Snow Monkeys

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.

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!

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.

We were greeted quickly by our waitress. Her service through the evening was exceptional. She was attentive without becoming overbearing and had a great personality. The decor and layout are both nice. Unfortunately there was no air conditioning the evening I attended so the atmosphere is a 3 because it was uncomfortably humid and hot at the table. There are both positives and negatives regarding the cuisine. I found the dishes to be inconsistent; several were excellent and others complete misses. The pistachio dip is an absolute must order. It’s creamy and nutty with some light citrus notes from the yuzu. The “from scratch” seed crackers were fantastic. I was also impressed with the oysters. The sake and lemon snow paired well. The other show stopper was the braised pork belly and silken custard dish. This had complexity in flavor and lots of texture. The aromatic notes were perfect as well. I could’ve ordered this dish 3x The black cod was a great piece of fish. Buttery. Velvety. Excellent The duck was a complete miss. The accompanying sauce was good but the duck itself was mediocre. It was gamey in flavor. None of the fat was rendered, and this left a fairly large deposit of chewy fat beneath the skin. The skin also had a fairly chewy texture. I was unimpressed. It was disappointing because I often gravitate toward duck on a menu. The hamachi was also somewhat mediocre. It didn’t have the cleanest flavor - I’ve had better hamachi at both 167 and chubby fish. Its accompanying sauce was ok - nothing that was “knock your socks off”. It’s worth a visit but is not worth the 4.8/5 rating. I’d settle on 4.4-4.5/5

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!

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

🌟 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!

Every dish was tantalizing. A true culinary experience. The level or food that this restaurant is putting out is of the highest quality. It may be one of the most flavor packed meals I've had in my life. A true gem for the John's island area. It rivals any restaurant downtown and may be better than anything on the peninsula. If you have the opportunity to check out this restaurant I highly recommend you allow the highly trained culinary staff to lead you on journey that your taste buds will never forget.

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!