Bar George

"There’s a lot happening on James Island, the waterfront community that’s about a 20-minute drive from Downtown Charleston. In addition to the retro movie theater and live music venue Pour House, there’s Bar George in Riverland Terrace. Like much of the surrounding area, it’s got a fun vibe: you can relax and play some pinball or stare at their vintage TV-turned-aquarium in the lounge area. The food is a mix of things like daily crudos and oysters alongside hot dogs and Peruvian roast chicken, and for drinks, you should definitely order the guava painkiller or one of their excellent martinis." - jai jones, emily yates

"There’s a lot happening on James Island, the waterfront community that’s about a 20-minute drive from Downtown Charleston. In addition to the retro movie theater and live music venue Pour House, there’s Bar George in the Riverland Terrace neighborhood. Like much of the surrounding area, it’s got a fun vibe: you can relax and play some pinball or stare at their vintage TV-turned-aquarium in the lounge area. The food is a mix of things like daily crudos and oysters alongside hot dogs and Peruvian roast chicken, and for drinks, you should definitely order the raspberry painkiller or one of their excellent martinis." - Jai Jones

"It's a little 1970s basement rec room meets dark corner bar meets tiki spot with a raw bar in the corner, and if it all seems a little tilt-a-whirl, that's kind of the point. But the cocktail game is Charleston cocktail pedigreed. Co-partner Joey Goetz was formerly at the beloved The Belmont on King Street, and he left that project to partner with Chef Alex Lira here. His approach at Bar George is what he likes to call "cheap tiki," which he interprets to be a generally tropical approach with nods to tiki cocktail culture without getting all serious about it. Lira's menu is wonderfully all over the map: There's a snappy hot dog that would be at home in northern pool halls or diners of the 1970s, perfectly chosen, exceptionally briny, and well-shucked oysters with elegant mignonettes, a roasted Peruvian chicken that is comfort food squared, and a rotating selection of housemade filled doughtnuts." - Stephanie Burt

"When word of James Island restaurant Bar George landed in the media, the concept seemed a bit quirky — oysters and chili dogs? But when the restaurant opened for takeout and outdoor dining in May 2020, the addition of a Peruvian roast chicken was the comfort food many were craving, along with some creative hot dog combinations from co-owner Alex Lira." - Eater Staff

"Offers fun cocktails and Peruvian roasted chicken." - Erin Perkins