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One of the Charleston area's great soul food institutions, Bertha's is owned and run by sisters Julie Grant, Linda Pinckney, and Sharon Grant Coakley, who have been awarded the America's Classic prize from the James Beard Foundation for being an essential component of the community (the restaurant was opened in their mother's honor). There's almost always a line at the counter-service restaurant, but it's worth waiting for exceptional okra soup, fried pork chops, and lima beans.
2332 Meeting St. Rd., North Charleston, South Carolina, 29405, USA
Known For
- Home-cooking that most eaters can't get at home
- Strong family values and connection to the community
- Serving everyone from construction workers to the mayor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner
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$$$ | Upper King |
The menu may be nearly illegible, the space minuscule, and locating the tucked-away location like finding Waldo, but the food is almost always sublime. Each night only two appetizers, two entrées (like snapper with a vin jaune [type of white wine] sauce or gnocchi with chanterelles), and two desserts are offered. Sharing multiple dishes is a good option. Chef Jill Mathias writes down her menu daily, and her lovely calligraphy is often hard to read, but the attentive staff is happy to explain all the offerings. If the dining room feels too snug, head to the outdoor patio, perfect for dinner or brunch.
6 Payne Ct., Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, USA
Known For
- Romantic hideaway dining
- Unique French, Spanish, and Italian fare
- Constantly changing menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Market |
The cuisine at this atmospheric establishment—combined with a staggering array of excellent wines and professional, caring service—makes Grill 225 a popular special-occasion spot. Take the opportunity to dress up; the elegant wood floors, white linens, and red-velvet upholstery call for it. If you enjoy red meat, indulge in the wet-aged steaks; the filet with foie gras bathed in a fig demiglace is equally excellent. Expect hefty portions, but save room for the pastry chef's shining creations, which include a contemporized version of baked Alaska with a nutty crust, flambéed table-side.
225 E. Bay St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Glitz and glamour
- One of the best steaks in town
- Signature Nitrotini cocktail
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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This spot is one of those delightful throwbacks—a drugstore with a soda fountain where the news of the day is discussed and young people share a Coca-Cola float. You can get a pimento cheese on white bread for $2.30, and if you want a scoop of ice cream to go with it, that'll cost you $1.50 (just remember: it's cash-only).
373 E. Washington St., Walterboro, South Carolina, 29488, USA
Known For
- Old-school malts and floats
- Authentic '50s vibe that isn't contrived
- Excellent prices to match the time-capsule atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Weekdays 9–6, Sat. 9–1
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$$$$ | Market |
With an abundance of accolades, Husk serves an ambitious menu steeped in the South, and the South alone—everything is sourced regionally, barring exceptions like chocolate and coffee. A large chalkboard lists the ever-changing artisanal dishes available, as the menu sometimes varies twice daily. Supper favorites include seafood such as snapper, catfish, and flounder, frequently paired with heirloom vegetables. Try the fried-chicken skins or skillet of smoky bacon cornbread—both are terrifically popular. The building itself, balcony intact, dates to the late 19th century, and the freestanding bar beside the restaurant is lined with 100-year-old exposed brick and several Kentucky bourbons and whiskeys. If you can't score a reservation, Husk Bar next door is arguably just as good for intimate drinks and a burger.
76 Queen St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- The Husk burger, modeled after In-N-Out's famous offering
- The throwback stand-alone bar with its great bourbon menu
- Smoky bacon cornbread for a side
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Upper King |
Casual, quirky, and a tad Wes Anderson-y, this oysters-and-fried-chicken joint sports a kitschy ambience and blues-heavy soundtrack. Fried catfish, oyster, and chicken sammies come towering, dressed in fresh slaw or "comeback sauce" and nestled on perfectly prepared rolls. The oysters are from near or far, depending on the season. Don't forget to ask for a soft-serve ice cream before you go; you can grab it at the window outside the former auto repair shop.
698 King St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, USA
Known For
- Lively stand-up bar scene
- Extensive champagne list
- Old-school soft-serve ice cream
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$$ | South of Broad |
The owner of Marsh Hen Mill co-owns this breakfast joint that caters to the white-collar Broad Street crowd, balancing blue plate breakfasts with fancy morning entrées like lobster toast on house-baked brioche. It's hard to choose between the biscuits loaded with pimento cheese, fried chicken, or country ham with fig jam.
120 King St., Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Known For
- Grits prepared to perfection—there's even a grit mill in the storefront window
- Possibly the best Bloody Mary in town
- To-go doughnuts and muffins
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$$$ | Downtown Historic District |
Affectionately known as S.N.O.B., this former warehouse with atmospheric brick-and-stucco walls has a chef's table that looks directly into the open kitchen. Many of the specialties, including wild game and other less common meats, are served as small plates that are perfect for sharing. The $14 daily lunch specials are often memorable, such as mussels with spinach, grape tomatoes, and smoked bacon, or a hearty chicken pot pie.
192 E. Bay St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Bustling lunchtime service
- History as the forefather of the farm-to-table movement in Charleston
- Upscale, authentic Southern fare
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$ | Ansonborough |
Operating as a one-stop butcher shop and deli counter, Ted's sells beef, game, seafood, and homemade sausages to complement its selection of artisanal cheeses, wine, and other specialty foods. Among the lunchtime favorites are the house-roasted Wagyu beef panini and the ever-changing bacon-of-the-month BLT. On Friday nights there are wine tastings and a bargain prix-fixe dinner.
334 E. Bay St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Ultimate Burger Saturday, cooked on the Big Green Egg
- Friday night dinners with wine pairings
- Daily sandwiches with memorable flavors
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Upper King |
Against a backdrop of classic French-bistro style—think gleaming wood, cozy booths, and white-papered tables—Charleston's night owls feast on such favorites here as steamed mussels in a half dozen preparations. Order them with pommes frites, as the French do. Each night of the week there's a special, such as the popular bouillabaisse on Sunday. If you're seeking quiet, ask for a table in the dining room on the right. It's noisy—but so much fun—at the bar.
39 John St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Lively social scene
- Weekly specials, including Sunday bouillabaisse
- Amazing burgers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$ | Lower King |
This landmark mainstay continues to thrive as an atmospheric, fine-dining establishment. As always, the food has strong Southern leanings, with seafood highlights, including Charleston bouillabaisse; don't miss the creamy grits (perfection) or authentic fried green tomatoes. Indoor and garden dining make this a great place to linger, perhaps under a gazebo or in an elegant, art-rich (and air-conditioned) room inside the historic residence. Also notable is the genuinely caring service and extensive wine list featuring new varietal blends (no house wine here), which has earned it high and consistent praise.
82 Queen St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- One of the city's quintessential she-crab soups
- Romantic dining
- Extensive and unique wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$ | South of Broad |
One of Charleston's oldest speakeasies, the Blind Tiger can go toe-to-toe with any newcomer. Name the beer, name the backdrop, and the Tiger can deliver in spades, starting with two indoor bars and a historic, handsome outdoor patio. The kitchen also turns out solid bar food—the bacon and blue burger and the fried pickles make this a regular lunch spot for Broad Street attorneys.
36–38 Broad St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Atmospheric courtyard at both lunchtime and late-night gatherings
- Pub fare that's a few steps above average
- Hopping weekend scene that draws Charleston's well-to-do
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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Begin your meal here with a half-dozen raw oysters, then fill up with a platter of ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. That's the concept behind this raw bar BBQ joint set in envious digs directly on the water. It's a sister concept by the chef/owner of nearby Ella & Ollie's.
3731 Docksite Rd., Edisto Beach, South Carolina, 29438, USA
Known For
- BBQ tator tot nachos smothered in pulled pork
- Tuna poke tostada from the raw bar
- Views across the creek and salt marsh
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Tues. and Wed.
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$$$ | Market |
The sunny wraparound porch in an 18th-century house lures people to this eatery from lauded local chef John Zucker, but it's the inventive menu that keeps them coming back. Fried chicken breasts are topped with poblano peppers and mozzarella, and duck confit is served with caramelized pecans, goat cheese, and fried shoestring onions. Meat dishes are laced with sauces featuring green peppercorns, port wine, pear sherry, chipotle peppers, and horseradish cream.
18 Pinckney St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Local produce and seafood
- Four-cheese macaroni
- Cozy dining in a centuries-old Charleston single home
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$ | South of Broad |
This local favorite, also known as Fast & French, has been a fixture in the neighborhood for more than 35 years, thanks to the consistent food, the esprit de corps of the staff, and the family-style tables for sharing breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Its popular fondue grew from a once-a-week special to a daily affair, and you can also get your cheese fix with the wonderful Bucheron cheese salad. Nightly specials, such as bouillabaisse, are reasonably priced and come with a petite glass of wine. The subtly sweet chocolate-mousse cake is the best way to end your meal.
98 Broad St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Gourmet bites in an area of town short of restaurants
- Charming ambience
- Nightly specials, including fondue night
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Credit cards accepted
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Creative Southern fare keeps this place bustling—it feels like the center of the small town action on weekend evenings. Opt for daily specials like Cajun crawfish pot pie or the sausage-stuffed pork tenderloin. Seating is inside the spacious brick former ice warehouse or on the inviting patio, where a playground (lorded over by a life-size Sasquatch) let parents eat while the kids get their energy out.
104 E. Doty Ave., Summerville, South Carolina, 29483, USA
Known For
- Fried pickles
- Jumbo chicken wings
- Hopping outdoor bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$$ | College of Charleston Campus |
The fragrance of beef, lamb, and chicken shawarma wafts from the glass front doors of this Lebanese restaurant, bringing the authentic flavors of the Middle East to Charleston. Adventurous eaters can find beef tongue and frogs' legs on the huge menu, or skip straight to sweet treats with meghli rice flour pudding bedecked in cloves, coconut, and cinnamon. Generous portions make up for slightly high prices, and the service is friendly and informative.
298 King St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Authentic Middle Eastern fare
- Hard-to-find Lebanese wines
- Unique desserts like osmalieh (crispy shredded dough with pistachios)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$$$$ | Downtown Historic District |
The theme at this extremely popular—and worthy—tourist destination is evident in the vivid paintings of white magnolia blossoms that adorn the walls. The menu pays homage to classic dishes like fried green tomatoes with white cheddar grits, caramelized onions, and country ham. Lunch is a more affordable way to sample the best of Lowcountry cuisine.
185 E. Bay St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Collard-green-and-tasso-ham egg rolls that spawned a Southern-fusion revolution
- Daily vegetarian entrée showcasing local produce
- Affordable Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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Grab a window seat at this casual spot for a pleasant view of East Washington Street while you dig into shrimp and stone-ground grits, a Philly-style cheese steak, or a juicy burger on a kaiser roll. Desserts like bourbon pecan pie are house made and served in generous portions.
256 E. Washington St., Walterboro, South Carolina, 29488, USA
Known For
- Hearty takes on American classics
- Convenient place to recharge before more antiques shopping
- Local hospitality
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat.–Tues., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Upper King |
An homage to the Italian city of the same name, Monza provides genuine Neapolitan-style pizza and an introduction to one of the world's most historic motor-sport racing circuits: the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The pizza—baked in a wood-fired oven, in traditional style—boasts a thin, crisp crust and toppings like house-made sausage, pepperoni, eggplant, roasted red peppers, and locally farmed eggs. Locals are understandably wild for the butterbean salad.
451 King St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, USA
Known For
- Gourmet pizza
- A hip bar scene in the heart of Upper King's action
- Wine by the carafe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
