Breakfast at Charleston's Café

As familiar with the Charleston dining scene as I am, it can be a difficult deciding where to eat. Charleston’s Café is one of my go-to places. Trust me, this is where you want to be eating breakfast.


THE ATMOSPHERE


Charleston’s Café, located just off of US-17, is not fancy by any means, but that’s okay. The moment you step inside its doors you immediately recognize it as an establishment where the food comes first and the décor doesn’t really matter. Nondescript wooden tables and chairs fill the dining rooms and a large black chalkboard lists the daily specials.


THE SERVICE


Unfortunately, the service this visit was definitely lacking due much in part to the large Father’s Day brunch crowd.


THE FOOD


My eyes scanned the list of daily specials before we were seated. The Belgian Waffle Sandwich with Bacon, Scrambled Eggs and Fried Chicken with Maple Mayonnaise was already a lead contender before I’d opened my breakfast menu.


I couldn’t pass up a twist on the classic chicken and waffles and decided on the special, though I asked that my eggs be cooked over easy instead of scrambled. My cohort ordered one of Charleston Café’s most popular items, Amber’s Choice, a crab cake topped with eggs, hollandaise, shrimp and smoked sausage.

A Twist on Chicken and Waffles

Amber's Choice

Our breakfast entrées came out quickly. I was presented with a mountain of food: the best waffle I’ve ever had topped with a layer of maple mayonnaise, crispy bacon, juicy fried chicken and crowned with an over easy egg that anointed the entire dish with runny gold.


My cohort’s meal wasn’t as satisfying. The crab cake had an odd metallic taste suggesting that the crab was probably canned. Too much lemon disguised the metallic flavor with as much success as perfume masks foul odors. Everything else on the plate, however, was good.


Having consumed enough calories to sustain a small army, we ordered dessert. We split an order of the Bourbon Pecan Pie and the Deep Fried Vanilla Bread Pudding. Don’t light a match near the Bourbon Pecan Pie—or take a Breathalyzer test after eating a slice. The Deep Fried Vanilla Bread Pudding was a great idea in theory, but the execution of the comfort food favorite completely failed. The outside of the bread pudding was fried food heaven but the inside of the fried bread pudding was grossly unexpected. Its texture reminded me of the soap-making scene in Fight Club.

Bourbon Pecan Pie

Fried Bread Pudding

THE VERDICT


Charleston’s Café is the perfect place for both locals and out of town guests as the menu offers a variety of traditional and local, southern inspired fare. There’s something on the menu for just about anyone and you can’t disagree with the restaurant’s reasonable prices. Be prepared for a potential wait during peak brunch times and make sure to check out the specials board.

Restaurant Review: Charleston's Café

If you're not looking for it you might drive right past Charleston's Café. Located off of Highway 17 in Mt. Pleasant, this little hole in the wall joint has joined my list of "Best Places to Eat When You've Got a Hangover." Though neither hungover nor in the mood for breakfast this visit I will definitely be returning to devour some of Charleston Café's breakfast fare. If my Crab Melt Panini  was any indication as to the flavor wizardry occurring in the kitchen I am sure there will be nothing but pleasant surprises in the future.


The first bite into my Crab Melt Panini was like taking the Concorde to Flavor Town. Crab! Tangy goat cheese! Sweet roasted red bell peppers! Earthy wilted spinach! Warm, crusty Italian bread! Winning! "If this is a lunch special," I thought, "I can't imagine how great their tried and true regular menu fixtures are!"


I brought a man-sized appetite but couldn't finish but half of the monster melt. I have no doubt it will be equally magnificent for dinner, if I ever am hungry again.