The Independent — Restaurant in Georgetown

If you are staying in or around Georgetown SC we highly recommend dining at The Independent Restaurant located in The George Hotel on front street. We enjoyed several meals there … each time super succulent in a relaxed yet jam packed atmosphere. We must start with our unbelievable friendly knowledgeable personable absolutely wonderful server Gretta (2T’s)! The minute we met her we knew we were in the best hands ever and had a new friend for life. Her sincerity is infectious…her service and attention to detail flawless…and her recommendations were terrific! Over the course of our week we enjoyed the salmon and filet mignon (both cooked to perfection…with steak frites side(unbelievably crispy and served piping hot…nothing worse than cold fries) mussels as an appetizer in the best wine and butter and garlic sauce (spoon needed to sip the last drop)and the entree of the week the bone in pork chop …two inches thick cooked to perfection by Chef Alicia it was tender and juicy in its own Au Jus…it doesn’t get any better than that! Now for dessert…the mile high key lime pie is a must(such a different spin you’ve got to try)then the BEST strawberry sorbet you’ll ever have…such intense and refreshing flavor , then the hummingbird cake (recommended by Chef Alicia…thank you)which I call a spin on carrot cake only better served with a rich caramel sauce what a combination…and last but certainly not least and probably THE BEST of all the desserts is the unmatched chocolate ganache cake…five layers of rich chocolate decadence accompanied by a scoop of malt ice cream and thick chocolate sauce….you can take your time and eat the entire slice but we recommend saving some to enjoy with hot morning coffee! Finally our heartfelt gratitude goes out to General Manager Jay Balser and Assistant Development Manager Jamie Meador for making our times at The Independent SO relaxing comfortable and enjoyable! Gentlemen you are REALLY great at what you do and it’s reflected in the quality of food…it’s superb preparation and presentation…your chefs…your staff and your servers (ESPECIALLY GRETTA)! We’ll miss you but you all give us a great reason to come back...

Truly a fantastic experience from start to finish for a family birthday dinner. Service was impeccable and our server knew her menu very well, steering and guiding us in the right direction for entree choices. We showed up with ideas for appetizers and weren't disappointed in either the cornbread with the honey butter (so soft and with just the right amount of sweet) or the mussels, which were some of the best I have had. Our server also brought us the Fried Blue Crab Fingers and the remoulade with them was absolutely spot on.

Our entrees were the scallops which are a slightly smaller portion, but delectable. Next was the Flat Iron, perfectly cooked at medium temperature for our taste. The Shrimp and Grits were a backup choice for one of us, but our server again cued us here, letting us know it was one of her favorite dishes and others as well. They were light and fluffy and packed with flavor. Lastly, the Red Drum was a highlight as well, having replaced the Flounder.

Dessert was Mile High Key Lime Pie, home made vanilla ice cream and a newer dessert for fall with apple, cinnamon and vanilla ice cream that was like fall in your mouth! Oh and even the espresso was really delicious and I am saying this after having just gotten back from Italy 2 weeks ago.

It is a little loud in the restaurant, but not nearly as bad as some other reviews made it out to be, though it was only about 2/3 full that evening since we were an earlier seating. You can make a really fun evening out of the experience though for sure and don't forget the outdoor bar at the back of the hotel, esp....

We brought a large party of 13 to The Independent on a Sunday. Hunter was our server and he was exceptional. Obviously talented, experienced and knowledgeable, he seemed to genuinely enjoy serving and took pride in his work. We challenged him with a few dietary restrictions and special requests. He said he could "work magic" and did not disappoint. We had a variety of cocktails and a bottle of wine. The drink menu was varied with a nice mix of new creations and well executed classics. The cocktails looked as good as they tasted and some of them had smoked garnishes adding an aromatic quality. We had a wide variety of appetizers, entrees and desserts, each more scrumptious than the last. The music was soft but interesting, as were the lights, creating an atmosphere that was cozy without being stuffy. The kitchen was open allowing us a view of the staff as they worked calmly and quickly, as a confident and cohesive team of experienced professionals. All in all, it was refreshing to have such an exceptional and exquisite dining experience. My only regret is that we don't live closer. Thank you to Hunter and the entire team at The Independent for giving us such a lovely memory to take...