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Must Hit Charleston Restaurants for Out of Towners

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Visiting Charleston can present something of a culinary conundrum: so many restaurants, so little time. And while you might already have tickets or reservations for some bigger dinners you're planning, there are still lunches, coffee and cocktails to consider. This map should fill in the gap on your eating and drinking agenda. Sadly, some Eater favorites aren't listed, because reservations were either limited or already filled, but do call or stop by the bars at FIG, Husk and McCrady's to get in on the action.

Not satisfied with the list? Here's what's hot in town, and the Eater 18, for even more options.



[Photo: Landon Phillips]

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Black Tap Coffee

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Local favorite coffee shop Black Tap is the spot to get creative lattes (try the brown sugar or lavender) and kick-ass pour-over coffee. They also serve pastries from WildFlour.

Kudu Coffee

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Close to all the action, Kudu makes everyone happy by serving beer and highly-caffeinated coffee. Also noteworthy are those giant almond croissants, and the patio.

Brown's Court Bakery

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Newcomer Brown's Court Bakery is quickly becoming known for its sriracha croissants and pretzel sticks. A tucked away from the action, they also make classic coffee drinks and host a bread happy hour from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

WildFlour Bakery

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The baked goods coming out of this place cannot be topped, especially on Sundays when they serve their famous sticky buns. They also pour coffee and have other a.m. treats, like sweet and savory scones and doughnut muffins.

Butcher & Bee

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There's been no shortage of buzz over Butcher & Bee, but their fancy sandwiches and sides are reliable for lunch, brunch or late night. Plus, it's BYOB.

The Glass Onion

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It's NOLA meets Lowcountry here at the West Ashley outpost of The Glass Onion. The deviled eggs, fried chicken or quail and the fries with bernaise are what made this place famous.

Two Boroughs Larder

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The menu is always changing here and lately, it's been dotted with sweet breads, rabbit chorizo and lamb belly. If that's not enough, Chef Joshua Keeler was recently named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award, and they always dish out noodle bowls and egg sandwiches.

Martha Lou's Soul Food

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Welcome to the South. Martha Lou's Kitchen is where you can get some of the best fried chicken and fish, collard greens and macaroni and cheese in town.

Hominy Grill

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Here you'll find locals and tourists brunching it up, or putting back their Lowcountry classics, like shrimp and grits. Chef Robert Stehling won the James Beard award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2008.

Home Team BBQ

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This is your destination for damn good barbecue. You can't go wrong with the pulled pork sandwich doused in their mustard sauce or the ribs.

The Rarebit

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The cocktails are the thing here, really, so keep that in mind, but they are well-balanced and less pricey than elsewhere on the strip.

Stars Rooftop and Grill Room

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If the weather is nice, head over to the rooftop at Stars to take in one of the best views of the city while imbibing one of their tasty cocktails or wines on tap. Warning: This newish place gets packed on weekends.

The Gin Joint

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A favorite of Husk/McCrady's chef Sean Brock...and just about anyone who has ever been in there. The cocktail menu is seasonal, and they just released their spring menu in time for the festival.

The Ordinary

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Mike Lata's new fancy seafood joint was an instant hotspot, and the national praise is already rolling in. Head there in the late afternoon for a drink and some Capers Blades oysters or a crudo, or go big with a seafood tower. If the uni is on the menu, it's a must.

The Griffon Pub

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There are dollar bills all over the walls, chefs drinking after shifts and plenty of beers on tap at this English pub. It's not fancy, but in the case of The Griffon, that's a good thing.

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Black Tap Coffee

Local favorite coffee shop Black Tap is the spot to get creative lattes (try the brown sugar or lavender) and kick-ass pour-over coffee. They also serve pastries from WildFlour.

Kudu Coffee

Close to all the action, Kudu makes everyone happy by serving beer and highly-caffeinated coffee. Also noteworthy are those giant almond croissants, and the patio.

Brown's Court Bakery

Newcomer Brown's Court Bakery is quickly becoming known for its sriracha croissants and pretzel sticks. A tucked away from the action, they also make classic coffee drinks and host a bread happy hour from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

WildFlour Bakery

The baked goods coming out of this place cannot be topped, especially on Sundays when they serve their famous sticky buns. They also pour coffee and have other a.m. treats, like sweet and savory scones and doughnut muffins.

Butcher & Bee

There's been no shortage of buzz over Butcher & Bee, but their fancy sandwiches and sides are reliable for lunch, brunch or late night. Plus, it's BYOB.

The Glass Onion

It's NOLA meets Lowcountry here at the West Ashley outpost of The Glass Onion. The deviled eggs, fried chicken or quail and the fries with bernaise are what made this place famous.

Two Boroughs Larder

The menu is always changing here and lately, it's been dotted with sweet breads, rabbit chorizo and lamb belly. If that's not enough, Chef Joshua Keeler was recently named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award, and they always dish out noodle bowls and egg sandwiches.

Martha Lou's Soul Food

Welcome to the South. Martha Lou's Kitchen is where you can get some of the best fried chicken and fish, collard greens and macaroni and cheese in town.

Hominy Grill

Here you'll find locals and tourists brunching it up, or putting back their Lowcountry classics, like shrimp and grits. Chef Robert Stehling won the James Beard award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2008.

Home Team BBQ

This is your destination for damn good barbecue. You can't go wrong with the pulled pork sandwich doused in their mustard sauce or the ribs.

The Rarebit

The cocktails are the thing here, really, so keep that in mind, but they are well-balanced and less pricey than elsewhere on the strip.

Stars Rooftop and Grill Room

If the weather is nice, head over to the rooftop at Stars to take in one of the best views of the city while imbibing one of their tasty cocktails or wines on tap. Warning: This newish place gets packed on weekends.

The Gin Joint

A favorite of Husk/McCrady's chef Sean Brock...and just about anyone who has ever been in there. The cocktail menu is seasonal, and they just released their spring menu in time for the festival.

The Ordinary

Mike Lata's new fancy seafood joint was an instant hotspot, and the national praise is already rolling in. Head there in the late afternoon for a drink and some Capers Blades oysters or a crudo, or go big with a seafood tower. If the uni is on the menu, it's a must.

The Griffon Pub

There are dollar bills all over the walls, chefs drinking after shifts and plenty of beers on tap at this English pub. It's not fancy, but in the case of The Griffon, that's a good thing.

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