This is Trident Tech's culinary school restaurant. The service is superb. The food is very good, but can be a little spotty. Their menus vary from week to week, so be sure to see what their menu will be before making reservations. Expect to pay less than half what you would pay for a comparable meal downtown.
Really enjoyed our lunch at 181 Palmer. Very accommodating as one of the party is allergic to seafood. Originally scheduled because of the north German menu, but was changed to Asian due to Irma.
Macy
I invited 3 of my friends to a "mystery lunch". Over the course of several months I gave them very vague clues about where we were going. When the mystery was revealed as we drove into the parking lot, everyone was so excited! They had all wanted to go there, but never had. We had such fun describing our food to each other and sharing bites with each other. Now I want to go back with my husband! The food was simply delicious and the whole experience was just great. These students do an excellent job.
erbdiner
This is an amazing value dining opportunity - $15 for 3 courses, no tipping and no tax! I realize it is a culinary school and having had lunch here a few times before, I have to say I was never disappointed until this time. Charcuiterie plate which I always get, used to be fabulous but now it is just mediocre. Very small with limited choices. Also it was served on a wooden plate which did not showcase the food but rather camoflaged it. The Lobster Ravioli entree was delicious and the presentation was outstanding but my dessert (Salted Carmel Chocolate Tart) was hard and tough to eat. Although I needed a knife to cut through the hard pastry the presentation was pretty to look at. Service, as always was excellent. Go back to the original Charcuiterie plate from a year ago and maybe raise the price from $15 - $18!
Foodwriter
Really great food. For only $15 per person, you have an appetizer, main course, dessert, and iced tea and/or coffee. Since it is a student-run restaurant, the patrons get the benefit.
FrugalBoomers
Fantastic student run operation with excellent food and nice small space. Even when full, the dining area is still a place for good conversation. We have dined here many times and are always thrilled by the quality and presentation of the food!
Bennett39
Great food along with excellent service. Best deal in Charleston for a gourmet lunch at a terrific price. You can't go wrong. Nice and quiet so conversation is easy and surroundings are excellent. Parking is not a problem.
Food was delicious and beautifully plated. Always enjoy the variety offered on an otherwise small menu. Our server, Chris, was very friendly and attentive. Wish we had reserved additional days before they were all filled!
CharlestonGirl
What a pleasure it is to have lunch at 181 Palmer. The food is fabulous and the serve perfect. It is an honor to meet and get to know the students and workers in our hospitality industry.
I've heard it said that 181 Palmer is the best-kept secret in Charleston. I agree! The restaurant is part of Trident Technical College's Culinary Institute of Charleston, on the Palmer campus near downtown. This was our first experience. The dining room is run by Hospitality students and the kitchen is staffed with Culinary students. Because everyone is motivated to succeed, guests end up with a first-rate experience! As you can imagine, service was stellar, food was beautiful and delectable, and the value was out-of-this-world! Definitely planning to return!
My husband and I are foodies and loved the idea of a culinary are school. Everyone was clearly making their best effort. The food was awesome as was the service. You Can See The Kitchen On overhead screens. The food was outstsnding & a good value. No bar, but it's lunch. I'd like to think I Even helped students By Being A Very happy, Test dummy.
Susi
Lunch at 181 Palmer was delightful. Our server Nick was very helpful, patient, efficient. There was a small mixup with our reservation , but the manager very kindly was able to satisfy our needs, and everyone was happy happy. Everything was very delicious. Creative. Beautifully served.
This is the practice kitchen for the culinary program at Trident Tech. The cooks and servers are students, with staff supervision. Television screens even show the "action" in the kitchen. Both the food and service were excellent; comparable to what one would expect at one of the finest restaurants. The are only eight four-seat tables with one sitting at lunch, which makes the service both personable and limited. Reservations fill up more than a month in advance, so book early.
Foodwriter
We met for lunch at 181 Palmer because it is a place where both conversation and parking are easy. It is a relatively quiet restaurant with soft music and a free adjacent parking lot. And the food is always delicious. I had a lovely salad to start, followed by grilled head-on shrimp over sautéed red peppers. They have an especially good dessert this term: two chocolate cookies sandwiched with housemade vanilla ice cream and finished with hot fudge sauce. $15.00. Can't. Eat that.
Susan
181 Palmer is a favorite of mine. Three inventive, delicious courses, much to choose from, and the staff is wonderful. I try to go several times each semester and take someone who hasn't been there. It's a real treat!
This is Trident Tech's culinary school restaurant. The service is superb. The food is very good, but can be a little spotty. Their menus vary from week to week, so be sure to see what their menu will be before making reservations. Expect to pay less than half what you would pay for a comparable meal downtown.
Really enjoyed our lunch at 181 Palmer. Very accommodating as one of the party is allergic to seafood. Originally scheduled because of the north German menu, but was changed to Asian due to Irma.
I invited 3 of my friends to a "mystery lunch". Over the course of several months I gave them very vague clues about where we were going. When the mystery was revealed as we drove into the parking lot, everyone was so excited! They had all wanted to go there, but never had. We had such fun describing our food to each other and sharing bites with each other. Now I want to go back with my husband! The food was simply delicious and the whole experience was just great. These students do an excellent job.
This is an amazing value dining opportunity - $15 for 3 courses, no tipping and no tax! I realize it is a culinary school and having had lunch here a few times before, I have to say I was never disappointed until this time. Charcuiterie plate which I always get, used to be fabulous but now it is just mediocre. Very small with limited choices. Also it was served on a wooden plate which did not showcase the food but rather camoflaged it. The Lobster Ravioli entree was delicious and the presentation was outstanding but my dessert (Salted Carmel Chocolate Tart) was hard and tough to eat. Although I needed a knife to cut through the hard pastry the presentation was pretty to look at. Service, as always was excellent. Go back to the original Charcuiterie plate from a year ago and maybe raise the price from $15 - $18!
Really great food. For only $15 per person, you have an appetizer, main course, dessert, and iced tea and/or coffee. Since it is a student-run restaurant, the patrons get the benefit.
Fantastic student run operation with excellent food and nice small space. Even when full, the dining area is still a place for good conversation. We have dined here many times and are always thrilled by the quality and presentation of the food!
Great food along with excellent service. Best deal in Charleston for a gourmet lunch at a terrific price. You can't go wrong. Nice and quiet so conversation is easy and surroundings are excellent. Parking is not a problem.
Food was delicious and beautifully plated. Always enjoy the variety offered on an otherwise small menu. Our server, Chris, was very friendly and attentive. Wish we had reserved additional days before they were all filled!
What a pleasure it is to have lunch at 181 Palmer. The food is fabulous and the serve perfect. It is an honor to meet and get to know the students and workers in our hospitality industry.
I've heard it said that 181 Palmer is the best-kept secret in Charleston. I agree! The restaurant is part of Trident Technical College's Culinary Institute of Charleston, on the Palmer campus near downtown. This was our first experience. The dining room is run by Hospitality students and the kitchen is staffed with Culinary students. Because everyone is motivated to succeed, guests end up with a first-rate experience! As you can imagine, service was stellar, food was beautiful and delectable, and the value was out-of-this-world! Definitely planning to return!
Restaurantji Recommends
My husband and I are foodies and loved the idea of a culinary are school. Everyone was clearly making their best effort. The food was awesome as was the service. You Can See The Kitchen On overhead screens. The food was outstsnding & a good value. No bar, but it's lunch. I'd like to think I Even helped students By Being A Very happy, Test dummy.
Lunch at 181 Palmer was delightful. Our server Nick was very helpful, patient, efficient. There was a small mixup with our reservation , but the manager very kindly was able to satisfy our needs, and everyone was happy happy. Everything was very delicious. Creative. Beautifully served.
This is the practice kitchen for the culinary program at Trident Tech. The cooks and servers are students, with staff supervision. Television screens even show the "action" in the kitchen. Both the food and service were excellent; comparable to what one would expect at one of the finest restaurants. The are only eight four-seat tables with one sitting at lunch, which makes the service both personable and limited. Reservations fill up more than a month in advance, so book early.
We met for lunch at 181 Palmer because it is a place where both conversation and parking are easy. It is a relatively quiet restaurant with soft music and a free adjacent parking lot. And the food is always delicious. I had a lovely salad to start, followed by grilled head-on shrimp over sautéed red peppers. They have an especially good dessert this term: two chocolate cookies sandwiched with housemade vanilla ice cream and finished with hot fudge sauce. $15.00. Can't. Eat that.
181 Palmer is a favorite of mine. Three inventive, delicious courses, much to choose from, and the staff is wonderful. I try to go several times each semester and take someone who hasn't been there. It's a real treat!