge the earth. We visited all the
touristy sites including Boone Hall Plantation which was fascinating but
rather overpriced at $10 per person. The house was rebuilt in 1935 and is
therefore considerably younger than our home in England. The present
owners live in the property and so tourists only get to see the ground
floor. The slave street is extraordinary and they have plans to develop
this area further and give tourists a real insigt into what life for the
slaves was actually like. We vacationed in Charleston June 29 - July 2, 1998.
What a wonderful place, we didn't want to leave. We stayed at the
Boardwalk Inn at the Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms. Their beaches
are unsurpassed. We had lunch at the Wild Wing Cafe, great selection of
wings. For a great dining experience visit J.Bistro in Mount Pleasant.
Besides the great tasting food, the menu and presentation were fantastic.
We took a carriage ride. It was very enjoyable and we learned a lot of
history. For an unforgettable experience go sailing on the Schooner Pride.
We took the two hour sunset cruise and loved it. Charleston has something
for everyone. We just spent our honeymoon in Charleston (6/2-6/9)
and had a wonderful time! We traveled by train from NYC - took about 12
hours, most of which we spent sleeping. It is a good way to travel if you
don't want to drive long distances and don't feel like flying. We stayed
at the Indigo Inn, had a very nice room and found the staff to be very
helpful. We were within walking distance to most everything, but got a
little wilted by the heat the 1st few days we were there - the heat index
was about 105! My husband's favorite restaurant was, without a doubt,
Hyman's - we ate there 3 times that week! Captain Stacks was a little
lacking in the service area and had way too much in the hot sauce area
(the chef was experimenting with EXTREMELY hot sauces the night we were
there - he has since stopped we hope :-) We went on 2 carriage rides and
thankfully got 2 separate routes in the lottery. The ghost walk was a neat
thing to do, but make sure that you have comfy shoes! We also rented a car
and went to Magnolia Plantaion - I found the house tour to be very
informative and the train ride a nice way to see the ground in the VERY
hot weather. I can't really say it is the best plantation, as it was the
only plantation we went to! I have been raving about the city since we
have returned and look forward to returning sometime in the near future!
We took our trip to Charleston with our two very
young sons from May 30 through June 6, 1998. The beach on the Isle of
Palms is beautiful. (highly recommended) The Audobon Swamp Garden was
really cool and there are no mosquitos, in case you were wondering.
(recommended) We took a tour of Charleston harbor under sail power on the
schooner Pride. (highly recommended find them at the City Marina) We
toured The Charleston Tea Plantation, the only tea grown in America! given
the first Saturday of the month May through October. (If you're a tea
drinker highly recommended) We stopped to see the Angel Oak on the way
back from the tea plantation, it is worth the stop. It is estimated to be
over 1400 years old and it is a sight to behold. (highly recommended) If
you are a train buff or have kids with you check out The Best Friend of
Charleston museum right behind the Visitors Center in downtown Charleston.
(recommended) We love shrimp! So if your interested in hearing about our
shrimp experiences read on. Hyman's is by far the best seafood restaurant
in the area! Their ads say come early or late which is good advice. It is
worth it to plan ahead to be able to eat there. Go ahead and try the
Boiled Peanuts don't be afraid, they are good. (extremely highly
recommended) Sullivans on Sullivans Island is pretty good. (recommended)
Angel Fish on James Island has a wide variety of fresh healthy food (not a
seafood restaurant), we did not have any shrimp there but what we did have
was very good. (highly recommended). The Charleston Crab House on the
Wapoo River was good and had a great view of the river and drawbridge that
our boys really enjoyed. (recommended) Now for our version of the Wreck,
it was easy to find and if you like to sweat (no air conditioning) and
enjoy the aroma of a seafood processing plant while you dine you will love
The Wreck. Besides that the grilled shrimp was excellent but the fried
shrimp tasted like it was cooked in very old oil that had already been
used to fry a lot of fish. (If your nose doesn't work and you like
non-fried food recommended, otherwise avoid it) California Dreaming was a
major disappointment we had been there about 5 years ago for the first
time and were not impressed, but after having many people rave about it we
tried again with the same disappointing results. It is a chain restaurant
with that look and feel. (not recommended) Overall our trip was wonderful,
we want to move there! Kevin and Angela Avery We just returned after a week long visit to the
Charleston area and would like to recomend two lovely B%=FD&B around the
city. One, at= McClellansville, a real village is called "Village B&B" at
333 Mercantile Road (843-887-3371). Best thing is to ask for directions at
Graham's Grocery. A lovely place situated in a dream-like village. The
other is an historic waterfront building at Beaufort, the Cuthbert House
Inn (800-327-9275). This one is a real piece of architectural preservation
and perfect taste! While in Charleston, we tried a few restaurants and
were pleased at Mint Julep but not impressed by the very pretentious
Carolinas's. For a light pleasant meal try Zebo's Brewery at King's Str.=20
5 June98, We are owners of a villa at Kiawah, so
Spring and autumn is spent on the island. Charleston, for the many times,
each week, we go into eat is a new adventure. Ansons, 82 Queen, Magnolias,
Poogans, Celias are ALL excellent. Same with several over in the Shem
Creek area. Tour the homes,we never miss the chance to do so. But to see
the city, WALK, WALK, WALK. Plenty of time to golf when I retire, see the
beach. Be on the beach......... Just returned from a week at Wild Dunes(May 16 to
23rd) The beaches were great again and the weather hot and sunny. Found
the best fried green tomatoes in Charleston at Jestine's on Meeting
Street. We were up and down King Street & East Bay checking the menu's and
finally found them at Jestine's. They were the best. The meals coming from
the kitchen were not shabby either. Heaping plates full of fried chicken
(6.95). We also went to Shem's Creek for dinner. RB's was very nice. The
same people own Ronnie's, RB, Noisy Oyster, and Cappy's. Gilligan's
(across the Connector) just opened and was also enjoyable out on the
patio. Charleston as usual was beautiful, Rainbow Row, the battery. Can't
wait to visit again. Although I only live 25 miles from Charleston and
don't qualify as a tourist (except in the eyes of a few South of Broad
bluebloods) I have to put in my 1 1/2 cents worth concerning what is a
"locals" restaurant and what is a "touristy" restaurant in Charleston We live in Southern California and visited
Charleston May 6 -10, 1998. We stayed in a B&B so we ate only lunch and
dinner out. Our favorite by far was 82 Queen. We are in our mid-70's so
picked places less noisy and crowded. 82 Queen suited us perfectly. Found
out that the key was early (7 PM) reservation and dress better (coat and
tie). We're seated in nice room and served a wonderful meal. Saw later
arrivals seated in noisy patio. Also other days had a great too much lunch
at Magnolias. And good lunch with local friends at Slightly North of
Broad. Then another good light lunch at Mike Calders Pub. We picked the
best! You would not be unhappy with any of the above. Only wore necktie or
jacket that one time. One night dinner at Hymans. Very crouwded, noisy and
long wait, but food OK. May is part of high season and all of town was
very crowded. We would go a different time of year next time. B&B where we
stayed was very beautiful and unique. Only 3 bedrooms. Kitchen included
and food ready for preparing and serving yourself, when you want. Charge
based on number of bedrooms used. A beautifully restored carriage house.
Like staying in a large home in the 1800's. Wortham House, 54 Montigu St.,
Owner - Betsy Johnson (843) 723-4668. The taxis were great, only $3 to
$3.50 to go from the B&B to downtown Charleston. Hank Wattson To those who enjoy good seafood: We just returned from Charleston and loved it
(4/98). We stayed at the John Rutledge Inn which was very nice though a
bit pricey. It's very well located and if you stay there be sure to
request a room in the main house. The two carriage houses just do not have
the charm of the main house. The best restaurant we found was Penninsula
Grill which had innovative southern food. Mint Julep was very good and
Poogan's Porch was fun for lunch.Louis's was a bit disappointing ,but
still worth trying. We found the Wreck(just call and ask for directions!)
and it was well worth the trip. Go there for lunch and then drive a bit
further to tour Fort Moultrie and Boone Hall Plantation. Be sure to go to
Middleton Place with its magnificent gardens and spectacular location
above the water. The restaurant at Middleton was nice for lunch. Pass on
Magnolia Gardens which was poorly maintained and had the air of a tacky
amusement park. The swamp garden, which is a separate admission, was very
interesting and worth going to. One of the highlights of our trip was a
stay at Cassina Point Plantation on Edisto Island not far from Charleston.
The old plantation house has been beautifully restored by the Earnshaws
and they are gracious hosts. There are four lovely guest rooms and the
scenery around the house is beautiful. We took a canoe from the dock
outside the houise into the waterways and channels nearby and saw a school
of dolphins. It was amazing. We also loved Jekyl Island Club Hotel which
is further down the coast past Savannah. It's an elegant and historic
hotel on a picturesque sea island. We visited Charleston the week of March 23,1998.
This city impressed us as not only the most beautiful city we have ever
seen but also the cleanest. Since we arrived by plane and did not have a
car, we walked everywhere. There is a shuttle available but the three day
pass we bought went generally unused because we seemed to miss the shuttle
all the time. We stayed at the Hampton Historic which is a 10 minute walk
from downtown and was much more reasonable. They had a lovely courtyard
for continental breakfast and a very helpful staff. The restaurants we
enjoyed the most were Poogan's Porch, 82 Queen, Blossom Cafe, Sermet's
Corner,and the Southend Brewery(great pizza and grill). There were so many
great places to eat we never bothered to wait at Hymans Seafood (always a
line). It seemed best to make a reservation for dinner. The kids enjoyed
the Old Exchange tour and the boatride to Ft. Sumter. The only restaurant
we can't recommend was the Old Towne (Greek Food). Charleston is one city
I would love to visit again! We just returned last evening from a memorable trip
to Charleston. We arrived on Friday,March 27 1998 and stayed until March
30. There is so much to see and do, but do not miss Market Square, with
all the various things to buy. There are so many vendors and items for the
whole family. It stays open at night, but most vendors are only there in
the daytime.We felt very safe in the Bay and Meeting Street areas, but try
not to wander off the beaten paths. There are numerous restaurants-we ate
lunch on Saturday at A.W. Shucks. It has very good and large portions of
food. We did not have to wait long for our lunches. We all had the
crabcake sandwich with fries. It was hot, and the crabcake had little or
no fillers. We ate dinner at Mistral(also in the market area) It is a
French restaurant-very good food but pricey(3 people ate for $75, which I
thought was high.We had to wait too long for our food,and it was not
crowded!) Everyone seems to recommmend Hyman's Restaurant and 82 Queen. We
could not get there because of the long wait. I am sure there are other
good restaurants. I heard Kaminsky's is good. The architecture in
Charleston is phenomenol, you will be amazed at the age and condidtion of
most of the homes and businesses! We just returned from a week in Charleston, March
21-28, 1998. What a wonderful city. The people were extremely friendly and
always helpful. We stayed at the Ansonborough Inn. Very nice with spacious
rooms. Ask for a room away from the west side, though. Trucks begin
deliveries to the adjacent grocery store at about 5:00 am everyday.
Restaurants were great. We especially enjoyed Poogans Porch, Hymans,
Sticky Fingers, Mike Caldors, California Dreaming, Bocci's and Southend
Brewery. We also found a great little place called Gullah Cuisine on Hwy
17 in Mount Pleasant. The food there is great! Finding the "Wreck" was
easy. However, I WOULD NOT recommend that anyone waste their time. I
believe this to be an internet marketing ploy designed to lure unknowing
tourists. The meal, while pretty good, was overpriced and the atmosphere
is not "local" or "rustic." Its "cheap" with paper plates, plastic forks
and plastic furniture. Visit at your own risk. Other activities we enjoyed
were a carriage ride with Old South Carriage, the Ghost Walk, Patriots
Point, Isle of Palms beaches, Forts Sumter and Moultrie and Boone Hall
Plantation. We also spent considerable time just walking around admiring
the old and beautiful homes and buildings. In general, prices for most
things were very reasonable with the exception of many of the old homes,
plantations, gardens, etc. At $10 each, a family of 4 could ill afford to
visit many, even with the discount coupons available. Thanks to everyone
in Charleston that made this such a nice vacation. Yesterday I happened on your neat site as I was
checking out Charleston places as I plan my trip next week back down to
lovely Charleston to see my sister. I added my comment about the Mistral
(or La Mistral) French restaurant over by the Old Market (it's 99
something street; 843-722-5709)). This was before I had read all 23
pages (long) of everyone's comments about where they like to go, etc.,
etc. Not one person mentioned Mistral. I am mistified. Not
one! It is one of the best restaurants (certainly for lunch and brunch,
anyway) that I know of in Charleston, and I have been to most of them (and
often disappointed---I'm picky). Am I missing something? Are THEY missing
something? Just one of those funny things, I guess. I did and will enjoy
your travelogue; it was great fun reading it and I will take the info down
to my sister. Your comments were rather choice, too.! Sincerely, Diane
Reichard Each time I travel to Charleston, one of my first,
and frequent, stops is the French restaurant by the Old Market called the
MISTRAL. You would think you were in Paris at a cafe. Delicious food, care
in preparation and service, never hurried; great French background music
(the owner will share the names of the tapes with you); all the trimmings
for a sophisticated, yet gentle and friendly, atmostphere. Attractive bar
with good wine list and crisp service. Being so near the tourist-trap
core, it is a wonder this place is so unspoiled. There is live music some
evenings, but I have never been there for it. The atmosphere is dignified,
yet lively, the food it unfailingly delightful, and the bill is very
reasonable. I recommend this restaurant unreservedly. Had a fabulous holiday in Charleston Jan 20-28,
1998. The best day was one night when there was a heavy mist and we walked
all of the historic district from Meeting St over to the Battery and up
Church street.So if there is a fog at night, do the walk. It's incredible.
Also discovered the best turkey sandwich in the world at the Coffee
Gallery on King St. Also loved the people, there is nothing to compare to
Southern hospitality. Jan. 4, 1998 Just before Christmas my wife and I
celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Charleston for the
weekend; we traveled in one of Amtrak's new Viewliner bedroom cars from
Orlando, and enjoyed it immensely. Once in Charleston we stayed in the
beautifully decorated and well managed King George IV Inn on George
Street, just off King Street in the historic and shopping district. The
rooms in this 200 year old inn reflect the special touch of the owners,
who went out of their way to make our stay a pleasant one. Don't wait too
late to make reservations, as there are a limited number of rooms. We were
able to walk from here to most major points of interest; we really enjoyed
Old South's very cordial car- riage tour,the locals in Mike Calder's Pub,
and dinner a short ride away at Poogan's Porch. This B & B is in close
proximity also to Charleston College for those of you who might be
visiting students or taking in a game; and there's at least one room with
a small kitchen for those who aren't in to restaurants. If you like
friendly people, you'll enjoy Charleston, and the King George IV Inn. An
My husband and I just spent four nights in
Charleston the week before Thanksgiving. The weather was great and it was
not very crowded. The city is wonderful and romantic. We spent one night
at the Day's Inn Downtown, very conviently located to the Slave Market,
etc. But for the money, the Best Western (King Charles INN)was cleaner and
a much nicer room, had a resturant for breakfast. Eating in Charleston is
truly an experience. Our favorites were- We toured Charleston again this year! It was
December, so there were fewer people and, generally, lower prices on
accomodations. We took the mini-bus tour "Talk of the Towne" and would
highly recommend it! We saw the Battery and The Market, of course, and
other parts of the city that we would never have found on our own! Dinner
at Slightly North of Broad was excellent! Charleston is a great city!
We'll go back often!!! what ever happened to the owners of the primerose
house on east bay street??? We visited Charleston in late October of 97 and had
a wonderful time. We found it to be a beautiful and charming city. It was
very easy to get around and to find restaurants and attractions. We stayed
on Kiawah and loved it there. The beaches are beautiful and we biked every
day on the beach. The water temperature was still warm and our 7 month old
son found the sand quite tasty. We visited this site before leaving home
and took a few reccommendations along with us. The best was a suggestion
to eat at Poogan's Porch - it was as great as everyone said. The waitress
even played with our son so we could eat dinner. Southend Brewery was a
good place for lunch and they had great barbeque and specialized home
brews. We would also recommend a tour of the historic district with one of
the carriage tours. We took the Red Barn Carriage with Matt as our guide,
and he was very informative and entertaining. Thanks to everyone who
suggested the discount coupons found at the Vistor's Center - a good place
to start when you first get to the city. We loved it and look forward to
our next visit. Our eighth trip to Charleston was September 15 to
the 19th 1997. Stayed at Wild Dunes this time and was excellent. Only 25
minutes to downtown Charleston. The beach this time of year was empty. We
were the only people at the pool one morning.On previous trips we stayed
out in Kiawah Island which is also beatiful and the beach great, but a
good 45 min ride to town. Our favorite restaurant is 82 Queen and we love
the Lodge Alley Inn jazz group that plays in the courtyard. We've taken
the carriage tour many times, but this year, we did our own walking tour
and viewed the beautiful gated gardens in the homes along the battery and
Rainbow Row. Revisited Boone Hall and toured the home. The guide dressed
in a period costume was very informative and did not rush us through.
Charleston is about a 12 hr car ride from Pittsburgh. Do not drive down on
95. It is at least another hour. We will probably be back in Charleston
next Spring. Our normal trip is in late May and again the beaches are not
crowded and the weather is perfect. We are lucky in that we live only 3 hours from
Charleston. On any given Saturday we are apt to drive down for lunch and a
walk around town. My husband and I have spent three vacations in
Charleston, SC. We stayed each time at the Queen Victoria Inn on King
Street. It is a small hotel with I believe about 14 rooms on three or four
floors. They have a Champagne continental breakfast delivered to your room
each morning and wine in the evening. The room we book (there are two of
these type rooms) had a fireplace and a wonderful jacuzzi. These rooms
have sitting areas and overlook King Street. We particularly enjoyed
McGrady's restaurant on Unity Alley for dinner and Hyman"s for lunch. The
Charleston Grill at the Omni Hotel was great, also. Did not particularly
like Magnolia's or Caroline's reasautant - they seemed too touristy.
Anson's was pretty good and there is a new french place (the name eludes
me), but I think it is something like Beauford's, that was great. The
atmosphere on King Street and at the Market makes you want to get out and
just walk and enjoy the people and the scenery. We hope to return very
soon. I visited Charleston, SC August 06 - 13, 1997. All
of the history was great to experience. Across from the Meeting Street Inn
at the park there is a grass house on display. The kids got a big kick out
of walking inside a house made of actual growing grass. The Carriage tour
was very nice and informative although we were disappointed when we found
out that there are actually four different tours and you have no control
over which one you will see. After you board the carriage and head around
the corner, a city worker will pick a lottery ball which designates which
tour you get to see. Also, I would like to know if anyone had a good
experience on a Ghost Walk. We took that wakling tour and got nothing out
of it. The tour guide told us maybe four stories about 'sightings' of
particular ghosts and that was all out of a two hour walk. He mostly told
us the same things we heard on the carriage tour. As for the prices, you
can get several discounts by making one stop at the visitor's center. Look
on the counter for the rainbow colored coupons. There are some at each end
of the counter and you don't have to stand in line unless you need other
assistance. The short film at the back of the center was nice, but not at
all informative. We thought we were going to see a film about Charleston,
but instead we saw a very artistic pictorial with nice music. As for the
food, Poogan's Porch was very good. I had the jumbalaya and used every
little bit of cayenne pepper that was sprinkled around my plate. When we
were leaving, the kids watched the waitress put their newly colored
pictures of Poogan (the dog) up on the wall in the entry. They were very
excited. For any who went there that week, they both had purple heads :)
California Dreaming had very good ribs, but I didn't like the sauce. The
service needed some help that day, but I was assured that it was usually
better. I didn't see any dolphins, but my mother said she has on occasion
seen dolphins rather close to the window! The view was very nice and I do
reccomend trying to get a table on the water. Tommy Condon's had great
boiled peanuts. We stopped in there just for those and to take a much
needed break. If you want to try alligator, go to 82 Queen. I heard it
tastes like chicken... :) Wild Wings was very good, but I had nachos and a
burger. I just wasn't in the mood for wings that day. Let me know if
they're good so I can go back next time! At Folly Beach there is a
restaurant called "Planet Follywood". Some go there just to get the
t-shirt. Magnolia Gardens was so nice that we went back for a second day.
Our tram tour guide was great. I can't remember his name, but it was real
simple and he was a very nice older gentleman. Beware of the house tour.
Our guide was extremely uptight. She scolded a grown man for taking a
picture before she said he could (although she gave no instructions to
that effect before leading us there and pictures are ok to take in every
room). She got very touchy when a little girl touched the pole that held
up one end of the rope which separates the tourists from the guide and the
valuables. She didn't do anything but touch it. Then when it was time to
go upstairs, she was extremely impatient when we had to wait a couple of
minutes for a handicap tourist who wanted to see the upstairs too. Thanks to all who made suggestions we visited
Charleston Aug. 14 through 18th of 1997 and had a lovely time. It is a
beautiful, charming, clean, friendly, history-ridden city. Our favorite
restaurants were 82 Queen, Poogan's Porch, and Hymen's--no doubt others
are excellent, but our time was limited. Directions to the restaurant,
Wreck of the Richard and Charlene: cross on 17N to Coleman Ave. in Mt.
Pleasant follow Coleman across the first bridge, turn right on Live Oak
and follow it until it runs out, then left to the end of the street, and
look for a terrible looking place, next to a seafood processing building.
The Wreck has a few faded flags at the top. Go before it gets dark so you
can find it. Sounds terrible, looks awful, but a big surprise when you go
around front. Do go to the historical preservation place--actually there
are two, one on Meeting St. and one on the corner of King. Our secret
favorite street for walking was Church St. below Broad. Better to go in
spring or fall; it was hot. I've been going to Charleston every year for the
past 5 years. My mom and brother lived there for a bit and I just fell in
love with the place. It seems like people are interested in knowing where
to eat. Some of my favorites include The One-Eyed Parrot (Isle of Palms),
Shem Creek Bar and Grill (Mt. Pleasant-the grilled seafood is fantastic!)
Bocci's (downtown-super Italian food), Sullivans (Sullivan's Island),
Station 22 (Sullivan's Island) and RB's(Mt. Pleasant). One of my favorite
non seafood places to eat is Skoogies in Mt. Pleasant. They have the most
incredible hot dogs that you will ever eat! Oh...California Dreaming in
West Ashley is also very good. Their salads are to die for! We love Charleston. We fly in every summer to get
away from the LApace. We love the Charleston Crab house over on Wapoo
Creek for their blue crab in garlic special. We also like AW Shucks and
Hyams. Out on Mt. Pleasant ther's a cafeteria where the She-Crab soup is
supposed to be great! Also, if you want great pie, try the little health
food/boiledpeanut place in Mt.Pleasant. All in all, we love Charleston.
But hope it doesn't get too much bigger. We were there the second week of
July this year. My wife,son and I just returned from our first trip
to Charleston. We arrived 7/27/97 and left 7/31/97. The city is beautiful
and we had a great time. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Harborview across
the Ashley River. We had a great view. We did the carriage tour and the
walking tour visiting several homes. We did the Fort Sumter tour and spent
a day at Middleton Place and the Magnolia Gardens. We also enjoyed the
Charleston Museum and the Manigault House. We found a couple of small
seafood restaurants that we enjoyed but the place that really stood out
for us was Pusser's on Lockwood drive by the marina. The people were great
and the food outstanding. We couldn't fit everything in but we do look
forward to coming back to see what we missed. Thank you to the people of
Charleston for being so gracious. Bill Bilger 8/4/97 We just returned from a fantastic week (July 11 -
19) in Charleston. We spent four days at Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms and
had the beach all to ourselves. We found the Wreck but missed dinner by
arriving at 9:00 p.m. The other seafood restaurants in Shem's Creek were
good. My favorite meal there was in McClellanville at the Crab Pot. Very
fresh and delicious seafood. We moved into the Historic District for our
reservation at The Meeting Street Inn. This is a very lovely and romantic
Bed & Breakfast across the street from the Market and a few blocks from
the Battery. The location was perfect for shopping on King Street and
sightseeing. By all means, use Old South for your tour. We went with them
twice and enjoyed our guide as much as the tour of this beautiful and
historic city. We got married in the Inn's courtyard by Lin Lewis of
Mobile Marriages. Lin is a terrific lady and she helped me a lot in
planning the wedding. The staff of the Inn were exceptionally kind,
friendly and interested in helping us have a memorable vacation. I highly
recommend Carolina's. It's pricey but worth every penny. We plan on
returning for our anniversary (if not before). We just returned from a 3 night/4 day trip visit in
Charleston (7/26-29/97). We had a marvelous time, though it was extremely
hot and humid. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the food at Magnolia's, try
the Shrimp/Sausage and Grits. We also enjoyed TBonz(try the Market Street
Chicken and Shrimp Sandwich--spicy) and California Dreaming. We tried
unsuccessfully for 2 nights to find The Wreck of Richard and Catherine,
someone please put some good directions on the net. One night we settled
for the Trawler on Shem Creek, we were not totally pleased. Jennifer's
fish was not acceptable, it was spongy and tasted bad. They did fix this
by bringing her some more shrimp, and our waiter was very helpful. Our
experience was not good, though it was recommended by some friends. We had
a wonderful carraige tour with Old South Carraige Co. buy tix at the
Visitor's Centers and receive a discount and a DASH pass. We were
diappointed in the DASH system. We had heard it was very good, but our
experience was that it was very unreliable to its "20 minute Schedule." We
did the water color book self guided walking tour and found it very
fascinating and leading us to wonderful adventures. It took longer in the
July heat than the 2 hours the book suggests. Two places that we highly
recommend are the Charleston Preservation Society on Meeting and Calhoun
and the City Hall. The Preservation Society building has an interesting
display and helpful workers and the furthest south public bathrooms, try
to stop by there early in your tour. City Hall has a free tour of the
Council chambers. Go in and ask, its on the second floor. We enjoyed
Charleston so much we are discussing when we can return. After sending in my comments about my trip to
Charleston in March and my dining experiences I got some rather rude
replies! Some suggestion was made that I should not criticize the Wreck!
In my opinion forums are created to have people talk about their good and
bad experiences. This was my fourth annual trip to Charleston. I have
always loved our time there and have had some great meals. After driving
over 900 miles, sometimes through blizzards, I feel entitled to give my
honest opinions. My favorite restaurants in Charleston are SNOB
(Slightly North of Broad) and Millon. My experience at Millon shows the
generous and helpful attitude of Charlestonians. In November of 1996 were
in Charleston on a short vacation when we realized out credit card number
had been stolen so we could no longer use that card. We were able to get
by with personal checks and a Discover card. A few days later we went to
Millon for dinner. After a fabulous meal (I recommend the seafood
risotto)with excellent service we found out they do not accept the
Discover card. We did not have any personal checks with us, so I offered
that my husband would wait while I ran to our room to get a check. But the
maitre d' insisted we just drop the check by anytime. Trust and respect
and service like that are hard to find. Not to mention good food. My husband and I and another couple (all from Texas)
visited Charleston in June for the second time (first time was 1987). It
is my favorite city and favorite place to visit. The charm, old houses,
battery, market, and horse-drawn carriages are so unique and memorable.
The restaurants are worth the trip. Our favorite restaurants were
"Poogan's Porch" and "The Wreck". Thanks to the Travelogue, we knew about
"The Wreck"; otherwise, we may have missed it. Thanks, Charleston, for a
wonderful vacation! Visited Charleston in June, 1997. Previous visit was
in 1987. It is my favorite city to visit when I want a relaxing vacation.
The restaurants (I prefer seafood) are so great (particularly Poogan's
Porch and The Wreck). The Streets of Charleston are very unique. Anyone
who has not visited is missing one of the U. S.'s most charming cities.
Last March break(97) we again went to Isle of Palms
for our kid's March break. While it is not as hot as Florida would be it
was still very pleasant. We loved our stay and really enjoyed dining at
Stickey Fingers (Charleston) and T-Bonz (Mt. Pleasant). We were however,
disappointed in our favourite restaurant (Sullivan's-Sullivans Island).
Another restaurant that was highly recommented (The Wreck-Mt.Pleasant)
also was terriable! For what some restaurants charge for seafood is bad
enough-but when it is bad it is a real disappointment. Anyway, we still
love going there and will be back again! I guess you have to check out
places and not rely on other peoples's recommendations! I spent 3 days in Charleston, S.C. in February.
After doing much research (Internet, Visitor's book, AAA book, and talking
with a friend who lived there for 2 years); I can make some of my own
recommendations. Its amazing how different people's tastes are. But I can
recommend a few places to dine that seem to praised by all. I had brunch
at Blossom Cafe. The service was good, atmosphere progressive, and the
meal excellent (grilled salmon, parmesan polenta, poached eggs). Dinner at
Anson's was excellent, (I had succulent oysters for an app., and even
though my duck entree was on the edge of being med-well, it still melted
in my mouth); and service was very good, (but someone must tell them the
vinyl tablecloths gotta go). I had a pizza at the Southend Brewery and
Smokehouse (Vendue and East Bay); white table cloths, but to me, a more
casual micro-brewery (the Carolina Blonde brew could quench any thirst).
Huge old warehouse, apparently a $4 million renovation. I ended my trip
with Magnolias. My friend told me it was "touristy"; I imagine after
living there for 2 years and hearing so much about it one may feel that
way; but it couln't be farther from the truth. I sat in the back room (the
Gallery?); dark green walls; cozier than the more active front area. My
dinner was excellent, my server excellent (he actually had something new
and interesting to say every time he put something in front of me). You
must start with the eggroll (chef's signature item). The glass wines list
was very nice also. After dinner, I window-shopped through Charleston
Place and stopped for dessert at Louis's Charleston Grill. What a great
way to end an evening with a jazz duo. 6/16/97 My husband and I just returned from our
first trip to Charleston, S.C. We ended up staying at the Charleston Place
(Omni) Hotel. It was probably the best hotel I've ever stayed in. We got
an incredible discount for the room, too. They will bargain with you if
you keep pressing. I think we got about $150-$200 off the original room
rate. I just got back from a wonderful vacation in
Charleston and want to let you know about the best kept secret ... Brix
Restaurant on Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasnt! They serve contemporary French
cuisine at reasonable prices; it is not to be missed. I highly recommend
Brix to all (843) 881-2246. For the coldest beer and true Charlestonian
fellowship visit my ole watering hole the WINDJAMMER,ISLE OF PALMS,TELL
Malcolm or Bill I sent you and see what TWENTY years AFTER,will getcha!
My nephew moved to Charleston about 12 years ago and
I have gone there every year since because I fell in love with the city.
I've already been there in Februay and April of this year. Don't miss
Magnolia Plantation, Boone Hall, and Middleton Place. They are beautiful
and soooo full of great history. The Market downtown is a super place to
pick up souvenirs, then spend the day browsing the shops (don't miss TG's)
and the city sites. Stop in at Tommy Condon's for lunch for some good
Irish potatoe chowder or She Crab Soup. Poogan's Porch has very good pecan
pie. Cappy's has good seafood on John's Island and Gilligans is a good
family seafood place. California Dreaming is wonderful and the view of the
Ashley River is magnificent. We've seen dolphins in the river as we dined.
Get a window table. Though not born in Charleston, I have always
considered Charleston home. It is the most fantasic city that I have come
to find in this world as a world traveler, but there is always a
connection to some foreign land as can be seen in the stores downtown. I
highly recommend Mike Calders Pub at 288 King street for everything from a
simple sandwich to an inexpensive but absolutely delicious dinner. It is
truely a family run joint as more times than not, you will see Mike behind
the bar, his father at the register, his mom in the kitchen, and his
little brother running around bussing tables or taking orders. Mike's is a
local hangout where the Lunch Crowd is usually the same people every day.
Mike has on tap a number of imports, and American draft beers and ales.
For a gourmet meal, I recommend 82 Queen with their fabulous dinners, but
it can be a bit on the pricey side, but it is still cheaper than most of
the places you can get a much less gourmet meal in New York. Make sure you
stop by Crogan's Jewl Box on King street, and buy something for your lady
at one of the only jewelry store sin the lowcountry that is still owned by
the same family that has owned it for decades. As well as stopping by M.
Dumas and Son's mor all your clothing needs. Charleston is a great city to
visit, and be from!! ALEX MOZINGO Surprised my honey with a surprise Honeymoon and we
spent Sunday through Monday 4/13-14 there. The only problem: Too damn
short! We just got back from a five day visit on 3/31/97.
We found Mint Julip on Queen St. to be quiet and superb. Try the peach
cobbler wrapped in a praline shell!! 82 Queen provided a lovely outdoor
dining experience and Poogan's Porch was fun and delicious. Overall we
thought Charleston was a great place to visit and eat. We visited Charleston in March 1997, and found it
just beautiful! The azaleas were in full bloom and the highs were in the
60's to 70's. If you are into great seafood, and early American and civil
war history, this is the town for you. Our favorite restaurants were 82
Queen, Celia's Porta Via,Sarmet's on King Street and Blossums. Be sure to
avoid the Sunday brunch at Poogan's Porch: very unimaginative. Hymans is a
good place for lunch,especially the shrimp po boy sandwiches. Be prepared
for a long line for dinner though. We had a very pleasant inexpensive
dinner at Gaulart et Maliclet on Broad Street. We had the seafood fondu:
tres bon! If you are up for an adventure, try to find "the Wreck". This is
a seafood place in Shem Creek which does not advertise. There is not even
a sign in front of the place. Be prepared for very tasty, fresh seafood in
a very casual atmosphere for killer prices. Some places we would like to
try are Carolinas and "slightly North of Broad". Visited Charleston in late Feb. Had a wonderful
time. Restaurant Million was outstanding and worth the price. Highly
recommend taking walking tour with Tommy Dew ..... he meets people at the
Old Market Steps.... very informative and interesting tours. Stayed at
Indigo Inn and staff was quite gracious and helpful. March 4, 1997:I am a College of Charleston student,
currently in exile in Calgary on a student exchange. My years in
Charleston have enabled me to reccomend a few less well-known gems of the
city. For restaurants, the Horse and Cart Cafe, on King Street (between
George and Wentworth), can't be beat for those on a tight budget-the
desserts are heavenly. For those with a bit more money than the average
starving student, Blossom Cafe on East Bay Street is wonderful--try the
pasta with oak-roasted chicken. And, for splurges, 82 Queen -- it is truly
the best restaurant in Charleston. Have the lobster stuffed with crab and
filet mignon, with chocolate crepes for dessert. As for sights, everybody
sees the Edmonston-Alston House, St. Michael's Church, and the Market, but
my favorite spot in the city is the Unitarian Universalist graveyard. The
best way to get there is from the King Street entrance, a couple blocks
south of Market Street. There is a wrought-iron gate set into ! a brick
doorframe, with the quo I love Charleston! I have been going every year for
the past 9 years and find something new to fall in love with about the
city every time. On our honeymoon, my husband and I stayed at the Sheraton
on the Ashley River for 2 nights and then moved to the Cannonboro Inn. It
is owned by the same people who own the Ashley Inn. Absolutely beautiful
bed and breakfast. Wonderful food and free bikes to use. Very convenient
to everything. I highly recomment Tbonz for lunch and either RB's in Mt.
Pleasant or AW Shucks on Market Street for dinner. We were very
disappointed with both Hyman's downtown and the Trawler in Mt. Pleasant.
Very overpriced and the service was slow. I just returned from a wonderful week in Charleston.
I go there several times a year to visit family & there is always
something different to do. Weather was warm (50-70 degrees), great for
January. Things I did this trip: Gibbes Art Museum on Meeting St., The
Market on Market St (lots of touristy items), for sweetgrass baskets I
think the best prices are with the ladies at St. Michael's Church on Broad
& Meeting, shopping along King St & at Charleston Place, sunrise at the
battery & White Point Gardens. There's a ton of stuff to do, for adults &
children. Where else can you climb on a civil war cannon? Great Eats:
Southend Brewery, try the ribs on East Bay St; The Mill on Market St, once
seated they bring you fresh bread, olive oil, & parmesan cheese;
Papillon's on Market St, awesome pizza buffet & Italian food, it used to
be a church; Ronnie's on Shem Creek in Mt Pleasant. Don't forget Spoleto
festival is Memorial weekend to 2nd week of June. It's a 2 week cultural
festival. That's my next trip home to Charleston. Last year I went to hear
the Charleston Symphony's free concert on the Custom House Steps. If
anyone needs any info I'm always willing to help & give ideas. Enjoy the
"Holy City" 2/1/97 Stephanie "russg@enter.net" WE HAVE BEEN TO CHARLESTON TWO SEPERATE TIMES ONCE
IN 1993 AND IN 1996. WE ARE GOING BACK THIS JUNE, AND WE CAN'T WAIT! WE
STAY AT A BEACH HOUSE ON FOLLY BEACH ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM
CHARLESTON. YOU CAN CONTACT FRED P. HOLLAND REALTY ON FOLLY FOR RENTAL
INFORMATION. WE LOVE TO GO INTO TO CHARLESTON TO SEE THE SIGHTS, TOUR THE
HOMES AND TRY OUT NEW RESTAURANTS! CALHOUN MANSION HAS TO BE ONE OF THE
BEST HOMES TO TOUR, IF YOU ONLY HAVE THE CHANCE TO TOUR ONE, THIS ONE IS
IT! OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS OUR BOWENS ON JAMES ISLAND, BEFORE FOLLY
BEACH. CRAWDADDY'S ALSO ON JAMES ISLAND BEFORE FOLLY BEACH. T-BONZ GRILL
AND BACKSTAGE DELI BOTH IN CHARLESTON. WE ARE EXCITED TO TRY POOGAN'S
PORCH CAROLINA'S AND BOCCI'S. THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO IN CHARLESTON
THAT WE KNOW WE WILL BE VISITING FOR YEARS TO COME! I lived in Charleston from 1991-1996 and thought
that I might offer some tips for visiting. Restaurants to try are Poogan's
Porch, Anson's, and Slightly North of Broad in downtown Charleston...and
Fonduely Yours, Shem Creek Bar & Grill, and RB's in Mt. Pleasant. I fully
recommend that anyone visiting Charleston take a carriage tour around the
city as it will give you a good perspective of the beauty and history of
the city. Jeff My husband and I visited Charleston in May of this
yr (96) and absolutely loved it! We're both northerners, sick of cold
weather & high cost of living, so we're planning on moving next October or
November. I'm a medical secretary and plan to apply to Medical University
of South Carolina in Charleston. We looked at some apts in West Ashley -
Indigo Creek & Moss Creek, and plan to live in either one of them. I'd
love to talk to someone who lives in Charleston currently to give me an
insiders point of view. Ooh, and for good eats, we really liked The Mill.
My friends are sick of hearing me rave about my
November vacation in Charleston.My husband and I stayed at the John
Rutlidge Inn and loved it.Our favorite restaurant is 82 Queen.The She Crab
bisque was fabulous.Our visit to Middelton Plantation was great.Most of
all we enjoyed just walking around the Historic District gawking at the
exquisite homes.Every hour was an adventure none more so than meeting a
fellow Califorian on the ferry to Fort Sumpter.After a few laughs on board
we decided to have dinner together making our last night in Chrleston one
to cherish.I loved the food,the shopping,the sense of history but most of
all the gracious hospitality from everyone we met.I can't wait to go
back.Thank You Charleston! We just returned from four days in "chilly"
Charleston- not the best of weather but enjoyed some of the BEST food- A
bit of advice- before you go, call ahead and make reservations- so much
easier! Anyway, best choice is "Carolina's"- what a meal....Thoroughly
enjoyed "Blossom Cafe"- the tuna steak was outstanding! "82 Queen" was
good but in our opinion, not #1. If you are adventuresome, go to Shem
Creek and ask directions to "The Wreck"- down and dirty as they say, but
what a great place to eat lunch.Oh, by the way, "Crandalls" is out of
business. Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did! -Sandi Was in Chareston in June. We had a great time in a
beautiful city. The food was great. We ate at Hyman's Seafood and shrimp
and grits. Being a Northener I want to know the recipe for that great
dish. Thanks. We just got married on Oct 19 and spent 4 days and 3
nights in Charleston. We had a fabulous time. I thank the travelogue for
it's use in finding things to do. We recommend that if you plan to visit
for the first time take the "Doin' the Charleston" tour, we took that
first and it really gave us a good picture of what else was available in
the area. We stayed at the Ashley Inn at the corner of Bee St. and Ashley
Ave., It was so quaint and all the inn keepers were great. I really felt
at home there. For dining I would definitely send someone to Magnolia's
for a quiet dinner and Carolina's if you are not looking for too much
privacy, it was very loud there. We toured several art galleries, Fouche'
Gallery was great. If you are looking for souvenir's look in the shops,
then goto the market, the prices there can be 10-15% cheaper. We walked
everywhere. The Edmonston-Allston and Nathaniel Russell houses were
fascinating. History buffs would love it here. Military folks will be kept
in awe over at the 'USS Yorktown' and Fort Sumter. We did attend a ghost
walk, but didn't really enjoy it. We still have many places to visit in
Charleston and we plan to re-visit probably for our first anniversary.
Enjoy!!!!! I am interested in going to the College of
Charleston to pursue astronautics. I would like to know the web page
adress of the college. If you can help E-mail me. By the way T-Bones is a
must eat site in Charleston,and don't forget the straw market for
shopping!!Thanks I will be visiting family again for Christmas this
year in Charleston. I am constantly amazed at the abundance of things to
do there. Dining, of course, in Charleston is a favorite pastime of mine,
& all I have to say is... The Wreck, eat at The Wreck !!! it's a very
interesting restaurant (in the book), and the food is impeccable. I make
it a point to eat there every time I go to Charleston and they never let
me down. November 3rd, 1996 I will agree with all of the letters I have
read-Charleston is a great place to visit. You can find a little bit of
everything-historic areas, great food, nightlife, and wonderful southern
hospitality. I have vacationed there in the summers of 1995 and 1996 and I
hope to return very soon. Some of my favorite places to eat (although
there are too many to name them all) are California Dreaming, Tommy
Condon's, and Wild Wing Cafe. Walks along the Battery at night are
breathtaking, and the deck is a great place to hang out on a swing with
someone special. The historic houses and plantations are wonderful to see
and tour, but lots of film is a must. Any area you see will make you want
to stay. Charleston was a pleasure to behold ......so much to
do! My favorite restaurants are Ansons, Carolinas and Fulton 5. The
sightseeing is amazing .... especially if you are a history buff like my
wife and I are ..... and shopping..... amazing! From the obvious stores
filled with wonderful antiques to fresh upbeat contemporary stores like
STUDIO on historic KING STREET. Loved Charleston! Can't wait to go back!
My wife & I just returned from 4 days in Charleston
-- we had a great time & would like to make a few recommendations: My wife and I visited Charleston for the first time
on August 23-26, 1996. We enjoyed the city very much. we stayed at the
Indigo Inn, and would recommended it. The staff were extremely helpful and
courteous. Two restaurants which we enjoyed immensely were Carolina's and
Magnolias. The food and service were superb. We were very disappointed
with the food at Hymans Seafood Co. The Food was rather tasteless and my
Sword fish was very chewy. The dinner at California Dreaming was good but
very rushed. The soup, salad and main course were all served within a 5
min time span. We hope to return to Charleston again as we enjoyed the
city and people very much. These Charleston rookies are now huge Charleston
fans! My wife and I spent a week over the 4th of July in Charleston for
our Honeymoon. What a wonderful vacation! We stayed the first 3 days at
Seabrook Island, a perfect place to unwind, walk the beach, and play some
great golf. We then stayed at the Vendue Inn B&B next to the waterfront
park. It was excellent (huge, beautifully appointed suites with delicious
breakfast) and within walking distance of the market, the Battery and the
rest of the historic district. Our last night we ate at Crandall's on East
Bay. It was simply one of the best dining experiences of our lives! It is
in a restored home with huge piazzas. The atmosphere is charming and
intimate, but very inviting (not stuffy), the service excellent, and the
food was wonderful! We highly recommend it. Other suggestions include
Boone Hall Plantation, the city theater productions, Bocci's for Italian,
the civil war walking tour, Ft. Moultrie and simply wandering the streets
of this fascinating city. Enjoy! I am a native Charlestonian who graduated from the
College of Charleston in 92. I now live in San Francisco. For those
interested in visiting Charleson, I would recommend eating at Carolina's
Restaraunt, McCrady's Restaraunt or Hymens Seafood. For nightlife, I would
recommend Arizona's Bar and Grill, Southend Brewery and Wild Wing Cafe.
For the best music check out Cumberlands and The Music Farm. You can't go
wrong visiting Charleston. It has the best food anywhere in the world
(especially seafood) and the friendliest people around. For those
interested in the College of Charleston. All I can say is what a blast! Go
to class not the beach! Enjoy your stay. My husband and I have gone to Charleston for the
past two years. It is Great! I read, from one of your letters that
wassubmitted, to go to the East Bay Trading Co. Restaurant --it is closed.
It was an excellent place to eat! Shopping-- anything you can imagine. I
have a question hopefully someone out there can answer...There is a shop
that if you stand at the back end of the marketplace and look to your left
it sits there and across the street sits more shops. The shop is a rather
large building for vendors, so the variety in there is a lot. Anyone know
the name???? I found something in there that I wanted to buy, but I didn't
and now I could kick myself. If you could help out I would appreciate it.
We recently vacationed in Charleston, South Carolina
and took the best sightseeing tour we have ever taken in any city! It was
an owner-operated bus tour company called "Talk of the Towne". We chose
this type of tour because, having previously taken a horse drawn carriage
tour, we were informed that the motorized tours covered a much greater
area of the historic district. Our guide was experienced, well informed
and articulate. I also recommend McCrady's restaurant in the historic
district. It was excellent! My wife and I spent our thirtieth anniversary in
Charleston this past weekend. We stayed at the Ansonborough Inn on Hasell
and this place has got to be the best. The price is great, the breakfast
outstanding, and the wine and cheese in the afternoon can't be better.
Park your car and you can walk everywhere. If you like to have munches in
your room, a great grocery store is across the street. But if dining out
is your fare, by all means try Hymans Seafood Company on Meeting Street.
Our waitress, Sara Pride, took exceptional care of us, from recommending
diner entree's and by all means wine. If your taste for wine is for flavor
rather than cost, try the Sutters Home for ten bucks. Can't go wrong.
Diner, wine and tip ran a little over fifty, but so much food we had a
"doggie bag" for the next day. If you are in the Market area around lunch
time, don't miss T-Bonz. We had rib eye sandwiches, drinks, and tip for
twenty five bucks. The rib eye was to perfection. We recommend a carriage
ride to see the sights, but be aware you may not see the exact sites you
want because Charleston runs a sort of lottery about which carriage goes
to what area. And you won't know where you are going until you have
started the tour. Seems the reason is to limit how many carriages are in
what area at any given time. We took the Old South Carriage Company tour,
the guides are dressed in Confederate Uniforms with red sashes. Taylor was
our guide who did a superb job with descriptions. We also took the Gray
Line Water Tours, both the diner tour and the day tour. The diner tour was
great but we couldn't see any sights so we went back for the day tour.
Remember to take comfortable clothes espically shoes and walk around to
see the sights. Oh yes, don't leave out a walk along East Bay all the way
to the Battery. Enjoy Charleston. We are frequent visitors to the Charleston area and
I am a true Charleston fanatic!! When it comes to Plantation homes; I
highly recommend Middleton Place on the Ashley River. The main house was
burned by Union troops during the US Civil War, but the gardens are
spectacular! A MUST SEE!! The other plantation recommendation I have is
Boone Hall. If you will be visiting in the month of November, try to make
it to the reenactment of The Battle Of Seccesionville (we will be there).
Downtown is an absolute joy, from the Battery, to Waterfront Park, and, of
course, the Public Market. And while visiting the Historic District, stop
for a bite to eat at Hyman's Seafood/Aaron's Deli. The Best Food in
Charleston!! If you want to learn about Charleston History in one spot (or
escape the heat) try the Charleston Museum. Enjoy your trip, maybe we'll
see you there.... The best resturants in Charleston are Slightly North
of Broad, 82 Queen, Magnolias, and Blossoms. After spending some time in Charleston this summer,
I had to write and rave about Celia's Porta Via. Celia's food is
absolutely fabulous, and a trip to Charleston without a visit to Celia's
is incomplete. Located in the Historic District, Celia's not only has
amazing lunches and dinners, but the deli food is to die for too! You've
never had bread like Celia's, and the pasta dishes are incredible. Don't
miss out on this fantastic restaurant if you're going to be in Charleston!
My sister, cousin, and I had the opportunity to
spend July 13-21, 1996 in Charleston! We LOVED it! You don't even need to
bother with a car if you'll be staying in the historic district. Take the
time out to walk around the city streets. There's a beautiful view no
matter where you go. Take a carriage tour when you get there. I recommend
Old South Carriage. They're the people with the Confederate uniforms. Our
guide, Brian, was informative and fun. Once you've done a carriage tour,
you'll get a good idea of where to go from there. As far as restaurants,
we didn't hit a bad one. Try Sticky Fingers for the casual dining. If you
want a fancier feast, try 82 Queen. Go to see Boone Hall Plantation and
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. You can tour the houses and then enjoy a
walk through the gardens. Thanks for such a great trip, we'll definitely
be back. :-) I vacation in Seabrook Island, just 24 miles from
Charleston, and love it! I try to get ther 4 times a year. In April, I
spent a week eating from one place to the next. The weather was beautiful,
and so are the people. Places to eat: On Maybank Hwy, John's Is.-John's
Island Cafe for breakfast-the best. In town, Celia's off King St.,
Carolinas, 82 Queen, and the best-Planter's Cafe next to the Market. You
must go any time of year. Charleston is wonderful. For golf and beach it's
Seabrook Island and Seabrook Exclusives. Celia's never fails to delight. Every time I
visit Charleston, the food and ambiance are a must do attraction. I'm
planning on visiting again soon, rest assured its the first place I'll go.
For those out there who love Italian food, I've never had any better
anywhwere! Henry's on the market rocks! This past spring I visited Charleston, SC for a
music festival and frequently ate at a wonderful neighborhood restaurant
called Celia's. Every night during the festival they had live music
after the nightly concerts. The food at Celia's tastes just like my
mother's. I never thought anyone could make Lasagna and bread the way she
does, but Celia's is even better!!! 7-16-96 Just spent a delightful two days in
Charleston, the indigo inn offered fine accomodations as well as heaps of
southern hospitality. The market place was a shoppers dream, O'henrys
offered a great stop off for afternoon cocktails after siteseeing.
Tbonz steakhouse and Hyman's Oyster Bar was everything you
would expect in casual dining. A city so old and historic, so clean, and
so well cared for is rare. Thanks Charleston, we will be back!! We have just returned from a week's stay in
Charleston from June 29-July 6, 1996. We stayed at the Indigo Inn in the
Historic District and enjoyed it very much. Our room was large, quiet, and
very convenient to all the things we wanted to do. We walked everywhere,
exploring the back streets and peeking into gardens. We were lucky enough
to meet a resident of one of the old historic homes, found we shared a
common interest in history and old houses, and were invited for a brunch
on her piazza! All the restaurants we ate in were wonderful with the
exception of one at Patriot's Point where we had a very disappointing
lunch. Andaluccia Restaurant at 83 Cumberland Street was our
favorite. The food is Spanish and very good. Be sure to sample as many of
the tapas as you possibly can! We were happily surprised to find that we
were not bothered by bugs, even at Magnolia Plantation where we spent one
entire day. It's well worth the short drive to it. We watched several
sunrises from Waterfront Park and then walked along the Battery. Our time
in Charleston this vacation only made us want more. We'll be going back as
soon as we possibly can! 7/9/96 my husband and I will be spending our second
summer on Isle of Palms at the Sea Cabins, very clean ocean front condos
that sleep six, very resonably priced. there is a great restaurant next
door called the one-eyed parrot serving local fare, very tasty and very
reaonably priced. Charleston is a beautiful city with lots to do. Make
sure you go to Boone Planation if money is tight it was very pleasant and
historic. Hymans Seafood is a must, the most incredible seafood
dinner I have had, Poogans Porch is wonderful very quaint
comfortable atmosphere delicious food, make sure that you have the whole
day to spend at patriots point, it took us 4 hours to cover only 1/2 of
the air craft carrier. The tour of fort sumter is a great boat ride but
not much too the other part of the tour. Fort Moultrie is just as good if
you are tight for cash as well. Went to Edisto for sea shells, was very
disappointed as there were none to be found. All in all a great vacation
can't wait to get back there! We recently spent our Honeymoon week in Charleston
and loved it. The Ansonborough Inn was truly a pleasure. It would be
difficult to find a more Romantic setting than this. Our favorite
restaurant was Bocci's with A.W. Shucks a close second. A
carriage tour is a great way to get familiar but walking is the best way
to explore. We highly recommend Charleston. Bring lots of film and wear
comfortable shoes. On July 3 my husband and I had what may have been
the best dinner ever at Blossom Cafe. Our waiter, Frank Hamilton,
recommended an excellent wine. Then, because I wasn't very hungry,
recommended several appetizers that gave a good sampling of their food.
Everything was great! Frank had the kitchen create a dish for my husband
that was incredible. And while I was eating one of my appetizers, Frank
brought my husband "a little something" to eat, although he hadn't ordered
it. The service was terrific, the setting was lovely, and the prices very
reasonable. I can't recommend it highly enough. Where to begin. We live in upstate South Carolina
but go there several times a year as my wife's family has a beach house in
the Sullivan's Island historic district that has been in the family since
the 1870's. As frequent visitors we would suggest (should you be short on
time) several must do's. First take a carriage ride around the lower end
of the city. Second try to take some time to WALK some of the side streets
adjacent to the streets you travelled on the carriage tour. The
candlelight home tours are great if you are into architecture and
interiors. If you don't wish to board the boat to visit Fort Sumter in the
harbor, drive out to Sullivan's Is. to visit Fort Moultrie. For as quaint
as many of the houses and yards are in the old section of the island, keep
in mind that Hurricane Hugo ripped away much of the old vegetation back in
1989. Beware of the tourist trap restaurants on Shem Creek in Mt.
Pleasant. They are great for the view and scenery but the food is a bit
pricey for what you'd expect. As a professional photographer I must attest
that Charleston is a photographers paradise. Hope you enjoy your visit and
take things slowly if possible to soak up all the details of this
magnificent city and surrounding areas. If you are looking for brew pubs in this city, try
The Market Street Mill or Southend Brewery. Both are new
additions since last Spring. You're welcome :) I just went to Sports Rock Cafe by the North
Charleston Colesium. The Food and Service were great, and there were over
70 TV's to watch any sporting event! This place was great, Hat's off to
the folks at Sports Rock Cafe! From a guy in Boston who was raised on North End
pizza the best pizza I've ever tasted in America is at Andolini's
on Wentworth St, a block off King St. One size pie with any topping you
want or calzones. Can't be beat. Another restaurant you don't want to miss while in
Charleston is Poogan's Porch on Queen St. And at 56 Queen St., stop
in at Savvy of Charleston for some original jewelry and a visit with
Bailey the poodle and her human, Jane. Catherine and I just returned (April 15!!!)from a
short but sweet visit to Charleston. We drove down from snowy Boston to
pick up our new Corsair trimaran (those who don't know about this great
boat can e mail me at thistle@tiac.net) and first off want to thank Bud
and all the helpful people at the City Marina for their exemplary southern
hospitality. We had our most memorable meal at the Wreck of the Richard
and Charlene in Mt. Pleasant (yes it's hard to find but we were
fortunate that the nice man walking his dog confirmed that indeed we had
arrived. The people at the bicycle shop on the main road are accustomed to
and gave excellent directions - probably could also give execellent advice
on your next bike purchase.) I guess the many local folks who were
enjoying their meals will not appreciate our putting this out to the
world, but the preparation of seafood here is as good as it gets. You
can't beat gorgeously fresh fish, perfectly seasoned; when it's fried it's
with the lightest batter allowing you to savor the flavor. As yankees we
found the boiled peanuts novel and a great appetizer especially when
accompanied by the local brew. Be prepared for great service, low
maintenance atmosphere -- you're there for the food not the china. We only
had a couple of hours to see the city; park somewhere and walk -- there is
a lot to see on foot especially on the side streets. Azaleas were
abundant, dogwoods just a tad past their peak, weather was welcomely warm
after 21 inches of snow the week before. Breezes were a bit stiff for our
maiden sail, but we would love to try again. My wife and I just returned from a wonderful 4-day
vacation in Charlestown. Its a great tourist destination that is decidedly
"untouristy." I highly recommend the local B&B Agency that places visitors
in homes in the historic district (Historic Charleston B&B.) Wonderful
accomodations can be obtained in beautiful neighborhoods for reasonable
prices. Best of all, there is more opportunity for mixing with the
natives. I recommend Blossum Cafe for great regional nouvelle
cuisine. Take time to stroll the old neighborhoods at night for a surreal
experience. Comments have two sections, travel & relocate: Relocate: I'm moving there in June. Want to get 5
year old into private kindergarten. Any suggestions? Will consider good
public schools, any recommendations? Heard Belle Hall is excellent, please
confirm...hoping to live in Mt. Pleasant area. If you have a 4 br house
for rent around $1000/mo, let me know. Coast Guard officer w/family, two
small children, no pets, no smoking, excellent references from local
residents. Will consider lease option but have to sell house in MD first.
Thanks. My Leader and I spent three days in Charleston and
used info I downloaded from the Travelogue. We visited during the 1- 15
March 1996 to put things into perspective. One restaurant which gets Five
Stars from us is the Market East Bistro on Market Street East,
right beside East Bay Street. The restaurant is in an old house and one
enters from a side entrance along a little alley. Our meal was, in the
simplest of terms, truly memorable. We have eaten in many a city in
Canada, the USA, and Europe, and we would put this establishment close to
the top of the list of any restaurants we have frequented. The Market East
Bistro scores points for a) reasonable prices, b) exemplary presentation
of the food, and c) taste. We cannot recommend it too highly. We visited Charleston in February of '96, and really
had a great time. We traveled in a motor home and camped at James Island
County Park. It was great, spacious, well kept and good security. All of
the people that we came in contact with were extremely nice and friendly.
We were disappointed in Fort Sumter, but we especially enjoyed Fort
Moultrie, James Towne Landing, the Historic District, and the Yorktown
Aircraft Carrier. One great restaurant, off the beaten path, is one called
SEASONS, on 17 South, about a mile south of downtown. The Chef is a
former chef at Magnolia's. The food was great ! We also recommend
Slightly North of Broad & Magnolia's. Be sure to tour some of the
older homes near the Battery. We plan to return to Charleston in the
spring to see everything in bloom. Where to begin...as unofficial "natives" of
Charleston, we can highly recommend many local "spots" in Charleston.
Downtown Charleston is a shopper's paradise, which include many upscale
stores, such as those located in the Omni, to some more local stores such
as Charleston Chocolates (the best truffles you'll find anywhere!!) to the
candlestore near the intersection of Meeting Street and North Market. Our
favorite restaurants (and we've been to more of them), include Cappy's
on Maybank Highway on John's Island, where you'll get the best fried
flounder and shrimp dinner to the Shipwreck on the Isle of Palms,
where you can sip daiquris on their third deck while you watch the waves
roll in. Waterfront Park is a must see morning, noon, and night...each
offers a different experience. But a word to the wise...skip th Harbor
Tour, just go to Fort Sumter!! After any visit to Charleston, it will come
a home away from home for you, just as it has been for us!! I recently spent a WONDERFUL eight days in beautiful Charleson, helping friends establish South Carolina's very first Netcafe! I can't say enough about this beautiful city and the friendly people that inhabit it! You can be sure that I will be back for another visit SOON! Did you know that South Carolina's very first
netcafe is now open and online? netcafe.com is located at 372 King Street,
and not only offers a chance at connectivity, but also a great full menu
complete with beer and wine. So whether you're looking for another great
place to eat, or you just want some fun on the Net, stop by for a visit
... and tell them Frazz from Canada sent you! My wife and I just returned from our honeymoon in
Charleston. What a wonderful experience!! Among the restaraunts we enjoyed
were Louis's Charleston Grill, Slightly North of Broad, and Carolina's.
We went in the "off season" (late December/January) so there were few
waits but plenty of smiling faces. Everyone was kind and gracious to us on
our visit. Because of the federal government shutdown we were unable to
visit Fort Sumter/Moultrie. However, that just gives us a reason to come
back. Visiting the historic homes in the city as well as the plantation
homes outside of town are a must. We stayed at 27 State Street Bed &
Breakfast and enjoyed it tremendously. While the city reminded me some of
New Orleans, Charleston proved to be cleaner, safer, more quiet and more
elegant. I would recommend it to anyone. My wife and I are already
planning for our next visit. We have been to Charleston twice, in the last two
years. If there are any persons who love Civil War history surely
Charleston is the place to go. But, it is much more than that to us. My
daughters, and my and me, loved visiting Charles Towne Landing. In my view
it was a place to visit than the more popular Magnolia Gardens (in May).
We were very disappointed at Magnolia, after all the hype l guess we
expected more. We have stopped at Fort Moultrie for a couple of visits and
really were taken by it. The park rangers were great. Fort Moultrie is
better than Fort Sumter, if you choose to visit only one fort. One of our
favourite memories was taking a buggy ride on PALMETTO CARRIAGE CO. The
staff were great and we really enjoyed the ride (even our two teenage
daughters loved it!) Our favourite restaurants were A.W. SHUCKS, TOMMY
CONDONS AND SULLIVANS (SULLIVANS ISLAND). Our favourite pastime is
just getting out of our car and walking down a street until we get to
water! My wife and I visited Charleston for the
Thanksgiving holiday and had a delightful visit. We stayed at the Lodge
Alley Inn at the recommendation of another posting. The lodging was great.
We visited the Mills House restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner. The
buffet was second to none. We shopped, walked, visited, and even took a
carriage tour. The weather cooperated little, but we didn't mind. We loved
the evenings in the Lodge Alley Inn lounge listening to the piano. We
can't wait to return. Hi Y'all, We just returned from four days in Charleston
(11/17-11/20) and, as usual, had a wonderful time. Weather in the low 70's
and the trees still colorful. Stayed at Lodge Alley Inn, BUT were
shown rooms at the Anchorage Inn, near the new waterfront park and
it is a beauty, with big "hot tubs" in some rooms. We plan to stay there
next visit. Magnolias, Celias, Carolinas and Slightly North of Broad
are restaurants we tried and LOVED during the trip. Charleston gets more
beautiful every visit, and its one of the best "walking" cities in the
country. Very safe and clean. Hello Youall! If you want a great dinner go to the East Bay
Trading Co. and by all means go on the Candlelight Tour of Homes
- well worth the money! We just returned home to Florida from Charleston
and, to be honest, we didn't want to leave. We've never felt more at home
on any of our vacations. The people make it that way. We stayed at the
Ansonborough Inn on Hasell St. and we loved it! Restaurants of note:
Anson, McCrady's, and Hyman's Half Shell. Points of Interest:
Patriot's Point, the Market, and ANYWHERE in the Historic District! And
you simply must take a carriage tour with Old South Carriage Co. Fun and
informative. We hope to return to Charleston soon! Incidentally, if anyone
can get us the recipe for Anson's Crispy Flounder, please, please E-Mail
us immediately!!!! I lived in Charleston for several years, and have
recently moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. I may now be among the rich
and famous, but there is nothing that can compare to a romantic weekend
trip to Charleston. The history of the many plantations, houses on The
Battery and the Market is fantastic. If you like the outdoors, there are
the many beautiful beaches (Kiawah,
Folly Beach, Sullivan's Island), fishing (just about anywhere), and
boating. There are public parks everywhere, (Charlestown Landing). And
food, if you like to eat, this is the town for you! There is also
nightlife galore, you can park and walk to all of the various bars
downtown (Henry's, Tommy Condon's, the Jukebox). And for the
morning after, if you're looking for a downhome breakfast, without the
atmosphere, try Joanne's, right on the Hanahan line. In January, 1994, my husband and I travelled to
Charleston for our honeymoon. It was the trip of a lifetime for the both
of us. The weather was a delightful 70 degrees and a wonderful escape from
the snow and ice of Pennsylvania. We enjoyed strolling the Public
Market, eating at Hyman's Seafood and the East Bay Trading
Co. We highly recommend staying at the Lodge Alley Inn.
Although we were not able to return in January, 1995, we are anxious to
re-live the beauty and wonders of Charleston, South Carolina again. The Chef & Clef will provide a great dining
experience as well as give an opportunity to listen to live jazz. On
weekends there is a Blues Bar on the top floor. It is conveniently located
on Market Street in the heart of the Charleston shopping district - about
one block from the OMNI. I've just returned from a wonderful stay in
Charleston. It's been more than 10 years since I was there, and in that
time I've moved from my hometown of "the other Charleston" (W.Va.) to St.
Louis. But Charleston, S.C., was everything I remembered it to be and
more. First, dining: Magnolia's had outstanding, "nouvelle"
Southern cuisine; Celia's had excellent, light, fresh Italian food;
Blossom's Cafe was a wonderful find with a charming waiter who
suggested they create a dish especially for me. I didn't have dessert
there, except for biscotti, but I saw some sweets that would knock your
teeth out; and Louis's Charleston Grille was elegant and mouth
watering. Second, hotels: I did not have a good experience at the Mills
House, but the Indigo Inn was a delight. The people there are
extremely helpful and friendly; the rooms are nice and comfortable;
breakfast is nice with an open courtyard for seating; and it has a great
central location. Third, what to do: I spent an afternoon at Kiawah
Island, where public access is at Beachwalker's Park. I rented a beach
cruising bike from the Bicycle Shoppe, which has shops throughout
the area, and pedaled the length of the beach and back. The person I spoke
to at the Bicycle Shoppe on Meeting Street in Charleston was very helpful
and knew the area well. I also went on a kayak trip on the Wambow
(spelling?) Creek (really a river) through Coastal Expeditions, a
kayak touring company. You don't have to know how to kayak -- the
instruction is great and safety is clearly important to them. Our guide,
and the co-owner, Tim, was a delight and very knowledgable about the area
and kayaking. It's not the typical thing to do in Charleston, but you'll
see areas you'd never see any other way. I highly recommend it. I also
recommend the Preservation Society's Candlelight Tour of Homes and
Gardens (September and October weekends). There were a few short lines
to get into some of the homes, but the wait was well worth it. It's the
best way to see the interiors of the beautiful homes and architecture in
Charleston. Wow! I just spent my first (of what will be many)
trips to Charleston. The history, architecture, food, and especially the
people were "world class." Quite a mix of cuisine; my favorite was the
lowcountry (of course). In particular, Magnolia's was a memorable
experience. If anyone has their recipe for cheddar grits, I wish they
would share it with me at "bcraven@atlantis.atl.unisys.com" I grew up in Charleston and only recently moved
away. Since I often visit I consider myself a local. Charleston has the
most incredible collection of restaurants I have ever seen. But if you
really want atmosphere (and I'm not talking about that atmosphere money
can buy at places like Josie Joe's or California Dreaming) try Bowen's
Island Restaurant off Folly Road. It's on the right a little way
before you get to Folly Island. Try the all-you-can-eat oysters in their
famous oyster room. While you are there you can add your name to the wall.
It's a dining experience. Don't get me wrong, Josie Joe's and California
Dreaming are both excellent restaurants, just not the same experience. More good restaurants from a local - In the city
try: Carolina's (variety), Magnolia's (innovative variety),
Hyman's Seafood Co.(seafood). In Mt. Pleasant: Village Cafe(variety-fresh
great seafood), the Wreck (very! casual local seafood). On
Sullivan's Island: Sullivan's (local innovative seafood & variety).
James Island: The Stono Cafe (innovative variety)....just opinions!
Incidentally, Josie Joe's, referred to above, no longer exists - new
name.(?) Magnolia's is a fine restaurant, close to the
Battery and the Waterfront park (downtown) for a nice walk after a
scrumptious meal. "82 Queen" (hope I got the number right) has one
of the finest gumbo/seafood stew ever made, with all ingredients cooked to
the exact tenderness required for it all to come together as it should.
There is a small Mediterranean Style Restaurant, very near the Market and
that very old chapel with the wrought iron fence around it (was being
restored last summer)---this is truly a lovely little place with fine
exotic food and friendly service......and don't miss all the great
shopping in the shops downtown....clothes like no other!!!! Every time I go to Charleston, I always make a point
in going to Josey Joe's Restaurant. It serves fresh seafood with a
great view. Try it, I'm sure you'll like it.... For the best restaurant fried seafood around
Charleston try the Edisto Motel on Highway 17, about 20 miles south
of Charleston at the Edisto River. Extremely casual, low key,
affordable...the best! For great seafood, visit the "One-Eyed Parrot"
on the Isle of Palms. The screened in porch is the best place to take in
the sunset and enjoy the breeze. In downtown Charleston, the Public
Market is fun. Look for the authentic sweetgrass baskets made by hand,
only in this area. Also in downtown, take a walking tour or carriage
ride, there are many historic homes and other rich history. Kiawah
Island is a beautiful place for riding bikes, canoeing, swimming and
simply relaxing. Enjoy! California Dreaming is a great restaurant!!
Also, you must of course go through the marketplace I have been travelling to Charleston since I first
started College more than 7 years ago. The restaurant that I give the
highest praise to is "East Bay Trading Co." They have some of the
best food I have ever had. Remember to save a little bit of room for
dessert, such as the Mile High Pie. It is necessary if you take the time to visit this
wonderful city to go to California Dreaming. The restaraunt is our
favorite and it will be yours too. Our favorite restaurant to visit when we are in
Charleston is Celia's Porta Via. Celia's is located 1 block from
the market on Archdale Street. The pastas and homemade bread are great,
and the wine selection is very extensive. On our last trip, we were happy
to find they had added a gourmet takeout. Definitely worth trying if your
heading to Charleston, SC.
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