The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene

What a wreck our experience was. My wife, sister, brother-in-law, aunt, uncle and two cousins went there this week. We are all from South Carolina and were looking for some good seafood. My parents had been to this place years ago and suggested that we go. Getting there should have been an indicator to us. The place is not clearly marked although the GPS took us straight to it. Once inside there wasn't much of a wait so we sat down. We were in a booth up against a wall. While waiting we heard several times what sounded like a large animal scurrying around inside the wall. We told our server and never heard anything back so we're not sure what it was. It took FOREVER for our order to be taken and then to get it. The whole place is not air-conditioned and it was July in South Carolina so you can imagine how stuffy it was in that place. Then of course, the food finally came. Served on paper plates!!! Our bill came to $130 for six adults and one child (my youngest cousin is very small and didn't eat anything from the menu). The food was just ok. Having grown up in South Carolina I spent many summers at the beach and I feel like I know what good seafood is. This stuff was just OK but I digress. The bill itself amounts to about $18 per person, which isn't to bad except when it came time to pay they informed us that they couldn't or wouldn't split the check. I spoke to an older gentleman about it. He got very defensive about it and said that their policy of not splitting checks was on the menu. I didn't see it on the menu but he insisted it was there. As we discussed things he suggested that, "maybe you shouldn't come back"! The nerve of this guy is beyond me. Between the slow service, the mystery noise in the wall, lack of A/C, and the rude treatment by management I'll never go back to that hole in the wall. Oh yeah, the gratuity was automatically included and they didn't bother to tell me that either. The real icing on the cake comes in the next three or four parties that left after us. We all gathered in the parking lot outside and compared stories. Not one of them was positive and many of these people were locals. The "Wreck" as the locals often call this joint sure is appropriately named. The whole thing was a real train wreck from beginning to end, a real disaster!! DON'T GO THERE! I don't care how good someone says it is. You will regret it.

It had been almost a year since we had been to the Wreck to eat and from the last two reviews, I was afraid it had changed or gone downhill. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder - The Wreck is still the BEST and freshest seafood you can get anywhere for your money near Charleston. We went last Sat.night and there was a 30 min. wait. So, we sat out on the deck and watched the boats come in. We got to see the sun set over the Ravenel Bridge and the wait seemed short. We ordered the grilled seafood platters and it was delicious. No - they still DO NOT accept credit cards and NO you CANNOT smoke or use your cell phone inside the eating area. I am thankful these annoying things are not allowed. If you want a peaceful dinner with wonderful food, great service and a beautiful view - eat at the Wreck. If you want mass-produced pre-frozen dried out fish - eat at one of the other 99 seafood places in and around Charleston. I hope The Wreck never changes.

Possibly the worst place in the United States. Any one can fry a fish, or shrimp, but they even messed that up. We had heard that this was an excellent place to eat, wrong. Try Captain Ds instead, save your money and eat better. This place sucks for air.

You've got to be kidding me! What year are these people living in? Had to leave and look for an ATM to get cash to pay the bill. Never again. Our service was excellent, but the food was mediocre at best.