Past West Ashley, oaks and farmland: Wild Olive Italian, The Royal Tern seafood and the rural quiet that grew Charleston's pre-modern produce.
Wild Olive on Johns Island has run handmade pasta and Italian-Lowcountry plates from a converted barn on Maybank Highway since 2009. Priced at $$$.
Signature: House-made pasta, Wood-fired meats
Order: Whatever house pasta the kitchen is running tonight; rotates with the season.
Tip: Reservations required almost every night. Book at wildolive.com.
Brannon Florie's The Royal Tern on Johns Island opened in 2019 as a fancy neighbourhood eatery on Maybank Highway. Kitchen leans seafood, lowcountry.
Signature: Whole fish, Local raw bar
Order: Whatever whole fish is on the wood grill, plus oysters from the daily list.
Tip: Book on the website. Dinner only, closed Sundays.
The Royal Tern on Johns Island opened in 2019 as Brannon Florie's fancy neighbourhood eatery. Book on the website. Dinner only Mon-Sat, closed Sunday.
Order: Whatever whole fish is on the wood grill, plus oysters off the daily list.
Tip: Book on the website. Dinner only Mon-Sat, closed Sunday Booking ahead is essential.
Wild Olive on Johns Island has run handmade pasta and Italian-Lowcountry plates from a converted barn on Maybank Highway since 2009. Priced at $$$.
Signature: House-made pasta, Wood-fired meats
Order: Whatever house pasta the kitchen is running tonight.
Tip: Reservations required almost every night.
Maine Line Seafood in Johns Island parks at Rosebank Farms with lobster flown in weekly by the owners' Harpswell, Maine fishing family. Lobster rolls.
Try: Maine lobster roll, fish sandwich
Tip: Card and cash both fine. Pair the roll with whatever's coming off Rosebank's produce stand that morning.
Sea Island Farmers Market on Johns Island runs Saturdays year-round at Charleston Collegiate School. Open saturdays 09:30-13:30 (year-round).
Tip: Year-round Saturday hours; closer to farms than downtown. Worth the drive for seasonal produce.