My husband and I recently spent 3 days in Savannah and 4 days in Charleston. We ate very well but found the restaurants in Charleston to be superior to those in Savannah.
Here is a list of the places we tried in each, starting with the best:
Savannah
Lunches - Public Kitchen, The Pirate’s House, Toast All Day
Dinners - Chive Sea Bar (best by far), Vic’s on the River, The Olde Pink House
Charleston
Lunches - Restaurant at Middleton Place, Betty Lou’s Bistro, 82 Queen, King Street Food.
Dinners - ca. 1886 House (absolutely spectacular), Charleston Grill (also top notch), Magnolias, S.N.O.B
A full report with photos, dishes we ate, and sightseeing is on my blog:
We’ve stopped by both Charleston and Savannah during drives to/from Florida and stayed at each for days at a time. Very different but we definitely agree that the food was better in Charleston.
I’ve messaged you about a stop you made in Charleston (from reading your blog) which isn’t food related.
HI Robert and all, I am planning several days in Charleston at the end of January for a conference that will not feed my body and some r&r. Any recommendations there on best eating options, particularly for a solo diner, which I will be for a couple of the days? I looked at all the spots on your blog and it looks like you tried a lots of options. Were there others that you wished you had tried but couldn’t include? I dont think we will be including choices near the top of your price range but wondered which meals stand as most memorable from more than a year of distance?
Id like to add that I will have a companion with I think broad ranging tastes. Interested in everything from South Carolina BBQ and other good regional cuisine through seafood and other great tastes, mom and pop to chef oriented places. Places for talking rather than drinking (not real loud) preferred.
It’s been a few years but we’ve really enjoyed the Ordinary (sit at the bar and order seafood small plates, great for 1). Some of the best seafood in the central area. We also like the Darling oyster bar for their shrimp and grits. 167 raw for (you guessed it) raw or simply prepared seafood dishes and seafood towers. Leon’s for fired chicken and hushpuppies (among other interesting dishes). Peninsula hotel for coconut cake. Millers all day for brunch, don’t miss the coconut cream pie there.
On BBQ, I was very unimpressed with Rodney Scott (imported from nearby in SC, pales in comparison to the original) and Lewis bbq (Texas import). I’d just go to Austin and the original Scott’s. But there might be new places on the peninsula to try. I would just avoid these two.
With a 2 hour drive to the original Scott’s, looks like I will have to check out BBQs in the more local (mustard based) style instead of the imports and hold Scotts for when I ever drive down I95 to get back to this area Thanks for all the suggestions!
I can’t recall any that we would have wanted to try but didn’t. I chose very carefully and we did extremely well. It’s too bad you won’t be going to the c. 1886 House or Charleston Grill, but the dinners we had at Magnolias and SNOB were both very worthwhile. The lamb chops at Magnolias and the quail at SNOB were particularly memorable. Neither place was terribly loud.
