Laura A.'s Profile

I feel bad for my fellow Cvillains who think this is good Mexican food. It's not even good cheap faux Mexican food. Nice outdoor patio in a convenient location, but the food and drinks were sub-par.

A great little spot for sandwiches and soups in charming Little Washington. We tried the country ham with grilled balsamic portobello and local goat cheese sandwich ($7.50) and were thrilled. All sandwiches are served with a mixture of Virginia favorites Rte 11 chips. Their space is filled with beautiful old serving ware, and there are interesting drinks and fresh produce on offer, plus a cooler full of local cheeses. My only complaint is that they used un-recyclable plastic clam shells for all of their to-go orders when a simple brown paper bag would have sufficed.

Another voice to add to the chorus. Best tacos I've ever eaten. Love the salsa and spicy carrot/onion mixture.

I have to echo the sentiments of A.G. on this one. Very difficult to find, staff was goofing off when we walked in. Dirty bathrooms, tiny, non-raked theaters, and a hefty $9.75 ticket price. Not going there again if we can help it.

This is pretty much my favorite place to eat in Charleston right now. I love their emphasis on top-quality local ingredients, and I can honestly say I've never had anything bad here. Prices are not cheap but reflect the quality of the meat and produce. Some favorite things to eat here: fries with buttermilk dressing (heavy but worth the indulgence), deviled eggs done just right, the shrimp and white beans over grits (maddeningly good), and all the po-boys. Wish they were open on Sundays for dinner, as that's when my cravings for dressed-up home cooking hit hardest. If you're there for brunch, three words: Pimento. Cheese. Omelet.

Like hundreds of others now flocking to this previously unknown strip mall sushi/hibachi place, the only reason we ate at Bushido was to take the spicy tuna challenge recently featured on "Man vs. Food."
  Most of the table ordered from the regular menu, featuring predictable hibachi entrees and pan asian favorites. I had a couple of rolls and a bowl of miso soup. Not bad, but definitely not worth the drive from downtown. Shi Ki has infinitely better sushi.
  Of the three chaps at our table who took the challenge, one made it through #3 out of 10 of the spicy tuna handrolls, each overflowing with gooey, saucy raw tuna, the next made it through #4, and the champ of the evening made it through #8, though not without considerable injury ("my asshole is quivering"). The real downer about this otherwise hilarious challenge is that the handrolls just don't taste very good, as all three competitors agreed. The spice is nothing to sniff at, but it's the volume that really hurts, not to mention all the chewing required by the seaweed wrapper.
  Service was okay, the atmosphere was high glare (never flattering on sushi), and the bathrooms were deplorable. The spicy tuna challenge is just a stunt to lure thrill-seekers into an otherwise mediocre restaurant.

Three cheers for the Vegetable Bin!  Go there to buy your local produce and save a bundle on groceries. The people who work there are always kind and gracious, and you just can't beat the prices. Not everything they sell is local, but you should be able to tell by what looks big, beefy, and delicious (e.g. Johns Island tomatoes). Let's keep these folks in business!

Great little romantic spot for our 3rd anniversary. I mentioned this when I made the reservation, expecting a cozy corner table, but instead, the hostess seated us in the middle row. I was a little miffed until she brought out two glasses of champagne--a very nice touch.
We started with a cheese plate, which featured a mouth-watering Morbier, some powerful gorgonzola, a funky camembert, a subtle but exquisite manchego, and the belle of the ball, a truffled goat cheese. I can still remember exactly how that last one tastes today, and man would I love some more.
I tried the moules frites and my husband went with the pork tenderloin and fries. We were both moaning by about two bites in. The mussels were fat and perfectly French, in a lappable white wine and garlic broth. The fries we both felt were too salty but still decadently good. Whatever the tangy dressing was on his side of cabbage did wonders for that vegetable. We each had a different glass of wine and couldn't have been happier with our selections. Mine was a Domaine de Fenouillet cotes du ventoux with enough bold flavor to stand up to those fries; his was the only Spanish red on the menu (always the rebel).
The prix fixe menu mentioned by another reviewer no longer exists, apparently. Wish we could have tried the profiteroles I saw gracing another table, but there was simply no more room. We will definitely be back as the wallet permits. It's nice to find a place that balances a casual atmosphere with elegance and good service so well.

We loved it. A little cramped in the center section, but I wouldn't have traded seats with anyone because of my view of the bustling kitchen. Warm and inviting. Love the cozy copper tables. We thought perhaps they use copper because the dishes are served right in the cookware, which is very hot!  

We started with mussels, which were probably the best I've ever had, then split the Lobster Diavolo. Granted, we lapped up all the mussel broth with a basket of bread before the giant entree even appeared, but it was still a TON of food. Way more than enough for two people. The huge saucepan was full of lobster, clams, mussels, squid, and little tiny octopi atop a bed of linguine, all of it swimming in a spicy Diavolo marinara. It was fabulous, though I'd still say the mussels won my heart. Service was impeccable.

I'm no expert on chowder, but the bowl I had at Gilbert's after tromping through snowy streets sure hit the spot. The server couldn't have been nicer, and the atmosphere was relaxed enough that I felt completely at ease dining solo while skimming the free weekly. Great fries.