Our original plan was to select one of Charleston's many excellent restaurants for a high-end dinner and find other options for the rest of stay. We abandoned that plan after eating here. Specializing in excellent presentations of South Carolina's unique Low Country cuisine, 82 Queen gave us one of the best dining experiences we've ever had. Calm, elegant, and graceful, 82 Queen appears to full of Charleston residents.

We were seated at a white wicker-like table in a beautifully lush and shaded courtyard. The service was excellent, and making selections for each course was difficult. They're famous for the She-Crab Soup, but the Southern Barbeque Shrimp with Grits was also delicious. My wife passed on a salad, but I'm glad I didn't: the spinach salad with roasted pecans, fresh brie, and raspberry vinaigrette was delicious. I had the Lowcountry Shrimp and Crawfish Jambalaya, served with red rice.

Food, wine, service, and setting added up to a wonderful evening. We shared a creme brulee and sipped coffee as the sun gradually set, bringing a close to a great night. It's hard to go wrong picking a restaurant in this city, but if you're stumped, come here--you'll be glad you did.

P.S. They're also open for lunch, with a very similar (but less expensive) menu.

We had a wonderful dinner. The grounds include three 18th-century townhouses, two inside bars (one full-service and one just for shots), a partly glassed-in romantic gazebo and outdoor tables for dining. I had she-crab soup and a bouillabaisse of shrimp, fish and oysters. Susan had she-crab soup and bourbon sauce shrimp over very creamy grits. For dessert, I had pecan pie and peach bread pudding with cinnamon ice cream. Susan had a cranberry/apple/pear pie with brown sugar crust. [$72] in 1998

Nestled in the heart of the historic district, 82 Queen's beautiful buildings are situated on the site of the former Schenckingh's Square, part of the original walled city of Charles Towne dating back to the 1600's. It was 1982 when 82 Queen the restaurant opened its doors. 82 Queen boasts seven private dining rooms and a lush garden courtyard.

Each dining room has its own particular ambiance, conveying the splendor of days-gone-by. Visitng during the spring, my family chose to sit in the open air courtyard, where dining is enhanced by warm breezes, blooming Azaleas, and a stately Magnolia tree.

For an appetizer, my brother, father, and sister ordered fried calamari, while my mother and I decided to split a bowl of 82 Queen's award-winning she crab soup. For dinner, I chose one of my favorite foods, grilled grouper. Chef Stephen Kish serves up an interestng twist on the grouper - it's servedÊover grits. Being that I think grits are wonderful, and that 82 Queen's grits are even better than most, I enoyed mixing the two foods. Fried green tomatoes are also served with the grouper entree. By the time my raspberry swirl cheesecake was served, I was sure that they wait staff was going to have to roll me out the door.

I recommend a lunch or dinner at 82 Queen for all visitors. While the restaurant has a quaint ambience that whispers "romance", the restaurant is not stuffy and welcomes families. A children's menu is available.