Our Story
The Restaurant
Tucked away on charming Queen Street, Poogan’s Porch is Charleston’s oldest independent culinary establishments, with a fresh approach to Lowcountry cuisine. Recognized by Martha Stewart Living, Southern Living and The Travel Channel among many others, this beautifully restored Victorian house is the perfect southern spot for daily brunch and dinner.
An Unforgettable Meal
Since opening in 1976, Poogan’s Porch has been a favorite of well-known celebrities, politicians, tourists and locals alike who rave about this Southern institution. Whether it’s a warm homemade buttermilk biscuit and sausage gravy, a bowl of she-crab soup, or our signature buttermilk fried chicken, your meal at Poogan’s Porch will be unforgettable.
How We Got Our Name
From the moment you step into the parlor of Poogan’s Porch, there is a pervasive sense of history: the knotted heart-of-pine floors, the dual staircases, and of course, the first and second story porches all reflect the Charleston of days gone by.
Poogan’s Porch was originally a spacious, commodious home, erected in 1891. By 1976, the character of the neighborhood had changed suitably to allow for the conversion of the house into a restaurant. The last residential owners of the site sold their home and moved away, leaving behind the neighborhood dog that they had grown so accustomed to caring for over the years.
As far as the little dog was concerned, Queen Street was his terrain. He had been a neighborhood fixture, graciously accepting table scraps and back scratches from every family on the block. He was no purebred fluffy puppy; he was a good ol’, down-home Southern porch dog and the porch at 72 Queen had become his favorite spot over the years.
His name was Poogan
Poogan became the guardian of the fledgling restaurant. From his perch on the front porch, he presided over the renovation process, and when we opened our doors for business, he greeted our first guests warmly. The restaurant family cherished him. He became an institution.
Poogan died a natural death in 1979. This building is his monument.