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Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in South Carolina

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OpenTable
Updated February 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
4.9
4.9 (2412)
$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
MarkVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Excellent food and excellent service as always! Sea Blue continues to impress
A photo of The Bluffton Room restaurant
4.9
4.9 (2192)
$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
JeffVIP
Dined 4 days ago
We regularly go to the locker room for years now and have never had a bad experience. The food is always great and the service is unparallel. Highly recommend going as soon as you can you won’t regret it one of the best values in the area.
A photo of The Studio, An Artistic Dining Experience restaurant
4.9
4.9 (1707)
$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
Patricia
Dined 3 days ago
The food here is delicious with lots to choose from including vegan options that have never disappointed. Servings are generous, you won’t leave here hungry! Attentive and knowledgeable staff plus lovely background soft jazz and artistic setting makes this one of my favourite restaurants on Hilton Head Island. We will be back 😁
A photo of O.A.K. Prime Kitchen and Bar restaurant
4.9
4.9 (219)
$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
Michele
Dined 3 days ago
A well rounded menu with interesting choices. We both chose the seared foie gras, followed by the Elk chops. The foie gras portion was inconsistent between my my husband portion and mine , was over cooked and the dish didn’t have much flavor. It wasn’t enough to it send back , but would not order again. The Elk Chops were cooked beautifully, nice portion size, and was very enjoyable. We rarely have dessert but decided to try their Crème Brûlée. It did not carry much of a vanilla taste, no vanilla bean seeds visible, ( a sign that it would have a rich vanilla taste), it was good but would not order again. The wine selection was nice, the staff was attentive and pleasant. I observed other patrons that had ordered cocktails….they looked interesting also generous in size. The spacing between the tables was adequate, seating was comfortable, and the room was quiet. I would go back, but would make other choices.
A photo of CQ's restaurant
4.9
4.9 (3306)
$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
ChrisVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Excellent food and excellent service. Nice atmosphere.
A photo of SELECT Restaurant - Greer restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2416)
$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
Teresa
Dined 2 days ago
Excellent food and dining experience. We went on a Thursday for a late lunch and it was not crowded and noisy.
A photo of Lulu Kitchen restaurant
4.8
4.8 (895)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Hilton Head Island
About the restaurant
Welcome to LULU KITCHEN, where exquisite cuisine it’s paired with exceptional service and eclectic ambiance!

Open Monday through Saturday for Lunch and Dinner, and Sunday for Brunch.

Lulu Kitchen Dinner Service is intended as an adult dining experience. Respectfully, children under 12 years old are welcome only for patio dining after 4:00pm.

Until we see you again, stay well and be sure to eat well!!

-Chef Scott Hastings

Top review
JoanVIP
Dined 5 days ago
We had a group of 4 for lunch and we all enjoyed our meal. Very good
A photo of Soby's restaurant
4.8
4.8 (9144)
$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 500 selections and is a Wine Spectator Magazine award-winner regular.

Top review
Mary
Dined 3 days ago
Soby's offered great food choices, Cindy the server, was polite, recommendations were spot on and made an enjoyable evening for us.
A photo of Saltus River Grill restaurant
4.7
4.7 (3818)
$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
Rick
Dined 1 day ago
VERY good meal, & service. As always, a little loud
A photo of Breakwater Restaurant & Bar - Beaufort restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2534)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Beaufort
About the restaurant
"Chic, sexy and glamorous", are words that have been used to describe the decor of this downtown Beaufort hotspot. If you are looking for where the locals eat, Breakwater is it. The atmosphere is upscale casual, the staff is friendly, welcoming and attentive.

Chef Lang and Chef Shaw's version of 'New Southern Cuisine' contains the past, present, and future all at once. Younger, lighter, and fresher than traditional Southern 'Old School' deep-fried fare while acknowledging culinary influences from the world beyond. Exceptional tapas menu, outstanding fresh local seafood and produce.
The bar at Breakwater exudes a lively energy with locals and travelers alike. Exceptional wine list with 75 wines by the glass.

Top review
ThomasVIP
Dined 3 days ago
This is an outstanding restaurant! We ate here last year while in Beaufort. This time was even better. I chose a high top table in the lounge…like being where there’s more activity. We had Ozzie as our waiter, and he was the bartender as well. He was excellent, great service with friendliness as well. I had Chicken with collards and selected broccolini instead of potatoes. My husband had the Filet with potatoes and asparagus. We both had the grilled Caesar. Everything was first class decadent! If we come back next year, we’ll have a third visit.
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