36 Best Restaurants in Charleston

"In a city known for its stellar seafood, there are few steakhouses as iconically Charleston as Oak. Located in one of the oldest parts of the city, the historic architecture features large windows, high-ceilinged dining rooms, exposed brick walls, and a central staircase. Sure, Oak Steakhouses have popped up in multiple locations in the South now, but this is the flagship. The kitchen's precision is not just about the temperature of the steaks. When it comes to traditional steakhouses, there's often a playbook (and that's not a bad thing) and Oak has been playing—and winning—that game for 20 years. The locally-caught shrimp cocktail is arranged just so, the tender steaks are seared and seasoned well, and the wedge salad is crisp and served with the blue cheese dressing of your dreams. A sleeper hit is the five-ounce steak frites with béarnaise sauce; decadence without the hefty price tag." - Stephanie Burt