Tristan - CharlestonExcellent!My husband and I had the 7 course tasting menu with wine parings. The flavors were complimentary. The service was perfect. We would sincerely go back. Pricey and worth every penny.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMBrought an out-of-town guestBrought an out-of-town guest knowing that she would love the food and atmosphere!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMTristan - RecommendedWith a last minute reservation I was able to get a table at Tristan. It was something of a belated Birthday dinner for a friend. The staff were aware and were very good and attentive. Questions were answered with confidence and knowledge. The food was excellent, presentation superb, great service. Surprised it wasn't busier for such a busy weekend in Charleston. Not compaining though!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMTristan is a real treat forTristan is a real treat for lovers of fine food. Unique combinations and preparations are coupled with outstanding service.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingThe wait-staff, and everyone else we met, were all very friendly, very knowledgeable and very enthuiastic. The food was both adventuresome and outstanding. From preparation to plating, all of our courses were as wonderful as they were innovative.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperb Tasting MenuReally enjoyed the 5 course Chef's tasting menu with wine pairings. Food and presentation were outstanding and just right portions. Wine pairings were perfect.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best evolutions...While visiting Charleston recently, we dined at Tristan, having noted their menu outside the night before. While the items on the menu looked good, nothing prepared us for the way dinner was served.
We chose the Chef's tasting, 7-items, along with half glasses of wine which paired perfectly with each course. While the plates were small (not a problem for us -- we'd rather have a little bit of really good than a lot of not good), by the end of dinner we couldn't fit another bite.
The servers were at the top of their game. Dinner was elegantly presented, and the servers described each dish in detail and answered any questions we had. They were attentive, responsive, and a pleasure to speak with.
It was one of the best dinners EVER.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMfood and presentation excellent!Our server was good and the manager came by with a treat or two. Both were very nice. Food and presentation excellent!5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day BrunchTristan contributed significantly to our Mother's Day dining experience. Their brunch menu offered creative and mouth watering selections. Each course was delightfully presented and a dining sensation. Service was outstanding as well. Thank you Tristan!!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMService very slow but hadService very slow but had many large parties because two local colleges graduated that day and it was Mother's Day weekend. Food not spectacular. Other restaurants in area do better dining5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMEasy 5 Star DiningTristan is a 5 Star restaurant in the heart of historic Charleston, but is super easy to park (valet) and walk to. Thier bar and wine selection is terrific. The number one thing though is service. Their staff is highly trained and make hosting an event or business dinner a pleasure.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAttention to detail & freshAttention to detail & fresh and new flavor and texture combinations. They make their own fig vodka & the Violet Hour is my new obsession (martini). Wonderful service.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMVery hard to beat in CharlestonWe have been to Tristan several times and it is always impressive. Service, food, and atmosphere are very good. Strangenly enough, for what's being offered (and I hate to say this because of the effect it may have) the prices are lower than roughly equivalent restaurants in Charlesston and elsewhere.
The wine list is worth noting. It seems that wine lists are getting more narrowly focused instead of the alternative but Tristan's list was exemplary. Great breadth in terms of the wines offered and the prices of them.
The servers seem to be some of the best we've seen, either in the US or elsewhere.
If you love food and good service, you must go to Tristan if you're in Charleston.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic!A true dining experience.....fantastic! The 5 course chefs tasting was unbelievable. Our second time there. A little pricey, but a once a year treat for our budget.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMEat Here!There really is no dining experience in Charleston like Tristan. The food and service are impeccable. If you aren't eating there you are missing out on some of the most creative, flavorful expressions of ingredients in the city.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMA Culinary TreatProbably one of the best scallop meals I'd ever had. The service was fantastic. However many people were on staff, I believe all of them waited on us. If my water glass was 2 oz low, they were there to fill it. They made some great drinks as well. I started out with the salad which included a great chevre. While we could have ordered from the tasting menu, the group of 6 of us decided to go ala carte. Most of us had the scallops. My colleague had the salmon and said it was one of the best ever. We were brought palate cleansers between each course.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was fabulous! bestEverything was fabulous! best meal we had in charleston.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect - from the valet'sPerfect - from the valet's greeting to dessert and everything in between - Perfect. The amazing food was matched by the service while doing so with a casual feel. Each course has Chef Nate's unique spin on a traditional dish and the dishes got better with every course. Our wait staff was extremely knowledgeable and had the uncanny ability to know when to appear tableside throughout the evening. We celebrated my wife's birthday and Tristan made it perfect.
My wife and I are foodies. There are many great restaurants in Charleston; Tristan stands out as notable among the notables!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMTristan has always been aTristan has always been a family favorite and a favorite for guests--and for all the right reasons: Outstanding food, outstanding service and a beautiful setting! We love "turning people on" to Tristan. It is a gem!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMCharleston's bestThis was a special dinner (Sustainable Seafood Initiative) but was typical of the delight of Tristan dining. Go here if you want the best Charleston has to offer.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is Delicious & Service is 4+The only thing better than the food is the service. They treat you right. The food is amazing. The location is awesome (but not on the water). The only "con" is that it's expensive. We had a great time. I would go back based on the delicious salmon and 4 star service. Make sure to make a reservation and enjoy a Charleston gem while you are down here on vacation!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways On Our MUST-DINE ListNate Whiting is, hands down, one of the best--if not THE best--chef in Charleston. No one shows more innovation or serious approach to food in this dining mecca than Chef Whiting. We never miss an opportunity to dine at Tristan when we are in Charleston.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMCharleston's best kept dining secreAbsolutely, Charleston's best kept dining secret! Incredibly inventive cuisine that is not just edible, but every dish explodes with flavor. No doubt, carefully chosen fresh ingredients start the experience, but the chef's creations are so far from ordinary - just fantastic. If you can just go to one restaurant while in Chrleston, it HAS to be Tristan!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMFamily dinnerMy wife and I took our children to Tristan for our big night out in Charleston. We loved the food. Our children are not used to fine dining so when they initially saw the menu they were skeptical about pork belly, braised short ribs and quail. However the chef made them all believers. Everything was prepared so well that they were basically licking their plates clean. This was an awesome experience.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMI have been eating at Tristan'sI have been eating at Tristan's for a number of years, and have in fact known 3 different executive chefs, but one things has always been consistent, the excellent food and service. The Easter lunch had an option of a their fixed price 3 course menu, or the a la carte menu. We all opted for the fixed price menu, which at $40 was phenomenal value for money with a 3 options for each course. I think we covered all the offered dishes at our table, with great comments from every one. We had drinks plus wine by the glass, and our server's wine recommendations were spot on. Tristan's is one, if not the, top restaurant in Charleston, and looks to remain so for many a year.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMManager Makes a DifferanceI found Tristan’s food selections where served with unique presentations and was quite good. Our waiter was most helpful with suggestions and answers to our questions. The manager had a strong presence which made us feel it was very important to him to see to it we enjoyed the experience, which we did.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time Tristan diners.First time Tristan diners. We will definitely add it to our favorites when we visit Charleston again. Salmon was one of the best ever.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMCharleston's BestTristan is by an away the best restaurant experience we had during our visit to Charleston. The service was highly attentive and informative. And the food was varied and multi-leveled. My friend ordered the Scottish salmon with roasted shallots, fennel agrogolce, and carrot puree. Delicious. I ordered the chicken breast, with house made ricotta cavatelli. Also lovely. Our waiter was friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable about the food and helped us choose accompanying wine. The evening was truly delightful.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWe changed our reservationWe changed our reservation from another restaurant to Tristan after speaking with some locals, and were glad we did. The experience was unforgettable. We love local traditional dishes, but Tristan offers a menu unlike any other restaurant in Charleston. We tried the Chefs tasting, and were blown away by the diverse options and perfectly executed dishes. My favorite was the speck with mango purée. Our server, Cameron, was very knowledgeable, guided us through the menu options, and added to the overall experience. This is a restaurant you don't want to miss.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat bar with a fabulousGreat bar with a fabulous bar tender. The staff were exceptional. Food was very good.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMRamona SmithMy service was amazing and the food was incredible!!!!! I will be going back soon...I haven't stopped talking about how wonderful my experience was!!!3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFood quality and presentationFood quality and presentation were very good.
It was a "quiet" and slow night, and we enjoyed that atmosphere.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWent on a date and we hadWent on a date and we had the 5 course chef tasting and wine pairing. It was fabulous. The chef was very accommodating since I don't eat red meat or pork. I highly recommend it!3/11/2013 12:00:00 AM