Where to Eat Oysters in Charleston, According to the Stars of ‘Southern Charm’

If you’re looking for a highly entertaining way to sample oysters in Charleston, South Carolina, during the Food & Wine Classic from November 13 to 15, follow cast members from Bravo’s Southern Charm, Shep Rose, Craig Conover, and Austen Kroll, as they tour the city and visit their favorite spots to slurp bivalves.

During their oyster crawl, the guys check out the top seafood establishments in the Lowcountry — plus, a Bravo-approved bar. The trio also drops tips about their favorite preparations and pairings for shellfish.

By The Way

Buzzy restaurant By The Way doesn’t serve oysters, but Conover and Kroll co-own it alongside Uptown Hospitality Group, so you may spot a Bravo-lebrity if you stop in. The bar is known for its very cold Martinis served with caviar bumps, which seems appropriate to kick off an oyster crawl.

The Ordinary

Seafood shrine The Ordinary shucks some of the cleanest oysters around town. “It’s in an old bank that they converted,” says Rose. “The atmosphere is like none other. We love it here.” Kroll recommends a dark beer with shellfish while Rose reaches for white wine, and Conover opts for a crisp rosé.

Kroll thinks oysters make for a good first date. “You don’t have to sit there and listen to someone’s life for two and a half hours,” he says. “You can do it over a dozen oysters and a drink during happy hour. And if that goes well, guess what? You get another dozen, another drink, or you change locations and continue the evening.”

Rose admits that he often stops by The Ordinary for the crispy oyster sliders alone.

167 Raw

Nantucket-meets-Charleston spot 167 Raw is one of Conover’s all-time favorite seafood restaurants. The guys suggest the oysters French with crème fraiche and caviar, the pastrami swordfish, and the Lowcountry Cup oysters. “These are also some of my favorite oysters I ever had,” says Conover. “They serve local, East Coast, and West Coast.”

Kroll likes to order the 167 Raw dirty Martini, with house-brined tequila and Calabrian chili oil. Customers have the option to add an oyster sidecar to the drink.

Related: If You Want to Eat Local Seafood, You Can’t Do Better Than Charleston

Cheeky

Cheeky is one of the latest seafood restaurants to open in downtown Charleston, so everyone is packing in to check out the new kid on the block. “It’s a great space,” says Conover. The trio shares a dozen oysters on the half-shell, as well as the roasted oysters topped with an herby butter and breadcrumbs.

Kroll recommends Cheeky’s seafood tower, which includes crudo, fritto miso, chilled oysters, and crispy hand-cut fries. “We are very spoiled in Charleston,” says Kroll. “Obviously, we have oyster houses all over the place, but that does not mean that every oyster house is good.”

“That’s why we are showing you the good ones,” adds Conover.

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