Where the Locals of Charleston Go to Eat

I've lived in Mt. Pleasant, SC (sometimes referred to as the bedroom community of Charleston) for the past 24 years.  I've seen restaurants come and go and have seen the ones that the locals love. Many of the locals like to boast that East of the Cooper (Mt. Pleasant, Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms) restaurants are a great little secret. You don't have to go to Charleston to have a great meal, the prices are better and the parking is FREE! So let's get down to it, what are some of the best little hole in the wall restaurants around? (strictly my opinion)

These restaurants are in no particular order.  It just depends on what you want to eat that night

Italian

Hands down  - Sette on Coleman Blvd. Sal does it again w/ great food at a great price. 1/2 price bottle of wine at night Mon- Thurs until 8 pm.  My favorite is the Veal Marsala, Osso Buco and Lasagna. 

Sushi

Oriental Garden - Coleman Blvd next to Taco Bell.  A definite locals place.  The space is small and the decor is lacking. But isn't that what makes a great local restaurant?  The sushi is the best around. 

Mexican

Santi's - Meeting Street, Charleston- OK, so this one you'll have to travel back over the bridge to Charleston, but the parking is free.  This place used to be a Huddle House and looks like it sat unoccupied for a while before Santi's took it over.  Authentic Mexican w/ great Margaritas.  Mexican chain restaurants can't touch it!

Seafood

Isn't that why you came down here in the first place?  If you go to the well known names you'll be sorely disappointed. So instead I have a couple of places I like to visit.  I want places that not only serve fried dishes but also have blackened or grilled fish and shrimp and grits. BTW, most restaurants around here have a few seafood dishes on the menu or on their specials board)

Boathouse on Breech Inlet (in between Sullivans and IOP)

Red's Ice House - Shem Creek (killer grouper sandwich)

Huck's - new place on IOP where Banana Cabana used to be.  Nice atmosphere too!

Longpoint Grill - Longpoint Rd. -Has some nice seafood dishes on the menu. Great all around menu

There are others too...I"ll think of more when I blog again.

Hamburgers

Got to go to Poes on Sullivan's Island. Get there early, seating is limited and bar becomes a hot hangout as night wears on.

Vickery's- Shem Creek also has a nice selection of burgers. Nice when you can get a table outside that overlooks Shem Creek

Home Cooking

Boulevard Dinner - Coleman Blvd When you got to have meatloaf, fried chicken or just a grilled pimento cheese sandwich

Mustard Seed - Chuck Dawley Blvd - Healthier food than Boulevard.

Again these are the places I like to eat. And no, I don't work for Sal even though I listed 4 of his restaurants.

He just happens to have good food at reasonable prices.  I know I've left off some other great places. So I'll blog again when I get a chance.

Enjoy!

Carol

Comments

[Michelle Salater]

Great list here, Carol. I'm not a seafood eater, but Hucks is great for other things...their duck tacos are to die for. And they have the best homemade ice cream in the world. I highly suggest the sweet potato and marshmallow ice cream.

[Carol]

Local hangout, Obrion's in I'On, just remodeled and it looks great. April can whip up some mean meatloaf and I really like their salads.

[David Williams]

The boat house is my all time favorite. Grilled fish, shrimp & grits and bleu cheese coleslaw. The view from the roof deck is the best around. Don't miss it.