Charleston South Carolina, voted #4 in the entire USA, for Best Food & Wine Destination!
Especially noted, its homestyle Southern food.
Delectable Dining
Some of the best chefs in the country work their magic in the Lowcountry
As Charleston is to fish, Muse is to Mediterranean, and Chef Howard LaFour is the creative genius that links them together. Order the catch of the day and you might get a dreamy corvina with celeriac puree, lightly smoked sunburst squash, baby zucchini and grape tomatoes, but only if everything is impeccably fresh. You might find a perfectly grilled local mahi-mahi with heirloom tomatoes, arugula salad, watermelon radishes, embellished with a Parmesan frico and local honey vinaigrette.
Halls Chophouse on Upper King Street is one of the city’s most popular restaurants. The Hall family brought fine traditional steak house fare to Charleston with four-star service and capital “A” atmosphere. Chicago’s Allen Brothers’ steaks are aged to order under the meticulous directives of Executive Chef Matthew Niessner, who also creates imaginative seafood dishes, sides and salads. There is an extensive bourbon list, fine wines by the bottle or glass, traditional cocktails, and decadent desserts. Best of all, there’s always a Hall on duty, sometimes the whole family, to greet you warmly and ensure that all your needs are spectacularly met.
 Mercato is plush, beautiful, trendy and chic. The food is just what you’d expect from such a fine atmosphere, classic Italian with locally sourced ingredients, wonderful pastas, and hearty lamb, pork, veal and prosciutto dishes. In the Italian tradition, the chef will create imaginative specials that are as beautiful as they are delicioso. Mercato also boasts one of the town’s great bars.
Circa 1886 is tucked away behind the Wentworth Mansion just west of King Street. Both are serious award contenders regionally and nationally. Chef Marc Collins puts a healthful, distinctive spin on classic Lowcountry dishes, keeping freshness and creativity first and foremost. Reading the menu is almost as good as eating the food. Black cod is served with potato cakes, clams, mirepoix, parsley paint, clam nage and topped with spicy paprika bubbles. Try to resist the Crispy Triple Chocolate Bread Pudding with pomegranate lacquer, passion fruit mousse, Johns Island honey and macadamia nut milkshake. See what we mean?
The Wentworth Grill is tucked into a corner of Charleston’s Renaissance Hotel, the quietest busy spot on the peninsula. The chef gives a respectful nod to Southern food with specialties like a crab cake and fried green tomato appetizer, a hearty house smoked and grilled pork chop, and shrimp and South Carolina’s Adluh Mills grits with a poached cage-free egg. Creative and seasonal, sustainable eating are what keeps Wentworth Grill at the top of everyone’s list.
 Everyone knows Chef Sean Brock’s McCrady’s is a nationally renowned, award-winning restaurant. Brock has received numerous James Beard awards, Best of Charleston awards, and OpenTable and Food Network citations. McCrady’s is one of the finest restaurant experiences in Charleston. You can order a la carte, prix fixe or have the experience of a lifetime with the Chef’s Tasting Menu, where nine to 12 exquisite courses will be served to your table with Sommelier-paired selections for a food lover’s dream meal.
The location says casual, but the menu definitely says fine dining. Water’s Edge on beautiful Shem Creek serves classic Southern choices with more than a hint of gourmet. Try the Crispy Flounder that is scored whole and served with a mango sweet and sour sauce. The Crispy Duck Salad with baby spinach greens, blue cheese, cranberries, pecans and port wine vinaigrette is delightful. They also serve a succulent slow-roasted, bone-in prime rib that’s worth a return trip or two.
 Celebrities, politicians, visitors and locals have loved Poogan’s Porch for almost four decades. Lowcountry favorites like Buttermilk Fried Chicken are side by side on the menu with Chef Daniel’s Plantation Fried Chicken stuffed with smoked Gouda, spicy collards and country ham, and drizzled with Texas Pete hot sauce. Try the Shrimp & Grits with blue crab gravy, or Sweet Tea Glazed Salmon with candied lemon and mint risotto. Poogan’s is in a beautiful old homestead on lovely Queen Street, fresh, pretty and comfortable. Ask about Poogan’s interesting history.
The Library Restaurant at the Vendue Inn is a charming place. Breakfast, tea or dinner in the tiny space is always fresh, creative and delicious. Now close your eyes, take a bite and dream of Charleston.
Get a complete list of Charleston's restaurants.
Inventive cuisine, fresh from the farm. Named a Top Ten Restaurant in North America by Opinionated About Dining. McCrady's, in an historic 1778 Georgian public house, offers an award-winning dining experience with the best of new Southern cuisine. Executive Chef Sean Brock was awarded the 2010 James Beard Best Chef Southeast for his talented mix of modern skills and classic antebellum recipes. Sensationally presented dishes one of Charleston's most extensive wine lists. Private dining available.
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Bocci's - a great Italian restaurant in historic downtown Charleston on Church Street. USA Today has called Bocci's one of the leading Italian restaurants in the United States. Small dining rooms painted with life-like murals makes for a delightful atmosphere. Bocci's talented, attentive and knowledgeable staff serves full Italian fare, excellent wines (including many good wines by the glass), heavenly desserts and gourmet coffees all at affordable prices. Perfect for the whole family. Dinner Nightly beginning at 4:30pm and lunch from 11:00am.
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From its inception, when it was voted Best New Restaurant, MERCATO has been a Charleston favorite. Enjoy dining in comfortable ambiance. The restaurant interior is expressive and stylish - European-inspired elegance in Charleston's historic City Market. The chef serves up delicious, mouth-watering Italian-American dishes created with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. Open 7-nights a week. Enjoy a typical Italian leisurely meal or stop in for handcrafted cocktails and a lively, spirited bar scene. MERCADO serves up live jazz every night.
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