Best Of - Charleston, SC

[mrsgus06]

I have one child that is going to Grace United Weekday School for 4K, and the other 3 attend St. Andrews School of Math and Science. St. Andrews is a magnet school and is wonderful. All fifth grade students are automatically reserved a spot at C.E. Williams middle school, which is also a magnet school. However, West Ashley High School leaves a lot to be desired. I will send mine to James Island High when the time comes. West Ashley High is just too big and the student number is way up there. There is a lot of parent involvement in both St. Andrews and C.E Williams and I think that makes a big difference.

 

[tar heel]

We always eat at the Crab House, Sticky Fingers and Gilligan's (we stay at Kiawah). Have had a pretty good meal at Hyman's but I wouldn't wait the amount of time that is sometimes required there. Tried a recommended place called Marina Seafood (I think) this time and found it so-so. We went to one of the really expensive places this summer. It was WONDERFUL, but I can't think of the name. Had lots of rooms and a little gareden/gazebo area. Very $$$$, though.

The kids and I had an okay meal at Bubba Gump's a couple years ago after we walked out of Garibaldi's where our choir was eating after performing at Spoleto. Waiter was a jerk b/c I had the nerve to ask if my son could get something he would actually eat for the $25 a person we were paying. I asked at the time we were ordering and thought it was a reasonable question -- I was going to pay $25 for some $6 dish so his tip would not have been affected. My dh thought the food was awesome, though.

I love barbecue, but I won't eat at Maurice's in any city b/c of his racism.

 

[MinnieM3]

Here is another question. We have been trying to find a good crab dip somewhere. We had a LOT of coupons for free crab dip apps at different places so we have tried a lot. In Maryland and PA, crab dip is made with crab, cream cheese, some other stuff , and then other cheese is put on top and it is heated. It is REALLY good. All the crab dips down here are in these teeny tiny rammekins or soup cups and they are cold and coleslawy in texture. The best one we found so far was at A.W. Shucks, but even that was still the cold kind. Does anyone here make it hot?
Thanks

Not that I have seen! No cold ones. Often there are warm seafood dips, but not solely crab. There's a great one ata Wild Wings in Mt. Pleasaant. I sometimes get it as just my entree! No sharing!

The best cold brab dip here was at the Trawler Restaurant, an old landmark that is now gone. They are many restaurants on Shem Creek and probably all of them have crab dip. I have a great recipe for the Trawler's old crab dip, but it is cold. I could have eaten my weight in that stuff!

 

[MinnieM3]

Karen, I know I'm bound to run into you somewhere here! If you see a grat SUV with DSNYFAN on the plate.........it's me! Also have a pink breast cancer ribbon.

 

[tar heel]

The $$$ place we ate at was 82 Queen. Food was wonderful. Love my entree (crab cakes), but my favorite parts of the meal were fried green tomatoes and grits appetizer and lemon-lime and raspberry sorbets for dessert

 

[christineann]

I love The Mustard Seed - locations in Mt. Pleasant and James Island.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Karen, I know I'm bound to run into you somewhere here! If you see a grat SUV with DSNYFAN on the plate.........it's me! Also have a pink breast cancer ribbon.

Is DSNYFAN your actual license plate number?? I think I saw you I said to my fiance that I bet it was a DISer! I keep thinking too that I'm bound to run into some of you helpful folks, and I won't know it's you to thank you!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

How old are your kids?

I have two children, ages 7 and 13. I read about the private school and that sounds great, IF we can afford it. I have been looking at the schools and wondered about Fort Dorchester. Is there a place that I can get the information about the best schools with the least amount of disciplinary problems? Of course that can wait, I won't be going if I don't get the job! Ha Ha. But the restaurants sound great!

 

[CarolinaBlue]

We love California Dreaming. We also like Sticky Fingers & T-Bonz. One place that I really miss is the Ice House. It used to be in the market years ago. The food was great. I don't know what happened to them. One year it was there, and the next time we went, it was gone. We love to go to Charleston. We try to go at least twice a year. DH and I just went in August for our anniversary. It was the first time we had been anywhere without the kids in eleven years!

 

[MinnieM3]

Is DSNYFAN your actual license plate number?? I think I saw you I said to my fiance that I bet it was a DISer! I keep thinking too that I'm bound to run into some of you helpful folks, and I won't know it's you to thank you!

Yep! It's my actual plate! I bet you saw me. I "let" DH drive the "big" car every once in awhile, but usually it's me and Ds6. If it's just me, I probably have the CD playing going so loud that I'm in another world! I have super short hair... been very slow growing back and I'm almost always singing in the car!

This is so neat! WOW! Glad you are getting out enjoying the area. I think the annual "Taste of Charleston" is coming up and I bet you'd love that. I've never been because I'm kinda outta the big crowd/wild life age. (OK, I'm boring!), but it always gets rave reviews and people who go have a great time with tons of great food!

 

[lynetteSC]

Ok, I will post my SECRET FAV place down there! I grew up in Charleston and miss this place terribly! It is REAL Italian ... Tom Potaro's ... it is on Rivers Ave before you get to Remount Rd if you were coming from the dowtown area. It has weird hours (or used to) but they have the BEST veal and lasagna. Enjoy and let me know if you eat there!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Yep! It's my actual plate! I bet you saw me. I "let" DH drive the "big" car every once in awhile, but usually it's me and Ds6. If it's just me, I probably have the CD playing going so loud that I'm in another world! I have super short hair... been very slow growing back and I'm almost always singing in the car!

This is so neat! WOW! Glad you are getting out enjoying the area. I think the annual "Taste of Charleston" is coming up and I bet you'd love that. I've never been because I'm kinda outta the big crowd/wild life age. (OK, I'm boring!), but it always gets rave reviews and people who go have a great time with tons of great food!

It's ok, we're boring too! We're only out and about a lot because we don't have jobs yet and we're going crazy!!

 

[SRUAlmn]

I just looked up The Taste of Charleston. It's actually next Sunday, my birthday!!! Has anyone ever gone? It seems like it might be pretty fun... It's only $5 to get in, but then you have to pay for food vouchers to buy stuff.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Yes it is. And there's one in Mount Pleasant too. It's practically across the street from Melvin's


I liked Poogan's Porch for lowcountry cuisine and also 82 Queen and Magnolias.


I like California Dreaming a lot. I've also eaten at the one in Columbia.

How about the Crab Shack? We've eaten at the West Ashley location and thought it was a good meal at a reasonable price. Not that this helps you any, but it's the only place I've ever been to that has crab legs on the kid's menu! My son just loves it!

Think we're going to try this for lunch today. Any recommendation as to which location is the best? Thanks

 

[Figment22]

Think we're going to try this for lunch today. Any recommendation as to which location is the best? Thanks

Sorry, Karen. I've only eaten at the one location so I don't know how the others stack up.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I just looked up The Taste of Charleston. It's actually next Sunday, my birthday!!! Has anyone ever gone? It seems like it might be pretty fun... It's only $5 to get in, but then you have to pay for food vouchers to buy stuff.

Taste of Charleston is tons of fun. Get there early and come hungry! My parents owned a restaurant in Charleston when I was growing up and they had a booth there for a few years. I think you would have a great birthday there.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

If you like gullah food there is a pretty good restaurant on 17 North in Mount Pleasant... I can't recall the name of it but it was a low brown or sea green building...unfortunately I can't give any meaningful directions beyond that because Mt. P is so different each time I visit now. We used to be able to find our way around easily but now its highly confusing. One thing I remember is that its before that big outdoor mall thing they built (probably where the Marble Slab is). Anyway we had them cater my dad's funeral and the food was very very good.

 

[SRUAlmn]

We went yesterday and bought our advance tickets for Taste of Charleston. I hope Tammy is outta here by then. It says they'll hold it rain or shine, but I'd rather be there for shine We never went to Crab Shack. I think we're thinking next week. Trying to stretch some money while we wait for our jobs!

 

[MinnieM3]

Hey Karen

I think that place onHwy. 17 might be called "Gullah Cuisine." I think there's another Gullah restaurant downtown called Jestine's Kitchen.

Now, today was a school inservice adn we were let out of our cages for a whole hour for lunch and tried this place called Guiseppe's Pizza and Pasta and it was fabulous and reasonable! Very nice wait staff. They deliver and have carry out, too. It's in that "new" shopping center at the corner of Ben Sawyer Blvd. and Rifle Range Road, where they opened the new Bi-Lo. I plan to go again very soon!

This weather really does stink! Enough with the rain!

My school is looking for a Kindergarten Aide, btw. I don't remember if you're education, but I thought you might be. It's my DS's class and they've been without someone for over 2 weeks now.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Hey Karen

I think that place onHwy. 17 might be called "Gullah Cuisine." I think there's another Gullah restaurant downtown called Jestine's Kitchen.

Now, today was a school inservice adn we were let out of our cages for a whole hour for lunch and tried this place called Guiseppe's Pizza and Pasta and it was fabulous and reasonable! Very nice wait staff. They deliver and have carry out, too. It's in that "new" shopping center at the corner of Ben Sawyer Blvd. and Rifle Range Road, where they opened the new Bi-Lo. I plan to go again very soon!

This weather really does stink! Enough with the rain!

My school is looking for a Kindergarten Aide, btw. I don't remember if you're education, but I thought you might be. It's my DS's class and they've been without someone for over 2 weeks now.

Oh, I know exactly where you mean Guiseppe's is. That's not too far from where we live And my fiance LOVES pizza! We'll have to try that. This is awful, we're so bored all we ever do is eat

Yes, I'm in education. Waiting to hear back about a K job. They sent my name in as their recommendation, now we're just waiting... I'd obviously prefer the head teacher position, but I'll keep you posted. If something falls through with this one I would definitely be interested! Thanks