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Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in South Carolina

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in South Carolina? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

A photo of SeaBlue Restaurant & Wine Bar restaurant

SeaBlue Restaurant & Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (2465)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

North Myrtle Beach

About the restaurant

SeaBlue Restaurant and Wine Bar is the finest restaurant on the Grand Strand, featuring Contemporary American cuisine rooted in classic French cooking technique. We aspire to be among the best restaurants in the country, using locally sourced ingredients and displaying five-star service to all our guests. We are proud of our many awards, #1 Restaurant in the Country in 2014 by OpenTable and Best of Award of Excellence 2012-2024 by Wine Spectator, just to name a few.

As owners, Kenneth Norcutt and Tracy Smith are involved in every aspect of the restaurant. Our travels, extensive background, and passion for food and wine enable us to share our experiences with you in our small community of North Myrtle Beach, SC. We are a small family dedicated to an intimate culinary adventure, a playground for lovers of wine and fine cuisine.
We invite you to Drink, Dine & Discover.

Top review

L

LynnVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We have been dining at SeaBlue’s for years. The food and service were excellent.

A photo of The Studio, An Artistic Dining Experience restaurant

The Studio, An Artistic Dining Experience

4.9

4.9 (1757)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Hilton Head Island

About the restaurant

Entice Your Senses While You Dine in our Fine Art Gallery. Innovative International Cuisine featuring Local Seafood, Grassfed Beef as well as Vegan, Vegetarian & Gluten Free Menu Options. Also offering Live Musical Entertainment, Artists Creating at the Easel, Patio Seating

Private Dining Room Available for up to 35 People

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence

Top review

R

RichardVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Great food, service, and attention to detail. Wonderful setting too.

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A photo of Shrimp & Vidalia Onion Bisque of a restaurant

Shrimp & Vidalia Onion Bisque

A photo of O.A.K. Prime Kitchen and Bar restaurant

O.A.K. Prime Kitchen and Bar

4.9

4.9 (267)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Myrtle Beach

About the restaurant

At O.A.K. Prime Kitchen and bar, our culinary and mixology philosophy is simple. Why be like everyone else when you can be One of A Kind! Our restaurant offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for spending the evening with your favorite people. Our menu includes Prime steaks and fresh fish nightly as well as classic and creative cocktails.

Top review

R

robert

Dined 5 days ago

Chilean sea base and crab cakes. We're superb service was excellent. Like most places these days, prices are out of sight.

A photo of The Bluffton Room restaurant

The Bluffton Room

4.9

4.9 (2299)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Bluffton

About the restaurant

At The Bluffton Room, we serve inspired American cuisine prepared with the finest ingredients in an intimate and vibrant atmosphere in the heart of Old Town Bluffton. Our well crafted cocktails, gracious service and tableside preparations evoke the feeling of a classic dinner party.

Please note that due to the size of our dining room and our tableside service, the restaurant is not suited to children under 13 years of age. Thank you for your understanding.

Top review

D

DavidVIP

Dined 4 days ago

We had a great experience. Food is wonderful, restaurant is very attractive and has a great small bar, but the best part of this place is the service. The wait staff is amazing and never disappoints.

A photo of SELECT Restaurant - Greer restaurant

SELECT Restaurant - Greer

4.8

4.8 (2503)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Greer

About the restaurant

SELECT (definition)- Carefully chosen to be the best or most valuable.

At SELECT we take that serious. We carefully choose every ingredient, location, menu selection, process, wines, craft beers, finest crafted cocktails, hot teas, etc....to provide you, the customer, what you desire. After all, you are the entire reason we are here.

Top review

K

KevinVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Great as always. The maple, black walnut old fashioned is legit. And it’s always great to see Lilly and Abraham. Will be back soon

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A photo of Nouveaux Ribeye of a restaurant

Nouveaux Ribeye

A photo of Uptown Sirloin of a restaurant

A photo of New York Pot Roast of a restaurant

New York Pot Roast

A photo of Soby's restaurant

4.8

4.8 (9435)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Greenville

About the restaurant

Soby’s New South Cuisine is an eclectic blend of contemporary continental cuisine infused with traditional Southern ingredients, transforming old favorites into something fresh and new. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Greenville, in a renovated cotton mill built in the 1800s. The atmosphere is warm and energetic and the staff is well-trained to provide a fantastic dining experience for all of our guests. In addition, the wine list offers more than 3,100 selections and an inventory of 15,500 selections. The restaurant is a Wine Spectator Magazine award-winner regular.

Top review

P

Pat

Dined 3 days ago

Our dinner at Soby’s was incredible as always. The service was impeccable and the food was amazing! It’s the perfect place to go for a special meal!

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A photo of Fried Chicken of a restaurant

A photo of Joyce Farms Fried Chicken of a restaurant

Joyce Farms Fried Chicken

A photo of CQ's restaurant

4.8

4.8 (3434)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Hilton Head Island

About the restaurant

Nestled amidst the ancient, moss draped oaks in Harbour Town, CQ's combines great fun, fine dining and a touch of Hilton Head Island history. CQ's has the feeling of an old, cozy, and comfortable inn. Heart-of-pine floors, wooden mantle pieces, stained glass, and the photographs and memorabilia of the Lowcountry culture all contribute to the charm that has made CQ's the place to dine since 1973. Inspired by the abundant varieties of fresh seafood, beef and game available. Our chef creates dishes that are best described as contemporary American with classic influences. Recognized for having the most extensive wine list on Hilton Head Island, CQ's offers more than 400 wine selections with over 70 poured by the glass.

Top review

D

Donna

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent service and good food. Prompt and very attentive!

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A photo of Seared Ahi Tuna of a restaurant

Seared Ahi Tuna

A photo of Calamari Puttanesca of a restaurant

Calamari Puttanesca

The Ribaut Social Club - Anchorage 1770

4.6

4.6 (520)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Beaufort

About the restaurant

Ribaut Social Club is a restaurant and social space for Beaufort locals and visitors to mingle over cocktails and impeccable regional cuisine.
Our aim is to capture the incorrigible spirit and convivial atmosphere of the original Ribaut Club, established at the Anchorage in 1891. In its heyday, the Club hosted performances, grand parties, dances and even gambling—a raucous getaway from buttoned-up social strictures of the time. Today, guests can cocktails and dinner with unrivaled water views or a sophisticated brunch surrounded by 300 years of Beaufort history.

Top review

B

BJ

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Lovely dining, food really good, Sarah our server was fabulous Will enjoy this restaurant again!

A photo of Tempest restaurant

4.7

4.7 (2474)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown Charleston

About the restaurant

Tempest has been named the country’s #1 new restaurant by readers of USA Today’s travel guide, 10Best. Located on Market Street, in the former historic Harriott Pinckney Home for Sailors, next door to sister location Church and Union Charleston. Tempest features hyper-local, sustainable Coastal Modern-American food, with a seasonal menu curated by Chef Adam Hodgson and Bravo Top Chef Alum Chef Jamie Lynch.

Tempest’s noteworthy raw and roast menu features both chilled and charcoal roasted options, with a variety of meats, pastas, fresh produce, and chef curated accompaniments that go beyond the sea, offering a taste for every palate.

Top review

R

Renee

Dined 4 days ago

This place was fabulous! Grace recommendations did not disappoint! She was fabulous, courteous, knowledgeable and personable. The food was amazing. The roasted oysters…. Would have eaten 100! The flounder was delicious. The Harriet drink - I’ve never drank a beverage so quickly. It was top notch. Highly recommend and I can’t wait to bring a crew!

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A photo of Grouper of a restaurant

A photo of Oysters of a restaurant

A photo of Saltus River Grill restaurant

Saltus River Grill

4.6

4.6 (3904)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Beaufort

About the restaurant

We are now booking reservations for parties of up to 4 people online! Please call the restaurant at (843)379-3474 to make a reservation for parties of 5 or more people. All reservations are held for inside as outdoor seating is weather permitting. Comments specifying seating preferences are honored if and when available. We will try to honor all requests, but they are not guaranteed. We look forward to serving you soon!

Saltus River Grill is a unique, and exciting restaurant in historic downtown Beaufort, South Carolina. With a grand view of the Intracoastal Waterway from its Sonoma-style patio or from the expansive full-service bar and dining room, this sizzling contemporary seafood grill combines the atmosphere of a chic Manhattan eatery with the historic charm found only in the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Top review

R

robert eVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Always excellent. Great sushi and fish and particularly tuna.

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A photo of Fried Oysters of a restaurant

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