From my perspective, this is one truly "elevated" restaurant in Charleston. The tier below Circa 1886 starts to feel redundant after just a week of serious dining. For anyone looking for a special meal in a special setting, look no further. This restaurant is similar but different and memorable. Nobody ends up here by happenstance. The tasting menu is fine, I'm sure, but if you like food you might as well just order from the main menu. We had no problem working through 3 appetizers, regular entrees, and dessert. read more

Circa 1886 provides an amazing dining experience. The service was impeccable with each member of staff dedicated to every patron that walks through the doors. Our server was phenomenal, and the sommelier went above and beyond. We chose the two different tasting menus so we could both try everything offered. The meal was elegant and elevated, and we enjoyed the experience immensely. Highly recommend for a celebratory, one-of-a-kind, old-world, white-linen experience. read more

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When we were making our reservations for our meals during our trip to Charleston, and Margo the concierge at our hotel suggested that we substitute one of our dinner reservations for Circa. We were staying at the John Rutledge Inn, and their sister hotel had Circa as their in-house restaurant. Because they were from the same family of hotels, they had a special offer for hotel guests. We took the suggestion of the concierge to heart and she made us a reservation for our first night in Charleston. When we arrived, we were created by the staff and we're also greeted by a wonderful smell from the spa next door. The restaurant is located in the carriage House of the hotel and was beautifully appointed. Our reservation was for 6:15 and even though we arrive slightly early they did not have an issue with seating us when we arrived. Our server, Dennis was extremely friendly and welcoming to us, including having happy birthday menus for the birthday we were celebrating during this trip. We started with a glass of Rosé cremant ($15) for me and a bottle of Pellegrino sparkling water for him ($6.50) while we looked over the menu. The special that ran for hotel guests of the family of hotels we were staying at, was our choice of appetizer, entree, and dessert, for $55 per person. We decided this was a great way to get a taste of a little bit of everything while still being a great price point. While we decided on our items, they brought us an amuse buche of smoked salmon mousse, alongside a beautiful asparagus soup topped with lemon oil which I could have eaten a whole bowl of by itself. I decided to start with the vertical roots salad, with the entree of smoked bass, and a dessert of the cheddar pear, while he decided to start with the maple apple salad, with an entree of the pickled flounder, and the entremet for dessert. Both of us loved our salads, with complex flavors and interesting local/traditional mixes of ingredients. My bass was softly cooked and served over wild rice with pecans and cranberries, but was very mild and flavor which I thought was a little disappointing. Hubby tore into his flounder, which was served fried over some collard greens and mac and cheese risotto, and said it was the best flounder he had ever eaten, which is high praise from him. Dessert however was in my opinion one of the stars of the show. My cheddar pear dish was served with fruit chips, cheddar chips and fruit puree squares and I loved every bite. Hubby's dessert was fruit surrounding a panna cotta that was super unique and unlike any panna cotta either of us had ever had. Service was impeccable, ambiance was elegant but approachable, the menu was extensive, with many different choices including local, historical, trendy, and traditional, and their wine and drinks list spanned the globe. Downsides were that they only had one vegetarian entree which required that I order fish which I hadn't otherwise planned on eating, and it was very warm and humid inside possibly due to the unseasonably warm weather. Overall an excellent first dinner during our Charleston trip. read more

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Food: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Came here for my birthday dinner in late December. From start to finish, service was exemplary in every way. The servers were all familiar with the menu, the restaurant's history and had full awareness that this was a birthday celebration dinner. I very much appreciated the special "birthday" menu and the dessert at the end. The inferior of the restaurant is beautiful and stunning. The table sets are impressive and the lighting gives the small restaurant an even more intimate feeling. I am actually glad that they discourage young children from dining here. The entire evening was very peaceful :). The presentation of the food was excellent and the menu is very clever. However, in terms of quality and flavor profile, it wasn't particularly remarkable. I have dined at many Michelin (and non-michelin!) restaurants with exact same dishes; those at Circa left much to be desired. My favorite dish, however, was the scallops which were actually quite decent. Overall, I'm still giving Circa a 5/5 due to the exceptional service and atmosphere were experienced here. I would certainly return in the future for special occasions. read more

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Elegant, superb service, interesting menu, had one of the two daily specials, great but quite pricy.

Circa 1886 is more than just a restaurant, it was an experience! A great one!!! We had a room all to our party of 8 and it was perfect! The food and the service was extremely nice! We got to try so many entrees we have never tried before and so many different flavors!!! My personal favorite was the Sea Scallops! Omg so yummy! read more

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This was by far the most memorable and unique dining experience I've ever encountered! It's a fantastic concept of a 3 course meal that you can choose from their limited menu that we were told constantly changes, so next time we go there will be other options. Definitely an adventure but one worth taking! read more

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My husband and I came here for our anniversary dinner. We both had high expectations as they were rated the best restaurant in Charleston, SC. They definitely deserve that rating. Much to our surprise and delight, they customized our menu to welcome us by name and wish us a happy anniversary. I thought that was a classy touch. They had fresh baked bread. One was great. The bacon flavored bread tasted more smoky than like bacon. I didn't care for it. They had gluten free bread for me. Which was a delightful surprise. We ordered the preserved rabbit to share. I ordered the broken arrow venison and my husband ordered the sea scallops. They started us with a small bowl of chilled asparagus soup. It was fantastic! The soup had a mild flavor and was very refreshing. The preserved rabbit is a stew. It is also incredible. I highly recommend it. The rabbit was wonderfully tender. The meat melted in your mouth. The rest of the stew was equally tasty. The sea scallops were cooked perfectly. It was seasoned interestingly. The sauce and flavors went well. The vegetables served with it were wonderful. The blue grits were interesting. The broken arrow venison was amazing. This is what I recommend. The squash was savory. The sauce paired with the mashed parsnip, caramelized onion, and venison were a wonderful flavorful experience that I'm looking forward to have again. It came with two pieces of venison. One was cooked medium and the other well done. The medium cooked (what I ordered) piece was tender and was more flavorful. The more cooked piece was a bit on the tough side. The cocktails were not to my taste. I prefer sweet cocktails. Not all restaurants cater to that. I ended up having the Brini. It was outside my comfort zone but it was the only sweet-ish drink they had. It was floral and fruity and a bit sweet. It was different but still good. Since we were staying at the Wentworth Mansion, we had breakfast here every morning. My husband had their specials. I had their frittata. It had cauliflower, egg, and caramelized onion. I have never had cauliflower with egg and it was fantastic. The service here is second to none. Our waitress for breakfast memorized our drink orders. So when she saw us, she just brought our hot tea, water, and my husbands orange juice. The staff was excellent. We will definitely be coming back. read more

Circa 1886 Restaurant - At the table of Circa 1886 - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Ambiance and service is top notch. The food here is even better! We had the Duck, Risotto, Cauliflower mushroom soup and other really tasty dishes. It's a must try restaurant! I thought I took more pics of the food. I guess I didn't because it was so good we just dived in! read more

Circa 1886 Restaurant - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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When we first arrived, the ambiance was set perfect for a romantic dinner. The lighting mood was soft, the music was sensual, the food was delectable, and the service was excellent. The sommelier was kind enough to explain some facts about how grapes affect acidity, too. read more

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A little pricey but it's worth it - great service and food was top notch. Platings were special. Would return in a heartbeat. read more

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Amazing meal. Outstanding service. Stellar atmosphere. Visiting Charleston for the week and luckily it's Restaurant Week. Circa 1886 offered a great selection of choices for the 3 courses ($55). We also did the wine pairing for an additional $30. The standouts of the night were the shrimp and grits (best I ever had), rainbow trout. The rainbow trout was served with a dehydrated corn topping that was super balanced and flavorful. I'm not a fish person but LOVED this dish! We also tried the preserved rabbit, venison and for dessert had an apple rum soufflé and pear tart. They were all delicious. Also it's located in a pretty cool mansion. This place is perfect for vacationers or someone trying to impress a hot date! read more

Circa 1886 Restaurant - Venison and Trout - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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My boyfriend and I went for Valentine's Day - it was my first time, and everything was so beautiful and impressive. The host, bartender, and server were amazing and professional. I've bartended for years and know how stressful V-Day can be and even though the restaurant was busy, it was calm and the atmosphere was relaxed. Every course came out right on time, and the food and cocktails were amazing. I wish I could remember our server's name, he was lovely. I can't wait to come back in a non-holiday and see the grounds in the daylight. read more

I enjoyed all of the entrees/plates I chose. The table and seating areas are very beautiful. I really like the classic feel and the history it provides. The wine selection was great. I had the Caesar salad, scallops, and soufflé. The soufflé was the best desert I have had in a while. Everything was plated beautifully, and very very delicious. Service was 100%. Everyone was knowledgeable and accommodating. I will be back again. I really enjoyed dinner here. read more

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One of our top dining experiences ever. Location and venue are exceptional. Fantastic wine list. Two options for tasting menu - we opted for one of each and shared. Exceptional! read more

Tucked within the original carriage house of the Wentworth Mansion, Circa 1886 evokes the romance and old-world charm of historic downtown Charleston. The original pine floors and architectural details create an unexpectedly modern take on the city's classic Lowcountry cuisine. I adore the organization of the menu with categories to guide you through your unique dining journey with curated recommendations for a starter, an entree, and a dessert in each category: -TASTES OF NATIVE TRIBES -FLAVORS BROUGHT FROM AFRICA -INFLUENCES FROM EUROPE -SOUTH CAROLINA TODAY Circa 1886 is one of the finest restaurants anywhere - with delicious food, outstanding service, and a transformational ambience. - "Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious." ~Ruth Reichl read more

Circa 1886 Restaurant - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Special occasion place. Fun for foodies. Not for the budget conscious. We did the tasting menu which portions could have been smaller. Too much food. read more

Circa 1886 Restaurant - Wentworth Mansion - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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What can you say about a perfect dinner Beautiful building in a incredible town The staff was attentive and knowledgeable The food was excellent and the wine tasting was a cherry on top of a wonderful evening Thanks to chef and staff for a true Charleston experience read more

Reviewing this just for ambience and happy hour. Wonderful service and we got here at 5 so it wasn't crowded. Decorated for Christmas too. We sat at the high tops next to the bar. The bar isn't huge so keep that in mind. We both got the Matilda which was a vodka drink with grapefruit and Prosecco. 5 dollar cocktails and wine until 7. Looks like dinner would be very crowded so make a reservation. read more

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Best food and service during our 5 nights in town. The wine list is most impressive, lots of affordable options with interesting choices. Someone took their time to develop that roster and it is appreciated. The bar looked like a cozy area to hang out for cocktails and snacks. Complete with a fireplace for the winter too! Book reservations and enjoy! read more

The food was amazing as well as the service, my husband and I had the Five course meal paired with wines The Ashley and The Cooper a beautiful experience christmas eve 2022 drinks at the bar was quite enjoyable and after dinner read more

The atmosphere, ambiance, and service were impeccable. We ordered the five-course tastings, the Ashley and the Cooper. We each got a glass of Riesling. For me, the standouts were the short rib and my sister's striped bass, the lemongrass broth was delicious. Unfortunately, I found the crab salad a touch on the fishy side and the lobster was a little overcooked for my liking. However, this was an unforgettable dining experience and I loved the history behind the restaurant. read more

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Amazing. If you don't get the prix fixe with wine pairings, you're only cheating yourself. Total experience. Daniel is a bartender's bartender. read more

Circa 1886 Restaurant - Crab salad with mango mousse from the Cooper tasting menu. - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

A nobody in a world of somebody's. Arrived to Circa 1886 Restaurant promptly at 8:40 pm for our 8:45 pm reservation. I had received a text message at 7:45 pm reminding me to be at the restaurant in one hour. Given the text message, I had high expectations that we would be seated immediately. I was thrilled to try Circa 1886 given the rave reviews. We entered the restaurant and were greeted by two hostesses and the manager. We were told our table wasn't ready yet but we could wait in the bar area. I visited the bathroom to wash my hands and the soap was out, to which I advised the greeters. Around 9:05, my husband inquired about the table and was assured it wouldn't be long. He sat with me again in the bar area. Another couple of ladies arrived at 9:27 and were warmly welcomed by the hostesses and directed to the bar area next to us. The bartender immediately approached them and offered them drinks. I was awestruck. By this point, we'd been waiting almost 50 minutes and the bartender had breezed by without even acknowledging our presence. I wanted to say something to her so I said hello. She said "you okay?" And proceeded to walk away. She didn't ask if we wanted anything. I was wondering if something, perhaps, was wrong with me as I am not regularly treated to brusque condescension. Finally, we were told a table was ready. We were shown a two-top table surrounded by other tables. Given the extensive wait, I asked for the more comfortable option- an available nearby booth instead. We were seated in the booth and awaited our waitress. Meanwhile, the previously mentioned ladies who had come in after us and were promptly offered drinks in the bar, were seated at the table I had just declined two minutes after us. They had a total wait time of 7 minutes. The hostess offered to hang their coats up, something she didn't do for us. Overhearing the conversation I realized why they were treated so differently from us. They have connections. They are somebody's. And in the social sphere of Charleston, I simply don't make the cut. Our waitress Angel was fantastic, upbeat, and knowledgeable. The food is absolutely five stars exhibiting quality, thoughtfulness, and creativity. The food proportion is generous and priced fairly. With a mix of unique flavors and textures, the food is exceptional. The only item I didn't 100% enjoy was the butternut squash soup which had mango and peanuts, not my favorite. But my husband loved it. The Caesar salad dressing was great. The pork belly fantastic accompanied with a blend of coconut and collard greens. The perfectly presented chocolate mousse was phenomenal. I suspect our waitress let the manager know of our disappointment in the wait time. He came out and apologized, even comping for the desserts. While I appreciate this, it doesn't excuse the way we were treated before we even got to our table. I feel that, despite the incredible food and culinary journey, the overall experience was sadly lacking. read more

Circa 1886 Restaurant - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Fortunately circa 1886 was located on the grounds of our hotel. The menu was divided into four quadrants 1. taste of native tribes 2. influences from Europe 3. flavors brought from Africa 4. South Carolina today Our waiter recommended we try whatever sounded good to us and that we didn't have to stick with one area of the menu. I went with the heart of palm and turnip soup as an appetizer. I wanted to try something different as this had fried okra and lemon grass ginger curd. It was a very soft dish the flavors were very muted but delicate and balanced. I could've used a little more flavor punch. But the fried okra was the star in this dish. I had the strip loin for my main course. The menu says it came with "melting potatoes, spinach horseradish Espuma and Applewood cheddar Moreau. Wow! This was the best steak I think I may have ever had. So so good. The sear on the steak and the salted encrusted flavor were out of this world. I finished off with the chocolate soufflé which came with a wonderful presentation. However I think I actually preferred my husband's west African puff puff which was essentially like a beignet. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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Wentworth Mansion guests are treated to a guest only breakfast at Circa 1886, very warm and welcoming folks greet you at the door and the top notch service begins, coffee, orange juice, water, fresh fruit,I ordered the bacon wrapped French toast and eggs with bacon, yum! Being this is our first time to Charleston I had to ask what " grits" were, the breakfast was fantastic, I had a little bit of the grits, just to try them. Definitely a five star experience, coffee was very good, highly recommend read more

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Amazing dining experience. We were so impressed upon arrival at this beautiful majestic building. As we entered, we had a cocktail at the bar and shortly after were brought to our table. Everything from start to finish was impeccable. Really has an air of elegance and southern charm. The foie gras and venison were top notch. Extensive wine list also. read more

Circa 1886 Restaurant - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Food, service and ambiance were all superb. Was a delight to dine there. We had risotto as a starter, antelope as an entree and soufflé as desert. read more

I was disappointed-this is not an inexpensive restaurant, but it lacks that smooth southern hospitality. I ordered my steak medium well plus - it was red red-I sent it back and it came back the same way. The server apologized. Apparently the chef didn't care how I wanted it cooked. It was good but some of it was so red I couldn't eat it. The mushroom and cauliflower soup lacked a lot of flavor. Maybe it was an off night. The desserts were good, but not over the top. read more

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The service and food were superb. We highly recommend the wine pairing menu choice. As we are natives, we really appreciated the beauty and ambiance of the historic building and the surroundings. A wonderfully delicious experience for any visitor! read more

We tried their two tasting menus and while there were a few good dishes, most of them were just not very impressive. The only thing less impressive than the food was the service. The waiter never checked to see if the courses were to our liking, the tablecloth was never crumbed until the very end, there was a long wait for the check, and it just wasn't what you'd expect from a restaurant like this. If you want to spend $400+ on dinner, there are far better options in Charleston. If I had to describe our dinning experience in a single word, that word would be mediocre. read more

We stayed at the Wentworth Mansion and breakfast was included at the Circa 1886 restaurant. I tried almost everything on their menu during our 3 day stay and everything was so good. Especially enjoyed their pancakes as they were so nice and fluffy. The restaurant is located on the same grounds as the mansion which makes it very convenient. read more

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The best restaurant in Charleston, bar none. Everything was perfection. We had the bass and the tenderloin, both presented with flavors not experienced before. All I can say is you will not be disappointed. read more

This restaurant may be for you if you are in the 70 and over crowd. It is very dated both style of food and attitude. The wait staff was chauvinistic and did not address my wife the entire night. The food was good but not outstanding and frankly not imaginative. We are used to eating at lovely restaurants that provide immaculate service with imaginative food not the tired menu that we had this evening. Disappointed to say the least. read more

A very pleasant dining experience with good food and great service. Our favorite dishes were the soufflé as well as the shrimp n' rice grits and the grilled cheese for the appetizers. Our entrees were good and solid dishes, but in my opinion were overshadowed by the starters and the desserts. The service was great and our waiter was attentive throughout. If I had one dish to recommend, it would be the soufflé. An absolutely delicious dessert that was bursting with flavors. read more

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Ambiance of restaurant was plain not romantic as the name suggested, disappointing since it is adjoined to a beautiful 1880s B&B. Pricey to say the least, lobster risotto good but please give me more than a 4 tablespoons of risotto. Service was ok but could have been more attentive as I waited 5 minutes for a drink refill. Pork chop very fatty with 3/4 inch fat on edge of cut. Strawberry jelly desert very poor, did not like. Duck very good, Waygu overcooked, soufflé too sweet with caramel. Probably will not return. read more

My wife, son and I ate at Circa 1886 on October 11. The a la carte fish (flounder and grouper) ordered by two in the party was significantly overcooked, which was very disappointing. The service was impeccable and the ambience beautiful. I am sorry that the food quality did not match the service. I have given the restaurant an overall 4 stars. Food quality = 3 stars and service = 5+ stars. read more

Light and unusual fare. Matradee tried to sit us at the table by the door, notably the worst seat in the house. I have olive skin and curly hair. I asked the seater to sit in the open table next to it which she did no problem. The white couple after us were seated in the cozy booth. The next couple to be seated at the table by the door were two young men on a date. You decide... read more

Have dined there several times and is always delicious! Most recently, we ordered the sea bass special, which came served over a broth with vegetables and was so unique. Their classic menu is very good as well, the Greek Goddess Caesar is a favorite, the Butternut Squash soup is good as well. The Southern Grilled cheese is worth trying. Dessert favorite would be the Apple Rum Soufflé. read more

Many people mentioned that Circa 1886 is well worth the money and visit. We trusted the locals and all thr great reviews. Our experience was fantastic from start to finish. We had outdoor patio seating under the trees and lights. The seating was clean and comfortable. Awesome setting!! Our waiter (Angel) was super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend. Following the recommendations, we opted for the 3 course meal with a few drinks. We started with Shrimp and Grits along with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. The Shrimp and Grits were super flavorful with savory flavors similar to a jambalaya....but not a jambalaya. Was great! The Grilled Cheese was a crazy experience given the ingredients. We had our doubts......but the ingredients worked! Never thought caviar would work with a Grilled cheese.... Our main courses were Scallops for her and I went with the Pork two ways. The Scallops were cooked perfectly and tasted very fresh. The pork tenderloin was the star of the dish. The seasoning and crust on the pork was amazing. Damn good. The pork sausage was ok. Nothing special and I feel the dish does not need the sausage as the tenderloin was enough food on the plate. We finished with the chocolate dessert. If you like chocolate, you will enjoy this dish for sure!! Super silkey chocolate ice cream. Fresh fruit. Candied nuts. Yummy. If your are looking for a great meal and experience, you cannot go wrong with Circa. Just know you will spend a few dollars for the meal, but well with it!! Cheers Always!! read more

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