Had a really great Mother's Day brunch at Southbound. The food overall was amazing and everything tasted very fresh and well made. When we first arrived, we were seated outside under the tent area, but it was extremely hot and sunny. My mother-in-law has trouble seeing in bright sunlight, so we asked if there was any way we could move to a shadier spot. Our waiter immediately checked with the hostess and happily moved us without any issue at all, which we really appreciated. He was extremely accommodating the entire meal, answered all of our questions, and kept checking to make sure everything was good. The crab cake was probably the standout item for me -- almost entirely crab with basically no filler or breading and really great flavor. It's not a huge entrée portion by itself, but with appetizers it was definitely filling enough. The shrimp dish was also delicious and full of flavor, and the salmon appetizer was really fresh and very good too. The drinks were good as well. My pineapple daiquiri was MUCH stronger than I expected, but honestly still really good. As a nice Mother's Day touch, they were giving complimentary mimosas to guests walking in and also handing out red roses to all of the moms, which was really thoughtful. It is definitely on the pricier side, but not outrageous for Charleston brunch, especially considering the quality of the food and service. Overall we had a really nice experience and would definitely go back. read more

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Came here with early reservation and decided that the appetizers much more appealing to us compare to the entrees . We came for birthday dinner and greeted with champagne. The appetizers we had were good and as well the service. Will try to come again for dinner menu and hoping the entree menu will be different next time. read more

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My friend recommended this spot to me, saying they change the menu daily/weekly depending on local, in season products. I had a barrel aged cocktail, a gin sour, and an espresso martini and their cocktails were fantastic. Well-balanced and silky. Steak tartare is a death row meal for me, and theirs did not disappoint. It's topped with the cutest little thin potato chips and the tartare itself had thinly sliced pickles and whole ground mustard mixed in. With the shaved egg white and diced steak, it was divine-- a little smoky, and full of flavor. I sat at the chefs counter, which was so fun. I loved watching the chefs hard at work, in their flow state, and they were able to banter some with those at the counter. There's an open fire right there, so if you're temperamental to heat/smoke, it's not the best spot for you. I enjoyed it immensely, watching them season and cook my pork chop right in front of me. The pork chop was truly incredible, thick double cut chop, perfect sear with a slightly pink center. Insane. Incredible. The flavors worked well together with a slightly sweet, mildly spicy sauce, bok choy and trumpet mushrooms. My server (I forget his name!) was knowledgeable and so kind. Truly a fantastic experience start to finish and I will be back next time I visit. read more

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Iconic wood fired restaurant that's a must try if you're visiting Charleston! Super cute southern house that feels cozy and is great for date night. Came with a few girlfriends and we did a 9:30pm rezzy on Saturday, they had a spot open at the chefs counter so a staff member called to let us know. Got to see the three chefs make all sorts of dishes. We had the whipped potatoes which were super creamy, lamb toast (incredible) for apps, tried a mocktail which was good, and had the duck breast for my entree- delicious. For dessert we tried the carrot cake which had the perfect texture, and the stores which comes in a hot skillet. Our server Harley was great. read more

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Disappointing food. The lamb crostini was decent, duck entree had good flavor but was slightly overcooked for my taste and the sauce overwhelmed the delicate flavor of the duck breast, the seafood soup / strew lacked flavor and was quite average. The peach and rhubarb "cobbler" with very little crumble was pretty much inedible because it was so bitter. I NEVER leave dessert without finishing it, however, I only had 3 spoonfuls and decided it was not worth torturing myself to finish it. Overall this restaurant is very charming and cozy inside with excellent service (which is why I even gave it 3 stars) but the food is really lacking in flavor, there is nothing unique or special about it and it's well overpriced for what they are serving. I won't be going back because the there are an abundance of better restaurants in Charleston. read more

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Great restaurant with superb food and service. The food is cooked on an open flame and the flavors are to die for! Southbound is such a gorgeous and classy place. Perfect for a date night or special occasion. read more

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The service here is top notch. They have a great patio and delicious cocktails. The menu is always fresh and local and it's an absolute must for date night or a great meal in Charleston read more

We choose this place Looking for something a bit different and special for my birthday We loved the layout of the restaurant, and the smells from the wood stove when you first walked in were amazing. We sat on the balcony on the second floor which overlooked a neat courtyard for several homes. Unfortunately, the heaters were not set up and my wife suffered som as it was a bit chilly this night. They did offer blankets, but the wife being a bit of a germaphobe, did not want to eat with a blanket on her that someone else might have used. Our server was very friendly, and helpful. The wife started with the Foie Gras and Brioche French Toast. Personally I thought this was perfectly presented and cooked. I had the Cider-Braised Pork Cheek for my appetizer. I don't know if it is on purpose, but while the dish had a nice flavor, it was served cold, which I did not care for. For her main dish the wife got a special Ahi dish. The fish was cooked perfectly but seemed to lack a bit of seasoning. My main dish was the New Zealand Elk Chops Roasted Root Vegetables and Swiss Chard. Having experienced Elk before, I know it is easy to overcook such a lean piece of meat, so I asked the meat to be prepared Chef Recommend. This might have been a mistake as the meat came out blue as can be. I am OK eating Rare, but I am not a fan of Blue meat (see picture provided). After requesting this be heated up, I got a dish that had a nice char on the outside but still red on the inside. So with a couple dishes that were hits, 1 that missed and 1 that needed to be sent back, I say this was an OK but not great meal. read more

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This place has been on my list for some time now so I was very excited to finally be able to come. My friend and I made a reso last minute and were able to get a dinner reservation on a Tuesday night. The restaurant itself has a lot of character being that it was once a house so it has unique decor and felt very warm. We got greeted and quickly sat on the other side of the restaurant outdoors and it was a beautiful day out. It's not a very big restaurant, maybe 6-8 bar chairs right in front of their open kitchen. It is impressive to see that they work out of that very small kitchen and can fit 3 people back there. Our server came over and since it was our first time, my friend asked him if there were things that were a "must get or can't miss" and his response was "not really." It made us chuckle because it either implied that everything is a good choice or nothing really stood out so we found that to be an interesting response as he made no recommendations following that. We found the wine menu to be more interesting than their cocktail list. There wasn't really anything unique but more so a lot of just "classic cocktails" you would see on other drink menus. I just expected a bit more variety and creativity from this section. We settled on food and ordered a few apps to share. Arugula salad - it is exactly what you expect. I appreciate that it was fresh, strawberries are in season so that was good and it was a nice salad. Spanish Octopus- I didn't find this dish to have much flavor, especially any pertaining to it being "Spanish" and I would've liked more citrus of acidity to enhance this dish. Coconut jasmine rice- some may like their rice super soft and mush but I found this to be way overcooked. It was fragrant and had good flavor but just too mushy for my liking. Braised pork cheek - This dish was the best one by far from the others. It has the most flavor and was tender. I still wanted to give it a 4/5 rating because I could appreciate the fresh and clean ingredients used but I just wanted more flavor overall. Personally I enjoyed the atmosphere more than anything and it was a bit of an underwhelming food experience for what I was hoping for and our service was fine but nothing memorable. I would be interested in trying some of their entree dishes another time. read more

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All the food is roasted over open flame! Meat, seafood and veggie options made for a diverse meal. Our server was a bartender and knew the menu very well. Can't beat the front porch vibe downtown! read more

Amazing staff and overall experience inside a beautiful home. When you walk in, you are given a mini tour and introduced to the staff. However, the food was lacking for the price point. The bicycle cocktail was very good. The lemon spritz was good but not anything special. The foie gras and chicken liver mousse appetizer was good with candied bacon, but not mind blowing. Same with the branzino was in a very mild sauce and the skin tasted quite burnt. The duck breast was very good though, and it came with delicious red peas and sweet marinated onion that complement the duck excellently. The meat was cooked to perfection. The duck was definitely the saving grace read more

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Underwhelming is the best adjective I can think of. I chose inside when I made my reservation because I thought that meant sitting in a dining room. It does not. We were seated at 5pm at a high top next to the bar. Nothing like listening to the bartender shake drinks all evening. If you make a reservation, stick with the patio or just resign yourself to a night out at a pub. Our waiter was MIA but another staff member tried to get us settled. There doesn't seem to be an adult in charge of things so service is akin to a Friday's, friendly but inexperienced and unpolished. The food is really hit or miss. The tartare was inedible. I thought I misread the description when it came with mayo and cheese. The smoked egg and mustard never made it to the plate so what I got was meat, mayo and cheese. (Yes, you read that right.) My husband's foie was good, so we shared that. After the mayo and cheese, I dreaded my salmon but it was cooked perfectly. A pleasant surprise. The bed it came on was meh but the fish was perfect. Unfortunately, my husband's Bronzino was charred. read more

I had an underwhelming experience. Service was great - but food was just ok and was pretty $$ to not be anything memorable. They do offer a $20 burger during happy hour at the bar, so maybe l'll return to try that! read more

Southbound - Pork - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We dropped in to Southbound last minute on a Friday night and were able to do a walk-in for two. The space is really nicely designed-- the outside is a historic old home on Cannon (attached to a hotel or bed & breakfast, I believe) but the inside is airy and modern. Diverse seating and plenty of room at the bar and chefs counter. The highlights were the local heirloom tomato salad and the steaks-- I greatly enjoyed my bavette steak which was perfectly cooked and a nice twist. Great flavors. My boyfriend ordered the specialty steak, which was huge! We both went home with leftovers. Also enjoyed the smores dessert, which came out piping hot in a cast iron skillet. A shoutout to our server Kash (sp?), who was amazing. We had an issue when we ordered the cobia crudo, which looked great, but the fish tasted a little off. We eat a ton of crudo, so could tell immediately it wasn't right. She handled our feedback with ease and grace, and the chef ended up pulling it from the menu that night. Great service and willingness to do right by the customer. Would come back for the steaks, ambiance, and great service. read more

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Such a romantic little spot! This was at the top of my list to check out in Charleston and it did not disappoint. We had the kindest waiter, so personable. The food was amazing, although in the pricier side. At the end they even give you an Oreo cookie that the owners mom makes. Great touch!! Loved it! read more

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Amazing dining experience! Make your reservation to sit at the chefs table! So fun to watch all the action! Everything we had was absolutely delicious! Our server, Harlee, was also so attentive and made us feel very special! We will be back! read more

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Open fire cooking is the specialty at this spot. Various types of meats and vegetables cooked over an open kitchen fire are the on the smallish menu that is altered daily. Restaurant is a 2 story house in somewhat of a residential neighborhood. Food was well prepared and very tasty. Service on our nighttime visiting was not what we expected to have, little slow and somewhat off putting. Hostess at front of house, however, was very accommodating and helpful. Not bad, but not great read more

Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Environment 10/10 The experience at Southbound was absolutely amazing. It is pricey, but it is well worth the money for what you get. read more

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The service was amazing, the employees are kind and knowledgeable. The food was one of the best I've had in Charleston, very flavorful, filling. But the best was the flounder, it was just perfect! The ambiance was great for our anniversary , perfect place for a date night! read more

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Holy smokes! This place is amazing. I was blown away by the food, service, and vibe of Southbound. From the Oysters Rockefeller starters to the tartare app (could have been my entree), the New York strip, and finishing with the banana pudding ... blown away all the way through. A few of us were lucky enough to sit at the chef's table and it was a top shelf experience. When in Charleston, I wouldn't miss a chance to enjoy a meal here! read more

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Harlee was amazing!! Such an attentive and sweet waitress. Portions were very small for the $$$ spent but food was very well prepared accompanied. Sat on the winter terrace and it was so cutesy read more

Southbound - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

7 hours ago New The Hungry Detective and Special Agent Deirdre had the most unusual experience last night. It was my 60th birthday dinner and we were so excited to celebrate at Southbound...so to start this review comes with a heavy heart and the evening events were a first time ever situation. I call it a situation as I recall the evening. The FACTS: We arrived and were upgraded to the Chefs Table and super excited to watch and enjoy all the action as the food was being prepared. The RUB: Great conversation with the staff...we had a wonderful complimentary salad to start and then the New York strip came out cooked to perfection...this where things go sideways...Evan the manager asked me to step outside for a talk...that's when I was told that we were not going to be served wine with our dinner service...my response was the following: "What did we do that was so offensive that a glass of wine was not happening" RESPONSE: "Sir you can enjoy your meal without the wine" VERDICT: Southbound and the manager Evan are guilty as sin for ruining my 60th birthday celebration that my girlfriend a.k.a. special agent Deirdre planned...this was the first time in 60 years that I was told I could not have a glass of wine with my meal totally bizarre. Not sure if we will return or I would advise my 40,000 followers to return to southbound...enough said!! The Hungry Detective read more

Came for my birthday and anniversary. The drinks were good. The people were nice. The take on Steak Tartar was fun. But I ordered the steak and he ordered the flounder. Neither were very good. $325 and I got sick on the way home, gave my steak to my dogs and my SO made himself food when he got home. But hey we got a free chocolate dipped oreo and a rose. read more

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An incredible dinner. Our servers were honest and attentive. The food? What can I say? The duck was perfect. The lamb chop was incredible and a feast for at least two. Pricey but worth it. Having dined between San Diego, New York and here, this was incredible. Everything cooked over white oak fire. read more

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I made it back to Southbound now that they have had some time to become a bit of a downtown food fixture. The service is super friendly and attentive. The vibe is a bit less relaxed than the first time we were there/ maybe a bit too bustly for my taste. But I think the bustly vibe is what most people love. The tuna steak was a great entree- we would do that again. Shout out to our server Ty- great job!! read more

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Southbound was worth the walk. This was one of those restaurants that kept popping up on "Must Eat" lists, so I decided to walk over recognizing that being in a residential neighborhood parking might be challenging. I expected an old house conversion, much like Chez Nous, but instead found this remarkable remodel that kept the exterior but the interior was more modern and intriguing. Not having reservations - seriously, make reservations here - I came here in the middle of the week to find this place packed. Still, I was greeted exceptionally warmly. The hostess explained certain areas, pointing out the chef's table (too cool), and brought me upstairs to the bar. There I had an amazing dining experience. My bartender was extremely informative helping me make great decisions. I ordered the steak tartare at his recommendation and let me tell you that was some of the best I have ever had. It was so good! I also ordered the tilefish which while not a fish I'm super familiar with I had it several times at Charleston and Southbound's preparation was best. It was so tender, easy to eat white flakey fish. Delicious! I can't recommend Southbound enough! read more

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Amazing first-time experience at Southbound. Sat at the chefs counter which was cool watching the three chefs prepare dinner while we sipped delicious cocktails. Every single thing we put in our mouth was 10/10. Attentive service, friendly chefs, cozy ambiance! Will be back soon read more

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I love Southbound's concept. I've eaten there once before and had a wonderful dinner with great service. I recently tried their happy hour because I was interested in the burger that is only available during happy hour. The drinks were half off for happy hour, but they were still pretty pricey. The burger was good, but 20$. I don't think it was worth 20$. I found it to be a bit dry which could have been fixed with some sauce. The best part of the burger was the unique blend of meat types used for the patty. Very expensive! read more

Fantastic food. And service was great also. Didn't leave a single scrap of food on the plates read more

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What a fantastic vibe this place has! Just looks like a two-story house with brick and wrought iron adorning the street-side. Inside is done up very nicely and I'm sorry I didn't take more pics to share. A friend & I sat at the upstairs bar. We shared 2 appies (wedge salad & Burrata/country ham), as well as a side of fingerling potatoes. I do wish there had been some bread or crackers with the Burrata, especially given the price. The lemon drops were fantastic as was service by the bartender. read more

Southbound - Lemon Drops! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

First time there. From the moment we arrived we felt like family. I was given A rose for our anniversary celebration. And we celebrated with champagne. It is a cozy home feeling. With open kitchen. Our server John was on point. We started with the sous vide octopus, then I had the duck and my husband had the pork chop. Everything was perfect. We ended with a sweet potato pudding that was out of this world. A personal card to congratulate our anniversary with a chocolate covered oreo. Staff is top notch and food is on point, I highly recommend read more

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Finally checked out Southbound Friday night. Our waiter recommended amazing options. But first, let's discuss parking. You will definitely have to hunt and search for available spaces. The restaurant space is small but has a nice ambiance. We started with the peach salad, elk and octopus appetizers. The octopus was our favorite. For dinner we had the Red Drum, Duck, and Halibut. The Red drum fish did not disappoint! The sides we ordered were the heirloom tomatoes, broccolini and potatoes. I was not a fan of the grilled flavor of the broccolini. The highlight of the night I would definitely say was the cocktails. Michael our server gave great recommendations on all our drinks. They provide a very nice cocktail menu in the form of a little book. Overall it was a nice experience. We parked in the old Hominy Grill parking lot and paid per hour. It's on the same street as the restaurant. They also did have vegetarian options. read more

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Great atmosphere- expectations were a bit more for the price. Appetizers were delicious- crab cake was on point served fresh no filler, just jumbo lump crab seared to perfection! The pork cheeks - how can you go wrong with pork! Delicious. Drink options were offered via a cute hard back "story book" - like a published book. Very original. All food arrived for our party of 5 - unfortunately the $72 medium ribeye was well done and barely room temperature as was the other guests I later found out. Being a business dinner it was not appropriate to bring to attention. The steak was pretty thin but decent size if that makes sense. Overall I would give 5 out of 10 as apps were superb, waiter was attentive but entrees being almost cold and overcooked for the price are unacceptable. Don't think I would have a redo at these prices. See others had similar comments. read more

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What can I say, absolutely delicious food and wonderful service. The setting is lovely in a cute house with some porch seating and garden tables, the inside is a little more sleek and contemporary. It's so cool how everything is cooked over the wood fire grill. My top dishes I tried were the steak tartare, lamb ribs, and chocolate cobbler but they were all outstanding. I can't wait to visit again and see what else they come up with on their ever changing menu. read more

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Beautiful location, very small intimate seating., specially cocktails & select menu options, everything is cooked on an open fire. Attentive service, Special occasions or date night., not necessarily kid friendly. read more

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One of - if not the - best restaurants in town, new or old. I would give it six stars if I could. We sat at the chefs counter - a must, although any seat in this place is wonderful. Sitting there allowed us to see the chefs cook on the wood-fired grills and prepare the best dishes in town, from the marbled bbq potatoes to the collard greens. I got the elk chops, which paired marvelously with the wine recommended by our waiter. I devoured the entire dish. I loved everything about the chops. My wife had the lamb loin but nothing will top the elk to me. The meat melts in your mouth. Somehow even the salad was amazing, I kid you not. They had a shallot dressing that had me basically licking the plate. Go. Go here now. Stop reading this and make a reservation at the chefs counter if you can. read more

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Ambiance is amazing we sat on balcony and had pineapple daiquiri and a spring st " mocktail" since I don't drink. The food is to die for duck breast was cooked to perfection. Got to make this place a regular dinner night out read more

Southbound - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Southbound has only been opened since February, but has generated tremendous buzz in the Charleston restaurant scene. It's located in a home that was totally rebuilt following a fire. There is dining space on the first and second floors, plus the outdoor patio. The bar is on the second floor. To really experience what makes this restaurant superb, you need to sit at the chef's counter. You get to meet the three chefs, Peter, Zack and Michael. They were fun to chat with and gave us the backstory on many of the dishes. The restaurant is known for its "Live Fire Cooking," so be prepared for it to be a tad warm while you dine at the counter. One of the best things about sitting there is the food was literally prepared right before your eyes. The menu usually changes daily, so it's hard to tell which of the items we tried will be available when you dine there. We started with the Dry Aged Steak Tartare and the Split Creek Farms Feta with Watermelon, Cucumbers and Blistered Tomatoes. A perfect combination for our party of four. Beautifully plated, yummy tasting. For entrees, we went with the Braised Wild Boar Shank, the Crispy Long Island Duck Breast, Fire Roasted Swordfish and Filet Mignon. My wife had ordered the Spring Chicken, but changed to the Wild Boar Shank based on recommendation of the chefs. I'm a big fan of duck and will say it was incredibly tender, perfectly prepared. However, I wish the portion was larger. Luckily, my wife shared her Boar Shank. And for sides, the Smashed Yukon Golds and Braised Greens were excellent. We decided to splurge and ordered all three desserts, including the Grilled Peaches of Cream, Campfire Chocolate Espresso S'More and Key Lime Posset. All were equally incredible. The wait staff was awesome, the craft cocktails were super tasty and the restaurant features a unique interior design. Everything adds up to an amazing evening. How satisfied were we? We'd order pretty much everything again in a heartbeat! read more

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Very very good meal. A+ on the espresso martini. Bone marrow could have used a clove of halved garlic for guests to rub on the bread. Great service. Came for the steak tartare which had been on the menu since opening but was not on when I went. Shame. Ambiance 3.5 Service 4 Food 3.5 Overall 3.8 One other dissapointment was the decision to not have backs on the chefs counter stools. If I'm going to eat for 2 hours I'm going to want to lean back. Had to alter my reservations to a dining room table because of this. read more

Southbound - S'mores and espresso martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Can't beat the ambience here! The outdoor porch is so peaceful and serene. The drink menu is extensive and every drink was absolutely delicious. For starters the steak tar tar was interesting I would say 3/5, unfortunately the crudo I would give a 1/5. It was bland and unfortunately very fishy. The bisque was super sweet and yummy, something I would enjoy for dessert. For entrees the flounder I would give a 5/5 and the pork chop I would give a 3/5. Overall service, ambiance, and drinks get a 5/5, food on average 3/5. read more

Southbound - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina