Food.

Is it sad to say that one of the biggest reasons I'm looking forward to going back to Charleston is for the food?

Charleston doesn't have chains like PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory, B.J's etc. Instead they have a thriving privately owned restaurant industry with amazing and different foods everywhere! The cuisine is superb!

So, what foods am I looking forward to getting fat off of in Charleston? (Check out the links to see these great places!)

Vickery's
I'm looking forward to consuming (do I have to pick one? All of their food is SO GOOD!) their Fried Green Tomatoes, Warm Artichoke Dip, Ranch Burger, and their Warm Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce. (Those are my usuals!)

Poe's
This place has the BEST BURGERS EVAAAAR! My personal favorite is the Amantialldo (Guacamole, Jalapeno Jack, Pico de Gallo & Chipotle Sour Cream). The Pit & Pendulum is a classic (Apple wood Bacon and Cheddar! YUM!) The also have a great selection of beers!

Sette (no website)
Their Pancetta and Pea Risotto is THE BEST. I can't wait to STUFF. MY. FACE.

Andolini's
Where else can you get two pieces of pizza and a beer for $7? Za is goood. Two to three pieces good.

Bodacious Bagels
Yes, a "bagel place" is on my list. My favorite is the Bagel Melt. It's a cheddar bagel, toasted, with sliced tomato, cheddar cheese, red onion, and chive cream cheese. It's heaven on a bagel. (I've tried to make it at home and it's just not the same!)

Boulevard Diner (no website)
This places has great Cajun Cheddar Shrimp n' Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes, and open-face Tuna Melt. Yum. Yum. Yum.

Dog & Duck
G and I frequented this place for their happy hour deals and because it was 1.5 miles from our apartment! ;) They have the BEST Fish n' Chips and German JoJo's (Super JoJo potatoes tossed with bacon and green onions then smothered with melted cheese and ranch dressing). They also have Guinness on tap at the right temperature, which is always a bonus in my book. They also have make-your-own-Bloody Mary Sundays! ;)

Giuseppi's Pizza
I know I already mentioned pizza at Andolini's, and they're good for the cheap pizza and beer, but Giuseppi's has the BEST pizza creation EVAR! They're called Weggies and they're AMAZING. Check out their menu. Our favorite was the Weggiedilla, which has marinated, shredded chicken, cheddar and jack cheese, bacon, onion, and BBQ sauce. They also had the best ranch that was perfect for dipping it in. This is probably the first thing I want to eat in Charleston!

Southend Brewery
This place hast he best smoky stout beer ever! And they offer a rockin' Margherita Pizza and grits! Not everyone else's favorites, but mine for SURE!

Basil
G and I only went here once, two nights before we moved to Colorado, but I want to go back SO badly. All of their food is phenomenal. We especially loved the Tom Kha Gai Tureen (Chicken Coconut soup). It's coconut milk, with galanga roots, lime leaves, lemon grass, button mushrooms, cilantro and scallions. We had a mix of everything that night, including the duck! Sooo good.

That's all I can think of for now... you hungry yet?! ;)