This really is a 4.5 star review. Skip 53 is Columbia's first "real deal" seafood spot that feels like it could be in Charleston. A breadth of fresh life has been instilled into this newly renovated building on Saluda Avenue. Our server was great and extremely attentive. Reservation was at 5:15 pm and we were sested promptly. Clam chowder was delicious amd just what I needed on this cool fall evening. I would have preferred more clams and smaller diced potato chunks, but all-in-all, this was worth it. Broth was delicious, and it's a fairly large bowl of chowder and quite filling. Fresh oysters were on point and we're served with mignonette sauce, a jalapeño squeeze and lemon. Absolutely delicious! Flights of oysters are served in threes (3). The scallop ceviche was served over mashed avocado with a red wine vinaigrette and was on point. Freh, tangy and the flavor of the scallops highlighted this dish. The star of the show was the Fish & Chips! Three large planks of lightly battered cod and light crispy shoe-string french fries with rosemary. Probaby the best I have had in SC thus far...Superb!! The black squid ink pasta was good, but the pasta was slight over-cooked and the shrimp were tiny mini shrimp and we could not find a scallop. I would recommend d they swrve this dish with whole shrimp and scallop for a more esthetic dish to highlight the seafood flavor with the red tomatoes sauce. The chocolate budino was ezcellent. Well salinated milk chocolate with a sweet marshmallow topping with crunchies. The sweetness of the topping was the perfect compliment to the silky, alty chocolate. Slip 53 offers a ood selection of cocktails and a very impressive wine line. Its not a big list but ita a good list with reasonable pricing. Wines by the glass were very good. I recommend the Sancerre (white) and the Beaujolais (red) were both perfectly matched with the light seafood dishes we chose. And..cause we all know I like me a good tidy bathroom. Decoreatively, the ladies room was clean and had good towels. A few more decorations and an expanded vanity would have been ideal. Also, the exposed industrial sprinkler system does not match the modern, sleek design of the overall restaurant. This is a definite "can't wait to return". Slip 53 jas definitely raiaed the bar for Columbia...FINALLY! And it left me wanting a Slip 54, 55 & 56! read more