Restaurants
Believe it or not, you won’t have to go very far to find a Charlestonian who will tell you that as recently as 25 years ago there were only a few white tablecloth restaurants in the entire city. That seems incredible today, when there are easily two dozen truly fine dining options to choose from on any given evening out on the town.
With the revitalization of our downtown area and the draw of people to all places South, there has been an accompanying influx of outstanding new culinary talent and the interest to match. In fact, Charleston has been home to some of the country’s most respected culinary institutions. This deepens the talent pool for dining establishments all over the Lowcountry. Now establishments and styles fit almost every whim while making a true effort to share and preserve the traditional cuisine of the Lowcountry. We have included information, typical fare, and opinions in this chapter that may help you with your selections. Menu items are frequently seasonal and subject to change.
Overview
The list here is not exhaustive but gives, we feel, a fair representation of what is available on the downtown Peninsula, in Mount Pleasant, on the islands east of the Cooper, and in the areas and islands west of the Ashley River. Not included in our descriptions are the familiar national restaurant chains. Eateries are categorized by type of food offered. Bear in mind that many of the downtown restaurants are housed in old and historic buildings that may not be wheelchair accessible. If that’s an issue for you or your party, it’s always good to call ahead.
Whatever your budget, we feel confident you’ll find in the following listings the perfect setting for enjoying Lowcountry meals that will augment your stay in the Trident area.
1. Alex’s Restaurant
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 881-7714
Address: 302 Coleman Blvd.
Description: Open 24 hours a day, this Alex’s is a popular spot for breakfast on the way to the beach or a late-night meal on the way home. Recently, the Sunday lunch crowd has been thick too. The restaurant is large and attractive, and draws locals as well as visitors to the area. You can’t beat its standard bacon, eggs, and biscuits with plenty of hot joe. Other Alex’s Restaurants are scattered throughout Greater Charleston, with a location in North Charleston at 3713 Dorchester Rd. (843-747-9198), and in Summerville at 522 N. Magnolia St. (843-871-3202).
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1 Ashley Pointe Dr.
3. Easterby’s Family Grille
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 556-5707
Address: 2388 Ashley River Rd.
Description: Easterby’s on Ashley River Road (SR 61) is a comfortable, affordable place for casual dining and local seafood. It’s a popular lunch stop for tourists heading out to the plantations along the highway. Dinner patrons enjoy the same seafood (fried or not), steaks, and pastas, she-crab soup, catfish stew, shrimp creole, and soft-shell crabs. Spirits are available, and reservations are not necessary unless you’re in a large group. Lunch and dinner are served Mon through Sat until 10 p.m.
4. Fischer’s Sports Pub & Grill
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 243-0210
Address: 1883 Andell Bluff Blvd.
Description: If Ernest Hemingway were alive today, you’d find him at Fischer’s. This authentic, family-owned pub at the Bohicket Marina is a perfect place to rub shoulders with the locals. Come in flip-flops straight from the beach and enjoy the best fried shrimp/oyster baskets anywhere around; even the french fries are exceptional. Whether you’re watching the game on the big-screen TVs, shooting a round of pool, or just throwing back a cold beverage, Fischer’s is a hangout you’ll enjoy frequenting any day of the week from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
5. Fonduely Yours
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 849-6859
Address: 853 Coleman Blvd.
Description: It is safe to say that Fonduely Yours is a one-of-a-kind dining experience in this area. As the name suggests, this restaurant specializes in fondues. Try cheese, vegetable, seafood, teriyaki, and sirloin fondues, and don’t miss the chocolate fondue for dessert. The food is tasty, and the whole concept is lots of fun. With fondue, you’re the chef, and you do the cooking right at your table. Dinner is served each evening starting at 5:30 until 9:30 p.m., Fri and Sat until 11 p.m.
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1036 Chuck Dawley Blvd.
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
8. Starfish Grille
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 762-9252
Address: 520 Folly Rd.
Description: This attractive little bistro is located in the Merchant Village Shopping Center on Folly Road. The restaurant’s digs sport a strictly casual feeling. The Grille offers a full gamut of sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes. Appetizers include Greek-style shrimp with angel hair pasta and feta and grilled salmon salad. Entrees range from Carolina crab cakes to smoky pulled pork terrine. Of course, there’s always a fresh catch of the day. The place is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week. It’s a pleasant option for Sunday brunch, too. No reservations are required, but call ahead for parties of 6 or more. There’s a full bar with ample varieties of beer and a limited wine list by the glass. Don’t forget the appealing array of frozen and dessert drinks.
9. Sullivan’s On the Island
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 883-3222
Address: 2019 Middle St.
Description: A favorite with the islanders and others in the know, Sullivan’s is a family restaurant with affordable, good food. Not fancy, Sullivan’s is just what the regulars want—a place to order delicious, traditional specials that include steaks, burgers, shrimp and grits, or oysters and scallops with a veggie and dessert for less than $20. Dinner is served every day starting at 5 p.m. There is a children’s menu, and Sunday brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
10. Sunfire Grill and Bistro
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 766-0223
Address: 1090 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
Description: The white tablecloth dining options in West Ashley are somewhat limited. That’s why it’s good to know there’s Sunfire Grill and Bistro on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard across from the Park Center office complex. This trendy restaurant and pub is popular with business folk at lunch and locals after work and when the dinner hour comes. The salad bar is plentiful and fresh. But more ambitious appetites are well-served by entrees like their lowcountry crab cakes with a lemon-caper sauce. Steaks, chops, chicken, and daily specials round out the menu offered Mon through Sun. The after-church crowd enjoys their Sunday brunch.
11. T-Bonz Gill & Grill
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 556-2478
Address: 1668 Old Towne Rd.
Description: Another vibrant, happening spot with a couple of locations throughout the city, T-Bonz serves a wonderful filet mignon (when you say rare, they take you at your word) as well as fresh gourmet burgers, and even seafood. There’s plenty of beer on tap, including T-Bonz’ own custom-brewed ales like “Cooper River Red” and “Market Street Wheat.” Photographs of regular customers and Western paraphernalia adorn the walls, and you can’t miss the enormous painting of the renegade cowboys on horseback. Regular customers order side veggies (sautéed and delicious) and feel comfortable having the kids along. Takeout is another option. They’re ropin’ ’em in for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. A second location is at 80 North Market St. (843-577-2511).
12. Toast
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 534-0043
Address: 155 Meeting St.
Description: Toast has accomplished an alchemy that few Charleston restaurants have been able to achieve. Here’s a simple, convenient, friendly place to get an amazingly hearty breakfast, lunch, or dinner that’s unpretentious, yet creatively prepared and, best of all, affordable. Toast is that rare find that’s become almost extinct in downtown Charleston. The chalkboard outside the door lists an array of daily specials that are American and Lowcountry favorites. Look for coconut and pineapple to add zest to the fare. Come hungry; portions are generous. Toast is open daily starting at 6:30 a.m. for those who want to get an early jump on the day.
13. Triangle Char & Bar
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 377-1300
Address: 828 Savannah Hwy.
Description: With its 2-story-tall windows, the Triangle Char & Bar is a fun, open place to meet friends for an evening meal or just to enjoy the great desserts, cordials, and specialty coffees at the bar. Situated on a triangular piece of land between Savannah Highway and Magnolia Road, it offers plenty of outside seating for pleasant summer evenings. From the live charcoal grill, you can order from the daily specials that may include fresh fish, chicken, pork, or steaks. Don’t miss the chicken liver appetizer with creamed corn and Tasso gravy over grits. Sandwich favorites include the fish tacos and the classic cuban. Sunday brunch is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner is served Mon through Sat starting at 4:30 p.m., and lunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
14. Trotters Restaurant
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 571-1000
Address: 2008 Savannah Hwy.
Description: Trotters Restaurant, in the Town & Country Inn, is a good find for an all-out buffet—breakfast and lunch as well as weekend seafood spreads. Sunday brunch is popular with the after-church crowd. The buffet table always groans with a wide selection of meats, seafood, vegetables, and desserts. There’s no Saturday lunch or Sunday dinner, but Trotters is open for all other meals every day.
15. Vickery’s Bar & Grill
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (843) 884-4440
Address: 1313 Shrimp Boat Lane (Shem Creek)
Description: Vickery’s Bar & Grill is on Shem Creek, and is as talked about for its unusual bar as for its good food. There’s always an eclectic bunch of interesting folks to meet—young professionals and rebels with a cause. The fare here is vaguely Cuban, with a Southern twist. The original Vickery’s is in Atlanta and has always earned good reviews there. Grab a booth or a table, inside or out, and order a burger (with piping hot, hand-cut fries) or a delicious seafood entree. Vickery’s is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.