The Establishment

Five stars is not enough! We went to The Establishment for my wife's birthday and they were so kind and attentive to us, wishing my wife a happy birthday and providing a surprise birthday treat for her. The staff provided excellent recommendations and made sure we were well taken care of the entire evening. I don't think I've ever experienced better service anywhere. Thank you from the bottom of my heart To the food: My meager photos will not do it justice, but it was as amazing as the service. We ordered several small plates, each better than the last. For our main entrees, my wife had the scallops and I had the grouper. The dishes were well composed and extremely delicious. Others have mentioned the espresso cake and the macarons. I will echo the sentiment that they were delicious and a great way to end the evening. Thank you so much to everyone in the kitchen and the front of the house, we hope to be back soon!

My wife and I came here to celebrate our anniversary and it did not disappoint. The food was so good, including the pavlova which we would highly recommend. The most outstanding thing however was the service. Cayla was awesome and did a phenomenal job walking through the menu and sharing her thoughts on what to taste; she was also very attentive throughout the night. From the very start all the staff wished us a happy anniversary and continued to make the night special for us. Whenever we come back to Charleston we will certainly come back to the Establishment. This was one of the best places we’ve been in a long time.

Ate here on a girls trip and it was such a good experience! Our server Michael gave great wine recommendations, we could tell he really knew his stuff. Everything we ordered from the sashimi to the creamed corn was delicious but the gnudi was the standout dish. Definitely check this place out if you’re visiting!

The best experience beginning to end - from service to ambiance, incredible meal. The most amazing Red Snapper I’ve ever had . Can’t wait to return next time in Charleston. The chocolate angel food cake was sweet but wonderful paired with a 30 year port -

We hosted our Rehearsal Dinner in a private room at The Establishment a few months ago. Our experience was AMAZING start to finish. We worked with Shane, and he made the process so seamless. He was always responsive to our questions, and totally flexible with our asks. The room was beautiful and our guests RAVED about the food! Thanks so much for everything, Shane!

Came in on a Friday when there was live jazz. Absolutely wonderful atmosphere (music was perfect volume and not too loud) and the food and drinks were phenomenal. The gnudi and whole fish dishes were exceptional and the Carried Away cocktail was stellar. Nathan, our server, was incredibly warm and gave the best recommendations. Highly recommend.

Food was awesome highly recommend the whole fish! Just as important, the service was seriously five star overall. What really stood out though was that we came with our toddler and you would not believe how nice they were about accommodating him. Seriously treated him like he was a VIP. The manager(?) immediately moved us to a table that was lower and the staff offered us multiple different size high chairs or boosters to make him comfortable. I mean this is not a kids restaurant but geez I’ve never been to a “kid friendly” restaurant that was this kid friendly. Thank you guys for thinking of our toddler!!! He loved the pasta with extra cheese as requested too!!

Phenomenal! We had the absolute best dinner here. My husband has said the word Gnudi no less than 20 times since we left 😂

So cross another of the list of Restaurants to eat in SC and this one was a fantastic experience. We came to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a wonderful time. There was a jazz piano playing but it wasn't so loud that you couldn't converse at the table. Drinks were fantastic and there was a wide variety to choose from. Menu changes daily and was hard to choose. Couldn't go wrong with anything.

Great food and service. Really enjoyed the time the waiter took with us and accommodated us for all of our requests. The food was amazing. The oyster starter was delicious.... The oysters were so soft and buttery and the sauce was perfect. We also had the beet salad and the orange slices complimented the beets and the sauce. The lobster pasta and side of potatoes were great. For dessert, the olive oil chocolate cake was great...a cross between a called and a brownie. Very soft and moist. Would highly recommend.

This place was recommended to us after our reservations had been accidentally canceled at another restaurant and they refused to honor them. They recommended the Establishment. We are SO happy our reservation was accidentally canceled. This place was AMAZING! We got three appetizers- duck, spaghetti squash, and the beef carpaccio. All three were delicious. The carpaccio, however, with the ras el hanout, was fab. The duck was crispy and delicate, the spaghetti squash was rich and light - an amazingly balanced dish. Our entrees continued the experience. My hubs had the snapper with the popcorn rice with a light coconut sauce that was so addictive! The pork chop…how. Did. They. Do. That? It was like a pork filet mignon. But there was a thin skin that was CRISPY and it was this salty fabulousness that took everyone by surprise. So GOOD. Grouper rounded out our entree choices. Sous Vide to an opaque flaky butteriness with a parsnip purée that will tickle your taste buds. Don’t forget to get a side of potatoes and charred cabbage. Yummmmmmm. This was a wonderful experience and we will definitely be returning to this modern take on classic Charleston dining. Just came back in March of 2025 - it was every bit as good as we remembered. Service was exceptional - Shane at the bar and Nehemiah at the Chef’s counter. We thoroughly enjoyed the Gnudi, blue fin tuna, Portuguese fish stew, swordfish, even the BREAD for crying out loud. Cocktails were off the charts. I love having an exquisite cocktail I can’t make myself at home. The flavors were unbelievable but the service made everything outstanding. Thank you for treating us to a special evening!

We had the swordfish and steak. Everything was delicious and the amount of blueberries on one of the desserts was amazing. They have delicious cocktails! Our appetizer took longer than it should have but we didn't say anything and the waiter was very kind and took it off our bill. It was the 3 of us and it costed right at $300.

What a great place to eat and spend some time. The service was awesome and k my rivaled by the food which was scrumptious. My favourite was the gnocchi which was made with semolina rather than potato flour and was extremely light and deliciously flavoured. Would highly recommend.

The Establishment is a fantastic restaurant that I was able to get reservations for my friend’s bachelorette party. You can call in advance and tell them how many people is in your party. I definitely would give them a few days notice. The staff was so friendly and kind gave us a really nice table. We started off with really nice cocktails : the illusionist, sour cherry Mocktail, and a fresh juice. Our appetizer was the liver mousse and the fried soft shell crab: The entrées we ordered: seafood stew “moqueca de peixe” , grilled shrimp, striped Seabass, with a side of cream kale, and roasted potatoes. I highly recommend anyone to go. Staff is super friendly and kind and will give you great suggestions on their fresh seafood or meats. They also have plenty of parking, but we did end up Valeting.

Fantastic new addition to the Charleston food scene. Everything we ordered was delicious. Great ambiance with live piano music and very knowledgeable wait staff made this one of our new favorites.

I could not find this place on one of the top restaurants of Charleston list. That needs to change. And NOW! Exceptional. Manager Brian was wonderful and our server, Max, was impeccable. We sat next to the open kitchen, which was a very nice experience. The bar offerings are extensive and they have 1 ounce portions, which is nice to sample a few different potables. The menu is narrow, but it covers everything you could want. Each dish is calculated to offer an in depth profile. The portions are not huge, but you won't leave hungry. Go there now.

Highly recommend! Great food, alcoholic beverages, service and ambiance. I can’t not emphasize the service at this restaurant; our servers made sure to guide us through the menu and was right there throughout the night. The drinks were unique and full of flavor as well as the food.

I had such a wonderful experience eating here! The food and drinks were superb! Dessert was out of this world delicious! Service was excellent; the staff was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. Highly recommend!

This place is incredible! We came here and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and service. Highly recommend.

We had the best time at the establishment. Amazing service, knowledgeable server, delicious food! Such well balanced dishes. Would definitely come again!

Absolutely amazing food and service here! Try their Oyster Rockefeller and Gnudi for sure! Don’t forget to ask for their dessert menu!

Amazing experience! And food to match!! They do a new menu each day, and everything I had was incredible.

Absolutely loved the eating experience here. Craft cocktail list is amazing with a selection for any drinks palette. Food choice is a daily menu that encompasses local favorites. A focus is on seafood (being in CHS) but there is also a selection of culinary delights that appeal to a meat eater. Wait staff are extremely cordial with a professional demeanor mixed with a pleasant sense of humor. Dessert selection was on par with the meal too. Highly recommend making a small financial investment and enjoying a meal here in downtown Charleston.

What a wonderful evening. Our first visit to The Establishment. This visit was part of a combo dinner and play. The food was top notch and one of the better restaurants in Charleston. The duck starter was outstanding. Our social club members cannot stop talking about their great experience at your restaurant.

The Establishment was the perfect venue to celebrate my wife's birthday with friends that came from all over the country. The venue was splendid and the manager did a great work to accomodate our needs and make sure that would be a night to remember. I would strongly recommend it for anyone organizing a significant event.

One of the best dining experiences in all of Charleston. With all of the great restaurants here that is quite the accomplishment. Great espresso martinis too.

The food is ridiculous. I can't even explain how fabulous it is. The gnudi is a showstopper. Go there for the amazing food, stay for the delicious cocktails and outstanding service. Adam was our server, and he was incredibly attentive and fantastic. We were blown away!

Amazing! We absolutely loved The Establishment. The Gnudi is the best, get 2 or don’t share yours 😂 The glaze/sauce on the pork chop was to die for. Special shout out to Shane who made it extra special and welcoming, taking the time to visit with us twice to make sure we were having a wonderful experience. We’ll be back for sure!

My family and i recently dined at The Establishment. It was our last night in Charleston and finding somewhere nice to eat was proving to be a challenge. Sarah answered the phone and was very polite and accommodating, Nathan was our server and he was fantastic. You could tell that he loves what he does. We ate at many restaurants in Charleston over our 2 visits and this is the best food and service that we experienced. Very highly recommend!

Unbelievable experience, this is a must try if you are in Charleston! Miller was an excellent and knowledgeable server who knew absolutely everything about the menu and provided fantastic service. The same can be said for a Shane, the general manager who took the time to come by the table and bring a glass of champagne for our event. Ryan and the bar staff did an equally wonderful job providing great cocktails for the evening. Finally, the food…the start of the show….we had too many things to list but most were different dishes than we have ever had there and all of them were excellent! Thank you all for an amazing experience and we will certainly be back

Friends recommended and we ended up having an amazing dinner celebrating a special occasion. Nathan was our server and made our night very special! We connected with him immediately and asked him to feel free to select our courses. Turned out to be an excellent decision! The whole fish and the gundi were absolutely delicious as were the starters right down to the bread service. Not to mention the wine list and the beautiful underground wine cellar he showed us. We decided to come back with a party of 6 the next week and were again delighted with The Establishment in every way. Nathan was working the bar that night (Thursday) The service and the management could not have been more attentive. A solid Charleston restaurant we adore and will make the trip for!

Discovered The Establishment after seeing it was Michelin recommended. My husband and I sat at the Chef’s table where we got to see all the chefs in action. Our waiter, Miller, was fantastic! He knew the menu inside and out and made some excellent recommendations and steered me away from everything with almonds in it (allergic). Nick, the chef that prepared all the appetizers in front of us was extremely friendly, very knowledgeable about everything on the menu, and cool, calm and collected, when cooking in front of our scrutinizing eyes. When we come back next week, we are going to ask for the Chef Seats in front of Nick. He (and the food) made us want to come back weekly! Thank you guys for an amazing, fun date night!

I hate to even share this as a local (so we can still walk in and get food without having to battle 200 tourists), but I feel the workers and kitchen absolutely deserve the praise. This is HANDS DOWN the best steak in town. It's not debatable and it's not even close. I get it every time I go there, and every single time they send out melt in your mouth perfection. The staff is 10/10, knowledgeable, attentive and personable. Bartenders do an amazing job on all fronts. Kitchen sends out piping out food cooked to perfection. I have zero clue how this place isn't more "discovered" than it is, but, for us that live locally and need a spot we don't have to call months in ahead to eat at, it is the go to.......and we'd prefer to keep it that way. Bravo guys. Keep up the great work.

We came here for a high class happy hour…What we got instead was a wonderful evening sipping drinks and chatting with the friendliest bartenders in town who were slinging the best drinks in town. Seriously. We would’ve stayed all night if money and alcohol tolerance weren’t an issue. Highly recommend the rizzler. It was fabulous. The martini happy hour also can’t be beat! This was one of the few places we found in Charleston that actually had cocktails on their happy hour menu. Their drinks are complex but very reasonably priced, especially considering the craftsmanship & quality. Highly recommend! Thanks guys!

Top notch from hostess to bartenders to waitstaff to bussers to manager. Exceptional all around. Food was melt-in-your mouth delicious. We were there for our anniversary and made a last minute reservation because we were supposed to be in Paris but plans changed and this may have been better, we'll never know. Loved it all. Thank you to everyone at The Establishment. It was a lovely evening.

The Establishment is primarily a fish restaurant with a short menu, including one steak and one vegetarian entree. So probably not your best choice if you have a hankering for meat or are vegetarian or vegan. Its location on Broad St is very good, with lots of street parking and a parking garage about two blocks away. Very nice decor and a relatively quiet and upscale vibe. Service is very good and the overall impression is smart. We were a party of four, all fish lovers and fish was what we ordered. The triggerfish was excellent, perfectly cooked and helped along by a mild seasoned sauce. The grouper got mixed reviews. It was well cooked but a little bland. One interesting quirk of the restaurant is that you only qualify for happy hour prices on drinks and appetizers if you sit at the bar, if you at a table, no luck. Now that is bizarre. Desserts were good but nothing special. Overall, we liked the restaurant, its downtown prices are high and its menu selections are limited but it has an extensive wine list and knowledgeable staff. We give it four clams on the coveted Five Quahog Rating Scale.

It was truly a great dining experience from beginning to end. Made a reservation through Open Table. The restaurant phoned on the day of the reservation to confirm and to inquire if the reservation was for a special occasion. The food was so delicious, the service was excellent, and the ambiance was so warm and cozy. The menu for the day is published daily at approx 2p. Reservations highly recommended. We had an early dinner before the restaurant became full. Valet parking is available, or parking may be secured nearby with a short stroll to the restaurant since downtown Charleston is a very popular and busy place. Recommended dress from nice casual to formal, depending on your dining preference or special occasion. Prices on the higher side of $$ based upon your palate. The seafood is Oh!! so good!! For our meal, we enjoyed the Taste: Gnudi; Savor: Grilled Swordfish and Butter Poached Grouper, and a side of Crispy Artichokes, and a complimentary Sorbet for desert.

The service was excellent! The ambience fantastic. Good wine list. Expensive with small portions. Every dish we tried had a ton of butter or other fat: New menu daily. I would have tried the Lamb Passe, but the chef refused to substitute a different vegetable for the carrots, which I never eat. Total turn-off. The 3rd party macarons were amazing. My favorite flavor was the coffee and caramel. The other deserts were OK.

Good food, great atmosphere. We went for brunch and enjoyed the live music. The menu regularly changes, but I highly recommend the Whipped Ricotta if you get the chance. While your parked in the area, enjoy a walk in the area.

Whole fish was disappointing, yellow tail snapper so props to being a local, sustainable fish. Gills in is a bold move and left this fish tasting fishier than it should have. Not to mention a little overcooked, you’d do better going to Chubby Fish, the Ordinary, Stellas, or Rappahannock to name a few. All of which have a delicious whole fish. There floor manager said it was meant to be prepared that way, and all restaurants in CHS serve with gills in. Correct me if I am wrong, but that has not been my experience. Do they? Overall I was disappointed, appreciate the attempt to serve local, sustainable.