Best New Restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina, for 2025 - AFAR

"Meaning “tradition” in Hindi, Rivayat brings coastal southern Indian flavors downtown under Sujith Varghese and three Kerala-born chefs, and I found the seafood-forward approach a clear link to both their backgrounds and Charleston’s coastal spirit. Highlights include tandoori oysters brushed with smoky butter and finished with pickled shallot, chile oil, and cilantro microgreens, as well as crowd-pleasers like butter chicken and konju moilee (prawns in coconut curry); at the bar, inventive cocktails such as the Tikka Martini—gin, dry vermouth, and spiced tomato water—underscore the restaurant’s blend of tradition and creativity, and Varghese reports guests have been returning again and again." - Lauren Mowery