Circa 1886Such a treat to dine at Circa 1886With friends visiting Charleston for the first time, we decided they should experience the awesome experience that is dinner at Circa 1886. As always, the service was spectacular, and we were warmly greeted as returning guests by the staff. The food was as beautiful and artfully presented as it was delicious, and our friends were delighted with everything they ordered. Having worked our way through the spring menu on a few prevoius visits, we opted for the scallops and chicken dishes, and each was as superb as the bison, artic char, and pork dishes we had gotten before. One thing I will not stray from is the roasted banana souffle. As good as the other desserts are, I would feel cheated if I got anything else! Go! Enjoy Circa 1886!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways one of the truly bestAlways one of the truly best in Charleston!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The food is always outstanding and the service is at the same level.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMA little off the beaten pathI've grew up in Charleston, and have spent a considerable amount of my bartending tips on eating out on the peninsula. As I was about to graduate from my masters program a friend offered to take me out for a nice dinner. I wanted to go somewhere I had never eaten before that had a vegetarian friendly menu. I decided on Cira 1886 in part because it was a bit removed from the husel of King or East Bay. Our waiter Christian was wonderful and answered all of our questions about the menu, everything we ordered was amazing and you could taste the love and pasion that the kitchen staff has for the food they are preparing. The hidden restaurant is a little off the beaten path but ideal for a quiet dinner where you can enjoy food and company.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMDelightful EveningA group of 4 women friends of many years meets monthly for dinner and catching up. Our evening at Circa was lovely. The service was impeccable. We were treated like royalty. The noise level was quiet, even though there were occupied tables quite nearby. And the food was outstanding. Our cocktails were perfectly prepared, as were our meals. In the end, we ordered 3 desserts, thinking there was no way we could finish them, but left not a crumb.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a treat. I was servedAlways a treat. I was served the most delicious lamb that I have ever eaten.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat dinner. We got the steakGreat dinner. We got the steak and wasabi tuna. Both were awesome. Service was outstanding. Our waiter was Mitchell and he did a great job.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMA very nice experienceThe food was very interesting and different (hard to find these days), and the service was simply outstanding.
It’s a very quiet, solemn type restaurant, but we bought our two young daughters there and the staff was great taking care of them, overall a very nice experience. Our first time to Charleston and Circa 1886, but will be back......4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMSpeciel EveningTonight we chose the five course chefs taster menu with wine pairings. The food was outstanding, beautifully presented and the portions just right to end up stuffed after the lovely roasted banana souffle desert. The souffles are always a work of art and delicious.
Between Andrew and Mark the wine pairings could not have been better.
Thanks for making our 21st wedding anniversary the very best.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and service. TheyGreat food and service. They decked out a desert with a special touch when we advised them it was for our 20th wedding anniversary.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite meal of our tripInventive, delicious food that was exciting to eat and made selecting difficult. The wait staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. if there was any weakness it was just a littlle slow getting beverages; i..e. coffee and tea. Loved the elegant atmosphere and every bite of the culinary delights! Would love to live in Charleston to go often!4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMSpectacular service and food,Spectacular service and food, service top notch : attentive, beautiful presentation but not too hovering.
Food is spectacular4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMI have had the pleasure ofI have had the pleasure of eating here on two prior occasions. This trip to Charleston was the first time I've had the pleasure of taking my daughter with me. She wasn't disappointed and neither was I. We got the tasting menu and enjoyed every course. One of the planned courses was a lamb dish. Neither of us eat lamb, and the chef was kind enough to substitute a beef course instead. The dessert was extra special! Circa 1886 is still one of my favorite restaurants!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMOur dinner was not only delicious,Our dinner was not only delicious, but so beautifully presented that you really didn't want to eat it! From our appetizers to our desserts we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The staff worked extremely well at their jobs.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding restaurant inOutstanding restaurant in every way...service is impeccable and dining experience is wonderful.If you are looking for a very special place when visiting Charleston,look no further than Circa 1886.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a restaurant of exceptionalThis is a restaurant of exceptional quality in atmosphere, food and service. We enjoyed everything about the restaurant and it was a high spot of our time in Charleston.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMmy mom and I LOVED our dinnermy mom and I LOVED our dinner here..the desserts were amazing, a banana souffle and cheddar ice cream will never be forgotten!4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful evening to celebrateA wonderful evening to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. The food was delicious and adventurous. The service was impeccable. Thanks for making this a special evening!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWent here the other nightWent here the other night for mine and my wife's anniversary and Circa 1886 made it very special. We even got special dishes offered to us just for the occasion! The service was fantastic, the dining room was immaculate and it was a fantastic dining atmosphere, very quiet. I had a delicious pork chop dish and my wife had the antelope which was fantastic!!!! For dessert I have the roasted banana souflee and my wife had something better: Crispy pear bread pudding! WOW! Great great dining experience.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience.My favorite restaurant in Charleston. I have never been dissapointed with the food or service. I highly recommend this restaurant.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMTop notch dining experience!Top notch experience! Pay little mind to the negative reviews, this place has been around quite a while and they do what they do with skill. All made from scratch.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe try to go to Circa 2-3We try to go to Circa 2-3 times a year. Our experience was outstanding and memorable as always4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a very pleasant experienceWe had a very pleasant experience at Circa 1886. The scallops were perfectly prepared and the lamb chops are very good as well.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMCirca continues to be oneCirca continues to be one of the premier restaurants in Charleston, with the food on par or better than the other, more publicized top tier places. In addition, the professional and friendly staff, elegant decor and the ability to have a real conversation over dinner set it apart from others and gives an unrivaled overall experience. Plus, there's parking!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful Food and DrinksThe Wine selection is great at the cozy bar. Food was fantastic and service very attentive. Loved sitting in the booth. We requested the booth as two of the four of us were celebrating birthdays. Joseph, our Waiter was just as great as the first time we had dinner at Circa 1886. My husband had the antelope but asked if he could have a different side dish and they accommodated his request. My guests raved about dining at Circa. Look forward to eating there again.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was beyond wonderfulThe food was beyond wonderful and our wait staff matched the delicious dinner. We had not visited Charleston before and we are so happy we did. We would highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely go there again when we visit the city. The lamb was better than any words I can choose.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperb. Excellent food &Superb. Excellent food & service. a terrific dining experience. If in Charleston, will definitely go back again.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMDuring our recent trip toDuring our recent trip to Charleston we ate here, Pennisula Grill, Magnolias, and Cypress. While Cypress was my favorite if I was in Charleston and wanted to do a special occasion dinner, this is where I would go. The ambiance was just wonderful and food very good. The restaurant is in the carriage house of a restored mansion. Just wonderful atmosphere.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent choice when in CharlestonExcellent choice when in Charleston ... delicious food in a nice setting.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you haven't eaten hereIf you haven't eaten here you've done yourself a horrible injustice. Just divine. We've eaten here since they've opened and have been a part of several of their culinary events and all I can say is just WOW!4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very good. Our mainFood was very good. Our main server Jason
Was excellent!!4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous....... Cannot waitFabulous....... Cannot wait till next time!!!!! Made our 28th Anniversary very special. We tried the Antelope after several people recommended it and it was amazing!!4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMThx to Peter for great service andKudos to the chef for an amazing menu and divine cuisine! Unique presentation of each course. Recommend the foie gras, antelope, lamb, filet topped off with the amazing banana soufflé.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMA GemThis is an easy one. Perfect. Great food. Attentive service by experienced professionals. Beautiful venue and lovely grounds. Spaced tables and a well-heeled clientele make for a quiet, romantic venue. You can go business casual, but the place cries out for business dress. A wonderful place for a special evening.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMShawn our waiter was excellentShawn our waiter was excellent and very attentive.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe thought our meal at CircaWe thought our meal at Circa 1886 was very nice, but not over the top "to die for". We were visiting Charleston from Atlanta, and made a reservation based on the outstanding reviews to celebrate our daughter's 28th birthday with her fiance. The restaurant was more formal and the clientele a bit older than we expected.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was wonderful restaurantIt was wonderful restaurant . The food and service were outstanding.. Kudos to jason our server...4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderfulWe had a wonderful evening and dinner. We were celebrating our anniversary and we felt very special.
Sean, our server did an outstanding job. Chef Jason also made the evening memorable outstanding food and presentation.
Thank you both for wonderful evening. We will recommend Circa 1886 and return when in Charleston!!4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service and food wereThe service and food were both top notch. Odd power struggle with maitress where we were kept waiting, not long, but clearly not necessary. Although the restaurant was not remotly crowded, we were seated right next to a very loud table and had to endure there inane conversations. There were many other open tables in the room that would have been more suitable.
Overall, a very nice restaurant, but not up to the hype.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very good with complexFood was very good with complex flavors and textures. I will be back.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service, excellent foodGreat service, excellent food and overall a great experience for our anniversary. She had the lamb chops which were phenomenal. I had the antelope...excellent. Both perfectly cooked and paired with excellent sides and tasty sauces. We both went for desserts and throughly enjoyed. Overall a great place for a special occasion.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMOur meals were fantastic butOur meals were fantastic but of particular note are the antelope and the banana souffle! The setting was romantic and our waiter was extremely attentive and knowledgeable making it an all around lovely experience.
We would highly recommend it and will definitely dine with Circa 1886 on our next trip to Charleston.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMdinner at the manorFormal, elegant, quiet, fantastic uplifting physical surroundings. Feeling of hidden away from downtown in residential area yet walking distance was normal. Would feel most comfortable wearing a sport coat, g etc. Service was unparalleled. Food was special and so beautifully presented. I came for anywhere and it exceeded expectations. The feeling was very local in terms of clientele but staff was most welcoming of poor online reservation.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have a wonderful time andWe have a wonderful time and a delicious meal! We will be back soon...3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and Service was excellent.Food and Service was excellent. Christian, our waiter, was the best!!!3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMBest service ever!As alwaysBest service ever!As always the service here wowed us.
The food was very good too. I loved the antelope! I was less thrilled with the broccoli pate but my husband said the foie gras was fabulous. The waiter helped us choose the perfect wine. it was a great evening.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was the second time weThis was the second time we had been to Circa 1886 and, somehow, it surpassed our earlier incredible experience. The service was perfect, the room was cozy and beautiful and the food was, in the words of my uncle, exquisite. As he is married to a Cordon Bleu trained chef, that was high praise indeed. We had a marvelous and memorable evening.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMCream of the crop of restaurants!Circa 1886 has the most creative chef of any popular restaurant in South Carolina of which I am aware. The wait staff and the atmosphere are outstanding and the food is delicious and exquisitely prepared. The chef always sends out a special dish before your meal. This time it was a creamy mushroom bisque (I don't like mushrooms) which was as smooth as silk and delicious! I rarely eat a dessert in a restaurant that I think are as enjoyable as those I make at home, but the desserts at Circa 1886 are second to none! There are no words to describe this dining experience. We make Circa a part of our every trip to Charleston now.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMBeautiful setting - carrigeBeautiful setting - carrige house of lovely historic mansion. Very inimate, very romantic (we were celebrating our 54th wedding anniversary and sat in a private alcove). I had asked that they bake an individual chocolate cake with the number 54 on it as a suprise for my husband. They did, and the litte cake was covered with yummy chocolate icing and "Happy 54th Annivesary" written in chocolate on the plate. And they didn't charge us for the cake due to our "special occasion". My husband had bison which was so,so tender and I had the pork chop. Best pork chop I have have ever had - moist, tender -- just delicious!3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMA great place to celebrateA great place to celebrate any special occasion. The banquettes are especially private.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMCirca 1886 is definitely forCirca 1886 is definitely for the foodie into savoring tastes, and not for filling up in massive quantities. It can be tough on your wallet, if not prepared, but this is Charleston, and most places can set you back a bit. My three courses were great... my dinner companion was hoping for a slightly more memorable chicken dish, but overall she was very pleased as well, and she really enjoyed her cocktail. Jason was our waiter, and he always is knowledgeable, with a lot of energy. A good evening...3/15/2013 12:00:00 AM