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. Chef Jacques Larson's first restaurant.
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. Local seafood, raw bar and a wood grill anchor the menu.
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. Local seafood, raw bar and a wood grill anchor a Maybank Highway dining destination.
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.
Wild Olive on Johns Island has run handmade pasta and Italian-Lowcountry plates from a converted barn on Maybank Highway since 2009. Jacques Larson's first restaurant.
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, fish sandwiches.
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. Lowcountry growers, sweetgrass weavers, BJ Dennis pop-ups occasionally.
Tip: Year-round Saturday hours; closer to farms than downtown. Worth the drive for seasonal produce.