Pearlz Oyster Bar

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pearl Seafood & Raw Bar — Charleston, SC We found this place completely by chance — just searched “oysters” on the map while driving back from a plantation — and it turned out to be an absolute pearl of Charleston! 🦪✨ They have a happy hour until 7 PM — a dozen oysters for just $20, and they were fantastic: super fresh, perfectly shucked by Matthew, who made the whole experience even better with his friendly vibe and attention to detail. The atmosphere is light, coastal, and stylish — an open bar, good music, and a beautiful wall filled with oyster-themed paintings that give the place so much character. The tap drinks were great too — fresh and perfectly chilled. A perfect spot to unwind after a day out — beautiful, delicious, and full of Southern charm. 💙 We’ll definitely be back!

Pearlz Oyster Bar has a great vibe and solid food overall. Though we waited for a while to get a sit. The oysters were fresh and have a good taste, and the waiter was a really nice dude — friendly and attentive. Only downside: the shrimp and chips were way too salty, for someone like me that eat less salt, that threw the flavors off a bit. I have to remove the batter from the shrimp to be able to eat it, I’m a sucker for seafood so I wouldn’t waste my food. With better seasoning in proportion this place would be an easy five stars. Still worth the visit, looking forward for a better taste.

We sat at the bar as the restaurant was not busy. The bartender was attentive and nice. We ordered raw oysters, a lobster roll, seafood pasta, and oyster shooters and hush puppies. Needless to say, the lobster roll was actually a lobster hotdog bun. Which is misleading and most certainly overpriced. The taste was decent, but I've had delightful lobster ROLLS before that was delicious as well, so good we ordered two more to take with us. The oyster shooter was made with excessive liquor and hard to digest. We were disappointed with the taste 😞! I witnessed one of the workers using his hands to pick up tortilla chips after touching his hair 😳 and the hush puppies were undercooked. The raw oysters were decent enough, nothing like we have ever had before, especially after eating the best raw oysters, oyster shooters, and steamed shrimp, drinks and the food was amazing in Columbia SC the prior week at Pearlz.

Bottom line: great seafood, friendly staff, nice atmosphere without being “stuffy” Coming from Colorado I don’t eat tons of seafood, so we definitely wanted to find a spot that served some good oysters and seafood dishes. It was a crowded parking situation but once we got in my party of 4 was seated. They had a booster seat for my youngest daughter which was great. Our waitress, Channing, came over quickly to take our order and helped talk me onto what might be a good selection of oysters, she was able to split a kids meal so each of my daughters could have half (they’re not big eaters), and recommended the green curry hotpot special to my wife and I. The food came out quickly and was great. The dozen oysters on the half shell were fresh and exactly what we were looking for. The crab cakes were so good that even my picky eater kept asking for more bites, the kids food was a generous portion of noodles, and that green curry hotpot was fantastic—mussels, clams, and shrimp in a spicy green curry sauce with rice. A fantastic recommendation from our waitress! We had two drinks, a beer and the “Spring Break” cocktail. Both came out quickly and were great. Right at the end when I was paying our check my youngest decided to rock back in her chair and fall to the floor (yikes!). She was totally fine and not hurt, but the staff were all so concerned and helpful in that moment of chaos. One of them even went back and filled a glove with some pebble ice to serve as a makeshift ice pack in case my kid needed it. I’d give Pearlz 6 out of 5 stars if I could. Great food, kind/helpful/knowledgeable staff, and a nice but unpretentious atmosphere.

This past Friday evening, I went to Pearlz Oyster Bar in West Ashley. It was supposed to be a date but my wife stood me up and chose her girlfriend over me🤷🏾‍♂️. This was my first time here. So I wanted to try a few different things. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by the hostess, Jillian. Not only was it smiles from her, it was smiles throughout the restaurant... particularly paying attention to the staff. While waiting to be seated, I was greeted by another staff member that just wanted to make sure that was being taken care of. I was seated at one of the high top tables and Angela was my server. She was personable and extremely knowledgeable on their menu items. She started with happy hour specials including their drinks and also gave me suggestions which included one of her favorite drinks without me even asking. Then she went over the complete menu and included what they did not have for the rest of the evening. I opted for a rum and Coke.. nothing too fancy. I also decided to try the Curry Sweet Potato Soup and it was definitely on point! The froth on top is the steamed coconut milk. You definitely need to try it. Next, I tried the Smoked P.E.I. Mussels. It was less than I expected, but the flavor was right. The mussels are smoked and then marinated in a spicy paprika chili oil. It's mixed with shallots and garlic. Perfect combination is that it's served with about 4-5 thin cut, toasted garlic bread. Last thing I got was the Blue Crab Cocktail Claws. I'm not a fan of cold seafood, so I got Roasted claws with NOLA butter and herbs. They were about 10 to 15 of them it is oil herbs. It was definitely worth it. I love the flavor! Mason like I ate a lot but these aren't large dishes, not the ones that I got. It's about the flavor and presentation top notch. The other thing I can say is that the service throughout my time was great! I watched other servers take care of each other's tables. The bartenders were engaged with their customers and kept them smiling and laughing. I also got a chance to meet one of the bartenders named Kyle. And he's definitely a cool dude. I saw other staff members taking food out to tables. The hostess, Jillian, continued to make sure tables were kept clean between customers as well as refilling their drinks. I even noticed the chef came out to greet some of the tables which is something that you rarely see. Cindy was taking care of the table in front of me. I could tell that they were enjoying her service as well. But of course, her service was no comparison to how well Angela took care of me😉. There are plenty things on the menu that I definitely got to try. So I'll be back in the near future. Just make sure you get there before I do! SHALOM

Love sitting at the bar for oyster shots. The painkiller is amazing. The oysters are to die for. Sit with Doyle at the oyster bar hes amazing. And you must try every oyster shooter. Chicken noodle. OG. Tequila. 🤤🤤🤤

Leah always gives amazing service. But Im gonna need yall to put them steak tacos on the menu. They were DELICIOUS!

Great locals place for great, very fresh seafood. Oysters, various ways, are the big draw, but they have alot more than that. They have a very good menu variety of seafood. We visited on a weekend right before the big dinner rush. We had reservations, which are suggested, so we got seated pretty quickly. The waiter was great, very friendly, quick, and very responsive, taking our drink order quite quickly after being seated. Drinks arrived within 5 minutes (I ordered an old fashioned so the time was expected), then they took our food order. I got the grilled Mahi tacos, my wife got the monkfish special of the day, one of my sons got the fried shrimp dinner, and the other son got the crab cake sandwich. We also got the char broiled oysters as an appetizer (with NOLA butter and parmesan cheese). The oysters appetizer came out in about 10 minutes and they were AMAZING!! We regretted not ordering more. Both sons tried oysters for the first time with these and loved them! They're hooked! The reat of our food order came out about 10 minutes after the oysters. Everything was GREAT! Very fresh and flavorful. Perfectly cooked. So good I don't think either teenage son chewed their food much, rather they inhaled everything and coughed out the plate. Ha! We were very satisfied with our food. Portions were ample enough to fill you up. Overall we felt the prices weren't that bad at all, considering the quality, freshness, and flavor its a great value. Facilities were clean and well maintained. Everyone there was very friendly and were very good at their job. Only knock is limited parking. I can see why this place is so popular. Between the facilities, staff, and, most importantly, the food, they're definitely doing things right. We will definitely return when we're in the area, and recommend to family and friends.

My wife and I came into the West Ashley restaurant at 5 pm this past Friday before heading downtown for a Holiday concert. It was our first time eating here and we will be back. The local Perky Sea Cup oysters were worth every penny. I had seafood tacos and my wife had a wedge salad with a crabcake on the side. Both were exceptional and perfectly portioned to start our evening out. And don't let the decor fool you into thinking this is some sort of beer and burger joint. Located in eclectic Avondale neighborhood, this place has a great laidback vibe which makes it a great place for a first or 40th date. And Nicky B, our server, and Emily, our hostess, were attentive and extremely pleasant throughout our meal (granted it wasn't extremely busy at 5 pm). Put those three together - exceptional food, cool and comfortable atmosphere and fun and competent staff - and we have the perfect start to our holiday season. The bar has been set pretty high for the next couple of weeks.

awesome clam chowder excellent service (Katie) nice cozy atmosphere definitely recommend

I met a couple friends here on a sleepy weeknight. It never became busy the night we were here and due to an emergency at the restaurant service was a bit disjointed. Here's the thing, though, was up to that point everything was great - fresh seafood, tasty drinks, and friendly service. After the emergency occurred we were informed about the situation, closed our bill, and left. We were never treated rudely, we were informed, and they didn't rush us out despite the desire to close a little early. I sincerely respect a restaurant or any business that can manage under the most stressful of circumstances. I appreciated everything they did.

Everything we ate was fresh, hot and delicious! The smash burger was a hit for me. The fried shrimp were fresh and fried to perfection. Crab dip was full of flavor. Our drinks were good! No complaints about the food. Our waiter was very friendly and offered recommendations. Everyone worked as a team. Love that!!! Lastly, it's a small place with great food and good vibes!

Third time at Pearlz and it has become my favorite restaurant bar in the area. Wonderful, feesh seafood and the best oysters. This time I had peel and eat shrimp, so good. And perfect service by Hannah - even though they were very busy! Thank you!

One of the better local restaurants in Charleston area. Gos oyster shooters as well. Very few places have wahoo monkfish

Didn't plan to stop here but walking by and food looked good as we saw others eating outside so we stopped. Just looking for something light so we got the mocktail (tasty), corn fritters (awesome), and crab cake appetizer (excellent). Glad we stopped!

Excellent food with out pretense. Staff attentive and genuine. Reasonably priced casual seating... No long wait

Bar like atmosphere. Quick and friendly service. The corn fitters needed more corn and def need that butter to accompany it. Without it fritters has no flavor. Lobster roll had a good amount of lobster. Small side roll. Awesome home chips. Fried oyster was good. And crisp. Not oily Clams had a great white wine butter base. Great with just bread.

First meal in Charleston didn't disappoint. They are not the fanciest spot, but not super divey either, kinda casual. We ordered practically all the oysters to sample because, why not? It was an interesting blend of NB and BC (Canadian) and east coast oysters. My favorite was the barstool oysters. We ordered the seafood pasta, corn fritters w/ maple butter, and fish & house chips. Everything was absolutely delicious, and we devoured it all. One of the servers recommended getting the grilled bread to soak up my sauce in the seafood pasta and he hooked us up. Such a clutch move, and we couldn't get enough of the pasta sauce with the bread. Overall - great neighborhood spot in West Ashley. Wishing we had more room for dessert, because I was eyeballing the bourbon pecan pie, but just didn't have the room..

Great restaurant in an awesome location downtown, especially if you are showing some friends from out of the area what Charleston has to offer. We were quickly seated at a community high top, where our server greeted us and explained some daily specials and important things to know about the menu. It was a very easy choice to go with the Seafood Linguine Pasta. I promise you will not be disappointed. It is loaded up with a variety of tasty seafood and noodles cooked to perfection in a delicious sauce. Vibes were up and if you get the chance you should really come in and check it out.

A great place to get fresh seafood. We sat at the bar and got wonderful service from Matthew. All of the staff were professional and friendly. Chip and his partner kept us laughing while shucking oysters.

This spot was not on our radar. Stopped in for a bloody but discovered the best oyster shooters in CHS. Fun place and the service was great! Don't miss it.

Looking for a seafood restaurant that had a bit more selections in downtown Charleston. So here we are! Upon arrival, we were seated right away. We started with waters and a beer. Ordered steamed mussels, fresh oysters, broiled oysters, and clam chowder. The food came out very fast. Everything was fresh. Mussels were a bit salty but overall it was still good. Scott was very knowledgeable of the menu and the oysters. He checked on us often. The managers checked on us. Empty plates were removed quickly. I wanted more food so we got the crab cakes and a side of red rice. Crab cake was filled with crab meat. Red rice reminded me of jambalaya. It was very flavorful and had sausages. Between service and food, everything was perfect. Highly recommended.

Cheapest oysters in Charleston, if you take advantage of their happy hour from 4-6pm! Always happy with the quality of them, too- they taste fresh, and are a decent size. During happy hour, you can get a dozen for $19. They also offer deals on alcohol and other food, although I don't remember all of the details. I also opted for two of the shrimp tacos today, which were delicious! A good amount of shrimp, fresh crunchy veggies, and enough of a sauce to add flavor without overpowering everything else. It was surprisingly filling. Service was great as well, and the place was empty meaning we were sat and received our food quickly. They left all the front doors open since the weather was nice, which was appreciated. All in all, this is a quick and easy place on the outskirts of Charleston to satisfy your seafood cravings without breaking the bank. There are definitely nicer, more expensive seafood joints in Charleston with fresher/ more diverse seafood options, but you get that at a higher price and with busier wait times.

Stopped in on a Friday night. We were seated quickly. The hostess and servers were very nice and helpful with our questions. It has a relaxed atmosphere. Long bar, a few tables & booths. We had the Mermaid from the cocktail menu and a glass of still Rosé. Both were good. We ordered mostly from the appetizer menu. Corn fritters with the maple butter were delicious. I need that maple butter at home (or not). The warm crab dip was very tasty. The crab cakes were small and could've had less breading, but they were flavored well. Ordered a side of red rice, but I don't think I'd get that again because it was too saucy. I don't like wet red rice. My friend enjoyed her Oysters Rockefeller and peel and eat shrimp. She said they had good seasoning and flavors.

Oyster bar vibes were on point! Bomb oysters, chill atmosphere - totally recommend it! Oyster shooter is a must

Affordable drinks and good for oysters when they are out of season. Even though we went in May, the oysters tasted good! Our server was really nice and the atmosphere felt little hectic, but I think it was bc it was on Sunday? Other wise, good last minute oyster place!

The food was amazing! The fresh catch monkfish was great. Nicky's service was lackluster as he forgot a few things. The ambience would have been great had it not been for the obnoxious lady behind us. I would definitely give it another shot though.

Not happy with the service and food was just okay. Drinks took forever to get. Been there before and it was fine. Tough that restaurants can't hold onto good workers

New chef and staff at the bar changing things up a bit. The toro crudo with black plums was outstanding with fresh, flavorful in season fruit sliced thin and rich, fatty tuna also as thin. It was held together with swordfish marrow (?) and a light dressing. The ceviche was a delightful mix of crisp cucumber slices and bits of swordfish in a leche de tigre.

I'm in town with friends and made reservations at Pearlz Oyster Bar in the French Quarter location. We ended up arriving late and had to push back our reservation, the hostess was very good at accommodating this request. We also had a member of our group meet us from the airport and they were able to make sure her luggage was stored. The drinks were so fresh and well made. There was a wide selection of oysters and great daily specials. For my entree I had the shrimp and grits which were AMAZING! I was so impressed. The overall vibes are welcoming and casual. A great place to bring a group. We had a wonderful time

Small crab cakes and oysters, there are better places in town but they have a solide variety of food and quick wait times

we picked this place by chance and it is wonderful. Every was very fresh snd tasty. The employees were very friendly and nice. Don't think twice about going. If you want a table make a reservation but you can always eat at the bar or outside. Mia was the best server, thank you

Enjoyed lunch at Pearlz last weekend! Excellent cocktails, food, and service! Found the restaurant and bar clean, inviting, and charming. Nothing but positive experience- very pleased with the scallops as well as the mahi mahi off the specials, the frosé, the mermaid, and coconut cream pie for dessert! Excellent and enjoyable servers and staff!

Food is meh, we had fried oysters, Brussels, octopus, all were just ok. Whiskey sour was yellow in color, obviously using a cheap sour mix- not ok for $14. Service good

The food was amazing. If you like Brussel spouts, you have got to try Pearlz! They were flavored to perfection. The staff was nice while we were there. The environment was interesting. We had some older people in our group. The only options were long bench booths or a Hightop table. Each of those can be difficult as you age. I only saw one table that was low and had a bench on one side and chairs on the other. If you don't have to worry about accommodating seating, then the atmosphere is fine.

Immerse yourself in the allure of Charleston's rich history and vibrant culinary scene as I take you on a delightful journey to Pearlz Oyster Bar. This hidden gem captures the essence of the city's past and present, serving up a lobster roll that's an explosion of flavors and artistry. Step into this charming eatery, where the echoes of Fort Sumter blend with a trendy vibe, creating a welcoming ambiance for all. The lobster roll, carefully crafted with a perfect lobster-to-mayo ratio, will whisk your taste buds away on a sea of delight. Join me as we indulge in seafood paradise and savor the house chips that add an irresistible crunch to the culinary masterpiece. Pearlz Oyster Bar embodies the heart of Charleston's culinary heritage, bringing locals and visitors together in celebration of exceptional food and great company. #CharlestonCulinary #PearlzOysterBar #LobsterRollDelight #SouthernHospitality #TrendyVibe #CulinaryArtistry #FoodieParadise #ExploringCharleston #LocalEateries #GourmetSeafood #SouthCarolinaEats

Pearlz has one of my favorite happy hours in Charleston! Super casual spot downtown with daily HH from 4-6 pm which includes discounted apps and drinks. Their oysters are $16 for a dozen and always delicious! For drinks, you can get $3 glasses of champagne, $5 House liquors and $4 beers! Overall, we usually start our nights here with a few oysters + drinks!

Great food always. Service is some of the worst I've ever experienced every single time I go in. If you sit at the bar, you have a 50-50 chance on the bartenders really paying attention to what you want & don't be in a hurry to get your first cocktail or your second one as a matter of fact. They seem to be off their game, unfortunately.

The only decent dish at Pearlz were the oysters. The service was disappointing, as we were given just one glass of water to share between two people. The halibut was particularly terrible and, to make matters worse, we were charged $2 more than the listed price. I recommend avoiding this place due to its poor service and subpar food. Overall, it felt like a ripoff.

This was a last minute stop on a rainy trip to Charleston. Based off one visit. The place was not as crowded as I would have expected for a Sat night for a place that has gotten a lot of good reviews. I best part was they allowed us to bring our dog in. She sat with us at the table. The hostess was a little clueless about the dog policy. Anyway, she was able to have a water bowl and eat some food after a long trip. Service a little slow; things took some time. Waitress was very nice thought. I ordered the seafood platter. It had lots of stuff. The lobster was decent and so was the shrimp. There were lots of oysters and I didn't think they were the best; especially the small one. I forgot to ask the waitress where they were from. I left most of the small ones on the platter. I did like some of the medium sized ones. The tuna tartare was good. The crab salad was decent. But would I order it again? probably not. It was $75. We also ordered other 'small plates' and were not too impressed.

We love venturing over to Avondale to hit Pearlz for an impromptu date night! We usually sit at the bar with the friendliest bartenders and order some drinks! My husband usually leans towards the small plate special, while I always opt for oysters on the half shell! We have never had a bad meal or bad service! My only complaint is that they don't offer White Claw seltzers, but I can completely live with that with oysters this good!

Food was okay, service is good and very attentive waiters and extremely polite. Ambiance is also good and clean space. With all food rivalry in Charleston, this place needs to do sth to wow you to go back again. $5 bourbon at happy hour was absolutely great

Pearlz was another surprise for us. We thought it was more of a formal sit down restaurante and we happy to see it was casual. Our waitress was very good and the food was good and filling. We will be back when in the are again.

Shrimp and grits were amazing! Husband ordered the fried shrimp and he was beyond impressed! Great service even though they were extremely busy! We will absolutely be back!

Food service and ambiance were all great!! They had live music that was amazing. We got oysters ( the house special) corn fritters, blue cheese chips, shrimp & grits , fish & chips,m and a crab cake sandwich and I can't tell you how great everything was!!! So so good! I don't know how anyone could give this place a bad review. Even the desserts were amazing! Don't pass this place up!

We visited this gem twice during our weekend stay. Kaitlyn was our server both times! How lucky is that. She's amazing and made our visit both times. She's great on recommendations and very attentive but not too much, if you know what I mean. We ordered the Oyster Rockefeller and Crab dip. Both times and both delicious. Will def be back whenever in Charleston.

The New England clam chowder was phenomenal!! I got a cup, which was $8, and it was very filling and such a great decision. I also got the BLT tower (a salad). It was good as well, but it would have been hard to follow that chowder! The presentation of the BLT tower was beautiful, if you are one of those folks who like to take photos of your food. :) Sammy was our server and she was delightful. Nice ambiance. Only negative: Host who sat us was less than stellar. He seemed as if he was having a bad day. The restaurant seemed 1/3 full so it wasn't too busy. Not sure what was going on there.

This place is so good. The house oysters are the biggest and the best in the region. The ambiance and service is always top notch.

Great service, yummy food, feel good vibe. Delicious dirty martini and the special of the day: filet of sole with mashed cauliflower, leeks, and mushrooms was amazing!

This has been one of our go-to's for quite a while now and unfortunately, it's been going downhill for months. Ten of us celebrated my birthday and it was awful. The clam chowder (two different orders) was cold; my husband's mixed grill risotto: the rice was hot but the chunks of fish were cold; I usually order shrimp tacos with broccoli slaw---- the tacos were dry and tasteless....never got my slaw, which I had to bring to the server's attention to remove from the bill. Getting the server's attention to re-order drinks was arduous. Although it seemed that the manager and staff had time to yuk it up near the end of the bar and the kitchen. As another reviewer mentioned, if you want a drink and a raw oyster I guess this is the place. Unfortunately, we will not be returning for a while in the hope that this and other reviewer's notes will get the attention of OWNERSHIP....probably and realistically not the management.

Found this place on Yelp because we wanted some fresh grilled fish. Such a healthy and delicious plate with broccoli slaw, grilled mahi, and fingerling potatoes. Flavors and portion sizes were perfect. We found the place a little cold, because of the fans and air conditioner, and the waitress took the time to ask management to turn the blowers down a bit.

We took a chance on trying this place today on our way out of town. Big mistake. We should have stuck with our tried and true Charleston restaurants we visit each year when we come in September. I walked into a dark, dated restaurant while the hubby parked the car. No one acknowledged me for at least 5 minutes despite the fact that the bartender was right there chatting with customers. Finally a young man greeted me and seated me. A few minutes later a very friendly waitress named Peyton came over with waters and we ordered a few drinks. We also ordered the corn fritters to start. Upon looking at the menu, I knew I wanted either fish or shrimp tacos. However when I asked if those were wild caught, as I don't eat anything farm raised, she had to go check. The answer was no. The only fresh fish was the specials and you could only get those as full pieces of fish. She was very nice and said she would speak to her manager about an exception but " said manager" never bothered to come out to see if they could help us. We wasted 30 minutes of our time , $16 on a very small Bloody Mary and a Diet Coke, and left without eating. This place should not claim to have fresh seafood when it serves farm raised stuff. Disgusting!

Happy to return back after a few years! I recalled the oysters being plump and juicy last time so wanted to experience that again. Pearlz is the place to swing by in the Avondale West Ashley area! When you walk in there's a variety of seating like booths, tables - I went for the bar upon seeing an open spot. The bartender addressed me in a timely manner and shared the specials of the day. The dozen specialty varietal oysters called my name and I went with a white wine to wash it down. The mignonette sauce had a nice brininess bite to it. I like to experience the flavor of each oyster first and the menu nearby helps remind one of the notes of each unique taste and location. There's a good variety of wines, I tried the Skeleton Gruner Veltiner and enjoyed the light crispness to it. Overall I enjoyed the ample space at the bar, didn't feel crowded at all, nice music steaming Phoenix and Day Wave (!!), friendly and attentive staff, lowkey and not pretentious. Favorite spot to enjoy oysters!

Amazing food, service and ambiance. Would highly recommend the oyster shooters, raw or grilled oysters, and crab dip. Oysters are a hefty size which is always nice too. Everything we tried was so good. Great happy hour too!

Highly recommend white stone oysters also, the BLT salad, oh my goodness it is a must. Soups are good but a little salty for my personal taste in large quantity. Service is god.

Wonderful oyster shooters! Great new menu items and signature cocktails, beer. Staff and service always top notch!

I Been Coming To Pearlz For Years Now When Im In Town But I Recently Observed Something That Was Quiet Disturbing As I Was Leaving The Women's Bathroom i Noticed One Manager Smoking A Vape On Line While Playing On His Phone And The Other Manager I'm Assuming Cutting And Handling Food With Bare Hands I've Never Experienced Please Fix This ASAP