USA TODAY 10Best
Best Shrimp & Grits in South Carolina: Poogan's Porch
Best Shrimp & Grits in South Carolina (2019)
Shrimp and grits first made an appearance in print in the 1930 Two-Hundred Years of Charleston Cooking cookbook with a recipe in its purist form: sautéed shrimp, "hot hominy", melted butter, salt and pepper. The dish, once known simply as breakfast shrimp, began as a simple breakfast staple during the shrimping season for shrimpers on the South Carolina coast. Today, the dish appears on breakfast, lunch and dinner menus throughout the state, often dressed up with bacon, aromatics and spicy or creamy sauces.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Shrimp & Grits in South Carolina are as follows:
- Stella's Southern Brasserie - Greenville
- Moe's Crosstown Tavern - Charleston
- Slightly North of Broad - Charleston
- Flipside Cafe - Fort Mill
- Page's Okra Grill - Mount Pleasant
- A Lowcountry Backyard - Hilton Head
- The Cottage Cafe, Bakery & Tea Room - Bluffton
- Sassafras Southern Bistro - Greenville
- Soby's New South Cuisine - Greenville
- Poogan's Porch - Charleston
Photo courtesy of Stella's Southern Brasserie
No. 10:
The base of Stella’s Southern Brasserie’s shrimp and grits dish are the stone-ground grits from Adluh Mills, cooked with butter, milk and cream. These are topped with wild-caught American shrimp and a broth-based sauce seasoned with bacon, garlic, stewed tomatoes and Cajun seasoning.
Photo courtesy of Moe's Crosstown Tavern
No. 9:
At Moe’s Crosstown Tavern in Charleston, diners can tuck into a bowl of creamy grits topped with Moe’s spicy shrimp gravy, six blackened jumbo shrimp, fresh tomatoes and scallions, served with a buttermilk biscuit on the side.
Photo courtesy of Slightly North of Broad
No. 8:
At Slightly North of Broad, or S.N.O.B for short, the shrimp and grits are made with house sausage, country ham, tomatoes, green onions, garlic and Geechie Boy grits.
Photo courtesy of Flipside Cafe
No. 7:
The variation of shrimp and grits served at the Flipside Cafe in Fort Mill comes with roasted shrimp, andouille sausage, charred peppers, smoked tomatoes, aged cheddar grits and spinach from Glory Farm.
Photo courtesy of Page's Okra Grill
No. 6:
Like everything on the menu at Page’s Okra Grill, the signature shrimp and grits are made from scratch. The dish starts with lightly battered and fried cheddar grits, topped with smoked andouille sausage cream sauce and pan-seared shrimp. It comes with a buttermilk biscuit or cornbread muffin.
Photo courtesy of A Lowcountry Backyard
No. 5:
A Lowcountry Backyard on Hilton Head Island specializes in Lowcountry seafood, with shrimp & grits making an appearance on their Lowcountry Favorites menu. This version features pan-sautéed shrimp, smoked sausage, shaved green onion and applewood bacon cream sauce.
Photo courtesy of The Cottage Cafe, Bakery & Tea Room
No. 4:
The Cottage Cafe, Bakery & Tea Room in Bluffton serves their bacon pimento shrimp and grits with local sautéed shrimp, bacon, onion, garlic and mushrooms, served on a bed of pimento cheese and yellow stone-ground grits.
Photo courtesy of Sassafras Southern Bistro
No. 3:
The take on shrimp and grits that comes from the kitchens of Sassafras Southern Bistro in Greenville includes sautéed shrimp, spicy tasso ham and Adluh yellow stone-ground grits, all smothered in a white wine herb chicken velouté.
Photo courtesy of Soby's New South Cuisine
No. 2:
Soby’s in Greenville works with local farmers, ranchers and foragers whenever possible to craft their Southern-inspired menu. Soby’s Antebellum Shrimp & Grits are made with Anson Mill grits, country ham, sausage, tomatoes and fresh herbs.
Photo courtesy of Poogan's Porch
No. 1:
At Poogan’s Porch in Charleston, the shrimp and grits come with andouille sausage, sweet onions, bell peppers and a tasso ham gravy.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning restaurants!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Charles McCool
Charles McCool loves to find hidden gems, off the... Read More
Charles McCool loves to find hidden gems, off the beaten path places, and amazing local food and beverages. He runs McCoolTravel.com, which was recognized as the #2 online travel brand for audience engagement. He has taught people how to be happier travelers for over 25 years and is a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). Join the McCool Travel family at Facebook, Flipboard, Instagram and Twitter.
Charles McCool
Charles McCool loves to find hidden gems, off the beaten path places, and amazing local food and beverages. He runs McCoolTravel.com, which was recognized as the #2 online travel brand for audience engagement. He has taught people how to be happier travelers for over 25 years and is a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). Join the McCool Travel family at Facebook, Flipboard, Instagram and Twitter.
Kristy Tolley
Kristy Tolley is the editor of GO Magazine and... Read More
Kristy Tolley is the editor of GO Magazine and Traveler, AAA Carolinas’ member and travel publications. Previously, she was a freelance travel writer and copywriter for businesses in the travel and hospitality industries for over 18 years. She never passes up an opportunity to visit new destinations anywhere in the world, but road trips throughout North Carolina and South Carolina have been the source of some of her fondest adventures. Follow her shenanigans on Instagram and Twitter.
Kristy Tolley
Kristy Tolley is the editor of GO Magazine and Traveler, AAA Carolinas’ member and travel publications. Previously, she was a freelance travel writer and copywriter for businesses in the travel and hospitality industries for over 18 years. She never passes up an opportunity to visit new destinations anywhere in the world, but road trips throughout North Carolina and South Carolina have been the source of some of her fondest adventures. Follow her shenanigans on Instagram and Twitter.
Lynn and Cele Seldon
Lynn and Cele Seldon make up the team that is... Read More
Lynn and Cele Seldon make up the team that is Seldon Ink and have spent more than 25 years covering all aspects of culinary and travel writing. With a keen focus on the Southeast and a particular love of the Carolinas, they have written dozens of magazine and newspaper articles about the area and have become self-professed experts along the way. Their work has appeared in Southern Living, Taste of the South, The Local Palate, Cruise Travel, South Carolina Living, South Carolina Magazine, TrailBlazer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, various in-flight publications and many AAA magazines. They are also the authors of 100 Things To Do In Charleston Before You Die from Reedy Press. Follow along on their adventures at www.seldonink.com or @seldonink.
Lynn and Cele Seldon
Lynn and Cele Seldon make up the team that is Seldon Ink and have spent more than 25 years covering all aspects of culinary and travel writing. With a keen focus on the Southeast and a particular love of the Carolinas, they have written dozens of magazine and newspaper articles about the area and have become self-professed experts along the way. Their work has appeared in Southern Living, Taste of the South, The Local Palate, Cruise Travel, South Carolina Living, South Carolina Magazine, TrailBlazer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, various in-flight publications and many AAA magazines. They are also the authors of 100 Things To Do In Charleston Before You Die from Reedy Press. Follow along on their adventures at www.seldonink.com or @seldonink.
Renata Parker
Renata Parker is the destinations and dining out... Read More
Renata Parker is the destinations and dining out feature writer and photographer for TALK magazine, a luxury lifestyle magazine published in Greenville, South Carolina, #yeahTHATgreenville. With over 250+ published features, she has traveled to and covered a number of restaurants, resorts, spas, and travel destinations worldwide. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Renata Parker
Renata Parker is the destinations and dining out feature writer and photographer for TALK magazine, a luxury lifestyle magazine published in Greenville, South Carolina, #yeahTHATgreenville. With over 250+ published features, she has traveled to and covered a number of restaurants, resorts, spas, and travel destinations worldwide. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
