Steakhouse$$$$upper-king
Halls Chophouse in Charleston has run the city's premier steakhouse on King Street since 2009. Located in Upper King. Priced at $$$$. At 434 King St.
Signature: Tomahawk ribeye, She-crab soup
Order: The 38oz tomahawk for the table, plus a starter of she-crab soup.
Tip: Live jazz nightly downstairs. Reservations on OpenTable; book the bar for walk-up.
Italian, Lowcountry$$$sullivans-island
Jacques Larson's The Obstinate Daughter on Sullivan's Island opened in 2014. Italian-Lowcountry crossover with wood-fired pizzas and seafood pastas.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Geechee Girl pasta
Order: The Old Danger pizza with house-pulled mozzarella and the Geechee Girl pasta.
Tip: Book on Resy. Lunch is the easier seat; dinner books out 30 days ahead.
Seafood, Lowcountry$$$sullivans-island
Jason Stanhope and partners reopened Sullivan's Fish Camp on Middle Street in Sullivan's Island in 2022. Located in Sullivans Island. Priced at $$$.
Signature: Raw bar selections, Wood-grilled whole fish
Order: A half-dozen oysters from the daily list, then the wood-grilled whole fish.
Tip: Book on Resy. The bar serves the full menu and turns faster than the dining room.
Italian$$$johns-island
Wild Olive on Johns Island has run handmade pasta and Italian-Lowcountry plates from a converted barn on Maybank Highway since 2009. Priced at $$$.
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.
Seafood, Lowcountry$$$johns-islandMon-Sat 17:00-22:00
Brannon Florie's The Royal Tern on Johns Island opened in 2019 as a fancy neighbourhood eatery on Maybank Highway. Kitchen leans seafood, lowcountry.
Signature: Whole fish, Local raw bar
Order: Whatever whole fish is on the wood grill, plus oysters from the daily list.
Tip: Book on the website. Dinner only, closed Sundays.
Seafood, Lowcountry$$$downtownMon-Wed 11:00-21:00, Thu-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Hyman's Seafood in Charleston serves the city from a Meeting Street row of historic buildings the Karesh-Hyman family has held since 1890; the seafood.
Signature: She-crab soup, Fried local seafood
Order: She-crab soup and a fried-fish plate with hushpuppies.
Tip: No reservations; arrive before 17:30 or expect a 45-minute wait. Hush puppies are free.