When it comes to food, South Carolinians have a smorgasbord of great restaurants to choose from. Any day of the week many can drive a relatively short distance and choose from anything from ultra casual walk ups to fine dining.
But if you had the choice would you select a small and intimate restaurant over a large and roomy one? Here are 9 great options for cozy, small restaurants in South Carolina with big taste.
- Chez Nous - Charleston (6 Payne Ct, Charleston, SC)
Chez Nous Charleston
Google Maps
Facebook/Chez Nous Duck Agnolotti w/Sage Looking for small, intimate, romantic? Chez Nous, in Charleston’s trending Cannonborough neighborhood, is a small and charming neighborhood restaurant which focuses exclusively on Southern French, Northern Italian and Northern Spanish cuisine. The menu consists of 2-3 apps, 2-3 entrees and 2 desserts and it changes daily.
- The Barnwood Grill - Anderson (2606 Whitehall Rd, Anderson, SC)
Yelp/Amy G.
Facebook/The Barnwood Grill
Facebook/The Barnwood Grill The Barnwood has stellar reviews on both TripAdvisor and Yelp. Maybe it’s these delicious-looking biscuits, but it’s probably because The Barnwood sources locally for many of their ingredients. Everything is FRESH.
- Benny Rappa’s Trattoria - North Myrtle Beach (1453 Hwy 17 S, North Myrtle Beach, SC)
Facebook/Benny Rappa’s Trattoria
Facebook/Benny Rappa’s Trattoria
Facebook/Benny Rappa’s Trattoria Locals know Benny Rappa’s for their authentic Italian food.They’re small, but they accept reservations.
- 116 Espresso & Wine Bar - Columbia (116 State St., West Columbia, SC)
Yelp/Jarrett H
Facebook/116 Espresso and Wine Bar Espresso, Wine, Gourmet Food. What else do you need to make for a perfect evening in Columbia? Try the Spanish Butcher’s Plate (shown above) or order a full-on entree.
- 167 Raw - Charleston (289 East Bay St, Charleston, SC)
Facebook/167 Raw - Charleston
Facebook/167 Raw - Charleston
Facebook/167 Raw - Charleston Small and impactful. That’s 167 Raw on Easy Bay Street in Charleston. The place is small but for fresh seafood like this (and oysters, etc.) you’ll find it’s worth the wait!
- Pad Thai 1 - Summerville, SC (119 W Doty Ave, Summerville, SC)
Yelp/Dan N.
Yelp/Mar A This restaurant may be on the small side but it delivers explosive Thai flavors, like this Pork Pad Thai. Yum.
- Magnolia Cafe & Market - Aiken, SC (210 York St SE, Aiken, SC)
Yelp/Gabriel F
Facebook/Magnolia Cafe & Market Aiken’s Magnolia Cafe is great for lunch and they just reopened for dinner.
- Twenty Six Devine - Charleston (682 King St, Charleston, SC)
Facebook/Twenty Six Devine
Twenty Six Devine
Twenty Six Devine This boutique cafe and bakery on King takes gourmet to a whole new level…all the way from the first course through dessert!
- Kickers - Greenwood, SC (301 Maxwell Ave, Greenwood, SC)
Google Maps [street view]
Yelp/Jonathon B
Yelp/Caroline M In Greenwood, Kickers (also called “Kickers Takeout”) is known as the “Little Place with the Big Taste.”
Have you tried any of these or do you have other favorite small South Carolina restaurants to add to the list? We’d love to know in our comments on Facebook.
Chez Nous Charleston
Google Maps
Facebook/Chez Nous
Duck Agnolotti w/Sage Looking for small, intimate, romantic? Chez Nous, in Charleston’s trending Cannonborough neighborhood, is a small and charming neighborhood restaurant which focuses exclusively on Southern French, Northern Italian and Northern Spanish cuisine. The menu consists of 2-3 apps, 2-3 entrees and 2 desserts and it changes daily.
Yelp/Amy G.
Facebook/The Barnwood Grill
The Barnwood has stellar reviews on both TripAdvisor and Yelp. Maybe it’s these delicious-looking biscuits, but it’s probably because The Barnwood sources locally for many of their ingredients. Everything is FRESH.
Facebook/Benny Rappa’s Trattoria
Locals know Benny Rappa’s for their authentic Italian food.They’re small, but they accept reservations.
Yelp/Jarrett H
Facebook/116 Espresso and Wine Bar
Espresso, Wine, Gourmet Food. What else do you need to make for a perfect evening in Columbia? Try the Spanish Butcher’s Plate (shown above) or order a full-on entree.
Facebook/167 Raw - Charleston
Small and impactful. That’s 167 Raw on Easy Bay Street in Charleston. The place is small but for fresh seafood like this (and oysters, etc.) you’ll find it’s worth the wait!
Yelp/Dan N.
Yelp/Mar A
This restaurant may be on the small side but it delivers explosive Thai flavors, like this Pork Pad Thai. Yum.
Yelp/Gabriel F
Facebook/Magnolia Cafe & Market
Aiken’s Magnolia Cafe is great for lunch and they just reopened for dinner.
Facebook/Twenty Six Devine
Twenty Six Devine
This boutique cafe and bakery on King takes gourmet to a whole new level…all the way from the first course through dessert!
Google Maps [street view]
Yelp/Jonathon B
Yelp/Caroline M
In Greenwood, Kickers (also called “Kickers Takeout”) is known as the “Little Place with the Big Taste.”
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
