50 Best American Restaurants near Folly Beach

“We loved our breakfast at Lost Dog Café in Folly Beach! I had the biscuits and gravy with a side of cheesy grits — both were absolutely delicious and comforting. The kids got the happy pancakes, which were a huge hit and so fun with the fruit face design. My wife had the traditional breakfast, and everything came out hot, fresh, and perfectly cooked.

The cozy, laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff made it such an enjoyable start to the day. Definitely a must-visit breakfast spot when you’re in Folly Beach!“

“We enjoyed Rita’s last night. Great service and food. Chill vibes . I ordered the chilled seafood.“

“Great food. Great atmosphere. Awesome waitress. 5 stars from me“

“View of course is great! The food has always been good and the servers also! My favorite time is when the weather is suitable for rooftop dining with a moderate crowd and live music!“

“Best restaurant in Charleston! It really is a must!“

“We didn’t have reservations, but were able to sit at the bar! We had the best food, craft cocktails and dessert! The staff was amazing, especially Kiersten, K-WOW, the bartender! Highly recommend!“

“Delicious meal & friendly staff“

“We LOVED our lunch visit a few weeks ago! great service, excellent food, loads of fun!“

“Best meal, service, and atmosphere we've had in Charleston! All our food was delicious, but the shrimp and grits was out of this world! Best decision we made was to eat there.“

“Vern’s Restaurant in downtown Charleston truly exceeded our expectations and left us with an unforgettable dining experience. The food was exceptional—quite possibly the best meal we have ever had.“

“Yummy vegan options!, great service, and cute decor.“

“We had a lovely dinner at The James. I have a restricted diet and they wendy out if their way to make sure I was accommodated. There were 4 of us and everyone enjoyed our evening. Our server, Jessica was first class as were everyone we came in contact with. Would highly recommend The James.“

“We had the most amazing night celebrating our 10th anniversary. The entire team went above and beyond and we left feeling so filled with joy—and OUTSTANDING food. Flavors that we never will forget and memories for a lifetime. WC team, thank you for making our first night in Charleston one we will never forget.“

“Excellent food and service!“

“Great food, prompt service. The polenta was wonderful!“

“Food was excellent! Our server was excellent as well. We will be back!“

“I have no clue on who the owners are, but I can tell you that all of their food is made with Love ❤️. You can see it and you can taste it. Everything I have ever had has always been so delicious. This place is a Charleston Gem and I pray this little place continues to Thrive and Prosper. Charleston Loves You❤️❤️“

“Another delicious meal drove from Conway to have a slamming burger 🍔 absolutely one of the best burgers around! You will not be disappointed!“

“Yummy food served up hot and quick. Super excellent service.“

“the food and the staff are all amazing! thoroughly enjoyed it!!“

“Fun atmosphere, cool decorations throughout, and good service“

“Lunch at the Charleston location on 17 was off the hook good! Go get some.“

“best drag show/brunch EVER! and our server Kahlil was amazing! 🤩“

“French Fries are the best and the sweetest girl from Georgia pretty blonde was super nice and friendly and made sure we didn't sit dirty with empty plates and glasses - Did not catch her name but the atmosphere was absolutely wonderful-“

“Overall, we had a very positive experience. We were greeted warmly and our server Sophia(?) was an absolute delight. The bang bang shrimp and calamari were delicious and a generous portion. The burgers were great, shrimp po boy flavor was nice, although smaller shrimp may have made it easier to eat. The yard bird was phenomenal and the crab cake sandwich had a wonderful flavor profile. Sidewinder fries were a hit with everyone. The only negatives we experienced was the Cajun pasta was subpar with a bit of an odd flavoring to where my guest could not finish it and didn't want to take it home. The gluten free bun for one of the crab cake sandwiches was extremely dry and could not be eaten like a sandwich. A little butter and toasting may have helped, but there are better brand GF buns available than the one used. Will be returning for more!“

“Great food and environment“

“Yummy food! And affordable.“

“Great burgers and drinks. Staff is wonderful!“

“An entertaining chef, creative and exceptionally well-executed cuisine, a pleasingly funky ambience, and the delight at watching a fine chef at work, which equals a terrific experience.“

“Leon's is literally in my dreams! My boyfriend and I went there for the first time three years ago. It blew our minds! Affordable, delicious food, and such a fun atmosphere. We returned a couple of times on the same trip. We live in NJ... and set up a trip last year JUST to go to Leons. I am actually scared to post a review because I selfishly want to keep it a secret for my boyfriend and I. Man, if you like chicken and oysters... you cannot go wrong. Damn, now I need to set up another trip. :)“

“Shout out to Candice and team for a great event. The planning was easy and the staff was really great. It is hard to manage 200 for luncheon. I did it for many years and there are always little additions or changes the day of and this team handled it all with speed and grace. Events here will not be disappointed. It’s a well oiled machine. Thanks to all! David, Renee, Candice - everyone.“

“One of the best restaurants in all of Charleston! Definitely worth the drive if you aren't close by“

“The staff was amazing. It was our anniversary and the GM personally came to our table and poured us a glass of Champaign to celebrate. They also gave us a free dessert. The hostess, wait staff, and GM all took time to wish us a happy anniversary. The food was amazing as well! Overall it was a great dining experience!“

“The staff is very friendly. Food was delicious.“

“Dinner was very good & everyone was so very nice. Had reservations & they seated us at 5. It was Mothers Day& graduation week so they were really busy BUT no one made us feel rushed. We will definitely come back..“

“Had brunch today. Food was good. The chicken and waffle was really tasty.“

“Excellent service! The atmosphere was an amazing place to grab a drink and/or eat for the evening while socializing.“

“I threw a surprise birthday party with 30 guests. It was terrific. The upstairs had plenty of room and seating for everyone. The food was excellent with a great selection. Staff and bartenders were very friendly, accommodating and professional. My guest could mingle upstairs or go outside and listened to a very good band. I absolutely recommend having your next gathering here!“

“Fantastic atmosphere. Saturday brunch with Beth, server as pleasant as con be. Highly recommend Shrimp and grits with Bloody Mary. A must when visiting Savannah.“

“My family visited this establishment while we stayed at the attached hotel.

The staff was very friendly to my family, they greeted us and came to our table promptly. The tables and floors were clean throughout, there were no bad smells on the smell of good food.

Having a small child, I can say this was also one of the few times a restaurant brought a clean high chair for our toddler (very much appreciated).

We had the buffet on Saturday and regular breakfast on Monday, we will be back!“

“Sat by the window thoroughly enjoyed our meal We had wings, chicken pot pie, turkey club Was really homemade and delighted to finely have real turkey (not deli meat or turkey roll) and fresh chicken pie - service and food excellent!“

“Blanka our waitress was adorable and attentive and very friendly. Food was great. So thankful for the partnership with Dock street Theater for dinner and a show. The Grilled Pork chop WOW, delicious! Thick!! Biggest chop I ever had! Tender, juicy and very flavorful. Creamy Mac and cheese. Pecan Pie!!! divine!! Swamp Fox is one of our favorite places. I'm thankful to be a local so I can visit often!!“

“We were given a tip on this restaurant. While tough to get a table it was quickly obvious why. We had the rabbit roulade and the steak w wild mushrooms, but just as good as the main courses were the lamb dumpling appetizers. It was also a beautiful, refined atmosphere with top notice service.“

“I loved the vibes and atmosphere. Food and drinks were amazing. Our bartender, Pepe was phenomenal and will definitely be back next time we’re in Charleston!!“

“Great place to dine with a large or small group. Delicious food with great service. We had a group of 34 and everything went smoothly. Highly recommended!!“

“Amazing food, cozy atmosphere and wonderful. friendly staff!! Highly recommend!!“

“Great steak! My wife and I had a med-rare filet, and it was delicious. The filet came with three different choices of presentations. The service was excellent, and the Owner stopped by to introduce himself and to ensure everything was what we expected. We will return to Burrells on our next visit to Charleston.“

“Good food friendly staff food and drink specials like Trivia night“

“Our experience at Élevé absolutely exceeded expectations. On Monday, we gathered with friends for a delightful rooftop dinner that felt both elegant and relaxed, with remarkably artful cuisine, a chic rooftop garden ambiance, and breathtaking views of downtown Charleston’s cobblestones made it unforgettable. Then on Tuesday, we returned simply for a glass of wine at sunset, and that alone felt like magic.

What truly elevated the experience was the service. I didn’t catch the server’s name Monday but she was fabulous. On Tuesday, Hannah was a true highlight, warm, bright, and effortlessly attentive. Both servers navigated the evenings beautifully.

The setting is one of Charleston’s most artful dining destinations, with an elegant rooftop garden and an inventive coastal cuisine rooted in Southern and French flavors, where every detail, from the herbs to the presentation, is intentional. The vibe borders on whimsical: a rooftop wonderland where art, cocktails, and culinary design converge.

Élevé isn’t just a dinner, it’s an experience you want to savor again and again. If you’re in Charleston, plan to stay awhile, and ask for Hannah.“