Cheap Eats in Charleston, SC

I will be going to Charleston for a week, next week and I'm looking for some insight on what and where to eat. I already dug through the previous posts and so far the tentative plans are to go to Bowen's, Hominy Grill and Jestines.

Unfortunately, my food budget for this trip is a little low so I can't go to some of the nicer restaurants. But that doesn't mean I can't well. Does anyone have any suggestions on great, cheap places to find local food? It doesn't have to be limited to restaurants, I would love some recomendations on fish markets, bakeries, butcher shops, farmers markets, etc. where I can buy food and cook it myself.

I'll have limited access to a car and I'll be staying in West Ashley which might limit my possibilities a little.

By all means, search out SeeWee (maybe See Wee) restaurant in Awendaw. It is a short car ride from Charlleston and well worth the effort.

CTBoss wrote:I'll have limited access to a car and I'll be staying in West Ashley which might limit my possibilities a little.

Actually IIRC there are quite a few good dining bargains in the West Ashley area. Unfortunately, and I am kicking myself for this, I can't find my notes from our trip a few years ago. You could try googling West Ashley and see what comes up, or talk to someone at the hotel.

Out in that area, we went to Middleton Place and Drayton Hall, and they were both very enjoyable although you would need a car. If you like that sort of thing, I would plan a full day to do both of them. Middleton Place does have a nice Southern lunch for moderate prices. I'd call ahead to check the prices if you are on a tight budget.

Harris Teeter is an upscale grocery chain in the area.

Have fun!

I did find some of my notes for the trip.

There are a ton of places in Mt Pleasant, which doesn't really help you. In Mt Pleasant, I had noted to try: "J Bistro OR Gullah Cuisine OR Boulevard Cafe", but did not get to any of them. We did drive by Gullah Cuisine and it was easy to spot. Gullah Cuisine might be an alternative to Jestine's since the waits for Jestine's are long and I'm assuming you'll have to drive anyway.

In the West Ashley area, Bessingers BBQ has a pretty good reputation. Did not get to this either but we did another drive by on the way to Middleton Place.

This is a good link to Southern food options in the state:
http://www.dixiedining.com/dixie/southcarolina.htm

Bessinger's is indeed a pretty good representation of South Carolina Mustard Sauced Que. The large plates are hefty there for well under $10.00. To get to Bessingers, follow signs to Highway 17 South (Savannah Highway). Bessingers is about 4-5 miles south of downtown Charleston on 17

Bessinger's also has a buffet at night which is far superior to that of Momma Brown's over in Mt. Pleasant. Momma Brown's will likely be recommended to you by your hotel.

Many small towns have a local barbeque shack that's open on Friday and Saturday Nights. One of the better ones of these you'll find locally is Sweatman's near St. George which is about an hour drive outside of Charleston. It's worth the trip.

Down near Edisto, in Jacksonboro, is Toomer's restaurant which serves up heaps of deep fried local seafood at ridiculoulsy low prices.

On the Highway leading to Edisto Beach (45 minutes from Charleston off of Highway 17 S)is the Old Post Office Restaurant, one of the first fine southern kitchens featurng fresh an innovative cusisne using local products exclusively. Dinner there runs $15-$25 per entree. the grits are simply fantastic. The Old Post Office was the feature of a cookbook between it's chef and the Sterns a few years back.

If you do wish to have one pricey and excellent meal, I highly recommend Slightly North of Broad's incredible locally sourced menu. They feature really creative and tasteful cooking using mostly local ingredients with a nice mix of fish, meat and fowl. Their sauteed duck breast with leg and thigh confit is one of the finer dishes I have ever eaten anywhere served with a light as a feather squash casserole.

Bessinger's Barbeque (Not to be confused with Melvin's or Joe Bessingers)
1602 Savannah Highway
Charleston SC
843-556-1354

Momma Brown's Barbeque
1471 Ben Sawyer Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant

Sweatman's Barbeque
Highway 453
Holly Hill SC
Friday and Saturday Only

Toomer's Restaurant
16804 Ace Basin Pkwy
Jacksonboro, SC 843-893-2270

Old Post Office Restaurant
1442 Highway 174
Edisto Island, SC
843-869-2339

Silghtly North of Broad
192 East Bay Street
Charleston
843-723-3424

Don't miss The Wreck. You'll need a map to find it, but the fried shrimp are sensational.

I found this interesting Charleston-centric food blog from a local that seems to reference lots of places that you don't read about in the tourist guides:

http://charlestonchow.blogspot.com/

I ran across this article online today. Originally published in the Boston Globe, I found it in the Charlotte Observer. It sounds like the See Wee isn't going to be a big secret anymore:

http://www.charlotte.com/438/story/587383.html

Sorry for the delay but I have been very busy. I had an excellent time in Charleston and ate some excellent food. I forgot to mention that I have a friend that works at FIG so I stopped in and had a great meal.

I ended up eating at Bowan's Island, which might be one of my favorite meals of all time, FIG, Jestines, Bessingers and a place recommended by my friend, The Glass Onion.

Bowen's Island is probably one of my favorite meals of all time. How can you go wrong with all you can eat delicious oysters, cheap beer and a beautiful view. The Glass Onion is a great little spot that hasn't been opened too long in West Ashley, which if I remember correctly, the owners used to work at FIG. We had a great meal of chicken fried steak, catfish po boy and french fries with bearnaise sauce.

I was a little disappointed with Jestine's and Bessinger's however. I ordered the Big and Nasty for breakfast which was described as having a biscuit, fried chicken, sausage gravy and cheddar. Everything on it was delicious, but it was neither big nor nasty. I felt so misled.

The bargecue at Bessinger's was only ok. I was very excited for the barbecue and when it was ready it was luke warm and best and nothing was particularly delicious.

I was also lucky enough to find a small seafood purveyor just over the bridge(i forgot the name) in Mount Prospect where I found some excellent seafood that came directly off the boat. I believe it was called Ralph's but I'm not entirely sure.



The Glass Onion
1219 Savannah Hwy., West Ashley
(843) 225-1717
www.ilovetheglassonion.com

Glass Onion disapointing -- Today, I took 3 friends (two visiting from North Carolina, one from Colorado) for brunch at The Glass Onion.
I had told them how great the food and service were and they were very excited to try it. One friend ordered the quiche Lorraine, only to be told later that the quiche was not ready and was forced to make another choice. Another friend and I ordered the gumbo, which was served without rice since apparently someone had forgotten to make rice. At the register, we were offered about $1 off the gumbo since it came with no rice. I'm not from New Orleans, but is riceless gumbo really traditional gumbo?

Wikipedia has the correct definition of gumbo. Perhaps the owners and staff of this purportedly cajun eatery should visit this article to be brought up to date:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumbo

Thought I'd see if there were any new thoughts or discoveries for Charleston since this thread was started (and ended) three years ago. I'll be going to Charleston for a few days. I've never been, so I'd like to know the best place to go for really classic Low Country cuisine, and maybe even some Gullah cuisine.

Also, what specific dishes should I be seeking out -- other than BBQ and shrimp with grits, which are, I believe, a given. And benne wafers (which I actually make, because I love sesame seeds, but I'd like to have authentic ones).

Any suggestions appreciated. I'll be doing other research, but hearing from people who have been there is always good.

There is another recent thread on Charleston, so perhaps the moderators can combine.

Here is the report from my wonderful trip there this past weekend:

Magnolias: Had dinner there. An excellent introduction to upscale low country cooking. I enjoyed the low country bouillabase. Not my favorate place, but a good meal.
Hominy Grill: A half hour wait for lunch (was supposed to be 50 minutes), but worth it. I had a vegetarion plate, which collards, lima beans, and tomato and okra stew on rice. The okra stew was the best. My wife loved her shrimp and okra beignets. Basically, go with anything okra. My wife had the she crab soup, a local speciality. It was just O.K. Highly recommended.
Bowen Island Restaurant: You need a car to get there and it takes about 20 minutes, but its the highlight of any trip. A large shack type place on the water. Go for the steamed oysters, $14 at tray for $28 for all you can eat. It's a weird type of oyster that comes in a big clump of multiple shells. Some clumps are dud with nothign but mud, some have a few very tiny oysters, and a few times you hit a proper sized one. But eat morsel was simply the sweetest, tastiest oyster I've ever had, and the atomsphere can't be beat. Just a mob of people drinking beer and eating oysters and fried seafood.
SNOB: A good example of the modern low county cuisine (along with McCradys, Cypress, FIG and Husk). My dish typifies what they are doing: Quail breast stuffed with cornbread and tasso, and two little quail legs deep fried in a buttermilk coating. All served over collards. Vibrant atmosphere and good cooking.
Farmer's Market: If you are there on a Saturday morning, go the the square with the Calhoun statutes (the name escapes me at the moment) for a wonderful market with lots of cooked foods to eat, as well. You walk around the park and they have produce as well as local craftspeople. Plan to have your breakfast there.

Hope that helps. If you want any tips on sights to see just ask.

For cheap eats, I like Pearlz downtown which is a fun bar/casual restaurant with great corn fritters.

Nearby, I'm a big fan of The Fat Hen which is on the way towards Kiawah.

Jonah wrote:There is another recent thread on Charleston, so perhaps the moderators can combine.

Here is the report from my wonderful trip there this past weekend:

Hominy Grill: A half hour wait for lunch (was supposed to be 50 minutes), but worth it. I had a vegetarion plate, which collards, lima beans, and tomato and okra stew on rice. The okra stew was the best. My wife loved her shrimp and okra beignets. Basically, go with anything okra. My wife had the she crab soup, a local speciality. It was just O.K. Highly recommended.

Farmer's Market: If you are there on a Saturday morning, go the the square with the Calhoun statutes (the name escapes me at the moment) for a wonderful market with lots of cooked foods to eat, as well. You walk around the park and they have produce as well as local craftspeople. Plan to have your breakfast there.

Hope that helps. If you want any tips on sights to see just ask.

Thanks, Jonah.

Hominy Grill was high on my list. I arrive Friday, for the rehearsal dinner (I'm going to a wedding), but the wedding doesn't start until 5 on Saturday, so I'll definitely be heading for that market.

I'll definitely take you up on your offer for tips on sights. I've got three days (or, rather, 2 and most of a 3rd) that don't involve any relatives, so any recommendations would be great. I did find a culinary history tour online that I figure I'd get for Monday, but that's just 2-1/2 hours. I thought I might do Magnolia Plantation or possibly Boone Hall, but that's as far as I've gotten with the planning. Fortunately, I have until June to get stuff lined up. (Already have a room at the Notso Hostel, so that's set. And I will have a car.) Anything else or different?

Heard anything about a place called Gullah Cuisine -- which serves its namesake? I thought that might be worth a drive.

Nice of my cousins to get married in a place with interesting food, don't you think?

Never heard of Gullah Cuisine, so I can't help on that.

For sights, we enjoyed Magnolia Plantation, although mainly for the grounds the the walk through the Audabon swamp (egret rookery); the house is modest. I've hear nearby Middleton is a more classic plantation mansion. If you go to Boone, however (don't know much about it), you could stop on the way there or back at See Wee restaurant, which is touted very highly by others on this board. It's a roadside place featuring classic southern cooking.

We did Ft. Sumpter, and if you're into civil war history, it's a must.

Perhaps our favorite activity was touring the historic homes in Charleston. We did three tours. Each house is unique and has its own story. My favorites was Aitken Rhett. They haven't rehabed it (its in its original condition), but it's a grand house with the original slave quarters in back and there is an audio tour so you go at your own pace.

There's a great elevated walk on East Battery heading towards White Point Gardens. We walked there around sunset and it was fabulous.

You'll have a great time, no doubt.


Jonah

There is an article in the most recent Saveur (May 2011) about soul food in Charleston. There are some great pictures and spotlights on at least three different places.

Wow -- thanks, everyone. This is going to be a great trip.