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Circa 1886
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
149 Wentworth StCharleston, SC 29401
(843) 853-7828
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
23 reviews for Circa 1886
Review Highlights
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"it's an old carriage house and has the look and feel of a..." In 4 reviews -
"Antelope Entree - Unbelievable." In 4 reviews -
"The restaurant has a beautiful and romantic setting." In 6 reviews
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23 reviews in English
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Review from David A.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
Great food and great service. This restaurant tucked in back of a beautiful inn does not disappoint.
Atmosphere is on the more formal side. Wine list was expansive but overprice. Dessert was phenomenal.
A bit out of the way if one is staying in downtown Charleston but well worth the trip (even to Charleston!). -
Review from Alex D.
Brooklyn, NY
4/13/2012
I went here on a recommendation. The pork shank was solid. The antelope and veggie plate were both very bland.
Cocktails were great!
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone with the slightest budget considerations. -
Review from Jack S.
Marietta, GA
5/18/2012
Has a great entrance, looks cool. Food (scallops and pork chop) very tasty but waiter could care less about his job. Felt like a retirement home should do further checking with limited time. Sorry I wasted a night.
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Review from Joe N.
Charleston, SC
5/12/2012
This restaurant is in a historic old building tucked away in a beautiful location. It's classy and elegant, yet relaxed and comfortable. The booths are perfect for a memorable romantic special occasion.
The menu is rather limited and a bit cryptic, but our waiter was able to answer all our questions and make great recommendations.
Appetizers - The champagne saffron vinaigrette dressing on the asparagus salad was amazing. And where else but the south could you find chicken fried foie gras? The foie gras was delicious, but a bit runny for my taste.
Main course - The spicy citrus rubbed flounder was perfectly prepared and had wonderful layers of flavors. The pork chop was served with a garnish of pulled pork (pork covered in pork!), a sophisticated mac and cheese patty and a very well matched peach sauce. The highlight of this dish was the sauteed onions with a hint of anise.
Dessert - The strawberry souffle was one of the best things I ever put in my mouth! We practically licked the bowl clean. This should be on your bucket list!!
Overall, while it may be a little bit pricey, it was a great meal with a great atmosphere. -
Review from Isabelle D.
Minneapolis, MN
4/13/2012
Not good. Not worth it. An insult to my taste buds.
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Review from Kelly C.
3/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic restaurant - great food, impeccable service, and the right ambiance. I would go back any night.
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Review from Bob B.
Littleton, MA
3/28/2012
In Charleston we ate a several really very good restaurants but Circa wins the prize for best total package, ambiance, service, quality and interest of menu, and the food which is most pleasing to the eye, the palate the nose. Even a little surprize or two, like the demi-tasse of cream ginger soup with a dollop of whipped avacado. Excellent starter! My wife had a green salad (very good) and I had sweetbreads, done to perfection. The entree's were antelope, (my wife enjoyed very much) and I had the pork shank and puree'd broccoli. The pork was excellent as were the bed of grits. Dessert was worth the whole trip to Charleston..........apple crisp souffle served with crumbled vanilla chips, whole sweet cream. I am not a dessert person but this absolutely captivated me and completed the dining experience perfectly. Throughout the meal the waitstaff addressed us by name which is a really nice touch.
One note of interest, if you stay in one of the affiliated Inns connected to Circa, you can get a fixed price dinner at a quite attractive rate. We stayed at the Fulton Lane Inn and thus received this benefit. -
Review from Betty H.
Lincoln, NE
3/3/2012
Circa 1886 specializes in incredibly beautiful arrangements of miniscule portions of food. If you go for their one vegetarian entree, the Vegetarian Tasting, expect to fill up on dessert or eat another meal afterward.
The Vegetarian Tasting included some unusual, classy flavor combinations. I enjoyed the mashed potato with lemon and beet, but this was the only component of the tasting that I'd look forward to eating again. The farro "fried rice" with collard green kim chi, orange yuzu sauce, and cherry essence was just OK for me; I felt the cherry flavor didn't suit the dish. The chestnut ravioli was also OK, but again the flavor wasn't quite right; maybe I'm just not used to chestnut ravioli. The tiny avocado milkshake was much too spicy for me. I took several tiny sips in between huge gulps of water, determined to enjoy it or at least derive some sustenance from it, but it wasn't meant to be.
My mother, who is allergic to dairy, ordered salad, asked and was reassured that it did not have any cheese or any kind of cream, and then was distressed to find that it had some kind of yogurt sauce on it anyway. The waitress apologized profusely, replaced it with a non-yogurted salad, and did not charge us for either salad. Although they handled the aftermath professionally, health issues are serious, and this shouldn't have happened.
For dessert, I had the sweet potato donuts with cinnamon pastry cream, pecan praline glaze, and hot apple cider. The donuts were gooey, sweet, and everything you would hope for from such a dessert... except that I couldn't detect a hint of sweet potato in them. The apple cider was too strongly spiced for me. The donuts also came with a few berries and a white and milk chocolate straw, which didn't go with anything else on the plate.
All in all, I have no reason to return. -
Review from Adam A.
Boston, MA
11/16/2011
This was one of the best meals I have ever had in my life.
The atmosphere is extremely classy and romantic. The restaurant is set on the grounds of a mansion and the place is extremely well maintained. The service is top notch. The waiter made legitimate recommendations and was very knowledgeable of the menu.
Most importantly: The Food
Mushroom/Garlic Custard: One of the strangest things I have ever eaten but the flavor was out of this world despite the adventurous texture.
Antelope Entree - Unbelievable. They cook it to a perfect medium rare and the glaze that they put on it tempted me to lick the plate. Don't be afraid that it is antelope. It is not at all 'gamey'.
Beef Tenderloin - One of the best steaks I have ever tasted.
Chocolate Bread Pudding and Blueberry Cream Soufflé - No words. The bread pudding was the perfect amount of chocolate without being that overpowering chocolate flavor. The Soufflé was so moist in the best way possible. The desserts are made to order so you must order them when you order your meal.
All in all, if you have $100 per person to spend on dinner, you MUST go to Circa -
Review from Rachel M.
Isle of Palms, SC
9/17/2011
We are truly enjoying Restaurant Week Charleston!!! First timer!
Atmosphere: 5; the carriage house conversion was done just beautifully; the large traditional bar is very historic; the small dining rooms are quite inimate.
Staff: 5; Patrick was lovely, he also picked out a delicious zinfandel to go with the meal
Drinks: 5; local beers (in bottles) and an extensive wine list
Food: 5; stand outs: cauliflower soup with a splash of truffle oil, spicy grilled shrimp with a fried green tomato, Neiman Ranch pork chop (the best), and the cornbread pudding. Yummy as well: the mushroom pate, the beef tenderloin, and the pistachio crème brulee.
Overall: 5; we will be back!!! -
Review from Rachel M.
Charleston, SC
10/27/2011 2 photos
One of my favorite restaurants in Charleston - Circa 1886 does not disappoint!! I went for Chas Restaurant Week and it was one of the best meals I've had since I moved here.
For my entre, I ordered the Blackened Loup de Mer (fancy French word for Sea Bass) with watermelon & feta, baby spinach, caramelized onion puree, and quinoa with an avocado puree. The fish was delicate, moist and barely blackened allowing the strong flavors of all the ingredients play off each other without being overpowering. The quinoa and avocado were elegant and complex--a seamless addition to the entreé. I swear I still think about this plate!
For a full review please visit http://www.CharlestonC... -
Review from Jordan M.
San Diego, CA
10/4/2011
Had a romantic dinner here with my wife for our anniversary at Circa 1886...make sure you make reservations because this place books up pretty quickly. The food is amazing. I had porkchops with a lemon curd topping over mash potatoes...yummmm. The waiter was very nice and the staff remembered it was our anniversary. Our desert was even decorated with a "Happy Anniversary" message which was impressive, because I had barely mentioned it in my reservation message a few days earlier.
The atmosphere is nice...it's an old carriage house and has the look and feel of a historic home. You really can't go wrong here... -
Review from Kvatch K.
Washington, DC
6/6/2011
Very good food, delicious drinks, wonderful ambiance, and outstanding service.
"Why not 5 stars then?" you might ask. Well...I think it's because I'd been led to believe that Circa 1886 would be just a little...bit...more. Don't get me wrong, our dining experience was great. My antelope in mole was really tasty but arrived cool. (We'd asked the waiter to hold our entree orders till we said "go", but I think he might have jumped the gun.) My wife's tenderloin was outstanding, and our dessert, cheesecake in a key lime shell with raspberry, was out of this world.
In all a very pleasant evening but just a shade short of the best dining experiences I've had. Do, however, see the mansion if you can. -
Review from Android I.
Canton, GA
12/21/2011
Went here for breakfast after staying at the Wentworth. Really outstanding service, great food! We loved it! Eggs cooked to perfection, and Betty delivers sweet rolls with a smile.
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Review from Deb B.
1/27/2011
Absolutely fantastic meal. A very romantic atmosphere. The service was great and the food was out of this world good.
I am glad I was able to experience this fabulous restaurant! -
Review from Chad N.
Summerville, SC
8/29/2011
My wife and I went here for our first wedding anniversary at the recommendation of a friend and had a great evening! The food was great, the service excellent, and the ambiance was perfect. I think the only complaint was that we ate a little more than we should have and left stuffed to the brim! =P
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Review from Corey Tess T.
Phoenix, AZ
1/25/2010
What a charming experience. A date took me to dinner at this gorgeous little restaurant located inside the renovated carriage house of the Wentworth Mansion The staff was so attentive and treated us like royalty (which i am a sucker for). The meal was delicious (they have unique game like antelope and rabbit) and the entire experience was so romantic that I really thought I liked that date more than I actually did... but then, I suppose that is why you take a girl to such a romantic place, so she forgets to ask you if you are a creep... :)
The decor was lush and the table we had was sort of private and secluded.. everything was presented so well. I really adored it and would return in a heartbeat.. SANS creepy date..Listed in: Fine Dining Around The World!
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Review from Lucy L.
Winchester, VA
12/17/2006
My husband and I enjoyed a very nice meal here while enjoying a short stay in Charleston. It remains a very memorable meal to date.....
The influence of the Low Country is very apparent though not overbearing. I had a prawn and fried green tomato appetizer, one of my favorite meal starters of all time. My husband nearly licked his plate after enjoying a salad of fresh greens with a balsamic aged over 50 years.
The entree gave us our first taste of Wagyu, simply wonderful. My only dislike was a lentil spoon bread that came with my dish, utterly tasteless.
The place was a little haughty for my taste, but then again so is Charleston in general. Still a wonderful meal nonetheless....... -
Review from Tommy V.
Mount Pleasant, SC
2/12/2008
Going to Circa was a really nice dining experience. The food was very good, but not excellent. The service however, was amazing.
If you ever have the chance to eat antelope, do it! The antelope loin at Circa was absolutely delicious and the accompaniments were great too.
The rabbit was a bit dry though; the desserts and appetizers we had were good but not special. Really, the service is what shines here. -
Review from Amme P.
8/2/2008
I first heard of Circa while staying at the Wentworth Mansion, where the restaurant is located. In the hotel room there was an entire book, done in black leather and embossed with gold lettering, describing how Circa is the most amazing restaurant, and how one could expect an incredible dining experience.
I was disappointed by almost everything. And for these prices disappointment is not what you should expect. -
Review from Dan G.
9/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
Another amazing meal in Charleston.
Cicra 1886 has an outstanding location in the carriage house of the Wentworth Mansion. The restaurant has a beautiful and romantic setting. The door was opened for us as we approached and we were whisked away to a comfy booth on the side. Our server greeted us promptly and described the Lowcountry/French influences of the cuisine. I was giddy with the options we had. Lowcountry "One Pot" of
Braised Local Beans, Ham, Turnip Greens, Truffle "Potlicker", Cornbread and Carolina Watermelon and Pecan Salad Heirloom Lettuce, Goat Cheese, Johns Island Honey Vinaigrette to start. I'm glad that Kris was game for that one pot, it was so good and rich. The salad was fresh and the pecan were nicely spiced and the watermelon was juicy. Nice start. With some encouragement from our waiter, Kris had the Slow Roasted Local Bass with Crowder Pea and Crab Succotash, Pickled Peach and Basil, Pimento Sauce. If you've been paying attention, you know I had to have the Whiskey Brined Pork Tenderloin with Sage Gnocchi, Rainbow Chard, Caramelized Shallots, Garlic and Mustard Sauce. Subtle hints of whiskey flavored the meat, which was well matched with the mustard sauce. A mini cast iron skillet held the flavorful sage gnocchi. Not only was it really cute, they were tasty too. The recommendation was great, the bass was delicious. You think all of that sounds good? Just wait for dessert. Listen to this winner. Jelly Doughnuts of House Made Strawberry and Peach Jellies, Johns Island Honey and Peanut Butter Milkshake. Their version of PB+J was incredible. That was confirmed by the fact that I actually had to fight my wife for every last bite, instead of her typical forkfull "I'm done" stuff. I can't remember the last time I had jelly doughnuts or shakes. They were never this good. I think it's nappy time now, I'm stuffed.Listed in: The Best, Jerry. The Best.
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Review from Leah K.
Mt Pleasant, SC
12/31/2010
This is the best in Charleston! Fabulous food, ambiance, & service!!
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Review from Lisa G.
North Hollywood, CA
7/15/2011
Delicious, romantic and a fantastic experience. We both got the shrimp & grits gnocchi cause we knew we would be jealous of the other one who got it. It was delicious! For entree, I got the pork & crabcake and it was sooooo delicious. Hands down, the dessert was the highlight of the meal. It was a sweet cornbread with a brulee'd top. After dinner we walked up to the top of the hotel for the sweet views of the city. It was a glorious experience!
