Where to Eat and Drink in the Lowcountry | Listen

By: The Local Palate

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Take a roadtrip to the Lowcountry and enjoy some of the best food and drinks the South has to offer

With nods to the church theme, this distillery and tasting room feels like it was crafted in Kentucky bourbon country—stained glass, vaulted ceilings, big leather armchairs, and a wall of specialty bottles available to take home. Go for a tasting flight to sample some of the well-crafted spirits; their Anita’s Choice bourbon is a six-grain spirit with layers of caramel, named for Lowcountry women’s rights advocate Anita Pollitzer.

Chez Nous

Charleston

This little French bistro set in a cottage is an intimate date-night spot, especially with its low-lit seating and handwritten menus. Go with anyone you love, but check the daily menu on social media first, as there are only two options for each of the three courses.

Chubby Fish

Charleston

The magnetized menu over the bar is ever-changing at this local and sustainable corner seafood spot that has made fast fans of Charleston locals. Get there early to reserve a seat—advance reservations aren’t taken—and order a dozen oysters followed by the whole fish.

Costa

Charleston

Tucked into a corner of a condo complex, Costa is run by chef Vinson Petrillo of The Restaurant at Zero George. Southern Italy is the focus here with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients all over the menu. There are fine pastas, of course, as well as pork Milanese, eggplant parmesan, and beef carpaccio. Don’t miss the stellar wine list as well.

Blueberry Cheesecake Hand Pie l vanilla cream Eastwoods Media

FARM

Bluffton

Pushing the boundaries of Bluffton’s food scene, FARM provides a high-level, seasonal-small-plates experience in a cozy, casual space. Our favorites include the burrata and ham, country ham carbonara, and crispy crab croquette, but you can also go big with a celebratory New York strip for two.

FIG

Charleston

Before farm-to-table was a thing, Mike Lata established a network of farmers and purveyors to drive the menu of hyperlocal goodness at what is likely the most oft-recommended table in town. Unless you relish eating dinner at 10:30 p.m., call for reservations at least four weeks in advance.

Hannibal’s Soul Kitchen

Charleston

This casual Black-owned Charleston institution has been in operation since the 1970s and is now run by Sani and Felicity Huger, daughters of previous owner L.J. Huger. Pull up a chair and go for the whole fried flounder and seafood rice, collard plate, okra soup, or turkey wings.

Honeysuckle Rose

Charleston

Ryan and Kelleanne Jones of Southbound fame opened this tasting menu restaurant to be a destination spot with a dinner party vibe, and it shows in the service as well as the menu, which changes frequently, influenced by access to the highest-quality ingredients available, but also accommodates on any dietary preference, from vegan and vegetarian to ingredient allergies. Beverage pairings from wine director Shane Meszaros are as thoughtful as the meal.

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

Hilton Head
This historic property often has lines out the door, so go early. If you choose to sit outdoors on the dock, there are waterfront views and shaded canopies, but inside shows off the original structure’s charm. Wherever you are, don’t miss their own farm-raised Shell Ring oysters, soft-shells when they’re in season, and whatever local catch is on the menu.

Islander 71

Isle of Palms

The menu is simple at this fish house and deck bar overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway—but it’s still hard to choose with offerings like buffalo shrimp, she-crab fries, and Bettie Jane’s crab cakes, especially if you’re saving room for “nanna puddin” for dessert.

Jackrabbit Filly

North Charleston

Jackrabbit Filly comes from Shuai and Corrie Wang of Charleston’s much loved Short Grain food truck. The menu fuses Shuai’s Chinese heritage with his love of Japanese cooking and Lowcountry ingredients. Look for the spicy fish stew at dinner and dim sum brunch on Sundays.

Kwei Fei and Beautiful South

James Island / Charleston

This punk-rock Sichuan spot serves dumplings, dan dan mian, and tongue-numbing dry-rub wings. The lamb dumplings beat just about any other dumplings in town, and their downtown spot, Beautiful South, expands their reach to bring upscale takeout favorites to the peninsula.

Laura

Summerville

The most recent addition to chef Nico Romo’s extensive restaurant portfolio is inspired by the culture and cuisine of his Italian grandmother. Recipes from his childhood, like lasagna à la “Laura,” appear alongside staples of handmade pasta and wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas—and the recently expanded brunch menu is a treat.

Lowland

Charleston

Longtime Charleston chef Jason Stanhope helms the kitchen at this low-lit tavern set in an 1840s-era building off of George Street, putting out his Southern spin on classics like crispy quail, a tavern burger, and a bavette steak with sauce stroganoff. The celery salad is a showstopper; enjoy it in the cozy dining room or the compact bar.

NICO

Mount Pleasant

This Franco-Lowcountry spot is the brainchild of Lyon-born chef Nico Romo, the only South Carolinian with the title Master Chef of France, an honor given to French chefs promoting their native cuisine abroad. Anywhere that has Carolina oysters, beef tartare, and mussels Provençal on the same menu is all right by us.

The Ocean Room

Kiawah

The Sanctuary’s oceanfront steakhouse is the ultimate occasion restaurant. Start with sushi and a martini at the bar, then choose from steak options like a 30-day wet-aged filet mignon or a 32-ounce dry-aged tomahawk rib-eye.

Okàn

Bluffton

Chef Bernard Bennett brings together influences of the African diaspora, charting the route of the transatlantic slave trade with his ingredients. Dig into pumpkin seed dip, duck and oyster gumbo, curried oxtails, or peanut stew, and don’t miss his selection of hearth-baked breads.

Palmira

Charleston

Pitmaster Hector Garate combines inspiration from Texas, the Carolinas, and his Puerto Rican heritage to create a unique menu at Palmira, ranging from juicy beef cheeks and smoky pulled pork to rich barbacoa and flavorful house sausage, along with carefully crafted sides like sofrito-laced hash and rice.

Pink Bellies

Charleston

Chef-owner Thai Phi’s signature garlic noodles and spicy dumplings have been menu staples since the opening of his Vietnamese food truck in 2013. Today, his eclectic brick-and-mortar on King Street is also home to an innovative beverage menu—try a signature cocktail alongside garlic “KFC” wings from the counter bar for the full experience.

Quarterdeck

Hilton Head

After an impressive renovation, Quarterdeck delivers a bang-for-your-buck view from its multiple stories and dining areas. There are bars both upstairs and downstairs, as well as a large deck built for sunset selfies. Start with she-crab soup and Daufuskie deviled crab dip before moving on to locally caught grouper Rockefeller.

Vern’s

Charleston

Former McCrady’s alums Bethany and Dano Heinze transformed this sunny Bogard Street space into one of Charleston’s most sought-after neighborhood spots. Local purveyors and innovation shine on the menu of shareable plates. Go for an intimate date night, dinner with friends, or weekend brunch.

Wild Olive

Johns Island

One of the area’s best spots for fine Italian, Wild Olive keeps an environmental ethos, be it using as much local product as possible, or recycling or composting 85 percent of their waste. The handmade pastas, tangled up in a wide variety of sauces, are a local favorite.