Charleston, home of one of top ten largest ports in the United States, a city steeped in history where cobbled stone streets, horse-drawn carriages and antebellum homes harken you back to a different time and place. However, the common thread weaving through the history of this extraordinary city is its culinary expertise. From seafood to Southern comfort food, Charleston has something for even the pickiest of palates.
Shem’s Creek in Mount Pleasant is a popular dining district along the waterfront, complete with park and boardwalk offering panoramic views of Charleston harbor. Although you can drive and park in this area, we highly recommend you check out the Charleston Water Taxi which runs from downtown Charleston to the Creekside park on the hour. If too many choices muddle your mind, check out the appropriately named Shem’s Creek Bar and Grill known for its incredible seafood and laid-back atmosphere. With a menu the size of a novel, and options available for any meal of the day from breakfast to dinner, you’re bound to find something for everyone in your party. If you’re here for the Southern seafood, this place will not disappoint. Start with a half dozen oysters on the half shell served with a spicy southern cocktail sauce to tickle your tongue. For a no-nonsense meal with nothing to distract from the gorgeous Atlantic seafood, try the Shem’s Creek Seafood Spectacular grilled with lemon, butter and shem spice. Pair this with their very own Shem’s Private Label Chardonnay.
For a bit of culture and art, hit up the French Quarter Art Walk on the first Friday of every month, where over 20 galleries draw you in with wine and nibbles as you take in the beautiful artwork. If you’re lucky, you might get serenaded by a street musician as you stroll among the galleries.
Rainbow Row features 13 pastel colored homes appointed with pretty window boxes filled with beautiful flowers. Wrought iron fences, gorgeous shutters on the windows, abundant perfectly manicured greenery and colorful painted facades on tree-lined streets are the norm for these historical landmark homes.
No visit to the South can be complete without a meal of Shrimp and Grits. While for most of the country, grits might be considered a breakfast item (think cream of wheat or even oatmeal) here in the South, it is a savory accompaniment to protein and vegetables (think polenta).
There’s nothing snobbish about S.N.O.B or Slightly North on Broad. If you can spare some calories for something other than seafood (maybe), be sure to try their Butternut Squash Bisque before settling in for a gastronomic smorgasbord with their Grilled Carolina Quail, or if you’re bold enough; their Fried Chicken Livers. Leave the driving to Uber/Lyft so that you can sample at least a couple of their signature cocktails including their SNOB House Punch. S.N.O.B offers a terrific selection of gluten free options if you’re either intolerant or have will power enough to abstain for no reason. Round out your meal with the custardy goodness of a banana cream pie.
To prepare for culinary mayhem at dinner, consider taking a walking tour of the city to learn about its rich history and the role it played in the American Civil War.
No visit to downtown Charleston can be complete without a meal at Magnolia’s; Charleston’s front runner in upscale Southern dining. Reservations are strongly recommended and dinner jackets for men would not be out of the ordinary. Have your server pair your meals with wines from their exquisite selection. Start with their Fried Green Tomatoes; but beware; you can’t stop at one. If tomatoes aren’t your jam, try the Down South Egg Roll. With ham and collard greens, it’s veritably a balanced meal in a roll. If you haven’t imbibed She-Crab soup anywhere yet, be sure to try the Blue Crab Bisque as your next course. For a non-seafood option, try the crispy Brussel Sprout salad. The luscious Low Country Bouillabaisse features a one pot meal like no other with a generous assortment of seafood both shellfish and seasonal catch, vegetables, potatoes and crispy grilled bread to use as a mop so nothing gets left behind. For a Southern surf and turf spin, try the petit filet and crab cake combo. If you’ve got even an iota of space left in your stomach, a bite or two of the butterscotch bread pudding is a must. The brown sugar rum sauce is the perfect companion to the double caramel swirl ice cream.
Charleston features the best of Southern comfort cooking but holds its own against any culinary giant globally. What stands out the most is that the heart and soul of the South is present in the meals you eat; in the people you talk to and the hospitality you receive. It is truly a city that captures your heart.
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