Paul,
A great food city, and one of my favorite cities to visit.
My wife and I are seriously considering moving there at some point.
Anyway…you’ll probably get lots of opinions on food in Charleston, but these are my thoughts.
Keep in mind, most of my recommendations are newer places, not “old school” low country cooking.
These places are all easy walks or cab rides from historic district.
McCrady’s http://mccradysrestaurant.com/menu/...the place that put Sean Brock on the map. Do the 4 course tasting menu for $65, or the 10 course for $115. Seriously good new southern cooking in a formal setting. We carried in champagne and paid the $35 corkage, though they waive corkage with a purchase off their list. A nice list. Huge, and marked up a good bit.
Husk http://www.huskrestaurant.com/...Sean Brock’s other place. More casual. Great for lunch (get the cheeseburger) or dinner. All ingredients sourced from the southeast region. Beautiful old plantation style house with wraparound porches on Queen Street. Great place to spend a leisurely afternoon when the weather is nice. Good bar program. Corkage is $20 if I’m not mistaken.
Fig http://www.eatatfig.com/...Probably some of the best food in Charleston all things considered. Corkage is $20, but they have a great list and great cocktail/bar program.
The Ordinary http://eattheordinary.com/...Mike Lata’s new seafood place opened last summer…Great space. An excellent place to sit at the bar and tear into some oysters or other raw bar goods. Very casual, but kick ass food. Fun, vibrant place. $20 corkage.
Hominy Griill http://hominygrill.com/...go for breakfast or brunch. If you are hungover, order the Big Nasty. Enough said.
Two Burroughs Larder http://twoboroughslarder.com/...Tucked away little place that is a funky, hippie little joint that serves up inventive, organic and seasonal lunch and dinner plates. Had an awesome lunch here. It’s small, casual, and worth seeking out. Interesting wines, and an excellent craft beer program.
A bunch more places worth checking out like Edmund’s Oast, Gin Joint, SNOB, and Cypress Street…there is great food all over the city.
Have fun…I’m totally jealous now as I wish I was heading back some time soon!