Clay J.
Yelp
Out-of-towner foodies rightfully flock excitedly to Charleston for our food scene of coastal southern cuisine and award winning barbecue. Look online at guides to Charleston and you'll find award winning ribs, brisket, flounder and oysters, and as local, sometimes this gets to be a little... old. At some of Charleston's more upscale restaurants, the menu is nearly portable from one place to another. I submit that if you took the name off the menus at half of the Internet Recommended restaurants in Charleston, and asked a local to pair the menu with the restaurant, they wouldn't be very successful because the menus aren't unique.
Sermet's is a different story. Just looking at their menu you can tell the kitchen means business. If the Charleston culinary experience was hip-hop, well, Sermet's would be a Tribe Called Quest, the under-appreciated original influencer of Charleston's modern day cuisine.
Inside it feels humble -- like an upscale hole in the wall. It's quaint in there, just a few tables, and in the courtyard, it's beautiful. Sometimes there's live music playing, and in the early summer, there's a citrus fruit tree that you can pluck from if you want.
The last time I went, I ate something relatively basic: a pan seared salmon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. I was honestly just trying to keep some weight off in prep for the holidays. And well, I feel like Velvet Jones came out and kicked me in the butt with love. It was as close to a religious experience as I could get.
Frankly, Sermet's is the most underrated restaurant in Charleston. You can go for the trendy, shiny, and new, or you can go for the sure thing. If you want the sure thing, just go to Sermet's, bring an untrained monkey, and let the untrained monkey order for you. You will leave happy.