Looks for Charleston tips..

[JackG]

Hank's and Carolina's are two of our favorite Charleston restaurants. Both are downtown, dressy casual, average $30 entree kinds of places. You really need to have reservations for either one.

Our favorite dish at Hank's is the Seafood Wando. It's kind of an open, noisy atmosphere.

At Carolina's you have to try the Shrimp and Crab Wonton appetizer. It's a "bistro" with a slight Asian influence.

If you're into history you could go see the Hunley. It's the recently recovered submarine that sank a Union warship in the mouth of the Charleston harbor during the civil war. There's also the Aquarium, Patriot's Point, Charles Towne Landing, the Battery, Fort Sumter, and a ton of other stuff. Have fun!

[Lil bastard]

Charleston is a 2nd home for me - my favorite city on the Planet !! (and I've lived in Paris, Rome, London, NYC and Tokyo and visited many, many more). I established a business there in the late 80's and we own a historic home (built in 1785) in the historic district - just off Battery Row on Lamboll St. (South of Broad - the Foo-Foo district). We currently rent it to a husband/wife pair of surgeons on faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina (for the past 19 yrs. - 92% paid off). We'll eventually retire there.

There are too many good restaurants to mention, except if you want traditional Low-Country food, you need to go to one (or both) of two places - Jestine's Kitchen (on the corner of Wentworth and Meeting Sts.) and Hominy Grill (Cannon St. and Rutledge Ave.).

If you want one of the best meals you'll ever have in your lifetime (NO BULL), go to the Penninsula Grill in the Planters Inn (Meeting and North Market Sts.), a Relais & Château property.

Nothing wrong with Hanks or Carolina's, but they're mainly tourist traps.

Excellent food and service are to be had at 82 Queen Street, Gaulart et Maliclet Café - 98 Broad Street (very traditional French Bistro), 39 Rue de Jean - 39 John Street (Excellent French Brasserie), Muse - 82 Society Street (Italian Fine Dining - superb!!), McCradys - 2 Unity Alley (outstanding cuisine nouveau), Mercato - 102 N. Market Street (owned by the owners and chef of the Penninsula Grill), Joseph's Restaurant - 129 Meeting Street (best breakfast on the Penninsula), The Boathouse on East Bay – 549 East Bay Street (great raw bar and seafood), TBonz Gill & Grill - 80 N. Market Street (great Burgers, Beers - late night), THE ROOFTOP
at the Vendue Inn - 19 Vendue Range (for drinks and a romantic view of the City).

I could go on and on, but these are a few of the Must Do's if visiting Charleston - I'd stand by any of these recommendations. PM me if I can be of any more assistance - HAVE A BLAST !!!

[JackG]

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

Nothing wrong with Hanks or Carolina's, but they're mainly tourist traps.

Same can be said for half the places you mentioned, lb. The rest I'm taking note of, so we can give them a try.

+1 for the Vendue Inn, I forgot about that place.