Charleston, South Carolina, regularly makes lists of the best food cities in the United States—but how many of the city’s most iconic restaurants is it possible to hit in under 24 hours? On this episode of Meals Not to Miss, Afar’s Tiana Attride spends a day eating her way through five places that put the Holy City on the map as one of America’s most iconic (and delicious) destinations for foodies. #charleston #charlestonsc #foodtour
CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 0:37 - Miller’s All Day 1:10 - 82 Queen 1:48 - Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.) 2:30 - Leon’s Oysters 3:07 - Magnolia’s 3:44 - Outro
Find even more of our favorite things to do in Charleston here: https://bit.ly/4lEbLZD
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---- CREDITS Tiana Attride - Host; Afar Senior Editor, Social and Video Stephanie Cherng - Video Editor Elizabeth See - Associate Art Director Billie Cohen - Editorial Director Michelle Heimerman - Photo Director
MUSIC Lovely Day feat. Lucky Weather – Virgil Arles Remember – junior state
00:00AFR, I'm Tiana Attride and today I am wearing my stretchy pants because I am in one of my favorite cities in the United States to eat, Charleston, South Carolina.
00:11Known for its southern comforts and low country style cooking, Charleston is a regular headliner on lists of the best places to dine and drink in the U.S.
00:18And today I'm challenging myself to hit five places that have put the holy city on the food lover's map all in under 24 hours.
00:24From 82 Queen's legendary she crab soup to fried oysters at Leon's, I'll be eating my way through some of Charleston's most talked about dishes.
00:31The only question, can I make it through all of them before the day is out?
00:34Welcome to Meals Not to Miss.
00:37For breakfast, there was only one choice, Miller's All Day.
00:41Founded by chef Nathan Thurston and Greg Johnsman who mills his own grains, this bright mid-century spot on King Street is set up like an old pharmacy and serves brunch all day, as the name implies.
00:49The woman you see before you hear was a fool to believe in her ability to hold herself back from this plate.
00:54As soon as it was set down in front of me, any semblance of self-control went directly out the window.
00:59If this isn't the biggest, flakiest biscuit you've ever seen in your life, I'd like to know where you're hanging out.
01:04Coupled with runny eggs, hot bacon, and crispy, crackling potatoes, it was over for me.
01:09With a happy stomach and the early stages of delicious regret already beginning to set in, it was off to lunch number one.
01:14Tucked inside a pink 18th century townhouse in the French Quarter, 82 Queen is a Charleston classic that's been serving Gullah Geechee cuisine and championing black history in the Lowcountry for more than 40 years as one of the city's oldest restaurants.
01:26Hidden down an alleyway in a courtyard shaded by magnolias, it almost feels like a garden party, but instead of Earl Grey tea and crumpets, you're about to go all in on sweet tea and a plate of jambalaya.
01:34The star of the show here is the award-winning she-crab soup, a rich, creamy bisque made with two staples of Gullah Geechee cooking, the meat and roe from female blue crabs, which is where the dish gets its name.
01:43It's everything I love about food in Charleston in a single spoonful.
01:47Maybe it was the sweet tea re-energizing me or the soup soothing me, but my stomach felt miraculously ready for round three.
01:53Now you might call me a snob snob.
01:55If memory serves, I've been to this restaurant nearly every single time I've visited Charleston.
01:59Full name, slightly north of Broad, it's been serving elevated southern cuisine since 1993 when it first opened on East Bay Street.
02:05It was part of a larger wave of restaurants during that time that helped build up Charleston's reputation as a must-do for gastronomes.
02:11The dining room is utterly gorgeous, a nice, cool oasis from the afternoon heat, with a rich color palette and chandeliers that make this worth a visit on their own.
02:19And as is required, I went all in on Southern Classics done right, cornbread with a heaping pad of butter and piping hot shrimp and grits, plus a side of beef carpaccio to keep things interesting.
02:29I won't lie to you, by the time I made it to my fourth stop, your friend here was seriously questioning the capacity of my stomach.
02:34But when fresh seafood calls, I'm honor-bound to answer, so I loosen my belt and head inside for an early evening snack at Leon's Oysters set in a former auto repair shop.
02:43Now, the shame of my life is that I've never been huge on oysters, but not liking the char-grilled oysters here would have been like not liking puppies or world peace.
02:51I had to limit myself to six, but if I hadn't had one more restaurant still to go, I could have easily done 12 or even 24.
02:56Now, when the bartender recommended I also try the shrimp roll and scalloped potatoes, I logically should have said no, but my spirit said not to turn it down, and boy, was it right.
03:06By the time I arrived at my final stop, Magnolia's, I was ready to slow down.
03:10This spot has been a cornerstone of Charleston's fine dining scene since it opened in the 90s when it put low country cuisine on the national stage.
03:17The dining room is as romantic as they come, with white tablecloths and dim lighting, perfect for a special occasion, in my case, coming to the end of my challenge.
03:24I settled in at the bar with a glass of wine and pimento cheese dip, a classic Charleston appetizer, and sprung for a plate of honey Dijon glazed Atlantic salmon on a bed of sweet parsnip puree, piled high with veggies.
03:35And with that final plate cleared, I set my fork down and officially headed back to the hotel for a long, long, long night's sleep.
03:43Five meals later, and I still felt like I'd barely scratched the surface of what makes this an iconic dining destination.
03:49What are your favorite places to eat in Charleston, and could you make it through this foodie marathon?
03:54Let us know in the comments, and if you enjoyed this video, don't forget to like and subscribe.
03:58Thanks so much for watching, and happy dining!
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