Chef Frank's Bistro

Delicious food; definitely much better than you can expect in a cafe/bistro. My wife and I had the swordfish and the creme brulee. Service is excellent. At the end of our meal, the Chef came to our table to chat with us. If we were in France this restaurant would definitely deserve a Michelin star. Bottom line: much better than all restaurants in Beaufort, at a very reasonable price.

Dined solo at Chef Frank’s Bistro after a recommendation from a trusted foodie friend. The dining room is welcoming and intimate with lots of natural light. The wine list was well curated, and I enjoyed the Wente Morning Fog. My entree was the Filet Mignon au Poive (perfectly cooked as ordered), with sides of puréed potatoes and rainbow carrots. The dessert options were extensive and I opted for the Blood Orange Creme Brûlée - heavenly! The servers were knowledgeable and very friendly- just the right amount of attention. I look forward to returning very soon.

Love this place! Simple as that! I eat out a lot, and I won't review any business unless it's exceptionally good (or exceptionally not so good). I would almost prefer to keep Chef Frank's a secret, but it really was that great! I can't wait to go back! Special thanks to our server Sandy for the birthday candle on my coconut cake. You are a superstar!

The food is amazing. Menu is just right and everything tastes delicious. Good for smaller groups, 4-6 people, intimate with personal and attentive service. Will definitely go back.

We’ve been looking for a great locally owned steak and seafood place here in Beaufort and this is it. My halibut and my wife’s filet mignon were perfectly cooked and service by Ashley was excellent. Chef/owner Frank came by each table to check on dinner and have a chat. Highly recommended.

We were WOWed by our first dining experience at Chef Frank’s Bistro last night! Our hostess was so charming and thoroughly engaging, whetting our appetite by her descriptions of the treat we were in for. She did not oversell it! The wait staff was engaging and knowledgeable. Their hospitality was so welcoming and relaxed. BUT the food?!?! Oh my goodness, the BEST I have had in several years at a Beaufort restaurant. Our entree of Fresh Catch Sheepshead with vegetable risotto was perfectly prepared. One of our table mates had the Berkshire Prime Porkchop and raved. We all cleaned our plates but still ordered from the extensive dessert menu to top off an outstanding meal. We will return often. Thank you so much Chef Frank and staff for the most delicious, delightful dining experience we have had in a long while.

Wonderful dinner enjoyed by all at this quaint Port Royal gem. The oysters Rockefeller, caprese salad, swordfish were delicious as was the grouper special. Seek out this restaurant when you want to enjoy a delicious meal.

Chef Frank’s Bistro is excellent! The 8 oz filet was cooked perfectly—tender and full of flavor. The grilled swordfish was delicious, with a nice crust and a flaky inside, topped with a light lemon butter sauce. The double chocolate cheesecake was rich and creamy, and the raspberry crème brûlée had the perfect mix of sweet and tart. The outdoor dining was nice, but be ready for no-see-ums. Luckily, our Thermacell worked great! The staff was friendly, and Chef Frank adds a personal touch. If you’re in the Lowcountry, this spot is a must-visit! Highly recommend!

Greeted by a lovely gal who sat us immediately. Service was impeccable. We each loved our meals, pasta and fish entrees were delicious and we could tell Chef cared about sending out the best possible meal . We will be returning

Fine dining done right. Excellent creative food, generous portions, relaxed yet elegant atmosphere, the plain room spruced up with nautical paintings, white tablecloths and fresh flowers on the tables. Chef-owned and operated. I started with an appetizer "Crabkopita", a crab-containing version of the Greek Spanakopita. 6 pieces, plenty of crab (instead of the usual spinach), and perfect phyllo texture: just enough fats so it didn't feel dry or shatter into shards when you bite into it. Very curiously seasoned, in a good way. Almost too good by itself to use the sauce but I did, sparingly; it was great too. The dinner rolls - complimentary - were very good, slightly sweet and served warm. I asked and learned they are the only item not made in house. Almost though: the pre-formed dough is purchased from a local bakery and baked here. There was a good selection of wines by the glass that I'm not familiar with, for prices considered normal these days. I had three and all were very good: a Cabernet from Sonoma, a Washington Pinot, and a Rosé from Provence. Don't judge me; I had a very long walk afterwards before driving. My entree was Marinated Rack of Lamb, with cannellini beans, fennel and rosemary ragout, garlic glazed green beans, and red wine demi glacé. A full rack of 8, artfully arranged on the plate and cooked exactly as I requested: medium-rare. Assertive pepper herb crust. Green beans done just to al dente. Almost perfection, the slight excess of salt a minor and completely forgivable flaw. I'm not the least bit embarrassed to use my hands when needed, which in my option is the correct way for rack of lamb. I got no disapproving stares from staff or other diners, so I say go for it if that's your preference. Dessert was a coconut cake, an enormous slice of which I ate 1/3 that night and got two snacks from the leftovers over the next two days. With buttercream between the layers, toasted coconut around the top and sides for boosted flavor, and mint and whipped cream for garnish. Simple and plain but perfectly executed: texture was light and airy and so much flavor. A few words on the staff: My waitress reminded me of Sookie from Gilmore Girls in so many ways: appearance, voice, and mannerisms. And from my research it seems she's also involved with the food preparation and menu design so, the Gilmore character being a chef, the similarity holds there too. And my interaction with Chef Frank was amusing. He came out to say hello towards the end (very appreciated) and I complimented him on the Crabkopita and inquired about the herbs - the flavors which I couldn't identify. He said there are no herbs in it! Eventually as we continued the short exchange I realized he meant there are spices in it but no herbs. Well excuse me! This layman tends to use the terms interchangeably (I'l try to be more precise from now on). I don't think he was being flippant or condescending in his response; it's just that to a chef they really are completely different things. He did reveal that there was lemon zest in it but he never did tell me just what those amazing spices were!

We recommend Chef Frank's Bistro! We moved here about 3 years ago. Have had our eye (stomachs?) on CFB for some time. We have been slow to try a new place (thank you husband) but we thoroughly enjoyed the food, scenery, vibe. The food is creative. Super presentations of ingredients blending traditional with new creativity. We commented as we ate that it is wonderful to dine where the chef and kitchen pay attention to detail and care. The flavors all rock together without being pretentious or so numerous any one ingredient is lost. A plus is being directly across from the Port Royal Cypress Wetlands. My husband kept asking what I was looking for at out the window. Too difficult to not notice the bird activities during dusk. Haha We recommend CFB and already have our next dish to try from the menu. Oh .. the service was professional and tops. Thank you all for a wonderful experience.

Monday night private party was the best! Food, wine selection, and service. Main course selections made before the event, including how pink your wanted your fillet. The salad was lightly dressed and included quality ingredients. Then two birthday cake selections to choose from. All in all, a wonderful celebration! Hard to make everyone happy, but I think they pulled it off!

This is one of the best restaurants we've ever been to. And that's saying a lot being from South Jersey, and then the Chesapeake Bay. Absolutely amazing food from the appetizer to the dessert completely fresh halibut and swordfish. Spectacular.

Excellent!! Met Chef Frank who is probably one of, if not, the best Chef in South Carolina. The Bistro is beautiful and I got to meet Chef Frank's Sous Chef who is awesome. HEAD to this restaurant now!

Not sure if you remember the little restaurant across from the "bird place" in Port Royal. It is called Chef Frank's Bistro and only open for dinner. We stopped there on our way back from Charleston. A great restaurant. Very few tables and only two wait staff, who are A+. My chicken marsala was awesome. The best chicken breast I have ever tasted. He gets his chicken from a small farmer. My wife had a very unique salad and Gazpacho. It was totally chunky with four large shrimp. Dessert was a huge piece of coconut cake for $10. Frank is a CIA grad, and it shows in his cooking and presentations. This place is worth the drive.

New to the area...we loved everything we ordered. Service was just wonderful! We appreciate the quality of the food. Chef stopped by our table- what a wonderful treat to take our best friends from CT here! Can't wait to return! Thank You all for a lovely evening!

One of the best kept secrets in the area. White tablecloth, small floral arrangements and the most welcoming professional service. From the moment you step thru the doorway, you just know that you are in for a treat. The wait staff is knowledgeable and accessible but never intrusive. The menu selections are an absolute delight to both the eye and the palate. Chef Frank is on site, preparing your meal for you!! Should you have special dietary requirements, he is extraordinarily accommodating. But it is the food that brings us back again and again. The venue is small, intimate and so very special. In this age of noisy overbearing venues with staff that are overly impressed with themselves, Chef Franks is a welcome breath of fresh air. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Another delicious meal at Chef Frank's! Great beers, wine, apps and food! Had the catch of the day - divine! So creative, seasonally fun, and perfectly balanced. Wonderful service and knowledgeable staff - just the best food, ambiance, and service in the area. Love this place so much! And Chef Frank is the loveliest too - highly recommend!

Quaint spot with wonderful food ! Professional and friendly staff too !! Menu varies so you can go every night and not eat the same thing twice. No liquor but nice selection of wine and beer.

We ate here for the first time tonight but it won't be the last! I had the rack of lamb which was excellent. Tender, seasoned beautifully, And the portion was enough that I shared it around the table and still brought some home. My husband had the filet which was cooked to perfection. Our friends had the pork chop and the chicken. As opener we had the Brussels sprouts, and honestly I could have eaten Brussels sprouts the rest of the evening and been happy. Service was attentive, and the wine superb. Highly recommend!

UPDATE: Chef Frank contacted me personally to apologize on behalf of his hostess. Very much appreciated. Changing rating to a 4, because the food was very good. ...ORIGINAL REVIEW: I have NEVER in my life, after a $300 meal, been asked to vacate a table after an hour and 15 minutes, because "another party is waiting." I will never be returning this this restaurant nor recommending it to anyone. A shame, because the food was excellent. INSULTING.

A co-worker and his wife joined me here on a recent Thursday night in December. The venue is quaint, intimate and comfortable. The fish special that night was Tile Fish and both my co-worker and I were DELIGHTED with everything about it. My co-worker's wife chose the Ribeye steak and was also extremely pleased with the choice. As with all dining establishments, great food can be overshadowed by inattentive servers but that was NOT the case here. Everyone from the hostess to the server to Chef Frank himself provided a welcoming environment and went above and beyond. Their menu pricing is certainly in line with all other comparable dining options. Every effort has been made to source as much as possible from local sources and unique food offerings abound because of it. Be assured you will receive GREAT food at a fair price when you dine here! Highly recommended, but call ahead to make sure they can accommodate you in this cozy alcove of culinary heaven.

The stars were awarded more for the excellent service than the food. Our party of four were seated promptly, graciously greeted, and our drink orders arrived quickly. The rolls that followed were warm and fresh but oddly too sweet for my tastebuds. Three diners ordered salads - beet and goat cheese and Caesar. The former was enthusiastically received, but the Caesar was deemed a five out of ten. Not a great rating for an outrageously priced $16 bowl of greens. I could possibly see a dinner entree sized preparation with an added protein for that price, but not for a small side salad that ended up being weak rendition of a a classic. Most ordered a swordfish entree but varied the sides. Kudos for the Bistro for allowing patrons some flexibility. I ordered the only pasta entree ($27, which was way overpriced). It was described as classic Italian sausage marinara, papardelle pasta, parm and garlic bread. I didn't have a big appetite that evening so I chose a dish that could potentially be good for a next day meal. The noodles were cooked well, the sauce was quite unremarkable, and for the most part it was nothing I couldn't execute better at home. In the end, the leftover pasta didn't leave in a doggie bag because frankly, it just didn't warrant a repeat performance. Our experience here didn't match the cost paid. Nothing was memorable, unique or creative. The Beaufort restaurant scene is in serious need of resuscitation.

we ate there with friends and everyone agreed the food ambience and service were all excellent. our server a young woman was particularly helpful and she was. ery attentive. my wife had the swordfish and she loved the dish. she actually said it was the best she had ever had. I had the parpadella with sausage which was very enjoyable. this is a quality restaurant that will become hard to get in to in the future. go now before you can't.

Fantastic food, and wine selection. We were there for a special event and the service and atmosphere was excellent. The chef said hello to the table, it was a perfect experience!

we visited Frank bistro on june 8th . Ambiance was great but the food was substandard. I ordered veal loin, very salted as well excess amount of black pepper make it very spicy hot and loins 2 pieces very dry and overcooked . I prefer NOT to visit this place which is overpriced and substandard quality of food with veryslow service(whole restaurant has only one peron servicing every one in whole room

OMG! Food and service was second to none! I got the special(snapper) and it was cooked to perfection and the flavors were amazing. Highly recommend . Desserts are just as good.

Wonderful experience. The chef owner came to our table to make sure we were happy. Food was great. Service friendly and attentive. Small venue but well decorated. I am looking forward to our next visit.

great food, great service, reasonably price. we have been there four times and have never been disappointed. highly recommen!