The Swamp Fox Restaurant — Restaurant in Charleston

How the heck did this place get so many good reviews. The service was terrible, the food was worse. I normally only leave reviews for good experiences because too many people only complain, but this I can’t let go.

First, our table wasn’t ready. No problem. We sat in the empty bar seating area. The bartender came over a few minutes later with restaurant menus. When we told him we were waiting fir a table, he walked away without even asking if we would like a drink. Just What?

After about 15 minutes we were seated at our table. When the waitress came to our table she just put down the menus (not in front of us, but at the end of our table). She said would you like a drink and then said I’ll let you think about it and come back. We had already thought about it but we were not given the chance to respond. She came back with water and then took our drink order. I ordered one of their specialty drinks and she responded with “it’s not very sweet, it’s supposed to be but the bartender isn’t making them right tonight”. My husband ordered a basic drink and the waitress said she’d just ask the bartender to make the drink sweeter (in other words as it should be). The drink was fine, just sweet enough but not sugary.

It gets better because at that point we were ready to order, but she walked away. She came back, took our order and left again. Out water glasses were empty at this point. She brought my salad (Bibb salad was very good) and she crab soup for my husband which he said was OK but the cup was too small for the soup spoon, so he had to use the tea spoon. Our water glasses are still empty.

Before I’d had 3 bites of salad, our entrees were on the table. Our waitress said only “the food is coming out really fast tonight”. She walked away, water glasses still empty. I had fried chicken which is an odd choice for me. It I’d been craving fried chicken for weeks and can honestly say I haven’t had any in years. Sides were mashed potatoes with gravy and grits. I love southern grits and this is not a menu staple where we live, so I order them when I have the chance. My husband had shrimp and grits. The chicken was pretty good. Not dry at all, though oddly it was a boneless , skinless breast. Potatoes were more smashed than mashed (in other words not creamy at all) which was ok except they were only luke warm. The grits were hard, chunky, cold. Terrible. Shrimp and grits dish only slightly better. Water glasses still empty.

Now as I mentioned I usually do not complain about my food, nor do I write bad reviews, but I did mention the potatoes and grits to her. She said she could get me a new side, but the grits would be the same no matter what. I declined, she said she would speak to her manager. She came back saying her manager took 20% off the check and put a complementary dessert on the table. Warm pecan pie with caramel sauce. Now I haven’t had pecan pie since I was about 20, and never with caramel sauce. I mean just give me a bottle of Karo and a straw. Water glass still empty.

The manager never did come over and when the waitress brought the check, there was only 10% taken off my meal, not 20% off the check. Water glasses remained empty. I left a very generous 15% tip which is the lowest tip I’ve left a waitress in over 35 years. I will never go back. Shame on the bartender, manager, cooks and the waitress.

If I were a young person on a date paying that kind of money, I would be embarrassed and livid. This was a lousy dining experience in a lovely city full of wonderful little...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Swamp Fox Restaurant in Charleston, and I must say, it was a truly exceptional experience! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm hospitality and a friendly atmosphere.

The staff at The Swamp Fox Restaurant went above and beyond to ensure that our dining experience was memorable. Sylvia, our French server, was absolutely amazing. Her knowledge of the menu and her attentiveness to our needs made us feel like valued guests. She added a touch of elegance and charm to our breakfast experience.

Sims, the bartender, was a true master of his craft. He crafted the most delicious and creative cocktails, including the famous "Ankle Breaker," which is a must-try from the bar. His expertise and friendly demeanor made our time at the bar enjoyable and memorable.

Brian, the manager, deserves special recognition for his outstanding leadership and dedication. He was always present, ensuring that everything ran smoothly and that guests were satisfied. His attention to detail and commitment to excellence were evident throughout our visit.

The waiters with the ponytail and goatee, as well as the waiter with brown hair, were both incredibly personable and kind. They provided excellent service, making us feel welcome and attended to. Their friendly and professional demeanor added to the overall positive dining experience.

Now, let's talk about the food. The Swamp Fox Restaurant truly excels in their culinary offerings. The gnocchi and beef tips dish was an absolute delight, with perfectly cooked gnocchi and tender beef tips that melted in our mouths. The combination of flavors was simply divine.

The shrimp and grits at The Swamp Fox Restaurant are simply the best on earth. The combination of succulent shrimp and creamy, perfectly cooked grits was a match made in culinary heaven. It was a dish that showcased the flavors of the region and left us wanting to savor every bite.

Last but not least, The Swamp Fox breakfast is hands down the best breakfast in Charleston. From the fluffy pancakes to the perfectly cooked eggs and crispy bacon, every element of the breakfast was executed to perfection. It was a breakfast experience that set the bar high for all future morning meals.

In conclusion, my dining experience at The Swamp Fox Restaurant was nothing short of extraordinary. The exceptional staff, delicious food, and warm atmosphere all contributed to a memorable and enjoyable visit. I highly recommend The Swamp Fox Restaurant to anyone looking for a culinary delight in Charleston. It's a dining experience that will leave you craving for more. Five stars...

I’d like to start by saying that I think service was okay, considering. All staff were incredibly friendly but seemed like they were on edge whether it was from the holiday weekend (Valentines Day) or someone just didn’t show up to work. My wife and I made a reservation for a Valentine’s Day special for $70/person highlighting a 4 course meal and live jazz piano music. Our reservation was at 830 and walked into the restaurant at 829-830. There appeared to be about 3-4 other parties waiting to be seated and someone was already complaining to the hostess so we figured a small delay and even started looking into some near by locations to check out in the even the wait would be too long. We were seated around 850 so no biggie. As mentioned, all staff were incredibly friendly and our waiter promptly greeted us and provided us with house wine which was also apart of the Valentine’s Day special. We both received very generous pours, however, my wife’s wine came in a glass that still had lipstick stains and both of our wines tasted like they were diluted 3:1 wine:water. By this time, the live jazz piano music had ended and we were left in complete silence listening to the other couples in the room (luckily everyone seemed cool). The food was okay. Our lobster bisque was the consistency of pudding and tasted like Chicken in a Biskit crackers with canned cheese. My wife did enjoy her scallops and my filet mignon was good. We both had the creme brûlée and my wife’s tasted a little tart/sour compared to mine and both were extremely griddy. Gordon Ramsay would have fake thrown up but we knew we were paying $70/person so we ate most of it. I ended up ordering a beer (bottled) and our waiter offered a cold glass which I gratefully accepted. I wish I had taken a picture of the glass so this would not seem exaggerated but that glass looked like 5 ants spontaneously combusted inside of it or someone used it as an ashtray previously and they just shook the contents out. Needless to say, I didn’t use the glass. All in all, my wife and I enjoyed our time out but I’m very disappointed in the $70 package we purchased. I don’t plan...