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Charleston's best seafood and fine cocktails. - The Establishment, Charleston, SC

The Establishment

4.8
4.8
2628 Reviews
$50 and over
Seafood

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 35 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Romantic
Everything at The Establishment begins with well-sourced ingredients from sea and field. Through developing relationships with local farmers and fishermen, our ingredients will be consistently seasonal, fresh, and pure. Chef Elliott Howells' menu will always reflect a clean, focused, and balanced approach, delivering a selection of thoughtful and refined cuisine.

Located in Charleston’s historic French Quarter a few blocks away from Rainbow Row, Charleston City Market, and Waterfront Park, The Establishment features an award-winning wine cellar, over 150 bourbon and whiskey offerings, and a lively bar scene complete with daily happy hour. We feature Live Music every Friday and Saturday starting at 8:00 PM, featuring multiple local artists performing an array of musical genres. Our private dining rooms are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or business meetings. We look forward to hosting you for a casual night out or an elevated dining experience.

Private dining

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, American, Contemporary American
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Thu 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (843) 789-4028
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Elliott Howells
  • Private party facilities
    The Establishment offers incredible, local seafood paired with an award-winning wine list. If you’re looking for elevated cuisine paired with fine wine, or for a room that is perfectly situated in Charleston’s French Quarter, look no further than The Establishment.
  • Private party contact
    Shane Diviney: (865) 292-1218
  • Area
    Downtown Charleston
  • Cross Street
    On Broad Street between Church and State
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,628 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • South Carolina

    Hot spot

  • South Carolina

    Seafood

  • Charleston

    Best Overall

  • Charleston

    Best Service

  • Charleston

    Best Ambience

  • Charleston

    Hot spot

  • Charleston

    Great for fine wines

  • Charleston

    Romantic

  • Charleston

    Good for special occasions

  • Charleston

    Lively

  • Charleston

    Seafood

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Establishment in Charleston is a sophisticated dining gem, perfect for special occasions. Guests rave about the "exquisite cuisine" and "outstanding service," with dishes like the gnudi and ribeye stealing the spotlight. The live piano music adds a charming touch to the "wonderful atmosphere." Highly recommended for an unforgettable dining experience.

2,628 Reviews
  1. Katie

    Charleston

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First up: Nathan. Fantastic hospitality, attentive and great personality. Worth his weight in gold. Second: if I only had one meal for the rest of my life it would be the current Wagyu Tartare on the menu. The kimchi Caesar??? Incredible. 12/10 I’m a Tartare girlie and that was the best. Second and a half: the tuna crudo. I’m so white Jalapeños are spicy to me, but that was a divine dish. Third: the hostess staff is efficient, warm and welcome. Bonus: they laughed with me not at me when I couldn’t figure out how to open the front door. All around great experience, thank you for knocking it out of the park.

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  2. Jack

    Charleston

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As usual, great service, delicious food and a good ambiance

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  3. Marilyn

    Charleston

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This restaurant is well worth a visit. I had the gnudi and then the Brazilian seafood stew and both were outstanding. The service is first rate and friendly. I’m looking forward to returning next month when I have visitors in town.

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  4. Jack

    Charleston

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, delicious food in a very pleasant ambiance. My wife and I always have a great time here.

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  5. Michele

    Coastal Georgia

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This restaurant was fantastic. The food was excellent. The staff were amazing and attentive. Will definitely be back next time. We’re in Charleston.

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  6. Paula

    Chicago

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Elevated dining experience. Exceptional staff attention to detail & our needs.

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  7. Tom

    Charleston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Missed the piano player. Outstanding evening - one of my best restaurant experiences of the year.

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  8. Kate

    San Francisco

    21 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on 14 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was probably the 25th time that we have dined at The Establishment. It is possibly THE best kept restaurant secret in Charleston! It doesn't seem to be on the radar of visitors and it should be. It is a fantastic experience. Staff is friendly and professional, the menu, which changes fairly frequently, has something for everyone. Seafood is a star! Last night we ate the most delicious Nantucket Bay Scallops, served raw with just enough citrus and spice to let the delicate flavor shine through. The gnudi with crab are a richer option to start but creamy and delicious. Charred broccoli salad was a great green with which to start (and share). Last night's main courses were flounder Grenobloise ( brown butter and capers) perfectly prepared, a Brazilian shrimp and fish stew with tomato and coconut milk, And a pork chop with a mustard sauce. Everything was fabulous!

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  9. Morgan

    Charlotte

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 14 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    !!!! Annie & the staff created a most fabulous experience for our anniversary:)) & not to mention!! the lighting-the food! All exceeded expectations! Charleston locals- you gotta come here.

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  10. Ronnette

    West Palm Beach

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on 10 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a must on our list every time we visit Charleston! Shane and his staff are always welcoming and take great care of us!

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FAQs

The Establishment is rated 4.8 stars by 2628 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 35 times today
Google Map for The Establishment

28 Broad St, Suite 100, Charleston, SC 29401-3004

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    On Broad Street between Church and State
  • Area
    Downtown Charleston
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Thu 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, American, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Elliott Howells
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (843) 789-4028
  • Private party facilities
    The Establishment offers incredible, local seafood paired with an award-winning wine list. If you’re looking for elevated cuisine paired with fine wine, or for a room that is perfectly situated in Charleston’s French Quarter, look no further than The Establishment.
  • Private party contact
    Shane Diviney: (865) 292-1218
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