For our last night in CHS we wanted to eat and eat good. We were literally walking around CHS trying to figure it out, where do we go... Well we stumbled upon this decadent gem of a restaurant called The Establishment. For us this isn't an everyday dinner spot. It is an occasion place. A spot made for celebrating so that's exactly what we did, celebrated our last night in South Carolina! To say we ate good is an understatement. We dined like Kings and Queens. To step in off the street and be seated at the Chef's table immediately was pretty cool. The place filled up quickly though. Despite being busy we received some of the most stellar service I've had in some time. Two bottles of wine and four courses later we left satisfied, 100%. First up a beautiful grenache, that was every bit as flavorful yet subtly light. Our waiter and the entire staff were so accommodating and raised the bar for table service up a notch as the food and drinks began to flow. First course was the scallops and I was wowed with the method of how they were cooked up and seared to perfection. My wife being a vegetarian enjoyed a wonderful medley of roasted carrots. Trust me on this, the carrots were absolutely crushing it! Second course I had the crispy duck! Again, wow. The duck was crispy yet tender and made for a serious delight to the pallet. My wife had a salad that was pretty sizeable and again all the flavors were on point. Time for another bottle of wine. This time we moved to a stunning bottle of Malbec. The big glasses came out. We laughed and were really enjoying ourselves at this time and the Malbec was so damn good. Last course now. The star of the show, a freshly caught Whole Fish. The fish was seared and served complete, deboned and no head no tail. It was quite a sizeable piece of fish and it was every bit of goodness. Perfectly cooked! My wife had a mushroom risotto that was as decadent as a risotto is supposed to be. We loved it all! Can't believe I almost forgot dessert. We tried two. An ice cream with a chocolate and topping and some crumbles that was solid. Also had a chocolate cake with cherries. Topped off everything we had and allowed us to finish our wine. The Establishment is all that. The service is what service for fine dining should be. I haven't ate like this in a while and was truly moved by the entire dinner. Unforgettable is where my first thoughts go and it should be when spending coin like this. Worth every penny hands down! The best part was watching the kitchen operate like an orchestra! Hats off to the team of chefs at The Establishment. The Establishment creates their courses each night. Our menu was dated so we knew it was a truly special meal made just for that date. That is amazing and they put it all together with ease! read more

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We were directed here for the cocktail program, given that we do not want to deal with tiki drinks and screaming college students. The person who directed us here was not wrong. We had The Poet and The Impressionist and they did not disappoint. The Poet is Kentucky in a glass. It had the flavor of the Bourbon Slush I make for Derby, but classed up. And boozed up. The Impressionist was not too sweet, which is saying a lot for a drink with pear purée. We spoke with the bar manager who created them and were really impressed with his care. And his disinterest in whatever tiki nonsense is taking hold of Charleston right now. On the other hand, the restaurant is old school and full of people I would not want to actually know or have to listen to for any amount of time. So have a drink at the bar and move on. read more

The Establishment - The Impressionist and The Poet - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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My boyfriend and I had the best time at this establishment(lol) last night. We went here for restaurant week! The food was awesome and the drinks were strong which was a plus! I'm from Arizona so when my boyfriend boasted about going here, I became filled with excitement since the food looked amazing and the restaurant had very good reviews. It's the perfect spot for date night If you're in the area, I definitely recommend you going here! read more

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Great service and excellent food / cocktails! We got the soft shell crab and strawberry appetizer. Highly recommend making reservations! read more

The Establishment - The Poet - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I was in Charleston for my birthday and originally had reservations at The Charleston Grill. For some reason, they cancelled our reservation and the hostess who alerted us recommended The Establishment and I'm glad she did. The service from the host stand to our server was amazing. Tanner did such a great job, he recommended the most delicious menu items, thoughtfully explained each one, and picked the perfect wine pairing. To start we ordered the shrimp, gnocchi, and wahoo crudo, all were amazing. For dinner we had the whole fish and scallops, which if you like peas was perfect and light. Dessert was a the carrot cake, homemade strawberry ice cream, and homemade heath bar ice cream. Couldn't recommend this place enough. Tanner rocked and the food was great. read more

0 regrets coming here for our first dinner in Charleston! Everything was perfect. I recommend literally everything we ordered and I just wish we were here longer so we could try more from the menu!! read more

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The Establishment is a top fine dining destination in downtown Charleston. There were 2 of us having dinner and started with the watermelon appetizer, which was fantastic. We also had the summer squash salad that had amazing citrus flavors. It was light and fresh and perfect for summer. I had the tilefish which is my favorite white fish. It was schnitzel crusted, and light and flaky. My friend had the scallops which were so succulent and tender. For dessert we had the tiramisu which was the best I've had. We also had the pot de crème which was silky smooth chocolaty goodness. Every time I dine here, I am quite pleased with the unique flavors and the great service. Make reservations! read more

So, I must have walked by this place couple of hundred times and always wondered why there was a menu on the outside of a wall in which I didn't see a restaurant. Then I'd go on my merry way and forget about it after a few bourbons some more laughs farther down the road. This time I decided to investigate and have discovered a wonderful restaurant tucked away down a little entranceway. The place is beautiful and a perfect Charlestonian bland of old and new decor. A dimly lit hallway gives way to a big bar and around the corner is a beautiful dining room. This was my wife's birthday so we decided to start the night with a bottle of vintage champagne a 2011 Cedric Bouchard. a wonderfully "yeasty" yet "minerally" bottle of deliciousness. We decided to go with 2 apps for the table: Scallop Crudo with a touch of citrus and some sea beans and the better dish, the crab gnocchi! Think of gnocchi made with ricotta instead of potatoes and served with a velvety "crab butter"! Our server recommend getting the bakery rolls because we would absolutely want to sop up all the goodness when the gnocchi were gone. He wasn't lying! My tongue beat up my own tonsils it was so good! we could have ended the evening there and it would have been good but NO! there's more. We decided on 3 entrees. 1. Pork Chop with nuoc cham (Vietnamese sauce), broccoli, tossed in some black garlic jus. 2. 45 day dry aged prime ribeye, topped with a chimichurri sauce. Now the server told me that the steak was better than Halls ChopHouse, Im not so sure that the truth but it was a darn fine piece of beef! I'd be happy to eat it again 3. The wreck fish sous vide and poached in butter with a corn velouté and snow peas. Almost had the texture of butter poached lobster. All of the entrees were wonderful. hard to pick a winner there. I can say we chose a 2018 Henri de Villamont Haut Côtes de Nuits Les Damoiseaux to pair with the entrees and this wonderful Burgundian wine did not disappoint! Great light cherry color with the typical minerality expected of the region, a slight hint of raspberry on the palate. An excellent wine that I would add to my cellar at home. We ended the evening with a piece of tiramisu for the table and a couple ounces of Calvados and Cognac. Can't say enough good things about service either. I wish I would have written this review earlier when I could remember the name of the waiter. Steve/David maybe? perfect blend of conversation at the table and leave the table alone to eat and talk. I absolutely hate that it took so long to try them...I promise it won't be that long again before I go back! read more

Absolutely spectacular from start to finish. The staff, decor, drinks, and food were all perfect. From the smiling and helpful hostesses to the waitstaff and management. Everyone was attentive, friendly, informative, and exceptional at their jobs. The chefs came out to check on us as well, which is always a nice touch from a top notch restaurant. Even the bathrooms impressed my bride...and she loves beautiful things! Drinks: Wine list excellent, my wife enjoyed her rose and then Roussanne. My bourbon based cocktails were both awesome, the one with balsamic vinegar was memorable... Food: Wow. Seriously, WOW. Delicious, perfectly prepared and plated, amazing. The gnocchi with crab is a shining star...perfect pillows with ample amount of lump crab. The pistachio pistou was an amazing compliment and didn't take away from the flavors of the crab or gnocchi themselves. We will crave this dish. Grilled peaches, Carpaccio, and Duck appetizers were all delicious in their own right and we would get each of them again. Entrees...the Farrotto was exceptional. Farro based risotto style vegetarian dish. The cooked carrots provided an earthy sweetness to the dish and the other vegetables were expertly prepared and crisp. But man...the oil poached Grouper??? Damn. Succulent, light but filling, delicate but flavorful...so damn good. Chef brought out some local John's Island tomatoes tossed in a sherry vinegar and sesame seed mix. Holy crap. So fresh and sweet and delicious!!!! Dessert...yeah. Fruity Pebbles Ice Cream. Don't knock it till you try it. It was the perfect end to the meal. The chefs are some of the most talented in all of Charleston. Don't miss your opportunity to dine here. read more

The Establishment - Oil poached grouper, local tomatoes (freaking amazing), farrotto verde - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

If you are in Charleston this is the place to eat! Absolutely hands down one of the best meals I've ever eaten. I ordered the pressed lamb, my friend had a ribeye. The portions were generous, the flavor was perfect, and the staff were all friendly. Southern food, service and charm at its finest. read more

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This a a beautiful large restaurant. Our server was top notch. His descriptions and recommendations were excellent. Although, we thought the food was more beautiful than it was tasty. But, overall we still enjoyed the establishment. read more

Went here for my Anniversary and all I can say is WOW! The ambiance, the service, the food was all absolutely perfect. We were seated at a lovely booth in the back where the atmosphere was so romantic. Our waiter was so attentive and knew the menu well so he was able to make some recommendations. For starters, we went with his recommendation of the Bay Scallop Bucatini. The noodles were fresh, it had a nice lemony taste, the scallops were delicious and it was topped with caviar. To die for! For our main dishes we got the Grouper and the Flounder with two sides: broccoli and the potatoes. My flounder was perfect. The owner came over with champagne and to congratulate us on our Anniversary. That was a very nice gesture indeed. If you are looking to celebrate something special I highly recommend this restaurant for your occasion. Or if you just want a night out with your significant other to have a romantic Date this is the place. I will be frequenting this restaurant. One of my new faves! read more

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Just ate at the wonderful establishment! Food, Service, Ambiance, impeccable!! Also nice background piano jazz starting at 8pm. Top 5 restaurants in Charleston. Will definitely be back !! read more

One of the items we ordered was the Grouper entrée. The dish had small boiled whole potatoes with no flavor, sitting in what tasted like thinned out tomato soup. The grouper itself just seemed to be cooked (not seared or fried) with maybe a little salt and placed on top of the whole potatoes. The mussels seemed like the small frozen ones and were placed on top of the grouper. We did not taste any clams or chorizo. This definitely was not what we expected for the price and for this type of restaurant. read more

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First night in Charleston was a success! I was in need of good food that had open reservations because Valentine's and President's Day weekend can be very hectic and I found The Establishment on the list. Our party arrived early so we hung out at the bar and waited to be seated. They were running behind with seating so we waited an extra 20 minutes before getting a table. I enjoyed the pianist playing old and new tunes, it kept us entertained for the most part. The restaurant had a cozy ambiance and elegance to it. The food was incredible I have to say and I was impressed by all of the dishes we had. We ordered the burrata, fried oysters, and lump crab gnocchi for starters. The burrata was topped with jelly and pistachio pieces and toasts to spread. The fried oysters were a bit small in portion but still good. The lump crab gnocchi had a pesto sauce topped with large lump crab meat! For our entree, we all ordered the short rib with polenta and grouper with a tomato base with scallops and shrimp to share. The BEST tasting short rib I have ever tasted! The meat was so tender it melts in your mouth. The polenta was buttery and paired perfectly with the meat. The grouper was flaky and pulled easily with perfect flavor from the base. The scallops and shrimp were a great addition to the dish. Lastly for dessert, we ordered the panna cotta and olive oil red velvet cake. The panna cotta was incredible! The dessert was so rich and the lemon flavor wasn't overpowering. Our server was amazing! She was very attentive, friendly, and quick! She made our dinner experience an unforgettable one. I highly recommend this place if you ever visit Charleston! read more

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Food is fair at best Presentation good Service is stiff, forced and just not fluid Overall staff is well par as compared to Charleston's best options Open kitchen and it shouldn't be!!!!!!!!!!! What a disappointment Dozens and dozens of better choices within 2 miles read more

Excellent dining experience. Very attentive service and very tasty cocktails. The taste course was outstanding. The Gnudi, Bay Scallops, and shrimp were delicious and beautifully presented. Our group had the tilefish, swordfish, and Grouper. Everyone enjoyed their dishes. The side of creamed kale was also tasty. The only disappointment was the bread service. The rolls were quite unremarkable and not at all up to the same standards as the remainder of the meal and certainly not worth $8. With that said, this was a five star experience and I highly recommend the restaurant. read more

This is gem of a restaurant in the heart of the pennisula! The have a nice size bar area and very comfortable dining area. The service is impeccable! The entire staff is friendly, knowledgeable and obviously love working here. The food was very good! We did not have a full dinner service, but chose to share several small plates. Everything was fresh and delicious! The menu changes daily depending on what can be locally sourced with a few staples on it. The cocktail list is exstensive paired with cocktails for those who don't drink alcohol. If you have any questions about anything, just ask! They have someone to help with everything. Definitely, give The Establishment a try! We did and now it's one our favorites. read more

What a great, romantic and also expensive seafood restaurant in Charleston! we were lucky enough to get reservations here on a random Thursday night. We got excellent service. We sat close to the bar. You can see all the chefs working in the kitchen. We started with some drinks which were amazing. Appetizers we got spaghetti squash which was really good, unique and on the healthier side except for the butter. for dinner I got the tile fish and my husband got duck. I've never had tile fish before and it's really good! they made it really well. We also got a side of broccoli and cabbage to keep things healthy and those were also delicious. Desert was good, overall I highly recommend this place. Amazing service, good food and excellent ambience. It's fun to take friends or dates or family. I would recommend making reservations. It's a very spacious facility. It's also expensive so remember that! read more

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Recommended by our concierge at the hotel bennett. I usually don't take concierge recommendations because they are likely trying to push something local, new whatever. But it sounded nice, he was VERY enthusiastic about the recommendation. The restaurant itself is 20 minutes walk from the hotel, which is fine but we requested something within five minutes. Took an Uber. Atmosphere is pretty cool although a bit loud. Very open, trendy, loudish. Service was reasonable, not good not bad. Wine selection was poor, asked for a wine list of high end bottles, but he looked at me like I had two heads although he did have a list and a massive wine celler on display. We ended up ordering just a very highly priced bottle of something we could get at Costco. Hydroponic, lettuce salad was delicious. The muscles were also interesting, brown beer with some Lardons and onions. The charred bread was great for soaking up the juice. I had a fish stew, Spanish style. It was very creamy, tomato-based but more like a curry. Really good but not exactly a fish stew. More like a fish curry super rich. My wife had the coq au vin. The concierge told this is one of the best he ever had, it was probably the worst I've ever had. It was basically half of a roasted chicken, soggy, full of bones. There was no color on the surface, no crisp on the skin. Not good at all. And extremely dry on the white meat . If you're going to do this, you better either be a French restaurant or do it really well. The live jazz was fun, but when it wasn't playing, the restaurant is extremely quiet with terrible acoustics. Some loud talker right next to us was unpleasant. Summerize: Toursity mixed fare southern peninsula rated by non locals which is why is has more than 3 stars. Would not survive in a smaller town with patrons who know food. Wont come back. read more

From the atmosphere to the service to the food, we thoroughly enjoyed eating at The Establishment this evening. We started with their fresh juice, non alcoholic cocktails, and they were light and flavorful and delicious. It was a treat to be offered a nonalcoholic drink that didn't seem like a well known liquor drink without the liquor. We started with the gnocchi, rolls, and carpaccio. My wife said the beef was her favorite part of the meal. We had grouper and Moqueca de Peixe for a mains, and the later was my favorite part. It was rich, flavorful, and brimming with fresh seafood. All in all, it was a perfect evening, and we throughly enjoyed the experience! read more

The Establishment - Gnocchi and Beef Carpaccio - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Great experience!! Nemo was amazing, he was super passionate about the menu and gave us great recommendations. Standouts were the Gnudi and the chocolate peanut butter cup iceeam read more

All the stars for The Establishment! We've been twice and it's been phenomenal both times. The crispy duck appetizer is not to be missed. But the star is hands down the lump crab gnocchi made out of ricotta. Holy. Crap. We could have just ordered the 5 plates and called it a day. I mean it's a must. The dessert menu was a little disappointing the night we went, but I just ordered another crab gnocchi instead so all was well. Gray service too! Ps, the foot rests under the booths were the best idea. read more

The Establishment - Partially eaten lump crab gnocchi. The best thing ever. - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I don't think I can rave enough about this place. A girlfriend and I went to a food blogging event and won a gift card and even met the head chef (Matt?) while trying some of their seafood stew. He recommended that when we make the reservation to request the chef counter so we did just that! We finally were able to visit this last March and I completely forgot to express how amazing it was until I met the marketing manager recently who reminded me of how awesome it was! While I hate people who call themselves a foodie, this was one of the best meals, if not the best I have had in Charleston in the five years I've lived here. We ended up ordering three appetizers, three entrees and a couple desserts and split everything so that we could try as much as possible. Sitting at the chef's counter made it that much easier to order as we were able to watch everything freshly prepared and put together into such a beautiful plate of art. Our server (an older gentleman who was fantastic) was also outstanding and helped with recommendations along with the sommelier who was amazing and helped us pick out a bottle of wine to pair with our selections. Everyone on the staff was top notch and so extremely friendly and knowledgeable, which made our experience that much better throughout the evening. We had the roasted carrots, duck confit, beef deckle, snap beans, veggie rissotto, swordfish, seafood stew, banana ice cream, and they even wanted us to try the flan so badly that they provided it complimentary. Everything was outstanding as we cleaned every plate during this meal. I honestly don't think I could say enough great things about this dinner and this establishment (ha, see what I did there!). If you are looking for outstanding service and incredible food, then this is your place to check out. I wish I could give 10 stars instead of just five! I will definitely be back! read more

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Both gnocchi and lobster spaghetti were drowning in butter. I got the impression that the staff either wasn't trained or didn't seem to care about guests' allergy or dietary restrictions (hello Benadryl!) That said, lamb with polenta was surprisingly delicious and multi-dimensional. Affogata was one happy ending. Slightly disappointing for sure, given the price tag. read more

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I wish I could give this restaurant 10 stars! 4 of us chose this place last minute and for our last night in Charleston. We wished we had chosen it every night. It was that good! The food was delicious, the service impeccable and the ambience was upscale causal. The Gnudi appetizer was one of the best foods I have ever eaten, and the halibut was fresh and cooked to perfection. All of the staff were extremely accommodating! read more

The only thing holding my rating back from being five stars was under cooked risotto, and a bit of dry fish... But in the end our party of six was over the moon with the food, the ambience is off the charts, and the service was delightful. My wife has already asked that that's the first place we visit when we return and I will tell you that this restaurant with survive in any city. We absolutely loved it and want to give the staff and chefs a standing ovation. Thanks for a wonderful experience read more

Let me just start by mentioning they don't offer bread. For a restaurant that should have amazing sauces this shocked me. Next off we ordered a wine which we had been ambivalent about - but not one of us was offered a taste. We ordered the gnocchi appetizer - which was not impressive. They were not pillow like or melt in your mouth. It honestly tasted like a mozzarella cheese stick with some fishy tasting crab meat laced in. Which I had to wash down with my less than desirable wine choice. We then had to wait a little bit for our entrees. At one point our waiter came by - must have seen our faces and said he would check on our dishes. They came out a little later. For our mains my partner ordered the grouper. Which was cold. I ordered the lobster truffle pasta dish. Oh boy. Couldn't taste ANY truffle. And I love truffle. And it's a distinctive taste. The pasta was nice and al dente I'll give it that - but it didn't have any other flavors. No buttery rich creamy lobster flavor laced with black truffle. Nada. As I was explaining how I felt to the manager - he very rudely explained that he was shocked I didn't taste any of these flavors because he of course did. Thought it was one of his favorite dishes. He was EXTREMELY condescending. Also - did he personally taste my dish? Luckily we were comped for the dishes that were subpar, but for a restaurant that boasts great dishes and high quality fish for an even higher price point - I was less than impressed. Would not recommend. No bells. read more

The Establishment - Lobster truffle - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I got married 6 months ago with immediate family, but I wanted to find a location for my best friends to come and celebrate our marriage. After deciding on Charleston, we found the Establishment. We rented the beautiful private room and had an impeccable experience from start to finish. Shane, the event lead, was fantastic with the menu and beverage options and made great suggestions on the flow of the event. Paige and Henry were our leads for the evening and were attentive throughout the night. The food was incredible and the fine dining experience was an absolute dream. I couldn't have asked for a better evening with friends and family. The Establishment was the perfect find. read more

My wife and I had a great experience at The Establishment this week. Very nice bar. Upscale atmosphere and top notch service. Lots of great seafood options. Tasty drinks. Get the Gnudi appetizer. read more

Highly recommend! Nehemiah was very attentive and took great care of us. Get the gnudi, it's amazing!

What a fantastic experience!!! We sat at the chef's corner, which is a cool experience in and of itself. The corner consists of a long bar top that provides full view of the kitchen. We got to see so many wonderful dishes made and enjoyed the company of a kind, talented cook named Nick. We began with two appetizers, the gnocchi and the deckle. The gnocchi was absolutely incredible. It melted in your mouth and the soup or sauce it came in was exquisite. We may have licked the bowl clean. The deckle was very good. Tender, fatty and came in a soup that provided a solid contrast in flavor. It's major drawback was that it wasn't more gnocchi (so good!). Nick, the super friendly cook on the line, saw what a great time we were having and thought to extend it a bit. He provided us an extra appetizer, the duck confit. The duck was cooked perfectly and sat on a bed of delicious veggies and accented by a blackberry sauce. It was a thing of beauty. Thanks, Nick! Our main dish was the ribeye. It was so attractive that we each got the same thing. And neither of us was disappointed. It was amazing! The potatoes au gratin was delicious and cooked perfectly. The steak... they don't get better. Perfectly seasoned (salt only), great sear, perfect temperature and served with a heap of tallow butter (which I'm going to learn how to make). Can't recommend this highly enough. For dessert, we had the profiterole. The pastry was light and fluffy and the ice cream was delicious. Not sure the flavor, but it was a perfect compliment. It went well with a cappuccino as well. This was one of the great meals in my life and absolutely deserves 5 stars. Kudos to the kitchen! read more

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So we went here for Valentine's day and were not disappointed. Our server, Tanner, was incredibly educated on the menu and suggested several options. We had a wonderful time and a perfect dinner. The lavender dessert was probably my favorite of my entire life! Tanner did an amazing job with everything and was very attentive. This was one of our most favorite meals of 20 years in Charleston.... read more

Great food in a beautiful place! Large interior with a couple of different seating areas, all of them very nicely decorated. Interesting artwork on the walls and a big screen of scenery behind the bar. We visited for brunch. They had a very nice homemade ricotta, but the highlight was the rosti. It truly was one of the best dishes I've ever had. Duck confit in a delicious sauce over crunchy potato. Then a soft poached egg on top to finish it off, truly a masterpiece! read more

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Excellent service, tasty drinks, and fresh seafood! What a cute, romantic spot for dinner in a great location. Our waiter was super knowledgeable, charming, and friendly. read more

The Establishment - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

One of my new favorite restaurants in CHS. The holy trinity- great service, food, and environment! I can't tell you how impressed I was with how often the waitress came to check in. And they are ever so patient if you have questions or don't like something. I had the watermelon salad, grouper, and pavlova, and each was strikingly delicious! It was like art. It is also in a warm, cozy building and on the night we came live jazz music. They also offer reward points for frequent flyers. Just wow!! read more

I've dined at the Establishment on numerous occasions and can say that it is one of the finest restaurants in the country, hands down. Try "The Poet" for a fun and creative twist on an old fashioned and enjoy the crab gnocchi to start! You can't go wrong with anything on their menu, in particular their seafood offerings. Gorgeous wine menu and exemplary service. read more

Wow! This place did not disappoint. I had the Tile fish and the wife had the Grouper. Both dishes were packed full of flavor. Carrots on the side were so good. Took one star off for bar cocktails. Need a trained mixologist to complete the package. read more

Celebrated our wedding anniversary here. The staff was excellent and treated us specially for our occasion. Food was delicious, we will definitely be back. read more

The Establishment is fantastic!!! We've lived in Charleston for 5 years and this is the best meal we've had. Food, service, ambiance, all first class! Pricey, but no complaints. Go there if you can! read more