My boyfriend and I will be spending a long weekend in Charleston at the end of May. I have done a fair amount of research about places to eat, but I wanted to see if the ones that I have considered garner any strong reactions one way or another. I appreciate any comments or additional suggestions.

For dinner, I am thinking Magnolia and either Charleston Grill or Peninsula Grill. Is one "Grill" better than another?

For lunch, I am thinking either Poogan's Porch, 82 Queen, Fast & French or Sticky Fingers.

For breakfast, I am thinking Hominy Grill and Bakers Cafe.

For dessert, it seems as though Kaminsky's is the place.

Hi cperry006. On the search box here on Fodor's type in GoTravel. She, as a native, did a "weekend" tourist visit to Charleston and has a lot of wonderful suggestions.

Also type in Charleston in the search box. It seems like Charleston is the city that so many of us are visiting this year.

Charleston is known as the "restaurant city of the south" evidently. And after being there a couple of weeks ago I can sure see why.

Poogan's Porch is fantastic. As is SNOB, but although it is impossible to enjoy every restaurant on a visit I do believe that whereever you go will be wonderful.

Kaminskys is terrible. Store-bought frozen desserts that look "fancy" and taste like nothing. Avoid.

Sticky Fingers is a chain. Avoid.

I have not been to Magnolia, only their sister restaruant Blossom, but it was so mediocre yet pretentious, that it's put me off that whole group. Perhaps you should do both "Grills".

I had settled on Hominy Grill for breakfast myself last year when Gaston screwed up my plans. I'll try it again this year. Have fun.

Additional suggestions:
McCrady's
Garibaldi's
Il Cortile de Re
Hagen Daaz (beats the hell out of any other dessert in town)
Sermet's Corner

I went to Charleston 4 or 5 years ago on a business trip and honestly that's the best I've eaten in my life! Magnolia and Slightly North of Broad are 2 that I remember very well and would definitely visit on a return trip. A couple of regional favorites that I tried were Shrimp 'n Grits and She-Crab soup. I didn't have those at either of the above 2 restaurants but pretty much any restaurant offers those 2 items if you're interested in sampling the regional cuisine. Enjoy your trip!

I thoroughly enjoyed Magnolia a couple weeks ago. Do try the Shrimp over Grits. For lunch you will enjoy Fast and French for a change of pace--it is a real funky place to eat but good food. You might also try Jestines for southern food with no frills.

Lots of good places to eat also include Poogan's Porch and 82 Queen and Rue de Jean. Enjoy, Margo

For some very detailed Charleston food information, go onto egullet.com and search in the Southeast forum. The people who post on there are great about making suggestions and are not at all shy with their opinions! I have have to say that (so far) I've never had a bad meal when I've followed their advice.

After only two trips, my favorite Charleston restaurants have been 39 Rue de Jean, the Hominy Grill, and S.N.O.B. I had a good, but not outstanding lunch at Magnolia's. I had dinner at Poogan's Porch, and it was good, but I probably won't go back there until I have tried some of the other places. I was not very impressed with 82 Queen, but perhaps I just ordered badly there. I have had dessert at Kaminsky's almost every night that I've ever stayed in Charleston. Only two of the desserts were average. The rest, particularly the raspberry coconut cake and the coconut cream pie, were better than average. Also, the prices for dessert are far more reasonable than at many upscale restaurants...for simliar quality.

We've been to Charleston 5 or 6 times now. Anson's is delightful and is my all time favorite for a nice evening out! Wonderful she-crab soup and great dinners. When we visit I normally plan two dinners here.

Jestine's was GREAT for lunch. Low key and casual but authentic southern food. I am now kicking myself for not going on our first trip. It was our last trip that we finally went.

We went to 82 Queen for lunch and the she crab soup and our meals were incredibly salty. Maybe it was just an off day for the chef.

I don't get the draw to Poogan's Porch. Our food was ok and the restaurant was filthy.

High Cotton is also very nice. It is very upscale and they have a nightly souffle special which might be an option for dessert.

I would suggest going to the websites for all of these places and checking out their menus. SNOB came very highly recommended and we personally didn't like it - too heavy. But everyones likes and dislikes are a little different

Here are some of the websites...
www.ansonrestaurant.com
www.high-cotton.net
www.82queen.com
www.slightlynorthofbroad.net

Penninsula Grill is the nicest restaurant in Charleston.

In my opinion, none of the restaurants mentioned are bad.

Sticky Fingers is a chain but I think only to South Carolina.

Poogans Porch may seem dirty but the building is almost 150 years old. One of my favorite restaurants.

I'll try and find the post but the local paper did a top twenty.

We were in Charleston last week and had really good food at S.N.O.B. at lunch. Their lunch special was an excellent value. We had dinner one evening at the Old Village Post House, which is part of the same group as S.N.O.B. It is located in Mt. Pleasant which is just across the bridge from Charleston. The food was outstanding. It is a very popular place, and a reservation is recommended. The website is www.oldvillageposthouse.com.

My reference to Poogan's Porch being dirty had nothing to do with the age of the building. When we went the tables and walls were obviously dirty. I can't say what their normal standard is but that was our experience. I had looked forward to our visit to their restaurant and was very disappointed. I would never go back. Sorry guys!

Maybe your standards and mine are different? I've been eating at Poogans Porch literally all my life and never noticed it being dirty. A little worn perhaps but not dirty.

In the spring, the pollen is terrible and leaves and yellowish/green dust on everything all day long.

We had gone in the winter so the pollen wasn't an issue. The restaurant was definitely "worn" as you stated. But the kicker was the table not being wiped down properly and the walls being dirty. They looked like they needed a good scrub with a cloth. There were food splatters and finger prints on them. For my first experience at their restaurant I wasn't impressed.

My hometown has a place with the best pizza around but they've had the same red velvet wallpaper since the 60s. Itss now falling off the walls and the place looks dingy to say the least. Same great pizza though. There is a lot to say for history with a restaurant.

My wife and I (mid-50's) enjoyed a week in Feb in Charleston.. Jestine's was just down the block from our hotel and one of our favorites for GOOD down home Southern fare, nothing fancy; just plain good! Hominy Grill was a little drive but very special; strongly recommend. Sticky Fingers had great BBQ and the people there were tops. Enjoy your time together!!