Charleston (Bachelorette Style!) Eat + Drink

We threw my sister a bachelorette party in sunny Isle of Palms + Charleston, South Carolina. We stayed in a house on Isle of Palms which is a 40 minute drive from downtown Charleston and had SO MUCH FUN. I had been to Charleston before but this time the area captured my affections on a deeper level. Sometimes it takes a second go round to really fall for a place.

I think bachelorette party details can be super helpful to those planning one. If you want to see the itinerary I put together, definitely inquire! Otherwise, most of the recommends below apply to just about anyone planning a trip. 

Friday Lunch: Minero | 153 East Bay Street | Charleston

Minero is a casual Mexican eatery from James Beard award winning chef Sean Brock. We sipped on a Watermelon Margarita ($9) and a Mezcal Marg ($11) and noshed on fantastic Tacos ($4.50) - Fried Catfish, Charcoal Grilled Chicken + Taco al Pastor. Minero was a perfect first stop in historic downtown Charleston!  

Post Lunch Libations: Vendue Rooftop | 19 Vendue Range | Charleston

The Vendue was the only overlapping spot from my previous trip. The double tier rooftop is sprawling and the views are pretty great!

Friday Night Dinner: Long Island Café | 1515 Palm Blvd | Isle of Palms

All the IOP locals will recommend to you this gem. Tucked inside the main shopping plaza, it presents a modest and unassuming front. Enter: a beachy oasis serving local seafood emphasizing classic French flavors with a South Carolina flare. We absolutely loved everything - pictured is the Local Handmade Seafood Pasta. 

Post Dinner Libations: The Windjammer | 1008 Ocean Blvd | Isle of Palms

One hell of a beach bar. There was an awesome 90's cover band. We jammed out until 1:30. Solid first night!

Saturday Pre Dinner Drinks: The Bar at Husk | 76 Queen Street | Charleston

In a rough hewn restored space, The Bar at Husk recalls a bygone era of Charleston nightlife and pays homage to traditional southern spirits. Their cocktails are a revelation. We drank Through the Garden ($12) with rum, Green Chartreuse, red pepper, agave, lime, calamansi vinegar + basil and Don't Call Me Sweetheart ($11) with rum, brandy, strawberry, house rhubarb shrub, mint, black pepper + lemon. Definitely pay a visit to The Bat at Husk when you are in town!

Saturday Night Dinner: The Ordinary | 544 King Street 

 Many people will tell you The Ordinary is the best restaurant in Charleston. They would not be wrong. This is Chef Mike Lata's fancy oyster hall in a restored bank and his food is everything. They also have a phenomenal wine and (Rum only!) cocktail program. 

Ordinary Hawaiian Rolls ($5) sea salt butter
Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Toast ($18) tomato, jalapeno, parsley
Milk Punch ($14) Milk Washed Rhum, grapefruit, lime, Luxardo Maraschino

Snapper Ceviche ($17) cucumber, avocado
Heirloom Tomato Salad ($14) goat cheese, pesto

Steamed Porgy ($20 ) banana leaf, roasted figs

Zucchini Carpaccio ($12) almond, mint, pecorino

Foradori 'Fontanasanta' Nisiola ($95) Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2014 - an excellent and unique white wine - aged in terra cotta!
Spicy Yellowfin Tuna ($15) Sea Salt Potato Chips

Don't even get me started on dessert. This might have been my favorite part and I rarely succumb to that notion. The girls and I will be talking about this meal for a long time to come. 

Carolina Gold Rice Pudding ($8) blackberry, basil

Chocolate Hazelnut Budino ($10) sea salt, caramel

Post Dinner Libations: Republic Garden + Lounge | 452 King Street 
One of the bridesmaids booked us a table at Republic. Having a couch area + bottle service on the patio was the key to a really fun night here. Also, we are wearing all white this evening at the brides request - turns out this is a clever way to remain inconspicuous - resisting the bachelorette party cliches!

Sunday Night Dinner: The Obstinate Daughter | 2063 Middle Street | Sullivan's Island

The Obstinate Daughter is another one of those hot spots on the radar of everyone in Charleston. Eclectic American fare including pizza, pasta and a raw bar are served in an elegant, country meets nautical infused space. This was an impromptu Sunday night dinner after a long day of boating when just three of us remained. Aimée declared it her favorite, ranking it even higher than The Ordinary. Yes, the food was ridiculous, but the service was also some of the best I've received.  Our waitress was laid back and effortlessly enthusiastic at the same time. She 100% made our night. Desserts are on another level. Save room. 

Summer Peaches ($14) prosciutto, tomato, pepper, gorgonzola vinaigrette
Obstinate Flatbread ($6) olive oil, Bulls Bay sea salt, butterbean puree)

Blistered Shishito Peppers ($7)

Catalan Seafood Stew ($27) fish, shrimp, oyster, clam, chorizo, almond

Rigatoncini ($19) fennel and sausage ragu, parmesan

Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake | olive oil gelato
Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake | mascarpone whipped cream, blueberry-blackberry sauce (just so good that it deserved two close ups!)

Monday Breakfast: The Refuge | Isle of Palms 

The Refuge is a sweet little coffee bar and adjoining restaurant located in the main IOP Plaza (right next to Long Island Café). We mostly cooked breakfast at home but on our last morning we grabbed coffees and a Greek yogurt parfait to go; then walked the beach one last time before checking out of our rental house and heading downtown to explore The Battery / Waterfront.

Monday Lunch: Caviar + Banana's | 51 George Street

Carviar and Bananas is a gourmet market and café serving sandwiches, salads, sushi, beer + wine. This was the perfect spot to grab a bite and a can of local beer after shopping on King Street and before heading to the airport. Pictured is my Pimento Cheese BLT with applewood smoked bacon and green tomatoes on toasted sourdough. 

In between all this good food we were at 29th Street beach or boating around the gorgeous waterways of the inter-coastal / Morris Island / Folly Beach / Shem Creek. The South Carolina coast is remarkable.

Oak + Rowan

The next up and comer in Fort Point neighborhood is Oak + Rowan and this restaurant is something special. For an evening out with some of my favorite ladies they took such good care of us - and it was a long night fueled by multiple bottles of bubbly and lots of terrific courses.

Choose from six cocktails listed on the menu by type of alcohol: Tequila, Ginger Cider, Bourbon, Scotch, Vodka or Gin, made table-side from a fancy bar cart! I had the Bourbon -  which is a Swedish Punch with Zucca, lemon, honey + Angostura Bitters. Zucca is an Italian liquor made from rhubarb. This cocktail was on the sweeter side and proved to be a delightful apertif. 

Definitely order a cocktail here as one shaken or stirred table-side is a really fun way to start!

We were seated in a booth underneath the exposed light-bulb BWC signage which stands for Boston Wharf Company. I love the warm ambiance created in the lofty industrial warehouse space. 

We started our meal with a bread course worthy of splurging on, the Caraway Sourdough ($6) accompanied by homemade pimento cheese and salted molasses butter. This was followed by two really solid, well executed appetizer dishes, an Arctic Char "Pastrami" ($14) (not pictured) served over oat bread with smoked egg, pickled onion and kale and Pheasant Kotschoubey ($17) (above) with brussels sprouts, bacon jam and winter truffle. We also had a beautiful Duck ($32) entrée over a luscious sweet potato puree, grains, smoked pear and juniper.

A four course Pasta Tasting ($49) is offered on Thursday night only (fate!) so we had to order one for the table. Our waitress nicely paced the handmade pastas throughout our meal. The first three were unique and creative, while the fourth was a classic. All were comforting, thoughtfully prepared and delicious.

First Course: Passatelli | Brodo, Parmesan, Chive

Second Course: Garganelli | Braised Pheasant, Egg Yolk 

Third Course: Tortelli | Polenta Cheese Filling, Hazelnuts, Grape Must

Fourth Course: Lasagne | Smoked Bacon + Beef Bolognese, Arugula

The kitchen sent out a cheese course with compliments. I am so glad they did because as it turns out the cheese plates are impeccably done and not to be missed. We had Brillat Savarin Custard ($11) which is a Triple Cream from France w. honey + celerac and Bailey Hazen Blue ($9) a Blue Cheese from Vermont w. bacon jam, sourdough + port gastrique.  

Speaking of not to be missed, most of the desserts also fall into the realm of being special and alluring. One I would pass on is the Winter Citrus ($12) with grapefruit sorbet, granola, cara cara and lemongrass. Those ingredients didn't mesh so well for me. The next two were winners, though! Chocolate + Cashew ($12) offers a rich Taza Chocolate log with a quenelle of cashew mouse, mascarpone and topped with a brioche ribbon. The Yogurt Panna Cotta ($12) felt playful yet elegant with sweet and tart cherries, hibiscus sorbet, honey, pear, and a very pretty candied ice decoration that looked like a snowflake.

Oak + Rowan

321 A Street

Boston, MA 02210