What a great evening. I am a Charleston local and had family visiting from out of town so I wanted to take them somewhere with a nice view and great food. Totally lived up to my expectations. I had the whole crispy snapper and it was amazing. A member of my party was not feeling well and our waiter Cameron without being asked by us brought over some hot tea with honey to ease his allergies. I am a server in Charleston and thought that was very kind of Cameron to take the initiative in making sure my friend was enjoying the evening. We will be back on their next visit. Thank you for a great evening.
Sandra C.
We enjoyed our visit at California Dreaming in Charleston, South Carolina! The views were amazing, the restaurant was clean with a charming decor and atmosphere, and the food was reasonably priced and delicious (get the salmon!). The place was BUSY, but you'd never known we weren't the only table there with the level of service we received. Our waitress, Heather was amazing. She was attentive and kind with a good sense of humor and she catered to our every need. The manager, Kevin was also a highlight, very gracious and customer-service oriented. Definitely a place we'd return to again and again.
Holly W.
I recommend getting reservations in advance. However, we were quoted 15 mins and only waited 10 mins so it wasn't too long of a wait time for a Sunday evening. The restaurant is located in a beautiful location off the bay. You can enjoy the beauty of the water and small/large boats passing by through the large windows. The menu has a lot of options. Unfortunately, two of the options were unavailable and it was the two we ordered (French dip and the spicy chicken sandwich). We ordered the pimento cheese appetizer and though large, it was very watery, crackers tasted stale, and nothing was special about the pickles! I would maybe chose a different appetizer for the price point! The kids shared a grilled chicken sandwich and fries. They ate it all and noted the fries being very good. I had the Cal Dreaming Salad and it does live up to the hype. The dressing is really good and the salad is large. The Honey Butter Croissant was good as well!
David N.
DEATH OF A CHS LEGEND. Horrible to know what this place once was and what it is now. So truly sad and heartbreaking Ok, multiple reviews coming on this one. Tyree lost our drink order and had to come back. This used to be an awesome restaurant in Chas now it's like red lobster. READ BETWEEN THE LINES!!. Waiter, and I use term loosely, is clueless. Ok, Tyree poured a different wine into my glass. It's my fault, I ordered one wine then changed to another. Dip s*** dumped new wine onto old wine. We've gone at least 20 minutes with no water, tea nothing. This place is a crap hole. Would speak to management but there isn't any. Sigh... so all food dropped except one persons chic tend platter. Tyree said," I didn't like the way they looked so I asked them to redo them". BS. We watched him put them in computer. Tyree forgot to do her order. Maybe he lost it where he lost drink order. This place is embarrassing. Ok, Cali dreaming is dead This other couple waited 20 min for drinks. He added 20% for tip. I would have given 10%. 20% is a participation trophy. The food was over priced and mediocre at best.
A T.
Beautiful location, nice interior of the restaurant BUT it's not enough to want to return when the extremely rude hostess and server who maybe said two words during our meal is part of our experience. The food was average at best- you're better off finding another restaurant with just as nice of a view. Overpriced, underwhelming service and lackluster food- save your time and money!
Lucy F.
Location wonderful. Overpriced. We had shrimp and grits and shrimp tacos. Grits dish fine with a fair amount of shrimp. Taco was full of cole slaw and sparse baby shrimp. I made online reservation and they asked if special occasion. I said yes and told them what it was. They never mentioned a word. Sat us next to a family with two babies anyway and when we wanted another table we had to go back to front desk and explain. Never saw a manager in the place and it was still early, before 6 pm. They opened at 4 pm. Server was slow. Took forever to get bill and pay and she only had 3 tables. We asked for ketchup for fries from the runner and then finally server. Received it halfway through the meal. Overall not a wow factor place but just ok in terms of food quality, ambiance, service and overall supervision.
Janie M.
Went due to the location-staying at a nearby hotel. Sat at the bar-service was really good, able to sample a craft brew before ordering. Ordered the salmon, came with green beans and mashed potatoes. Also ordered a garden salad which came with house dressing-a honey mustard bacon. Way too much dressing so order it on the side if you don't like a ton of dressing. The salmon looked amazing and was cooked perfectly was was so bland. Almost like no seasoning was on it. Added salt to make it bearable. There were herbs all over the top of the salmon but they didn't provide any flavor. The green beans were drenched in butter and the stems weren't removed. Potatoes weren't the greatest either. May go back but only for appetizers. My neighbor at the bar ordered the roasted chicken and it did look good. The croissant that came with the salad was the best thing delivered. Location, view and service were the highlights.
Sally A.
I placed my order was then told it was unavailable this happened on 3 different meals. My friend ordered a draft beer the server brought a bottle and had no idea what a draft or on tap beer was. Beautiful location but the food was not good.
Frank D.
Amazing dinner and views Everyone had a great time. Food and service was excellent. Can't wait to come back. By the way the Ribe eye is the way to go. If you order the salad order it with honey mustard and the bacon sauce. Off the secret menu.
Dylan P.
I had the shrimp and grits and it didn't disappoint. The views from our table were beautiful and our waitress was very helpful.
Low country boil is way overpriced for just shrimp and it’s so spicy it’s almost inedible, told our server and he said-yeah some people say it’s too hot, never offered to get something else. Shrimp and grits were very good. Sirloin is very sweet from the marinade. Just ok, too pricey for the quality of food.
Christopher H.
Great food with an even better view! Longtime visitor of the Greenville location and the Charleston location didn't disappoint, either. Our server was Parker, a younger gentlemen and he was great at his job. Loved to see the creamed spinach nachos were available as they are No longer a regular menu item in the upstate. In town for a few days and plan on enjoying dinner here again before leaving town as it is nearly walking distance from our hotel
mackenziejm11
I dined at the Charleston, SC location on August 21, 2022 at about 4:30 pm. I ordered the French Dip, and then was told that they were out, so I then ordered the Ribeye with a Caesar salad and a baked potato. The Caesar salad came out first and it was extremely soggy, so I sent it back. The 2nd one was much better. We waited almost an hour for our entrees to come out. My boyfriend's cheeseburger was well-done when he ordered it medium. On top of that, my Ribeye was well-done and I ordered it medium. So, I sent mine back. 20 minutes later (after my boyfriend finished his entire meal without me) the ribeye came out, and it was even worse than before. I even took photos of it because I was shocked that this was happening. I tried to eat it and could only get a couple bites in because it tasted like rubber. I sent it back and we left because I wasn't even hungry at that point. I was pleased at the service of our server and the manager who took care of us. However, the kitchen staff need to learn how to cook meat. On the menu, it even says the what it looks like according to the temperature. We will not be returning.
johndQ2238CQ
Staying in Charleston and went to this restaurant on advice. Arrived at restaurant and was told 45 minute wait. 1 hour later we inquired and were told it would be another 20 minutes to 45 minutes. After that time expired we inquired again and was told it could be another hour because they take walk ins but keep pushing them back when reservations walk in Even people with reservations were waiting over an hour. I understand that reservations come first but if you are going to institute that system, then you need to be honest with the walk-ins. Not let they sit around and tell them things that are not true. I come from a large metropolitan city where a restaurant that operates like that would be out of business. AVOID THE HASSLE. EAT ELSEWHERE.
Amy H.
For what this is, it's very good. Nestled in a marina, and didn't in the water, it's definitely not something you'd just bump into. Furthermore, the name of the place given that it's in SC is somewhat suspect. The place doesn't exude Cali vibes either. The seats are spread out. With a step up bar that is in the front. When you walk past the bar, they have ample seating spread out the span of the building. The seating tables are also spaced nicely so people aren't sitting on to of one another. Ok- now for the food. Must get the croissants and honey. So good. The croissants remind me more of a bun than a flaky croissant- but it doesn't matter. It's really good. The table also got wings and they devoured them. I got the shrimp tacos- very tasty. The rest got a club sandwich and burgers. Everyone was pleased.
What a great evening. I am a Charleston local and had family visiting from out of town so I wanted to take them somewhere with a nice view and great food. Totally lived up to my expectations. I had the whole crispy snapper and it was amazing. A member of my party was not feeling well and our waiter Cameron without being asked by us brought over some hot tea with honey to ease his allergies. I am a server in Charleston and thought that was very kind of Cameron to take the initiative in making sure my friend was enjoying the evening. We will be back on their next visit. Thank you for a great evening.
We enjoyed our visit at California Dreaming in Charleston, South Carolina! The views were amazing, the restaurant was clean with a charming decor and atmosphere, and the food was reasonably priced and delicious (get the salmon!). The place was BUSY, but you'd never known we weren't the only table there with the level of service we received. Our waitress, Heather was amazing. She was attentive and kind with a good sense of humor and she catered to our every need. The manager, Kevin was also a highlight, very gracious and customer-service oriented. Definitely a place we'd return to again and again.
I recommend getting reservations in advance. However, we were quoted 15 mins and only waited 10 mins so it wasn't too long of a wait time for a Sunday evening. The restaurant is located in a beautiful location off the bay. You can enjoy the beauty of the water and small/large boats passing by through the large windows. The menu has a lot of options. Unfortunately, two of the options were unavailable and it was the two we ordered (French dip and the spicy chicken sandwich). We ordered the pimento cheese appetizer and though large, it was very watery, crackers tasted stale, and nothing was special about the pickles! I would maybe chose a different appetizer for the price point! The kids shared a grilled chicken sandwich and fries. They ate it all and noted the fries being very good. I had the Cal Dreaming Salad and it does live up to the hype. The dressing is really good and the salad is large. The Honey Butter Croissant was good as well!
DEATH OF A CHS LEGEND. Horrible to know what this place once was and what it is now. So truly sad and heartbreaking Ok, multiple reviews coming on this one. Tyree lost our drink order and had to come back. This used to be an awesome restaurant in Chas now it's like red lobster. READ BETWEEN THE LINES!!. Waiter, and I use term loosely, is clueless. Ok, Tyree poured a different wine into my glass. It's my fault, I ordered one wine then changed to another. Dip s*** dumped new wine onto old wine. We've gone at least 20 minutes with no water, tea nothing. This place is a crap hole. Would speak to management but there isn't any. Sigh... so all food dropped except one persons chic tend platter. Tyree said," I didn't like the way they looked so I asked them to redo them". BS. We watched him put them in computer. Tyree forgot to do her order. Maybe he lost it where he lost drink order. This place is embarrassing. Ok, Cali dreaming is dead This other couple waited 20 min for drinks. He added 20% for tip. I would have given 10%. 20% is a participation trophy. The food was over priced and mediocre at best.
Beautiful location, nice interior of the restaurant BUT it's not enough to want to return when the extremely rude hostess and server who maybe said two words during our meal is part of our experience. The food was average at best- you're better off finding another restaurant with just as nice of a view. Overpriced, underwhelming service and lackluster food- save your time and money!
Location wonderful. Overpriced. We had shrimp and grits and shrimp tacos. Grits dish fine with a fair amount of shrimp. Taco was full of cole slaw and sparse baby shrimp. I made online reservation and they asked if special occasion. I said yes and told them what it was. They never mentioned a word. Sat us next to a family with two babies anyway and when we wanted another table we had to go back to front desk and explain. Never saw a manager in the place and it was still early, before 6 pm. They opened at 4 pm. Server was slow. Took forever to get bill and pay and she only had 3 tables. We asked for ketchup for fries from the runner and then finally server. Received it halfway through the meal. Overall not a wow factor place but just ok in terms of food quality, ambiance, service and overall supervision.
Went due to the location-staying at a nearby hotel. Sat at the bar-service was really good, able to sample a craft brew before ordering. Ordered the salmon, came with green beans and mashed potatoes. Also ordered a garden salad which came with house dressing-a honey mustard bacon. Way too much dressing so order it on the side if you don't like a ton of dressing. The salmon looked amazing and was cooked perfectly was was so bland. Almost like no seasoning was on it. Added salt to make it bearable. There were herbs all over the top of the salmon but they didn't provide any flavor. The green beans were drenched in butter and the stems weren't removed. Potatoes weren't the greatest either. May go back but only for appetizers. My neighbor at the bar ordered the roasted chicken and it did look good. The croissant that came with the salad was the best thing delivered. Location, view and service were the highlights.
I placed my order was then told it was unavailable this happened on 3 different meals. My friend ordered a draft beer the server brought a bottle and had no idea what a draft or on tap beer was. Beautiful location but the food was not good.
Amazing dinner and views Everyone had a great time. Food and service was excellent. Can't wait to come back. By the way the Ribe eye is the way to go. If you order the salad order it with honey mustard and the bacon sauce. Off the secret menu.
I had the shrimp and grits and it didn't disappoint. The views from our table were beautiful and our waitress was very helpful.
Restaurantji Recommends
Low country boil is way overpriced for just shrimp and it’s so spicy it’s almost inedible, told our server and he said-yeah some people say it’s too hot, never offered to get something else. Shrimp and grits were very good. Sirloin is very sweet from the marinade. Just ok, too pricey for the quality of food.
Great food with an even better view! Longtime visitor of the Greenville location and the Charleston location didn't disappoint, either. Our server was Parker, a younger gentlemen and he was great at his job. Loved to see the creamed spinach nachos were available as they are No longer a regular menu item in the upstate. In town for a few days and plan on enjoying dinner here again before leaving town as it is nearly walking distance from our hotel
I dined at the Charleston, SC location on August 21, 2022 at about 4:30 pm. I ordered the French Dip, and then was told that they were out, so I then ordered the Ribeye with a Caesar salad and a baked potato. The Caesar salad came out first and it was extremely soggy, so I sent it back. The 2nd one was much better. We waited almost an hour for our entrees to come out. My boyfriend's cheeseburger was well-done when he ordered it medium. On top of that, my Ribeye was well-done and I ordered it medium. So, I sent mine back. 20 minutes later (after my boyfriend finished his entire meal without me) the ribeye came out, and it was even worse than before. I even took photos of it because I was shocked that this was happening. I tried to eat it and could only get a couple bites in because it tasted like rubber. I sent it back and we left because I wasn't even hungry at that point. I was pleased at the service of our server and the manager who took care of us. However, the kitchen staff need to learn how to cook meat. On the menu, it even says the what it looks like according to the temperature. We will not be returning.
Staying in Charleston and went to this restaurant on advice. Arrived at restaurant and was told 45 minute wait. 1 hour later we inquired and were told it would be another 20 minutes to 45 minutes. After that time expired we inquired again and was told it could be another hour because they take walk ins but keep pushing them back when reservations walk in Even people with reservations were waiting over an hour. I understand that reservations come first but if you are going to institute that system, then you need to be honest with the walk-ins. Not let they sit around and tell them things that are not true. I come from a large metropolitan city where a restaurant that operates like that would be out of business. AVOID THE HASSLE. EAT ELSEWHERE.
For what this is, it's very good. Nestled in a marina, and didn't in the water, it's definitely not something you'd just bump into. Furthermore, the name of the place given that it's in SC is somewhat suspect. The place doesn't exude Cali vibes either. The seats are spread out. With a step up bar that is in the front. When you walk past the bar, they have ample seating spread out the span of the building. The seating tables are also spaced nicely so people aren't sitting on to of one another. Ok- now for the food. Must get the croissants and honey. So good. The croissants remind me more of a bun than a flaky croissant- but it doesn't matter. It's really good. The table also got wings and they devoured them. I got the shrimp tacos- very tasty. The rest got a club sandwich and burgers. Everyone was pleased.