This was our second time eating here. We had lunch back in 2025 while camping at Santee State Park. We had dinner tonight and it was fabulous! Our waitress Ja was so pleasant and accommodating! Hubby got fried shrimp platter and I had shrimp & grits ( little spicy). It ever in Santee please do yourself a favor and enjoy some fresh seafood! read more

Santee Seafood Bistro - Fried Shrimp and Shrimp &Grits - Seafood Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

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Food was awesome !!! Shrimp and grits and okra were wonderful. Friendly staff. Was very impressed with our first visit and will definitely be back. read more

Santee Seafood Bistro - Shrimp and grits were wonderful. Fried okra also amazing . - Seafood Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

This was a great find during our travels. The Bistro is clean, welcoming, and had a homey feel. The lady hostess was really nice and sweet. And the food was one of the best southern cuisines I've had the pleasure to try. The complimentary hush puppies were savory; I could've eaten maybe 5 easily. We also tried the gumbo seafood, and it was hearty and full of flavor. It might've been Creole style as the roux was light and it had tomatoes. And for my main meal, I had the smothered pork chops; it tasted like Mom made it. Tasty, perfectly seasoned, and rich gravy. The sides were just as good: red rice and collard greens. And BF had the fish tacos; he devoured it and stated it was one of the best fish tacos. We had an unforgettable lunch here, and I can't wait to go back. And prices?? It's unbelievable! read more

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Food ! This is real southern cuisine , I got the shrimp and grits with a side of the homemade collards ! Omg best I've ever had . And prices are a deal . Nice scoop of cheese grits topped with a fried green tomato, 8 nice size shrimp and sliced homemade sausage? The gravy was delicious thick brown with just the right heat , collards sweet as candy and the pot liquid wow Ty read more

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Santee, SC is Our favorite stopover place as we travel Florida - North Carolina several times a year: Nice hotels and several good restaurants. If you're in the mood for Seafood, we really like Santee Seafood Bistro - it's a block off of the main thoroughfare on a quiet street. They also have chicken, ribs, pulled port, brisket. The place is cordial, comfortable and welcoming. Wait staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The same goes for the cook who brings out your meal (a nice touch). I'm a beer guy (nice selection), but I think they have wine and mixed drinks too. read more

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The cutest little place very close to I-95. Definitely worth stopping for lunch or dinner while driving through. Staff is beyond friendly and accommodating and you can sit inside or out. The patio is very welcoming with great energy. You'll really enjoy your meal at this little bistro. read more

Fresh seafood, engaged service, and a funky, informal vibe. We found Santee Seafood Bistro by accident after a wrong turn on I-95 and decided to try it on our next trip there. It's really just off the main interchange by about a couple of blocks but the short corner presents no issue. We had a full, fried seafood platter--this is home made food, from scratch (except a couple of pies)--and I had a seared seafood platter. I stated with a modest sized Caesar salad, just the right size for me, and the other diner had a garden salad with oil & vinegar. Looking at the other diner's piles of food, dredged with the ingredients before frying, he said it was delicious. My seared mix of flounder, scalloped, and shrimp (South Carolina has one of the most extensive scallop beds in the world) was perfect and searing your food renders it with a unified, delicious flavor. We ended with homemade, scratch, peach cobbler & ice cream. With Shem Creek being devoured by a commercial character, pushing shrimpers farther out of the picture in Mount Pleasant, the type of home down seafood establishment which characterized has vanished there, in favor of expensive crowded dining. It's a phenomenon we've witnessed and it's a sad change. The remedy is to seek establishments serving local favorites from the madding crowd like Santee Seafood. We don't regret having taken a chance there, and our taste buds agree. read more

I stopped here on my road trip back from Charleston to Richmond. It was fairly empty, but it was on the later side for lunch around 1:30. Our waitress was friendly, the service was quick, & prices are pretty good. I was very disappointed they didn't have a crab cake sandwich, & people seem to think the crab cakes are imitation crab. Crab is really the only seafood I like. But we came here because my friend really wanted seafood. And unfortunately for me the menu was very limited for anyone not looking for seafood. The pulled pork sandwich was really the only non-seafood sandwich option. So I got that but the meat was soo tough, & tasted sort of funky. It just wasn't good. And the fries have absolutely no seasoning, not even salt. The fountain soda is too overpriced. I believe one drink was $3.50. The hush puppies on the other hand were absolutely delicious, so that is the one thing I would recommend. those. My friend really enjoyed her shrimp po boy too. The restaurant itself needs a deep clean though. The dining area was bad to okay, they at least clean the tables off but there were an abundance of crumbs under the tables. The bathroom, omg was absolutely filthy. I won't go into details but the floor was incredibly sticky & the toilet was so gross I decided to just wash my hands & get out. & boy, did it smell. Finally, there's a gravel parking lot but you can only park on the right side of the building. read more

The Santee Seafood Bistro is a real find, especially if you crave catfish! It's a bright little standalone building just a couple of turns off I-95 at exit 96 onto Old Number Six Highway (SC-6), on Bass Dr at the end of Britain St. There's enough parking to the side and around back. There's outdoor seating on the north side, but it was a little chilly for that in Dec (2024). With a counter up front and tables to the left, there's plenty of seating for the size of the place. The hostess was welcoming and attentive, and the other guests were also friendly to us travelers. We came here for the hot fresh crispy fried whole bone-in catfish, and it was perfectly cooked in a simple light cornmeal salt and pepper breading just like we always had growing up. They also make a savory catfish stew in a rich tomato broth over rice. We were so full, but we did save just enough room for their fresh hot cobbler to finish. Get off that wearisome highway and enjoy some good regular comfort food in a bright place with nice people. read more

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Ate dinner here tonight - the food was wonderful and our server Greg was fantastic. He was very attentive.

We were warmly greeted, and chose a seat at one of the preset tables. The place had the air of an old timey diner, welcoming and warm. While we were making decisions between the many mouthwatering choices on the menu, we were each served a delicious freshly fried hushpuppy. I chose a fried founder, scallop shrimp plate with a side of yams. The seafood was fresh, with a tasty light breading and fried perfectly. The yams were as good as I hoped they would be with a light sweet sauce. My husband had a fried shrimp basket, and agreed they were delicious. read more

A cute little bistro with outdoor seating as well. Food was very tasty. The hush puppies were great, crispy and flavorful. Had the seafood gumbo, thick with shrimp and rice. The shrimp and grits was also delicious. It was served with a fried green tomato. My only complaint was that the tail of the shrimp was not removed prior to cooking. My wife had the fried shrimp platter, also very tasty. The service was very friendly and chatty. We will certainly return. read more

If you want good seafood and friendly service you need to come here! We came in from a long day on the road and felt like we arrived home. The staff were very nice and we were able to get seated right away. They have a wide variety of seafood and bbq options. We ordered the fried seafood platter with a side of okra and the shrimp & grits with a side of collard greens. The seafood was very fresh and tasted great! The amount of food you get for the price is just right! Everything was very good and I highly recommend the collard greens! read more

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Great food and service. Definitely will return when back in the area. Our server was very friendly too

Ordered wings and fries. I did not like them at all! Will not return. When I think about it, I recall having reservations about ordering once I entered the place because they had a B or C rating (can't recall just know it was not an A) and the floor was sticky (I hate sticky restaurant floors) but I was hungry so I ordered to go. Note - I did ask about the rating and was told it was not food related. Something to do with the ceiling or walls... I can't recall. I guess this is why I need to leave reviews as soon as visit a spot. read more

As an out-of-state visitor, I wasn't sure what to expect, but this place blew me away! The shrimp and grits were pure comfort food--hearty, soulful, and out of this world. Gina, our warm and friendly server, recommended it, and she nailed it. David brought out hush puppies that were hands-down the best I've ever had (and I've tried them everywhere!). You can tell this small gem is all about down-home cooking done with love. Unlike big, cookie-cutter chain restaurants that churn out soulless meals, this place pours heart into every dish. It's clear they care about feeding people, not just making a buck. Can't wait to come back! read more

Santee Seafood Bistro - Inside - Seafood Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

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Food was greasy and scallops were under cooked. The seafood platter was small for the price and undercooked. The hush puppies were awesome.

What a great little seafood restaurant! The service was excellent. They were all so friendly! Everything is made to order so you might have to wait a little on your food but it is worth the wait! I ordered shrimp and grits and it was served with a fried green tomato on top they were delicious. My hubby ordered the seared seafood platter. We both enjoyed our meals but the best were the two sides we ordered. The limas were yummy and the fried okra was just how I remember from summers as a kid when we could pick it fresh and fry it up for dinner!! There are a few tables outside as well as the large dining area and the bathrooms were clean too. Definitely recommend you try out this Bistro! We will stop by again on our next trip north. read more

The service was very efficient. The food exceptional. Little dive but really good.

Monique, the owner, is so friendly, and her food is amazing. The service was great, and both the fried and seared fish were delicious. Everything we tried was fantastic. If you're in Santee or the surrounding area, this place is a must-try! read more

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My hubby and I visited this bistro while visiting Santee to relax. From the moment we parked, we were greeted by our waiter Gregory, whose personality and charm kept us entertained while we waited for our takeout. The space was clean, well maintained, true bistro charm We ordered seafood combos and Southern sides, all cooked to perfection. This place is definitely worth the visit! read more

the hushpuppies, seafood bisque, fried shrimp and flounder were terrific. their bar selection is almost nonexistant but they can make a gin and tonic. read more

Extremely disappointed all around. The restaurant was filthy from the floors, to the baseboards, sticky tables, and flies buzzing around, and the bathroom was awful. The one bright spot was our server who was very attentive even when the business picked up. The hushpuppies were good, but beyond that the food quality was a 2, at best. Usually online reviews of 4 or higher lead to a good experience but this one did not match the reviews at all. read more

After reading reviews, we decided to eat dinner here before checking into our cabin. We are so glad we did! We were warmly greeted by a gentleman before entering the restaurant. Once inside, we were directed to a corner table. He brought us our drinks while we read over the menus he gave us. While we were deciding, someone brought us hot, fresh, delicious hush puppies (3 in a basket). We don't usually like hush puppies, but these were awesome! Another young woman took our orders: crab cakes (4 mini) and cheesy grits for me, and shrimp dinner with corn on the cob for Husband. The restaurant was clean, busy, and everyone was friendly. Masks were worn by the staff and customers. Gloves were worn by anyone handling food. Tables were far enough apart for social distancing. We liked the music playing - Motown! Our food came in a good amount of time - hot and tasty. It was served in to go containers so we could take home whatever we could not eat here. This was due to CoVid - cleaner and safer. Our food was so good! We slowly ate everything, savoring every bite. We are so glad we trusted the best reviews and came here! read more

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Family reunion in Santee South Carolina and we checked this out on our last day and it was amazing. Very good food people it's a must try. Seafood platter seasoned well. Delicious mouthwatering catfish. Very big and huge was a surprise. The fish stew is to die for amazing in tomatoe based soup and white rice tons of flavor. Amazing bbq tenders since they ran out of wings. That bbq sauce is crazyyyyyyy. Lemonade' is hood just wish they had bigger cups. Southern spot in the country of south where I have a lot of family. The only negative is the nats but it was super hot but once food came out they disappeared great spot and they have win and liquor dinks. What more could you ask for read more

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The food here was such a terrific surprise. This place looks like a fried food haven, but my shrimp and grits and my husband's pan seared flounder and shrimp were phenomenal. And our waitress Denise was polite, thorough, and delightful. She also provided the place with a terrific playlist consisting of Motown sounds that will have you singing as you eat. If you are passing by, don't miss this wonderful gem! Even the glasses of wine for $6 and the home made key lime pie were notable. Enjoy! read more

Santee Seafood Bistro - Shrimp and grits - Seafood Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

I ordered a Martini and they made it with care. I am fussy about my Martinis and they did a very good job. Dinner was delightful, tasty and made with good ingredients. read more

Excellent Not only way the service excellent but so was the food. When you come in it looks like an unusual "easy food" restaurant But it's not!! It may have paper napkins but there are real flowers at everyone's table. The waitress was honest and personable. She wasn't afraid to bend over backwards for great service and great food suggestions. AND everyone who comes in gets complementary hush puppies. The food was excellent and ALL homemade! It is definitely delicious and I can't wait to comeback. read more

Santee Seafood Bistro - Quick service - Seafood Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

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I arrived just after opening time and was the only one there, the interior was basic and the hostess was friendly but unfortunately it had a stale greasy smell which was frankly very offputting... Coincidentally after I ordered a martini (referencing a previous review) I had to leave suddenly for work but the brief 10 minutes I was there didn't make me feel like I need to go back....my olfactory senses couldn't cope, glad my son wasn't there....he's 10x worse! read more

I was visiting my boyfriend's family and needed a break(from him, not them) so I rolled up around 45 mins before closing and you would've thought they had 4 more hours! The service and the extra mile was top notch! The food...Aaaahmazing! I ordered the brim (iykyk) and initially was told they were out but the server went and found some herself and Babay...it was off the chain! I'm just mad they're closed today lol read more

Food is decent. Nothing spectacular. The restaurant could use a good cleaning. Service is pleasant.

Small bistro style with friendly staff. Selection of southern style fried and seared seafood. Tasty sides too. read more

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I read through a few reviews on my way to the restaurant, but totally missed this lovely tidbit: The plates are always $6.48 because of the address! I got six fried shrimp, tons of fries, cole slaw and a hush puppy for $6.48! And it was so good! read more

Santee Seafood Bistro - The $6.48 plate. This is shrimp. - Seafood Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

We had seafood platter, shrimp basket, Hush puppies, fried okra and grits. Food was excellent .. highlights were the flounder and hush puppies as amazing. We called this in as a take out order that was ready quickly. The staff was very friendly. Place was recommended to us by a local resident and we are pleased to pass on our recommendations. read more

The snow crab legs were ok. The sides I ordered were both terrible. Corn on the cob and Mac and Cheese. Worst Mac and Cheese I ever tasted and very orange in color. Corn looked old. My niece ordered Cheese grits, which was just a glob of something in a bowl. Tasteless. Her fried shrimp were delicious. Her clam strips were four tiny tiny pieces of something that had no taste.... I won't be returning. read more

Loved this place. I had the lunch shrimp basket fried and breaded to perfection. Fresh oil makes the difference. My husband had the fish and chip. Coleslaw and hush puppies were fresh and delicious. Great prices read more

Ordered seafood dinner , 2 scallops overcooked. 4 shrimp overcooked, fish under cooked and too much oil . Thought I would eat more healthy and not order deep fried. read more

We have only had great service here. Mallory is always welcoming and so friendly! The prices are a little steep for a smaller town (but more reasonable than Charleston, etc.). The fried green tomatoes are always amazing, the crab is delicious and I could eat the lobster Mac every day. They recently added ribs ( which I don't eat but I've heard are delicious)! read more

The service was a No!! The woman in the back was rude!! The food was HORRIBLE!! Old wilted lettuce, something blended together and fried that was supposed to be a crab cake. Cold fries some crispy some not!! The top on my supposedly fresh brewed ice tea did not fit properly, iI went inside and asked for a lid that fit they said that's all they had. Spilled the tea all in the car!! The back window said for take out, the woman rudely told me to go to the front and order!! This place is just a big unorganized MESS!! Do Yourself A Favor!! DON'T DO IT!! read more

Service was fine despite servers' loud complaints about management and quitting and their porn habits. Food was terrible and has stayed with us ---or not--- for days. Don't go. I won't. read more