Remember last week when I shared how difficult it is when people corner me on-the-spot to rank the city's best restaurants? Turns out that task is nothing compared to the agony I felt after actually naming my top local eats in print.
No sooner had I hit "send" than I immediately started second-guessing my picks.
What about Pies & Pints and Black Sheep Burrito, I thought? Those are definitely in the mix for fun casual spots with great food. The Block could certainly be in the running soon; should I have included it? Maybe Soho's, which is still solid after all these years?
I stand behind the places and plates singled out, but there are more that could've easily made the cut. Lucky for me, you let me know.
A few folks were surprised by the absence of Laury's, which has clearly been one of Charleston's best restaurants over the years. I left it out because it's currently closed for renovations and is more of a "special occasion" place that doesn't immediately come to mind when we're looking for a place to grab a bite.
Although a Fazio's specialty made my best dish list, the restaurant itself wasn't mentioned in my top five. For those who called in their support, rest assured it would probably make my top 10. It's a treasured slice of Charleston's culinary past and crowds (my family included) still love it today. Friend and neighbor Tony Marks has long told me Fazio's serves the best steak in Charleston, a claim I've heard from others as well.
Mark Choueiri of Charleston said his vote for best appetizer in Charleston would go to Tidewater Grill's Dynamite Shrimp, served with a spicy cream sauce. He also enjoyed my restaurant picks, but would've added Bluegrass Kitchen. Its eclectic atmosphere makes it one of his favorite places in town, although he acknowledged food and service have been hit or miss through the years. (That inconsistency is what kept it off my list, too.)
Shannon Ferrari sent in some love for Bluegrass Kitchen's sister restaurant, however.
"Tricky Fish wings and hush puppies are definitely missing from your list," she wrote. "The fish tacos are notable too!"
Matt McLane said he and his wife are "foodies" who live in Jackson County, so they really enjoy the occasional opportunity to dine out in Charleston.
"Reading you articles, I realize that we have similar tastes in food so I am looking forward to trying Noah's. I have openly stated for several years that the best restaurant in town is Bridge Road Bistro, because it has a good menu, good quality, good atmosphere and usually good service," he said.
"For lunch, my favorite places are Best of Crete Deli on Beech Avenue (West Side) and Yen's Sandwich Shop on D Street (South Charleston)."
Yep, both good choices.
*** If you're ever up near Buckhannon, reader Carolyn Tucker Smith said she was pleased to find a nice new dining option there during a recent visit for a church conference.
"We had Saturday supper and Sunday lunch at the Market Bistro," she wrote. "We all ate something different and were all pleased with the use of seasonal vegetables, fresh meat, fresh salads, fresh bread and desserts."
The restaurant boasts its use of quality local ingredients, with everything from chef-baked bread, multiple soups, vegetarian and meat-lover quiches, plus scratch-made desserts made fresh daily.
*** And sharing a recommendation I'm super-stoked to check out myself, reader Mary Lee says The Vagabond Kitchen inside Wheeling's McLure Hotel is a must-stop next time you're up in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle.
She and a group of fellow "two-fisted eaters" gushed over the restaurant's menu, which included:
Korean Pulled Pork Tacos - Bulgogi-marinated pork shoulder, braised and pulled in-house with homemade kimchi on corn tortillas.
Summer Squash Sliders - marinated and grilled yellow squash and zucchini with caramelized onions, Parmesan cheese and house-roasted red pepper aioli.
Hummus Wrap - hummus stuffed inside a sun-dried tomato wrap with feta, quinoa, red peppers, carrots, white beans, cucumbers, green leaf lettuce and tzatziki.
Apple Bacon Chicken Tenderloin - marinated chicken tenderloin grilled with apple slices, caramelized onions, bacon and sharp cheddar, topped with lettuce and tomato on an hoagie bun.
Brookside Beef Burgers - a hybrid cross of beef cow and buffalo, raised locally at Brookside Farm in Aurora. (A Brookside lamb burger featured crumbled feta, lettuce, tomato and a smear of house tzatziki on a focaccia round.)
Jalapeno Popper Burger - an Angus burger patty with pickled jalapeno, bacon crumbles, cheese, lettuce, tomato and Sriracha mayo on a brioche bun.
"Everybody raved about how much they enjoyed it," Mary said. "If you're up in Wheeling for any reason, you should definitely put it on your to-do list."
Yum, and done!
Steven Keith writes a weekly food column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail. He can be reached at 304-380-6096 or by e-mail at dailymailfoodguy@aol.com. You can also follow him on Facebook and Pinterest as "DailyMail FoodGuy," on Twitter as "DMFoodGuy" and read his blog at http://blogs.wvgazettemail.com/foodguy/