Appointment Trader
Search 
Sign In
Developers
How It Works
Get into The Ordinary Charleston! 🔥
Chat
Buyer Protection
Option to Cancel
Alias Check-In
Upload Your Reservation Now
9 users watching
The Ordinary Charleston Reviews
Best in Town!
We've been coming to Charleston for many years now and I'm confident in saying The Ordinary is the best restaurant in town. First, the vibe of the restaurant is amazing. It is in an old bank building and the minute you walk in you know the place is going to be great. We like to sit at the bar, and the bar at the Ordinary is unmatched. The bar itself is awesome and the bartenders are incredible. Then the food: simply amazing seafood every time we go. This time, we started with the famous oyster sliders which is always amazing. Then the surprise hit of the night was the smoked island oysters. So good! We followed that up with the cucumber and tomato salad and then finished with the rock shrimp rice. Unreal dinner. The drinks were great as well. There are so many restaurants to choose from in Charleston. Some are very overhyped, including one in particular that is very hot right now. The Ordinary stands above the rest.
I recently dined at this restaurant with a party of seven,
I recently dined at this restaurant with a party of seven, and our experience was excellent from start to finish. We were seated right away, which was a great start to the evening. The service was top-notch--our server was attentive and frequently checked on us, ensuring we had everything we needed. We ordered a variety of appetizers and drinks, all of which were delicious. I tried the daiquiri, which was a bit strong for my taste, so I opted for a Diet Coke instead. I appreciated that they offered to crush the ice, as I love my drinks with plenty of it. The steak frites were a standout--absolutely amazing and incredibly delicious. I would definitely return just for those! Overall, a fantastic dining experience. Highly recommend!
We stopped into, The Ordinary the other night for an
We stopped into, The Ordinary the other night for an impromptu appetizer-dinner date. You can never go wrong eating at The Ordinary, maybe broke (because everything is so amazing)! The bar scene is super chill and fun, the bartenders are great to talk to, and they will spend the extra time to walk you through the menu. We came in already knowing that you MUST always order the oyster sliders. I could eat hundreds of these small sandwiches, they are SO good. It's like a Bahn-Mi-style sandwich with a fried oyster. We tried the heirloom tomato & cucumber salad; everything was so fresh and loved the dressing. We were talking with our bar neighbor (Hank) and he asked us if we had ever tried the smoked oysters, which we had not. He was so nice that he got us the dish and we have now found our 2nd MUST order dish! There is a special way to eat them too: flip the cracker, cream fresh, hot sauce, oyster, and all down the hatch in 1 bite! If you're looking for a romantic bar, with amazing food and great vibes head to the Ordinary! Chef Mike Lata is an OG Chef in Charleston so you will not be disappointed.
Excellent raw bar choices and the cooked old bay shrimp was
Excellent raw bar choices and the cooked old bay shrimp was fantastic. The oyster slider was an experience and the bread it came on was homemade. The grouper dish surprised me how fresh and clean it was. The waitress was super friendly. Cant wait to go back.
Disappointing experience
The Ordinary has some delicious dishes (smoked oysters and swordfish schnitzel are 2 of our favorites) but on our most recent visit we had a $750 bill for 4 guests (1 bottle of wine, 1 round of drinks + food), and found the portions to be very small, and the service underwhelming. I contacted the restaurant directly to I share our experience but never got a response. We love supporting our local restaurants including The Ordinary and hope they will consider our feedback and create a better guest experience.
Ordinary
Cocktails were underrated, house martini with too much vermouth and the Pachego&son cocktail was different but confusing flavors and overall not good. We started with the seafood tower, oysters very good, the fish salad it comes with was chewy and bland. The corn chowder was delicious. Overall disappointing so we left after appetizers. I would skip this one very “Ordinary”
I had been wanting to try the Ordinary for awhile and
I had been wanting to try the Ordinary for awhile and snagged a reservation through a Resy notification for a Thursday night around 8:30 PM. We were seated right away. We ordered a crudo appetizer and the blistered shishito peppers to start. I wish the cocktail menu was a little more expansive, I didn't find anything I loved, so I tried the cocktail with bitters and pineapple juice. It was refreshing but a little pricey for what it was. It probably could have been made better with at least a garnish. The crudo was fresh and delicious. For my dinner I got fish (I now forget exactly which type) with summer tomatoes and a potato purée. It was absolutely delicious! We did have to wait awhile though for our food. The place itself has a lot of atmosphere, I believe it is located in an old bank. It is fairly pricey as well, but I felt it was worth it for the most part.
Exceeded any expectations that I had prior to coming here.
The food is fantastic, the staff are very attentive and the place is beautiful. Great place to go for any occasion!
- Wanted to like this place but unfortunately my partner
- Wanted to like this place but unfortunately my partner and I got food poisoning - We went for dinner Saturday night and the next morning my partner woke up sick in the middle of the night and had to continue getting up to use the bathroom for hours - He had stomach cramps, chills, headache, and was extremely fatigued which put a wrench in our Sunday plans since we're only visiting Charleston for the weekend. We both experienced stomach aches and diarrhea - Ordered the Smoked Oysters, Smoked Fish Pate, and the Charcoal Grouper Hope no one else gets sick but wanted to share since that was our experience unfortunately!
This restaurant is awesome.
The service was great. Very cool building with a great atmosphere. Everything we ate was amazing. Very expensive but worth it. We had the oysters, ahi tuna, fish dish, and steak- everything was perfect!!
I have had the pleasure of coming here three times in the
I have had the pleasure of coming here three times in the last few years. Every time I've had a wonderful experience from staff to finish. I made a 5pm reservation on Resy and arrived at 5 on the dot. The hostesses welcomed us in, located our reservations and we were led upstairs to our table. The interior is as beautiful as the exterior, great photo opportunities especially upstairs. Our server, Kaitlyn, was just incredible. I love having a server who is excited about detailing and describing the menu, she sounded like she truly had a passion for food and we ended up ordering everything we inquired about. She was quick and attentive, refilling our sauces, relishes, drinks and water. She checked on us throughout our meal which was almost 2.5 hours! We started off with the middle tiered seafood tower with the addition of the Supreme caviar and drinks. We could have done without the little neck clams to be honest, they were good just not as good as everything else going on. The single ladies oysters have always been my absolute favorite oysters in Charleston so I'm glad we had a generous serving of them. Kaitlyn brought us extra creme fraiche and hotcakes to finish it off the caviar. Tackling a tower is delicious and so fun! We ordered our entrees: the swordfish schnitzel for my friend and I had the slow baked wreckfish. My friend said the swordfish was the best thing they've had in Charleston! I had a bite and it was lovely from start to finish. Initially the crust tasted nutty and sweet with some crisp texture, that fades and then you get the fish alone. Perfectly prepared. My dish was meant to be, as a hardcore lover of Tom Kha Gai I was thrilled with the first bite of my wreckfish. It was in a soup-like base that was creamy and citrusy, with the cutest spring veggies. Every bit of fish was tender and flavorful. We also had Pete's beets vinaigrette. I personally love beets, and these were loved too. The salad had some slices of blood orange, ricotta and walnuts. Absolutely refreshing. We did not see desserts on the menu so we asked Kaitlyn, we ordered both options available: chocolate hazelnut budino and the blueberry panna cotta. Both were excellent but if I had to choose I'd have the budino again. Make sure you scoop all the way to the bottom so you get some of the caramel with each bite. My choice of cocktails: frozen limonada, the ordinary daiquiri, and an espresso martini... Thanks for a great meal and experience! I'm looking forward to my next visit.
Came here form a recommendation from a bartender earlier in
Came here form a recommendation from a bartender earlier in the day. Greats options at the raw bar. Triggerfish schnitzel was amazing!
This restaurant is far from ordinary.
They pay attention to even the smallest details. Restaurant is large but still feels intimate. What a great place to take a date or have a business dinner. The menu itself is relatively small, seafood focused. I started with some oysters and finished with New England clam chowder. Chowder was the best I have ever had. No question about it. Oysters were good. I bought half dozen and then bought a half dozen more. Service was fast, friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The Wine list was great. They even had the proper stems. I'll be back.
Delicious and NOT Ordinary
We had a lovely meal here. We had an early reservation and the place was still full with a great vibe. High quality service to match the food (and prices) Definitely a special occasion restaurant for us. The stunner was a Maryland fish cake over pickles tomatoes - we didn’t want to leave a scrap! Seafood mainly with a nice variety on the menu.
A waste of a LOT of money for an average experience
Not worth the exorbitant tab. While this seafood restaurant has solid service and a few tasty menu items, you will leave with a massive hole in your pocket, disappointed that you’re still hungry after averaging well over $100 per person for a slightly above average meal. $44 for a piece of trigger fish? $9 for a single, tiny, mediocre slider with a barely noticeable oyster in it? Almost $20 for a side dish of carrots?! The kicker: hard, wood seats to give you a back ache by the end of your time. NOT WORTH IT. Avoid unless you enjoy burning cash and not remembering how.
Perfect dinner
This is a restaurant that you absolutely have to visit in Charleston. Be sure to reserve in good time. Very good food, especially fish and seafood, very friendly service. A very nice ambiance in a former bank. Place where you must have been.
Aptly named.
This place served great oysters. Staff is friendly, wine is good. Can’t say the same for the overly spiced peel and eat shrimp (I’m always suspicious that this is a cover-up for poor quality), and the beef tartar was…what was it? Anyway, an ok place to spend too much money.
This restaurant is anything but ordinary despite its name.
Our server Eric was a superstar who guided us through our culinary journey and we couldn't have been happier. We had a great conversation with a couple seated next to us, and couldn't believe seeing them again when we were enjoying our amazing wine outside a stellar wine bar Bin 152 (for which I've already posted a review). What a wonderful treat.
ExtraOrdinary!
This was our choice for our last night in the amazing city of Charleston. It did not disappoint! We started with the chicory salad and fish cake (both large enough to share)—delicious! The fish cake was light on the breading and perfectly prepared. We next tried the cast iron wagyu sirloin and the triggerfish schnitzel. The beef was perfectly prepared and was mouthwateringly tender. The trigger fish was panko encrusted and perfectly prepared. Both entrees were sublime! Contrary to some reviews, we found the portions generous and satisfying. The ambience is welcoming and our server was helpful and attentive. We would love to come back!
Enjoyed every bite!
Loved our visit to The Ordinary and it was anything but. Every bite was delicious! I especially loved the Shrimp with rice dish. Our server seemed tepid about it, but the combination of flavors was delicious. The chicory salad with shallot dressing was also absolutely delicious. Our service was on the slow side, with the table next to us receiving their food before us, but the flavorful food more than made up for it. Would highly recommend and definitely go again!
Very nice restaurant.
Excellent selection of oysters. Staff very pleasant. I was by myself and the server, Chelsea, was wonderful. She made sure I knew not to rush, take time and enjoy the experiences.
Thoughtful, creative, and delicious food beautifully
Thoughtful, creative, and delicious food beautifully presented. Extremely fresh seafood. World-class service. Condiments with the oysters were lackluster and the tartar lacked flavor (I would have liked more salt and a raw egg yolk), but entrees (fish), salads, and the shellfish appetizers were exceptional.
Outstanding.
In fact, outrageously delicious. Tonight was day three of Charleston culinary adventure and both my wife and I felt The Ordinary was the most creative of our top-notch choices. We shared seven small plates and a dessert. None disappointed. The flounder larb and the smoked oysters were among my favorites. We both loved the smoked wahoo pâté. The simple salads were also delicious. Our chocolate hazelnut budino was gorgeous, and we each enjoyed the Ordinary daiquiri #8. Service was excellent. We adored Dana.
Great hospitality and staff! The gumbo was yummy! Right by
Great hospitality and staff! The gumbo was yummy! Right by the Hyatt hotel and a great atmosphere overall!
If you are visiting Charleston let this be the first place
If you are visiting Charleston let this be the first place you eat! Every single plate was mouth-watering DELICIOUS! Worth every dime.
I stopped by The Ordinary for some snacks and a nightcap on
I stopped by The Ordinary for some snacks and a nightcap on my trip Charleston. It was very close to my hotel, so was a very easy, convenient first night stop. I sat at the bar, and the bartenders were friendly and helpful. The oysters and shishito peppers were delicious. If it wasn't late (for me), I would have ordered more food. Next time I'm in Charleston, I plan on coming back for a full meal. The restaurant was beautiful with a great ambiance.
Tonight we came here to celebrate my fathers birthday- 90!
Tonight we came here to celebrate my fathers birthday- 90! Not many people reach that milestone. We ordered the local Steamboat oysters, they were briny and good but they are also on the higher end. We really enjoyed the Wahoo dip which was well balanced and super tasty. The server was great and the ambiance is nice but also loud. Wish they had a bit more of a variety with their small plates but overall it was a good experience.
Fantastic meal
This was one of our best meals in Charleston. Service was incredible, the food was fantastic, and the ambiance was perfect! Definitely worth making a reservation to make sure that you don't miss dining at this Charleston gem!
Charleston certainly has a lot of food options downtown and
Charleston certainly has a lot of food options downtown and The Ordinary is a true exception to the term "outstanding". I wish I could give them 10 stars, it was that good. From the happy smile at the hostess stand, to Eric, maybe the best server in Charleston, to the seafood to dessert- WOW!!!! Redone old bank on King Street, very nicely done, old town elegance with tables nicely spaces for allow for a private dining experience. Eric went over the menu, and we decided to enjoy "big" plates, rather than 3 or 4 "smalls". Excellent shake on the martini to start. Wine list is extensive - the white from the Wausau Valley was outstanding. Started with the Chicory salad, interesting flavors and large enough to share. She went with the snapper entree; I tried the Triggerfish. Awesome flavors, nice portions, served to perfection. Finished up with the Chocolate Budino for dessert - oh what a finish to a perfect meal.
Had a light dinner here on my recent one day trip to
Had a light dinner here on my recent one day trip to Charleston, and everything was excellent. We stopped in on a whim, after reviewing the menu posted outside the restaurant for desserts, and the outcome was a delightful surprise. Btw, if the restaurant feels like it could be an old bank, that's because it's literally inside an old bank. One of the doors near the kitchen looks like the door of a vault. Anyway, we ordered the oyster sliders. If I had not consumed a gigantic lunch, I would have ordered two more of these. They were that good. We also got the dressed oysters, a few regular oysters, and snapper ponzu. For dessert, we ordered the panna cotta. No regrets on any of the items we ordered. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in town.
Ordinary Indeed!
As it name implies: Ordinary indeed! Okey food. Good service. Poor delivery. All "normal" after Covid messed up restaurant business all over the South East. Hopefully it will not be "the new normal"...
Great higher end restaurant
We were able to get in with an early reservation, and it was a pleasant surprise. Great service, great food, wonderful and interesting wine selections, mostly European.
Great place to eat
This Restaurant is amazing. We sat at the bar and our server Dalton was excellent. My hubby and I shared the raw oysters, fish pate and I had the okra tomato soup and he had the fish chowder. Our son in law recommended The ordinary. I highly recommend. We will definitely be back and recommend.
Great Time at the (Extra)Ordinary
We had a splendid evening and a wonderful dining experience at The Ordinary!! The pleasant ambiance, the eye-appealing food presentation (and of course, the taste and flavors!), the introduction to a Slovenian bubbly, and the top-notch service by Rachel (and her colleague - sorry, we do not recall his name). We have raved to other travelers we've met while here in Charleston about The Ordinary!
One of Charleston’s most consistent culinary hotspots
We have been to Ordinary many times. Why? Because it is that good, that’s why. We love the variety, the consistency of food, ambience and service, and a clever wine list. It never disappoints. Really enjoyed the visit. Portions not too big and great for sharing for a party of 3.
Just Ordinary, if that
Just Ordinary... the Trigger fish and Rudder fish were small portions and tasteless. Obsequious waiters. Loud and noisy...not a fine dining experience.
This place was incredible! From the fried oyster sliders,
This place was incredible! From the fried oyster sliders, to the snapper ponzu, to the drinks (and service), this is a must visit on your next trip to Charleston. Ask for Grace the waitress! She's the best!
Ugh. This was our third time there and it was NOT the
Ugh. This was our third time there and it was NOT the charm. The food, as always, was incredible, but we ordered oysters pretty immediately and it took almost an HOUR for them to come which really threw off the whole pace of the meal. The oysters weren't that good as my first bite had shell pieces in it. This is such a bummer as every bite after that was truly delicious and our server was so gracious. She just should have stayed on top of the raw bar to figure out what happened with it.We will go back to give them the opportunity to reverse this one less than perfect experience at what usually is an incredible experience.
We started at bar which is wonderful should of stayed there.
. we were seated at a terrible table and asked to be moved.. manager came and told us not possible and wasn't very nice and didn't care about us, but very accommodating to his friends at bar! Food is overrated wont be back too many other restaurants that are much better!!
Honestly, pretty "ordinary.
" Service was good, food tasted good but the proportions were so small for the price you have to pay. I left feeling unsatisfied and got a pizza slice to fill myself up!
The Nantucket Bay scallops with butternut squash polenta,
The Nantucket Bay scallops with butternut squash polenta, hen of the woods mushrooms and chicken jus was incredible. One of the top 3 dishes I've ever eaten in my life - across Italy, Germany, Austria, Romania, France, England, America, and Canada. The scallops are the smaller size type, for those who are unfamiliar, but that made them perfect for this dish. Perfectly prepared, savory with a touch of sweetness from the squash. The atmosphere is dim lights tall stairs to the few tables at the top above the vault, a nice bar, and friendly staff.
Outstanding meal.
The root vegetable salad and fish chowder were particularly flavorful. A must in Charleston.
The Ordinary was the best meal I've had in a really long
The Ordinary was the best meal I've had in a really long time! The service was incredible and the restaurant is so dang cute. We got the raw scallops, tigerfish larb, smoked fish chowder, clam sourdough bread, oyster sliders, and blue crab rice and it was all sooo good. It was such a close tie between all the dishes, but the scallops were our favorite. All of the dishes were so unique! Would love to come back whenever I'm in Charleston next!
With an ambiance, food, and customer service like The
With an ambiance, food, and customer service like The Ordinary has, it's no wonder this place came so highly recommended. When we first walked in, we knew we were in for a treat.When they're in season, the snow crab claws are a must. We also got the roasted sweet potatoes and wagyu tartare. Highly recommend both those dishes. Our service was best in class and all of this awesomeness came together with a great drink. 10/10.
My parents were even impressed by the food! Super tasty and
My parents were even impressed by the food! Super tasty and good for late night dining!
One of our favorite restaurants during our trip to
One of our favorite restaurants during our trip to Charleston! The ambiance was amazing, the staff was very kind and the food was absolutely delicious! We loved everything we ordered!! The fan favorite were the smoked oysters, the sweet potatoes, and the wagyu steak tartare!
Connect with users posting reservations for The Ordinary Charleston
AppointmentTrader is a community-driven platform where users can exchange their reservations or leverage their personal relationships with The Ordinary Charleston. Buyers can make informed decisions using automated seller ratings, which reflect past transactions and reliability.
Each posting on AppointmentTrader shows you which user submitted it and along with that provides a trackrecord of that user which indicates how much experience
the user has and how many percent of their transactions resulted in them issuing a refund.
If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to The Ordinary Charleston at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the The Ordinary Charleston page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* DistinguishedTree58, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* DistinguishedTree58 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to DistinguishedTree58 for any questions Peter may have as DistinguishedTree58 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* DistinguishedTree58 now uses their connections at The Ordinary Charleston to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If DistinguishedTree58 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, DistinguishedTree58 receives the $200 reward which is credited to DistinguishedTree58's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at The Ordinary Charleston!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
