SC is home to one of nation’s best food cities — and a top restaurant, rankings show
South Carolina boasts one of the nation’s best food cities — and a top restaurant to enjoy a meal, new rankings show.
Charleston ranks No. 6 on a list of the “Top US Cities for Food and Drinks” and No. 9 among the top places to get baked goods.
The popular travel destination also is home to the Chubby Fish seafood restaurant, which landed at No. 7 on a separate list of the nation’s best places to eat, according to results Food & Wine magazine published Tuesday, April 2.
The magazine created its rankings after turning to its editors as well as travel and dining experts. They chose their favorite “cities, hotels, cruises, airports, bakeries, and airlines for food and drink” across the nation and the globe, the magazine wrote in a news release and told McClatchy News in an email.
The resulting list of “Global Tastemakers” award winners is described as a “celebration of the best culinary destinations in the U.S. and abroad.”
What makes Charleston a top-ranking food destination?
In the U.S. food and drink category, Charleston was named one of “the finest food cities in the country” after earning top spots on similar lists. This time around, Food & Wine praised the city for its restaurants’ takes on Southern staples, such as okra and barbecue.
“Given its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Charleston is renowned for its fresh seafood and abundance of notable raw bars,” Food & Wine wrote in its report.
Charleston also made its mark among the top places for bakeries, as the magazine gave the city nods for boasting “distinctive” shops serving French bread, sticky buns and other treats.
In Charleston, one restaurant in particular also ranked among the nation’s best. Though it’s in a region loaded with seafood joints, the magazine said Chubby Fish received the national honor “both for its sustainable sourcing practices and a delicious menu that dodges expectations,” including the fan-favorite grilled oysters.
When it comes to restaurants, “it’s not just the delicious flavors but also the ambience, hospitality, and overall package that make a place stand out among the rest,” the magazine wrote in its report.
Nationwide, the top-ranking place for food and bakeries was New York City. Anajak Thai in Los Angeles ranked the highest when it came to restaurants.
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