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South Carolina Is Home To The Nation’s Top Lobster Rolls Outside Of Maine

Author Melanie Day

Love lobster? You don’t have to go to Maine to get a mouthwatering lobster roll. In fact, you can get one of the best in the nation in a beloved South Carolina city. A lobster roll is a classic New England dish that tastes like vacation. It features lobster meat (typically tail, claw, and knuckle) prepared with butter (or sometimes may0), lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. It’s then served on a fluffy hot dog-style bun (though think elevated in quality from your typical hot dog bun). Restaurants often serve them even if they don’t serve whole lobster or lobster tails. In fact, locally even Harris Teeter has them at some point. I bet other grocery stores do as well. But in South Carolina where will you find the best lobster rolls? You’ll find it in a city known for its restaurants.

The Best Lobster Roll In South Carolina

The team at Yelp created a list of the best lobster rolls in each state. They also ranked the top 5 lobster rolls. And South Carolina’s ranked as the second best, behind you guessed it- Maine. According to Yelp, this is an “all-time list of the Top Lobster Roll Spots in every state.” To create the list they first identified food and restaurant businesses on Yelp that included a high concentration of reviews mentioning “lobster roll,”. They then ranked the spots on factors such as the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning “lobster roll.” Only restaurants located in the United States with five or fewer locations were considered. 

They determined that the best lobster roll in South Carolina is found in no other than Charleston at 167 Raw Oyster Bar. This restaurant and its sister spots get A LOT of love on these types of lists. It’s located in historic downtown Charleston and is a New England style oyster bar. According to the website the menu “highlights the outstanding seafood mecca that is the East Coast, spanning from New Brunswick, Canada to our local waters here in Charleston.” There isn’t a description provided of the lobster roll but it’s featured in the classics section of the menu. And the top South Carolina lobster rolls will run you $36.

View the full menu here. Read the full Yelp list of the best lobster rolls in each state here.

South Carolina Is Home To Several Of The Nation's Top Rated Seafood Restaurants

Oh, seafood. When it is good- it’s good, when it’s bad though it’s bad. It can also be a little pricey. So if you are planning on indulging in some fresh delicious seafood you want to know that it’s going to be worth the money. And luckily for you, we know some spots. It’s no secret that South Carolina is home to some great seafood. Especially in the Charleston area which is known (and often recognized) for its culinary scene. So when Yelp published their top 100 seafood spots I knew we’d find at least a few restaurants mentioned. But what are the best top-rated South Carolina seafood restaurants? Keep reading to find out.

What I found after skimming the list is that the Palmetto State scored 6 restaurants on the list including one that made the top 5. And spoiler alert they aren’t all in Charleston or the surrounding area. This is good as it means great seafood delicacies are accessible no matter what part of the state you call home. And whether it’s raw oysters, fried seafood platters, crab cakes, lobster rolls, the Lowcountry classic shrimp and grits, or anything else you can find it in the state!

The Best South Carolina Seafood Restaurants

To create this list Yelp identified businesses in their seafood category that had an abundance of reviews praising the term “seafood”. From there restaurants were ranked using factors like the total rankings. Only 10 restaurants per state we able to be included in this list to ensure “geographical diversity”.

It’s now past daylight savings time, it’s warm, and what better way to celebrate that than some fresh seafood, a cold drink, and perhaps a patio? Your next spot to do just that is waiting. So give this list featuring the best of the best South Carolina top-rated seafood restaurants a look. You can view the full Yelp list here. Did your favorite make the list? Let us know!

  • 100. The Royal Tern

    You’ll find The Royal Tern in Johns Island, SC. This dinner-only restaurant features fried seafood, a raw bar, and a variety of entrees like swordfish, yellowfin tuna, and scallops. They also offer steaks for the land lovers. They describe as a “family restaurant and neighborhood eatery”. View the full menu here.

  • 89. Low Country Fish Camp

    Staying in the Charleston area you’ll find Summerville’s Low Country Fish Camp known for its outdoor dining in addition to the delightful seafood. Low Country Fish Camp prides itself on the “laid back, rustic and eclectic” feel of the restaurant and bar. On the menu you’ll find a variety of platters served fried, grilled or blackened, as well as dished like the Lowcountry classic shrimp and grits, or a poy boy sandwich. View the full menu here.

  • 65. Acme Lowcounty Kitchen

    At Isle of Palms Acme Lowcountry Kitchen, you can choose to dine for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the welcoming laid back beach atmosphere. They even have a swim-up bar and I may or may not be planning a trip now. Acme describes its food as having casual elements of traditional coastal cuisine with classic fare. The menu features numerous versions of shrimp and grits, fried seafood platters, and a “Lowcountry favorites” section that includes a seafood pasta that sounds divine. View the full menus here.

  • 57. Tubb's Shrimp & Fish Co.

    There’s a good chance you drive through Florence on your way from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach or the surrounding area. Next time, time your trip to be there around meal time and you can get your high-quality seafood before you reach the beach. Tubb’s began as a supplier for a pop-up seafood market in Florence and transitioned into a full-service restaurant the following year. The menu features “regionally styled seafood platters” reminiscent of those you’d find in Calabash, NC as well as dishes that reflect the Lowcountry cuisine of South Carolina. View the full menu here. 

  • 36. Hutto Seafood Market and Kitchen

    Orangeburg is home to the 2nd highest rated seafood in North Carolina. That’s where you’ll find Hutto Seafood Market & Kitchen. According to its website whether you are looking for “fried whole fish with head-on or off, fish fillets, shrimp, or steamed black mussels, green mussels, clams, blue crab, crawfish, crab legs, king crab legs”, or anything else they have it all. They even offer drive-thru take out which I fully support! View the menu here.

  • 4. 167 Raw Oyster Bar

    This isn’t the first recognition 167 Raw or its family of restaurants has received. So if we keep hearing about it it must be top-notch! 167 Raw Oyster Bar is located in historic downtown Charleston, SC. They are a New England-style oyster bar featuring only the freshest locally sourced seafood. It’s by far the priciest restaurant featured on this list from SC, and the inclusion of caviar on their menu confirms that. In addition to raw bar offerings, they also offer dishes like seafood tacos, scallops, po boys, and a fish of the day. View the full menu here.

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.

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