Dining out during the Civil War: Not so much

As most Charlestonians know, we are the midst of Restaurant Week in Charleston. During this annual event, diners can take advantage of special menus and pricing at various local establishments. Since Charleston boasts a fine selection of local restaurants, this event is very popular.

Which brings up the question, was eating out a popular pastime during the Civil War in Charleston?

In the 1860’s, there weren’t many restaurants in town. And frankly, people didn’t go out to eat much. Instead, meals were enjoyed at home around the dinner table, an activity that has become much less prevalent today. While residents and visitors in the Lowcountry have hundreds of choices for meals out on the town, the options during the Civil War were much more scarce.

A family could dine at the restaurant in the Mills House Hotel on Meeting Street for about $1.50. This fine dining experience was a luxury, as that amount was a big price to pay back then. If you stayed overnight at the Mills House Hotel, $3 would probably get you lodging and dinner at the restaurant.

Another restaurant was Nicholas Fehrenbach’s Teetole Restaurant, which was adjacent to the Circular Congregational Church. Fehrenbach, who served in the Confederate army at age 30,  was known for importing fine cigars to the area.

So it was slim pickins for those looking for a nice meal back in the 1860s, but that didn’t matter much since people simply stayed home. But that doesn’t mean you should stay away from Charleston fine dining today, especially during Restaurant Week! After all, we have some great food in our city.

Eat up, and I’ll see you out there.