36 Best Restaurants in Charleston

"Tucked away in corner of an unremarkable shopping center anchored by a Bi-Lo in Mount Pleasant, it might seem that Wood & Grain is just the kind of place that you go when you want to be some place warm and inviting when the day has been anything but. Opening the glass door to the restaurant's dark interior, illuminated by an open hearth kitchen in the back of the room and scented with all things savory and satisfying, promises that this is much more than your default neighborhood spot. Chef Patrick Owens has been doing his own thing in Mount Pleasant for years—head down, spreading red sauce on a pie or wiping plates at expo at one of his other restaurants on the daily; not so much in the spotlight as spotlighting the local bounty, which is the Charleston ethos. The flavor combinations, the balance, and the execution of his dishes are consistently excellent, be them atop a disc of dough, baked into the oysters, or on a salad." - Stephanie Burt