Review Circa 1886 Restaurant - Charleston

The chef is fantastic and very creative like an artist. It is definitely one of the top 2 restaurants in the entire city. The plating and experience was great. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. The food was so delicious. I especially loved the mushroom soup, truffle risotto that the chef customized for me, and the cheesecake ice cream. The tasting menu is very reasonable for what you get. I loved almost everything that I ate. My husband had the Ashley tasting menu. I'm very glad I came. It was in the carriage house of Wentworth Mansion which felt special as well

Best restaurant we’ve been to in Charleston thus far. We both got the Ashley tasting course and my husband paired it with wine. Every course was phenomenal. The service was excellent and never felt like we waited too long between each course. It is on the expensive side and worth every penny! We would definitely come back. Also, we came for our honeymoon so they wrote congratulations on some white chocolate which we appreciated :)

Fine dining at its best. The service was professional and attentive. The wine list was impressive and included most price ranges. The atmosphere was quiet and comfortable. The food was out of this world.

Impeccable service and top notch fine dining. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Charleston and was worth the splurge for the 5 course meals. Could not have asked for a better way to celebrate our anniversary! The desserts looked like works of art and we loved the crab salad and foie gras.

Amazing dining experience from start to finish. Every course was delicious and carefully crafted. The pork belly sous vide was the best dish I had all week in Charleston. Also, to show you how much they care, the first course (an elevated grilled cheese, the best grilled cheese I ever had) was missing an ingredient, which we did not notice. After we finished the course, they brought out again with the missing ingredient because “they wanted us to experience the true dish”. They could have easily carried on and we wouldn’t have notice. Instead, they chose to do the right thing. You don’t always get that anymore.

Excellent experience. One of us did the cooper tasting with wine pairing and the other ordered a la carte. Really enjoyed the sea bass with smoked salmon wontons, bok choy and an amazing tomato lemongrass broth. Highlights from the tasting menu were the crab salad and lobster tail. Favorite dessert was lemon blackberry and house limoncello was very good.

We had the Ashley and Cooper menus: all dishes were memorable, the wine pairings were perfect and the deserts absolutely delicious.

An amazing experience! Staff was courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable. Our group of 8 had a mix of everything from the flounder, beef tenderloin, duck, chicken fingers for the kids, and the Cooper tasting menu. Every dish was delicious. Not the first complaint among the group. Wine recommendations were spot on, while not trying to sell the most expensive on the menu. We'll definitely be back.

Easily top 5 dining experiences in my life. I have never been to a Michelon Star restaurant but if Charleston had their own Michelon star critics in the area, I would imagine Circa 1886 would have a star. It has inspired my wife and I to want to visit French Laundry and Alinea in the next few years. I am a picky eater too but everything was magnificent. They say pictures say a thousand words, but I can attest that the taste made me speechless in the best way possible.

Everything was absolutely perfect! The restaurant even surprised us with dessert for our wedding anniversary, and it was delicious. A total class act!

My fiancé and I became engaged on 12/22/17 and he planned our celebratory dinner with Circa 1886, and it was nothing short of amazing. Charles was our waiter and provided the best service we had ever experienced. We even called the restaurant the next day to rave about our experience. The service was like clockwork, but we were not rushed. Our glasses never got below half empty and our silverware was replaced with each course. We were given complimentary champagne (regular $34/glass) and customized congratulatory menus to start off the meal. Any questions we had about the menu were answered and Charles provided great suggestions for meals. I ordered the Intermezzo cocktail and my fiancé ordered the featured scotch cocktail, both were great. We ordered the scallops and the beets and chèvre as appetizers. The scallops were cooked to perfection. Very buttery and melt in your mouth- I wish more than 2 came on the plate! The beets and chèvre was exquisite with cool goat cheese sauce. We ate every bite. 2 bite-sized complimentary snacks were provided by the chef- one was a spoon with a cheese cube, almond and cherry, the other was a split lima bean soup. YUM. As for dinner, my fiancé did the 5 course tasting menu (Beef pate, Heirloom tomato salad, pheasant, lamb, pumpkin souffle) and he thoroughly enjoyed every bit. The portions were generous and Charles provided extra plates for me so that I could pick at the different dishes. I ordered the triple potato gratin (I'm a vegetarian) and it was out of this world. Very hearty and yummy. Charles then surprised me with a complimentary dessert course (the smores). Both of our plates were decorated with "Congratulations" written in chocolate- it was a really special touch. When we got the check ($200 with a generous tip included) we felt like the experience and food was 100% worth the money. We will definitely be back and would recommend to anyone and everyone.

The most amazing food, so much flavor and style. Our waiter Austin was awesome and although he had no idea my boyfriend was going to propose to me at dinner he was Johnny on the spot with 2 glasses of Champagne. He was very knowledgeable about the wine list and menu. Wonderful experience and we definitely recommend.

Nothing short of amazing. My girlfriend and I started with a couple drinks from the bar, which were expertly mixed and made with high quality liquors. We decided on the Oysters Rockefeller, which came topped with large chunk of bacon and spritzed with absinthe. Delicious, but I wish there had been more than 3. I ordered the coffee brined antelope and my girlfriend got the tuna steak. Both were cooked to perfection and had amazing flavor. For dessert, we ordered the souffle. Neither of us had ever had one, and this one did not disappoint! The melted caramel and chai ice cream were wonderful pairings for it. It was stunning both in flavor and appearance. Our waiter, Austin, was exceptionally attentive and friendly. The ambiance was relaxing and romantic. Some restaurants in Charleston get quite loud which, in my opinion, somewhat dulls the experience. The noise level at Circa 1886 was quiet enough that we could talk without raising our voices, but we didn't feel like we were in a library either. All in all, it was a fantastic experience. Will be back!

We had the four course meal with matched wines. Truly inspired chef. It was our anniversary dinner and the chef, server and sommelier went out of their way to make it a very special night. We have had dinner in several Four Diamond restaurants and Circa 1886 is the best one yet. Thank you Caitlin for very personal touches.

Amazing place. We come to Charleston every year and never knew it was here. I have celiac disease, which means I often times miss out on finer dining experiences. Frankly, its something that is awkward and embarrassing for me. The gluten-free menu is clearly marked, the wait staff was kind and knowledgeable. We went two nights in a row. The service is outstanding, food is phenomenal, and the ambiance is perfect. Love it.

My husband and I ate dinner here last night. The service, food and atmosphere was top notch. I had the antelope and my husband the trout. This was one of the best meals we have ever eaten and we have traveled and eaten at many different restaurants. Five stars isn't enough!!!!!!

Planned a dinner for my friends bachelor party at Circa 1886 and was very impressed. 5 out of 6 gentleman attending work currently in the food industry. We all had a great full meal experiance. From the minute we stepped in the door to the moment we parted, we felt well served and fed by the hard working, professional staff. Thank you all for the start to a great night, one of the highlights of the weekend.

We had an amazing experience at Circa 1886. Charles was our server and he was excellent. The food was delicious. I’m gluten free and they had many menu items to choose from, even bringing out special gf bread. We will definitely go back the next time we are in Charleston.

Wonderful atmosphere. The staff was friendly and attentive. The food excellent and we were very full even before the delicious dessert. Will definitely dine there again and recommend to our family and friends

What a dining experience! The crab salad was delicious, as was the sea bass. My husband decided on the 5 course tasting menu and ate every bit . Wagu short ribs melted in my mouth. The chocolate assortment dessert came home with us and made a fantastic breakfast! Brian, our server, was on time for everything and a delight. We'll be back!

The food was amazing and the staff was very nice and attentive. I would definitely recommend Circa 1886 Restaurant.

I don't know where to start. My husband and I agreed that our meal was the best we've ever had. Ever. We traveled to Charleston for our anniversary trip. I saw Circa 1886 listed in a NY Times article for the most romantic restaurants for Valentine's Day 2017 in each state. I made a reservation right away for our anniversary on March 18th. There a so many fine dining restaurants to choose from in Charleston, but I am so glad we chose this place. Our waiter Charles was on point. I love how attentive this restaurant was to the fact that it was our anniversary. Our menu's said "Happy Anniversary" on them as did our desserts. What an amazing experience all around. The food. Oh.My.Goodness. THE FOOD. There were so many delicious items to choose from, the decision was difficult. We chose Broccoli Ricotta Gnudi and the Rabbit Confit cassoulet for our starter. Both were excellent. We settled on The Lamb Rack and the Chimichurri Beef for our entrees. Absolute perfection. There is no other word for it. The Apple Crisp Soufflé was incredible. We ordered one to share, but Charles couldn't let us share such a fantastic dessert and brought us one each with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate. What a thoughtful touch. I'd come to Charleston (a 12 hour drive from where we live in Pennsylvania) just to dine here again. Thank you for making our milestone anniversary one to remember.

One of the best meals I've had in a LONG time, and I am particular and have dined well all over the world. This was a great experience to share with my fiancé and I would recommend it to anyone looking for fine dining with real talent throughout the establishment. Elegant, comfortable, delectable and intriguing. I'll be back when I am in Charleston again!! Thank you to our server, Thomas, and all of the very attentive staff who take great pride in their work. We had a sweet night with y'all!!

I have to agree with the other reviews. The wait staff is very well trained and are just "nice, open, informative and have a great sense of timing a meal and disappearing when they can sense they should. The food was truly great. I had the Antelope which was the most tender meet you could imagine. If we are anywhere near Charleston we will go again. Could not have been happier with the choice to eat there!

I recently brought a group of 35 from Kansas City to a private lunch. The food was amazing and the staff went above and beyond. Chef Collins was so kind and was able to talk to my guests about the restaurant and his background which really added to the experience!