12 Unique Restaurants in South Carolina: Dining Destinations That Dare to Be Different

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Discover the extraordinary with our guide to unique restaurants in South Carolina, where unforgettable dining adventures await. From hidden gems to iconic spots, we’re highlighting the places that make eating in the Palmetto State an experience like no other. Get ready to explore South Carolina’s most memorable meals!

South Carolina truly is a gem. Known for its charming beaches, lush landscapes, and beautiful places, this state also boasts some of the most unique dining venues in the country. Indulge in Lowcountry shrimp and grits at Fleet Landing in Charleston, or enjoy a pirate-themed dinner show at Pirates Voyage in Myrtle Beach. For something upscale, head to Hall’s Chophouse in Greenville, where the steaks are as impressive as the service.

In this guide, we’re taking you to spots that combine amazing food with unforgettable vibes—think rooftop dining under the stars or cozy meals surrounded by history. Let’s dig into South Carolina’s best!

👉 Pro Tip: The Harleston Village Food Tour in Charleston is perfect for sampling Southern flavors while exploring a charming neighborhood. Show up hungry, ask your guide for local recs, and don’t skip dessert—it’s a highlight!

Unique Restaurants in South Carolina: 12 Incredible SC Eateries

From coastal treasures to inland delights, these dining spots offer experiences far beyond the ordinary. Join us as we journey through the Palmetto State, uncovering the places that make its food scene truly special.

1. Top of Carolina

• 📍 Location: Columbia (University of South Carolina campus)
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person (Brunch/Lunch)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American / Southern / Revolving Restaurant
• 🔥 Standout Features: Only revolving restaurant in SC, panoramic city/campus views, popular Sunday brunch.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Unique scenic dining, impressive special occasion brunches, and 360-degree Columbia views.

Get ready for a dining experience with a constantly changing perspective at Top of Carolina, South Carolina’s only revolving restaurant! Located atop a University of South Carolina building, this spot offers breathtaking, 360-degree panoramic views of Columbia and the campus.

While the view is a huge draw, they are well-known for their Sunday brunch buffet. Other highlighted menu items include their classic shrimp and grits, satisfying prime rib, and the fried chicken. It’s a fantastic place for an impressive brunch.

2. Pirates Voyage

• 📍 Location: Myrtle Beach
• 💲 Price range: $50 – $80+ per person (Dinner & Show)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American / Southern / Dinner Show
• 🔥 Standout Features: Pirate-themed dinner show, acrobatic/animal performances, interactive family.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Fun family outings, pirate adventure fans, and dinner with swashbuckling show.

Ahoy, mateys! Prepare for a swashbuckling feast and a thrilling adventure at Pirates Voyage in Myrtle Beach! This isn’t just dinner; it’s a full-blown pirate battle spectacular, complete with dueling pirate crews, incredible acrobatics, and live animals.

While you cheer for your pirate captain, you’ll enjoy a hearty, four-course pirate feast. This typically includes creamy vegetable soup, fried chicken, hickory smoked pulled pork, and corn on the cob. It’s a fantastically fun dinner show.

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3. The Melting Pot

• 📍 Location: Multiple SC locations (e.g., Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach)
• 💲 Price range: $40 – $70+ per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Fondue / Interactive Dining
• 🔥 Standout Features: Multi-course fondue, cheese/entree/chocolate, fun/interactive.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Romantic date nights, group celebrations, and unique hands-on meals.

Get ready to dip, swirl, and delight at The Melting Pot! This restaurant offers a fun and interactive fondue experience where you become the chef at your own table. Settle into a private, cozy booth and prepare for a multi-course adventure.

A meal here means starting with a bubbling pot of savory cheese fondue (the Wisconsin cheddar is a classic). Then cook your own meats like filet mignon or shrimp, and finally, enjoy amazing chocolate fondue for dessert – the “Flaming Turtle” is a popular choice.

4. Gulfstream Cafe

• 📍 Location: Garden City (Murrells Inlet area)
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Seafood / Southern / American
• 🔥 Standout Features: Waterfront views (ocean/marsh), rooftop deck, fresh local seafood.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Scenic sunset dinners, fresh seafood lovers, and relaxed coastal dining.

Savor incredible waterfront views and delicious coastal cuisine at Gulfstream Cafe in Garden City! This popular spot boasts a prime location with breathtaking vistas of both the Atlantic Ocean and the serene salt marshes, especially magical at sunset from their rooftop deck.

You’ll certainly want to try their fresh local seafood preparations, like the often-praised grouper or their classic shrimp and grits. The she-crab soup is also a Lowcountry staple. The crab cakes are another frequently mentioned favorite.

5. Villa Tronco

• 📍 Location: Columbia
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Italian / Classic / Historic
• 🔥 Standout Features: Columbia’s oldest restaurant, traditional Italian-American, charming/historic ambiance.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Classic Italian comfort, historic restaurant lovers, and old-school Columbia.

Step into a piece of Columbia’s culinary history at Villa Tronco, the city’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, serving up traditional Italian-American fare since 1940! This beloved institution exudes old-world charm, with a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

A visit here requires you to try their classic, time-honored dishes. Diners frequently recommend the lasagna, the hearty veal parmigiana, and their signature Tronco’s special pizza. The chicken piccata also receives high praise.

6. DinoLand Cafe

• 📍 Location: Myrtle Beach
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $45 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American / Themed Restaurant / Kid-Friendly
• 🔥 Standout Features: Life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, immersive prehistoric jungle, very family-friendly.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Families with young children, dinosaur enthusiasts, and playful themed meal.

Roar into a prehistoric adventure at DinoLand Cafe in Myrtle Beach! This place is a full-on immersive experience, with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar, surrounded by a jungle-themed decor that will transport your little ones straight to the Jurassic period.

The menu features family-friendly American fare. While the theme is the main draw, you can grab a burger like the “Bronto Burger,” some chicken tenders (“Dino Bites”), or mac and cheese. The volcano brownie sundae is a fun dessert.

• Read Next: 12 Unique Restaurants in Myrtle Beach: Extraordinary Foodie Gems Unveiled

7. Flight Deck Restaurant

• 📍 Location: Lexington (Lexington County Airport)
• 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American / Diner / Aviation Themed
• 🔥 Standout Features: Airport/runway overlook, aviation-themed decor, classic diner fare.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Aviation enthusiasts, unique breakfast/lunch views, and casual family eats.

Watch the planes take off while you take off on a delicious meal at Flight Deck Restaurant, uniquely located right at the Lexington County Airport! This spot offers fantastic views of the runway, making it a haven for aviation enthusiasts.

A wise choice involves grabbing a hearty breakfast platter like the “Big Man Breakfast” or their popular biscuits and gravy. For lunch, a classic cheeseburger or club sandwich are also satisfying, all while watching the planes come and go.

8. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

• 📍 Location: Myrtle Beach
• 💲 Price range: $50 – $80+ per person (Dinner & Show)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American / Medieval Feast / Dinner Theater
• 🔥 Standout Features: Live medieval tournament, jousting/horsemanship, utensil-free castle dining.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Theatrical family outings, medieval fantasy fans, and interactive dinner-shows.

Huzzah! Prepare for a feast and a battle of epic proportions at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in Myrtle Beach! Cheer on your knight as they joust and sword fight, all while you devour a utensil-free, four-course medieval-style meal.

The feast includes roasted chicken, sweet corn on the cob, and herb-basted potatoes. You also get a tasty tomato bisque to start. It’s a full-blown spectacle where you get to eat with your hands and shout for your champion!

9. Café and Then Some

• 📍 Location: Greenville
• 💲 Price range: $30 – $50 per person (Dinner & Show)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American / Southern / Comedy Dinner Theater
• 🔥 Standout Features: Long-running comedy musical, audience interaction, Southern-style buffet.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Fun/unique night out, comedy/musicals lovers, and interactive dinner show.

Get ready for a heaping helping of laughs and Southern hospitality at Café and Then Some in Greenville! This long-running dinner theater is a local institution, famous for its hilarious, original comedy musical revues that often involve audience participation.

While you’re enjoying the show, you’ll be treated to a hearty Southern-style buffet. This includes classics like fried chicken, country-style steak, and macaroni and cheese, along with plenty of tasty vegetable sides and desserts.

10. Café Old Vienna

• 📍 Location: Myrtle Beach
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: German / Austrian / European
• 🔥 Standout Features: Authentic German/Austrian, Bavarian beer garden, cozy/old-world.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Schnitzel/sausage lovers, European comfort food, and taste of Germany/Austria.

Guten Appetit in Myrtle Beach at Café Old Vienna! This charming spot serves up authentic German and Austrian cuisine in a cozy, traditional European gasthaus atmosphere, complete with a lovely Bavarian-style beer garden when the weather is nice.

You’ll certainly want to try their incredible Wiener Schnitzel, pounded thin and fried to golden perfection. A hearty platter of assorted German sausages or their goulash with spaetzle are also fantastic. The apple strudel is a classic dessert.

11. Dave & Buster’s

• 📍 Location: Multiple SC locations (e.g., Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach)
• 💲 Price range: $15 – $30 per person (Food/Drinks, games separate)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Pub Grub / Sports Bar / Arcade & Entertainment
• 🔥 Standout Features: Massive arcade/sports bar, diverse American menu, “eatertainment” complex.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Fun group outings, families/friends seeking games/food, and lively “eatertainment.”

Get ready to eat, drink, play, and watch at Dave & Buster’s! This massive entertainment complex is a haven for fun, combining a full-service restaurant and sports bar with a huge arcade packed with games for all ages.

While you’re taking a break from winning tickets, you can chow down on classic American pub grub. Popular choices include their wings (especially the boneless), juicy burgers like the “Beastmode Bacon Burger,” or shareable appetizer platters like the “Giant Bavarian Pretzel.”

12. Wild Common

• 📍 Location: Charleston
• 💲 Price range: $70 – $150+ per person (Tasting Menu focused)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern American / Fine Dining / Seasonal
• 🔥 Standout Features: Chef Orlando Pagán, historic renovated warehouse, artistic/innovative tasting.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Adventurous fine diners, special occasion splurges, and exquisite ingredient-driven.

Prepare for a culinary journey that’s both wild and wonderfully refined at Wild Common in Charleston. Helmed by acclaimed Chef Orlando Pagán, this stunning restaurant, housed in a beautifully renovated historic warehouse, offers an artistic and innovative tasting menu experience.

Each course is a beautifully composed masterpiece. Diners rave about the scallops, the short rib, and creative desserts. The tasting menu itself, with its seasonal variations, is the star, often featuring unique seafood and vegetable preparations.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Unique Places to Eat in South Carolina

Got questions about finding the perfect spot to eat in the Palmetto State? Our South Carolina restaurant guide is here to help.

What food can you only get in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, you can savor unique dishes like shrimp and grits, boiled peanuts, and Frogmore Stew. These aren’t just meals; they’re a taste of the state’s rich culture. Shrimp and grits, for instance, combine fresh seafood with creamy, stone-ground grits, showcasing the coastal bounty. Boiled peanuts, a salty snack, are a roadside staple. Frogmore Stew, despite its name, isn’t a stew but a flavorful mix of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes, perfect for gatherings.

What food is Charleston SC known for?

Charleston, SC, is famous for its Lowcountry cuisine. This includes dishes like she-crab soup, a creamy delight with crab meat and a splash of sherry. Another must-try is the Charleston benne wafer, a thin, crispy cookie made with sesame seeds. These foods reflect Charleston’s blend of African, French, and Southern influences, making the city a culinary hotspot. When you eat these dishes, you’re tasting history and tradition in every bite.

What city in South Carolina has the best food?

Charleston is often hailed as the city with the best food in South Carolina, making it one of the top places to live and visit in the state. Its rich history and coastal location mean you can enjoy everything from upscale dining to casual seafood shacks. Charleston’s culinary scene is a mix of traditional Southern cooking and innovative dishes. The city’s chefs are known for using local ingredients to create meals that are both delicious and memorable. Whether you’re craving seafood, Southern classics, or something new, Charleston has it all.

Where can I find South Carolina’s best restaurants?

South Carolina’s best restaurants are spread across the state, from the bustling streets of Charleston to the quiet corners of Greenville. These places are known for their quality food, unique flavors, and Southern hospitality. Many of them source ingredients locally, ensuring fresh and flavorful dishes. To find these top spots, look for awards like the James Beard Foundation Awards or check out local food guides and reviews.

How do I discover hidden gem restaurants in South Carolina?

To find hidden gem restaurants in South Carolina, start by asking locals. They know the spots that don’t always make it onto the tourist maps. Social media and food blogs are also great resources. Look for places off the beaten path. These restaurants often offer unique dishes and a cozy atmosphere. Exploring small towns can lead to surprising culinary discoveries.

What are some cheap eats in South Carolina?

Cheap eats in South Carolina include classic Southern BBQ joints, seafood shacks, and local diners. These places offer hearty portions at wallet-friendly prices. Look for daily specials and combo meals for the best deals. From pulled pork sandwiches to fresh fried fish, you can enjoy the state’s flavors without breaking the bank. Farmers’ markets are also a great place to grab a cheap, fresh bite.

Why is South Carolina’s cuisine unique?

South Carolina’s cuisine is unique because it blends African, European, and Native American influences. This mix has created dishes like Lowcountry boil, pimento cheese, and Carolina barbecue. The state’s geography, from the coast to the mountains, also plays a role. It provides a variety of fresh ingredients, like seafood and peaches, that influence the local food scene. This diversity makes South Carolina’s cuisine stand out.

What are the must-try dishes for visitors to South Carolina?

Visitors to South Carolina must try dishes like Carolina barbecue, known for its mustard-based sauce, and shrimp and grits, a coastal favorite. Don’t miss the chance to taste she-crab soup, a creamy soup made with crab meat and roe. For dessert, try a slice of sweet potato pie, a Southern classic. These dishes offer a glimpse into the state’s culinary heritage and flavors, making them essential experiences for those exploring things to do in the Southeast US.

Final Thoughts On Unique South Carolina Restaurants

We hope you’ve enjoyed exploring the flavors and stories behind some of the best spots to eat in the state with our South Carolina restaurant guide. From the coastal delights of Charleston to the hidden gems tucked away in small towns, South Carolina is a treasure trove of culinary experiences.

Whether you’re craving traditional Southern comfort food, fresh seafood, or innovative dishes that blend a variety of cultural influences, this guide has something for everyone. Remember, the best way to experience South Carolina’s rich culinary landscape is to dive in and try something new.