McCrady's

2 Unity Alley (just off of East Bay Street), downtown
(843) 577-0025
http://www.mccradysrestaurant.com/

If challenged to name my absolute favorite restaurant in town, it would have to be McCrady's. The atmosphere is a mix of old-Charleston and new-restaurateur-slickness: a couple of old buildings dating back to the 18th Century, linked together with the old brick and hardwoods preserved and a lot of fancy features like soaring skylights added. Chef Sean Brock is top dog in Charleston, blending fresh, local produce (grown on the restaurant's own farm out on John's Island and including not just vegetables but pigs, too) with molecular gastronomic wizardry. A meal at McCrady's is an experience to remember.

FIG

232 Meeting Street, Downtown
843-805-5900
http://www.eatatfig.com

The home of Mike Lata, one of Charleston's celebrity chefs, FIG is a delightful bistro-style spot in the heart of downtown. Lata is a devotee of fresh, seasonal food, and all the dishes on the menu are uncomplicated and focus on the quality of the ingredients. The menu varies by season, but entrees include a range of fresh local fish along with meat selections such as roasted chicken, flat-iron steak, and veal sweetbreads. The stylish interior and friendly, well-informed wait staff make it a great spot to enjoy a really good meal.