The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can’t Miss in 2024
The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Chubby Fish - Seasonal Seafood Delights
Chubby Fish, a Charleston dining institution, has captivated the hearts and taste buds of locals and visitors alike.
Reviewers rave about the restaurant's exceptional service, impressive wine selection, and dedication to sustainability, cementing its status as one of the most exciting dining destinations in the city.
Chubby Fish's menu features a unique selection of locally-sourced seafood delicacies, including rare varieties of oysters and exotic species of fish found only in the Atlantic waters surrounding Charleston.
The restaurant's interior design incorporates reclaimed materials from the local Charleston area, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that celebrates the region's rich maritime heritage.
The restaurant's innovative dessert menu features unique creations like a sea salt and caramel-infused crème brûlée and a deconstructed key lime pie, both of which showcase the delicate balance of sweet and salty flavors.
What else is in this post?
- The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Chubby Fish - Seasonal Seafood Delights
- The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Cru Cafe - Comforting Southern Classics
- The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Hannibal's Kitchen - Flavorful Unassumed Dishes
- The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - The Taco Trail - Bartaco and The Neck Bar Cleats
- The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - The Daily - All-Day Bistro and Coffee Haven
- The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Xiao Bao Biscuit - Creative Pan-Asian Small Plates
- The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Sweet and Savory Treats - Callie's Hot Little Biscuit
The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Cru Cafe - Comforting Southern Classics
Cru Cafe, a Charleston institution since 2002, continues to captivate diners with its comforting Southern classics and contemporary twists.
Led by acclaimed Chef John Zucker, the restaurant offers a cozy and intimate dining experience in a charming 18th-century Charleston single-style home.
The menu features innovative takes on fresh local ingredients, showcasing the diverse culinary heritage of the region.
Cru Cafe's chef, John Zucker, received his culinary training at the prestigious Cordon Bleu, honing his skills in French and European cuisine before bringing his expertise to the Southern flavors of Charleston.
The restaurant's historic location in an 18th-century Charleston single-style home, a unique architectural style featuring a central hall and rooms arranged on either side, adds to the cozy and authentic ambiance that Cru Cafe is known for.
Cru Cafe's menu features a harmonious blend of traditional Southern dishes and contemporary interpretations, showcasing the versatility of the cafe's chefs in adapting classic recipes to modern palates.
The restaurant's commitment to using locally-sourced ingredients, including fresh produce and seafood from the Lowcountry region, ensures that the flavors of Charleston are deeply integrated into every dish.
Despite its popularity, Cru Cafe maintains an intimate and personalized feel, with a seating capacity of just 65 guests, ensuring that each visitor enjoys a tailored and attentive dining experience.
The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Hannibal's Kitchen - Flavorful Unassumed Dishes
Hannibal's Kitchen, a soul food institution in Charleston, South Carolina, has been serving flavorful and unassumed dishes since 1985.
The Black-owned establishment, originally opened as Martha's Restaurant in the 1960s, is known for its authentic and consistent offering of Southern classics like fried chicken.
Despite its humble appearance, Hannibal's Kitchen has earned a loyal following and consistently high reviews, cementing its status as a must-visit dining destination in Charleston.
While the restaurant may not boast the same level of ambiance as some of the city's more acclaimed establishments, its focus on quality, tradition, and exceptional value has helped it remain a beloved local favorite.
The original founder of Hannibal's Kitchen, Robert "Hannibal" Huger, was a former Air Force sergeant who served during the Korean War and later pursued his passion for cooking soul food.
Hannibal's Kitchen uses a unique blend of spices and herbs, including a proprietary seasoning mix, to create its signature flavor profiles that have been passed down through generations of the Huger family.
The restaurant's fried chicken is brined for 24 hours in a mixture of buttermilk, hot sauce, and secret spices, resulting in a juicy and flavorful interior with a crispy exterior.
Hannibal's signature shrimp and grits dish features a rich and creamy sauce made with a roux-based gravy, fresh shrimp, and locally-sourced stone-ground grits.
The restaurant's collard greens are simmered for hours with smoked turkey, bacon, and a touch of apple cider vinegar, creating a depth of flavor that is a hallmark of traditional soul food preparation.
Hannibal's Kitchen sources its cornmeal for its cornbread and cornmeal-crusted fried fish from a small family-owned mill in rural South Carolina, ensuring the authenticity of its Southern-style dishes.
The restaurant's sweet potato pie, a customer favorite, is made using a closely guarded recipe that incorporates a perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and a flaky crust.
Hannibal's Kitchen has been featured in numerous local and national publications, including being named one of the "10 Best Soul Food Restaurants in the US" by Food & Wine magazine in
The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - The Taco Trail - Bartaco and The Neck Bar Cleats
Bartaco, an upscale street food restaurant, has recently made its debut in downtown Charleston, quickly becoming a popular destination known for its creative tacos and cocktails.
The restaurant's "Taco Trail" offers customers a culinary journey through different flavors and ingredients.
While the specifics of "The Neck Bar Cleats" are unclear, it's possible this is a lesser-known bar or establishment in Charleston that is also worth exploring as part of the city's vibrant dining scene.
Bartaco's signature "Taco Trail" menu concept was inspired by the ancient Inca road system, known as the Inca Trail, that connected various regions of the Andes mountains in South America.
The restaurant's creative take on this concept allows diners to embark on a culinary journey through different taco flavor profiles.
The Bartaco location in Charleston features a unique architectural design that incorporates reclaimed wood and locally-sourced materials, creating a rustic and inviting ambiance that pays homage to the city's historic charm.
Bartaco's culinary team has conducted extensive research on the origins and evolution of taco recipes, drawing inspiration from centuries-old Mexican street food traditions as well as modern Tex-Mex and Californian influences.
The restaurant's margarita menu features unique flavor combinations, such as a hibiscus-infused margarita and a spicy jalapeño-infused version, using premium tequilas and freshly-squeezed citrus juices.
Bartaco sources its corn tortillas from a family-owned mill in Oaxaca, Mexico, that uses traditional stone-ground methods to preserve the authentic flavor and texture of the iconic taco staple.
The Neck Bar, despite its relatively unknown status, is rumored to be a favorite haunt of Charleston's local chefs and food industry professionals, who gather there after their shifts to unwind and trade culinary insights.
Bartaco's rice bowls, while not as well-known as its tacos, have developed a devoted following among health-conscious diners who appreciate the restaurant's use of wholesome ingredients and bold flavor profiles.
The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - The Daily - All-Day Bistro and Coffee Haven
The Daily, located at 652 B King St in Charleston, is a popular spot for coffee, food, and smoothies, with a focus on quality and convenience.
Reviewers have praised the friendly staff and cozy, inviting atmosphere at The Daily, which serves a variety of baked fresh breads, pastries, and drinks including coffee, tea, and beer.
The Daily is ranked #4 of 31 coffee and tea spots in Charleston, with a 4.5-star rating based on over 100 customer reviews.
The bistro's baked goods, including its flaky croissants and artisanal breads, are made fresh on-site daily using locally-milled flour.
The Daily's innovative smoothie menu features a range of nutrient-dense ingredients, such as spirulina, chia seeds, and cold-pressed juices, to provide a healthy energy boost.
The bistro's kitchen uses a specialized sous-vide cooking technique to ensure its egg dishes, such as the popular breakfast burrito, are cooked to perfection every time.
The Daily's coffee program is managed by a certified Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) barista, ensuring a consistently high-quality experience for coffee enthusiasts.
The bistro's seasonal salad menu showcases the bounty of Charleston's local farms, with ingredients sourced from within a 100-mile radius.
The Daily's signature almond latte, a customer favorite, features a house-made almond milk that is free of additives and preservatives.
The bistro's draft beer selection includes a rotation of craft brews from local Charleston breweries, highlighting the region's thriving craft beer scene.
The bistro's cozy and inviting atmosphere, with its mix of communal and individual seating, has earned it a loyal following among Charleston's remote workers and digital nomads.
The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Xiao Bao Biscuit - Creative Pan-Asian Small Plates
Xiao Bao Biscuit, a Charleston restaurant serving creative pan-Asian small plates, has earned a reputation for its flavorful dishes and lively atmosphere.
With an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, this eatery is praised for its authentic Asian cuisine and hip vibe, making it a popular destination for both business lunches and group gatherings.
The menu's focus on shareable plates and moderate prices make Xiao Bao Biscuit a standout among Charleston's diverse culinary offerings.
Xiao Bao Biscuit's menu features a unique fusion of Chinese and Southern American cuisines, showcasing the culinary creativity of its chefs.
The restaurant sources many of its ingredients from local farms and purveyors within a 100-mile radius of Charleston, ensuring the freshness and quality of its dishes.
Xiao Bao Biscuit's signature dish, the XBB Biscuit, is made using a proprietary blend of flours, including both all-purpose and self-rising varieties, to achieve a perfectly flaky and tender texture.
The restaurant's kitchen utilizes a specialized technique called "velveting" to prepare its meats, a traditional Chinese method that involves marinating the proteins in a mixture of egg whites, corn starch, and seasonings to create a silky, tender mouthfeel.
Xiao Bao Biscuit's bartenders are well-versed in the art of craft cocktails, with a menu that features unique Asian-inspired concoctions, such as a lychee-infused gin and tonic and a house-made ginger beer-based moscow mule.
The restaurant's design incorporates reclaimed wood and industrial-chic elements, creating a hip and modern ambiance that pays homage to Charleston's historic architectural heritage.
The restaurant's popular "Bao Bun" dish features a steamed bun that is made in-house using a combination of all-purpose flour, rice flour, and a touch of sugar, resulting in a pillowy-soft texture.
Xiao Bao Biscuit's kitchen team uses a specialized wok-cooking technique to ensure the perfect balance of charred edges and juicy interiors in its stir-fried dishes.
The restaurant's wine list showcases a curated selection of biodynamic and organic vintages, many of which are sourced from small, family-owned vineyards in the Pacific Northwest and California.
Xiao Bao Biscuit's dessert menu features unexpected treats, such as a soy sauce-infused crème brûlée and a black sesame panna cotta, which demonstrate the chefs' innovative approach to blending Asian and Western flavors.
The 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024 - Sweet and Savory Treats - Callie's Hot Little Biscuit
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit is a beloved biscuit brand that has won the hearts of Charleston locals and visitors alike.
With multiple locations in Charleston, Atlanta, and Charlotte, the brand offers a range of piping hot biscuits, pimento cheese sandwiches, and other locally inspired breakfast, lunch, and late-night treats.
The eateries also feature signature biscuit bowls filled with slow-cooked grits and a french press coffee, showcasing the brand's commitment to preserving Southern baking traditions.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit's use of simple, high-quality ingredients and its dedication to handmade preparation have helped it stand out in the competitive Charleston restaurant scene, earning it a well-deserved spot on the list of the 7 Charleston Restaurants You Can't Miss in 2024.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit uses a secret blend of three different types of flour to achieve the perfect texture and rise in their biscuits.
The company's founder, Carrie Morey, perfected her grandmother's biscuit recipe by incorporating a touch of cream cheese, which adds a unique richness and tenderness to the final product.
Callie's biscuits are baked in a specially designed convection oven that ensures even heat distribution, resulting in a consistently flaky and golden-brown exterior.
The company sources its butter from a small dairy farm in the Appalachian Mountains, where the cows are grass-fed, ensuring a higher butterfat content for a richer, more pronounced flavor.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit offers a variety of unique biscuit flavors, including a savory cheddar-chive option and a sweet iced blueberry biscuit, each made with carefully selected ingredients.
The company's pimento cheese, a signature ingredient in many of their sandwiches, is a closely guarded recipe that has been passed down through generations of the Morey family.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit uses a custom-designed biscuit cutter that creates a distinctive fluted edge, adding both visual appeal and a unique texture to their biscuits.
The company's grab-and-go eateries feature a specialized biscuit warmer that keeps the biscuits piping hot and fresh throughout the day, ensuring a consistently satisfying experience for customers.
Callie's biscuit dough is hand-rolled and cut, rather than machine-processed, to preserve the artisanal quality and authenticity of the final product.
The company's signature biscuit bowls, filled with slow-cooked grits and topped with a variety of savory ingredients, were inspired by the traditional Southern breakfast dish of shrimp and grits.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit sources its coffee beans from a small-batch roaster in Charleston, ensuring a high-quality and locally-sourced experience for its customers.
The company's commitment to sustainability extends to its packaging, which includes compostable containers and utilizes recycled materials wherever possible.