50 Best American Restaurants in Charleston

“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!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Ms. Roses is a fantastic place for lunch or dinner in West Ashley! Location is convenient for anyone around Charleston, which makes it a great place for meeting friends who live all over town. My friend and I met for lunch. I had the Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich with Sweet Potato fries. Our server was very friendly! Excellent customer service. Looking forward to visiting here again for another special occasion.“

“In search of quality shrimp and grits I stumbled upon this place. I saw it being recommended on Reddit for having such. I was almost discouraged from going here because of some of the reviews I read. After eating here I must say, I don’t know what these people were talking about. Food was high quality, service was great, and atmosphere was welcoming. Nothing bad to say from me. Give it a shot!“

“Little Palm is such a cute location, with a rooftop seating and the perfect asthetic! If you're looking for great cocktails and an instagram worthy location for a date night, girls night or bachelorette party this is the place! So many cocktails which are not only cute but very good! The food was good we got the cheeseburger and the chicken & rice, nothing spectacular but if you're coming for a drinks get the Yucca Fries (those are amazing)! There is indoor seating as well as the rooftop and now their backyard area!“

“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!“

“The watch is one of my favorite places to go in Charleston. The restaurant is nicely decorated, the view is great and the food is tasty. The service is always spectacular and I'm always happy to come back. This past time was lacking a bit on the food aspect. We ordered Brussels sprouts and ended up getting broccoli. The lobster pasta needed some salt. The chopped salad took forever to come. But I'm always happy to come back here as I do love the restaurant. I'd definitely recommend always getting the truffle fries (it's the best) and the espresso martini was perfect!“

“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.“

“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!!!“

“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..“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“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!!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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 .“

“Went to this restaurant for drinks and early dinner service was amazing super attentive and the food and drinks were the best we have had on our entire stay none of the Instagram promoted restaurants even compare! Food was to die for and it's was a beautiful ambiance love the garage dining area and being outside but not at same time! Will go back again and again to try the rest of menu!“

“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.“

“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!“

“I can’t say enough…food, service, drinks, atmosphere; it was all top notch without being “too much”. This was a nice relaxing, welcoming environment compared to some of the “upscale” dining we did previously on our trip. True farm to table with all food options. Service was the best I have had in a very long time and was better than most of the cities I have visited.“

“This place is a gem! Awesome local taproom. Great selection of beers - IPAs, stouts, sours, they have it all. The bartenders really know their stuff, and is a Bills fan, who helped me pick out some winners. The vibe is chill and friendly. Definitely a cool spot to kick off a night on King Street! ??“

“Food left me speechless. I can sit here and go over but I want to talk about the innovation that was put into the food. Of course it was good but you can't even put a number on it. You will just have to try it. Worth every penny plus a tip. I didn't really get alcohol but if you want to pair things they have a Somme there for you. The service was top notch even got to speak to the owner. The ambiance matched everything. This was an experience while eating and being served. Just go.“

“Cool place close to downtown. You order at the bar and you pick your food up and take it to your table. You also clean your dishes and toss your trash when done. If you want white linens and table service, this is not going to be your jam. We were there for lunch and there were only a few folks scattered around. Food was good! Burgers were delicious. Bartender was friendly, bathrooms were crazy but clean, outdoor seating was nice. We would go back.“

“Amazing food, service, and I love sitting outside at the courtyard on a nice day! The mussels are our favorite, and the scallops a close 2nd. Make sure you save room for dessert because they are all also delicious!!! Definitely worth the trip to Daniel island to visit this restaurant!!“

“Для любителей пить коктейли в лобби отеля. Коктейль был очень обычный. Поданый не в том стакане и не с тем льдомНо попкорн к коктейлю был очень хорошНе мой формат, вообшем“

“Cool concept and loved not looking at a menu but still having confidence that everything would be delicious, which it was. Seating everyone at the same time also creates a fun communal atmosphere and we enjoyed getting to know some of the other guests. The chefs were all pretty socially awkward which added to the charm and made it an even more unique experience. I only have one critique which is that the main course New York steak was quite small. When we left, I was still a bit hungry, but after a few minutes felt more satisfied. All in all a great experience and I definitely recommend it to anyone who would enjoy the adventure! $70 per head is a bit steep based on the amount of food you actually consume, but when you consider the value of the overall experience, it is worth the price.“

“Had a wonderful dinner at Middleton restaurant and we didn't have to pay for garden entrance if you are here for di bed.The place was very quaint and the view of the garden from the restaurant was so lovely.The host and the waiters were helpful and friendly. They served dinner rolls and they were made by local bakery , Saffron bakery.We had scallops as our appetizer and they were sit on top of mashed yolk, mustard, mayo and Lima beans with bits of crunchy bacons, so so good.For our dinner, we had local grouper with red lentils and egg plants and butcher cut sirloin about 7-8 oz on top of creamy mashed potatoes and green beans. Both entrees were so good.For dessert, I chose the chocolate mousse cake and all their dessert are from Saffron bakery.The restaurant is a non profit restaurant so the restaurant didn't charge us tax on our bill. We were so surprise and very happy about it so if you don't know this then now you know :)I really recommend this place and we'll be back with the kids next time.“

“First trip to Charleston and happened upon this amazing place to grab lunch before out carriage tour. The shrimp and grits and blackened mahi were awesome and we hope to come back to experience the night life here. Such a neat place with multiple floors and lounging options.“

“My husband and I really appreciate this spot. Its one of the few indoor environments we can bring our little chihuahua pup and have a nice meal. Food has never disappointed, neither have drinks and sometimes there is a lovely pianist playing nearby. Fun to people watch and also usually never a long wait. I (almost) don't want to tell others about it because I don't want the secret to get out :). But I also came to leave a review for Darryl, who was our server on a late evening. He was incredibly hospitable and friendly and he was running around serving us alongside a large corporate group that came in late. He made sure our experience was still excellent despite how busy he got. Thank you Darryl and thank you Thoroughbreds for always being so accommodating! We will be back!!“

“After reading several comments on Reddit that Jack's has the best hamburgers, my fiancé and I decided to have lunch here while in Charleston for a wedding. I also saw that some of the southern charm cast dined there which was a big draw for me. We arrived around 2:30 pm on a Friday and it was mostly empty inside - just us and a couple other tables. I loved the vibe of the interior. They had a nice big long bar which would be a good for a first date. Despite the restaurant being empty, our waitress was painfully slow - she didn't check in with us after our food came and it took forever just to flag someone down to pay. Besides that small issue, we loved our burgers. We got the regular tavern burger with the garlic & herb fries. The tavern sauce is so delish - ask for an extra side for your fries. I loved the seasoning on the fries. I would recommend this place for those in North Charleston. A couple doors down is Leon's which is another cool spot to check out.“