50 Best American Restaurants near Daniel Island

“Technically part of Charleston, Daniel island wasn't developed until the early 90s. Now it's a planned, upscale suburb with residences, retail shops, hotels, independent crafter booths, other eateries, and of course The Kingstide. I wasn't expecting it to be this good. The pretty creekside location, modern decor, and open kitchen helps but it's the food and service that really stood out. The menu is heavy on the seafood with just a few landlubber offerings and I think enough meatless dishes to keep things interesting for vegetarians too. Many things appealed and it was hard to decide. I got the "Seasonal Fish", prepared with melted leek, duck fat confit celery root, fennel nage (the term was new to me; it is a method of poaching) and grapefruit. The seasonal fish that day was swordfish and it was probably the best I've ever had, both the fish itself and the dish as a whole. The leek, fennel, and grapefruit base was subtle and a perfect complement for the fish. As for the fish itself, I now realize that practically every other time I've had swordfish it has been overcooked, sometimes just ever-so-slightly but it makes a big difference. This was done just to perfection, no trace of translucency but stopped before any dryness could set in. The fish and the plate were hot. The only flaws were that the bed of leeks and other vegetables underneath were room temperature, and a separate side vegetable or starch (maybe a risotto) would have been appropriate. Speaking of a side, I had asked my waiter about that so it wasn't a surprise to me. Several, including the hush puppies with sorghum, the seasoned fries with paprika, espelette, and saffron aioli, and the Caesar salad appealed. He could tell I was wavering but in the end, knowing I wanted to save room for the Key Lime Pie dessert, I passed. But, soon after the entree arrived, my waiter returned with "a gift from the kitchen". A side of the Brussels Sprouts which I had also expressed interest in. A very large plate of roasted brussels sprouts, assertively flavored with chili lime glaze, pickled shallot, and crispy lardon (slab bacon). Like the entree, this was probably the best I've had anywhere. Two for two. No charge obviously. It was a gift! It was a very large platter and I took most of it home and it was even better the next day. Cocktails: a large list of classics and specialties. But even the classics had a twist: the Old Fashioned was made with "pork fat-washed Elijah Craig bourbon". Not sure how I feel about that. I ended up choosing the Banana Daiquiri, served straight up. The twist here was it was made from Mezcal instead of rum (though rum is also an option). I had reservations and told my waiter I probably won't like it but it sounds so intriguing I just have to try it. Well I tried it. Interesting but I definitely wouldn't order it again! I told my waiter and he offered to replace it with anything I wanted, free of charge! Another nice gesture, like the unexpected side of sprouts, that contributed to this excellent experience. I did say I was saving room for dessert, right? I'm glad I did. A key lime pie, again one of the best I've tried. A plain key lime pie is pretty boring and needs additions: a topping, a sauce, or both. In this case the topping consisted of generous peaks of piped marshmallow, beautifully browned with a torch. Topping sweet and subtly grainy from the sugar. The filling intensely limey and tart. A substantial graham cracker crust. And in lieu of a sauce, this had some kind of crunchy bits underneath, maybe a nut brittle? Definitely worth getting out of downtown to check out this place. Excellent food and service, easy parking, check out the craft vendors afterwards or maybe go for a walk on the many trails into the natural areas that thankfully were preserved when this island was developed.“

“I was greeted immediately twice when I came in. I think some restaurants don't realize how much this matters. The service was super fast. I was given water and they took my drink order super fast. The food came so fast it surprised me, both times I came in. The food was absolutely delicious and I couldn't recommend it more. Well exceeded my expectations both times. If I am back in Charleston, I will be back.“

“4 stars! Consistently great food this first trip to this area! Once for lunch and then for dinner. Pecan crusted fried chicken and short ribs were amazing. Of course the seafood was fresh as well. I love a great place that we find on own own but then comes highly recommended. Back of the house checked in on us as well as a few others! Locals know ;)“

“My daughter and I dined here on a girls weekend to Charleston. We tried the she crab soup, very creamy and flavorful. She had the filet and crab mac n cheese. I had the goat cheese gnocchi with short rib ragu. Everything was prepared exceptionally and the portion sizes were perfect. Neither of us had dessert, we were way too full. Lovely dining experience!“

“Had a spectacular lunch at another restaurant and went over the top with dinner at FIG. Arugula salad + ricotta gnocchi with lamb bolognese + desert of strawberry profiteroles with greek yogurt. Off-the-chart meal capped off an unbelievable food day in Charlestown. If I eat another meal this good in this city I may never leave Charlestown. Wow!“

“Our server Kayla was phenomenal! She was extremely knowledgeable about the menu offerings and was able to answer all of our questions! The food was absolutely delicious. The drinks were spot on. This was our second time dining here and will definitely be returning again.“

“Beautiful propertyGreat barClean facilityFriendly serviceI have been dreaming to eat at one of Sean Brocks restaurants for a long time. Finally found myself in Charleston for business and made my move.Man am I glad I did! It did not disappoint.I wanted to try everything, but one can only eat so much ?I wish I could come back with 3 hungry friends, so we can order everything on the menu and go family-style.If you are in town, do not miss the opportunity to eat at Husk!“

“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!“

“This is a down home funky southern restaurant serving primarily oysters and fried chicken in a converted garage. So for that reason they get 5 stars. The food was good, the roasted oysters were great, beer was cold, sides were enough to share service was attentive. They don’t take reservations for party less than six so you can expect to wait if you go at prime time. It a pretty popular place.Parking: Primarily a residential neighborhood so parking can be sparse. They do have a free parking lot but it’s small. Neighborhood not the best so be aware walking at night“

“This was an incredible find on our East Coast trip. The best gumbo we've ever had. I'm glad this was my first shrimp and grits It was a perfect balance of creamy and toothy with delicious pink shrimp. The service and attention to detail was spot on.“

“We found this hopping place on a trip downtown. It’s on the ocean with a nice breeze outside, dolphins off the deck. The oysters were sooo good and the calamari melted. Good selection of beers and the prices totally reasonable! Super happy to find it!“

“A qaint lil cafe we discovered while visiting Charleston...Reservations are recommended,eat in or outside dining....I had the Cru burger and my spouse had Gen Tao's chicken....Both were very good,service was excellent....We'd go there again the next time we visit!!!“

“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.“

“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“

“Many of the local restaurants are overrated, but not Charleston Grill. Great ambiance, service, and the food is fantastic. The knowledgeable staff will help with a wine or cocktail selection to add to your experience. I recommend a jacket for men as this is an upscale venue. Go here, it's worth it.“

“Had a solo intimate birthday dinner here, while visiting SC. Wonderful dining experience, service, and atmosphere. To top it off my server told me my whole tab was covered by a complete stranger, who did not want to reveal themselves. If you ever see this review…THANK YOU!“

“Another stand out Charleston restaurant, the pork chop and beef tenderloin were both so tasty accompanied with some seriously good sprouts, super wine list, great dining room and again warm and friendly service made for a great evening, thanks too to Marsha who treated us like old friends.“

“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“

“The food was as good as my Nana and Cousin Odessa's cookin' - delicious! Gabe was our hostess and her service was excellent! The ambiance included good music, beautiful wall art, pictures and of course our joy and laughter shared with everyone. Our drink will always be the "Dirty Obama!" Celebrating three birthday's, we were serenaded with Stevie Wonder's HBD song sung by everyone in the place! Thank y'all for the best dining experience of our SC visit!“

“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!“

“Restaurant is a lot nicer on the inside than how it looks from the outside, it's kind of at the end of a street. There's a public parking garage a block over. Inside, there's a bar to the right and then seating to the left and there's an upstairs. We made reservations which highly recommend cause they look busy. I don't think there is a dress code but from looking around people were dressed nice. It is very loud just a heads up. We got seated but our assigned waitress never came. Another waitress came and checked on us and asked if we'd been helped at all and she was very apologetic and said she would serve us. She was very nice and attentive. For drinks, I did the blueberry mint passion cocktail which was delicious and then my husband did a glass of the Prisoner, which is one of their red wines. When I checked in on Yelp, I got a free glass of house wine coupon and showed it to our waitress. The Prisoner doesn't count but she took it off our receipt anyways which was very nice! For food, I did the hanger & filet lava stone appetizer and a side of fries because it was enough for a meal and I wanted to do it for the experience. It's 8 oz. total so it was enough food for me for sure. My husband got the filet entree so it comes cooked already with a side of asparagus and mashed potatoes. He said it wasn't bad.“

“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!“

“Gave it a five but the food a four because of the spice. They did say it was spicy but wasn't expecting that level.The drinks were delicious, I'm glad they were pricey because I would have tried every drink on the menu.Bartender was nice and friendly. Will go back next time I visit area.“

“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!!“

“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!“

“Pretty good amount of food for the price.Ordered two 2 meat combos. Whole hog, ham, hush puppies, mac n cheese & Pulled pork, pulled chicken, baked beans, collard greens. (& 2 sweet teas).Tastes great, came out fast, plenty of seating, parking at the Food Lion next door.“

“The chai tea old fashioned(s) was(were) outstanding and a nice prelude to an excellent meal. I went with the steak frite, which was perfectly prepared. But as good as the meal was, the convivial atmosphere and the charms of North Charleston on the water are the salient memories.“

“This place was fun diner with all kinds of stickers and decor, great service, and good food. My wife and I are on our honeymoon and we heard great things and we were not disappointed. We ordered the chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits and the chicken was juicy and the grits was creamy and satisfying! Must try!“

“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!“

“I really appreciated this place! Cute little spot you wanted even notice if you were driving over the speed limit. I got a burger and fries and girlfriend got chicken salad sammy and side of pickles. I hate mentioning a side item first but these were some of the best fries I have ever had. The crisp was phenomenal! The burger was very good and the toppings were very fresh. The burger was "clean" in the fact the bun stayed in tact and the burger and toppings didn't just crumble off. The chicken salad was super flavorful and had big chunks of chicken! The service was ELITE. Just two youngins in there but super attentive and very kind. Made ya feel important. As for inside this place, it's so cool. Wine bottles to buy, and coffee beans and tea to purchase. Overall a really cool spot that I hope sticks!“

“WOW!!! YUM! YUM! YUM! Not only does Wes and his crew make some OUTSTANDING food, but their service is top notch as well! I got in touch with Wes at Brown Dog Deli months ago to cater a 200 person conference and I am so glad I did!! Everyone LOVED the food and Wes was on time and delivered everything as promised! I fortunately had the chance to stop by the deli the day before my conference. I told Wes that after viewing their menu so many times online, I couldn't wait until Saturday! So, I went by (and the space itself is so cool......old metal lunchboxes hanging on the wall....old games......such nostalgia!) and ordered the Paradise Panini along with their fries. OH MY GOODNESS!!! So much food (enough for two meals, but I ate all of it at once!) and it was absolutely perfect!!! And those fries?!?! WOW!!! I'm just glad I don't know the calorie count on those! :0) I had the "Folly Beach Crunch Wrap" in my bag lunch at the conference and that was just as delicious! I was able to grab a spare "Rosemary's Baby Daddy" for later and AGAIN.......absolute perfection!! THANK YOU, Wes for working with me and making my conference lunch a success! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE open a Brown Dog Deli in Greenville, SC! I think it would be a HIT!“

“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.“

“The go to spot for bar food in town! My friends and I love going here. Cheap drinks and food. As mentioned, you can expect bar style food...but cooked to perfection. The fries are cut and made in house, making them the best fries in town. Staff is usually swapped but will always greet you with a smile. The food can take a bit longer when they're busy, definitely worth the wait if you've got the time to hang out!“

“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.“

“Great food and service. Our waiter offered suggestions and was attentive. We ordered the smoked fish dip and bread as appetizers, she had the pasta and I had the rice dish. We also had cocktails and wine. All were terrific.I only have one suggestion, to expand or add more variety to the beer list. Not a big deal as everything else was amazing.“

“Stopped in for a few drinks after dinner and this place was perfect for our girls night.Live music was being played in the corner by a solo musician that set a quiet tone while an old Mel Gibson flick played on the wall on the opposite side of the bar. The mood was quiet , quirky and sophisticated. It was refreshing from the “college kid vibe you get from most places after 9pm DT .“

“We visited multiple times during our visit last week to Charleston from out of state. The food and drinks were the best that we had while in town there! The service each time was fast and friendly. Duncan was great on our first stop in and made sure our time was awesome. The mac and cheese was some of the best that I've ever had!“

“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.“

“Amazing isn’t even the word to begin with!! I had my son’s 16th birthday party on March 24 and from beginning to end, the level of professionalism and accuracy was astounding. Summer one of the event coordinators has been such a huge help from start to finish! I can’t brag enough on how amazing everything was! Will definitely be coming back to celebrate my birthday next! The food was amazing I didn’t even get a chance to snag a plate hahaa!“

“Ordered the soft shell crab special… it was HUGE! Got two of them along with risotto and broccoli. We had good service but witnessed a few customers coming up to staff saying they needed service at their table. Otherwise we were just fine. Husband got the new Tuna bowl… which was also amazing. I will say my soft soft crab special, being $49.95, should have been disclosed ahead of time (the cost.) I probably would have still ordered as the dish was a ton of food but for others, maybe something to consider. I wish I snapped a pic of it. Broccoli was cooked PERFECTLY and the risotto was sooo good. It had corn and asparagus cuts in it. Amazing. Overall, great experience, with friendly staff.“

“Visited Coleman Public House on Sunday afternoon. Great burger and Beet Salad. Great beer selection.Service was great too.I like a clean restaurant but my eyes were watering from the cleaning solution they use and the smell of it made it hard to enjoy the meal.Also, I can't help but mention that the silverware was what you might expect at Golden Coral not at an upscale Public House.“

“Although I have never stayed at one of the PH rooms, I have dined there a number of times since they’ve been open. Each time has been such a memorable experience. Staff always goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome, at home, and catered to. The environment of PH (both indoor and outdoor) is immaculate. PH is curated with beautiful southern decor which makes you feel right at home in The Old Village. But I have to say, I experience just as good of hospitality at their Basic Kitchen location. Basic Projects seemingly always go the extra mile in training their staff to deliver the true southern experience. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough to anyone local or visiting Charleston.Nearby activities: Walking distance of Old VillageSafety: In safe Mt. Pleasant, Old Village neighborhood.Walkability: Walkable to Shem Creek.Food & drinks: Clean and upscale eats.Noteworthy details: Curated southern decor.“

“My family was in town for vacation and wanted to find somewhere for breakfast other than the usual chains. We stumbled upon Sunrise Bistro and couldn't have had a better experience. I don't remember the last time I've encountered such genuinely kind and friendly people in the service industry. On top of the exceptional service, the food was amazing! My son loved his chicken and waffles! My other son had a chorizo breakfast burrito and inhaled every bite! My husbandoved the self serve coffee bar. We will definitely be back the next time we're in town. Don't miss this place!“

“Hands down best seafood I’ve ever had! I should probably start by saying I’m not a pro seafood eater but I absolutely loved the food here. I tried the Alaskan snow crab and my sister had the shrimp and grits both were fabulous. Our server was lovely and took her time explaining the different seafood options and helped us pick something we would like. The crab house is a more casual restaurant and parking may be a challenge here because it’s right next to the Charleston city market. We would definitely come back here on our next visit to the lovely Charleston!“