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Critic Pines for Rice Cakes and Consistency at Palace Hotel

Hipsters like their restaurants sans signage.
Erin Perkins is the editor of Eater Carolinas, covering the food and restaurant scene across North and South Carolina.

Once he found the place, critic Eric Doksa had a really great first impression of Hanover dive The Palace Hotel. Doksa cheers, "A plate of Chef Blake Joyal's blistered shishito peppers ($7) was just what the doctor ordered." Colorful expressions pepper the writer's descriptions, like "umami explosion," "genuine flavor bomb," and others, until he finds the object of his affection:

One of the biggest delights that night was a plate full of small rice patties that resembled discs of plantains. Lightly dressed in a combination of soy and oyster sauces, with a touch of basil, chilies, and scallions, the little pillows were salty sweet and quickly disappeared ($6).

Doksa's adoration is fleeting, as he discovers the rice cakes will never be the same as the ones he scarfed on that fateful night.

On a second visit, the critic is disappointed to find the carby treats are "mushy," and on a subsequent trip, they are overcooked. Doksa is pretty much the Goldilocks of Lowcountry grain here.

He has hope, however, concluding that "With a little work, the Palace Hotel could be the hidden gem I once thought I'd found."
· All The Palace Hotel Coverage [-ECHS-]
· Palace Hotel suffers from consistency problems [CP]

Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco

2 New Montgomery Street, , CA 94105 (415) 512-1111 Visit Website

The Palace Hotel

35 Hanover St., Charleston SC