great service in outside vibe with pet friendly area downtown with early bird drinks. good value for location

This was my husband and Is last night in Charleston and this dining experience was easily the most disappointing. Pros - We were sat inside instantly upon arriving and they have a pretty good happy hour from 4-7 with oysters and variety of appetizer and drink specials. The oysters both raw, and char boiled tasted amazing. We were automatically off to a good start, our server was nice too. Cons - Their special risotto was one of the most disgusting dishes I've had this entire visit. The rice was crunchy in some spots, and extremely overcooked in others. On top of that the fish it included was under seasoned, overcooked, and extremely dry. I've made better risotto at home, for restaurant grade this was beyond horrible. Our server didn't check on us until I had struggled to eat whatever parts of my dish didn't taste completely horrible (there were very few.) I would recommend coming here for the happy hour. They have plenty of bar, indoor, and outdoor seating. Avoid the specials. read more

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This place is amazing! I only had a drink and some Oysters. Thier Pearlz Signature Dressed Oysters were absolutely amazing!!! The basil oil gave it a fancy feel and the Shallots a little crunch. I felt fancy eating them!! I enjoyed them with a Gentlemen of the tide cocktail and I was ready for 2nds! 3rds! read more

Pearlz - Gentlemen of the Tide and Pearlz Signature Dressed Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

THE PERFECT SUNDAY! Walked into Pearlz on a beautiful sunny Sunday and the hostess was very sweet and had a big smile. I sat at the bar because I love to see the fresh oysters being shucked and who doesn't love a good bar vibe. The shucker, Tyler, was so amazing and funny! He was quick and served the cleanest oysters I have ever encountered. The oysters themselves were amazing, especially with Tyler's homemade mignonette! I wish I could remember the types but I told Tyler to load me up with his favorites! The whole experience was so pleasant and I will definitely be back! read more

Pearlz - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Love the hostess! We had a reservation for 4 pm ( for the happy hour) but we had been walking around downtown for hours and I was dying to use the restroom ( is this TMI?)! so we showed up about 20 minutes early and I explained and she was like" come on in, whether you have a reservation or not!!) This is why I'm moving here. Just nice and gracious. First course , seafood gumbo. I asked if it had okra in it and he said no. I said , "Blasphemy!"' And I mean it. The dish ( not gumbo) had a nice flavor. One shrimp and 50 cent worth of crab. I think I got a piece of andouille, but can't be sure. Nice onions on top. The roux was more like bad baby food. Needed to be thinned out. Next the fried oysters!!! So good, we got two orders because I am a fried oyster fiend! Oysters were great as was the hot sauce ( spicy and I loved every cough I had!) , the blue cheese dip served alongside had no blue cheese on mine. I tried to tell my husband it was tartar sauce but I knew it was not that. No appropriate seasonings. But I loved the oysters, hot sauce and celery! A plus! Before I forget, Joe was our server and very hospitable. Truly, could not be nicer. Okra in the gumbo threw him. Road trip to New Orleans!!! Highlight was the shrimp which I requested hot, so I am guessing they were steamed or boiled. Whatever, they were cooked PERFECTLY!! Cocktail sauce with horseradish on top was a treat. As happy hour started, folks really started coming in. Because if you like raw oysters ( and I do) it's the best. FYI, I have a health reason I don't eat them, but I dang well would if I could. Bathrooms clean! I had fun. read more

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Great food and service, would definitely come back again. Ordered the catch of the day fish burger, which happened to be swordfish. It was very well seasoned and the fries that came with it were crispy. The meal paired well with Edmund's Oast sour and the oysters (not pictured) were very fresh and good. read more

Pearlz - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Amazing! Drinks were delicious and strong. Perfect place to wait out a storm. Staff was nice and knowledgeable read more

Pearlz - Old fashioned and charbroiled oysters - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

SO and I stopped in for dinner and made it in time for some happy hour menu items...we started with the happy hour shrimp and raw oysters (we were so hungry that we forgot to take pics). Then we shared the seafood pasta from the main menu...it tasted as good as it looks. Bottom line, the food, drinks and service were all excellent. read more

Pearlz - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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What an incredible experience at Pearlz! I started off with a refreshingly delicious Pina Colada and Prince Edward Island oysters, two of my personal favorites. They even provided this adorable vinaigrette dropper which gave the oysters even more of a kick! Well done! The special was a combination of shrimp, swordfish, salmon and halibut served over truffle risotto with fresh zucchini and tomatoes. The combination of flavors was truly on point. Delicious! Quick, friendly service in an elegant environment. Spot on! Will be back to check out happy hour! read more

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Stopped in here last minute for a small meal and drinks for happy hour and was seated right away. Service was good. Ordered raw oysters which were yummy, a Cobb salad which was also yummy, but the ceviche was a big no. We actually sent that back. Cream on ceviche??? Who's idea was that?! I did enjoy frosé though, perfect for a hot summer day. read more

Stopped in for lunch while visiting for the holidays. Many restaurants were packed but pearlz had room at the bar, right in front of where they shuck oysters! The laidback and friendly environment would help anyone to feel at ease. The prices were reasonable, especially for the location and server was attentive and quick. We split the wedge salad and had clam chowder which was a satisfying lunch! read more

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We had an amazing time at Pearlz - great service and drinks. Everything was delicious but I am more partial to oysters on the half shell, so those were my favorite - very fresh! read more

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Pearlz has been my gi-to for years. I enjoy the happy hour James River Oysters. Their Classic Oyster Shooter is pepper vodka, oyster, spicy cocktail sauce (and extra horseradish please). My new favorite is the Tequila Twist Shoot prepared with tequila, tomatillo salsa verde (extra horseradish again please). There are beer, champagne, house wines, selected beers, etc available at HH too. The people are friendly including customers, bartenders and the shuckers. Be sure to sit near the shuckers to see their skills at work. The food menus are tasty, the choice of fresh oysters is extensive. There is limited seating available outside too. We stop here regularly. read more

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Seafood pasta, shrimp & grits and buttered baguette were amazing. Pretty decent drinks, charbroiled oysters were a bit overcooked but special French onion oysters and house raw oysters made up for it. Kids loved it too! Will come again. Great friendly service! read more

Pearlz - Shrimp & grits - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Oysters are excellent. The service is amazing. Kaitlyn was the best I almost didn't get them a 5 star. The ceviche was kinda eh. But overall experience was awesome. Best oysters in town. read more

Pearlz - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Wandered past on a Sunday and decided to stop. I had the 1/2 lb peel n eat shrimp, they were perfectly seasoned. Husband had the calamari and it was NOT greasy at all lightly battered and crispy. The corn nuggets were the BIG surprise large portion light and fluffy and a cross between a beignet and a corn fritter. Amazing more like desert. Server was great!" Total was $51 read more

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Fabulous! Everything I ordered was delicious lots of specials and the service was terrific... I will return! read more

I'm always looking for a good place for oysters, so we decided to give Pearlz Oyster Bar a try. We visited the one on Bay Street. We went during the week so the crowd was not to bad. We made a reservation ahead of time just in case they were busy. We got to the restaurant and had a drink at the bar. We watched the guy behind the bar shucking oysters and we were amazed at how fast he was at shucking. The service at the bar was fast and friendly. Once seated at our table we ordered oysters on the half shell, halibut fish tacos an tuna tacos. The food was amazing as well as the service we received. Our server, Katie was the best. Very friendly and attentive. She checked on us numerous times and made sure our drinks were always full. The manager also came to our table to make sure were enjoying our dinner. If you haven't been to Pearlz, I would recommend that you give it a try. read more

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We ate here with our kids and had a great meal. My wife and I both ordered pasta dishes. I had the seafood pasta and my wife had the shrimp pasta. We both loved our dishes and said we will come back again the next time we are in Charleston to have these dishes. The waitress said the seafood pasta is one of the best dishes they have and she was right! The service was great. The waitress was very engaging and checked on us often. The manager came by, along with other employees/ management. We have eaten at a lot of restaurants in the historic district over the years. This is one of the best. read more

I was there specifically for happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) at the recommendation of another local merchant. Hard to find a better happy hour. I had the $5 Cab (decent for the $), the fried oysters, shrimp and ceviche. Pics of each are attached including happy hour menu. Friendly staff. Terrific service. read more

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Happy hour oysters!! 1/2 doz for $10. Delicious. Corn fritters. OMG. Best fritter ever. With maple butter. They were so light and fluffy. Heaven. Glass of champagne $4. Draft beer $5. This place is amazing. read more

Pearlz - Corn fritters with maple butter. I ate two before I took the pic. - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Great selection of oysters, I love their hot sauce, and they have a good selection of fun cocktails. Their crab dip (served warm as it should be) was very flavorful, plenty of crab and had a touch of horseradish which I thought was a nice kick. The service here is good, no complaints and plenty of seating on a Friday night. read more

Pearlz - Crab Dip Flash Fried Brussel Sprouts Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The was rain coming down in buckets on Mother's Day 2025. We had tickets for the Riverdogs game at 5:05 at the Joe! Driving into Charleston, I kept thinking positive thoughts while I slipped a prayer or two into our Lord hoping for the best, meaning no "rainout". I had reviewed two dozen restaurants on Yelp on Saturday, including operating hours, type of fare they offered, and made sure all were rated above a 4.3 stars, so no matter my enticing companion's mood and choice, I was locked and loaded to give her exactly what she craved. All the way there I kept praying and the rain, now a thunderstorm, kept getting worse. But we just kept on truckin! We pulled into the public parking lot waited ten minutes for a challenged driver to exit, and the rain was still coming down hard. However, right after I got soaked taking a picture of the text number for parking lot on the meter sign to enter my credit card (very secure, lol), the rain changed to a very light drizzle. We walked the block and a half feeling wistful and giddy as it felt like the tide had turned! Raw bar and Seafood was her preference, and Brothers and Sisters I am here to tell you all Pearlz's on Bay Street in Charleston delivered the goodies. Six, yes six, different choices of raw oysters, four different types of clams, large shrimp (yea, I know oxymoron) that were perfectly steamed, then immediately iced that were oh so nice, so we had them twice! Was it good? No, it was flavor-fantastic seafood event going on, right in our mouths! And because our server Daryl from Boston brought us a great sauce we have not tried. Vinegar, garlic, basil and an ingredient he would not identify that was very savoy with the raw clams and oysters. The Oysters Rockefeller are a must because they are topped with one of the best melded sauces we gave ever tasted. Their fish tacos, you can miss, because they are. But their Shrimp and Grits is a huge hit as my pristinely beautiful companion stated "This maybe the best Shrimp and Grits I've ever had." So you know they were excellent as her palate is very discerning. Daryl's was welcoming, very efficient, and exacting as we were served our dishes quickly with exactly what we ordered. The atmosphere was warm, clean, welcoming, and a joy to experience. Ya could miss it but don't! Instead go, and enjoy the food, the service, and oh yea, the outstanding mixed drinks, beer and wine selection. When we exited Pearlz, no rain. YEA! How did the Riverdogs game at the Joe go? I guess you'll have to read that review to find out. Enjoy! read more

We made reservations for a Sunday night on Memorial Day weekend. For some reason, I thought the restaurant would be a bit more upscale based on the pictures, but it had a pub like feel. The ambiance was casual and lively. There was a large bar area filled to capacity. When we arrived at our alloted time, we were seated immediately at a small table for 2. The place was packed, and with all the tables jammed in close to each other, there was little room to move around. Thankfully, I am not a large person because I had to squeeze in between 2 tables to get to my seat. Our waiter was amicable, but the service was slow. We first ordered drinks. I had The Dahlia, the description looked great, yet the drink was forgettable. My husband had an old-fashioned and it was equally not good. We ordered the lump crab cakes for our starter. The two small crab cakes were good and paired well with the mustard sauce that it came with. For our entrées we both ordered the Chef's Special, the Mixed Seafood Grill. We both enjoyed our entrées . It was a unique combination of fresh fish. Overall, we had a decent experience. It was more like 3.5 stars, but I rounded up. If you are looking for a nice place to take a date, this is a great option. read more

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Service was great and the chefs are very accommodating. Some great local beers and great location to stop at while walking Charleston.

Good but not great. Slow service in the beginning. For example, the table next to us who just sat down got their water before us. I felt like we have had better oysters during our travels and this place didn't make the cut. But the Firelake PEI was our favorite of the three types of oysters that we got. The clam chowder was grainy and thin. Mediocre lobster roll. I do like it's not overly buttered. It was seasoned but I felt like it was missing something. Overall I do like that it's a casual seafood restaurant and despite its busyness people do get in and out quickly. read more

Nice ambiance, nice staff. Got the FISH & CHIPS ($19.95) and the NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER ROLL ($29.95). The FISH & CHIPS had good fresh tasting cod. The NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER ROLL had a few good chunks of lobster, but was in a disappointingly small bun (as seen in picture). Also, had some inedible green seaweed on plate as a garnish (another space filler, but inedible) Plate wasn't worth $30 in my opinion and would not order again. The chips (French fries) were plain pretty plain, no special taste or texture. Not bad, but just felt like necessary filler for the plate. I wanted to love this place, but unfortunately because of the portion size for the price wouldn't recommend it. read more

Pearlz - New England Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This is a great place for fresh oysters. They always have a house special for a dozen oysters and a great selection of drinks with a full menu. I've now been to the pearls in both locations and both offer great service. We came here after sightseeing and were able to get a table pretty quickly. I got the fish and chips which had a little bit too much breading, but the fish was cooked perfectly. My brother got the seafood pasta And my stepmom got a bloody Mary, which she says was not too fishy. read more

Pearlz - Seafood Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We've been going to Pearlz for a decade. We appreciate downtown restaurants that stick around, have a chill atmosphere, and are consistent. Further, Pearlz's happy hour is a fun stop on your way to the Vendue roof or when heading back uptown. We're writing this review to compliment Pearlz on always having some non-seafood options and great drinks. On this particular outing/trip, the jalapeño margarita, oysters (we heard), tuna, crab cakes, and burger were all excellent and well presented. Bartenders and staff are friendly, warm, and clearly get along with each other. Every time we stop in to Pearlz, we're warmly greeted and well taken care of. read more

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1st dinner of our trip, food was good, nothing crazy but solid, service and speed was lacking. We had a reservation yet still waited a while for someone to acknowledge us once we were sat. I ordered a cocktail which was delicious however it came out AFTER the appetizer. We only had 1 drink and 1 beer which should but have taken that long and likely would have ordered more if they came on time. Food wise - the portions were bigger than I expected especially for something downtown. They were willing and the star was the blacked fish and the lobster roll was exploding with meat instead of just break which was nice. We also shared the brussels and calamari both of which were just ok. Maybe they were having an off night but the good food didn't make up for the extremely long and frustrating service so we wouldn't go back read more

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I thought that the food and service were average at best. The She Crab soup tasted stock and as if it had been prepared days ahead in advance. The premium oysters that were from AL and MS were very good. I thought that the service was fair. We ate at the bar and the restaurant was not very busy for a Thursday night, but the service was very lacking. It was hard to hear the bartender, whom spoke in a whisper. I am glad that we tried this restaurant, but I have no desire to go back. P.S. There was a crest card surcharge. In 2026, this is a crazy practice for a business to take on. read more

This is a must if you're visiting Charleston! Happy hour selection is priced well with an excellent selection. We loved the she crab soup and the oysters were high quality. Can't wait to come back read more

Pearlz - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Positive... The staff was nice. Hostess was attentive and server was knowledgeable. Oysters were great and the NE clam chowder was really good - order this!! Other than positive... 1) two of us ordered the Mediterranean shrimp pasta (I think that's what it was called). The shrimp was not cooked through on both of our dishes. Not slightly under - REALLY under. A TAD pink but mostly still gray. the pasta was only slightly warm too - just a lose lose. 2) The she crab soup was NOT good. 3) Grouper po boy. The Positive is that the grouper was decent however it was impossible to eat. Bun piled w/things. Seems like a good problem but not fun to try to eat as a handheld. 4) Music - Dean Martin and so forth being played in the dining room - great. Good vibe. For some reason that stopped and all we could hear was Tool being played loudly in the kitchen. The door to the kitchen was open and what I can only assume were managers were sitting on their computers at a high top right by us (I say that bc they went in and out of the kitchen and one was in chef like clothes). Why they didn't shut it down is beyond me. Overall disappointed. read more

The prettiest presentation of Peel and eat shrimp with the dusting of Old Bay seasoning on the plate and dollop of pungent horseradish on top of the cocktail sauce with lemon. The shrimp are so fresh and plump. Great happy hour with Narragansett lager on draft for $4.00! read more

Pearlz - Peel and eat shrimp. Great happy hour! Narragansett on tap $4.00 - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Super cute location right off of the street with a nice seafood vibe. We sat at the bar for happy hour and were pretty happy with the choices. For the charbroiled oysters, I really wish they were done on a grill and without the cheese because it melts & gets hard making it harder to get out of the shell. My thoughts is that it would be better done with bigger oysters so they don't shrink as much. However, the oysters rockefeller definitely made up for that! Delicious and creamy - which i can also say about the soup. Would love to come back and try some more dishes! read more

Pearlz - Charbroiled Oysters, Oysters Rockefeller, & Crab Bisque - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The food was very underwhelming. I was highly disappointed based off of the great reviews. The flavor was off for everything. The Rockefeller was dry and super crumby. The dip tasted like It had too much mustard. My friend didn't like her charbroiled oysters either. The raspberry champagne drink was delicious. The restaurant was nice and the staff were friendly. read more

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We shared the chef's oyster special ($25/dozen) for a quick mid-day snack and loved it! We enjoyed sitting at the bar watching them shuck oysters and the oysters really hit the spot on a hot muggy day. We were in and out in no time since service was really fast and surprisingly not the crowded for a Saturday afternoon. Will come back next time we're in town for some more oysters! read more

Pearlz - Chef's special oysters - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Wife and I love Pearlz. Many of the other restaurants in the area are rather fancy. We were looking for top-notch food but a more relaxed vibe. Casual place, great food, great drinks and the variety of oysters was surprising. Turned my wife into an oyster fan! We went back a week later and had just as much fun. We will be back. read more

Pearlz - Fresh oysters. We tried 2 of each kind! Devoured them all. - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

A GREAT stop around happy hour! Which is 4-6 weekdays. We did a seafood tasting so to speak! House wine with oysters of the day ( you can mix & match from rye days selection), then warm crab dip and finally fresh shrimp. Watch out ... the horseradish has a wicked zing!!!! Loved the presentation as well as how flavorful every dish was! read more

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There was a very unpleasant smell from the moment we walked in that was less of a seafood scent and more of a drainage issue/backed up piping. Hole in the bathroom wall was unfortunate. The server was busy and therefore had extremely divided attention missing details to make the dining experience more pleasant. Given the cost and the ratings, we would have expected more. The she crab soup was vinegar-y, the meals were all very salty and the oyster order was overly complicated by the shucker with incorrect count. read more