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Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Charleston

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OpenTable
Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Charleston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of Nick’s German Kitchen restaurant
Nick’s German Kitchen
4.9
4.9 (1301)
$31 to $50
Contemporary German
Mount Pleasant
About the restaurant
Featuring scratch-made German specialties like Schnitzel, Spaetzle and more, Nick’s German Kitchen offers an authentic German kitchen infused with a modern vibe. Flavorful, fresh and appealing, Nick’s German will make you rethink everything you think you know about German food! Guten Appetit!
Top review
Betsyvip
Dined 3 days ago
Outstanding. Delicious. Truly owner operated with care. Definitely reccommend.
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A photo of Wiener Schnitzel of a restaurant
Popular dish
Wiener Schnitzel
A photo of Chicken Spaetzle of a restaurant
Popular dish
Chicken Spaetzle
A photo of Veggie Spaetzle of a restaurant
Popular dish
Veggie Spaetzle
A photo of Sorghum & Salt restaurant
Sorghum & Salt
4.7
4.7 (364)
$31 to $50
Tapas / Small Plates
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant
Vegetable & seafood driven small plates with a seasonal, always-revolving menu served in a trendy, industrial setting combining upscale fare with a laid back experience. Our tasting menu is available in the entire restaurant 6 days a week. Selected for OpenTables "Top 10 Diners' Choice Winners in Charleston" in 2021!

Top review
amanda
Dined 7 days ago
The food was very good! I would go here again. The only ridiculous thing was serving a single scallop as one of the meals.
A photo of Maison restaurant
Maison
4.9
4.9 (1650)
$31 to $50
French
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant
Maison is a French Bistro located in downtown Charleston, SC. Our concept is food forward with bright, balanced beverages to compliment. Maison's cuisine is inspired by classic French fare recreated with a breath of modernity and local influence. Tradition meets au courant innovation. The space is intimate and paralleled with energy.
Top review
Rachelvip
Dined on Sep 24, 2024
Second time coming for French Dip Tuesday and won't be the last. Excellent addition to the menu!
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A photo of Happy Hour at Maison of a restaurant
Experience
Happy Hour at Maison
A photo of Burwell's Stone Fire Grill restaurant
Burwell's Stone Fire Grill
4.9
4.9 (3551)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant
Diners Choice Ten years running, aligned with extraordinary cocktail bar, make this 14 N Market Street stop a must for steak and seafood lovers. Burwell’s is a true leader in progressing hospitality, from use of the entire resource to local ingredients not harmful to our communities or environment. From shrimp to beef, you’ll only taste the best at Burwell’s. One of a kind, unlike any steakhouse back home, and one of the must visits in Charleston. Visit while in the historic Market Distirct.

You can expect a casual, thoughtful design features highlighting Charleston and its rich history throughout. Burwell’s takes great pride in being approachable to all, with high craft memorable food, ensuring guests a warm and welcoming Charleston visit. Don't miss the Wagyu!

Best place to dine in the low country - South Magazine
One of Charleston’s “local favorites” - bon appetit grub crawl

Walk-ins welcome, Burwell’s popular bar is available for full menu dining

Plenty of parking near by



Top review
Shelia
Dined 1 day ago
Burwell's is an absolute gem! We always enjoy eating there, but this time they may have outdone themselves. We had a delightful surf & turf: shrimp cocktail, baked oysters, filet mignon, and ribeye -- all cooked to perfection. Dessert was Pluff Mud Pie Chocolate Cake, a specialty of Burwell's fabulous pastry chef. Sometimes we're so full from the meal that we don't have room for dessert, so this time we actually started with dessert -- a choice we highly recommend!
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A photo of 8 oz Filet Mignon of a restaurant
Popular dish
8 oz Filet Mignon
A photo of Hummingbird Cheesecake of a restaurant
Popular dish
Hummingbird Cheesecake
A photo of Creme Brulee of a restaurant
Popular dish
Creme Brulee
A photo of Anson restaurant
Anson
4.9
4.9 (4718)
$50 and over
Southern
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant
Anson was named one of OpenTable's 50 Best Southern Restaurants in America for 2018 |
Top review
Robin
Dined 1 day ago
I love this place. The food was amazing. The service even better
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A photo of Whole Crispy Flounder of a restaurant
Popular dish
Whole Crispy Flounder
A photo of Scallops of a restaurant
Popular dish
Scallops
A photo of Pecan Pie ala Mode of a restaurant
Popular dish
Pecan Pie ala Mode
A photo of O-Ku restaurant
O-Ku
4.8
4.8 (2686)
$30 and under
Japanese
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant
O-Ku, a Japanese restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina, is a triumph of execution and concept. The restaurant's menu is a modern take on traditional Japanese cuisine, and it features fresh, seasonal ingredients that are prepared with care. The dishes are beautifully presented, and the flavors are both complex and delicate. Focused on incorporating authentically Japanese flavors into the fare, O-Ku's menu is comprised of signature contemporary Japanese entrées and traditional sushi of the season reflecting the uniquely designed space. Guests can enjoy chef specialties including kurobuta pulled pork don-buri, braised short rib with shiso pesto, coconut curry, and hakozushi a box-style sushi. A wide variety of nigiri, sashimi and crudos are also available. The beverage program at O-Ku is a sophisticated blend of specialty cocktails, premium sake, bubbles, red and white wines and unique beer selections.
Top review
Jennifer
Dined 4 days ago
Went for my boyfriend’s birthday and his first time at Ok-u and it was a perfect experience! The quality of the food and service at Ok-u never disappoints!
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A photo of Dumplings of a restaurant
Popular dish
Dumplings
A photo of Lobster of a restaurant
Popular dish
Lobster
A photo of Lobster Temaki of a restaurant
Popular dish
Lobster Temaki
A photo of La Rustica restaurant
La Rustica
4.9
4.9 (59)
$30 and under
American
Summerville
About the restaurant
Coming Soon!
Top review
KRISTY
Dined on Sep 17, 2024
The food and service were excellent! From the bread to our entrees, everything was delicious!
A photo of The Establishment restaurant
The Establishment
4.8
4.8 (2569)
$50 and over
Seafood
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant
Everything at The Establishment begins with well-sourced ingredients from sea and field. Through developing relationships with local farmers and fishermen, our ingredients will be consistently seasonal, fresh, and pure. Chef Elliott Howells' menu will always reflect a clean, focused, and balanced approach, delivering a selection of thoughtful and refined cuisine.

Located in Charleston’s historic French Quarter a few blocks away from Rainbow Row, Charleston City Market, and Waterfront Park, The Establishment features an award-winning wine cellar, over 150 bourbon and whiskey offerings, and a lively bar scene complete with daily happy hour. We feature Live Music every Friday and Saturday starting at 8:00 PM, featuring multiple local artists performing an array of musical genres. Our private dining rooms are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or business meetings. We look forward to hosting you for a casual night out or an elevated dining experience.
Top review
Chuck
Dined 1 day ago
From start to finish this was an excellent restaurant in all aspects.
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A photo of Gnudi of a restaurant
Popular dish
Gnudi
A photo of Prime Ribeye of a restaurant
Popular dish
Prime Ribeye
A photo of Grouper of a restaurant
Popular dish
Grouper
A photo of Indaco restaurant
Indaco
4.8
4.8 (3727)
$30 and under
Italian
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant
Located on Charleston's Upper King Street, Indaco (Italian for "indigo") serves rustic Italian cuisine. Wood-fired pizzas, hand-crafted pastas, housemade salami and cured sausages fill the restaurant's menu which can be enjoyed family-style or a la carte. With community tables, an open kitchen, and a comfortable atmosphere, Indaco can accommodate 100 guests for a casual night of food and drinks. The wine list is focused on affordable Italian varietals, the Negroni cocktail is on tap, and the fresh sodas are made in-house. The massive wooden doors on Upper King Street are your first indication that Indaco is different from the typical Charleston restaurant. Rustic details continue inside with butcherblock tables, lime-wash walls, and white brick. An open kitchen with nearby community tables lets interested diners keep an eye on the action inside the kitchen. Outside, a patio puts you streetside to watch Upper King Street's vibrant nightlife scene.
Top review
Avalon
Dined 4 days ago
AMAZING! Incredible food and spectacular service. They made me feel so special for my birthday - plus all of the food was so delicious. Olivia was GREAT!
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A photo of Sausage of a restaurant
Popular dish
Sausage
A photo of The King Claw - Charleston restaurant
The King Claw - Charleston
4.6
4.6 (120)
$30 and under
Seafood
West Ashley
About the restaurant
King Claw: Juicy Seafood & Bar, a Viet-Cajun restaurant, in the former Yokoso Japanese Steakhouse at 1734 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.

Top review
Michelle
Dined 6 days ago
Our favorite place for seafood boil. It doesn’t get any better than this in Charleston!
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