July 23, 2010
It's Food Friday!
I am always eager to conduct serious field research in pursuit of the best bar burgers to be had and Charleston offered up one of the best at 39 Rue de Jean. The menu at this French bistro offered many more tantalizing and sophisticated food stuffs (read: seafood) with excellent service and ambiance. And no, not one of those fussy places with brass and potted plants. The wait staff was swift and efficient - and I loved the carafes of water on the table, and the big gleaming silvery mirrors which increased the size of the room and let us obsserve (and comment upon) the other diners without our usual naked and obvious interest.
I was hot and I was tired and I wanted to tuck into something simple and gratifying. And I wanted to have some real pommes frites. The cheeseburger at 39 Rue de Jean was perfect. The pommes frites were crisp and tender and wonderfully seasoned and salted. And yes, Best Beloved droned on about the magic of his mussels and the Tall One chatted excitedly about his braised short ribs with Espagnole sauce, fresh herbs, potato purée, and garlic spinach - but let me tell you that this was some burger. Put this place on the map!
We wandered in a daze next door to the gelato place after dinner. Yumsters.
39 Rue de Jean
39 John Street just off King
843.722.8881
http://www.39ruedejean.com/
