This location in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has seen a few restaurants come and go. I think, however, The Rusty Rudder is here to stay for quite a while. 

Owners Brian Johnston, Eric Paul and Executive Chef Mike Eckert not only have a great location with comforting decor and an amazing porch setting, but the food will astound you!

We dined in on a Saturday, which was all-you-can-eat oysters from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Manager Cameron Paul was ecstatic and pleasant while making sure both the inside and outside were handled well. Chef Mike was on the fire pit steaming oysters and they were coming off perfect. The back of the house never missed a beat as orders flowed from the kitchen in a timed rush - satisfying the customers not only in wait time, but taste as well.

​ Here's a little bit about the restaurant.

That last statement couldn't be any more truer. 

Let's talk about some dishes!

​Look over to your left. That's the BBQ Shrimp. Comes as an appetizer. You can, however, ask for it as a dinner portion. Keep it our little secret, though. Sautéed shrimp over a sweet onion grits with house smoked pork belly and red bbq sauce. So good! 

The Rudder Melt is an 8 oz. burger with Charleston ‘hot’ seasoning, pepper jack cheese, bacon and onion jam, on Texas Toast. Do not let the word "hot" scare you away. The sweetness of the bacon and onion jam counter what heat is there and it works so well together. 

The Shrimp & Grits come as a hefty portion! Sautéed shrimp, alligator andouille, roasted red peppers, corn, tomatoes and green onions over pimento cheese grits topped with a chipotle cream sauce. The flavors of this dish really hit your taste buds - and put a smile on your face as you go for more! 

The awesome Crab Dip comes with lump crab baked with a light parmesan cream sauce and served with a French baguette.

And you cannot go wrong with either a "BBQ Mac" or a "Seafood Mac" or a "Prime Rib Mac"! We say try all the macs! 

​The menus have a lot to offer! Right now, take a look at the photos and plan your culinary adventure at The Rusty Rudder today! 

How can you tell when it's time to replace your wooden cutting board? Here are some tips.

Wooden cutting boards naturally resist bacteria growth better than plastic cutting boards, but laminated wood boards are not dishwasher-safe and are more difficult to clean thoroughly. Consequently, the guidelines for replacing wooden cutting boards are similar to those for plastic boards. Replace a wooden cutting board when it gets excessively grooved or warped. Most wooden boards consist of several laminated pieces of wood, and they should be replaced if the seams between the boards begin to separate; bacteria may accumulate in the seams, and a cracked board may be dangerously unstable.

​So, do you think you're in the market for a new slice-and-dice board? If so, I have a great recommendation. 

Hot Bloxx Cutting Boards! And they do more, too!

We chose to evacuate from area due to potential flooding. What we didn't expect was a new restaurant in Kingstree owned by a familiar face.

Holly Cusack has taken what she's learned in Georgetown and opened High Cotton Cafe, located on 117 North Academy Street in Kingstree, S.C.

It's a semi-rustic menu and a work in progress from what Cusack has told me. The tastes, however, are explosive. 

The King Burger  is a grilled Angus patty on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon, avocado and fried egg. I got mine hard fried. It was fresh, flavorful and tasted great.

The Southern Tacos come with your choice of steak, chicken or shrimp. We had the shrimp. They're topped with their spicy southern slaw and a drizzle of house sauce, which makes the dish!

The vegetable soup is about as comforting as you can picture. The portion was excellent. Just the right blend of meat to veggies. 

There's also Twisted Club - a traditional club served on a croissant. 

But we think you'll love the Chicken Club Pasta Salad the most! Hearty rotini pasta is tossed with shredded chicken, bacon, tomatoes, cheese and avocado. It is then served over mixed greens with crackers. So good!

​Enjoy the photos. We enjoyed the meals!