Laurel

Well thought out shareable plates of tasty foods. Highlights included brussel sprouts, lamb meatballs, goat cheese, octopus, croquetas, wine and patatas! They did a fantastic renovation on the building. Enjoyable atmosphere! We had a memorable dinner sharing plates with friends and we will be back.

My boyfriend and I are locals and consider ourselves to be quite the foodies, and this is one of our most favorite spots in all of Charleston, if not our top favorite! It's not often where you find a restaurant where literally everything is perfect, but this is one of them. From the service and food quality to the extensive wine collection, everything is fantastic! Arguably the best cooked octopus throughout the whole city, and the croquetas and meatballs are simply heavenly! Definitely a must try!

We had a great dinner! We got the bravas, ribs, lamb meatballs, scallops, steak and cheese cake for dessert. This is one of those rare places where I’m pretty sure whatever you order on the menu will be delicious, not a single thing disappointed. My wife had the Spanish GNT and I had the Pear and Bourbon cocktail and they were both awesome as well. Service was phenomenal as well, Julian did a great job and I would highly recommend this place to anyone.

We went down for Valentine’s Day. Food was really good and service was excellent. I had the pork shank which was delicious and we had some really good appetizers pictured. Also a really good selection of wine from Spain and Portugal.. We live in Mount Pleasant and will definitely be back to Laurel.

Absolutely the best grilled octopus in the south. That is a strong statement, but their method of marinating and finishing on the Josper - simply perfection. We will definitely be back! The Argentinian pink shrimp was amazing too!

My first experience at Laurel was a memorable one, as the venue, service and food were excellent! Their approach to Spanish and Portuguese cuisine, could easily make Laurel one of my favorite restaurants in Charleston. The menu offered a nice variety, without being exhaustive, and every dish was incredibly fresh and packed with amazing flavor. Nice cocktail and beer selection, too. Highly recommend their Olivos Laurel, Croquetas Del Dia, Boquerones Y Patatas Fritas, Laurel Pulpo Garlicia, Costillas A La Portillo, Pollo Asado Mojo Rojo Y Mojo Verde & Vieiras Con Azafran! You won't be disappointed.

This place was amazing! The vibe was awesome, the cocktails were great (we had the Paloma and the sangria) and the food was amazing. Matt was really nice and helpful, and made great suggestions. The biggest surprise were the butter beans, the expectations were low but man oh man were the results surprisingly high. The pork shank was to die for. Very bougie, great service, great food, would absolutely come back.

This is a phenomenal cuisine experience!! If you love full body flavors and an eclectic taste bud experience - then Laurel is the spot for you! Small tapas style dishes, with Spanish / Portuguese inspiration. You can’t go wrong with this spot!

Charming restaurant with great food and service. We had the octopus, mushrooms, whitefish and croquettas. Everything was perfectly cooked and all of the dishes were flavorful and unique. The only change I'd make is adding sangria to the menu. If you are eating tapas then I always expect great sangria to be served as they do in Spain.

Laurel is a place for true foodies! I went with a fellow foodie, and we ordered a whole bunch of things and shared. The meat dishes were fall-off-the-bone (if there was a bone) tender (although I understand the place is equally good for vegetarians and vegans!). Every meat dish was accompanied by a puree of vegetables as well, and the pairing was always perfect -- savory meat with a sweet potato for a little "sweet" counterpoint. Lovely. Excellent assortment of wine and spirits. We also sat at the bar, which was surprisingly comfortable. Even though the place was packed, no one rushed us, and we enjoyed a long, delicious evening of great food, wonderful drinks and fabulous service. Can't wait to return next time I'm in Charleston!

Stopped at laurel it was right up the block from the hospital . Stopped in for happy hour bartender was great with recommendations and told us about the happy hour. Inside was very clean and I loved the decorations. I got the appetizer bread which I enjoyed ( didn't take a picture) . Giving 4 stars just because I did taste any entree so not sure how the food is here. Deff a nice place to stop in for a drink !

This is a great place for fresh tapas! We ordered five-six tapas for the table and split a bottle of wine. This would be a great place for a romantic date night or a girls night! The place is darkly lit and have a cool atmosphere. Service was great! On top of our drinks!

This place is a hidden gem. The food is so fresh and delicious. 10/10 recommend. The service was also amazing!

Wowowow - I am beyond impressed by Laurel! Dare I call it a hidden gem, it is tucked away on the outskirts of MUSC's campus, so it doesn't get a lot of foot traffic. I have sat at the bar, which was an incredible experience. The bartender suggested an amazing Tempranillo wine and her favorite place. I've also sat at a table and had quality service as well. The food is outstanding. I've now tried half of the menu, but never made it to the large plates. I prefer to enjoy small plates or tapas with whomever I'm with. You absolutely cannot skip the octopus - it is the best cooked and most flavorful I've ever had. Laurel is great for date night, with friends, or taking your parents when they visit! The ambiance is cozy and welcoming.

We were able to celebrate my birthday in style at this wonderful new restaurant that had a Spanish vibe to it. Our server had a. Thick Spanish accent and was very enthusiastic to help us order. Our food and service was fine. The ribeye I ordered with the chicken basque that was also ordered was enough to share. Ambiance was amazing. The setting was wonderful. My review is going to be on what we witnessed. I think this place closes at 10p and the tables are by reservations only. Keep both of those in mind. We were having a great time and ordered sour drinks, tapas and meal. Almost done and it's getting to be around 9-ish. A couple comes in and we hear the other server, an older gentlemen say loudly "u see his breath" go to throw bar, go to the bar". The hostess sat them at the bar even though there was a table. We though this was odd and he was the only other server with 1 table. Our server had 4 and there were 2 couples at the bar so pretty decent considering there are only 10 tables a bar and window bar seats in this place. The panic happened after 9:30p and a gaggle of business people about 10 of them come in very jovial and friendly want to top off their evening. The older man said theirs no way I'm taking that group. The hostess was friendly but unsure of what she needed to do. The cooks especially one with longer black hair out his head down like OMG make them go away. This is a Saturday Night. The hours are posted. They should be servers and they were friendly well dress well to do group of people looking to celebrate at the last minute. One tall cook also looks at the new crowd and tells the older gentleman that we are not turning them down after he said I'm not serving them. They sat at the bar and window. The hostess was directed by the bartender what to say so they got no table although it was almost empty in there and there was only us and 1 other table. No reservation no table. I don't know what happened prior to is getting there but this place was very very delicious. Our thick accented server I'm sorry but I forgot her name took very good care of us. This was just an odd night but we did get dessert for my birthday!!! They had cheesecake and a tiny tiny bit outstanding lava cake with ice cream. We will definitely return.

Beautiful restaurant, delicious entrees and tapas, great wine selection, friendly and helpful staff

Everything was perfect from the drink suggestions to the tapas to the entrees. The restaurant is lovely inside, warm, intimate, while at the same time perfect for small groups. Our party of four shared the pan de sal, papas, croquetas, and lamb meatballs. Every last morsel was enjoyed. For entrees, we had the pork shank, roasted chicken, and the ribeye. The portions were large. Two shared the steak. Our server was prompt and attentive and also not intrusive at all. There is some street parking but also the huge MUSC Rutledge Tower parking garage.

Food was delicious...Brought my daughter who is vegan and gluten free and there were so many amazing options to choose from. Usually it is slim pickens but here we had the octopus and the mushroom tapas to start. Patatas bravas were perfect with the romesco sauce and they were accommodating by putting the sauce on the side for the brussel sprouts. Service was top notch. Loved the Albarino they had for a white wine choice. We walked in at 6:30 and thankfully there were seats at the bar. I don't understand why this restaurant isn't packed on a Saturday night. I will be back.

Food was really good, delicious and so very well presented. They are losing a star, because, well tapas, should be small plates and I think these plates were a little large for that. We were originally going to order 3 plates for 2 people and the server recommended 4 - 5, so we added 2 things and it was WAY too much. This is fine, love my leftovers, but when you go for tapas and especially ask if that is the correct amount of food and they upsell you and you realize your initial thoughts were correct. Will definitely be going back but ordering less. Definitely worth going, the food is amazing and the presentation is gorgeous.

Visited this restaurant with friends in April before the Bridge run. It's not a very big place and our waitress was really busy. I think there were only two waitstaff that evening. She made sure we had what we needed. The food and wine was good. We were able to share the tapas with our table. We enjoyed the lamb meatballs so much that we ordered another. There is a two hour limit and our waitress pretty much told us that our time was up which was fine since we were just waiting to pay the bill. Laurel is a newish restaurant and I only discovered it in Open Table. The ambience was nice, service was good and the food was decent. Would come back to this restaurant on my next trip to Charleston.

Sauces were stellar !!! The fish of the day was a snapper topped with a lemony pesto. Refreshing and savory ! Pork shank was tender through and through! Juicy, well balanced, the BEST smooth sweet potatoes Wagyu is a must! Loved the texture combo of capers, tomato and creamy yet fluffy cheese! drinks- don't sleep on the sangria and Spanish mule!!! 10/10!!!! Didn't get a pic of the croquets or Brussels but that was a group fav as well! Tldr - BRUSSELS, PORK SHANK, SANGRIA, SPANISH MULE I liked the lamb meat balls as well ( for the sauce ) but not as innovate as the others We shared 8 dishes among 4 and had room for dessert. Food was great, a little pricey but expected for tapas. Cozy but elevated. Overall - great for a reservation kind of meal, a little fancy for a casual drop in, perfect date night w your bestie

I love this restaurant and was excited to see they were opening for lunch and I came for lunch but was turned away due to being unexpectedly short staffed. They were very nice about it. I am guessing the lunch thing isnt going to last...

Overall it provided good food and service. They kept the traditional Spanish tapas which was awesome. The octopus was delicious and was done to perfection. My wife ordered the pork lion and it melted like butter. The butter beans were perfection. Las corequetas were amazing. The whole fish was cooked well however the chimichurri sauce really overpowered the fish. I definitely enjoyed the rustic touch to the beet salad however I think grilling it or adding some sort of sauce would have been a better balance. (Carrots had an odd after taste) The arroz had a beautiful crunchy texture which reminded me a lot of traditional cooking however there was an odd and funky after taste. Overall we were happy.

This was my first time at Laureal and it will not be my last. This is due in part to the excellent food selections and perfectly made drinks - but the main reason for this review was the server, Matthew. Matthew was professional, kind, attentive and knowledgeable. Thank you for a great dining experience.

This wasn't a good night at Laurel. The chef was traveling and it showed up in the kitchen with the food they served. The whole market fish was good but not outstanding compared to previous occasions and at $42 it's VERY EXPENSIVE given it no longer comes with an accompaniment. Same with the pork as it was accompanied by saffron rice. Other finer restaurants like Magnolias, High Cotton, Le Farfalle, Royal Tern etc, serve up the market seafood special with rice, a succotash. We had to order the $9 saffron rice hiking the price to $51. And for $9 you don't get much rice. That's asking too much for sea bass and it wasn't as good this time. The saffron rice has always been a showstopper but tonight it was very dry with less saffron flavor. But the worst was the lamb "saddle" cut of meat that we were told by our server would be extremely tender and flavorful. Instead, my wife gets a plate of inedible connective tissue (tendons, ligaments, cartilage) and fat that neither I nor her could cut through. This lamb should have never left the kitchen. Maybe that's why they called the lamb cut of meat a "saddle" because it was like leather. I literally walked up to the open kitchen and told the server and chef that the lamb was inedible. My wife promptly ordered a substitute pork entree that was tasty but the portion was quite small for the price and cut of meat. By the time it was served to her, she ate alone as I couldn't wait any longer to let my fish entree go cold. The kicker was the bill. While the server was friendly and attentive, no adjustment was made to our bill to recognize we were dining together but had to eat separately. No offer for a complimentary dessert or cocktail. Nothing. I will not return until the chef returns and our server Julian is there to serve better food and take care of its customers. I use to recommend Laurel to friends but won't anymore. It's pricey due to a la carte entrees and has inconsistent food. The positives of the night were the excellent bread, pear cocktail and friendly server. It will be a while before we return. Better, more consistent food quality at other Charleston restaurants that offer a far better value than this a la carte menu.

Just going to start with saying I'm from Spain so I get excited to find Spanish restaurants in town! Imagine my surprise when our server happened to be born in the same town I spent all my summers with my family in! The owner also was just in my hometown recently, so it was fun getting to talk about his favorite places he's been in Spain. The menu is smaller and changes frequently, and this is because the owner puts his ALL into every item posted. We ordered the croquetas (pro tip in case you aren't familiar with legit Spanish tapas -- always order croquetas. Every time my mom is in town this is the first thing I ask her to cook!, setas (mushrooms), the bread which is sent in directly from Spain (!!!), and the octopus (so tender, delicious, and filling)! I had a G&T which was delicious and they put a little spin on it with including a splash of red wine. I'll definitely be coming back to try the rest of the menu! Thank you for giving me a little slice of home, Laurel!

Food was great, service was great, ambience was great. Don't miss the patatas bravas, Brussels sprouts, or whole fish

Fun experience! Loved the food, the Spanish sherry I had was exceptional, and overall a fun atmosphere to spend an evening in. The only part of the meal we didn't like was the shishitos (they didn't really have much seasoning or any real flavor) but they took it off our bill after my wife said something - other than that it was a great evening.

Excellent octopus and croquettes. Cold/hard butter with the bread. Great service. Great drinks. Chair by the window is about to fall apart.

Review is strictly on the Drink and atmosphere since I didn't order food. Excellent old Fashion, Happy hour special was nice. Inside is very clean, fast service. Cool artwork on the ceiling. Wish there was different/ louder music. It's very very subtle in the background.

So disappointing. Have with a large party and got a Cesar salad. No only was the salad comically small but it had only 1/4 of an egg , under dressed, 3 or 4 croutons and it was majorly lacking flavor. 18 dollars? Really??

This neighborhood gem is a must for foodies. A beautiful and cozy atmosphere perfect for date night or meeting up with friends. The grilled octopus was out of this world, and especially with a perfect, red wine as suggested by our waiter Julian. We tried a few things, but the grilled octopus and the charcuterie platter with Marcona almonds, although a bit lean on the serving-size were my faves. Delicious and gorgeously presented food with a Spanish flair. I will be back the next time I'm in the city.

This cozy restaurant was perfect. I randomly came across it ahead of a visit to the city. It was about a mile from where we were staying so we walked and ended up at this restaurant in a house in a quiet neighborhood. I love dimly lit restaurants so I was in right away. We had a fabulous server who knew what was good and knew when to check in and not hover. Just a great experience there. With his help we decided on a bottle of Tempranillo and throughout the eve, as one does with small plates, we ate on marinated olives (generous serving), ham and cheese croquetas, wood fired grilled octopus and shared the wagyu hanger steak. Everything was perfectly prepared and seasoned. I wish this place was in my city! I would recommend reservations as it was a busy local spot. It's affordable too.

Great family owned restaurant, the owner was our server and she didn't disappoint! BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR! The food was OUTSTANDING, we had Brussels, Butter Beans, 3 servings of Lamb Meatballs, catch of the day, bread, anchovies, burnt basque cheesecake and 2 braised beef shank! IF YOU COME TO CHARLESTON, START HERE!! Also we had Spanish GNT, and a few other libations I got drunk off hahah!

Absolutely wonderful service and amazingly delicious food. It's so cute inside too. I really like the bar facing the window too. The menu options are very unique compared to most restaurants in Charleston. I also felt the portions were large for tapas (that is in no way a bad thing to me, it's more value for your money). I will definitely return. As for parking, if you'd rather not chance street parking, the MUSC garage on Ashley Ave near Doughty is open to the public.

Very bad customer service and unsafe practices. I don't drink alcohol and was driving so I ordered a virgin Moscow mule. I made it very clear that I wanted a virgin drink. My friends ordered alcoholic drinks. The drinks seemed to be completely mixed up and I thought I tasted alcohol in my drink. The waitress, who turned out to be the owner, vehemently denied that there was alcohol in my drink several times and that the drinks were correct despite my concerns without offering to replace it. She even took it back to the bartender after us asking about it several times to have him taste it with a straw and he said there was no alcohol either. Eventually I started to feel warm and other telltale signs of tipsiness, and I knew they were wrong. I went up to the bartender myself and asked what drink he thought he served me and he couldn't even recognize it. It had a lemon and I said "don't Moscow mules always have a lime?" And he replied "not necessarily." I don't think he knew what he was doing at all. I ask him to just remake the drink, he makes it with a lime this time and it tastes completely different, and now without alcohol. The waitress/owner ends up comping all our drinks but never admitted that the drinks were wrong. She even had the gall to say the herbs they use in their drinks were making me feel drunk. HERBS. I will never come back here, they are unsafe and disrespectful. Thank goodness for them I'm not pregnant or a recovering alcoholic, they could have a lawsuit on their hands.

BEWARE: this restaurant does NOT honor reservations, nor do they make any attempt to acknowledge or try to rectify the inconvenience that is caused. We arrived for a 7:15pm reservation and were informed that "nobody is getting up" so the wait would be at least 35 min. The hostess stood there confused that we were upset as if this were a regular occurrence. Because we had our daughter with us, we weren't allowed to wait at the bar, and we were offered no alternative so we had no choice but to leave. Another party with a reservation went in right after we did and they were also turned away. If you are looking for a great restaurant in the neighborhood that does honor reservations, try Sorghum & Salt - we ended up there and it was delicious!

My partner and I have traveled extensively and we have eaten some of the best restaurants in the world. We both decided that the meal we just had at Laurel is the best we've ever had anywhere. We had olives, marinated beet salad, octopus, and pork, the spices, the taste of which were indescribably good. If we are ever in this area again we will come back here every night.

Laurel is a hidden gem. Right beside the MUSC campus, this neighborhood restaurant is charming. The menu lists expansive bar and food options. The service is friendly and the ambiance is warm and welcoming. We shared the lamb meatballs, shishito peppers, Brussel sprouts, rice, chicken, and whole fish red snapper. The portions were generous and the food tasted wonderful. These were just a few of the menu items. Table beside us had the pork shank and I watched him use a fork and it fell apart! Choice for next time!

A true local neighborhood gem in a quiet place of town. The vibe is very cozy and darker lit. A great place to have a chill girls night or first date, no loud music. The menu isn't huge but that is what makes it special. Most of the items are small, sharable plates. Our hostess was a sweet as she could be, always ready to answer our questions, fill our waters, and so very attentive. I am a lover of mules so I had the Spanish mule which was a light sipper with my meal. We chose to share the octopus, summer veggies, lamb meatballs, and cheesecake. The octopus was surprisingly my favorite with the sweet potato sauce. It was my favorite of octopus dishes I have ever had. The lamb meatballs were a close second. The summer veggies came with a delicious baguette and the homemade cheesecake was a sweet surprise as well! The bathrooms were clean and stocked with all the essentials which I always look for. The whole experience was cozy, delicious and welcoming. I would come here again whether solo or with a group.

I'll be brief. Menu selections were sparse. Tried the croquetas which were a bit greasy and quite heavy. Wife had a beet salad with spiced carrots which was pretty good. My steak cost 66 dollars and it was a bit fatty and had the charcoal residue flavor. Okay, I know it's Spanish cuisine. However, the entree had no sides so we ordered butter beans which were laden with a cheesy sauce. I will not be back, sorry.

Had a reservation made a month in advance and upon arrival they said the wait would be an additional hour. So disappointing as we really wanted to try a new spot - owner was unapologetic and they blamed the wait on using multiple reservation platforms. There wasn't much room to stand at the bar and it was pouring down rain. We had to find another place to eat during prime dinner hours in downtown Charleston- really disappointed with the service. At least could have called us prior to our reservation or texted us from one of their multiple reservation platforms..

This place is amazing. I was home for the holidays and my mom made a reservation here for dinner one night. I was working that day and unfortunately ended up working late. We were already late for our reservation when we got caught by the drawbridge headed into town! Despite all of that, we were still able to get seated at the bar. For three people, it was perfect. My mom and I ordered sangria to start. It was absolutely delicious - if you go here, you should try it. We then ordered a bunch of different tapas, including the crudo, croquetas, and mushrooms. All of it was perfect. The aiolis they served on some of the dishes were particularly on point. I might consider getting an entree the next time I come, but the tapas were so satisfying it's hard to imagine topping them. Highly recommend coming here if you're in the Charleston area.

Another amazing experience! Such a fantastic atmosphere...and whatever you do, make sure to get the Crudo of the day! Tonight it was a delicious blend of Seabass, pepper relish, radishes, and herbs/greens. Indescribably good!! The octopus was delicious, as were the olives, and all of the small plates that we enjoyed. I just love the opportunity to try a multitude of different things, rather than just having to get entrees. Wine was great, service was great, atmosphere was great! Plan to be back again soon!!

We were looking for tapas and drinks and the regular Charleston spots were booked. Lucky for us, we found a spot at the bar at Laurel. The tapas are amazing! The octopus was very tender with wonderful sauces. Our favorite was the lamb meatballs with San Simon cheese. Jennifer, our bartender, was informative and fun. Highly recommend! Very cozy and chill environment.

Amazing experience. It's 12 blocks from king street and the owners are precious. The waitress was the chef's wife. They are from Europe and have the best food. Highly recommend.

second visit for out GNO. love the ambiance, service, eclectic selections on the menu. Top notch plating with taste to match! A definite favorite!

Our dinner at Laurel was perfection. The food was cooked exactly how it should be (plus more), the ambience was very European, and the service was impeccable. I personally loved lamb meatballs more than anything - tasted like a beautiful mix of chorizo and lamb...fab. Thanks for the great night out Laurel!

Great place for Spanish food! The menu options were excellent. The red wine options were great! The service was excellent.

Wow! This place was so good! It is so great having a neighborhood restaurant that is this caliber. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We started with the Spanish bread and mussels and both exceeded our expectations. Cocktail were fab. Everything was reasonably priced and we will most certainly be back! Welcome to the neighborhood Laurel!

Lovely restaurant & bar space & staff. I love tapas! I enjoyed the croquettas, octopus, lamb meatballs, pork chop! Their red wine selection is yummy too

I had a reasonably pleasant first time experience at this new Radcliffeborough restaurant in Charleston SC. The atmosphere was nice and intimate with it being a corner "hole in the wall" neighborhood type restaurant off the beaten path. I enjoyed their wine selection which hosted an array of affordable, yet well curated for this type of food (Spanish tapas/ Portuguese influence), reds and whites. The service was attentive but since they are brand new they are still working out the kinks in being able to explain their dishes/wines well to customers. I split the shrimp, mussels, and fried potatoes tapas plates and had the pork as an entree. The mussels were done pretty well and sat in a delicious broth which I wish they had accompanied slices of bread to soak up and enjoy on the side. The pork I though was very tasty and well done accompanied with a bath of Spanish red rice. The potatoes were not my favorite and I think they could have enhanced them well with more herbs and proper garnishing. The shrimp was a bit underwhelming for its size, they were a bit over cooked and did not harness that mediterranean strong olive oil/garlic style. I would recommend the wine I had with my food which was the Volver Tempranillo but the house "Spanish Gin & Tonic" was not to my liking because it was unexpectedly sweet and tasted more of a Shirley Temple than a G&T. I think Laurel should definitely try adding more tapas to their menu and even consider traditional sangria and porrons to fit their Spanish portrayal. Overall, I'd get Laurel a 3.5/5 because it did not blow me away with anything in particular but the environment and novelty of their culinary approach left me feeling full and pleased for it being what it is, a smaller meetup/shared bites type setting!

Wonderful new restaurant in Charleston. I love the design and bar. We sat at the bar and had amazing service. The food was also outstanding. Expansive wine list along with cocktails were enjoyed by everyone in our party. We order one of all the appetizers and everything was consumed. I had the fish of the day for dinner and really enjoyed the preparation. Food came out quick and hot. I will definitely be back.

Loved it, don't miss the croquetas -- or the best cheesecake I've ever had. They'll make you feel like family.

Great spot for tapas and wine. Staff was very friendly food was great. The wine selection reminded us of our week in Barcelona, highly recommend.

Heard great things about the food. However hours are inconsistent, might be open, might be serving food. Somewhere to go on a night you're patient and ok with maybe not getting dinner.

Was hoping for a bit of wow.. disappointing. Noise level was so high in there could hardly converse. I was disappointed with the choice of dishes available. I had very little to choose from as a non meat eater. There were no vegetables at all that I saw on the menu. No one at our 6 top had veggies besides potatoes. I had the mushrooms that are very mediocre. I noted that the steak the fish and my mushrooms that we had ordered all had the same pesto sauce and the other steak, the fish and the fried potatoes all had the same red sauce. Very limited and I also did not notice any Portuguese food. Definitely expected more