Charleston, SC~It's All About the Food

Way back in February, P and I took a little trip with B&E to Charleston, SC. This was our first couples trip and it was a blast. Not only did we get to have great company and make memories with friends, but we got to try double the dishes, a WIN WIN all around 🙂 P and I had been to Charleston several times, and we wanted to make sure B&E got to see Charleston before their move. It also checked off number 4 on my 101 in 1001 list 🙂 Ok, enough with this back story, let’s get down to business– what we ate and drank!

Charleston offers so many great dining and drink options, it is always a struggle to narrow down our choices. In fact, on one trip, we did our own little dining tour, and had cocktails and appetizers at 3 different restaurants. While, I often joke that no, we do not spend our whole trip on a bar stool even though it seems like it, typically in Charleston we do. If we are not stuffing our faces, then we are wondering the beautiful streets, admiring all the stunning houses. Make sure not to miss a stroll along the waterfront park, either. There is plenty to see and do in downtown Charleston, but I’m focusing on what there is to eat!

Husk

I highly recommend Husk to anyone visiting Charleston. I will not go to Charleston without getting a meal at Husk. They have very unique cocktails that never disappoint, and a menu that is creative and made with quality ingredients. Reservations are needed for both lunch and dinner, so plan ahead. If you want to sneak in a cocktail before dinner, they have a separate bar on the property as well. Both their food and drink menus change seasonally. Bottom Line: If you are going to Charleston, make sure to include Husk on your itinerary.

The Ordinary

Oh, The Ordinary, it is anything but 🙂 First off, if you hate seafood skip it, it is not the place for you. If you love seafood and do not make it a priority to go here, then I question your love of seafood. It was just plain amazing. It is housed in an old bank and has a Great Gatsby’s kind of feel. The menu changes often, and is primarily seafood. Reservations are needed and plan ahead of time, as they have received a lot of great press since they opened. Bottom Line: If you are booking a hotel in Charleston, go ahead and book at table at The Ordinary (if you are into seafood that is)!

FIG

FIG stands for Food Is Good…yes, yes it is, and especially here! I’ve been to FIG on several occasions and it has never disappointed. Their menu changes seasonally. One of the big highlights beside the quality meal, is their design your own Manhattan menu. They have a large list of bourbons and ryes, vermouths, and bitters to choose from. Before going to FIG, I had no idea there was so many different vermouths available. Bottom Line: If you can’t make it for the food (you are really missing out), at least swing by early for a pre-dinner Manhattan.

And the rest…

Food & Booze

The Gin Joint is another must visit when we are in town. I instantly fell in love when I stumbled across their menu. They offer a very neat drink menu, including an option to have the bartender design your drink by picking two words from a list; choices include sweet, bitter, unusual, savory, herbal, etc. How can I not love a place that lets me order an unusual fizzy drink! Also they have house-made beef jerky…I just love it there 🙂

Craftsmen Kitchen & Tap House: We stopped here for lunch upon arriving in Charleston. While, it would not make my must go back list, the food was good but not as creative as other finds in Charleston. I would recommend them for their local beer selection; they had a larger selection of local beers than any other place I’ve been to in Charleston. Maybe pop in for a beer and the calamari fries.

Egan & Sons: We stopped in here for a little rest and a drink refill. The bartender was very entertaining and friendly. Our drinks were good but what earns this spot a mention was the venison pâté. As soon as I spotted it on the menu I had to order it. I had never seen or had venison pâté before, and I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was. Based on that dish, this may be a good place to duck into for an unplanned lunch.

Glazed Doughnuts: This so far rates number one out of the three I have tried from the 21 Best Donut Shops In America. They had unique flavors and none of them disappointed. My favorite out of the half-dozen we got was the apple/bacon fritter and the raspberry glaze. I still crave the apple/bacon fritter. MMM donuts. Sadly, I did not capture any pictures 🙁 (bad blogger).

Baggage

Ansonborough Inn: I was very pleased with our accommodations here. The front desk staff was very friendly and helpful, even finding an extra umbrella to lend us on a rainy day and inquiring about our meal plans. The free breakfast was nothing special, but P and I rarely use up precious belly space on hotel fare. While, not in the center of the downtown area, it is an easy walk to most of the major attractions with the added bonus of avoiding the more congested streets and easy parking. I would stay here again, and recommend it to others.