Charlestonians love to eat and to hang out with friends, and one of the best ways to do both is to brunch. It’s the perfect way to kick off a weekend day, be it Saturday or Sunday. And brunch in the Lowcountry is basically an art form.
The bar for good food around Charleston is extremely high. And come the weekend, chefs love to go all out to make sure brunch is a memorable experience. Plus, mimosas and bloody marys are usually involved, and bartenders tend to get creative.
Not long ago, Tripadvisor released its ranking of the best places to eat in America based on customer reviews, as I covered in this blog. And get this - on their list of best places to get brunch, Charleston boasted the #1 and #2 brunch spots in the whole country.
They’re not the only ones. You can’t throw a rock around here without hitting a good brunch place. I’ll lay out just a few favorites, arranged geographically.
Isle of Palms Brunch
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen
Acme is an island favorite, conveniently located between Exclusive Properties’ office and Front Beach. They specialize in sustainable seafood, serving only “100% Always Local South Carolina Shrimp.” Another perk: they don’t confine brunch to the weekend. They do it all week long, and all day until 5:00. It’s ideal for folks who like breakfast all day.
Popular items are the Isle of Palms’ Shrimp & Grits (with blackened local shrimp and truffle gouda grits), Fried Green Tomatoes with pimento cheese and chow chow, and Holy City Hash with corned beef that’s braised in-house. If you’re thirsty, try a Zing Zang Bloody Mary, or a BLT Bloody Mary made with bacon vodka.
Seabiscuit
A quaint little café that is wildly popular with island locals for a reason. It’s right near Acme and fills up fast, especially on weekends. Seabiscuit is a breakfast and lunch only place, so brunch is right in its wheelhouse. They have classic morning fare with a southern twist. Biscuits, omelets with crab and sausage, French toast and pancakes are all good. Word to the wise: the specials are definitely worth getting. Cash or check only, no credit cards accepted. Hours are 6:30 am - 2:30 pm Tuesday through Friday, and 7:30 am – 1:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Sullivan’s Island Brunch
The Obstinate Daughter
The O/D is a terrific restaurant, whatever time of day/night you go there. And not surprisingly, they nail brunch. The O/D is located at the end of the commercial district of Sullivan’s, toward Fort Moultrie.
They have a great selection of fresh oysters, a surprisingly good eye opener and start to the day. Other brunch recommendations include the peach salad; roasted beets with ricotta, horseradish pistachios and Heron Farm sea beans; the fresh cinnamon rolls when available (place your order early, as they will sell out); bananas foster waffle, and the Blond Bloody Mary with fresh tomato juice. Great fresh pastas and pizzas too. Brunch is served from 10:00 am till 3:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Longboard
Aa new place that’s getting good buzz. The original location is in St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and they decided to open one on Sullivan’s. The Longboard is casual with a fun beachy vibe, located at 2213 Middle Street. They serve brunch from 10:00 am till 2:00 p.m. on weekends.
Some highlights – fresh oyster raw bar, brulee’d grapefruit, cast iron cornbread, apple butter rum cake with whipped ricotta, a hearty breakfast bowl (with pork belly, fried egg, rice and baked sea island red peas), veggie hash and wood-grilled avocado. Their homemade cereal blend is made up of coconut, hemp seed, puffed oats, sunflower, blueberries, hibiscus and oat milk.
Longboard’s brunch beverage game is on point. You can get a mimosa carafe, or opt for specials like an espresso martini, frozen painkiller shot, or a rum blend washed in bacon fat.
Downtown Charleston Brunch
Hall’s Chophouse
Tripadvisor declared this Lowcountry favorite as the #1 place in America to have brunch. Not surprisingly Hall’s has also found its way onto the best restaurant list as well. Located on the hip and happening stretch of upper King Street downtown, Hall’s is definitely worth a visit. Their steaks and service are the stuff of legend. Word to the wise: make a reservation at least a month in advance.
Hall’s really cranks it up on Sundays with their beloved Gospel Brunch, when you can dine to sounds that will elevate your soul. The benedicts and omelets are fabulous, as is the blood orange margarita. Their French toast sounds divine: “Lavender-scented brioche, Vermont maple syrup, espresso mascarpone cream, applewood-smoked bacon…” They also offer their full menu of prime steaks.
High Cotton
This East Bay Street staple came in at #2 on Tripadvisor’s list of top places in America to brunch.
Here they serve mimosas with a trio of fruit nectars so you can mix your perfect blend. Popular dishes include the Chicken and Waffles (with buttermilk fried chicken, Sriracha-honey glaze and peach-apricot compote), Crab Cakes Benedict, and their special butterscotch and candied pecan sticky bun served in a cast iron skillet. Brunch on Sundays only from 10:00 till 2:00.
Ruby Sunshine
Ruby Sunshine is based in New Orleans and specializes in brunch. They just recently opened a Charleston location a few doors down from High Cotton, in the building formerly occupied by Blossom Café.
Here’s another place where brunch is not limited to weekends. It’s open from 7:30 am till 2:00 p.m. during the week and till 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Their menu skews toward beignets, remoulade, and dishes like Bayou Shrimp Benedict, Bananas Foster Pain Perdu (French toast), Eggs Cochon, and Pig Candy Bacon Bites. Their drink menu looks particularly inspired, with a Big Easy Mimosa, Sazerac Sipper, Peychaud’s Aperitivo Spritz, Morning Margarita, Bourbon or Brandy Milk Punch, and Boozy Iced Coffee. Laissez les bons temps roulez.
FYI: Some popular brunch spots in Mount Pleasant that are worth checking out are: Page’s Okra Grill on Coleman Boulevard (home of the famous Bloody Mary Bar), Saltwater Cowboys with a fantastic view on Shem Creek, and Crave (just over the IOP Connector, whose mac ‘n cheese was voted best in the country).
Take your pick and kick off the weekends right, with some of the best brunches in the land.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger