Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
editorial list heading

6 New Restaurants to Book in Charleston This Spring

A photo of Red logo
by Stratton Lawrence
Updated March 17, 2022
What defines Southern hospitality more than a steaming communal table of Lowcountry boil or shrimp and grits? While those standbys, fueled by the bounty of the surrounding creeks and rivers, still form the soul of Charleston dining, the Holy City is expanding its culinary universe. These new restaurants, ranging from the city’s only food hall to an Indian fusion restaurant, pay tribute to Charleston’s history while increasing its global appeal.
A photo of Brasserie la Banque restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1320)
$30 and under
French
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant

You don’t have to know much French to gather that this stunning spot, which opened in November, sits in a former bank. But we’re not talking drive-through tellers—the restaurant lies catty-cornered to the Old Exchange at one of the city’s most historic intersections. Fortunately, dishes such as duck consommé with foie gras dumplings are as decadent as the space’s soaring ceilings and ornate millwork. This is the place to feast on bouillabaisse with local clams, or treat yourself with a marquee plate of steak frites. Before or after your reservation, descend into the vault (one of the only basements in this low-lying city) for an exquisite cocktail at Bar Vauté.


Top review
Monica
Dined 2 days ago
Excellent beef bourgingnon. And the frangipane dessert was amazing. Can’t wait to eat there again on our next visit to Charleston.
A photo of Coterie- Charleston restaurant
4.2
4.2 (400)
$31 to $50
Contemporary French / American
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant

To understand the evolution of Charleston’s food scene, look no further than the shrimp and grits offered at this Indian fusion hotspot. Mustard seeds, curry leaves, and coconut oil all lend flavors to a dish that rarely receives such a bold overhaul. That’s also the case with the country captain tikka, a spice-heavy creation that injects new life into the Carolina classic. The cocktails pair flavors with similar magic—the okroni brightens gin and vermouth with okra amaro. Colder months call for toddies, including one with mezcal and pamplemousse cream. For Saturday brunch, bring a friend to split a heaping plate of appam—rice pancakes served with a rotating array of India-inspired dips and sides.


Top review
LizVIP
Dined 2 days ago
We had a fantastic time at Coterie - delicious food, amazing cocktails, service was awesome (thanks, Noah!) - our group of ten, with vegetarians, allergies and gluten free folks all had an incredible experience. Thank you so much.
A photo of The Kingstide restaurant
4.5
4.5 (1516)
$30 and under
Seafood
Daniel Island
About the restaurant

Most visitors to Charleston won’t have occasion to visit Daniel Island, a swanky suburb sitting atop Mount Pleasant. But this bustling waterfront gem, a March 2021 opening, is gaining far more traction now, thanks to two levels of wraparound porches overlooking the Wando River. It’s an ideal setting to enjoy the kitchen’s spread of wood-fired and raw seafood. The eponymous seafood tower—stacked with two dozen oysters, a pound of shrimp, 15 local clams, and a healthy dollop of crab meat—is one of Charleston’s most impressive. Off the grill, try the trout reuben, enlivened by pickled kohlrabi. Wash it down at the rooftop bar with a vanilla bourbon float or a chilly glass of frosé.


Top review
Ellen
Dined 1 day ago
So many great options for vegans! Love it here, great spot for a nice meal
A photo of Church and Union - Charleston restaurant
4.5
4.5 (8567)
$31 to $50
American
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant

In a city where steeples dominate the skyline, it’s no surprise that there’s a restaurant in the sanctuary of a former church. This New American spot was formerly the popular restaurant 5Church, which was treated to an overhaul before reopening with a new name in January. At the updated location, dine on reinvented Southern classics, such as a pork chop with hoisin glaze and fried chicken with chile honey under the light of stained glass windows. Ensure good luck all year with the hoppin’ john risotto, made hearty with tasso ham and crawfish. And if you find yourself idling over a market street spritz, made with aperol, peach, vanilla, herbs, and rosé, gaze up at the ceiling, where artist Jon Norris painstakingly etched lines from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War between the rafters.


Top review
MelanieVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Beautiful venue. Good selection of dining options. Server was excellent. Hostess had an attitude and not friendly!
A photo of Maya restaurant
4.6
4.6 (716)
$30 and under
Mexican
Downtown Charleston
About the restaurant

Upper King Street comes alive on weekend nights, and this hip Mexican restaurant, which opened in September, is no exception. Revelers fill the atmospheric courtyard for DJ sets and tacos served until 11 pm. But it’s the delicious science behind those tacos that keeps Maya busy the rest of the week. Chef Brett Riley, a Brooklyn transplant, imports corn from Mexico for the kitchen’s masa program, using the ancient process of nixtamalization to generate dough for the house-made tortillas. The perfect corn discs are then filled with brisket, braised mushrooms, or roasted cauliflower and gooseberry salsa. The showstopper is the al pastor, roasted on a vertical rotisserie, shaved with care, and accompanied with a perfect blend of guac, pineapple, onion, and cilantro.


Top review
John
Dined 4 days ago
Everything (food, service...everything!) was great and the prices were reasonable in an expensive town. I had the quesadillas postal and it was incredible!
Explore other cities and regions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo