From Charleston: Where to eat
My name is Kim Mills and I work with Mel on the copydesk at the News & Record. She has allowed me to kidnap her blog for a few entries on my recent trip to Charleston, S.C.
There are a gazillion tasty restaurants in Charleston. I know that sounds like a lot, but trust me, when you have a limited number of meals and an overwhelming selection of restaurants, pubs, bar and grilles, diners and cafes to choose from, a gazillion seems like the appropriate number.
I am not a fancy restaurant person. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy good food and good service, but I don’t really feel comfortable in places where they have a nice young man whose job it is to replace my napkin when I go to the bathroom (there is such a guy, there is such a job, and I did get a new napkin!). So we had some really good food, but the places we went were a little more laidback, like me and my husband, Jeff.
Let’s talk barbecue.
I know that in these parts, the topic of barbecue is a hot one. I was born in Georgia, grew up in South Carolina. I now live here in Greensboro, and my in-laws live in upstate New York, and every one of those places has a barbecue that is specifically theirs. And I like them all. So don’t anyone get offended when I say that Sticky Fingers Ribhouse in Charleston was some of the tastiest barbecue that I’ve had. Four friends decided to open the place years ago and now it’s a small chain. You can buy some of their sauces at local grocery stores if you can’t make the trip to Charleston. But even if you’re not a barbecue fan, the stories and history of the restaurant on their Web site makes for fun reading.
And we’re moving on to seafood.
My husband had not spent a lot of time on the coast when he met me. So I knew he was mine for keeps after I took him to a seafood restaurant at the beach. Knowing that the seafood was caught locally was a big draw for our restaurant choices in Charleston. We actually picked up a brochure at the South Carolina Aquarium with a list of all the seafood restaurants in the area that use sustainable fishing practices. (The list of restaurants are on the right.) Hey, if you can enjoy good seafood and help the environment at the same time, how can you lose? My ecologically minded friend Melissa was quite proud!
How about coupons?
Some people get a little embarrassed about coupons, but not me. A lot of restaurants leave stacks of coupons at stores around town to get your business. And let me say, it worked on me. Some of the deals we got included free appetizers, including crab and shrimp dip, free she-crab soup and dollars off our total bill. Some of these restaurants included Hyman’s Seafood and Charleston Crab House. And yes, we used to have one here in Greensboro, but it closed earlier in the year. As you can guess by the name, the one in Charleston is the original.
Not full yet? Need some dessert?
I have to recommend Diana’s on Meeting Street. We didn’t get to have a meal there, but as we were walking back to our hotel one night, we walked past this place and happened to see an old-fashioned dessert case slowing spinning around, calling us in to have some. Diana’s Restaurant isn’t stingy with their dessert portions. We split a piece of chocolate cake that was some of the best I’ve ever had. She used a whipping cream frosting that was not overly gooey sweet like a lot of chocolate frostings are. They also have a nice selection of coffee drinks to accompany your dessert. My best childhood friend lives across the Cooper River from Charleston in Mount Pleasant and her son goes to school with Diana’s son. I told my godson Jonah to tell Diana’s son to tell Diana that her chocolate cake was incredible. I would love to know if my message got to her and if it did, exactly what the message was!
And last but not least, who doesn’t need a little ambiance?
A few of the restaurants we chose simply because they had a nice view or were a little different than the others. Like the Noisy Oyster. This restaurant sits at the end of the City Market and has menu options that are a little more unusual than some of the other restaurants, including the Crab Melt Sandwich (being enjoyed by my husband, Jeff, left). 
Besides the tasty food, the tables around the perimeter of the restaurant feel like you’re outside, even though you’re not. There are giant garage doors that raise up on two walls to make it feel like you’re dining outside. So you can relax and enjoy your meal while you watch and listen to the hustle and bustle of the people and cars outside.
After spending time in the Historic District, we switched hotels for something a little more relaxing. When you’re staying downtown, you have this overwhelming urge to stay constantly on the go. There’s much to see and do and you don’t want to miss any of it. But if you can stay long enough, I would encourage you to find a small little hotel or inn somewhere on a creek, waterway or even the ocean. We spent a couple of nights in Mount Pleasant on Shem Creek. Marsh views on one side and the creek on the other. The good thing is that there are restaurants and bars within walking distance that are right on the water, such as RB’s Seafood. The food was great and the view was even better. We asked for a table on the upstairs deck and enjoyed the sites, sounds and warm breeze of the water.
I’ve enjoyed kidnapping Mel’s blog for a few days. I hope I shared some valuable information and who knows, maybe I’ll get inspired to write again sometime. (Mel's note: I hope so! I love having a different voice on the blog!)
Related posts:
From Charleston: On shrimp and grits
From Charleston: Chocolate chip cookies, anyone?
From Charleston: The culinary tourist in the Lowcountry
