Snow Monkeys

If you’re looking for a special occasion or simply make your taste buds happy, Snow Monkeys will not disappoint. Flavorful, unique, and satisfying tastes. One of the best(and unique) oyster presentations I’ve experienced. The bartender was a wealth of knowledge and explained the dishes of eloquently and his enthusiasm for the flavors was palpable. (Wish I caught his name!) However, if you do have allergies, it may not be the best place. I had to avoid dishes with my specific allergens. Cannot wait to return! Thanks!

Loved my first time at Snow Monkeys. The absolute sweetest waitress who was very attentive to us and made sure our food limitations were made note to the chef and reminded us as well when the food got to the table. I am more adventurous with food due to my travels but don’t let the menu deter you off because it’s more “exotic” compared to a hamburger. Everything is absolutely delicious and love that the dishes are tapas style to share a lot of different dishes. So happy they’re bringing a more gastronomy option to Johns Island, can’t wait to go back! I gave the atmosphere 1 star off only because I don’t prefer sitting side by side in restaurants to other tables, I do prefer a more “ballroom” atmosphere environment.

WOW! This was truly an exceptional experience! From start to finish, everything at Snow Monkeys was outstanding and the food was absolutely phenomenal. Every dish we tried was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The menu offers a wide variety of creative options, and what really impressed me was that every single thing that we ordered was unique and delightful. You can tell that the chef is truly passionate about the food that he serves. The thought, precision, and inspiration behind each dish really shine through. The ingredients were super fresh, and that made all the difference. The cocktails were just as impressive. They were inventive, balanced, and ohhhh so delicious. The ambiance is stylish and welcoming without feeling stuffy, and the service was just as impressive. Our server, Valentina, was warm, attentive, and made sure we were always well taken care of without hovering. If you’re looking for a brand new spot that blends creativity, flavor, and good old hospitality, Snow Monkeys is it. I can’t wait to go back.

So excited to have this spot right down the road! Every plate was so beautifully presented and creatively constructed. The French-Japanese fusion concept could have felt like a gimmick in less capable hands, but here it was anything but - the fusion aspect came through in both the flavors and techniques of each dish in subtle and interesting ways (especially the gnocchi and croquettes). Every dish felt like it could be part of an elegant tasting menu, but the vibe was still laid back and approachable, like a neighborhood joint. Can't wait to visit again and work our way through the menu!

🌟 NEW FAVORITE SPOT ALERT 🌟 Snow Monkeys just opened on John’s Island and it is phenomenal! From the minute we walked in, Noah—the bartender and part-owner—made us feel right at home. Super attentive, incredibly knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the food and drinks they’re serving. 👏 We tried: 🦪 Oysters – bright, fresh, and full of flavor 🐟 Citrus-Cured Salmon – melt-in-your-mouth amazing 🥗 Tokyo Salad – perfectly balanced with a little crunch, a little spice, and a lot of yum To sip, we had two standout cocktails: 🍸 Kyoto Highball – clean, citrusy, and just the right amount of sparkle 🍹 Monkey Nomu – tropical and playful, like vacation in a glass The vibe is stylish yet relaxed, the menu is creative without being fussy, and the team is clearly on a mission to deliver something special. So glad they’ve joined the neighborhood!

Ooof- rough start - we were really excited about this place We do plan to come back and try again - never want to give a new place a hard time, just really overpriced, NY/Miami prices vs too small portions in the almost still humbled >>Johns island nook in the country …just out of place, a bit too abstract for area…. we usually order a little bit of everything and after 6 super mini oysters for $25 and a beef tartar with more than half cherries - this all kind of steered us out the door prematurely. :( Will try again and hope for the best! Photos: pistachio dip, beef tartar, and oysters

OMG! Pinch me I think I’m dreaming. What a gem on John’s Island. Only their 4th week open and the best food we had yet on JI. The staff was very knowledgeable of each delicious dish and smiled from ear to ear. The presentation and quality of the food rivals a Michelin star sushi restaurant we were at in Italy earlier this month. Every dish was exploding with flavor and we savored the flavor long after each dish was finished. The salmon starter melts in your mouth. Time to swarm this place, but please leave two seats for us. We will be there frequently!

I don’t think that I have posted a Google review of a restaurant in years, but here it is. We were staying at a hotel on Kiawah, and we were given the suggestion to try a brand new restaurant on John’s Island called snow monkey. We were also told that it is walk-in only (no reservations). So we arrived early on a Friday night. The waitress explained that the menu is small plates and meant for a sharing. She suggested we order at least 5 items for our table of 2 people We started with the raw oysters with meyer lemon snow We also had the beef tartare and bigeye tuna tataki from the raw menu 4th course was the pistachio dip Then the seared bay scallops with roasted mistake mushroom, and finally the roasted duck breast with charred plums In review of the food. The food was exceptional. I felt like this was a “fine dining” experience….yet we were in this “casual” little restaurant. Also note : those Meyer lemon raw oysters were probably the best raw oysters I have ever had. They were so refreshing and bright. and for me; sets a new standard for how I want all raw oysters to be served….in my future. The owner talked with us and thanked us, on our way out, which I also thought was exceptional

Adorable little space, walk in only which is nice. Our server was fantastic. She took her time explaining all the dishes and making recommendations based on the most popular options. Everything is shared, small plates and came out plated beautifully. For being on John's, this is more of a fine dining experience than I expected. The pistachio dip, with housemade crackers was tasty and creamy. The ricotta gnocchi was like a beautiful pillow of cheese, but the zucchini accompanying it didn't seem to have any seasoning on it; definitely not a traditional gnocchi. The potato beef croquettes were fantastic, warming and with a nice depth of flavor. The duck was very flavorful and I enjoyed it's accompaniments. Not sure if it was just the day we went, but it was very warm inside.

I don't really leave reviews anymore but this place had to of been one of top 20 meals of all time for me and I've been privileged enough to dine in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Hard to beat a meal that is seasonally fresh with a compliment of flavors and textures with beautiful displays. Each dish feels like a work of art. Service was next level but I feel like reviews should be 90% about the food. Having a good or bad server shouldn't influence the review of the restaurant as a whole. That being said service was excellent 10/10 I went with my wife and we split the Tokyo salad, which was a nice savory umami salad with a nice sesame flavor. We also split the Tuna Tataki which had nice flavor and was very fresh, I liked the palm hearts for a nice fresh crunch with the almonds. I got the Duck and my wife got the scallops, both were amazing. Speaking for myself the duck was cooked perfectly and was probably best I have had (non confit). Everything had a beautiful sauce which did not overwhelm the main protein and the veggies were beautiful, bright, and perfectly seasoned. Portions are what you expect from French inspired cuisine, which I thought were perfect since we ordered 6 dishes in total, including dessert. Desserts were amazing and the prices were a great value for quality, freshness, and care that went into each dish. Not somewhere I can afford to go every weekend but you bet I will be coming every chance I get and I'm excited to see what the other seasons bring to the menu. Cheers to the chef, staff, and owner for a great concept and execution.

Snow Monkeys just opened and I was excited to have the chance to try it! Many different restaurants have been in the space so I was excited to see what was new. I arrived just as they opened and there was already a line waiting! I see that as a great sign! The food menu was diverse and we shared several small plates. The drink was strong and small but delicious! We had the duck, pistachio dip, and gnocchi! Very unique dishes and beautiful presentation!

I've never thought Japanese and French cuisines could go together but I wish I had thought of it sooner. This is an amazing addition to John's island. I only tried a third of the menu and need to go back to try everything else. The octopus is the best I've had in Charleston which is saying a lot. The service was amazing and the drinks were refreshing and innovative. Definitely go and give it a try!

Special, brilliant, amazing ingredient's, presentation outstanding... Thank you for a wonderful evening !!

Great food experience 40 + years Charleston food scene patron Snow Monkey really stands out Wonderful server, Valentina was very knowledgeable and professional Will put this on my list to bring friends who are tired of same charleston fare.

Great service~ some dishes very good- beef tartar- and others easily improved with more attention. Good concept for Johns Isl. Something different!