50 Best Seafood Restaurants near Johns Island

“We recently visited Charleston and forgot to make dinner reservations, that’s when we happed on to The Royal Tern. Despite no reservations, they gladly seated us at a great table. The food was exquisite, everything from the Raw Bar, the fried shrimp, to the halibut. The halibut was prepared perfectly and was so unique; the ingredients worked together in delicious synergy. My cocktail was on-point, too. As a home cook, being able to watch the chefs prepare the meals was fascinating. Mad respect for their craft. Met one of the owners as he was making his rounds in the dining room, and he was a lovely person. He even printed a map w/shortcuts for us since traffic is so bad in the Charleston area. Highly recommend, will definitely be back next time we’re in town.“

“had a wonderful lunch there. the sortayed shrimp and salad were so delicious. everything looked and smelled fresh. the people were so kind and friendly. when your on John's island a must to go to .“

“The best fish tacos, and shrimp tacos I’ve had outside of Baja (and maybe be better than those too)!“

“Love Gilligan's
We are from out of town and have been going to Gilligan's for years on our trips to Kiawah. Gracie our server was great along with the food.
Alligator bites, complimentary hush puppies to start. Seafood platter and grouper tacos were great!
Highly recommended“

“Kids food was reasonably priced and portions were solid. The seafood platter was not great and looked thrown together quickly, but tacos were fantastic. The view and atmosphere were also wonderful. I would probably go back just for that part of the experience.“

“I highly recommend the fried crab. it is so delicious. and priced very reasonable .“

“Resort restaurant that nails the food and decor. But ...

You gotta give guests water immediately after they are seated. The captain can do this. It's pretty hot in August, so the guests will notice this. Easy thing to fix.

On the plus side, we were at the Dunlin for a special occasion and Linette's recognized it. That was awesome.“

“Love sitting outside and watching the boats come in and go out… ♥️“

“OMG, The food, service and overall experience was amazing. Dan and the guys behind the bar made sure it was an excellent experience. Will be going back every year on St. Patrick’s day.🍀“

“The best, freshest seafood! Best fish taco i ever put in my mouth. And love the atmosphere!“

“We enjoyed oysters, yellowfin tuna, clam chowder, steak and the fish basket plus some delicious drinks! Service was amazing as well as the entire experience. Highly recommend!“

“Always a fantastic time at Husk. It’s my go to spot when I’m in town. The bar team in the carriage house, Beau and Damian are rockstars and will make sure you are taken care of. Ryan’s warm hospitality is always great. Topped by the fantastic food and drinks! Don’t miss it!“

“DOPE very well thought out menu, top notch ingredients, top to bottom an amazing experience. 10/10 wait in line it's worth it“

“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!“

“Great food and service. Highly recommend.“

“Simply perfection! The oyster selection is otherworldly. The chargrilled oysters the best Ive had in my life. (Florida born an culinary chef.) The peel & eat shrimp so plump and served ice cold I have craved them since I had them. The service was above and beyond. The atmosphere encouraged private chatter but also conversation with next table easily. Friendly and cheerful and above all excellent food served with smiles, suggestions, and ease. I will never visit Charleston again without making sure to dine here. (Do not eat the soup. I actually sent it back to the kitchen. Never have I had to do that. ) Highly recommend again and again for everything else.“

“Had a fish sandwich. Collard greens, slaw, fried oysters, and calamari. Outstanding. Collards off the chart. Service even better. 15/10 recommend.“

“Absolutely amazing! Amazing food, amazing management, amazing staff! You honestly can’t go wrong with this establishment, just be prepared to wait to get in…but it will be well worth the wait!“

“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. :)“

“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..“

“Great food & service! I had the best Cobb salad & peel & eat shrimp! Will definitely be back next time we’re in town.“

“My date was sick and couldn't keep our brunch date. Since it was a new decade birthday for me, I went alone and had a wonderful time!! I sat in a bar booth and had fun interacting with the very interesting, knowledgeable server, who also was an adventurous cook at home. I sampled new things and compared dishes with other diners as they were leaving. It is my new favorite restaurant in Charleston! The interior is pretty, cheerful and bright. The oyster / bone marrow was elegant. So many good dishes. Their sister restaurant, The James, is also wonderful! It's not as upscale, but delicious, non-the-less! Somebody is doing something right!!“

“Food was outstanding. The service was amazing.“

“Fabulous. And if you're impatient, the sro.. best service in the house!“

“What an amazing place! Went without reservations..told them it was my 70th birthday! Got a great table for 2 in back dining room…food was amazing! Our waiter Brian was the best! When I was disappointed that the didn’t have an apple dessert I wanted he had someone go across the street to get me one with a candle on it! And Josh brought us a glass of champagne… they didn’t know us …just met us.. and treated us to make my night extra special! Try High Cotton you will love it! ( we had the Filet and crab cakes)“

“Our server was great (Jayden!) and Kory was wonderful too! Quick service, great food, and servers that went out of their way! Five stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️“

“Kyle Angela &Doyle and Max great hospitality food and service 10/10 ❤️“

“Some gal pals and I went here the other month and from start to finish it was an absolute delight. As a seasoned veteran of sampling culinary delights I have got to admit it was one of the best meals and experiences of my days. Absolutely no notes.“

“The service was impeccable! Suzanne and I had one of the best experiences during our weekend in Charleston. Suzanne loved her Shrimp and Grits, and I opted for a Ribeye Sandwich. I'm glad I did as it was perfect. Suzanne's birthday brunch was enhanced by the live Gospel music lofting through the building. I could go on and on about our brunch it was that much of an experience.“

“Excellent food , service was excellent and an all around great experience. Will definitely be back“

“Not the friendliest experience but the food was worth the wait and fairly priced. Delicious!“

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

“Great place to stop and have a drink or two with great seafood!“

“It is the best! I am a southern woman born and raised in Charleston! It is locally owned too!“

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

“Fried crabs always on point“

“An excellent dining experience. A great view, very knowledgeable and attentive staff, and amazing food! We so enjoyed dining here for our 30th wedding anniversary while we were visiting the island on vacation. We look forward to visiting again in the future! I didn't take any pics because we wanted to enjoy our time, so make a reservation and see for yourself!“

“Can’t hold back any longer, after this 2nd time visit, I felt to give a full and honest review. If I can rate this higher than 5 stars I would, but I say, the food, the hospitality and atmosphere continue to amaze us. Our server Hannah made sure we knew the specials, the menu and food items before ordering. The fast and friendly service, prompt food service was spot on again. The quality and freshness is evident just by seeing how the food looks but the taste of fresh and wholesome is confirmed with each bite. From the biscuits, the eggs, and Ofcourse the low country comfort food of chicken/waffles & grits were really great and actually better than expected. The house infused Bloody Mary was the perfect brunch addition.
If you are in the Charleston area, this is a must visit. Located just across the street to the Mills House hotel, right off Queen St is the perfect location walkable convenient access from just about any area. Yes they are dog friendly on their porch areas.“

“Excellent food and service.“

“ate there tonight and food was great and service was amazing! Def a must go to if you are in the area!“

“Some of the best food ever! If in Charleston, it is a must. Love the Charleston Carb House!“

“Traveling on our girls Beach trip we are challenged to find a restaurant with a view, great menu and service! LoLo’s has a dock with an amazing view right on the marsh. Beautiful at sunset. The food was amazing with good sized portions. The hush puppies with honey butter! a 10 out of 10! The service was with a genuine smile and patient feedback when helping us decide from a chefs menu “what is your heart telling you to get”!“

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

“Every time I come to Charleston and want fresh seafood my favorite and only place to go is Marvin’s.Thank you for years of fresh seafood and customer service.“

“We have dined at Easterby’s for as long as I remember. They never disappoint. The food is the best in town, reasonably priced, the service is impeccable, and it’s a family friendly restaurant. Chuck is the most amazing guy! He is good at what he does, he pays attention , never an empty drink, always keeps up with the customers tables, and is always smiling. Out of the 20 years I’ve been dining there, 15 of those have always been with him . The staff is just so welcoming, it’s definitely a laid back atmosphere. I highly encourage everyone to go hang out and get some good food with some of the best people in town!!“

“As a commissary kitchen, it is a great place to work! Moving to this kitchen was the best business move we’ve made this far! There are multiple vendors that sell hot food, and even more vendors that sell a variety of foods in the grab and go section!“

“Best seafood ever and I don’t particularly like seafood, but this was exceptional“

“Was there celebrating my 32nd Birthday. They definitely know how to make a girl feel special. We had a group of about 10 people. Our server (can’t remember her name) was amazing. Usually most restaurants frown upon having a large group to serve. Not these people! They were all amazing!! Couldn’t ask for a better place & way to celebrate my birthday!!“

“Absolutely amazing! Amazing food, amazing management, amazing staff! You honestly can’t go wrong with this establishment, just be prepared to wait to get in…but it will be well worth the wait!“