I kicked off this weekend with the Florida Georgia Line and Nelly concert at the Joe in Charleston with Cullen and Taylor, and we had a great time jamming out under the stars.
I’m not even ashamed to say I enjoyed myself.
Friday kicked off Girls Weekend, hosted by my roommate Regina, in which a bunch of her friends and family came down to tour Charleston and experience some of her favorite restaurants and attractions in honor of her 1 year anniversary of moving down here! We started the weekend off with dinner at FIG, which was kind of a disaster, as the manager was very rude to our group and the whole situation was just awkward and uncomfortable. Lily and I finished the evening at Rarebit. I’m obsessed with the macaroni and cheese at Rarebit, and the patty melt is really good as well! You should check it out if you haven’t been.
If mac & cheese was a diet food, I’d be so skinny!
Saturday was a jam packed day. We got our nails done at Tips-2-Toes on George St. downtown, Regina’s favorite nail salon (mine is Luxia in West Ashley, in case you were wondering). I picked a white-pink color, which was really pretty.
I’m as surprised as you are that I didn’t pick something neon and glittery.
We then drove to North Charleston for lunch at Nigel’s Good Food, a delicious soul food restaurant on Ashley Phosphate. Regina had been a couple of times, but this was my first time. We split an order of the whiskey shrimp, geechie wings, and fried green tomatoes with the table, and everything was delicious. For my entree, I ordered the Lowcountry Ravioli (Grilled Chicken, Bacon, Collards Greens, Black-eye Pea & Corn Relish & Cheese stuffed Ravioli tossed in a Whiskey Cream Sauce, $11.95) and it was super yummy. I’ll definitely be back!
I want to eat all of that food right now.
After lunch, I joined the girls at Frothy Beard, for a quick brewery tour before we headed back downtown for my first ever Carriage Tour. I was originally dreading it because I hate being the car stuck behind the horse tours downtown, but it ended up being a lot of fun and very educational!
And only about 80% as smelly as I thought it was going to be!
After the tour, we headed to Wadmalaw Island to see the Angel Oak Tree, which was spectacular as always. We also went out to the Firefly Distillery, but arrived too late to do any of the tastings. The man working there was really rude to us when we arrived, telling us “We’re closed. Y’all need to plan better,” even though we got there 10 minutes before they closed, and just wanted to look around for a few minutes. Having worked in customer service for a long time, being rude (even at closing time) isn’t a way to treat your loyal customers.
But the Angel Oak is always polite.
Sunday, we had a 4-hour long brunch at Halls Chophouse. It was my first time visiting for brunch, and it was outstanding (as usual). The service we received was top notch and everyone agreed that this was the highlight of their trip. I ordered the chicken-fried bison and waffle sandwich and split some grits with Lily. She ordered the “Lowcountry Biscuits and Gravy” which was less biscuits and gravy, and more biscuits and succotash with fried oysters, but it was delicious either way. It was an amazing meal, but I immediately went into a food coma for the rest of the afternoon.
Halls is so good it shouldn’t be legal.
What did you guys think of that Game of Thrones finale?! I can’t believe it’s already over!
I visited Nigel’s Good Food Summer 2014 approximately 9pm. I ordered a large salad with grilled chicken and blue cheese vinaigrette. The employee told me it would take about 20-25 minutes. I went to stand outside of the restaurant and begin to converse with this guy wearing a Nigel’s Good Food Tee shirt. As I was conversing with this guy I asked if they were thinking of expanding because it is so compact in size. He said, “No”…this guy later introduced himself as Nigel, the owner. He stood outside the restaurant and conversed with me the entire 30 minutes I waited on this grilled chicken salad. I am not sure if he was offended because of the following:
1. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED: I wasn’t impressed with his establishment and asked if they plan to expand because it is OVERCROWDED LOUD and CLAUSTORPHOBIC. I also mentioned I would not return.
2. FAILED ATTEMPT TO CONNECT: The owner asked me where I was from and when I replied he then begin to share with me that his daughter graduated from a high school not far from my city and now attending a well know cosmetology college as well as works at his restaurant.
3. BRUISED EGO: His ego was probably bruised when I was not excited when he introduced himself as Nigel.
4.RED FLAG: As we stood outside he Nigel asked me what I ordered and he recommended I have the salmon as oppose to the chicken…RED FLAG FOLKS!!!
I was not satisfied with the salad because it was a half unseasoned uncooked chicken breast. I decided to return the salad. When I approached the owner, Nigel who was still outside he said I ate half the chicken and he will not refund me the money for the salad. I told him I did not consume any part of the salad and he called the police. I told him that was fine with me.
He cancelled the police and told them he will resolve the issue. Well when I left with the salad and without a refund or a better salad I decided to call the police myself. The Dorchester County police officer came, however; Nigel must have given the female officer a distorted version of the “salad shenanigans” because the officer was extremely forceful in letting me know that this was not a police matter. To top it off the officer said Nigel would like to settle this matter in civil court. The police also said Nigel wanted to place me on a “no trespass list”. Excuse me I do not live in Charleston and I will NEVER return to his restaurant.
Nigel must be really pressed for ten dollars as he went through a lot to not refund my money or attempt to make the salad better. I found it interesting that the woman who worked at the restaurant kept telling Nigel, “I told her to order the turkey wings and two sides”…almost as if she knew the salad was not up to par.
Nigel, (if you read this) I have a question for you…Why would you want to take me to court for a $10.26 salad as oppose to just giving me a refund?
I later thought maybe the unhealthy food is their specialty…