Wow! This place was an absolute gem. We originally had a reservation elsewhere but decided to…read morecancel because we weren't very hungry and the reservation time was a little early. While we were out walking on King Street, a local recommended Stella's, and I'm so glad they did. We walked over from our Airbnb and immediately loved the space. The restaurant has two U-shaped bars in the center, which is my husband and my favorite place to sit when dining out. We went in with zero expectations and hadn't even looked at the menu beforehand, but everything ended up being incredible. The drinks were fantastic, and our bartender/server was so sweet. Even though we were one of the last couples seated that evening, we never felt rushed and were able to enjoy the meal at our own pace. We ordered the non-breaded calamari and a shrimp dish, and the calamari was honestly the best I've ever had. It was incredibly fresh, perfectly cooked, and the artichokes that came with it were so delicious. Every bite made me happy. We finished with the tiramisu, which our bartender recommended, and it was absolutely outstanding--easily the best tiramisu I've ever had. I'm still dreaming about this meal and would come back in a heartbeat the next time I'm in Charleston.

We had such a fun date night at Stella's downtown. I made us a reservation for a Saturday night at…read morethe bar, which we really enjoyed. We were surprised when we walked in and the bar was actually low, with low, spinny bar seats. But it actually was pretty unique and fun! Our server was excellent and gave us great recommendations. We started with the Stella's Kalamari that had sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and artichoke hearts. It was very flavorful and delicious. Something to keep in mind here is that the portions are pretty large. Perfect for splitting dishes and a lot of food for your buck. The stand out dish for me was the spanakopita. It's a flaky, crispy pastry with spinach and feta inside that you dip in tzatziki. What's not to love about all of that?? We splurged a bit on our entree and split the braised lamb shank. The lamb itself was pretty good, but what I enjoyed most was the pasta it comes with. I would maybe suggest trying a different entree. It wasn't my favorite, but it was good. For drinks I got the Cretan, which had cucumber infused gin, lime, rosemary and thyme. It was so refreshing and just what I wanted. I will definitely be coming back here and recommending it to others!

Amazing friendly server, Chantel, delivered our food with a happy attitude and beautiful smile!…read more The breakfast was delicious. We ordered French toast and the other was a breakfast sandwich from the Swamp Fox restaurant. Absolutely delicious and hearty portions.

Sylvie was amazing!! If she's not the head server, she should be, so she can train other employees…read moreon the excellent customer service she provides. Experience was nothing less than amazing because of her! My parents and I were very impressed as it's tough to have good service nowadays. Food was good but I could've hated the food and still enjoyed her presence. THANK YOU, SYLVIE!

It's been 11 years since I posted my last review for this place. I was concerned when I made the…read morereservation that maybe it had lost its luster since I was last here. Happily, I was wrong! Everything went extremely well from the check-in experience, to the food, and the service. Our reservation was for 6:30pm but we got there a full hour early. They gave us a table immediately, no problem. Our server was Maisie and she was wonderful. Patient. Attentive. Super friendly. We ordered drinks and the Pimento Cheese Fritters. They were incredible! We also tried the She Crab Bisque and it was over the top! Delicious and full of lump crab meat. When Maisie brought us our first plates, she asked us if we were considering the pork chop, which is exactly what we were interested in. She said there were only two left and held one for us. This is the kind of excellent service she provided throughout the meal. The pork chop was cooked to perfection, tender and juicy with a wonderful wood smoked flavor. The whipped potatoes and roasted heirloom baby carrots were the perfect accompaniment. Nothing has changed inside or out since my last visit. The vibe is Charleston laid back and comfortable. I'm so glad I came back.

Poogan's Porch was a solid pick. I'd last been the 15-20 years ago, before I met my hubby. For his…read morefirst time in this town, I figured I'd try it again. It was Labor Day and things seemed on the quiet side in town. The ambience was great and we were on the second floor. We got right to the libations (he had a Malbec and I, the cider they had available). And then the entrees - hubby got the shrimp and grits, that's usually my dish but I was glad he got it so I could taste. I got the fried chicken, with hoppin John over white rice, and collards. So good! And I wasn't even hungry but I had to test the "award winning" and "famous" labels on our dishes. The chicken is a huge serving - 4 pieces of juicy, tasty chicken - an entire quarter. The hoppin John was good - I just wish there were more hoppin John and less rice. Service was 5 star. Donte was a real treat and looked after us well. For dessert, I was hoping for bread pudding, but it wasn't on the menu, and everyone in the dining room was ordering the banana pudding so we got that to share. It is a large serving, enough for two. The presentation was cute, the taste was regular, and I didn't taste a hint of alcohol (it was a bourbon or some other alcohol).

Another great day at Dave's carryout. Stepped in the restaurant around 12:30 on a Friday. My food…read morewas freshly fried more than enough shrimps one piece of fish, big enough for two truly enjoyed. Was greeted when I walked in told how long my order would be greeted with a smile. There is no dine in available at this spot be prepared, but you'll have more than enough time to get to your destination and enjoy your hot meal.

Everything was great! Food made to order, great customer service, and prices were just right!read more

I can't believe I didn't review them the first time I came here. I ate here back during the…read morepandemic when they were only doing carry out and it was the best deal for good food ever. Now their prices have risen slightly but still that same great quality and good portion sizes. I'm glad I got to have them when I rode back through Charleston. Very friendly service, too.

We came here because of the great reviews. Unfortunately, our experience did not match the…read morereputation. We were told there would be a 20 to 25 minute wait. The hostess told us we could sit at the bar, but said we couldn't order food or drinks, only water. A short time later, we watched other guests being served drinks. When we asked the bartender about the policy, she seemed confused and gladly took our order. That lack of communication was frustrating from the start. What really stood out was being overlooked. We watched four parties get seated before us while we sat in plain sight at the bar waiting to be called. When we finally asked about our table, the hostess asked for our name and said, "Y'all didn't hear me calling your name." We were sitting only a few steps away from the hostess stand, so it would have been very difficult to miss. After we were seated, she did apologize, but by then the experience had already gotten off to a frustrating start. The restaurant was uncomfortably hot. There was an air conditioned dining area with available seating, yet we were seated in the hot section. We were literally sweating while trying to eat. A restaurant should be a place where you can enjoy your meal, not rush through it because you're overheating. I even forgot the slice of cake I purchased because I just wanted to get outside. The cleanliness also raised concerns. The tables were sticky, the condiment containers were sticky, and my drink had debris floating in it more than once. The bartender replaced it immediately, and I appreciated that, but after seeing debris again along with the condition of the dining area, it made me question the overall cleanliness. The food was okay, but it wasn't memorable enough to make up for everything else. I expected a much better experience based on the reviews. I don't enjoy leaving negative reviews, but this experience fell far below what the reviews led me to expect. I hope management addresses the communication between staff, the cleanliness of the dining area, and the seating process because this restaurant has the potential to provide a much better experience than the one we had. I chose Hannibal's because I wanted to support a well-known local, Black-owned business with an outstanding reputation. That's exactly why this experience was so disappointing. I truly hope management addresses these issues because this restaurant clearly means a lot to the community, and I'd love the opportunity to have the experience so many others have described.

Great place for a before or after show meal. Four of us walked over after a show at the Music Hall…read more Everyone was pleased with their food choices, and the prices were a nice surprise for King Street. Service was fine, nothing special, nothing wrong. I believe later in the evening they take on more of a lounge vibe, so be prepared is stopping by after 9pm. They stay open until 2am, but not sure about the kitchen.

Came in for the best Moscow mule in Charleston. Drank up and wasn't disappointed. Left satisfied. …read more . Definitely wanted to try the grill here as they had a lot of good looking options on the menu, but the night wasn't ready for food. Cheers!

My family and I sat at the bar Which gave us attentive and…read morefriendly service. I chose the delicious, stuffed French toast made Southern style It has spoiled me for any French toast I will be able to get back home in the north. I like that the restaurant was close to the visitor center.

As I was walking down King Street looking for a restaurant to have lunch, I came across Virginia's…read moreon King. The front of the restaurant caught my eye, so I stopped to look at the menu. As I was perusing it, a woman standing nearby with a cigarette informed me that the food was fantastic. Well, regarding the food, I would agree! Unfortunately, the service was just okay. When I entered, the hostess, who was standing at the bar, approached me and seated me at a table directly in front of the servers' station at the bar. Now, I was expecting a booth, but I certainly did not mind a table--especially one directly in front of the servers' station. One would think that being so close would result in immediate attention. On the contrary! I waited a good six minutes before my server, Katie V., approached me. I ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, which took close to ten minutes to arrive. I guess the bartender had to squeeze the grapes! I also ordered a cup of She-Crab Soup, which has the appearance of Lobster Bisque, but the taste is definitely crab. As my entrée, I had a Club Sandwich on wheat bread. Both the soup and the sandwich were tasty, and I have no complaints whatsoever about the food. Unfortunately, the service was another matter. Once I received my wine and meal, I was completely forgotten. Not once did Katie V. inquire about my meal. Not once did she refill my water glass. And not once did she inquire whether I wanted another glass of wine. Fortunately, another server noticed that both my water and wine glasses were completely empty. Since I did not know the brand of wine I had been served, she could not refill it without first obtaining that information from my server. By that point, Katie V. had lost the opportunity to earn what would have been a much larger tip. The hostess was also busy talking with customers at a booth for quite some time. They must have been frequent patrons because she seemed very engaged in their conversation. She, too, never once checked on me. Finally, there was a couple sitting at a table two tables away from me who apparently wanted to get their server's attention. Both of them repeatedly looked around the room trying to locate her. That pretty much summed up the service I experienced. In conclusion, the food at Virginia's on King was good, but the service left much to be desired. A restaurant can have excellent food, but attentive service is an equally important part of the dining experience. Unfortunately, on this visit, the service simply did not measure up to the quality of the food.

This is a true southern kitchen. It looks like a house and when you enter, you are greeted by a…read morelovely lady and a row of delicious choices. I came for fried chicken but my son chose the ribs, which were so tender they literally were off the bone. The yams were Devine and the fried chicken so tasty. Bertha's chicken is recognized and I'm sure has numerous awards and comes up in all the searches. I personally love the family portraits on display.

Inside a vibrant blue building is Bertha's, a soul food establishment that is not to be missed if…read moreyou are in the Charleston area. Its small, and set up cafeteria style. You order, they plate it, you pay and either take it to go or to sit in the small dining area. Service is very quick and efficient, and you can tell there are a lot of regulars who come here because the staff joked and laughed with them as they waited in line. Speaking of the line, it moved fast but while we were there a woman came around with a tray and offered little cups of brightly colored something. I chose red and was delighted to see it was a frozen punch, red is cherry. My friend got orange and he said it was like a mango or peach flavor. I ordered the fried chicken, with cabbage and red rice. The cabbage was absolute fire, it was so tender and delicious. The red rice was good, but a bit on the dry side. I feel like had I been there when a fresh pan was brought out it would have been a lot better. The fried chicken was perfectly cooked and had a flaky crust but it needed salt and the tables did not provide any. I would come back, there are so many other things I would love to try and this place is busy for a reason.

Great vibe. The burger and petite salad are seriously…read moreworth a try. Service is efficient/pleasant. Ill have to try the crab dip next round.

The atmosphere is at once familiar and welcoming, which is nice because the menu will challenge…read moreyour idea of every day foods. No chicken wings or caster salads here. You might discover you love crispy eggplant or aren't afraid of beef tar tar . You might search for familiar and end up with a transportive Parmesan cheese burger. Consider a side green salad as a revelation is simply divine. Same for those creamy pomme purée ....And don't even get me started on the mixology going on over here! Add in free parking (validating for two hours with scan indoors) and 7 day happy hour and you've got yourself a new favorite destination. Perfect to bring out of towners. Great for late night. Service was friendly and efficient.

Absolute perfection! Magnolias elevates traditional Southern cuisine to a whole new level. The…read morefried green tomatoes were crispy, flavorful, and paired so well with the sauce, and the wine selection is incredible. The warm wooden decor and sophisticated ambiance made our evening feel so romantic and special. Exceptional service throughout the night. We will definitely be back!

A must visit in Charleston. An upscale but very relaxed place. Service is well trained but relaxed…read moreand friendly. Then the food!!! Fried green tomatoes were decedent and upscale to me he point I might reorder them of the beautiful scallops. The house standard of Parmesan crusted flounder immediately showcased why it was always on the menu. Perfectly prepared. Although it was an ample serving, none was left. Not to be outdone, the same delicate touch and skill was applied to the rum butterscotch bread pudding. Don't wake up the next morning wishing you had ordered. Avoid that and mistake and get it now. It is a dessert you will remeber a year from now