Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Charleston

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best overall restaurants 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!

Nick’s German Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (1359)

$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

Todd

Dined 3 days ago

We love Nick’s! Authentic / delicious German food served in a cozy family run restaurant. You can tell that they love what they do - all three entrees that we ordered were excellent.

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4.9

4.9 (1703)

$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

Scott

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing food experience and our host Nate really made it a special evening.

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Experience

Happy Hour at Maison

Bar Copa

4.8

4.8 (17)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Johns Island

About the restaurant

From the vibrant streets of Barcelona to the charming villages of Provence, we observed a common thread—people eating & drinking with purpose & intention. It was the beautifully orchestrated symphony of flavors & traditions that inspired us on a deep level.

The ritual of enjoying low ABV bitter aperitifs during "happy hour," savoring wine with dinner, & indulging in digestivos to conclude a meal—all done with a sense of appreciation & respect for the ingredients & flavors of each region.

These experiences laid the foundation for Bar Copa—a place where we celebrate the Mediterranean way of life through simple, ingredient-driven dishes & a curated selection of low ABV aperitifs, wines, craft cocktails, & beers. Join us on this journey as we bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your table.

Cheers to good food, great company, & of course, a full Copa!

Top review

Melodie

Dined on Dec 4, 2024

We enjoyed this “new to us” restaurant. All four of us liked our food. I know it’s meant to be “tapas” like food but they might want to expand to more items.

Jackrabbit Filly

4.9

4.9 (30)

$30 and under

Chinese

North Charleston

About the restaurant

Jackrabbit Filly proudly serves award-winning, heritage driven New Chinese American cuisine in the heart of Park Circle, North Charleston. Our ingredients support local farmers and fishermen. Our wines are all-natural and support women producers. And our cocktail list supports a good time. We can't wait to have you in!

Top review

Stephen

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

As usual, it was amazing. I've had a lot of flounder in my lifetime and the whole flounder might have been the best yet.

La Rustica

4.8

4.8 (84)

$30 and under

American

Summerville

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Thomas

Dined 7 days ago

The restaurant was quite busy, but our wait staff was very efficient and as attentive as possible. The food was excellent and no one in our group was dissatisfied.

Anson

4.8

4.8 (4825)

$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

david

Dined 4 days ago

Halibut was delicious with an exquisite sauce. Shrimp appetizer was good but a little heavy on the breadcrumbs; we should have gone with the Crab Louie. Service was excellence and the ambience was very nice, decorated for the holidays.

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Popular dish

Whole Crispy Flounder

Burwell's Stone Fire Grill

4.9

4.9 (3613)

$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

Michael

Dined 6 days ago

We had an amazing dinner with unique flavors and perfectly flavored steak! Every course was delicious! All the way to the dessert, we were completely satisfied!!

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Popular dish

8 oz Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Hummingbird Cheesecake

Popular dish

Creme Brulee

The Establishment

4.8

4.8 (2653)

$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

Harry

Dined 4 days ago

When you make a reservation at establishment like this, you expect the food to be good. It was. It was excellent. Now here are the small things. The ambience is outstanding. The server was extremely knowledgeable. Everything that we had came together like a symphony. The manager came to the table and offered us a glass of cava for our anniversary The price point equates to the quality of the food. From The service to the ambience this restaurant gets it and as a former restaurant owner, I appreciate the fact that they not only put out great food. They paid attention to all of the small details.

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Experience

Ring in the New Year at The Establishment!

O-Ku

4.8

4.8 (2736)

$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

Luciano

Dined 1 day ago

We had a lovely dinner here last night. The service was attentive without being intrusive, the sashimi was outstanding as was the lobster. Craft cocktails to start were amazing.

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4.8

4.8 (3804)

$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

Ann

Dined 5 days ago

Everything was fine! Not outstanding, but for the price, it was ok.

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Popular dish

Sausage

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