Betty Lou's Bistro

Always a good experience. This time we enjoyed dinner. The scallops were delicious, as were the crab cakes. I like having a paper menu now, rather than reading the wall. Servers have always been delightful

Betty Lou’s Bistro is a wonderful hidden gem in the West Ashley part of Charleston. The food there is amazing. I’ve had many items from their menu, most recently the sea scallops. They just melted in my mouth, making me wish the meal would never end. I had to personally thank the chef Candace for one of my best meals ever. The service there is impeccable. Heidi provides the right balance between attentiveness and letting me dine, and her recommendations have never let me down. I strongly recommend this restaurant to both locals and visitors alike wanting to experience one of Charleston’s great restaurants for both their food and their service.

Had a spa day and Nail-it salon in the same shopping center. Stopped in for lunch and had a spectacular meal. (and service, thank you Brooks!) Chicken ciabatta, beet salad and shrimp salad croissant. Also want to point out to anyone who said they got sick immediately after eating a meal is inaccurate. As a former executive chef for 40+ years it takes 24 to 48 hours for that to happen. Keep up the great food and service!!!!!

Location may seem unimpressive but looks are deceiving! This food is amazing! King Street quality without bougie prices.

It's a cool little spot with its own vibe and beautiful entrees that look tasty. I ordered fried green tomatoes and they were delicious. I sat at the bar for convenience, but my visit was shorter than anticipated. The AC wall unit was blowing on me the entire time and I was freezing, not to mention my food didn't stay warm long. I even mentioned it to the waitress, figuring that she would change the direction of the air flow, but nothing was one. Maybe they can improve on customer service. Oh, and the 2 little tables behind me that were "reserved" never were occupied.

Well worth the stop to support local owners. Good menu for the smaller size of the restaurant. Quaint atmosphere. Don't be afraid to sit at the community table if their seats available. My friend had the steak sandwich which was cut from tenderloin filet trimmings and he enjoyed it and the truffle fries. I ordered the scallops. They were cooked just right but they added salt and the salt was overwhelming. The scallop dish could use some presentation color. Very bland presentation. Sprinkle some color on the plate rim or add color other than sprinkles of parsley on the starch? They were just opening and the service started off pretty poorly with very little communication and she clearly did not want to engage us in any particular way. She was able to recover with some better service throughout the meal. Stop by and support local owners!

Heidi (and the rest of the team) knocked it out of the park! We had a large birthday party and she was extremely accommodating and attentive. The food was delicious - highly recommend the scallops (best I’ve ever had), shrimp n’ grits, pork chop, and pimento goat cheese. We will definitely be back again!

The most amazing cuisine! Everything was perfect. We stumbled upon this place and are happy we did. Both The Chicken Ciabatta sandwich and the Bistro Burger were perfectly balanced in flavor. We opted to substitute our fries with the truffle fries which is accompanied by a parmesan and garlic aioli. To end this amazing late lunch, we had to have the Banana pudding with a banana caramel puree! Wow just Wow! Our server Daniel was laid back, friendly and he made the experience that much better when he brought us the banana cream soda that he heard us talking about. Do not miss out on this gem!

A great experience, started with a terrific old fashion. Went with the suggestion of she crab soup which was outstanding. My server helped me with suggesting the seared scallops and Brussel sprouts. Probably the best scallops I've eaten, absolutely perfect. Ambiance is quaint and calm. The only thing I couldn't understand was why there wasn't a line out the door.

Brooks, the server, was Friendly and attentive, The food was delicious! I loved the She Crab Soup and tenderloin sandwich, and beet salad. I asked to substitute the fries for the beet salad. For a $5 charge, I was served a beautiful, large, and fresh beet salad. The ambiance is nothing to right home about. However, I would come back for the food!

The food here is solid. The fried green tomatoes are good, not too greasy, and solid, not mushy. I would probably try a different app next time we go but they were good. The tenderloin sandwich was perfectly done. Great sauce, toasty bread, the fries were perfect. This was a date night sans kinds which is a special treat in our world. We like to try different things so we split everything. In hindsight we would've just ordered the app and entree at the same time and shared because we did get charged a $2 fee for sharing. Not a big deal but we would do it different next time. We had read reviews about the brûlée and probably would have tried it but when our server Haley came back we didnt really get the chance and didn't feel like backtracking when she had already left to get the bill. The service was probably the biggest negative for us. She just seemed annoyed to be there, maybe she didn't feel great, I don't know. And the place was pretty empty (minus the bar). We weren't ordering a ton just because it was a quick little date for us before we had to pick up kids, so maybe she was just annoyed it was a slow night... either way, that was a bummer. But we'll be back, the food was really good.

I just tried Betty Lou's for dinner. I'm new to the area and looking for my next favorite spot. I have to praise the chef for my amazing meal! I tried the mussels appetizer and small Caesar salad, while I was there, and ordered two entrees to go: The scallops with truffle risotto and the shrimp scampi. The mussels were the best I've ever had. So fresh and delicious! And the garlic cream sauce with hot fresh bread, wonderful! Service was excellent as well. My takeaway dinner I ate the next night, the risotto... was among the best dishes I've ever had. It could easily be served at a Michelin star restaurant. Betty Lou's is very small with only a few tables and a small bar. Their food and drinks are on a chalk board and entrees change regularly. The reason I didn't give five stars is the ambiance. Really no decor to speak of. Small bar had a plain view of kitchen. Standard diner tables. Black seats, Paper napkins. The decor shouted sandwich shop or diner, while the food was top-notch gourmet. Prices were right up there with fancier restaurants. While I understand the place is packed most nights, and a local favorite, the food is too good to be served up in such a plain space. My humble opinion. Try the scallops risotto!

Service was slow. Food overpriced $30 for shrimp and grits is downtown price, not a hole in wall hwy 61 price... The menu is on a wall so the your sitting below you have to stand up and go look at it.. place is also small and seating is limited

Came on a Thursday afternoon and it was packed but not sure if it's due to so many customers or possibly, the lack of front staffing to get the turnaround needed. We got the She-Crab soup, burger, and fish sandwich. The length of time to get seated to leaving makes me not recommend coming at popular times, even on the weekdays, unless you don't mind the wait. The soup wasn't very good but the burger and sandwich were good. The host/waitress/server/busser (all 1 person and only staff outside kitchen)was very nice and clearly doing her best. Hope they have someone to help her soon!

Great burger and string fries were a nice touch. Negatives sticky floor. Overall, I'd come back for another burger.

We waited a little longer to give our food order, but the waitress was slammed. She was running the whole floor, and she did AMAZING! I had the fried seafood platter (oysters & shrimp), my friends had the steamed mussels and pork chop. All the dishes were amazing! It's a little drive from downtown, but a must try if you're in the area.

Who is cooking here? A unicorn spinning magic in the kitchen?? The food is amazing. 1st visit to SC and found this gem just by a goggle search. Had the Brussels sprouts which were absolutely delicious and the tenderloin sandwich was magnificent. Didn't have any cocktails but a lot of craft specialty drinks on the menu. Service was great. 1 girl running the show and balancing it like a champ. Atmosphere was very cute too. Highly recommend

Nice local Southern brunch spot in the old Pierpont neighborhood of Charleston. I started off with the Fried Green Tomatoes ($9), which are a regional classic. Coming from someone who had never tried this before, I thought they were really good- nicely fried on the outside and the pimento cheese and fig balsamic made it very flavorful in very different ways (cheese was salty/savory and balsamic is more sweet/sour). Shrimp and Grits ($19) is a Southern classic and this place did it well with classic grits and nice gravy on the inner portion with well-cooked shrimp. The Chicken Ciabatta sandwich ($15) had soft ciabatta bread, and the apple slices inside added some nice crunch and sweetness. The bacon was of course good as well and added some saltiness. We got additional truffle parmesan fries with yummy garlic aioli sauce (which were very good) for only $1 extra. The restaurant is decently sized and was fairly busy for Saturday brunch. Our waiter was super friendly and attentive. The service speed was quick. The place is a part of a larger shopping plaza with a large parking lot in front, which is convenient. Overall, I would give Betty Lou's Bistro 4.5 stars if I could (only not giving 5 stars because there could have been slightly more of a "wow" factor). I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a Southern brunch spot in the area.

I was excited to try this place based on the Yelp rating. I wish I had just gone home that day. The flavors of our lunch were good but the service was abysmal. We scanned the bar code for the menu and made our selections based on that. We didn't see the kid's options so our server was kind enough to give them to us verbally. We ordered the chicken nuggets and asked her if they could be cut into small pieces if they were large so she said that she will see. After waiting for quite a bit of time, all the food came out and they had cut the chicken nuggets. We were thankful and had our meal. Food was okay. Towards the end of the meal, we noticed that the menu was on the wall above us and we were admiring the drink options and thinking of what to order the next time we dined there. When our bill came, our selection prices were different from the prices listed on the menu that we scanned. When we pointed this out to our server she advised that their chef had left and he had the password to change the prices. No one had mentioned that to the patrons before scanning. In addition, the kids meal was $12!!!! This wasn't listed anywhere aaand they charged us for cutting the nuggets into smaller pieces which we also weren't advised they were going to do! We could have gotten an entree for a couple more bucks instead of nuggets if we had known ‍ All this was communicated to our server Melissa who just shrugged and told us to have a nice day. In my 17 years in the hospitality industry I've never had an experience like this. I guess there's a first time for everything and definitely a last time at this place!

He had a pleasant dinner tonight. The food was wonderful We had fried green tomatoes, scallops, chicken sandwich and shared a dessert. All great!!! Daniel was our server very welcoming friendly attentive Highly recommend

Eaten here a couple times. Service sucks. The waitresses have attitudes. But the food is PRETTY AMAZING and delicious. It's a small space. It's kinda cramped. They have pretty good selection of drinks. Menu seems to update every so often. The customers seem to be regulars and really nice. I would recommend if you're looking for higher end food, but a more relaxed atmosphere.

Excellent food and atmosphere Drinks were good price was fair Highly recommended place if you're in the area.

It's the noise level -- absolutely deafening and there were only 10 guests. Covering the ceilings in roofing metal is a nice esthetic, but between that and the extra large community table with a marble table top, there is nothing to absorb sound. Our service was great. The burger and truffle fries were delish. The mussels needed more garlic, but were not over cooked which was appreciated.

I found this place out of curiosity... and the foodie in me was intrigued! Hole in wall? Check. Local? Check. Seasonal? Check... flavors to be proud of? Check. Check. Check!!! Bartender makes a well balanced drink! Service on point. Food was exceptional! .....if I were to make one gripe (and I sound so Top Chef snobby saying this!) the risotto needed a touch of salt! Overall: 9.5/10 I will be back!

Talk about a "Hidden Gem!" My wife and I decided to check this out on a lunch date and what a surprise! Wow. Food and Service was INCREDIBLE! Haley did an incredible job serving us with no other servers on the floor. The food was even more of a surprise. I had the fish sandwich. Fresh veggies and homemade remoulade and my wife Caesar Chicken Wrap which she thought was VERY good. All served by their chef. Now don't let the atmosphere fool you. It's a strip mall center location. Small but perfect for the kitchen staff and one server to work. Well done!

A great hidden little gem in a strip mall. Food was fresh and delicious. The truffle fries were the best. Service was excellent and we wished we'd saved room for dessert.

So so good!!!! The Brussels are AMAZING and the Scallops and risotto are just so tender and full of flavor. Fantastic wine list and the Crème Brûlée is just the perfect ending to a wonderful dinner. My BFF got the Southern fried pork chops and she loved that as well.

Server was well above average. Food was good. Fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese was tasty, if only the tomatoes were sliced thicker. Fried shrimp were just right. Also like the maples butter hush puppies!

Stopped by yesterday on the way to see some of the plantation tours . Stumbled on this GEM OF A PLACE ! Food was amazing and service was great ! Doesn't look like much from the street but well worth an excellent review . Can't imagine what the Chef does during his 7 course events.

Found this place on a whim and what a little gem! We went for lunch and it was wonderful. The service was great and the ambiance was perfect. The fried green tomatoes were the best I've ever had. So good, I didn't get a chance to get a picture before we inhaled them. The shrimp and grits are amazing and my husband had the burger and there wasn't a bite left! Highly recommend if you are looking for a quiet little place with great food!

All the food our group tried was excellent: Hush puppies with honey butter, pimento cheese and bread,, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, fried chicken, chicken ciabatta sandwich, tenderloin sandwich and then crème brûlée for dessert. Highly recommended!

I always enjoy this little bistro. The food is delicious and it's a definite stop when in Charleston. I love the chef's version of many delectable southern dishes. Original cocktails complement their offerings. Never have I been disappointed by this restaurant.

The spot is absolutely quaint and adorable. It truly is a hidden gem in West Ashley. This is our second time visiting and again we are not disappointed. The service is top notch and the food is truly the star of the show. My husband and I got calamari for our appetizer and it was honestly some of the best calamari we have had in the area! The jalapeño aioli was the perfect blend of flavor and heat. We also got to try the cauliflower soup and it was DELICIOUS. I contemplated ordering a full bowl but knew I wouldn't have room for my entree (I was very torn haha). For dinner my husband did the fried shrimp which came with frie, hushpuppies and a cold broccoli salad. He loved everything and said the shrimp were extremely fresh! I got the scallops which came with a mushroom risotto! The scallops were very fresh and the risotto was phenomenal. I enjoyed the variety of mushrooms that were used in the dish. Overall Betty Lou's is a true hidden gem in West Ashley and a spot I recommend anyone looking for superior customer service and an excellent menu check out! We will absolutely be back to patron this establishment and I hope everyone reading this will too!

The sad thing about Betty Lou's, for me, is that I live about 14 hours away and my husband won't drive me back for dinner. We were visiting a local plantation in Charleston when we happened upon this little gem. Don't let the strip mall stop you - these chefs are throwing down some amazing food and you need to get in there and pick it up! Ever since we visited in August, I pine for the pecan encrusted chicken and roasted brussel sprouts that changed me as a person. My husband delighted in the pork chops and Carolina gold rice and the portions were perfect! Super cute setting as well - casual and comfortable but not "fast-food-you-should-sanitize-everything" casual. Friendly wait staff and reasonably priced. I would definitely go back if I'm in the area and am jealous of those that live near by that can make this a regular spot!

Lovely restaurant to go to but they also do takeout. We ordered flounder,pork chops,pecan crusted chicken,and the get 2 seafood (oysters and scallops). Everything was beautifully made . Large enough portions for hungry grownups Normal service time but the staff was very nice Casual Will go again

The food was delicious! The service was a touch slow but the server was super nice. The dining room was super cozy and not too loud.

The fried pork chop was fantastic...tender chop with crispy breading, and the sausage gravy was perfect. Also the rice and butter beans were light and savory with some smoked bacon.

It was amazing food and fantastic service!!! We stopped by after exploring the magnolia plantation. 10/10 recommendation!

Our FAVORITE place for delicious food (very creative) and fantastic service. GREAT cocktails, too. We try to come here once a week!

We've been. Here for brunch several times and it never fails to impress. The service here is warm and friendly. They are always helpful and quick. The food comes out hot and quickly gets to your table. The place is clean and inviting. The food of course is amazing. There are so many choices even during Brunch. We are so happy with brunch that we are going to try to get here for dinner one night and see what they got. If it's half of what brunch is like it should be amazing. I plan on meeting a regular patron of this place.

Diverse menu but our lunches were quite forgettable 3 tables, 8 customers yet my She crab soup had a chilled film atop the surface, inversely the Caesar salad was room temperature. Menu, inckudes beer and wine with some area breweries represented Not sure if the waitress was forced to handle the front of the house,, but she wasn't very welcoming. Maybe a rough day at the bistro?

Yum. I had the shrimp scampi pasta. Fabulous. Husband had the chicken Alfredo special. He could've licked the plate.

A total flatliner! Even though my food and beverage selection was a sure heart stopper, it wasn't the kind of heart stopping, flatliner Cole & Dierks referenced in their song, "Flatliner." The Pepsi was lacking carbonation; and I had to turn my Shrimp Po'Boy into an open faced Po'Boy Sandwich Salad because the base of the hoagie was brick hard. Even though the lady waitresses and I believe the owner had phenomenal customer service. I wasn't too fond of the coughing that occurred in the back of the house (in the kitchen area which was quite visible to see that it was the chef) which sounded as if he was hacking up a lung. The lack of signage on exterior of the establishment made the cafe look vacant. But, the interior was beautiful, spacious, and fairly clean.

Highly recommend., local place that uses local vendors. I recommend the Fried Green Tomato's and the scallops with risotto.

We had the fried scallops they were fresh and delicious we had the truffle oil potatoes the slaw was broccoli slaw I don't know what the ingredients where but I wished that I had asked for recipe we had the small plate meat was around 17

Was excited to try this Bistro, as a few friends have raved. They weren't wrong. Don't let the simple décor fool you, deliciousness is coming from that kitchen and they have a decent wine list, several beers listed and a full bar. My husband had a very tasty bloody mary and I enjoyed a wonderful glass of sauvignon blanc. For a small bistro, there were several choices with descriptions that made you want to try them all. We started with their pierogis, a plate of tender pasta filled with mashed potatoes and the tiniest bit of sauerkraut, topped with a creamy smokie gravy style sauce and finished with some fresh roasted Kale. We finally decided on the Betty Lou Burger for him and the Pork Milanese for me - but of course we shared. The beef in the burger was tender and tasty, topped with gruyere and some true Applewood smoke bacon, paired with a garlic aioli and tomato onion chutney. Just wish the bun could hold up...If you are looking for a delicious burger, this is the one to try. The pork Milanese was a thing of beauty, with that delicious dollop of their house made tomato onion chutney nestled in some beautifully creamy butter bean risotto. Comfort food, elevated! Topping this delicious meal was their Crème Brule. Crème Brule is a favorite of mine, and Betty Lou's is now in my top 3 that I've ever had. Their Brule was Canon Distillery Coffee Vodka and this gave it the most exceptional flavor, with a delicate coffee flavor. Betty Lou's online presence is mostly FB now. They try to post specials on there, but I know a website is in their future. All things in this place are fresh, local with homemade dressings, aiolis, chutneys, etc... You couldn't ask for better.....

Betty Lou's NEVER disappoints. Food is always fresh and delicious. Service is always friendly and attentive. Hubby loves their flounder/Lima beans. I love their tenderloin sandwich. Heck..I love all their food! *Note to the tourists who were not so kind to our server tonight, we are kind to our servers and would like you to do the same.

The food was delicious but the service was slow only one person working the dining area. She was hosting, bartender and server. The place was clean with a pleasant feeling.

Awesome food and great service. I would go hear before I drive downtown. If you have not been here you are missing out!

Great Southern Food in the Neighborhood Very good food and service, in a pleasant and comfortable local restaurant. Besides the Southern dishes, the pierogies are excellent, and all the prices are fairly reasonable. I've had the fried seafood platter and enjoyed it. There's parking easily available in their parking lot.

My wife suggested Betty Lou's the other night and I couldn't say no because I've been wanting to come here for a while now. We ordered the brussels sprouts for an appetizer. I almost licked the bowl clean. There were plenty of sprouts in the bowl for both of us, and they were so flavorful and tasty. Sorry, I didn't get a picture. For entrees, we ordered the shrimp n grits and the seared scallops risotto. Our server was very prompt and attentive. Kudos to him for a great interaction. Scallops were cooked to perfection, and the Geechie Boy grits were to die for. We saved room for dessert and opted for the creme brulet. I'm pretty sure it was the only option, but we were still very much interested in it. This was devoured rather quickly too. Sublime creaminess under the brulet of sugar. We sampled a couple of local beverages as well. Overall, very happy with our dining experience, and would come back again. Reservations are helpful when coming here.

My husband and I were meeting friends here with our infant. I saw on a review somewhere else that it was not kid friendly but I wanted to see for myself. Our baby was sleeping when we walked in. We picked a table closer to the door and as we were doing so, we were greeted by one of the four owners... There were a few tables full and a few people at the bar. Note: It's not that it's not kid friendly, it was just sooooo loud! They had those really neat, high exposed ceilings that I love but that also causes the least amount of noise to travel. Maybe... sound boards of some sort?! Only other thing I could think of why someone said that is there was no place to change a baby in the bathroom. But we don't ever use those. Once our friends arrived we all ordered drinks and an appetizer of the daily pierogies they were absolutely delicious! I then was tossed between two menu items and the daily special when two girls yelled over as they were leaving, to get the special!! Then I had no choice but to get the special: Bucatini pasta in some sort of light cream sauce with huge chunks of lobster, fresh mushrooms and then topped with a large portion of mahi. YUM! I was so full but forced myself to keep eating. They have daily specials using fresh local ingredients, however I already have my eye set on some regular menu items as well. All the food that went out to other tables looked fabulous as well. We will definitely be back. Maybe babe during the day and date night at Came back tonight for half price and omg! It was melt-in-yo-mouth-deliciousness! so 6 bucks for a and 2 for hand cut ! Shut up and go!! Only qualm was they need organic ketchup! No ones got time for Heinz crap lolll We were invited with the in-laws last night and all got shrimp platters. Omg the was some of the best I've had!! I'm from the North and I'm used to sweet seafood and they were divine! The homemade cocktail was too!! Go get ya some!! Ps they are practicing all the safe Covid procedures

The food is s most delicious. Can not wait to go back and try something different on the menu. I ordered the pork chop and it was so big and very delicious. The service was top rate.

Betty Lou Burger so good! Service amazing Ambiance could be a little better. But love this place

The atmosphere is quiet and service was very friendly. The entire food presentation was thumbs up southern. The pork chop was delicious and tender but needed an extra kick (Lawry seasoning salt). The rice and beans was great. I would go again to try other entrées.

Food is absolutely amazing. Service is deplorable. Been here 4 times. 1 of 4 times, the service was great. 2 times it was bad. Most recently it was some of the worst service I've experienced. Waited 15 minutes to put in drinks and appetizers, and by that point we put in the full order. The drinks and appetizers took a little while, but not totally unreasonable. The entrees on the other hand took an hour and a half, and when the porkchop was brought out, it was still served medium rare. The server clearly forgot to enter our order. Other tables that were sat long after us received their food before us. The porkchop when cooked appropriately is fantastic. Disappointed this place isn't able to match the quality of its food with its service.

Hole in the wall. Food was great cheap. Great spot for lunch. Waiter was great. I had the burger and fries wife had beet salad with chicken. Both were good. I would return.