Mali, Darius, and Gianna were fantastic! They took great care of our group and we had an amazing time. Will be coming back!

5 Sep '26 mozzarella sticks took over an hour to come out. I get they were busy - no worries. adam handled it well. thanks adam, you crushed it Overall, good vibes. Would recommend - just expect to wait on mozz sticks. out read more

We were eating dinner here when we saw a GIANT (spaghetti squash sized) rat crawl down the wall into the kitchen nothing bad to say about drinks, but food was all unimpressive heated-up frozen stuff One star because our waitress was extremely kind and personable, though she seemed a little frazzled or intoxicated Maybe the bar portion here is fun, but I'd never eat here again, obviously read more

Hannah our bartender was super friendly. Loved the vibe in this bar. Located right on a busy street corner. Drinks were amazing as well read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - Piano punch - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

As we were walking we were greeted graciously and given treats by the hostess. After taking a walk around and getting things in order we came back for a show and some dinner. We were checked in and led upstairs with the ability to sit anywhere we had to plan. We chose to sit at the bar and ordered a burger, fried green tomatoes, and a couple of drinks. The fried green tomatoes were amazing and very filling. So filling that I didn't get to eat my burger and took it home for later. Believe me when I got home later I definitely ate that thing up and it was just as good as I'm sure it was to begin with. We watched the show which was very entertaining and we had met other couples and groups that were visiting the venue. Everyone was so friendly and we had a great time making new friends! Stuff was very polite and got to us and timely manners. Will definitely be back! Highly recommend for anyone to stop in read more

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We didn't go to the dueling piano show, which seems to be draw. We were just hungry and looking for some good food. In all fairness, the food was decent. It just wasn't what we were looking for, so essentially we had settled. We had the Charleston smash burger and the Patty Melt, both with fries. My daughter had a Bloody Mary with her meal. Everything was good. The fries are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, and seasoned. Our server Adam was friendly and attentive. Decor is basic, dark, sports bar like. Winter Olympics were on the TVs. Nothing bad to report at all. Perfectly fine for a quick bite and drinks with friends. read more

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Ordered via Uber Eats, this buffalo chicken were from John King Grill was one of the best wraps I have had. Stuffed full of spicy buffalo chicken. It was delicious and enough to eat for 2 meals! Also, it arrived quickly and was very reasonably priced. read more

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Service was fine staff was kind and patient a bit slow on the wait but once we put our orders in the food came out fast . Fries were fine and they were accommodating . I will say I'm not a fan of basket fries like this but that's a personal thing . The portion of fries were fine for the portion of the sandwich read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - JohnKing Patty Melt - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I'm pretty sure this is a tourist trap. There's a $20 cover charge to see the dueling pianos - which did at least start punctually at 8p - but the food menu is uninspiring and the drinks no better than what a beginner would make. I loved how the piano-playing sisters sung and took song requests, letting guests expel karaoke energy without the rest of us having to listen to subpar singers carry the tune. But your whole group - including your friends and the other guests - does have to be into it, or the enjoyment wanes quickly. read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - Dueling pianos upstairs - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The food was good! My tenders were soft and juicy and tossed in garlic Parmesan. My wife had the patty melt and onion rings. She liked her meal a lot. The server did a great job. She was attentive and friendly. The restaurant was chaotic! But it was also Halloween night and they had piano players hammering out tunes. It was fun to watch the crowd and even the people passing by were dancing to the music. read more

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It is not wheelchair accessible like this says. You can get in but you cannot get upstairs to see the dueling pianos.

After dinner down the street, my husband and I decided to pop over for some music and fun. We went upstairs and it was pretty busy but we were able to grab a two top. The music was LOUD and FUN and everyone was having a great time. It was a big space and the bar was a good size as well, we didn't have to wait long at all for our drinks. I will not get the espresso martini again - not the way I usually like it - but the other drinks were fine and we enjoyed the vibe. The overall experience was good and I'd definitely go back! read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - Bar - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Visiting Charleston from Missouri so let my daughter get her pick of a smashburger place. Came here with party of 7 and we're seated right away. No dueling pianos during the day but definitely dueling music choices-Lady Gaga playing in the front and jazz blaring in the back. Service was awful. We got our drinks but our waitress didn't check one time for refills or check for anything. Food took a long time and didn't come out at once. I ordered a side salad that was large but not good at all, and it's hard to mess up a salad! My daughter was happy with her smash burger but I can't recommend this venue for any other reason other than desperation. Have better service and I would rate much higher! read more

Our party of six had a horrible experience here. We purchased, in advance what we thought were six seats for the dueling piano show. Only to arrive and be told it was standing room only and 'good luck'. This is not a piano bar. It is a long narrow dive bar that they crammed two pianos in on one end and oversold 'entry' tickets to. There was hardly anywhere to even stand, let alone order anything to eat (how would you hold it) and the place was just obnoxious. The manager couldn't care less that we were misled and finally after heavy debate he agreed to a refund. If you want a true piano bar experience go to Sing Sing in Denver. Phenomenal. JohnKing Grill 'dualing pianos' preys on tourists that don't know otherwise. read more

Great experience, great food! On our first day visiting Charleston, we stopped here for dinner. We enjoyed it so much, we went multiple times! The smash burger, chicken wrap, and fries were all really good. The Dueling Piano is a fun, unique experience as well. Highly recommend stopping by at least once. They do have a cover charge for the dueling piano. I believe it was $10 per person when we went. It was a lot of fun. It's also in a great location. read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - Smashburger - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Came by for a late night bite... not only was it closed 3 hours before the hours posted stated- but there was a gigantic rat in the middle of the restaurant. When I tried to snap a pic a manager came out and asked if we needed anything. Sir- not only are you closed 3 hours early I pointed out there was a large vermin in the middle of the dining room.. he pretended to be surprised. read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I love a good dueling piano bar. This one was great. We got there a little late though so we were all the way in the back but the energy was still fun! The piano players were very good and one girl really impressed me. Drinks are decently priced. We didn't try any food but it looked like your standard bar food. I would plan on getting there early if you want to get a good seat. The only con is that it is $20 dollars a person. We got there pretty late though so they took at $20 cover for all of us which was nice. Worth a stop! read more

Go for the entertaining , Dueling Pianos, but avoid the below average pub food. So although the 3 folks that made up the Dueling Pianos could not sign a lick, (especially the female), they were still very entertaining, and everyone appeared to be having a great time. The food is a bit limited and just not good at all. Both the wife and the daughter got a grilled Chicken wrap. The daughter ate half, but the wife took 1 bite and offered the rest to me. I ordered the Diablo burger which had some heat and wasn't too bad, but the onion rings were not great. The outside crust was cooked nice, but the inside onion was a tough string and with each 1st bite, you could not chew the onion and it pulled out from the rest of the ring. Last but not least was the men's bathroom where the men had to share a trough for urinal. You might expect this at a stadium, but NOT a bar/restaurant. So check this place out if you want some decent entertainment, just make sure you eat before hand. read more

The ambience I was having flashbacks to visits to New Orleans and the live dives and jazz and funky joints with great live music This place fits the bill The table service was super friendly and efficient The appetizers during the show were really really good! But, the best is of course the music! The pianists, Kathryn and Dave ,the guitar shredder Dave (Same guy) the voice that can morph and try any song you might want!!! (Kathryn) Both entertainers are so entertaining you do not want to leave! Engaging the crowd with humor and firing them up ! We will be back here every time we are in Charleston What a fun and memorable night! Thanks for making the trip worthwhile read more

Horrible service. Terrible entertainment u less you are over 80+ years old. Terrible service and music!!

JKGrill and Dueling pianos Bar on Kings St and John St in downtown Charleston is a cute and unique little burger joint. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Downstairs they have a small bar and restroom. Upstairs is the Dueling Piano bar. The piano bar does have a cover charge. The service is fast and the staff is friendly. The hamburger was delicious and serviced with your choice of side. Prices are reasonable for Charleston. The side salad was delicious with green peppers, onions, tomatoes Croutons and your choice of salad dressing. The hamburger was tasty. Parking is a challenge since it is downtown Charleston. If you are downtown and hungry for a hamburger, give JK's a try. read more

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The food here was fabulous! We ordered lunch on a Monday. Our food came out fast and everything was hot. The mozzarella sticks tasted house-made. Fried were seasoned good. Grilled chicken salad was great. The Cesar dressing was really good. Found something everyone wanted to eat. Ran out of soap in the bathroom. $62 for 2 adults & 2 kids. read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Stopped in for a quick lunch on a Saturday. Didn't have to wait in line which was great. Most other places had a wait. The place needs updating but I think it is more of a nighttime place with the dueling pianos instead of a lunch place. The service and food did come out fast. They have a good selection of sandwiches and burgers that were reasonably priced for the area. The Charleston burger with fries was tasty. Overall not bad for a quick bite to eat. read more

Ambiance was pretty nice, there definitely isn't a lot of seating. So if you have a larger party you might want to plan accordingly. The food came out very quickly, but somehow was room temperature. The iced tea was sooooo good. 9/10 We got the fried green tomatoes as a starter. It had a very good flavor and a lot of sauce with it, that was hearty enough to eat with a fork...but again, room temperature. So meh+. For our main course I got the shrimp po boy and fries and my partner got a burger and salad. My po-boy was very flavorful and filling, and the fries alone were 10/10. There is a very zesty seasoning on them that some might think is spicy, I however really liked it. My partners burger was very good, and was cooked perfectly. It made them do the "Samuel L Jackson- This is a tasty burger" quote so I knew they liked it. The salad however... was . 3/10 there was no dressing, and the ingredients looked like they were placed next to the knife instead of actually cut up with it. It had green peppers, a whole onion, a couple tomatoes cut small, and a quarter of a cucumber. The greens were wilted and some were transparent, which to me shows signs of having sat for a while. The service was pretty typical bar like service, where you barely see the server and their interactions are very quick and straight to the point. All in all, I would go back for just the fries and to see the piano show which we missed. I won't be getting the salad again though. read more

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Great location. Fantastic staff. Service is excellent on the sidewalk tables. Food is good.

I don't leave a lot of reviews, but this was the Best dueling piano bar I've been to, Great entertainment for the $20 cover, these guys play all instruments not just piano, singing was great too, good mix of performers too, very talented, staff was good and friendly too, top notch place, I would definitely come with a group again!! read more

Went to a show here this past summer. It was fantastic! I've seen Dave perform many times over the years and it's always an absolute blast. His energy is unmatched. And how the heck he knows so many songs is beyond my comprehension. I've read some of the reviews here and yeah the food is pub food, but it's decent enough. I wasn't there for the food. Get there early if you want a seat. And so what if there's a cover charge? Have you seen what concert tickets go for? These guys are working their butts off to put smiles on peoples faces. They are earning every penny. What a fun and talented bunch of musicians. If you leave this place without a smile on your face, you have some serious soul searching to do haha. Trust me....go. read more

Never been to a dueling paino bar before, so it was a nice change to things. Food was basic bar food. I loved that the crowd was hype. That helped the experience a lot. We took uber to the location. The area has drop off spots and luckily the drop off spot was right outside the place. There is a Jar you pay to have your song played and the group will do their own version of it with the instruments they have. There's no order to how the music is played, I just took a star off cause we suggestions songs, at least 4, and only 1 was played hours later as we were leaving. They also have venmo pay and suggestion options. We didn't try that, maybe that way is more organized. The papers in the jar just didn't work for us. Hinestly the just picked one out. Clearly odds werent in our favor. If they play your songs, I think it would be a better experience. I just rather not keep paying if our songs aren't played. They don't tell you if they don't know the song, and suggest something else. Also they might not know it and just look it up quick and sing it. Overall cool to try out. It's not an easy job so I applaud the musicians. They still did a great job. Our server was nice. read more

Feel like this is your typical dueling piano bar where you have to pay an obscene amount to get in ($10), then when you do the drinks are expensive. Then on top of that you throw the piano people a tip and they never play your song. Of course live music is great, but definitely been to better piano bars in other places, and other bars on this street. Would not recommend. read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Visited on a Thursday night, but I got the feel that it leans into tourist trap territory. They charge a steep $20 per person cover at the door, though they're quick to waive or reduce it just to get you inside, which feels like a bait-and-switch tactic. The service was prompt and friendly and the food was good; the burger was tasty and well-prepared. The dueling pianos, which are the main draw, were a bit of a letdown. The singers were talented enough, sometimes playing multiple instruments, but the performance felt overly focused on squeezing tips out of the crowd. Every song came with a plea for money or a sarcastic jab at smaller tips, which got old fast. It was clear they prioritized playing songs that brought in bigger tips. This made the experience feel transactional rather than entertaining. Overall, the place has potential and if you're looking for a fun night out, you might enjoy it, but be prepared for the touristy hustle. I'd give it 2.5 out of 5 stars--decent, but there are better spots for live music and a meal. read more

A large group of us visited from Lake Norman to celebrate birthdays! We had so much fun because of the energy, dancing, and the incredible talent of the performers!! They not only play the pianos and have great voices, they also play the drums, guitar, and violin!!! We reserved tables because there was 15 of us, but it's not a necessity. Lots of tables and plenty of dancing room!!! The service was great, the staff was friendly, food and drinks were on point. Can't say enough good things. It was the most fun we we had in Charleston and we will definitely go again. read more

Service was great and I was so excited to see they carry Happy Dads (my favorite seltzer!) read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - Piano bar is a nice relaxed bar with friendly staff. They carry Happy Dads which are my favorite seltzer! Overall a great time. - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Great live music! Staff is super nice and a great place to buy Happy Dads! Also have amazing burgers. read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I came in and sat down for a burger/quick beer. They sat me at a table next to the open kitchen, and I left shortly thereafter. In view within the open kitchen, there were rat traps that were there and baited. I'm assuming there are some major health code issues here. First picture is the kitchen so you can see it's JohnKing, second is a zoom in view of one of the rat traps clearly visible. Staff was very friendly at least. read more

JohnKing Grill & Dueling Pianos - Picture of open kitchen so you can see it is JohnKing - American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Stopped in for lunch as I have never had a smash burger. The staff was friendly and the service was good. My daughter is a fan of beignets and they did not disappoint. The food was very good. It was a pleasant meal that was unexpected from a corner pub. Would definitely visit again. read more

Gem on the corner of King Street and John Street. We stopped in for a quick cocktail and appetizers. Service was extremely fast ...as we visited here after the busy lunch hour. They're were a few patrons at the bar and around the diner - we sat inside - as the afternoon breeze was extremely breezy. Drinks Tequila Sunrise ...the first drink tasted watered down while the second drink I gulped down in 10 seconds. Lol Appetizers : Mozzarella sticks ( fried to perfection paired with marinara and ranch sauce ) Fried onion rings : Great taste however , the onions were cut very big . I had to cut them in half. Stop edible paired with spicy sauce/ marinara/ and ranch sauce. We enjoyed our food and took our waters to-go. Restrooms - There is one shared restroom for males and females. Outdoor tables for guests to sit as well. read more

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Stopped here as a recommendation from our tour guide. My husband had a burger with loaded fries and I had the burger salad and they were kind enough to substitute the fries for onion rings. Service was miles above California Dreaming. Not only did Cherry stop by a few times but 2 others. We appreciated not being forgotten. It's a bar so great vibe. We were there before entertainment which we understand is a lot of fun! read more

Loved the music, kinda dive bar vibes! Worth the cover charge! Food was just the normal bar food, nothing stood out! Service was good. You go for the music, pianos and drums and a few songs had a sax player. Would go again! read more

This is standard bar food, it's nothing to write home about, but if you have a hangover this is a great place to be. In fact they even have a burger style called the hangover (I recommend the fried chicken) there isn't usually a long wait so if you're on King and hungry this is a good option for you too. The burgers are a classic and they make their own pimento cheese so if you're looking for a starter that one is solid. To complete your post "too hard the night before" meal they make a great Bloody Mary, the wait staff is all incredibly friendly and it's in a perfect location. read more

We were walking by and saw that they had availability for seating. The service and the food quality was excellent. Had the smoky barbecue wings and my daughter had a grilled chicken classic sandwich. The food came out really quickly and it was really fresh. We're definitely return on our next visit to Charleston. read more