Leon's Fine Poultry and Oysters in Charleston runs fried chicken and oyster plates from a converted body shop on King Street since 2014. Buttermilk-brined chicken, char-grilled oysters.
Signature dishes: Fried chicken sandwich, Char-grilled oysters
Must order: The fried chicken sandwich and a half-dozen char-grilled oysters.
Tip: Walk-in counter seating. Lines at lunch are real; weeknight dinner is easier.
Address: 698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Little Jack's Tavern in Charleston opened on King Street in 2015 with classic-American tavern food and the city's most-discussed burger. Tin-ceiling room, deep cocktail list.
Signature: Tavern Burger, Wedge salad
Order: The Tavern Burger with American cheese and a glass of the daily red.
Tip: Reservations on Resy. Walk-in bar seats serve the full menu till midnight.
Melfi's in Charleston runs upper-King-Street red-sauce Italian and Roman-thin-crust pizza out of a clubby tin-ceiling room since 2018. The Indaco team's casual sibling.
Signature: Roman-style pizza, House-made pasta
Order: The Cacio e Pepe pizza and a glass of Chianti Classico.
Tip: Book on Resy. Walk-up bar seats serve the full menu.
Tres Jackson and Brooks Reitz's Sorghum & Salt in Charleston runs vegetable-forward small plates from a renovated St. Philip Street spot since 2017. Local farms, no fixed menu.
Signature: Vegetable plates, Daily small plates
Order: Whatever the daily vegetable plate is; this kitchen makes plants taste like the centre of the plate.
Tip: Book on Resy. Vegetarians get the deepest menu in the city here.
Maison in Charleston runs French bistro plates from a King Street corner since 2023. Steak frites, escargot, French country wines; one of the city's most-watched newer rooms.
Signature: Steak frites, Plateau de fruits de mer
Order: Steak frites and a half-bottle of Cotes du Rhone.
Tip: Book on Resy. Wednesday and Thursday seats are easiest; weekends fill 30 days out.
Little Jack's Tavern in Charleston opened on King Street in 2015 with classic-American tavern food and the city's most-discussed burger. Tin-ceiling room, deep cocktail list.
Signature: Tavern Burger, Wedge salad
Order: The Tavern Burger with American cheese and a glass of the daily red.
Tip: Reservations on Resy. Walk-in bar seats serve the full menu till midnight.
Melfi's in Charleston runs upper-King-Street red-sauce Italian and Roman-thin-crust pizza out of a clubby tin-ceiling room since 2018. The Indaco team's casual sibling.
Signature: Roman-style pizza, House-made pasta
Order: The Cacio e Pepe pizza and a glass of Chianti Classico.
Tip: Book on Resy. Walk-up bar seats serve the full menu.
Renzo in Charleston runs wood-fired pizzas and a natural-wine list out of an industrial spot on Huger Street since 2018. The Faculty Lounge team's first full-service restaurant.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Burrata and chicories
Order: Whatever the chalkboard pizza is, plus burrata with whatever's in season.
Tip: Book on Resy. Tuesday to Saturday only; small room, books out by Wednesday.
Tres Jackson and Brooks Reitz's Sorghum & Salt in Charleston runs vegetable-forward small plates from a renovated St. Philip Street spot since 2017. Local farms, no fixed menu.
Signature: Vegetable plates, Daily small plates
Order: Whatever the daily vegetable plate is; this kitchen makes plants taste like the centre of the plate.
Tip: Book on Resy. Vegetarians get the deepest menu in the city here.
Maison in Charleston runs French bistro plates from a King Street corner since 2023. Steak frites, escargot, French country wines; one of the city's most-watched newer rooms.
Signature: Steak frites, Plateau de fruits de mer
Order: Steak frites and a half-bottle of Cotes du Rhone.
Tip: Book on Resy. Wednesday and Thursday seats are easiest; weekends fill 30 days out.
Page's Okra Grill in Mount Pleasant has run family-owned Southern cooking on Coleman Boulevard since 2008. Ashleigh's shrimp and grits is the Travel Channel feature plate.
Signature: Ashleigh's shrimp and grits, Fried green tomatoes
Order: Ashleigh's shrimp and grits with andouille and tomato gravy.
Tip: No reservations; arrive at 11:00 or wait. Walk-ins only; cash and card.
