Pearlz Oyster Bar

Amazing spot for fresh oysters in the area! We stopped by and the staff was super friendly including the hostess from NY! hello!! The spicey tequila cucumber is my new favorite drink and all of the staff was super friendly! Event the guy shocking, the oysters was awesome! Definitely need to check this place out as the oyster selection was great and the entrées were super fresh and delicious! The entree with the 4 different fish was delicious! All were cooked perfectly! Forgot the name but it was a special We will be back for sure! 2nd review: This is our second time here, and I can confidently say this is one of the best oyster bars in town! We will absolutely be back again the next time we're in the area. A must-do is the Happy Hour, which runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 PM. The House Oyster on the happy hour menu was delicious and incredibly fresh—a perfect start to the evening. But the real showstopper is the Spring Break cocktail! It's the best drink on the menu, and I keep coming back just for this. You must try it! We also enjoyed the Blue Crab cocktail and the roasted claws, which were a great choice because they were already peeled and ready to eat. Fantastic food, great drinks, and a perfect happy hour spot!

I’m coming here for the delicious fresh oysters and seafood dishes with great wine choices. Loved the seafood pasta, and it was my first time trying the shrimp & grits - and I loved it! Everything was spot on

Such a great spot! Tasty food, super friendly staff. I had the fresh catch ceviche and the Spanish-style octopus — both amazing. Totally recommend!

If you’re craving seafood in Charleston, Pearlz is a pretty solid choice, though it comes with a few quirks. Let me set the scene: My husband isn’t the biggest fan of seafood (bless him), so he was really taking one for the team when we ventured here. Plus, we were escaping the dreaded heat advisory with our pup, and the welcoming vibe at Pearlz made the experience a bit more enjoyable. We were seated at a window bar, which turned out to be a pretty cute spot—enough to distract from the sweltering heat outside. I kicked things off with a rosé and he opted for a Pilsner. Now, I love me a good glass of wine, but when it arrived, I couldn’t help but notice that the glass was… well, shall we say, over-polished? The glass looked clean, but the poor thing was covered in fluff, and as much as I’d like to be polite, I rubbed my fingers around the rim and flicked the fluff away. I didn’t have the patience to mention it to the waiter, mainly because we didn’t see her for a while, and it was already in the drink and honestly, it wasn’t the biggest issue—just a little awkward. Now, onto the food—things started off a bit bumpy. I ordered the varietal oysters and one topped with caviar, which sounded like heaven to me. But, as luck would have it, there was a hair on my oysters when they arrived. I politely mentioned it to our waitress, and to her credit, she quickly took them back and assured us she’d bring a fresh tray. While I was disappointed, I appreciated the quick action. As for the rest of the meal, I was thoroughly impressed with the Brussels sprouts. Roasted to perfection, they were crisp on the outside and soft inside, with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan that made them irresistible. A definite must-order. And then, the surprise of the evening: the burger. My husband is somewhat of a burger connoisseur, and we honestly didn’t expect much from a seafood-focused restaurant. But this burger? It was phenomenal. A little salty, a touch sweet from the sauce, and cooked just right. We were both thoroughly impressed and will be dreaming of it for days to come. When my oysters returned, they were perfect. Creamy, fresh, and absolutely divine—well worth the minor hiccup. The best part? The manager came by to apologize for the hair incident and took the oysters off our bill, which we thought was a classy and thoughtful gesture. Overall, we left Pearlz happy and satisfied. Despite the minor mishaps, the food, especially that burger, more than made up for it. And with the manager’s thoughtful gesture, we definitely felt valued as guests. We'll definitely be back for more oysters, Brussels sprouts, and that incredible burger. Would I recommend Pearlz? Absolutely! Just maybe wipe your glass before diving into that rosé.

We visited on New Years Eve for a casual dinner with a reservation. We ended up at a two-top next to the restroom, and I understand someone needs to sit there, but with our table of three, one person ended up in a chair blocking the restroom door. Also, we got a continuous whiff restroom smell through out our visit; not the best for our appetites. Our server was pleasant, though only partially knowledgable about the menu. However, she was eager to ask questions to get the information we needed. She tried providing good service. We ordered drinks first, and then oysters from the raw bar (note: the table next to ours ordered after we did). Our neighbors received their oysters and finished them, but ours had yet to arrive. We finally asked our server after waiting quite awhile for the oysters, and the manager happened to arrive with them at that moment. However, before we could consume any of the oysters, the same manager arrived with our entrees. I commented that they should not have arrived simultaneously but got no response from the manager. She simply left the entree plates on the table without apology or an attempt to make it right. The food was fine but seafood portions were incredibly small for the price. The server and two managers apologized for the timing multiple times, but the pre-mentioned manager blamed the timing on our server’s inexperience. After we finished our dinner, the server asked if we wanted the check and said she couldn't offer dessert. We got our check, paid and left. Our server, Bridget, did the best she could to provide good service. The issue in this experience was poor management that did not pay attention to timing of food or try to make it right when we complained. Typically a restaurant would discount part of the ticket, but that did not happen here. Don't waste your time at this restaurant. There are much better places in Charleston that are better managed.

Pearlz is the gold standard for oyster bars in Charleston. Period. The oysters were fresh and briny, the cocktails were perfectly balanced, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. The place has that perfect mix of classy and casual—dim lighting, a buzzing bar, and staff who actually know their seafood. Now, for the unforgettable part of the night… As I’m enjoying my oysters, a guest a couple seats down—full of energy and clearly having a great time—goes in on her fries with a bottle of ketchup. What happened next felt like a slow-motion movie scene: the ketchup bottle let out a surge, and a red streak of sauce shot across the bar like a Fourth of July firework. It hit the bar, splashed on menus, even the wall got a little love. People were stunned for a second, then the whole section burst into laughter—including her. She owned the moment like a champ, laughing along with everyone else. It was the kind of spontaneous chaos that turns dinner into a memory. Bottom line: come for the oysters, stay for the atmosphere—and maybe keep an eye on the ketchup.

I went to Pearlz Oyster Bar with high hopes and left with confusion, mild regret, and a lighter wallet. I asked three different people if they had chargrilled oysters. All three confidently said yes. Excellent. I ordered one dozen for $36, only to be served oysters that were… emotionally chargrilled at best. Shucked, slid under a broiler with a little garlic and a few flakes of cheese does not make an oyster chargrilled. That’s just an oyster having a warm thought about fire. Anyone who’s had true New Orleans–style chargrilled oysters knows there is no comparison. The oysters were also very small, especially for this time of year. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Florida oysters, but these were giving “budget oyster” energy at a premium price point. One very important note for the restaurant: whatever seaweed (or ocean-adjacent décor) the oysters are served on — please stop. The smell was horrific. And I say this as someone from the Florida coast who regularly coexists with actual sea air. This was less “fresh ocean breeze” and more “low tide panic.” A regular plate would be a massive improvement. The corn fritters had decent flavor but were slightly burnt and greasy — the kind of greasy where you consider blotting them with a napkin… and then another napkin… and then accepting defeat. On the plus side, service was genuinely good. The hostess and server were friendly, and we were seated quickly. The hotel recommended this place, and I normally know better than to trust concierge suggestions (kickbacks are real, folks), but my flight was delayed, I was starving, and it was close. Final score: 5/10. Would not recommend and would not return unless your definition of chargrilled is “looked at a flame once” and you enjoy the scent of questionable seaweed with your $70 dinner.

Nice ambiance, nice staff. Got the FISH & CHIPS ($19.95) and the NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER ROLL ($29.95). The FISH & CHIPS had good fresh tasting cod. The NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER ROLL had a few good chunks of lobster, but was in a disappointingly small bun (as seen in picture). Also, had some inedible green seaweed on plate as a garnish (another space filler, but inedible) Plate wasn’t worth $30 in my opinion and would not order again. The chips (French fries) were plain pretty plain, no special taste or texture. Not bad, but just felt like necessary filler for the plate. I wanted to love this place, but unfortunately because of the portion size for the price wouldn’t recommend it.