2014 Charleston Trip – Towne Center & Okra Grill Again

While not everyone grew up in a small town, like I did, nearly everyone has been through one.  Back in the 50’s, Fairmont WV was a bustling small city of 30,000 and the downtown streets were nearly always crowded with shoppers and business people.  Both sides of the two four-block-long main streets and cross streets were lined with thriving businesses most of which were local, but also contained a G.C. Murphy and F.W. Woolworth.

This was all before shopping centers, then malls, then Walmart that drove the final nail in the coffin of most towns like ours, however, Mt. Pleasant, SC has created a new one.  Rather than a mall or shopping center, their Towne Center looks like an updated version of a 50’s small city downtown area but has the stores typically found in malls and outlet centers.  Bev wanted to stop at a store she had seen so the pups and I drove around and snapped a few shots.

Prior to this stop, we ate breakfast on the patio at our favorite area restaurant (so far) – Pages Okra Grill.  

We began with a Bloody Mary ($5.99) and an appetizer of Pimento Cheese (it’s very popular in this area), served with a salsa and what looked to be homemade crackers. $4.99.

Bev ordered the Southern Fried Chicken & Eggs which contained two boneless breasts that were pressure fried, topped with white pepper gravy and served with two eggs, potatoes, and a biscuit. $8.99

I had Ashleigh’s (Executive Chef and co-owner) Shrimp & Grits which contained pan-seared shrimp, over lightly fried cheese grit cakes and topped with andouille sausage cream sauce. $9.99.

As you can see, both meals were huge, especially Bev’s, and we each ate about half of ours and a third of the pimento cheese – we'll have traveling food for the trip home.  What you can’t see is how good the food was and, surprisingly, it comes completely seasoned – no salt required.  By pressure frying, Bev’s chicken was crispy on the outside but moist and tender on the inside and I liked the crunch that came with the grit cakes vs. just a bowl of grits. 

I don’t much like eating out at home due to traveling distance and the likelihood of spending my money for mediocre food, but if I lived in the Charleston area, I think I would have to re-evaluate my position.  We’ve had a couple of so-so meals, but have also found places serving up food we really enjoyed.

Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

5/19/14 event date