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

"Beneath the moss-draped oaks of Johns Island, Snow Monkeys blends Zach Woody’s Alinea-trained French techniques with reverence for Japanese culture and Lowcountry bounty, and the dining room’s palette and Woody’s art make the meal feel like an integrated work of art. I started with oysters chilled under yuzu–pear ice for a frosty citrus kick and enjoyed dishes such as roasted kabocha salad with red pear and pepitas, lobster soba, short ribs, and roasted barbecue duck; with no PR blitz—just word of mouth from locals—it still feels like a special find worth keeping under the radar." - Lauren Mowery