Fine Dining In Historic Charleston, South Carolina

By Linda Orlando

Charleston, SC, has long been a destination for vacationers, honeymooners, and even celebrities wanting to escape the glitter of Hollywood and the Big Apple. Although the city is known for its beautiful architecture—the colorful houses along "Rainbow Row" and the lovely antebellum mansions of The Battery—it is also home to some of the best restaurants in the United States. Both visitors and locals are regular patrons of Charleston’s finest eating establishments, where they often rub shoulders with politicians, celebrities, and other notables.

Tucked away downtown in a charming spot on Queen Street, Poogan’s Porch is one of Charleston’s oldest and most well-known restaurants. Since its opening in 1976, Poogan’s Porch has been a regular hotspot for well-known public figures, tourists, and locals who rave about the food, the service, and the atmosphere. This culinary landmark is rich with history, and is renowned for providing impeccable Lowcountry hospitality and cuisine. The restaurant is open 365 days a year, serving a Lowcountry breakfast and dinner, and various special events are celebrated throughout the year. In January and February of each year, Poogan’s offers specially priced menu items, featuring prices from 1978, on a Roll Back Menu to celebrate their anniversary.

An elegantly restored historic carriage house in the gardens of the Wentworth Mansion houses another historic restaurant aptly named Circa 1886. Chef Marc Collins regularly whips up an assortment of tasty dishes using the freshest local produce and savory seafood, creating scrumptious seasonal favorites. For true Southern cuisine with a sophisticated twist in a smoke-free environment, Circa 1886 can provide you with just that, in a historic and intimate atmosphere. Reservations are recommended, since this culinary gem is a favorite of both locals and tourists familiar with its reputation.

In the historic Planters Inn at Meeting and Market Streets, a dignified and decidedly plush eating adventure can be found in the Peninsula Grill. This 4-star DiRoNa member restaurant has been hailed as Charleston’s best restaurant for six years in a row in the Charleston City Paper and has received accolades and awards from Bon Appetit, Wine Spectator, Food and Wine, and the New York Times. Innovative regional cuisine is served in an elegant, yet comfortably relaxed atmosphere where reservations are coveted.

In the historic 1800’s block of Meeting Street downtown, Eli and Aaron Hyman operate the most well-known and best-loved restaurant on the east coast. Hyman’s Seafood and Aaron’s Deli occupy former wholesale warehouses over a century old, and they hope to pass on the Hyman tradition on Meeting Street to a 5th generation. The unique Hyman brand of customer service has taken place in these buildings for over 110 years, and Eli and Aaron are proud of being a part of that tradition. The floors are of heart pine, the bricks are old English with the original oyster mortar, and the wrought iron staircase was built in 1887. Tourists are surprised and fascinated by small brass plaques on the tables in Hyman’s Seafood, because they contain the names of celebrities who have dined there. All of the plaques are real, and identify actual seats that held celebrities staying at the Charleston Place Hotel, who usually enter through the back doors while they are in town performing in movies or concerts.

The Hymans are dedicated to a hands-on approach to business; at least one of them is always present on location ensuring quality and service seven days a week. Offering great Southern cuisine with impeccable service in a casual atmosphere, Hyman's is the exception to the rule that excellent seafood must be pricey to be good.

In addition to the quality of the food and service at Hyman’s, the owners have their hearts in the right places. Eli and Aaron have a lot to be grateful for, and they share their blessed success by giving back to various charities and their local community. They donate all the net profits from the merchandise they sell in their gift shop to needy charities. Last year, over $107,000 was donated locally and nationally. In addition, they host an annual Thanksgiving dinner to feed over 1,500 of the less fortunate members of the Charleston community.

For a vacation experience you’ll want to repeat often, there’s no better place to point your palate than Charleston, South Carolina. Enjoy the lovely gardens, fancy architecture, and historical landmarks to work up an appetite, and then get ready for one of the most memorable dining experiences you’ll ever have!