Reviews of Circa 1886 Restaurant (Restaurant)

Jed Elmaleh

Very interesting menu that takes you on a journey around the world to teach you about how Charleston's cuisine came to be. Great setting in the Wentworth mansion. Highly recommend

Sophia Nilsen

We took my parents here for their 30th anniversary back in October, and the staff here made it an incredible and very special dinner for the occasion! The atmosphere, service, and food was absolutely perfect! To the staff of Circa 1886 in both front and back of house that made this wonderful and unforgettable evening possible- thank you!

Matthew Wells

Wow, what a night! The food was amazing. I tried, and LOVED the Antelope (definitely listen to the chef's recommendation and go with medium-rare). Susanna had the scallops and they were perfect! Not only was the food and wine superb but the service and attention to detail , especially from our server Anne, made our date a magnificent experience. We will be back and highly recommend Circa 1886 when in Charleston.

David Rushton

Absolutely one of the best meals I've ever had. Felt like I was on the Food Channel with Bobby Flay. A must if you want a romantic night.

Jennifer Daniels

Great time. Great food. Awesome server Austin. Worth a visit.

Katherine V

Outstanding. We ate here for our five year anniversary. The servers all congratulated us on this and even wrote it on our dessert plate. The service was excellent and so was the food. I had the antelope and my husband had the beef. We had the sweet potato donuts for dessert which were prepared fresh for us. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is beautiful and memorable. Thanks for a great evening!

Kara Trott

The food is among the best we've ever had! Gorgeous setting, very romantic!

Metin Esgin

Single disappointment in our culinary eacapade to Charleston! Party of five, 10 dishes + 2 desserts. Two of the dishes acceptable to good, rest mediocre or inedible (antelope), desserts beyond humiliation. Service below mediocre, better service in diners around. It is just incomprehsible, we were so ready to love it.. Sorry mate, need a Changement de Chef around here

Valerie Claeys

When you think of fine dining this is it. Our waiter Dennis was a great employee and very knowledgeable about everything on the menu. 100% recommend you try this restaurant. Not something you regret.

Justin D

Wow! The chefs menu was exceptional, and was also a great value. The chicken fried snapper was out of this world- like no fish dish we've ever had before. The antelope was also exceptional- the wine pairing were excellent as well. Don't let this understated restaurant fly under your radar, it is first class- every night of the week! Highly recommended!

Katie Hartman

Impeccable experience! Service, food, wine.... everything was amazing. Our server Austin, was tremendous. Highly recommend!

Katrin Tenhaaf

Felt like a tourist trap, nothing to do with fine dining. My husband and I love good food and gave it a try. Uninspiring ambiance and music. Old and stuffy without any charm. Don't mind paying a lot for good food, the food was mediocre by any standard.The waiter is trying hard to sell you the most expensive wine. And to top the evening, the bill was wrong, they charged too much.

Krai Treadway

Just wow. I'm speechless.

Christopher Peterson

An incredible experience. The service was great, the food was incredible, and the overall meal was so tasty.

Kayla Dune

Loved it here. Family loved it too!

Joe Molina

FAB food and service !

Natasha Martinez

the staff was amazing the food was amazing the ambiance was amazing I can't wait to go back.

yury panasyuk

Great food and a great experience! Servers were patient and kind. Antelope loin was done perfectly. Lobster custard was unique. Sweet potato cream brulee was amazing! Chef also surprised us with complementary lobster bisque and beef pate.

Alton Rice

The food was great! The server was also outstanding. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for.

Matt Leary

Excellent meal, knowledgeable, professional server. First class experience. Hopefully you are lucky enough to get Austin as your server and even luckier to get the apple crisp soufflé.

Bob Turbeville

One of if not the best fine dining in Charleston. Creative menu, excellent service and all around perfect. Austin is great!

Edie Gregoire

Great service and worth every penny. Benne duck and peach grits is the best!

Leo Bentley

The menu was so unique with Tastes of Native Tribes, Flavors Brought from Africa, Influences from Europe and South Carolina Today. To my delight Gluten Free was clearly marked on those items. Our server Denis was wonderful ~ so helpful and attentive. The wine list is outstanding and we enjoyed our conversation with the Sommelier Charles who recommended a lovely bottle for our meal. My HH enjoyed his Peanut Soup, Piedmontese Beef and Huguenot Torte Soufflé. My Shrimp N Grits, Venison and Squash Cake were delicious. This was so of the most delightful and distinctive dishes we have ever been served.

Caroline Lawsing

Please read before making a reservation. The restaurant manager and “part owner” of Circa 1886 fined my party $250 (yes, two hundred and fifty dollars) when we called to modify our reservation due to a two hour traffic jam coming from Isle of Palms on Memorial Day weekend. We called an hour before our reservation and the manager was not understanding of the situation and rude. Circa 1886 has been reported for fraud due to the illegal credit card charge for services not rendered.

Frank Grubb

Attentive staff and great pacing.

Lawrence Kominiak

Great Charleston fine dining restaurant with impeccable food and service! I truly enjoyed the green tomato salad, venison entrée, and chocolate petit fours for dessert. My wife had the shrimp and grits appetizer, grouper entree, and souffle dessert. Every course was delicious, meticulously prepared, and we ended up sampling each other's meals. The wait staff was extremely attentive and truly aimed to please. The restaurant's atmosphere was casual and refined. Our experience at Circa 1886 was clearly 5 stars and we'll certainly return during future trips to Charleston!

Steve p

Wonderful experience. Celebrated our 40th here. Food, Wines, Atmosphere, Service all executed flawlessly. I'm not great with names but I believe our server was Tanya. My apologies if I'm wrong. She was perfect. Anticipated all of our needs even a call for a cab when the rickshaw service failed to show. Thanks to all at Circa for a great memory.

Stuart Carlton

Exceptional care and service from the entire staff ensured our more stressful than average dinner remained enjoyable. Despite our table becoming a wreck from our exhausted 14 month old, the entire staff treated us well. We did not travel well prepared to dress up and no one said a word, and even ensured we had the space we needed. Our waitress Tanya excelled and ensured we had a wonderful evening. Not only did the food exceed our expectations, the chef sent the waitress back to speak to my mother-in-law (who only speaks German). They had a child’s high hair and even stored our stroller. The waitress provided us with some ice cream for our son! Exceptional service and food! I enjoyed the chefs 5 course meal, portioned well, and times just right.

Michael Ham

Excellent and varied menu with great and friendly service.

Anthony Shea

Food is top notch!!

Mary Tate

Awesome as usual. Lobster app was Fab. The trout and scallops were delicious. Kudos to our Russian waiter. He was do knowledgeable and efficient. We loved him.

Bruce Francey

Food and service were impecible as always Mark and the staff put together another memorible evening

Robert Williams

I think everyone who saw us could agree, from the beginning to the end, we were having the time of our lives! My fiancee and I are both in F&B, so for us to go to a place like this was such a treat! Made a reservation under OpenTable, and made a note about my fiance's 30th birthday. The staff took such good care of us, even printing Happy Birthday on the menu for him. Such a nice touch! We enjoyed every thing that touched our table. If you do plan on going, ask for Tanya, she was fantastic! Answered all of our questions, paced everything perfectly for us, and really made us feel special. Like the title of this review says, BEST dinner we've ever had!!

Alleen Buswell

The service and ambiance were fantastic! Food was very good too, hubby got the beef and I had the orange roasted fennel. By the time dessert came out we were both so full we could barely eat any but had I known how delicious it would be I would have saved room! We had the apple soufflé and black walnut cake. Two thumbs up for the whole experience

Peter Jordan

OMG the shrimp and grits were simply sublime everything was A cut above including our waiter (Awesome Austin) he was incredible so polished smooth and chatty quite willing to explain and fill in the details.

Doug Johnson

Amazing service. Great food. Antelope isn't the easiest meat to cook but the chef here nailed it.

Peggy Paige

Lovely, great food and service. 1st class.

Erin Ryan

I had the pleasure to dine here for dinner last night. It was truly a 5 star experience. the chef does an amazing job. Each course was divine! Charles and Kaitlyn provided amazing service and we felt so special. It wasn't just a terrific meal but also a terrific experience!

Rebecca Kondor

Absolutely FAB!!! They made the start to my birthday awesome! Thank you Chef and of course to our server Mark- y'all made our experience phenomenal! "Picturesque" plates! We were way to excited and forgot main course pics! Words can not describe how amazing they all tasted!

Jon Donohue

The food in this restaurant is only...amazing. The service is exceptional. The handful of times I have been there I have never been disappointed...with anything.

Banky Wafford

I genuinely had the most amazing experience with Anne. From the beginning I was welcomed, Anne helped me navigate the incredibly large (but incredible) drink list. I was lucky enough to sit next to the hostess Sabrina, who was absolutely darling. As a solo diner, I was offered an incredible experience from start to finish, with a full course meal.

Robert Green

My wife and I went here with friends for Charleston restaraunt week. Great food and ambience.

Steve F.

Fabulous food in a very cool setting. The restaurant is set in one of the outbuildings of the Wentworth Mansion. In addition to food a reservation gets you the chance to go up to the top cupola of the mansion which has great views of downtown Charleston (we didn't get around to doing this). The bar we waited for our tables in was comfortable, with some very tasty cocktails on offer. Got our table on time, and were subjected to some fabulous cooking. Highly recommended.

Mariah Panasyuk

Went to celebrate my husband and I's birthdays. The service was amazing and the food phenomenal. We even got a special treat from the chef! Can't wait to come again!

Paul P

Fantastic food!

MARGARET Grant

Wonderful meal, great ambiance..fabulous wait staff..all around a perfect pre New years celebration

sarat poluri

Fancy place for fancy folk. I am mostly concerned with food and that wasn't worth the money I spent. I guess I like flavors more than appearance.

chris mckinney

Absolutely excellent! Food was amazing and our server Tanya was great! Amazing service, food, and cocktails. Highly recommended. Highlights were the antelope, the squash saffron soup, walnut cake and the pumpkin old fashioned

hundwagen

Since ya'll seem to like these........... don't think he's a bad player 3rd player for your team or white and white or black and white or white and black in this game that we are not going to be able to see you at all the time and time you have you done that the world has changed and the only one who has their hands on it is the only thing I think that is the case with a group of the family members who have the bundle to make it to a company where are you coming to the right of the world 3 to be sure what I would be doing but I don't think it is a good idea of the world to be a leader in my life and I have to leave the same kind to be in a way they are blue or black or white or white or black in black in the same color of my body that the same is a big deal with it is not just about a little bit to make a lot to be more work than you have been married for years to get the win a win for your family of people who want to know what we are doing but we don't have to be a good team would like to have a child that would be able for the same job and then we'll have to go out and get the ball back and play for the rest of the world

Taylor Green

Amazing experience. Worth the pricing. Great spot for a date night.

George Fesak

One of the best meals I have ever had! Service was impeccable!

Afton Matthews

My husband and I really like Michelin Dining and there are no Michelin stars in Charleston, so we tried to find a restaurant that might be comparable. This restaurant does not really deserve or live up to a star, but it is delightful if not being compared on that scale. Wait staff was thoughtful, though the bar area and hostess were a bit rigid and uncomfortable. We did the tasting menu and wine pairing and really enjoyed some of the surprises that came out of the kitchen! Being surprised with a schnitzel was a first for us that we really delighted in. I highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion in Charleston.

Janet Wright

We had read and heard good things about Circa 1886. Our hotel had a deal with the restaurant (3-course meal for $40+ a piece) so we decided to make reservations. If you go make sure you to reserve well in advance. We made a reservation about a month ahead of our visit and ended up with an 8:15 seating. We entered through the mansion, went through the garden and into the restaurant. We were greeted with the usual southern hospitality. We had a corner table. The area of the restaurant we were in was relatively quiet with low lighting, creating a romantic and elegant mood. Our waitress was professional, but didn't show a lot of that same warmth we experienced at other area eateries. The food was presented well and was delicious. Even with the deal it ended up being a bit on the pricey side. There are so many great restaurants in Charleston, so the next time we come I'm not sure we would go back. If you are looking for an upscale, romantic meal then Circa 1886 might fit the bill.

Madeline Hess

The absolute best fine dining in Charleston. The staff are warm and welcoming and the food is an absolute orchestra of flavors. My husband and I go here all the time for special occasions. We love them!

Herb Schnicklfritz

Really, really good service and food. They do a great job accommodating someone with a food allergy as well. Great experience.

David Thomas

The location is fantastic and if you go to the restaurant, you get access to the hotel. Go to the 4th floor and enjoy the best view in all of Charleston. But this is a review about the food and the menu was well designed but the execution was lacking as there were highs and lows. The best entree we had was the crab Mac and cheese. The duck was unfortunately not executed properly. It was cut in half but each piece was cooked to a different temperature. This happened because the duck fat was not rendered down much at all. I had to slice it off otherwise to eat the duck because I couldn't chew through it at first. The artichoke heart is the best item on the menu. It is worth going there just for that. The pork appetizer contained watered down kale which affected the broth and brought down the quality of the dish. Even though the execution on the entrees were a let down. The desserts were just outstanding. Everyone should try the Apple Walnut cake. The taste of the tropics was also very good.

Jon Donohue

The food in this restaurant is only...amazing. The service is exceptional. The handful of times I have been there I have never been disappointed...with anything.

Grant Williams

Great atmosphere in a historic setting. Service was amazingly knowledgeable and passionate about their foods. For me the appetizers and desserts, as well as their wine offerings were the standouts. Great place for special occasions! Looking to try the antelope next time.

Peter Sunderman

Food and service was excellent. Friendly staff and luckily was restaurant week.

Luis Somoza

Experience the best at this restaurant and Wentworth hotel next door. A must place to see while in beautiful Charleston, SC

Mike Abbott

Wonderful restaurant in Charleston. Warm atmosphere with a cozy window seat. Eclectic fare, appetizers were tasty and soaked the buds before the main course. Wife had the beef and I had the trout. Highly recommend both. Extensive wine list, plenty of bourbons to choose too. Topped it all off with delicious desserts.

Dustin K Ryan

Had the best time ever. Awesome staff and excellent food.. if your a big eater you'll need two entrees but otherwise perfect!

Marlene McLaughlin

Excellent dinner, service and ambience. There were three separate couples celebrating anniversaries . Ours was 60 years another 40 and another 29. Made each couple feel special.

Virginia Halter

Beet salad was fantastic. Crab cakes we're the best I have had since Annapolis! Apple souffle is ah.maz.ing!!!

dannie1395

Absolutely delicious dishes!!!

Micah Peterson

Best meal for our weekend in Charleston . Innovative tasting menu in an intimate setting. Wait staff was very knowledgeable. Antelope was memorable!

Tim Kowalewski

Very romantic dining room

Wanda Burns

This was a very good experience. Company event. Service and food excellent.

ThE TeFLoNDoN

Well.. You want to talk about a Jewel of the South.. My goodness.. Food is absolutely amazing.. The wait staff even better.. Chief is outstanding with the dishes they are putting out here.. I am a frequent visitor to Charleston every summer.. And I am glad that I got the opportunity to dine in this amazing establishment.. You won this New York Over.. lol

Mark Lipsey

Went for the first time in September for restaurant week World class food and service - easily in my top five all time meals in my 35 years of traveling 2 weeks a month on business to major US and international cities Going this evening for restaurant week again- cant wait

Erin Evans

We tried the chefs tasting menu and do not have a single complaint over the five courses. Everything was seasoned to perfection and a joy to eat

Landon Thorne

1886 is a venerable dining establishment that embodies the best tradition of Charleston cuisine.

Dan Cotto

Dining at its best

Claire WithLove

Charleston is known for it's wonderful restaurants, and I used TripAdvisor reviews to reserve my dinners for Memorial Day weekend which is also the Spoleto Fesival weekend. I almost went to Magnolia's instead of Circa 1886, but I am so glad we kept our reservations at Circa 1886! It was my #1 favorite restaurant out of (Charleston Grill, Hank's Seafood, and Hyman's). Atmosphere and Ambiance: A+ : it was quiet, romantic and in an old house. Service: A+ : waiter was friendly, helpful with recommendations and brought fresh lemon slices for the water without being asked Location: Next to the Wentworth mansion. We went in there by mistake, then later stopped back in to see what it would be like to stay there. We were making plans to come back in the Winter. Food: A+ - Cider Poached Apple Salad appetizer shared (from the Taste of Native Tribes section) - Piedmontese Beef - it was almost melt in your mouth tender steak! (from the Influences from Europe section) - Piedmontese Oxtail (from the Flavors From Africa section) which came with a conch fritter, pepper pot liquor (not spicy), sweet potatoes, mustard greens, and pickled okra. It was the waiter's favorite, so I decided to try it. You don't get as much beef as the Piedmontese Beef since it really is oxtail. It was fall off the tail tender and the medley of the fritter and vegetables added a variety of taste and texture sensations. - Heugonaut souffle. We shared it because I didn't have any room left but it you do, each of you should get one! Wine: A+ The waiter recommended a half bottle of Paul Autard Chateaneuf-du-Pape. We loved the flavors, layers, and complexity.

Chris Baldwin

Excellent menu!

Ron M

Ranks among the very best of Charleston. And it's a steal during Restaurant Week.

Danielle Vee

Great place for fine dining in Charleston! We did the tasting menu with wine pairings and was not disappointed! Our waiter was fantastic and friendly and the whole staff worked as a team. We couldn't even finish all 5 courses it was so much food and absolutely delectable. Will definitely come back the next time we're in Charleston!!!

Debra Byas

All I can say is WOW!! Unforgettable night at Circa 1886. The food was absolutely amazing. Uniquely unforgettable food and experience! The atmosphere was cozy and romantic!! Dennis provided the best service ever! He made it an unforgettable night... thank you!

Daniel Kushner

Very accommodating to dog on patio, dog friendly. Interesting set up of food, you can mix and match departments of history that brought its way to southern cooking. Tree covered roads to get there, but then once there opens nicely. As is known in Charleston, most important to remember that COCKTAILS are where it’s all, not the beers or wines. Circa 1886 didn’t disappoint on cocktails at all.

Matt Shaw

Wonderful meal. High end food with decent portions and great staff.

Wendy Berkowitz

Best service ever. Hats off to Emily and team.

Jimmy Board

My wife and I made this a special evening during our stay in Charleston. We decided to do the 5 course taster option, with wine pairings. Our review came up mixed. The Good: The place has a great atmosphere, good service, and the wine selections were very well done (my wife hates Rose and actually enjoyed it). Unlike other places we've been and done multi-course options, we were surprised with the amount of food. We barely had any space by the time dessert came around. The menu provides well thought out dishes that do a good job of combining flavors while pushing a few boundaries. The eggplant soup was spectacular and the souffle was enjoyable. The Bad: The execution was not up to par on 2 of our 5 courses. My wife got salmon, and it was clearly overdone and extremely fishy tasting. We also got a pork sampler dish where the tenderloin was overdone and the dumpling was a bit doughy. Overall: It seems like a great place for a nice evening but, in our case, the price doesn't really feel justified when main dishes come out so poorly executed.

Anthony Frasciello

Food is delicious... service is amazing

DAVID B

Mark our server was superb. The food was delivered. A great memory as we celebrated my birthday and our anniversary. Nice touch with champagne to cap off our dinner.

Bill McLeod

Excellent presentation and good food.

LiveShop Eat

Elegant, formal except for the wayward diners who "dress down" in flip flop and shorts attire!

Romina Sanchez

Totally in love with the decor; also the garden view and the entrance from the hotel are magnificent. The service is very attentive and the ambiance feels romantic. The food is above good but I wasn't really amazed by anything other than the tropical dessert. Also the size of the dishes are bigger than expected.

Debra Byas

All I can say is WOW!! Unforgettable night at Circa 1886. The food was absolutely amazing. Uniquely unforgettable food and experience! The atmosphere was cozy and romantic!! Dennis provided the best service ever! He made it an unforgettable night... thank you!

Akino Brown

The Circa Restaurant was both elegant and intimate. The staff treated everyone in our party with courtesy . The food encompassed an inviting presentation of art and deliciousness second to none. We highly recommend The Circa!!!

Nancy Flynn

Fabulous!!

Jean Sopinko

Excellent restaurant. Creative chef. Great service.

Mario Ramos

We had a wonderful dinner experience. The antelope loin and the trout were cooked to perfection. Service was great, very courteous and informative. Save room for dessert, I had the most wonderful souffle.

Marn Taylor

I had extreme food poisoning here in April 2018. The episode was so severe, I passed out, hit my head on the floor, and got a concussion. I was sick for 2+ weeks, lost 9 lbs. Please be aware that not all meat, including poultry, is cooked properly here, and the kitchen is not clean enough to serve raw meat. The restaurant argued with me as though this was my fault. I filed a complaint with DHEC, and hopefully the situation has been remedied. Please be aware! Thank you.

Marie Beck

Very gluten free friendly! The chef even prepared gluten free bread for my meal. Every course was delicious. I did not prefer the lobster terrine, but others in our group enjoyed it. The pork chop was delicious and the chef even substituted ingredients to make it gluten free. The sorbets and drinks were perfect!

Michelle Owens

Amazing menu and even more amazing staff! You will not be disappointed!

Chris Hunter

What a wonderful place for a special dinner. We came here for my wife's birthday, with our 18 month old daughter in tow (on vacation so no babysitter). They weren't fazed at all: she got her own amuse bouche, a cup of milk, greatly enjoyed sampling from our duck and beef entrees, and totally hijacked my pecan dessert. The service was expert whilst remaining friendly, the food was excellent and the wine recommendations sound. So a top quality establishment that doesn't take itself so seriously that they can't cope with a diminutive diner. Top marks.

Jessica Diaz

The best!

Michael Grass

Circa 1886, under direction of Chef Marc Collins, is one of the premier dining destinations in Charleston. The menu rotates regularly with amazing dishes and the staff and their attention to detail can't be beat. I can't recommend Circa 1886 enough.

Elizabeth Tamasa

I celebrated my birthday here a couple of months ago and have been meaning to leave a review. I had a wonderful experience! I had a larger party and there was no problem with us eating a bit later in the evening due to work schedules. The atmosphere was lovely--white table cloths, ambient light, and sneaky servers refilling glasses and providing for your every need. Special shout out to Kekoa, who was our waiter. He provided excellent recommendations for food and drinks. The food was amazing and the portions were filling.

Dallas Beardsley

So I never write reviews for places I go, but wow, is this place worth it. Literally everything we had, from the heart of Kobe to the antelope loin to the Pluff Mudslide Souffle was some of the most delicious food I've ever eaten. The drinks were also superb, and I highly recommend the perfect swing, even if you're not a scotch drinker. The flavor of every part of my meal delighted my tongue and there wasn't a single part that I wasn't extremely happy with. I wish I had had the opportunity to shake the Chef's hand for what was honestly the best meal of my life. Also thank you to Kaitlyn (sp?) for the awesome recommendations and always being willing to chat with us a minute about the food or drinks.

Eric Streed

Excellent in every regard!

Ruben Matos

Outstanding is not enough... top-notch in all respects!

Lindsey Whitticar

We went here for husband's birthday. And it did disappoint. We are vegan and Gluten free. They didn't have bread which is disappointing for such a high end restaurant. Maybe one day... We got the African soup and the one pot. I was unable to eat it all it was very filling but flavorful.

Victoria Davich

We went for restaurant week and both the food and the service were perfect. The kobe beef is like beef butter, the tenderloin was amazing .i would never have thought to combine curry and hollandaise sauce myself, so good! And we ate 3 desserts, which were all amazing. I could eat my weight in their homemade mocha chip ice cream, which was just a side on the chocolate souffle. And the house was very charming. Please indulge here, you won't be disappointed. Oh and Denis is a great waiter

Courtney Guc

We got the tasting menu last night (End of December) and it included quail over arugula, heirloom tomato sampler, tuna, braised short rib with foie gras grits, and a full pumpkin soufflés. Phenomenal. We would come back for the grits alone. Portions were filling, but not overwhelming. The service was excellent, thanks to Anne and Brian. The restaurant is in such a beautiful courtyard, so it’s an undeniably romantic place to eat. Highly recommend!

John Aguis

Top tier restaurant with an amazing chef that puts together creative dishes. Signature antelope dish was a special treat and truly incredible. Waiter Austin is the most eloquent speaker of the meals he is serving and describes details about the dishes that shows his passion for what he does! One of the best dining experiences we have ever experienced!

Laura Oliverson

A true dining experience, from beginning to end. Impeccable service from Austin and every employee who worked there. Highly recommend to those with discerning taste.

Karrie Norberg

SO delicious! Fabulous food & experience

Shelly Poetter

If you want a great Charleston experience this is the place you should go. Delicious food, impeccable service, beautiful surroundings, a wonderful evening out

Chris Smith

Circa 1886 is a quiet, classy, top-rated restaurant. Whether it's an anniversary celebration, a small wedding reception, or just dinner for two, as a local professional event photographer...I highly recommend this place!

Robert Poh

Food, ambience and service were all excellent. Our waiter, Denis, was a consummate pro.

Paul Price

Great food and service, with a dramatic flair, offering unique combinations for the palate. The decor is drab though, taking the "I'm living in the 19th century" concept a bit far. Not everything HAS to be beige or sickly yellow. That said, it's still a great place for a unique food experience.

Emilia Ortiz

Very good seafood and great wine

Brittany York

The restaurant itself is beautiful and the staff were very friendly. The dessert was delicious, but the main courses were so busy with combined flavors, it was hard to tell if I enjoyed it and felt more like a science experiment. I liked that the chef prepared little complimentary tastings between courses, but everything seemed to be in gelee form that night. I won't be back for a main course for sure, but the pastry chef was well worth a repeat, even if just for drinks and dessert!

renette larock

We hadn't been there for about 3 years.It was better than ever!

Jimbo

Amateur service, meaning horrible. The manager did not care. There are so many great restaurants in Charleston. Why would anyone go to Circa 1886. Stay away and go to any other restaurant in town.

Kevin Heist

Fantastic dinner! Pork belly app was awesome, the antelope was awesome, my gf's chicken fried salmon was unique and wonderful. My girlfriend rarely finishes what is put in front of her. Her quote on the peach soufflé, "if I had to choose between this and an immediate family member, I'm choosing this."

Kevin Webb

Absolutely amazing. Exceeded all expectations! Denis our server was like a mystical shaman leading us on a voyage of five star dining. The master sommelier had choosen pairings that bordered on divine! What an experience!

Hiep Nguyen

Impeccable! A must-try when you're in Charleston and in a mood for fine dining!!! Review as of 05.29.2018 - Service: Excellent - Food: Excellent - Decoration: Romantic - Seating: Good & comfortable, could be better. We dined here when visiting Charleston and had a really good time. Reservation was easy, and the place was not crowded. Service was excellent, foods (most important, correct?) was perfect! In details: - Service: top notch. Waitress was really friendly, and she has the best Southern accent ever. Gave me the impression of royal treatment (you might have different experience, depending on who was the server). - Food: Look at the pictures. We were there early so the Chef gave us 3 different starters and each was mind-blowing. Appetizers: we had Pork Cheek and Artichoke. Beautifully designed & very well-balanced. Entree: we had Duck & Tuna. As we've known, Duck is really hard to cook & requires intensive technique, but rest assure that Circa will not let you down!! Smelled good, tasted even better, crunchy outside with goodness inside. Risotto is a drop of heaven. Dessert: we had Baked Carolina & Peach tart. Peach tart is highly recommended! - Decoration: Loved it. - Seating: This is a definitely high-end restaurant and not much crowded (and we loved it!!) Fine people dining on other tables, and it was a lovely night! A must try. Hope that Circa could keep up their good works.

Brian Roberts

Top Charleston upscale dining!

nate julius

Atmosphere, food, staff, everything, all of the experience was excellent. Menu was imaginative and extremely good! I had the cider poached apple salad. My wife had the fried green tomato salad. We both had the fried red hen entree. Dessert looked so good, we forgot to get pictures! Portions were spot on. Not too full and we definitely did not leave hungry. We highly recommend Circa 1886!

Ardis Jerome

Unique menu, party of 7 ordered different dishes, everyone was very pleased and said they'd come back. Nice quiet ambience, easy for conversation. Excellent wait staff and service.

Lanie Dean

This menu is different from any other in Charleston, and the staff is really incredible. I've never had oxtail before and the flavor was great! The veggies added some acidity which I appreciated and the shrimp and grits was really light and different from most you'd find in Charleston. Something that I'm really really impressed with is the bread... random.. but a beautiful touch that is so incredible.

Brandon Williford

This may not be a fair review. It’s based off of the tasting menu and not the regular menu items. Everyone around seemed to be enjoying their meals from the regular menu, but the tasting menu left something to be desired. We did the 5 course tasting menu at Circa 1886 with the wine pairings. The meal started with some salmon carpaccio. It was severely under seasoned and lacked flavor. The next course was the best of the night by a wide margin. It was an amazing gnocchi. I would eat this dish every night. Next up was the scallop dish. All of the flavors were muddled and didn’t go well together. The final savory course was the pork belly. We were really excited for it, but the pork belly was severely over cooked and dry. I’ve never had a dry pork belly. The dessert was a mud slide soufflé. It was our 2nd favorite dish of the night behind the gnocchi. My advice would be to order from the main menu. I don’t think the tasting menu is the way to go here.

Dawn Moore

If you are in the area do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a meal here. Perfect for a special occasion.

Nira Naor

We loved it. Had the 5 course tasting menu with wine paring and enjoyed every bite.

Ashley Martin

Circa is our favorite restaurant in Charleston. The staff are always welcoming and remember us from one visit to the next as well as our preferences. The seasonal menu is always creative and delicious. We also enjoy just stopping by for a quick happy hour drink at the bar.

Charles Farrel

Great service and amazing atmosphere.

Luchanda Geniusz

Went there for my husband's birthday the food is exceptional all the attributes together made a wonderful dish or evening very very pleasant staff .Atmosphere is very upscale it sets the romantic tone there is no kids allowed but the food is exceptional we will definitely be going back

Shannon Normand

I would have given this 5 star's but although the food was some of the best I've ever had ,the service was not up to par with what you expect from a fine dining establishment such as this .

Jenn Marks

Our server did an excellent job of helping us navigate the menu, and the staff of Circa 1886 went above and beyond to make my mother and I feel special on our celebratory dinner. The complimentary champagne toast and chocolate "Congratulations" and "Happy Birthday" were a perfect way to end our evening. We highly recommend the Flounder, Antelope, Soufflé, and Strawberry Shortcake.

Jamal Jackson

Listen, there's nothing disparaging that can be said about this restaurant. I prefer to consider it an experience that sets the bar. If I have to be critical the only thing I can mention is the lack of on-site parking which is no reflection on the experience

Josh Goldstein

Kat was a great help! She really made this last experience a good one and took the time to talk with me about the Vape pens and gave me the rundown on several strains. I had her choose a few recommended joints on my behalf and they were amazing! This experience was a lot more personable than other shops. I felt that I got special attention. Kat is amazing and free spirited but she's not the only fantastic person I've spoken with. The employees right now are just GOOD. That's all I can say. I'll definitely be returning. :)

Lisa G.

If we could rate it higher, we would. Maybe this is one of Charleston's best kept secrets. After living here over 20 years, I'd never heard of it. Circa 1886 Restaurant was everything we could have expected and more.We loved everything about it! Service, choices, ambiance, did not feel rushed, we didn't have to yell across the table to carry on a conversation. My husband ended up getting a free appetizer. He was surprised that I didn't order the oysters Rockefeller appetizer and mentioned it when I ordered the salmon parfait. Turns out the waiter delivered it to my husband and told us it was compliments of the house for our anniversary. The samples of food was something else we loved. The Woodlands in Summerville used to do that. They are no longer in business but were equally as excellent. Presentation was fabulous and the food was delicious...all flavors melding together perfectly. I hope to go back with my husband next May for OUR 20th anniversary. My husband is also going to plan his office Christmas luncheon or dinner. Thanks so much, Circa 1886 and thank you, Austin for fabulous and impeccable service!

Nicki Rivers

The service was so professional. The servers top notch! I had a wonderful gw wine. The pork duet was amazing!

Todd Daniels

Nice and Quiet and exceptional service and excellent food!!

Jamie Adams

What a wonderful evening! We booked ahead knowing that we might have difficulty getting into the better restaurants in Charleston for a special evening and we were so happy with our choice. Located in a carriage house of an historic mansion (now high end B&B), Circa 1886 was elegantly decorated and the food was amazing. The African Peanut Soup was delicious, as was the Piedmontese Beef. And, to top it off, after we returned to our hotel my friend realized she had left her sweater draped over the chair and the staff stayed late until I could get back there that night (well after closing time) given they were closed the next day and we were leaving. Beautiful surroundings, amazing food and wonderful service - what more could you want to celebrate a special occasion. Thank you Circa 1886. You made our anniversary extra special!

Ellen Clark

Many people have posted pictures of the unusual menu at this charming restaurant. The presentation of our meals was so delightful, we simply forgot to take any photos. The menu was creative and the service was impeccable. Regardless of your choice of appetizer and main course, don’t miss the apple soufflé - it’s amazing.

Steven Gunn

My family and I enjoyed a beautiful evening here to celebrate Dad's birthday last week. We were treated very well and our entire party was thrilled with the experience they gave us.

Cindy Walsh

What a treasure. Circa is one of the best restaurants in Charleston. The moment my husband and I walked in we were impressed by the atmosphere. The building is classic and there is amazing décor. Great tasting food and wonderful service.

Bill Hughes

I've eaten at many of the restaurants in Charleston and this is one of the best that I've been to. Our waitress was simply spot on. She made great recommendations and was extremely helpful. The food was amazing. We will be back without a doubt.

Cara Burns

What a wonderful experience. Sat down to a three course meal and enjoyed every moment. A lot of the evenings enjoyment was due to our server, Denis. He had an excellent knowledge of not only the food but the right wine that goes with each item. His little stories made the night even more enjoyable. Go early, ask to be served by Denis, and enjoy the evening. By the way the food was excellent.

Kristian Mostert

Fancy and a little hard to find in the dark of you've never been there

Neda Beal

My daughter had a wedding reception dinner for 40 guests in the Tack Room upstairs, with Hors d’oeuvres and drinks on the outside patio beforehand. It was beautiful. Food, atmosphere, and servers were excellent. Ginny Severs, special Events Coordinater was outstanding and helpful in coordinating and making it a special day.

Matt Bryant

We're not "fine dining" people. That said, the food was pretty good. I had the salad, beef, and the blueberry souffle. My wife had the chicken and doughnut trio for dessert. Waiter was pleasant but I found the atmosphere to be dry. Sinatra background music light conversation and a 107$ bill isn't our typical southern style meal. For the price I say fine dining is overrated. Don't show up hungry or you'll need to stop elsewhere on the way home. I can't justify the price spent on the experience. Once in a lifetime for us.

Justin Williams

Very happy with the dinner here. We were promptly seated and received great service. We received a mushroom soup compliments of the executive chef which was tasty. Both of our appetizers were good (spicy shrimp and mushroom risotta). The meals we had were outstanding. I had the beef tenderloin and my wife had the pork chop. For desert we had the cornbread pudding and the cheese plate. My wife said the desert was the best she had ever had, and it was very good. My tenderloin was the best I'd ever had. Everything was put together just right, to include the wine pairings for her. The service was great as I never ran out of water. And the seating arrangements were nice and quiet. Circa 1886 is now my favorite place!

Jakob Schweiger

The food and service are outstanding.

Thomas Johnston

The overall experience was very good. The server was very hospitable and did a great job remembering my brother had an allergy and that it was my parents anniversary. However, I have a few notes on the food: The first combination of cheddar, prosciutto, and almond was delightful. The she crab soup was not the best, too many spices. The artichoke heart was pretty good but did not live up to the hype. The scallops were very nice but the vegetables could have been better. The antelope and the beef were divine but again, the vegetables. The s’mores soufflé was lovely. We really enjoyed the night but these are a few notes to consider.

Siddhartha Gadiraju

Excellent food and pleasant staff. Very caring and have suggested excellent food and drinks. Ambiance was great and great place for a great date.

Amanda Russ

This is a lovely place. The historic building is beautiful and the service was great. Staff were friendly, food was delicious, not your same ole charleston fare. I enjoyed trying new things and interesting pairings. Everything turned out great, makes me wish the portions were a little bigger!

Sunny Perez

Excellent experience!!! Fabulous food and great service and the staff are friendly and helpful. All of our food from the beginners to entrees were amazing. I would highly recommend them.

Jamie M

Great food and great service from Austin and the rest of the staff. All of our food from the starters to entrees were amazing and came out extremely fast. Great place for a date night.

Paula Goff

Innovative, imaginative food. And delicious! Tastefully decorated. Perfect service.

Donna Weedling

An absolutely fabulous restaurant. Equally fabulous staff. A "not miss" if you visit Charleston.

Devlin Denson

Wonderful experience with the staff and food, the food was prepared fresh and was fairly large portioned for what we were expecting. If you're debating between spending the extra few dollars here or saving a bit by going somewhere else, I would highly recommend choosing here, as the price was well worth what was received.

Karina Gonzalez

Amazing experience! Food is pricey but well worth it. Ryan was our waiter. He was entertaining, knowledgeable, well trained, plight, and very educated. The food was well positioned and cooked to perfection. Try the rabbit appetizer it's amazing. A must stop for any occasion. We went for a lady's night and where treated like royalty. Wonderful place for a romantic dinner too.

Rory Parsley

Fabulous food and service

Joyce Driggers

Wonderful food and wonderful staff!! Always an enjoyable experience.

Jeff McMurray

Circa 1886 is among the upper tier restaurants in Charleston. We always have a good experience, with good food, and good drinks. Where Circa 1886 really shines is their dessert menu. The apple souffle is the best dessert in all of Charleston. I could easily come to the bar, order a Mansion mule and a souffle and all would be right with the world.

Kim Eyers

Best meal we've had in a long time!! Food couldn't have been more impressive (pork cheeks, foie gras, and antelope were highlights), and our waitress and sommelier took care of us like we were family. Highlight of our trip to Charleston!