Charleston Foodie

Visiting Charleston, SC soon? Here is a pretty great list from our free Charleston City Paper that you do need to pick up when you get to town! It lists the side of town, and type of cuisine.

$$$$:
Peninsula Grill - This dessert is Will's favorite and many others...Ultimate Coconut Cake $$$ This cake cost $100 plus shipping if you would like one delivered to your house!
Hall's Chophouse - Will continuously tells the story, "When you order your rare steak, they ask 'cool rare or warm rare?'"...he was in heaven. We are going for our 5 year anni.

$$$:
High Cotton - Surf and Turf, Hamburgers at the bar, Tuna Tartare...okay I'm seeing a trend, we order tuna tartare everywhere we go. This one is really good though and served in a halved avocado.
Hank's Seafood Restaurant - Crispy Rock Shrimp App, Tuna Tartare App, Roasted Salmon, Roasted Grouper, Sweet Potato Fries for the side.
39 Rue de Jean - Escargot, sushi and atmosphere with a fun bar!
Husk - (2/5/11) Really neat bar that is not attached to the restaurant, but they will come get you when your reservation is ready. We could only get our reservation for 9:45, it's still new and very popular on Queen Street. Here are some thoughts, if you don't eat pork, it's not for you! The menu changes frequently, but we like the Oyster Stew, Chicken Wings, and all 3 of our entrees were very good. The waitress had us drooling and was extremely knowledgeable about the local ingredients used.

$$:
Bushido Japanese Restaurant- Not the type that cooks in front of you. We usually order sushi and it costs a lot more than $$--Will loves the "Surf n turf" roll it has steak on the top!
Kim's Japanese Restaurant- This IS the kind that cooks in front of you. However, it's like no other, the cooks will partake in the saki with you and it's NOT a place for children, they can be vulgar, but it's a blast with a large group of partying friends! Not fun with just two of you.
Red Orchid China Bistro-Fancy Chinese, no buffet. My first time here, we didn't order correctly. We all only ate our plate...so I had a plate of chicken. This place is raved about, really? 2nd visit we ordered 3 entrees and we all shared with a veggie, and rice...now I get it! Yummy! *Tangerine Chicken was good!
Taco Boy-2 locations downtown (in the ghetto/under the bridge) and Folly Beach. I order a Frozen Screwdriver, and 2 Tempura Shrimp Tacos on flour tortillas (otherwise you get corn and they are a little tough-but not awful if you forget, I always forget)

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Kaminsky's (Dessert Cafe)- My Favorite Chocolate Mousse, it's open late night you can run by after the bar, or after dinner.
Andolini's Pizza - Our favorite Pepperoni Pizza ($18 whole pie). These slices are huge, but we order a whole pie and I eat it for 3 breakfasts!
Sesame Burgers & Beer- You are unlikely to eat here if you are staying downtown, but I thought I'd add it to the list. It has an awful location in West Ashley, in the mall. I like to order off the special board they are always great, and I also like the sliders that way you can try 3 burgers. Here are my favorites: 1. Arizona (pepper jack & grilled zucchini) 2. Memphis (housemade peanut butter, bacon & banana slices) I know right?!! 3. Southwestern (guacamole & chipotle sour cream) <--although this one is bland in comparison, so eat it first.
Red's Ice House - This is great atmosphere! You can watch dolphins and fishing boats come in with their latest catch, grab a beer, and bring your dog. Food is eh, okay--no one can mess up a shrimp po-boy and a few times a year they have all you can eat snow crab legs.


Restaurants to Try: 17 North Roadside Kitchen, Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar, Bowen's Island Restaurant, Closed for Business, Fat Hen, The Glass Onion, Hall's Chophouse (going 2/11), Wild Olive, and Zia Taqueria!...and Johnny Rocket's at the Tanger Outlet Mall!

When walking around town make sure to see:
1. Waterfront park-the fountain, swings, view the bridge and Yorktown from here
2. Rainbow row on Meeting Street
3. The Battery view the harbor and beautiful homes there
4. The Market on Market Street
5. College of Charleston on George Street has some beautiful buildings
6. King Street shops are always fun!

Other fun things of interest:
The HaveNots at Theatre 99 --This is stand up comedy and hilarious. Not appropriate for children.
Folly Beach, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms (furthest away from downtown)
Tanger Outlet Center 15 minutes away from downtown (Coach, Brooks Brother, Gap, Ann Taylor, Converse, Old Navy, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Adidas)
Many many historical tours that's just not my thing, I'd obviously rather eat my way through town !