Had a wonderful dinner. We decided try this upscale steak house and we were not disappointed. We had the crab cake and the chopped salad for starters. The crab cake was flaky and flavorful. The salad was well prepared and bountiful. For our main course we had the ribeye with the Oscar finish. The steak was cooked to perfection. Service was excellent. Ryan was attentive and insured our needs were met. I highly recommend this restaurant for steak lovers.
(5)
Ellen W.
Wow! This place is awesome. Of course the only way we could afford this restaurant is during restaurant week but that's cool with us . The food is amazing! The service was top-notch. I'm not sure if I enjoyed my food more, the service or my smoking martini that came with a warning. This is definitely where you want to go when you have a once in a lifetime moment or occasion. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we went back the next night and got something totally different than the first night.
(5)
Roxanne B.
Great big Thank You to JB for making my Birthday Special!! His recommendations were spot on!! The Lobster Piccata was outstanding!! The Nitrotini's were a beautiful and fun way to enjoy a cocktail!!
(5)
Dano M.
Eye am having reservations about their reservation policy....Yuk, Yuk.. Good restaurant...Great Beef....But not as good as They think they are...Really not. 3 other Steak Houses have similar quality Prime Beef.....
(2)
Nicole D.
This was a really fun place to go out to after dinner for my friend's bachelorette party. After the Vendue across the street was closed, we decided to head here because the bride to be was really craving some rooftop dancing. As it turns out, she dropped her phone and it somehow managed to fall through the cracks of the flooring! The security guy was so nice and helpful and immediately got the right person over to come rescue her phone! It was great. We spent the rest of the night dancing to the great music and it was a lot of fun.
Their reservation agreement is absurd and limits freedom of speech: "By agreeing to these terms and conditions, the guest(s) and their party agree that they may be held legally liable for generating any potential negative, verbal or written defamation against Grill 225." In other words, if someone in your group kvetches online about the restaurant enforcing its stated rules, a lawsuit may follow. postandcourier.com/artic…
(1)
Chad T.
I took my wife here for her birthday! We were not disappointed! John, our server, was exceptionally knowledgable, kind, and prompt. We ordered: *Chopped Caesar *225 Rum Punch *Champagne and an Organic Riesling *Tuna Steak Provencal (Medium Rare) *USDA Prime Ribeye (Medium Rare) *Broccoli Parmesan *Grilled Tomatoes *Peach Cobbler The salad was amazing! The Tuna was in my opinion rare and not quite as flavorful as expected. The Ribeye, however, was cooked to perfection and had an excellent salt and pepper rub--one of the best steaks I've ever ordered. Our favorite side was the grilled tomatoes--per John's recommendation--excellent cheese and very flavorful. The Nitrotini was cool, but honestly I would not recommend the 225 Rum Punch. I'm glad we ordered one, but it was somewhat weak and tasted rather bland. The complimentary champagne was excellent and since my wife likes still drinks, John brought out an amazing organic Riesling. These were both excellent choices. The peach cobbler was great--not the best ever, but it was not disappointing. We loved the atmosphere and wait staff. It was a perfect place for a special occasion.
(5)
Jung K.
Excellent attention and excellent food. Came here to impress a colleague of mine of the food scene in Charleston and its Restaurant Week. I go nuts during restaurant week and actually went to Halls Chophouse earlier. The service here was very attentive front the server, maybe not the most experienced, but he tried extremely hard to ensure all of our needs were met. The steak was excellent, but I think I was a bit spoiled by Halls Chophouse. It's not to say it wasn't worth the price or anything. Their Brussels sprouts, despite being a side dish, was almost like candy and would definitely recommend. Their portions are generous also. It is a higher priced establishment, but I got my value for the money.
(5)
Andrea R.
Dined here for my birthday on a Saturday night during Memorial Day Weekend. We arrived an hour early and headed upstairs to the roof top bar (see Market Pavilion Hotel for review). This place is very upscale, the servers all wear white coats, there were about 14 different drink glasses on our table and the menus are huge (literally). Upon sitting down the waitress came and offered us a free glass of champagne to celebrate my birthday, yay! The champagne was so good and refreshing. To start we ordered the blue crab chowder, the staff took it upon themselves to split the soup for us in two separate bowls which I thought was awesome. The soup was so good; it was really creamy and had such a light crab flavor. We ordered a nice bottle of Pinot Noir that came out at the perfect temperature. I ordered the USDA 14 oz Prime Rib cooked medium and my husband ordered the USDA 10 oz Filet Mignon, we also got the creamed corn on the side to share, per our waitress' suggestion. Our meals came fairly quickly and we were not disappointed! My steak was outstanding, probably the best steak I've ever had. It had this great peppery crust on the outside and was so juicy and tender, my husband completely agreed, he loved his steak. The creamed corn was SO good, wow! It was so yummy, cheesy and gooey. We took our leftovers home and heated them up two days later and it was all still so delicious!! For dessert we ordered the crème brulee which was phenomenal! They even put a little candle on it for me! This was one of best dining experiences and meals that we've ever had. Thank you so much to the wonderful staff for making it so special! My only pet peeve is the bathrooms...I know they are open to the public and guests visiting the rooftop bar but they were not clean. To leave your $50 steak and enter a bathroom with toilet paper all over the floor and dirty stalls was just mood killing.
(5)
Mitch K.
A first-class restaurant of the old school. Jacketed wait staff, dark wood paneling, linen, more glassware that usual, an elaborate menu, full bar and complete wine list. Expensive as it looks. Table of six which came in handy as the meal was paced very slowly. Lots of time to chat. We did a full dinner experience...did it all from drinks through appetizers and mains into desserts. Lots of wines by the glass and in addition to the bar they featured "Nitrotinis" which were martini-like cocktails infused with liquid nitrogen. Just had to try at least one at $17. If came, smoke flowing over the rim as if it contained dry ice. A warning label advised to not consume it until the nitrogen had evaporated. Good idea as liquid nitrogen comes in at minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit. It was quite good and needless to say, was crispy cold. A grilled tomato appetizer was similar to oysters Rockefeller, with cheese and spinach on top of broiled tomato halves. No oysters. Absolutely delicious. We ended up making another order so that the six of us could indulge more. The seafood was fresh and the menu offered many options, but most of us had steak. The filets were excellent and perfectly cooked. Quite amazing as our beef in restaurants is generally pedestrian and flavorless. These steaks were worth the $39 price. Desserts were works of art. Even the little beignets were good. Mouse cake was great. I can't remember all of them. Going up to the roof bar and pool area there is a full bar, beautiful flaring gas lamps for heat and ambiance and one can smoke in the far area. You are high over the city with nice views and although cold, those gas lamps cut the chill and made it comfortable. Bar service sucked as we had to ask four time for service. This was true for each of the two nights we went there after dinner.
(4)
Kristen B.
Great steak place for downtown Charleston. We had the infamous Nitrotinis while we waited for our table. In addition to being an entertaining drink, the ingredients to make the cocktails were fresh. We got the USDA Prime bone-in ribeye with two sides: roasted brussel sprouts and griiled tomatoes with creamed spinach and havarti. Both sides were fabulous. I was surprised that they were not able to cook the steak to temperature. We ordered medium rare and our steak came out at the high end of the spectrum. I would say it was 135 degrees. They managed a beautiful crust. The meat itself was delicous, I just wish it was a few degrees cooler. One of the things that turned me off was at the end of our meal, the service staff started hovering around our table as if they wanted to rush us out the door. We were still enjoying our bottle of wine and nibbling on our steak. They asked us at least twice if we were done. No! We are not done! Go away and let us enjoy the rest of our meal! It's unfortunate that we left the restaurant on that note.
(4)
Lacey G.
What a great rooftop! A friend and I ventured to Grill 225 on a Sunday afternoon around 4 to enjoy a cocktail and a great view. The breeze was so nice up there that we didn't feel hot and stifled, even though it was a very warm July afternoon. The pool is beautiful, and you can't beat the view. The drinks were a little pricey for Charleston ($14 mojitos) but not outrageous, and for the ambiance, its worth the few extra dollars!
(4)
Emily M.
Would say this place is like 3.5 stars. Hate to review anything below 4 stars in Charleston simply because the service is top notch everywhere. Our waiter was super nice/helpful, and they brought out complimentary champagne for our anniversary, which was sweet. Nitrotini was cool but a bit overpriced at $18 a pop, and I wouldn't say it was the tastiest cocktail. Steak was high quality, but other than that, I'd have to say the food was three star. The blue crab chowder was the biggest disappointment. It was just broth, no chunks of crab, not even potato or other veggies. Wouldn't recommend. Boyfriend's French onion was good but nothing special. Got a side of the mushrooms. Plain and unseasoned at $10 for 7 medium sized shrooms. Come for the service and steak but nothing else I'd say.
(3)
Daphne K.
Steak, grilled tomatoes and service unbelievably good. My flounder was tasty but swimming in a bit too much butter (yes - that can be a bad thing). Location and ambience are awesome and would've loved to give 4-5 stars but couldn't quite do it. Love the hotel so probably would give it another try. Must go up to the rooftop bar for a glass of wine before/after dinner. Really sells the whole place.
(3)
Sky M.
5 star service. Staff was excellent and very attentive. May have been the best staff I've ever had. Once you sit down and read their enormous menu, you will have quite a selection to choose from. I had a bacon wrapped steak and I found it really good. I was so full though that I couldn't finish my side. Which is saying a lot because I am not one to leave food on my plate or take stuff home. Try one of their fancy drinks, you won't regret it!
(5)
Ron S.
Excellent one of the best steaks I have ever had. My wife and enjoyed the meal immensely for our 15th anniversary. Very courteous and attentive staff.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Marti was our server and made everything great! It was our 10yr anniversary and they gave us complimentary champagne. Our steaks were cooked perfectly and we had a fabulous evening!
(5)
Rachel C.
Perfection. Amazing I had the Caesar salad, and local pan seared flounder with lemon caper sauce. I could not finish either because of the large portions. The bread that they start the table with was also beyond delicious as was the chocolate mouse cake I had for dessert. I had laughed at the menus describing it as "cloud like," but that is the best description! Service was impeccable. One of my favorite dining experiences in Charleston.
(5)
Paul Q.
Very mediocre and way over priced. It's a typical hotel restaurant that you'll find anywhere else in the country. Let's start with the nitrotini - $17 for a dirty Grey Goose martini with some dry ice to make it "smoke". We split the grilled octopus appetizer which aaas EXCELLENT and a very generous portion. Next came the veal chop at $49 - very uninspired with the main flavor being salt, although the portion size was large enough for us to split. The wine prices are absurd - $20 for a 9 ounce pour. The room is VERY noisy, and the restaurant had many empty tables. Plus hotel guests walk through the dining room to get to the lobby! We ordered a bottle of J Lohr cabernet for $58 and brought the rest home. There are so many better options in Charleston - Hall's, oak Steak House, S.N.O.B, Magnolia's, High Cotton, F.I.G, etc. that this place should be avoided.
(3)
Linnea E.
I am in love. Spectacular meal. Drinks: let me start with the men. The nitrotini. Its a very cool experience... lots of ooohs and ahhhs. Then you drink it. Men at best. Save your money. Drink wine. Food: OMG. Every single thing I ate blew my sock off. Seriously... the bread was divine. They give an assortment, and everyone thought theirs was fabulous. Then on to the shrimp appetizer. Sooooo much garlic, lovely sauce, incredible flavor. I was ready to lick the dish! Then the steak. So perfectly seasoned. It was ever so slightly overcooked... But still fabulous. I got mine with roasted garlic and port wine reduction. Flavor heaven. For sides we had mushrooms and brussell sprouts. Now let me say... I loathe brussell sprouts... and these were delicious!!! Service: spot on. Our server was perfectly attentive, and we were a big group. When it was time to clear plates, a small army of people showed up out of nowhere to quickly clean up. Wow. I would seriously consider coming back to Charleston just to eat here. It was that good.
(5)
Justin G.
The decor and atmosphere is very classy and upscale. The service was excellent and so was the food. My wife tried the peach nitrotini and was impressed. We started with the calamari which was prepared in some oil and Parmesan cheese. It was outstanding! We both had steaks cooked to perfection and the broccoli and tomato side dishes were amazing. Definitely recommend 225 for a good steak in Charleston.
(5)
Ashley S.
They have a great rooftop bar! My mom, aunt, and I came here for a drink before dinner. There are a bunch of tables with umbrellas, a dozen or so beach chairs, and an area to stand around the bar. The view from the top is very nice, and thankfully it's not too windy because they have plexiglass lining the deck. The place was already pretty crowded when we came at 6pm on a Saturday, but we were able to get a table quickly because a group was leaving. Make sure you stake out a table, though, because there were a lot of other people trying to get tables, too. All three of us ordered their margarita with no salt on the rim. Our drinks were pretty tasty, but we were surprised that all of them tasted a little salty, even though there was no salt on our glasses. I'm not sure if they actually add salt to the mix or what, but it was not my favorite margarita. Anyways, this place is more about the ambiance, and we enjoyed sipping our slightly salty margaritas in gorgeous weather with nice views of the city. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town, but I'll probably order something else.
(4)
Ryan K.
When I think of great hair I think of Rachel from Friends, but when I think of great food... I think of Grill 225! This place nails it every time. No dining experience has come close to matching it. They truly make you feel like "a Kennedy" (people say that right?) when you dine here... Or at least someone who knows the Kennedy family and they put in a good word for you. Either way, the service is fantastic! The steaks are cooked perfectly and you must, I repeat, MUST order the tuna tower. Hands down one of my favorite dishes in Charleston.
(5)
Kelly G.
Nice, upscale spot located in the city market area. Really good food. My fave entree pick is the filet foie gras. For an appetizer try the fried lobster==delish!! the oysters are good too. Stay away from the hashbrowns for a side unless you really love hashbrowns....you can get those from waffle house lol and it is A LOT of them. For a drink, try a Nitrotini. It's kind of their signature drink. They have many kinds to choose from, my fave is the champagne nitro or the pomegranate nitro. The Nitrotini is infused with liquid nitrogen and the presentation is fun to watch at least once. The staff is always nice & helpful. There is an upstairs rooftop bar that has a fantastic view of the city. Check it out. If you eat upstairs, try the DUCK confit NACHOS. THEY ARE AWESOME!! This is a great date spot:) Enjoy!
(4)
R F.
After complaining about them not having enough lobsters, which is what we came for. We left the restaurant unsatisfied and posted a poor rating The hotel reached out to us. Had to go a long way to find us while still in charleston. They invited us back the next night. The lobster Thermidor was outstanding the service was outstanding. The escargot the best we have had on a long time. And for Customer service the rating should go higher than the 5
(5)
Julie W.
I only gave this 2 stars because we had an 815 pm reservation and were not seated until nearly 930! After checking in with the host twice, after seeing people walk in and get a table, it was apparent he kept forgetting about us. We were never apologized to for the late seating, nor were we offered anything. I even emailed the restaurant and received zero reply. Not good customer service! The food, however, was great. I'll give that 4 stars. The she-crab soup and chopped cesar salad will always stay with me as some of the best I've ever had. The steak I ordered was perfect. I cannot say the sides were good- but that was a personal preference, not because they were bad. There is SO much food. We ran out of room for dessert, but left full and our waiter was really attentive and great. The management and host up front could definitely use some customer service skills though. I'll stick with Halls or Oak if I want an expensive steak going forward.
(2)
Jeff T.
I think this is probably a good place, but our experience was totally unimpressive. The roof was great scenery, but the drinks were watered down and poorly prepared. The dinner was equally unimpressive, especially for the cost. The bread was, at best, mediocre, and the sauteed mushrooms had no taste. The baked potato only came with butter and sour cream (no bacon, chives or cheese). Even worse was the $45 steak that was one of the toughest I've ever eaten anywhere. In fairness to them, they did comp the steaks and the bad drinks upstairs. We went with 7 other couples and they were all very pleased with their meals. The service and atmosphere were, however, very good in the restaurant. There are a lot of good reviews here, maybe we were just one of those bad things that occasionally happen. If you're looking for a great steakhouse, I highly recommend Hall's Chop House. The food, service and atmosphere were excellent. The owner came over at visited for quite some time and was a very pleasant and entertaining person.
(2)
Brandà M.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Seriously, this is a MUST try in the city of Charleston. This came as a recommendation by my boss who is very classy and refined so I knew it would be nice; I wasn't expecting it to be mind-blowing. And it was! The atmosphere was elegant and old-world Southern, but not stuffy. We were promptly seated and our server went over the steak selection and her recommendations for the evening. She was very warm and knowledgeable. I went with her recommendation of the strawberry daiquiri Nitrotini and my husband went with a glass of wine. The martini came to the table smoking which in itself was amusing, but the warning label attached was absolutely priceless! I waited the 3 minutes and took a sip!!!!! Holy deliciousness!!!! Next came our steaks (I ordered the filet, hubby ordered the strip) and our sides- the mushrooms and Potatoes Maxim----- some kind of scalloped yumminess. Probably one of the best steaks I have had out in a long time. My husband agreed. Such a great place to treat yourself and don't forget to head to the rooftop for an after dinner drink with amazing views. Awesome place!!!
(5)
Tara P.
One word. Perfect. Wonderful service, friendly wait staff. The steaks were cooked to perfection. The broccoli and cheese was outstanding, and in a much larger portion than one would expect. The atmosphere not only had a warm romantic feel but it makes you feel like part of the ritz. One of the most beautiful dining experiences I've had.
(5)
Tom G.
Expensive and a little pretentious sums it up pretty well. On the upside the food was excellent. Same level of excellence you would get at a place half as expensive and with better service. Speaking of service (one of my things that drives me crazy or really appreciate) - it's so so. The staff has an air about them - you're there for them and not the other way around The rooftop bar is really cool and worth a visit, but the service is hit or miss; no beer on tap, only bottles.
The meal was fabulous from the appetizers to the entrees and through dessert! Service was outstanding!!!! Ask for JB as he is the best. The Steak Oscar was cooked perfectly and the crab was plentiful and delicious. The peach cobbler is the absolute best.
(5)
Sherid M.
My husband I dined here twice on our visit to Charleston last week. Once for lunch and once for dinner. The food was wonderful. My husband had a filet mignon, which he said was amazing. I had the flounder which was also amazing. My sister in law raved over the French onion soup. Would definitely recommend dining here and we will be back for sure. Our waiter Steven Mosgo was fantastic, very helpful and attentive!!
(5)
Stephen J.
Went to the rooftop bar mid afternoon. Got a table right away, but the service was so-so. We were there just for drinks, our server was attentive but gave us the vibe he wanted us to go. Fantastic atmosphere, love the pool. The staff is dressed to the 9's, very classy. Drinks were ok. Fleets drinks are better.
(3)
Francesca D.
If you want a fine dining experience, this is it. Each table has two servers who are attentive from the moment you sit down until you depart. While it is pricey, it's worth every penny. Don't deny some of the fabulous seafood dishes and apps just because it's a steakhouse. My favorite dish honestly is the Tuna Tower... you just cannot go wrong, it's incredible and huge. That and a salad is enough for a meal. If you love steak, all of their dry aged steaks are to die for. Opt for a smaller portion and get some of their delicious sides to split for the table. Two is plenty especially if you are getting apps. Don't pass up the creamed spinach and firey brussels. So good. Likely you won't have room for dessert, but it is delicious. Go the next night for a cocktail and dessert at the bar or eat early and come back for dessert later- it's that good! 5 stars and top notch all the way around for superior service and cuisine.
(5)
Hana M.
The nitrotini is swank. It shrouded in a cloud of mist and a warning label. I felt like a bond girl drinking it. warning label reads "Avoid rapid ingestion" so I drank it through dinner, well by dinner end I felt like I was getting tipsy! Two of these would have done me it, and my wallet. Drinks are 18$ here!! Onto dinner: the wait staff were charming and very attentive. I dined with a party of 9 so I got to sample the various delights. I was guided to the crab cakes, loved lobster bits in it especially. It was so filling. My favorite food was the caesar salad (I'm such a pescatarian), the salad looked like it had gone through a food processor but managed to be light and crispy. For an appetizer we had something fried lobster and a charcuterie which I was all over for the cheese and whole grain mustard. I give this place 5 stars because the service was so good, and the drinks dazzled me.
(5)
MaryBeth W.
You can't go wrong with anything here. The lobster is always my favorite!! Awesome staff! Beautiful restaurant!
(5)
Sarah W.
The absolute BEST steakhouse I've ever been to! My husband and I decided we would try Grill 225 last Saturday after making reservations a week ago. The restaurant is located inside the beautiful Market Pavilion Hotel--as soon as you walk in. The architecture is breathtaking--the ceilings, the wooden paneling, and the beautiful chandelier when you first walk in are just some of the highlights. But let's get to the most important part: the food. My husband and I both started with the blue crab soup. It was creamy and rich, with generous portions of crab. The soup even came with a cornbread muffin. It was a little dry for my taste, but it complemented the soup so well, I ate it anyway! We both ordered the 42-day dry aged filet mignon. It was OUT OF THIS WORLD. I have never had a steak so delicious and tender. I hardly had to use my steak knife...it was that tender. For dessert I had the restaurant's specialty--the banana pudding. It isn't exactly pudding, though, but I didn't mind! It was a spice cake with bananas and caramel ice cream. Delish! My husband had a pastry with custard and fresh berries and loved it, too! The service was OK, nothing phenomenal. The meal out-shined the service, that's for sure. I have had better service at upscale restaurants like this one, but the meal was that good that it didn't matter! :)
(5)
CJ H.
This is my first time in Charleston and a few of my business associates, post-conference, wanted to get a good steak. Grill 225 was recommended to us. Upon entering, I did feel like we were eating in the lobby of a hotel, however, the four of us shared one of their round enclosed booths. We started out with one of the best Wedge Salads I have ever had. Actually, "The Best" wedge salad I have ever had. Though we were in a restaurant known for its steaks, I am from Vegas and can get a great steak any day of the week. I wanted something local so I ordered the Jumbo Shrimp and Grits. It was good. The grit cake seemed a little overcooked but all in all I enjoyed it. My associates enjoyed their meals. After dinner we went upstairs to the roof bar for a nice view of the harbor so I was OK with paying premium prices for the beer, the local Palmetto that I love.
(4)
Emily B.
Service was impeccable. Did not enjoy the salad the dressing was too vinegary. She crab soup was superb. The steak with crabmeat was flavorful but overcooked and seasoning on steak was a little too salty for my taste on some bites added hollandaise sauce and that was delicious. The creamed spinach was underseasoned. Bread was tasty and warm - nice variety. Nitrotini's were fabulous and fun - variety of unique flavors. Desserts were delicious - best creme brulee ever and the pecan pie with cinnamon ice cream was tremendous. For the price I would have expected more from some of the dishes but overall it was a great meal.
(4)
Todd R.
From the moment we were seated we knew this would be a great dining experience. Our waiter JB knew what he was doing. Service is his career and it showed. My steak was perfectly prepared, the octopus appetizer was exceptional and my wife's crab cakes had more crab than a crab boat returning to port after a successful season. CRAB...not cake. Go to Grill 225, ask for JB, get the Crab Cakes and enjoy one of the finest meals you'll ever have.
(5)
Ron N.
Expensive and a little pretentious. The table was set with 4 different glasses per person. 3 were removed when we didn't order wine. A New York strip steak cost $55.00. I had a berrycobbler that had 3 pound of butter and a pound of sugar. Old style Paula Dean type cooking from this kitchen The rif-raf, parties with kids, and customers in jeans were seated on the left in a small section. The well dressed young, hip crowd was seated to the right. It was almost too obvious to miss. May have just been coincidence but I doubt it. Don't go here for value but go if your looking for a good steak, rich food, big desserts, good service and money is not an issue. We were there on a cold, wet windy day. (I thought I was still in Ohio) so we did not visit the rooftop bar but I hear it is amazing. Personally, I liked the Cotton Club better but that is just me.
(3)
Watkinsville D.
We had a great supper here last night. Awesome steaks and great wine. Sides were also very good. Get the Brussels sprouts and potatoes maximus. I had a strip steak that was excellent, but everyone else had filets which were equally great. Pay a little more money and eat here, you'll enjoy it. Oh yeah, I had a "nitrotini" as a starter cocktail. It was a good drink but more of an $18 novelty than anything. The warning label was a nice touch. Haha!
(5)
Kevin O.
For the cost the food was average and slightly over rated, we did eat late so service was sub par for a restaurant of this Caliber to bad nice place I would go to Hanks again instead of here
(3)
Lara B.
My husband had been looking forward to this restaurant the entire trip. We started the meal with the tuna tower. If explained that I have a soy allergy and the server assured me there wasn't soy sauce in the tuna. After one taste, I knew there was. We then split the wedge salad and ordered the 16oz aged strip to split. We asked for Pittsburgh rare and they didn't understand how to do a charred crust. When it came out the steak was far closer to medium and we sent it back. It's a true shame when a steak house can't properly cook a steak. Disappointed.
(3)
Eddie S.
Dont listen to the reviewers that think Ruth Chris is fine dining. If you want a special experience at the best steakhouse I have ate at in the US with a southern gracious flair....THIS iIS IT! All steaks, especially Rib Eye are fantastic, all PRIME, sides are fantastic, the parm broccoli and mushrooms are off the hook! Actually based on your taste everything is good. They have 3,4,5 lb lobsters flown in from Bar Harbor and white coat service to boot. Ask for JB, been there for years, understands what a fine dining relaxed experience is all about.
(5)
Brandi R.
This place was a little too pricey for the quality of the food, and the wait staff was way to pretentious for my liking. The escargot appetizer was extremely garlicky and salty; I love garlic but you couldn't even taste the escargot. I ordered a special 8 oz filet and was extremely surprised when it came out nearly charred on the top; It was meant to be served that way!? Having dined at Hall's Chophouse not even two weeks earlier, I was hoping to have a similar experience at what it advertised as Charleston's Premier Steakhouse. Save you money and head to Hall's. The service, atmosphere and food are so much more enjoyable!
(2)
Yuko W.
I was visiting Charleston and celebrated the last night of the trip here. I'm usually not a meat eater, but their filet mignon was awesome!! We shared 3 sides between 4 people (sweet potato mash was great!) following waitress' suggestion, but we could've had 4 dishes instead. We must've been hungry. :)
(5)
Alan M.
Rooftop pool/patio bar for a weekday lunch. Pros: Beautiful view of Charleston and the harbor. Companion's tuna tartar tower was very good, with fresh chunks of tuna tartar on top of sticky rice. Cons: Service is very sketchy. We were told to seat ourselves, and did so at the only empty table, piled with dirty dishes. Waiting perhaps 10 minutes. Servers were flitting about nearby, but paying no attention. I walked to the bar, and was told that there was no service in the area where we were seated. However, Dalton whom I spoke with graciously offered to serve us himself. The table was cleared and we ordered. While waiting a man at the next table lit up a large cigar. Well it was S.C. and it was an outdoor restaurant, but remaining at that table meant we were also kind of smoking the cigar. So we moved a couple tables to another just vacated table. Changing tables had put us with a new server. She was a tiny woman, who looked 10, but was actually in her twenties. She had a deer in the headlights manner, and tried hard, but hadn't quite mastered the art of service or English. There is VERY loud head-banging music continuously playing out of multiple speakers making conversation a shouting match. There are heavy metal bar stools for sitting at the high tables. Way too heavy to pick up (probably so they wouldn't blow around) but very difficult (make that nearly impossible) to slide on the stone slab floor. So we could not get close enough to the table to eat comfortably. I ordered shrimp salad, described as "chunks of shrimp on a croissant". Got a vaguely seafood tasting mayonnaise/celery mix with very finely chopped mystery seafood. Was sent back and struck from the bill. I mentioned the disparity between the menu description and the actual dish to the manager. He was supremely indifferent. The bill came to $ 42 for 1 beer, one glass wine and tuna appetizer. There are so many better lunch spots in Charleston. Forget about this one.
(2)
Julia K.
I am fortunate enough to visit this gorgeous city a few times a year and when I do, a visit to Grill 225 is at the top of my list. One of the most upscale dining experiences in the city, the food rarely disappoints and the service is always top-notch. Last evening, we had the pleasure of having Andrew S. wait on us. While there are some staples I am always sure to order (the tuna tower is divine!), I was in a particularly indecisive mood. Andrew's recommendations from what cut of meat to order, to how to request it be prepared and paired, were spot-on and his attention-to-detail made our night that much more outstanding. Though the restaurant was buzzing, we were never left wanting for anything. Sure this place is pricey, but I've always left feeling it was worth it and I've found that the caliber of service overpowers any slight flaws I've experienced with the food. Kudos to management for recruiting such a competent, knowledgeable staff that only reinforces I am making the right choice returning again and again. Even in a city that is filled with so many culinary gems, the Grill stands apart.
(5)
Michael K.
Bad start. Ordered Johnny Walker Black. Got a sip. Talk about stupid. This place is pretentious. Over bearing wait staff that fly around like knats. Eating in a hotel lobby. Food fair. Not not worth it.
(2)
Diana W.
Had to stop by here for the Nitrotinis. The bar wasn't crowded at all that night but it still takes a good 10-15 minutes to get your drink...which is understandable since it's not a regular drink. The restaurant appears impressive, sleek decor and an outfitted waitstaff. The bartners that night lacked any personality. The drink was fun but honestly, it's a gimmick. If I lived here I wouldn't wait that long for a drink that costs about 16 dollars. Great for an out of town experience though.
(3)
Ken B.
Friends and I came down for the Charleston Marathon. Chose to stop at Grill 225 to watch the NFL playoff game. Cheryl and Dave are great(the bartenders)! The rooftop atmosphere was awesome; even in chilly weather. Creative drink mixes were a plus. Try this place out!
(5)
Jim g.
One of the best steaks I've ever had. Their aged filet is fantastic! Atmosphere is simple but nice. Not overdone like most places in this price range. I've been to many top dollar steakhouses in my time, but this one probably takes first prize for pretentious waiters. Other than that, service was also excellent. Wine selection was also great.
(4)
Frank I.
We celebtated my sons graduation from C of C. We sat in a booth that provided us with a great deal of privacy for a party if 8.the service was excellent and extremely profession led by Table Captain Mike Budney. The portions were substantial and prepared to perfection. Try one on those Nitrogen Martinis!!!
(5)
Brian R.
I've eaten here about a half dozen times over the years and Grill 225 never disappoints. I've had steaks all over the country and Grill 225 does the "Prime Steakhouse" moniker justice. When you make a reservation and tell them what you want (intimate booth, large group, near/away from kitchen) they will bend over backwards to accommodate your needs. If it's a special occasion - tell them in advance. I'm a bit confused at the other reviews and concede that this type of place is not for everyone. Full disclosure - this is a steakhouse (although they do seafood very well also). If you want chicken or vegan or ribs you will be disappointed. This is a fine dining restaurant so you will receive exemplary and attentive service. The wine list is extensive but the staff is extremely knowledgeable and has always been spot-on with their recommendations. The bone-in rib-eye is always great and they now keep the bone-in tenderloin on the menu (previously only the occasional special) - a phenomenal choice as well. I've always considered tenderloin to be a tender cut of beef with little flavor but cooked on the bone it gives a flavor that will satisfy even the most discriminating carnivore. Sides are served family style and are great for sharing. I've never had any side that wasn't good but I'm particularly fond of the asparagus, creamed spinach and the Grill 225 fries (shoestring and fried crispy). For dessert there are the typical selections and I'll usually opt for a glass of port and steal a few bites of my wife's selection (while recovering from my meat coma). Having had a taste of everything I can heartily recommend the banana bread pudding. The staff is some of the best in Charleston (which has some of the best restaurant staff in the country). It is expensive but you will not be disappointed.
While on Sullivan's Island eating dinner, one of the waitresses gave us a few suggestions of bars that we might want to check out once we got back to Charleston. The rooftop is where we went during a little lunch break. With a great view, good food, and bartenders that were attentive it was a good choice. I really want to go back to this place on a clear night as the bay bridge must be beautiful. As this is part of the hotel, guest stay at the tiny rooftop pool so it affords some interesting people watching.
(4)
Mary T.
4 Stars = The bar, because I did not eat here. We arrived there after seeing an ad in a local paper about the Nitrotini's. I had no expectations when I went here. Thankfully I was dressed up so I did not feel underdressed when walking in there. There are men walking around with small looking earphones hanging out of their ears looking like they are in the CIA or something. It's only there for service reasons, so I was told. Whatever they weren't that busy. It made me think the president was there. Come on boys, take your toys off now. After looking at the Nitrotini menu, I ordered a Ketel One Martini up slightly dirty. He brought it over and I asked him if the Nitrogen was in there. He apologized when he realized that I wanted the liquid nitrogen in my drink and fixed it right away. He put on these huge gloves as if he was going to exterminate something and then put the liquid nitrogen in my drink which brought my drink to a -320 degrees farenheit. Yes, it was super cool. However, after the nitrogen quit putting off the smoke it did not keep my drink any cooler than a normal good shaken martini. The martini was good and the experience was cool. I also recommend after doing that, take yourself and your drink upstairs to the rooftop bar, there is also a restaurant there but, the view is what's so cool. So check it out! Keep in mind the nitrogen drinks are around $20-$30, so bring some cash! Stop by Grill 225 for a Nitrotini or a steak because I have heard the steaks are quite tasty and the go upstairs to see the view. I enjoyed it and you will too! Cheers!
(4)
Vincent B.
Rooftop bar at 225 is spot on... View and food are over the top
(5)
Shannon P.
This place gets a ton of people in and out to visit the rooftop pavilion bar. The rooftop is beautiful....pool, outdoor bar, great views, BUT it's always crazy crowded and often a drunken crowd. Wine will be served in plastic since it's near a pool. Downstairs at Grill 225 you'll find a more upscale scene, better beverage options, etc, but it still has a tourist element/vibe that I can't put my finger on.....they serve up nitro martini's that come 'smoking' to you at the bar, but the whole place just seems overpriced and overrated. There are SO many other better options in Charleston. Skip this one.
(3)
Henrik C.
Went here to get steaks. This is probably the best steak place in Charleston. The meat is prime and they cook it exactly to order. The setting is formal with two waiters taking care of you. The meat selection is impressive and the quality is fantastic. They have 10-15 possible side dishes. We tried asparagus, baked potatoes, ... They have an impressive wine list. The wine prices are not too bad (We checked the price for 3 bottles and in both cases the price is less than twice the store price, so quite OK). The prices are upscale, so it could easily end up being $100 per person. The food and service matches the prices, but be prepared to pay for what you get.
(4)
Dan B.
Great food, service was good but we could have seen our server a little more often for a coupe minor followup requests. Nice wine list.
(4)
Francine F.
Lunch on a Thurs. Filet mignon was probably the best we've ever had. BLT salad with pecans and crab added was not only delicious, it was so big we could have split one and been full. Prices are a little steep but worth it since the (salad) portion was so huge. Focaccio bread that comes with entrees is most excellent. Our server, Lila, was sweet, efficient, knowledgeable and conversant. Hostess was chilly but we thought she may have been new.
(5)
Xeekster d.
Stayed in the hotel. Had dinner on the first night. Very disappointing. White tablecloths, lots of wine glasses and pretentious and stuffy. Bring lots of money. I didn't have the steak and try consider themselves a steak house. My bad.
(2)
Akshaya D.
It was truly the "pinnacle" of dining experiences I've ever had living in Charleston since last 3 months. I've eaten at almost all upscale restaurants in Charleston because my fiance's a big foodie and I must say, Grill 225 wins the prize and of-course, it's reputation as the prime steakhouses of US is well-deserved. As soon as we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the hostess, Ivy who made sure that we were seated comfortably. Then came in the server, Jeff with his assistant Cory and I would like to take this opportunity in this review to mention that they were "phenomenal". That was the best serving experience I've ever had. Jeff has an in-depth knowledge of the complete menu and that was highly commendable. He gave us a small brief of wine-pairing too. My fiance said that she felt like a "Young millionaire" couple with this elegant service we were experiencing. For the starters we began with fried lobster tail and escargots. They were nicely done and that was the first time ever in my life did I try french snails and am glad I did try them. For the salad we ordered, "Chopped Caesar" salad which was purely fresh to taste. And then, we went towards the main entrees and boy, they were purely a feast for all my senses. Am not a big steak person hence I went ahead with the seafood entree, a "Tuna Steak Provencal" and it was the best tuna steak I've ever had among the dining experiences I've had around Charleston and probably US. My fiance chose a "USDA Prime New York Strip" and normally she immediately comments about the food she eats and she just had to say, "fabulicious", fabulous + delicious. And yes, Jeff recommended a red wine pairing with our dinner and we had this lovely, Cabernet Sauvignon "Duckhorn Napa", indeed one of the finest red wines from the Napa valley. During our dinner, the manager of the hotel, Mr. Wright made sure that everything was at par with our dining experience and that made us feel homely and special. For the grand finale, the desserts, (There's always a room for dessert), we ordered a "Chocolate Mousse Cake" and a "Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee", once again upto the Grill 225 standards. To conclude my review, I would thoroughly recommend Grill 225 to anyone who loves steaks and is looking for an "impeccable" dining experience. With that being said, I would certainly be returning soon to Grill 225 again. Still have a lot to try from their menu where everything looks so good, and I know, tastes even better. Sincerely, thank you Grill 225 for an AMAZING dining experience.
(5)
Harper T.
I brought a dinner party into Grill 225 last Friday night and was blown away. Our server, Jeff, could not have been more welcoming and helpful while we navigated through their amazing menu. Even with a full restaurant, we felt as if we were the only table. Beautiful ambiance, premium quality, and exceptional service is all I have ever received at Grill 225. Best restaurant in the city!
(5)
Emily T.
We went to Grill 225 for my parents 30th wedding anniversary. We also celebrated my brother's engagement. We had a large group and they placed us at a round table. This made it easy to visit with everyone. My parents and brother and his fiance received a glass of champagne on the house to help them celebrate. ~The service was excellent and the waiters were very attentive ~The steak was seasoned to perfection and cooked to order (we had a lot of steak eaters with us and everyone commented on how it was some of the best steak they've had) ~The sides come family style, which was fun because you were able to try a little bit of everything. We ordered 4 different sides for our table and they all complimented our meal well ~The Nitrotinis were definitely fun to have served and very tasty to boot! ~Most of us ordered dessert. The dessert not only looked amazing, but also melted in your mouth and made an excellent finish to the meal This is a dressier restaurant and plan to spend some money, but it is definitely worth it. We also checked out the rooftop bar. This was a very nice area to just grab a drink and hang out with a nice view of the city and the ocean.
(5)
Claire P.
This is a very old school steak restaurant. It's good food, but here are my main points of contention: as with all traditional steakhouses, everything is a la carte. Want something other than a hunk of meat, like a vegetable? That's extra. Also, there are so many staff members on the floor at one time, it's nuts. It's like a white coat circus, and it makes it too stuffy in there. With so many other restaurants in Charleston, this slips down my list.
(3)
John D.
Best place for a steak dinner in Charleston. I've had steak at most of the restaurants around the East Bay street area too. Grill 225 ages their beef anywhere from 28 to 45 days depending on the cut of meat. The steaks practically melt in your mouth. I didn't rate 225 any higher because they undercooked my wife's filet. For a place like 225, you just can't do that. Of the sides, we ordered the grilled tomatoes and cauliflower fritters. I ordered the grilled tomatoes just to see how they did it. Let me tell you, I could have eaten them as my main dinner. They had the tomato and then topped it with cheese and some type of dressing that made the flavors just come together. The fritters were fried and very tasty. Wine selection is fine. Would have liked to had more selections for just a glass purchase, but the one I got was very good and reasonably priced. For dessert, my wife and I got the Classic Napolean and it was EXCELLENT. You will need to share the dessert as it is huge. The dessert had fresh berries, vanilla cream all fit between these layered patries. So good and fresh. The service was good and the staff is attentive. Will definitely eat there again in the future.
(3)
Bob B.
Wow. Major dining experience. Truly great steaks, excellent wine selection (including 2009 Bordeaux), superlative service. Highly recommended.
(5)
Eric G.
It's one of those beef, beef, beef places. The menu hasn't changed in half a decade. If you're into great steaks, visit Chicago. If you're into sameness, this is your heaven. Or if you just have money to burn, live it up. --THE BAR is a CRYING SHAME-- They have this great warm wood and leather atmosphere with soft lighting and you look forward to a nice small batch Bourbon or Scotch and what do you get? Generic Shit and Gimmicky cocktails. The bar manager is deserving of a bold kick in the ass for the pisspoor selection of whiskeys. They feature the swill of Jim Beam and Macallan ---same as every podunk bar in every podunk town. Like I said, shameful. Even the bartender was disgusted at their offerings. And the nitrogen martinis? Tourist CHEESE.
(2)
Amy N.
With all the great food to be had in Charleston, there's no reason to put Grill 225 on the list unless 6 kinds of wine glasses and overbearing service is your style. The food is just OK, and the menu- while extensive- surprisingly lacks even one chicken entree for the non-steak eater. Best part is the beautiful rooftop bar, which manages to be upscale and classy without seeming snotty.
(2)
Jim B.
My wife and I had a spectacular Thanksgiving dinner at 225, the food was wonderful, but our server, Michael, made the experience spectacular. He provided excellent advice on the wine selection. We truly enjoyed the entire dining experience
(5)
Mark T.
I've ate here only on one occasion and really enjoyed the meal. I ordered their rib-eye steak with a Caesar side. The steak was cooked to absolute perfection and was possibly the tastiest steak I've ever eaten. The salad was also very tasty, too. It was a finely chopped salad bursting with texture and flavor. I finally ordered the Chocolate Mousse Cake which again, was absolutely perfect. It was served with a generous helping of warm ganache and could have served more than two --though somehow I managed to stuff the entire thing down my throat. The restaurant and staff had a formal setting with three tiered flatware and glasses --even the servers serve on the correct side. They were extremely efficient and very knowledgeable about the menu. The restaurant had an À la carte pricing structure and was pretty expensive, though the taste of the food could easily justify the price. I'd certainly recommend this place.
(5)
Raja C.
very high end dining experience with white tablecloths etc. we just stopped into the bar for nitrotini's. Tasty enough, but lots of cool factor!
(4)
sarah c.
Very fancy-schmancy. Had a reservation, but had to wait on our table. Went to the bar where the bartender was not very friendly. Thankfully my gin and tonic made up for it, yum. Our table was right by the main walkway to the kitchen, not the most convenient for a quiet meal. Our waiter was very good and nice, a little sweaty. The waiter's helper was nice but fell down on the job of keeping our waters full. I had the fillet mignon, good but not the best. My favorite was the dessert. Creamy vanilla goodness with berries, 225 Panna Cotta. I would have loved to sit in one of the oversized booths, maybe next time. Oh, and the valet parking is ten dollars cash up front. The closest atm has a five dollar fee.
(3)
D M.
Drinks and food was subpar. My family and I used to go here every 6 months becuase the food and service was always excellent; however, a few years went by before we could return and boy has this restaurant downgraded itself. The air was freezing since we were right under the ac and we asked for different seating, turning down ac or even jackets, but no change. The server said he would give us his jacket, but then he wouldn't be allowed to serve us.... The steak was extememly salted!!! Vegetarian meal was unflavorful and tastless Nitrogen drink. Very disappointing experience for a high class dining restaurant.
(2)
Aura E.
This restaurant has a great service and excellent food. Just be careful since portions are very generous.
(5)
Laura T.
The clientele socializing and drinking at the roof top bar epitomizes the upper crust Southern folk. From the drawl of the bartender who was more than willing to "save my seat" at the bar while I ran to retrieve my cell phone from the car, to the linen pant clad gentleman holding the door on my way out, any out of towner feels like they are in the heart of southern hospitality. In a snooty kind of way. The friendliness could also be construed as flirtatiousness, eyes twinkling behind designer shades, ultra white teeth flashing a smile. Surrounded by clean cut men sporting turquoise summer sweaters, sear sucker pants and pink and green striped ties as they casually sip $15 martinis, I feel as if I've been transplanted to another world. Not NYC, not DC, not San Fran. Great views of Charleston, the bridges, and surrounding water. Oh, you could throw in people watching as well. Tasty drinks and apps, if you've got money to burn or an expense account to utilize. Certainly not worth my own dime though.
(3)
Jacqueline S.
I recently moved to Charleston from Massachusetts, and I would compare Grill 225 to the Capital Grille, but better. I usually don't love places that force you to order extra sides in addition to your steak, but we had a great night at the bar and then at dinner. Service was excellent, and everyone enjoyed their food. Everyone had steak, and we shared a few sides. I loved the creamed spinach and the bread pudding for dessert was amazing (we had to share between 4 people because we were all so full from dinner!) Wine was excellent as well. Pricey but OK.
(3)
Hula B.
we went for their thanksgiving dinner buffet and thought everything was delicious. expensive, but delicious. great selection of champaigns and sparkling by glass and an extensive although pricey wine list. over-all we had a good time. but not someplace we would eat at all the time due to the prices. i think other places might be just as good and better values. for two of us i think we spent almost $500 with tip. granted, we had everything, champaign, bottle of red, after dinner drinks, etc...
(4)
Simon C.
I went here with two shipmates and was scared of going here because it looked so fancy. Everyone was dressed up and we were in our dress whites. But the service staff was very nice and friendly. They welcome us to eat there. Anyways we sat down feeling a little awkward but the service staff continued to be friendly. PJ was awesome and nice to us. Get him as your server. Best steak I have ever had. I ordered the New York steak medium rare and I felt really happy after eating it. I felt as if they put some addictive sauce on it. After eating here, I think charleston contain one of the most friendliest people in the US. I want to thank the kind man with the blue shirt for covering our meal. It really made our day. I hope I can do the same for someone else one day.
(4)
Marcie S.
Customer Service is lacking and can use improvement. Typically if the customer is not pleased with a product at a restaurant the staff goes over and above to fix it. Not the case at Grill 225. Don't waste your money on overpriced drinks and less than mediocre food.
(1)
R P.
Great service, spectacular food!! Who cares if it is in a lobby, the restaurant was very quiet and intimate when we were there. While making reservations, I let the staff know it was an anniversary dinner, the waiter came immediately after we were sat and offered 2 glasses of champagne on the house to celebrate our anniversary. In addition, our deserts arrived with happy anniversary written in chocolate sauce on the plate. Back to the beginning, we checked in early and went upstairs for a cocktail. The host actually came up and got us when our table was ready. We were seated quickly and then began the most elaborate and efficient serving experience of our lives. The steak was amazing. My wife has talked about the food and service for a week now and we are both ruined when it comes to chain dining. Grill 225 is absolutely perfect for a great intimate dinner date. As for those complaining about the price, you get what you pay for. I felt the price was well justified. Next time we visit Charleston, Grill 225 will be on list.
(4)
Darren L.
Ok, seriously this place is really expensive to eat an entree, but the bar food was quite good and the roof top patio is just... well...awesome!
(5)
H S.
I went up to the rooftop lounge for a few drinks, maybe something light to eat. First off, the atmosphere is awesome. It's not every day that I take the elevator in a fancy restaurant up to the roof where classy people elegantly stand around a lovely pool holding drinks in their hands. Definitely a first. With that being said, drinks and food are way overpriced. The food wasn't very good actually, though the drinks were (if you like juiced down cocktails). Still, a splendid view of the city.
(3)
Jennifer M.
3 stars is only for the wait time/customer service! Food was excellent! We had a reservation for 8:15 but were not seated until 9pm. A group of 4 that we met had an 8pm reservation and were not seated until 9pm as well. In their defense, it was restaurant week and a Friday night. However, just make sure that if it's a special occasion (it was our honeymoon) you let the management know in advance so they will be prepared to honor your reservation. The 1st manager that we met with was rude and unapologetic. After asking to speak with the owner, a 2nd manager arrived, apologized, and gave us glasses of champagne for our trouble. My husband really wanted a steak or we would not have waited! It was worth the wait as he loved his steak!
(3)
Happy L.
At this price point service should probably be a bit more refined and smooth. Food was really good and we did not have steak,instead had apps and the halibut. Wine list is ridiculously expensive. I would have scampered over to the charleston grill if I had it all to do over again. The same bottle of wine was fifteen dollars less,that does leave a bit of the getting gouged taste in your mouth. Not a bad experience by any means just not sure it was truly worth the cost.
(4)
Sue S.
This restaurant was the perfect place for the perfect steak dinner. My co-workers and I were looking for a great steak dinner with a great wine list. 225 did not dissappoint. The service was awesome. I have to say I was a bit under dressed for the restaurant, but that didn't show on anyone's face as they served us. Two of us started off with the Blue crab chowder- OMG! This was the best cream of crab soup I have ever had and I live in MD! It was served in a very different large bowl. I really expected a small cup. served with a small corn muffin that was a bit dry for me, but good dunked in the soup. Then our steak came--cooked to perfection and served with family style sides. We choose the potato au gratin dish and the tomato with cheese and spinach. The meal was delicious. And the wine. . we had two bottles of red cabernet and they did not dissappoint. Now there was not a bottle less than $75, so be forwarned! But the wine was so delicious! Unfortunately, no room for dessert, but the list looked amazing. The place had a wonderful christmas tree that was so pretty to look at in the low lights. Perfect place for a birthday or anniversary dinner! Enjoy!
My husband wanted to dine here for his birthday dinner so I made a reservation before we got into town. We were staying at the Market Pavilion, 225 sits in the lobby of the hotel. So when we checked in and saw 225, my thought was 'this is a little hoity toity and filled with an older clientele, maybe we should go somewhere else'. He still wanted to try 225. We had a drink first at the bar. The bartender didn't have much of a personality, and he wasn't very busy, but he made a fantastic dirty vodka martini and was generous with the blue cheese stuffed olives. Our server was excellent, a young man, only 22 years old but gave first class southern service. I would hire Miles to work for me anytime...we are still talking about his service. We shared the shrimp bisque soup and wedge salad for appetizers...both were delicious. Being from Chicago, we have high expectations for steak...we were impressed. My husband ordered the bonein ribeye, and he loved it. I had the filet, and while it was not prepared the way I asked, it was really good. There was no shortage of seasonings on the steaks, I think it was just salt & pepper. We only ordered one side, because the portions are extremely generous. We had the hasbrowns and added grilled onions. There was enough leftovers for 4 of us to eat the hash browns for breakfast the next day. Dessert got 5 stars! Local berry cobbler a la mode...Oh MY is all I have to say. It was perfection! I would highly recommend 225, and would visit again on our next trip.
(4)
C T.
The steak I had and wifey's crab cakes were NOT great at all. The potatoes and spinach sides also were severely lacking flavor. I'd say the food is mediocre at best. The rooftop bar was somewhat cool and laid back and earned the 2nd star. Too many great restaurants in Charleston to waste your moolah here.
(2)
Katie M.
Go to the pool rooftop bar upstairs- great view of the city and good service. A little warm on the super hot and humid days, but there's always a breeze. Didn't eat, but the items coming out to other tables looked fantastic and huge. Pricey, but worth the view.
(4)
dan d.
Let me start by saying that I just don't understand Grill 225's take on the fine dining concept. Now to be fair, I don't have a whole lot of fine dining experience under my belt, but I am a bit of a foodie and I've been to Charleston's other Steakhouses (if you're just reading this to decide on one, go to Oak). Maybe other places have Alice in Wonderland sized menus and tables so large that you need to use semaphore to communicate with the person sitting across from you*. Maybe other fine dining establishments offer kitschy drinks like the Nitrotini, made with liquid nitrogen and served with a disclaimer that placing you skin in direct contact with liquid nitrogen can cause frostbite. These were all firsts for me at any level of dining establishment. Of course none of that is the primary driver in my assignment of such a lowly score to one of the "Great Steakhouses of North America"**. In fact there's no single reason that Grill 225 did so poorly, just a plethora of confounding occurrences that added up to make dining here quite a memorable experience. More on that later; first, I'll talk about the food. The food on the whole was very good. Based on the prices, I was expecting excellent, but whatever. I thoroughly enjoyed my petite filet which was probably the largest ten ounce steak I've ever seen. Combined with my salad and three sides split amongst four people it was more than enough to eat. A stand out in the food category was the lump meat crab cakes, they were almost 100% crab with minimal filler. I do take issue with Aaron B.'s description on the truffled potato chips, they are not "liquid crack"; they are simply hum drum homemade thin potato chips with very messy cheese sauce. Now on to the reasons why I do not plan on making a return trip to Grill 225: 1. There is a bar in the same room as the restaurant. It was particularly loud when we sat down, and near impossible to hold a conversation. 2. I was asked if I wanted bottled or tap water. I was not asked if I wanted a dead winged insect in my water, I guess that was free. This was promptly corrected after I pointed it out, but why was I the one that needed to point it out? 3. The bottle of wine brought out was of a different (albeit older) vintage than what was listed on the menu and was presented with the excuse of "We found an older bottle in the cellar." I know wine gets better with age and all but I also know that some vineyards have off years based on weather patterns and the like. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if 2005 was a better year than 2007 so I let it slide at the time, but it's worth noting here. 4. The fire alarm went off in the middle of our meal; lights, siren, the whole nine yards. A few bar patrons left at the time but the staff was unfazed. We kept eating. 5. This one really takes the cake... I felt a drop of water hit the table in the middle of dinner, so I look up to see where it's coming from. I discover not only condensation on the air conditioning vent, but black mold growing on the ceiling around the vent. I mentioned something about this to our waitress and within a minute*** one of the lower ranking waiters brought out a 20 foot pole with several washcloths rubber banded to the end of it. As you would guess this alone was quite a spectacle and the whole restaurant (including the kitchen staff) was watching when he wiped the water off - sending half of it cascading down to our table. Seeing that, he stopped before the job was done and sheepishly retreated to the back room. A few minutes later he re-emerged, apparently having been retrained in the sacred art of wiping water off of an air-conditioning vent in a fine dining establishment while people are eating at the table below. This time he was successful and we stayed dry. 6. About 10 minutes after the conclusion of the great condensation circus someone (perhaps the manager? He didn't bother identifying himself) came over to apologize for our ordeal. This is where I was thinking that some concession would be made, at least offering free dessert or something right? Wrong. Nothing. Just an I'm sorry. Not a cent was taken off the check at the end of the meal either. * There were four of us and the table was round...I mean seriously. ** This list is established by The Independent Retail Cattleman's Association. Based on my research, this organization is just a bunch of restaurants that got together and decided that they wanted to be on a list of great restaurants so they could advertise in Delta Sky Magazine. greatsteakofna.com *** Their promptness in producing a 20 foot long pole and the presence of mold on the ceiling lead me to believe that I'm not the first person to experience the circus of cascading condensation. Why then did they seat us at this table? There were plenty of tables available in the restaurant. This reeks of gross managerial oversight.
(2)
Roger G.
Had a special dinner with my son who has the same birthday as myself and he turned 30 this year. He was visiting from out of state and wanted to have a memorable time together. I picked the Grille 225 as his business is food and beverage and thought this would be the best place to take him. We first went upstairs to the roof for a drink. Service was very slow and when getting ready to pay the bill the receipt blew out of the folio. We waited for our server to come back, but it was taking way too long. We had reservations downstairs and could not wait any longer and went to bar to explain. They asked who are waiter was and she appeared from the kitchen, but kept on walking when we explained what happened. We did proceed to the grille, but if we did not have reservations this did not set a good example of a top restaurant. The meal and service was excellent downstairs, but management should be aware that they could lose customers as the roof may be their first stop or introduction to the Grille.
(4)
Chris W.
Hands down one of the best restaurants i've ever eaten at. Phenomenal food, excellent service, and overall fantastic experience!
(5)
Allen H.
Looks like nothing has changed since Jennifer B's visit. Super overpriced and the food just isn't that good. We had wanted to visit for sometime and made it during restaurant week last week. One filet at our table which was well regarded, and three rib eyes. One rib eye was too tough ("Prime?," oh please). And the wine corkage is ridiculous. When I go to a new restaurant, I like to bring my own. Then if I see things on the wine list I like, the next time I buy theirs. But the multiplier for mark-up over retail, in some cases approached 4X. And the corkage was $50 for bottles you bring that they decide are low priced, and $100 for those they think are high. Skip the Grill, but don't miss the Pavilion Bar on the roof - and order the crab cakes. And if you want, get a bottle of wine there from a separate wine list.
(1)
Aaron B.
This is the best steak that you'll find in Charleston. I've eaten at some of the best steakhouses in New York and Chicago, and Grill 225 ranks right up there with them. It is the only place in Charleston serving USDA Prime meats, and the bar is worth a look as well. Top shelf drinks are available by the glass. You absolutely must try the truffled potato chips as a side...the sauce is addictive..."liquid crack" as one of my colleagues called it.
(5)
Susan S.
Ya know... honestly, I can not say that I loved it. The atmosphere is classy and elegant, their service is great (Jeff did a wonderful job!!), the restaurant was beautifully decorated with Orchids (last time I was there), the wine list extensive, but the food... when the meal is running $100 a plate (to include 1 appetizer and 2 a la carte sides), I have certain expectations. My steak lacked flavor- and I'm not the kind of person that gets it well done and then proceeds to drown it in a horrible assortment of blasphemous (yes, it's blasphemy!!) steak sauces and ketchup. I like it rare & when it comes out, I should not have to add salt or pepper. The sides were fried green tomatoes & some sort of casserole or grit thing... I don't remember. Either way, I had heard such good things about this place and sadly I was disappointed. Their rooftop bar is nice. I always take out of town guests there when I'm entertaining. Gorgeous views of the city.
(3)
Dee F.
This is a good place. BUT the ROI is a little off. I don't think its great for your money. But a solid place if YOU AREN'T BUYING!
(4)
Nicola G.
Friends were staying at the hotel where the restaurant is located, one evening while sitting at the bar we asked to see a menu (a lady was eating at the bar and her food looked and smelled fabulous). The menu tempted us all and we booked a table for the following night - luckily was midweek. We enjoyed every moment of that meal... one of the best meals I have had in Charleston. Please order steak if you go - it is a steak restaurant afterall. We all had different cuts and all were delicious, tender and perfectly cooked. I recall the risotto side that came with mine was creamy and tasty enough to want a plateful. We all failed to resist dessert as everything else had been so terrific - we wern't disapointed by them and plates were scraped clean. Can't say enough good things about 225 - just go...but be warned is a very expensive night out.
(5)
Brandon R.
awesome! first and only time i've had filet mignon on the bone. this is the way it should be prepared.
(4)
John H.
My wife and I eat at Grill 225 once a year to celebrate our anniversary... We have never had a less than perfect dining experience. Our server Jess, did a great job of taking care of us last night. We went to the roof and had a drink at sunset, then downstairs for our meal... Let me just say, I have had steak in places all over this amazing country and the world, but the aged filet at Grill 225 always blows me away. I feel guilty eating such good food! We shared the BLT salad which was one of the best, if not the best salads I have ever eaten. The roasted pecans were similar to pralines, the bacon crispy. Yummmmmmm! We split a 14 Oz filet, cooked medium. It was exactly as I dreamed and have always had at Grill 225. Spice was light, outside piping hot, inside warm and buttery. It would cut easily with a fork, and all but melts in your mouth. We also split a 3 lb lobster prepared traditionally with drawn butter. What more can I say? Lobster, butter, heaven on earth. For a side, we selected cauliflower fritters. I was impressed, mainly because I don't normally like cauliflower. This was an exception undoubtedly! Grill 225 treated us to complimentary champagne since it was our anniversary, and when dessert (the scrumptious baklava purse) was brought to our table it again reminded me why I love this place... They wrote happy anniversary in chocolate drizzle on the plate.... We had far more food than anyone should ever eat, left some fritters and baklava behind. We also tried a Nitrotini again... "Tourist CHEESE" as stated below, or not, I loved mine. The only problem with Grill 225 is, our anniversary only comes once a year. Next year we will make the 4 hour drive down and repeat ;) Enjoy!
(5)
Daniel W.
Great place overall, one of my Charleston favorites. The hotel is awesome. Food at Grille 225 is always wonderful and the atmosphere is one of a kind. Really cool bars in the lobby and the hotel rooftop (best views in Charleston).
(5)
Nicholas N.
The rooftop bar is pretty sweet. The nitrogen martinis are cool but not worth doing twice.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jay J.
Had a wonderful dinner. We decided try this upscale steak house and we were not disappointed. We had the crab cake and the chopped salad for starters. The crab cake was flaky and flavorful. The salad was well prepared and bountiful. For our main course we had the ribeye with the Oscar finish. The steak was cooked to perfection. Service was excellent. Ryan was attentive and insured our needs were met. I highly recommend this restaurant for steak lovers.
(5)Ellen W.
Wow! This place is awesome. Of course the only way we could afford this restaurant is during restaurant week but that's cool with us . The food is amazing! The service was top-notch. I'm not sure if I enjoyed my food more, the service or my smoking martini that came with a warning. This is definitely where you want to go when you have a once in a lifetime moment or occasion. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we went back the next night and got something totally different than the first night.
(5)Roxanne B.
Great big Thank You to JB for making my Birthday Special!! His recommendations were spot on!! The Lobster Piccata was outstanding!! The Nitrotini's were a beautiful and fun way to enjoy a cocktail!!
(5)Dano M.
Eye am having reservations about their reservation policy....Yuk, Yuk.. Good restaurant...Great Beef....But not as good as They think they are...Really not. 3 other Steak Houses have similar quality Prime Beef.....
(2)Nicole D.
This was a really fun place to go out to after dinner for my friend's bachelorette party. After the Vendue across the street was closed, we decided to head here because the bride to be was really craving some rooftop dancing. As it turns out, she dropped her phone and it somehow managed to fall through the cracks of the flooring! The security guy was so nice and helpful and immediately got the right person over to come rescue her phone! It was great. We spent the rest of the night dancing to the great music and it was a lot of fun.
(4)Banana S.
We started off our meal with a complimentary glass of champagne and a basket of assorted warm bread. I also ordered a Cotton Candy Nitrotini and my husband had the Nitromallow. I loved the presentation and the taste of my cotton candy drink. It had a very sweet and fruity flavor. The marshmallow drink was very good also. For our appetizer we shared the Shrimp Brûlée. I would compare this to a shrimp scampi kicked up a couple notches. This was my favorite thing that I tried. The flavors were elevated and the shrimp was nice and firm. For our entrees I had the Sea Scallops. My husband had the USDA Prime Steak Fromage with a side of Truffled Potato Chips. I enjoyed my meal very much. The earthy flavors of the mushrooms and foie gras paired very well with the cherries. The steak that my husband had was very juicy. I would suggest pairing this with a lighter side because the flavor of the cheese is very bold. The potato chips were average. Final Thoughts: The service was excellent which is what you'd expect from an upscale restaurant serving food at these prices. Definitely try a Nitrotini!
(5)Zuzzi E.
Their reservation agreement is absurd and limits freedom of speech: "By agreeing to these terms and conditions, the guest(s) and their party agree that they may be held legally liable for generating any potential negative, verbal or written defamation against Grill 225." In other words, if someone in your group kvetches online about the restaurant enforcing its stated rules, a lawsuit may follow. postandcourier.com/artic…
(1)Chad T.
I took my wife here for her birthday! We were not disappointed! John, our server, was exceptionally knowledgable, kind, and prompt. We ordered: *Chopped Caesar *225 Rum Punch *Champagne and an Organic Riesling *Tuna Steak Provencal (Medium Rare) *USDA Prime Ribeye (Medium Rare) *Broccoli Parmesan *Grilled Tomatoes *Peach Cobbler The salad was amazing! The Tuna was in my opinion rare and not quite as flavorful as expected. The Ribeye, however, was cooked to perfection and had an excellent salt and pepper rub--one of the best steaks I've ever ordered. Our favorite side was the grilled tomatoes--per John's recommendation--excellent cheese and very flavorful. The Nitrotini was cool, but honestly I would not recommend the 225 Rum Punch. I'm glad we ordered one, but it was somewhat weak and tasted rather bland. The complimentary champagne was excellent and since my wife likes still drinks, John brought out an amazing organic Riesling. These were both excellent choices. The peach cobbler was great--not the best ever, but it was not disappointing. We loved the atmosphere and wait staff. It was a perfect place for a special occasion.
(5)Jung K.
Excellent attention and excellent food. Came here to impress a colleague of mine of the food scene in Charleston and its Restaurant Week. I go nuts during restaurant week and actually went to Halls Chophouse earlier. The service here was very attentive front the server, maybe not the most experienced, but he tried extremely hard to ensure all of our needs were met. The steak was excellent, but I think I was a bit spoiled by Halls Chophouse. It's not to say it wasn't worth the price or anything. Their Brussels sprouts, despite being a side dish, was almost like candy and would definitely recommend. Their portions are generous also. It is a higher priced establishment, but I got my value for the money.
(5)Andrea R.
Dined here for my birthday on a Saturday night during Memorial Day Weekend. We arrived an hour early and headed upstairs to the roof top bar (see Market Pavilion Hotel for review). This place is very upscale, the servers all wear white coats, there were about 14 different drink glasses on our table and the menus are huge (literally). Upon sitting down the waitress came and offered us a free glass of champagne to celebrate my birthday, yay! The champagne was so good and refreshing. To start we ordered the blue crab chowder, the staff took it upon themselves to split the soup for us in two separate bowls which I thought was awesome. The soup was so good; it was really creamy and had such a light crab flavor. We ordered a nice bottle of Pinot Noir that came out at the perfect temperature. I ordered the USDA 14 oz Prime Rib cooked medium and my husband ordered the USDA 10 oz Filet Mignon, we also got the creamed corn on the side to share, per our waitress' suggestion. Our meals came fairly quickly and we were not disappointed! My steak was outstanding, probably the best steak I've ever had. It had this great peppery crust on the outside and was so juicy and tender, my husband completely agreed, he loved his steak. The creamed corn was SO good, wow! It was so yummy, cheesy and gooey. We took our leftovers home and heated them up two days later and it was all still so delicious!! For dessert we ordered the crème brulee which was phenomenal! They even put a little candle on it for me! This was one of best dining experiences and meals that we've ever had. Thank you so much to the wonderful staff for making it so special! My only pet peeve is the bathrooms...I know they are open to the public and guests visiting the rooftop bar but they were not clean. To leave your $50 steak and enter a bathroom with toilet paper all over the floor and dirty stalls was just mood killing.
(5)Mitch K.
A first-class restaurant of the old school. Jacketed wait staff, dark wood paneling, linen, more glassware that usual, an elaborate menu, full bar and complete wine list. Expensive as it looks. Table of six which came in handy as the meal was paced very slowly. Lots of time to chat. We did a full dinner experience...did it all from drinks through appetizers and mains into desserts. Lots of wines by the glass and in addition to the bar they featured "Nitrotinis" which were martini-like cocktails infused with liquid nitrogen. Just had to try at least one at $17. If came, smoke flowing over the rim as if it contained dry ice. A warning label advised to not consume it until the nitrogen had evaporated. Good idea as liquid nitrogen comes in at minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit. It was quite good and needless to say, was crispy cold. A grilled tomato appetizer was similar to oysters Rockefeller, with cheese and spinach on top of broiled tomato halves. No oysters. Absolutely delicious. We ended up making another order so that the six of us could indulge more. The seafood was fresh and the menu offered many options, but most of us had steak. The filets were excellent and perfectly cooked. Quite amazing as our beef in restaurants is generally pedestrian and flavorless. These steaks were worth the $39 price. Desserts were works of art. Even the little beignets were good. Mouse cake was great. I can't remember all of them. Going up to the roof bar and pool area there is a full bar, beautiful flaring gas lamps for heat and ambiance and one can smoke in the far area. You are high over the city with nice views and although cold, those gas lamps cut the chill and made it comfortable. Bar service sucked as we had to ask four time for service. This was true for each of the two nights we went there after dinner.
(4)Kristen B.
Great steak place for downtown Charleston. We had the infamous Nitrotinis while we waited for our table. In addition to being an entertaining drink, the ingredients to make the cocktails were fresh. We got the USDA Prime bone-in ribeye with two sides: roasted brussel sprouts and griiled tomatoes with creamed spinach and havarti. Both sides were fabulous. I was surprised that they were not able to cook the steak to temperature. We ordered medium rare and our steak came out at the high end of the spectrum. I would say it was 135 degrees. They managed a beautiful crust. The meat itself was delicous, I just wish it was a few degrees cooler. One of the things that turned me off was at the end of our meal, the service staff started hovering around our table as if they wanted to rush us out the door. We were still enjoying our bottle of wine and nibbling on our steak. They asked us at least twice if we were done. No! We are not done! Go away and let us enjoy the rest of our meal! It's unfortunate that we left the restaurant on that note.
(4)Lacey G.
What a great rooftop! A friend and I ventured to Grill 225 on a Sunday afternoon around 4 to enjoy a cocktail and a great view. The breeze was so nice up there that we didn't feel hot and stifled, even though it was a very warm July afternoon. The pool is beautiful, and you can't beat the view. The drinks were a little pricey for Charleston ($14 mojitos) but not outrageous, and for the ambiance, its worth the few extra dollars!
(4)Emily M.
Would say this place is like 3.5 stars. Hate to review anything below 4 stars in Charleston simply because the service is top notch everywhere. Our waiter was super nice/helpful, and they brought out complimentary champagne for our anniversary, which was sweet. Nitrotini was cool but a bit overpriced at $18 a pop, and I wouldn't say it was the tastiest cocktail. Steak was high quality, but other than that, I'd have to say the food was three star. The blue crab chowder was the biggest disappointment. It was just broth, no chunks of crab, not even potato or other veggies. Wouldn't recommend. Boyfriend's French onion was good but nothing special. Got a side of the mushrooms. Plain and unseasoned at $10 for 7 medium sized shrooms. Come for the service and steak but nothing else I'd say.
(3)Daphne K.
Steak, grilled tomatoes and service unbelievably good. My flounder was tasty but swimming in a bit too much butter (yes - that can be a bad thing). Location and ambience are awesome and would've loved to give 4-5 stars but couldn't quite do it. Love the hotel so probably would give it another try. Must go up to the rooftop bar for a glass of wine before/after dinner. Really sells the whole place.
(3)Sky M.
5 star service. Staff was excellent and very attentive. May have been the best staff I've ever had. Once you sit down and read their enormous menu, you will have quite a selection to choose from. I had a bacon wrapped steak and I found it really good. I was so full though that I couldn't finish my side. Which is saying a lot because I am not one to leave food on my plate or take stuff home. Try one of their fancy drinks, you won't regret it!
(5)Ron S.
Excellent one of the best steaks I have ever had. My wife and enjoyed the meal immensely for our 15th anniversary. Very courteous and attentive staff.
(5)Jennifer M.
Marti was our server and made everything great! It was our 10yr anniversary and they gave us complimentary champagne. Our steaks were cooked perfectly and we had a fabulous evening!
(5)Rachel C.
Perfection. Amazing I had the Caesar salad, and local pan seared flounder with lemon caper sauce. I could not finish either because of the large portions. The bread that they start the table with was also beyond delicious as was the chocolate mouse cake I had for dessert. I had laughed at the menus describing it as "cloud like," but that is the best description! Service was impeccable. One of my favorite dining experiences in Charleston.
(5)Paul Q.
Very mediocre and way over priced. It's a typical hotel restaurant that you'll find anywhere else in the country. Let's start with the nitrotini - $17 for a dirty Grey Goose martini with some dry ice to make it "smoke". We split the grilled octopus appetizer which aaas EXCELLENT and a very generous portion. Next came the veal chop at $49 - very uninspired with the main flavor being salt, although the portion size was large enough for us to split. The wine prices are absurd - $20 for a 9 ounce pour. The room is VERY noisy, and the restaurant had many empty tables. Plus hotel guests walk through the dining room to get to the lobby! We ordered a bottle of J Lohr cabernet for $58 and brought the rest home. There are so many better options in Charleston - Hall's, oak Steak House, S.N.O.B, Magnolia's, High Cotton, F.I.G, etc. that this place should be avoided.
(3)Linnea E.
I am in love. Spectacular meal. Drinks: let me start with the men. The nitrotini. Its a very cool experience... lots of ooohs and ahhhs. Then you drink it. Men at best. Save your money. Drink wine. Food: OMG. Every single thing I ate blew my sock off. Seriously... the bread was divine. They give an assortment, and everyone thought theirs was fabulous. Then on to the shrimp appetizer. Sooooo much garlic, lovely sauce, incredible flavor. I was ready to lick the dish! Then the steak. So perfectly seasoned. It was ever so slightly overcooked... But still fabulous. I got mine with roasted garlic and port wine reduction. Flavor heaven. For sides we had mushrooms and brussell sprouts. Now let me say... I loathe brussell sprouts... and these were delicious!!! Service: spot on. Our server was perfectly attentive, and we were a big group. When it was time to clear plates, a small army of people showed up out of nowhere to quickly clean up. Wow. I would seriously consider coming back to Charleston just to eat here. It was that good.
(5)Justin G.
The decor and atmosphere is very classy and upscale. The service was excellent and so was the food. My wife tried the peach nitrotini and was impressed. We started with the calamari which was prepared in some oil and Parmesan cheese. It was outstanding! We both had steaks cooked to perfection and the broccoli and tomato side dishes were amazing. Definitely recommend 225 for a good steak in Charleston.
(5)Ashley S.
They have a great rooftop bar! My mom, aunt, and I came here for a drink before dinner. There are a bunch of tables with umbrellas, a dozen or so beach chairs, and an area to stand around the bar. The view from the top is very nice, and thankfully it's not too windy because they have plexiglass lining the deck. The place was already pretty crowded when we came at 6pm on a Saturday, but we were able to get a table quickly because a group was leaving. Make sure you stake out a table, though, because there were a lot of other people trying to get tables, too. All three of us ordered their margarita with no salt on the rim. Our drinks were pretty tasty, but we were surprised that all of them tasted a little salty, even though there was no salt on our glasses. I'm not sure if they actually add salt to the mix or what, but it was not my favorite margarita. Anyways, this place is more about the ambiance, and we enjoyed sipping our slightly salty margaritas in gorgeous weather with nice views of the city. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town, but I'll probably order something else.
(4)Ryan K.
When I think of great hair I think of Rachel from Friends, but when I think of great food... I think of Grill 225! This place nails it every time. No dining experience has come close to matching it. They truly make you feel like "a Kennedy" (people say that right?) when you dine here... Or at least someone who knows the Kennedy family and they put in a good word for you. Either way, the service is fantastic! The steaks are cooked perfectly and you must, I repeat, MUST order the tuna tower. Hands down one of my favorite dishes in Charleston.
(5)Kelly G.
Nice, upscale spot located in the city market area. Really good food. My fave entree pick is the filet foie gras. For an appetizer try the fried lobster==delish!! the oysters are good too. Stay away from the hashbrowns for a side unless you really love hashbrowns....you can get those from waffle house lol and it is A LOT of them. For a drink, try a Nitrotini. It's kind of their signature drink. They have many kinds to choose from, my fave is the champagne nitro or the pomegranate nitro. The Nitrotini is infused with liquid nitrogen and the presentation is fun to watch at least once. The staff is always nice & helpful. There is an upstairs rooftop bar that has a fantastic view of the city. Check it out. If you eat upstairs, try the DUCK confit NACHOS. THEY ARE AWESOME!! This is a great date spot:) Enjoy!
(4)R F.
After complaining about them not having enough lobsters, which is what we came for. We left the restaurant unsatisfied and posted a poor rating The hotel reached out to us. Had to go a long way to find us while still in charleston. They invited us back the next night. The lobster Thermidor was outstanding the service was outstanding. The escargot the best we have had on a long time. And for Customer service the rating should go higher than the 5
(5)Julie W.
I only gave this 2 stars because we had an 815 pm reservation and were not seated until nearly 930! After checking in with the host twice, after seeing people walk in and get a table, it was apparent he kept forgetting about us. We were never apologized to for the late seating, nor were we offered anything. I even emailed the restaurant and received zero reply. Not good customer service! The food, however, was great. I'll give that 4 stars. The she-crab soup and chopped cesar salad will always stay with me as some of the best I've ever had. The steak I ordered was perfect. I cannot say the sides were good- but that was a personal preference, not because they were bad. There is SO much food. We ran out of room for dessert, but left full and our waiter was really attentive and great. The management and host up front could definitely use some customer service skills though. I'll stick with Halls or Oak if I want an expensive steak going forward.
(2)Jeff T.
I think this is probably a good place, but our experience was totally unimpressive. The roof was great scenery, but the drinks were watered down and poorly prepared. The dinner was equally unimpressive, especially for the cost. The bread was, at best, mediocre, and the sauteed mushrooms had no taste. The baked potato only came with butter and sour cream (no bacon, chives or cheese). Even worse was the $45 steak that was one of the toughest I've ever eaten anywhere. In fairness to them, they did comp the steaks and the bad drinks upstairs. We went with 7 other couples and they were all very pleased with their meals. The service and atmosphere were, however, very good in the restaurant. There are a lot of good reviews here, maybe we were just one of those bad things that occasionally happen. If you're looking for a great steakhouse, I highly recommend Hall's Chop House. The food, service and atmosphere were excellent. The owner came over at visited for quite some time and was a very pleasant and entertaining person.
(2)Brandà M.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Seriously, this is a MUST try in the city of Charleston. This came as a recommendation by my boss who is very classy and refined so I knew it would be nice; I wasn't expecting it to be mind-blowing. And it was! The atmosphere was elegant and old-world Southern, but not stuffy. We were promptly seated and our server went over the steak selection and her recommendations for the evening. She was very warm and knowledgeable. I went with her recommendation of the strawberry daiquiri Nitrotini and my husband went with a glass of wine. The martini came to the table smoking which in itself was amusing, but the warning label attached was absolutely priceless! I waited the 3 minutes and took a sip!!!!! Holy deliciousness!!!! Next came our steaks (I ordered the filet, hubby ordered the strip) and our sides- the mushrooms and Potatoes Maxim----- some kind of scalloped yumminess. Probably one of the best steaks I have had out in a long time. My husband agreed. Such a great place to treat yourself and don't forget to head to the rooftop for an after dinner drink with amazing views. Awesome place!!!
(5)Tara P.
One word. Perfect. Wonderful service, friendly wait staff. The steaks were cooked to perfection. The broccoli and cheese was outstanding, and in a much larger portion than one would expect. The atmosphere not only had a warm romantic feel but it makes you feel like part of the ritz. One of the most beautiful dining experiences I've had.
(5)Tom G.
Expensive and a little pretentious sums it up pretty well. On the upside the food was excellent. Same level of excellence you would get at a place half as expensive and with better service. Speaking of service (one of my things that drives me crazy or really appreciate) - it's so so. The staff has an air about them - you're there for them and not the other way around The rooftop bar is really cool and worth a visit, but the service is hit or miss; no beer on tap, only bottles.
(2)C K.
This upscale place is worth visiting. We ordered the escargots and shrimp brûlée as starters and the Rib-eye (bone in) and USDA filet with foie gras as a main course. The Rib Eye was a bit salty (that is why not a 5 star review), but the rest of the food was tasteful and well presented. Service was good and personable. This is a great restaurant if you are celebrating a special event or just because you like great food. We ordered two cocktails with our dinner and two side dishes. The bill was $250 excluding tip, so it is a bit on the pricier side but worth every penny.
(4)James B.
The meal was fabulous from the appetizers to the entrees and through dessert! Service was outstanding!!!! Ask for JB as he is the best. The Steak Oscar was cooked perfectly and the crab was plentiful and delicious. The peach cobbler is the absolute best.
(5)Sherid M.
My husband I dined here twice on our visit to Charleston last week. Once for lunch and once for dinner. The food was wonderful. My husband had a filet mignon, which he said was amazing. I had the flounder which was also amazing. My sister in law raved over the French onion soup. Would definitely recommend dining here and we will be back for sure. Our waiter Steven Mosgo was fantastic, very helpful and attentive!!
(5)Stephen J.
Went to the rooftop bar mid afternoon. Got a table right away, but the service was so-so. We were there just for drinks, our server was attentive but gave us the vibe he wanted us to go. Fantastic atmosphere, love the pool. The staff is dressed to the 9's, very classy. Drinks were ok. Fleets drinks are better.
(3)Francesca D.
If you want a fine dining experience, this is it. Each table has two servers who are attentive from the moment you sit down until you depart. While it is pricey, it's worth every penny. Don't deny some of the fabulous seafood dishes and apps just because it's a steakhouse. My favorite dish honestly is the Tuna Tower... you just cannot go wrong, it's incredible and huge. That and a salad is enough for a meal. If you love steak, all of their dry aged steaks are to die for. Opt for a smaller portion and get some of their delicious sides to split for the table. Two is plenty especially if you are getting apps. Don't pass up the creamed spinach and firey brussels. So good. Likely you won't have room for dessert, but it is delicious. Go the next night for a cocktail and dessert at the bar or eat early and come back for dessert later- it's that good! 5 stars and top notch all the way around for superior service and cuisine.
(5)Hana M.
The nitrotini is swank. It shrouded in a cloud of mist and a warning label. I felt like a bond girl drinking it. warning label reads "Avoid rapid ingestion" so I drank it through dinner, well by dinner end I felt like I was getting tipsy! Two of these would have done me it, and my wallet. Drinks are 18$ here!! Onto dinner: the wait staff were charming and very attentive. I dined with a party of 9 so I got to sample the various delights. I was guided to the crab cakes, loved lobster bits in it especially. It was so filling. My favorite food was the caesar salad (I'm such a pescatarian), the salad looked like it had gone through a food processor but managed to be light and crispy. For an appetizer we had something fried lobster and a charcuterie which I was all over for the cheese and whole grain mustard. I give this place 5 stars because the service was so good, and the drinks dazzled me.
(5)MaryBeth W.
You can't go wrong with anything here. The lobster is always my favorite!! Awesome staff! Beautiful restaurant!
(5)Sarah W.
The absolute BEST steakhouse I've ever been to! My husband and I decided we would try Grill 225 last Saturday after making reservations a week ago. The restaurant is located inside the beautiful Market Pavilion Hotel--as soon as you walk in. The architecture is breathtaking--the ceilings, the wooden paneling, and the beautiful chandelier when you first walk in are just some of the highlights. But let's get to the most important part: the food. My husband and I both started with the blue crab soup. It was creamy and rich, with generous portions of crab. The soup even came with a cornbread muffin. It was a little dry for my taste, but it complemented the soup so well, I ate it anyway! We both ordered the 42-day dry aged filet mignon. It was OUT OF THIS WORLD. I have never had a steak so delicious and tender. I hardly had to use my steak knife...it was that tender. For dessert I had the restaurant's specialty--the banana pudding. It isn't exactly pudding, though, but I didn't mind! It was a spice cake with bananas and caramel ice cream. Delish! My husband had a pastry with custard and fresh berries and loved it, too! The service was OK, nothing phenomenal. The meal out-shined the service, that's for sure. I have had better service at upscale restaurants like this one, but the meal was that good that it didn't matter! :)
(5)CJ H.
This is my first time in Charleston and a few of my business associates, post-conference, wanted to get a good steak. Grill 225 was recommended to us. Upon entering, I did feel like we were eating in the lobby of a hotel, however, the four of us shared one of their round enclosed booths. We started out with one of the best Wedge Salads I have ever had. Actually, "The Best" wedge salad I have ever had. Though we were in a restaurant known for its steaks, I am from Vegas and can get a great steak any day of the week. I wanted something local so I ordered the Jumbo Shrimp and Grits. It was good. The grit cake seemed a little overcooked but all in all I enjoyed it. My associates enjoyed their meals. After dinner we went upstairs to the roof bar for a nice view of the harbor so I was OK with paying premium prices for the beer, the local Palmetto that I love.
(4)Emily B.
Service was impeccable. Did not enjoy the salad the dressing was too vinegary. She crab soup was superb. The steak with crabmeat was flavorful but overcooked and seasoning on steak was a little too salty for my taste on some bites added hollandaise sauce and that was delicious. The creamed spinach was underseasoned. Bread was tasty and warm - nice variety. Nitrotini's were fabulous and fun - variety of unique flavors. Desserts were delicious - best creme brulee ever and the pecan pie with cinnamon ice cream was tremendous. For the price I would have expected more from some of the dishes but overall it was a great meal.
(4)Todd R.
From the moment we were seated we knew this would be a great dining experience. Our waiter JB knew what he was doing. Service is his career and it showed. My steak was perfectly prepared, the octopus appetizer was exceptional and my wife's crab cakes had more crab than a crab boat returning to port after a successful season. CRAB...not cake. Go to Grill 225, ask for JB, get the Crab Cakes and enjoy one of the finest meals you'll ever have.
(5)Ron N.
Expensive and a little pretentious. The table was set with 4 different glasses per person. 3 were removed when we didn't order wine. A New York strip steak cost $55.00. I had a berrycobbler that had 3 pound of butter and a pound of sugar. Old style Paula Dean type cooking from this kitchen The rif-raf, parties with kids, and customers in jeans were seated on the left in a small section. The well dressed young, hip crowd was seated to the right. It was almost too obvious to miss. May have just been coincidence but I doubt it. Don't go here for value but go if your looking for a good steak, rich food, big desserts, good service and money is not an issue. We were there on a cold, wet windy day. (I thought I was still in Ohio) so we did not visit the rooftop bar but I hear it is amazing. Personally, I liked the Cotton Club better but that is just me.
(3)Watkinsville D.
We had a great supper here last night. Awesome steaks and great wine. Sides were also very good. Get the Brussels sprouts and potatoes maximus. I had a strip steak that was excellent, but everyone else had filets which were equally great. Pay a little more money and eat here, you'll enjoy it. Oh yeah, I had a "nitrotini" as a starter cocktail. It was a good drink but more of an $18 novelty than anything. The warning label was a nice touch. Haha!
(5)Kevin O.
For the cost the food was average and slightly over rated, we did eat late so service was sub par for a restaurant of this Caliber to bad nice place I would go to Hanks again instead of here
(3)Lara B.
My husband had been looking forward to this restaurant the entire trip. We started the meal with the tuna tower. If explained that I have a soy allergy and the server assured me there wasn't soy sauce in the tuna. After one taste, I knew there was. We then split the wedge salad and ordered the 16oz aged strip to split. We asked for Pittsburgh rare and they didn't understand how to do a charred crust. When it came out the steak was far closer to medium and we sent it back. It's a true shame when a steak house can't properly cook a steak. Disappointed.
(3)Eddie S.
Dont listen to the reviewers that think Ruth Chris is fine dining. If you want a special experience at the best steakhouse I have ate at in the US with a southern gracious flair....THIS iIS IT! All steaks, especially Rib Eye are fantastic, all PRIME, sides are fantastic, the parm broccoli and mushrooms are off the hook! Actually based on your taste everything is good. They have 3,4,5 lb lobsters flown in from Bar Harbor and white coat service to boot. Ask for JB, been there for years, understands what a fine dining relaxed experience is all about.
(5)Brandi R.
This place was a little too pricey for the quality of the food, and the wait staff was way to pretentious for my liking. The escargot appetizer was extremely garlicky and salty; I love garlic but you couldn't even taste the escargot. I ordered a special 8 oz filet and was extremely surprised when it came out nearly charred on the top; It was meant to be served that way!? Having dined at Hall's Chophouse not even two weeks earlier, I was hoping to have a similar experience at what it advertised as Charleston's Premier Steakhouse. Save you money and head to Hall's. The service, atmosphere and food are so much more enjoyable!
(2)Yuko W.
I was visiting Charleston and celebrated the last night of the trip here. I'm usually not a meat eater, but their filet mignon was awesome!! We shared 3 sides between 4 people (sweet potato mash was great!) following waitress' suggestion, but we could've had 4 dishes instead. We must've been hungry. :)
(5)Alan M.
Rooftop pool/patio bar for a weekday lunch. Pros: Beautiful view of Charleston and the harbor. Companion's tuna tartar tower was very good, with fresh chunks of tuna tartar on top of sticky rice. Cons: Service is very sketchy. We were told to seat ourselves, and did so at the only empty table, piled with dirty dishes. Waiting perhaps 10 minutes. Servers were flitting about nearby, but paying no attention. I walked to the bar, and was told that there was no service in the area where we were seated. However, Dalton whom I spoke with graciously offered to serve us himself. The table was cleared and we ordered. While waiting a man at the next table lit up a large cigar. Well it was S.C. and it was an outdoor restaurant, but remaining at that table meant we were also kind of smoking the cigar. So we moved a couple tables to another just vacated table. Changing tables had put us with a new server. She was a tiny woman, who looked 10, but was actually in her twenties. She had a deer in the headlights manner, and tried hard, but hadn't quite mastered the art of service or English. There is VERY loud head-banging music continuously playing out of multiple speakers making conversation a shouting match. There are heavy metal bar stools for sitting at the high tables. Way too heavy to pick up (probably so they wouldn't blow around) but very difficult (make that nearly impossible) to slide on the stone slab floor. So we could not get close enough to the table to eat comfortably. I ordered shrimp salad, described as "chunks of shrimp on a croissant". Got a vaguely seafood tasting mayonnaise/celery mix with very finely chopped mystery seafood. Was sent back and struck from the bill. I mentioned the disparity between the menu description and the actual dish to the manager. He was supremely indifferent. The bill came to $ 42 for 1 beer, one glass wine and tuna appetizer. There are so many better lunch spots in Charleston. Forget about this one.
(2)Julia K.
I am fortunate enough to visit this gorgeous city a few times a year and when I do, a visit to Grill 225 is at the top of my list. One of the most upscale dining experiences in the city, the food rarely disappoints and the service is always top-notch. Last evening, we had the pleasure of having Andrew S. wait on us. While there are some staples I am always sure to order (the tuna tower is divine!), I was in a particularly indecisive mood. Andrew's recommendations from what cut of meat to order, to how to request it be prepared and paired, were spot-on and his attention-to-detail made our night that much more outstanding. Though the restaurant was buzzing, we were never left wanting for anything. Sure this place is pricey, but I've always left feeling it was worth it and I've found that the caliber of service overpowers any slight flaws I've experienced with the food. Kudos to management for recruiting such a competent, knowledgeable staff that only reinforces I am making the right choice returning again and again. Even in a city that is filled with so many culinary gems, the Grill stands apart.
(5)Michael K.
Bad start. Ordered Johnny Walker Black. Got a sip. Talk about stupid. This place is pretentious. Over bearing wait staff that fly around like knats. Eating in a hotel lobby. Food fair. Not not worth it.
(2)Diana W.
Had to stop by here for the Nitrotinis. The bar wasn't crowded at all that night but it still takes a good 10-15 minutes to get your drink...which is understandable since it's not a regular drink. The restaurant appears impressive, sleek decor and an outfitted waitstaff. The bartners that night lacked any personality. The drink was fun but honestly, it's a gimmick. If I lived here I wouldn't wait that long for a drink that costs about 16 dollars. Great for an out of town experience though.
(3)Ken B.
Friends and I came down for the Charleston Marathon. Chose to stop at Grill 225 to watch the NFL playoff game. Cheryl and Dave are great(the bartenders)! The rooftop atmosphere was awesome; even in chilly weather. Creative drink mixes were a plus. Try this place out!
(5)Jim g.
One of the best steaks I've ever had. Their aged filet is fantastic! Atmosphere is simple but nice. Not overdone like most places in this price range. I've been to many top dollar steakhouses in my time, but this one probably takes first prize for pretentious waiters. Other than that, service was also excellent. Wine selection was also great.
(4)Frank I.
We celebtated my sons graduation from C of C. We sat in a booth that provided us with a great deal of privacy for a party if 8.the service was excellent and extremely profession led by Table Captain Mike Budney. The portions were substantial and prepared to perfection. Try one on those Nitrogen Martinis!!!
(5)Brian R.
I've eaten here about a half dozen times over the years and Grill 225 never disappoints. I've had steaks all over the country and Grill 225 does the "Prime Steakhouse" moniker justice. When you make a reservation and tell them what you want (intimate booth, large group, near/away from kitchen) they will bend over backwards to accommodate your needs. If it's a special occasion - tell them in advance. I'm a bit confused at the other reviews and concede that this type of place is not for everyone. Full disclosure - this is a steakhouse (although they do seafood very well also). If you want chicken or vegan or ribs you will be disappointed. This is a fine dining restaurant so you will receive exemplary and attentive service. The wine list is extensive but the staff is extremely knowledgeable and has always been spot-on with their recommendations. The bone-in rib-eye is always great and they now keep the bone-in tenderloin on the menu (previously only the occasional special) - a phenomenal choice as well. I've always considered tenderloin to be a tender cut of beef with little flavor but cooked on the bone it gives a flavor that will satisfy even the most discriminating carnivore. Sides are served family style and are great for sharing. I've never had any side that wasn't good but I'm particularly fond of the asparagus, creamed spinach and the Grill 225 fries (shoestring and fried crispy). For dessert there are the typical selections and I'll usually opt for a glass of port and steal a few bites of my wife's selection (while recovering from my meat coma). Having had a taste of everything I can heartily recommend the banana bread pudding. The staff is some of the best in Charleston (which has some of the best restaurant staff in the country). It is expensive but you will not be disappointed.
(5)Susie G.
If you are a big fan of Grill 225 you may want to stop reading this as our experience there was about as close to mediocre as you can get. Again taking advantage of restaurant week we made reservations at Grill 225. They are the only restaurant that I've gone to since my blog began (72 restaurants ago), that required a credit card for a reservation. No explanation was given as to what would be charged to my credit card. There was no other way to make a reservation, so we thought we'd give it a try. Grill 225 is located in the lobby of a hotel. Despite the fact that we were seated in the world's largest, circular six-flag-ride-like booth, we still felt like we were sitting in a hotel lobby. The ambience was certainly lacking. The service started out great with a pleasant server recommending the restaurant week menu saying that there were some very nice items featured and it was "a deal". So that's the route we took. Their 4 for $40 menu selections had to be the largest we've seen during restaurant week visits. Four first course options, six second course options and four third course options. So far, so good. We made our entrée selections and unfortunately that was about it for any additional visits from our server. His 'assistant' was very nice and also attentive, but we never saw him again. For an automatic 20% gratuity that was added to all parties, I guess he can come and go. He's tipped the 20% regardless of the service. Our first course - chopped Caesar's, Lowcountry Blue Crab Chowder and the chilled wedge were awesome. Chilled plates, crisp lettuces, tangy dressings, were a win even though the plating wasn't that great (see pix)! Our entrees arrived in short order and were very disappointing. My USDA Prime veal chop was so full of fat and gristle that it was inedible. The USDA Prime rib eye was a sub-par cut of meat and over cooked. The salmon was somewhat flavorless, but the filet got raving reviews. We would have told the waiter had we seen him. Although the salmon was served with sautéed organic spinach the only item accompanying any of the meat items were deep fried onion strings. Really not a side at all, but rather a less-than-warm garnish. With this in mind we felt like we had to order a few side dishes. Oddly enough they became the highlight of the meal. Fire Roasted Brussels Sprouts with orange and soy ($10.00) and Grilled Tomatoes with Creamed Spinach and warmed Havarti cheese ($12.00), were without a doubt a large enough portion for the four of us and in the end became my dinner. The dessert items, the Classique(sic) Napoleon and Cinnamon Beignets and Vanilla bean gelato (I passed and took mine home), were a real crowd pleaser. Coffee with your dessert? Not so much. The only time we saw our server again was when he dropped the check and so we were never offered coffee, tea, after dinner drinks... nothing. My concern remains that restaurant week is beginning to zing of 'sticker shock'. All in for the two of us our bill was close to $160.00 with the mandatory, not-worth- it tip. Plus, did I mention you are sitting in a hotel lobby? Dress it up as they might, it's still feels like you're sitting in a lobby.
(3)Michael E.
While on Sullivan's Island eating dinner, one of the waitresses gave us a few suggestions of bars that we might want to check out once we got back to Charleston. The rooftop is where we went during a little lunch break. With a great view, good food, and bartenders that were attentive it was a good choice. I really want to go back to this place on a clear night as the bay bridge must be beautiful. As this is part of the hotel, guest stay at the tiny rooftop pool so it affords some interesting people watching.
(4)Mary T.
4 Stars = The bar, because I did not eat here. We arrived there after seeing an ad in a local paper about the Nitrotini's. I had no expectations when I went here. Thankfully I was dressed up so I did not feel underdressed when walking in there. There are men walking around with small looking earphones hanging out of their ears looking like they are in the CIA or something. It's only there for service reasons, so I was told. Whatever they weren't that busy. It made me think the president was there. Come on boys, take your toys off now. After looking at the Nitrotini menu, I ordered a Ketel One Martini up slightly dirty. He brought it over and I asked him if the Nitrogen was in there. He apologized when he realized that I wanted the liquid nitrogen in my drink and fixed it right away. He put on these huge gloves as if he was going to exterminate something and then put the liquid nitrogen in my drink which brought my drink to a -320 degrees farenheit. Yes, it was super cool. However, after the nitrogen quit putting off the smoke it did not keep my drink any cooler than a normal good shaken martini. The martini was good and the experience was cool. I also recommend after doing that, take yourself and your drink upstairs to the rooftop bar, there is also a restaurant there but, the view is what's so cool. So check it out! Keep in mind the nitrogen drinks are around $20-$30, so bring some cash! Stop by Grill 225 for a Nitrotini or a steak because I have heard the steaks are quite tasty and the go upstairs to see the view. I enjoyed it and you will too! Cheers!
(4)Vincent B.
Rooftop bar at 225 is spot on... View and food are over the top
(5)Shannon P.
This place gets a ton of people in and out to visit the rooftop pavilion bar. The rooftop is beautiful....pool, outdoor bar, great views, BUT it's always crazy crowded and often a drunken crowd. Wine will be served in plastic since it's near a pool. Downstairs at Grill 225 you'll find a more upscale scene, better beverage options, etc, but it still has a tourist element/vibe that I can't put my finger on.....they serve up nitro martini's that come 'smoking' to you at the bar, but the whole place just seems overpriced and overrated. There are SO many other better options in Charleston. Skip this one.
(3)Henrik C.
Went here to get steaks. This is probably the best steak place in Charleston. The meat is prime and they cook it exactly to order. The setting is formal with two waiters taking care of you. The meat selection is impressive and the quality is fantastic. They have 10-15 possible side dishes. We tried asparagus, baked potatoes, ... They have an impressive wine list. The wine prices are not too bad (We checked the price for 3 bottles and in both cases the price is less than twice the store price, so quite OK). The prices are upscale, so it could easily end up being $100 per person. The food and service matches the prices, but be prepared to pay for what you get.
(4)Dan B.
Great food, service was good but we could have seen our server a little more often for a coupe minor followup requests. Nice wine list.
(4)Francine F.
Lunch on a Thurs. Filet mignon was probably the best we've ever had. BLT salad with pecans and crab added was not only delicious, it was so big we could have split one and been full. Prices are a little steep but worth it since the (salad) portion was so huge. Focaccio bread that comes with entrees is most excellent. Our server, Lila, was sweet, efficient, knowledgeable and conversant. Hostess was chilly but we thought she may have been new.
(5)Xeekster d.
Stayed in the hotel. Had dinner on the first night. Very disappointing. White tablecloths, lots of wine glasses and pretentious and stuffy. Bring lots of money. I didn't have the steak and try consider themselves a steak house. My bad.
(2)Akshaya D.
It was truly the "pinnacle" of dining experiences I've ever had living in Charleston since last 3 months. I've eaten at almost all upscale restaurants in Charleston because my fiance's a big foodie and I must say, Grill 225 wins the prize and of-course, it's reputation as the prime steakhouses of US is well-deserved. As soon as we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the hostess, Ivy who made sure that we were seated comfortably. Then came in the server, Jeff with his assistant Cory and I would like to take this opportunity in this review to mention that they were "phenomenal". That was the best serving experience I've ever had. Jeff has an in-depth knowledge of the complete menu and that was highly commendable. He gave us a small brief of wine-pairing too. My fiance said that she felt like a "Young millionaire" couple with this elegant service we were experiencing. For the starters we began with fried lobster tail and escargots. They were nicely done and that was the first time ever in my life did I try french snails and am glad I did try them. For the salad we ordered, "Chopped Caesar" salad which was purely fresh to taste. And then, we went towards the main entrees and boy, they were purely a feast for all my senses. Am not a big steak person hence I went ahead with the seafood entree, a "Tuna Steak Provencal" and it was the best tuna steak I've ever had among the dining experiences I've had around Charleston and probably US. My fiance chose a "USDA Prime New York Strip" and normally she immediately comments about the food she eats and she just had to say, "fabulicious", fabulous + delicious. And yes, Jeff recommended a red wine pairing with our dinner and we had this lovely, Cabernet Sauvignon "Duckhorn Napa", indeed one of the finest red wines from the Napa valley. During our dinner, the manager of the hotel, Mr. Wright made sure that everything was at par with our dining experience and that made us feel homely and special. For the grand finale, the desserts, (There's always a room for dessert), we ordered a "Chocolate Mousse Cake" and a "Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee", once again upto the Grill 225 standards. To conclude my review, I would thoroughly recommend Grill 225 to anyone who loves steaks and is looking for an "impeccable" dining experience. With that being said, I would certainly be returning soon to Grill 225 again. Still have a lot to try from their menu where everything looks so good, and I know, tastes even better. Sincerely, thank you Grill 225 for an AMAZING dining experience.
(5)Harper T.
I brought a dinner party into Grill 225 last Friday night and was blown away. Our server, Jeff, could not have been more welcoming and helpful while we navigated through their amazing menu. Even with a full restaurant, we felt as if we were the only table. Beautiful ambiance, premium quality, and exceptional service is all I have ever received at Grill 225. Best restaurant in the city!
(5)Emily T.
We went to Grill 225 for my parents 30th wedding anniversary. We also celebrated my brother's engagement. We had a large group and they placed us at a round table. This made it easy to visit with everyone. My parents and brother and his fiance received a glass of champagne on the house to help them celebrate. ~The service was excellent and the waiters were very attentive ~The steak was seasoned to perfection and cooked to order (we had a lot of steak eaters with us and everyone commented on how it was some of the best steak they've had) ~The sides come family style, which was fun because you were able to try a little bit of everything. We ordered 4 different sides for our table and they all complimented our meal well ~The Nitrotinis were definitely fun to have served and very tasty to boot! ~Most of us ordered dessert. The dessert not only looked amazing, but also melted in your mouth and made an excellent finish to the meal This is a dressier restaurant and plan to spend some money, but it is definitely worth it. We also checked out the rooftop bar. This was a very nice area to just grab a drink and hang out with a nice view of the city and the ocean.
(5)Claire P.
This is a very old school steak restaurant. It's good food, but here are my main points of contention: as with all traditional steakhouses, everything is a la carte. Want something other than a hunk of meat, like a vegetable? That's extra. Also, there are so many staff members on the floor at one time, it's nuts. It's like a white coat circus, and it makes it too stuffy in there. With so many other restaurants in Charleston, this slips down my list.
(3)John D.
Best place for a steak dinner in Charleston. I've had steak at most of the restaurants around the East Bay street area too. Grill 225 ages their beef anywhere from 28 to 45 days depending on the cut of meat. The steaks practically melt in your mouth. I didn't rate 225 any higher because they undercooked my wife's filet. For a place like 225, you just can't do that. Of the sides, we ordered the grilled tomatoes and cauliflower fritters. I ordered the grilled tomatoes just to see how they did it. Let me tell you, I could have eaten them as my main dinner. They had the tomato and then topped it with cheese and some type of dressing that made the flavors just come together. The fritters were fried and very tasty. Wine selection is fine. Would have liked to had more selections for just a glass purchase, but the one I got was very good and reasonably priced. For dessert, my wife and I got the Classic Napolean and it was EXCELLENT. You will need to share the dessert as it is huge. The dessert had fresh berries, vanilla cream all fit between these layered patries. So good and fresh. The service was good and the staff is attentive. Will definitely eat there again in the future.
(3)Bob B.
Wow. Major dining experience. Truly great steaks, excellent wine selection (including 2009 Bordeaux), superlative service. Highly recommended.
(5)Eric G.
It's one of those beef, beef, beef places. The menu hasn't changed in half a decade. If you're into great steaks, visit Chicago. If you're into sameness, this is your heaven. Or if you just have money to burn, live it up. --THE BAR is a CRYING SHAME-- They have this great warm wood and leather atmosphere with soft lighting and you look forward to a nice small batch Bourbon or Scotch and what do you get? Generic Shit and Gimmicky cocktails. The bar manager is deserving of a bold kick in the ass for the pisspoor selection of whiskeys. They feature the swill of Jim Beam and Macallan ---same as every podunk bar in every podunk town. Like I said, shameful. Even the bartender was disgusted at their offerings. And the nitrogen martinis? Tourist CHEESE.
(2)Amy N.
With all the great food to be had in Charleston, there's no reason to put Grill 225 on the list unless 6 kinds of wine glasses and overbearing service is your style. The food is just OK, and the menu- while extensive- surprisingly lacks even one chicken entree for the non-steak eater. Best part is the beautiful rooftop bar, which manages to be upscale and classy without seeming snotty.
(2)Jim B.
My wife and I had a spectacular Thanksgiving dinner at 225, the food was wonderful, but our server, Michael, made the experience spectacular. He provided excellent advice on the wine selection. We truly enjoyed the entire dining experience
(5)Mark T.
I've ate here only on one occasion and really enjoyed the meal. I ordered their rib-eye steak with a Caesar side. The steak was cooked to absolute perfection and was possibly the tastiest steak I've ever eaten. The salad was also very tasty, too. It was a finely chopped salad bursting with texture and flavor. I finally ordered the Chocolate Mousse Cake which again, was absolutely perfect. It was served with a generous helping of warm ganache and could have served more than two --though somehow I managed to stuff the entire thing down my throat. The restaurant and staff had a formal setting with three tiered flatware and glasses --even the servers serve on the correct side. They were extremely efficient and very knowledgeable about the menu. The restaurant had an À la carte pricing structure and was pretty expensive, though the taste of the food could easily justify the price. I'd certainly recommend this place.
(5)Raja C.
very high end dining experience with white tablecloths etc. we just stopped into the bar for nitrotini's. Tasty enough, but lots of cool factor!
(4)sarah c.
Very fancy-schmancy. Had a reservation, but had to wait on our table. Went to the bar where the bartender was not very friendly. Thankfully my gin and tonic made up for it, yum. Our table was right by the main walkway to the kitchen, not the most convenient for a quiet meal. Our waiter was very good and nice, a little sweaty. The waiter's helper was nice but fell down on the job of keeping our waters full. I had the fillet mignon, good but not the best. My favorite was the dessert. Creamy vanilla goodness with berries, 225 Panna Cotta. I would have loved to sit in one of the oversized booths, maybe next time. Oh, and the valet parking is ten dollars cash up front. The closest atm has a five dollar fee.
(3)D M.
Drinks and food was subpar. My family and I used to go here every 6 months becuase the food and service was always excellent; however, a few years went by before we could return and boy has this restaurant downgraded itself. The air was freezing since we were right under the ac and we asked for different seating, turning down ac or even jackets, but no change. The server said he would give us his jacket, but then he wouldn't be allowed to serve us.... The steak was extememly salted!!! Vegetarian meal was unflavorful and tastless Nitrogen drink. Very disappointing experience for a high class dining restaurant.
(2)Aura E.
This restaurant has a great service and excellent food. Just be careful since portions are very generous.
(5)Laura T.
The clientele socializing and drinking at the roof top bar epitomizes the upper crust Southern folk. From the drawl of the bartender who was more than willing to "save my seat" at the bar while I ran to retrieve my cell phone from the car, to the linen pant clad gentleman holding the door on my way out, any out of towner feels like they are in the heart of southern hospitality. In a snooty kind of way. The friendliness could also be construed as flirtatiousness, eyes twinkling behind designer shades, ultra white teeth flashing a smile. Surrounded by clean cut men sporting turquoise summer sweaters, sear sucker pants and pink and green striped ties as they casually sip $15 martinis, I feel as if I've been transplanted to another world. Not NYC, not DC, not San Fran. Great views of Charleston, the bridges, and surrounding water. Oh, you could throw in people watching as well. Tasty drinks and apps, if you've got money to burn or an expense account to utilize. Certainly not worth my own dime though.
(3)Jacqueline S.
I recently moved to Charleston from Massachusetts, and I would compare Grill 225 to the Capital Grille, but better. I usually don't love places that force you to order extra sides in addition to your steak, but we had a great night at the bar and then at dinner. Service was excellent, and everyone enjoyed their food. Everyone had steak, and we shared a few sides. I loved the creamed spinach and the bread pudding for dessert was amazing (we had to share between 4 people because we were all so full from dinner!) Wine was excellent as well. Pricey but OK.
(3)Hula B.
we went for their thanksgiving dinner buffet and thought everything was delicious. expensive, but delicious. great selection of champaigns and sparkling by glass and an extensive although pricey wine list. over-all we had a good time. but not someplace we would eat at all the time due to the prices. i think other places might be just as good and better values. for two of us i think we spent almost $500 with tip. granted, we had everything, champaign, bottle of red, after dinner drinks, etc...
(4)Simon C.
I went here with two shipmates and was scared of going here because it looked so fancy. Everyone was dressed up and we were in our dress whites. But the service staff was very nice and friendly. They welcome us to eat there. Anyways we sat down feeling a little awkward but the service staff continued to be friendly. PJ was awesome and nice to us. Get him as your server. Best steak I have ever had. I ordered the New York steak medium rare and I felt really happy after eating it. I felt as if they put some addictive sauce on it. After eating here, I think charleston contain one of the most friendliest people in the US. I want to thank the kind man with the blue shirt for covering our meal. It really made our day. I hope I can do the same for someone else one day.
(4)Marcie S.
Customer Service is lacking and can use improvement. Typically if the customer is not pleased with a product at a restaurant the staff goes over and above to fix it. Not the case at Grill 225. Don't waste your money on overpriced drinks and less than mediocre food.
(1)R P.
Great service, spectacular food!! Who cares if it is in a lobby, the restaurant was very quiet and intimate when we were there. While making reservations, I let the staff know it was an anniversary dinner, the waiter came immediately after we were sat and offered 2 glasses of champagne on the house to celebrate our anniversary. In addition, our deserts arrived with happy anniversary written in chocolate sauce on the plate. Back to the beginning, we checked in early and went upstairs for a cocktail. The host actually came up and got us when our table was ready. We were seated quickly and then began the most elaborate and efficient serving experience of our lives. The steak was amazing. My wife has talked about the food and service for a week now and we are both ruined when it comes to chain dining. Grill 225 is absolutely perfect for a great intimate dinner date. As for those complaining about the price, you get what you pay for. I felt the price was well justified. Next time we visit Charleston, Grill 225 will be on list.
(4)Darren L.
Ok, seriously this place is really expensive to eat an entree, but the bar food was quite good and the roof top patio is just... well...awesome!
(5)H S.
I went up to the rooftop lounge for a few drinks, maybe something light to eat. First off, the atmosphere is awesome. It's not every day that I take the elevator in a fancy restaurant up to the roof where classy people elegantly stand around a lovely pool holding drinks in their hands. Definitely a first. With that being said, drinks and food are way overpriced. The food wasn't very good actually, though the drinks were (if you like juiced down cocktails). Still, a splendid view of the city.
(3)Jennifer M.
3 stars is only for the wait time/customer service! Food was excellent! We had a reservation for 8:15 but were not seated until 9pm. A group of 4 that we met had an 8pm reservation and were not seated until 9pm as well. In their defense, it was restaurant week and a Friday night. However, just make sure that if it's a special occasion (it was our honeymoon) you let the management know in advance so they will be prepared to honor your reservation. The 1st manager that we met with was rude and unapologetic. After asking to speak with the owner, a 2nd manager arrived, apologized, and gave us glasses of champagne for our trouble. My husband really wanted a steak or we would not have waited! It was worth the wait as he loved his steak!
(3)Happy L.
At this price point service should probably be a bit more refined and smooth. Food was really good and we did not have steak,instead had apps and the halibut. Wine list is ridiculously expensive. I would have scampered over to the charleston grill if I had it all to do over again. The same bottle of wine was fifteen dollars less,that does leave a bit of the getting gouged taste in your mouth. Not a bad experience by any means just not sure it was truly worth the cost.
(4)Sue S.
This restaurant was the perfect place for the perfect steak dinner. My co-workers and I were looking for a great steak dinner with a great wine list. 225 did not dissappoint. The service was awesome. I have to say I was a bit under dressed for the restaurant, but that didn't show on anyone's face as they served us. Two of us started off with the Blue crab chowder- OMG! This was the best cream of crab soup I have ever had and I live in MD! It was served in a very different large bowl. I really expected a small cup. served with a small corn muffin that was a bit dry for me, but good dunked in the soup. Then our steak came--cooked to perfection and served with family style sides. We choose the potato au gratin dish and the tomato with cheese and spinach. The meal was delicious. And the wine. . we had two bottles of red cabernet and they did not dissappoint. Now there was not a bottle less than $75, so be forwarned! But the wine was so delicious! Unfortunately, no room for dessert, but the list looked amazing. The place had a wonderful christmas tree that was so pretty to look at in the low lights. Perfect place for a birthday or anniversary dinner! Enjoy!
(5)Jennifer B.
Super overpriced for not so great food! There are so many great restaurants in Charleston you should skip this one. The table we sat at was round and we had a party of six. Nothing like making two people get up and scoot all the way around if you should need to use the restroom. We had the truffle chips to start which I thought would be excellent but they had no flavor at all. Extremely surprising given they were supposed to have truffle oil on them! Anyway, the server could not reach to serve us given the round table so we basically had to serve ourselves. The servers also have to wear these extremely unflattering and unfitted white coats that make you feel like you are in the doctor's office. My entrée salad had a ton and I mean a TON of dressing on it so I could not even eat it. My grandmother's egg soufflé was extremely overcooked and had no flavor. The only good entrée was the creme burlee french toast which was excellent. The service was overdone so that basically everytime we took a sip she was back at the table filling up our glasses. Given the six people there every time a conversation begun it was interrupted by the server. I am all for good service but I would rather have more time with my company than the server. For the prices here I expected much much better! I will not be returning.
(2)Katoe Y.
My husband wanted to dine here for his birthday dinner so I made a reservation before we got into town. We were staying at the Market Pavilion, 225 sits in the lobby of the hotel. So when we checked in and saw 225, my thought was 'this is a little hoity toity and filled with an older clientele, maybe we should go somewhere else'. He still wanted to try 225. We had a drink first at the bar. The bartender didn't have much of a personality, and he wasn't very busy, but he made a fantastic dirty vodka martini and was generous with the blue cheese stuffed olives. Our server was excellent, a young man, only 22 years old but gave first class southern service. I would hire Miles to work for me anytime...we are still talking about his service. We shared the shrimp bisque soup and wedge salad for appetizers...both were delicious. Being from Chicago, we have high expectations for steak...we were impressed. My husband ordered the bonein ribeye, and he loved it. I had the filet, and while it was not prepared the way I asked, it was really good. There was no shortage of seasonings on the steaks, I think it was just salt & pepper. We only ordered one side, because the portions are extremely generous. We had the hasbrowns and added grilled onions. There was enough leftovers for 4 of us to eat the hash browns for breakfast the next day. Dessert got 5 stars! Local berry cobbler a la mode...Oh MY is all I have to say. It was perfection! I would highly recommend 225, and would visit again on our next trip.
(4)C T.
The steak I had and wifey's crab cakes were NOT great at all. The potatoes and spinach sides also were severely lacking flavor. I'd say the food is mediocre at best. The rooftop bar was somewhat cool and laid back and earned the 2nd star. Too many great restaurants in Charleston to waste your moolah here.
(2)Katie M.
Go to the pool rooftop bar upstairs- great view of the city and good service. A little warm on the super hot and humid days, but there's always a breeze. Didn't eat, but the items coming out to other tables looked fantastic and huge. Pricey, but worth the view.
(4)dan d.
Let me start by saying that I just don't understand Grill 225's take on the fine dining concept. Now to be fair, I don't have a whole lot of fine dining experience under my belt, but I am a bit of a foodie and I've been to Charleston's other Steakhouses (if you're just reading this to decide on one, go to Oak). Maybe other places have Alice in Wonderland sized menus and tables so large that you need to use semaphore to communicate with the person sitting across from you*. Maybe other fine dining establishments offer kitschy drinks like the Nitrotini, made with liquid nitrogen and served with a disclaimer that placing you skin in direct contact with liquid nitrogen can cause frostbite. These were all firsts for me at any level of dining establishment. Of course none of that is the primary driver in my assignment of such a lowly score to one of the "Great Steakhouses of North America"**. In fact there's no single reason that Grill 225 did so poorly, just a plethora of confounding occurrences that added up to make dining here quite a memorable experience. More on that later; first, I'll talk about the food. The food on the whole was very good. Based on the prices, I was expecting excellent, but whatever. I thoroughly enjoyed my petite filet which was probably the largest ten ounce steak I've ever seen. Combined with my salad and three sides split amongst four people it was more than enough to eat. A stand out in the food category was the lump meat crab cakes, they were almost 100% crab with minimal filler. I do take issue with Aaron B.'s description on the truffled potato chips, they are not "liquid crack"; they are simply hum drum homemade thin potato chips with very messy cheese sauce. Now on to the reasons why I do not plan on making a return trip to Grill 225: 1. There is a bar in the same room as the restaurant. It was particularly loud when we sat down, and near impossible to hold a conversation. 2. I was asked if I wanted bottled or tap water. I was not asked if I wanted a dead winged insect in my water, I guess that was free. This was promptly corrected after I pointed it out, but why was I the one that needed to point it out? 3. The bottle of wine brought out was of a different (albeit older) vintage than what was listed on the menu and was presented with the excuse of "We found an older bottle in the cellar." I know wine gets better with age and all but I also know that some vineyards have off years based on weather patterns and the like. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if 2005 was a better year than 2007 so I let it slide at the time, but it's worth noting here. 4. The fire alarm went off in the middle of our meal; lights, siren, the whole nine yards. A few bar patrons left at the time but the staff was unfazed. We kept eating. 5. This one really takes the cake... I felt a drop of water hit the table in the middle of dinner, so I look up to see where it's coming from. I discover not only condensation on the air conditioning vent, but black mold growing on the ceiling around the vent. I mentioned something about this to our waitress and within a minute*** one of the lower ranking waiters brought out a 20 foot pole with several washcloths rubber banded to the end of it. As you would guess this alone was quite a spectacle and the whole restaurant (including the kitchen staff) was watching when he wiped the water off - sending half of it cascading down to our table. Seeing that, he stopped before the job was done and sheepishly retreated to the back room. A few minutes later he re-emerged, apparently having been retrained in the sacred art of wiping water off of an air-conditioning vent in a fine dining establishment while people are eating at the table below. This time he was successful and we stayed dry. 6. About 10 minutes after the conclusion of the great condensation circus someone (perhaps the manager? He didn't bother identifying himself) came over to apologize for our ordeal. This is where I was thinking that some concession would be made, at least offering free dessert or something right? Wrong. Nothing. Just an I'm sorry. Not a cent was taken off the check at the end of the meal either. * There were four of us and the table was round...I mean seriously. ** This list is established by The Independent Retail Cattleman's Association. Based on my research, this organization is just a bunch of restaurants that got together and decided that they wanted to be on a list of great restaurants so they could advertise in Delta Sky Magazine. greatsteakofna.com *** Their promptness in producing a 20 foot long pole and the presence of mold on the ceiling lead me to believe that I'm not the first person to experience the circus of cascading condensation. Why then did they seat us at this table? There were plenty of tables available in the restaurant. This reeks of gross managerial oversight.
(2)Roger G.
Had a special dinner with my son who has the same birthday as myself and he turned 30 this year. He was visiting from out of state and wanted to have a memorable time together. I picked the Grille 225 as his business is food and beverage and thought this would be the best place to take him. We first went upstairs to the roof for a drink. Service was very slow and when getting ready to pay the bill the receipt blew out of the folio. We waited for our server to come back, but it was taking way too long. We had reservations downstairs and could not wait any longer and went to bar to explain. They asked who are waiter was and she appeared from the kitchen, but kept on walking when we explained what happened. We did proceed to the grille, but if we did not have reservations this did not set a good example of a top restaurant. The meal and service was excellent downstairs, but management should be aware that they could lose customers as the roof may be their first stop or introduction to the Grille.
(4)Chris W.
Hands down one of the best restaurants i've ever eaten at. Phenomenal food, excellent service, and overall fantastic experience!
(5)Allen H.
Looks like nothing has changed since Jennifer B's visit. Super overpriced and the food just isn't that good. We had wanted to visit for sometime and made it during restaurant week last week. One filet at our table which was well regarded, and three rib eyes. One rib eye was too tough ("Prime?," oh please). And the wine corkage is ridiculous. When I go to a new restaurant, I like to bring my own. Then if I see things on the wine list I like, the next time I buy theirs. But the multiplier for mark-up over retail, in some cases approached 4X. And the corkage was $50 for bottles you bring that they decide are low priced, and $100 for those they think are high. Skip the Grill, but don't miss the Pavilion Bar on the roof - and order the crab cakes. And if you want, get a bottle of wine there from a separate wine list.
(1)Aaron B.
This is the best steak that you'll find in Charleston. I've eaten at some of the best steakhouses in New York and Chicago, and Grill 225 ranks right up there with them. It is the only place in Charleston serving USDA Prime meats, and the bar is worth a look as well. Top shelf drinks are available by the glass. You absolutely must try the truffled potato chips as a side...the sauce is addictive..."liquid crack" as one of my colleagues called it.
(5)Susan S.
Ya know... honestly, I can not say that I loved it. The atmosphere is classy and elegant, their service is great (Jeff did a wonderful job!!), the restaurant was beautifully decorated with Orchids (last time I was there), the wine list extensive, but the food... when the meal is running $100 a plate (to include 1 appetizer and 2 a la carte sides), I have certain expectations. My steak lacked flavor- and I'm not the kind of person that gets it well done and then proceeds to drown it in a horrible assortment of blasphemous (yes, it's blasphemy!!) steak sauces and ketchup. I like it rare & when it comes out, I should not have to add salt or pepper. The sides were fried green tomatoes & some sort of casserole or grit thing... I don't remember. Either way, I had heard such good things about this place and sadly I was disappointed. Their rooftop bar is nice. I always take out of town guests there when I'm entertaining. Gorgeous views of the city.
(3)Dee F.
This is a good place. BUT the ROI is a little off. I don't think its great for your money. But a solid place if YOU AREN'T BUYING!
(4)Nicola G.
Friends were staying at the hotel where the restaurant is located, one evening while sitting at the bar we asked to see a menu (a lady was eating at the bar and her food looked and smelled fabulous). The menu tempted us all and we booked a table for the following night - luckily was midweek. We enjoyed every moment of that meal... one of the best meals I have had in Charleston. Please order steak if you go - it is a steak restaurant afterall. We all had different cuts and all were delicious, tender and perfectly cooked. I recall the risotto side that came with mine was creamy and tasty enough to want a plateful. We all failed to resist dessert as everything else had been so terrific - we wern't disapointed by them and plates were scraped clean. Can't say enough good things about 225 - just go...but be warned is a very expensive night out.
(5)Brandon R.
awesome! first and only time i've had filet mignon on the bone. this is the way it should be prepared.
(4)John H.
My wife and I eat at Grill 225 once a year to celebrate our anniversary... We have never had a less than perfect dining experience. Our server Jess, did a great job of taking care of us last night. We went to the roof and had a drink at sunset, then downstairs for our meal... Let me just say, I have had steak in places all over this amazing country and the world, but the aged filet at Grill 225 always blows me away. I feel guilty eating such good food! We shared the BLT salad which was one of the best, if not the best salads I have ever eaten. The roasted pecans were similar to pralines, the bacon crispy. Yummmmmmm! We split a 14 Oz filet, cooked medium. It was exactly as I dreamed and have always had at Grill 225. Spice was light, outside piping hot, inside warm and buttery. It would cut easily with a fork, and all but melts in your mouth. We also split a 3 lb lobster prepared traditionally with drawn butter. What more can I say? Lobster, butter, heaven on earth. For a side, we selected cauliflower fritters. I was impressed, mainly because I don't normally like cauliflower. This was an exception undoubtedly! Grill 225 treated us to complimentary champagne since it was our anniversary, and when dessert (the scrumptious baklava purse) was brought to our table it again reminded me why I love this place... They wrote happy anniversary in chocolate drizzle on the plate.... We had far more food than anyone should ever eat, left some fritters and baklava behind. We also tried a Nitrotini again... "Tourist CHEESE" as stated below, or not, I loved mine. The only problem with Grill 225 is, our anniversary only comes once a year. Next year we will make the 4 hour drive down and repeat ;) Enjoy!
(5)Daniel W.
Great place overall, one of my Charleston favorites. The hotel is awesome. Food at Grille 225 is always wonderful and the atmosphere is one of a kind. Really cool bars in the lobby and the hotel rooftop (best views in Charleston).
(5)Nicholas N.
The rooftop bar is pretty sweet. The nitrogen martinis are cool but not worth doing twice.
(3)