Charleston, SC help
 

We will be in Charleston over Valentine's weekend and staying downtown on Bay Street .

How far in advance should we make reservations for dining on Valentine's night and which restaurants should we be sure to check out?

Has anyone done a culinary tour in Charleston? Which one and how was it?

All tips and recommendations are much needed and appreciated, as it has been too many years since we have been in Charleston.

I would make the dining reservations as soon as possible. Certain of the better restaurants take bookings well in advance of the usual one-month or 30-day window.

I would make reservations today.

suewoo is a great resource re Charleston.

There are several options on this list -
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...g-170907-2.cfm

And suewoo recommended the Ordinary on that thread.

As others say, NOW for reservations. And, really, our romantic kids have finally discovered that VD is a TERRIBLE night to eat out--crowded, rushed and subpar food here in Charlotte experience. I HOPE Charleston cares more.

Yep....make them now.

We have been to a number of restaurants in Charleston and our two favorites are FIG and Magnolia. We also like Macintosh.

I took my mother for Mother's Day last year, and made my reservations two months prior and didn't always get the exact times I wanted. So agree, now is the time for Valentine's Day booking!

And we ate at:

Prohibition (fun, very casual, small plates/sharing, occasional music/dancing at night) - 7/10

The Grocery (locavore, relaxed feel, inventive and creative food, nice presentation, a bit of a walk from historic Charleston) - 8/10

Husk (I still dream of the pimiento cheese, great presentation and execution, surprisingly good desserts [new pastry chef when we went]) - 9/10

Had some casual lunches at Butcher and Bee (great food) and Fleet Landing (atmosphere, food just ok, very tourist heavy, large parties)

McCrady's, Fig and Husk - depending on your budget.

All good suggestions. And correct that you will need to make reservations as soon as you decide.

Wjere on Bay Sreet? Will you have a car?

Yes, make your Valentine's Day dinner reservations AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and don't expect a great meal no matter where you go. Valentine's Day is simply the worst day to dine out. - limited menu choices, over-crowding, sub-par service, below average food even in the best of restaurants, plus an" eat up and get out we need the tables for the next group of star crossed lovers" mentality on the part of the owner, manager and staff - it's like that all over the US on Valentine's Day.

HI Donna!

You asked about culinary tours. Charleston Culinary Tours is a very good group. They have an Upper King tour that showcases new restaurants. We’ve taken this tour twice, each time with newer, innovative, and different restaurants included. Besides getting to eat all the food--and you do get full--you progress along from one place to another in a walking tour with the tour guide describing what’s happening in this area of town. Even their different Downtown Culinary tour includes newer restaurants that have opened in that classic area. IMO, these tours are fun, and you can’t go wrong with either.

For favorite restaurants, we like McGrady’s and SNOB. In the Upper King area, Prohibition is nice, as well as Rue De Jean and Coast. Also on King St. is Sermet’s, where, on some evenings they’ll have live music upstairs in the Jazz bar/ restaurant--The Mezz. Love having a meal there while hearing good jazz! You have lots of choices. Enjoy!

suewoo, we are staying at The Lodge Alley Inn. That's where The High Cotton Restaurant is and also right next door to Magnolia's. And, yes, we will have a car.

We are going to some show that weekend that has all kinds of stuff going on with chefs and artists and wildlife exhibits.

So, Kathleen, if we do a culinary tour and are staying at The Lodge Alley which one would you recommend. I'm just wondering that if we do a tour on Saturday, if we should just go somewhere on Valentine's night(which is a Saturday), just low key.

I'll look more into the show and what we are going to be doing and post back.

Thanks for the ideas......we're old, so don't really have to celebrate Valentine's Day, it just happens to fall on the weekend that we will be meeting friends there.

Hi Cheryl! When you going back to Kauai?

We also enjoyed Macintosh very much when we were there this fall, along with regular stand-bys Slightly North of Broad and DH's favorite Magnolia's. We are big fans of Wild Olive and Fat Hen out on John's Island. I would think a less harried and still up-to-par meal on VD would be had at either The Jasmine Porch or the Ocean Room, both at the Sanctuary at Kiawah. There are several other restaurants scattered around Kiawah at various locations, though I've only had brunch at any of those. This may be a nice option if the weather is less than perfect for strolling around Charleston, but dining with an ocean view is an option.

It’s hard to say which culinary tour you’d prefer, since you’ve been to Charleston before. We liked the Upper King Tour because that area is simply exploding with new restaurants and new shops. The neighborhood there is changing and the guides talk about all these things as you stroll to each restaurant (you visit four places, the last one usually a dessert place).

But new restaurants are opening up downtown too, and those are now included in the tour that covers that area. We’ll be taking the Downtown Cul. Tour in a month, so I’ll see how they compare. You should take a look at the tour’s website, and scroll through the restaurants listed. They vary and pick out four places, so I’m not sure you’d know which ones. You could email them and ask, actually. The folks who run it are very cordial. And though you do get full by the end of the tour, IMO it should not replace your evening’s Valentine’s dinner. Maybe pick a restaurant where you could have small plates and drinks. What a great way to spend the Valentine’s Day weekend!

And, ride the free trolley that goes all around. The visitor’s center has route maps and hours. It’s great when you just want a break from walking! They’re popular and always crowded.

On a side note iceeu2—did you attend a Fodors GTG at Myrtle Beach years ago? If so, then I think we met there.

Are you taliking about row SEWE? That's always a fun time. You'll see lots of tips on cooking venison and duck : D.

I miss High Cotton a LOT. Brunch there is great.

our experiences:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ons-please.cfm

Kathleen, you're Kathy!!!!! The professor(s)!!!!! Yes, we did a GTG together at the park across from Brookgreen Gardens, and we also got together at Liberty one afternoon!!!! We're living in North Myrtle Beach now...Budman and Mrs. Budman live in Myrtle Beach! So great to reacquaint ourselves!!!! Thanks for the tips on Charleston..send anything you can think of my way!

suewoo, yes, it is SEWE that we are attending. Just looked at their website and lots of great things going on that weekend. My husband and the husband of the couple we are meeting are hunting buddies, so maybe they will find new ways to cook their venison!

I did make reservations for Valentine's night at High Cotton, but now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if we should go somewhere else that night and do brunch at High Cotton. How far is it to Shem's Creek? Would we want to go to dinner somewhere there?

There's a new place on Shem Creek. I haven't been there. Most of the places are about the views, which are nice. I think you'll be happy with High Cotton. I have had many meals there, all were excellent. I know it's hard with so many choices.

Go to Vickery's on Shem Creek for cocktails at sunset. Lovely views, nice spae, good drinks.

That reminds me of the book, Shem Creek.
If you like reading books set in places you visit.
One of Dorothea Benton Frank's lowcountry tales =
http://www.amazon.com/Shem-Creek-Low.../dp/0425203875