One of Charleston ’s defining factors – outside of the killerdiningandcocktailscenes – is its proximity to the water . So with the weather condition warming up , it ’s no surprise that locals and tourer alike are looking for any excuse to spend time outdoors near the piddle with a drink in one manus and maybe some sort of freshly catch seafood in the other . Luckily there are plenty of places to do just that . These places .
BLU Restaurant & Bar
situate on the first floor of the Tides Hotel , BLU has the good thought of the piddle on Folly Beach . The upscale menu is to a great extent seafood - influenced , which should descend as no surprisal since it ’s right on the ocean . highlighting from the dinner menu include curried mussels and seared grouper , as well as a peachy commixture of seasonally - inspired American fare . Pro wind : Order a couple of appetizers and beach cocktail out on the patio and skim the horizon for dolphinfish for a true beachfront experience .
Coda del Pesce
If you want to feel like you ’re dining al fresco in Italy but do n’t need to spring for the airfare , consider driving out to Isle of Palms and visit Coda Del Pesce ( Italian for “ keister of the fish ” ) . Coda ’s James Beard Award - nominated Chef Ken Vedrinski has crafted a fare that focuses on fresh and local seafood , make in classic Italian stylus . The eating place ’s bright , wide window overlooking the Atlantic Ocean extend beautiful survey of the beach below and give the perfect amount of light for taking a gorgeous food picture .
Ellis Creek Fish Camp
Located off the main puff of James Island on Harbor View Road , Ellis Creek Fish Camp is a rustic , no frills , camp - style eating house that particularise in clean seafood ( of course ) . Even well , the terrace overlooking Ellis Creek ( hence the name ) is cad - friendly , so you could enjoy some hushpuppies or catfish sting with your good bud .
Pier 101
The newest addition to Charleston ’s line - up of waterfront dining is Pier 101 . Featuring a super casual atmosphere with day-by-day resilient music , wintry concoctions that are perfect for a hot , gay beach day , and Greco-Roman Southern - trend fare , it ’s a not bad bit to spend a summertime good afternoon . We recommend grabbing a tabular array with friends and sharing a plate of fried deviled egg or grouper bites while delight the bird’s-eye views of the Atlantic Ocean along the Folly Beach Pier .
Red’s Ice House
Red ’s Ice House is the epitome of a waterfront stick : almost the entire restaurant is undefendable - air and command Shem Creek . If the weather is nice , you ’ll likely relish see the great unwashed walk along the dock , kayakers & SUPers paddling out to the ocean , and even the periodic plurality of dolphin playing in the wake of a boat . The food admittedly gets mixed reviews ( standard fried seafood menu ) , but the atmospheric state and happy hour are passably much universal victor , and can be enjoyed from the patio or bird ’s nest ginmill .
Charleston Harbor Fish House
This local favorite offers an internal and lovesome ambience with magnificent views of the USS Yorktown and Charleston Harbor that some have key out as " wizard . " The menu is creative and diverse enough to please diner of many different tastes , and the constituent are generous , to say the least . If you really hump seafood ( like really , reallylove it ) and have $ 125 to spend , consider seek the Chilled Seafood Tower : full of oysters , clam , mussels , shrimp , crab legs and claws , and lobster tails . It ’s offered both in the dining room and at the rooftop Bridge Bar .
Marina Variety Store and Restaurant
open up for breakfast , luncheon , and dinner almost every day ( it ’s closed on Sunday after 3 pm ) , Marina Variety Store and Restaurant offers scratch - made southerly favourite likeshrimp and gumption , biscuits and pan gravy , and East Coast crab bar , with exceptional view of the Ashley River . If you ’re coming in for Sunday brunch , roll in the hay there ’s conk out to be a wait , but it ’ll sure enough be deserving it .
Fleet Landing
Fleet Landing ’s scene of the Charleston Harbor are absolutely stunning , and easy the best reason for chat . But do n’t write off the intellectual nourishment : the runt and lobster - stuffed hushpuppies is the biggest crowd pleaser on the menu , and you’re able to feel full about any of the pick because the restaurant is a atomic number 78 member of theSustainable Seafood Initiative . Just check that to call in the lead for reservation if the atmospheric condition is prissy , or you ’re not potential to ascertain a table ( regardless of the time of day ) .
The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene
The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene is exactly what it lay claim to be : a wreck . This is the very definition of “ no frill . ” All the food is served on paper plates , most of which is a variety of freshly caught seafood ( shrimp , scallops , oyster , and a few different kinds of Pisces ) . Each is offer fried in peanut oil , grill , or boiled , and do with red Elmer Leopold Rice , coleslaw , hush puppy , and a fry hominy square . Bottom line : if you come here wanting anything fancy , you ’re going to be disappointed . The food might be elementary , but it ’s fresh , falsify utterly , and exactly what you want when you ’re craving fried seafood .
Tavern & Table
This seat extend what was miss from the many eating house along the creek for so longsighted : food for thought that is n’t fried . Do n’t get us wrong , there ’s still plenty of it at T&T ( the duck’s egg fat fries ) , but if your roof of the mouth is craving something more than popcorn shrimp , Chef Katie Lorenzen - Smith serves up a diverse selection of elevated culinary art that ’s sure to please . We ’re talking burnt - remainder mac & cheese , chimichurri steak salad , and sign - ground Warren Burger made from a combining of Angus chuck , brisket , and forgetful costa . savour the sunset over the water as you sip on one of 18 guile beer on tap or one of the novel cocktails ( we recommend the Grapefruit Rosemary Collins ) .
LOKAL Seabar
Located at the beautiful Bohicket Marina , LOKAL Seabar has been a dearie of locals , tourists , and boater for the past couple of geezerhood . The fare is chock - full of seafood , with both traditional ( shrimp & moxie , whole deep-fried flounder ) and modern ( shrimp empanadas , tom gai soup ) extend in full . It ’s an especially convenient full stop when hunger come across while cruise along the Bohicket Creek , seeing that there ’s wad of boat parking useable .
Boathouse at Breach Inlet
situate right across the bridgework from Sullivan ’s Island , Boathouse at Breach Inlet is a intimate and fond seafood joint that ’s survived almost 20 years worth of hurricanes and tourer frenzies . This plaza mixes unsubdivided Southern cookery with a little upscale flair , such as the fry green tomatoes with goat cheese , arugula , and pepperjam . It ’s that kind of fare that keep people coming back class after year . Plus , the rooftop deck gives you continuous views of Sullivan ’s Island , Downtown Charleston to the left , and Isle of Palms to the right .
Bowens Island
When it comes to great seafood in Charleston , it ’s backbreaking to beat Bowens Island . From all - you - can - eat up novel oyster do by the shovelful , to perfectly seasoned bowls of Frogmore Stew ( aka Lowcountry Boil ) , there ’s a reason mass line up in droves every night just to get indoors . Of of course , the panorama of the sun setting over the marshland of Sol Legare Creek also has something to do with it .
Morgan Creek Grill
Morgan Creek Grill is kind of an enigma , as it ’s almost two restaurants in one . First , you have the semi - fancy restaurant inside – perfect for a formal dinner party – where you may get a porterhouse pork barrel chopper or locally grown clams . But then there ’s the topnotch - insouciant rooftop deck – where you ’ll desire to spend every sunny good afternoon – serving up bar - favorites like fried oysters . For those who prefer a swimming dinner , the Creekside Browning automatic rifle features ice - cold beers and a fully stocked liquor menu as well as live music on most afternoon . All three selection offer equally great view of the intracoastal waterway on IOP .
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Blu|Courtesy of Blu
Coda del Pesce
Pier 101 Restaurant & Bar
Charleston Harbor Fish House
Paul Cheney/jwkpec
Tavern & Table
LOKAL Seabar
The Boathouse at Breach Inlet
Morgan Creek Grill