Long Island Cafe

Been coming for years, and the change in ownership is evident. Food quality was a mixed bag: tuna tartare appetizer was very good; she crab soup had a good flavor, but came out looking like a gelatinous bowl of gravy. Seafood pasta was very good, but the “lump” crabcakes were a huge miss. Not only were they fried to within an inch of their life, they seemed to be composed of mainly filling and backfin crabmeat. The $50 grouper was good, but didn’t expect it to be fried. At that price point, the flavor of the fish itself should be the star of the show. Finally, there is a 3% fee added onto the bill for credit card processing (seriously?!) Our server was excellent and very accommodating, and for that reason, we will be back. But we will be highly selective about what we order.

Awesome spot to eat with friends at the beach. The professional staff made us feel like family right away. Fresh bread and appetizers came out quickly. Oysters were delicious! Generous entree portions. Only regret was not ordering the calamari... Next time!

The salad and app were both good. The grouper was ok; not the best I’ve had. The biggest downfall was how we were seated. The restaurant was 10% full and they crammed us between two couples and we couldn’t even have a conversation without hearing all of their conversations because we were so close! The waitress couldn’t even see both of us bc she had to stand behind my husband. They need to spread out the tables more! Nobody wants to eat dinner w strangers hearing everything u say to ur husband.

I have been going to Long Island Cafe since I was 9-years-old. As of 2025, it's a shell of its former glory. The food is great if you can actually get it. The service is absolutely abysmal. We had reservations at 6:45pm and the hostess was horribly rude. She ended up giving tables up to families without reservations and jumbling the entire line. The hostess, same one on the date of the review, was highly sarcastic and poorly communicated with the rest of the staff. She also poorly communicated with us to where we were not seated until 6:59. Not only that but she half-assed cleaning the table to where there was white gunk seeping down our table. Our waiter was even more confused and dismissive. We had to constantly remind our waiter of our soup and salads. The salads did not come out until our meal was served, and an entire meal was entirely left out. If he had owned up to this, I would have shown this man more respect. However, he did not even look at our table, which left there to be no one to fill our drinks. One hour later, when we finally ate our meals, we were accompanied by flies flying over our food and heads. To say the least, I have no idea what has happened to Long Island Cafe, but this was a pitiful, rude experience from start to finish.

As a long time Long Island Cafe visitor, we have always loved our meals and service here. Unfortunately this last time we visited, the whole experience was different. From food quality to dine in service, it just wasn't the same. Wait time was long and when we asked about drinks to go, we weren't told that there would be a charge for them. Seemed like the wait staff was overwhelmed as well. Hopefully this is just a transition period and things will get back on track for one of our favorite spots.

I’ve eaten here a few times and it’s been great each time. Amazing seafood! The Parmesan encrusted salmon and white cheddar grits are especially tasty. Update: visited again last night and got the crab encrusted grouper. It was tasty. But, I kept thinking about the salmon. Just get the salmon. You won’t regret it. Also, make a reservation… they stay very busy. The restaurant is pretty loud and seating is very close together. This usually bothers me… but, the food is so good and the service is so attentive, that it’s worth dealing with the noise and people in my personal space.

This was an excellent experience! 🦀🍤🦪 We had the crab cakes, broiled shrimp, and a dozen NC oysters. They were all delicious! I highly recommend this place for a special occasion. It is pricey, but we didn't feel that it was not worth it. #seafoodlover #foodie #nomnom

We were so happy to have gotten a table at this locals favorite. Thankfully, we brought a local celebrity. The nicest waitstaff. Very attentive. The best food of the week. Get reservations early. I am salivating two weeks later.

Excellent meal made even better by superb Terry running things at the bar. The shrimp and oysters were absolutely delicious. Best shrimp I have ever had. Very tender. Nice fresh oysters. The drinks were great. Terry pours them right and makes a killer margarita. The grouper A+ We really enjoyed ourselves and our meals. Highly recommend!!

Easy access Busy area Clean and decorated nicely Friendly staff Nice food and wine options A little on pricey side for seafood selections

Located next to Harris-Teeter on IOP....highly suggest a reservation...Tasty, Da-Bomb, Service-Service, did I mention Tasty? Our waitress was EXCELLENT, don't remember her name, finishing COC/Public Health onto her MPH... CONGRATS to she-Mom-Dad!!! 2-She Crap Soup - Excellent, Grouper bites - Excellent 2 Pan fried flounder w/fries - Most Excellent Chunk of Key lime pie - Most Excellent Chandon Rose' bubbly - Always Excellent Me thinks ya'll get this review....I'll be back....

Great place to celebrate on Isle of Palms. Make your reservations because they fill up quick and can get a little loud. Fantastic servers. Delicious seafood and sides not to mention the great dessert offerings. They have shared parking with Harris Teeter and other restaurants and businesses. One of our many go to places to celebrate all occasions

Came in for a dessert which turned into two because we couldn't pass up the crème brûlée and creamy peanut butter pie. The crème brûlée was in a standard ramekin size, a good personal portion but I managed to snag some bites and it was delicious. The creamy peanut butter pie with Oreo crust was amazing though. The crushed peanuts on top added a nice bite without being overpowering.

Came with mom after church! I love the spinach salad with the bacon mustard dressing. The feta cheese is awesome. Service was great. They told us about the vegetable of the day and kept the drinks flowing. Whenever there was a moment between drinks the manager would come over to ask if anything. Mom got fried shrimp and grits. She's a vet. This is NOT the shrimp and grits, although the shrimp and grits is good. Ambiance is great. Gets busy but we didn't have any problem after church Sunday. I'm not sure why the only picture I got was this lol

We had an amazing dinner here our first night at IOP. I made a reservation shortly before we arrived, so we were seated in the connecting, more casual restaurant. Service was great, and several specials were available. My friend, who has Celiac, was able to order shrimp with gluten free grits. She said it was amazing! I had grilled salmon with white cheddar grits, and it was delectable! I'd eaten here a few years ago when vacationing, so I was thrilled to see LIC is still just as good as ever!

Sad day! Our favorite place that has been consistent for 20 years have subpar food today. I hope it's a one time deal but we used to get beautiful grilled chicken breast as if off the grill. Large fresh greens. But everything is smaller. The chicken, box, lettuce, to go containers for dressing. I know coats have gone up but don't pass the buck with higher prices and lower quality and quantity. I'm sad.

My wife and I had heard that the Long Island Cafe was worth going to, and now I'm a believer. We had a sumptuous meal in an intimate, relaxed setting surrounded by excellent service. I chose broiled sea scallops with sautéed broccoli and Cole slaw, with the Baby Spinach salad (with bacon, red onion, tomato, and feta with a warm bacon vinaigrette dressing). Each offering was perfect - the scallops were nicely seared yet tender, the broccoli was cooked but still crunchy, and the Cole slaw was fresh and flavorful. The spinach salad struck just the right balance of leaves and add-ins, and the dressing was a wonderful complement. When we were thinking about what to order, we picked out desserts. Unfortunately, our meal was so delicious and filling we had no room left. We will go back for an indulgent coffee and dessert sometime. We like to enjoy our dinners out, spending our time conversing over good food. The service was excellent, our waiter was there when we needed him, but he understood our slower pace and didn't give us any reason to feel rushed. Just right. Stop in; it's a small restaurant that delivers a rewarding experience.

The food was outstanding, and our server was excellent. April2 kept our drinks filled and was very informative about the cooking of our food. The rating would have been a 5, except the hostesses were confused. When we arrived, we asked to be put on the waiting list. She said they don't have kne. We then asked about reservations thinking about coming back the next day. She again said they don't have one. We were told they fill up fast, and all they have is open seats at the bar. When we got seats at the bar, it was so loud you couldn't talk to each other. We asked about the four tables outside. The hostess said they are open for to-go orders because of the heat index. We sat outside in a nice cool breeze where it was a nice temperature. Our waitress came by, took our order and we had a nice meal. If you don't want to work at getting a table, go to their website and put in a reservation. I went online to check it out and found that I could have made a reservation for 30 minutes from the time we sat down. Training for the hostesses will go a long way toward customer satisfaction. To give you an idea of how good the food is, we saw a lot of locals eating here.

Food: A I had the Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer that was served on a bed of arugula with a tasty Asian sauce drizzled on top. It was so delicious I had another one. The fried shrimp were perfectly cooked and crispy and I finished it off with a crème brûlée and an espresso martini. Wonderful dinner. The local brown lager on tap was slightly sweet and nice malty finish. Just perfect! Service: A We sat at the bar where they were also shucking oysters. The service was fantastic. We were greeted by Pamela who was a pleasure to talk to. She gave us great food recommendations has outstanding local knowledge. Ambiance: B It is a lively place with the typical beach decor. The noise level was medium We went on a Saturday evening around 7:45 and they were busy. Luckily we found two seats at the bar. Reservations are recommended. Likelihood of a return visit: Absolutely!

Exquisite shrimp and grits! Everything was cooked perfectly with the right amount of southern charm. Don't skip on this gem.

The Barman yelled at myself and my handicapped elderly father as we were being seated. The entry corridor was too narrow and he screamed at us to move aside for him and his drinks. They were nice enough to seat us early in the night but told us we had to eat within 60 minutes. this put a rush on our meal. The scallops were borderline cold, which was strange because we were the first customers of the night. The scallops and other food also had no flavor. I haven't reached for a salt shaker in a restaurant before so that was a first!

Staff is always super helpful and friendly, the Parmesan crusted salmon is a family favorite when they come to visit Charleston!!

This was my one request to repeat on my 2nd trip to isle of palm. Again got the scallop plate, but split it with my hubby and Still had leftover. Great food, huge portions and fantastic value. This place is a (maybe not so) hidden gem.

This is a go-to place for anyone who has spent time on IOP as our family has over the years. Now when the grandkids are in town they enjoy it- and my wife and I will often go there as they open and snag seats at the bar for an early dinner. Their seafood and she/ crab soup is fantastic!

Awful!! She-crab soup was watery and the flounder tasted like it was not cooked!! Way too fishy!! Also had a very rude waitress!!! Beware of going there!!!

I really love this place! We discovered it last summer while staying at Wild Dunes resort. It's right down the street. The calamari is the best I ever had. The seafood is always so fresh, the staff is so knowledgeable and accommodating they make you feel right at home.. There are so many seafood restaurants in Charleston. However, not many have really good consistent days. I bring all my guests visiting me from out of town to this restaurant, it never disappoints.. Again, I snapped this picture when we started eating, it was so good!!!

Very good food, good quality and good service but seriously expensive for locals. If you're here in IOP on vacation, this is a great place to go for a meal as you're expecting to pay a premium to be able to stay on the island and enjoy yourself.

House Cut French Fries - The fries were at a good temperature when they came out. The seasoning was a hit or miss as some fries had a good amount while others were unseasoned. The seasoning used tasted good. Grilled Black Angus Half-Pound Cheeseburger - The burger was seasoned well. Although specified medium well, the burger came out well done, but it was not overdone and it was better than it being undercooked. The burger could use some more juice as it was dry, plus the juice would amplify the taste and make it that one bit better. Overall not a bad burger. Peanut Butter Ice-cream Pie - My knowledge on deserts is limited but I do have to say when order this pie I was unsure about it, but once I got it I was surprised. The pie does have a good ratio for the peanuts and the ice cream to the point where the peanut butter taste did not overtake the ice cream. The presentation was amazing and the chocolate sauce was good to pour on. The ice cream, although well, was frozen and did not thaw enough over the time of eating. Which made it a bit difficult to eat as it was hard to use your spoon on it. Service - The staff were kind and fast, even when they had a full restaurant it did not feel like anything took a long time. Ambiance - The tables were closer together yet not crammed. The restaurant is decorated nicely and makes you feel at ease.

Perfection is not a word that I use often or throw around with ease, but it is a word to describe my lunch today. I was fortunate to meet and share a few words with Christiana today. She was lovely, funny and had a bit of a sarcastic edge that I really appreciated. Shauna was my server and I couldn't have asked for better. I ordered the large trio of fried items for my meal. Flounder, shrimp and scallops with white cheddar grits and coleslaw. It is a rare thing to have every single item on a plate hit all the right notes, but that's exactly what happened today. All were delicious, but that Flounder? Baby, she was absolute perfection!!! I am not kidding when I say that this was my very favorite seafood experience in all of Charleston. I ended my meal on a sweet note with a delicious piece of Coconut Cake that the server admitted was from a terrific bakery (Saffron) in Downtown Charleston.

What a true gem. Can't say enough good things about LIC. First of all, Corey did a fantastic job waiting on us. He was close by and ready to fill our drinks or bring more bread. He deserves a raise for sure. The food was superb. I had the fried flounder and it was hot and juicy when it came to the table. The chutney was a perfect complement to the flounder. Garlic mashed potatoes and Cole slaw were delicious. My wife's crab cakes were some of the best she's ever had the pleasure of eating. For dessert we split the coconut cake which was a perfect way to top off the meal. We both highly recommend the Long Island Cafe for lunch or dinner. You will be quite delighted.

Enjoyed my meal at the bar. Terry the bartender is a long- time employee. Amazing dinner of she-crab soup and grilled scallops.

I liked it but I grade on a forced curve so it didn't earn 5 stars. Nice selection of fish. I had broiled flounder w grits and veggies. Good, not great. Wished we had room for the coconut cake. Really good service.

The food was delicious and the service was fantastic Best oysters on the island and an unbelievable Bulleit Rye Old Fashioned!!

We thought we were going for brunch, but they only serve their brunch menu on the weekend, so it became lunch. Cute place, we noticed how busy they were at dinner, as we went into the Refuge, nearby. Lunch was great--I started with a cup of She Crab Soup, it was quite good. Then I had a grilled tuna sandwich; everything's put it was delicious. Good bread, an basil aioli spread, perfectly cooked rare fresh tuna. My husband had the appetizer crab cakes & the cheese grits. He loved the crab cakes & his grits were light, fluffy yet a little chewy & perfectly seasoned. We would definitely return here for dinner. Staff was cheerful, friendly & prompt. Great service! And such a pretty interior, bright, clean and decorated in a 'near the ocean' style.

Our first time here, but found it because it is getting great buzz in the food community. We were seated and almost instantly our waitress appeared with a smile, to take drink orders. I wanted a pleasant white and she recommended their Gruner Vertliner, crisp and delicious. Right next to the waitress was a server with a basket of crispy, warm bread and butter - yum. Great wine and bread, I could have stopped there. (The server was a young gent, and was quick to bring us more bread as soon as he saw us finish ours.) Our starter was the Sesame Crusted Tuna with a citrus sauce. Absolutely one of the best things I've had in a while. My husband ordered the Whole flounder with the Apricot Chutney - while the meal was good, the Apricot Chutney was more of a sweet bbq sauce - no real chunks like a chutney. I ordered the Grouper with the White Cheddar grits. The grouper was a bit dry, and overdone. Considering the prices you pay for good fish, that sort of makes it even more disappointing. All in all, we would definitely go back. It was a very, very pleasant evening with very charming staff.

Vacation Year 4 (or 5?) found us back at Long Island. This is the best restaurant on the island! You are greeted with a smile and never seem to have to wait to get to your reserved table. We had She Crab Soup, Shrimp & Grits, and salads for beginners and all were great. Main courses of Flounder, Scallops, Shrimp, Shrimp & Grits, and Oysters were the best on the island and fresh caught. We had no room for dessert as the portions were so large! The service was great and every dish served to our party was excellent! How they keep up their high standard year after year is amazing. See you next year!!!

This place has wonderful food. Quaint ambiance. Love that they have a sushi bar next door too

Awesone vibe and packed to the gills. Reservations are a must as this joint is super popular! Oysters on the halfshell are a great starter, a selection from parts Northeast. As is the beers on tap. Recommend the White Tai as it pairs really well. For mains we had the Grilled Salmon and Crab-crusted Grouper. Amazing with cheddar grits! Delicious Mud Pie and coffee for dessert. Service is exceptional despite the busy dinner rush. Kudos to the staff, this superb dining experience was the highlight of our trip by far!

Delicious food and great service. The oysters and hush puppies were great appetizers. My wife had the crab topped grouper and I had the fried shrimp.

Delicious food! Love getting the seafood (oysters, scallops, crab cakes, shrimp)! Brunch. Sides are good too especially the garlic mashed potatoes. Wonderful service. Bring cash since IOP restaurants charge around 3% for credit cards and try to get reservations since it gets crowded there!

Cozy nook paired with good vibes, great wine, and incredibly fresh seafood!! I highly recommend;)

Service good but salmon was way undercooked! Sent back and 2nd time was still undercooked but with a burned taste now.

This was our second experience and, once again, they hit it out of the park. My husband ordered the Scallops, mashed potatoes and coleslaw. I had the She Crab Soup, Grilled Salmon, Coleslaw, and Sautéed Veggies. we both agreed that the coleslaw needed some "zip", very bland. Otherwise, his Scallops were perfect and my Salmon was fabulous. Our server, Lynn, couldn't have been more attentive. I wholeheartedly recommend reservations. This is a small establishment and it fills up quickly. Also, be prepared for noise! However, the food and service are worth it.

Ok so here is an update..... we went back for a third time. Absolute 180.... All three times the food has been great but after an "off night" we decided to give it another try! ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON! The staff was great, the service was great and the atmosphere was great! If you go here absolutely request the main dining area and not the bar section. Pamela is not only conscientious, you can really tell she cares about her job, her staff, and her customers! Mary Chris the server was happy, polite and attentive. The flounder was AMAZING!! Also do not leave without the coconut cake.... WOW!!! Thanks for some epic service.....

Great seafood! We enjoyed the fried food in addition to the fresh options like shrimp and crab claws. Service was great and we'll be back.

Excellent. Service, good, ambience. We are always pleased with our meal and dining experience.

What. A. Find. We picked a night on Isle of Palms before going to Spoleto Festival USA in Charlotte. The modest sized restaurant had made use of the space worthy of New York City. Every selection had high quality ingredients, was well prepared and delicious. The crowd and the hustle rendered the experience not elegant, If ever I am in Isle of Palms again I will hope Long Island Cafe is still there.

A nice lady recommended this place when we we're having lunch at The Refuge. Good thing we made reservations for dinner as it was packed! Great atmosphere and service. My friends ordered the special menu vodka infused blackberry and they loved it. The fried green tomatoes were delicious- not heavily breaded and perfectly seasoned. The pasta dish was very tasty. However the shrimp was slightly over cooked. The blackened Redfish was excellent! Smoky enough and very fresh. Corry our waiter was very attentive and efficient. Everyone had a great time!

In for 3 days from Chicago. I love spots like this with great food representitive of the area. Had the combo fish, shrimp, and scallops lightly breaded. Wish I had time to hit this place for breakfast. If your in town on business you should bring your clients to this spot instead of the of the hi-end hotel food mainly being offered in the area I was in. Dinners, drive-ins, and dives baby! Great food Long Island Cafe. Be back one day.

This will be short and sweet. This was my last meal on the island, Parmesan Crusted Salmon, Fried Green Tomatoes. It will be my first meal next time! Simply amazing!

Visited here on Monday. Loved the atmosphere and the service was great. The food was okay. I had a shrimp po boy. It needed more sauce and the shrimp were so big that it was kinda hard to eat. I like shrimp po boys with smaller shrimp on them because it's easier to get a mouthful. The fries were great. Nicely seasoned and very fresh. I would eat here again, but due to the distance it is for me, I am not itching to go back. I live in Summerville and it's a bit of a trek.

We love this place. Very small so it can get a bit crowded feeling and loud-ish, but the food is wonderful and the service too!

Amazing food and fantastic service! Sat right up at the bar and we all enjoyed our seafood dishes!

My cousin recommended we call in here for dinner on our move to Florida. So glad we did! The main dining room was fully booked. Instead of turning us away on a busy Wednesday night, they suggested we sit at the bar. Great food and friendly service. A lot of delicious grilled fish and lobster rolls later we still found room for mud pie and peanut butter pie. Just wow! Local beers and delicious drinks. Put this on your list!

Had another amazing dinner at Long Island Cafe on Isle of Palms. With everywhere being swamped on the islands over Labor Day weekend- we decided to pop in to see if anything was available, and luckily there were 2 seats at the 6-seat bar that had just opened up. The bartender was fun and friendly and very knowledgeable when it came to helping pick our wine. We thoroughly enjoyed two of the specials that night. I loved my Shrimp Rigatoni, while my fiancé got a delicious Halibut special with sweet corn and grits. Can't wait until our next meal here.

The Fresh Wild East Coast Shrimp are highly recommended! I had them fried which is dusted with light cracker crumb and fried - so light and tasty - you can taste the freshness of these shrimp! Sides were good. Portions are large here. Many dessert choices: Coconut Cake 5 star, Key Lime Pie 4 star.

Long Island Cafe on Palm Boulevard on Isle of Palms is a great option for seafood and much more. I really like everything that they have available here on the menu. The staff here provides excellent customer service. I have been happy with all of the meals that I have been here.

Back again this year. Had an issue with the table but it was quickly addressed. It's still a five star for me. If you plan to go here call for a reservation several days ahead. It fills up quick. A new item was the grilled romaine salad with tomatoes, bacon, chick peas, onions, and Clemson blue cheese. One of the best salads I've ever had. The seafood remains excellent.