Food - 5 stars. Both my girlfriend and I got the blackened shrimp chowder. Absolutely delicious! I love how they fire the shrimp at the last minute, so they don't sit in a heated soup for hours on end, becoming rubber bands. Next, I got the scallops with the saffron risotto. Yum! Girlfriend got the a snapper dish on a butter bean medley. She doesn't like Lima beans (which these actually appeared to be), so she ate around them, but she loved the fish! Service - 5 stars Our waiter was a nice gentleman named Tony. He was very friendly and helpful and timely with his service. Did a good job of helping my girlfriend navigate the wine menu (she's quite picky). They've actually got some aged white wines (Sauvignon blancs) that are quite different than what she normally drinks (she likes New Zealand varieties), so he steered her clear of them. Ambiance - 5 stars I found the interior of the place to be very inviting. Tall ceilings and modern architecture. A little on the loud side (we had a family with young kids nearby), but not bad. They actually have sound absorbing panels mounted on the ceiling, so you can tell they've given this element some thought. Finally, our table had a nice view of the kitchen and, as an avid personal chef, I really appreciate that aspect. Only odd thing (to me, at least) was that they sat us at a table right away (we arrived right at 5pm, which was when they opened), but told us that the bar seating was by reservation only. Odd...but maybe be the Kentucky Derby was coming on later that evening? In summary, I highly recommend this place and we will certainly be coming back! read more

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Royal Tern delivered some of the best seafood we've had in Charleston, even if a few other parts of the experience didn't quite match the food. We started with the Royal Tern oysters, and they absolutely stole the show. Fresh, briny, and perfectly prepared, they were easily one of the best things we ordered all night. If you're visiting for the first time, don't skip them. For our entrees, my husband ordered the whole fish with jalapeño cheddar rice and asparagus. The fish was cooked beautifully and packed with flavor, while the rice added a unique twist to the dish. I went with the swordfish and étouffée, and it was outstanding. The swordfish was perfectly cooked, tender, and flavorful, while the étouffée added richness without overpowering the fish. It was one of those meals where you find yourself thinking about it long after you've left. We finished with the angel food funfetti cake topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. While it was a fun way to end the meal, it didn't quite live up to the incredible seafood and felt a little forgettable compared to everything else. Service was adequate but not particularly memorable, and the atmosphere was pleasant enough, though it lacked some of the warmth and energy we expected. That said, the food alone is reason enough to visit. Between the oysters and the swordfish, Royal Tern proved why it's such a popular seafood destination. read more

The Royal Tern - Seafood Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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The Royal Tern on Johns Island is an absolute gem! From the warm, welcoming atmosphere to the excellent service, everything was wonderful. You will want to grab a reservation on Resy and the doors do not open until 5pm sharp. This was for our anniversary and the treated us to two glasses of celebration bubble! We got the calamari with a wonderful lemony sauce - the calamari was a bit chewy but great flavor. The risotto and scallops were absolutely fabulous--perfectly cooked, beautifully seasoned, and full of flavor. Every bite felt thoughtful and fresh. It's clear the open kitchen takes great pride in their craft. The pistachio & strawberry mousse cake was the perfect ending to our celebratory night! If you're looking for a special place for a delicious meal on Johns Island, The Royal Tern is a must-visit. We'll definitely be back! read more

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The fish of the day was founder could be prepared fried or grilled....obviously had to get both. Both amazing but grilled won with an amazing flavor profile. This seafood restaurant was delicious! read more

The Royal Tern - Seafood Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

We have enjoyed dining at The Royal Tern on multiple visits, and our latest was just as good as before. We made a late reservation on a Friday night, during the softie season in Charleston. The restaurant was full of lively diners, and the servers were busy taking care of them. The interior is a large open area, but there is seating at the bar and an enclosed side porch. After an order of cocktails, we enjoyed hushpuppies and burrata salad as starters. We also had the ahi tuna as an additional starter. Each starter was delicious and filling. But the softshell crab specials they had were amazing, and made this another memorable dining experience. We love coming to the Royal Tern, and are always impressed with their menu items. Desserts are also a good treat, but we were so full on this visit we had to pass. read more

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We didn't want to wait for a later reservation we had nearby, so took a chance as a walk in. Jay, the host, was kind enough to get us a spot on the screened patio after a brief wait. Elizabeth took great care of us and we decided on a sampler/share approach versus individual entrees. Best decision! The chopped salad was similar to a wedge, and the blackened shrimp chowder they split for us. Also had clams from the raw bar, wood grilled oysters and calamari. My favorites were the chowder and oysters, but everything was tasty! The patio was quieter than the main dining area, but also busy. So happy we stopped in. read more

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A friend and I sat at the bar for dinner. Please make reservations. Our bartender was amazing and gave up the daily food specials. The place was very well kept, except the need to clean the air vents at top of ceilings. Overall service, food and drinks were amazing read more

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It's been a while since we had dined at The Royal Tern and I am happy to report that everything was just as good as I remember. We took the family out for my birthday dinner, and everything was so good. The service was so attentive and made sure we had a great dining experience. We really got to try various dishes this time and the kids got to order the Filet Mignon (they favorite) and it was cooked to perfection. We had to try the oysters which were so fresh and tasty. We also enjoyed the Salmon and Ahi Tuna. Being that we were celebrating, we went in on the desserts and they were nice enough to throw in another one on the house. This is a great restaurant, for a date or family gathering. We love that it's close to us, in John's Island. Make sure you put this one on your list of places try if you have not been yet. read more

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This was my first time visiting this spot and it was such an incredible experience. Our waiter was fabulous! He was attentive and friendly, great conversation and made the experience delightful. The food was incredible. The yeast rolls, I highly recommend as a starter. They had a non-alcoholic red wine which I was so excited to try! The interior was vibrant and I loved the blue. There was accessible parking on property with a ramp walkway to enter. read more

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They still have it going on! Always a wonderful experience! Mussels are heaven sent! Oyster service is bomb! read more

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I've never had a bad experience here! I've reviewed before but I'm updating it. The staff is always so friendly and knowledgeable, the food is constantly good, and the ambiance is perfect for date night or dinner with friends. This place continues to be in my Charleston top 10 read more

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A hidden seafood gem on John's Island! Make sure to make a reservation because the seats do fill up quickly. This is a very clean and bright location and a little bit more on the upscale side. I love that you can add filet mignon to the Burrata, which gives it an extra pop. The wood grilled oysters were definitely the stand up for me! The garlic butter, Parmesan, and lemon went perfectly together and made the oyster level up. We ended up splitting the filet mignon and salmon across four people, and it was plenty of food! My only gripe is that none of the steaks come with any side like the entrées do. We came here for a birthday and the server came out with a slice of fun-fetti birthday cake read more

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I haven't really explored John's culinary scene and I can't believe I was sleeping on this one! The environment is so clean and modern... Plenty of seating and they can accommodate large parties. Recommend making a reservation because it does fill up. The staff was all amazing. Very friendly and very helpful selecting enough food for a group. The burrata but add filet is one of my favorite things. The baked oysters and tuna poke are great shareable and it goes without saying that a shrimp cocktail never disappoints. Great mocktails and birthday cake! read more

The Royal Tern - Seafood Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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Wow, do they know their seafood. I'm still dreaming about the scallop carpaccio, and the perfectly shucked oysters - not a speck of grit. You would be comfortable here at the bar or booths, it's intimate but open. Services are friendly and unpretentious. We had such a wonderful time. read more

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First time in charleston, SC there are many restaurants in the area and we picked by chance, The Royal Tern, wonderful experience food was excellent and our waitress Jessie, was very friendly and attentive. Highly recommend. read more

This was a great dinner! We happened upon this little gem as we were on our way back to Charleston on our way back from one of the plantation tours. We were able to walk right in at opening and luckily got a table. Delicious fish, salads and you must try the bread. If I lived here, I would be there every week! read more

The Royal Tern - Cute dinning area and open kitchen. - Seafood Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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Another great dinner at Royal Tern. The service was excelent, the food were delicious per usual and the ambiance of this place so good for date night. I recommend all the dish from this place but my favorite is their scallops. read more

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Thoroughly enjoyed the Royal Tern tonight with my boyfriend and his family! I had the scallops and the smoked peach mule for a cocktail which was fantastic; however, all of the tuna dishes really stole the show. My boyfriend had the seared tuna for his entree, and we split the tuna & salmon appetizer, along with the tuna sashimi special appetizer, which were all incredible. The servers were attentive, and the restaurant was cute & inviting! read more

The Royal Tern - Seared tuna - Seafood Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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Amazing restaurant. This is a hidden gem that probably isnt as busy as it should be because of the location. All the seafood was amazing and wonderfully seasoned. We loved the drinks and desserts as well. The scallop dish had so many amazing flavors and the broth from the mussels was my favorite. read more

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The food was amazing. The whole fish catch of the day (flounder today) was amazing. Get the hot buns as an app. No questions, just do it. Known for desserts, don't skip those. Friendly service. read more

The Royal Tern - Seafood Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

We are a delicious seafood tower, fries, hush puppies, and rolls that were to die for at Royal Tern's beautiful bar. The service was wonderful, the ambiance was upscale and coastal, and we enjoyed every bite! read more

Came here for dinner from a reco while we were golfing in Kiawah. We ordered a couple of things to share and everything was super fresh and prepared well. The Grilled Oysters - A must order; these were so tasty Ahi Tuna - Very fresh and light Blacked Shrimp Chowder - Creamy and was quite nice; but was slightly under seasoned for us Swordfish - The sauce and rice was seasoned so well but the fish felt a little on the drier side; but overall still a great dish Highly recommend stopping by - the overall vibe and ambiance was great! read more

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Our family visited in August and this was a real highlight for us in SC. Our server, Velvet, provided by far the best dining experience for us on the trip. Encouraging our kids to try new things and looking ahead at our needs. Really wonderful and thoroughly appreciated. We sat on the porch, with the chorus of frogs and crazy SC sounds as a backdrop, screened in of course. We had an array of seafood dishes and everything was spot on. We don't normally like swordfish very much, but loved the dish here! read more

Great staff, great meal! Stepped out of comfort zone and tried many new things! Tuna was phenomenal! read more

Great local seafood restaurant, beautiful dining area, and perfect spot outside of downtown -food: excellent swordfish, oysters both raw and baked, fantastic rotating desserts as well as the staples like their gluten free carrot cake -drinks: refreshing cocktails and mocktail (their house shrub is really good) -service: fantastic -ambience: differs depending on outdoor patio/booths/main dining but overall lively & fun -parking: they have their own parking lot that does fill up quickly read more

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Came to the Royal Tern for dinner on a Saturday night and we had a lovely experience. Our waiter was very attentive to our table and made sure we were taken care of. The bees knees cocktail was exceptional, not too sweet or too strong. For me, the highlight of the meal was appetizers. I would love to come back and try more of them. The yeast rolls, tuna and salmon tartare, and royale oysters were the star of the show. The yeast rolls were warm, soft and buttery. The raw fish was so fresh and high quality. I could not recommend those more. The flat iron steak was perfectly cooked and melted in your mouth. The potatoes didn't stand out to me, but I honestly couldn't even eat a lot of them since I was so full from the appetizers and I definitely under estimated the portion size of the entree. The only thing I did not like about my experience was sitting outside. Although it was a a screened in porch, I came home with a lot of insect bites (one of which I had an allergic reaction to). This did take away from my experience so I would highly recommend sitting inside when visiting. However, I don't want to fault the restaurant too much for that since obviously we are in an area with lots of bugs. All in all I would definitely return here and I would recommend it to anyone in the area. read more

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My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary at The Royal Tern. The restaurant is stunning from the outside. Very grande. There is plenty of parking and reservations are needed as they are open from 5-9 pm, Monday- Saturday. Inside is warm and welcoming. It was more casual than I expected. No white table cloths or dark interior. It had a laid-back coastal vibe, which I love. When I booked, I mentioned it was for our anniversary. When we were seated, our waiter told us Happy Anniversary and brought out complimentary champaigne. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer. It was fried golden brown with a delicious aoli sauce and served with a side of marinara that was very tasty. We had the airline chicken for the entrée. This was sliced chicken breast, and a drumstick served over a bed of rice pilaf cooked in a Morel mushroom sauce. This was also plated with roasted asparagus, potatoes, and carrots. Everything was delicious. We shamefully picked our plates clean. We were full, so we didn't have dessert this time. The Royal Tern has a full service bar, raw bar, and indoor and outdoor seating. They offer seafood, steaks, chicken, and sandwiches. The average cost of a meal is $50-100, and all sides are a la carte and not included as part of the entrée. The only negative was the online reservation tool. It would not allow me to reserve a future date, so I had to phone the restaurant. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Great food and excellent service. I will be back. read more

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We had our 39th wedding anaversery dinner at the Royal Tern restaurant on Johns Island. We started off with a complimentary glass of champagne, Calamari appetizer, and the Air Flight Chicken as our main course. The food was cooked to perfection, with very little wait time. I can say we both joined the clean plate club. This restaurant is a gem! It offers a great atmosphere, friendly service, and a variety of delicious dishes. The menu offers a variety of fresh seafood options, from fish to raw oysters. They also have amazing wood-fired steaks that just melt in your mouth. The restaurant has a very welcoming atmosphere, an open kitchen, and a screened-in porch for outside dining. The staff is friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. Overall, The Royal Tern is a fantastic choice for a delicious and enjoyable dining experience on Johns Island. read more

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Awesome experience, start to finish. Excellent, happy service, outstanding food, tasty deserts. Very modern, open dining area with a view of the amazing kitchen. Entrees are HUGE, prices are fair. Best Yellowfin I have ever had, pecan encrusted!! read more

This is "medium" steak. Since the grill was closed, they would not cook it anymore. It ruined my wife's night and birthday celebration. Great job. Your customer service is atrocious, treat your customers better. read more

The Royal Tern - "Medium steak" - Seafood Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

For kid free nights, The Royal Tern is always our first thought for dinner out of the house. The ambiance is fantastic. The restaurant is clean and spacious; the main seating area offers plenty of distance between you and other diners allowing for privacy. If you don't want to be too far from others, the bar area is great to sit at as well. For starters we typically get the calamari, raw oysters, seasoned and baked oysters, mussels, and hushpuppies with honey butter. For entrees, we've had filet, ribeye, fish specials of the day, more appetizers, etc. Everything is always fantastic. I also recommend the white sangria! Services is typically pretty good; I wouldn't say the best in Charleston but definitely fits the bill for a more upscale dining experience. read more

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Good restaurant on Maybank. The menu is excellent along with the service! I look forward to my next visit!

Tonight's dinner at The Royal Tern was one for the books. We started with hush puppies and raw oysters that were absolutely perfect! The sangria was delicious and my yellowfin tuna encrusted with peanuts was out of this world! It was an explosion of flavor in my mouth and served with the freshest seasonal veggies. Those mushrooms! Probably one or that best dinners I've had in a long time. The service was excellent and the restaurant is simply elegant and bright. 5 stars! read more

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One of my favorite restaurants on John's Island! They always have excellent service and the fresh seafood is consistently amazing. The inside is not huge so reservations are recommended, especially if you have a larger party. They do have a large bar area and usually have a couple of spots available to snag. They have great cocktails and a hearty wine list as well. We always end up ordering some oysters, and you can put them up against the best in Charleston! All of their seafood is super fresh and cooked to perfection. The portions are great and the flavors are super well balanced. I ordered the scallops which were *chefs kiss* and my husband ordered the swordfish étouffée and was equally as amazing. My biggest suggestion would be to save room for dessert! They have an in house pastry chef and everything we've had from them is outstanding! They do a good job of mixing up some chocolatey and fruity desserts and they do rotate often. Bottom line: make a resy to come to eat here and save room for dessert(s)! read more

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First time visiting the Royal Tern (and South Carolina). It was delicious! I had the blackened swordfish etouffee and it is in my Top 25 all-time dinners. My wife had the scallops and loved them. We also had two orders of Fran's rolls. PHENOMENAL! Our server Megan and staff were so great all around. Recommend the porch seating. A wonderful time. read more

We had a great meal here. Their chicken dish was delicious. A ribeye steak was grilled perfectly! Creame Brûlée was our ending to a wonderful night. read more

Beautiful restaurant with excellent food. Oysters were the highlight Here is what we had: - Chopped salad: It was okay, next time I'll just get a side salad. - royale oyster: incredibly delicious, may have been my favorite bite. - wood grilled oysters: basically oyster Rockefeller. Excellent. - royal tern oysters: excellent - grilled flounder: best entree that the table ordered. The sauce was so good. - swordfish: good but not as good as the flounder - mushroom side: excellent, would order again read more

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Worth the drive to John's Island and highly recommended! We made reservations and when we arrived we were seated right away! Megan (our services) arrived at our table within a few seconds. The restaurant is very open, with an open - very clean kitchen, coastal feel. We started with a dirty martini which came with house blue cheese stuffed olives.... YUM! And an order of the biscuits with honey butter... oh my! The biscuits were so light and delicious and the honey butter just made them more delicious! I choose the Halibut for my entree. Wow ! It had a very light caper crust, which was perfectly seasoned. Served on top of sweet potato hash, broccoli, bacon ( which was thick chucks) and raisins. The raisins added a little twang which really made all the flavors come together so wonderfully. My friend had a chopped salad and the BBQ shrimp. Both were delicious! The buttermilk on the chopped salad was so light and creamy... amazing! The BBQ shrimp were in a bowl with a wonderful sauce and served with bread. I could have drank the sauce! We finished with the vanilla bean crème brûlée. Oh my goodness.. it was so creamy and the wine flavored grapes and pomegranates on top were just perfect! I highly recommend and we will be back! read more

The Royal Tern - Halibut - Seafood Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

The ambience is beautiful with dim lighting on beautiful fixtures, inviting staff and open kitchen concept to see how clean everything is. The service was attentive and we enjoyed our server. I loved that the water was always topped off as well! The mussels to start were so delicious. We enjoyed the amazing sauce they were in along with the grilled sourdough. We also loved our after dinner espresso and beautiful take on tiramisu! As for the entrees they were delicious and beautiful but i have a few complaints. We ordered the flat iron steak, medium rare. In some areas i feel that it was too rare. I enjoyed the mushrooms but the sauce was very heavy on the salt. We also ordered the blackened swordfish. It was delicious but the sauce was also very salty, i felt it was hard to finish these meals. I know the restroom also doesn't matter to many people, but to me, when you're out for a nice meal, it's enjoyable visiting a beautiful restroom. It did have a step stool for children to wash their hands and a baby changing table which is nice. But otherwise it's not a very pleasant space. I also feel that the space can use some art. I hate to give this restaurant 4 stars instead of 5 but I feel there are tweaks that need to be made, we enjoyed our dinner but it's not on the top of my list to go back or recommend first, but it is worth the try! I do always feel it's hard to review based off of the few meals we got, so maybe if we got other items we would've been more satisfied! read more

The Royal Tern - Beautiful tiramisu - Seafood Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

The food and service were awesome. The tuna and salmon tartar is unbelievable. The staff really knows the menu well.