Circa 1886 in Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina is a food town. It's history (often dark history, I will add) of Caribbean, West African, and European trade led the city to develop an international palate of flavors, foods, and spices. Much like New Orleans and their Creole flavors, Charleston's most famous for dishes and meals that feel blended with other cuisines beyond our country.

When you head to Charleston, you'll be spoiled with options for everything from beachside pizza (The Obstinate Daughter), to new Michelin stand-outs (Vern's), to meat eater's heaven (Lewis Barbecue), to the OG spots that put Charleston's culinary scene on the map (Husk and FIG). But when you're looking to celebrate something special and experience the low country flavors on a white tablecloth, head to Circa 1886.

Circa 1886 is located in the back of the Wentworth Mansion. This brick behemoth sits amid weeping willows right in the heart of the historic peninsula of downtown Charleston. This ornate, over the top Victorian mansion was home to a cotton baron in the Reconstruction Era. In 1997, the home (which traded hands a few times) was converted into a 21-room upscale hotel. The hotel and restaurant are old and opulent, with dark woods, crystal accents, marble statues and a feeling of how the antebellum 1% lived.

All to say, Circa 1886 is a fine dining experience. Before you arrive, you should make sure you're dressed appropriately. This is not a place for a flip flop or a jean. Most men wear sport jackets.

Living up to its stereotype, the southern hospitality is taken very seriously from the minute you arrive. Within five minutes of sitting down, you'll be meeting the maître d’, the sommelier, the head waiter, the assistant waiter, and potentially even more staff. Not only are the staff plentiful, but they're incredibly personable, friendly, and will ensure that you have an excellent time.

Circa 1886 offers two pre fixe menus: The Ashley Tasting Menu and the Cooper Tasting Menu, which rotate seasonally. Both are the same price ($135 per person), just offer different options for the night. If you're looking to booze, you can pay a total of $225 for the menu plus wine pairings. You can also speak to the sommelier about just buying wine by the glass or bottle in lieu of spending $90 on the pairings.

What makes this restaurant so special is that it's a fine dining restaurant that serves comfort food. This is not the experimental, New York City pre fixe restaurant that serves green foams and radishes in dry ice. This is down home cooking that people actually want to eat.

Here's what was served on my pre fixe menu:

FIRST COURSE: As a small starter, I was served a shot of hearty and rich tomato soup with a small pouf of something delicious, the actual contents of which I admittedly forget. It was good, I promise.

SECOND COURSE: A PIMENTO CHEESE SANDWICH, WRAPPED IN PROSCIUTTO, TOPPED WITH A DOLLOP OF CAVIAR. Yes, I am yelling because are you kidding? Transforming a classic, low brow fan favorite into a decadent luxury? Incredible.

THIRD COURSE: Risotto with browned hazelnuts served with a pesto-like sauce. It was rich, it had notes of sweetness, and the herbs rounded it out.

FOURTH COURSE: On another extremely high note: handmade dumpling soup (with the chew of a real pasta made that day) with buttery, fresh-from-the-boat white fish.

FIFTH COURSE: Another dish that escapes my memory, but was incredibly solid.

SIXTH COURSE: A dessert trio, including a rich, chocolatey sauce designed to be poured over top a fluffy pot of cake.

Dining at Circa 1886 is a good reminder that the richest of the rich, like those who built the Wentworth Mansion, probably got tired of eating fancy schmancy, experimental shit. Most days, they probably just wanted to each a bomb pimento cheese sandwich, with a spoonful of caviar on top. No notes.