The Grit Counter - North Charleston — Restaurant in North Charleston

By far my husbands favorite place to go to in North Charleston. We've been there so often for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner during the week and on weekends. I'm pretty sure every time we have people come a visit we always take them to this restaurant whether its for the food, atmosphere, or simply the experience.

The service is amazing. I swear (although we go there often but not often enough), that the employees actually remember us. They are soooo friendly and hospitable while also helping recommend things, or change orders as needed (if its an order that is not part of the "make your own" menu. They also personally deliver you order to your table when it is ready even if its just one of your orders or the entire tables. Basically saying they don't leave things in a waiting heat light till everything is ready for your entire table.

Their food (as it should be) is amazing. They offer various dishes of their own but also have a "make your own" option. They also have a few daily specials they recommend trying that are often sides but sometimes dishes or drinks. They know their menu very well and have vegetarian options. They will also tell you if something in your order does have some sort of meat in it even if its just in the oil or something like their hashbrowns. The portion sizes are pretty big and filling so if you're hungry you can definitely fill up that empty tummy easy. Or you can be like me and take left overs home to have as a yummy second meal later.

In terms of drinks, again great. They have a menu of different cocktails and beers but will also have the option of a simple shot and/or drink you request that is not on their menu. They also offer sodas, unsweet and sweet tea, and water.

The only problem is parking and seating particularly on weekends. They have a very sporty like vibe with a somewhat bar like feel so when there's a big game seating and parking is quite limited. They do offer outdoor seating as well. Unfortunately they are stuck between a hotel and another building on either sides of them so its not like they can really add more parking spots.

Like I said, this place is great. We take our friends (both out of town and local friends there) at varying times of the day and have never been disappointed. Definitely try it out for the food, vibe, and to introduce people to the varying ways you can have...

My daughter and I had been looking for a good brunch place and had always wanted to try The Grit Counter. 1000% recommend! We happened to beat the rush (line was out the door when we left), around 10am. It’s counter service, so you order at the counter, take a number, sit wherever you like, and they bring your food to you.

Everyone, and I mean everyone, was the most friendly and genuinely happy group of restaurant staff I’ve come across in what seems like forever. Their stellar attitudes are infectious, and it definitely created a homey, happy atmosphere. The gentleman taking our order (I don’t remember his name 😩) helped us figure out what to try and made suggestions without rushing us. This is 3-star Michelin-level service y’all!

I had the Famous Grit Flight 6: smoked gouda, smoked tomato, pimento cheese, jalapeño cheddar cheese, red rice, and peaches and cream with a side of fried hominy. My daughter had the Harvest Bowl: grilled chicken, peaches and cream grits, smoked gouda mornay, roasted corn, dried cherries and fried hominy.

Let me just say…I have lived 46 of my 50 years in Charleston eating sooo many different versions of grits and these are, hands down, the best grits I have ever had. I have always had or made savory grits, never tried them sweet. Well, that has now changed as the peaches and cream grits could literally be dessert. The red rice grits are to die for, rhe jalapeño cheddar grits have a nice kick but nothing too crazy and taste amazing, smoked Gouda, smoked tomato and pimento cheese taste exactly as they should, and don’t forget the fried hominy—oh my word, so good! My daughter’s Harvest Bowl was just perfect. It gave me Goldilocks and the Three Bears porridge vibes-it was just right! Super creamy, hearty, and lovely pops of sweet and tart from the dried cherries. An amazing combination.

If you’ve never been to The Grit Counter, I mean, what are you doing with your life? Make haste-get there and thank...

DO NOT GET THE BACON LARDONS!!! I hate to start off a review with a warning, but it is a well justified one. To start from the beginning, my Dad and I went their for brunch on a Thursday. They were fairly packed, but had plenty of seats. However, the moment we walked in, we smelt something off. At first, it smelled exactly like vinegar and bleach, with an almost rotten twinge. But the more we sat there, it began to smell more like an organic cleaner of some sort. Now granted, I do have a rather sensitive nose, but the smell was rather overwhelming. Now, in terms of sevice, they were wonderful. Super friendly, and attentive. As for the food, the majority of it was really good, albeit rather pricy. If you go, expect to pay around 50 to 60 bucks for two people. It's a little outrageous to me. But prices aside, I got the "self respecting southerner", and my Father got the build your own bowl with Bacon lardons, lima beans, and tomatoes with sawmill gravy. We also got an order of pimento cheese hushpuppies to share, which were really good. In fact, everything was up to snuff...except for the Bacon lardons. Oh Lord the Bacon lardons... The moment he tried it, he immediately spat it out, and asked me to try one of the pieces of bacon lardons. It tasted like incredibly old pork rinds with old, greasy bacon attached to the side. Also, they are more akin to smoked bacon ends you would use to season beans or greens, and it alsmot tasted exactly like ones that have been in the freezer for months. (And to any fellow southerners reading this, I hope you know what I mean.) It's honestly a slap in the face to any self respecting bacon lover to even think of making such a horrid product. I can't see them being good, even if they were fresh. All in all, this place is incredibly pricy, and the hit or miss food is definitely not something I would...