Located in the charming town of Mount Pleasant, just a short drive from historic Charleston, the Shem Creek restaurants offer you a unique experience. From waterfront locations where you can enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunset to a beautiful outdoor dining experience – we will help you find the option that suits your taste. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a quick lunch or fresh seafood dishes; we cover some of the best establishments in Shem Creek. All the restaurants on our list offer delicious food regardless of the category we placed them in, so feel free to try them all!
Table of Content
- Vickery’s Bar and Grill
- Saltwater Cowboys
- Red’s Ice House
- Water’s Edge Restaurant
- Shem Creek Bar and Grill
- Shem Creek Crab House
- NICO
- Brown Fox Coffee Co.
- The Pickled Palate
- The Shelter
- Final Thoughts
#1. Vickery’s Bar and Grill: Our Top Pick Amongst the Restaurants on Shem Creek
If you’re looking for the best restaurants on Shem Creek, Vickery’s Bar and Grill is a great choice! It was founded over 25 years ago and has gained a solid reputation for offering delicious seafood dishes. You can indulge yourself in cajun fried crawfish trails, crab cake, mixed platters, and tasty chocolate desserts. If you’re not a fan of seafood, Vickery’s Bar and Grill also offers a wide variety of traditional meals, like meat and fish steaks and chicken salads, with a wide choice of dressings. They are open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM, so you can enjoy a beautiful morning walk and drop by for a bite almost anytime.
#2. Saltwater Cowboys: Some of the Best Views in Shem Creek Restaurants on the Water
If you like a lively atmosphere with a breathtaking view, Saltwater Cowboys is the place you need. This restaurant offers food for any taste – from local shrimp, flounder, and oyster dishes to burgers, fries, and tacos. Customers often mention the staff’s fun and kind attitude and quick service, regardless of the time of day.
Among Shem Creek restaurants on the water, this place is often full of both locals and new visitors, so you can definitely expect a short wait. At the end of the day, it’s a great spot to have a drink with your loved ones and take in the local environment.
#3. Red’s Ice House: Pleasant Atmosphere and Good Music
This is a great waterfront restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere and good food and drinks. Red’s Ice House has a great location as it is situated on the boat landing on Shem Creek. Some customer reviews even mention spotting dolphins swimming in the water, so you can definitely try your luck!
The restaurant offers various unique dishes like BBQ bacon-wrapped scallops and crab soup, along with more common options, such as chicken sandwiches and Caesar wraps. From drinks, you can treat yourself to a variety of Margaritas, local and imported beers, and wines.
Among many Shem Creek restaurants, Red’s Ice House seems to have a longer wait time. Your time is not wasted, however, since there are plenty of places to see nearby.
#4. Water’s Edge Restaurant: A Rich Wine Variety and Vegan-Friendly
This restaurant has arguably the most options to choose from. It offers fresh salads, mussels, prime rib, shrimp scampi, a variety of desserts, and much more. The portions are large so you get a lot of value for your money.
The restaurant also has a full bar where you can choose any cocktail or drink you like. If you fancy yourself some good wine, there are over 20 options to choose from. You can order a whole bottle or just a glass, with the price ranging from $8 to $16.
#5. Shem Creek Bar and Grill: Local’s Favorite Place
If you’re looking for a more laid-back place, Shem Creek Bar and Grill is the place to go. It’s been a favorite local seafood location for many years. Many customers praise the restaurant’s Red Clam Chowder, but there is much more to choose from, including pasta, low country boil, and filet mignon. Most of the seafood is local, so you can enjoy fresh meals prepared just for you.
#6. Shem Creek Crab House: One of the Best Seafood Restaurants Shem Creek Offers
Among the most popular restaurants in Shem Creek, Crab House is especially famous for its crab dishes. The most praised is their steam pot, which has both Dungeness and Snow crabs. You can also try their redfish, She Crab Soup, and delicious dips.
If you can, it’s advised to enjoy your food and drinks outside to better experience the marina in Shem Creek. While this establishment is on the larger side, its layout doesn’t make it feel crowded or stuffy.
#7. NICO: French Cuisine in Shem Creek Restaurants
NICO is another option in our Shem Creek restaurants list that includes vegan-friendly and gluten-free options. Their Burgundy Sea Scallops, for example, include rice pilaf, mushrooms, sugar snap peas, and parsley cream. You can also enjoy their Guiltless Pleasures drinks menu, which includes fruit cocktails with some of them being non-alcoholic.
If you’re looking for authentic French cuisine, try their chicken cordon bleu with potatoes and asparagus or duck a l’orange with white beans, snap peas, tomatoes, and candies oranges.
For non-vegan visitors, the restaurant offers a large variety of food like their praised Wood Fired Octopus and Oyster and Baked Alaskan experience. Be sure to check their menu online to see if anything from their rich carte sounds interesting!
#8. Brown Fox Coffee Co. – Fantastic Coffee and Pastries
If you want to have a fresh cup of coffee with the best blueberry muffin you’ve ever tried, this place is one of the best Shem Creek restaurants for you! Brown Fox Coffee is a beautiful little coffee shop with a nice staff and quick service. They offer many coffee options, including seasonal specials like Cadbury Egg Latte. This establishment also gives you a chance to choose from a variety of dairy-free drinks and sugar-free syrups to meet the expectations of most.
Additionally, the coffee shop is dog-friendly, so you should definitely take your pup with you. As a nice bonus, they even have water bowls and sometimes offer free pet snacks to ensure your experience is as pleasant as possible.
#9. The Pickled Palate: Quick and Tasty Food
If you’re looking for a quick and delicious lunch, stop by The Pickled Palate. You can pick from various chicken, tuna, and vegan sandwiches, salads, and soups. This place is one of the Shem Creek restaurants that offer hormone and antibiotic-free meats, so you can feel confident you’re getting high-quality natural food.
The actual building is a remade house, so there is a lot of greenery around the establishment. The slightly old-fashioned look gives it all the more soul and comfort. You can enjoy your food both inside and outside, and you can take it to-go if you’d prefer a walk. It’s a wonderful place for a quick bite.
#10. The Shelter: Best Dog-Friendly Bar and Restaurant
This restaurant specializes in Southern food. You can enjoy country rolls, mac and cheese, hush puppies, and a variety of salads. The food is reasonably priced and the service is praised by many customers. This is also a popular local place to get a drink so the restaurant offers a large number of drinks and cocktails. The Shelter is dog-friendly so you can take your pup inside while you have your lunch.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of Shem Creek, SC restaurants – each with its own set of unique features. From stunning views at Vickery’s Bar and Grill to laid-back restaurants like Shem Creek Bar and Grill, you have more than enough options to choose the restaurant that suits your taste. If you have any dietary restrictions, check the menu beforehand to ensure the establishment offers meals you like and can safely eat.