The Resy Hit List: Where In Charleston You’ll Want to Eat in August 2025
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There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in Charleston: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Charleston Not to Miss This Month
- Prego: If you haven’t noticed, Italian is having a moment in Charleston, ranging from delicate and luxe, at Costa and Legami, to the neighborhood joint that overdelivers, like Cane Pazzo (see below). If you’re looking for red-sauce satisfaction, or something close, grab a Resy or five at these local faves… Downtown: Melfi’s, Renzo, Le Farfalle, Volpe’s, and The Italian Boy after dark. In Mount Pleasant, check out Abbracci. Summerville? Head to LPC Kitchen. And on Johns Island, there’s no substitute for Wild Olive.
- Dinner (or Lunch!) and Drinks: Lillian’s Petite Market & Eatery will host House of Brown and Brown Estate, the first Black-owned winery in California’s Napa Valley. Diners will enjoy four selections to enjoy with Brown’s resident sommelier Chris Gaither. Scoop up tickets here. Want a wine-paired meal but aren’t up for a night out? Mount Pleasant’s Savi Cucina has a pocket-friendly Aug. 9 lunch-and-learn series that centers wines hailing from Burgundy. And needless to say, we’ve got plenty more Resy Events to keep you busy.
- Beach, Please: Headed to the beach and looking for a place to finish your day? From Isle of Palms, Islander 71 Fish House has waterfront vibes, including outdoor spaces for the kiddos. Coda del Pesce takes things up a notch with chef Ken Vedrinski’s coastal Italian fare. And Acme Lowcountry Kitchen may be the quintessential beach diner. A few miles down on Sullivan’s Island, Mex1 is a perfect midday margarita retreat, Obstinate Daughter will end your day on a high note, and Sullivans Fish Camp gets you kicked-up seafood from the kitchen of chef Jason Stanhope. Pinky’s and Taco Boy await you on Folly Beach. Out toward Kiawah? Auberge’s new Dunlin resort on Johns Island gives you Linnette’s, while Fuji, Saveurs du Monde, FortyEight, and Hege’s await near Freshfields Village.
- Fired Up: You’re not the only one lighting up the grill this summer; Charleston restaurants are also cooking with fire. At Southbound, the grill is front and center. Chef Kevin Johnson puts his wood-fired ovens to good use at The Grocery and Lola Rose. Frannie & The Fox even calls itself a wood-fired eatery, so look for pizzas, roasted goodies, and more. And Sorelle serves a wood-fired special that will make your mouth water just from the IG update.
New to the Hit List (August 2025)
Grit Bakery, Kultura, Marbled & Fin, Muse, Prophet Coffee.
1. Cane Pazzo Hanahan
The Charleston area’s hottest new Italian restaurant is a short distance from downtown, tucked into the corner of a suburban shopping plaza punching above its culinary weight — check the indie Piggly Wiggly and Kooben, a killer Mexican cafe, a couple doors down. Chef Mark Bolchoz cut his teeth with one of Charleston’s fastest-growing restaurant groups, launching several Indigo Road Hospitality Group concepts across the South. For his solo debut, Bolchoz’s dishes already feel thought-through and dialed-in — from the house-baked Daily Bread topped with “pimento bianco” cheese to the crab ravioli topped with sherry cream, standing in as a dead-ringer for the Charleston delicacy, she-crab soup. Meatballs are tender, the risotto is rich, vegetables are local, and the wine list delivers.
2. Kultura Cannonborough Elliotborough
Nikko Cagalanan’s unmatched Filipino creations, inspired by his upbringing and deep cultural connection (noted in 2024 in our “20 Questions”), earned him a place among the Emerging Chef finalists in the 2024 James Beard Awards. The menu offers riffs on Filipino standards like arroz caldo, adobo, curry, pork asado, and more, with fresh elements pulled from local farms and waterways. And grab a Resy for the Kamayan feast each Sunday, which offers a chance for a traditional communal dinner alongside traditional dinner service. Note: Cagalanan is prepping to relocate to a bigger space nearby on Rutledge Avenue in the fall, so stop by 73 Spring St. for a taste of what’s to come.
3. The Darling Oyster Bar – Charleston Radcliffeborough
The Darling is what it says on the tin, and much more. Yes, you can throw back fresh raw oysters. (You’ve heard of an oyster shooter, right?) But you can also dial up crispy fried chicken, a lobster roll, blue crab tagliatelle, shrimp and grits, and more. Of course, since we’re on the coast: Say the word and a basket of fried fish, shrimp, or oysters lands on the table before you know it. There’s something about The Darling’s ice-cold marble bar when it’s pushing 100 degrees outside, so sit a spell with a Three Hour Tour, with vodka, pineapple liqueur, lemon, and strawberry. Or take your pick from more than a dozen wines by the glass.
4. Vern's Elliotborough
Even with its national profile, the low-key digs of this Cannonborough-Elliottborough spot don’t immediately telegraph how epic chef-owner Dano Heinze’s menu can be — serving up offerings you didn’t even know you needed in your rotation. Dishes include snails, fresh crudo, a simple-but-rewarding steak, and handmade pastas like gnocchetti. And that classic but inventive approach extends to the wine list, curated by Dano’s wife and business partner, Bethany. What gives? The couple spent time in famed Charleston locales like the now-defunct McCrady’s before a California sojourn that wound them back east to Charleston. That bicoastal experience has helped shape Vern’s well-deserved reputation, and made it a local gem.
5. FIG Ansonborough
Photo by Lindsey Harris Shorter, courtesy of FIG
In a city full of crowd-pleasing tourist fare, FIG remains an oasis. Having breezed through its 20th anniversary in 2023, chef-owner Mike Lata’s first major restaurant still manages to lure locals downtown, either with a Resy in its modest, comforting dining room or to take a chance at the petite bar that’s always first come, first served. Diners return for seasonal offerings and well-executed specialties like chicken liver pâté and even the fresh catch (grilled triggerfish with mushrooms recently). For Lata, who also opened The Ordinary on King Street more than 10 (!!) years ago, rock-solid preparations remain simple, but creative enough to leave an impression.
Photo by Lindsey Harris Shorter, courtesy of FIG
6. The Bounty Bar Folly Beach
From the folks who brought you The Royal American downtown, its dive bar little brother sits in the perfect location on Folly Beach’s Center Street. Stocked with some of the same provisions you know from Royal, like icy rum, margarita, and Irish coffee punches served in a souvenir stadium cup, along with housemade beef jerky, Bounty Bar may be the perfect cool spot to take a load off this summer. Chow down on wings, nachos, fresh salads (katsu chicken and Greek, FYI!), or opt for one of the knockout sandwiches, like the patty melt, Italian hoagie, crispy fish, or a fried shrimp po’boy. If you’re looking for live music for a good hang while on Folly, stop by most any weekend night.
Find more info here.
7. Merci Harleston Village
The experience of stepping into the dining room at 28 Pitt St. will quickly make you forget that you’re just a few blocks from the hustle of downtown’s King Street. Owners Courtney and Michael Zentner tested ideas as The Drifter, and soft-launched their European-inspired menu with the Petit Merci market around the corner on Montagu Street. Their April 2025 opening was a big step in that evolution, answering the call from friends and neighbors who were ready to settle in for more of Michael’s creative iterations of European classics that, in Courtney’s words, he describes as, “an argument between your French and Italian grandmothers.” That means you’ll find ricotta gnudi and crispy duck ballotine alongside fresh snapper crudo spiked with seasonal flavor and focaccia with stracciatella, Benton’s country ham, and pistachios. With just 26 seats inside this designer-outfitted c. 1820s building, be sure to grab a Resy starting seven days in advance.
8. MUSE Restaurant & Wine Bar Downtown
Muse has been a local favorite in Charleston longer than most “locals” have lived here. Maybe it’s the varied menu, with Greek (eggplant spanakopita), Italian (fresh tagliatelle and ravioli), Spanish (housemade merguez sausage), and French (fried and confit chicken preparations) flavors peppered throughout. Or maybe it’s the extensive wine list, with more than 50 available by the glass. But it could easily be the comfortable and picturesque patio tucked alongside the historic Charleston single house that Muse calls home. Great for a small group or a quiet evening at the bar (again, ask a local; they probably even have a favorite bartender), don’t sleep on scoring your Resy here.
9. Marbled & Fin Downtown Charleston
It would be hard to walk into this surprisingly luxe dining room, tucked into the unassuming corner of a newly upfitted strip center, and not find something that grabs your attention. Styled as a “modern steakhouse” from the group that brought you Minero and Husk, your options include caviar and Japanese wagyu, lobster, and tomahawk steaks. The raw bar stocks fresh specialties pulled from the seas — like ice-cold shrimp or dressed oysters, ready for the perfect bite. The wine list features selections under the Angel Oak label, sourced from the ownership group’s Argentine vineyards, along with a generous array of wines by the glass. Cocktails lean classy with bits of flair, like I’ll Take Five, described as a “pisco sour with Dave Brubeck.” (And along with several others, it’s available N/A.)
10. Bintü Atelier East Side
Chef Bintou N’Daw planned to return to New York City after a year in the kitchen Chez Nous. But finding local menus lacked the flavors of her native Senegal, she decided to stay a while. Traditional Gullah cuisine carries traces of West African influence, but N’Daw’s dishes represent inspired adaptations that make her dishes unique. Yet, Charleston’s African ties proved formative for Bintü Atelier — a common thread. And Bintü remains among our most cherished spots in town for a reason, after all. Dishes like pepper soup come served with chicken, yucca, yams and crawfish in a spicy broth. Tucked off a Line Street sidewalk in Charleston’s East Side, which has its own rich cultural history as a historically Black neighborhood, Bintü is open for lunch and dinner Thursday through Sunday.
Read more about Bintü Atelier here.
11. Chef Loong Dim Sum West Ashley
Given Charleston’s culinary stature, it may be surprising we have very few regular dim sum purveyors. Chef Emlely Yan is aiming to change that in West Ashley, and folks have taken notice. Soup dumplings are the main attraction at Chef Loong — one of the only places in town where they’re regularly on the menu. Filled with pork, chicken, or a low-key ode to tomato soup, Yan told the Charleston City Paper she serves upwards of 600 of the housemade dumplings every day. In addition to dumplings, Chef Loong offers crispy Peking-style roast duck to fold into steamed bao, Mongolian beef, Chinese restaurant standards, and a variety of noodles. Call ahead for a reservation or grab a spot in line.
Find more info here.
12. Slightly North of Broad French Quarter
Slightly North of Broad (or S.N.O.B. for the cheeky ones) has been a Charleston mainstay for more than 30 years. With industry pro favorite chef Frank Lee in the kitchen until 2016, it became known for bulletproof reliability for cherished traditional Lowcountry fare like shrimp and grits and barbecued tuna. Lee was a farm-to-table champion long before it became a trend; it was just the right way to cook. Now owned by the Hall family, executive chef Russ Moore is carrying the torch, and the standards remain high. Charlestonians know S.N.O.B. is also a go-to during the day, where a three-course lunch lets diners a chance to experience Moore’s stewardship of this Southern kitchen, where delicate preparations of proteins and vegetables compete for top billing.
13. Prophet Coffee North Charleston
One of Park Circle’s favorite coffee spots recently moved into new, bigger digs next door, at 4427 Spruill Ave. From humble beginnings pulling shots inside a quirky, kitted-out Subaru van to a new all-day cafe vibe, founders Savanna and Bryson Purcell have come a long way in just a few short years. Unlike most coffee bars, Prophet roasts its own beans, with a spectrum of flavors to fit any preparation from drip and pour over in-house to your fancy at-home artisanal setup. (There’s even a decaf version, False Prophet. Get it?) Sure, check the menu for seasonal creations. But if you’ve never ordered Prophet’s coconut cold brew, you’re going to need to do that. It’s smooth and sweet enough to convert even the most stalwart black coffee drinkers.
Find more info here.
14. Legami Cannonborough Elliotborough
The owners behind Pasta Beach (a beloved pasta restaurant all over New England) partnered with a Roman chef (Andrea Congiusta, who previously helmed Rome’s Il Pagliaccio), and the result is this King Street beauty. A number of different spaces await: will it be the downstairs dining room, upstairs lounge, the central bar, or perhaps the cozy, captivating patio? The menu shows Italian fingerprints in dishes like housemade pasta and lamb with artichokes, alongside beef Wellington and lobster tartin on focaccia. At the bar, try drinks like the Charleston Water, made with rye and sweet peach tea, or peruse the wine list, which features Italian and other Old World offerings as well as quite a few domestic pulls.
15. Gabrielle at Hotel Bennett Charleston
Take one look at the menu in Hotel Bennett’s signature dining room and you’ll see chef Edgar Kano is taking every chance he can to utilize the bounty of local ingredients at his disposal along the South Carolina coast. From a seafood tower featuring poached local shrimp to local mushroom cavatelli pasta, Gabrielle draws inspiration both from Southern foodways and Kano’s fine-dining experience across North America. Tucked into the hotel lobby just north of Marion Square on King Street, you’ll find three meals a day at Gabrielle, including Saturday and Sunday brunch. So, grab a Resy for Gabrielle, score a spot in the lounge or patio, or grab a Resy for its postcard-pretty sister Camellias.
16. Taco Boy Downtown North-Central
Born on Folly Beach (and still rockin!) Taco Boy also has a downtown following for a reason. The TB patio remains the perfect place for an ice-cold marg or one of the signature frozen screwdrivers. And when you’re hungry, Taco Boy’s nachos hit the spot. You can even add your protein of choice — carne asada, maybe? Of course you don’t want to skip the namesake tacos. The Baja and al pastor won’t do you wrong.
17. XO Brasserie Nomo
Since opening in 2024, this Morrison Drive hot spot has attracted a devoted local following. Growing up working in a Columbia, S.C., Chinese restaurant, owner Herman Ng created a buzzy space befitting its spot in the heart of a fast-growing neighborhood at the northern end of the downtown peninsula. The menu matches that energy: Sichuan wings, bao, and housemade dumplings, including pork, chicken, and blue crab (crab Rangoons, of course) lead things off, ahead of salt and pepper shrimp, Chinese-inspired lamb ribs, and the limited roast duck. The open dining room, lined with windows, is anchored by the open kitchen pass, flanked by a see-and-be-seen bar that makes XO a good spot for a date or an early evening bite with friends
18. Grit Bakery Downtown
Baker Allison Anspach may be a relative newcomer to Charleston, but Grit Bakery has quickly attracted legions of fans coming for pastries as close to perfect as you’ll find in the Holy City. Wednesday-Sunday, head to 601 Meeting St. for shattering croissants, sweet buns, savory biscuits, and everything in between. And we haven’t even mentioned the bread, baked fresh and in-house: baguette, sourdough, and other specialties like focaccia and sourdough made with local blue corn grits from Marsh Hen Mill. Make sure to stop by early to get your pick of the goodies (check the specials on IG), plus espresso and coffee drinks. There’s even free parking in the Meeting Street Lofts garage.
Find more info here.
19. Estadio Cannonborough-Elliotborough
This downtown tapas spot has everything you need if you’re looking for something new. Just a few blocks from King Street, Spanish-inspired specialties flow from the kitchen with Lowcountry flair, like local shrimp, crudo, an Iberian twist on pigs in a blanket, and all the gildas — like a perfectly composed skewer of anchovy, olive, and pickled pepper — we challenge you not to order another round. Securing a Resy is a surefire way to a good time, but the lively courtyard provides the ideal space to enjoy a bev and await your spot. Behind the bar, Spanish vermouth and Sherry tempt curious patrons, whether poured into a citrusy spritz, or served neat.
20. Leon’s Oyster Shop Downtown
For years, the faithful have started queuing outside on King Street well before opening at 11 a.m. Leon’s has carved out a niche among locals and tourists alike, who flock for hot oysters or super solid fried chicken and a vibe so lived-in that you’d never guess it’s just shy of 10 years old. Can’t show up early? Find your five closest friends and grab a Resy. And don’t be fooled by the rustic environs, there’s plenty to enjoy on the drinks list, from “cheapish wine” on draft to local beers and frozen cocktails.
