Maison — Restaurant in Charleston

An Exquisite Dining Experience at Maison Charleston

Our evening at Maison Charleston was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warm hospitality, impeccable service, and a beautifully curated atmosphere that struck the perfect balance between elegance and comfort. The cocktails and mocktails were expertly crafted, setting the stage for a night of indulgent flavors and shared experiences.

With a party of four, we chose to begin our meal by sharing a selection of appetizers, and each dish was a masterpiece in its own right. The Onion Soup Croquette was an absolute delight—crispy on the outside, meltingly rich on the inside, with the perfect touch of mimolette. The Onion Tarte Tatin was a beautiful balance of sweet and savory, with the caramelized onion paired beautifully with fromage blanc and honey gastrique. The Clarified Butter Pommes Frites were pure decadence—golden, crispy perfection, elevated even further by the béarnaise aioli. We also had the pleasure of enjoying the special appetizer of the evening—Squid Ink Filled Pasta, which was both visually striking and bursting with incredible depth of flavor.

For our entrées, each of us selected our own dish, and the variety of flavors was truly outstanding. The Seared Trout, paired with crushed potato, winter greens, and a roasted kumquat vinaigrette, was a wonderful harmony of bright citrus and delicate seafood flavors. The Monkfish Chop Almondine was another standout, with perfectly cooked monkfish, accompanied by broccolini, capers, lemon, and a luscious lemon beurre blanc that tied it all together beautifully. The Roasted Chicken Farci was a comforting and luxurious dish, featuring succulent chicken, earthy chestnuts, and a deeply flavorful sauce forestière. Each entrée was thoughtfully composed, showcasing the kitchen’s precision, creativity, and respect for ingredients.

From start to finish, Maison Charleston delivered a flawless dining experience—exquisite food, impeccable service, and an inviting ambiance that made for an unforgettable evening. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to indulge in one of Charleston’s finest dining experiences, Maison is an absolute must-visit.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️...

Edited based on response from owner: The menu yesterday said Dijon vinaigrette, it did not say truffle vinaigrette. I see online the menu was updated today which is a good move. Yes, my husband ate the salad. I didn't get to. He liked it so we didn't let it go to waste. And half the peas gratin were left, not a few bites. My feedback was given to the server before the end of the meal, by the way. So my complaint is that of 4 things we ordered, I couldn't eat two of them; and I felt the menu should detail more, especially for a taste like truffle, which can be polarizing. It just never occurred to me to tell a server about truffle as if it's an allergy. Several menu items listed it and we were careful not to choose those items. The inconsistency in listing the flavors is what was strange to me.

Wanted to love it. We've been for happy hour and really enjoyed the service, drinks, and apps. We came tonight for our anniversary and left disappointed. It started great, everyone was so nice. I asked many questions and we were given great details about the menu, and we ordered. Two items we ordered had truffle in them (not disclosed on the menu, and I particularly look for this because I have a major aversion to truffle. Trust me, I wish I liked it. It would be so much easier.) So I was unable to eat the salad or peas gratin. If we knew it had truffle, we would have gone with something else. I made our server aware of this afterward with half full plates and was told basically that the whole menu is truffle heavy and I should have asked specifically if these items had truffle in them, although I did ask for verbal description and truffle was not included. And next time "say you're allergic". The menu mentions truffle in a few items, so I assumed it wasn't there if it wasn't mentioned. Lesson learned I guess. Nothing was offered for this and half of our peas gratin went in the trash, not to mention the salad I didn't eat. For a $200 meal, there are better places in Charleston.

I'm just a local person giving honest feedback, I feel the mark was missed here and I wish it wasn't. As a side note, the Madeleines...

The outside of Maison is quite unassuming, so it's interesting that a higher end restaurant exists inside. Overall it is a very good restaurant with some great options. There are some misteps, but it's worth going. Parking right nearby is very limited on the street, but there is a paid lot right there. Service was very accommodating and attentive. The best items we had were the mushroom tart (light, crispy, tasty with a host of different mushrooms, caramelized onions and a lovely goat cheese with lemon rind on the side). The accompanying greens were heavily overdressed. Steak frites was good, but not great. Putting the hanger steak into the shape of a petite filet did nothing for it, and the cognac peppercorn sauce was too salty. Fries done in clarified butter (great idea) were crispy and nice, but again, oversalted. Onion soup croquette was very nice. The chocolate mousse topped with a dense orange marmalade was perhaps the best chocolate mousse we have had (light, creamy and rich with flavor). The pairing with the orange is fun and works beautifully. The almond creme caramel does not work as well. The taste of almond extract was overpowering, making just 1 bite more than enough. Cocktails and wine...