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 Cuisine - Life Behind Bars Drinking In Beaufort
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Galactic Gargle Blaster, the effect of which is like having your brains smashed out with a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick. – Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Papa would approve of his namesake watering hole for a lot of reasons. Chief among them is character. The bar's loaded with it. Located in a subterranean corner of the magnificent Thomas Law Building, beneath the huge columns and impressive palmettos Hemingway's is a first class dive bar - and this is no bad thing. In fact, this makes Hemingway's unique in Beaufort and the bar of choice for local Food Service Industry professionals. This is where bartenders, servers, chefs and line cooks come to drink. On an average night you might need a shoehorn and a can of Crisco to squeeze into the joint. It's also the perfect spot for a pre-lunch eye-opener or one of the bar's famous custom Bloody Marys in the shade of the pergola on the breezy dog-friendly patio. According to the staff it's been scientifically proven that Hemingway's is at least 10 degrees cooler than any other bar in the summer and significantly warmer in winter.
Sam: What'll you have, Normie?
The place even looks a bit like Cheers although the big rectangular bar is curiously split level with one half higher than the other, a reminder of the building's long history as the town pharmacy. Portraits of the former owners Charles and Julie Luther hang on the east wall. A sign beneath them reads, "You can't drink all day unless you start in the morning." This is a fact the faithful have taken to heart. Mrs. Luther appears to be less than approving.
When Plums first opened its doors on Beaufort's waterfront "Top Gun" was blasting away at the box office. Approaching its third decade, the place has aged a lot better than Val Kilmer. Both Plums and its fine dining sister establishment, Saltus, pack in locals and seasonal visitors alike. It's not uncommon to pull up to the bar and strike up a conversation with someone who's been making annual pilgrimages to Beaufort and Plums for decades. I recall a bar conversation with a couple from Chicago who'd been coming to Beaufort every spring for nearly two decades. They looked forward to sitting in the window seats at the bar all year long. "Why here?" I asked, curious. The woman just grinned. Her husband flung an arm out to the view. "Because we don't have that in Chicago," he said. "And here it comes with cold beer and fried oysters." 'Nuff said. That's Plums in a nutshell. When soft shell crabs are in season you've got a better chance of scoring backstage passes to the Stone's farewell show than a bar seat during lunch or dinner rush. But in between it's a great place to enjoy a quiet drink, watch the water and soak up some authentic Lowcountry atmosphere.
Like most waterfront establishments, Plums leads something of a double life – a Jekyll and Hyde life. Thursday through Saturday, after the dinner crowd clears out around 10 o'clock, tables and chairs disappear, amps and speakers materialize and shortly thereafter the musicians to which they are attached. Dancing generally follows.
walking into a bygone era. Old timers can recall a long list of previous names over the door. None of them looked like this. The owners call it "upscale rustic" and that pretty much nails it. The dining room off of Bay Street is relaxed and family friendly and the expansive covered porch on the waterfront side is prime seasonal seating. But it's what's in between that we're concerned with and that's the bar.
because the unenlightened masses demand them. But Q specializes in regional and seasonal micro brews in a wide variety of styles and alcohol content in 11 and 16 ounce pours. Beer flights are also available and a fun way to taste your way through the high gravity stuff while avoiding the usual consequences, which often involves gravity, as well.
with a lemon and sugar rim, it's practically perfect on a dog day afternoon in the Lowcountry.
beverage in hand. But the deck at Panini's has a couple of distinct advantages. It's higher than the rest with the only open-air bar on the park. And with the giant tent covering the entire deck it's a perfect spot for the weekend party crowd with live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights from 9 – 1 am.Site Designed and Maintained by Vision Technology Management
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Site Designed and Maintained by Vision Technology Management
Site Designed and Maintained by Vision Technology Management