My husband and I are both self-proclaimed foodies. We love eating and trying new foods and restaurants. One of our favorite cities to visit is Charleston. We have been so many times over the years. I have a laundry list a mile long of reasons to love the area, but today, we are talking about the food. We basically go on a food tour each time we visit, going to old favorites and new spots. So I thought I would share all the places we went on our last trip in early July, since I know many of you love visiting during the fall season!
This is not an exhaustive list. These are just the spots we went to on our last trip!
Oysters// Frenchie Oysters (creme fraiche and caviar)
Lobster Roll// Oyster Ceviche
Shrimp Cocktail// Oyster Menu
I am not saving the best for last in this blog post. 167 Raw is one of my favorite restaurants I have ever been to. The atmosphere is charming, but the food and laid-back vibe truly set it apart. The seafood is beyond incredible. Coming from Pittsburgh, fresh, abundant seafood is the biggest treat of all. We go at least once, if not twice, when we are in town. This past trip, we went twice- our first day and right before heading to the airport to fly home!
My number one favorite thing on their menu is the lobster roll. It's a cold roll stuffed with the juiciest lobster and a pillowy, salty, buttery bun. The only other lobster roll that I've had that competes with this one is the hot lobster roll at Cru on Nantucket. This is my favorite bite in Charleston. It's not to be missed.
But everything else at 167 is divine. The swordfish pastrami, the po-boys, the oysters, truly anything on the menu is amazing. Most recently, we had the scallop ceviche. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.
We prefer to sit at the bar when we can. It opens at 11am, and they don't take reservations. We usually try to get there right at 11am and get in line, and it hasn't failed us. We have never had a problem getting in, but we only go for lunch and have never gone for dinner. Sometimes it's an hour or more of waiting, but it's totally worth it. We often walk up the street to Bar Taco and have a margarita while we wait, or pop into Croghans and drool over all of the gorgeous jewels. They're not open on Sundays, so we like to leave on a Monday so we can get in one last roll. This restaurant is pricey, but you will not leave disappointed. They also have a seafood shop and food truck on Nantucket (right near Cisco), which is where 167 began, and the lobster roll is the same there!
Tuna Toast// Yellowfin Tuna Crudo
Caviar Sandwiches
Oysters//Wagyu Beef Tartare
This was another spot we returned to. We went several years ago, and it's become even more popular than ever. They also don't take reservations, so you'll need to be flexible. My husband went and stood in line around 5ish, which is when they start taking names. People line up well before that, though, sometimes hours before that. We got in at 10:45pm that night after being told 9/930pm. That's just a statement, not a complaint. They call you, though, so you don't need to be there.
After my husband put our name in, he came back to the hotel. We ordered a room-service snack, freshened up, went to By The Way bar, and then to the Seahorse, Chubby Fish's bar next door. My husband is much more patient than I am, and I can get hangry, so waiting to eat until 10:45pm isn't really my idea of a good time. I almost had us forfeit around 930pm. However, having experienced it once before, I knew I would not regret waiting it out; I didn't! It's truly some of the best food. I think the flavors are unique but not overly complicated. The caviar sandwiches are expensive, but it's caviar. It's salty goodness, and I'd rather have that than dessert or a fancy glass of wine; that's for sure. The space is very casual, and it's small, so it's loud and bustling. The staff is so hardworking. The first time we went, we put our name in and waited only about an hour to be seated. This time, my husband waited a bit to put our name in, and then we ate very late.
I think I'd draw the line at: it's amazing, but not worth standing in line for hours before they even start taking names. There are so many amazing restaurants in Charleston, and while the food is incredible here, I do think it stops being worth it at some point; it just depends on where you draw the line. I still personally prefer 167 over Chubby Fish, always, if it came down to it, and since we have been twice now, I doubt we will go the next time we visit.
Outdoor Seating at The Crossing// Cocktails at The Crossing Bar
Lobby Arrangement at The Cooper// Current Burger Smash Burger, and Crinkle Fries
We stayed at the Charleston Place, but the sister property, The Cooper, had just opened, so we walked over to check it out. It's located right next to the Pineapple fountain. The hotel was beautiful, complete with stunning views.
We planned to eat at the Mediterranean restaurant (top left and right in the photos), but as we walked around, we saw they were having a test day for Current Burger, one of the on-site casual restaurants. They were giving out meals to anyone who wanted one! It was complete with a smash burger, crinkle fries, and a milkshake. Talk about the right place, right time! It was delicious, especially the super thick milkshake! The interior has a cute, old-fashioned diner-style vibe, but they also have a takeout window. Because they're situated right on the water, it's a great spot to stop for a burger and enjoy it outside in the park! My husband and I both agreed that if we were craving a burger, we'd definitely stop back the next time we visit.
We stopped into the restaurant, The Crossing, for a cocktail to check it out! It is an absolutely stunning space. Even if you don't eat there, I highly recommend stopping in for a cocktail. The restaurant has a Mediterranean, nautical vibe. It feels like you stepped onto a glamorous yacht. The outdoor tables have gorgeous water views.
Plamira BBQ
This is one we’d had on our list for a while. My husband is a big barbecue fan, and I like it, but I don’t necessarily seek it out. We usually go to Home Team when we’re in Charleston. We especially love the Sullivan’s Island location, but since we go almost every visit, we decided to switch things up this time. I’m so glad we did.
Palmira BBQ is in West Ashley, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Charleston. We lucked out because The Charleston Place offers complimentary house cars for guests, so we were able to take a gorgeous BMW SUV over there... honestly, such a great perk from TCP.
This was easily some of the best barbecue I’ve ever had. The meats were incredibly tender and practically melted in your mouth. We got quite a few different meats to taste, but the beef cheek was my favorite. We ordered the mac ’n’ cheese, and the gentleman at the counter also recommended the hash and rice. That ended up being the standout for me.
Coming from Pittsburgh, when I hear 'hash,' I immediately think of corned beef hash, which is corned beef and potatoes, usually topped with an egg. This was completely different. It was more like a rich, flavorful meat sauce served over rice, and it was incredible. The rice soaked up all of those savory juices perfectly.
I would come back to Palmira in a heartbeat. If you go, do not skip the hash and rice!
Chilled Soup// Gnocchi
Peach and Burrata Salad// Fish Dish
Blueberry Ice Cream
Chez Nous is a spot so many of you have recommended to me, and I can see why. It's quaint and charming, with special food. It's a very popular spot, and there aren't many tables, so I definitely recommend making a reservation. The menu changes daily, and there are only 6-ish items at a time. Two starters, two entrees, and two desserts. So this may not be the place for you if you are picky.
My husband and I basically ordered everything and shared it all. My highlights were the two starters: a chilled soup and a peach-and-burrata salad. The blueberry ice cream dessert really stood out, too. Otherwise, the main entrees were very good, but not overly remarkable.
We definitely plan to go back here on another visit!
Spicy margarita + Dip Trio
We've been to several Bartacos around the US. It's a chain, but we love their food, and I think the spicy margarita is the best you can get! It's so fresh; they squeeze the limes right in front of you. We ducked in here while we waited to get into 167 Raw! Because there are so many amazing restaurants in Charleston, I'd say go here for drinks and/or snacks, and save your stomach space for some of the other restaurants in town!
We love the Thoroughbread Bar in the lobby of the Charleston Place. It's cozy, with handsome, equestrian-inspired decor, and nice to just sit at the bar and grab a drink. The warm nuts and truffle chips are a nice touch. We learned they plan to redo this bar as part of the hotel renovations, and it will likely close around January; the renovation may last a few months! I'll be so curious to see it after the renovation, but if you are there this fall, it's fun to stop in for a drink!
Martini// Spicy Caesar Salad
Stretch Armstrong Pizza// Tuna Crudo
Radiatori Pasta
We go to Melfis, an Italian spot on Upper King Street right near Leon's and Little Jack's. It's a spot we visit each time we are in town. We always make a reservation, since it's usually packed. Everything is incredibly delicious. It's all so fresh and flavorful. However, the #1 reason that we go is for the Stretch Armstrong Pizza. The crust is impossibly thin with the freshest tomato sauce, topped with stracciatella, fresh basil, and a drizzle of olive oil. It's absolutely divine. The interiors are swanky-casual... is that even a thing? It's the kind of place Frank Sinatra would have gone to.
Leon's is right across from Melfi's, so we always stop into Leon's for oysters beforehand. Leon's is incredible and so worth the visit for food; we just didn't grab food this time around! The Siam salad is my favorite from Leon's!
The Charleston Place has been undergoing many renovations for the past year or two, and what they have done with the pool area is spectacular. The Perch is their rooftop pool bar. It's fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, only open to hotel guests. But if you stay there, go for a drink! It's stunning! The drinks are definitely pricey, but if the weather is beautiful, it's a great spot to relax. The service we experienced there was unmatched, too!
Before Chubby Fish, we had a drink at By The Way, which, as a Southern Charm fan, I was excited to visit. It's cute inside. The walls remind me of the Bemelman's Bar in NYC. It had a fun, lively vibe. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth the visit. I'd love to go back and eat there because the menu sounded delicious!
Seahorse is owned by Chubby Fish and is right next door to the restaurant. It was a very smart move on their part because you are inevitably waiting a long time to get into CF. It was a very cool bar that made me feel like I had been transported to a tropical Caribbean locale. The drinks were interesting and unique. We spent entirely too much time in this bar waiting for our seats at Chubby Fish, so I wouldn't race back because of that, but if you have never been, it's surely worth a visit!
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