Muse Restaurant - Charleston, SC

Muse Restaurant

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Address:
82 Society Street
Charleston, SC 29401

Neighborhood:
Downtown

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Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Price: $30 and under

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Muse Restaurant Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.charlestonmuse.com
Email: Bethanne@charlestonmuse.com
Phone: (843) 577-1102
Hours of Operation: Dinner Nightly: 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Italian
Executive Chef: Jason Houser
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Wine Bar
Private Party Facilities: Muse is comprised of five separate dining rooms, all of which can be used for private parties. The entire establishment may also be booked for special occasions.
Private Party Contact: Beth Anne Crane (843) 301-1450
Entertainment: Live Pianist on Thursday Evenings

Getting there

Parking: Public Lot
Parking Details: A city parking lot is 1/2 block away

A word from Muse Restaurant

Nestled away in a historic home in downtown Charleston is MUSE, an elegant restaurant and intimate bar reminiscent of a Mediterranean Villa. Executive Chef, Jason Houser melds the cuisines of Italy, Spain, France, & Greece, featuring preparations of Grilled Seafood, Seared Fish, Savory Meats,… Homemade Pastas, and Salads. The extensive wine list complements the experience and offers 100 selections by the glass. The cozy bar empties out onto a terrace, offering outdoor dining, tapas, and cocktails.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerNotable Wine List
Diners' Choice WinnerRomantic
Diners' Choice WinnerMost Booked 1000-Point Tables

Diner Reviews

"Muse is close to be very good, but the details of the food are wrong. Carbonara was dry and bland, steak was over cooked. Service was very good. Over all, there are much better options for the price."
Dined on 3/5/2014
"Muse is in an old house which gives it charm. They sat our party of four upstairs. Table was backed up into a corner by the window. Felt like you were sitting in a closet. The chairs were padded and comfortable. The music was annoying ..my husband made a comment "when are they going to turn the washing machine off". We all laughed! Service was timely. I ordered the veal. It was very salty and I don't care for green olives (missed that on the writeup I guess). I was disappointed they did not have the sea bass available that night. The wine we ordered was very good 2007 Piancarda. The deserts we had were also very good. I had heard really great things about Muse; but I would not put this on my "must go back" list."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"I have been to muse many times and have never been disappointed. The food and atmosphere are always wonderful and the service is great. I would recommend it to many people and I've never eaten there with someone who didn't like it."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Our son was in for just the weekend and we surprised him with reservations at his FAVORITE restaurant! It was wonderful, as always! Great staff and great food. Jen is a jewel and anticipates our every want. Perfect conversation and perfect timing. Also, great recommendations, when needed. We love this place as ours or for when we have guests. They are always accommodating!"
Dined on 3/1/2014
"excellent restaurant with a very romantic and intimate ambiance. Love the food here."
Dined on 2/26/2014
"We've eaten at Muse often over the last several years. They have continually improved the quality and selection of food,so we now like it much more than in the recent past. I would recommend asking for a table on the second floor, as the main floor still seems a bit musty to me."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"Truely enjoyed our night out at Muse Restaurant while visiting Charleston! Now on our list of favorite restaurants - as our food was absolutely scrumptous, and our waitor interested, knowledgable and informative. We are definitely going to be repeat customers!"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"I went here with a group of 8 other people and even though the restaurant was in a historic home they were able to easily accommodate us. We were a louder group so we got our own room too which was nice so we didn't have to bother the other people eating. The food was great, the pasta was awesome sense it was hand made, and not one person had a complaint about the service. The venue was very interesting and the environment made the experience all the more better. Our waiter also did a great job and was very patient with us even though we were a large and loud group."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Had a terrific meal at the bar. It is cozy and the bartender, Donnie, engaged the group to create a fun and friendly atmosphere."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"My wife and I dine out a lot and we are generally very forgiving but this was just a bad resteraunt. The ambience was probably eclectic at some point now it's just run down. The food wasn't well prepared , my sword fish was over cooked but the muscles were undercooked. The house cab was almost pungent. Two waiters were bickering with each other as they passed. The only positive was the second glasses of wine were better and the price for wine was reasonable. For our Valentine night out, I was VERY disappointed and for the price we could have gotten a better experience and meal at 20 other options within a few blocks."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Food was excellent, service was great. Highly recommend for anybody looking for a nice restaurant in Charleston. Kind of of the beaten path, quiet, with a great menu and selections."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Restaurant and its location are very quiet. The property appears to have been a home which has an intentionally run down appearance with many rooms. I think I may have eaten in a small porch or a walk in closet. This gives the feel of a romantic meal but the tables are rather close where you conversation can be heard by others. Food was fair to good. Portions were decent."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Food was good but tile fish & risotto were slightly undercooked, soupy. Tasted good & undercooked is better than overcooked, but was not as good as it should have been. The thin edges of the fish were perfect, but the thicker middle section was the part that need another minute of cooking. Service good."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"This was our second time at Muse. Good food, interesting menu, ample wine list, attentive and well informed wait staff. Only negative is that the tables are quite close together (it's in an old house) and it's a bit noisy."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"We loved the food and the service was excellent. The only complaints we had were that the tables were too close together and we could not really have a quiet conversation. And my wife was uncomfortable with the restroom being so close to the tables. Would we eat there again... yes but not for a romantic dinner."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"A very good restaurant, but this experience was not as good as in the past. This time was during the Southeastern Wildlife festival and the restaurant was very busy. I had the tagliatelle which a favorite dish, but this occasion it was very bland, almost as though they had failed to season it. The meat was tasteless. My wife had the fried whole sea bass which was excellent. We had the bruschetta for an appetizer. It was different from what you would normally expect, but excellent nevertheless. Our waitress made an excellent wine recommendation. Service was wonderful. We will certainly return."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Loved this restaurant!! Beth Ann was wonderful / she followed up and was very helpful!!! Definitely will go back!!!"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"This restaurant was an escape into years gone by (built C 1860) The building old and pleasant had a past as home to a dentist. The waiter was very attentive without ever being intrusive or over bearing. I enjoyed the charm and ambiance of not only another era but also of another culture with traces of Middle East and more. A fun get out and try someplace different. My only stress was a walk up a long and winding staircase that offered only a bit shaky rail on one side. I loved the colors, tapestry and pillows on the bench encasing one side of the seating."
Dined on 2/9/2014
"This place appears to sit just outside the main tourist area of Charleston and seems to attract locals. The meal was the best we had during our long weekend stay. House prepared pastas and sauces were excellent as were the other menu items ordered. The wait staff was quite knowledgeable and attentive. Restaurant is dimly lit and quiet which is nice considering today's trend to be noisy if popular. Highly recommend!"
Dined on 12/1/2013
"Can't remember a time I've been to Muse where I haven't had the Cheese Plate. They get their cheese local and it's complimented with honey, nuts, dried fruit. Combine all this on a slice a bread and take a sip from their exquisite wine menu and you've hit a terrific swirl of delicious tastes. But you haven't reached the top until you've tried their scallops. In addition, they always have multiple specials for the night. Lastly, if you're just out looking for some good wine, one of the Triple D's will entertain you - Don, Drew or Donnie. There's always a story to tell/hear at Muse and I cannot think of another place where locals go to enjoy true conversation, dedication to food, and choice wine."
Dined on 2/14/2013
"We enjoyed to food and had awesome sevice. We would diffently go back."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Quiet place with excellent service. This place is what Charleston is all about. Highly recommend for a romantic date night or dinner with close friends/family."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Rooms and tables are too close, needs some updating. Not impressed."
Dined on 2/7/2014
"Atmosphere was very nice. Food was good but under seasoned."
Dined on 2/7/2014
"The meal was excellent, the service was marginal. The poor service marred the experience. It was a shame."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"It was a great dinner, attentive service, and extensive wine list. Definitely would go again."
Dined on 1/30/2014
"My husband had a great meal. He had the lamb sausage small plate and tagliatelle. He enjoyed them greatly. I had two small plates (costing more than my husband's entrée). I had a simple salad with crispy faro. Faro was so hard I was afraid I would break a tooth. Light, good produce. Nothing I couldn't have gotten anywhere or made myself. I asked the server if the grilled calamari was chewy; he said it was not. All I could taste was espelette, or what I assume was espelette, but tasted like seasoned salt. No subtlety; overpowering of all other flavors. No hint of basil or olive oil or lemon, as stated on the menu. It felt slimy, not grilled at all. No grill marks/taste. Very disappointing They did take it off the bill."
Dined on 1/30/2014
"This was not my first visit to Muse restaurant, as a local I have dined here before and I must say it is always a great choice for a casual dinner. Muse has a wonderful selection of wines and the food is consistently delicious with large portion sizes (I typically always have a little treat to take home for later). Muse is also very reasonably priced, especially in comparison to other restaurants around town. Dinner for two with a bottle of wine and shared dessert was just over $100.00. The ambiance is wonderful, I love the old world touches and historic charm. Overall great restaurant!"
Dined on 1/30/2014
"I do not want to give a review in hopes that they will read what I wrote in private."
Dined on 1/24/2014
"One of the best meals we had while visiting Charleston. Great wine selection. The room we were in was a bit cold because we were close to the door. Also right by the door to the bathroom but it wasn't a big deal."
Dined on 1/14/2014
"I went here during restaurant week and we had a great selection of food. We were really pleased with the service as well as how romantic the restaurant was. The food is amazing, one of the best chicken dishes i have had (I'm from New York, so the southerners really know how to prepare their chicken!) We originally didn't know it was restaurant week and had chosen the place based on the reviews and it's affordability, so restaurant week definitely gave us more bang for our buck. Recommend doing a reservation here, as they seemed to fill up quickly and had walk ins that had to wait for a table."
Dined on 1/17/2014
"We had a group of 4 that went to Muse during Restaurant Week in Charleston. Sometimes, the crowds can severely hamper a restaurant's ability to provide good food and good service. Everything was exceptionally good for all of our party. Service might have been a little slower than normal, but it was still good. Would definitely go back."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"Stopped for an early dinner prior to show at Theatre 99. Ordered from restaurant week menu that had lots of good options. Very pleased with food and service from our waiter Danny. Will go back."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"Tucked away on Society Street, Muse is not a restaurant you ordinarily stroll by, but I'm glad we made it a point to find it. Having sampled most of the top restaurants in Charleston, we thought we'd give Muse a try, especially during Restaurant Week. It certainly proved to be a good choice. We were seated upstairs (away from the pretty vibrant bar scene) in a room with three other tables and a cloth-covered white piano that served as a utility station for the servers. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable and offered helpful insights into the Restaurant Week choices. We were pleased the Arctic Char and the Shortribs. Wine selections were equally enjoyable. Muse is now on our list of restaurants providing a wonderful dining experience."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"This was a great find. There are many restaurants in the downtown Charleston area and this one makes the list of keepers. Atmosphere was great. We had a group of five and we all enjoyed our experience. The staff was friendly and accommodated us when three of our original guests had to cancel (made our group 5 instead of 8). We arrived a little early and they were busy however were able to seat us about 30 minutes before our reservation. Went outside on the patio to have a couple drinks and had to ask for the heaters to be turned on because it was mid 30's outside and they immediately helped us. We ordered drinks and as soon as the bar had cleared they offered us the indoor area. Dinner was tasty and we never felt rushed. Nice 3 course meal."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"thanks for the great evening - Donny, our server, was fantastic - gave great recommendations and never rushed us so we could enjoy a night out from the kids - food was amazing and definitely will come back, thanks, Randall Sandin"
Dined on 1/10/2014
"We happened to be here during Restaurant Week (3 courses for $30.00). We chose to order off the regular menu. 3 of us shared 1 baby arugula salad with blood red vinaigrette and pistachios-- it was delicious and enough for 3 small servings. I had the swordfish which was cooked to perfection and the best I have had in a long time. The swordfish was served with plenty of baby carrots cooked al dente. This was our first visit to Muse and I will definitely return. It was cold the night we were there but the outdoor dining on the porch looked cozy and romantic."
Dined on 1/8/2014
"Started with the cheese plate, good selection from France, Spain and England, then the Bolognese, both excellent. Paired with a nice 2009 haut-medoc. Finished with vanilla bean panna cotta paired with a nice muscato d'asti - perfect. Very decent coffee to finish off the evening. Nice extensive wine by the glass list; excellent and attentive service with an excellent sense of humor. Our second visit and as good as we remembered. We will certainly be back."
Dined on 1/5/2014
"Muse was a perfect spot for our romantic dinner. The service was excellent! friendly but not overbearing. Our server was very helpful in choosing the wine. The meal was also excellent with the roasted beet salad and local shrimp as the standouts. Will definitely go again when I'm able to return to Charleston."
Dined on 12/28/2013
"Very interesting menu; good, friendly restaurant; food not all done to perfection, but most dishes in our party received high praise; wines a bit inflated in cost, but good selection; fist-rate bar."
Dined on 12/30/2013

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