Cameran Eubanks Recommends These Places to Take Your Dates in Charleston
"There must be something in the water here," the #SouthernCharm pal said about her city's food.
Landon Clements recently revealed to us that Charleston is quite the hub for those who love to grab a good drink or dine on a tasty meal. Well, turns out she wasn't lying. Her Southern Charm pal, Cameran Eubanks, confirmed that the city, which is currently the home for the latest season of Top Chef, is the perfect place to hang out with your pals, or that special someone. The Daily Dish caught up with Cameran via email to get her picks for her favorite places in good ol' Chucktown.
The Daily Dish: What makes the Charleston food scene so unique?
Cameran Eubanks: The Charleston food scene is unique because it is constantly evolving. There is ALWAYS a new restaurant to try. World class chefs are migrating here for a reason...they all want to be a part of the culinary upshift that is currently underway.
The Daily Dish: What are some of the dishes that are special to the area?
Cameran: I would say we have the best fried chicken, oysters, and peel-and-eat shrimp. I maintain that we have the best peel-and-eat shrimp in the world. There must be something in the water here in the Low Country that contributes to their taste. It's a flavor unique to this region that you won't find anywhere else. My favorite Southern writer, Pat Conroy, also proclaimed our that our oysters taste like heaven. He said if you breathe deeply into a Low Country oyster you will remember that smell for the rest of your life.
The Daily Dish: What are your top 3 restaurants in Charleston and why?
Cameran: This is SO hard. In no particular order I would say: Cypress, downtown on East Bay Street. They have one of my favorite dishes in town, the Wasabi Tuna. Heaven. Halls Chophouse, family owned and downtown on King Street. They are known for their steaks but make the best cake I've ever put in my mouth. It's a 14-layer caramel cake with bananas foster that will make you want to punch your grandma in the gut. I have dreams about it. High Thyme, Sullivan's Island. This place is so consistent. Never had a bad meal here. If you want to get out of the hustle and bustle of downtown this is a quaint escape on the beach. It's cozy and the food is damn good. This is also where Jason and I met for the first time so it's special to me.
The Daily Dish: Where is your favorite restaurant to go to on a date?
For date nights we love going to the Old Village Post House in Old Village, Mount Pleasant. They have a great outdoor area that is lovely to dine in when the weather is nice. It feels very Mayberry-esque. OK-U, downtown on King Street has amazing sushi and a hip/fun vibe. Their potato roll is perfection. I also love the good ole' Cracker Barrel and we go there every year for Valentine’s Day. I'm a cheap date.
The Daily Dish: Which bar do you LOVE to hang out in?
Cameran: There is a new hotel downtown called The Dewberry that has a beautiful lobby bar. It's a current hot hangout amongst the local young professionals. As far as best drinks, The Gin Joint on East Bay Street. They are master mixologists.
The Daily Dish: Is there a cocktail that all the locals consider the hometown beverage?
Cameran: We love our Bourbon here in Charleston!! Bourbon and ginger ale is a pretty popular drink of choice. We also love our Craft Beers. Holy City and Westbrook Brewery's makes some fantastic local brews.
The Daily Dish: Having traveled around, what makes Charleston different from most cities?
Cameran: The architecture, the friendly people and the food. Charleston really values preservation, we don't do modern. Not a high rise in sight, thank God. You also have the charm of a smaller town here and the sophistication of a larger city. It's a great balance. Actually what am I talking about? This place blows! Please stop moving here!! We're full! LOL!
Feeling a little hungover from all that goodness? Check out some local cures, below.
