Charleston FYI

Menu

Summerville

Eat & Drink

Summerville eat and drink

9 Must-Try Places To Eat And Drink In Summerville

Featured Image Source: Pinterest

Just over 25 miles from the Holy City sits historic Summerville. And while Summerville is known as “The Birthplace of Sweet Tea” there are many reasons to visit this charming Charleston suburb. Besides the sugary sweet tea and rich history, the town of Summerville offers some great spots to grab drinks and a bite to eat at.

We know exploring a new area can be a bit daunting so we’re choosing our favorites for you to try.

Icehouse

A true local favorite, Icehouse always finds itself topping any of the “best restaurants in Summerville” lists. Whether you’re in the mood for a delicious filet mignon or just some wine and pimento cheese, you can find it at Icehouse. They never disappoint and seriously, their pimento cheese is a MUST.

Homegrown Brewhouse

With over 40 local beers on tap, this is your one-stop-shop for South Carolina beer. Their ultimate goal is to have every beer made in South Carolina at their brewhouse. So whether you want to sample some of the locally brewed beer or have a favorite you just can’t get enough of, Homegrown Brewhouse is your spot.

Accent On Wine

With two locations, one in Park Circle and the other on Main Street in Summerville, Accent on Wine offers a wide selection of reds and whites for you to choose from. Visit on Thursday’s when they introduce two new wines if you’re in the mood to try something new.  Not a wine drinker? No worries – they also have a beer selection and savory and sweet bites.

Coastal Coffee Roasters

Next time you’re in the mood for a cup of joe skip the Starbucks line and head here. Since 2010, Coastal Coffee Roasters has been using a unique roasting process to brew some of the best fresh, organic coffee in the Lowcountry. Every batch of coffee is roasted as they need it, which means you can bet your coffee is definitely fresh.

Oak Road Brewery

Summerville’s first brewery, Oak Road, specializes in small-batch, German beers. And while we love the beer, we love the atmosphere even more. At Oak Road Brewery you’re always hanging out with friends, drinking great beer, with a smile on your face.

Taco Boy

A visit to Taco Boy is a sneak peek at what it’s like to visit Mexico. Filled with a ton of fun details and delicious Mexican food (and drinks), Taco Boy never disappoints. Us locals love it so much, we now have three locations to choose from – Summerville, Downtown, or the original, Folly Beach.

Hall’s Chophouse

The long-awaited grand opening of Hall’s Chophouse in Summerville has finally happened. A favorite steakhouse amongst Charlestonians and visitors, Hall’s Chophouse is the go-to spot for high-end steaks, mouthwatering family sides, and a delicious handcrafted cocktail. Hall’s expanded to their fourth location in the Nexton development in September.

Pad Thai I

Don’t trust us? Just take one look at the reviews. Pad Thai I is the best Thai food in the area. And if you don’t feel like dining out, Pad Thai I offers takeout so you can enjoy classic Thai dishes at home. It is a cornerstone in the Summerville community and you won’t be disappointed.

Swig and Swine

Swig and Swine is a barbecue lover’s destination. Choose from any of the all-wood smoked meat options including pulled pork, beef briscuit, smoke turkey or smoked pork belly and grab a Southern side to enjoy with it. While you’re grabbing a bite to eat, sip (or should we say swig) on one of the 60 craft beers they have.

Try one or try them all. Then let us know what your favorite is.

Featured

Hall's Chophouse Summerville

Hall’s Chophouse Officially Opens Fourth Location In Summerville

Featured Image: Hall’s Chophouse

If you ask any Charleston local (or visitor) what their favorite steakhouse is, odds are they’ll say Hall’s Chophouse. With high-end steaks, handcrafted cocktails, and family sides to drool over, we can’t help but agree.

Obviously doing something right in the kitchen, the family-owned restaurant now has four locations, including Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and as of today, Summerville. The new location opened Wednesday, September 18 at 4 p.m. in the Nexton development and is a whopping 6,800 square feet.

The local favorite is one of many favorited Charleston restaurants to expand to the Nexton development.

Earlier in the year, Taco Boy, opened in the area making it the restaurant’s third location. Other locations include Huger Street downtown and Center Street on Folly Beach.

Soon to follow with their grand opening is Paige’s Okra Grill of Mount Pleasant and Poogan’s Hospitality.

Poogan’s, known for Poogan’s Porch and Poogan’s Smokehouse in the Holy City, will welcome their third location, dubbed Poogan’s Southern Kitchen, to the Nexton development in early 2020 along with Paige’s Okra Grill. And, while you can’t make a reservation to either until 2020, reservations can be made for Hall’s Chophouse Summerville now!

 

 

 

 

 

Featured

The Best Running Trails in the Lowcountry

Charleston is nationally recognized for its beauty, food scene and museums, but there are plenty of other activities for people who are looking to do something different. Check out these running trails for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Sawmill Branch Multi-Use Trail (Summerville)

Following along the Sawmill Branch Canal, the Sawmill Branch Trail is a flat, 10-foot wide, out and back trail that is perfect for runners and bikers alike. You can find the starting point at Gahagan Road or the parking area on Luden Drive. Most road crossings on this trail go under the road, but make sure to be mindful of the wildlife which includes deer and even alligators that can occupy the canal.

Distance: 6.5 miles
Type: Out and back
Cost: Free

James Island County Park Trail (James Island)

A vast network of trails weaves in and out of the James Island County Park featuring a variety of wildlife including ducks, heron, turtles and snakes. The trails are accessible from the many parking areas located throughout the park. Located off of Riverland Drive in James Island, these trails are just a short drive from Downtown or for residents all over the Lowcountry.

Distance: 5 miles
Type: Network
Cost: $2 per person

Wannamaker North Trail (Goose Creek)

Designed for mountain bikers in mind, but open to hikers, walkers and runners, the Wannamaker North Trail is full of elevation changes and tight turns, perfect for anyone looking for some hilly training. The trail is lined with oaks and beech trees, creating a nature-filled experience and escape from the city. The trailhead is located off of Westview Rd. in Goose Creek with parking available.

Distance: 13 miles
Type: Network
Cost: $1 per person

Hampton Park (Downtown)

Located Downtown, on the northern end of the Peninsula, Hampton Park features picturesque tranquility while still being located in downtown Charleston. With an outside loop that is nearly a mile, runners can take laps around the park or go inside where there are trails winding in and around the park grounds. With entrances on President St, Ashley Ave, Cleveland St, Elmwood Ave, Jenkins Ave and 10th Ave, Hampton Park is highly accessible for anyone looking to drive to the park or add some extra miles to their downtown run.

Distance: 1 mile
Type: Loop
Cost: Free

Eat & Drink

The Best Spots for Barbecue in Charleston

Featured Image: Eater

No one is surprised when they hear about the rise of Charleston’s food scene, and the expanse of barbecue restaurants is no exception. These five Charleston barbecue restaurants will give you plenty of southern food that you’ll be hungry to write home about.

Lewis Barbecue

Just two years ago, John Lewis changed the barbecue scene here in Charleston. Having established himself as a prized pitmaster in Austin, TX, he made his way to the Holy City to make his mark on Charleston with the opening of Lewis Barbecue. Welding the custom-designed smokers himself, Lewis wakes up at 4 a.m. to tend the fire that slow cooks meat for 18 hours.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Welcome to the Monday morning smoke show. #pitcrew

A post shared by John Lewis (@lewisbarbecue) on

Rodney Scott’s

Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ is deep-rooted in heritage and tradition. At a young age, Scott learned to cook whole hog barbecue watching his family do the same in the hog pits they built behind their convenience store in Hemingway, SC.

Word got out about how good the smoked meats the Scott’s were selling out of their convenience store was and people began traveling hours each week just to try it. With so much popularity, Rodney Scott decided to leave the family business and open up his own BBQ joint here in Charleston in 2016. In 2018, Rodney was named the James Beard Best Chef in the Southeast for his restaurant.

Home Team BBQ

With several locations, now expanding as far as Aspen, CO, Home Team BBQ is a fresh and local-minded restaurant right down to their sauces. With experimentation always in mind, the Home Team crew is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to use smoked meats. With award-winning dishes, an expansive bar, and a fun, family-friendly environment, Home Team is the whole package!

View this post on Instagram

How much for one rib?

A post shared by Home Team BBQ (@hometeambbq) on

Smoke BBQ

In the heart of Charleston on upper King Street is Smoke BBQ. Smoke is one of the most diverse options of the Charleston BBQ scene. With plenty to choose from, including tacos and pastrami that is cooked 16 hours, Smoke stands out in the crowd. Check it out the next time you’re downtown and looking for some southern barbecue.

Swig & Swine

Swig & Swine features classic, all-wood smoked barbecue that delivers the juiciest smoked meats the Lowcountry has to offer. With four locations in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville and West Ashley, Swig & Swine restaurants are serving up to barbecue lovers all around.

Eat & Drink

These Two Lowcountry Restaurants Made Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat”

Image Source: Hall’s Instagram

Every year Yelp compiles a list of the top 100 restaurants in the United States with the help of the Yelp community, dubbing these restaurants “The Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.” Just recently released was Yelp’s top 100 places to eat in 2019 and this year, two Lowcountry restaurants made the list.  

With over 25 million reviews in 2018 alone, Yelp’s sixth annual “Top 100 list” consists of restaurants which received the highest reviews and rankings, with the number of reviews taken into consideration.

So which two Lowcountry restaurants were tasty enough to land in the top 100?

Hall’s Chophouse – Downtown, Charleston

On the list for the second year in a row, Hall’s Chophouse has over 1,500 reviews and 4.5 stars. In 2019, Hall’s finds itself in the number eighteen spot, falling a bit from the number fourteen spot in 2018.

Despite the move, Hall’s remains a top restaurant in Charleston and the country. According to their Yelp profile, visitors enjoy the filet mignon, she-crab soup, burger, wedge salad, and french toast the most.

Myles and Jun Yakitori – Summerville

Making its debut in the thirty-third spot, Myles and Jun Yakitori has a perfect 5-star rating and almost 400 reviews. Just a short drive from Charleston, Myles and Jun Yakitori offers great food, drinks, and ambiance.

Some of their top dishes include crispy pork belly, honey toast, ramen, and wagyu beef according to their Yelp profile.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried either of these restaurants before? Do you think Yelp left a Charleston favorite off?

Read Yelp’s full 2019 list here.

Featured

Support Local at these 12 South Carolina Markets

Image Source: Unsplash

There are so many small businesses and entrepreneurs in South Carolina making names for themselves. Fortunately, you can find a lot of their products at local markets. Sample some of the best that SC small businesses have to offer at these local markets. Early holiday shopping, anyone?

1. South Carolina State Farmers Market, West Columbia
Weekdays Year-round, 8am to 4pm at 3483 Charleston Highway

This is a new one and no matter where you are in South Carolina, it is worth a visit! It is fully equipped with a climate-controlled retail building that houses a restaurant, bakery, exhibition kitchen, general store and retail produce space full of local products!

Also, be sure to check out the farmer’s’ shed section, which provides an environment for South Carolina farmers to rent space on a daily or seasonal basis in order to offer their fresh produce!

2. Charleston Farmers Market, Charleston
Saturdays, 8am to 2pm in Marion Square
Holiday Market– Saturdays and Sundays in December, 9am to 3pm

Head to the heart of the Historic District in Downtown Charleston, SC to support all things local! Whether you’re a tourist or a local, there is no better way to experience the city’s color. Sample a variety of local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers as well as breakfast and lunch vendors, live entertainment and an assortment of juried arts and crafts from local artisans!

The Charleston Farmers Market boasts awards such as being named one of Travel + Leisure Magazine top 10 Best Farmers Markets in the Nation and Charleston City Paper’s “Best Of” outdoor event/attraction every year since 2010.

3. Habersham Farmers Market, Beaufort
Fridays, 4pm to 7pm at The Habersham Marketplace (13 Market St.)

Each week is something a little different, so feel free to frequent! You’ll find fresh produce, crafts and goods from local farmers and artisans with new purveyors each week. Just minutes from Beaufort, the market takes place amid the benches and paths of Habersham Marketplace Square.

4. Hub City Farmers’ Market Wednesday Market Downtown Location, Spartanburg
Saturdays, 8am to noon at Northside Harvest Park 498 Howard St.

Take a trip to the longest-running market in the Upstate. As a producer-only market you’ll find all kinds of local goodies including produce, meats, dairy, bread, and artisan goods. Not only is the Hub City Farmers’ Market committed to supporting local purveyors, they are working to increase supply, demand and access to healthy, local food throughout Spartanburg County! The weekly market is joined by seasonal pop-ups and a mobile market.

5. Hilton Head Island Farmers Market at Historic Honey Horn, Hilton Head
Fridays April through December, 8:30am to 1pm at 70 Honey Horn Plantation Road

If you’re looking to add healthier meals to the dinner menu, why not start with the best produce, fruit, honey and bread Hilton Head has to offer? While you’re collecting ingredients, you might be lucky enough to stumble upon a work of art from local artisans. And when you need a break, breakfast and lunch are available in the Bistro Café.

6. Farmers Market Of Bluffton, Bluffton
Thursdays, March through December, from 2pm to 7pm along Calhoun and Lawrence Streets through Carson Cottages

Fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants and herbs abound at the Farmers Market of Bluffton, a weekly community event where locals and tourists gather not only to buy excellent produce but also to enjoy delicious food, listen to entertainment, and relax with friends.
This market showcases local growers, local food vendors, local entertainment, local community causes and local information about the Bluffton area!

7. Port Royal Farmers Market, Port Royal
Saturdays, 8:30am to noon in Heritage Park on Ribaut Road by the Naval Hospital

We hear they have the best She Crab Soup in South Carolina! I guess you’ll have to stop by to find out! While you’re there, enjoy lots of good, fresh, local produce and seafood along with prepared items to go or for consumption on site. If horticulture’s your thing, there are so many plants to add to your garden or, gift to someone whose thumb is greener than yours! It’s all the local feels, set in a park with iconic live oaks, and dripping with Spanish moss!

8. Jasper County Farmers Market, Ridgeland
Fridays April through November, 1pm to 6pm

This market is home to a variety of vendors including produce, baked goods, prepared meals, arts, crafts and estate sales. It’s also an event space for private and community events. Head to their website and mark your calendar for events like oyster roasts and concerts.

9. Summerville Farmers Market, Summerville
Saturdays, 8am to 1pm until December 20 in the First Citizens Bank parking lot, adjacent to
Summerville Town Hall

Browse fresh local produce, meats, seafood and baked goods from 29 local farmers. You’ll pick up things like handmade bread and pasta. And while you’re grabbing a treat from Coco’s Mini Donuts or a coffee from Coastal Coffee Roasters, enjoy live music in the Market Café. Mingle with friends and family and meet the town’s artisans and local personalities!

10. Downtown Florence Farmers Market, Florence
Saturdays Year-round, 9am to 1pm at 369 W. Cheves St. Downtown Florence (city parking lot between Coit and McQueen Streets across from the FDTC parking garage)
If it’s Carolina-grown and Carolina-made, you will find it at this market. Customers can find breakfasts and lunches cooked on-site using market-available ingredients. They are fully stocked with so many local treasures like locally-grown meats, cheeses, fruits and veggies, fresh pastas and sauces, sweets and baked goods, honey, wood and paper crafts, and body products.

11. Georgetown County Farmers Market, Pawleys Island
8 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the public parking lot at 122 Screven St. across from the historic county courthouse in Georgetown.

Buy everything from fresh local produce to crafts and food, now downtown in the heart of the Historic District! Local growers, bakers and craftsmen will set up under the auspices of the nonprofit Waccamaw Market Cooperative. The cooperative’s focus is on locally grown produce and locally made items of all kinds.

12. Soda City Farmer’s Market, Columbia, SC
Saturdays Year-round, 9am to 1pm on the 1500 block of Main St, downtown Columbia

Come hungry and leave happy! This large market is definitely a local favorite in the area. The vendors change slightly from week to week, so you’ll never get tired. No matter what, you’ll be revisiting those delicious food stalls while you shop for local honey, crepes, wine, regional foods, local crafts, art, clothing, home decor. Come early, so you can take your time. Chances are you’ll leave with everything you never knew you needed.

Eat & Drink

Celebrate National Beer and Pizza Day in CHS!

Featured Image Credit: Unsplash

Nothing goes better together than pizza and beer! And on a day dedicated to the best combination ever, why not celebrate?

Check out this list of some of the best places to go for a warm slice and a cold brew:

  1. Frothy Beard Brewing Company & Zombie Bob’s Pizza: 1401 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, Charleston SC

There is no better duo than Frothy Beard Brewing and Zombie Bob’s Pizza!Serving a monster sized slice of pizza with any toppings you desire, while enjoying one of over twenty brews they have on tap. With a love for creativity, you’ll enjoy their unique atmosphere that celebrates a love for star wars, epic novels, and old school games.

 

2. Crust Wood Fired Pizza: 1097 N Main Street Suite 201 Summerville SC

The wood paneled walls lined with chalkboards give this restaurant an electric and upbeat atmosphere that sets it apart from others. However, it is their unique menu boasting bold flavors that truly makes this chic restaurant authentic. Try a classic like their Margherita, or try something a little different like the Butternut or Crustacean. The Crustacean boasts a spicy seafood flavor with shrimp and chili oil, while the Butternut is made with roasted squash, arugula, and truffle oil. Enjoy their savory flavors while sipping on a bottled or canned beer.

 

3. D’Allesandro’s Pizza: 229 St Philip Street,  Charleston SC

A popular spot in downtown Charleston,  D’als pizza is centered around serving the best pizza in town alongside a cold pitcher of beer! Serving the people of Charleston since 2006, D’Allesandro’s has perfected their pizza making. Try the “Nicky Spicy” or “The Go-To” The Nicky Spicy includes red sauce, mozzarella, roasted garlic, bacon, and jalapenos, while the Go-To has an oil/garlic base, mozzarella cheese, chicken, blue cheese crumbles, and bbq bulls-eye sauce.

 

4. Indaco: 526 King Street, Charleston SC

Wood-fired pizza, Italian foods, wine, beers, and cocktails, all served in a stylishly rustic restaurant. Their perfectly made pizzas are filled with sausage and local ingredients. Watch the action from the open kitchen while sitting at a large community style table!

 

5. Monza Pizza: 451 King Street, Charleston SC

Located in the heart of the Holy City is an Italian raceway-themed pizzeria! They serve neapolitan style pizzas that are made with wheat from San Felice, Italy. As well as pizza, Monza serves other Italian options, wines, and beers. Whether you build your own pizza, or choose from one of their 11 options, Monza is truly one of the most authentic places you can celebrate National Beer and Pizza Day!