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Charleston Brunch Spots (Ranked High to Low)
The Peacock: 3.7/5.0
Address: 213 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
The Vibe: (4/5) It was a Beautiful day in Charleston so we opted to sit outside on the rooftop veranda. The inside was already a cool place to walk through, but the outside area was super chill and laid back with a matching staff. The Vibe was almost best, second only to Church and Union.
The Food: (3.5/5) We had Mimosas (You can get a Trio Flight) which is a Sparkling Wine with Orange, Peach and Blueberry Juice! We also, as a table of four, shared Chickpea Hummus and the Fried Green Tomatoes. The hummus was what I expected, but the Fried Green Tomatoes had a pepper relish on them that was sooooo scrumptious!!!! For my meal I had the Bad Habit which was a hearty Breakfast dish with eggs, potatoes, bacon and little chicken bites.
All in all, the food was set apart by the Mimosa Flight, the Fried Green Tomatoes and the Flavorful Entree - I 100% recommend the Bad Habit!
The Service: (3.5/5) The Hostess was polite taking us upstairs to our table. But the Waitress we had... she shined like a star with a beaming smile and great attitude! She was just the right amount of chatty and just the right amount of present! It really helped make the experience!
Church and Union: 3.7/5.0
Address: 32B N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
The Vibe: (4.5/5) This amazing remodel of an old Downtown Church into a huge restaurant was a GREAT idea! The stained glass windows are still intact and on the ceilings, hand painted is the full text of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War". It's like no place I have ever eaten. Beyond that, the people who were dining here and the staff all seemed very cheery and the mood was light!
The Food: (3.25/5) If a 3 is what you expect, a 3.25 is just above expectation - that's a good thing (they exceeded expectation)! We had carafes of the Cadillac Mimosa which is a classic Mimosa with freshly squeezed OJ. For my meal I had the Shrimp and Grits (Charleston Staple) and they were good! Not the best I have ever had, but they were definitely up there. You could tell the ingredients were fresh and the grits hadn't been sitting in a warmer for a long period of time.
The Service: (3.25/5) The Host staff was a little dull, no smile or vibrant welcome, but the Waiter saved the day. He was fun and carried a genuine smile. he was attentive to our drink needs and made some good recommendations for some of my friends that they complimented later!
Kultura: 3.5/5.0
Address: 73 Spring St Unit A, Charleston, SC 29403
The Vibe: (3/5) This cute little spot is small (so I highly recommend reservations) There were only three of us, so we sat at the table near the window! The feeling was very comfortable and 'homey'.
The Food: (4.5/5) This was some of the best food I have ever had (and, as you know I travel the world) - It is a Filipino inspired menu so the spices and textures will make your mouth dance! It is also more of a shareable spot, so go with friends and try a lot of different things!!
We had the Gintaan (Brussel Sprouts) and the Arroz Caldo for appetizers. And for our Entres the Pancit (to die for), the Curry and the Scallop Adobo (To kill for) - My mouth is watering just thinking about the flavors... If you never travel out of the US come here to taste a little of what you are missing out on!
The Service: (3/5) It's a small place so the bartender was the hostess and the server. That wasn't a big deal for a small place, but at times she was busy. Not a huge problem, but it wasn't anything over and beyond what I would expect of a server and staff.
Husk Charleston: 3.4/5.0
Address: 76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
The Vibe: (3.25/5) I always enjoy the atmosphere of this place! It gives good vibes from the outside in. It gives off that feel of 'home' which makes sense since it is an old Charleston house.
The Food: (3.75/5) *The menu here is always revolving - which I love!! New experiences of flavors and tastes every visit!!!
Cocktails: Bloody Maria (I usually don't rate these because they are usually just fine... but this one was really good. Probably Top 10 in Charleston - the right spice and all - I would love to see a stuffed olive topper to accent, maybe with blue cheese :-P
The Shrimp and Grits were also above par, they have definitely figured out the right seasonings for both food and drinks!!
The Service: (3.25/5) The server was good! He was attentive and made sure to do his regular table touches. I would say he did a little more than I was expecting of a staff member.
Poogan's Porch: 3.4/5.0
Address: 72 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
The Vibe: (3.25/5) Found in an old Charleston home, this little spot is super cute but the Vibe can be affected by tourists, no offense to them. But that is offset by the locals who seem to have a much more relaxed lifestyle and air about them. (We exude Charleston). Being that we went for Brunch in the off season, though it felt a little more local and that helped!
The Food: (3.5/5) A worry for any popular destination spot is that they will falter on the food because people are coming anyways. I can happy report that this was not true with out Brunch experience! The cocktails and food felt like Charleston, but a local's Charleston! (Which is why tourists love it so much- it feels authentic!)
My favorite parts of Brunch, here, though were the Cocktails! I had Zoe's Iced Coffee for a little pick-me-up and then switched to their Poogan's Bloody Mary (Maria because I do Tequila instead of Vodka). The Bloody Maria was SO GOOD! Top 5 that I have ever had! The spice was just right and though the toppers were simple, the flavors in the mix was all it needed.
For Food, I had the Ham and Cheese Omelet and it was delicious and filling! Very hearty!
The Service: (3.5/5) From the hostess who was kind and the waiter who was attentive, the service here was definitely above par. It still wasn't a 5-star experience, but it was definitely above expectations!
Felix Cocktails Et Cuisine: 3.2/5.0
Address: 550 King St #100, Charleston, SC 29403
The Vibe: (3/5) I felt similar as I do walking into any of the King Street restaurants (like Bourbon and Bubbles, Rarebit etc.) It felt classic and nothing really overly special- it was as I expected it to be.
The Food: (3.5/5) I started with the Pora Pora cause, tequila! And then we switched to mimosas. For our appetizers, the reason I rated this higher than a 3, we got the Candied Bacon and the Lobster Deviled Eggs. They were so scrumptious! If you like deviled eggs and lobster, you will love them together! (See photo to the left) The second reason they were above average is because, for an entre I got the Omelelette Maison - It was a heft omelet and the ingredients ( caramelized onion, camembert cheese, crispy lardon- pork) were really tasty together!
The Service: (3/5) Service was fine, nothing bad and nothing that really stood out as better than average. The one side note- we were in a very chatty and laughing mood that day so she may have just not wanted to bother us as we were enjoying each other so much... you know how it is :-)
The Darling Oyster: 3.2/5.0
Address: 513 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
The Vibe: (3/5)The people here were a mix of local and tourist, and the vibe matched that feel. Some southern hospitality and some... less. That mix of people made the Vibe fine. Not bad but not exceeding expectations. The restaurant is nicely decorated but nothing I felt was truly special.
The Food: (3.5/5) The food is better than just ok. I would say, especially the oysters, though slightly more expensive than I would hope for. We shared a Dozen Oysters (Ask the staff the best types to do an assortment. There were four of us so we did three of each: Carolina Golds, Rockefeller, Skinny Dippers)
Cocktails: Bloody Maria (served with Tequila) which was OK and then switched to Mimosas
Entre: Shrimp and Grits because it was a Seafood kind of day :-) This wasn't the best I've had but certainly above par.
The Service: (3/5) I would reiterate that, like other spots, the service was fine, nothing bad and nothing that really stood out as better than average.
Brasserie La Banque: 3.2/5.0
Address: 513 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
The Vibe: (3/5) I like the location of the area, for whatever reason that stood out to me. Inside felt like a remodeled bank which was probably what they were going for. It was fine - again nothing that made me say "wow"!
The Food: (3.5/5) The food was good, but they blew me away with the Blue Crab Omelette - VERY tasty! If you like crab, you get a strong flavor add from the Crab Meat - It was a great choice!
We shared the Oysters on the Half Shell and they were good - but not quite as good as The Darling Oyster!
Cocktails: Bloody Maria (was what I expected of a Bloody Maria) and Mimosas
The Service: (3/5) The server was very busy so not a lot of chatting or attention, but they did a good job taking our orders and keeping our drinks full. Nothing that felt 'Over and Beyond'.
Ruby Sunshine: 3.0/5.0
Address: 171 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
The Vibe: (3.25/5) The weather was gorgeous the day we came, which helps any vibe go up! Especially when we were able to sit outside and soak up the sun! Inside, as we walked through, had a very classic diner turned bar vibe.
The Food: (2.75/5) The food was not on par with what I had expected - but after writing my thoughts of the 'Diner turned Bar' maybe I was expecting more than I should have. The Meaty Omelet was good but lacked the flavor and spices I typically expect in a restaurant. The grits were fine and he biscuit was dry, but the butter helped.
The mimosas also helped - LOL
The Service: (3/5) Nothing 'Over and Beyond'. It was good- fine - but nothing that made me think twice about it.
Bourbon N' Bubbles: 2.9/5.0
Address: 570 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
The Vibe: (3/5) There was nothing about this place that stood out as above expectation. It felt like a lot of money was spent to make it look ritzy, but if you can feel that- then it feels unauthentic.
The Food: (2.75/5) The food was not as good as the restaurant looked - it was not up to snuff for my expectations. The Shrimp and Grits, though packed with lots of different things, just didn't excite my tastebuds. The Mimosas were fine...
The Service: (3/5) Again, nothing made me think 'WOW' with the service. It wasn't bad, but not better than good either. f
Basic Kitchen: 2.9/5.0
Address: 82 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
The Vibe: (3/5) The vibe here is very chill and a little artsy and (as an Ashevillian) hippie feeling - which I like. but nothing overly special.
The Food: (2.75/5) The menu options weren't diverse enough for my liking. Brunch menus should be small, but you can have a small yet diverse menu. It is a lot of healthier options, which I liked, but you can have both.
The carafes of Mimosas were a definite hit, but the food we ordered was also a little bland and again, not what I expect from a Charleston Restaurant. We are a 'foodie' city so I guess my expectation is a little higher than what I got here.
The Service: (3/5)Our hostess was polite and server was nice, but as with a lot of these lower ranked Brunch spots- it just didn't feel over and beyond.