Charleston SC dining options during Spoleto festival weekend

Hi there. This is my first post, but have been browsing the board for a good part of the year now, and my dining out decisions have been much more illuminated. I am off to Spoleto festival opening weekend during memorial day, and wanted to hear from others any recommendations for restaurants in Charleston, SC. I am sure reservations would be a must because of the festival crowds. Any help would be much appreciated!

You may wish to visit this thread on Charleston.

Enjoy and share your results, Charleston is a gorgeous city.

Having been there several times, I can heartily recommend the following:
SNOB (i.e. Slightly North of Broad), 192 East Bay Street, or (virtually across the street) Magnolia's, 185 E Bay St - both are great for a good dinner. Don't miss the city market, and a good lunch place for she-crab soup is East Bay Crab Shack, 205 E Bay St. Not that everything is on Bay St, it's just that it's a good restaurant row.

I second the recommendation of SNOB if you want a sophisticated dining experience in the cityof Charleston. Robert's near the city market has good dining and an owner who seranandes you with his operatic voice.

If you're adventurous, I'd suggest heading out Highway 17 North (the Cooper River Bridge) about 15 miles to the SeeWee Restaurant in Awendaw. This is the peasant cooking of the low country done in outstanding fashion.

Another interesting place located on Edisto is the Old Post Office, a really great upscale place that focuses it's menu on the fresh meat, fowl fish and vegetables that can be found in that fertile area. To get to Edisto, take 17 South (The Savannah Highway) to Highway 130. 130 will take you right into Edisto. Your friends will think that you're an old time local if you know about this place. I love the shrimp and grits as well as the duck with rasberry coulis.

YourPalWill wrote:If you're adventurous, I'd suggest heading out Highway 17 North (the Cooper River Bridge) about 15 miles to the SeeWee Restaurant in Awendaw. This is the peasant cooking of the low country done in outstanding fashion.

I would head out to SeeWee even if you aren't adventurous. If they are in season the soft shell crab sandwich is great. The crab was as big as my hand, which is a little above average. The sides are outstanding. Get an order of fried pickles. They are a treat. Great drive, even better food, and the local culture is nice. I picked up a couple of nice baskets made out of swamp grass (?) for my wife. Great people to stop and visit with.