12 Best Restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina

Hurricanes, fires, and the onslaught of trendy restaurants hitting downtown can't tamp down this family-owned seafood shack that's littered with oyster shells and graffiti. The menu is reliable: big ol' shrimp, fried or boiled; shrimp and grits; hush puppies; and the biggie—trays of piping hot steamed oysters. Dinner is served in an enclosed dock house, on a covered deck, and inside the main building. Find the local landmark on a slip of an island about 20 minutes from downtown and just before Folly Beach. When you see the sign, follow the dirt road until you see water. (Boaters can dock here while they eat.)

Chef Nico Romo made his name at King Street's longstanding upscale seafood restaurant, Fish, before harnessing that name to venture out on his own in Mount Pleasant. Fortunately, his menu still combines his passion for local seafood with his knowledge of French cuisine, although with perhaps a few more liberties taken. Entrées emerge from the wood-fired oven and are best preceded by oysters from the raw bar that anchors the open dining room.

Award-winning chefs deliver every possible type of underwater delight here, from local littleneck clams to wahoo carpaccio. The two-story dining room of this former bank building fills up fast, but you can always belly up to the stunning bar while you wait and enjoy a variety of clever cocktails. Perhaps the best seat is at the oyster bar, where the freshest of bivalves await. And if you're looking for optimum indulgence, ask for the seafood tower. The triple decker will set you back $165, but spilling over with fruits de mer, it is worth every penny.

At first glance, the odd name appears to refer to this waterfront restaurant's exterior, topped off with a shabby screened-in porch (in actuality, the Richard and Charlene was a trawler that slammed into the building during a hurricane in 1989). Located in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant, the kitchen serves up Southern tradition on a plate: boiled peanuts, fried shrimp, and deviled crabs. The best option is the most expensive—the mixed seafood platter with fried flounder, shrimp, oysters, and scallops. Get here early, as the place shuts down by 8 or 9 each night.

In a city revered for its local seafood, a Nantucket transplant has managed to turn its Charleston satellite location into the city's most respected oyster bar. Look for the antique scuba diver's helmet over the door, but show up before the lunch opening or during the midafternoon lull if you want to nab a lobster roll or a platter of little neck clams without a wait—it's first-come, first-serve. If you do have to wait, their Bar 167 just around the corner will keep you lubricated. There's also a 167 Sushi Bar on East Bay St. 

Off a little alley in a restored indigo warehouse, Coast Bar & Grill has a stripped-down look with exposed brick walls and wood columns. Wood-fired seafood and heavy sauces are staples, but lighter dishes like fish tacos and ceviche make it a standout. Highlights include braised grouper served with tasty herbs, shiitake mushrooms, and decadent bacon-and-cheese grits, as well as the lobster and crab gratin, which comes complete with Parmesan mashed potatoes. The place can be noisy, but it's always fun. (It transforms into a boisterous bar in the later hours.) You can watch the cooks in the heat of the open kitchen in the front room or go in the back dining room where it is cooler. There are usually half-price wine specials, and there's live music on Sunday evening.

Ken Vedrinski's Italian homage to the sea on the Isle of Palms is worth the hike from downtown. The crudo (raw fish) with tangerines, wine vinegar, and pickled garlic makes an excellent starter before you dive into local blue crab with parsley, lemons, and bread crumbs or clams with preserved tomatoes and spicy peppers. If the chef is around, he'll be more than happy to make wine recommendations and provide some entertaining conversation. A bonus: this tiny restaurant has ocean views from its second-story patio.

The signature oyster presentation at this upscale seafood spot in a historic single house includes caviar, chives, and champagne. This delectable mouthful sets the tone for further treats to come, including spicy tuna tartare and an impeccably fried flounder with malt vinegar fries. It's a few steps out of the way on Calhoun Street, but worth the walk—and a perfect reservation before a show at the Gaillard Center. 

This upscale fish house serves such Southern adaptations as Lowcountry bouillabaisse and seafood platters that come with sweet-potato fries and coleslaw. With a community table flanked by paper-topped private tables, the lively spot harks back to an earlier time in Charleston's culinary history. The atmosphere retains an authentic vibe, with waiters in long white aprons buzzing about.

This relaxed waterfront spot offers up fare from land and sea alike. Start off with hush puppies served with sweet honey butter and a bowl of she-crab soup, then move on to the Edisto Creek shrimp basket or the fresh catch of the day. Sit on the deck when weather permits, and, if it’s a weekend, enjoy the live music. Add a specialty cocktail to start and a slice of key lime pie to finish and you have vacation dining done right.

Local artist Honey McCrary spent over a year building the 700-square-foot undersea mosaic on the ceiling of this seafood eatery. The beautiful artwork is reason alone to step inside, and it underscores the effort and intention put into the overall design and menu at this fine-dining haven along the City Market. Shareable plates include a signature seafood tower and roasted clams, shrimp, and oysters. 

This 1940s-era filling station—the pumps are still outside—has been converted into an eclectic bar and seafood restaurant. The menu ranges from bar bites like buffalo wings and burgers to local shrimp, crab cakes, and pan-seared mahi-mahi and never disappoints. While the interior is all dive with its concrete floors and bathrooms outside, the food is always fresh and local, plus the beer inventory consists of microbrews. Monday night brings karaoke and draws a lively mix of locals and visitors. Blues and rock bands regularly play on the weekends.