Every season in Charleston brings a fresh bounty from waters both fresh and salty — soft shell crabs in the spring, white shrimp in the fall and oysters in the winter. And with the continued boom in restaurants and culinary talent in Charleston, that means there’s always something delicious on the menu.
This by-no-means-exhaustive list highlights restaurants new, classic and underrated, where seafood is always the focal point.
The Kingstide
The only waterfront restaurant on Daniel Island is just a quick stroll from the marina, making it a perfect stop for a post-cruise lunch or dinner. But this isn’t your average dockside haunt. The airy, two-story space is stunning, and the menu is equally as thoughtful — much of the seafood comes from local and regional fisheries, farmers and purveyors.
CudaCo. Seafood House
This criminally underrated James Island restaurant, market and butchery is where you’ll find the best selection of local seafood around, from Bulls Bay clams to McClellanville shrimp. CudaCo.’s new Deckhouse Crudo Wine Bar offers expanded seating options, including an al fresco deck with marshfront views.
The menu at this locally-owned hotspot in Downtown Summerville changes regularly, including the daily lineup of fresh oysters. You can’t go wrong with the banh mi-inspired shrimp roll or the chili-dusted tuna tartare, both consistent menu staples.
The latest restaurant from the Neighborhood Dining Group (the same team behind Husk and Marbled & Fin) offers a playful take on seafood from both near and far. The hook here is that the food feels elevated but never too serious — like the “Roll Your Own” sushi menu, which offers caviar and beef tartare.
The restaurant formerly known as the Marina Variety Store at Charleston City Marina reopened earlier this year as Fin & Crab. What hasn’t changed is the waterfront view — one of the best in downtown — and classics like Old Bay-dusted, peel-and-eat shrimp. Enjoy dockside or take it to go on your boat.
Chic meets campy at Jason Stanhope’s Sullivan’s Island outpost, where a day at the beach ends with a hearty seafood feast. Share the hush puppies, which feature an optional side caviar service, and fill up on the lowcountry boil (shrimp, andouille, potato, and corn).
Expect ocean views and coastal Italian flair at this Isle of Palms restaurant from chef-owner Ken Vedrinski, a three-time James Beard Award semi finalist and owner of the now-closed but beloved Trattoria Lucca. The menu is always changing, but think pasta laced with blue crab and wreckfish prepared marsala-style with a potato crust and topped with cured tomatoes and oyster mushrooms.
On John’s Island’s Maybank Highway, The Royal Tern is a local favorite for upscale coastal dining, with a soaring, sun-soaked space just a short drive away from Kiawah Island and downtown Charleston. The raw bar and seafood towers take center stage as do the house-made desserts from pastry chef Sydney Frey.
The menu at this heavily lauded downtown restaurant changes as often as the tides. Show up ready to order a little bit of everything, from eclectic, flavor-packed small plates to whole cooked fish. Diners start forming a line hours before opening, but there’s good news — a limited number of reservations are now available via OpenTable for members with Gold status or the Chubby Fish Line Waiter will wait for you.
This former bank is now one of most celebrated seafood restaurants in Charleston. Popular highlights of this small but well-edited menu include the chilled seafood towers, crispy oyster sliders, and, of course, whatever’s fresh that day. Reservations can be hard to come by, so plan in advance, but a party of one or two can typically slip in at the bar.
