The Darling Oyster Bar — Restaurant in Charleston

The Darling Oyster Bar in Charleston is an absolute gem that deserves all the praise in the world. From the moment I walked in, I knew I was in for a memorable dining experience, and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

The atmosphere at The Darling Oyster Bar is a perfect blend of coastal charm and modern sophistication. It's the kind of place where you instantly feel relaxed and welcomed. Whether you're sitting at the bar or a cozy booth, the ambiance sets the stage for a fantastic meal.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show—the seafood. The Darling Oyster Bar lives up to its name with an incredible selection of oysters from both near and far. They're served fresh and shucked to perfection, making each bite a taste of the sea. The menu is a seafood lover's dream, with a wide variety of options that cater to every palate.

I had the pleasure of trying their Lobster Roll, and it was a revelation. The succulent lobster meat, perfectly seasoned, and nestled in a buttery roll was a true delight. It was one of the best lobster rolls I've ever had.

The service at The Darling Oyster Bar is top-notch. The staff is attentive, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. They're more than happy to offer recommendations and ensure that your dining experience is nothing short of exceptional.

What truly sets this place apart is the dedication to quality. The commitment to sourcing sustainable seafood and supporting local fisheries is commendable. It's evident that The Darling Oyster Bar cares deeply about both its customers and the environment.

In summary, The Darling Oyster Bar in Charleston is a seafood paradise that checks all the boxes—great ambiance, exceptional food, and outstanding service. Whether you're a seafood enthusiast or just looking for a fantastic dining experience in Charleston, don't miss the chance to visit this wonderful establishment. Five stars...

We had a late dinner here after arriving in Charleston, totally unprepared and without a reservation. This was recommended by the bartender at our hotel and it was a great call! While chatting with the hostess, we learned that without a reservation we were welcome to wait for bar seating, which typically rotates out every 20-30 minutes (standard bar or oyster bar were both options). (This was a Saturday night, so other nights it might be possible to walk in for a dining room table; I'm not sure how that works.) The hostess was super sweet and checked for an opening for us but didn't see anything. Pro-tip: we considered waiting for the bar but quickly checked the Resy app and did find an open table for 2 in about half an hour, so grabbed that and headed next door to the Belmont to wait it out with a cocktail. Upon returning, we had a small giggle with the hostess and were quickly seated in the dining room. The service was warm and efficient, the food was delicious. I am not a fan of raw oysters but had one of the daily selections and thought it was better than average. We sampled the cooked oysters with each topping and found them all yummy - NOLA's charbroiled oysters will always hold my heart, but these were tasty! For entrees, we sampled the scallops which were very good and fresh and the shrimp and grits (no fried egg). The brussels sprouts were perfectly crispy and added and nice contrast to the dish. The cheddar grits were delicious! All in all, we enjoyed our meal and the food portion is very generous! We were disappointed we didn't have room to sample the key lime pie but weren't expecting such large dishes. The ambience was great - they had a killer but chill 80s playlist running and more than once we found ourselves singing along. Bathrooms were clean, as was the rest of the restaurant. We'd...

Street parking is difficult but there's a big parking deck on 63 Mary street leading to the restaurant. It takes only 2-3' walking from the parking deck, crossing King street into the restaurant, and the parking fee is pretty affordable.

The decor is modern and cozy. All chair is hard surface seat except for the booth seats. Friendly service and good food. My only issue is the menu should specify the ingredient better. They say peppers in the blue crab tagliatelle and I thought it was black pepper; turned out it was bell peppers which I don't go well with it personally. They offer to redo the dish but since it's an entree, it would take a while and I don't want my friend to wait since his entree was already served. I ended up trying to pick the mini diced bell pepper out of the tagliatelle, and it was not an easy job. By the time I've done picking them all out, I think it would take the same amount of time for them to redo the dish. T^T

Clam chowder: it's delicious! Fried clam strip: my first time trying this dish and I don't really taste the clam, mostly the fry batter. It's an ok. Baked oysters (Maitre’d Butter & Bread Crumbs): They're really good. Raw oysters: they are fresh. Shrimp cocktail: they're fresh but nothing special. Seared diver scallops: the veggies bed of this dish is delicious, tasty scallops too. Blue crab tagliatelle: I didn't think they would have chili flake on top and bell peppers mixed in. S’mores (Chocolate Mousse, Bruléed Fluff, Graham Cracker): a bit too rich and sweet but it's very yummy.

Despite the small "incident," the food was good, and the ambience was nice. I would visit it again the next time...