absolutely loved this restaurant. The atmosphere alone makes it worth visiting -- it's an old church transformed into a modern space with such a unique vibe, especially with The Art of War inscribed across the ceiling. We started with the Moroccan meatballs, which were so good I forgot to even take a picture before digging in. I ordered the lamb burger with fries, and everything was cooked perfectly -- the burger was flavorful and juicy, and the fries were amazing too. My friend got the fried chicken and said it was the best he's ever had. I tried some myself, and the seasoning was incredible. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for great food and a really cool atmosphere! read more

Church and Union - Lamb burger and fried chicken - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I came to Church and Union for lunch during my stay in Charleston this past week, and unfortunately, the experience was pretty disappointing. The biggest issue was the service. My friend and I sat at our table for about 20 minutes without anyone acknowledging us. I finally flagged down a waitress, who apologized and explained they were short staffed. She took our drink order, and then a different server came over later to take our food order. I ordered the Mediterranean wrap with no onions, but it came out with onions anyway. Our server was nowhere to be found, so I started picking around them and eating the wrap. A few minutes later, she came back with the corrected wrap, but by then I'd already started eating the first one. The flavors of the wrap were actually good, but the texture of the chicken was awful. It was so off putting that it honestly made me nauseous. I only managed a few bites before I was done, and no one ever asked if everything was okay or why I had barely touched my meal. That said, the restaurant itself is beautiful. The atmosphere is what really stands out. It feels like you're dining inside a church, and I believe it actually is a restored church. Between the stained glass, the artwork, and the writing on the walls, it's a really unique and impressive space. I'd probably come back for drinks because the bar looked like it had a great vibe, and the bartender seemed to be providing excellent service. Next time, I'd definitely sit at the bar, but I don't think I'd order the food again. read more

I was surprised when our family reunion group headed end, sufficient space was provided, the food wait wasn't long, we would go back we came from ND, NJ, NY, NC and SC. The food was tasty, well all ate differently, the service again was good. We will return when we are in the area read more

Church and Union - Several of the Family Reuion - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

After seeing Church and Union all over TikTok, I told my husband I had one Mother's Day request: take me somewhere with crab claws for brunch! We made reservations through OpenTable and came for the Mother's Day buffet. When we arrived, we were initially seated outside, but between the heat and the flies, it just wasn't the experience we were hoping for. Thankfully, Kathleen at the front worked her magic and found us a table inside. We really appreciated her going the extra mile. The restaurant itself is absolutely stunning. Housed inside a historic church, the architecture alone is worth the visit. Looking up at the ceiling and seeing passages from The Art of War creates such a unique atmosphere. Even the check arrives tucked inside a copy of The Art of War, where guests can leave a not...a really memorable touch. Our server, Jameson, was fantastic. He seemed to appear every time my bottomless mimosa needed a refill without me ever having to ask. His attentiveness made the meal even more enjoyable. The Mother's Day buffet was good overall. There was a nice variety of options, and yes...I got my crab claws! While the food was solid, the atmosphere and service were what really stood out. Between the beautiful setting, thoughtful details, Kathleen's kindness, and Jameson's excellent service, it was a memorable Mother's Day brunch. read more

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Pretty delicious! The food came out quick. I did order a medium well steak that did come out more medium rare/medium. Whatever. The complimentary hummus was delicious, my meatballs were yummy and flavorful. The French onion pasta appetizer was not my favorite. The drinks are also very pricey for what they are but overall a good experience with attentive service. They did seem overstuffed though with lots of workers standing around especially in the middle of the way to/from the bathroom. I felt like I was intruding on their own personal space. read more

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We really enjoyed our dinner here. Came on a very busy Saturday night with reservations and had to wait just a bit, but we were really happy with the food and the service. We got a huge charcuterie board, burgers and ahi. They also gave us a yummy hummus plate both my husband and I enjoyed. FYI the venue is so cool inside and we loved the vibes but it was quite loud; my 7 year old asked to leave towards the end of our meal. It was note an issue, but just something to note for others who might be sensitive to noise. We will absolutely be coming back! read more

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You must go here, not for the food but for the location. To dine inside a church-turned-restaurant is truly something else. I would recommend going for brunch/lunch vs dinner because the sunlight coming through the stained glass is just stunning. We started with a cappuccino and an espresso martinis, both were good. For our mains, I got the shrimp and grits and my husband opted for the southern salad. He added shrimp to the salad as an extra and when we got the bill we realized it was $11 just to add the shrimp - that was quite a shocker lol. The meal was definitely more expensive than expected (especially for brunch) but I would say the service and food, both were good. read more

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Cool ambience and beautiful decor. We loved both dishes we tried - hand braided ravioli and also the Pan seared Scallops. I felt the ravioli was more like a gnocchi in texture and because of the potato filling. The sauce was fresh and delicious without the heavy garlic too many restaurants use. The scallops had a nice blend of creamy and spicy sauces with a sweet almost chutney layer. There were also crispy strips of parsnip (I believe). We tried two different signature cocktails. Both were nice but on the sweet side. I would recommend this place to a friend who was looking for fine dining with a unique vibe. read more

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Beautiful restaurant in Charleston! I highly suggest getting a reservation if you want to visit, I've been twice and both times they were slammed. This restaurant is inside an old church and they did a lovely job of keeping the church vibes without making it creepy. There are stained glass windows, high vaulted ceilings and writing on the ceiling. It's very beautiful and definitely Insta worthy. During our most recent visit we stopped in for drinks so we did not make a resy. We were able to find a spot at the bar and we ordered a couple rounds of drinks. They have a variety of cocktails, mocktails and beer available and our group got a little bit of everything! I got the Ready Orgeat and it was fantastic! I'm a big orgeat fan and this drink was just sweet enough and super refreshing! My fiancee got the Ghost, it was definitely different, but still good! This spot is definitely somewhere you need to stop by if you are ever in Charleston! read more

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One of our favorite places when we visited Charleston! Highly recommend having a reservation, especially in the summer heat. The food and drinks were top notch. The chicken was tender and flavorful. Pork chop was not tough and paired well with the given sides. While we waited, the bartender had many recs for our visit in the city. The building and environment was a very unique, cool atmosphere. read more

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What a fabulous place to dine. When you walk into the dining hall and look up, the atmosphere is absolutely amazing. Service was fantastic and spot on and the food was phenomenal. They had a special soup this evening, which I tried and it was absolutely awesome. We had a group of five including one child, and the waiter made sure that she was very well taken care of. Everyone enjoyed their meal and I would definitely come back. read more

Church and Union - Bar area - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Sat at the bar and had drinks and fries. Cool space and quick service at the bar. Had the Carolina Brewery Copperline Amber Ale, which I really liked. My husband had Holy City IPA, also good. read more

This restaurant is impressive architecturally. I've never seen an old church restored into a restaurant but the way they kept the original charm was beautifully done. I ordered shrimp and grits and a pomegranate mimosa which was delicious. Took a bite of my friend's biscuit & gravy and that was really good too. Would absolutely come back to try some of the other dishes that sounded amazing. read more

Church and Union - Shrimp and grits - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I am actually leaning more towards a 3.5 with this one. We arrived on a Wednesday evening for a 6:00 reservation at Church and Union. My family and I were very excited to try this new to us place in Charleston as it is raved about. We made the first mistake and reserved a table outside on the patio. My husband didn't realize he did that and of course it was on a chilly, windy day. Always double check your reservations! I was so looking forward to drinking up the inside ambience of the restaurant and that went flying out the window right away. There was nothing special about the patio, but at least they had warming lamps? Only a few, and the one closest to us was taken away to be given to another table elsewhere. Our waiter was very nice, he took our drink order and brought out chips with hummus. My daughter's drink was incorrect, but that was rectified quickly. It took quite a long time for mine and my husband's drinks to come out. Actually VERY long. Our waiter was very apologetic and waived one of the drinks for us. My drink was delicious, but my husband wasn't impressed with his. He said it was a bit boring and didn't feel very strong. For dinner, I ordered the ahi tuna with sticky rice. The ahi tuna was really good and cooked perfectly. The "sticky" rice didn't seem very sticky and it was actually kind of hard. My husband ordered the meatloaf and was not impressed. He said it was dry, felt reheated, and that the portion was smaller than he expected. He was more impressed with my son's kid's cheeseburger. My daughter didn't like her chicken fingers that much. With all of the hype of Church and Union I think we were all expecting a bit more. I'm glad I got to experience it, but I doubt I will be back. read more

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Church and Union was easily one of my favorite places I ate at in Charleston. The food was fantastic and the ambiance made it even better. It is located in a beautifully restored old church. I went for dinner with my mom and we had reservations, which I would definitely recommend since it looks like it gets busy. We ordered the salmon and the ravioli and both were phenomenal. The service was also excellent from start to finish. If you are in Charleston, I would definitely recommend checking this place out for the building alone, but the great food makes it even better! read more

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The setting is spectacular and not to be missed. Service is gracious and fully dedicated to the diner's exceptional experience. My gnocchi was satisfying and beautiful to behold. The roasted carrots were charred to perfection -- I was enraptured by their glorious, seemingly endless layers of rich, earthy favor. The buttermilk cake was iconoclastic but in an artful way, respecting tradition but implemented with modern flourishes which might have induced fainting spells among our forebears. read more

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I had such high hopes for this place but sadly it was disappointing. I made a reservation for 7 people weeks in advance. We arrived and they put us outside in the "patio." It was not a nice outdoor space. Our server was friendly and accommodating with dietary restrictions so this review is mainly about the food. My husband ordered an appetizer and it came out with our main dishes, completely cold. It was a pasta dish so the fact that it sat and then was delivered made it chewy and it came with the his main course. We also ordered shrimp which was way over priced and incredibly small. I ordered the crab cake and it was good however way over priced. My husband ordered the tuna and it was an incredibly small portion and tasteless. It was supposed to be a deconstructed sushi roll but the portion was so small! The only thing that looked great were the fries on my son's kid burger. That seemed like the only thing worth ordering. We also ordered a side of rice which also didn't come with the rest of the meals. I understand it's hard with large parties but this place was not worth it for the price and the food is just not that good. read more

Church and Union - Crab cake - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Started off with a bit of an issue.... But.. management immediately rectified the situation and made our night amazing. What a staff.!! I would go back just for the quality of the service. The food was absolutely delicious. We started with a salad and the calamari appetizer, which was extremely good. We had the fried chicken, crabcakes, and the pork chop for dinner. All the dinners were amazing. Definitely a place to stop when you're in Charleston!! Beautiful church converted into a restaurant. read more

Church and Union - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

This is a really unique restaurant that's set inside an old church with Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" written throughout its ceiling walls in its ENTIRETY The cheese selection and prosciutto were delicious but the ambiance is the thing I'll remember the most about this great spot read more

Church and Union - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

First off, what a space ! A church was converted and decked out with chesterfield like seating on the outer perimeters and barstool like seating and tables high tables in the middle area; great for large parties ! Upon entering the restaurant you will see a huge, and I repeat, a huge bar area that has plenty of seating also. The overall space has walls adorned with a faux concrete like paint and gives off a gothic like effect. I was in town for a family reunion and our party was approximately 37 people. The center seating area I mentioned was ideal and accommodated our large party with no problem. There is also an adjacent room that can seat a number of people and are close to the restroom areas. While the space itself was wonderful I felt the menu could use some work and could be further broadened to include more seafood dishes. I landed on the lamb burger and fries because as mentioned I wasn't to thrilled with the menu. Overall service was good and our dishes came out quickly. Be sure to sign the Art Of War guest book before leaving. Had a nice time overall and enjoyed my family member and the space overall. read more

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This place was really great for lunch. Mildly pricey for a lunch stop, but the food was worth it. The steak sandwich was our favorite. The restaurant vibe itself was really great, and we loved our waitress Rachel!! read more

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The ambiance was everything for me. It completely set the tone. The food was good, but not quite memorable enough to pull me back on its own. I would definitely recommend this spot to tourists, though, because the art is absolutely captivating and worth experiencing in person. The service was solid, but honestly, the atmosphere and visual experience are what truly make this place stand out. Bring your selfie stick!! read more

Church and Union - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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What a cool place! The food was amazing, our waitress Mattie was phenomenal! She was friendly and had great recommendations. We had the meatloaf and crab cake. The meatloaf was perfect! Crispy edges but not dry at all. Paired so well with the mashed potatoes, sauce, and carrots. Definitely better and more elevated than your mama's meatloaf! The death by chocolate dessert was also amazing. The mousse was light and helped make the chocolatey dish not too heavy. Wonderful meal and service! read more

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It was an old church that being converted into a unique restaurant. We didn't have a reservation on a Sunday morning at 10 am and were able to get a table. Our waiter Kyle was nice and friendly. He made some food suggestions so I ended up with the crab cakes and my daughter had a French toast and bacon. Everything was good so we decided we will comeback again the next time we're in town. read more

Church and Union - French toast - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Well to start things off, obviously the ambiance of this restaurant is next level. Inside an old historic church that was once a church for sailors, this is such a cool spot to dine. The service from the beginning was excellent. Our waiter made sure we were taken care of from start to finish. The food was delicious and we were dining with a party of 6. They had plenty of options for everyone! We started off with the oysters, then later on ordered some of the gnocchi appetizer which I really enjoyed. It was saucy and delicious. I got an espresso martini with tequila which was pretty good, nothing crazy. For my meal (which I didn't snap a photo of unfortunately) I got the ravioli, which the waiter described as a mix between ravioli and gnocchi. Either way it was very good, and I can be picky about sauce. If you need a spot to bring your visitors from out of town, I think this is the perfect place. read more

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The restaurant is worth a visit just for the building. It's beautifully renovated and pretty spectacular. The food and service are the cherry on top - the drinks were good, the menu is lovely, and the staff was attentive and delightful. Definitely check it out! read more

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Came here for dinner on a Sunday evening. We were seated outside on the patio and enjoyed the outdoor seating. Service was amazing and attentive. The interior is unique and recommend walking around the restaurant. The food didn't disappoint. read more

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We had high expectations for Church and Union because two members of our party had dined there several times before and had always had excellent experiences. In fact, they had recommended it so enthusiastically that this was my first visit. Unfortunately, our experience was so disappointing that it bore little resemblance to the restaurant they had described. The three of us arrived for our reservation and placed our orders shortly after being seated. About five minutes later, two women were seated at the table next to us. They ordered roughly ten minutes after we did, yet their meals were served well before ours. After waiting another 15 minutes, I finally flagged down our server to ask about our food. The explanation was that there were larger parties and our order must have gone in after theirs, which didn't make sense given the timing. When our food finally arrived, one meal--the avocado toast--was missing the eggs. Rather than replacing the dish, the manager simply brought out a side of eggs to place on top of avocado toast that had already become cold and difficult to cut. My croissant breakfast sandwich was equally disappointing. The croissant was dark, overcooked, and hard, and the sausage patty was so overcooked it was difficult to cut. The fried chicken sandwich was the only meal that met expectations. To their credit, two managers stopped by to apologize for the long wait. Unfortunately, neither addressed the incorrect order or asked about the quality of the meals, and no effort was made to replace the food, offer a remedy, or otherwise make the experience right. Mistakes happen in every restaurant. What distinguishes an exceptional restaurant from an average one is how those mistakes are handled. Based on what my companions had experienced in the past, this visit appears to have been an unfortunate exception rather than the norm. However, as a first-time guest, I left wondering why this restaurant has earned such an outstanding reputation. It certainly wasn't reflected in our experience. read more

Wonderful location, hard to park and you'll need to pay, but you can get lucky. Service is five stars for me but, what we didn't know was that coming in at 12:45 PM, you're stuck with their brunch menu because that's all they serve during weekends. Would have loved to try their lamb since that was the selling pitch to go to this place. There was a long table with no occupants and we still had to wait 15 minutes before we got seated. Not sure if that's a south thing, maybe it is.. We had to change our biscuit and gravy meal because the biscuits were underbaked. Blame it on the supplier, but our server recommended the shrimp and grits which was a delight. Three solid stars for me. read more

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Uh, idk, sorry, take this review for what it is, just facts. Valentine's Day 2026, made a reservation 3 weeks in advance far this awesome looking venue. We had been in Charleston, sc for 2 days already, and have / spent 350 ish a meal in a few days. We were looking forward to the awesome "chef inspired" menus at the awesome restaurant. 8pm reservations, got there at 755, they said they were running behind, and it would be a bit. I looked into the cool bar area to maybe sit while we wait, it was full, so we waited outside. They said they would call when ready. About 10 minutes later, no biggie, but proceeded to bring us to the worst table I'm the place. Back room, right next to the POS station, small curtain trying to cover up the smell of the bathroom, the patio door opening (yes,it was 45 ish out) and the torrent of rushing cold air, cooks crapping, and other angry patrons leaving. They gained about 10 tables by Turing a storage space into a new crap dining space, and fucked their reputation. Never again. I feel really bad that I didn't have any cash on me, because I was going to float the server 40 bucks for being nice. The hostess canceled our reservation, because it was too cold and busy and smelled like crap, and probably just sat another couple there. Poor bastards. We went down the street, great meal, gave the waiter a hug and 50 bucks and thanked him for being cool. Stopped on the way back to play with the kittens, for those that know the area. Turned to be a great night in spite of idgits. read more

Church and Union - Crappers next to our table - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Church and Union is such a great place to eat and enjoy the ambiance. This place is so unique with entire story written on the ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows. The food and service was phenomenal. I would suggest making a reservation, this place is very popular and busy!! If you're in the Charleston area and want a more elevated dining experience - Church and Union is it!! read more

My girlfriends flew in to visit me for a girl's trip. This dinner made top two experiences during this trip. Vibes? Moody and beautiful. I mean, you're in an old church. Service? Spectacular. We sat at the bar and our bartended was the perfect amount of attentive. Checking in with us when he noticed a lull in our conversation. The food was phenomenal. This was the best meatloaf I've ever had in my life (don't tell my mom). My friends got fish which looked perfectly cooked. Their drink selection is extensive. The group next to us suggested the Ghost and I've dreamed about this drink. It's perfectly subtle, spicy, and strong, I need it in my life again. Make a reservation now. read more

Church and Union - Ghost - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I was delighted with my choice for my birthday dinner this year at Church and Union. The service was amazing, the food selections were interesting and delicious and I loved hearing the history of the building from our waiter who was very knowledgeable. Shout out to Bailey! read more

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Great first night in the city, we showed up a little early for our reservation and took seats at the bar instead - we enjoy talking to the bartenders and having a more casual meal. Jon did a great job for us, really loved everything - from the oysters to the pasta feature - and a wine list to complement the menu. The buttermilk cake is one of the best desserts we've had in a long time! The room is beautiful and we can't wait to return. read more

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Food: Salad was the best thing we had here; my salmon was overcooked and bone dry. Also the accoutrements were undercooked and under-seasoned. Underwhelming as a whole. Hubby had their braided ravioli, which ate more like pierogis and lacked flavor overall Service: excellent staff Ambiance: very cool repurposed church building with beautiful interior and stained glass read more

What a great find for brunch on our last day in Charleston! It was busy but we had made reservations. Parking was limited but we found a lot with self-pay behind the restaurant. The interior is amazing with stained glass windows paired with hand painted statements covering the ceilings. Service was incredible from the moment we arrived. Food was fresh and delicious. Definitely on our list to visit again when in Charleston. read more

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Absolutely marvelous place! This restaurant functions inside of an old church in downtown Charleston Sat at the bar and had just a wonderful time talking with the bartender The food is top-notch Trendy with really terrific service. I definitely would go back.! read more

Church and Union was absolutely phenomenal and easily one of the best dining experiences we had in Charleston. The atmosphere alone is worth the visit. The restaurant is set inside a beautiful old church with massive stained glass windows and incredible architectural details. The space feels warm, inviting, and special without being stuffy. Even the restrooms were spotless, which honestly says a lot about the attention to detail here. We went for brunch and everything was excellent. My wife ordered the biscuits and gravy with a side of home fries and loved every bite. She said it was some of the most solid biscuits and gravy she has ever had. I went with the steak and eggs and added a side of grits, and those grits were unreal. Possibly the best grits I have ever eaten. I did not stop until the bowl was completely empty. The service was just as good as the food. Friendly, attentive, and paced perfectly. From start to finish, the entire experience was exactly what you hope for when dining out in Charleston. Ten out of ten would recommend. If you are in town, do not miss this place. read more

Church and Union - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The atmosphere was very cool. The food was fresh and delicious and the service was great! Enjoyed the experience! read more

Loved our brunch here! I came with a group of girls for my bachelorette party (7 girls). Definitely make a reservation. The aesthetic of the restaurant is beautiful. The menu has great options but felt it was a little limited. We ordered various dishes like omelettes and grits, the French toast was excellent. Service was great as well. read more

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