Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is incredibly warm, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. In our last post, we finished up our discussion about day trip essentials. Today, we’ll be talking about some of the best places to grab dinner in Charleston after coming on a tour with Coastal Expeditions! Our flagships and outposts are in convenient locations surrounding the Charleston area, and there are plenty of great restaurants around! If you are interested in learning about where to grab dinner before or after a tour in the Charleston area, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.

Here at Coastal Expeditions, we have outposts in Isle Of Palms, Folly Beach, and Bulls Island, and a flagship location in Mt. Pleasant. All of these areas are close to Charleston, meaning that no matter what tour you take with us, you’re in a convenient location! Charleston is a charming city known for its cobblestone streets that are rich in history, making it a great place to vacation or take a day trip. Before or after you explore the beauty of the wildlife that the Lowcountry has to offer, you’ll likely want to stop for something to eat. No worries– The Charleston area is packed with amazing establishments. We promise the short drive is worth it if you want to experience authentic Lowcountry cuisine! Here are just a few of our favorites!

Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar

Interested in waterfront dining? Fleet Landing is one of the best choices. Located at the foot of the City Market in Historic Downtown Charleston, Fleet Landing offers spectacular views and food for lunch and dinner. Try the fried green tomato stack or chilled blue crab dip as an appetizer, before heading into a main course of shrimp and grits or Lowcountry seafood pasta. If seafood isn’t your thing, opt for a ribeye or delicious chicken piccata. Fleet Landing also has a good variety of drinks, including cocktails and mocktails. And don’t forget dessert! We recommend the Southern pecan pie or Huguenot torte. Yum! 

Magnolias

Looking to treat yourself to some fine dining after a tour? Enjoy traditional ingredients with artful presentations at Magnolias. Located in the French Quarter, Magnolias has been a forerunner in upscale Southern cuisine since 1990. Their menu features Lowcountry classics like crab cakes, shellfish over grits, and blackened catfish, as well as other favorites like braised beef short ribs and sweet chili rubbed salmon. This restaurant is a favorite of many locals, and when you visit, you’ll see why! 

Poogan’s Porch

Located on Queen Street in the heart of Charleston, Poogan’s Porch opened in 1976 and has since been a favorite among locals, tourists, and even well-known celebrities. The restaurant was once a spacious home, built in 1891. It was later converted into a restaurant, and a neighborhood dog named Poogan frequently hung out on the porch of the building. Poogan became a guardian of the restaurant, thus giving it its name! This building is considered a monument to the little Southern dog, and offers spectacular Lowcountry cuisine within a beautifully restored Victorian home. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Start your meal with pimento cheese fritters, she-crab soup, or the restaurant’s most famous dish– Biscuits and gravy! Then, move on to their famous bone-in fried chicken, or try the grouper sandwich with Cajun remoulade.

Bertha’s Kitchen

Since its opening in 1979, Bertha’s Kitchen has been serving up some of Charleston’s most spectacular soul food dishes. Founded by Albertha Grant, Bertha’s Kitchen is quaint and informal, but everything is cooked to order, just like you’re part of the family! You can dive into soul favorites like fried chicken, slow-simmered lima beans, red rice and sausage, and fresh-baked macaroni and cheese. This may be considered somewhat of a hidden gem, but Bertha’s Kitchen has received its fair share of critical acclaim.

Lewis Barbecue

Looking for some of the best barbecue in Charleston? Look no further– Lewis Barbecue has brought Texas-style barbecue to the Lowcountry! This establishment has been praised for its famous brisket and laid-back vibes. One unique thing about Lewis Barbecue is that you can order as much or as little meat as you’d like. Choose from prime beef brisket, pulled pork, turkey breast, pork spare ribs, or sausage. Complete your meal with a side of creamy potato salad, tangy coleslaw, pinto beans, or green chile corn pudding. If visiting this restaurant leaves you wanting more after you’ve departed Charleston, Lewis Barbecue has an online store where you can get meat shipped directly to you!

Nigel’s Good Food Express

Located in North Charleston, Nigel’s Good Food Express is a favorite among locals. Among their specialty dishes is their Geechie Wings– A one-of-a-kind recipe created by Chef Nigel Drayton himself. These wings consist of 8 fried drummettes tossed in Geechie sauce, which is a sweeter version of buffalo sauce, and served with a side of blue cheese vinaigrette. This establishment’s take on traditional buffalo wings is sure to make you come back for more! And if that’s not enough, be sure to check out Lowcountry favorites like shrimp and grits with traditional brown gravy, full of onions, peppers, bacon and sausage. Nigel’s has two other locations in Hanahan and Ladson! 

Looking for something other than Lowcountry cuisine? There are plenty of great restaurants for all of your cravings! Here are some of our other favorites. 

Xiao Bao Biscuit

This restaurant constantly gets praise for its tran-continental Asian cuisine. With select dishes from China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, Xiao Bao Biscuit’s menu changes seasonally and has rotating daily specials. They also provide a family-style dinner service, so it’s best to bring family or friends along for the ultimate dining experience! One of the most raved about dishes here is the Okonomiyaki– Japanese cabbage pancakes, which the owners of the restaurant learned how to perfect while farming in Japan. Many of their seasonal dishes support local farmers by using local vegetables and seafood!

Renzo

Craving pizza or Italian food? No problem– Head over to Renzo! This restaurant is located in a historic storefront and offers wood-fired pizza, fine wines, and other good eats. If you’re not feeling pizza, they have other unique dishes such as the ricotta gnudi, a hot dish with bottarga, lemon, parmesan, and dill. Their pizzas range from classic like the margherita to more daring pies like Kevin McCallister, with mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, and chili oil. The menu changes often and has frequent specials as well as themed dinners, so you may be in for a delicious surprise! 

Once again, these are just a few of the many wonderful restaurants in the Charleston area! The Lowcountry is truly home to endless delicious cuisine. We hope this helped you plan your day in our beautiful city. And if you haven’t started planning yet, be sure to check out our current tours and trips! As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you have any questions about our guided tours, reach out to us! At Coastal Expeditions, we are committed to introducing people to the wonders of the ecosystems of the Charleston area by providing guided tours and educational opportunities. If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids’ programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!