Tasting the Town
Notable Lowcountry cuisine continues to reign in this city, and Hominy Grill still serves some of the best. Near the College of Charleston, it's a good spot where you can request a table in the courtyard on a sunny day and enjoy superb shrimp and grits for breakfast or lunch.

For a decadent brunch, visit Poogan's Porch, a small spot on Queen Street. The restaurant takes its name from Poogan the dog, who hung around on the front porch of the place back in the 1970s when the owners first bought and renovated it. A local favorite is the Charlestowne Fry Omelet, an open-faced masterpiece topped with lightly fried oysters, white Cheddar, and applewood-smoked bacon.

Two spots earn our acclaim for upscale dining. At McCrady's, creativity and innovative flavor combinations drive the menu. The restaurant's entrance, in an alley off East Bay Street, seems tucked away and hidden. That's fitting, because the food here will make you feel as if you've discovered a secret all your own. Innovative dishes such as the Wagyu beef short ribs appetizer with onion-mustard seed relish are unreal--cut it with a fork, and it falls apart. Seared tuna with black truffle sauce combines interesting flavors for a surprising treat. Our dinner here was the best we tried the entire trip.

Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau: 423 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403; www.charlestoncvb.com or (843) 853-8000.