Here is an overview of all the restaurants and bars we went to in Charleston and the surrounding areas. I’m going to give awards for the best food, decor, and overall experience. To read about our daily itinerary, click here.
Best Food – Eli’s Table – “Eli’s Table features a menu offering bold, worldly flavors while using fresh and local ingredients.” They were voted the best tasting Shrimp and Grits two years in a row.
Best Decor – The Obstinate Daughter – Natural wood elements and soft Edison bulb chandeliers mixed with nautical theme. The blue and gray color palette was friendly and welcoming. Oh, and so was the food!
Best Overall – 167 Raw – A cozy, charming restaurant seating only 24 customers at a time. You can watch fresh oysters being shucked right in front of you. The causal, laid back style makes you want to order another drink and watch the bartenders work.
Breakfast
- The Obstinate Daughter
- Chic sit down located on Sullivan’s Island. We had mimosas and debated about getting a cinnamon bun. Thankfully decided against because I had the largest vegetable frittata ever! Brian had the eggs Benedict.
- Chic sit down located on Sullivan’s Island. We had mimosas and debated about getting a cinnamon bun. Thankfully decided against because I had the largest vegetable frittata ever! Brian had the eggs Benedict.
- Poogan’s Porch
- Recommend getting reservations or going right when they open. Check the hours because during the week, they don’t open until 10:30 am, which I think is late for a breakfast place. Weekends they open at 9am.
- We both had the fried chicken and waffles. It was delicious! Also shared the fried green tomato served with blueberries. Four decent size tomatoes; I was surprised how large this appetizer was. Looking back, I wish I only had 1 piece and saved more room for chicken and waffles!
- Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
- A tiny little grab and go breakfast place located on King Street. There is also another location in the Markets, but I wanted to see the real deal!
- Only 6 seats inside along the wall. Avoid the weekends, we went Monday morning and there was no line and seats available!
- They have seven different kinds of homemade biscuits. Order a single, three, or a baker’s dozen. Also offer breakfast sandwiches with sausage or bacon and pimento cheese. These biscuits are buttery and flaky and you will want to try every kind!
Lunch
- 167Raw.
- Hands down our favorite spot we ate lunch. It’s a small place, seating only 24 people. I loved the floating shelves, subway tiles, and the oyster shucking station right behind the bar, trying not to drool. They also have a Rose of the day!
- They don’t take reservations, so go when they open at 11am, otherwise you’ll be sorry!
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- We each ordered tacos, shrimp for me and pork for Brian along with a side of homemade guacamole which included homemade chips! To add to the laid back vibe, silverware was a help yourself served in large Le Creuset pitcher.
- We each ordered tacos, shrimp for me and pork for Brian along with a side of homemade guacamole which included homemade chips! To add to the laid back vibe, silverware was a help yourself served in large Le Creuset pitcher.
- Table and Tavern
- This came recommended by our local friends we meet at happy hour. Table and Tavern is located in Mt. Pleasant and is perfect waterfront dinning. The menu was simple and good. I had a turkey sandwich, one of my only non-seafood meals all weekend!
- This came recommended by our local friends we meet at happy hour. Table and Tavern is located in Mt. Pleasant and is perfect waterfront dinning. The menu was simple and good. I had a turkey sandwich, one of my only non-seafood meals all weekend!
- Craftsmen Tap House.
- We came here for beer flights and finger foods after eating a large breakfast at Poogan’s Porch. We each had a flight of four beers and splint Mexican Street Corn and wings.
Dinners
- Eli’s Table
- Our favorite meal all weekend was at Eli’s. We sat out on the covered patio and enjoyed a light breeze. Eli’s is known for their shrimp and grits. They have been voted two years in row the best shrimp and grits out of 472 restaurants in Charleston. To say it was amazing is an understatement!
- Our favorite meal all weekend was at Eli’s. We sat out on the covered patio and enjoyed a light breeze. Eli’s is known for their shrimp and grits. They have been voted two years in row the best shrimp and grits out of 472 restaurants in Charleston. To say it was amazing is an understatement!
- FIG
- A highly popular restaurant in Charleston. Good luck getting in without a reservation. They are known for making a simple Low country dish elegant.
- A highly popular restaurant in Charleston. Good luck getting in without a reservation. They are known for making a simple Low country dish elegant.
- Blossom
- Made reservations here last minute. The restaurant looks small from the outside, but it has quite a large dining area and a private patio in the back. I recommend the SHE crab soup, a Charleston specialty. I also had the crab ravioli which was pretty tasty!
- Made reservations here last minute. The restaurant looks small from the outside, but it has quite a large dining area and a private patio in the back. I recommend the SHE crab soup, a Charleston specialty. I also had the crab ravioli which was pretty tasty!
Drinks/Happy Hour
- Pearlz Oyster Bar.
- Went for happy hour on Friday night. Happy hour deals include $1 oysters as well as a few other finger foods. The atmosphere was fun, the bar was a decent size, and we met a friendly local couple!
- Went for happy hour on Friday night. Happy hour deals include $1 oysters as well as a few other finger foods. The atmosphere was fun, the bar was a decent size, and we met a friendly local couple!
- Vendue Rooftop bar.
- We loved this place so much we came twice. Amazing views and on a hot day the breeze feels even better! On our first trip we didn’t notice stairs leading to another level until we were leaving. There are two rooftop floors! The main level is even with the skyline, but the top floor (make sure to go up the stairs after taking the elevator up) has views of the harbor and all surrounding buildings. So obviously this is where we sat and enjoyed a Strawberry Basil Lemonade on our 2nd visit! Upon my return home from Charleston, I attempted to recreate this drink! Click here for the recipe!
- We loved this place so much we came twice. Amazing views and on a hot day the breeze feels even better! On our first trip we didn’t notice stairs leading to another level until we were leaving. There are two rooftop floors! The main level is even with the skyline, but the top floor (make sure to go up the stairs after taking the elevator up) has views of the harbor and all surrounding buildings. So obviously this is where we sat and enjoyed a Strawberry Basil Lemonade on our 2nd visit! Upon my return home from Charleston, I attempted to recreate this drink! Click here for the recipe!
