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GA and SC best lowcountry restaurant food.

16 years ago

First two weeks in June--Savannah and Charleston area--where should I eat and what should I order. Fast food, take out and moderately priced restaurants.

Nancy

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Comments (17)

teresa_nc7
16 years ago
Gullah Cuisine in Mt. Pleasant, SC looks fantastic! Must Eats: Okra Gumbo, Collard Greens, Fried Chicken, All You Can Eat Buffet, Gullah Rice, She-Crab Soup, Ice Tea, Cornbread Muffin, Fried Shrimp, Fried Oysters

Jestine's Kitchen also gets good reviews: Must Eats: fried chicken, Meat Loaf, Collard Greens, fried green tomatoes, Midnight Magic Cake, Pork Tenderloin, okra gumbo, Pickles, Coca Cola Cake, Shrimp Creole, Macaroni & Cheese, Banana Pudding, Coconut Pie, Smothered Cabbage, steamed shrimp

Hominy Grill looks good: Must Eats: Lima Beans, Fried Cheese Grits, Breakfast Breads, Purloo, Country Captain, Deep Fried Corn Bread, Fried Green Tomatoes, Sauteed Shrimp on Cheese Grits, Big Nasty, Hominy Grits, Buttermilk Pie, Caramel Cake, 4 Vegetable Plate, Chocolate Pudding, Fried Chicken, Boiled Peanuts, Breakfast Sausage, Granola, Bacon, Potato Salad, Copper Pennies (Carrots), Roasted Eggplant, Veggie, and Goat Cheese Sandwich, Sweet Tea, Okra beignets

Here's a link to the South Carolina Roadfood info. You can also go back and search for Savanah, GA info. My group enjoyed the Soho South Cafe in Savanah last year.

You can have my share of the boiled peanuts! Tried those on Saturday.....OMG!!! Now I don't have to put one of those goobers in my mouth ever again!

Here is a link that might be useful: Roadfood Guide to SC restaurants
annie1992
16 years ago
Oh boy, Teresa, do I agree. I got boiled peanuts once at a farmer's market kind of place in Florida, they were awful!

I figured it was probably just because I shouldn't eat something cooked at a farm market, LOL, so I ordered them again, in a restaurant in Georgia.

They were still awful...

No suggestions on restaurants in that area, but don't eat the boiled peanuts.

Annie
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Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
16 years ago
If you want a special restaurant in Charleston that is classic and true to the area, look into 82 Queen.
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
16 years ago
As to what to eat, I usually get she crab soup at least once and buy some benne wafers to take home too.
Basically fresh seafood with as many meals as possible makes me happy.
From what I have read Paulas Deens brothers (uncles?) restaurant is better than Lady and Sons.
We like Hyman's Seafood restaurant in Charleston.
stbonner
16 years ago
Downtown Charleston - Magnolia's and Carolina's are wonderful - but pricy. Jestine's Kitchen and Hominy Grill are more moderately priced but are really yummy. Hyman's is also good - honestly, there are so many great restaurants downtown it is hard to name them all.

If you get out to Mt. Pleasant, try out Five Loaves for lunch. I ate there today and had a Mandarin gazpacho with a salad made of arugula, walnuts, asparagus, goat cheese, and roasted beets - along with a sweet basil and honey dressing. Delicious!

I can't help you with Savannah restaurants - I'm a Charleston girl.

And about the boiled peanuts - they are delicious, but apparently they are an acquired taste. I don't know anyone raised here that doesn't love them, but most people from "off" don't like them at all.
Virginia7074
16 years ago
We went to Savannah and Charleston for the first time over spring break (end of March) and had a fabulous time. We ate a variety of foods and prices. I don't know if you're driving through North Carolina, but if you are, don't overlook the barbecue stops on your way there.

In Savannah, 700 Drayton was very, very good. A little pricey maybe, but the food was well prepared and the atmosphere was very quiet and elegant. I was keen on going to Mrs. Wilke's for "authentic low country" but the line was long and DH wasn't as keen on it as I. If I were to go back again, I'd make it a stop.

In Carleston, we had a late dinner at Magnolia's at the bar one night. It's pretty crowded, but the food is worth the wait. DH thinks he had the best fried chicken he ever ate there.

Carolina's is wonderful, too, and here's a tip. They have a wonderful happy hour - half-price beer, wine, cocktails and appetizers. Best calamari EVER, in a sweet red chili sauce that I'm still trying to duplicate. We also stopped by a bar across the street from South End Brewery that had a great happy hour.

I really, really like happy hours and they're definitely a great way to stretch a vacation dollar!
mudlady_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Hmmm, happy hours??? Me, 66, alone in a bar???? I am dieting right now so I can ruin it all when I get down there. Fired green tomatoes!!! I'll be two sizes larger when I get home!
Thanks, all.
Nancy
dirtgirl07
16 years ago
Teresa, I'll take your's and Annie's boiled peanuts any day! It is an aquired taste - hated them when I was a kid but somewhere along the way that changed. Nothing like finding a back road shack selling them with an ice cold beer!

Maybe ya'll got ahold of some like Alton Brown was fixing that he boiled only a couple of hours. The good ones take about 9 hours.

Beth
pfmastin
16 years ago
Mt Pleasant...Water's Edge on Shem Creek. Shrimp and Grits to die for. :)
pfmastin
16 years ago
p.s. on the boiled peanuts. I've had cold, soggy ones and thought they were horrible. But our county ag agent brings them in from the field, boils them and salts them warm and they're awesome.
BeverlyAL
16 years ago
I love peanuts, hate boiled peanuts. A friend who likes the boiled ones done some for me one time so they were fresh boiled. Really awful!

If you decide to try them please let us know your thoughts about them.
teresa_nc7
16 years ago
Yes, the boiled peanuts are definitely an acquired taste....I think your mom had to eat them while you were in the womb! LOL! I'm willing to try just about anything once and I completely respect any person's right to eat and enjoy boiled peanuts 'til the cows come home, but I'll take my peanuts roasted in the shell, thank you very much.

Mudlady, if you come to NC I'll meet you in Lexington for BBQ!
glenda_al
16 years ago
BENNE WAFERS are a must to buy in Savannah!
deegw
16 years ago
82 Queen is very "Challstun". You could go for lunch to save some money. The outdoor courtyard is fantastic but it will probably be uncomfortable to eat outside during the day. Jestines is a very popular meat and three kind of place. We like Hyman's too.

In Savannah, Kevin Barry's is a neat Irish pub with a lot of atmosphere. I know it isn't low country, but Savannah is a very Irish place so you will be getting a Savannah experience.

I'm going to warn you - it is going to be hot and sticky. I checked your profile and see that you are from Syracuse. I was born and raised in Syracuse and have lived in the South since 1989. If you haven't previously traveled in the South during the summer, you will be astounded by the humidity. Have fun, wear comfy, comfy shoes and try not to let the humidity get to you.
teresa_nc7
16 years ago
There is a musical theatre in Savannah that is just wonderful if you want to plan to get tickets well in advance of your trip. I don't know what the ticket price is as I was a guest of our hosts in May of last year. But it is worth every penny.

Looks like "the Beat Goes On" might be performing when you are there. Here's a link:

Here is a link that might be useful: Historic Sanannah Theatre
kayskats
16 years ago
this thread has reminded me of all the great food I've had in Savannah. Unfortunately, I haven't been there in at least 30 years. I was surprized to find several of my favorites still in business:

The Pink House ... we often ate there for lunch and I remember it as a tea room. The on-line menu looks a bit more upscale than I recall...
Johnny Harris Bar-B-Que..
The Chart House...
Pirates House (bit of a tourist trap, but fun.
Best of all She-Crab Soup at some hole-in-wall at the beach
I never waited in line at Mrs. Wilkes, but I recently bought her cookbook and it is "boarding house" -- not what I consider low country.

Enjoy, wish I were there.
jude31
16 years ago
We just returned yesterday, from a few days in Charleston, celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. Love that area! I always manage to go to Rue de Jean for their mussels and frisee lyonnaise salad....lunch time...it's more affordable than dinner, and a real treat for me.

If you don't mind driving a good bit and like down home cooking...there's a little run-down looking restaurant on Hwy 17 out of Mt. Pleasant going north toward Georgetown, must be about 15 miles or so, on the left, you might like. Good prices, plenty of seafood and a ton of side dishes. Their desserts are homemade; I've seen "mammaw" carrying in homemade cakes on a dome covered plate, numerous times, although I'm never able to eat dessert. DH and I ordered fried shrimp from the seniors menu, I think it was $8.95 and I counted 12 shrimp. One side was included and I ordered cole slaw, extra. Certainly good on the tummy and the budget as well. (Bad on the hips, though)LOL

We also found a new little French Bakery on John St. just a couple of doors from Rue de Jean restaurant. They have only been open 5 weeks, so they said.

Enjoy your vacation! I have to say I'm partial to Charleston but I love Savannah too.

jude

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