Charleston's dining traditions go way back--to England, in
fact, where high tea was served in the late afternoon. In
Colonial Charles Towne, that habi
t
evolved through the influences of time and climate into a
late lunch--usually served at 2 PM or so. This meal was the
heaviest of the day. Before the era of air conditioning and
the advent of a more homogenized American lifestyle, Charlestonians
held onto this Anglican dining custom for many generations.
It moved the effort of meal preparation away from the hottest
time of the day and left the shank of the daylight hours essentially
uninterrupted for commerce and industry.
Believe it or not, you won't have to go very far to find a
Charlestonian who will tell you that as recently as 20 years
ago there were only a few white tablecloth restaurants in
the entire city. That seems incredible today, when there are
easily two dozen truly fine dining options to choose from
on any given evening out on the town.With the revitalization
of our downtown area and the draw of people to all places
South, there has been an accompanying influx of outstanding
new culinary talent and the interest to match. In fact, Charleston
is now home to one of the country's most-respected culinary
institutions, Johnson & Wales University. This deepens
the talent pool for dining establishments all over the Lowcountry.
Now establishments and styles fit almost every whim, while
making a true effort to share and preserve the traditional
fare of the Lowcountry.
Hominy Grill
207 Rutledge Ave.
(843) 937-0930
The cuisine is contemporary Southern, with several attractively
served specials listed daily on their chalkboard menu. Look
for some Lowcountry favorites like McClellanville crab cakes
with Hoppin' John and pickled cucumber salad. Or, there's
a sesame-crusted catfish with sautéed okra, baked cheese
grits, and Geechee peanut sauce. Desserts are terrific and
their bread-pudding with raisins and caramel sauce is a special
treat. Hominy Grill opens for breakfast at 7:30 AM, Monday
through Friday. Weekend brunch starts at 9. Dinner is served
from 5:30 PM until 9:30 on weekdays, and until 10 on Saturday
and Sunday night.
A.W. Shuck's Seafood & Oyster Bar
35 Market St.
(843) 723-1151
More than a decade has passed since Shuck's first opened
its doors, and a lot has changed in the Market area since
then--at Shuck's in particular. What was originally a cozy,
popular bar packed with locals has become a bigger, fancier
eating establishment where the bar is no longer the major
draw. Shuck's features both indoor and outdoor dining. Oyster
connoisseurs will be interested to know the mollusks are sold
raw or steamed at market price. Beef, fowl, shrimp, grouper,
scallops, snapper, and children's plates are all on the menu.
A.W. Shuck's is open daily for lunch and dinner. Locals and
visitors alike enjoy the abundance of artwork throughout the
restaurant by local painter John Doyle.
Baker's Café of Charleston
214 King St.
(843) 577-2694
Baker's Café is a romantic little gem tucked away
in the block below Charleston Place. Much more than a bakery
, it is a sophisticated but comfortable restaurant that's
open daily for breakfast and lunch. Sunday brunch at Baker's,
lasting until 2:30 PM, is particularly delightful, with unusual
dishes such as Eggs Charleston (with a bed of snow crab substituted
for the Canadian bacon), mimosas made with freshly squeezed
orange juice and a basket of hot-from-the-oven baked goods.
Wine and other spirits also are available. Dress is casual.
Vincenzo's
232 Meeting St.
(843) 577-7953
Here is the ole family-owned, lovingly-run neighborhood Italian
restaurant--the kind many of you from New York may know. But
this one's right here in the Lowcountry, and we're the better
for it. Nothing is pretentious; there's no phony posturing.
It's simple (good) Italian food in a pleasant atmosphere served
by an attentive staff that cares about your dining pleasure.
There's a good selection of imported Italian wines to complement
the menu, which is filled with all your favorite Italian dishes.
Expect to find antipasto, fettucine alfredo, ravioli, lasagna,
and veal in a variety of guises. The white pizza is a local
favorite (with five grated white cheeses) as is the veal piccata
(which comes with a side of spaghetti and homemade tomato
sauce). Vincenzo's is open Monday through Saturday for lunch
and dinner.
Vickery's Bar & Grill
15 Beaufain St. (843) 577-5300
Vickery's is in the Market Corner, a strip of shops just
north of Saks Fifth Avenue and Majestic Square at the downtown
end of Beaufain Street, and is as talked about for its unusual
bar as for its good food. There's always an eclectic bunch
of interesting folks to meet--young professionals and rebels
with a cause. The fare here is vaguely Cuban, with a Southern
twist. The original Vickery's is in Atlanta and has always
earned good reviews there. Grab a booth or a table, inside
or out, and order a burger or a delicious seafood entree.
Vickery's is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Tommy Condon's Irish Pub and Seafood Restaurant
160 Church St.
(843) 577-3818
The most authentic Irish pub in Charleston, Tommy Condon's
has live Irish entertainment Wednesday through Sunday and
serves a wide variety of imported beers and ales such as Bass
and Newcastle Brown. The menu is a mixture of Irish and Lowcountry
items including shrimp and grits, seafood jambalaya, and fresh
fish of the day. There is a covered deck for outside dining,
and patrons are welcome for lunch or dinner any day of the
week. The kitchen closes at 10 PM, but the bar stays open
until midnight.
