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prosciutto

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

Persimmon Cafe

August 30, 2013

[UPDATE 10/1/2015: I originally reviewed Persimmon Cafe (back before it was cool) back in August 2013. Since then, I’ve been to Persimmon approximately 157,000 times, so I didn’t think it was fair to leave my review as it stands. So much has changed with them (and me!) since then, that I wanted to give a more accurate representation of what it’s like to experience Persimmon.]

Persimmon Cafe, for those of you lame-os not in the know, is my favorite restaurant in Charleston. The space is kind of off-beat–I mean, who would think to put a cafe inside of a laundromat? But, it works. It really does.

It would never really work the other way around, though.

Although, it would never really work the other way around.

The menu is simple and contains just the right number of choices so as not to leave you overwhelmed. I’ve had pretty much everything on the menu (multiple times), so I’ll go through and review each of the menu items I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing, starting with my favorites.

Orzo Pasta Salad

The Orzo Pasta Salad (orzo pasta, honey, balsamic vinegar, craisins, red onion, goat cheese, $1.50) is definitely my favorite thing at Persimmon. No matter what I come in for, or how hungry I am, I always order the pasta salad. It’s got a great amount of tang from the vinegar that’s balanced out by the creaminess of the goat cheese. It’s heaven.

Goat Cheese is my kryptonite.

Goat Cheese is my kryptonite.

Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich

My standard order for a long time at Persimmon was the curry chicken sandwich (red onions, curry chicken salad, and golden raisins, $7.50). In my first review, I said “I’m a sucker for curry chicken, so that’s probably why I liked this one the best. I’d probably get that again if I went back,” and I did. A lot. It’s got a very strong curry taste, so if you’re sensitive to that, I’d recommend one of their other sammies instead.

Hello, old friend.

More for me!

Rosemary Lemon Tea

They have a really interesting selection of homemade drinks, like vanilla lemonade, basil limeade, and rosemary lemon tea. I always (literally, always) get the rosemary lemon tea. It’s my favorite drink of all time. Even more than diet coke, and that’s really saying something. They use a lemon-rosemary simple syrup that they add to their freshly brewed tea, and it is unique and totally delicious.

Not as much as I love you!

Not as much as I love you! #soulmates

 

The Greek

My new favorite sandwich is The Greek (thick-cut turkey, Greek-style salad, sheep’s milk feta, mayo, warm naan bread, $8). I don’t think I’ve ever had a sandwich like the Greek before. It’s so good. The sheep’s milk feta has a unique taste, much different from regular feta. It’s creamier and goes really well with whatever dressing they put on the Greek salad (I’m assuming Greek dressing??). The whole sandwich is a work of art.

Seriously. Someone frame this for me.

Seriously. Someone frame this for me.

Nutella Custard

Tell me, is there anything better than a restaurant that lights marshmallows on fire right in front of your face? No. No, there is not. Especially when those flambeed marshmallows sit atop a holy grail of nutella custard. Thick, creamy custard, big chunks of Nutella, hot toasted marshmallows… This is basically why the phrase “food porn” was invented.

Have you ever been turned on by ice cream before?

Have you ever been turned on by ice cream before?

The Italian

When Persimmon introduced the Italian sandwich (hard salame, sorpressata, prosciutto, provolone, dressed spinach, mayo, torta roll, $8), I was so excited that I cancelled my lunch plans and ordered that instead. I have a problem, I know. It has all the trappings of a classic italian sandwich: fatty italian meats, provolone cheese, and lots of mayo. They throw some spinach in there so your body gets some nutrition out of it. It’s very greasy and I feel like I need to wash my hands (and face) afterward, but man is it delicious.

Hey good lookin'

Hey good lookin’

Adult Grilled Cheese

The Adult Grilled Cheese (smoked Gouda, green apple, prosciutto & cheddar, $6.75) is a classic. When you pulled the sandwich apart it was nice and melty and cheesy. I really liked the green apple, which adds a level of freshness to the sandwich (and pairs really well with the gouda).

Melted cheese is my kryptonite.

Melted cheese is also my kryptonite.

Butternut Squash

The butternut squash sandwich (grilled butternut squash, curry cashew butter, honey, goat cheese, $6.75) is also a favorite among my friends. Rob once made it vegan-style for my cousin, and she’s still talking about it, 2 years later. Lauren requests it every time she visits Charleston. Grilling the butternut squash brings out its full flavor, and the curry cashew butter complements the nuttiness of the squash perfectly. Then you have the goat cheese, which makes everything taste better, and a little bit of honey for some sweetness. It’s a winner for vegans and carnivores alike.

What's up butternut, whooooa whoa whoa.

What’s up butternut, whooooa whoa whoa.

Lobster Roll

Persimmon also makes one of the best lobster rolls (light mayo, parmesan, celery, $16.50) in Charleston. They don’t have it on the menu very often, but when they do, you should definitely order it. It’s big and it’s decadent, but it’s also totally worth it.

"Ooooh, the claw"

“Ooooh, the claw”

The Cubano

This is Sean’s favorite sandwich because it’s so manly and full of meat. The cubano (thick-cut ham, pulled pork, plantain dijon, havarti, bread & butter pickles, torta roll, $8) is really unique twist on a classic cubano sandwich. I love the way the plantain dijon balances out the tanginess from the pulled pork, and the havarti brings the whole sandwich together.

Persimmon is very multicultural.

Persimmon is very multicultural.

Tuna Tacos

I love tuna and I love tacos and Persimmon combined that love into 1 menu item, the Blowtorch Tuna Tacos (peanut butter & ginger slaw, spicy mayo, blowtorched tuna, $3.50/taco). They’re super simple and packed with flavor, especially if you like tuna.

Taco Taco Taco!

Taco Taco Taco!

Soups! (All of them)

Persimmon has 2 soup options daily to choose from and they consist of the following options (on rotation): Tomato Parm; Sweet Potato, curry and goat cheese; spicy black bean and corn; cream of asparagus; and potato cheddar. They’re all $4 each and come with a toasted piece of bread. They’re also all delicious. You can’t go wrong with any of them, although my faves are the sweet potato, curry, and goat cheese and the potato cheddar.

Yes, soup for me!

Yes, soup for me!

In my first review, I ended it by saying “I can’t wait to go back. I highly recommend you check this place out if you haven’t already,” and that holds true today. Even though I’ve eaten there more times than I can count, I always look forward to my next visit!

It almost makes me want to start going to the laundromat... almost.

It almost makes me want to start going to the laundromat… almost.

Persimmon Cafe
226 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC
843.937.5399

Persimmon Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

Crust Wood Fired Pizza

March 15, 2013

I love pizza. There’s nothing better than a hot, cheesy, slice of really good pizza. One of the great things about pizza is that when it’s good, it’s great. And when it’s bad (i.e. Papa Johns or Domino’s)…it’s still pretty good. I prefer pizza that either has a thick, garlicky crust, or a thin, crispy crust that has that fresh-baked-bread taste and texture that can’t be beat. Well… all this pizza talk has me salivating over my keyboard. I really have to find a salad joint to review.

Best salad ever.

OMG pizza salad. How is that not a thing??

A couple Saturdays ago, I chose to try out Crust Wood Fired Pizza on James Island with Becca. It’s a cute little spot with an open kitchen and a chalkboard wall on which they write the daily specials. Their menu is very simple, which I like, and yet I still had a hard time choosing, since everything looked so delicious. We started with the arancini (fried risotto balls). I was hoping they were going to be like the giant ones I had in Boston, so I was slightly disappointed when they were only the size of golfballs. They were good, but lacking something, though I’m not sure what. They were served with this “simple tomato sauce” which I absolutely loved. You can definitely tell it was homemade.

Yummy, cheesy rice balls

Yummy, cheesy rice balls

Becca also got the handcut fries served with rosemary aioli and topped with some “grana padano” which our waiter (who was a dead ringer for Joey Lawrence) described as “like parmesan cheese but BETTER.” I thought it just tasted like parmesan  cheese, which apparently means I’m uncultured. But whatever, I can’t be perfect at EVERYTHING. The fries were delicious, and I loved that they tasted like rosemary. Though I’m not European enough to be totally comfortable with dipping french fries into mayonnaise, the rosemary aioli was freaking good.

I know what you're thinking, and yes we did eat the whole basket.

I know what you’re thinking, and yes we did eat the whole basket.

Then we each ordered pizzas because we thought maybe we should have some more carbs with our carbs. I really wanted to order all of them, because they all looked amazing. Next time I’m definitely going to try the chicken and bacon pizza (spinach, sundried tomato, caramelized onions, goat cheese, mozzarella, grana padano). I ended up getting the Bianca, a white pizza with fontina, mozzarella, grana padano, garlic, and rosemary. I added crispy prosciutto because I wanted some meat on that mother, and I think I definitely made the right choice. It was hella good.

This pizza is divine.

This pizza is divine. Just the right amount of char.

Becca was a little more adventurous and got their butternut pizza with roasted butternut squash, mushrooms, caramelized onions, goat cheese, mozzarella, arugula, and truffle oil. I tried one slice and immediately regretted not ordering it. Seriously, I know it sounds weird, but it was really good. My mom wasn’t a fan, however. She thought it was awful. To each his own, I guess.

It's not a pizza salad, it's a salad pizza!

It’s not a pizza salad, it’s a salad pizza!

I hope this place stays open for a while, I really want to keep going back. It’s so good! If I get around to trying that Chicken & Bacon one, I’ll let you know! UPDATE-I did get the Chicken and Bacon, and it was really good. Probably my new favorite.

I'm digging the sign

I’m digging the sign

Crust Wood Fired Pizza
1956 B Maybank Hwy.
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-5500
Crust Wood Fired Pizza Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Restaurant Reviews

Avery Provision Co., Boston, MA

September 19, 2012

Avery Provision Co is this awesome little specialty food cafe next to Naomi’s dorm. They offer To-go sushi made daily to order, fresh cut deli meats and cheeses, dolmades, falafel and hummus, hard boiled eggs, salads, sandwiches, macaroni and cheese kits, pasta, and sauces, soups, and salads.

Yes. All of it. In my face.

We ordered the prosciutto caprese sandwich and Israeli couscous salad, which was absolutely amazing. That was possibly the most delicious sandwich I’ve ever eaten, which is surprising, considering I don’t usually love prosciutto. The couscous salad was also delicious.

This sandwich was amazing. I don’t even have anything clever to say.

So, if you’re in Boston, somewhere near the Paramount on Washington St. and you want a delicious sandwich, I definitely recommend stopping in and grabbing something delicious from Avery Provision Co. Naomi has no idea how lucky she is to live next to such an amazing little place.

Avery Provision Co.
581 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111

Avery Provision Company on Urbanspoon