Restaurants in South Carolina

Control your frozen-dessert destiny at 32°, where a toppings spread of more than 50 wet and dry add-ins invites sweet-toothed sculptors to create icy masterpieces with seasonal fruits, nuts, sauces, candies, and more. Each day, 32° churns at least 14 tongue-tickling flavors such as snicker doodle, cherry amaretto, caramel cluster, German chocolate cake, and New Orleans praline. Most yogurts are gluten free and are available in sugar-free, non-fat, and low-fat iterations. Cups of the creamy treat cost $0.45 per ounce, half the price of a gold brick but more than two times as charming at the dinner table as a gold bust of Garfield.

The menu at Chicora Alley fuses the sweet, tangy flavors of the Caribbean with the smoky, savory flavors of the South, resulting in a collage of tropical plates and down-home favorites. The vibrant flavors of the menu encourage guests to mix and match cuisines—start with an appetizer, then dig into one of mom's cream cheese chicken enchiladas or a black Angus shredded brisket taco, with 7 different salsas to choose from. On weekends, Chicora Alley offers a Sunday brunch with a variety of items, such as huevoes rancheros, breakfast burritos, and country breakfast.

The kitchen dishes out classics such as jerk chicken with fried plantains, but also cooks up unique creations. The shrimp burrito, for example, wraps eggplant, plantains, spinach, goat cheese, and jerk shrimp in a massive tortilla. Even the sauces constitute intriguing combinations, boasting names like ketchupeno and honey butter, a sweet spread that has to be painstakingly churned from honeybee milk. The restaurant's penchant for unexpected pairings even affects the live entertainment. On any given night, performances by bands range from Caribbean reggae to Southern jazz to Bluegrass. During the warmer months, patrons can enjoy the music and great food in the outdoor seating area complete with firepit, where games of cornhole or ring toss can be played. For younger guests, there is a kids play area with kids tables.

The notion of “fast and casual” isn't new—most chain restaurants adhere to the concept, as do many conversations with abandoned sock puppets. However, at Brioso Fresh Pasta, efficient service merges with local and organic ingredients to bump "fast and casual" into the glow of a new spotlight. Italian dishes range from house-made pasta to fork-free paninis, all of which arrive at tables on the arms of friendly servers. Brioso’s culinary team also respects special dietary needs with gluten-free pastas and vegan menu options.

Try an East Coast eat without leaving the state and order the Jersey Shore’s Favorite served Mike’s Way—generous slices of provolone, ham, and cappacuolo get layered with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, vinegar, and a sprinkling of oil and spices. Hot options include various takes on the famed cheese-and-steak combination, as well as a chicken parm and meatball and cheese. On a lighter note, Jersey Mike’s also serves wraps and salads. Prices vary by location and size, with cold mini subs ranging from $4 to $4.75, cold regular subs ranging from $5.75 to $6.75, and giant regular subs ranging from $9.75 to $10.75. Regular hot subs run from $6.25 to $6.75, and giant hot subs run from $10.25 to $10.75.

Noisy Oyster provides the pelican pouches of area citizens with fresh, locally-caught fruits-of-the-sea. Inspect the extensive dinner menu before commencing incisor insertion into an appetizer such as the twistedly-tasty shrimp corn dogs—a skewer pierced with five battered jumbo shrimp, deep-fried to crispy resistance, and served with a side of sweet and spicy Chinese mustard sauce ($8.99). The baked seafood au gratin layers fresh shrimp, meaty scallops, and fresh fish medallions within the mortar of a decadent blue crab stuffing, Jack and cheddar cheeses, and a Parmesan cream sauce ($16.99), and the low-country crab cakes feature loads of crab meat with a blue crab hollandaise ($16.49) on top. Those abstaining from oceanic eating can direct their eyes toward the super cheeseburger ($6.49, add bacon for $0.79), or the spicy barbecue chicken pizza ($11.99), while those abstaining from eating in general can explore the drink menu. Quench thirst with house specialty jungle juice ($6.99) or the noisy oystertini, a spicy mixture made of Tabasco, horseradish, and vodka ($6.50).