Bowens Island Restaurant

"The setting at old-school oyster shack Bowens is perfect for grabbing a fresh bushel of bivalves, and watching a Lowcountry sunset. The interiors at Bowen's are rustic, but customers are there for views of the marshland and water, along with the buckets of oysters." - Erin Perkins

"Any visitor Charleston must trek out to Bowens Island at least once. The experience of non-stop steamed oysters, cheap beer, and creekside views makes for lasting memories. It’s rustic (some say “dive”), and a bit hard to find, but as former Eater restaurant editor Bill Addison said, “It has been a draw for decades and remains luring both for its ramshackle funkiness and the gut-level goodness of its food.” And if you’re searching for a Lowcountry boil, a combination of corn, sausage, shrimp, and potatoes, this is the place to find it." - Erin Perkins

"Bowen’s Island Restaurant in Charleston serves aquaculture oysters from local companies, including Charleston Oyster Farm, which are raised in Folly Creek. The restaurant had only wild-caught oysters until three years ago." - Denise K. James

"On outer James Island, almost to Folly Beach, a sandy road stretches from Bowens Island through the marsh. Take this, and it will end at the Folly River's large, weathered building with multiple decks, a hell of a view of Lowcountry sunset over a dock, and—if you're lucky—the smell of freshly fried hushpuppies in the air. Welcome to Bowen's Island Restaurant. The Lowcountry oyster roast—steamed wild caught oyster clusters served on long tables with crackers, lemon, and cocktail sauce—are a Charleston tradition, and when these clusters are in season, Bowen's is the most reliable place to experience this. Beyond that, fried seafood selections reign, and the lightly breaded and tender fried shrimp might be some of the best in town." - Stephanie Burt

"An oyster roast at Bowens Island Restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina."