My daughter is taking me to Charleston for a 3-day visit , and while there I want to treat her to a special lunch/brunch or dinner in a special place. What would you suggest ? We enjoy and appreciate fine food and lovely atmosphere. A place of historical or regional 'flavor' a definite plus !
Thanks.

If you like Seafood, I would recommend The Boathouse on East Bay St or Hyman's on Meeting St. Both are fairly well known in South Carolina and have that historic feeling that you are looking for. (Actually just about anywhere you go in the historic district of downtown Charleston will feel that way.) If seafood is not your thing or you are looking for more of a lunch place with genuine atmosphere, than Cafe Lana on Cumberland St. is your place. (Josephine's on Meeting is pretty cool too.) ENJOY!!

Our favorite place in Charleston is California Dreaming. It looks like a castle and sits right on the water. The food is wonderful. They are open for lunch and dinner. One hint: go early, they get packed quickly and they don't take reservations.

I recently returned from a 3 day visit to Charleston also & had a fabulous time. My 17 & 19 yr. old daughters went along too & our favorite restaurant was Slightly North of Broad or S.N.O.B., as their sign reads. It is a really cute restaurant & the food is so delicious, but a little pricey, but worth it! We also ate at Magnolia's, which is a very nice restaurant, but the food was fair. The last night we were there, we ate at a real cute restaurant called The SouthEnd Brewery. The food was great & fairly reasonable. Bon appetti!

Bon Appetit, not apetti! LOL!

Slightly North of Broad, Poogan's Porch, and Anson are good choices (see my Charleston 2002 travelogue at www.oneeyed.homestead.com for experiences and links). A lot of people might tell you Peninsula Grill is the most special place to go. 82 Queen also should merit consideration. I haven't been to either of these two yet, so I can't say for sure. A different option is the restaurant at Middle Place plantation outside of town. I have had a very nice lunch there, and dinner is supposed to be fancier and even better. It just so happens to be my favorite of the four major Charleston plantations too. You could combine a plantation tour with dinner.

Thanks to everybody for the advice ! I'll look at the possibilities....we'll be there in September.
Dan, I read your travelogue on Charleston and soon want to look at other destinations, too ! Very good photos !
Again, your help was much appreciated.

Another vote for Poogan's Porch. Ask to sit on the back porch. Try out the alligator soup.

And another vote for Poogan's Porch.

Thanks to Dan's travelogue, we had a week's worth of wonderful dining in Charleston and Isle of Palms. I also recommend The Boathouse and Long Island Cafe on Isle of Palms and Water's Edge in Shem Creek.

Skip Magnolia's, the place is not what we experienced 4 years ago.

It's been a few years since I was in Charleston, but Poogan's Porch is one very good memory. I would recommend it highly.