Wife and I tried to eat here on a slow Monday night around 8:30. No line, walked in , were told it would be a wait for a table. First tried to sit at two empty seats at end of bar...was snapped at by kid bartender that seats were "taken"! There was a napkin on bar there, that's all. Ok, went to sit behind these seats at bar table at window....hostess quickly walked over...I'm sorry , you can't sit here, it's dirty! No effort to clean it or get someone to clean it. So..we found two seats empty in front of bar...bartender turns back on us and cleans glasses. No greeting or how can I help you two! We looked at each other and walked out! Guess they didn't need the business! read more

Over priced for the quality of service you get. My husband didn't get his water filled once. Food was only ok, nothing to write home about. Disappointing after what we had heard. Other restaurants in Charleston that are nice but better service & price. Kind of a high end snobby unrelated atmosphere. Won't be going back. read more

Solid but not outstanding. Their signature dish, a flounder that is served whole and cross-cut to allow one to take out chunks, was very tasty but not "best dish ever" as advertised. Dessert (pecan pie) was good but not the best ever. The service was excellent. I get the sense that they do just about every dish well, but for a true foodie I'm not sure that one would classify them as out of this world. For a vacation or business dinner in a nice location, this is probably a can't-miss stop. But if you're looking for truly outstanding food, I'm not sure that this is it. Basically, I got what I expected for the price -- a very good meal. read more

Unbelievable. Great service. Fantastic food. Beautiful restaurant. First time ever we've tipped over 20%. This restaurant will be one of our must do's every year on our vacation. read more

Consistently great food and service through the years! Wonderful atmosphere and staff. She crab soup, scored flounder with apricot sauce, filet, and creme brulee are their staples. read more

As always, Anson's never disappoints! Wait staff is exceptional, food is excellent! One of my favorites in Charleston!

Just attended a sit down dinner wedding reception Friday night and have to brag about how delicious the food was and the superior service! Private dining room upstairs is elegant and large enough for all who attended. I would guess our party was close to 100 people. Great job Anson. One of the best filets of beef I've had in a long time. It's not an easy feat serving such a large party, offering a choice of 3 entrees, and still excelling with the food and service! read more

Great food. Great staff had the catch of the day, halibut cooked perfectly and my husband's fried chicken was some of the best he has had

Loved Anson's! Great butterleaf, buttermilk dressing, fried oyster salad! Good service and fun, warm ambience!

I was visiting Charleston for the weekend with my girlfriend and we wanted to try some of the Low-Country cuisine the city is known for. I used to live in coastal North Carolina and thought the food would be similar to what I had before, bland with no distinct taste, but I was in for an excellent surprise. We were able to make reservations on the same day we got into Charleston, which was Friday, at 7:45pm. We started our meal with a cup of she-crab soup, which was very creamy and had the right amount of sherry. The lumps of crab were the perfect size and there was hardly any cartilage in the meat that you find in most she-crab soups. After the soup we decided to try the fried mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was equally as delicious and the inside wasn't scalding hot so you would end up burning the roof of your mouth. I'm a huge fan of oysters and I wanted to try the local oyster flavors. South Carolina oysters are very salty and not large as ones you may find in the pacific Northwest. Overall, the oysters had a very distinct flavor and I would order them again. Next, we had our entree. My girlfriend had the whole flounder which they serve with an apricot chutney sauce. The whole flounder is cubed so that it comes right off the bone. I tasted some of the flounder and found it incredibly good. I had the pan seared catfish which was perfectly cooked and extremely tender. Overall, this dining experience was beyond anything that I could've asked for. The wait staff was attentive to our table and the cleanliness was impressive. I would purposefully go back to Charleston for the sole reason of dining at this fine restaurant again. read more

I have only one thing to say, the food was delicious....but I currently am violently ill from this restaurant. Literally.

We called at the last minute for a reservation. They were able to get us a table for two. Our Dinner was great! The fillet was cooked perfectly. Stacy provided excellent service. read more

One of the best meals I have had in a while. Where do I even start first? I'll start with the appetizer that we ordered. Fried Okra: This fried okra was topped with goat cheese, and chili oil which was the perfect mix together. It was a very light fry, and had so much flavor to it that our table of 5 could've eaten two of them! The meal: I decided to go all out, why not? Vacation, kind of. I went big, and got the Bone-in Cowboy Ribeye with the two sides that come with it. These two sides are goat cheese smashed potatoes, and string beans. The smashed potatoes were some of the best I have ever tasted with the perfect amount of seasoning. The string beans were also absolutely superb as well with the right amount of seasoning. The steak: It is a very, very big steak, but don't be intimidated! This steak was so well seasoned, and literally cooked to the exact temperature that I asked which was medium. Perfect amount of pinkness. Very, very easy to cut which is always a huge plus, for me at least. My dad got the Whole Crispy Flounder which was so unbelievably good that it didn't even really taste fishy! Don't forget because it is a scored flounder, that you have to flip it over to get the rest of the fish! The apricot sauce that it was topped over was amazing as well, and not too overpowering. Dessert: I had the seasonal sorbet, which was peach at this time! I wonder if they make the dessert in house, because it had a different texture than normal sorbet that I'm used to. Nonetheless, it was really, really good. I cannot wait to come back again to eat here! 10/10 recommend to anyone looking for a great meal, with outstanding service! read more

We had the filet and the scallops. Awesome! Very pleased with this suggestion from our concierge. Our attire is resort casual. We almost did not come because yelp listed this restaurant as dressy attire. We're all in shorts and we see others in shorts too. Our girls 8 and 5 had the pasta with red sauce. They were happy. Dessert for the girls was vanilla ice cream. read more

On a recent trip to Charleston, my wife and I were at breakfast and were talking about our dinner plans. I patron at the next table spoke up and introduced himself as a member of the local fire department and a life-long resident of Charleston. He suggested that we visit Anson Restaurant. I've known a few firefighters and respect the fact that they know their food and beer. I booked a reservation as we were talking. We showed up early thinking that we would have a drink in the bar as we waited. The staff accommodated us immediately and we were seated. Our firefighter had recommended that we get seafood and we did. Mine was a special and my wife had shrimp. Both were fabulous. The service was good, food was good and the overall experience was one that I'll seek out the next time I"m in Charleston. read more

This restaurant has recently reopened after a fire two years ago. It was one of our favorites. So, we booked Christmas. WOW, what a disappointment! If you like institutional food, then this is the place for you! The prices are for a 4 star; not a Libby's Cafeteria. On second thought, Libby's would have been better. I had the turkey and dressing. The turkey didn't taste like turkey -- it tasted as if it had come from a can and the dressing was DRY! So dry that it refused to stick together . . . just a bunch of cornbread crumbs. Nothing tasted fresh. It was awful. The herbs tasted like they came from a can. The staff is excellent and the décor is very nice, but the food. :-( read more

Great night at Anson's. Every recommendation was solid even if the server was a little proud. The wine wine was a home run with the Crispy Flounder and scallops. read more

Delicious appetizers, entrees, desserts, and the bread was AMAZING. It was a wonderful overall experience, it wasn't too loud, and it moved along very fast. Fantastic place to try. read more

The wife and I went here on our anniversary, on the recommendations of my grandmother. We were very happy. Service was extremely attentive, we sat in a corner by the window, so we had lots of people watching, the food was solid too. Prices are a bit higher than what we are used to paying, but it was for our anniversary, so we didn't worry about it too much. read more

Oh, Anson Restaurant, I really tried to like you. I really did. But your waiters talk too much (I DO know how to read my own menu, thank you very much) and are a little pushy with the wine sales. So pushy that we decided to skip drinks altogether so that we could get out ASAP once we finished eating. Food was good, not special. Apparently there is a dish that people go there for that the server rambled on and on and on about. Again, I can read. Thanks. Anson, update your menu, drop the 'tude, and just serve great food. Maybe you'll get a younger crowd. read more

Probably the best service and waitstaff I've ever experienced. Our waiter, Julian, told us so much about what to do in the city, clearly loved food, was funny, but never interfered with the meal. The manager, Mike, checked on us multiple times and even taught us the best way to cut into the crispy flounder. Huge portions. They split orders onto two plates without any issue. Had the she-crab soup (incredibly delicious), Caesar salad, the crispy flounder and spicy slaw (which is big enough for two), and the banana cream pie. All delicious. A lovely experience in Charleston! read more

I dined at Anson during a visit to Charleston over Veteran's Day weekend and unfortunately it was the most underwhelming meal of the entire trip. The evening started off with a misplaced dinner reservation and culminated with lackluster service and merely average food offerings. In the end, I think the entire experience could most amply be described as overpriced and undergood. Food: Anson specializes in traditional southern offerings with a contemporary twist. For appetizers, my dining partner and I opted for the fried mac n' cheese and the calamari, both of which were mediocre at best. Both the batter and cheese components of the fried mac n' cheese were overtly bland and the only memorable component of the calamari was the apricot-shallot sauce that accompanied the dish. For an entree, I opted for the fried double-cut pork chop, while my dining partner opted for the pork bolognese. The latter dish was well executed, but the pork chop left much to be desired. The meat was tough and the batter was equally as flavorless as the appetizers. Both the collards and mac n' cheese that accompanied the pork chop were excellent, but unfortunately the portions were so meager that they failed to compensate for the lackluster quality of the meat. Moreover, both entrees appeared as if they had been plated by toddlers. We ultimately opted to forego dessert, as we had already endured enough culinary disappointment for one evening. Service: I'm inclined to think that our waiter would have been better cast as an undertaker; he had absolutely no personality and made no effort to engage us during the entire meal. Atmosphere: The restaurant is housed on both floors of a historic building in downtown Charleston. The decor is somewhat outdated, but I understand that they primarily cater to an audience that would find such adornments charming and appropriate. Clientele is mostly older individuals and dress is largely business casual. There were a few patrons wearing jeans, but for the most part, you would likely feel out of place donning such attire. Price: Expensive by most standards. Appetizers cost $7 to $14, small plates cost $16, while entrees cost $24 to $39. Other: Similar to most restaurants in downtown Charleston, parking is a proverbial nightmare while dining at Anson. There is no valet available, so for the most part, you have to resort to findings self-parking in a nearby paid lot. Street parking is not a viable option since it is reserved for residents only. read more

We had a group of ten and were treated like kings. Food was superb and service was great. I had the barbecued salmon which was a nice change of salmon pace. Appetizers were all great! read more

Remembered a great meal several years ago and was excited to go back. The food was disappointing. The fried oysters were all batter. I cut two open and barely saw oysters inside. The fish of the day was over cooked and very salty. Quail was okay but the components of the dish didn't work. The only redeeming part was Darnell...enjoyed his service. Won't be back as there are so many great restaurants in Charleston. read more

One of my favorites in Charleston! Friendly staff, excellent food, cozy atmosphere. We will be back soon!

Best place we ate in Charleston. I especially remember the she crab soup and the flounder.

I think I just caught this restaurant on an off night because I could easily picture this as a 4 or 5 star place. They were very busy, and they had run out of two entrees that I considered. Then after ordering, they came back 10 minutes later to say they had run out of that as well. The flounder I eventually ordered was very good. The place has a snappy casual though refined feel. The waiter was very knowledgeable, but slow to get to us. There was a mix-up on our appetizer. We thought we ordered raw oysters, but fried oysters were served. They gladly remedied the situation, but took a while to do so given they were raw oysters. Again, all this probably because they were really busy. Fix the operational/logistical side of things, and you have a keeper! read more

Two words - fried okra! A delicious starter to a nice dinner - Southern style cooking, I am a fan!

This was our first dinner at Anson's in about 5 years. If anything it's better! Their signature "crispy whole flounder" is as amazing as ever, and actually improved with the addition of a wonderful apricot sauce. I enjoyed a side of collards that was tasty and tender, if a bit too salty. My wife and daughter loved their she crab soup. My caesar salad was great, even though the single white anchovy filet was tiny. Service was helpful. Entrees were slow to arrive; a manager came to the table to apologize. We'll return . read more

It is in a prime location downtown near Market. The interior design is nice, and the staff is friendly. However, the food left the palate unfulfilled (this is the reason for the 3-star rating)The menu options are nice, and I believe the shortcoming is in the execution. I ordered the "braised" duck with polenta and sautéed greens. This was a different style of braised meat than I am used to because it was braised and then fried. The duck lacked flavor, and was just tender and oily tasting. The polenta and kale were good. My boyfriend ordered the braised short rib which also came with polenta and sautéed kale. It was tender and a nice cut, but wasn't far from something that could be made at home. He also ordered the she crab soup. It was filled with crab, and although a little liquidy, was really good. For a bill of $100 (pre-tip) for 2 entrees, 1 soup, and 2 drinks, one would expect exceptional flavor; however the flavor was not up to par. Again, the staff was nice, but due to shortcomings we will likely not be returning. read more

Great food, great place. We had a wonderful night with our family. We will certainly eat here again.

Came here for Thanksgiving dinner. Service seemed a bit rushed and disorderly but I attributed that to a long day of holiday service to an unusually large crowd of tourists. For starters we ordered the pork belly served with a waffle and fried egg. Excellent, could have just eaten this for dinner. Ordered another appetizer of ham but it was okay and not sure if that's on their regular menu. For dinner we shared the porchetta and whole fried grouper, which is on their regular menu. Porchetta was dray and salty. Fish was tasty and Thai-like. Dessert of pumpkin bread and ice cream was very very good but chocolate tort was too rich for me. Thankful we had a place to eat for Thanksgiving evening but I will not come back here to eat. Too many other delicious places to eat in Charleston. read more

Wonderful dinner! We had the she crab soup, the crab cake, and the scallops over field peas and fresh ground grits....amazing! Every bite was delectable. The restaurant is a little more formal than I prefer, (thus the 4 stars) but the food, the service, and the wine list are fab. A great seafood choice in Charleston. read more

We had an absolutely fantastic experience at Ansons. We got a table almost immediately, the service was great, and our waiter was exceptionally knowledgeable about everything on the menu. And the food was absolutely incredible. 11/10 read more

Anson's is one of my favorite restaurants down town. The atmosphere is great, the service is wonderful and the food is excellent. Highly recommend. read more

Diners Beware! When our party of 7 was seated our waiter asked us if we wanted still or sparkling water. We responded "still". Our experience is that "still" water is tap water, not purchased water. When we got the check we found out that we were charged for 4 bottes of water @ $32.00 per bottle. We were never informed by our waiter that there was a charge for "still" water. Very disappointed about this sketchy business practice. Totally turned us off from ever going again to Ansons. Too bad that the good food was over shadowed by poor business ethics. read more

Great location near the market. Stopped in for a drink and appetizer and the salad we shared was great. Good service at the bar and nice atmosphere. read more

The food, wine and ambiance were fantastic. Avoid sitting upstairs, the waiter we had performed like he was on stage. It was an extremely quiet setting but he felt the need to speak loudly to everyone at each table. One couple was on a first date and made them and everyone else feel so awkward. I would definitely recommend this place but try and sit down stairs. read more

Great dinner. Had the scallops; my wife had shrimp/grits and oyster appetizer. All great; oyster chipolte spicier than you would think.

I have been to Charleston many times over the years. Have talked about going to this restaurants and finally did it, my wife and I had already decided on this trip we would try some new restaurants,it was hard considering the many great restaurants we have been to in Charleston. I have to say Anson is now one of my favorite, I had the crispy flounder, just wonderful, this is there signature entree, and I see why. The service was excellent and our waiter was very knowledgeable. The location is very easy to walk to from the hotels downtown. read more