Hominy Grill - Charleston, SC

Posted By Michael Stern on November 2, 2008 12:42 PM

We stopped at the Hominy Grill for breakfast, but sure want to return for lunch and supper.

Not that breakfast wasn't wonderful! The sausage patties that came alongside our sunnyside-up eggs were rugged and crusty and brilliantly spiced -- a joy to eat when pushed through some yolk or sandwiched inside the tall biscuit that came alongside. Bacon was excellent,too -- although we ate it before we had a chance to take a picture! -- double-thick, crisp, and full-flavored, just begging to be cosseted in that hefty biscuit.

Menus for later in the day promised such Southern soul classics as fried chicken with collard greens, gumbo, shrimp Creole, and country captain and, of course, baked cheese grits on the side. The grits that accompanied our breakfast were in fact excellent. True comfort food in their own right, and the perfect companion for any breakfast that includes plenty of pig meat.

The building that houses this estimable restaurant was at one time a barber shop; and the striped poles that signify the tonsorial profession still flank the front door (on the inside). It's a spacious room with an old stamped tin ceiling, wood-slat walls, and slow-spinning fans overhead.

Overall Rating

Hominy Grits

Sauteed Shrimp on Cheese Grits

Okra beignets

Lima Beans

Chocolate Pudding

Copper Pennies (Carrots)

Sweet Tea

Bacon

Big Nasty

Caramel Cake

Purloo

4 Vegetable Plate

Breakfast Breads

Buttermilk Pie

Breakfast Sausage

Country Captain

Deep Fried Corn Bread

Boiled Peanuts

Granola

23 out of 23 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By Carolyn Denny on April 30, 2012 9:41 PM

I saw online that they don't take reservations, but learned from calling them that reservations are generally required. When we did show up for our reservation, we walked right in and had a delicious dinner of shrimp & okra fritters, shrimp & grits, a veggie plate, and the rich chocolate pudding with coffee. I did not love the squash casserole which had a really strong flavor, but the sweet potatoes were to-die for.

Overall Rating

Chocolate Pudding

Mashed sweet potatoes

4 Vegetable Plate

Okra beignets

Buttermilk Pie

Lima Beans

Squash casserole

0 out of 0 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By Jenn Baker on July 20, 2008 12:39 PM

My husband and I had a goal to not eat at any chain restaurant during our vacation in Charleston, as this is truly the only way to experience the true charm! Our last night took us to Hominy Grill, and it ended up being our favorite meal of the week.

Once we sat down, our super-friendly waitress brought a complimentary small carton of boiled peanuts to begin our meal. Their fried green tomatoes come on top of homemade ranch dressing, and were a fabulous appetizer. After perusing the side and vegetable menu, my husband ordered a vegetable plate. Lima beans are prepared with chopped baby portabellos and carrots. Carrot coins are served chilled in a delicious sweet dill glaze. You have to eat the grits (regular or fried cheese grits) when you come here, and the potato salad is unlike any you've ever had. It is prepared with red new potatoes, chopped celery, and a bit of jalapeno (I think) for just the right amount of kick.

I had the grilled eggplant, red pepper, red onion, and goat cheese sandwich and it was incredible. Their sweet tea is some of the best in the South, as is their cornbread. The atmosphere is friendly, relaxed, and comfortable and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal.

Reservations are recommended for dinner; the place fills up quickly inside and outside on their patio. This is the place we cannot WAIT to visit again!

Overall Rating

8 out of 8 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By David Williams on July 19, 2008 1:32 PM

My family had lunch here and absolutely loved it. The blackboard offered no less that eight vegetables of the day. Torn between fried chicken and shrimp creole, I followed our waitress' recommendation for the creole and was not disappointed: large plump shrimp in a not-too-spicy tomato sauce studded with Tasso ham and bits of bacon. I also ordered a side of lima beans, which were the best I've ever had. Flavorful but still light (not a hint of bacon drippings), they would convert a carnivore into a vegetarian. My wife had the fried green tomato BLT. The FGT was not greasy, though it was thicker and firmer than most. We also asked for biscuits, which they do not normally serve at lunch. Having read the reviews, I was expecting extraordinary biscuits. These had obviously been left over from breakfast and suffered as a result, though I'm sure they were wonderful when fresh.

Desserts are outstanding. The buttermilk pie is light, faintly lemony, and similar to (but lighter than) a chess pie. The chocolate pudding is outstanding, made with bittersweet chocolate; this is almost a chocolate brulee without the crust. The recipe is on their website, and we will definitely make this at home. The chocolate chip pound cake with custard sauce is a favorite of our five year old.

All in all, this is informal Southern cooking at a highly elevated level. Highly recommended.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes