Locals Raw Bar — Restaurant in Beaufort

Locals Raw Bar, Beaufort’s newest seafood destination, is quickly making a name for itself. With a unique and delectable menu that shines during the lunch service, it’s already creating quite a buzz.

I indulged in their poke bowl; today’s fish included an exquisite mix of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. Each morsel was a testament to the freshness and quality of their seafood selection. The flavors were amplified by their house-made sauces and a delightful addition of pineapple, adding a sweet-tangy twist to the dish.

Alongside the poke bowl, I savored a standalone entree of seaweed salad. The salad served as a refreshing palate cleanser, balancing out the rich flavors of the poke bowl with its light and satisfying taste.

While Locals Raw Bar is yet to obtain its alcohol license, their dedication to perfecting the current offerings speaks volumes about its commitment to providing an excellent dining experience.

One of the restaurant’s most enticing features is its open kitchen design. It’s a treat to sit at the long bar and observe the skilled chefs working their magic, turning each meal into a live culinary performance.

Even the unique flatware at the restaurant is a testament to the thoughtfulness put into every detail. It adds a layer of visual charm to the overall dining experience.

The hostess, who doubled as the waitress, embodied Southern hospitality. Her friendly, attentive service enriched the dining experience and made it more personal.

The restaurant offers different menus for lunch and dinner, bringing a wide array of choices to the table. I did find the prices slightly high relative to the portion sizes, but this can likely be attributed to the high-quality ingredients and the efforts to refine their menu as a new establishment.

A noteworthy aspect that excites me about Locals Raw Bar is its rotating selection of daily specials. This not only promises to keep the menu fresh but also offers a chance to sample an ever-changing variety of culinary creations.

In summary, Locals Raw Bar is an exciting new addition to Beaufort’s food scene, offering high-quality seafood in a vibrant and engaging setting. Despite the slightly premium pricing, the overall dining experience, coupled with the promise of daily specials, makes it an enticing destination for seafood lovers and culinary explorers alike. I eagerly anticipate my next visit and tasting more of their...

First off I am writing this knowing they just opened. The outside signage is poor. Unless you know what their logo looking for the restaurant and finding it is tough. While sitting there I saw 2-3 other people standing outside what seemed to be looking for the location. The only reason I knew where it was, was because I knew it was in the old Fuji location. We were seated quickly which was good, but the appetizers took 30+ minutes to get. I noticed that the workers knew a lot of the other patrons and their food and even some specials from the chef came out quicker and before our appetizer even though they showed up before us. It seemed like they were more concerned with their family and friends which was interesting because you need the regular customers to keep the doors open. We ordered 2 sushi rolls, 1 tuna friend rice, kids chicken for our main meal. The 2 sushi rolls came out at about 40 minutes. The shrimp roll was quite small and priced at $18. I feel like it was a $12 roll. There wasn’t a whole lot to it and left alot to be desired. The other one we got had tuna I believe it was on the top. At $20+ it felt over priced as well. It was good but nothing to write home about. We finished our two rolls and it was about another 20 minutes before our kids chicken and tuna rice showed up. It was to the point we almost just asked for our check and left because of the time it was taking. But again the friends and family seemed to have good service. The seared tuna fried rice was great. I thought. But at $28 seemed over priced. We all agreed our favorite dish from the night was the French fries on the kids chicken. It feels like they are going for a fine dining, Hilton head, water front pricing but the atmosphere, wait staff in jeans and tshirts, contradicts that feeling. It seemed as though it was all over priced for what you got as well as the location etc. I don’t think we will be returning and we were really hoping for a sushi restaurant that was gonna be at the top of my...

Locals Raw Bar is a small out-of-the-way place off Sea Island Parkway that is a bit hard to find because it is tucked into a coutyard in a small strip mall. I am always eager to check out new restaurants here in Beaufort, so I visited on Labor Day. I was eager to experience a seafood restaurant in the area that did not exclusively offer fried items.

The restaurant was doing a brisk business, but was not terribly crowded during my visit. The gentleman at the door quickly seated me and offered me a beverage which arrived promptly. I studied the menu, made my selection, and waited...and waited...and waited. My order was taken finally after the couple seated next to me at the bar (who had arrived at least 10-15 minutes after I did) had their orders taken. I ordered the Wa-Sa-Bi sushi roll which was very good, but I felt was somewhat overpriced at $25 (most sushi rolls in the area top at at about $20). Be warned...the prices here are fairly high...$15 for a bowl of gazpacho seems to be a bit steep.

Raw Bar is in this businesses name, suggesting that oysters here are a highlight of the menu. It would be helpful if the varieties and prices of available oysters were put on a list and paperclipped to the menus daily...and an even nicer touch would be to list the qualities and harvest location of each individual oyster type. It sounds picky, but at these price points, a business marketing itself as a raw bar should offer this information. Barring that, oysters and special offerings should be listed somewhere that those seated at the bar can see them without bending waaaayyyy over backward to see the overhead blackboard...may I suggest a board somewhere on the big white wall over the food prep area?

The kitchen was spotlessly clean, and the chefs/ cooks seemed to be happy with their work. The servers were pleasant and efficient. I plan to visit again in a few months, and will update my review...