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    Bowen's Island Restaurant

    3.7 (816 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Bowen's Island Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    BOWEN'S ISLAND RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Bowen's Island Restaurant

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    Scenic views
    Jacqueline T.

    Bowen's Island Restaurant has amazing oysters and fried seafood with beautiful scenic views. We were a bit disappointed that the menu was limited during our visit since a wedding was being held. It sounds like they have to scale things back for private events, which makes sense, but it did affect our experience. Looking forward to coming back another time to enjoy the full menu. Service was good!

    The menu.
    Anthony L.

    We turned off the state highway by a faded blue and white sign and eased down a hard-packed dirt road, oyster shells crushed into the base like a Lowcountry mosaic. The tires hum different out there. Softer. Slower. At the end waits a sliver of island wrapped in sea grass and memory, ringed now by multimillion-dollar homes standing tall on stilts as if waiting on the next big blow. And there she sits. Perched near the island's edge on green poles darkened by time and tide, wrapped in a maze of wooden ramps and weathered boards, this place is less a restaurant and more a reminder. A reminder of when the Carolina coast was family farms, fish camps, and screen doors that slapped shut behind barefoot children chasing lightning bugs under live oaks. You walk in. No maître d'. No velvet rope. Just a counter, a chalkboard, and the kind of greeting that makes you feel like you've been coming there since Reagan was in office. If you're not met with a smile, you may have something better left unspoken tattooed across your forehead. Order your food. Order your drink. That's the ceremony. We took ours to the porch and let the marsh do what the marsh does at sunset -- turn gold, then pink, then something God probably mixed up just for this stretch of coast. The breeze carried salt and fryer oil. Not a bad cologne, if you ask me. Condiments, plastic ware, napkins -- all waiting on the community table. No fuss. No pretense. Just grab what you need and don't be greedy. The food came quick and hot. Start with the fried green tomatoes. Don't argue. Don't overthink it. Just order them. Crisp outside, tender inside, the kind of bite that makes conversation pause mid-sentence. Then dive in. Whatever you picked, you picked right. Excellent food. Decent price. Views worth twice what you paid. And when the hurricanes come -- and they will -- this place will still be there. Weathered. Leaning maybe. But standing. Like it has for years. Some establishments serve meals. Others serve memory. This one does both.

    Sunset and view from Bowens
    Marla K.

    Not bad. Not great. Definitely think of a dive bar you know about and it's pretty spot on. Food was fresh and our boat tour guide told us they fish for their own seafood which I liked. Food was ok it's def an experience to go there! Lots of sauces to choose from and seasonings on the tables.

    Restroom sign lol
    Phil P.

    We happened to see this restaurant on a you tube review of eats in Charleston. It was a little out of the way but well worth it. Unfortunately they were out of oysters which grow in the inlet just outside of the restaurant windows We were not deterred. We ordered shrimp fried with hush puppies, Cole slaw and French fries. The platter was a real winner because the batter was light. Fried green tomatoes were quite good. The bloody Mary's hit the spot. We ate on the outdoor patio and got a glimpse of a dolphin playing in the water below.

    Raw oysters
    Jake P.

    Everything about this place is fantastic. The food, the ambience, and the people are great. They handle rushes well so if you see a lot of people here don't worry. Come at sunset for the best views.

    Boathouse
    Eliza H.

    The food at Bowens is always top notch. So excited to get an almost 80 degree day at the end of November and a wraparound sunset. She crab soup is back for winter. We agreed that the hushpuppies today were the best they've ever bee

    Raw oysters and beer - can there be a better combo????!
    Brian R.

    It's amazing fresh food, and great ambience. If you want a authentic experience in the low country/Charleston come to this place. Seafood is always fresh and delicious. The only negative, and I mean the only negative, that I could find was in the bathroom. There was no soap or paper towels, but it was very busy at the time we went and I'll give them a pass on that one.

    View
    Pam H.

    This place is all about the location and not about the food. Wasn't impressed at all - and the space itself is really really dirty. Beautiful view and not good food makes for an ok time - I'm sure there are places with a view and decent view. I'd skip it. The chicken was really tough and dry, crab cakes were ok, nothing special.

    Old school signage
    Jay W.

    We came back on our tenth anniversary and everything we loved about this spot is still there but better! The food was the best we had all week in the Folly Beach area, and the selection of local beer is as good as anywhere on Folly Island or even Sullivan's Island. I love that locals are here as much as tourists and the love for this restaurant shows all over it! I could eat their shrimp and crab cake platter every day and never tire of it. I truly wish I had a second stomach so I could eat lunch and dinner here on the same day. As my bride said, "Worth every dime!"

    Aarti R.

    I cannot say enough good things about Bowen's. I went there for the first time over the summer and was blown away by the absolutely stunning views of sunset along the marsh. The food was a treat from start to finish. We had the crab dip - it was love at first bite, I just wish there was more of it. We also had some cocktails to enjoy. The service at Bowen's was great too! Ordering our food was a breeze and it came out 10/15 minutes later, leaving ample time to enjoy being outdoors and the sights.

    Fried shrimp platter. Great hushpuppies and delicious fries too!
    Misha C.

    Excellent Charleston long term establishment. Great waterfront location. (You can literally rent kayaks and SUP boards on site from COA-depending on day/time) Drive up to the restaurant can feel a bit like an off road experience but just take it slow and steady. Parking is off to the right of the main area. Typically we enjoy the steamed local oysters (served by the bucket) however today we hit the "iin between" the open kitchen so our options were raw or fried. So fried it was, and it was delicious. Definitely recommend the fried shrimp platters. Good serving size, lots of tasty fries and a couple slightly sweet hush puppies. Pro tip, add some Texas Pete to the tarter sauce. Use that with everything, especially the side of slaw. Yum! Crab cakes were a good size but probably would stick with just the shrimp next time. Service from our daytime bartender was quick, knowledgeable and fun. Exactly what you hope for when you sit at the bar. Tks for the good eats and pretty views. We will be back after 4:30pm for those steamed oysters soon!

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    16 days ago

    The food was incredible and the views were amazing. We saw dolphins which was an added special bonus to our visit.

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    1 month ago

    Rustic, old South feel. On the water with a great breeze. The food is exceptional and plentiful! We both loved it!

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    Page 1 of 21

    Ask the Community - Bowen's Island Restaurant

    Do they take reset?

    No but there is a quick ordering process and you seat yourself so there's never much risk of having to wait!

    Can you come by boat to this restaurant?

    Yes, there is a dock you can park at and also an area for kayaks

    Do you have all you can eat steamed oysters?

    No, we paid $3 per oyster.

    Is this restaurant pretty open aired? Will be visiting with my parents next week who are a little hesitant about eating in a restaurant.

    Very open air! You can sit on the deck, but even inside is pretty open.

    Can you order the cluster oysters raw, or do they only come steamed?

    They only come steamed

    View All 7 Questions

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    Rita's Seaside Grille

    Rita's Seaside Grille

    4.1
    (1.3k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    We enjoyed Rita's 3xs on our trip to Folly!…read more The crab bisque is delicious, wings are very large and breakfast was great. I had the flounder sandwich which was very fresh The prices a bit higher than other places close- but we found that the food was worth it! We hope to be back

    Overall, Rita's has a really nice atmosphere--we enjoyed the vibe and the setting. It's a great…read moreplace to sit, relax, and enjoy a meal. Our server was very average. Nothing bad, but nothing that stood out either. For example, when my mother-in-law asked if they had Riesling, she responded, "No, our wine is very limited, which makes my job easier." It came off a little odd, but not a huge deal. The food and drinks were very good overall. One issue we had was with the tuna nachos. The menu says "blackened ahi tuna," so we expected it to be seared/rare, which is pretty standard. However, it came out fully cooked. When we mentioned it, the server said it's always prepared that way and not sushi-grade, so they don't serve it rare. That's totally fine--but the menu should definitely be clearer, because it was not what we expected. To her credit, she did offer to comp it if we didn't eat it, but we still ate it--it just wasn't what we had in mind. We also ordered lobster tails--five of us got the same entrée but with different sides. She seemed a bit scattered handling that, but everything did come out correctly, and again, the food itself was very good. The biggest issue came at the end. We asked about a military discount after the bill came out, so the check was adjusted. My uncle had already written in a tip on the original total. After the adjustment, the tip was changed, but it still came out to around 15%, which we felt was fair based on the service. After we left, our server actually chased us down the block asking what she did wrong and why we changed the tip. That was very uncomfortable and honestly unprofessional. It came across as if she thought she wasn't tipped at all, which wasn't the case. Because of that experience, we're adjusting our rating from what would have been 4 stars down to 3. Good food, nice atmosphere--but that final interaction left a bad impression.

    Photos
    Rita's for breakfast
    Rita's for breakfast
    Rita's Cheeseburger
    Rita's Cheeseburger
    Rita's Seaside Grille

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    CudaCo

    CudaCo

    4.7
    (154 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    10/10 will be going again and again and again! Worth the drive, worth the wait. Everything here is…read moreso fresh, light and packed with flavor. You walk in and BAM! fresh catch on ice, displayed to help you choose your meal! Crab cakes = YUM. Rice bowl = YUM. Crab Legs = YUM My friend had the poboy and she said it was GREAT. Salmon was also delicious. Excited for more CUDACO TRIPS (Because it is a trek for me) to try the rest of the menu. There are specials too so be sure to check the giant specials on the wall by the register. The CudaCo team are all so kind and chill! Only a few spots inside, but there are a ton of seats and tables outside. Order EVERYTHING you want or think you want at the same time, or be prepared to wait in line again if you're trying to get something for later. Depending on the day and time, the line can get pretty long LOVE YOU CUDACO! See you soon!

    I've passed CudaCo many times over the past 4 years. It's always caught my eye, but being from…read moreMount Pleasant, I've always been on a mission, go to Hyams and then get an amazing sandwich from Yous Guys. But luckily I was craving seafood when I left Hyams, so I decided to to give CudaCo a shot. As soon as you walk in the door, you can tell it's not your typical seafood market. There's a room of wines for sale, beer, and a few dining tables. Then there's the fresh catch display case... And I must say, their selection is consistently great. The quality and freshness is top notch. And they usually have some hard to find fresh catch. What makes CudaCo stand out from other markets is that you can pick your desired catch from the display case and then have them cook it to your liking. Everything that I've had was literally foot stomping good. And to add to that, they also offer frozen seafood, premade dips, and many other items in the freezer section. I'm a huge fan of CudaCo and I'm mad at myself for taking so long to give them a shot.

    Photos
    Additional wine and beer to purchase.
    Additional wine and beer to purchase.
    Cup of cauliflower, truffle bisque, with crab added.
    Cup of cauliflower, truffle bisque, with crab added.
    Fried calamari special

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    Fried calamari special
    Edison James Island

    Edison James Island

    4.6
    (317 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$$

    I love the cozy and local vibe of this place, plus the nice servers and delicious food! Good wine…read moreselection too.

    Gotta admit - I struggled with this one. I ended up getting the West Indies seafood chowder for an…read moreappetizer. It was...good...not great. Had a slight kick to it (spice wise) but very little evidence of actual seafood in it. After much debate about what to get for a main course (and after seeing what other patrons got at the bar where I sat), I decided to get the Moroccan salad with salmon. Again...it was good...not great. I cook way better salmon at home on a cedar plank over real charcoal, so maybe I'm being unfair here? I dunno. The salad itself was heavy on arugula, which I'm not a huge fan of. Which is odd, because I love the flavor of pepper! Anyway, the menu made it sound like it was more fennel-oriented, so... Ended up capping off the meal with the blackberry key lime pie. It was quite tasty. Not the best key lime pie I've ever had, but good. As to the atmosphere, it's nice. My girlfriend has actually convinced me several times that we shouldn't come here because we weren't dressed well enough. Well, let me just say: I saw several guys here wearing jeans, fishing shirts, and ball caps and they fit right in. So: not stuffy at all! Bottom line, it's a good, not great place to grab a meal. I love that it's off the beaten path (i.e., not close to Folly Road). Will def come back with my girlfriend next time. Might try the swordfish or maybe the meatballs next time.

    Photos
    Inside dining room
    Inside dining room
    Edison James Island
    Dinner special

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    Dinner special
    Lola

    Lola

    4.5
    (1.1k reviews)
    14.3 mi
    $$

    Traveling for work and was looking for good New Orleans cooking, I found it here…read more I stopped for lunch, got hear right as the doors opened and the place was full by the time we got our drinks, good sign. Service was friendly and attentive, good atmosphere. The food only topped off the good first impression. For appetizers we got gator bites ( seasoning was so good they didn't even need sauce) second was the Andui and shrimp Mac & Cheese (amazing) I could have just eaten these and been satisfied. The shrimp and crayfish porboy was large and tasted so good, man the seasoning on the fries was so good. The batter on the fish was amazing as well. We left with food to spare and already planning on what we will get next time we're in town. And only 15min from the airport. Great job Lola!!

    LOLA does crawfish boils on Tuesdays, and we went specifically for that. They offer a few different…read moreoptions--$17.99 for one pound, around the mid-$20s for two pounds (don't remember exact), and $39 for three pounds. The crawfish was cooked well and had great flavor. The only thing we noticed was they were a bit juicy--we think they may not have soaked in the boil as long, which usually helps absorb more flavor. My husband really enjoyed them (this trip was mostly for him!), but they were a little spicy for me. I ended up getting a Caesar salad with fried crawfish tails instead, and it was huge--I only made it through about half. We also got margaritas during happy hour--both were really good. I had the lychee margarita, and my husband got the mango with a Cajun rim. Service was very good--our waiter was attentive and friendly. The only small downside was that we did feel a little rushed. It does say on the menu that they ask guests not to stay longer than 1.5 hours, so just something to keep in mind. They are pet-friendly, and we sat outside. There was plenty of outdoor seating, and the tables had umbrellas, which was nice. The only other thing we weren't thrilled about was the credit card surcharge--it was around 3-3.5%, which feels a bit high, especially since most people don't carry cash anymore. Overall, a great spot--especially if you're a crawfish fan!

    Photos
    Lola
    Cajun Catfish Basket w/ creole fries, praline pecan cornbread, remoulade, creole tarter & the obligatory Hurricane
    Cajun Catfish Basket w/ creole fries, praline pecan cornbread, remoulade, creole tarter & the obligatory Hurricane
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    The Upside Down

    Bowen's Island Restaurant - seafood - Updated July 2026

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