Best Historic Restaurants in James Island

The first thing that impressed us was the friendly and welcoming Staff. They greeted us and made us feel at home as soon as we entered the establishment. The ambiance is cozy, tasteful and comfortable: brick walls, plush leather, elegant table settings, fireplaces and dim lighting. We came to celebrate my husband’s birthday and were delighted when presented menus printed with “Happy Birthday” and the milestone age superimposed on them. They even said we could take them home as a souvenir. Such a thoughtful touch! Our waiter, Sam, couldn’t have been nicer or more accommodating. He was very friendly, informative and professional. He was also a great source of information on the menu and offered wonderful suggestions. He made us feel very special. The food was to die for! Everything we ordered was beautifully presented, cooked perfectly and amazingly delicious. The chef and kitchen staff are to be commended. The drinks were generous and made to perfection, as well. Mike does a great job of managing the place. He made sure we were satisfied with our experience and took the time to chat with us for a bit. All in all, we had a wonderful evening and highly recommend Oak Steakhouse.

This is a terrific restaurant. The menu is quite basic, but everything is prepared expertly, and the staff is both welcoming and professional. Whenever we're in Charleston we never miss a visit. My faves are the local Low-Country seafood items and the filet. Again, a basic menu but all the bases are well covered. Oh... and that coconut cake. "Extraordinary" doesn't do it justice.

Our server, Morgan, was first rate. Just the right balance of attentiveness mixed with professionalism! Definitely will be back. Cassandra from pastries was truly a special experience. She gifted us with some appetizer samples and carefully explained the ingredients. She was truly the gift. Thank you Morgan & Cassandra!❤️ The entire night reminded us of Le Grand Colbert. Awesome!

Best dining experience of our lives. We closed the menus and trusted the Head Waiter, Donnie. We ate things we would have never ordered and loved every one of them! This is a quaint little place - Brandon, Hunter and Donnie are forever intertwined in our lives. Thank you for a wonderful experience. We will be eating here every time we get to Charleston. Cheers!

Let me start by saying Mike is an incredible host, server, chef, and historian. This was a one of a kind experience and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique culinary experience in Charleston. While it is not a conventional restaurant, Mike takes you on a culinary journey of 18th and 19th century low country cuisine, keeping things as authentic as possible while still appealing to our modern palates. Each dish was carefully crafted and thoughtfully prepared. The table was full of strangers, but we all got to chat and listen to Mike’s wonderful presentation of Charleston history to go along with each dish. Our specific meal was centered around Legacy families of Charleston, so we enjoyed dishes each family would have also enjoyed. Mike deserves all of the attention and reservations he can handle. As he says, he’s one of Charleston’s best kept secrets, and I believe that to be true because I had a fantastic experience.