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The Refuge, Isle of Palms, SC

The Refuge

4.6 (649)
$30 and under
American
1517 Palm Blvd, Suite A, Isle of Palms, SC 29451

Make a reservation

2 people
9:00 PM
Booked 22 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for brunch
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Charleston sits The Refuge in Isle of Palms. This family owned and operated venue is sure to please all.
Here at The Refuge, we take pride in pleasing the palates of locals and tourists alike. Our experienced staff stands behind the recipes on our menu, and use only the freshest ingredients to ensure an unforgettable dining experience. The coastal location of The Refuge is complimented by our modern and sophisticated design, which brings an upscale aesthetic to dining in Isle of Palms.
The Refuge offers an array of menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner to fit the schedule of any island dweller. Brunch enthusiasts can take refuge in our Weekend Tide menu, overflowing with delicious creations like baked avocado and egg, or stacks of buttermilk pancakes. With a coffee bar for coffee lovers and a restaurant for foodies,


Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 8:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (843) 242-8934
  • Website
    http://therefugeiop.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Jason Daly
  • Catering
    The Refuge has catering services available for any type of event, from birthday parties to weddings. Our staff is prepared to help plan your customized catering menu so that you can relish in the savory tastes of our dishes. The Refuge can accommodate parties of all sizes, whether you're looking for pastries and baked goods, or a full-service meal.<br>Our brunch, lunch and dinner menus are available for you to pick items for your catered event. Choose your favorites to create a personalized taste experience for your guests to enjoy.
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Location
    1517 Palm Blvd, Suite A, Isle of Palms, SC 29451
  • Neighborhood
    Isle of Palms
  • Cross street
    Palm Boulevard and the IOP connector
  • Parking details
    In the Harris Teeter Shopping Center
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • STEAKHOUSE NIGHT AT THE REFUGE EVERY TUESDAY

    Multiple dates available
    Choose a Rib-eye or New York Strip, among others, to indulge on alongside our array of sauces and sides. All available cuts of meat are blackened or grilled.

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 649 people are saying

The Refuge reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Charleston

    Great for brunch

  • Charleston

    American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Refuge offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing food," a "great cocktail and extensive drink menu," and "a nice atmosphere." Guests praise the "gracious, friendly, and attentive" service, especially from standout staff like Travis. While some reviews mention occasional delays, the overall experience remains "wonderful" and worth revisiting.
649 Reviews

  1. Christine VIP

    South Carolina47 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was great. It always takes so long to get food. Like the kitchen is slow. It’s our third time visiting and it’s always a long process. Server was great. Decor is nice. We book anyway but you need to plan extra time.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Derrick VIP

    South Carolina19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food. Service was a tad slow, but that may be because the restaurant was busy. But, the appetizers and all the entrees were top notch. We would definitely visit again when we return.

    Is this helpful?

  3. M Kevin

    South Carolina1 review

    2.0

    Dined on June 3, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Went on “steak night”. Drinks took on average 15 minutes to get to table. Very loud in dining room, hard to have a conversation with anyone other than the person right beside you. Service was pleasant & attentive but it took almost 2 hours to get our food. They either had a bad night or don’t have bar & kitchen staff capable of handling the volume that summer brings.

    Is this helpful?

  4. LaJean VIP

    Asheville / Western North Carolina2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was kinda all over the place. We had 2 different people greet us prior to our server actually coming. They didn't bring our appetizers before our entrees which made it crowded on the table. And totally forgot our soups and salads. We were told they would take the soups and salads off the bill since they came after our entrees. But they did not follow through. The she crab soup was really good and became what I actually ate instead of the entree and apps. Overall we had a nice night but they have lots of kinks to work out unless it's isolated with our server specifically.

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  5. Tramaine

    Greater Boston2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 25, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great, accommodating staff and service. Really enjoyed the cocktails and pastries.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Angela

    Chicago / Illinois5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We booked very last minute and arrived 30 min early. That being said, the host was very friendly and welcoming, and prepared our table right away, seating us early and giving us a heads up about the possibility of a 15 top table next to us impacting our wait time. The service was excellent, and we did not wait any longer than expected for our food. Great cocktail, and extensive drink menu. Ordered shrimp cocktail, great cocktail sauce. She crab soup was so decadent, and burger and fries was cooked to order, juicy and delicious. Save room for dessert! Delicious chocolate cake and key lime pie tasted like homemade desserts! Thanks, again and would definitely dine here, again.

    Is this helpful?

  7. David

    Pittsburgh / Western PA35 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our Server Travis D was gracious, friendly and attentive. He gave us his top three entree recommendations from a menu full of wonderful choices. And we were not disappointed. Our food and drinks were delicious. We wish we would had found Refuge before our last night is Isle of Palm because we loved it. We will diefnitly be back.

    1 person found this helpful

  8. mike VIP

    Chicago / Illinois14 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Overall, not great. Iced tea tasted like coffee. Must have been made in a coffee machine? Slow and inattentive service outside. Kind of forgot is out on the patio. The crab cake was very good. Not a crisp operation. The place next door blows this away.

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  9. Cathy

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Love the Refuge! The best bar on the island. The food is great as is the ambiance. We eat there at least once a week!

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  10. Betsy

    Greater Boston9 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious. The tuna tartare, fried oysters and seared scallops, specifically, were excellent. The Waldon wedge salad was good too but too big. Our server was very nice but we felt rushed. Our dinner came out before we had a chance to finish our appetizers and plates were taken without being asked if we were finished. My husband’s soda water request was incorrect twice (he got what tasted like tonic water both times).

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Refuge offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (843) 242-8934.

The Refuge is rated 4.6 stars by 649 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. South Carolina
  4. Charleston
  5. Isle of Palms

Make a reservation

2 people
9:00 PM
Booked 22 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Refuge

1517 Palm Blvd, Suite A, Isle of Palms, SC 29451

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Palm Boulevard and the IOP connector
  • Neighborhood
    Isle of Palms
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 8:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    In the Harris Teeter Shopping Center
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Jason Daly
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Website
    http://therefugeiop.com/
  • Phone number
    (843) 242-8934
  • Catering
    The Refuge has catering services available for any type of event, from birthday parties to weddings. Our staff is prepared to help plan your customized catering menu so that you can relish in the savory tastes of our dishes. The Refuge can accommodate parties of all sizes, whether you're looking for pastries and baked goods, or a full-service meal.<br>Our brunch, lunch and dinner menus are available for you to pick items for your catered event. Choose your favorites to create a personalized taste experience for your guests to enjoy.
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