I will be in Charleston on business this weekend, staying at The Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel. I will not have a car, but have downloaded and set up the uber app.
Suggestions on a restaurant or two would be appreciated, especially one with great seafood. Thanks!!
Hyman’s is a local seafood institution but I found it a bit meh.
One of the best restaurants I have ever eaten in is in Charleston - Circa 1886. It’s very fancy, atmospheric and romantic (and pricey), so maybe not the thing for a business trip. And not a seafood place. But I thought I would throw out a plug.
My wife and I enjoyed S.N.O.B. (Slightly North of Broad). It’s not strictly a seafood joint, more a really good restaurant with a few good seafood dishes.
For restaurants that specialize in seafood, we have enjoyed A.W. Shucks, Charleston Crab House and Hank’s Seafood Restaurant, all downtown on Market Street, if I remember correctly.
It’s weird, but I don’t think Charleston has great seafood (or is really known for seafood). I live here and, even though it is coastal, the seafood is not what I would call great.
I would suggest Fuel or Edmund’s Oast (if you also like good beers).
Lot’s of good BBQ around as well.
Why not? I’ll be dining alone, but I like atmosphere.
Copying notes onto my phone. Good beer is a definite plus!!
And I’m shocked on the seafood comment. I just automatically assumed coastal = seafood. 
Tommy Condon’s for the she-crab soup, Kazinsky’s for dessert.
Hopefully they’re still open. I haven’t been there in awhile.
I’ll second Fuel and Charleston Crab House. FIG is also very good, but none are particularly cheap if price is a consideration. Queology has pretty good BBQ. TBonz is good for steaks, burgers and ribs.
Charleston is a foodie’s delight. It’s really hard to go wrong with the local restaurants.
I vote Sticky Fingers for BBQ. They’re a regional chain. I will crawl across a field of broken glass for a plate of their dry rub.
Seconding a few previously-mentioned nominations, and adding some expansions.
Circa 1886 is behind the Wentworth House/Mansion, and it’s very classy, and pretty pricey. It is the epitome of old Charleston money. Dress business nice for breakfast/lunch, church clothes for dinner. They have the absolute best shrimp and grits that I have ever eaten in my life, and everything else we ate there was delightful. My husband and I stayed at Wentworth, with Circa meals included, for our honeymoon, and we’re currently saving up for another stay for our 10th anniversary.
I’m with **skylyn **- Savannah really has a better rep for seafood, but there’s still plenty of good places.
Charleston Crab House is probably your best bet for “traditional” seafood. Lots of fried stuff, oysters, shrimp by the pound, all that. Not too expensive, LOTS of food.
I’ve heard good things about Tommy Condons, but I’ve never been myself.
SNOB is good, but nothing especially memorable.
High Cotton is newer, and they’re excellent. I’ve eaten at the Charleston one and the Greenville one, and had no complaints whatsoever.
Sticky Fingers is good, but they’re not consistent. Sometimes the ribs are aaaaamaaaaazing, and sometimes they’re just - eh, decent ribs tonight. Never bad, but not always the top of their game.
TBonz is very like Sticky Fingers, but with more of a steak angle. I find them more consistent than Sticky Fingers, but I also like steaks more than ribs. They’ve got an unfair advantage in that they’re literally connected to ----
Kaminskys, which you really ought to visit for dessert. They’ve got a rotating cake/pie selection that is full of amazingness, and they make homemade milkshakes and have a huge selection of drinks, alcoholic and not. You can eat there, or take a slice to go, but you can’t take the drinks outside, so if you want a nice mint milkshake made with a shot of Rumplemintz liqueur, you’ve got to wait for a table.
Finally, a duo of lower-class Charleston staples: If you want a cheap lunch break, or want to hit the less-fancy side of life, try out these two:
Andolinis Pizza. There’s at least one downtown close to the Wentworth, and there are more scattered around the region: one on James Island, one in West Ashley, probably one over the bridge heading towards Daniels Island. All the places are dives, but huge slices, made fresh, and lots of fun.
Ye Ole Fashioned Cafe and Ice Cream isn’t actually in the city - you’ll have to head over the bridge towards James Island/Savannah Hwy, but it’s cute, it’s been part of the landscape pretty much forever, and if you want a good classic “diner/cafe” sandwich and shake, it’s great.
I’m probably just projecting my preferences - if I’m dining alone when traveling I tend to prefer a brewpub or similar more casual atmosphere. But absolutely if you want to go, go! The food was to die for and the wine list was superb.
Hymans for Seafood, Charleston Grill.
Poogan’s Porch had the best Mint Julep I’ve ever had. And d*mn good food, too.
Hyman’s was fantastic.
We also enjoyed Pusser’s Landing, but I can’t tell if it’s still open.
I was going to recommend the Gullah Kitchen, a roadhouse a few miles north in Mt. Pleasant, but I checked online and see that Charlotte Jenkins, who makes the best Southern food I had anywhere in the South, closed it down in 2014 to concentrate on her catering biz. NOOOOOOOO!
Luckily, you can still find her cookbook, Gullah Cuisine. Damn, that lady has the magic hands.
Agreed! If the OP has a car and we can expand recommendations to the Mt Pleasant area, I can chime in with more great places.
Well, I’m enjoying it here, tornado not withstanding. For lunch I’ve become a regular at Jestine’s Kitchen. Excellent soul food with a line of hungry diners. Last night I ended up at Pearlz Oyster Bar where I inhaled happy hour raw oysters and put away many IPA drafts.
Tonight I’m heading to FIG.
I’m staying at the Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel and everything is walking distance.
Very envious. Food is great, and Ukulele Lady and I were married in Washington Square Park next to the little statue of two dancing children and honeymooned at Two Meeting Street Inn, at Meeting Street and South Battery. Peek up at the second floor room on the south side to see where we fornicated like crazed weasels.
I used to have family in Charleston. This is where they took us when we visited. Good stuff.
I was about to recommend Jestine’s Kitchen. Great banana pudding, and I adore their homemade pickles.
You mentioned that you had Uber, so if you’re still looking for seafood, you might try (if it’s still there, I haven’t been in Charleston in about 10 years) Vickery’s, in Mount Pleasant. The seafood’s good, if not great; but if you eat on the patio, you can watch the shrimp trawlers coming in for the night. Great view of the harbor and Shem Creek.
For barbecue, go out to Bessinger’s in West Ashley. Be sure you get the Lowcountry barbecue - it’s the only other style I’d say is equal to east North Carolina barbecue.
I envy you. Charleston is just about my favorite city in America.
^:D
Back to Jestine’s for lunch today. I’ve kinda become a regular.
Last night I was chatting with my daughter (she lives in Virginia) and was surprised to learn she’s been here! I was sitting, having a beer at Mellow Mushroom. She asked if I’d checked out King Street. A glance at the menu told me I was on King Street (and a tad tipsy).
Great trip.