Bowens Island Restaurant
Seafood restaurant · Folly Beach ·
Steamed oysters, Lowcountry boils & sunset views from waterfront shack
Steamed oysters, Lowcountry boils & sunset views from waterfront shack
"The setting at old-school oyster shack Bowens is perfect for grabbing a fresh bushel of bivalves, and watching a Lowcountry sunset. The interiors at Bowen’s are rustic, but customers are there for views of the marshland and water, along with the buckets of oysters." - Erin Perkins
"Any visitor Charleston must trek out to Bowens Island at least once. The experience of non-stop steamed oysters, cheap beer, and creekside views makes for lasting memories. It’s rustic (some say “dive”), and a bit hard to find, but as former Eater restaurant editor Bill Addison said, “It has been a draw for decades and remains luring both for its ramshackle funkiness and the gut-level goodness of its food.” And if you’re searching for a Lowcountry boil, a combination of corn, sausage, shrimp, and potatoes, this is the place to find it." - Erin Perkins
"A sandy road to the Folly River and a weathered building with multiple decks set the scene for classic Lowcountry fare and sunset views over the dock; Bowen’s is a reliable place for steamed Lowcountry oyster clusters served long-table–style during oyster season. Fried seafood selections reign here, and the lightly breaded tender fried shrimp are often singled out as some of the best in town." - Stephanie Burt
"Sarah Hope Barber explains the restaurant has shifted to include aquaculture oysters to keep up with demand: “Up until three years ago, we had only wild-caught oysters,” says Barber. “Now we buy from a few local companies. Charleston Oyster Farm oysters taste similar to the wild ones — they’re raised in Folly Creek.”" - Denise K. James
"Folks can’t seem to agree if it’s Frogmore stew, Beaufort stew, Beaufort boil, or Lowcountry boil, but the heady combo of shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes, and Old Bay seasoning garners plenty of interest among Charleston visitors. If you don’t have Southern family to cook for you, take a car out to Bowen’s Island for its version." - Erin Perkins