We rolled the dice to try R Kitchen, and it ended up being our favorite dinner on our trip to Charleston. We went to the Rutledge location and the 4 of us sat at a high-top table in the "dining room" -- I put that in quotes, because this experience is not about ambience. It was comfortable and fine, but the focus is on putting food in your belly when you do R Kitchen. We loved every single bite of every single course we ate. We didn't remotely know what to expect food-wise, and we found ourselves practically licking the plates -- while also feeling inspired and nostalgic with the chefs' comments. This is not a pretentious dining experience. It's comfortable, it's fun (we dug the playlist and had our own version of "name that tune" going on) and most importantly it's Delicious. If you're fussy about food, this place is not for you. But if you like more than you hate, you're in for a treat. We got more than our money's worth. read more

Always a fun and unique experience at R Kitchen! The chefs will create their menus for the two evening seatings (one at 6:00 and one at 8:00) after they buy food that morning, so it's not only fresh but delicious! They create such a friendly and intimate atmosphere, plus the menu is always a surprise which keeps it exciting. Highly recommend this spot! read more

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It's been a couple of years since I was there last. All I can say is "not as good as it was". $77 for a four course meal if it was really good is probably fairly reasonable. But it wasn't really good, only "meh". Only the two chefs were there to serve as a result water glasses were more empty than full. Any additional condiments or drinks were slow in coming. And of course at the end of the meal the pay device started the tips at like 18% and go to 25%. Ridiculous! That's too bad because the model is very interesting and was a great meal a couple of. Years ago. It will be a while before we try it again. read more

This was my first time at the Charleston location and I must say- it was the best! The difference between here and west Ashley is alcohol is not included. The chefs were engaging, funny, and incredibly skilled. Out dishes tasted incredible!! Please keep in mind the menu changes every single time. This is a five course dinner and you will not know what you're getting until it is set down in front of you. We had a guest in our party that was vegan and gluten free and they accommodated her beautifully. She said every single one of her dishes was incredible. Overall you can't go wrong at R Kitchen. It's so much fun and the quality of food for the price you pay is one of the best in Charleston. Highly recommend !! read more

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I will be as succinct as I can be: I love - love, love, love, love - this place. Everything about it was right up my alley: farm-to-table, seasonally-appropriate food. Chefs were fun as hell and were clearly passionate about what they made. You could tell every dish had a chefs personal flair to it. On top of that, this place feels like eating at a family gathering. Would give 6 stars if I could. read more

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Alex and Lee absolutely made our night. We were out celebrating our friends birthday and we had more fun than we knew what to do with. I've been to R Kitchen many time but this time, at the down town location, was such a pleasure. Thank you for the experience! We will be back. read more

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Wow...what a great time we had and the food was delicious. We really enjoyed the low key kitchen. We sat at the bar and watched the food prep all night. 5 courses, all delicious. They prepared a wonderful soup to start, followed by a great salad, risotto, Filet and a cool ice cream dessert. Service by the duo chefs was great and the ambiance was fun! Go. read more

We went to R Kitchen for dinner with friends as part of my birthday celebration. To make reservations, you have to text a number on their website. They have 2 seatings: a 6pm dinner and an 8pm dinner. A total of 13 people were part of our dinner cohort. We waited outside until two chefs invited us in (Lee and Patrick). It is very important to note that this is a KITCHEN, and not a restaurant. You are signing up for a 5 course tasting menu of which you have zero control. The chefs also blast whatever music they like. You will also be expected to keep the same silverware throughout. That being said, we had an awesome experience. For us: first course was a white bean and mushroom soup, second course was a Napa slaw, third course was a pea and mushroom gnocchi rendered in bacon fat, fourth course was a mashed cream of corn with steak and arugula, and the final course was a berry cobbler with vanilla ice cream on top. We loved the element of surprise and every dish. Of note, if you have dietary restrictions, this may not be the place for you because they have limited capacity for substitutions. For example, our friend is a gluten intolerant pescatarian and received multiple courses of mushrooms. We wish more could have been offered to our friend given the price and advanced notice about his dietary needs--I am deducting a star purely for this reason. The wine selections are also nice, though limited due to availability. The rioja wine we had (bottle pictured) was one of the best we've ever tried! That being said, we would come here again! the cost for each person's experience (without tax, tip, and wine costs) was $70. read more

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Nothing else like it. Fantastic experience with a 5 course meals prepared in front of you with local fresh foods. The chefs are fantastic and entertaining while cooking up an amazing meal. Every day changes as far as the menu. Definitely going back over and over. read more

R Kitchen - Just a sample of one course prepared. - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Wow- what can we say...Was there Thursday evening and it was an amazing, delicious, and an absolutely unique dining experience. It's a 5 course blind tasting menu with 3 chefs that offer the most creative cool vibe and combinations of flavors. Will make sure to visit every time we're In Charleston. read more

Wow what a uniquely special experience from R Kitchen! A wonderful treat for foodies to partake in a surprise range of dishes. I surprised my boyfriend for his birthday dinner by making a reservation a few weeks out through texting the number on the website. They offer 6pm and 8pm time slots at their downtown and West Ashley location. They cater the menu according to what's in season and availability of produce, however, they're mindful of food allergies and dietary needs - just mention it in the text when it comes to reservations. Overall loved the nutritious meal, the flow of the evening, how they make birthday folks feel special, the kitchen setup. Great experience! read more

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You have to have some guts and maybe "balls" You just don't know what you will get The place is super small and incredibly underinvested AND YES YOU HAVE TO SUCK IT UP AND DO IT (And no don't ask the Chef to change the music - it is their playlist and that is that) If you can sit at the counter I would do it Maybe chefs from The Bear Super interesting Maybe intriguing Jump in for a party of flavors and fun read more

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Great ambience- comfy velvet seating in rose, grey, and chartreuse. We had good cocktails (pea flower something...?) and the crab fondue appetizer- rich and flavorful! Jackson was our server and he was wonderful!! read more

Interesting experience but don't bother if you can't get into the main room (patio was dumpy, disconnected from the experience and the chefs insisted on playing hard rock on a Bluetooth speaker that kept going in and out all night). Food was good and the experience was fun but don't expect ambiance. read more

A wonderful experience! Gone back 3xs love this place! Reservations ahead of time are so worth it

I mean... this place take 10/10 to the next level. An intimate setting with 2 top tier chefs who presented a 5 course meal in an unassuming yet extremely charming (think season 1 of The Bear) setting. The menu (which they come up with daily!) was so delectable! Every single bite was so perfectly prepared and well thought out and (most importantly) sooo yummy and mouth watering! Genuinely cannot wait to come back and this place will be at the top of my Charleston recs going forward read more

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Very memorable dining experience in Charleston SC. R Kitchen. Pre-fix menu, changes daily. You have no what you are getting. Rest assured it is all very very good. Prepared with care and whimsy. amazing meal - Chicken Soup, Salad , andouille sausage plate, wreck-fish and puff pastry with apples and brie. Wow. Pics show the whole experience. read more

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So good. The food was sooo good. The service was amazing. The whole vibe of the restaurant was soo good..I can't wait to go back. The place is a whole vibe you won't be disappointed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED read more

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This place has a lot of hype and everyone raves about it, so I finally gave it a try. They have a cool concept where the whole restaurant is ran by the kitchen (3 chefs) in an open kitchen. The menu is different every day, essentially they just cook whatever they feel like. It's a 5 course meal once they serve every dish they talk about the dish and then you dig in. The idea of the restaurant is great but when you really think about it is the food really that good? In my opinion no. I'm not going to go into detail for each plate but the food was just average. It didn't taste bad but it also didn't taste that good. They're trying to sort of imitate a Michelin star experience serving very small portions but if the portions are going to be this small then all of the focus is on the flavor. And if the flavor isn't astonishing then you're left with nothing. Also, if you're going to have an open kitchen with the customers sitting 1 foot away, make sure that your kitchen is absolutely spotless. I'm not saying it was more dirty than a normal working kitchen (I've cooked at restaurants before) but it could definitely use some work. Additionally, when one of the chefs was serving one dish, he was placing a topping from a bucket onto plates. The bottom of the bucket touched multiple times the food that was already on the plates that were about to be served... you have to be more careful. There were also a lot of flies in the restaurant, sitting on plates or tables... Last but not least some of the aprons that the chefs were wearing were dirty and had holes in them. Overall it was a bit sloppy. So is it worth the price and booking a table here 2 months in advance? I don't think so. read more

I've never experienced anything like R Kitchen in all of my culinary and restaurant experience. Seriously - incredible. What an awesome concept and even better execution! Make your reservation in advance - seating and service is limited! When our ride dropped us off, my husband and I were 100% convinced we had the wrong address or building. Don't worry - you're in the right place. And there are plenty of funny signs and notes on the door to guide you. We had a good laugh at that. Doors open *promptly* at the time of your reservation - usually 6pm or 8pm. Don't try to open the door before, because you can't get in :) You walk in and are immediately by the kitchen, which has a bar for seats and a few tables. There is a back room with additional seating, but you'll want to be seated right up at the front! The Chefs run the night and the service and it is SO. FREAKING. FUN. They make you laugh. They explain all of the dishes. They enjoy themselves, you enjoy yourself. Wine and beer are offered and are served throughout the evening. If you get a bottle of wine, don't worry, you can cork it and take it home with you if you don't finish! The food was OUT OF THIS WORLD. My husband and I devoured every single dish. Everything was thoughtful, creative and incredible. The pictures don't do it justice, but I tried my best. I'm ready to make the trip back up just to visit R Kitchen again. See you soon! read more

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This was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. Not only was the food amazing, but the ambience and chefs were fantastic! The first course was a delicious salad with a sesame Caesar dressing and a dehydrated tomato. The second course was an amazing roasted pumpkin and potato soup topped with goat cheese. The third was shredded chicken and gnocchi mixed with a red and yellow curry (so yum). The fourth was a butchers cut steak with an onion purée (my fav) and green beans. Finally, we finished with a strawberry sorbet with cream. So delicious. What really made the experience amazing was the chefs. Taylor, Kevin, and David were fantastic and we will be coming back to see them next time we are in Charleston. Thank you for a good time! read more

R Kitchen - Course #4 - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Where to start with this meal!! If you want to eat in a kitchen environment with playful banter and phenomenally fresh delicious food this place is for you. The chefs were so great and would recommend anyone looking for dinner and a show. Meal started off with a fresh shrimp salad. Followed by a helluva twist on green eggs and spam with a delectable soup. Off to flavorville we went with mole pork rice and collard greens made to perfection. Steak was next cooked perfectly medium rare with the most flavorful chimichurri sauce I have ever had. As a pallet cleanser we received watermelon with honey and blue cheese. Overall, one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. Make sure you plan ahead though reservations are about two months out. Enjoy this gem of Charleston you will not regret it unless you are a snooty uptight clown then go to the tutie falutie places. read more

R Kitchen - The menu alone shows how kick ass this place is!!! - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The food was amazing! Each chef is engaging, why would you want to change the music, fun eclectic mix of songs. I will for sure be back! read more

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Intimate setting with delicious food and a wonderful bar. Perfect for a family dinner

What a memorable night! I finally snagged a reservation for our anniversary and it did not disappoint. We sat at the bar (which my friend recommended) and loved all the creativity and art happening before our eyes. Everyone was so excited to be there (there were 14 of us for the 6 pm seating) and we all enjoyed asking questions and interacting with all the chefs. We cannot wait to come back! read more

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Are you kidding me?! How can this be the best experience you'll have in Charleston? Well, I am here to tell you, it definitely will be!! I went during a girls trip, there were 5 of us. We sat at the bar, as I read that was a great place to view everything. True. Every course (there's 5! FIVE of them) is pulled out of the chefs magic hat of a brain on the day of, so you don't know what you're getting until it's in front of you; they don't know what they're making until they do kitchen inventory in the morning when they arrive to the restaurant. R Kitchen delivers the best culinary experience! Every dish is thoughtfully crafted and explained by the chef. You're guaranteed to enjoy everything, picky eaters- something. I recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Charleston. All 5 of us girls agreed it was the highlight of our trip. Do your palate a favor and go enjoy this place! read more

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The food don't spark my taste buds. It seems dark lited, not cozy enough To go for date night. read more

We were double booked by the reservation desk. Led to us being put outside, missing entire atmosphere. Food was decent but seemed like elevated college dining hall food. Chicken was a bit dry, pork was good but not great. Didn't have a dish that I thought couldn't be replicated at home, and thats why I go out. To enjoy food I can't make easily. Bit expensive for what it was, MUCH better alternatives. read more

This was an awesome meal!! Justin and John prepared excellent food. When I learned we were having mussels and fish I could not have been happier as we have Crosby's fish almost every weekend! We will be back often! Loved the rustic venue. I had a question I did not ask. Do the chefs rotate? read more

I don't even know where to start. This place came recommended by someone who knows their stuff. But what we were served were flavorless, bleak dishes that my 9 year old could make. One of the chefs was undoubtedly high and became more and more slurry and sloppy and it was uncomfortable to witness. Apparently this USED be a gem (why it was recommended) but I've since learned that now it's notorious to locals as a place for sad dishes that lack taste and creativity and some Chefs that likely need to be removed. This is Rutledge location, FYI. read more

Chef Ross is amazing with a great personality. His knowledge and experience show in every dish he and his team create. It is truly an experience of dining. I have enjoyed his creations several times. I am always surprised by the combinations and flavors he blends. I highly recommend it to all my friends and family. When you visit Charleston, make time to enjoy R Kitchen! read more

interesting menu. delicious combinations! however, each course that would be seved hot was cold.

Got to try R. Kitchen and boy was it a treat. You can tell the chefs put their heart and soul into each and every dish. It's a five course menu that's chef's choice and it changes daily. So be ready to be adventurous and try the unexpected. At the beginning of each course the chef who prepared that dish stops by and gives you a run down on how they prepared each dish. The shredded chicken was the true knockout of the night. I have never had such simple chicken taste that good. Second table fan favorite was the salad. The pork on pork was delicious. The marshmallow cake was ok as well. The crab soup wasn't flavorful and wasn't a table favorite. We paired all of the dishes with a bottle of white wine. There's indoor and outdoor dining. Indoor is sitting at the chefs counter and watching the chefs prepare the food. We sat outdoors which was more intimate and gave us a chance to catch up. But next time you bet I'll be at that counter watching them prepare each dish. Great spot with friends or a date night. Confit chicken rice with broccolini honey and salt Pork on pork and cauliflower and potato and tumeric and Crab soup, chicken stock in house, mushrooms, Parmesan, local beans Peas, tomatoes, local grown marigold and edible flowers, makes, croutons Marshmallow food cake with Chantilly cream and berry compote read more

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The best dining experience during our time in Charleston. The atmosphere was so fun and very interactive with the chefs. The 5 course meal was perfect! You will leave rubbing your belly with satisfaction! We highly recommend giving it a try. Thank you Chef Lee and Chef Justin for an amazing kitchen experience! read more

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After my last review, the owner contacted me. He was out of the picture for a while and now that he's back, I'm hopeful that this will once again, be one of my favorite Charleston restaurants and experiences! Looking forward to going back in the near future! read more

Really disappointing experience from start to finish. Chef Patrick and John made it clear they didn't want to be there. Everything felt rushed, like we were an inconvenience rather than guests. We were handed our checks before dessert was even served, which screamed we want you to leave as soon as possible and summed up the entire experience. The food didn't help. The red pepper soup was genuinely bad, and the green bean salad was bland and underseasoned. The remaining courses were fine, but nothing you couldn't easily make at home. To top it off, one of the chefs actually lay down in the back during service, which only lasted a little over an hour. We've been to the West Ashley location before and had a much better experience, so maybe it depends on the chefs, but based on this visit, it's hard to justify taking that chance again. I really wish I had done something else with our time and money. read more

Incredible dining experience at R Kitchen! It was such an intimate and personable atmosphere with Chef Alex and Chef Chris cooking your meal right in front of you. Both chefs explained each meal they prepared as they plated and served it right to you. The food was delicious and the environment was unlike any restaurant in Charleston. The establishment was quaint and charming, with room for only 15 diners at a time. Make your reservations in advance! Can't wait to return! read more

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I ate here last year & really enjoyed the experience so much that I was excited to plan a day in Charleston & take my out of town guests here. I planned a day around the dinner reservation that I made 1 month in advance. This restaurant only communicates via text message, which was fine since they responded to my text, asking if I was confirming the reservation, which I did. We were the first ones to arrive at the restaurant, but were told that our names weren't on the list & there was absolutely nothing they could or would do about it. They were dismissive & unprofessional, which was embarrassing and disappointing, leaving us at 6 pm on a very busy Sunday in Charleston, with no plans for dinner. When I contacted them, once again via text, they said "sorry" and that's about it. Complete disregard and total lack of responsibility for screwing up our reservation. They may be accomplished chefs, but this is no way to run a business. read more

The coveted 5 star review. We had reservations for the 6pm seating on a Saturday night. Doors opened promptly at 6 and not a minute before. We were sat at the bar which was a great place to be to watch the chefs work. The place is small and may only seat 30 people max inside and out back. They have two chefs and an assistant to handle the whole thing. Beer or wine is your only option. 5 courses and everyone is out within 2 hours for the next seating. Everything was spot on from the food to explanation of courses to the presentation. Definitely a place to check out. read more

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If you come to Charleston looking for a food experience, You are a fool if you don't make this one of your night outs. I'm a local and this is a hidden gem. Had an awesome experience with great company and awesome chefs. Not sure who gave anything other than a 5 star review but, they are just looking for internet attention. Make a reservation and experience one of the best dining experiences you will have while here. Don't get sucked into the tourist traps. This is the real deal. I almost did not want to leave a review because all of the tourists will take up the good reservation times lol. read more