HOMINY GRILL
207 Rutledge Avenue
Charleston, South Carolina
(843) 937-0930

This former barber shop location has become a hot spot for Southern Cuisine in Historic Charleston; this is down home grub with a New South twist; pricing is very fair and food is quite good; featured in many well-known publications including the Atlanta Journal Constitution, New York Times, Charleston Post and Courier, and Travel and Leisure; visit their web site at www.hominygrill.com; constantly changing menu often features a Friday Night Fish Fry, Shrimp Creole, Soft Shell Crab, Country Style Pork Ribs, Brunswick Stew, and Fried Green Tomatoes; the night we visited recently was highlighted by a delicious Fried Chicken with Spiced Peach Gravy, meaty Crab Cakes, soulful Collard Greens, authentic SC Hoppin' John, Baked Cheese Grits, and an outstanding Sweet Tea; open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Monday - Friday; Brunch is also offered on Saturday and Sunday; don't forget to pick up one of their very attractive Hominy Grill T-Shirts on the way out!

"Hominy Grill blends Uptown with Down Home"

Robert Stehling, a 38 year-old South Carolina chef, learned his trade in some of New York City's trendiest eateries. Not exactly the resume you would expect from a fellow whose creations include southern staples such as grits, okra, fried chicken, and collard greens. But come to think of it, Charleston's Hominy Grill is also a study in contrast.

The Hominy Grill, or as I like to call it "The Hom," opened its doors in November of 1996. In just five short years, Chef Stehling and his crew have assembled an impressive collection of rave reviews and, perhaps more importantly, a loyal following of regulars sold on The Hom's simple, down home dishes prepared with plenty of TLC and flair.

Considering all their critical success, the management team of the Hominy Grill has somehow resisted the urge to align themselves with the more elite, some might say snobby, roster of upscale restaurants which have thrust Charleston, SC squarely upon the worldwide culinary map.

Logic would tell most restaurateurs to set up shop on trendy East Bay or King Streets and to go about courting Charleston's plethora of out of town visitors. But while Stehling welcomes tourists with open arms, he seems to have found his niche by creating what he proudly terms "a neighborhood restaurant." The Hominy Grill's decor and the actual structure which houses the eatery could alternately be described as both "cozy" and "disarming." Even the restaurant's logo (a heaping bowl of buttered grits) and the name itself suggest the homey simplicity of a bygone era.

Situated in Historic Charleston's comparatively modest Cannonborough district, The Hom is a three-story Charleston Vernacular Single House built more than a century ago (1897). The ground floor dining area, originally a barbershop, still sports a vintage hammered tin ceiling & a well-worn hardwood floor with, I'm quite certain, plenty of colorful stories to tell.

Stehling seems to work best in "glitz-free" environs. This fact becomes even more evident when you spot him wearing an Aunt Jemima-style bandana over his brown locks or hear him waxing poetic about his favorite seasoning – ham hocks! Stehling drives a'69 Plymouth Barracuda, mows his own lawn, and, when asked what he would order for his last meal, he once replied, "Bacon and Eggs – a good, hearty breakfast." What a guy!

In the tradition of most neighborhood eateries, the Hominy Grill dishes out breakfast (good and hearty, of course!), lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Breakfast at The Hom consists of old standbys like eggs, fluffy biscuits, buttermilk pancakes, country ham and chunky double cut bacon. The homemade banana bread is a great way to start the day!

Lunchtime means hearty soups, creative salads, pan-fried catfish or BBQ chicken sandwiches, and perfectly seasoned veggies. Finish your mid-day meal with your choice of homemade cakes and pies like Granny used to make.

For dinner, try an appetizer of okra and shrimp beignets with salsa, then choose from tempting entrees such as fried chicken with spiced peach gravy, grilled pork chops with blackstrap molasses BBQ sauce, or sesame crusted catfish with crispy fried okra, cheese grits, and a Geechee peanut sauce.

Wash it all down with an expertly brewed sweet tea - the table wine of the South! And by all means save room down below for dessert. The selection here often features a moist bread pudding with raisins, a rich and creamy chocolate pudding, and the Hominy's nearly world famous buttermilk pie.

The Hominy Grill can be found at 207 Rutledge Avenue in Charleston, SC. Call them at 843 937-0930 or visit their attractive web site at www.hominygrill.com. They're open seven days a week with a full bar and a rather extensive wine list. Prices are quite reasonable, the setting comfortable, and the service friendly and attentive. Tell them Dixie Dining sent you!

Hominy Grill's Buttermilk Pie

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, separated
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 baked 9-inch deep-dish pie shell

- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine butter and sugar until sugar is completely incorporated. Add egg yolks and mix well to combine. Add flour, lemon juice, nutmeg and salt. With a mixer running, slowly add the buttermilk. Mix well and set aside. In another bowl, whip egg whites until they form soft peaks. Pour a small amount of buttermilk mixture into the whites. Fold gently to combine. Gently fold the egg white mixture into the remaining buttermilk mixture until just combined. Pour custard into baked pie shell. Bake in the middle of the oven until filling is lightly browned and barely moves when the pie is jiggled – about 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in a rack and serve warm or at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftovers.

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