Southern Food Perfection at Page’s Okra Grill
A SOUTHERN FOOD PHENOMENON IN SOUTH CAROLINA’S LOWCOUNTRY.
by Eric Gibson | March 5, 2022
A short read on our long adventures.
When in the South your diet be damned.
Unless your diet consists of stick-to-your-ribs comfort food, that is. No other place in the country injects more soul and heritage into its cuisine than the southern states.
Greens are rich in bacon fat and salty pork belly rinds. Pies are heavy with lard and sugar. The fried chicken will have you scratching your head. How’d they crammed so much mouthwatering flavor into all that crunch?
It was the hunt for legendary fried chicken that led us to the doorstep of Page’s Okra Grill in Mt. Pleasant, SC. The locals clamored for it and the waterside location called to us.
Why in the world would we go to the Lowcountry and not eat seafood, a land of plenty when it comes to oysters, mudbugs, and fish?
Because everyone comes here for the seafood. But for us, it had been years since last sinking our teeth into a hearty and heart-warming plate of glorious southern goodness, and seafood wasn’t going to cut it this time.
True to fashion, we came for a burger. Yet there, in the middle of the menu, lay the humble Chicken and Waffles. Diverted off course, we made our choice.
Most people have heard of it or given the dish a try. Thick Belgian waffles combined with savory fried chicken and topped with syrup and butter. The best is in Durham, NC at Dame’s Chicken and Waffles and until now nothing had even come close.
At Page’s things are done differently. The waffle batter is chock full of sausage, corn, and jalapenos giving it a hint of savory spiciness. The boneless chicken that accompanies it is brined for 24 hours and pressure cooked giving it a surprising tenderness. Not too salty, not too spicy, and the coating was perfect.
This was southern fried chicken professionally done. It was perfection.
Don’t let us lie to you, we also got the burger. How could we not? The tease of a mouth-blistering burger called the “Hell Burger” was taunting us. Unfortunately, this burger didn’t burn as described. The jalapenos were diced and slathered on the bottom bun like a fiery relish and the ghost pepper cheese barely had a kick.
While not as punishing as it could have been, it was still a good burger.
We may have bucked the trend by going to the city of sweetgrass baskets and shucked seafood and looking for fried chicken but do we regret it? Not a chance.
There are no regrets when it comes to southern food.
Page’s Okra Grill is open daily for breakfast and dinner. Check their website for hours as they vary seasonally. Shrimp and grits will change your life so order it here for an epiphany. Editors note: The burger is no longer a part of the menu at Page’s Okra Grill, so we recommend the Hot Chicken Sandwich for a handheld with a kick!
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Eric Gibson is a rabid fan of barbecue, burgers, ramen, and hot chicken. When not eating or playing with his beautiful daughter Aria, he tries to write and edit for Brewhoppin and Vittles&Nosh.
