The OrdinaryGreat ShellfishWe went right to the shellfish. The triple platter with oysters, clams, shrimp, lobster, crab and oysters moscow... It was great. The drinks and wine (a sparkling rose and sparkling white) were also great. Highly recommended.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMHow do you spell perfection?They really got this right! Besides eating oysters for two hours, interspersed with an onion tart and a lobster roll, the tower was beckoning. Knowledgeable wait staff, beautiful linens, decor was impeccable. I was not disappointed, can you tell? This is a special place. The attached parking lot was appreciated. It was a memorable birthday dinner for sure.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFishy ExperienceEverything that we ordered was super fresh and was filled with taste. The oysters were a special treat because it is so rare to find oysters that are fresh and free of little shell particles--not a one. Our wait person was attentive but not overly so and very knowledgeable. This is a really good addition to the Charleston restaurant scene.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGood foodFood was excellent but pricey. The menu was kind of confusing, not many entrees but a lot of appetizers. Staff was very knowledgeable. Very nosiey.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMTry everything on the menu!Our group sampled lots of dishes and everything was excellent! The oyster sliders are insane! Loved the fresh jalapeño and Hawaiian roll. The BBQ shrimp is great to share and has the most delicious sauce with grilled bread to mop it all up. Of course we had to have some raw oysters too. The blood orange mignonette is my favorite accompaniment. Great energy and vibe. Definitely recommend!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMincredibly good!Fantastic seafood. The oyster sliders are the best thjng you can imagine. The raw oysters are perfect. Everything else was just as wo derful. Great service by terrific Crystal. Reasonable and interestkng wine list. Excellent design and decor. Loved everything about ut!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMMenu needs workMenu does poor job of describing the dish, sauces, and side dishes. Thus required significant cross examination of server, who was knowledgable.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMNot OrdinaryCharleston's newest restaurant star has arrived....The Ordinary is seafood, plain and simple, with a an emphasis on oysters. Not Southern Fried, or gunked up with sauces. This is clean, salty oysters from the raw bar, or blackened maui fingers perfectly cooked. DO not look for a beef, steak, pasta, chicken, or pork entree. Not here. Serivce is sharp, cocktails are old school (try the daiquiri!), and the renovated old bank looks great. DO get a reservation!6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Ordinary is Anything ButThe lack of pretense in the name of this restaurant is welcomed. However there is nothing really ordinary about it. The old bank building has been turned into a an exciting dining venue. You can choose from among several varieties of oysters and clams nightly , including many local ones. The fish we sampled were impeccably fresh and expertly prepared. The Grouper Schnitzel was a hit. An interesting wine list adds to the dining experience.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect Date NightMy husband and I rarely get out for a date night, so we were so excited to head downtown and try out the place everyone in Charleston has been talking about. We are big seafood lovers, and had the best meal! I would be back every night if I could!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExtraordinary!Food that tastes like the sea - exceptionally fresh, well-served. Cool setting. Get a big tower and have a dining event!6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing!Impressed with not only the food quality but the service (The oyster sliders, BBQ shrimp and trout pate are a must) and the restaurant has been beautifully designed lending to a wonderful ambiance. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Charleston.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMDramatic space and fabulous foodGreat dinner, excellent waitress, beautiful space! We really enjoyed our dinner and some of the best things we ate were the oyster sliders, fried oysters, grouper, rice pudding for dessert. However, everything was excellent and the waitress was one of the best we've ever had.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMReal NYC Restaurant Gone SouthWhen we first approached The Ordinary - located in a grand old bank building - I sensed the feeling of going into a fine Manhattan eatery. High, large, palladian windows, perfect lighting (fixtures and light level). Food, service, and ambience were all equal to the task. I love raw bars, and enjoyed two oyster selections from PEI. The deceptively small serving of blue crab Louie is filling and satisfying. The Ordinary is a classic "oyster hall," but takes the raw bar conept to new levels of greatness unmatched in South Carolina.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfectFood was fresh and delicious. Service was perfect. Ambiance was great.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMMy sister and I had a 10 pmMy sister and I had a 10 pm reservation and enjoyed a leisurely dinner, starting with a dozen delectable oysters. At no point in the evening did our patient, professional waitress make us feel rushed even though we were the last people in the restaurant that night! The service here is outstanding; try any of the local beans with Carolina gold rice and you won't be disappointed.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMOut of the OrdinaryA lovely dining experience in a beautiful space. Great food and service. Lots to choose from on the drinks menu too .Thank you.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousThe food here is outstanding. I recommend the lobster ceviche, it was a fresh and unique twist on the dish . Our server suggested oysters based on our preference and he nailed it, they were awesome. My date and I ordered the wahoo and swordfish and both came out absolutely fantastic. My only complaint is that it was pretty loud for such a nice/fancy restaurant (because of the high ceilings) but that is definitely not enough to deter me from returning the next time I am in Charleston. A+5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall portions, great foodI tried The Ordinary while in Charleston for the Spoleto USA festival. The menu changes every day. If you are hoping for a quiet dinner, this is not the place. It is an old bank that was converted to a restaurant several months ago. It is lovely but can be incredibly noisy. Dinner was excellent but the portions are small. I note that because many restaurants in Charleston tend to have huge portions. The entrees are under $30 but the salads and sides are extra.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMService and food great. OnlyService and food great. Only drawback was the wine list. Not many wines by the glass and all wines pretty pricey. Definitely needs some changes and additions. Already have reservations for a group in two weeks.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Ordinary = ExtraordinaryDidn't think it was possible, but just as good (or better) than FIG. Amazing seafood dishes. Loved, loved, loved it. My new fave in Chas. Can't wait to go back.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful rare bar.Our food was great. Oysters were very good and the triggerfish was amazing. The wait staff we had could not have been better. The only issue can be parking so just give time for that.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat oysters, high noise levelWe finally got our reservation at the much-touted Ordinary (not open for lunch) - an oyster/seafood bar on upper King in a classic old bank building. Even with reservations we had to wait 20 min or so. The crab Louis was outstanding, the local oysters smallish and briny and clean tasting with wonderful sauces, good wine list. But the three of us could hardly hear each other; all hard surfaces, 40 ft ceilings just magnify every sound; they've got to put some baffling in! Next time I go, I will go by myself or with one person and sit at the bar or at the oyster bar in the back. Absolutely delicious food.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Seafood in CharlestonWow. Just a huge wow. The seafood is the freshest possible, the preparations were superb, creative and the flavors of the seafood just came out brilliantly. Must haves: crispy oysters and tartar, baked oysters, fish chowder, lobster roll, mahi mahi frittes, lemon pot de creme. Our server Jennifer was so knowledgeable, fun, professional and energetic.
Environment is interesting, a converted bank...soaring ceilings, nice booths, great bar and raw bar areas.
We will definitely come back to The Ordinary, it is anything but ordinary--A real gem on King Street and in Charleston. This is the place to eat seafood in the city. We will be back over and over again...shhhh don't tell anyone.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMNot so "Ordinary" after allThe Ordinary---what a double entendre. There was nothing Ordinary about it. Fabulous seafood--flavors I haven't experienced either for a long long while, or ever. The service was top notch. Jennifer--ask for Jennifer for your server. She was terrific.
From the oysters, to the soft shell crab, to the Lobster bisque (unique and exceptional), to the entrees of pumpkins swordfish, black snapper and peel and eats...which the staff peeled for us (Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!), the meal was first class.
Only negative...the bathroom situation. It would be very nice if the loos were designated M or W. Call me persnickety, but if I'm eating a great meal, I don't want to follow men with too many adult beverages into the loo. Yuck..5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfectIt's easy to slip into hyperbole when reviewing a meal, but it's difficult for me to express how great the oyster slider was without using the word "perfect". Though small (just one fried oyster on a roll small enough to fit it) and pedestrian (it's a slider, for goodness sake!), the bite-sized sandwich was built in such a way that each bite...I nibbled to make mine last for four bites!...allowed you to taste a wonderful spectrum of flavors in an experience that I'll not soon forget. Perfection!5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMDinner was excellent. WouldDinner was excellent. Would like a few more options and variety. Noise level quite high for early evening. I'm sure acoustics play large role. Need to "soften" interior to help with sound. Otherwise enjoyable and quite convenient as to parking.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMInteresting menu items, allInteresting menu items, all presented well. Big negative is a very limited and expensive wine list, particularly whites, surprising for a primarily seafood restaurant. The overall value, including wine, is poor relative to other restaurants in Charleston.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experienceGreat food & great service. The drink menu was limited though.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMNot Very OrdinaryThe Ordinary is not true to it's name. The food and menu are beyond description. Certainly not "Ordinary"5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMOrdinary, not so OrdinaryWe had a great Birthday celebration at The Ordinary. Unique coctails, small, but great choices on wine list and the seafood was prepared and presented perfectly. The service was great and our waitress, Brittany, exciting and truly enjoyed her job.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food...very noisy!Loved the food and service but the noise level was deafening.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat evening.Enjoyed dinner at The Ordinary immensely. Food was excellent and service was great. Food seemed healthy; not a whole lot of carbs! The phsyical environment was beautiful and available parking was an added bonus!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMSeafoodThis was the finest seafood restaurant we have ever been to. We had a cold seafood stack with every shellfish you can name and a really nice bottle of wine. Delishous5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous food and service . . . butFood - especially the oysters - was very fresh and tasty. Our server was knowledgeable and energetic. We did not find the noise level to be a problem. Definitely reccommend upstairs, more space and less noise. The entree menu is very limited, as is the pricey wine list. A hot appetizer in combination with a plate of oysters was plenty of food for me.
Overall a great experience - the only reason I didn't give The Ordinary 5 stars is the pricing. I realize that delicious fresh seafood is not going to be cheap however at these prices it becomes very much a "special occasion" restaurant. Which given the plethora of great high-end restaurants in Charleston means visits will be few and far between.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial Occasion GemTook my wife here to celebrate Mother's Day after her reading a review that included a comment about lobster rolls. She went to school in Maine and loves lobster rolls. We both had them and were not disappointed. I found the Triggerfish Schnitzel to be outstanding and she had a salad that was also very good. I'll recommend this restaurant to my friends who also enjoy fine dining and plan to return soon.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGood Food - Limited MenuAlthough I rate the fish entrees as "excellent", this restaurant is more for drinks and shellfish. There is too much emphasis on pushing drinks and oysters and not enough emphasis on entrees. There are only 4 fish selections on a typical day and about the same number of sides. The portions are tiny for the price point; and the waiters are not overly friendly nor helpful in explaining the menu. Having read so many reviews, we were disappointed.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic ExperienceThe Ordinary is just what this city needs to round out its culinary playground: an upscale oyster bar. Located in a beautiful, historic bank building with soaring ceilings in Charleston's hottest restaurant/bar arena at Upper King, The Ordinary is exploding with charm, Southern style, and good old-fashioned revelry. Service was stellar and ultra-friendly. A sampling of any of the oysters on the menu will not disappoint, and individually-chosen dipping sauces complemented each item to perfection. The lobster roll is a must, and I literally danced in my chair as I moaned and groaned through the oyster sliders. Absolutely anything but Ordinary.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAnything But Ordinary!The Ordinary was the most pleasant, very good dining experiences that we had during our brief stop over in Charleston.
It is located in a beautifully restored old bank. Decor and atmosphere wonderful. The food quality was incredibly fresh, fom produce to fish. The oyster selection great and the fish, as it was just caught. Oyster sliders! Our fish entrees - great! The "high- bar of he chef is very apparent, his food simply straight forward and all flavors well coordinated and matched. What a pleasure! It certainly goes into my "foodie" great meal experience list- which is quite selective.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious but PriceyWe went here for my wife's birthday. Had a drink and a bottle of wine, along with the lobster ceviche, pickled shrimp, and the single seafood tray. Lobster was great, but miniscule amounts of lobster. Shrimp was great. The seafood platter had 12 oysters, 6 littlenecks, about a 1/4 lb. of shrimp, and some crab louie. My suggestions: serve some bread - even a little - so that the sauces or pickling juices can be mopped up; cut out the louie - many people don't like mayonnaise. My suggestion would be, for the raw bar, to have one of each of the oysters and then get a dozen or whatever you want of the ones you like best, plus some apps. I don't think the platter is worth it.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed my mealWe were just in town for the weekend but I was recommended this spot. We weren't particularly hungry so had a few dishes to share and the platter but no main courses. The platter was great, very fresh but my favorite dish was actually the vegetable crudités with crab remoulade to start. Delicious! Maybe a tiny bit salty. But very happy with our meal, and the venue is really interesting. We sat on the balcony where it was much quieter. I'd recommend this place for sure!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything they said it wasRead about in Departures and of course had been to FIG, their sister restaurant. Everything was great...everything! We didn't have a chance to "order everything....even though we wanted too", but next time we go we are no doubt ordering the seafood tower! Impressive!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding Seafood and ServiceOur party of four had a fine experience. We shared the Otter Island baked oysters and the lobster roll for appetizers. Both were excellent. Entrees for our table included the Grouper Schnitzel and sauteed soft shell crabs. The seafood was prepared and presented flawlessly. Our server, Jennifer, was outstanding: a perfect mix of knowledge, attentiveness, enthusiasm and friendliness.
The noise level is energetic, so don't go expecting a quiet romantic experience. The only smudge in an otherwise spotless experience was our wine, which at 3.33 times the online retail (not wholesale) bottle tag, had too high a price-to-quality ratio. Were it not for this, I would have given the food 5 stars.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food!The food here is superb! I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a wonderful meal. The ambience is lacking and the noise level is extremely high. The bar is not complete in my opinion. They specialize in rum drinks so if that's what you like they have many choices but otherwise you may be out of luck.I did not check the box fit for foodies because that usually means you leave hungry and that is not the case here. However, if you're looking for the best food in Charleston this is the place to go!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and exceptional serviceWe had a few people and ordered a few different items to share. We LOVED the oyster sliders and the grouper schnitzel. The shrimp and soft shell crab were also good but did not compare to the oysters and grouper. Our server, Brittany was fantastic! I appreciate when a server is passionate about their job and is very knowledgeable about the menu. We were told by a few people that this restaurant was very noisy and they recommend you sit upstairs although it did not appear that noisy to us (we were told it was one of the slowest nights they have had since they opened....a Tues night and we still found every table was occupied). I would recommend this restaurant.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMSuper quality seafood - wonderfulSuper quality seafood - wonderful local oysters and crab claws, excellent lobster roll and soft shell crab. Great cocktails too. Very good addition to CHS food scene.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptional food and impeccableExceptional food and impeccable service! Will return again on our next trip to Charleston.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed appearance of restaurant,Enjoyed appearance of restaurant, much smaller than expected. Somewhat limited menu. Oysters excellent, martinis extra good. Wahoo entre took way to long to be presented at table. Cooled way to fast. Think still to soon to have reached potential4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything great about thisEverything great about this restaurant except the noise level - there are no soft surfaces to absorb noise and it is explosive. If you don't sit side by side, you cannot hear. Loved the restaurant - sat at the bar so we could talk. Would not want to sit at a table.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our third visit,This was our third visit, and definitely not our last. This time we had friends join us.
They loved the unique ambience but found the noise level at times intrusive. The seafood
tower was a big hit; fresh and succulent. Fish chowder was worth the visit. The soft shelled crabs were truly worth the wait (seasonal). The wine list could be improved.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AM