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Spread at the Grocery

Best Charleston Restaurants to Bring Your Parents

Food fit for the whole family

by Parker Milner May 3, 2019, 10:00am EDT

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Spread at the Grocery

| Adrew Cebulka

by Parker Milner May 3, 2019, 10:00am EDT

The spring and summer months are peak visitor season in Charleston, so many residents are sure to have family members looking for an excuse to take a vacation. It’s important to please the guests, but it’s also necessary to check out a destination that’s worth visiting. Charleston is chocked-full of eateries that won’t break the bank but are sure to provide the ideal setting for hosting people who aren’t afraid to comment on the restaurant selection. With that said, check out these 16 Holy City destinations the next time the family makes a trip to the Lowcountry.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

EVO Pizzeria

In a town full of pizza, EVO reigns supreme for many, as they serve wood-fired Neapolitan style pies in their Park Circle space. Take advantage of dining alongside people who won’t mind hands reaching across the table by ordering a couple different pizzas, as Evo is a place where each option feels like a must-have.

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

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Wood & Grain

Pizzas topped with fancy meats and a raw bar boasting the bounty of the Lowcountry make Wood & Grain a crowd-pleaser. Proteins like duck ham, sopressata, and fennel sausage arrive sizzling after exiting the wood-fired oven. Oysters on the half shell, chilled lobster, and local shrimp provide tasty bites while socializing before the main dishes arrive.

778 S Shelmore Blvd #102, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Visit Website

Harold's Cabin

Quirky yet cozy, Harold’s Cabin is certainly off the beaten path, but the welcoming environment and use of local produce make it worth a visit. Find a rooftop garden atop the space that feels like, well, a cabin. Be sure to order shrimp, whether it’s served alone cornmeal crusted and fried, on sandwich, or mixed into the Carolina Gold rice gumbalaya.

247 Congress St, Charleston, SC 29403

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Harold’s Cabin

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Tu

Tu’s take on family-style Indian cuisine makes it a great place to test out some dishes with the parents. The menu changes frequently, but look forward to sopping up saucy curries with doughy pieces of naan or amritsari kulcha bread.

Open in Google Maps

430 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403

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Also featured in:

The Grocery

Classy but not stuffy, busy but not packed, the Grocery provides an inviting ambiance with seasonal dishes that are sure to impress visitors. The produce section is inspired by the local bounty, while mains from land and sea run the gamut, from a beef short rib to the Lowcountry seafood pilau with Carolina Gold rice. Oh, the eatery also has its own small parking lot, an underrated luxury in the heart of downtown Charleston.

4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403

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The Grocery

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The Macintosh

Located in the heart of King Street, The Macintosh delivers a weekly changing menu full of elegant mains that pair with inventive starters like the fish bologna sliders. Go big with the CAB deckle or keep it casual with one of the best burgers in Charleston, and make sure to order the bone marrow bread pudding or truffle frites for the table.

479B King St, Charleston, SC 29403

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The Macintosh

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Pane E Vino

Parents who appreciate authentic Italian cuisine will love Pan e Vino, which feels like a family run bistro inside. Complex sauces are carefully crafted from old recipes and pair with spaghetti, pappardelle, and airy gnocchi. Patrons can’t go wrong with the daily risotto and should save room for a slice of tiramisu.

Open in Google Maps

17 Warren St, Charleston, SC 29403

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Stella's

Meze plates, the Greek equivalent to tapas, and hearty mains make Stella’s a place where sharing is a must. Dishes like spanakopita and pastichio taste as if grandma made them, and the lively environment allows the eatery to also strike a chord with the 20-somethings.

Open in Google Maps

114 St Philip St, Charleston, SC 29403

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Also featured in:

167 Raw

Waiting in line isn’t fun, but it’s a little better when with those who are near and dear. Go to 167 for the vast selection of raw oysters, but stay for the decadent lobster roll or the sweet and spicy scallop po’ boy.

289 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

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167 Raw

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Muse Restaurant

Hidden on a side street steps away from the shopping section of King Street, this restaurant/wine bar features an extensive by-the-glass list to pair with Mediterranean and Italian entrees like sweet potato gnocchi or lamb chops. The neighborhood aesthetic, which is rare in the midst of downtown Charleston, provides a cozy setting for a family gathering.

Open in Google Maps

82 Society St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine

Leyla offers an array of classic Lebanese favorites in a family-style environment. Of course start the meal with hummus before ordering one of the chicken, beef, or lamb main dishes — think kafta and shawarma — which are tender and juicy thanks to authentic marinades that shine through.

298 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

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Also featured in:

The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits

Find both dinner and a view on the seventh floor of The Restoration Hotel at The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits. Snap a picture of the skyline before diving into a short rib-brisket burger or spicy fried chicken sandwich.

79 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401

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Also featured in:

Avondale Wine & Cheese

That wine-obsessed dad will love exploring the shelves filled reasonable priced bottles at Avondale Wine & Cheese. Drink while munching on cheese and charcuterie at this leisurely neighborhood destination.

813 Savannah Hwy # B, Charleston, SC 29407

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Also featured in:

Grab a Glass of Wine at These 10 Charleston Spots

5Church Charleston

One step inside this former church will have parents in awe, making the refined food offering an added bonus. The menu could be described as all over the place, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when hosting company. The Ahi tuna poke bowl and pork fried rice become Asian-Southern mashups through the use of Carolina Gold rice, and the eatery utilizes similar flavors for vegetable dishes like the Kung Pao Brussels sprouts and the spicy Korean barbecue sauce-topped cauliflower.

32B N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

First Look Inside 5Church

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Pawpaw

This East Bay Street eatery is Southern at its core, but a modern approach enhances familiar dishes. Start with cheddar-bacon hush puppies with wildflower honey or Brussels sprouts tossed in an apricot chili glaze before choosing a main dish like the juicy fried chicken.

209 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

The Obstinate Daughter

Often regarded as one of the leading restaurants in the Charleston area, this Sullivan’s Island stunner offers a menu full of seafood, handmade pastas, and wood-fired pizzas. Melt-in-your-mouth short rib gnocchi and lamb sausage orecchiette with pistachio-mint pesto are among the diverse pasta options. Pizzas are topped with any and everything — the Duck Amuck features duck confit, seasonal fruit, and mozzarella.

2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Visit Website

The Obstinate Daughter

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EVO Pizzeria

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

In a town full of pizza, EVO reigns supreme for many, as they serve wood-fired Neapolitan style pies in their Park Circle space. Take advantage of dining alongside people who won’t mind hands reaching across the table by ordering a couple different pizzas, as Evo is a place where each option feels like a must-have.

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

Visit Website

Wood & Grain

778 S Shelmore Blvd #102, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Pizzas topped with fancy meats and a raw bar boasting the bounty of the Lowcountry make Wood & Grain a crowd-pleaser. Proteins like duck ham, sopressata, and fennel sausage arrive sizzling after exiting the wood-fired oven. Oysters on the half shell, chilled lobster, and local shrimp provide tasty bites while socializing before the main dishes arrive.

778 S Shelmore Blvd #102, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Visit Website

Harold's Cabin

247 Congress St, Charleston, SC 29403

Quirky yet cozy, Harold’s Cabin is certainly off the beaten path, but the welcoming environment and use of local produce make it worth a visit. Find a rooftop garden atop the space that feels like, well, a cabin. Be sure to order shrimp, whether it’s served alone cornmeal crusted and fried, on sandwich, or mixed into the Carolina Gold rice gumbalaya.

247 Congress St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Harold’s Cabin

Tu

430 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403

Tu’s take on family-style Indian cuisine makes it a great place to test out some dishes with the parents. The menu changes frequently, but look forward to sopping up saucy curries with doughy pieces of naan or amritsari kulcha bread.

Open in Google Maps

430 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

The Grocery

4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403

Classy but not stuffy, busy but not packed, the Grocery provides an inviting ambiance with seasonal dishes that are sure to impress visitors. The produce section is inspired by the local bounty, while mains from land and sea run the gamut, from a beef short rib to the Lowcountry seafood pilau with Carolina Gold rice. Oh, the eatery also has its own small parking lot, an underrated luxury in the heart of downtown Charleston.

4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

The Grocery

The Macintosh

479B King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Located in the heart of King Street, The Macintosh delivers a weekly changing menu full of elegant mains that pair with inventive starters like the fish bologna sliders. Go big with the CAB deckle or keep it casual with one of the best burgers in Charleston, and make sure to order the bone marrow bread pudding or truffle frites for the table.

479B King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

The Macintosh

Pane E Vino

17 Warren St, Charleston, SC 29403

Parents who appreciate authentic Italian cuisine will love Pan e Vino, which feels like a family run bistro inside. Complex sauces are carefully crafted from old recipes and pair with spaghetti, pappardelle, and airy gnocchi. Patrons can’t go wrong with the daily risotto and should save room for a slice of tiramisu.

Open in Google Maps

17 Warren St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Stella's

114 St Philip St, Charleston, SC 29403

Meze plates, the Greek equivalent to tapas, and hearty mains make Stella’s a place where sharing is a must. Dishes like spanakopita and pastichio taste as if grandma made them, and the lively environment allows the eatery to also strike a chord with the 20-somethings.

Open in Google Maps

114 St Philip St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

167 Raw

289 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

Waiting in line isn’t fun, but it’s a little better when with those who are near and dear. Go to 167 for the vast selection of raw oysters, but stay for the decadent lobster roll or the sweet and spicy scallop po’ boy.

289 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

167 Raw

Muse Restaurant

82 Society St, Charleston, SC 29401

Hidden on a side street steps away from the shopping section of King Street, this restaurant/wine bar features an extensive by-the-glass list to pair with Mediterranean and Italian entrees like sweet potato gnocchi or lamb chops. The neighborhood aesthetic, which is rare in the midst of downtown Charleston, provides a cozy setting for a family gathering.

Open in Google Maps

82 Society St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine

298 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Leyla offers an array of classic Lebanese favorites in a family-style environment. Of course start the meal with hummus before ordering one of the chicken, beef, or lamb main dishes — think kafta and shawarma — which are tender and juicy thanks to authentic marinades that shine through.

298 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits

79 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401

Find both dinner and a view on the seventh floor of The Restoration Hotel at The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits. Snap a picture of the skyline before diving into a short rib-brisket burger or spicy fried chicken sandwich.

79 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

Avondale Wine & Cheese

813 Savannah Hwy # B, Charleston, SC 29407

That wine-obsessed dad will love exploring the shelves filled reasonable priced bottles at Avondale Wine & Cheese. Drink while munching on cheese and charcuterie at this leisurely neighborhood destination.

813 Savannah Hwy # B, Charleston, SC 29407

Visit Website

5Church Charleston

32B N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401

One step inside this former church will have parents in awe, making the refined food offering an added bonus. The menu could be described as all over the place, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when hosting company. The Ahi tuna poke bowl and pork fried rice become Asian-Southern mashups through the use of Carolina Gold rice, and the eatery utilizes similar flavors for vegetable dishes like the Kung Pao Brussels sprouts and the spicy Korean barbecue sauce-topped cauliflower.

32B N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

First Look Inside 5Church

Pawpaw

209 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

This East Bay Street eatery is Southern at its core, but a modern approach enhances familiar dishes. Start with cheddar-bacon hush puppies with wildflower honey or Brussels sprouts tossed in an apricot chili glaze before choosing a main dish like the juicy fried chicken.

209 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

Related Maps

The Obstinate Daughter

2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Often regarded as one of the leading restaurants in the Charleston area, this Sullivan’s Island stunner offers a menu full of seafood, handmade pastas, and wood-fired pizzas. Melt-in-your-mouth short rib gnocchi and lamb sausage orecchiette with pistachio-mint pesto are among the diverse pasta options. Pizzas are topped with any and everything — the Duck Amuck features duck confit, seasonal fruit, and mozzarella.

2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Visit Website

The Obstinate Daughter

Related Maps