A friend of mine asked me where we went for dinner the night we hit Xiao Bao Biscuit. First he asked me to repeat the name of the restaurant because, well, let’s face it, it does have an unusual name.

Then he asked me to repeat where the restaurant was, because, well, let’s face it, up until a couple of years ago, there was nothing there on the corner of Spring and Rutledge. In fact, XBB’s digs used to be a gas station (the pump island is still in the parking lot).

Persimmon Café cleans house with more than just great coffee

By Patrick Graham

Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, the indoctrination about the feats of the illustrious Wright Brothers began essentially as soon as we five-year-olds walked into our kindergarten classes.  Fascinating stories about how a wondrous flying machine evolved in the minds of Orville and Wilbur in their little bike shop in 1903 permeated our little minds, and Dayton has been on the map forever since that blustery day at Kitty Hawk.

By Patrick Graham

By now, Wayne’s World in its theatrical form has been around for more than twenty years, so this article’s title refers to a phrase that probably should be relegated to the dustbin of history (or at least, lumped together with other tired movie lines that haven’t quite held up over the last couple of decades).  May I please borrow said phrase for just a few moments of your time, if only to explain what its original message was?

To refresh your collective memories regarding the movie, Wayne and Garth come across legendary rocker Alice Cooper in full regalia and announce that they cannot occupy the same spatial vicinity with this one Mr. Cooper without exalting him with breathless praise.  Only it’s not breathless, it’s shouting.  “We’re not worthy!! We’re not worthy!!”

Upon hearing that the selection for Dine or Dash this issue was The Sloppy Cow, I was ecstatic. I do so enjoy checking out restaurants that are gourmet versions of extremely casual fare (i.e. the burger joint) because I am always keen to find out how a staple of our sad American diet gets jazzed up. It would seem that the founders of a restaurant that was named after an unkempt bovine probably had the same mindset I did, and the idea that they weren’t taking themselves too seriously was a welcome bonus regarding their self-awareness that I appreciated. 

I have been meaning to get over to Wild Olive ever since my impromptu move to the Charleston area. Living only a matter of minutes away, should have brought me to this John’s Island hotspot long before now. The time had come though. And so had the rain. Watching kayakers floating down King Street and in the Marketplace, I almost decided to forego the drive. After being housebound for the day, my cabin fever outweighed my trepidation. Fortunately the drive was damp, but not dangerous and the parking lot at Wild Olive was a large puddle, not a lake. By the time I made it to the welcoming flower cart outside the entrance, I was happy that I had made the effort.

The original Santi's, on Meeting Street, has been around for quite some time. It took them opening their newest location, in Mount Pleasant, to reinvigorate my curiosity.  So, on a mission, I ventured out in the summer heat to the beloved Santi's on the South Side of the Ravenel.

By: Antonia Krenza & Laney Roberts

     On a mission, after a grueling Saturday night at work, my friend and I decided to hit up the "honest to goodness" sandwiches at Butcher & Bee. I had previously staked out the whereabouts and was sure I knew where I was going. We drove back and forth under the overpass on King Street a total of six times. Yes, sad, I know. I guess I should have heeded their Facebook® page that directs — "Ask your pedicab driver to take you towards the Recovery Room and look right."

For anyone that thinks a hotdog is just a hotdog, take it from me — "the un-convinced of anything hotdog" — that you may want to check out the Tin Roof off Hwy 61 in West Ashley. My dining companion for this particular adventure considers herself a 'dog' connoisseur and I thought her inclusion only fair to contrast my derision for this American culinary all-star. I blame a childhood of boiled wieners, canned kraut and soggy buns. In fact, it was only my curiosity about some fanatical praise I had recently heard for this restaurant and it's dogs that got me here.

A short drive down Highway 17 South, in West Ashley, you’ll find The Glass Onion. Under its signage, “Soulful Food” appears in small letters. Soulful is exactly what you will get, but don’t expect the experience to be as diminutive as the lettering.

Up Highway 17, across from Park West and tucked away in a small shopping center next to Charleston Nation- al, sits Souri’s Italian Bistro whose slogan is “Passion for Great Italian Food”. I  have come to Souri’s on the recommendation of a friend, who tells me the Italian food here is fabulous.