Poogan’s Porch

This is one of my favorite places to eat in Downtown Charleston. If you are looking for a
«Charleston» dining experience you cant get much better then Poogan’s Porch. It has a great selection of southern food, my favorite is the Ribs and Mac. Also their buttermilk biscuits are the best i have had, ever. Skip lunch when you come here for dinner because you will get a hearty plate of southern food that is not going to disappoint. When you go there look into the story of the dog Poogan to add at little history and spook to your dining experience.

I’ve been to this restaurant 3 times by now. It’s really a hit or miss and so far mainly miss. The last time I was there was in February 26 2015 was the night I got engaged. It was Poggan’s 30^th anniversary so they retro their prices back to exactly what it was 30 years ago. So needless to say we paid lesser than what it normally cost. However what bothered me was when we told our server we just got engaged right before dinner our server could care less. That was really more on the server and not the establishment so it’s not accounted for in the rating.
However this review is based on our most recent visit and we were not really pleased with our meals. For late February they were blasting AC upstairs where we dine which is weird. We thought it is to add on to the effects since more people who goes on the ghost walks know that there’s a haunted story at Poogan’s Porch. The food was average on top of that. We actually thought the time we went before that tasted better. I could honestly say I make better shrimp and grits at home. For the price we paid I don’t think we will be back.

Food: I went here with my family for an early brunch. We started off with the biscuits and gravy and the she crab soup. The biscuits and gravy were incredible; the biscuits were soft in the center with a golden crust and then covered in a delicious creamy and flavorful gravy. I licked this bowl clean. The she crab soup was rich with a nice hint of acid from the sherry. We then moved onto fried chicken and waffles. Probably the best fried chicken i’ve had lately, covered in homemade syrup, atop a sweet potato waffle. The shrimp and girts really stole the show and are a must have. The shrimp was perfect. The andoille sausage and peppers added a nice spicy, southern touch. The grits were soft and creamy.
Drinks: We had very standard bloody mary’s. Also a very boozy rendition of the manhattan.
Ambiance: beautiful old southern home that retains its charm. Multiple dining room options. We ate in the back room, which must have been an old sun room.
Service: attentive and present, but not overwhelming.
Bottom line: ⁴⁄₅ If you are in Charleston, you SHOULD go here for a meal. You will not be disappointed.
Best dish: Shrimp and grits
Needs improvement: Really would have liked to see a more creative cocktail menu catered to the brunch menu. The cocktail menu felt very dinner/​late night.

A nightstop in South Carolina meant that I felt I should concentrate on the local (‘Southern’) cuisine, and a scan of various review sources (I am not exclusive to Unilocal) brought this one to the top of my shortlist.
I’m very glad it did, because this proved to be one of those ideal establishments: presentable not pretentious environs; interesting but not over the top menu; varied but not wallet-​breaking wine list; and friendly but not intrusive service.
Would I go back? If in the area — definitely. And perhaps even good enough to warrant a specific detour thru’ Charleston again.

Biscuits and Gravy are so delicious I wanna go back while writing this review. Some of the best southern cooking I have eaten in a restaurant.
The Steak and Eggs are the stuff of legends. The steak isn’t your normal steak, it’s much more like a brisket. Falls apart and slow cooked to perfection. My entire party loved it and we will definitely be back.
Pricing was on the spot. Two entrees, an app, and a pitcher of mimosas was only $ 75. Worth your time. Treat Yo Self!

Came here on Valentine’s Day for brunch at 9:30 and thought that would be early enough to beat the crowds! I was wrong. Didn’t have a reservation so had to wait for 45 min to an hour. They do text you when a table is ready.
The food was great though, so I thought the wait was worth it. We ordered the shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, mac n cheese and a cup of she crab soup.
Complimentary biscuits — some of the best biscuits I’ve had. I liked how they didn’t taste super buttery or oily. Perfect fluffiness.
She crab soup — nice and creamy, flavorful. Definitely better than the she crab soup we had at a expensive fancy restaurant recently
Mac n cheese — not the best mac n cheese I’ve ever had but pretty good. I liked how the macaroni was cooked just a little longer than al dente unlike how mac n cheese is usually cooked. Made with ham and gouda cheese.
Shrimp and grits — best shrimp and grits we’ve ever had. Shrimp was cooked just right too, not overcooked like most places do it. I loved the grits. not sure how they made it so tasty!
Chicken and waffles — also very good, loved the blueberry syrup. Chicken was fried well and tender.
Very good service, nice ambiance (charming house-​y feel with a fireplace). Cool story re: Zoe, an old inhabitant of the house who is supposed to be a ghost hanging around the property 8)
I would recommend that you try to get reservations because otherwise there will probably be a long wait, given how popular this place is.

For a long wait, I wasn’t that impressed with the food. My husband and I were texted that our table was ready after around 25 minutes. We were brought upstairs where our waiter asked us if we would like anything to drink. It seemed like after he found out we weren’t having «drinks» for brunch, he wasn’t that interested in us.
My husband ordered the fried chicken salad, which is under sandwiches. Reading that under sandwiches, he mistakenly thought it was a chicken salad sandwich not a chicken salad. Although it was his mistake, he said that it tasted really good and was glad he got it.
I always judge a place by its biscuits and gravy. A good southern breakfast place should have good biscuits and gravy. At $ 5 you couldn’t beat the price, so I ordered that with a side of bacon. When the meal came out it was cold. I think they have a vat of gravy already prepared and since it is an appetizer I think it sat while my husbands meal was being made. I told the waiter and even after they replaced it, it was warm, but still not hot.
You get biscuits for the table as well, so biscuits and gravy was a lot of biscuits. The bacon was great, and went well with the meal. It was thick cut, and very tasty.
Overall, I think there are more brunch places for us to try, so I don’t know if I would go back.

I always forget about Poogan’s Porch. We had a great table right by one of the front windows and it was a lovely view. They had both the fireplaces going in the front rooms downstairs. Lovely ambiance. I love the big tables and chairs. Jack was our server and he was great.
We started with the Pimento Cheese Fritters and the She Crab soup. Both were good. I ordered the Sweet Tea Glazed Salmon which was pretty good. It was served atop mint risotto. Very interesting, but good nonetheless. My boyfriend got the Crispy Snapper, and surprisingly, I had food envy. Bad! This dish is so good! The snapper is on top of a grit cake, pulled pork, and wilted greens. This was hands down the star of the night. We checked out the dessert menu, but decided against it.
Of note, we went during the «Rollback Prices» special. After looking at the other photos here on Unilocal,I’m 99% sure that the portions are a lot smaller during the Rollback Price timeframe. For instance, we got 3 Pimento Cheese Fritters instead of what I assume is normally 4. My piece of salmon was on the smaller side. The snapper was significantly smaller than is shown in other pictures on Unilocal.This may be an issue for some people (are you really saving that much if the portions are significantly smaller?), so just keep that in mind.

Poogan’s Porch came highly recommend, both by Ally T and other sources! The space is super adorable, and we got a wonderful seat right out on the patio. The one bummer was it was trash/​delivery day, so there were a ton of trucks idling on otherwise adorable Queen Street. But they couldn’t ruin our experience, even if they were trying hard to lol!
Poogan’s porch is nice because the food is a little elevated compared to what you’ll find in other low country/​southern restos around Charleston. It feels like more of a white-​cloth experience, while still being reasonably priced. Our waitress was super friendly (I’m sensing a trend…), and the other diners who brought their pups were a fun addition to our lunch!
Per Ally T’s rec, we ordered the pimiento cheese fritters to start. The come in a sweet sauce that alone I wasn’t fond of, but complimented the fried cheese balls well. I understand now that Pimiento is a South Carolina thing, so I tried it a few times, but Im sad to say I’m just that big of a fan! Sorry South Carolinians! The biscuit and whipped honey butter they bring you is awesome!
My bf ordered the she-​crab soup, which was tasty and creamy, creamier than other versions I’ve had. Per the waitress’ rec he ordered the short rib sandwich, which he said was amazing, though, as usual, I was not offered a taste #Rude.
I ordered the shrimp and grits, something you can’t come to Charleston and not order! It was filled with other fun things, like peppers and sausage, and I definitely satisfied my craving!
Poogan’s porch was the perfect casual but elevated lunch spot after a long day of touristing around. I would love to return and sit inside to experience that ambiance!

If you are reading this review before February 10, 2016 … stop, go to Open Table (or, call) to reserve your table during Poogan’s 2016 Rollback to 1976 pricing promotion … then, come back to read what you can look forward to …
I happened to see a mention somewhere on Facebook that the January Rollback pricing promotion was following Restaurant Week and quickly went to my Open Table account to reserve a table. They were completely booked on Saturday, January 22, except for 5:00 and 8:30. Well, the early spot was perfect for us.
So, this past Saturday, we proceeded from Mt. P. down to Queen Street and found a great parking spot on the second floor of the Charleston County Municipal Parking Garage which was conveniently located across the street from the restaurant. (This was a good thing as it was very cold and windy.) People were already checking in at the hostess station when we arrived. Some proceeded to wait in the huge bar area, others, like us, waited in the anteroom. At precisely 5:00, seating began for diners with 5:00 reservations. Our name was called and we were escorted to a dining room upstairs and seated across from a roaring fireplace. Our primary server, Nick, immediately approached our table to explain the Rollback and to take our drink orders. Chris, our congenial second server came by with water and promised to return, quickly, with ‘bread and butter.‘
We loved being seated, fireside, and couldn’t help but notice the pleasing décor and relaxed vibe in the small dining room. Joe opted for a glass of Salcheto Chianti, Tuscano … well priced at $ 7. I selected an Ice Pick ($ 8.00) … a tall, simple cocktail of Steady Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka and house-​made lemonade. Our beverages arrived within minutes. Joe’s wine was a very, very nice pour. My drink was beautiful and smooth. We then made our menu selections according to Nick’s recommendations. Chris immediately followed with 2 large, warm, fresh and flaky biscuits accompanied by soft, creamy butter.
Six items were offered for Starters … my recollection is only the Alligator differed in preparation from the regular Dinner Menu. Joe couldn’t decide between the Fried Alligator ($ 5.50) and Isaac’s She Crab Soup ($ 3.99) so he ordered both. I selected the Bibb Wedge ($ 4.50). Our first course items arrived quickly and looked very appealing. The she-​crab soup was prepared with a touch of dry sherry and topped with lump crab meat. The ample portion of Fried Alligator arrived, fresh and golden brown, accompanied by a small bowl of honey chipotle dressing in which Joe used to dip the tidbits. As I neither care for creamy soups, nor Alligator, I passed … but, he said the soup ‘ranked right up there’ among the best in Charleston and that the morsels were tender and grease-​free.
My salad was beautiful (check out the pix) … a good sized hunk of fresh, crisp Bibb surrounded with small chunks of tomatoes, cukes and applewood smoked bacon served with a tangy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing on the side.
Fifteen incredibly priced selections were offered for the Main Course, the same number as on the regular Dinner Menu; however, while several items could also be found on the regular Menu, the majority were similar, but less complex as far as number of ingredients and preparation. Trust me … these ‘rollback’ choices did not disappoint! Joe went with Nick’s recommendation … an entrée that was on both menus … the Crispy Skin Snapper served over a pimento cheese grit cake topped with pulled pork, local radish, grilled arugula and NC BBQ reduction. What a deal … just $ 12.50 (priced at $ 27 on the regular menu). I selected a Rollback special, a ridiculously priced ($ 12.99) Flat Iron Steak served with mashed potatoes and broccolini with red wine Demi glacé to be served on the side. The courses were perfectly timed. Our entrees arrived at our table hot and beautifully plated; however, my steak was topped and gleaming with sauce. The server noticed this before placing it on the table, apologized profusely and promised a quick replacement, cooked to my order. Within minutes, the manager arrived with a new plate and we were ready to dig in. Joe’s attractive dish was bursting with flavor after delicious flavor. My steak was perfectly cooked to medium rare, the broccolini was steamed, then dressed with a touch of olive oil and the mashed potatoes were creamy and smooth. Chris made sure that our water glasses were topped off and both servers were appropriately attentive. While we generally pass on dessert, I couldn’t pass up my fave, the Peanut Butter Pie. Though not included in the Special Rollback Menu, I had no problem with the $ 6.00 price. The generous slice of peanut butter heaven arrived with a balsamic gastrique and Oreo dust. It was creamy, dreamy and totally swoon worthy. Needless to say, Poogan’s Porch scored a home run … and we’ll be back. Hurry up … time is fleeting to take advantage of Rollback 2016!

Things to take away from Poogan’s Porch:
1. If dining in for weekend brunch, pop over just before 11am to be seated promptly without a wait!
2. Top notch biscuits will be delivered to your table. Seriously, they’re that good!
3. Service receives an A+ for timeliness, knowledge of the menu and overall kindness.
The Charlestowne Fry — an open-​faced omelet topped with fried oysters; good gravy, where has this been my entire life?! The egg was perfectly cooked, which often goes overlooked, but can either make or break a dish. The remoulade drizzled on top of the oysters was visually stunning and oozing with savory flavor.
Typically, in a Southern environment I’d order cheese grits, but when our server told us the breakfast potatoes were cooked in duck fat I was sold! You have to try these for yourself! The slightest crunch on the outside, but tender as all can be in the center.
With over a thousand reviews, I’m glad to see this wasn’t strictly a tourist destination with subpar food. If you live in Charleston or are traveling from elsewhere, you will not be disappointed in the food or service. Five stars all around!

Poogan’s is that quintessential classy southern restaurant that perfectly fits everyone’s expectations of what a southern restaurant should be — if you aren’t from the south. Occupying a classical old house in Charleston — check. Impeccable service — check. Fried green tomatoes, black-​eye peas and fried chicken– yes, yes, and yes.
The food is delicious though manage your expectations if you aren’t expecting a heavy meal. The pimiento cheese is made in house and absolutely delicious. Same with the fried green tomatoes. Light and crisp they fit exactly what you hope for. The fried chicken and the accompanying sauce is rich in flavor. Keep in mind all the portions are pretty generous so you’ll need to pace yourself — especially when ylu realize you’ve had two or three biscuits to start with because of how delicious the honey butter is.

Stopped by poogan’s for lunch with my girlfriend during our visit to charleston in October. We decided that poogan’s would be the ideal spot for a classic southern meal and we did not come away disappointed although we were not wowed or amazed by the Experience. We were seated after about a 15 minute wait — we were texted when our table was ready which is a great feature! Our waiter was friendly, helpful, and attentive. We ordered a few things to share with our
Focus on classic southern dishes including the she crab soup, fried green tomatoes and fried chicken with collared greens. The she crab soup and fried chicken were standouts while we were not big fans of the tomatoes and collared greens, although the greens just might not be suited to our northeastern pallets. I’d recommend poogan’s for a casual lunch for those looking for some classic southern fare!

My hubs and I were in Charleston this past weekend for his very first marathon!!! Well, marathon was in Kiawah Island. I knew that we would need some very filling and delicious meals post race (cheering is ALSO hard work, folks!) so I did some research before traveling and made a rez at this cute-​looking spot for Sunday night dinner. (side note: it seems a lot of restaurants in Charleston close on Sundays, so I was very glad Poogan’s doesn’t, and had availability about a week and a half out).
The restaurant is very cute, in an old home, like a lot of them in Charleston, it seems. The story behind the name is adorable, named after the owner’s dog, Poogan, who loved hanging on the porch of this place. Aww. We arrived and were seated promptly. Our waiter took a few minutes to appear but when he did he was very nice and knowledgeable. The ambiance in the place is very cute and pleasant. The food is somewhat traditional Southern dishes but with some flare and contemporary aspects. Everything we had was delicious!
We started with the pimiento cheese fritters and the crab salad. Both so good, but the fritters were truly to die for. So cheesy and gooey and warm and delicious! Do NOT skip these! (pimiento cheese is a South Carolina specialty, and so good, I highly suggest you order it if ever on the menu at a SC resto!). OH, and they bring you some amazing fresh-​baked biscuits with an incredible butter, oh lord, wish I had 3 for myself, not just one. For our entrees, my hubby, who was craving shrimp and grits all weekend, ordered just that. And I got the ribs with mac n’cheese and brussels sprouts cooked in bacon fat. My dish was SO GOOD, the ribs were cooked to perfection and the meat fell off the bone, the brussels sprouts so tasty and the mac was normal tasty. We debated which dessert to get and settled on the layer chocolate and peanut butter cake. I am not the biggest fan of PB (shocking, I know) and I voiced that as we debated, and the waiter said he’d bring a scoop of the ice cream (which was what I was leaning toward) along with the cake! Very nice!
Very cute restaurant with very good food and nice ambiance! Definitely worth a visit if you’re in town!

What a warm welcome to Charleston as I just arrived when it was raining and cold! Sunday night meant free street parking (score) confirmed by the hostess. Upstairs, the staff was much warmer and my waiter was excellent that night.
I started off with the Fried Alligator Salad to go with my local beer. So I guess some places in Charleston don’t have draft beer because the businesses are established in older houses that would make serving draft beer difficult. Anyway, this was my first try at alligator in its purest form and not in a jerky or sausage. Not sure if I would call it gamey, but it does have a similar taste to frog. This was interesting and a very light dish.
They also gave me a biscuit and some sweet apple butter. That biscuit and butter was so good, I don’t know how to explain it except the best things in life are free! However, I needed to save some room for my main dish!
The Springer Mt. Farms Fried Chicken was not the best fried chicken I had, as some parts were a bit dry, but the skin and batter were crispy and flavorful. The waiter let me try both the sage gravy (my favorite) and the Texas-​Pete honey jus. However, I found the chicken to be fine without the sauces. The mashed potatoes were rich and buttery and tasted just like home-​cooking and the green beans had a hint of garlic and were delicious.
I was stuffed by the time I finished everything, as the dinner itself was very filling. The manager that night, Don, I believe, came by and thanked me for coming. Everyone was so kind to me upstairs and it was the warmest welcome I could have received on my first night!

What a gem! Service was incredible. Our server was so professional, and she made you feel like a hundred bucks. She chit-​chatted, but not to the point where she was a bother. The restaurant itself was very quaint and peaceful. We sat by a fireplace on a chilly Sunday morning.
The food was outstanding! I had the fried pork chop… mmmmm. The potatoes, biscuits, and fried egg that accompanied it were fantastic! The Texas Pete jus that topped it was awesome! (I have to admit, I had no idea what Texas Pete jus was when I ordered it.)
If you haven’t done so yet, give this place a visit!

The Quick: An absolute delight for brunch. The chicken and waffles might’ve been our favorite dish in Charleston. Very picturesque, and the staff is very friendly. Would definitely return.
The Details: This beautiful old house was turned into a charming restaurant that we adores. It was decorated for Christmas which was a treat. The menu is great, very southern, and the complementary biscuits were out of this world amazing. Their bloody Mary’s are also very different from the traditional New York, and they’re worth a try if you’re adventurous.
The Damage: We split two entrées and one drink ~35 before tip.

I get so scared when I order mac & cheese places. I’ve had the best ever (cafeteria nyc) so most of the time it’s now hard to find any that is good. but I just had to try it here after seeing pictures. it was amazing. I didn’t even want to share with my hubs. if I could I would have ordered another app of it lol. (I could have but yeah just no lol)
I’ve never been so happy with food in my life then our trip to Charleston. really so many trips we’ve gone on the food everyone raves about has been such a let down, Charleston did it all right! I didn’t even take a break to instagram my food either, that’s how great it was, I wanted to gobble it all down. oh the place was adorable too btw.

Oh Poogan! I am sure glad this was my first sit-​down restaurant in Charleston. The food was DELICIOUS. We sat upstairs where fortunately there was plenty of sunshine coming through, so it really woke me up at 10am on Sunday after a 7am flight from NYC.
Appetizers:
Fried Green Tomatoes: I just had to do it being in Charleston and sure glad I did because it was perfect! It was perfectly fried with a great crunch that stuck to the tomato. The aioli was the perfect complement to the tomatoes and it was enough to share between two to three people easy.
Biscuits and Gravy: GRAVY WAS AMAZING. One of the best gravys I’ve had in a while. The biscuits (3 of them) were a little different from what I am used to. It didn’t have that outer crunch I would usually expect. It was more soft all around so I think on its own I wouldn’t have been a crazy fan but when you mix it with that gravy, man oh man, anything would be good with the gravy they are serving. Just delicious and only $ 5 bucks!
Fried Alligator: I was very interested in trying alligator and it did not disappoint. It was basically like popcorn chicken but with alligator and some spicy aioli on the side. It was really delicious because the alligator consistency was a bit chewier than chicken and had both dark and light meats it seemed.
Entrée: We just did one entrée because of all the appetizers we wanted to try and got the infamous shrimp and grits. I was blown away! It just had so much flavor. The grits were perfect for absorbing the flavor of the ham gravy. Plenty of shrimp in the dish. 5 stars. So good!
Overall I really enjoyed brunch here. The execution of the food was spot on, service was friendly.

My group of friends made a reservation here. They RAVED about this place and everyone said it was amazing. When we got there, it was SOOO crowded. They were telling people the wait would be 7 hours in some instances. Wow. We only had to wait about 5 min for our table to be ready.
When we got to the table, a server came and got our orders. They were pretty quick and efficient. We ordered some appetizers which came out fairly quickly. The appetizers were pretty darn good. Fried pimento cheese balls, man-​n-​cheese, and the alligator bites. The first two were awesome… the alligator didn’t have much flavor. They gave us biscuits as an appetizer also, they were fluffy and hot.
I ordered a veggie omelet, Goat cheese, spinach, and onions. Sounded epic. Sadly it was super disappointing. Their omelets were clearly mass-​made as none of the ‘toppings’ were inside the omelet, they were simply laid on and folded over… I picked up the egg part of the omelet, and everything fell out. It was just a big glob of goat cheese and some sauteed spinach just laid on the egg. It didn’t have much flavor so I was very disappointed by this.
Overall not a bad experience, but for all they hype and it not being cheap by any means, I would have expeceted a bit more from this place.

Ein absoluter Genuss, sehr spannende Kombinationen zu einem bezahlbaren Preis.
Danach die King Street als Verdauungsspaziergang nutzen und die herrlichen Gebäude bewundern.