50 Best American Restaurants in Charleston

“My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary having a “staycation” in downtown Charleston. Our plan was to put our name in at 167 but the wait was just too long. We stopped at a few bars and looked up local restaurants and landed on Anson, which had a reservation available for 2. We’d never heard of the restaurant but the reviews spoke for themselves.We had such an amazing time. The atmosphere was great. We put down that it was our anniversary on the reservation form and the team at Anson went above and beyond to celebrate - an amazing upstairs table, and a bit of champagne, berries, and whipped cream to wrap up the meal. Peter, our waiter, could’ve sold us on just about anything on the menu. We went with the she crab soup, shrimp de johnes, blackened snapper, and the filet with bone marrow butter. Every bite was incredible. We’ve found our new favorite place in a city full of “the bests.” Thank you Anson!“

“The restaurant seems to be showing its age. The gnocchi is still great. The atmosphere, service, and other dishes are in decline. At the price point there are better options in Charleston. They have removed the lime cream puff from the menu, if you are/were a fan of it.“

“Absolutely fantastic experience at The Establishment. The food was really awesome, but what really set this restaurant above its competitors was the level of service. All the wait staff, everyone, was phenomenally well trained and did an exceptional job. This was our first time going, but it's now on my short list of favorite restaurants in Charleston. Very, very highly recommended.“

“This review is LONG overdue. My sister & I visited Charleston July 2023. The night we flew in from Seattle we had Chasing Sage for dinner - what a delight! From the atmosphere to the food to the incredible staff and chef, it was an amazing experience. My sister and I still randomly bring up our experience at Chasing Sage, and how delicious the food was. Honestly, we'll probably be back to SC and this place is a decent part of the reason why. Cannot express enough how much we enjoyed this place! *edit to add that at the time there was some sort of a seasonal drink on the menu that included peas and my sister thought it was to die for!“

“Went here for brunch. This place has great service and atmosphere. The menu is fantastic but the execution just wasn’t 100% ie the portions are small for the price as some other reviews mentioned. We had the fried rice with short rib and maybe six small pieces of short rib and then 95% rices. The flavors were good but why skimp on the meat. So nice place overall but food it hit/miss for the price so just be ready for that“

“Fantastic food and service. We had the hush puppies, clam wraps, char grilled oysters, dark fried chicken. Also a couple beers and frozen gin tonics capped with a chocolate shake. All were fantastic. Only negative was the chicken was a little too bland for my liking. Oysters were incredible!Our server, Dorey was friendly and very helpful. Exactly the type of server I truly appreciate!“

“We sat at the bar for lunch on a Tuesday and had a wonderful gentleman bartender making our drinks and taking our orders. My boo said it was “the best Ruben” he’s ever had. I enjoyed my chicken medley! Def high class place. Delivered on food. Would assume they know how to party.“

“Warm friendly service, delicious food. We enjoyed Glass Onion. The shrimp and grits was lightly and flavorful, in a tomato base. The grilled trout had nicely crispy skin and was well seasoned. The red rice and broccoli slaw, nicely complementary.The Beatles, Stones, Doors and other old sixties and seventies tunes overhead.Loved it!“

“We loved our experience here at Cru Cafe. Sally our server was excellent! Her smile and charm at so much to the atmosphere. I loved that they had a non alcoholic beverage too. The beer choices were excellent for our party too. The champagne drink was good tooParking: Easy peasy“

“If you're near the pineapple fountain at the waterfront park in Charleston and in the mood for some good food and drinks, this is the place to go. The food here is always fresh and delicious; especially the fish and chips. The place is covered in dollar bills left by prior guests with lots of interesting drawings on them so your eyes will never get bored. The bar itself is a little small, but most go here for the food and dining area anyways. The only thing that was lacking was the absence of any air conditioning, so it was quite humid and warm inside. Other than that, I would definitely recommend coming here for a quick bite to eat and some beers along with it.Parking: Free street parking around the neighborhood.“

“A beautiful little restaurant that has it all. The service was fantastic and the ambiance perfect.The sourdough was fenominal. Flounder was amazing but many bites were over salted. Same issue with the rabit pasta being good but much too salty.The dessert - flourless cake was perfect! So glad we ordered it!Really only issue was the saltiness. I would definitely return though, its a lovely spot“

“My Lyft Driver recommended this place and it was AMAZING! Great atmosphere and food. The only restaurant on the water in Charleston!Dietary restrictions: Nice gluten free options noted clearly on the menu! Which turns out is really hard to find in the rest of Charleston!“

“I could not write this review fast enough. We had the pleasure of having Eric as our server last night. What an incredible guy. He greeted us by name, went over the entire menu page by page, offered recommendations for food and drink. We did the chef’s experience tasting menu and it was incredible. Eric went over each course and explained how it was prepared. Our bill after some drinks and tip was a bit over $400 but truly the best money I have ever spent for food and experience. Again, thank you to Eric for making our time in Charleston so memorable and if we are ever back we will be requesting him by name, he was truly wonderful. -The Fees“

“BEST restaurant I have ever been to and this is not an overstatement! The service was very professional and I felt like I was attending a classy dinner 138 years ago with my partner. World class chef who is very creative with his menu. The food is on the pricy end but the caliber of the food and service trumps it! The staff puts a lot of effort into what they do- I love their passion. Highly recommend!“

“Out of this world. If you are looking for the best spot in Charleston for a wonderful dinner with your partner, this is the only option. The varied dining locations provide plenty of reason to go back for round 2 as well.All of the staff are super professional and knowledgeable. We were greeted with champagne, a rose, and a card since it was our first anniversary. We dined on the back patio which was nice and secluded with only three tables. Every course was top notch and we paired it with a different one of their phenomenal cocktails for each.Seriously this place can't be beat. Stay at 86 Cannon and go here for as many meals as you can.“

“Absolutely delicious food. We started with the s'mores and carrot cake and were not disappointed. So rich and delicious. We moved on to the fried sweet potato skins, topped with an arugula salad blend. So well balanced and fresh. The main course was the tomato pie. Honestly the best meal I've ever had in Charleston! Highly recommend!“

“Swig and Swine has the best barbecue in Charleston! The food and the service are amazing. I usually get the brisket or pork and it is delicious. The staff are very hospitable as well. I’d definitely recommend trying it out if you’re in the area.“

“In town visiting and I just had to stop by Hannibal's Kitchen. I had heard so much about it. The art work was the first thing I noticed. Fantastic! But on to the meal. The food was delicious. My friend got the liver and onions which she said was tender, flavorful and delicious. I got the fried whiting platter. The fish was fresh, crispy and delicious. The sides were good too. So glad we made it there! Definitely stop by when you are in the area. Friendly staff too.Dietary restrictions: Staff were very kind and attentive in handling my allergy to garlic.“

“We had Fantastic service and amazing steak. The Hot Rock appetizer was fun!Best steak and mashed potatoes I've ever put in my mouth and beer on tap was delicious. The very best though was the service, I hate I forgot his name but he was a gentleman in his early 30s, with glasses and dark hair. Give that man a raise! What a great waiter.“

“The James is a throwback to great American eateries of the past, and it nails it! Great ambiance, stellar service from our waitress Sommer, and a menu that says these things are good so we’re going to serve them just like they should be.Lisa and I had a post vacay decompress date, so we decided to knock this James place off our list of recommended restaurants. I will say after visiting once we will definitely go back. Being so conveniently located for us, and with such an enticing menu how could we not?I had a Hemingway daiquiri and tuna tare tare to start, and Lisa had the mushroom soup with a cloudesque puff pastry atop it. The soup was delicious but could have had a pinch of salt to take it to the best ever level. The tuna was so good I considered ordering more.With starters behind us we popped a bottle of Cab and tucked into a Spicy Caesar salad, Chicken Piccata, Parker house rolls, and Prime Rib with whipped potatoes. Classic right!? The salad dressing was perfect, the prime rib was excellently seasoned and the Parker house rolls were better than rolls from the actual Parker house in Boston!Finished with a creme brûlée and commenced to loosen belt one notch lolDefinitely give it a try next time your on JI!“

“I don't think we could've found a better coffee shop in Charleston! This was a local recommendation for us, and I am so happy that we got to stop in here. The baristas were super friendly and the atmosphere was perfect. I ordered an iced chai, we both got the quiche, and I also got a peach pop tart on my way out. We decided to sit outside since the weather was beautiful. They had the cutest outdoor seating which really tied the whole experience together. There is also indoor seating but we couldn't pass up sitting outside on such a nice day. The iced chai was delicious and the quiche was cheesy and yummy too! Parking was a bit of a scavenger hunt but it's totally worth it!“

“The service and the ambiance was a perfect setting to celebrate my husband’s birthday. Beginning with checking in with the hostess, my husband was greeted with birthday wishes from every member of the staff that we came across, punctuated with a signed card waiting for him at our table. The only reason I did not give the food a full 5 stars is that my main course arrived extremely over salted. They were very quick to redo the dish, accompanied with multiple apologies. Overall, it was a lovely birthday celebration with a nice live trio providing background music.Dietary restrictions: Pescatarian, dairy-free“

“I’ve eaten a lot of grits in my life and these are hands down the best I have ever had. Seriously. I don’t know what kind of witchcraft y’all have going on in that kitchen, but it’s incredible. They were creamy, salty, peppery, and cheesy. And my eggs, yall. How do you make eggs taste that good?! Thank you for making my day Little Line Kitchen. I’ll be back as soon as I can!“

“I had Saturday brunch with my parents here while visiting Charleston. It was a lovely spot that felt very hip and had a cool vintage aesthetic to it. The food was amazing and tasted very fresh! We ordered the lamb burger, surfer delight, cauliflower wings, and a cocktail. I loved the cauliflower wings and the lamb burger came with sweet potato fries which were my favorite! The service was great!! Our waiter was so friendly and helpful with choosing dishes. We were also sat very quickly despite it being a Saturday and a busy crowd. The ambiance is so cute and I loved the vibe. It's a bright space with nice windows, a bar, and outdoor seating. Great spot that I'm glad we came across while visiting!!“

“An old quaint building in Charleston that was beautifully updated. I would recommend to sit at the bar with a view of the kitchen! The food was creative and balanced…everything was excellent. The wine pairing was amazing and exceeded the value of what we paid! Definitely will be back!“

“Amazing food and amazing service. The ladies and I from the office had lunch at the counter and was treated excellent by Ebony, Anthony, Khalil, Jacob, the hostess and our waitress. The eggs benedict was so good. Such a great atmosphere. It was a nice break from our work day. Thanks ya'll!“

“Blind Tiger has always been one of my go-to spots in that area for lunch, or a weekend drink in the courtyard. The food is always consistently good, and the service never disappoints. The only downside, sigh, is that over the years the cheese curd portions went from "dang, how the heck can two people eat all this" to "hmmm, it costs more, but now it's a tiny side dish now, so get your own". Supply chain, inflation, who knows, but at least we all know that cryptocurrency will save us and make the cheese curd price inflation less impactful.“

“Yo!!!! The best brisket ever!!! Say no more!!! Omg!!!! Anyways ordered the trio platter with the whole hog (for me was just ok , I’ve had better lechon, sorry) the pork shoulder (really well seasoned and moist! Very tasty one of the best pork shoulders I’ve tasted, then the brisket! As soon as I bit in to that brisket! It was a flavor and texture perfection! The brisket was soft and juicy, very well seasoned, no need for the extra sauce. The collard greens was very good too!!! I’d most likely order just the brisket next time as it was my favorite. Come here early like 4-5pm and there’s no line.“

“Wow, what an incredible restaurant! From the service to the atmosphere to the food, gee, it really hits all the marks! I want to express my gratitude to the incredible staff for making my visit absolutely incredible. I’ve talked so highly of this restaurant, and I haven’t even mentioned the incredible, high quality cups. From top to bottom, this may be the best restaurant ever!“

“Great place, excellent food, reasonably priced, and fantastic service. It's an absolute gem on James Island worthy of downtown Charleston. Never had something I didn't like. From a fine Charcuterie board to an Italian BLT... steak to chicken and waffles. Lovely outdoor seating area and an elegant yet comfortable bar. It's definitely worth a visit.“

“Really great Chicken Caesar salad and great outdoor area for a balmy evening bite. The Salmon BLT was solid too. Hidden favorite was their house honey mustard which we used on our fries. Service was great and the porch as I said, was lovely.“

“Literally, hands down the best breakfast I’ve ever had. We used to live in Charleston, moved back to NC. We went last week for the first time in 6.5 years…made me want to move back it was so good.Food is excellent. Service is great.Love it there.Parking: Parking lot is very small and tight. Get there before opening to beat that problem.“

“Need reservations , this is an upscale restaurant and to enjoy the experience always nice to dress well but casual is fine here as well. The tables are well spaced out and the bar and tables are well spaced out They have a number of great waiters to help decision making as there are many interesting signature dishes The drinks and desert menu was good as well We had the steak verde and the cauliflower as the appetizer and the gnocchi, potato crusted grouper and peel Milanese as our main course Great service !“

“Great bar/lounge in a relaxed setting on King's St. Nice ambiance to kick back with friends over modern cocktails. They take pride in their house made infusions and unique cocktail recipes. Over the top mixtures and formulas make up some of their wild flavorful concoctions! Bartenders are nice as well as the wait staff.“

“Park & Grove is in the upper downtown Charleston area near Hampton Park. The location is not too crowded and they have a large lot available for parking across for the restaurant which makes it very convenient. The restaurant is decorated very nicely with Charleston themes and pictures and has a great romantic ambiance. For food, I really enjoy their daily specials, of which the bottomless mussels on Mondays and the smash burger deals on Wednesdays are my favorite. Great beer and wine selection available as well. Excellent choice for a date night outside of the busier part of town in a calmer relaxed environment.“

“Talk about a great time with amazing eats and even better hospitality. The gang at Bedford Falls are just stellar! Bar tender Roscoe is a top notch lad and the owner Brendan made us feel right at home. Can’t say enough about the food…just perfection. Try the Fried Chicken Sandwich! Hands down a place to visit if you are in town.“

“Food was great. I got a bacon cheddar burger with fries, lemon water. My friend got chicken wrap with onion rings. She complained about them being greasy but I thought they were okay. Food was good, just felt like it took a while for us to be waited on and even longer while for us to actually receive our food. Like it was good, but also felt it was warm not, hot like it had been ready for a while before being brought out to us. I asked for my burger to be well done, not burnt. They did a great job with my request. I'd return and try something else!“

“Delightful crabhouse right by Market St. We were seated upstairs and loved the ambiance. Started with hush puppies, which are definitely a must! They come with honey butter. We also shared the shrimp with grits and cheese along with the shrimp po boy. Both dishes were terrific. Although, the po boy was a little small for the price.“

“Izzy was the best!! The entire time, she checked on us many times, came by after we settled up to see if we changed our minds and gave us multiple options for the most popular drinks and her favorites. Izzy is the kind of server you want every time you go ANYWHERE!!!The owner also came by numerous times to ensure we were comfortable and cared for.My family and I will 100% be back to see her and the staff again next time we come to Charleston! Best bar in the C-Town!!“

“In search of quality shrimp and grits I stumbled upon this place. I saw it being recommended on Reddit for having such. I was almost discouraged from going here because of some of the reviews I read. After eating here I must say, I don’t know what these people were talking about. Food was high quality, service was great, and atmosphere was welcoming. Nothing bad to say from me. Give it a shot!“

“Big shoutout to the guys here we had so much fun they were so nice and created an amazing experience for us!! This is really excellent value because wine is included in the price of 70 USD for 5 courses!! The courses were good like home cooked meals that they prepare in front of you. Don’t expect fine dining because that’s not the purpose but just good dishes prepared by great people!“

“I can’t say enough…food, service, drinks, atmosphere; it was all top notch without being “too much”. This was a nice relaxing, welcoming environment compared to some of the “upscale” dining we did previously on our trip. True farm to table with all food options. Service was the best I have had in a very long time and was better than most of the cities I have visited.“

“If I could give them 10 stars I would. We ate here 3 times during our trip to Charleston and it was not enough. This place is amazing, the food was excellent, far above the other places we tried for breakfast. The service was fast and friendly. We made fast friends with the staff who welcomed us each time like we were family. We wanted to purchase a shirt and at the time they were out. But they went above and beyond to make sure they had some for us the next day. We will definitely come back here the next time we are in Charleston!“

“The service this time was less than stellar, and the atmosphere isn't ever anything to write home about, but the food is consistently wonderful, and when I lived nearby, I was a regular - sometimes twice a day. I'll always love it.“

“This place is a gem! Awesome local taproom. Great selection of beers - IPAs, stouts, sours, they have it all. The bartenders really know their stuff, and is a Bills fan, who helped me pick out some winners. The vibe is chill and friendly. Definitely a cool spot to kick off a night on King Street! ??“

“A few girlfriends and I had a wonderful evening at Sermet’s tonight— the food was DIVINE. The ambiance in the courtyard with Keith Miller’s music couldn’t have been better. Our waitress was perfectly attentive and pleasant, too. We’re already planning our next dinner back.Dietary restrictions: Gluten-free accommodations“

“Cool place close to downtown. You order at the bar and you pick your food up and take it to your table. You also clean your dishes and toss your trash when done. If you want white linens and table service, this is not going to be your jam. We were there for lunch and there were only a few folks scattered around. Food was good! Burgers were delicious. Bartender was friendly, bathrooms were crazy but clean, outdoor seating was nice. We would go back.“

“NEED SOME GITTY-UP?!Ms Roses specifically cocktails are an option. For brunch, highly recommend their Espresso Martini. Presentation is nice with moca colored froth & espesso beans on top. Nice balance of sweet, creamy, and bitterness of coffee underneath. Pleasant antidote for any carp fog you may experience after your delicious brunch meal.“

“We hosted a rehearsal dinner and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Chris David & Jona were so attentive. The food was beyond amazing. We couldn’t be happier with how the night turned out. It was absolutely magical. Thank you Chris David & Jona for taking such great care of us and our family. And thank you Abby for helping us organize this wonderful night ???“

“Dillan was an amazing waiter. He recommended the halibut entree and the Elvis dessert. We also ordered shrimp and grits and a side of squash. Everything was beyond our expectations. Honestly the best meal this trip. We’re staying at the Vendue as well. Honestly, the hotel (Allyson- curator) and the restaurant, AND the service ,AND the people , do not disappoint. And, and, and ,and, and….. go there an experience the Vendue!!!!“