Nexton Eatery Offers Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner With Carefree Ambiance & Affordable Prices
By: Jeff Walker, Restaurant Review
Their name is synonymous with good food, good times, and smiling faces. For nearly 45 years Charleston’s famed restaurant Poogan’s Porch at 68 Queen Street has been a staple for locals, and a must dining destination for visitors. Now the culinary establishment that focuses on low-country cuisine has branched out, opening a more affordable and carefree sister eatery called Poogan’s Southern Kitchen in Nexton of Summerville.
Breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner served up seven days a week from 7am-10pm daily. While the downtown restaurant is steeped in history and legends, the Summerville location is more modern, simple in elegance, and aesthetically pleasing, nevertheless carrying the same tradition of excellence Poogan’s has had since 1976.
The interior is light and bright, reflecting a contemporary diner with tables and u-shaped booths, with an upstairs dining area providing an additional 70 seats, ideal for company gatherings, wedding parties, civic and community get togethers.
The main floor has a quaint full service bar with a lone TV for background atmosphere. An ideal spot for friends who want to have an adult beverage and share an appetizer, or maybe for the lone wolf who wants a hearty meal with a local craft beer. Adjacent to the main dining floor is a covered exterior patio, ideal for long summer days, or enjoying a meal or a Lavender Martini (vanilla vodka, fresh lemon juice, lavender simple syrup) in the glow of moonlight.
Ambiance aside, the main reason you’re coming to Poogan’s Southern Kitchen is for the food, which is ‘S & S’ aka ‘sumptuous and savory‘. Several of the dishes that have made the original locale famous have made the trip to Nexton. Lowcountry favorites like She Crab Soup, Fried Green Tomatoes, Southern Fried Chicken, Shrimp & Grits, and their classic Diner Cheeseburger made the cut. All are prepared to utmost distinction and similar resemblance.
Breakfast is a big deal at PSK. Eight signature entrees celebrating southeastern and southwestern tastes, with the traditional stack of Buttermilk Pancakes starting at $8. Want a early morning meal that eats like a hungry-man dinner, than order up the Steak & Eggs, complete with hash brown hash, grilled tomato, avocado for taste and color, seasoned with chimichurri (spicy sauce usually containing garlic, vinegar, olive oil, and chili pepper). Priced right at $14. It will arouse the taste-buds, as does the Huevos Rancheros.
How about a little sweet and salty for the morning fare. You will not go wrong with Poogan’s Monte Cristo. A toasted smoked ham & Swiss cheese sandwich, with a slather of strawberry jam, and a drizzle of maple syrup. It satisfies all the cravings, and might just be the sandwich for the little ones. If not there’s always Chicken & Waffles.
If you’re in around lunch time the Monte Cristo is still available, as is the Diner Burger. PSK make a couple of awesome chicken sandwiches. But if you want something with a little more stick to your ribs attitude, than I would suggest the Chicken Fried Pork Chops complete with English peas, creamy whipped potatoes, and one awesome ham & cracked pepper gravy. You won’t go wrong with the PSK Meatloaf with potatoes, and a mushroom gravy. Two very unique entrees that will fill you up in the middle of the day.
Dinner served after 3pm is a little more robust. Nine select entrees covering surf & turf, with the old standbys being Chicken Fried Pork, Fried Chicken, and their always pleasing Porch Shrimp & Grits.
If you’re going full tilt, perhaps start off the evening meal with Fried Green Tomatoes, or for a twist (pun intended) the Pimento Cheese Stuffed Pretzel Rolls, warm and golden pretzel balls oozing with everyone’s favorite cheese, served up with a honey and beer mustard sauce. Freakin’ awesome.
Follow the lite bite with an Iceberg Wedge Salad, or their signature She Crab or Tomato Soups. Eating light, for a mere $6 more, add a grilled cheese sandwich to your Tomato Soup and you’re good to go. Three sandwiches make the dinner list including the ‘gotta have’ PSK Diner Cheeseburger.
Reminiscent of the diners of yesteryear, PSK serves up a different Blue Plate Special Sunday thru Thursday. Perfectly apportioned entrees meant to satisfy your apetite without overfilling your tummy. Among the quintet are Country Fried Steak and Braised Short Rib Pork Roast.
A bevy of adult drink options with the salute to Summerville Flowertown Tea a sweet tea, blended with PSK fresh lemonade, and vodka. Looking for something a bit more grit, try the Charleston Dragoon Punch black tea laced with dark rum, peach brandy, and fresh fruit. Ooh la-la. Wines aplenty from Europe and California, and domestic and craft beers including local breweries Westbrook and Palmetto.
You can order online or call in to pick up a meal. PSK has their own bakery where you can take out Deep Fried Banana Bread Pudding (scrumptious) or any of their Homemade Breakfast Breads, Biscuits, and handheld sweet treats. Want to know more than visit the website at https://www.pooganskitchen.com/
Poogan’s Porch has been doing food & beverage right for nearly 45 years, with the Poogan’s Smokehouse (188 East Bay St.) and their catering division well established in greater Charleston. Poogan’s Southern Kitchen is new to Nexton but a familiar and welcome addition to the restaurant neighborhood. Eat & repeat!
