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    California Dreaming

    3.2 (994 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Salad, American
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    California Dreaming Photos

    Business Info

    CALIFORNIA DREAMING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - California Dreaming

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    Reviews With Photos

    Laura C.

    We absolutely love this place. The She Crab soup is creamy and delicious. All the things bad for you in one perfect bowl. My only complaint with it was there were quite a few crab shells in mine. The shrimp was a bit spicy. The grits were perfection. The fries were good and kids chicken was good as well. Will be back.

    Chicken Tenders
    Julia R.

    The California Dreaming patio is one of the best places in Charleston to go on a nice day after 4 pm. This is my favorite spot on a Friday afternoon. Beautiful view, lots of seating and reasonable prices. You will want to come early, because it fills up quickly! We enjoyed drinks and apps on Friday afternoon. All 3 apps were good, but the seafood nachos were overly creamy. I wish they would bring the bbq nachos back!

    Pretty
    Laura P.

    Great view - we didn't get anything because it was crowded and waiting for a long time- couldn't get their attention! I think the place at least on Google maps is called Ashley patio bar so that is what this is. No comment on food or drink.

    Menu Front!!
    Dr. Scott C.

    Food usually solid here at California Dreaming!! Great Spring Day today so great views of Downtown and the Ashley River!! Today Host Stand little frazzled with seating us in the Bar area. Took about 15 minutes and there were only 3 booths taken out of the many. Plus they were seating in the main dining room before us. We finally got seated and our waitress was very nice. Looks like they were struggling to bus the main dining area several dirty tables left unattended. Ordered the croissants for appetizer and we ordered the California Dreaming Salads with Honey Mustard Dressings! Yummy! Only 4 Stars today just look like lack of communication slowing them down!

    Menu
    Daniel Y.

    This restaurant caught my eye from the balcony of my hotel room. It's a huge structure that really stands out and the 50' American flag was also an eye catcher. This restaurant had a lot of mixed reviews but I really wanted to checkout this restaurant. The interior of this restaurant was really impressive, and the enormous windows offer great views of the bridge and Ashely river. The food on the other hand was just ok. I guess the food was not really the draw. Everything we order did not impress us at all.

    Luis D.

    I stopped by for the first time this past Friday. I came by boat and appreciated the ample boat parking space. The dock is well maintained. We decided to sit outside since it was a beautiful day. Staff and service were decently quick albeit they refused to serve some seats right next to the last table. I thought this was a little strange since staff walks by the area. Outdoor tables and seats were clean. Bathrooms were also well stocked and clean. We didn't eat much but I did taste the soup, fries, and croissants. All items were good. I'll definitely look to return. I hear the steak is wonderful.

    Shrimp taco
    William G.

    We got to Charleston a little late Friday night and I wanted a restaurant knew there would be surplus parking. Despite it being around 9pm the lit up marina and city is still a nice view. We did advance reservation so had no wait upon entry. We went with starters of loaded baked potato soup and 5 count croissants. The soup was hit or miss, can't go wrong with croissants. I really like scallops but it wasn't on menu so went with shrimp taco w side of seasoned veggies $16.95. My wife choose shrimp & grits, it was a hefty portion but way too much gravy on top. My tacos were edible but if I'm being honest the fish tacos I get from our local Mexican were better. These two entrees were probably not the best selections here but were on their menu so I will say it was just so so. This review may have been lower but we had a peach of a server Madison. She elevated our meal with her conservation about Charleston about recommended attractions. We would definitely have to pick different entrees if dined here again, overall mixed feelings some good some bad.

    Our Famous Croissants (5)
    James H.

    Just had a large family dinner here this evening and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish! The interior is beautifully designed, with big open windows that give you a great view of boats passing by - it really sets a relaxing, coastal vibe. The service was absolutely fantastic. Our waitress was attentive without ever being overbearing, constantly checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. On top of that, the restaurant was spotless and just had an all-around pleasant, welcoming atmosphere. We kicked things off with their famous croissants, which came out warm and fluffy, topped with a honey butter sauce that's truly to die for. They disappeared in seconds - so good that we ordered an extra box to take home. For my entree, I went with the crab cakes served alongside mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies, which were green beans and onions. Honestly, some of the best crab cakes I've ever had - perfectly cooked and paired with a sauce that made each bite even better. The mashed potatoes were creamy and flavorful, and the green beans had just the right amount of snap. I cleaned my plate. My girlfriend ordered the fried shrimp with green beans and loved it. She also had a cocktail that she couldn't stop talking about. All in all, we had an amazing time. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for great food, excellent service, and a lovely atmosphere.

    View from your table!
    Devin K.

    I have nothing bad to say about this restaurant as the location is what took me there as it's right in the water. The only set back would be the food- to me it's basic and not the best. I think it could use some more variety and a flavor takeover but the salads are good enough!

    Renee S.

    Yelp Review - California Dreaming (Charleston, SC) Great waterfront atmosphere and well-made drinks. The She Crab Soup is a must-try--rich and flavorful. Steaks were cooked to order but could use a bit more seasoning. Some dishes felt slightly overpriced, but overall, the food was enjoyable. Friendly service and a solid dining experience, though there's room for improvement. Still worth a visit for the views and drinks!

    Seafood Nachos
    Aisha H.

    After a day at the beach of course we had to grab food before heading back home. Luckily for us we had family with us who recommended this place and called ahead to make a reservation- which thank god because we came here 7ish on a Saturday night and this place was packed! Which is a good sign. We waited still almost an hour before being sat but we were able to pass the time going outside and looking for fish in the water and watching the boats sail by and park at the dock. Once we were seated our waitress came immediately - the lighting is very dim at night but there still is enough lighting and the views of the water are breathtaking. We started with some appetizers and soup- we went with the she crab soup which our waitress told us was a must, the baked potato soup ( it was just ok), the famous croissants topped with honey butter which were 10/10 and some seafood nachos ( I was hesitant on these but don't let looks fool you these were also easily 10/10). Now for the main course my cousin and husband went with the Charleston seafood pasta (which was perfection), our other cousin went with the Ashley which our waitress said was her favorite thing on the menu and I went with the blackened chicken pasta with a side of fries for my daughter and I to share both ( I preferred my husbands sauce from his pasta because his had the cream and also a lemony kick) but still was good. I didn't catch our waitresses name but she had dreads and told us she's originally from new York but amazing service- very attentive and brought everything out pretty quickly. Would definitely stop by again when in the Charleston area.

    Chicken Strips
    Scher S.

    Haven't eaten here in a while so it seamed like a good choice and although the service was great and very well organized the food was good but not great. At one point their chicken strips were so good & a staple when I came here but have fallen short to the routine of preparation and just weren't memorable. My husband enjoyed his seafood platter so next time I visit, I'll have to find something else on the menu which shouldn't be hard because they have a great variety of menu options.

    Shrimp tacos
    Shannon W.

    I thought this spot was great! Staff was very friendly, great views of the water. My shrimp tacos were exactly what I wanted them to be. Nice flavor, good sauce. You can choose your own side, so I went with mashed potatoes which were very tasty. It's also close to many local hotels. I'll definitely book this one for next time!

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    1 month ago

    The food was very good, but more importantly the service was exceptional. Our waiter Mark went above and beyond to make our meal great!

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    Page 1 of 25

    Ask the Community - California Dreaming

    Do you take reservations?

    Hi Bill, We accept online priority seating via our website or Opentable. To reserve, please visit: www.californiadreaming.rest. Thanks and looking forward to serving you soon.

    We have family from California visiting and they are nervous to go for inside dining. Do you have outside dining for 8 or more people and if so can we make a reservation?

    Hi, thank you so much for choosing California Dreaming. We can only accomodate parties of 6. We do also offer outdoor dining, but it's no reservations, limited menu, more of a bar atmosphere on the water.

    View All 4 Questions

    Platia

    Platia

    4.3
    (163 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $

    This food truck is a 10/10. You can order at the truck window or at the self-kiosk inside the patio…read morearea they have next to the truck. We sat to eat in the patio and thankfully they had fans running cuz it was hot! The patio has a good amount of seating and was really cute. My chicken bowl was amazing. This is probably the best greek food I've had in a long time. My husband finished his chicken gyro and feta fries so quick. Our drink is a peach lemonade (they can make other lemonade flavors) and was sooo refreshing and delicious. We would go back for the lemonade alone. I tried their Feta Pimento Cheese spread in my bowl and I'd never heard of such a thing and now my life has changed for the better. We will be back with empty stomachs and family!

    Stopped here with family who were craving Greek food. This is a food truck w an outdoor seating…read morearea rather than a brick and mortar restaurant, but hey, who cares as long as the food is delicious and the weather is good! The owner was friendly and polite, answered all our questions patiently and served us quickly. I noticed they'd made " The Best of " list for 2025 and rightfully so. I had the falafel with Greek salad, others had "The Hillbilly" and a gyro with Greek potatoes respectively. We all raved about how good it was. The gyro wrap actually had French fries inside the wrap, which was a tasty twist. And the seating outside on a slightly breezy beautiful May evening made for a perfect supper after being stuck inside all day. Prices were reasonable too, and portion sizes were good. I'd definately recommend this place. It is tucked away off Savannah Hwy ( actually off Magnolia Rd, in a neighborhood with both residences and businesses.) So slow down so you don't miss it!

    Photos
    Decor
    Decor
    Dip sampler
    Dip sampler
    Good Truck

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    Good Truck
    Ladles Homemade Soups - Downtown

    Ladles Homemade Soups - Downtown

    4.2
    (132 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $

    I was a little hesitant to come here after reading the reviews about the service but the cashier…read morewho helped me was great! The soup and sandwich options are plentiful plus the ambiance outside was so nice. They do not have public wifi which was a little bit of a downer since I wanted to write up a few emails while at lunch. However, as the weather gets colder I will definitely be making another trip here for their pimento cheese sandwich.

    I like that the restaurant is set in a basement - it definitely has a cozy, homey feel. I came on a…read moreweekday for lunch with a decent-sized group and there were a lot of call-in orders, so it took our group a long time to get our food. If possible, I would recommend calling in ahead of time if it's around a busy time of day. I got the Turkey Bacon Griller sandwich, which was turkey, bacon, swiss, tomatoes, and mayo on rye. It came with a bag of chips, and it was quite tasty. I'd say a full sandwich with chips wasn't as filling as I would hope, so I would recommend adding a salad or soup with a sandwich. I also tried the Chicken Noodle Soup, which was way too salty. I couldn't taste much besides the salt, and had to add some water to the soup to make it palatable for me. Overall, I liked the setting, everything seemed very clean, but the wait for my food was unfortunately quite long and while the sandwich tasted good, the soup was too salty. For the price, it was just ok.

    Photos
    Inside/menu
    Inside/menu
    Chicken salad
    Chicken salad
    Outside

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    Outside
    Stella's

    Stella's

    4.6
    (615 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Wow! This place was an absolute gem. We originally had a reservation elsewhere but decided to…read morecancel because we weren't very hungry and the reservation time was a little early. While we were out walking on King Street, a local recommended Stella's, and I'm so glad they did. We walked over from our Airbnb and immediately loved the space. The restaurant has two U-shaped bars in the center, which is my husband and my favorite place to sit when dining out. We went in with zero expectations and hadn't even looked at the menu beforehand, but everything ended up being incredible. The drinks were fantastic, and our bartender/server was so sweet. Even though we were one of the last couples seated that evening, we never felt rushed and were able to enjoy the meal at our own pace. We ordered the non-breaded calamari and a shrimp dish, and the calamari was honestly the best I've ever had. It was incredibly fresh, perfectly cooked, and the artichokes that came with it were so delicious. Every bite made me happy. We finished with the tiramisu, which our bartender recommended, and it was absolutely outstanding--easily the best tiramisu I've ever had. I'm still dreaming about this meal and would come back in a heartbeat the next time I'm in Charleston.

    We had such a fun date night at Stella's downtown. I made us a reservation for a Saturday night at…read morethe bar, which we really enjoyed. We were surprised when we walked in and the bar was actually low, with low, spinny bar seats. But it actually was pretty unique and fun! Our server was excellent and gave us great recommendations. We started with the Stella's Kalamari that had sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and artichoke hearts. It was very flavorful and delicious. Something to keep in mind here is that the portions are pretty large. Perfect for splitting dishes and a lot of food for your buck. The stand out dish for me was the spanakopita. It's a flaky, crispy pastry with spinach and feta inside that you dip in tzatziki. What's not to love about all of that?? We splurged a bit on our entree and split the braised lamb shank. The lamb itself was pretty good, but what I enjoyed most was the pasta it comes with. I would maybe suggest trying a different entree. It wasn't my favorite, but it was good. For drinks I got the Cretan, which had cucumber infused gin, lime, rosemary and thyme. It was so refreshing and just what I wanted. I will definitely be coming back here and recommending it to others!

    Photos
    Stella's
    Stella's
    Pikela

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    Pikela

    California Dreaming - seafood - Updated June 2026

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