You’re exploring Beaufort because it has a perfect southern vibe that makes it the perfect escape from everyday life. Not only does the area have scenic views and a one-of-a-kind local charm in abundance, but it’s also becoming known as a food lover’s paradise with Lowcountry dishes that help make sure you eat like a local.
Part of taking a vacation is your desire to soak in your surroundings, and it always helps to find food that envelopes the culture of the area you’re visiting.
If you’re looking for Lowcountry cuisine, and we know you are, here are some spots where you’ll find your favorite Lowcountry dishes…so you’ll definitely be able to eat your way through Beaufort SC and the sea islands.
She Crab Soup
She Crab Soup is very popular along the coast from Charleston, SC to Savannah, GA and some of the best in all of Beaufort can be found at Panini’s on the Waterfront in downtown. Creamy and crabby, the she crab at Panini’s definitely goes hand-in-hand with being in the Lowcountry.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried green tomatoes are a treat well known here in the South, where they have been loved for a very long time. You’ll be happy to know they are on the menus of a few restaurants around the Beaufort SC area, and one we’ve particularly enjoyed is the FGT appetizer at Dockside Restaurant on Lady’s Island. The chefs at Dockside go way beyond traditional and offer up their fried maters dressed in a secret sauce and covered with black beans, tomatoes, corn and scallions. It’s definitely an old staple with a new twist, and one of our favorite Lowcountry dishes.
Fried Jumbo Shrimp
You can’t be in Beaufort and not enjoy our fresh local-caught shrimp. It would be like being in St. Louis or Memphis and not trying ribs, or being in Pittsburgh without eating pierogies. It’s just not proper, and you would probably regret it. If you’re going out looking for local shrimp and want to enjoy some that are right off the boat, order up the fried shrimp at Panini’s on the Waterfront, Q on Bay, Brody’s Bar & Grill or at Foolish Frog. All of them use fresh, locally-caught shrimp, sourced right here in Beaufort’s waters.
Oysters
Oysters are an acquired taste, and are definitely not for everyone. If you’re looking for fresh local Beaufort SC oysters in season, which is during any month that has the letter ‘r’ in it, then you should definitely go out to the Johnson Creek Tavern. They really know their oysters there. You’ll find them on the menu either raw, or steamed, and you could also opt for the “JCT” version, which are oysters on the half-shell, topped with cheese, bacon and a tasty lobster cream sauce.
Steamed Shrimp
Steaming shrimp is another way to cook them if you don’t like them fried. We found the best local steamed shrimp at Panini’s on the Waterfront. Theirs is steamed in the perfect blend of lager, onion, tomato, butter and Old Bay seasoning. It’s the way steamed shrimp is supposed to taste.
Shrimp & Grits
Shrimp & grits is a simple meal that was traditionally a breakfast dish but most folks prefer it as a lunch or dinner dish today. It was invented by local fishermen as an easy-to-get seasonal dish of shrimp cooked in bacon grease served over creamy grits. The kitchens in many of our homes here in Beaufort know how to make it, and both Blackstone’s Cafe and Panini’s on the Waterfront are very well known for making some of the best in all of Beaufort. Shrimp and grits is a classic, sought after Lowcountry dish.
Frogmore Stew
Nothing is more perfect for a Lowcountry meal than Frogmore Stew, a mouthwatering, one-pot meal of shrimp, corn on the cob, new potatoes and smoked sausage. Also called Lowcountry boil or Beaufort stew, it represents Beaufort and the sea islands perhaps more than any other of our Lowcountry dishes. You can find it on the menu at the Johnson Creek Tavern and often at Beedos, where it is served as a fresh-cooked specialty item, only available until it’s sold out. An honorable mention goes to the ‘Frogmore Penne’ at Panini’s on the Waterfront, where their chefs put together a dish that contains all of the Frogmore stew ingredients, mixed with pasta and a tasty curry sauce.
Shrimp Burger
Shrimp burgers are definitely a local favorite and a stalwart here on our list of Lowcountry dishes. A shrimp burger is simply a cake of shrimp and seasonings served on a bun, with lettuce, tomato and your sauce-of-choice. Simply put, Shrimp Shack has the most sought-after shrimp burger in the entire Lowcountry. Just ask Southern Living Magazine, they’ll tell ya. No foodie trip to Beaufort is complete without a trip to the Shrimp Shack.
BBQ
Good BBQ is just as important to folks in the South as anything else and we appreciate seriously good BBQ spots here in the area where we enjoy some of the best BBQ interpretations, recipes and fusions. BBQ is not something you just ‘do’. BBQ is a style. It’s a flavor. You’ll definitely find some fantastic local BBQ at downtown’s Q on Bay, where their chefs slather up some of the best BBQ chicken, ribs, brisket and even shrimp. Also, on a Thursday or a Friday, you can enjoy the buffet at Dukes BBQ. Both spots also serve up some of the best sides including okra, collard greens, mac n cheese and even banana pudding to compliment your BBQ dinner.
Seafood Pizza
Yes, you can put seafood on a pizza, and the only one you’ll find in Beaufort is at Panini’s on the Waterfront. The “King Neptune” sits on their specialty pizza menu (on a part time basis) and is one of a kind. Topped with fresh local Beaufort shrimp, local crab and some fresh lobster which blend very well with mushrooms, fresh mozzarella cheese and their homemade tomato sauce. It’s not available all the time, but you’ll be happy when it is.
Fish/Shrimp Tacos
Tacos made the coastal way are a staple around the Beaufort SC area. Lots of restaurants serve them, but the best one of them all that we have found over the years is the fish taco at the Johnson Creek Tavern. Prepared using fresh mahi mahi, the fish is seasoned very well, blackened and then placed on a double tortilla with a layer of gooey cheese and some other goodies that blend very well together.
When in Beaufort….you’ve GOT to eat like a local!
Find more to eat in our Lowcountry Cuisine column.
