Last Night in Charleston: Circa 1886

Monday was our last night in Charleston, and our 30th wedding anniversary. We really wanted to find someplace special. After a bit of online research, we decided on Circa 1886. We were able to find the menu online

We made our reservations via opentable.com, which is a quick and free way to make reservations online.

We made our way there a little early, which was a good idea, as we had a bit of a problem finding the off site parking area. If you go there, and not familiar with the area, I recommend calling ahead to make sure you can find the parking area.

We told our concierge at our Inn that it was out 30th anniversary, and they apparently let the restaurant know this, and congratulated us when we got there, which was a pleasant surprise!

This restaurant, is what you would expect for fine dining establishment. The service was attentive, the wait staff cheerful and helpful.

We started with Foie Gras as an appetizer, and it was cooked perfectly. Tammy had the Antelope with White Cheddar Grits. While the Antelope was a little tough, it was cooked and seasoned well, and they elevated grits to a new level.

I had the Bison Short ribs, which were tender, with a very deep, rich, meaty flavor. It paired well with the Pinot Noir I choose for my wine.

My dessert was the Butter Pecan Creme Brûlée with Firefly Bourbon Cake. Tammy had Crispy Pear Bread Pudding with Aged Cheddar Ice Cream. The ice cream was a little gritty texture, but delicious and unique flavor

Overall it was a experience worthy of an anniversary dinner, and a good way to finish up our Charleston stay. We would definitely stop there again. The next stop on our journey, Savannah Georgia.

Magnolia's of Charleston, South Carolina

Magnolia's is a staple of the Charleston Culinary scene, and it did not disappoint. The appetizer was a Pimento Cheese spread. It made me rethink the concept of Pimento Cheese, and had no relation to the stuff you buy in a jar. I then had the Seafood and grits. It was cooked perfectly, and the grits were warm, creamy, and complemented the seafood. Tammy had Blue Crab Eggs Benedict, Fantastic. We showed up for Brunch, but you will want to make reservations if you come for dinner. We highly recommend Magnolia's if you want to eat in Charleston.

Charleston, South Carolina: Beginning an eating adventure

Tammy and I just arrived in Charleston, South Carolina this afternoon. This is our first trip here, and it was great to leave snowy Ohio for a while.The John Rutledge House is a very old historic house converted to an Inn. Our room is quite comfortable, and so far the bed is great! (Free WiFi doesn't hurt either) We did what we normally do in a new location, which is go walking around. Plans were to start our eating journey at Hyman's Seafood. Unfortunately, on a Saturday evening, it was an hour wait. Not good, since we were both tired and hungry. We looked around and just down the street a short distance was a place called Sticky Fingers. This is actually a chain, and we ate at a Sticky Fingers in Chattanooga. However, there was no wait when we walked in, the service was quick, and the food and drinks were quite nice. Sticky fingers is all about the Ribs and Brisket, and for couples, I recommend the sampler for two. No quite yet the Low country cuisine we're looking for, but we will get to that. We're already planning where to eat next, and I'll keep you updated!