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Charleston is blessed with a bevy of Southern-inflected selections, from barbecue parlors to fish shacks to casual places serving Lowcountry fare like shrimp and grits. If you'd like to try something new, there are plenty of places serving updated, inspired versions of classic dishes. Before you leave, you'll definitely see why Charleston is considered one of the greatest food cities in the world.
The city's dining scene status continues to rise, boosted by a group of James Beard Foundation repeat award winners. Robert Stehling of Hominy Grill, Mike Lata of FIG and The Ordinary, Jason Stanhope of FIG, and Sean Brock of McCrady's and Husk each earned the designation of Best Chef: Southeast, in successive years. The city boasts other prodigious talents, too: Alex Lira of Bar Normandy, Jeremiah Bacon of the Macintosh, Michelle Weaver of Charleston Grill, Ken Vedrinski of Trattoria Lucca, Jacques Larson of Wild Olive and The Obstinate Daughter, and Josh Walker of Xiao Bao Biscuit. It's the establishment of the New South, circa now.
As for attire, Charleston invites a crisp yet casual atmosphere. Don't forget, it was recognized as the Most Mannerly City in the country by Marjabelle Young Stewart, which means that residents are slow to judge (or, at the least, that they're doing so very quietly). On the whole, the city encourages comfort and unhurried, easy pacing. The result is an idyllic setting in which to enjoy oysters on the half shell and other homegrown delicacies from the land and sea that jointly grant the city its impressive culinary standing.
This ambitious Italian osteria serves inspired pastas and small plates that may be the city's most flavorful Italian fare. Co-owner and chef Michael Toscano melds far-flung ingredients into cohesive dishes—a bucatini blends chili, basil, and provolone with octopus and sweet peppers, or opt for squid ink spaghetti with shrimp and jalapeño pesto that leaves a lasting flavor memory.
The third entry in Brooks Reitz's geographically constrained restaurant empire (you can stand on Upper King Street and see all three venues at once), Melfi's is as evocative as the chophouse and oyster garage that preceded it. Styled after a quintessential Italian-American dining room, Melfi's mischievous streak darts through the shaken Negronis and ends with the restaurant's excellent Roman-style pies.
Known for the fine Italian cuisine he offers here on Sullivan's Island and a few bridges away at Wild Olive on Johns Island, talented Jacques Larson might be as known for his seafood, pasta, and pizza as he is for his affable, good-guy charm. At OD, choose from the excellent gnocchi, inventive pizzas, and spicy bucatini pasta, or dive into surprises like grilled octopus with white beans, collard flower kimchi, and scallops and squid fra diavolo. The music is vintage R&B, and the vibe is relaxed at the nautical-styled restaurant that manages to feel like a local spot that just happens to serve downtown-level fare.
Michael Mina made a splash in Charleston with this lavish ristorante, marking the moment when serial fine-dining restauranteurs once focused on Las Vegas and resort destinations finally arrived in one of the nation's most celebrated—yet still primarily independent—restaurant scenes. The difficulty securing a reservation underscores how warmly Sorelle has been welcomed, thanks to flavor memories implanted by the piccata-style swordfish and a zeppole bedecked with caviar, stracciatella, and prosciutto. At $50, that savory Italian doughnut is a frontrunner for the most magnificently decadent mouthful in Charleston. Spread across two floors of a historic building, the Sorelle experience varies from a chef's table outside the wood-fired oven to cozy corner booths in the always-ebullient dining room.
What began as a neighborhood Italian joint on Johns Island was soon discovered by downtowners as a reason to drive off the peninsula. Chef Jacques Larson's amalgam of Italian cuisine and Lowcountry seafood is both authentic and inventive, from handmade Granny Smith apple ravioli to local littleneck clams, served with a spicy lemon-caper zupetta. The calm, romantic atmosphere rivals any date night downtown, but unlike anywhere along King Street, there's plenty of parking.
Carmine’s serves fare that both draws locals and also compels I-95 travelers to go out of their way for dishes that even native-born Italians rave over. Fancy for Walterboro (think chandeliers, a baby grand piano, tablecloths), it’s got a casual-nice atmosphere that’s still quirky. Besides the kind staff, the real star is the food: The veal marsala with fresh mushrooms is a tender treat, the lasagna is divine, and the tiramisu is crave-worthy.
The wood-fired oven is on full display at this Italian-leaning eatery that churns out decadent pizzas—including one dripping with taleggio and burnt honey—and shareable plates like blue crab fritters and a platter of rich pork and beef meatballs sizzling in a cast-iron skillet. Spacious, green-cushioned, round booths are the choice seating inside, but if weather allows, ask for a table in the lovely courtyard, a space shared with the Emeline Hotel.
For sophisticated Italian fare in a vibrant (and sometimes boisterous) setting, this hip spot on Upper King is the place. A modern aesthetic of exposed wood and an open kitchen may drive the design, but the food isn't putting on airs. Start with the burrata cheese served with crisp flatbread, then dive into one of the many unique salads. Don't miss the black-pepper tagliatelle crowned with a soft-boiled egg yolk.
