The Darling Oyster Bar

Very nice oyster bar restaurant with excellent seafood. Tried all the oysters and liked most. Not into the big ones but they have the small sweet ones too. The lobster roll has crab mixed in so it's not a traditional lobster roll. I prefer all lobster. Big bar with full service and a smaller oyster bar if you like to watch them shuck. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The oyster selection is great and I always love to get the plateau...

Reviewed on Facebook

Enjoyed dinner at the bar earlier this week.   Service was a touch slow but, the bartender was very busy.The decor is beautiful. Loved the London Fog cocktail - great start! I had a house salad which was quite good with the best part being the buttermilk dressing.   Opted for the house-made pasta with blue crab.   Very good.  Plenty of large crab pieces and simple flavor.I would recommend! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I was craving a lobster roll, & I found it here. It was delicious. I wasn't 100% full after the lobster roll, so I think they they have put a little bit more filling into it. I also had oysters here; it was my first time. It definately is an acquired taste, and a part of me felt like it had particles of sand in it. When I tried to come here the night before they were completely packed (unless I wanted to wait like 3 hours), so I reccomend making a reservation a couple days ahead of time. Other then that, I had a beautiful date in a beautiful city here. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We loved The Darling!  First of all the restaurant is gorgeous inside from top to bottom.  I could sit in that atmosphere for hours.  We went for brunch.  Our server was cheerful and attentive.  The seafood is delicious and fresh, from the shrimp cocktail to the oysters to the the lobster and crab roll.  All great choices.  However, the key lime pie stole the show!  It's like no other you have ever had.  Enjoy! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Quick service, great ambience, good drinks, great food! I had the scallops and by far the best scallops I have ever eaten!

Reviewed on Yelp

Can't say enough about this place. Made reservations on a Thursday and got in on time. Had wonderful service throughout the meal. We had happy hour oysters (4-7 I believe every week day), a few different small plates from the special menu (tuna crudo was sensational). But the star of the show is the blue crab tagliatelle. Perfectly salted pasta, a light but flavorful sauce and TONS of crab. I could've eaten 10 of these. Go check this place out on your next date night or vacation!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Casual decor and excellent food. Menu has a nice variety and the service was excellent. Great local find!

Reviewed on Yelp

Fabulous little spot! Really great oyster bar at the front for people watching if you can snag a seat. We came for happy hour ($1 oysters, $2 off drafts and house draft cocktails) and are glad we did! The house punch is really yummy and the oyster selection is great. Awesome variety of "cooked" food if you are looking for an alternative for any diners wary of a raw bar. Make this one a "must see" on your list when you visit! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Recommend making a reservation but if you happen to grab a seat at one of the 3 bars order Alabama oysters, Cajun Shrimp, or crab cakes. We were not disappointed!

Reviewed on Facebook

Absolutley wonderful night at The Darling. Four of us came on a Sunday evening, without reservations, and were more than willing to wait for bar seating. Staff was incredible and accommodating; we were sat in a booth instead of the bar. Food was incredible, service was perfect, just go and enjoy. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

The best oysters in town! You don't want to miss! Make sure to put the darling on your list!

Reviewed on Yelp

Probably my favorite restaurant in Charleston! Great place to go for a drink, sit down dinner, or a casual bite at the raw bar. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated and has a great atmosphere but the food is pretty reasonably priced. Drinks are decently strong but the best part of happy hour is the $1 oysters! Would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys sea food (ps. Get an oyster shooter!) More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great atmosphere, great service, great food. My friends and I went for just oysters and drinks, but the menu looked so good we ended up getting a ton of menu items to share. And nothing disappointed! Must try's: baked oysters, chowder fries, and the oyster shooter! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The Darling was one our favorite restaurants during our three day visit to Charleston.Service: 5 Yelp StarsAmbiance/Location: 5 Yelp StarsOverall: 5 Yelp StarsWe ordered:CHARRED OCTOPUS SALAD - Grilled Octopus, Marinated Potato Salad, Crispy Potatoes and Capers, RomescoSEARED DIVER SCALLOPS -Fingerling Potatoes, Tomatoes, Corn, Arugula, Tomato-Dill VinaigretteSHRIMP & GRITS - Cheddar Grits, Crispy Brussels, Country Ham, Fenneland the Swordfish special. The charred octopus salad was fantastic. If octopus is your thing, order this. Everything we had was really delicious and fresh.The restaurant space is very nice. It's in an historic building on King, has a large bar inside for a more casual approach, as well as a raw bar and regular dining room.The wait staff was incredibly helpful and pleasant. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Beautiful people come here drinks are well made EAT THE OYSTERS  !!!! Got to go back !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reviewed on Yelp

Oyster shooters are a MUST here! Here's what we ordered with favorites first! 1. Shrimp & Grits2. Fried Oysters - the kale salad was so good! 3. Chowder Fries 4. Smoked Salmon Benedict Drinks 1. Oyster Shooter 2. London Fog (if you love gin) More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The clam chowder wasn't great. But Dylan is the best human in Charleston, SC. His customer service is unmatched. He took note of our reaction to the food and immediately found a way to ensure we had a pleasant experience. If you go there don't get the chowder, but ask for Dylan. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Wow. Awesome place. The scallops were top notch. Muscles were on point. My only downfall was the lobster mac. Left a lot to be desired. Still a five star place. Especially because it was priced very reasonably. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Awesome food, service and atmosphere. Sat at the bar and really enjoyed ourselves! Bar tenders are friendly and helpful

Reviewed on Facebook

The food was absolutely spectacular. Service was lackluster. No one realized we had been seated for 20 minutes, which isn't the worst. But no one smiled or was particularly friendly, and there were multiple times where I felt the waiter was not attentive. I'm thinking maybe it was an off night for the staff? Very unusual for Charleston. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I enjoyed the food, the service was excellent, Laura was outstanding and the service was excellent.

Reviewed on Facebook

awesome place anytime!! love this place

Reviewed on Facebook

Very tasty menu.  Smoked dip was excellent.  Tagliatelle with blue crab was rich and delicious, love the peas in it. Fried fish and shrimp was good and the homemade hot sauce was fantastic

Reviewed on Yelp

Delicious, Fantastic Experience!!! GᖇEᗩT ᔕEᖇᐯIᑕE TOO!!! My honey surprised me and took me here. ᒪOᐯEᗪ IT❤️

Reviewed on Facebook

Had only oysters here.  They were shucked quite well (no shell remnants) and were very tasty. The cost was average for the area. My only complaint with the darling was that on a plate with 12 oysters I had one that was in excusable small. No restauranteur  should allow anyone of their service staff to ever put the runt of the litter on a plate, whether it is in oyster, sausage, or anything else. Each one of its diners is paying full price and should receive something that is worth full price.  The sub-standard items should just be set off to the side and not used, or used for something else. I asked for a replacement for that oyster and they provided me with another and were very gracious about it. So no problems with that, but it really should never have been put on the plate in the first place.Good atmosphere.  Recommended.  The Mountain More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The Darling is an adorable Oyster Bar on the main strip in Charleston. We went for a mid afternoon snack and really enjoyed it. We went during happy hour and took advantage of the $1 oysters and drink specials. The oysters were good sized, but not the most flavorful. I think I'm just used to oysters from other regions. The place is always popping and a really fun place to stop in for good seafood and drinks. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Really tasty fried chicken dish with great chicken coating, spice brandy and mash. Lobster crab roll not a favorite since it was too oily. Great ambience. Perfect for date or with girl friends. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Obviously the oysters were second to none! Blue crab mac and cheese was amazing!! I've had key lime pie everywhere from Key West on up the coast. I'd pass it all up for a single bite of this one!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Visited the Darling Oyster Bar for a quiet date with my wife. We were in town for the evening with no children, so we wanted some quiet time. The ambience was romantic, and if it weren't for the raucous bachelorette party right next to us, I'm certain it would've been a quiet and very enjoyable experience. The food was excellent, but it was slightly overpriced for the portions. My personal favorite was the clam chowder. It's the best clam chowder I've ever had! If I'm ever in Charleston again, I would possibly consider revisiting. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great spot on one of the main streets in historic downtown Charleston. They have an amazing oyster happy hour when we were there. $1 oyster (select type) between 4-7 pm. So fresh and delicious. It was so good we ate there 2 nights in a row. The Fish House Punch drink was so yummy and refreshing. Our waiter both nights was Chris and he gave us the best service I've ever had. Have us recommendations for the menu and local spots around town. Other MUST tries are: Creole Shrimp (so good we had a second order of it in one night cuz we couldn't get enough lol), the Darling old Fashioned was also incredible with the unique vanilla twist. Highly recommend this place. Definitely a must visit for your trip. Go early or make reservations because they fill up FAST and booked out in advance during rush hours. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It was awesome! The atmosphere was excellent! I highly recommend this spot to all that come here to visit!

Reviewed on Facebook

If you want fresh oysters this is the place for you. Make friends with the shucker and get some of the best local oysters available, of course only in months with an R in them. Great food, great staff and great drinksDan More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Excellent oysters!! I continue to go back to Darling because of their oysters mainly, and they don't disappoint. Other dishes I've tried have been very good, as well. The crab claws are very fresh and delicious. Hush puppies were decent. The crab tagliatelle was good, but a bit bland. Now -- for the drinks... GET ONE! Their speciality cocktails are very good particularly my favorite, the London Fog (gin-based). Service is always great, too, and ambiance is great for both super casual dining and date night. I'll be back! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Food was great and the staff made you feel at home! Our first visit but we’ll be back!

Reviewed on Facebook

Everything was delicious! And great service!

Reviewed on Facebook

Most Amazing Bloody Mary!!!!

Reviewed on Facebook

You have to have seafood when you come to Charleston, and there are plenty of oyster bars in the area!! But my friend recommended the darling and when we saw there was a $1/oyster happy hour 4-7pm we couldn't resist. We got there around 4:30 on Friday and there was plenty of room, but the bar area filled up quickly. We got dozens of the $1 oysters which were fresh and great, and tried some of their other assortments of oysters which were also great. The seafood platter is also a great value with crab, shrimp, clam, and oysters as well! Service was great,  the atmosphere was bright, lively, and a really fun place to just spend an afternoon! Overall we had an awesome time and definitely satisfied our seafood craving all for a really affordable price! This happy hour seriously can't be beat More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Overall, good food. Enjoyed the fry basket and the oysters and the drink selection. However, knocking off one star as the hush puppies were not great, they were dry, bland and too salty. Good atmosphere.

Reviewed on Yelp

Bang for your buck: 10/10Quality: 10/10Service: 10/10Ambiance/Location: 10/10Overall: 10/10The Darling doesn't disappoint! They offer a great selection of really fresh seafood! The restaurant is so cute! It's in an historic building on King, has a large bar inside for a more casual approach, as well as a raw bar and regular dining room seating perfect for a date night or a girl's night out!I was able to easily make a reservation using Open Table, and when I got into town later than I had expected, they were SO accommodating! The wait staff was incredibly helpful with our questions regarding what oysters to select. I shared a seafood tower with my bestie as well as pimento cheese oysters and a yummy ice cream cookie sandwich for dessert. Everything was absolutely superb! When I get back to Charleston, I will absolutely dine at The Darling again! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great option, especially to grab seats at the oyster bar to watch the plates being prepared.

Reviewed on Yelp

Decided to check out the Darling during our weekend getaway. Loved that this place opens late (well, their raw bar does) in case we have some late night munchies. We stopped in to get appetizers and drinks before our dinner reservation elsewhere. Drinks were great! I got the basil daisy, which was like a refreshing lemonade, and my boyfriend got the Darling Fashion, which he said was a refreshing take on the old fashion. Ordered half a dozen oysters, which were so good and fresh. Also ordered a clam chowder, good also but it was a bit on the sour side because of the fresh chunks of clam they had in and a green aioli. We enjoyed our food and drinks a lot. Just wished the servers were a little more attentive. I had to call out my orders a few times because they weren't paying attention, but I didn't mind. Good experience overall and I definitely will be back to try some more dishes. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I came here with 2 friends to celebrate a birthday. We had a reservation because it was a Saturday evening. The place was packed so I recommend a reservation. They have a daily happy hour (4-7pm) which includes $1 raw oysters. $1! For that price I had to try my first raw oyster and I was not disappointed. I ordered the lobster & king crab roll. The bread was perfectly buttered and very tasty. There was a good amount of lobster and crab which was great because I was hungry. For my side I got the collards which were also very tasty. I have no complaints about the food. My friends got the scallops and the seafood pasta (can't remember the exact name) and they both liked their meals. We also split a bottle of wine because the price was worth it since we were each planning to get a glass.The service was great and the place has a nice ambiance. The waitress was very sweet and gave my friend a free oyster shot because we were celebrating her birthday. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

A wonderful dining experience tonight at the oyster bar. My compliments to my server, Chris, who helped me navigate the menu and oyster options. Enjoyed a couple oysters with the tomato & peach toast... highly recommend for its freshness and seasonality! The guys behind the oyster bar were super hospitable and the draft Paloma hit the spot on this humid day. With so many restaurant choices in Charleston it's easy to hop around, but my experience at The Darling secured my decision to return the next time I'm in town! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Good atmosphere.. food was ok however the bar tender was great and made the whole experience good.. food was super late as we were a party of 3, one of us got our plate and the other two waited for about 15 minutes on ours. Would try again to see if it was an off night... fun place to hang!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp