Fantastic restaurant! Service was great and the food was excellent. I had the carnitas and they were really good!

My husband and I visited the Breakwater Restaurant and bar on a Wednesday night. We we sat at the bar and we're lucky to get two seats near each other. Actually, the hostess helped us move someone so that we would be able to sit together. We ordered a couple of drinks and it was very clear that the bartenders take their jobs very seriously. The drinks were great. Great bar and great ambience. We split the lamb meatloaf, which was very good. I can't not order Lamb when I see it on a menu. We really enjoyed the restaurant and if we're ever back in town, we would definitely put this into the rotation. read more

Breakwater Restaurant & Bar - LAMB MEATLOAF - Bars Near Me - Beaufort, South Carolina

We were able to get a seat even though we incorrectly booked our reservation. We had the swordfish and buttermilk chicken entrees and they were both excellent! Just be aware that if you're seated in the bar area and not the main dining room, the noise level can get "lively". read more

Breakwater Restaurant & Bar - Menu - Bars Near Me - Beaufort, South Carolina

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The service was great and the food is exceptional and so creative. The atmosphere is calming and cozy. A wonderful place to go in Beaufort

Cocktails and dinner were fantastic. I had the Nashville Hot fried chicken and the hubby had the Lamb Meatloaf. Definitely recommend the meatloaf. read more

Breakwater Restaurant & Bar - Bars Near Me - Beaufort, South Carolina

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My mom, sister, 2 of my nieces and myself went for dinner last night after the Tour of Homes that benefit St. Peter's school. Our server, Jess, was wonderful. She was sweet and professional and knew the menu. We had the butter bean hummus (yum!), stuffed mushrooms (I didn't have any bc I don't like shrooms), she crab soup (which was really delicious. Very thick and lots of crab and great flavor). My sister & niece had shrimp and grits and they said they were amazing. My niece (who never completely finishes a meal ate the whole thing. My mom had the swordfish and she said it was lovely. My other niece had the lamb meatloaf and I tasted it and was very good. Great flavor and moist. I had the tenderloin bc they were out of the short rib and it was so perfect. The crust on it was awesome, and it has blue cheese on top which took it over the top for me. The mashed potatoes were smooth and silky and the asparagus was cooked just right. None of us got dessert bc only one of us finished our dinners and we were too full. I would highly recommend Breakwater. It can be a bit noisy. If you want it more quiet then you should look into reserving the wine room. read more

Breakwater Restaurant & Bar - Beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes and asparagus - Bars Near Me - Beaufort, South Carolina

Best restaurant this far we have visited in Beaufort. service included. Excellent salmon and fried thicken. Dont be filled by higher rated restaurants and views. This place will not disappoint! included a crème brûlée for our birthday boy. read more

The inside of the restaurant appeared nice and quiet at first. After a while the sound of the loud customers talking became irritating. We were there celebrating my Sons birthday and they knew that so the staff signed a card for him and had it on the table. They were supposed to serve him dessert with a candle but our waitress said someone else took it and so it wasn't available...BIG DISAPPOINTMENT...the food wasn't really very good and the portions were small. I cannot recommend this place at all. read more

The Lamb meatloaf is outstanding paired with the roasted broccoli and mashed potatoes. The cocktails are great as well.

We came here for our Anniversary dinner. We were seated in a small room just off of the main dining room. They had us seated by the window and sun was shining directly across on us but we were able to figure out the shade on our own. We were a little forgotten for a bit but as the room filled, our service improved which during peak dinner time we expected. Overall food and service was good and we would return. read more

We took advantage of restaurant week in Beaufort to dine at Breakwater. It was certainly worth the drive from Bluffton and couldn't have been more delightful! The short rib was falling off the bone and so delicious. The dessert of creme brule was outstanding! Our waiter doubled as a bartender and had created the most delicious cocktail using Cachaca and was so charming. He really took good care of us, I just wish I could recall his name. You could ask for him by requesting the guy that created the Ginger drink, it was so good! 5 stars all around** read more

First time trying this establishment. Had a large party , our server was amazing and perfect with drink orders and apps. The fried oysters and cornbread were delicious!!! Everyone enjoyed their individual appetizers. The crafted cocktails were phenomenal. The entrees were generous and had a great presentation, they were very delicious. Bone in pork-chop was selected by a few in our party as were the fried chicken- w hand cut fries entree - it was truly some of the best fried chicken I've had here in the low country- highly recommend this restaurant the service and food was exceptional - will definitely be back read more

The city of Beaufort SC has many phenomenal events, exceptional restaurants, unique vista's and the most hospitable, friendly, inviting, and down to earth people you will find in all of your travels as you roam this earth! I want to bring to your attention an exceptional restaurant the Breakwater Restaurant & Bar. The restaurant is appointed fashionably with subtle taste throughout their dining environment. We first tried this amazing restaurant around 2008 because we had heard a rumor that one of the partners had been a cast member of Saturday Night Live in the 90ies. Since we have one of our best dining pleasures ever at Oprah Winfrey's first restaurant in Chicago, IL in our past we were curious who this former Comedian partner is and that drew us to try Breakwater Restaurant and Bar. We have been back many times and it is very consistently marvelous. The Servers are friendly, professional, engaging, and make your experience very pleasurable and simple by being there when you need service but are somehow inconspicuous when you want to enjoy your dinner and conversation with Family or Friends! In two words, extraordinary service! Their Mixologist service should so chose to engage in a cocktail before diner is creative, and oh, so...good! While there wine selection is a remarkable selection offering you tremendous parings for your meal. But the main event of any restaurant is their fare. So while you can pay more for a less, for a lusciously delectable dinning experience, we feel you will not get better from any chef for the dishes this menu and restaurant offers you. BTW, we never did learn who the Saturday Night Live former cast member and supposed partner was or even if they were ever involved with this restaurant but that rumor got our attention and that curiosity put us in their seats. However, we whole heartily recommend the Breakwater Restaurant & Bar because whomever is involved they are well worth your patronage! read more

My wife and I went in around 8 on a Saturday night. We have not been there for a few years, but we were shocked that it wasn't slammed. Maybe the tourists were elsewhere or we just don't know the happening restaurant scene in town anymore. The cocktails were excellent, but the butter bean hummus was a game changer. Seriously, I'd have been fine with the hummus, some cheese, and some prosciutto for dinner, it was that good. For our entrees we had the Scottish salmon with succotash and pea puree, which was lovely as well as delicious, and the fried soft shell crab with a corn puree and pickled green tomatoes. The wine list is great as always. They have a fantastic Albariño that pairs wonderfully with shellfish. My only gripe is the dress code. I get that coastal areas have to have a Jimmy Buffet-esque element to the laid back atmosphere, and I'm all for that to an extent. Going to a decently upscale restaurant should mean that you don't have to eat next to folks in ball caps, shorts, and flip flops. Q? Maybe outside. Luther's? Hell, yeah. Saltus, Wren, or the pizza place behind Saltus? Wear some boat shoes, take off your hat, and if you are wearing shorts make them appropriate for a place that is an escape from our reality. read more

Everything I ordered, fried oysters and collards, mixed drinks, were exquisitely prepared.

Update to previous review: still wonderful! Been to Breakwater several times now and we always have an exceptional experience. Food and drinks are on point! We have sat on both sides of the restaurant, in the bar area at high tops and on the more formal dining side. The formal dining side is more intimate, whereas the bar area has a few TV's. Our group has always been able to chat still on the bar side. There is also a private dining room for a private parties. The menu DOES change and we've had a few favorites come and go. Namely the shepherds pie and truffle fries. read more

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This restaurant is SOOOOO GOOD! We enjoyed a night out to celebrate a birthday and the staff was accommodating, courteous, lovely and so professional. The bar area is great for a drink before sitting for dinner and the wine room is definitely a unique experience for a special occasion! Ok... I'm just gonna let you know, the fried chicken is AMAZING...I'm totally addicted! Every meal brought to the table was well constructed and added to the experience! We loved the appetizers and the dessert was "close your eyes and find your new happy place" good! Can't wait for our next evening at this wonderful spot! read more

Nashville, hot fried chicken! My husband and I go there regularly just to eat that dish but I can promise you everything they have is excellent including the service. This is our favorite fine dining in Beaufort. read more

5-23-23 Tuesday evening 7:30pm Our first choice no reservations so we were turned away. Thankfully one street over we find this place due to Yelp. Hubby and I walk over after calling and they say they can take us. Since was our last night in Beaufort it was great to have a special evening. I had a glass of rosé Champagne and hubby had his favorite Hendricks and Tonic with lime. I wasn't too hungry so we split a salad of fresh strawberries and greens as well as oysters. Hubby for dinner had fried chicken and collard greens. For dessert we shared a chocolate mousse that was so light that I am sure it lacked any calories. The service was impeccable as was the ambiance and seating. It definitely felt special and the tables were at an appropriate distance apart. Even though we did get to listen in on this one conversation of these local men discussing business. Hey we were on vacation no stress for us. read more

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Loved this place! The staff was friendly and accommodating. Food was excellent! They even spent a lot of time to get the Lady Gamecocks bball game on for me. Highly recommend this place. read more

We came to celebrate our brothers' birthday. The atmosphere was lovely, the food outstanding, and the waitress exceptional! The restaurant brought out a crème brûlée with a candle for our celebration, which was a lovely surprise. read more

This was a wonderful experience. We typically sit at the bar. Since there were 4 of us we chose the dining room. Our server Kira (sp) was awesome such a great personality!very nice evening great service . One of our favorite places. Shortrib great! Shrimp and scallops amazing can't wait to come back! Thanks for a lovely evening!!! read more

We had a party of 6 out-of-towners on the evening of December 28 and everyone of us raved about their dinner. Craft cocktails and credible wine list were quite a welcome. Everything was delivered with authentic southern charm. The fried chicken (Nashville hot) was the best I have ever had... in my life, (sorry granny). It was paired with perfected collard greens and real mashed potatoes. Cornbread, stuffed mushrooms, and hello... She Crab soup! A special nod to the bartender that served perfect cocktails. Cheers and thank you to all for a job well done. read more

If someone walked up to me when I walked out of the restaurant and asked how I felt about breakwater, I'd just say disappointed. I got the pork chop, and it was a miss. The glaze was kind of bitter without much other flavor. My wife got the "catch of the day," and it was OKAY. Her grouper itself didn't have much flavor. The sauce was some kind of odd gravy with little flavor, too. Maybe I'm just some hillbilly from humble beginnings, but if I pay almost $40 for a pork chop, it better knock my socks off. Same thing for the fish. Both our feet should've been barefoot by the end. After dinner, I'm sad to say that our socks were firmly attached to our feet. The waitress was nice and seemed knowledgeable, but none of that matters if I need a refill after the appetizer but never get offered one. I don't care if you are the most rude waitress in the world and treat me like crap, heck, you could even maybe smack me around a little bit...All I ask for from my waitress is to keep my cup filled when there's just ice sitting there. We were celebrating our anniversary. They had the table set up nice for us, but it was the only table in the middle of the room with plenty of empty tables. I don't know anyone who prefers to sit in the middle of the dining room while everyone walks around you. They were kind enough to bless us with a free dessert. If it wasn't for the kind gesture, I would've given this restaurant 2 stars. This is my honest review, and I have no stock in Wren what so ever, but I'll say this: If you want a more upscale/reasonably priced restaurant that's just on the other side of the road, eat there. Their meatloaf is some of the best I've ever had, and that's coming from a meatloaf connoisseur. P.S. If you're wondering, the meatloaf did knock my socks off. My wife's too, and she's not into meatloaf. Don't ask me how this almost became a wren review. read more

Breakwater Restaurant & Bar - Sat my drink at the end of the table to signify I needed a refill. Sat there the whole time I was eating my entree. - Bars Near Me - Beaufort, South Carolina

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Some of the photos were from a previous visit. I've added two more as we dined here the past week. Service was decent for the first part of our evening - but as usual when the restaurant started getting busy, our servers were difficult to find. Friends who ordered the fried oysters as an appetizer enjoyed it. I didn't sample so no comment. My husband's grilled Caesar was just OK. We should have realized he had ordered it before, but when a restaurant's offerings are so forgettable it's not surprising we didn't remember. I ordered the duck breast with mashed butternut squash and brussels sprouts. The plate was a disaster. The duck skin was gummy and not crisp, the fat was not properly rendered which made the mouthfeel unpleasant. There was no hint of the orange demi-glacé promised. The sprouts were so acidic as the mustard just soured it completely. The squash did nothing to add to the flavor profile. The entire texture of the dish was soft and mushy. The plating of the entree didn't help. No one ever came to ask us about our meals. I left most of my dinner untouched but when our server finally arrived to see if we wanted any dessert or our check, she could care less about the uneaten food and seemed to have no no interest in asking why. My husband choice was also disappointing. He mentioned that his fish dish had little flavor and had serious lack of seasoning. None of the food offered here was expertly prepared, seasoned, or executed. Seriously, this town needs to step it up. Don't just cater to the one and done tourists, cater to the locals. Our palates are so much more varied and most are ready to enjoy creative, ethnic, international, chef driven food. read more

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Food was amazing, great location and they were very helpful with my food allergy! Every dish we tried was delicious- especially the cornbread! read more

I decided to try this spot while I was visiting Beaufort. It was very close to where I was staying, so it was nice to walk there for dinner. I was by myself and had no issues finding a table on a Wednesday night. The hostess was very accommodating and took me to a table that was a bit more secluded so I could sit quietly and read my book. My first impression of the restaurant was that it was a bit dull. The decor and tables seemed a bit old-school and outdated. However, it is somewhat cozy, and I enjoyed seeing how many people there knew each other. It certainly gives off the small-town feeling. I ordered the Southern fried shrimp and scallops. The food was good. I enjoyed the Shrimp, but the scallops could use a bit more flavor and texture. I also wish the menu had more variety with such great local products. Overall it was a good meal and great service. read more

Update: I've never had a place pay such close attention to criticism and respect it in such a professional way! The fact the manager took the time out of her day to call and find a way to make it up to me on my previous experience and explain situations I wouldn't have know is absolutely amazing. I have never had a restaurant care about their customers that deeply. That alone raises their scoring! I will definitely be giving this place another go due to the kindness and caring of the manager and their staff to meet expectations! A simple phone call checking in a passed experience is enough to make me want to try it again, but the manager went even farther than that! read more

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Wife and I went out for dinner on the first night of our vacation on Fripp island. For appetizers we ordered the pimento cheese and crackers and the brown butter. The crackers that came with the pimento cheese were very stale. The butter that came to top the cornbread was cold and unspreadable. The cornbread was flavorless, seemingly missing salt. I ordered the shrimp and grits and quickly learned where all the salt went. The grits were seemingly unflavored and the whole dish was topped with a salty "gravy". Overall, the date with my wife was wonderful, despite the lackluster food. Wait staff was very good and friendly. Would not recommend any of the food items mentioned above, at least not for the price. read more

Breakwater is great. My dinner was so fresh. The mahi was excellent. The vegetables were absolutely as fresh as they could be and cooked perfectly. This is a great restaurant. read more

Nice modern vibe. Food and service were great. My husband and sat at the bar and enjoyed.

Sadly have to say the high rating here is a bust. Not so great food combined with pitiful service makes this place a no go place. Went here with high expectations after the reviews here. But it was a real let down. The service was so bad that I had to get cutlery myself from the adjacent table after my food was bought and I waited for 10+ mins. The drinks came after we finished the apps. The waiter had no clue what he was doing. No one refilled our water glasses - for a place that charges $35 for an entree they got to have staff that can make it a high end restaurant. The drinks menu is kind of a let down. I would think they would highlight some local wines and bourbons etc. Nada. Cocktails seemed ok. We ordered a Caipirinha and it was ok. My bourbon was passé. The food was bad overall with some notable exceptions. We ordered the cheese platter, fried green tomatoes, spring rolls for apps and fried chicken,, scallops and shrimp for mains and the cauliflower mash and the sweet potato sides. The fried green tomatoes were really good. I liked the candied bacon a lot. The cheese platter had the fried goat cheese and the baked Brie with the raspberry compote and that was a big hit. The honey was great. But the meats were again the regular run of the mill stuff. Nothing special for a $23 platter. The spring rolls it seems were nice but greasy. The peanut sauce on the plate just did not go well with the spring rolls. Needed a dip. The sides were not good at all. Sweet potatoes were tooo sweet. Probably they added sugar. The cauliflower was too foamy and not enough seasoning. The chicken dish for the kids was good. All the chicken was gone. My shrimp and scallops were probably ok. But the first bite of the shrimp I took I got sand in my mouth. For a place that charges $35 for a dish they can't even clean it properly. That is unacceptable in a fine dining restaurant. But mistakes happen so I ordered the ceviche from the apps menu. Hoping something wil finally wow me. That was an even bigger let down. The ceviche itself was flat. No sat no lemon. Just a lot of liquid. More like seafood cold soup. The chips on the plate were just so greasy, it was unbelievable. Oil was dripping off them. Could even attempt to eat those. We never even saw a manager come to our table with an apology. Finally the waiter told us the desserts were on the house. The desserts were good. Crème brûlée and the chocolate one were ok. Sadly not a place to write home about. Awful service combined with an awful service really killed the experience. After dropping more than a couple of Benjamins we were disappointed and when we visit Beaufort next - this place is off our list for sure. You should save your money and go to some other cheaper place. Probably get more authentic and real food. read more

Great service and wonderful food! Loved the corn bread appetizer and she crab soup. We ordered the tuna and the buttermilk fried chicken with homemade mashed potatoes served Nashville hot and with gravy. The chocolate dessert was amazing! read more

Good drinks and food. Need to improve on lighting and signage as you often can't even tell they're open. Nice staff.

Nice ambiance, food and drinks are good. Service though varies based on who's behind the bar, have had good and not-so-good experiences. The bartender was more interested in watching TV than serving customers, closed out after one drink, and passed on dinner as was never asked what I wanted to order. read more

We came out for our anniversary and everyone was super amazing and very sweet saying "Happy anniversary" to us. Absolutely amazing food, our server Katie was so sweet and went over and beyond tonight. We will absolutely come back 10/10 recommended read more

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I was in Beaufort for business and decided to give this place a visit. I was by myself and was seated very promptly. The food was good. I had the mushroom appetizer, which was very delicious, and shrimp and scallops over risotto, which was okay, but not as good as the mushrooms. I finshed my meal with the tiramisu with ice cream which was pretty good as well. My waitess was very nice and knew a lot about the menu. i had a good dinner. read more

What a pleasant surprise. In the middle of town a high end place with fantastic food. Shrimp plate is to die for. Crag dish special was superb. This was lunch, can't wait to have dinner there. A must for a great food experience other than down on Bay st. Frank G read more

Our waiter Ozzy was the best waiter we have had on our weekend trip to Beaufort. He was extremely polite and had amazing manors, very attentetive and personal. The food was beyond amazing, came out quickly and was delicious. I ordered the Pilot Reyes for my drink and highly recommend it if you want something with a little kick, the drink was also created by our waiter Ozzy which made it even cooler. My grandmother had the Lilikoi and thoroughly enjoyed it. We ordered the fried tomatoes, grilled bread, lemon parmesan pasta, New York trip, and fresh catch which was Alaskan halibut, two pecan tarts and the pot de crème au chocolat. Highly recommend and definitely will be back on our next trip. read more

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Haven't been in 5 years. Thought we would try again. Aweful. My Shrimp Pasta was bitter and not good. I love a good shrimp pasta with lemon and capers. This was not good. No bread or salad comes with entrees here. For the price of the entree, it should. read more