FIG three times. 
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Went last year and had a stunning meal at Vernās. MalagĆ³n might be the best tapas Iāve had in the US - really exceptional.
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Malagon is as close to being in Spain as you can get while staying in the US. I loved it when my son lived across the street when he was at The College of Charleston.
Get the chocolate dessert.
Love that place!
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Does Fig allow corkage?
Yep
I canāt remember the fee though.
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Iām kinda sad I missed that lunch at malagon, but that was right around when I sprained my ankle right off king st 
Oh i do also like Malagon a lot. The tortilla is very good, and all the other tapas as well. Staff has always been good too. Bit more relaxed than Fig and Verns.
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I think that corkage at FIG is $30-40ā¦ Actually, I just found one of my previous posts and itās $40 firm. They have a nice albeit small list, but mostly recent releases.
Exactly. Bring your own and pay the corkage.
Unfortunately the kitchen significantly outpaces the wine list by a large margin at Fig.
For fish lovers, I would add 167 Raw and the Ordinary to the listā¦
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Whatās the go to retailer these days?
Havenāt been back since Covid and now there Monday-Thursday. Last minute, which is exciting, but unprovisioned.
Monarch and Graft are both good shops. Graft is also a wine bar.
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Bintu Atelier last night on arrival. Great chow!
No rez, but got there early and were able to grab a table. Dip unique, juice not to sweet and true to flavor. Grouper awesome. Peanut stew good, but once fish came our attention was diverted. Dessert was pecan based vanilla and caramel ice cream - beautiful texture.
Service is kind. Much more the feel of eating in someoneās living room. They do allow corkage, but was a dry night for us.
Very excited for the next couple days
Thanks, the Ordinary looks good and is by my hotel. Considering 167 Raw but no reservations - is a negative.
Will book Fig, probably only once based on the menu.
Is Husk old hat? Never been.
Chubby Fish looks good, but I donāt like the āwaitlistā approach.
Any thoughts on Leylaās Lebanese? (My wife is a vegetarian, so middle eastern always works).
It has been a while since I lived there, but Iād focus on these
- FIG (this is the standard bearer for me)
- Raw 167 if you want seafood
- Chez Nous (French) and Malagon (Spanish). Same owners I believe
- Lewis BBQ, Rodney Scott BBQ
- Graft wine bar (and there are nearby restaurants that are decent like Leon & Melfi if you wanted to hang out and walk around a few different bar/restaurants)
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Regarding 167 Raw- If you donāt go during peak times of the day and flexible on seating you can get in. When we were there a few years ago, we sat at the bar and arrived between 4-5pm. Worth the visit especially if you like oysters.
Just piling onā¦Bar167 for a similar experience and sometimes less crowded.
Has worked as a lunch option for us.
Are South Carolinian oysters like New England oysters or Gulf of Mexico oysters? Iām thinking the latter.
The Gnudi at The Establishment on Broad St. is the single best bite of food in Charleston. They do corkage and have a great bar after dinner as well.
Would go there for dinner over The Ordinary, Chez Nous or Husk.
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Saffron was straight down the middle breakfast. Not in a hurry back, but wouldnāt say no.
Charleston City Market is equal turns of sad and touristy. What a shame, the structure itself is lovely.
Vernās for dinner. Excellent.
Bought Donnhoff 07 NH spƤtlese at Wine and Company earlier. The wine list is broad, but nothing with even mid range age on it. Had a glass of Etna white as warm up.
Bread is fantastic. Tuna carpacioā¦best Iāve ever had? At least, Iāve never had a preparation like that before - pepers folded in, almost a Spain vibe. Beets were great. Carrots very good. Salad is heaping (shared with dinner next to us). Pasta play on cacio e pepe was solid. Steak came back rare and had to return (but service was very good about it, āoh gosh, so sorry, yea this is blueā¦ā). On the bring back, it was cooked perfectly.