What an incredible dining experience. This is a must for foodies. The menu changes every day, but one staple is the gnudi... Outstanding. Puffs of ricotta and crab. We also had the soft shell crabs while in season and those were amazing in every way. Our server was so helpful with suggestions and explaining the menu and what to expect. We really enjoyed his company throughout the meal and that added to our perfect evening at The Establishment. read more

The Establishment - Soft shells while you can - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We had an amazing dinner at the Establishment, a Michelin star restaurant in the French quarter. They have a rotating menu, so keep that in mind. When we went, there wasn't anything that really caught my eye as a main, so we decided to eat tapas style and try a few different options. The taste or "appetizer" menu was my favorite that night. In addition to the bread service and a bottle of wine, we ordered four different options to taste and the spaghetti. The flavors and textures were amazing. I didn't expect to have a spaghetti dish to have such deep and complex flavors. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable, and helped make our dining experience spectacular. The interior of the restaurant is stunning, and it's unexpectedly huge. We finished with a desert that was out of this world. It looked like it would taste like a brownie, but the mouse was amazing and the brownie was baked perfectly. That's what I'm looking for when I want a desert! I will say that if the Michelin star restaurants I've been to, this isn't my top, but it's very clear why they wanted their stars! I had a great experience. read more

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Beautiful interior, well curated wine list, great menu. Went on a Tuesday and appears the B Team was sent out... lamb papparadelle and swordfish ordered with gnudi/crab and bread service. - Gaudio was exceptional - swordfish was perfectly cooked but lacked "lift" (ie. Salt and lemon( - Papparadelle was "good." Lacked appropriate salt and pepper. Look, this my be nit picks in some eyes but this is a Michelin recommended restaurant and was $$300 meal. Needs to tighten up. read more

Food and service were excellent. Great vibe with band playing in the background as well. (Piano / bass duo).

When you hear the word establishment, you might think that that means a place sets the standard, that is certainly the case with this restaurant. We visited one Saturday afternoon in downtown Charleston and were pleased to find that they have a happy hour from 5 to 7, even on Saturday. We enjoyed a martini and then, our favourite drink of the weekend, their establishment old-fashioned, made with a bourbon from Legacy for this restaurant. We were first served standing by a waiting bar area, then grabbed seats at the horseshoe bar and enjoyed our visit there. There is ample table seating and another bar area by the kitchen. We found all the host and servers and bartenders to be friendly and helpful. The entranceway is deceivingly small to a roomy restaurant. As one might expect in downtown Charleston, dinner entrees are a little pricey; however, the happy hour menu was nice and we plan to return. read more

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If butter were a personality trait, this place would be unbearable in the best way. The striped bass was swimming in luxury. Could we get a more French presentation? Probably not unless someone starts speaking in full Parisian accents tableside. The gnudi has been a consistent menu item and it is unhinged. Its butter. It's soft, rich, and dangerously addictive, like, why is this not being shipped nationwide? Box it up, slap a label on it, and ruin all other pasta experiences forever. Indulgent and I love it. read more

I'm so upset I had eaten prior to visiting The Establishment, as I really should have had my birthday dinner here instead. I saw the food as it arrived to the parties around us, and dang did it look and smell so good. And they change their menu nightly. My friend and I walked in after a disappointing dinner experience nearby. We were visiting from out of town, and we were able to grab bar seats at the comfy wrap-around bar. Darren, Cory, and Ryan were our bartenders, and they were so welcoming and kind. They really turned my mood around. I ordered their award-winning Rizzler (lol) espresso martini cocktail, which was very good, and my friend had red wine. They also gave us complimentary limoncello that the three of them made themselves, which was really nice! The alternating background on the screen behind the bar was fun to watch. Prices were reasonable. I will 10,000% be back on a future Charleston visit, as I must try their seafood. read more

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We picked this restaurant to try something new that we've not been to previously. Glad we did, as the food, service and drinks were excellent. The interior is lovely and great for a date night. I highly recommend this restaurant and will return. read more

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The Establishment is absolutely worth the price and the hype! My partner and I stopped by for a night out while visiting Charleston, and it was the highlight of our trip. The service was fantastic--our server was attentive and knowledgeable, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience from start to finish. The food was truly amazing. Every dish had exceptional depth of flavor and showcased incredible technique. The ambiance is classy and intimate, making it the perfect spot for a special occasion. If you are looking for an upscale dining experience in Charleston with phenomenal food and service, put The Establishment at the top of your list! read more

My fiancé went here to celebrate our engagement last Saturday. I booked on Open Table & noted such. The waitress was very kind, and helpful. She also brought a gentleman over who congratulated us and offered a complimentary glass of brut champagne to help us celebrate. Unexpected and amazing. Fiancé ordered The poet which is bourbon cocktail & grilled swordfish. I'm not a bourbon fan, but I took a sip & actually liked his drink! The Swordfish was tender & juicy. The beans had a Nice flavor profile that complimented the fish. I ordered The impressionist, gin based cocktail & duck. The duck was awesome!! Perfectly cooked (med rare) & the skin was nice & crispy. We tried the fried artichokes as a shared side. We were told it was a brand new dish the chef was trying out so the waitress asked for feedback. We found the Artichoke hearts to be slightly too vinegary but they were crispy with a nice crunch. Had they not been too vinegary they would have been perfect - maybe. Unfortunately, my fiancé & I both ended up sick later that night and the only thing we could pinpoint it too was the artichokes I had a great time. It's romantic and dimly lit but kind of loud. We had the perfect seat by the window though. Because I was violently ill and so was my fiance I've knocked a star off my review. I may give them another try but won't do artichokes and won't be back any time soon. read more

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The Establishment has a cool bar. The drinks at Happy Hour are limited to martinis and a few wines. The food was delicious. I had the two softshell crab entree. Delicious. I had a shrimp dish, remarkably good. Service was excellent. read more

The Establishment - Soft shell crab entree - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I'll begin by saying the service was excruciatingly slow, but our server was exceedingly nice. The bread service was fine. The Burrata appetizer had a nice tang. The crudo was overwhelmingly acidic. The ribeye had a great flavor, but was a bit tough. The mashed potatoes were amazing! Skip the ice cream it is mediocre. The chocolate mouse was nice. The espresso martini was so delightful. I would give it a three star rating because the food was not exceptional, but the waiter made it amazing. read more

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Excellent dinner at the bar, lovely ambiance with moderate volume music in the background and very professional service. I enjoyed the shrimp toast exceedingly, lots of local fresh shrimp, corn, walnut pesto and tomatoes. Fresh local tomatoes were also a highlight of the butter poached grouper with corn puree for a delicious entree. I finished up with classic chocolate mousse and a Calvados for a perfect meal. Btw there's a choice of two happy hour wines and a variety of martinis that sound great. I had a nice rose' from Provence. read more

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We had no idea what to expect when making the reservation at The Establishment but were pleasantly surprised from the moment we walked in. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. Everyone was dressed nice , no shorts and T-shirts which is always a nice change of pace. Our waiter Andy, was very personable and ridiculously knowledgeable. Andy made some great suggestions for drinks and appetizers . Let's begin with drinks. The Dirty Martini was delicious. The Stylist, delicious, The Old Fashioned, delicious!!! We were off to a great start. After speaking with Andy we chose to have the gnudi, South Carolina peaches, and the bread service for appetizers. One dish was better than the other (we were debating getting another order of the gnudi for dessert! Yep, it was that good). We ordered the scallops, grouper, and flounder. Outrageous! Each and every dish was fantastic. We were all pretty sure the night couldn't get any better, until it did... None of us are big dessert people, but after perusing the desert menu we decided to try the macarons, the cobbler, and homemade ice cream. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, it did. Holy cow! The Establishment is a must visit. It is the complete dining experience... run don't walk, this place is a must try. read more

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The Establishment has been my favorite restaurant since it opened. My husband and I went to dinner on August 28th to celebrate our anniversary. We were greeted with complimentary champagne! The service was outstanding. Our server, Andy, was very attentive. My husband ordered the Prime Rib and it was perfect. I ordered the poached grouper. There was nothing wrong with the dish, I just discovered I don't like poached grouper. The manager came over, insisted on bringing me a different dish. He was really nice and a bit funny! He made me very comfortable ordering something else and I tried the scallops. They were perfect! I also highly recommend the Nudi appetizer. It was amazing. A suggestion from our server. I highly recommend The Establishment. Never Disappointing!! read more

The Establishment - Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We had an incredible dinner at The Establishment. Everything about the experience was top-notch. I had the Renegade (think Tequila Old Fashioned) to drink, which was excellent, and my boyfriend had the Poet, which he enjoyed. Highly recommend for a date night or anyone who appreciates great food, drinks, and service in a refined setting. read more

Was in town for an (Indian!) wedding...all 3 1/2 incredible days of it. Had the first night out on our own and got a table at The Establishment to celebrate being there. Absolutely loved our server, Nathan, who we ran into a couple of nights later when the wedding party was out, late night bar-hopping. The food was excellent. Our favorite, their house-made pasta. The fish we had was spectacular, but more in appearance than knock your socks off great. Take a look at the pix. Then make a visit the next time you're in town. Y'all come back now, ya hear? David Billy Bob M read more

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Met up with some friends for dinner. Classy ambiance with live music. We had a fantastic server who very passionate made menu suggestions. We wanted to try half the menu so we chose a few plates to split. First to come out was the really buttery smooth Pumpkin Agnolotti, (brown butter, sage, and pepitas) and the melt in your mouth Gnudi (lump crab, fresh herbs, parmesan bread crumbs). Next amazing surprise was the Moqueca de Peixe, (tomato and coconut based soup served hot, with shrimp, scallops, fish, and cilantro). I know that the wonderful waitress mentioned how locally sourced and how seasonally influenced the menu is and while I do not usually order hot soup when the weather is this warm out, this dish just felt really comforting and relatively healthy. Last out were the sides, Delicata Squash, prepared perfectly with thinly sliced apples, saint angel brie, local honey, and shisho. Crispy Eggplant, sweet & hot, basil, delicious General tso taste with a very slight kick. Delicious and so full! read more

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This was one of the better meals I've had in Charleston! Every single dish was top notch. The ambiance was great, service was great too. I would highly recommend. The Peruvian fish was definitely a highlight read more

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Absolutely fantastic experience for my wife's birthday dinner. It was our first time at the Establishment and won't be the last. We were seated right next to the jazz band (they play every Saturday) which made for an even more romantic atmosphere. The food was phenomenal, we started with the broiled oysters the flavor just out of this world. My wife ordered the whole fish and I had the ribeye, Peruvian yellow snapper delicious, ribeye yummy! Drinks were outstanding! I cannot say enough about this place definitely a must if you are in Charleston. read more

What an unexpected pleasure! Relaxing ambiance. Super service and delicious food. This place hit all the notes. I had not heard anything about this restaurant prior to our visit so I had no expectations. We were seated at a most comfortable table and were able to actually hear each other. The waiter was the perfect mix of helpful but not intrusive. The poached fish was tasty and my husband enjoyed the scallops so much he wouldn't share. Don't miss this fantastic restaurant. read more

First visit to Charleston, SC and The Establishment set a high bar. We chose a night when they had live music, and The Spare Kings were surprisingly good playing a mix of light jazz and 90's pop songs. Service was top notch with two staffers attending our table, answering questions, and offering recommendations. The food, however, was the star(s) of the weekend and had me happy dancin' in my mouth with every forkful. Soft-Shell crab crisp, not greasy, with mizuna (salad), and Calabrian Aioli, Pork Belly cooked as requested - medium rare, and Freehouse Battery Brown Ale beer. Dinner for two $230 with drinks. read more

The Establishment - Pork Belly @ The Establishment - Charleston, SC - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Walked into this place with my wife just to check out their drinks. Stayed for appetizers dinner and dessert! That alone should say it all! Will definitely be coming back! read more

My husband and I came to Charleston for a long weekend for my 50th birthday and had the most amazing experience here tonight. The atmosphere is super nice, somewhat trendy and cool, but with character and not pretentious. Busy but not loud, which is important to us - good acoustics. Service and food were incredible. Our server, Miller, is in the top 3 servers we've ever had. The other two best were at Capa and Victoria & Albert's in Orlando (which is home for us). We've dined at Michelin star restaurants and I honestly don't understand why this place doesn't have one. The Establish-Mint mocktail was one of the best mocktails I've ever had. The ribeye was one of the top steaks I've ever had. My husband's flounder dish was exquisite. The Mexican chocolate brownie - omg. Would totally come back here on another visit. read more

First I have to state that I have a close relative who works here. However I would not write a review just for that purpose - The Establishment truly is a special place and I'm eager to come back with my husband so he can try their amazing food, too. I dined alone and sat at the bar by the kitchen which was so fun being able to see some of the food being prepared. Everything I had was divine, each dish crafted with so much care and attention to detail. The flavors often subtle but incredible on the tongue. I absolutely loved the Gnudi - these small delicate pillows of loveliness melt in your mouth. The duck was to die for as well; I've never had duck prepared so well! Crisp and light and melt in your mouth, not tough or greasy in the slightest. The artichokes were crisp and delectable. I couldn't finish it all there was just too much for me to eat alone. I also had the apple cobbler with cheddar ice cream - I know it sounds weird but it was delicious. It wasn't overly cheesy, just a hint, and the perfect sweetness and flavor to complement the cobbler. I wish I had room to also try to peppermint ice cream that night. The ever changing menu makes it even more appealing to go back. I look forward to my next visit! read more

Phenomenal food. Hearing that the menu changes on a regular basis excites me to return every visit to Charleston. Service was impeccable. Incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Small menu but done with expertise. Whiskey and bourbon selection is second to none. Plenty of other wines and spirits for any taste. Classy and warm dining area good for small or large groups. They were lovely to my family with a small child at an earlier reservation time. Street parking but typical Charleston area issue. Highly recommend and will return. read more

Outstanding. Excellent service, creative and flavorful food and an excellent cocktail and wine list. Definitely recommend. read more

The Establishment - Grouper - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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What stood out was the service. I called a couple days ahead since our party was larger than the website would accommodate for a resy. While their new system was not sending texts to put a card on file, the hostesses assured me we'd be well taken care of and we indeed were. Nathan was our server and he was fantastic- great energy and great recs. We had many things brought to our table from tasters to entrees to dessert- the average rating was a 7.5/10 from our group of 5. The Poet cocktail is crazy good. The gnocchi with crab- outstanding. This is a special place I'd def repay a visit to. Thank y'all! Two word review: hey, Nathan! read more

The Establishment - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Wanted to try a Michelin star restaurant. The lamb was extremely tender but lacked seasoning, bread was fresh and soft. Pasta was delicious Service was great. Ambiance was so cool and unique. read more

Best dinner in Charleston! The General Manager gave us an incredible table next to the pass to watch all the food come out of kitchen. We all enjoyed appetizers, mains, desserts and their wine program with impeccable table service. The whole table felt incredibly spoiled and I think it was a great dinner to celebrate sustainable and local cuisines of Charleston. Thank you for a wonderful memory of our trip. read more

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A group outing led us to The Establishment along the Broad Street corridor in downtown Charleston. A spacious, wooden interior with plenty of room for conversation, awards and speeches. And the food was spectacular! I got the squash soup, a green salad and the swordfish entree with pesto over beans. Every bite was flavorful and fancy. I finished the dinner with a mug of homemade vanilla ice cream and an extra mug of sorbet (I'm a sucker for sweets). The Establishment is definitely worth a visit if you want high-end dining in Charleston. read more

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Kind of odd spot. Large tv screen projecting screen saver images, created a sports bar glow. No complaints about the food, just the vibe. read more

Absolutely 10/10 meal! Food had exceptional depth of flavor, the wait staff was tremendous, and the vibe was cozy and great. Would absolutely come back and recommend this place to anyone that wants a great meal! read more

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Dining here start to finish was an experience. The space is elegant and intentional. We only had four in our party but the family dining tables have us wanting to return for our next big group outing. A little detail that I loved was that there are spotlights centered over every table so the food and table really come into focus. You can see right into the kitchen which is always a favorite for me - got to come back to sit at the chef's table. My dad is a bourbon guy and Shane was absolutely amazing. He took significant time speaking with him about the selection they have to offer and gave him a few tastes prior to selection. It was easily my dad's favorite part of his trip to Charleston. For food, we got the mussels and gnocchi to start as well as the Brown's Court rolls. The mussels were perfect and the gnocchi melted in your mouth. Our entrees included the chicken, grouper, steak and salad + broccoli and potatoes for the table. The grouper was the crowd favorite. It ate so light and was packed with flavor but honestly that was the theme of the night. Bold statement but our favorite bites actually might have been at the end with the chocolate bread pudding, homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream and apple tart. Just so good with a unique spin on classic treats. The Establishment is doing a lot of good things and we couldn't recommend it more. read more

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I live in Charleston and had not heard of The Establishment but my wife found it on Resy and made a reservation for our 7 person group. So glad she found it!! We ordered a little of almost everything based on Yelp and server recommendations. The watermelon salad and Gnudi are stars! Definitely get the Gnudi - lump crab and delicious creamy flavor and textures. The peaches were very good but if you're choosing the best of the best, go for the others. Would not recommend the pate as it's frankly pretty boring and served with toasted Saltines? The ribeye was outstanding - everyone agreed it was the star of the menu. Scallops were excellent and the whole fish, while a little scary, was a 10 out of 10. The cocktails tend to be a little sweeter than we'd like (especially their take on an Ole Fashioned) but the wine list was extensive with lots of great options. Service was incredible! Great recommendations, very attentive, good sense of humor and accompanied by a full team re: water and table clearing. The location is right off the French Quarter on Broad with valet just across the street. Very cool medium noise level and lower lighting with a full bar and service. Highly recommend for tourists and locals alike. read more

Amazing food and very comfortable and romantic ambiance. Food: The menu was short and based on availability of fresh ingredients. The cocktails were creative and very well prepared. I ordered the whole red snapper and it was masterfully prepared and beautifully served. Service: My wife and I were there for our anniversary and arrived 15 minutes early. There was no room at the bar so we were relegated to the entry foyer until our reservation time despite seeing several empty tables available. We were seated promptly at our reservation time and taken care of by our very professional and courteous waiter. Unfortunately shortly afterwards a table was seated nearby and the patrons were from an area near where our waiter was from. We quickly became forgotten as he made multiple trips to socialize with these patrons while ignoring us. I waited for well over 15 minutes with an empty drink waiting to place an order for another cocktail and then we had another long wait for the final check. read more

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We visited the Establishment last night for our one year anniversary and this is by far one of our top 3 dining experiences! When we arrived, we were greeted with a flower and seated right across from the live band. The music was not too loud and set the mood for the whole experience. We started with NA beverages, I got the "Establish-Mint" which was delicious and the perfect amount of sweet for a mocktail. Their menu changes weekly/daily, so we got the gnudi and scallops to start. When I say the gnudi was an experience; I'm not exaggerating. The flavors were insane. I've never tried anything like it! The texture was soft, yet satisfying and each bite left you wanting more. For our main courses, we ordered the grouper and ribeye. The truffle pure that accompanied the grouper was the perfect combination! They somehow pair flavors that burst in your mouth with every bite and cook each dish to perfection. They locally source their whole menu and it definitely shows. Everything was fresh down the mint in my mocktail. At the end of the night; we were treated with a scoop of the blackberry sorbet and it was both creamy and delicious. I couldn't recommend the establishment enough! We will definitely be back! read more

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Service is amazing every time we go here. Food is delicious, creative, with depths of flavor! Modern and moody environment. Great place for special occasions and date night! read more

We had our new years dinner and celebrated our 25th anniversary at The Establishment .... Fantastic! Our waiter, Nathan was tremendous as was every staff member we met. We were also fortunate to meet one of the owners, who very graciously made my wife a cocktail that was incredible.... Every dish was an 11! We are very excited to return ... this is a must visit restaurant in Charleston ... read more

This is one of those restaurants I forget how good they are! Everything was truly top notch, from the service to the food! I will not let it be so long before I go back again this time. We were waited on by Tanner who was so helpful, I needed advice regarding every single course and he was more than happy to oblige. Cocktail suggestion was spot on, as well as the recommendation for the Gnudi - this dish is a MUST get - so light and airy with chunks of crab! We were excited to finally have softshell crab before they are gone for the year and their version was really delicious, simple, but good. Very lightly breaded and fried, but not overpowering with the coating, just enough to provide that crunch you really want, served with remoulade sauce, really delicious! Then he suggested the tilefish for my entree and, again, spot on with the sear on the outside for that texture. My husband had the molquece and it was phenomenal. He finished all the fish in it, but we took home the broth to eat with yummy bread. Part of me says order the bread to go with that broth, but then we never would have stopped eating it and we would have needed to be rolled out of there! House made ginger ice cream that was perfectly creamy and just the right amount of ginger to give you that end of meal satisfaction! Service here is top level, new cutlery every course, drinks arrive on a tray they serve off of and dishes for each course arrive together. This is a fine dining experience without the tablecloths and the pretentiousness. Make it a point to go here! read more

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