50 Best American Restaurants in Charleston

“Charming southern fare in a beautiful Victorian setting! The shrimp dumplings are a standout—perfectly seasoned and bursting with flavor. The cozy, historic ambiance adds to the experience, making it a must-visit spot in Charleston. Great service and a menu that truly captures the essence of Southern cuisine. Highly recommend!“

“Delicious meal & friendly staff“

“Get the ricotta gnocchi with the truffle service!“

“Excellent service! The atmosphere was an amazing place to grab a drink and/or eat for the evening while socializing.“

“We LOVED our lunch visit a few weeks ago! great service, excellent food, loads of fun!“

“we had dinner there last night with 35 guests.we were served family style and everything was delicious.service was excellent even with the large crowd
That was probably the best prime rib I’ve had in a long time
Thanks for making our night special
Jack Krauss“

“Vern’s Restaurant in downtown Charleston truly exceeded our expectations and left us with an unforgettable dining experience. The food was exceptional—quite possibly the best meal we have ever had.“

“Great food, prompt service. The polenta was wonderful!“

“Not just a meal, but an experience. My taste buds are still craving everything at Wild Common. I would go back in a heartbeat. The food, wine som, creative cocktails, and atmosphere are 5 stars!“

“Had brunch today. Food was good. The chicken and waffle was really tasty.“

“amazing food amazing staff get the fried chicken“

“Love coming here for the Catfish Sandwich and frozen Cin and Tonic!“

“Best restaurant in Charleston! It really is a must!“

“Yet another great experience at Charleston Grill. We try to come here whenever we visit Charleston. The service is always awesome and the food is great. You get what you pay for... it's not inexpensive. The Crab Cake is always a great appetizer. And the scallops are beautiful prepared. We'll be back!“

“What a wonderful, exquisite and lovely place for dinner. The staff was extraordinary the food was amazing. Thank you Gabe for the great hospitality and pleasure. 😍we will return 🥰😋🥰😋“

“I asked my fiancé to find a nice coffee shop that also sells beer in Charleston. After her google search, she asked our friends at The Lucky Luchador and they also recommended your establishment. I was definitely impressed with the atmosphere and selection of beer that was available. I will be coming back soon and will be your ugliest ambassador!!! 😊“

“Always amazing!! Cooking class with Chef Tyler was so fun!! Zero George is our go to in Charleston!“

“Great meal and awesome waitress“

“Best meal, service, and atmosphere we've had in Charleston! All our food was delicious, but the shrimp and grits was out of this world! Best decision we made was to eat there.“

“Unique cocktails; friendly knowledgeable waitstaff“

“Had a great experience and stay… we enjoyed our time at the pool bar. Bartenders were very engaging and friendly.. great group and they make great drinks. Cozy and quaint.. just wish they played music around pool and not just on the bar side.“

“Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this place. Our meal was fantastic!

For appetizers, we had the ricotta and crab—something my wife wanted more than I did, so I wasn’t expecting much, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was incredible. The fried oyster sliders, delicious.

For entrées, we ordered the short ribs and the burger. The short ribs were good, but the biggest surprise was the burger. That cheese sauce and “fancy” sauce—whatever it is—was insanely good.

On top of that, the $10 happy hour cocktails (the daiquiri was great, especially for the price) and free parking in the building made the experience even better.

Highly recommend!“

“Food was excellent! Our server was excellent as well. We will be back!“

“Great little place. I enjoyed my vegan sandwich. Garrett is very pleasant, made my day.“

“Loved absolutely everything about this restaurant. The sweet potato fries with vegan ranch were excellent. I had the basic bowl and wanted to just drink the green sauce! The combination of flavors was fantastic. The drinks were amazing as well. 10/10 would recommend.“

“Jenn was the best waitress I have ever had and I go to restaurants for fun. She was caring and was passionate! The buffalo Brussels sprouts were amazing and the shrimp Gnocchi was to die for!!! 10/10 would recommend and ask for Jenn!!!“

“Herd Provisions in Charleston is an absolute gem! Having dined at some of the best steakhouses around, I can confidently say the filet at Herd Provisions stands out as truly exceptional. The flavor of the steak was superior—perfectly seasoned, tender, and cooked to perfection, showcasing a depth of taste that’s hard to find elsewhere. I also have to strongly recommend the wild mushrooms as a side. They’re bursting with just the right amount of flavor, and the hint of spice takes them to the next level, making them the perfect accompaniment to the steak. The combination was nothing short of phenomenal. The farm-to-table approach at Herd Provisions is evident in every bite, and the care they put into their ingredients and preparation truly elevates the dining experience. If you’re in Charleston and craving a steak dinner that’s a cut above the rest, this is the place to go. Don’t miss it!“

“Great food, excellent atmosphere and great service“

“Beautiful restaurant with Fabulous food and service! Look forward to our next visit.“

“Dinner was very good & everyone was so very nice. Had reservations & they seated us at 5. It was Mothers Day& graduation week so they were really busy BUT no one made us feel rushed. We will definitely come back..“

“We were given a tip on this restaurant. While tough to get a table it was quickly obvious why. We had the rabbit roulade and the steak w wild mushrooms, but just as good as the main courses were the lamb dumpling appetizers. It was also a beautiful, refined atmosphere with top notice service.“

“What an amazing place, food, atmosphere and people were awesome!! Great Birthday Dinner!“

“Service, ambiance, and cuisine all extraordinary! Now one of my favorite restaurants of all time! Thank you Shane and your expert staff!!“

“Beautiful restaurant. I recommend to dine inside. I love ambience more than anything. The garlic knot appetizer is tasty. Hand cut fries. We got the sandwiches. Other cool restaurants near by. I highly recommend to make reservations. They have booths and chairs to sit on.“

“Great food; great service“

“Came for lunch today and the food, service and portions were great! Highly recommend the Buttermilk Catfish Sandwich with the sauce that comes with truffle fries instead of mayo!“

“Sat by the window thoroughly enjoyed our meal We had wings, chicken pot pie, turkey club Was really homemade and delighted to finely have real turkey (not deli meat or turkey roll) and fresh chicken pie - service and food excellent!“

“1st time eating there and OMG!! Delicious!!! Must try the pork rind nachos .. it’s a must!!“

“just a great experience, food , wine and service.“

“My wife and I visited Eleve for an afternoon refreshment and had a great experience. Katie, our server, was friendly and was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. We sat out on the rooftop patio which was very comfortable with a nice view. We can definitely recommend a visit here when you're visiting Charleston!“

“I found out about Southbound, through my job. I had to go do some work there, and found the owner and everyone there, super friendly. Most people at restaurants ignore working people while they are there. As my 42nd anniversary was quickly approaching, I decided to give this place a try. Some of my past picks, have not been the best. Southbound cleared EVERY hurdle I have about restaurants. From the moment we approached the restaurant, great service began! While coming thru the gate, the hostess yelled out, "HEY LARRY" and then said, "This must be your beautiful wife"! Like CHEERS, it felt great to go somewhere, "Where everybody knows your name" We were seated and got to view the open fire oven. I had dropped off 42 roses the week before for them to put on our table, for my wife. Tropical storm Debbie, and downtown flooding prevented us from going exactly on our anniversary. I was worried that store bought roses, would not last thru the weeklong delay, Joel assured me everything would be taken care of, and not to worry. As we were seated, there on the table, sat 42 roses. Fresh, and arranged with baby breath flowers included. I was told the young lady with the hostess had arranged them. They were gorgeous! They also had an anniversary card on the table from them, not something I had dropped off. The service was tremendous, the food indescribably outstanding! I have only had steak Tar Tar once before in my life, and was greatly afraid to try it again, as the first time was awful. It was superb! They take great pride in the presentation of their food products. I felt like I was in an episode of Master Chef. We had the steak, as well as the Sea bass, okra, corn, sweet potatoes, and the Caramel cake. Everything absolutely wonderful! This was a truly wonderful and memorable dining experience!! I would give 100 stars, and a Siskel and Ebert two thumbs up! There was only one thing I was disappointed about. No sweet tea! Were In Charleston SC, no sweet tea. Everything else totally made up for it though. The staff even had everyone present sign a menu, wishing us a happy anniversry1 I will most definatly go there again for a special occasion. Thanks to Andrew, Joel, and the entire staff, for making this night special!!“

“all around great experience! we were seated immediately outside with no reservation and even though it was chilly out the heaters kept us perfectly warm! the food was so delicious and came out so quickly and the little touch at the end with the free brandy tasting and flower was lovely! highly recommend!!“

“Outstanding meal from the drinks to the she crab soup to the delicious entrees. The key lime pie was a great ending to the meal. Sara was fantastic and made wonderful suggestions for food - she had perfect timing and had just the right amount of conversation with us. Truly a memorable meal and reasonably priced, especially for Charleston. Will be back next time we are in town.“

“Everything was a hit! Cheddar bacon fries with the cheddar dust, amazing. Black and blue burger, fried shrimp, and the Harlow, the best hands down. Then there’s the MASSIVE banana pudding. We live in Summerville, but will for sure be making the trip back!“

“Charming Atmosphere, but Low Value

We went here for brunch to this conveniently located close to downtown, with easy access and a relatively quiet setting neighborhood. Parking is across the street so if you have a tough time walking or handicap you may have to think it through. I’m not sure if there was handicap parking. The atmosphere, from the parking lot across the street to when you walk inside, creates a homey feel, neighborhood vibe. It’s pretty welcoming and warm charm.

However once seated, things were not as smooth. The chairs at the table were uncomfortable, which made it harder to relax and enjoy talking after meal etc. The menu is concise but also offers unique food and drinks that I suspect to appeal to many. The food itself was good, flavorful- but I can’t say it was great value for the price. The drinks, while looking great on the menu, were a bit disappointing; as I received a drink almost all ice. The drink did not last and probably got only 5 sips out of it.

Another issue was the eggs. We asked for them to be well done but they came out being looser than well done. For what it is worth we did not send the eggs back but we didn’t want the other foods to get cold.

Overall, the experience was decent. I appreciate the cozy vibe but I believe there are better options around town that offer more value and comfort.“

“Amazing food and spectacular service from Kat! Highly recommend the pub burger and truffle fries. The tuna poke is excellent as well! You can’t miss this place when in Charleston!“

“Had the steak & cheese eggrolls, pulled pork nachos and pineapple passionfruit marg. All so good! Would def come back and recommend to others! 😁“

“All I can say is WOW. My sister and I were visiting for a girls weekend and came across The Belmont while walking King Street. From the welcoming staff as we entered seats were made available quickly! Let me tell you- their holiday and their full time cocktails are incredible. We sat at the bar, and James couldn’t have been sweeter-plus can that man make a martini like no other!! The Belmont will absolutely be on our “must visit” next time in Charleston!“

“I love sitting at the bar having dinner and a drink. There is always someone to talk to and the staff are awesome people.“

“Best bbq I’ve ever had. Brisket was perfect. Even the side dishes shined and were delicious in their own right. Coleslaw had some jalapeño kick to it. Lived up to the hype! Highly recommend.

Parking: Plenty of parking across the street in the shopping complex.“