Hank's Seafood Restaurant

Fabulous meal, excellent service, great drinks and beautiful atmosphere! Make a reservation in advance because Hank's is always hopping. We were there on a Monday night and it was full. It was lovely to sit at the beautiful bar for one of their signature drinks while we waited for our table because we arrived early. This restaurant is a must if you are visiting Charleston!

We haven't been to Hank's for quite some time but my wife was in the mood for seafood so we booked a table. Boy, ate we glad we did! The quality and the preparation of the food was, well, 5 star. My wife started with the she crab soup. In not a fan so can't say how it was, but there wasn't any left so I guess it was pretty good. I had the salad special: 4 boiled shrimp on lettuce and 3 fried green tomatoes, garnished with sweet peppers and a light ranch type dressing. Delicious! For the main course my wife had the broiled founder served with asparagus over a potato pancake and finished with a very bland sauce and grape tomatoes. I did have some of that, actually I finished it for my wife since in that kind of guy, and it was excellent. I had the seared ahi tuna which came with mashed potatoes and a goat cheese and cauliflower fritter. The ahi tuna had a balsamic vinegar and park onion sauce. The sauce was really good but to be honest, the tuna was so good or wasn't needed (but I did eat it). The fritter and mashed potatoes we're tasty as well. With a glass of Reisling, the vanilla cheese cake, which we split, and a cup of coffee the bill came to $155 before tax and tip. Certainly expensive but, in my mind we'll worth it. I have to mention the coffee since restaurant coffee is a pet peeve of mine. It's typically expensive and doesn't live up to its price. However, this may have been the best cup of coffee I've had. It had a robust, smooth coffee flavor. According to our server they use King Bean coffee which is rusted l roasted in Charleston. Speaking of our server, Emily was fantastic. She doesn't exactly the right amount of time with us, was pleasant, professional, and personable. Hopefully we won't wait so long to go back.

Erin is an amazing server, the food is top notch, and the She Crab soup is phenomenal!

Some of the best seafood we’ve ever had. Our waitress had great recommendations - we especially loved the tuna special, crab cakes, and oyster stew! We loved Hanks and definitely want to come back!

If you're visiting ‏Charleston, this is definitely a must-do, especially for families looking to create special memories. Great atmosphere, attentive service, and consistently good food. Highly recommend!

This place was spectacular. I had lump crab cocktail with a huge pile of fresh crab that was delicious! We had the Sautéed Flounder that was excellent. Fried green maters were tasty. Pecan Pie was another big hit. Service was top notch.

What a great place to celebrate my hubby's birthday! Jason whom waited on us really took care of us. I started with half dozen of local oysters which had a great texture and salinity. Even talked my hubby into trying one or two! I am the oyster lover, not him! I then had the charred romaine with fried shrimp and green goddess dressing which I so enjoyed! My hubby had grouper with risotto style carolina rice and pickled veggies which he really enjoyed. He is a BIG fish person! We were going to pass on dessert as we were content but Jason went out of his way to put together with the kitchen crew a birthday treat of the most perfect chocolate chip cookie with chocolate syrup & whipped cream. What a special night!!!

We walked in to Hank’s without a reservation. We could wait 45 minutes or sit at the high top that was a common table. We chose the high top. Our server was very attentive and friendly. We all ordered seafood platters for $33. Mine was grilled and the others were shrimp or fish. My grilled scallops, shrimp, and grouper were excellent. I also had she crab soup. It wasn’t as good as the are crab soup I had an another restaurant, but still tasty. The hush puppies and bread were excellent as well. My friends told our server it was my birthday so I got a birthday chocolate chip cookie with ice cream and chocolate syrup. It was great! My friend got a chocolate martini and she loved it. We enjoyed the atmosphere and would dine here again.

Hank's is hands down delicious. It's a beautiful restaurant with great service. The food is really, really good. The seafood Wando was spectacular. Shrimp and grits was very good, and the clams appetizer was tasty. The oysters casino were absolutely amazing. We would probably order 2 of those next time! It's rated the best seafood restaurant in Charleston for a reason. Excellent all around.

Awesome Southern meal. This special salad of pickled peaches, mozzarella and fried green tomatoes was spectacular! Fresh fish was so good too. Highly recommend!

A great place for a specialty cocktail, and amazing food options. That must stop when in charleston.

Good local seafood cuisine. Friendly staff. No complaints

Busy place, and we can see why. The food was delicious . We had Ceviche as an app and it was simply out of this world. We also had Tuna Tartar and that too was outstanding . The addition of Extra Virgin Oliver oil was so scrumptious. I ordered the bouillabaisse and was not disappointed . The broth was well developed, having great depth of flavor. My wife ordered twin lobster, and she described it as melt in your mouth delicious

Our dining experience was "TOP DRAWER"! Beginning with our waiter in his spotless white dinner jacket along with his detailed attention to our every need. The food to follow was the best meal of our vacation. We had a delicious variety from oysters on the half-shell, grilled & fried shrimp, pan seared scallops, blackened crab cakes, and shrimp and grits all served prepared to perfection. Be sure to get the She Crab Soup it is MMMMM Good! The atmosphere was that of fine dining at it's best. The dress was for tourist or guests having those enjoying a special dinner. Hank's Seafood Restaurant is a MUST to experience in Charleston.

Went here for Thanksgiving and it was great. Shrimp and grits were the best I’ve ever had(not the greatest pic). Just great. My aunt got the thanksgiving special which obviously will not usually be available, but if you have a chance to try the collards or stuffing do so. Collards were the best I had maybe ever. They had a great kick. Had collards at 82 Queens also and they were really good but that Hanks collard kick can’t be beat. Our waiter Ben was also very good.

We kicked off our meal with their famous Crab Cakes, and let me tell you—they absolutely live up to the hype! Packed with generous chunks of fresh crab, perfectly seasoned, and lightly crisped on the outside, they’re a must-try dish that’s bursting with flavor in every bite. Next, we indulged in the Roast Grouper, served over a creamy, risotto-style Carolina Gold rice. Paired with sweet potatoes and topped with a vibrant salsa criolla, this dish was a masterclass in balance—each element complementing the other to create a symphony of textures and tastes. Simply divine! Our server was excellent—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. He recommended these dishes, and we couldn’t have been happier with his suggestions. Coupled with the great service and a lovely ambiance, Hank’s Seafood Restaurant delivered an unforgettable dining experience. Highly recommended!

Such a lovely place. Every course was delicious. The buttermilk fried chicken was a 20 out of 10. Make a reservation in advance.

Not enough stars for this place. Easily 12 out of 10. Everything was perfect. The food was delicious, the wine list was great, the service was impeccable. Lovely, warm and relaxed atmosphere. Wish we lived closer. This place would be at the top of our regular places.

The Food and Service are Amazing. Our Favorite place for high-quality seafood with a beautiful presentation. The Seared Tuna Almost Melts in Your Mouth.

My wife and I did some research on places to go during our trip. This was one of them. This wasn't high on recommendation lists, despite the fact that it gets great reviews. My wife and I had a great experience. The service was too notch and the food was absolutely amazing. I had the grouper dinner, and my wife had the scallop dinner. Both were generously portioned and delicious. We are debating on coming back here, or perhaps trying somewhere new... If you're on the fence, do it! You won't regret eating here.

Highly highly highly recommend ! Everything we ordered was perfect. We got the mussels, tuna tar tar ( I’ve had better in Santorini), the wando - out of this world and the grouper was mouth watering- it had a pickled vinegar veggies that was just perfection. I had the rosemary Paloma ( no sprit) and Spanish white wine that was crisp. The warm bread and butter was soft and fresh!! Finished with the key like pie which was tart and smooth delicious, and the sorbet which was fruity and refreshing. The service was excellent and we will def be back !! Ambiance was romantic, white table clothes and dim lighting ( not too dim) perfect!!

The grilled shrimp were delicious, lightly spiced, plump and tender. We also had the grilled scallops with creamed corn in grits and popcorn. Sounds weird but really good! Jason, I think that is his name, was Amazing. Great sense of humor and an excellent server. I will Ask for him when we go back. All in all it is a pleasant ambiance with attentive service but not interruptive. I highly recommend. :)

Our Airbnb host highly recommended this restaurant, so we decided to give it a try. We ordered the specialties of the day, which were incredibly delicious and fresh. The tuna appetizer was particularly standout. Our waiter, Shan, was very friendly and professional, making our dining experience even more enjoyable. We highly recommend this restaurant!

Of all the places we ate at while in Charleston, Hank’s was our favorite. The atmosphere is great - it reminds me of the nice old school Italian restaurants we have up in the Boston area. I tried the crab cake appetizer and the fresh catch sandwich with broiled mahi fish. Both were cooked to perfection.

We had THE best experience at Hanks this weekend. The service was fantastic. Food was excellent. We had our toddler with us and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Let’s be honest, many restaurants aren’t fans of having families with young children dine in. However, the staff at Hank’s truly went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and ensure we had a great experience. THANK YOU 😊

Reservations are suggested but, we were delighted to be accommodated as walk in. The restaurant has seating for walk in patrons at the bar, an open table, as well as a community table. The seafood was exquisite and was presented beautifully. The butter milk battered chicken beasts with collars and mashed potatoes was delicious. The staff was polite, professional and courteous. I would definitely recommend Hanks.

Had an incredible dinner at Hank’s in Charleston recently. The crab cakes for an appetizer were truly melt-in-your-mouth—easily the best I’ve ever had. The shrimp and grits were amazing as well, full of flavor and perfectly cooked. On top of the great food, the service was absolutely impeccable. From start to finish, everything exceeded expectations. Highly recommend!

Just an awesome dining experience on Sunday, 11/16. Our server Drew was great. One of our most personable servers ever. He highlighted Hank's specials for the evening and frequently checked on us to ensure everything was in order. Kudos to the entire team at Hanks.

Made reservations at Hanks for our 30th Anniversary dinner. Kind of a big night for us and was looking forward to see what Hank’s might have in store. Nothing really special. Pretty broad menu with some interesting options. I tried the bouillabaisse and it was different. Not a lot of flavor but was still good. Wife had fried dinner and it was okay. Our server Jason was great and the atmosphere was very nice. Wouldn’t mind to try Hank’s again to see if they can produce that Wow factor that many of the Charleston options can provide.

The she crab soup has a great flavor, but could use some more crab. The presentation of the shrimp and grits and the seafood a la wando was very pretty. Unfortunately, the seasoning on both dishes was extremely bland. The shrimp and grits was also very soupy. The seafood a la wando needed rice or grits with it. Our server was very attentive.

The service is incredible. Paul our server was hands down one of the best servers I’ve had. We thought the food was seasoned very well and very flavorful. However, and this can be minor to some, but the plates they use are more of a shallow bowl as you can see. If you or someone doesn’t care for your food to run together, especially if there’s any liquid involved such as the turnip greens they will and all can get a little soupy. I am sure you can ask them to plate your sides separately so really wasn’t an issue, but just something to be aware of for guests. As others have mentioned, the dining room can get loud as it is one large room. The oysters were amazing and you really have to try the fried mashed potatoes. It was very unique and amazing.

We decided to make a reservation to celebrate my birthday here while visiting Charleston. As the city near the seas, we decided to eat in seafood restaurant and book here. The restaurant was beautiful and the service was great. The food was overall just OK. The seafood was not as fresh as the seafood in myrtle beach at the murrels inlet. The food taste was just okay and we ordered side rice that cook with cheese and charge $19 as much as the appetizer. It was crazy. One time eat here is okay but probably not the second time.

Crab cakes were great. Seafood a la wando also great. Grouper dish was okay but lacked salt and way too many peppers. Server was very nice.

It’s hard to grab, and more importantly hold on to, the magic. I first came to Hank’s 20 years ago and remember what a magic evening it was. One of those experiences where the food, service, and ambiance all came together perfectly. On a recent Thursday evening we were a little early to celebrate a birthday we had noted on our online reservation. We were seated promptly, and even accommodated with a seating change request. There was nothing wrong with our jumbo shrimp cocktail (5 shrimp, $18), fried oyster appetizer (okra, sweet corn and a wonderful blue cheese vinaigrette dressing, $20), sautéed flounder ($30) and seafood sampler #5 (shrimp, scallops, flounder, fries and slaw, $30)- it was as expected from a top-end long-standing seafood place like Hank’s. Service from our server, Cameron, was workmanlike, just checking the box and getting through the evening- though he did give us some to-go dessert suggestions from nearby establishments because Hank’s features don’t travel that well. And oh, that birthday? He did ask who was celebrating- but that was all there was to it. No cookie, no tiny cupcake with one candle. Nothing. Don’t get me wrong, the food was quite good, it’s just the magic that has gone missing.

First time to Hank's. A server at another restaurant steered us to the restaurant, believing the grouper to be the best in the area. Hank's was okay, but we would probably not recommend to family or friends traveling to the area. Broiled shrimp and grouper were a bit over-done. Scallops and risotto were delicious. The wife's chicken was flavorful, but a bit overcooked as well. Server was kind and attentive. Hoping you find it more appealing...

Ok so it started great. Wonderful appetizers Great salad My food was cold and was not supposed to be Service got real slow like long period of waiting when food finished. Like waiter disappeared We got desert to go and that was the more disappointment. Got home and desert was in a tiny 1 inch high small plastic container. I guess if we were partaking in libations we might not have noticed.

Food wasn’t terrible, but overall this restaurant is overhyped and we likely would not eat here again. We thought the cocktail menu was dull and so chose to skip the drinks. We tried the Sautéed Lump Crab Cakes, Charleston She Crab Soup, Roast Grouper, and the Shrimp & Grits. We thought the Crab Cakes were good, but did not care for the Beurre Blanc as it was too lemony and competed with the crab rather than complimented it. The She Crab Soup was a bit boring and did not have much crab in it that was not entirely blended into the soup. The Roast Grouper was delicious and cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, it was accompanied by Carolina Gold Rice that was not cooked properly. I was very disappointed that the rice was undercooked. The accompanying Salsa Criolla was fresh and summery and this grouper dish would have been excellent except for the rice. The Shrimp & Grits was the best dish by far, and I’m not surprised they won best Shrimp & Grits in Charleston.

Highly recommended seafood. Ordered signature dish Seafood Lawanda. Maybe not to my taste - seafood and fish in a very rich creamy sauce. Probably would've been better with an entree like the fried oysters. Delicious pecan pie and attentive service. Beware of the CNV and Resort fees added to credit card bills. A sneaky tactic popping up at multiple high-end restaurants.

We were expecting great flavors but received a "lemon drop" that tasted medicinal. The fried fish & fried shrimp had zero flavor. My husband & I twisted our mouths to the flavor which was the first. My husband's shrimp and grits were not tasty but without flavor other than water and a few vegetables. The food was utterly disgusting so we went back to our Airbnb, bought fresh seafood and had the most delicious seafood. The only positive about this restaurant was our waiter who was phenomenal and has been waiting for 25 years and a very pleasant man. The other waiters were also very attentive to our table. If the food was worth purchasing, the experience would have been a 10. First and last here.

I loved this place . Service excellent Atmosphere excellent Food excellent We commented that we will be back But then we saw the bill with junk fees. Fee to hard working kitchen staff (just pay them from regular profits not surcharge the customer) 2% cc fee no signage at front door either. They are trying to hide this until the end of the meal. Very disappointed because I wanted to come back , but I will not return. You are so close to providing a perfect experience than you ruin it. You could have easily charged an extra couple $ on entrees it would not have been a problem . It's about perception and being nickel and dimed.