Melvin's BBQ - James Island — Restaurant in Charleston

Ah, where do I even begin to extol the virtues of Melvin's, this veritable mecca of culinary delights nestled in the heart of barbecue aficionados' dreams? From the moment I crossed the threshold of this gastronomic sanctuary, I was ensconced in an ambiance that whispered promises of tantalizing flavors and culinary mastery.

Let me regale you with the tale of their divine brisket, a veritable symphony of tenderness and succulence that danced upon my palate with each savory bite. The brisket, oh, the brisket! Cooked to perfection, it yielded effortlessly to the gentlest pressure of my fork, releasing a cascade of smoky, meaty goodness that seemed to transcend the boundaries of mere mortal cuisine. Each morsel was imbued with a depth of flavor that spoke of hours of patient, meticulous slow-cooking, rendering it a true masterpiece of the pit.

And let us not forget the fried okra, a humble vegetable transformed into a culinary marvel through the alchemy of Melvin's kitchen. Crisp, crunchy, and bursting with flavor, each bite of this golden-brown delicacy was a revelation unto itself. The okra, delicately coated in a perfectly seasoned batter, offered a symphony of textures that delighted the senses—a crispy exterior yielding to a tender, succulent interior that left me yearning for just one more bite.

But Melvin's is more than just a purveyor of exceptional barbecue; it is a temple of hospitality, where every guest is welcomed as though they were family. The service, gracious and attentive, ensured that my every need was anticipated and met with a warmth and sincerity that left me feeling truly valued as a patron.

In conclusion, dear reader, if you find yourself in search of an epicurean adventure that transcends the ordinary and embraces the sublime, look no further than Melvin's. Here, amidst the aroma of smoldering hickory and the laughter of fellow diners, you will discover a culinary experience that will linger in your memory long after the last morsel has been savored. Five stars hardly seem sufficient to convey the sheer magnificence of this culinary oasis, but rest assured, Melvin's has earned every one...

We ate here on a short visit to Charleston. I wanted to have some of the barbecue that South Carolins is known for, but kept finding trendy places with pit masters from Texas. Don't get me wrong! I am from Texas and live in Atlanta, so I love some Texas barbecue. But if I'm in Rome, then I'm not going to eat pizza from New York. I wanted some Lowcountry barbecue with some mustard based sauce. Melvin's did not disappoint!

My husband and I split the 2 meat plate with pork, brisket, baked beans, fried okra, collard greens, and cornbread (I got an extra side and an extra cornbread). I had to sample all of the sauces. I really enjoyed the mustard sauce, but my husband preferred the southern red sauce. What was realyl impressive was the brisket rub. It had so much flavor, that the sauce was not necessary. It is probably some of the best brisket and rub we have ever had. I will be purchasing some of that rub in the future to use at home.

The baked beans and okra were good. I would say the okra was probably a little squishy, but comparable to many other places. I did like the pickle bar. I love pickles and pickled onions, so I did stop there a few times to pickle up.

The only real cons were minor. We had to clean our own table. They did not seem super busy, but I think that they hadn't made it out to clean a free table yet. They forgot our cornbread (why it's not pictured). I had ordered a second piece so that we both had one, but I should not have bothered. It was not very good. The collard greens had some great spice to them! The flavor was fantastic, however, they were way too salty. I love collard greens, and it is hard to get really good ones. I was a little bummed because these had such a good amount of flavor and heat, but the salt was just too heavy.

Overall, I would say this place has some of the best brisket ever. I would definitely come here again if ever in Charleston, and hopefully the collards would be...

My husband and I ate there last night. We are both foodies but eat healthy other than our weekend cheat meal. So needless to say we get excited for this one “cheat” meal. My husband was craving BBQ all week and decided to try this place after a friend recommended the Mount P. Location. Upon entry- the floor in front of the cashier had smeared-half cleaned up bbq sauce all over it. We ordered the brisket nachos to share, I ordered the brisket plate with Mac and cheese and fries. My husband ordered the brisket burger. As a treat (2) banana puddings for dessert. After waiting 30 min- which seemed too long for a place that offered a drive through… the food came out- partially cold. After tasting all of my food I didn’t eat.

1. the briskets burnt ends tasted like fuel. One of my slices was 100% fat- not meat at all- literally should have been trimmed off and not served.
2. the mac and cheese was the saltiest thing I have ever tasted In my life. Like shockingly so. I took two bites and was chugging water the rest of the night.
3. fries were okay but some were burnt and some soggy and undercooked
4. nachos were okay- I wasn’t a fan but the husband got them down
5. the banana pudding tasted instant- I tried one bite and wished we hadn’t ordered two because that also wasn’t eaten. I’m not sure how this restaurant is surviving in a city with so much good Food. Melvin’s needs to step it up if they want to survive long term because idk how long they will get by just because they have been around a while. Oh yeah and the bathrooms...