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Name: High Cotton
Address: 199 E Bay St, Charleston, SC, 29401
Telephone: (843) 724-3815
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.08

High Cotton

199 E Bay St, Charleston, SC, 29401

(843) 724-3815
Store is closed

High Cotton Menu

Starters

Starters Caramelized Onion Soup

Charleston She Crab Soup

Grilled Portobello

Meat and Cheese Board

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail

Butter - Poached Stuffed Mushrooms

Anson Mills Benne Seed Encrusted Tuna

Starters Caramelized Onion Soup

Charleston She Crab Soup

Grilled Portobello

Meat and Cheese Board

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail

Butter - Poached Stuffed Mushrooms

Anson Mills Benne Seed Encrusted Tuna
Salads

Bibb Lettuce Salad

Caesar Salad

Field Greens Salad

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Bibb Lettuce Salad

Caesar Salad

Field Greens Salad

Heirloom Tomato Salad
Entrees

Ora King Salmon

Yellowfin Tuna

High Cotton Shrimp and Grits

Shellfish Ravioli

Grilled Twin Lobster Tails

Cherry Point Swordfish

Ora King Salmon

Yellowfin Tuna

High Cotton Shrimp and Grits

Shellfish Ravioli

Grilled Twin Lobster Tails

Cherry Point Swordfish
Oysters

Buttermilk Fried

The Half Shell

Buttermilk Fried

The Half Shell
Allen Brothers Steaks

Filet Mignon

New York Strip

Prime Ribeye

Filet Mignon

New York Strip

Prime Ribeye
Sauces and Accompaniments

Twin Grilled Lobster Tails

Oscar Style

Truffle Butter

Henry Bain

Bearnaise

Twin Grilled Lobster Tails

Oscar Style

Truffle Butter

Henry Bain

Bearnaise
Vegetables

Sauteed Spinach

Roasted Mushrooms

Geechie Boy Grits

Potato and Gruyere Gratin

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Grilled Asparagus

French Fries

Field Bean Succotash

Sauteed Spinach

Roasted Mushrooms

Geechie Boy Grits

Potato and Gruyere Gratin

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Grilled Asparagus

French Fries

Field Bean Succotash

Healthy Meal suggestions for High Cotton

Starters

Starters Caramelized Onion Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Charleston She Crab Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Portobello [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat and Cheese Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Butter - Poached Stuffed Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Anson Mills Benne Seed Encrusted Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Starters Caramelized Onion Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Charleston She Crab Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Portobello [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat and Cheese Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Butter - Poached Stuffed Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Anson Mills Benne Seed Encrusted Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Bibb Lettuce Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Field Greens Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Heirloom Tomato Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bibb Lettuce Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Field Greens Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Heirloom Tomato Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Ora King Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yellowfin Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

High Cotton Shrimp and Grits [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shellfish Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Twin Lobster Tails [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cherry Point Swordfish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ora King Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yellowfin Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

High Cotton Shrimp and Grits [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shellfish Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Twin Lobster Tails [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cherry Point Swordfish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Oysters

Buttermilk Fried [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Half Shell [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buttermilk Fried [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Half Shell [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Allen Brothers Steaks

Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

New York Strip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prime Ribeye [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

New York Strip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prime Ribeye [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sauces and Accompaniments

Twin Grilled Lobster Tails [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oscar Style [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Butter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Henry Bain [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bearnaise [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Twin Grilled Lobster Tails [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oscar Style [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Butter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Henry Bain [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bearnaise [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetables

Sauteed Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Geechie Boy Grits [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potato and Gruyere Gratin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Brussels Sprouts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Field Bean Succotash [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Geechie Boy Grits [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potato and Gruyere Gratin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Brussels Sprouts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Field Bean Succotash [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Charleston for healthy meals suggestion.

Charleston Grill ( 224 King St )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Daniel C.

Had a business dinner here recently. Food was good, but not great. Caesar salad was just ok, with a couple of big strips of romaine on the plate. I had the yellow fin tuna as my entree and must say was disappointed as it was dry. The mashed potatoes were good. Service was very good and the place does have a nice ambiance.
(3)
Travis P.

Haute couture meets Southern cuisine. Gotta try.
(5)
Kate C.

We went for dinner on a Sunday night and sat in the bar. Great ambiance, with live music and beautiful wood paneling. The stand out of the meal was easily and most definitely the burger. I give the burger a 10 of 10, and I am somewhat of a burger aficionado. Perfect bun to burger ration, not greasy, perfect meat texture and the flavor was on the money. Great fries too. The disappointment came with the pork buns. Nasty. That's all there is to it, nasty.
(4)
George S.

This is our 4th time at High Cotton and it has been consistently great each visit. Food and service were outstanding. Great atmosphere with a cool bar.
(5)
Jim D.

Great place and great service. The NY strip steak was less than I expect for $31 steak with 1 side. It was heavily salted too.
(3)
Melinda C.

Came here for brunch on a visit to Charleston and thought it was really great--the fried green tomatoes were perfection! The band's a little loud for Sunday morning, but the food can't be beat.
(4)
Jessica K.

VERY DISAPPOINTING BRUNCH! We read some great reviews on here, so I was excited to go there. The food wasn't bad per se, but it wasn't that great and definitely not worth the money. I had the banana bread french toast. It was basically warmed up banana bread. He had the BBQ duck hash -- it was oily and overly salty. "Meh" pretty much sums it up.
(2)
Carrie B.

The music was wonderful and the service superb. One of those places you just have fun. Smoked pork belly the best I've had. If you're in Charleston, ,just go there.
(4)
Alfred L.

Bar menu a good buy. The stack of ribs were served with a delicious sauce, a welcome change from BBQ Sauce.
(4)
Kasey O.

Sunday brunch. Make sure to dress nicer than jeans. It's a nice place. It can live up the hype if you let it. The cornbread they serve is great, warm and crumbly. I ordered off the specials menu: banana, peanut butter pancakes with cinnamon ice cream and oh my god it was delicious. I want to go back but the staff there made us feel like we were dirt because we didn't have reservations. It wasn't busy and there was no wait so minus a star for snobby treatment. (i have money to spend here!!! in julia roberts pretty woman style voice)
(3)
Dan M.

We ate at High Cotton for Sunday brunch. Great choice! The food was fresh, the service was exquisite. I had the french toast - wowsers! - with a side of fried green tomatoes which were sweet with the right amount of crispness. High Cotton has cache in Charleston - everyone we spoke with was impressed we ate there. The only complaint is that the restroom is a little small.
(5)
Steve B.

One word. Charcuterie.
(5)
Elizabeth P.

My family's and my latest trip to High Cotton was solidly good, if not particularly remarkable. The dining space consists of three main rooms: two dining rooms and a bar. I haven't spent much time in the bar, so I don't know much about the space other than that it is the location of the live band that performs at the restaurant. I've eaten in both of the dining rooms and definitely prefer the larger of the two. It might be noisy when busy (although a table along the perimeter of the room alleviates this issue somewhat), but the space is much more attractive than the small dining room, which feels a bit staid. We began our dinner with a plate for the table of the fried oysters. I'm not a big oyster person; however, several of my companions were and they absolutely loved the dish. The oysters came out straight from the fryer and were wonderfully hot and crisp. Recommended appetizers included the tuna tartare stuffed avocado (a classic combination done well) and the toasted green tomato soup (which had a nice Southwestern-influenced flavor). On the other hand, I wasn't a big fan of the gnocchi. The exteriors of the gnocchi turned into a slightly tough casing because of the way in which they were prepared (they may have been pan sauteed). The morels, asparagus, and peas were nice accompaniments; however, I found the dish to be a bit one-note because of the overpowering flavor of the mint--the lemon butter didn't really come through for me. The entrees consisted of a smattering of hits and misses. My boyfriend loved the chicken breast: the skin looked to be nice and crisp and the fresh made fettuccine was wonderful. I found the dish to be a bit too smoky; however, he very much enjoyed the inclusion of the bacon to the dish. On the other hand, the halibut and the vegetable plate were both disappointments. The halibut was well-cooked; however, the white soy miso broth lacked the flavor I was expecting, leaving the dish very bland. My sister found the risotto on the vegetable plate to be okay; however, she really didn't enjoy the rest of the dish. Desserts were better than the entrees: though they weren't particularly cutting edge, they were tasty. Unfortunately, the peach cobbler special ran out by the time we ordered dessert. This has happened a couple of times with the dessert specials--if there's a special that sounds to die for, you might want to think about ordering it with your entree. That being said, both the pecan pie and the double chocolate mousse pie were very tasty replacements. Overall, High Cotton was a mixed experience--aspects were good, but I wasn't wowed. That being said, I would definitely consider coming back. I've had better experiences at the restaurant in the past.
(3)
Ted R.

Full disclosure: my brother has been a chef in the kitchen here for years...but that also means that I've gotten a really deep sense of how much passion this staff puts into their art...and you benefit from that devotion when you chow on this amazing food. They have great, long-term relations with a long list of local purveyors, and are always thinking of great things to have on the menu, not only for the random tourist, but also for the intense foodie. Solid wine list. They do events, too.
(5)
Matteo M.

This is my second favorite restaurant in Charleston, right behind SNOB. Dinner at SNOB followed by Brunch at High Cotton the next day is probably the best plan one could have. Everything on the menu is good, particularly the fried oysters, fried chicken, omelet, and french toast. Service is impeccable. You can't go wrong.
(5)
Tommy V.

Correction, get the duck if you like bacon. On Meredith M's recommendation I got the duck and it was very good but the only flavor on the plate was bacon, and then some more bacon. The skin was the most delicious duck skin I've ever had. Nearly all of the fat was rendered out and it had a delicate fried texture without being greasy. I don't think it was actually fried, it just had that wonderful crunch. (The beef shortribs were also really rich and tasty.) This is certainly one of the more elegant restaurants in Charleston. In part, that feeling was enhanced by being seated in the small room to the left rather than the larger main dining room. The two servers in our area were great, they both came by and chatted about the Sherry flight we had with dessert, running back and forth to consult the wine encyclopedia at the bar. The ice cream that came with our desserts was also really good. I'll make sure I order dessert again the next time I'm there just for the ice cream. Four and a quarter stars for the food, the ambiance and service pushes it up to five stars.
(5)
Steve S.

This was my 2nd visit. The shrimp and Grits is simply the best. They also have great steaks. If you are ever in Charleston SC. this is a must visit. Compared to alot of places in this city, this place will not take as big a chunk out of your wallet..
(4)
lindsay j.

I went here for my birthday and I was definitely happy. I had been wanting to try one of the fancier downtown restaurants for a while but I never really had the chance to. I'm so glad that I decided to go there though because the experience was great. There was a 3 hour wait for a table but there wasn't a wait for the cocktail/bar area so we chose that instead. It's a perfect area for a 2 top. We got to sit next to the little jazz band which provided relaxing music for the dinner. The food was amazing and so were the drinks! I got a tuna steak and my boyfriend got a steak and they were cooked perfectly. Definitely worth the 20 something dollars! There was not one piece of fat on his steak! I didn't want dessert because I was so full but the waiter brought out this cheesecake/oreo/chocolate dessert that was heaven on a plate. If I was on death row, that could quite possibly be my last dessert request! The waiter was extremely nice and the ambiance was relaxing and beautiful. High Cotton was an all-around enjoyable experience. It has all of the class that you expect from a famous downtown restaurant. I'll be back!
(5)
Robert G.

Superb food and service. Pork chops are the best I have ever eaten- extremely moist and super tender.
(5)
Timothy L.

High Cotton lives up to the hype, but just barely. The food here is excellent and you pay accordingly. If you're looking for a fancy romantic dinner, this is a good choice. But you pay a stiff price for the privilege.
(4)
Matt R.

Had the shrimp and grits- great! Very fresh, and list on their menu where all the food comes from. In a very Southern town, High Cotton does a great job harvesting a Southern feel all around.
(5)
Mike B.

If you are in town and looking for a Charleston icon to visit. This is it. It gets pretty loud in there when it is busy but not out of hand. Worth a visit.
(4)
Joie W.

I was in Charleston for a wedding and was invited to High Cotton for dinner, what a pleasure. Everyone had something different, ordering Beef, Seafood, Fish and Poultry, it was all very good! The staff was very helpful and attentive..... Well Done....
(4)
Aura E.

Heard many good things about this restaurant. service is good. Food and drinks were very disappointing. Chs has much better alternatives.
(1)
Julie R.

I'm giving this 3 stars because our service got funky right in the middle of our time here. I'd give the food 4 stars though. We went in for lunch and had the lobster roll for an appetizer - it was delish but a bit salty. Then I had the crab soup which was super creamy almost like a chowder... one of our friends tried the Mushroom w/truffle oil soup and he liked the crab soup better. For an entree I had the Jumbo Lump crab cakes over a fresh green salad- it was good but not what I anticipated this thing came out with 3 measly crab cakes- and in no way would i consider this an entree- I just was expecting one large cake instead of 3 little ones- it had an underwhelming appearance... but I enjoyed it and it was the perfect amount of food for me but not for one of the other guys that ordered this. The hubster had the duck hash with eggs and I think his was fantastic. The restaurant is beautiful and so is there bar area- very classy place. I would still recommend it but maybe more a dinner spot than lunch. Oh yeah- they had the best bloody mary I've ever had... I haven't had a lot but this place really knows how to make them.
(3)
Eryn F.

We went to several highly recommended restaurants during our stay in Charleston and this was by far our favorite. The menu offers a variety of dishes, ambiance is upbeat and fun, great service!
(4)
Beth B.

Our family dines out a lot and we frequent many area restaurants. Recently we have noticed a change in HC the food is not on par as in the past. Our latest visit was for lunch. We shared the Charcuterie which we always order bc it reminds us of living in France. Wouldn't recommend now bc they really were rather chintzy on the meat/sausage samplings (two paper thin slices of some of the meats) more generous on the mustards. Prior visits that was not the case. The grouper/oyerster po boy was the worst two oysters and a two inch piece of fried grouper on an almost brunt roll. Way more bread than fish! The fries that accompanied the sandwich were small shards. Salad was not too bad if they do not give you the thick membranes of the romaine. However the crab cake sandwich was pretty good but for the price you can go to many places for a great crab sandwich in the city. Hopefully HC changes bc until we won't be back.
(2)
Joe M.

canceled reservation....says I was a no show....
(5)
Lee Lee T.

We went for dinner a couple of Saturday night's ago...now I'm in the business and I know that a Saturday can be a problem for dinner as everyone wants the prime dinner time and the kitchen can be in the weeds and the waitstaff is harried and patrons are snippy and inconsiderate we were on vacation and had to eat out so we chose High Cotton because it's a fancy pants restaurant that generally has it's act together. Therefore when it was 8:10 and I was still waiting to be seated for my 7:45 dinner reservation I was a little miffed. The manager apologized and said that they were waiting for a table to leave that was lingering and if they didn't leave in 5 minutes they would offer them a drink at the bar so we could get the table. 8:25 and a family full of rumbling stomachs we weren't seated yet. To the credit of the manager and general manager they got us into the next available 4 top (about 2 minutes later) and gave us a round of appetizers on the house (High Cotton you have been redeemed). However we weren't the only table waiting, there were five 4 tops behind us with similar reservations also waiting and a 6 top as well...so I think that they need a little assistance in the reservation handling arena! We have the shrimp, fried oysters and cheese plate as appetizers and all were prepared perfectly. All entrees were perfect too (my mother and I shared the lamb and my father had a pork chop and my BF had fish) they also try to locally source whenever possible. I skipped on dessert and don't remember what the 2 guys had so I guess it wasn't that memorable or maybe I was just so exhausted and full that it slipped my mind. All in all it's a good spot for an upscale dinner in Charleston but not the best meal I've had while visiting such a food driven city.
(4)
Kevin M.

I've had all good experiences here and especially like their Sunday brunch, which is reasonably priced. The food is excellent, friendly staff, and I enjoy listening to their live Jazz in the bar area. Great place to eat and hang out
(5)
Nicole F.

Went here for Sunday brunch while on vacation with my mother. Loved the Southern decor and excellent service. We started off by sharing the buttermilk fried oysters which were very tasty. Then I had the banana pancakes and she had the shrimp & grits. The pancakes were good but the shrimp & grits were better!
(4)
Kristin z.

Dennis is a fabulous waiter! Charleston will miss him!
(4)
brian b.

Everything my wife and I had was awesome, I mean AWESOME.. we started with the house Charcuterie, which was amazing.the house made sausages and the pates and of course the pickles veggies were outta this world it was just what the doctor ordered for a hangover. I then had the tar tare and it was good, a little small but it was clean and tasty, my wife had the wedge salad which she loved and I noticed it came with Fried green toms and I didn't understand at first why a salad would come with fried green toms but then I had a bite with some of that Blue cheese dressing and it really worked. It was great.. For Dinner we both had surf and turf, I had the filet and lobster off the menu and my wife had surf and turf also with lobster of the specials menu and they were great.. Now my reason for giving them 5 stars. I am a Chef in town and I had ordered my Filet Rare and it came out medium and being in the biz I am never one to complain, too much because I know how it is but my waitress,Krista(I think that was her name who great at what she does very knowledgeable) noticed it before I could even say anything to her about it and I guess she ran and told the manager and he came running over within a minute telling me he had another one already started and it would be out in a minute. and when my Filet came out the second time it was just what I wanted still a little cold in the center, a PERFECT RARE. Over all we loved it but I just couldn't give them a 5 star because of that Filet but my wife and I shall return hopefully Krista will be their..
(4)
Candace K.

This place exudes Southern Charm. The steak was huge and so good, beef carpaccio was also great. We got some sort of pecan souffle and I didn't care for it but the husband loved it. Service was spot on and it was a great experience.
(5)
andrea w.

I wish I could rate this 3.5 stars ! The place was lovely. Beautifully decorated , nice atmosphere with dark wood, high ceiling fans and huge windows. We sat in a leather half moon shaped table, which I really do not care for! Those tables make me feel as if I am leading a meeting and the other people in the restaurant are my audience! The martini with blue cheese olives was great and a house Chardonnay was ok.. Only one other available by the glass.. The okra tomato soup was delicious and just enough with the cup portion. We split the rabbit and asparagus app. The rabbit was really tender but the dish was over run by all of the melted cheese on top and the huge morel mushrooms. The duck entree was very good.. The breast a little dry but the leg moist and crispy. The filet and lobster scampish sounded great. The filet was outstanding, tender and flavorful with the sauce. The lobstertail was undercooked and had to be sent back .. Only to return not much better.. The onion pudding was gross! I do not know if that is southern but I am really not a fan.. I gave it an honest try! All in all we had a nice time but I would probably choose another spot the next time we return to Charleston.
(4)
Miss S.

During our stay in Charleston, my husband and I went to High Cotton twice-- once for a beer just to get out of the sun and then for brunch a few days later. The bartender was very nice and helpful telling us about different places to go around town. I thought brunch was good, but only what I would expect from a "white tablecloth" restaurant at brunch-- nothing spectacular. I am going with 3 stars instead of 4 b/c something about the name "High Cotton" makes me uncomfortable...
(3)
Huey-Tyng R.

I was in town for a wedding and eager to get a southern comfort food fix. High Cotton seemed to be an appropriate Sunday brunch choice. We probably just missed the heavy crowds because we did not have to wait very long. The decor and the staff at the restaurant were quite good. Our server brought us some complimentary drinks, but somehow neglected to bring us our cornbread. The cornbread was good, but not memorable. I had the special which was a lobster eggs benedict which was on a corn cake. I found it be quite bland. My husband had a crabcake benedict on a fried green tomato. It was equally unimpressive. Our server told us that the grits were excellent so we had them as a side. They were lumpy and lacked flavor. I left very underwhelmed. Also, our server switched the credit cards of two members of our party. We didn't realize it until much later in the day. Thank goodness we realized before we left town.
(2)
Meredith M.

Get the duck.
(4)
andrew r.

If you're a fan of duck like I am there is no better place to dine ... ever ... a whole wall of the main dining room is filled with a rotisserie that turn out nothing but duck and chicken and more important there aroma this is a must have Charleston experience and I recommend it ... Brunch here is also a must and there soufflÃ©s are amongst the best I have ever had.
(5)
Robin D.

We had our sights set for SNOB but we did not have any reservations and the wait was like an hour and a half and we did not want to dine by the bar. So we decided to go to High Cotton which was across the street. I think this is a sister restaurant of SNOB. WE went to High Cotton 2 years ago for lunch and it was great. They have a very ecclectic menu with some exotic stuff for the area like rabbit, duck, etc. So this is not your typical american restaurant. I love the ambience of this place, very southern chic elegance. Luv luv luv the atmosphere. What set it apart that dinner was the service. The waiter went out of his way to accomodate my request and just the overall service from the other waitstaff helping were great. I would go back to this place and try their other stuff. I went there with my bf parents but this can also be a date place. The price of an entree is in the 20s, they also have a great wine selection. This place is a 2 thumbs up for me
(4)
Jennifer D.

I believe I'm still full from the meal I ate here last week...the food was so over-the-top delicious that I couldn't bare to leave a bit on my plate, despite the fact that I was full. The menu was a mix of unexpected items like antelope carppacio to perfectly executed classics like crispy-skin striped bass and the freshest oysters I've ever tasted. Kale, goat cheese and strawberry salad was amazing, as were the fried brussel sprouts. I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it. My husband and I will no doubt be visiting again soon!
(5)
Michael B.

4.5 Stars This place rocks. I've been a bunch of times. Love the service, the food, the atmosphere and bar. My favorite meal to eat here is brunch. Their brunch is killer! Everything I have ever had off the menu is great and I love starting my breakfast with a huge bloody mary. The fried oysters, chicken and waffles and the burger always hit the spot. For dinner dont even think about passing on the Lobster Salad, the Pork Chop or the Lowcountry Boil. High Cotton is just what you wuld expect with a name like that
(4)
C K.

This place has great athmosphere and good service. The food is good for the price charged. And the cocktails were delicious. We had 2 cocktails and starters and entree. Bill was about $160. very reasonable.
(5)
John B.

A return visit for great food, service and ambiance.
(5)
Athan S.

Disappointed. The food is mediocre, but for the price, it's poor. This is most visible in the quality of the meat dishes, which are seemingly the more famous dishes. Save your money, go to Waffle House.
(3)
Kristina K.

Dude. High Cotton. If it weren't for the very "I'm at a resort for middle-aged wealthy people" vibe you have going on, I'd rate you 5 stars. Just not really my scene. Your food, however, is TOTALLY my scene. Your gluten free menu made my life a lot easier and every bite I took of said food was heaven. Your "Garden in a Glass" cocktail was so delicious that I had to send a picture & ingredients to my bartender sister so that she can recreate this delicious masterpiece for me at home. Your clams were cooked to perfection, the peach and prosciutto salad should be the reason salads even exist and those salmon deviled eggs... was an upscale Thanksgiving in my mouth. I will totally recommend you to people traveling to Charleston, who are looking for a more relaxed fine dining experience. Yum yum yum!
(4)
C R.

For dinner 2 stars. For jazz appetizers and wine 3. Entrees came out cold. Both the first and second attempt by the staff to serve were cold, 30 minutes after the FACT and they simply nuked the same pieces of meat/fish to re-serve. Classless in such a self proclaimed "classy" place. Nice building and good music. Blah.
(2)
Ryan P.

Wife and I had drinks before dinner at Husk for our anniversary and they were top shelf! Provided entertainment with a live band, and the bartenders were very personable. Clean bar, Awsome drink menu made this a great stop on our bar hop!
(4)
Jeremy C.

Best brunch in Charleston, a great and eclectic brunch menu (like BBQ Duck hash, Crabcakes Benedict, or Lobster salad) and great drinks..try the Bloody Mary.
(4)
Alexia C.

Ate here after my boyfriend graduated from college and was very impressed. Not only was the staff amazing but the feel of the restaurant was just as fantastic. When i say the staff was excellent i'm not kidding. Our waitress was the nicest waitress ive ever had. She knew everything and was extremely helpful. The food was just as amazing. I got a steak and it was cooked perfect. My boyfriend got the duck and it melted in your mouth it was so good. The wine our waitress suggested was so awesome and went perfectly with my steak. The dessert was equally incredible as the dinner. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Tammy R.

A great recommendation for a restaurant. We had dinner here. The wait staff was very friendly. The service was very good. We had cocktails and we all had the shrimp and grits. I would have given them a five star however several of the shrimp still had the veins in them which in my opinion is a big no-no for a upscale restaurant. However I would try it again
(4)
Caleb B.

Excellent ambiance and the food was outstanding. Definitely try the portabello fries!
(4)
Raven R.

Don't feel like we were dressed properly for this bar, but that didn't stop us. We only came in for drinks. I had the Riesling. It was perfect. A little on the sweet side. My friend had a rum and coke. More like lots of rum with a splash of coke. It was late and the bartender seemed tired and just wanted to get out of there. However we weren't complaining. He was still great and had a smile on his face the whole night.
(4)
Sarah B.

Came here for drinks and jazz before dinner, what a TREAT! Delicious drinks, and we really enjoyed the music and ambiance. The service was impeccable, and everyone's food looked amazing....can't wait to return for dinner!
(5)
Nancy H.

A lovely place attractively decorated with comfortable chairs and white tablecloths. I felt the service was a bit slow with too much time between courses. There were 2 wine lists- regular and the reserve Our first courses were tasty - we shared the beat salad. The chicken dish was very good as were the others except for mine- the Swordfish special- it arrives beautifully presented with a succulent pool of Hollandaise sauce with a seared piece of thick fish. When I cut into the fish it was raw inside so I reluctantly sent it for further cooking. It took an inordinately long time to get it back and... It was totally different - a small sliver of fish no sauce on messy veggies. I protested and was told that the fish shrunk with the cooking. Really? The manager offered to cook another piece of fish for me but everyone else was done. I think I should have sent it back and skipped dinner but I did not want a scene. You would think they would have removed the dish from the bill or offered me a dessert at least.
(2)
Claire R.

Overall, I was pretty underwhelmed by our brunch at this restaurant. To their credit, the atmosphere and decor are both lovely. The food, however, was unremarkable - not what I expect while dining in downtown Charleston. Nothing tasted "bad" per se; it had more of a poorly-seasoned, not-quite-warm-enough vibe going on. I also ordered a peach mimosa with our meal, but if any peaches - or orange juice for that matter- had been used to make it, I certainly couldn't tell. It tasted more like a mixture of sparking wine and club soda - I gave up on it after a few sips. I'm glad we went here for brunch rather than dinner - I would have been much more disappointed if we had paid for two expensive dinners that we didn't really enjoy.
(2)
Howard K.

This place is just incredible. I've been here a few times for dinner over the years and literally everything I've ordered has been fantastic. Their steaks are delicious as are all of their seafood dishes. Highly recommend for a nice night out in Charleston!
(5)
Andrew J.

We really enjoyed our experience at High Cotton. We had a reservation for 11:00, but it turned out we didn't really need one for that time. If it were about 45 minutes later, a reservation would've saved us a 30 minute wait. The decorations were subtle and nice, and our server was friendly without being obnoxious. She seemed genuinely happy to be there and interested in providing us with a good experience. I had the Duck Confit. The server said I was the first to order that particular dish (I guess it was new to the menu that day). The duck was excellent, but the salad dressed with some of the duck fat was a little too salty for my taste. My wife had the french toast. Hers was good, but nothing special. They don't offer valet parking (for brunch anyway), but there was parking just up the side street about 30 yards from the restaurant.
(5)
Petunia Rose H.

High Cotton is usually a fantastic experience, however, the bartender this evening was rude and made my guest feel very uncomfortable. The cosmopolitan I ordered was also sub par. I would like to comment on how wonderful the bluegrass band was as well as our server. So all in all it was pleasant but if one of the first people (the female bartender) you encounter is having an off day or attitude problem then your dining experience is sure to be off put from what you originally expected & somewhat unsatisfactory.
(3)
Mike C.

Favorite restaurant in Charleston. The brunch that is served on weekends runs fairly late that it is essentially lunch. The brunch menu is much cheaper than the dinner, but still serves high quality offerings sourced from local farms. The average item runs around $15. The interior is absolutely beautiful. A posh dining room that still has a Southern charm with plantation inspired windows and ceiling fans. The service is the best that is in Charleston. Polite and prompt. They folded napkins when you left for the restroom and scrape food crumbs from the table when they cleared it. One of the highlights is that the bread that is served is fresh warm cornbread with butter. It's so good that I probably could eat it as a meal on it's own. But I would be missing out on some really good food. My favorites are the Shrimp and Grits and the Crab Benedict. Two local Low Country favorites and High Cotton hits them on the mark. I normally do not enjoy grits. But sauce of the shrimp gave it great flavor. It is heavily tomato and corn based with a hint of garlic. It was more of a soup or porridge that you mixed into the grits. Difficult to ruin shrimp. I would prefer if there was more Andouille sausage included. Again, it is difficult to find bad crab cakes in Charleston, but the Crab Benedict was still prepared well and memorable. Simple preparations allow the high quality flavors of seafood to stand out. Since this place is settled so close to the historical district and right next the city market, there is no excuse for any visitor or tourist to miss out on this place. Highly recommend.
(5)
Sophia R.

Another disappointment for fine dining. Scallops with lobster was served cold, and had to send back to have them warm it. Brussel sprouts were burnt and tasted like they'd been roasted for days. Server was great and gave us free dessert due to the terrible food. One dessert was a dried up chocolate tart. Love the ambience but next time will go perhaps just for drinks.
(2)
Mike F.

We had a great time here for New Years. We booked way in advance, which was good because it was packed all night. The menu selection was limited, due to the occasion. What they had bough was very tasty. My wife got the tuna, which was better than my selection. (Chicken) By far the best aspect was their drink selection. Tons to choose from in the mixed drink ad wine department. Beers were limited, but their other selections made up for it. Very pricy, but worth it for sure.
(4)
Tierra H.

Well, High Cotton has done it again! They delivered such an amazing dining experience that I want to recommend it to any and everyone who will listen! I made a reservation on Open Table and arrived early. Dinner wasn't for another 30 minutes, but we were told we could sit in the bar. Fine by us! There was live music in there and happy hour specials. I ordered a prosecco (or 3) and some truffled popcorn. My fiance ordered a white wine that was crisp and refreshing. It wasn't sweet, which was good, as I think a sweet wine on this hot day would have been insane. I should note that happy hour is only available in the bar. Knowing that, I ordered a few drinks to take to the table. They were $5 apiece and very tasty. For an appetizer, we had a cup of crab soup. It was delicious. Even on a hot day, that soup just worked well. Next, we moved on to entrees. I really wanted shrimp and grits, but saw that it wasn't on the menu. Booooooooo. However, the server recommended the low country boil. Everything at High Cotton seemed amazing, so I felt confident with this choice. My fiance ordered some sort of fish dish with an amazing sauce. We both really enjoyed the meal! We were celebrating our 3 year anniversary and decided to get dessert as well. It was a s'mores something or the other. Super duper good. The atmosphere here is laid back. Because it's in a touristy town, you don't have to dress up much. But I beg you, please remember you are not at Burger King and use appropriate manners and your indoor voice. We experienced another table of boorish folks who spoke waaaaaay too loud and were pretty ignorant-acting, seriously asking why there were no chicken tenders on the menu. If you are in Charleston and want a good, flavorful meal, then get here. No, it is not cheap, but nothing in Charleston is. But I can promise it's good. The service is great. The atmosphere is wonderful. The food is perfect.
(5)
Tim Z.

The atmosphere was nice, but the food was mediocre. Maybe they had an off night in the kitchen because there were numerous problems with our meal. We were served overcooked food, undercooked food and cold food. The clams were great the fried oysters were ok, but the beef tenderloin was flavorless and the minestrone was an odd flavored chunky tomato soup. I would normally rate this meal with three stars, but at price point it only received two.
(2)
Vicki Z.

Went here for an anniversary brunch! They started us out with champagne. The best service, the best food, and best ambiance in charleston!!! We go here anytime we're in town and are never disappointed!!
(5)
Scott H.

Wow! The food was delicious, Sarah, our server was extremely knowledgeable and the atmosphere was perfect for a date night. The steak was absolutely incredible. They started buying from a new vendor who raises only grass-fed, hormone free beef and I have to tell you it was one of the best steaks I have had in a long time. We would certainly go back again.
(5)
Nick H.

Came here for dinner, and it was not worth the price. Sure, the ambience and service were fantastic, but if I'm paying near $30 for an entree, I darn well expect something spectacular. The low country boil was a far cry from that. Truth be told, the shrimp was out of this world, but I feel like I can't give High Cotton too much credit here since every single shrimp I had in Charleston set a new bar for the pinnacle of crustacean tastiness. The mussels and clams in the boil were some of the worst I've ever had, and what was supposed to be a heartwarming stew turned into something very forgettable. But do not despair! High Cotton is a fantastic place to get your happy hour fix, and for that I'm happy to endorse them. Every day from 4-6pm, you can enjoy beer, wine, and some of their specialty cocktails for no more than $5 whilst enjoying live jazz. And unlike most happy hours, what you can get for a few bucks is quite high quality...keep those Manhattans coming! Good luck finding a better deal with as much class in Charleston. It's a real pity the food isn't better here, nor are there food specials during happy hour. But so long as your hunger can be sated by maraschino cherries and a thumpin' good bass player, High Cotton will fit the bill.
(3)
Natasha A.

I liked our dinner experience here. Great, professional service. Live but unobtrusive music. Superb selection of wines. We had a delicious charcuterie plate - the pickled okra added a nice southern touch to the lamb belly, house cured bacon, pork rillet and duck breast. The beet and "goat cheese" salad was disappointing however..it was mostly some greens with a bit of beets and I could not really find the goat cheese. My NY strip steak came cooked to a medium rare perfection and was accompanied by tasty brussel sprouts. Overall I recommend this restaurant though I would not say it truly stood out.
(4)
Kelsey M.

Our group of four had: 1) fried portobello mushrooms--delicious! Long strips of mushroom lightly fried with a dipping sauce; 2) Mussels and clams--on par with my favorite New Orleans restaurants, excellent; 3) Picnic plate--surprisingly very good, including the best pimento cheese I have ever had; 4) Fried oysters--again, on par with best Nola restaurants; 5) Lobster appetizer--very light and tasty; 6) Octopus appetizer--I'm just going to go ahead and throw it out there that this is the best octopus I've ever had, perfectly cooked and tender, incredible; 7) Cheese plate--good selections and variety; 8) Corn and crab bisque--supremely rich and comforting, get a cup with your meal no matter what else you order; 9) Scallop ceviche--like nothing I've ever had before, thinly sliced raw scallops in a light lemon/vinegar sauce, excellent if you love scallops like I do. Our service was great, the sommelier was very helpful about which champagne we wanted, and the atmosphere was fun and loud (it was 4th of July). I highly recommend this restaurant for a good time and top notch food done in both classic and amazingly surprising ways!
(5)
Alisa S.

Awesome place to eat, & enjoy some nice jazz with the live band! Our server was Melissa, she was great!! Provided excellent conversation and good ole southern hospitality. My husband & I had the fried oysters in which Melissa recommended, and they were delicious with the sauce! The mussels and clams were delectable! We will definitely return when we visit again!!
(5)
Kevin S.

I can't say I was impressed after dining at High Cotton. All three of the steaks ordered at our table were overcooked and the chicken was so salty it forced you to take a bite of pasta at the same time to even things out. There was some strange and extremely bitter vegetable on the plates as well, which no one ate. It was like sautÃ©ed spinach to look at; slimy and kind of a clump of dark green. If it isn't good to look at nor to eat, why is it there? For $11, we would have been satisfied. For $30+, there is no chance we'll come back a second time.
(2)
Meredith C.

We had a great time at High Cotton for dinner. There were six of us and each person's meal came out nearly perfect. In order of deliciousness: -Swordfish (surprisingly amazing) -Strip Steak -Halibut And the rolls...oh my the rolls. We had at least two each because...well...they were that good. They also made a great martini and their wine list was great. Yes, they easily split checks (even splitting the bride-to-be's among all of our bills). Gotta love southern hospitality. They also sat us comfortably at a wonderful round vs. rectangle table for easy conversation - love it. Bottom line - I'd go again, no doubt.
(5)
Ev R.

Great drinks. Great jazz piano. Waitress brought out the wrong order but I don't think it was her fault. You have to get the truffle popcorn, it rocks.
(3)
Suzy H.

Doesn't live up to hype. Most we have spent on a meal in Charleston in 3 days. Only meal we have not enjoyed. Go to Halls chop house on King St. Top of the line meal and atmosphere.
(2)
Kevin M.

We love High Cotton. There was live jazz in the bar, great service at the table and good choices for wine which pear very nicely with the menus choices.
(4)
Julie B.

I love High Cotton. The food is always tasty and the service is great as well. It is my favorite fine dining restaurant. I feel like when I go here I will not be disappointed. Which is what one should get when paying for fine dining. However, if you are going to a catered event there the food is not nearly as good.
(5)
Ana Cristina S.

My food was very bad! This place is very expensive I would expect good food! The only nice thing was the fan in the roof; gorgeous! Then I am very disappointed. I won't go there ever again!
(1)
Andre B.

I have had some really great meals here in the past. Even long before I started yelping, High Cotton was great for food and service on more than one occasion, 5 stars. On our recent visit for brunch, is was just plain and therefore I averaged it out to 4 stars. Typical brunch fair of omelets and benedicts, waffles etc. The table split the "Dough Nut Holes" to start and they were fine but nothing spectacular. A couple of crab cake benedicts, some waffles and a carb omelet completed our orders. Everything was ok again with nothing particularly good or bad. All this to say that I would likely not return for brunch, but I would certainly recommend dinner here. I recommend ordering the rabbit if it's on the menu and the charcuterie is always great.
(4)
Diana S.

Oh High Cotton. How do I love thee? Every time I visit Charleston, High Cotton is a must. The food and service are too great to pass up! Though the menu has changed since my first visit due to a new head chef, it has done nothing but improve. The pork chop is unbelievably moist and the sauce it is served with could be sold on its own and I'd order it as a soup, it's that good. Their steak can sometimes be served a little underdone, but I'm okay with that! The bacon wrapped rabbit tenderloin is citrusy and delicious, and I definitely recommend trying rabbit here if you're interested in the flavor. Other dishes that I've had that have proven to be amazing are: Beef Carpaccio Cheese Plate (in addition to the cheeses being great, the fig jam could have ended my life and I would have died in bliss) Tomato Basil Soup Caesar Salad (with a perfect hard boiled egg - you can also have fresh anchovies added) Twice Baked Potato (they mix creme fraiche into the potato before they bake it again, it's amazing) Roasted Brussel Sprouts (the paprika mayo is what makes these!) Asparagus with a Poached Egg served on a Crostini (removed from the menu but it was fantastic! I never knew eggs and asparagus would be so good together) In addition, the desserts are also so darn good. Last time around we had dark chocolate pudding with pretzel pieces crumbled on top and the pecan pie with bourbon ice cream. Both were delicious and you could taste that they were made in house, which I loved. Previously I've had a special mint chocolate souffle which was one of the lightest and richest souffle's I've ever tasted. TL; DR: Go to High Cotton. Especially if the menu has items you are curious about trying but aren't sure if you'll like them. This is the place that will cook them right. I've got my eye on you for next time, buttermilk fried oysters.
(5)
Patrick F.

First off I am a little biased because I had my wedding rehearsal dinner at the Greenville location and my wife's best friend had hers at the Charleston location. I went to college in Charleston and I have dined at this location over 10 times. The service and food are consistently great. I would recommend making this a part of your low country food tour.
(5)
Tom C.

Classy southern brunch! Had live jazz music playing during our meal. Wonderful food and attentive service this place gets it right everytime.
(5)
Frank G.

Living in Charleston, this is the place to go. Been there many times, Luca, the bartender is great, knows what you like. Music on Sunday is a great, took my granddaughter there, we danced at the bar, she is 3 years old. Food is always on target, drinks are large. Go now! FrankG
(5)
Amandalyn L.

Our favorite place in charleston! The filet is the best around, it's always perfectly cooked and delicious. They also have these Brussel sprouts to die for! Everything we have ever tried is always perfect! Service, ambiance and food is outstanding!
(5)
Robert J.

Dinner for 2 on Tuesday sitting at the bar listening to classic jazz played by a 3 piece band. The sword fish special was OMG outstanding.
(5)
Mike S.

The giant donut holes with a peach-whiskey-bacon sauce were pretty darn good. A great way to start our meal. Pork tenderloin with sweet potato purÃ©e was a true southern treat. Definitely worth putting on the schedule.
(4)
V. B.

Atmosphere was good, as were the drinks. But the plates looked amateurish. What should have been terrific dishes (antelope carapacccio, truffle popcorn) were kind of blah. The antelope was unfortunately drizzled with some pinkish sauce, too bad because the meat was great on its own.
(3)
Dawn P.

We went for drinks & jazz. It was a lovely posh, but comfortable place. The music was superlative and they had lots of fun drinks to try. It was truly an Experience.
(5)
Christopher D.

The brunch was great. We had the doughnut holes for an appetizer. For the entree I had the steak and eggs. Seems basic but the steak was cooked perfect. Service and ambiance were fantastic. I may try it for dinner but don't want to ruin it.
(5)
Helene G.

We stopped here just to get a cocktail and be on our way to our dinner reservation at another nearby establishment for seafood. The restaurant is lovely inside and very comfortable. We hadn't planned on ordering any food but we were tempted by the menu. Our appetizers were delicious and beautifully presented. We did eventually go to a different restaurant for our dinner and decided we should have stayed at High Cotten! Highly recommend it!
(4)
Sandy C.

Excellent food and service. Highly recommend! Shrimp and grits were terrific. As was the pork. Husband had a special fish dish that he raved about. A little more fancy than we wanted but it made for a very relaxing, enjoyable dinner.
(5)
Tina T.

We came here because I saw they had shrimp and grits. That was all I wanted on that trip. The dish was not on the menu but when I asked, they had it. For an app, we had the mussels (delicious) and the cocktails we had were very good, too. The rolls that came with the meal were warm and yummy. My shrimp and grits were just okay....there was too much liquid on the dish for my tastes. I still enjoyed it though. Service was great, too.
(4)
Jason I.

We had a great time at High Cotton last evening. After showing up with an enormous party on short notice, we received excellent service and a delicious meal. Highlights of the night: + Pan Seared New Bedford Scallops - perfectly cooked and absolutely amazing grits. + Roasted Moulard Duck Breast - juicy and tender with some awesome roasted kale. Other favorites: + High Cotton Charcuterie Board + Salt Roasted Beet Salad + Folly River Clams & Blue Hill Bay Mussels + Buttermilk Fried Oysters + Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs + Bib Lettuce Salad + Low Country Boil + Braised Short Ribs Cavatelli A few lowlights: + Braised Octopus - loved the bed of peas, but the serving of octopus was scarce and uneventful. + Seared Local Swordfish - the boiled peanuts and peas were good, but the fish was fairly flavorless and dry. They also have a great wine selection, and thanks to Cory, we enjoyed these bottles: + QupÃ© 2008 Syrah | Santa Maria Valley, CA + Mira 2009 Cabernet | Napa Valley, CA
(4)
A L.

I was traveling by myself and wandering around downtown. I was hungry but not absurdly so, so I took a seat at the bar and ordered wine and a few vegetable sides--brussels sprouts, goat cheese and corn casserole and the gratin. Seriously, these were some of the best vegetables I've ever had, especially the brussels sprouts. While I was at the bar, the bartender accidentally spilled red wine on a diner. She was so apologetic, and the restaurant comped the wine and asked for a dry-cleaning bill. Great customer service. I will 100 percent go here again and order a proper meal.
(5)
Amy W.

We stopped by here after a night of drinking & ordered appetizers at the bar. We had mussels, oysters and crab cakes. The mussels were so amazing I wanted to go back the following day, but I was outvoted by my group. If oysters and mussels can taste this good, I can only imagine how pleased I might be with the entrees. See you next spring, High Cotton.
(4)
Traci L.

My husband and I visited High Cotton on our anniversary vacation. The food was spectacular. I started off with the Carolina peach salad which was so fresh, and then had the beef tenderloin for dinner. My husband ordered the surf and turf, and it was good, but I still would have chosen the tenderloin over it. The only reason I gave this place 4 stars instead of 5 was the atmosphere. It was almost too formal; the type of place where you feel like you need to whisper and not make eye contact with the people sitting at the table 12 inches next to you. Overall it was good and definitely worth visiting.
(4)
Jim O.

There are a lot of great restaurants in Charleston, and this is certainly among the best I have experienced. We had a great table overlooking the sidewalk, there was live jazz piped in from an adjacent room and our server Madison was very helpful. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Carrie Neal W.

Absolutely fantastic. See pics for food depictions. Our Thanksgiving meal was superb. Our server Phillip was terrific. Everyone loved almost everything we had (only a couple of minor complaints, ie I didn't love the grits (but Dad did!) and the mushroom side was just Oyster and had a bit too sweet/salty of a sauce...but no big grievances!). We loved that they had a pretty extensive (ie, almost normal) menu for the holiday. My brother's pork belly app was the clear winner - it was like .... meat butter! - but the salmon app Mom and I shared was a close second - salmon tartar, arugula, red onion, fennel, goat cheese and bruschetta. Um, what's not to love?! And this is the kind of place where a good server like ours has the kitchen split and plate an app we told him we'd be sharing, with the full pretty setup on both. Nice. Dad was very pleased with his iceberg wedge- fried green tomatoes, blue cheese and a big slice of bacon! My filet was perfect. Mom's flounder was delicious, and the boys loved their meat, too. The "bacon bourbon sauce" was thinner than I've had at some places for a similar dressing, but tasty, and the hollandaise was yummy. Bro said the collards were good as well. It is such a pretty restaurant, and the service was so good on a "busy"/"special" day that it was nice to have such attentiveness. It's also just such a nice space! We had a table near the windows and had a great view of everything. A treat overall! One of the best meals we've had on a holiday in the city in awhile! Will return soon.
(5)
Alissa H.

I was very, very excited to eat here during our trip but the overall experience was a bit disappointing. The main menu attraction for me was the shrimp and grits, which was delicious but overpriced. The dish definitely didn't need the okra , as the pieces were quite large and a little slimy. The flavor and the texture didn't seem to fit. The shrimp were cooked well and the broth with the grits was incredible. I do wish there had been more tomatoes, thoughl. The dinner rolls were warm, as was the butter, which we appreciated because many nicer restaurants insist on room temperature bread with refrigerated butter, and that drives me nuts. My husband got the NY strip with broccoli, and there's where High Cotton lost the stars for this review. The steak was tiny, tough and covered in gritty seasonings. The broccoli was either cooked far too long or bought from a freezer bag because it was water logged, had lost a lot of color and had no flavor. The exact same quality of meat and vegetables could have been ordered at Applebee's for half the price. My husband didn't even come close to finishing it and when he declined a to-go container the waiter didn't ask if anything was wrong with it, just took the plate and was off. We also didn't get our water refilled until the check was delivered. All in all, not worth the hefty price tag.
(3)
Brian K.

Once again, my fellow Yelpers have failed to disappoint me. I decided to dine at High Cotton for lunch during a recent trip to Charleston and I'm fairly certain that I'll be returning during all subsequent visits. Food: The cuisine at High Cotton can best be described as upscale Southern. The Saturday lunch menu is comprised of an assortment of soups and salads and a diverse array of entrees. To start, each table is provided with a complimentary basket of fresh corn bread, which proved to be an appropriate prelude to an excellent meal. For an entree, I opted for the grilled chicken BLT, which was topped with fried green tomatoes, bibb lettuce, smoked bacon, and pimento cheese, and accompanied by house made potato chips and a pickle. The lightly salted bun nicely complemented each of the interior components, which resulted in a truly exceptional sandwich. I didn't order dessert, but the house made options, particularly the peanut butter banana pie, were incredibly enticing. Service: The service was really the only aspect of the dining experience that prevented me from giving High Cotton a five star rating. Although attentive and polite, the waitress had the charisma of a flesh eating disease. If you're going to specialize in southern cuisine, then it has to be accompanied by Southern charm. Atmosphere: Upscale without the pretension. The ceilings are high and there are a variety of booth and table options to please most preferences. We were seated at a circular booth toward the back of the restaurant, which was intimate, yet also afforded an excellent view of East Bay St. Clientele is varied and dress is smart casual. There were some individuals dining in shorts, but I would have felt underdressed doing so. Cost: Moderately priced. Saturday lunch appetizers cost between $5 and $14, while entrees cost between $10 and $15. Other: As with most restaurant in downtown Charleston, the parking situation at High Cotton is problematic. Unless you're staying within walking distance, your best option is to park in one of the paid lots on the streets to the West of East Bay St. Street parking is not a viable option in most places, as a resident permit is required.
(4)
Drew E.

Old standby for great food!
(4)
Kelly F.

This place is truly Charleston. Fantastic food, great dÃ©cor and an amazing atmosphere. Great service! We loved it!
(5)
Cortney D.

After reading the postings my friends and I thought this would be a nice place to hold a bridal brunch. A week before the reservation we spoke to someone on the phone asking if we could bring low key decorations and a cake from a local bakery to make her brunch special. (A simple table runner and flowers, nothing over the top). "We were told no problem, we do it all the time." However, when myself and another attending get there early to "set up" the wait staff rudely stared us down as if they have never seen flowers in their life. After being on display and clearly waiting for the rest of our party to arrive the water boy made a snide comment about what we had done. I thought...he is young, let it slide. THEN we met our waitress. Our week in Charleston had been filled with the kindest, sincere people who'd made our trip so enjoyable....until her. She was one of the rudest people I have ever had wait on me. She seemed put out when we asked for a carafe of orange juice for mimosas, and when one of us asked for coffee you'd think she would have had to pick the beans herself. We order appetizers, champagne, everyone a full meal, so it wasn't as if we were going to be cheap about ordering. Her face was apparently stuck in some awful nose-turned-up position because after the table was cleared we had to wait for plates for the cake we had brought and no forks. She made a point to tell us that they didn't have serving Linde for us to use. THEN were told we would have to pay $3 per person to have it cut, or $1 per person if we cut it ourself. None of this was mentioned to us on the phone. Horrible service. Let's move into the food. Mild. Not worth the overpriced cost for breakfast. Most of the food as the table had very little flavor. The pancakes were tough and semi burnt on the bottom. The grits were rubbery. However, the strip and a half of bacon I got was good. But, seriously you can't really mess up bacon. Not going back.
(1)
Jennifer N.

I LOVE High Cotton. I had no idea what "Low Country" cooking meant, and I still might not, but if it means High Cotton, I could eat it everyday. Started with the picnic plate - first time ever having friend green tomatoes! Also enjoyed the pickled vegetables - tasty, and not too tart. Had the arugula salad - with burnt orange emulsion. Not sure what it was, but it was delicious. Loved the addition of the pistachio garnish. Chicken for dinner - great with the chimichurri which I had before only had on steak. Such a treat on the road trip- the veg picnic plate is so good, and includes all kinds of veg not available in the northeast. Good down southern home cooking in an upscale atmosphere. On the list to go back.
(5)
Debby S.

I went to High Cotton during brunch with my daughter during Memorial Day weekend (Spoleto festival). I had the spinach salad with salmon. Excellent! Salmon cooked just right. Spinach was farm fresh, not the prepackaged kind you buy at the supermarket. Homemade corn bread and butter brought to our table. Everything was delicious and fresh!
(5)
Manny F.

Me and my fiancÃ© went on a weekend getaway to charleston, sc and I was in to mood for fish, so I chose this place that was across the street from our hotel. I made a great choice! This place is awesome, I had the halibut and my fiancÃ© had the whole fish (which was snapper), both dishes were simply delicious! Totally recommend!
(4)
Anna G.

We visited for brunch on a Saturday afternoon. The service was outstanding and the food amazing! I had the crab cake eggs benedict. Everything came out hot, the crab cakes were fab, and the cheese grits were the best grits I've ever had. The ambience is that classy old school southern, which was a plus for us out of towners. I was also impressed as I think they gave me French press coffee. Win.
(5)
Natalie F.

Had an amazing experience at this little gem in beautiful Charleston. Went with a friend to celebrate a successful job interview, and couldn't have chosen a better place! To begin, we treated ourselves to a delicious bottle of pinot noir from Argentina, coupled with a fantastic appetizer of clams and mussels. I ordered the 7 oz filet and my friend ordered the pork chop, both of which proved to be outstanding! Every bite was literally a foodgasm in my mouth. Delicious side items that we chose were the brussels sprouts (apparently trendy these days) and the fingerling potatoes. Thumbs up to both! To top it all off, we ordered the Butterscotch Pudding, recommended by our server, for dessert. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! I couldn't believe that butterscotch pudding could ever be so phenomenal! It was topped with cinnamon whipped cream and crumbled amaretti cookies. You just have to order and indulge in it to understand! Overall, amazing service from the wonderful staff. They went above and beyond to ensure that we had a great experience. Again, the food couldn't have been more delicious. My hats off to the chef :) Will definitely return!
(5)
Carolina M.

Great upscale restaurant with seafood, meat and many Southern options. The fried green tomatoes were bite size tasty morsels. The stripes bass was the best fish I've had in Charleston. The service was impeccable and very on point. I went for my birthday and they treated our table very well with special gluten-free options. Will return on my next trip!
(4)
STEPHANIE L.

We went to High Cotton for an after dinner drink. We sat at the bar and had outstanding service when we sat down. The drink menu was the perfect size not to overwhelming. We all loved our drinks. The service after ordering was a bit spotty.
(3)
Sue Ellen J.

Lovely evening last night at High Cotton. We elected to be seated in the bar and were very glad that we did. The jazz was a perfect and celebratory touch to our meal. Southern Mule and Manhattan cocktails were excellent. The restaurant week entrees of Sheepshead and Pork Porterhouse were outstanding. Our server was efficient and friendly. Can't wait to return in the Spring!
(4)
Sloan S.

I've been to High Cotton before for an anniversary dinner and thought it was wonderful. Definitely one of the more elegant restaurants in Charleston, literally oozing Southern charm and hospitality. My boyfriend and I decided to come back after attending a wedding one Saturday night. We were hoping for a great dessert and a nightcap. When we walked in, the hostess let us sit anywhere we wanted; however, we chose the bar area since we knew we wouldn't be there too long. It was about 10:00 PM, but the bar and the dining room were still very busy. We sat down and waited quite a bit for our server to come over. She seemed very off-put and not interested in waiting on us. I'd certainly give a review for three stars except for the fact the dessert was delicious. We had the Valrhona molten chocolate cake, which may be the ultimate chocolate lover's dream. The accompanying peppermint sauce was not too strong, so it didn't feel like a wintery, Christmas dessert in the middle of spring. It was the perfect amount of peppermint bite with cream, and poured over the molten cake was unbelievable. I would definitely recommend it; not even the bad service can detract from how awesome this dessert was.
(4)
Brad M.

A lovely and very solid restaurant. I would probably recommend just going to their bar and eating elsewhere if you are truly looking for unique southern food. That being said, everything that we had was well prepared and the service was outstanding. Their food just seems to lack any imagination. Kind of like eating at a Ruth's Chris - good quality (great sides), but nothing surprising.
(4)
Meghan C.

We had a very rare date night and had no clue where to go...we didn't want to go to our regular, baby friendly-ish haunts and I had always had my eye on HC. I didn't have a reservation but thought...MAYBE...they will have mercy on me. I walked in and said "now...you can say no...but you couldn't possibly be able to do me a table for two? A very rare date night has descended upon us.." The nice gentleman said, "Well let me see!" and also said to his colleague "...I think we're completely sold out..." As my heart started to sink, he cheerily said, "I've got a table for you!" and brought us to an absolutely lovely table viewing a bustling, early evening East Bay Street. Our server was Lisa and she was lovely, present...recommended the Painkiller specialty drink which was fabulous. JR C. had a Manhattan with brandy soaked cherries which he is still talking about...we get it, Joe...you liked it! We were completely stumped at what to order for a starter...carpaccio? Charcuterie? Lisa recommended the charcuterie and I am so happy she did...I am still thinking about the country pate. Not fair that it's gone. Not fair. Pro tip: you NEED the mustard to cut the richness...don't get so "oh this doesn't need anything...it's perfection!" because I get it...it is...but the mustard really elevates it. Entrees? We once again were stumped - I went with the strip steak with chimichurri and JR went with the rabbit - we had every intention of swapping halfway. I loved the steak - a true rare - cool center, seared - fantastic. The rabbit?! I don't know how JR was okay with sharing that with me! He said the same thing to me about the steak so...there you go - both entrees were impeccable. Prices are steep, but not that steep for what you get. Highly recommend and am already thinking that's where we'll go when we renew our vows in a few years!
(5)
Judy S.

Half the reason for eating at an expensive restaurant is that it's expensive. It seems that the importance of an event is validated by eating at an establishment with main courses over $25. The other half boils down to atmosphere, attention to detail, professionalism of staff, and quality of food. In this case, High Cotton certainly passes in the first 50%. It's pricey ($10 appetizers, and main courses ranging from $25-$56), albeit no more so than one would expect from Charleston fine dining. But that's ok, as long as we are continuing to check the boxes. For atmosphere, I'll give it to them. We entered into High Cotton to the background of jazzy tunes coming from the corner of the bar. High Cotton promises daily music from 4-9, and happy hour from 5-7: thus, 5-7 are your prime time entertainment hours for the drink special/music combo. Continuing into the main dining area, the restaurant opened up to a high ceiling high class southern style room. The natural light flooding the room was beautiful, and as the sun went down, it was replaced by dim candlelight. You could say it was romantic. The service was fine. The waiter was unobtrusive and unmemorable. For food, here is where I am a little bit unsure. I teeter totter between 3 and 4 stars. Sure, High Cotton uses "all local" ingredients, but lets be honest you pretty much have to advertise local/organic to be even recognized in Charleston. Our appetizers were the scallops ceviche and the grouper wontons. Both were pretty good, I liked scallops ceviche better. But even better than those appetizers were the little pretzel rolls with whipped butter they give you. Make sure to eat a couple so you don't leave hungry. For my main course, the unmemorable waiter recommended the halibut over the grouper. I was surprised when it came out; it didn't match the description. It was kind of a pea and potato butter stew with a big piece of fish in the middle. It tasted good (how could pure butter not), and the fish was cooked well, but half way through it became very one note. I felt I was sort of slogging through it, looking for the finish line. The menu said there were ramps, but it should have said "a ramp", because there was only one. I would not get this again. Bottom line - For the price, good not great food, appetizers were better than the main course. Wouldn't go back for dinner, maybe for happy hour and jazz.
(3)
Grace W.

I'm torn between three stars and five. Three goes to dinner and here's why: Eh, came here for dinner with friends on our first night in Charleston. Pros: great place to start, good manhattans, nice service, and nice ambiance. Cons: food was hit or miss. The meat dishes were clear winners that night. Pecan pie was really good. The seafood entrees were underwhelming. The monkfish I received in particular was incredibly salty, which they replaced after I mentioned it, but didn't pair well with the pork sugo served. Five stars go to their happy hour, which goes on every day, with live music. No food specials, but everything we got was good (drinks, mussels, charcuterie). Overall, wouldn't rule this out, but be careful what you order.
(3)
Early E.

Great meal in Savannah. Reservations are a must almost any night of the week. I enjoyed the fried oyster appetizer and truly enjoyed the swordfish which was prepared perfectly. The restaurant was packed but quiet enough to enjoy a great meal with a friend I had not seen in some time. A great value in Charleston for sure.
(5)
Mayra N.

My boyfriend recently moved to Charleston, SC, while I still go to school in Raleigh, NC. As a long distance couple, we try to make every visit a vacation and try something new! My boyfriend, I, and another two friends (a couple) went to High Cotton on July 5th, 2014. The men wanted to treat us to a little bit of the high life :) Anyways, the place is absolutely gorgeous! It's as Southern, as Southern gets. Our server was nice-ish,but nothing spectacular. High Cotton is the place where a server can get away with not being the kindest soul around because it is so nice. We ordered the picnic plate to share among us. I am a picky eater so I didn't do too much eating. They all loved it that they picked it to pieces. They all raved about the devil eggs and the pimento cheese. The other girl and I both ordered off the menu of the day, a yellow fin tuna with rice pilaf and kimchee. I ordered mine medium and she went with medium rare. They came out at the perfect temperatures. That tuna was the best tuna I've ever had, I still dream about it. My friend's boyfriend went with the roasted duck breast. He enjoyed it very much and it came out at the right temperature as well. My boyfriend ordered the grilled 12 oz strip steak. He ordered it rare and he enjoyed it very much based off of his comments. To drink: my boyfriend had the top shelf Manhattan. He wished he would have ordered it on the rocks. He also had the Charleston cocktail, after enjoying sipping his friend's' cocktail way more than his Manhattan. My friend ordered the summer sangria and enjoyed it, but wished some of the fruit pieces were smaller or better cut since she kept getting some fruit pieces in her throat while drinking. She also went the Charleston cocktail after her sangria, clearly making it the drink of choice at our table. As I said, my friend's boyfriend the cocktail precedent, but he also went with the porch swing and I believe he really enjoyed it. Lastly, I decided to take a gander at the wine list. With such a large wine list, I was overwhelmed and the server gladly gave me some recommendations on dry reds. I am a diabetic so I drink dry reds since they have the least sugar. Anyways, I went with the Bordeaux, Chateau Les Croix Gentils. I greatly enjoyed it with my tuna and was even appreciative of the server when she didn't laugh at me butchering the name of my wine choice. I greatly enjoyed my experience at High Cotton, and I would recommend anyone willing to spend the money to go.
(5)
Desiree B.

The menu does not depict what the food actually is. I am highly allergic to peppers so I chose a meal that did not state that there were any in it and when is came out there was only one thing the menu stated would be on it and a bunch of stuff I had never heard of. Then when I chose something new off the menu my steak came out under cooked. Finally on the third try the food came out cooked right but the steak was bland with no flavor. Everyone else in my party said there food was ok. But I would not recommend this restaurant.
(1)
K B.

YUM! Go go go! This is a great Charleston dining spot.
(4)
King M.

Had great meals and a fantastic experience!! If soft shell crab is in season don't miss out. Ask for Chuck he's a great waiter and makes super suggestions.
(5)
John K.

We Loved High Cotton. During our three-day stay In Charleston, with all the restaurants To choose from, we went back to high cotton twice. The fried oyster dish was fantastic. My wife and I went in here to listen to some nice music, have a few drinks and chill. The bartender, Lisa, was wonderful.
(4)
Matt M.

Spectacular service, excellent ambience (live jazz is the norm, and the noise level couldn't have been more perfect - just loud enough to notice it but never felt like I had to raise my voice for my fiancÃ© to hear me across the table), wine list is extensive yet priced for all occasions...ok, so it IS High Cotton meaning 'all occasions' may mean limited special occasions, but the prices did vary, and the food was fantastic. Cheese plate for an appetizer included local cheeses and a good assortment of jellies/fruit and is a great starter. For our entree, I had the lamb which was perfectly cooked and my fiancÃ© had the center cut steak, also perfectly cooked and was paired well with the bourbon bacon sauce. Dessert included the grand mariner soufflÃ© (special) and the chocolate lava cake. Both were delicious. As an added bonus, my fiancÃ© and I went right after I proposed and the server couldn't help but notice us checking out the ring I had just got. Complimentary champagne was served with dessert, a testament to how this place stands above the rest. Would recommend to anyone who wants a special night out, or a memorable Charleston food experience.
(5)
Mitchell R.

I went with a large party and both the service and food were great. I tried the chicken entree, vegetable entree, brussels sprouts side, potato side, and souffle dessert. I thought the entrees and sides were a little better than the souffle. My only complaint about the food was that it (the chicken entree specifically) seemed to be a little on the salty side. One other person had the same comment about their meal. I think the food would have been just as good with a little less salt.
(4)
Mark L.

This is a very nice elegant establishment that offers free jazz/soul singing in the lounge on Wednesdays and amazing and strong espresso martinis to go with the other 8 martini offerings. There is a unique selection of appetizers, nice short wine selection and great food to offer. The staff is respectful and gives you your space and privacy to engage in intimate or group discussions among your table. This is a nice compliment to the East Bay dining offerings.
(4)
Madison N.

Overall, the meal was not memorable for a first timer foodie in Charleston. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I was generally pretty disappointed with the quality of the food. Given that I'm from the South and an avid seafood lover, it just didn't hit the spot quite right. The specialty cocktail of the day was over-sweetened, and its scallops dish was leaning more so on the side of not being fully cooked. Brownie points for High Cotton though, the cultural experience besides the food aimed to please its targeted southern belles and gentleman. I'd like to consider myself as a southern belle too if ya' don't mind.
(2)
Kathryn B.

My party of 7 went here on a Friday with reservations at 6 pm. We were sat immediately and the wait staff provided impeccable service throughout our meal. Our waitress was professional and friendly. The Carolina Peach Salad was delicious. My pork chop (cooked medium well) was perfectly seasoned and tender. It came with fried asparagus and chard. The asparagus was good (as is any fried food) but forgettable. The chard had a hollandaise or some type of beurre blanc sauce that was amaze balls! I'm now a huge chard fan. That said, I wouldn't actively choose to come back here but wouldn't argue if some picked it. The food and service was good. However, there are many other restaurants in town that have better food and an equal level of service with a MUCH lower price tag.
(4)
Dan O.

This is one of those East Bay staples that has remained consistently good over the years but hasn't done a whole lot of changing in recent years despite the huge influx of new, highly reviewed restaurants. The lack of change might be a good or bad thing depending on how you view it. High Cotton is part of the Maverick Southern Kitchens dining group, so you know its going to be good. I would highly recommend to anyone for dinner or Sunday brunch.
(4)
Ron N.

Walked in here because we were staying at our favorite Bluegreen resort next door, The Lodge Alley Inn and heard music. Started with a couple of appetizers and drinks. The Fried Oysters were great. The Coffee Martini had a great flavor. Scotch was a good pour. Decided to split a New York Strip. It was the best steak I have had in months and can't wait to go back for a planned meal. This was the best meal of our trip and it's connected to LAI. Can't beat that!
(5)
Christina H.

happy hour and a live 3 piece band... dont mind if i do. super friendly bartenders who make a mean espresso martini. so good. great happy hour cocktail specials spanning most liquors and well executed. and all for $5. high cotton is the type of place that we felt right at home, so much so that we made friends with every one around us including the bartenders. food looked and smelled delicious. and the music was a great compliment to the setting.
(5)
James G.

We had the Rabbit and Crab. Both were good even though we did not expect an entire crab to be deep fried. Spanish wine was delicious. Deviled eggs were nothing to get excited about. I would go back and try different dishes.
(4)
Chuck T.

She had the pork chop, I had the bacon wrapped rabbit-and we started with the Bibb salad (substituted with balsamic dressing)-all of it was delicious in a lovely setting. Our waitress was wonderful, friendly, accomodating. A lovely experience.
(5)
Erin K.

This was definitely our favorite meal on our trip to Charleston. We went for brunch on a Sunday morning. I had the vegetable omelette on special, stuffed with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and goat cheese with cheese grits. It was delicious- I don't usually care for grits, but these were a great addition to the meal. My friend had the corned beef hash and thoroughly enjoyed her meal. Our other friend had chicken and waffles and also raved about her choice. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. High Cotton is an awesome choice for brunch!
(5)
Mindy G.

Came here based upon the yelp reviews that they have a great shrimp and grits. They did not let us down! We all ordered the same dish and loved it (it was our first night in Charleston and I had grits at almost every meal that weekend and the grits here were by far the best). The crowd tends to be older, we were the youngest ones in the place. If you are in for good food with a somewhat boring atmosphere this is a good choice. Our waiter was a young guy with a lot of good suggestions on where to hit the town, which we greatly appreciated.
(5)
K P.

Top notch in all departments. Our server was very attentive and helpful. Food was spectacular. My husband had the corn crab soup which was off the charts delicious - such great flavor. I was very jeolous I didn't order it but he was nice enough to share. I had the masami ranch pork chops and made my husband envious who ordered the grouper. Definitely out ordered him in flavor but we both enjoyed our meal and our entire experience.
(5)
Allen W.

High Cotton was a high-end experience. Great food and good service. The cornbread and butter was excellent. Upscale atmosphere. Almond french toast was excellent. Crab cakes Benedict was also good.
(5)
Britt K.

Let me say that prior to our wedding, we had never ever been in Charleston. We had our wedding brunch reception at High Cotton in June 2013....it. was. AMAZING!!! I literally did all of the planning via email with Lindsay Brooks, the event coordinator. The only pics I saw were online, and once we got to Charleston, my husband and I stopped in just to see the place. I was SO impressed! The food was OUTSTANDING. People are still talking about it. The room we had our reception in opened up to a courtyard with a water fountain, so anyone who wanted fresh air could step out. It was amazing amazing amazing. It was seriously one of the best days of my life, and everything we had envisioned for a true southern classy but simple destination wedding. I loved this place. LOVED.
(5)
Elaina R.

LOVE this place. Went there as often as possible for Sunday brunch. I still dream about it now that I'm in California. Crab cake, fried green tomato Benedict, fresh cornbread, crab bisque, chicken and waffles, mimosas, live jazz music in Sundays. Just loved it! Also one of the only places where you can get late night bar food. I love the portobello fries and the ribs. I never had a full on dining experience here. I love the bartenders so much, that's where we always sat. Sunday brunch is a must at High cotton!!!! I'm getting upset just thinking about how good it is and how far away I am. Crab cake fried green tomato Benedict! Enough said.
(5)
Kristen M.

Service and ambiance were wonderful (loved the live jazz music) but food was not good. I had the special of the day (tuna) and my husband had the shrimp and grits. Average in terms of presentation, flavor mix, the whole nine yards.
(2)
Andie C.

Tasty, local flavors. A good place to try during Restaurant Week.
(5)
Isabelle G.

We went here for brunch during our Charleston stay because a local recommended it and we were not disappointed. There's live music, Charleston dancing and really great food. It's loud, friendly and if you're looking to enjoy yourself on a Sunday morning you'll really enjoy this. Our party ordered the High Cotton Eggs Benedict, Chicken and Waffles, and Belgian Waffles and we were all happy with our meals, the entire scene and the service. I would go again in a heartbeat.
(4)
Cynthia A.

When you're at High Cotton, you are indeed in high cotton, which is in a grand historic building dominating the corner of Bay street. This is a taste of the old South in every way. My husband and I didn't have a reservation on a busy Wednesday night, and were graciously seated immediately at a large snowy white draped table, in a majestic dining room with a great view through the immense windows looking out on Bay Street, ventilated by gentle fans, the blades covered in soft muslin that looked like tropical leaves. Our waitress couldn't have been more charming, with lilting "Yes, Ma'ams and Yes, Sirs," to all of our questions. The fried oysters and the grilled swordfish were delectable, and the vegetables were fresh and perfectly cooked--sauteed mushrooms and spinach. Their original bourbon cocktails one flavored with ginger, another flavored with bitter oranges, ran circles around typical drinks. To top it off, we were serenaded by a band of fantastic string musicians, Cattle in the Cane, playing and singing soulful and witty folk songs. After dinner, we adjourned to the bar to appreciate the Cattle in the Cane up close, for another hour. In a trip that included many wonderful meals in picturesque, unique restaurants with great local seafood, this was by far the best experience.
(5)
Teresa K.

Went here with my husband to celebrate his new promotion, everything we ordered off the menu was fabulous. The wine list was extensive and had a decent price range.
(4)
Cathy M.

Nice restaurant and they try very hard to please if anything is not up to the diners expectation. Farm to table produce and meats are excellent. This is an excellent restaurant that I would highly recommend for southern cuisine.
(4)
Henrik C.

Went here for a Saturday night dinner with my partner and a good friend. We went based on a recommendation from a friend. They have a jazz band playing music at the bar. That evening a young but well sounding band. There are two dining rooms, a major dining room and a side room. We were a little early so we had to wait at a sofa area next to the bar before we could get seated. We ended up in the side dining room. It was busy with a couple of big parties, but nonetheless quiet. We had mixed green salad, cesar salad, and the chefs special salad as a starters. The mixed green and chef's special were both great salads. The cesar salad came without anchovies as default (not exactly the classic we expected). The dressing for the cesar salad was vinegar based rather than cream based. Overall a great start. We had a white wine with the starter and it was very fresh and had exactly the right temperature. For main dish. We had a mixture of scallops, grilled sword fish, and the daily fish special. The sword fish, and the fish daily were excellent. The scallops were bland and got replaced by a sirloin. We had a great red-wine with the main course. It was excellent. Finally we had cheesecake mousse and chocolate cake for desert. The mousse was not full cooked but the waiter caught it and arranged for a replacement. Overall a set of dishes with minor flaws, but overall a great culinary experience and a fantastic setting. We will certainly visit High Cotton again next time we are in Charleston.
(4)
Billie L.

We were visting Charleston, South Carolina after a business meeting in Atlanta. What a quaint town and we thoroughly enjoyed the tours and all the activities that we could engage in. We were given several recommendations for restaurants and our favorite was High Cotton. The restaurant is a 5 Star restaurant in our eyes. From the decor, to the wait staff, the music, and the food things could not have been more exquisite. We would highly recommend that you dine with High Cotton on your trip to Charleston.
(5)
Mark B.

the seafood cocktail was amazing
(4)
Laura K.

This is one of the best brunches I have had the pleasure of eating. I ordered the crab cake benedict which is served on fried green tomatoes. Absolutely heaven! It was served with some of the best cheese grits. I loved the fact that all of the food on my plate was from local farms, including my hot tea!!!! A snazzy Ragtime band was playing music in the background which just added that classy feel.
(5)
Jimmy M.

It's been a few weeks since I ate here, but figured I'd write a review based on my experience. The restaurant had a great upscale southern feel to it. I had a bone-in-ribeye which was good, so I'm not necessarily complaining about the food quality per se, but I've still had a better steak at a lower price. The service was also pretty average, so for me I just didn't see what the big deal was with this place. I don't mind spending over $100 for dinner while out with my wife on occasion, but when i do I generally expect something memorable.
(3)
Preeti M.

While visiting Charleston for work, a local friend of mine suggested High Cotton for dinner...it already sounded charming and southern by the name so I agreed. It was exactly that...lots of southern charm. Older crowd, upscale, (we were there on a Wednesday night). Lots of ceiling fans and columns gave it a real southern feel. Wine was lovely - great Italian list, we got Montepulciano. Cheese board was perfection. I had the flounder and a side of fried brussel sprouts (c'mon...you have to). We drank our dessert and had the Taylor Fladgate 20 year Port (my fave) but the dessert looked amazing as well. Overall, would have given a 5 but High Cotton gets 4 stars due to a wait despite having a reservation and slow service.
(4)
Amy S.

I had never had rabbit before eating here. I tried the bacon wrapped stuffed rabbit loin and it was delicious! The meat was tender and very savory. The pimento cheese grits were very complimentary, as was the mustard seed jus. My husband had the roasted monkfish which he liked very much. The atmosphere is very nice and cozy and the service was very delightful. Will be back the next time I visit Charleston.
(5)
Terri J.

One of the best meals we enjoyed in charleston! The cocktails were wonderful. We started with soup (the corn soup is out of this world) and then shared a surf and turf. Both the steak and lobster were phenomenal. A must!
(5)
Ed S.

Great meal, service and atmosphere. We had picnic table sampler for shared app. It had fried green tomatoes, boiled sweetened peanuts, cucumber salad, pimento cheese spread and few other items which were all delicious. We also shared the low country boil and tilefish entrees. The tilefish and all the shellfish in the low country boil were expertly prepared; all tended and done to perfection. Not a single piece of the shellfish was over done. Our server was attentive and helpful without doting. Substitutions were not a problem. He recommended a very good wine to go with the meal. And deserts were wonderful. Minted molten lava cake, again done to perfection.
(5)
Brendan O.

I won't write a long review because everything about this establishment is great. The food I had tried all reminded me of good southern cooking. The staff for the most part are great, the only issue you might find here is the waiting or reservations. This is a very popular location with great food and great people. I 100% recommend anyone that is in Charleston to stop by this truly individual gourmet restaurant.
(5)
Brandy M.

COCKTAILS: We came here for cocktails before dinner one night. Great, friendly crowd, but not too crazy that my large group couldn't get a few chairs together, and some live music in the corner. The service was a slow in coming around, but that's to be expected during happy hour in a crowded bar. They had a nice selection of interesting cocktails to choose from. I had the Southern Mule, which was tasty, but the ginger beer was milder than I would have liked. Recommended!
(4)
HK M.

Excellent service, good food, relaxing ambiance (good for groups, private dinners, dates) I've been here a few times. The food is always great. The last time I visited, our group was in the private room. I highly recommend their private room for events. I ordered the scallops. They were HUGE and cooked to perfection. My friend ordered the shrimp and grits. They were pretty good, but I've had better in Charleston (sorry everyone can't have the best shrimp and grits). Someone at our table ordered the roasted beets....wow, so good. I love beets and these were really good. After our dinner was over, I sat at the bar with a friend to finish watching the Miami Heat game. Classy dinner to watching sports...sounds crazy, it works here though. I believe there was some live music going on during our dinner. Since we were in the private room, I can't be sure. But, it sounded like jazz ...maybe? Regardless, it was great music. There is a parking lot on Cumberland street behind the restaurant (a little to the right)....park there. The last time I parked there, I told the girl I was going to get cash at the restaurant. She told me to just pay after dinner. When I came out after dinner she was gone. Victory dance. No parking attendent = free parking! #winning -- While I can't guarantee this will ever happen again, it's worth parking there just for the opportunity for it to happen. Honestly though, parking downtown is a headache. You are more likely to hit a pedestrian than find a good, free parking spot. Bite the bullet and pay to park in the lot near the restaurant.
(4)
Cade P.

A very nice restaurant, fine food and decor. One of many great known restaurant along this street.
(4)
Charlie M.

Eh
(2)
Kevin H.

One of my favorite spots in Charleston. I have been here for dinner, lunch and brunch. They never disappoint... the food, the service, the ambiance, everything about this place is terrific. If you are looking for top-quality, low-country fare, this is a spot you cannot overlook. Don't be scared by the prices, the food and service are well worth it (even the bread is awesome). The wine list is well-rounded and priced right for the quality. I am trying to think if I can think of anything even mediocre about this place and I cannot. I am writing this after hours and am seriously mad that I can't get in the car and at least have some nibbles at the bar with one of the solid drinks.
(5)
John S.

There seem to be so many restaurant choices in Charleston, and High Cotton fits the mold of trendy upscale type. Bread we started with was average at best and nothing special. Service is excellent so far. House wines expensive but well cellared and served at proper temperature and crystal was great. 08 North-star Merlot OK but $54. Both my salad and a friend's had grit in greens, beets were good. Buttermilk fried oysters were raved about by all who had them. These must be tried if such suit you. Lamb was ordered as rare as chef recommends, it was rarer than I have ever seen, still very good but no doubt better if a little more pink than blood red. Shrimp and grits(with Andouille) were excellent, a Charleston classic and done well. I've been here before and always good, but not worth the price.
(3)
Christy P.

Downtown Charleston is beautiful in terms of architecture and the history you see just by looking at the buildings and layout. I headed downtown for a place to eat dinner and every Resturant on Bay Street had a minimum of 1.5 hour wait at 7:30pm. We eventually stumbled upon High Cotton and were so hungry that it just didn't matter anymore. The food was very good, we ordered the lamb chops ($40) and scallop plate ($30). I am scoring this establishment a three because of the following reasons. Although the food was very good, it was certainly not worth the money spent. Entrees at the above prices should be considered excellent or unique, in which they were neither. My other reason is purely based on my personality so others may have a different opinion. The atmosphere was yuppy, snotty, and uptight. They had a live jazz band playing great music but at a decibel that one couldn't hear their own thoughts, let alone someone else's words. I should have known better. While all the other restaurants around them had extensive waits, this one had no wait with many open tables. Lesson learned.
(3)
Nicole L.

This was the best place that I ate at in Charleston. The decor and the staff were both top notch. I went for dinner and got the low country boil which was amazing. Seriously the food here tasted incredible.
(5)
Morgan M.

We went for NYE. Definitely a more upscale environment. I'd recommend dressing more formally. The food was good, more on the artistic side. The wait staff was very attentive and accommodating. Scallops were great. My husband had the lamb. The soufflÃ© was good except I could taste the alcohol, which is fine if you like that, but I don't. The chocolate cake was awesome. Make a reservation for sure.
(4)
Whitney P.

Had a reservation here Saturday night with my boyfriend and we absolutely loved it! We were there a little early and they got us seated right away. (I've worked in restaurants and know this is standard but guessed it may be a little bit busier due to valentines day being the night before.) Our waitress Madison was super sweet and very helpful on what to order on the menu because everything sounds so delicious it can be a little overwhelming, which is never a bad problem to have! The food was fantastic! We got the fried oysters, the lobster gnudi, the lobster bisque, Bibb lettuce, rabbit and scallops... Yeah we ended up trying a lot of food haha but left none on our plates whenever Madison came back to clear them it was that good! Definitely recommend this place great atmosphere, food and Charleston is a beautiful city!
(5)
Jenny H.

Visited Charleston July 2013 & went to dinner with family here. Excellent service, ambiance was superb, very lovely evening. The crab bisque soup was to die for! I've been craving it ever since! I will be back again!
(5)
Wendi V.

Daughters wedding brunch reception- OUTSTANDING FOOD GREAT WAIT STAFF SUPER PRICES SECOND TO NONE AMBIANCE Loved this place 100% Thank you for making our day All arranged site unseen- couldnt have been any better!
(5)
Christianna W.

Food was just ok. Our sever was ok.
(3)
Susie G.

The restaurant reminded me of a large, elegant dining room in a stately southern mansion. Palm ceiling fans slowly turned and the sounds of a live jazz ensemble spilled into the main dining room. As we were taken to our table I admired the heart pine floors and antique brick. We were seated at a nice table that overlooked East Bay Street and began to look through the menu. We were quickly greeted by a bus boy offering us water, followed by a lovely server who was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. She helped steer us to the evening's Charcuterie offering and described each and every item that we would be served. She even told us her favorite, a very spicy dry-cured sausage that was to become our favorite too! Though the restaurant would get somewhat busy while we were there when we first arrived, it was quite slow. Needless to say that our Charcuterie arrived in no time. The house-made dry-cured sausages, hams, pates, mustards, pickles and green beans were delicious. They were served with warm, crispy, toasted slices of bread, or we had additionally had the option to try the items with the piping hot rolls that had been served to the table a little earlier. Our server checked back to see if we were enjoying everything and then again to take our dinner order. I ordered one of the evenings special's which was a tile fish that was topped with shrimp and served with purple potatoes and arugula. Missing Maine lobster from New England my husband ordered the Grilled Petit Filet and Butter-Poached (Non-New England) Lobster Tail. Our meals arrived in no time and they looked great! My tile fish was a light white fish that was complemented nicely with sliced purple potatoes that had been tossed with arugula. Although the picture doesn't show it, the color combo was visually appealing. The meal was very tasty but unfortunately, my grilled shrimp were undercooked. When our server came to check on us, she quickly took them away to replace them. My husband's filet and lobster was terrific. His filet was cooked perfectly and his very small lobster tail was sweet and tender. His dish was served with a corn flan that was delicious. Before I knew it, our server was back at the table apologizing for the shrimp error and replacing my shrimp. Sadly, I must report another sad shrimp tale. The new shrimp on the block were also undercooked. That was okay as the rest of the meal was filling and the service was honestly over the top. Although the restaurant's food and service was really very good, the atmosphere was a tad sedate for me and I probably will check out other restaurants in the Charleston area before returning. This is not to dissuade anyone from visiting High Cotton as my bet would be that you would enjoy it.
(4)
Kevin B.

I went here during restaurant week and I think choosing to order off the restaurant week menu was probably a mistake. They clearly half heatedly compiled a rather mediocre menu for the event that looked half as good as the dishes on the regular menu. Everything was properly cooked and seasoned but not one plate stood out as anything special. My wife and I left satisfied but not particularly impressed. We did however see amazing looking dishes coming out for those who ordered from the standard menu. Service was impeccable and I would go back to order from the standard menu. I guess the takeaway is that this is a really nice place but just don't order from one of their restaurant week menus.
(3)
David K.

Great restaurant, amazing menu, impeccable service, and delicious food. Was a dining highlight of our recent trip to Charleston.
(5)
Mary T.

I had only planned on having a drink here but ended up doing much more! The martinis were very good and they also had a nice wine selection. We sat at the bar for a while and decided to put our name on the list for a table. At the bar we enjoyed a shrimp cocktail. It was one of the best shrimp cocktails I have ever had. The shrimp cocktail alone deserves 5 stars. I also noticed on the bar menu the high cotton burger. When I saw that my mouth had begun to water. We were notified by the hostess that we had a table if we would like to be seated, we gladly accepted. We had a water boy and a server which were both extremely nice. We started out on her recommendation of the fried oysters. Bad choice. Their oysters were extremely chewy, just all around not good. We then moved on to a salad course. We ordered: the Field Greens Salad; and the Maverick Iceberg Wedge. Neither one of those were memorable. I wanted to order the burger but the burger was not on the menu in the restaurant just at the bar. I asked my server if that was a possibility and she later returned saying the chef would absolutely do that for me. WOW, do I feel like a pain in the ass, and very special. The burger was really good, the charcoal taste was delicious. Muenster cheese and mushrooms were also on the burger. I order the burger medium and it definitely was overcooked but it was still damn good. I also got to try the tuna which was good, and a bouillabaise feature which was not very good. I really enjoyed this restaurant. From the hostess, to the bartender, to the water boy, to the server, everyone there was exceptionally well-mannered and nice. It also helps that the restrooms here remind me of a country club and they are very clean. Even though the food my friends had was not the best, the oysters and the salads not great. The people, the shrimp cocktail, and my burger made my experience wonderful. I have also heard they have killer desserts. Next time I will come here for dessert. I recommend this place. Enjoy and Cheers!
(4)
Julia R.

Surprisingly disappointing experience on a Friday night. The service was mediocre and did not meet expectations of a restaurant of this caliber. The flounder had no flavor and tasted as if it had been frozen. The waitress was nice but could not make up for the poor service given by others. I recommend trying a restaurant with better quality and service.
(2)
Ed F.

Pleasantly surprised!! Stopped on a whim for drinks, wound up staying for dinner as well. Waiters were extremely attentive. The bar had an excellent bluegrass/folk/mountain band playing as well. Music was perfect for the scene, not too loud and definitely the right fit for the place. Dinner was excellent. On par with the Peninsula Grill. Very relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended!
(5)
Frank C.

Outstanding had sword fish, and lamb chops Key lime pie, service terrific what more can I say Great place
(5)
Stephen H.

A very, very classy place in Charleston. There's a nice bar area, but my party and I deferred to the white tablecloth dining area. We had just come from dinner and wanted some nice desserts and drinks, and we didn't get any dirty looks from our wait staff despite the fact that we weren't ordering a full-on dinner. Great cocktail, lovely ambience, and a raspberry souffle that just melted as I ate it.
(4)
Ann L.

Atmosphere = awesome. Came in for brunch on Sunday. With the band playing, fantastic decor, elderly man in a seersucker at the table next to me, this was the ultimate southern dining experience for this yankee girl. Crab cakes egg benedict was very good. Server was very friendly. However, I was mildly disappointed given all the hype over this place.
(4)
Matt B.

Went here on a recent Monday night with the GF during a mini Charleston stoppver on our way from NY to FLA. We loved it. This place is everything we expected from a true Southern Restaurant. We started by splitting the pork belly and the pumpkin panzanella. Both were good, but the Pork Belly was perfectly prepared, rich and crispy, and tasted amazing. For our main courses, GF had the scallops served over a mushroom risotto and I had the shrimp and grits (first time trying this anywhere). I'll start with mine. First off, I have never seen so many shrimp served in a dish in a high quality restaurant like this and they were all cooked perfectly. I loved the Cajun style sauce they were cooked in and it was all soaked up by the super creamy grits. This being the first time for grits, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it far exceeded any expectations I had. GFs scallops were enormous and cooked excellently, the mushroom risotto they topped was creamy, nutty and decadent. We got two sides: the cauliflower gratin, which was crumbly, crispy, warm and comforting; and the brussel sprouts, which were an interesting take on the vegetable - the sprouts were finely shaved and cooked with speck ham whose flavor and salty brininess permeated the dish. This was a great restaurant experience and would highly reccomended to anyone dining in the area
(5)
Meghan B.

Went for dinner- fairly presumptuous. Enjoyed our meal although I think I don't need to be back. For the price- it was just okay. I ordered a salad and crab cake because of having a big lunch and was disappointed to crunch through my crab cake thanks to shells. My husband got the bacon wrapped rabbit tenderloin and enjoyed it. The atmosphere is nice with live music near the bar- just felt it wasn't really worth the price compared to some of the other places in town.
(3)
Bill B.

It is a s good as it gets in Charleston.We went for Sunday brunch and found it very affordable. They had a Dixie Land band playing which added to the experience. Service was exceptional and food delicious. Corn beef hash was chunky. the crab cake/fried green tomato egg thingy is a must too. Location on East Bay makes it easy to be in the middle of downtown.
(5)
Gary R.

Southern at it's best... High faluten with plenty of gluten! Friendly service, excellent food and great drinks. The wine menu is great, and the bartenders are mixing some high quality drinks. There was a nice jazz band playing the night we were here. This is a great place to enjoy a night out in Charleston.
(4)
Stephanie B.

High Cotton is on lower East Bay Street near Cumberland. It is a large restaurant - there are two large dining rooms (one of which did not appear to be in use last night) and there is a large bar area. There was a television in the bar as well as live music. The tables are freestanding, and there are large palm frond fans. The tables have upholstered chairs and are elegantly decorated with white tablecloths. Our table was right next to a window, which was quite nice. The menu has so many tempting options, but we were able to decide on a couple of dishes. DH started with a bowl of the blue crab bisque. It was a deliciously creamy soup with a hint of tomato and a cloud of sherry butter on top. The soup also had lots of delicious and fresh shredded crab. I ordered a side dish to start - the fried Brussels Sprouts which were drizzled with a smoked paprika and lemon aioli. Wow! These were amazing. They were little sprouts that were lightly fried until they were cooked through and the exterior was crunchy. The aioli was sweetly spiced and complimented the crunchy exterior of the sprouts. For dinner, DH ordered the bacon wrapped rabbit loin. It was two slices of rabbit loin that were wrapped in bacon and served on top of pimento cheese grits with three grilled baby carrots in a jus with whole coriander. The rabbit was tender, and the salty bacon complimented the lean game meat well. The grits were cheesy and thick, and the carrots were sweet. The sauce certainly brought flavor to the dish, but as a jus it did not provide body. I ordered the Low Country Crab Cakes. It was two hand formed crab cakes that were over a sautÃ© of corn, thinly sliced okra, halved cherry tomatoes, butterbeans (that looked like lima beans) and a tomato broth with sweet pepper relish on top of the crab cakes. The crab cakes were super fresh and they were all crab - warmed through with a crusty top and bottom. The sweet pepper relish went nicely with the crab. The veggies were all cooked perfectly. It was one of the best dishes that I have had. Throughout dinner, we had great service - water glasses were promptly filled and drink orders were promptly replaced. This was truly a five star dining experience.
(5)
Clint W.

Upscale establishment, with a smaller menu that is performed well. Staff executes well and makes you feel spoiled. We had one of the starter mixes and the pork belly was succulent. It was far better than the oysters and the charcuterie to me. My steak was cooked to perfection and accompanied by a side of chard. The chard was sort of ordinary and a bit of a disappointment. I really was tempted to try the shrimp and grits, but others at the table suggested another place for that tasting. With jazz playing in the background, the restaurant almost has a club like feel to it.
(4)
B R.

My wife and I were married in the French Quarter Room at High Cotton in January and we could not have asked for a better experience. The staff during our reception was amazing and all of our guests commented on how much they enjoyed the service. The food was second to none and absolutely put to shame every other wedding meal I have ever had. Just an overall perfect night. Thanks to everyone at High Cotton.
(5)
Jessica A.

I hardly ever give places less than 5 stars, but this star doesn't even deserve the one star I'm forced to give it. This was the worst place we ate at the entire 4 days we spent in Charleston!! It was the only restaurant we had chosen prior to arriving in Charleston, and was by far the biggest letdown (in fact it was downright infuriating). We went for Sunday brunch. The jazz music in the bar was promising, but they were packed, so we sat in the main dining room. It was beautiful: lots of natural light coming in through the windows (with bustling East Bay Street outside), comfy, plush chairs, tables with crisp white linens, gorgeous palm ceiling fans, and pretty southern faces serving your meals. We started with Bloody Mary's. They looked nice. Rimmed with chili powder (or paprika?) and other seasonings and finished with a pickled green bean. But they were bland and watery. Too much lemon-lime and pickle flavor instead of yummy pepper, tomato, Worcestershire, and Tabasco, like I like it. They brought complimentary corn bread and butter, which got us excited - but the bread was not very good and was kind of dry. The whipped butter was amazing though...? How can you mess that up though...just whip it up and serve it at room temperature. Brunch was crab cake benedicts and the BBQ duck hash. SO VERY BLAND! How can you suck the butter flavor right out of hollandaise? And how does such a luscious duck become a tasteless, bland letdown? The grits were very good though. Probably the best we'd had in Charleston. But everything else was such a letdown that we were very upset to pay the $64 tab...for brunch...that we had looked forward to...ugh it was beyond miserable. For better brunches (which we should have done twice), try Poogan's Porch (the best!) or Husk (also the best!). But skip Hominy Grill. That was kind of bland too. Oh and the best Bloody Mary in town is at the Thoroughbred Club in the Charleston Place Hotel. Great ambiance and they keep it simple with Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix and vodka...
(1)
Wendy H.

I am not going to write much. Fabulous Food and Outstanding Service.
(5)
Mandie M.

The only reason for 2 stars is that the waiter was delightful and catered to the gluten free and dairy free needs of our party perfectly. However, we came for brunch on a Saturday . The dining area had patrons but I wouldn't say busy by any stretch. We waited for over an hour four our food. One of our party members received the wrong salad which was never corrected. A burger was cooked incorrectly (rare when asked for medium) and an omelet was over cooked and cold. This meal was overpriced, overrated, and a big ol waste of vacation time.
(2)
Thomas C K.

I had the gazpacho, which was simply outstanding and bursting with flavor! For our main course my wife took the Rabbit stuffed loin wrapped in bacon and substituted the cheese grits for fried Brussels sprouts - the texture and flavors were amazing. I had the crispy red snapper bouillabaisse which was really delicious. The only criticism we had was that initially they tried to put us at a table directly next to the walkway from the kitchen despite there being many other tables for two. We immediately asked for a different seating location and were accommodated without hesitation. One other point: there were quite a number of somewhat unruly very young children which was not quite conducive to such a higher end restaurant. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves and would go back.
(4)
Colleen M.

Charleston is a great food town and High Cotton is solidly first tier Charleston food. I'm a bit disappointed I wasn't hungrier when we tried High Cotton for an early lunch in April. The atmosphere is very calm and quiet that time of day, which I really appreciated. The service was impeccible; I was half surprised our waiter didn't facebook-friend us at the end of the meal. He had great recommendations and anticipated all of our needs/desires/requests. The food was good. It wasn't life changing, but it was very good. There was some sort of confusion about the Mister's entree; he thought he ordered chicken, soft shell crab appeared. My pork sandwich was a bit dry, but I'm nitpicking. Tomato soup starter was very good. I'm not *complaining* per se, but serving sizes were HUGE and I felt a little bad about how much was left on my plate. My recommendation is to come starving. I was so sad to have to turn down their very promising dessert menu.
(4)
Linda R.

I recently went to High Cotton for brunch with 3 friends. It was a busy day due to the Charleston Marathon and we were able to grab a comfortable table in the bar area. We immediately got menus and then we sat...our waitress brought us water never took our drink order or even asked us if we wanted anything and we sat. OK she was busy but we were ready to order when she finally returned we put in an order for cocktails and our lunch. The food came first, still no drinks. My salad had no dressing, my friend had a lamb barbecue sandwich, it was OK, chicken and waffles ummm...OK, shrimp and grits were outstanding. Finally got our waitress back to remind her about the drinks and the fact that I had nothing on my salad. Drink Order was clearly forgotten and with the exception of the Shrimp and grits the food wasn't great. I was so disappointed. I've had much better meals and service at both Fig and Slightly North of Broad where I will continue to dine
(3)
evan r.

4.5/5 stars for me here and this was the last of the Charleston stops. As you see from my recent reviews, the food down here was incredible. Some of the best I've had. Great local ingredients, fresh, creative yet simplistic. Delicious all around. Now, on to High Cotton. We were not planning to have brunch but ventured in and asked how long the wait was. For the dining room, it was 30 minutes but we were offered a full menu in the lounge, which was more than cute enough for us. This place is part owner of a number of places down here, and all are fantastic. We also missed out on the live jazz, but saw the stage. That we'll save for next time. My date and I ordered the same thing...Lowcountry Huevos Rancheros baked purple cape beans, smoked slow roasted pork shoulder, buttermilk queso fresca, guacamole, spring garlic heirloom tomato salsa. Talk about a southern twist on something! A southern bloody mary to go with it as well. A truly great meal. They were all out of freshly baked biscuits and so asked if it was ok to bring out some freshly baked cornbread instead....absolutely! Please do! They just do it right down there, that is certain! I'd say this, as I've said often, make a reservation here. It was packed in the evening too when we walked by. Check this place out. I am looking forward to trying it and the others they own. Until next time...
(4)
John M.

We came here on a packed Friday night with no reservation. Rather than leave we were told we could wait at the bar to see if one of tables in the bar area would open up. We were warned it was like playing musical chairs. Whenever someone left, you had to snatch the table before someone else took it. With that in mind, we were at full attention for any possible chance of spotting an open table. If someone had finished a drink or been sitting too long, we were on to them like the IRS on a tea party 501(c)4. Thankfully, it only took 30 minutes and we scored the best table in the room where we could enjoy the live music front and center. Since I was in South, I was on a mission to find the best Shrimp and Grits. I would eat shrimp and grits every evening starting at High Cotton for the next 3 nights. Hands down the best I had was the first night there in beautiful Charleston. The unique twist High Cotton added to their dish was chorizo and jalapeÃ±o. The flavors were out of this world and especially surprising considering the portion of chorizo and jalapeÃ±os were miniscule. What they lacked in size made up for in flavor a million times over. Should I ever find myself back in Charleston, I will be making reservations long in advance of my arrival!
(5)
Rachel S.

Food was great! Benjamin was a superb waiter. Get seated in his section if you can. The Pimms Cup is a must order cocktail!!
(5)
Julie R.

Stopped in for a drink and app on a Tuesday night at the bar. It was a nice surprise to see a live jazz band going. We had plans to hit a few more places and opted for something small to share. We chose the shrimp and grit fritters. This was perfect to start the night. Creamy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Bartenders were pleasant and fast. Would come back again, great scene and atmosphere, the midweek live music rocked too. And I can't forget the sangria was amazing!
(4)
Gimmy K.

Go here for Happy Hour! They have a wonderful list of delicious cocktails and mouthwatering food for very reasonable prices. The live jazz band sets the perfect mood for a fun but classy start to your night.
(5)
Adam K.

My wife and I arrived Friday night without reservations, but there was a table in the bar....good choice...excellent music...cold draft beer ... and the shrimp and grits, fried oysters, salads and charcuterie plate were all excellent.
(4)
David M.

Nice looking place with a bar area, music in the bar and several dining areas. Apparently, the long tine chef recently left so they have a new one from the Kiawah area - I was with a group and we all enjoyed the food - the highlights are the fish dishes (snapper was great) but the lamb and steak also were good. The sides, salads and apps were also good (fried oysters, corn, fried brussel sprouts, Bibb lettuce salad to name a few). Dessert was also solid, but not spectacular
(4)
John L.

This restaurant is very good but I can't give it 5 stars. We were there at 8 PM on a weeknight and they started our experience by telling us they were out of filet mignon, the dish 3 of us planned to order. Restaurants in this price range shouldn't run out of a signature dish.
(4)
Curt H.

We ate brunch here. First let me say that as we entered the restaurant, the live Dixieland music made us think wow, we chose well. But then were seated in the adjacent dining room, and it was so noisy we could not hear the music at all. The food is good, if you like "low country" which I do, but my wife doesn't. We probably won't return, because there are lots more restaurants to try and we only occasionally visit Charleston.
(3)
Jenna H.

I came to high cotton per the suggestion of a friend while on a work trip in Charleston. What a great place! I love the ambiance, food, service - everything. I cannot wait to come back. I met my friend here and we started with some great wine. For an appetizer I had the Bibb salad topped with apple smoked bacon, fried green tomatoes, and creamy blue cheese at the perfect price of $8. For dinner I had a perfectly cooked ribeye with bearnaise Sauce for $29. I usually do not focus on price while I am eating out but - I love that I was able to have high quality food and service and stay within my work expense budget!
(5)
Amanda C.

High Cotton was fabulous for Sunday Brunch. The chicken and waffles were divine. My best friend got the huevos rancheros, which were so flavorful. To top it off, the bloody mary's were fantastic and we had the BEST server, Delia (sp?), who had the greatest humor. I would go back in a heartbeat! Also, there was a band to make it lively!
(5)
Stephen H.

Had a reservation for 4 on Sunday Mar 9. Table was ready, lovely setting. Service was prompt and the martini was exactly as ordered. The ladies both had the fish special and were very pleased. The men had 2 courses. The salad and marinated calamari very good. The tofu main course was fair. The crab cake as a main course excellent. Wine choice was extensive and good. This is an excellent choice for visitors.
(4)
Ben P.

About 1/3 had a bad time. Service was slow and the main server spilled a whole glass of wine in one of our table mates lap. We had to send back a very under cooked pork chop. We literally waited for ever part of the meal... Drinks, bread, apps, main course, bill. I asked a water boy what was on my plate and he had no idea. I do not recommend.
(1)
Gloria K.

Very good place especially when they have the jazz singers in the bar area! Good food and their specials can be AWESOME!! Very good place to go in Charlesston!
(4)
Whitney P.

We ate here for our anniversary dinner. Wonderful setting, we loved the jazz band! We sat in the dining room next door to the bar so we could hear the band but it was not too loud. The food was delicious. I had the Shrimp and grits. It was a different style than I have tried before and was delicious! The pecan pie is wonderful. Our server was excellent, would highly recommend!
(5)
Laurie T.

We took a risk having never eating here, being on vacation, and celebrating our anniversary dinner on Friday the 13th. I have to say, it was absolutely worth the risk. Service was impeccable from the minute we were seated. My husband ordered the corn bisque appetizer, bacon wrapped rabbit for entree, and chocolate pudding for dessert. I chose from the Restaurant Week menu three course meal, seafood mousse stuffed squash blossom, 6 oz sirloin, and molten chocolate cake for dessert. My husband's food was amazing all around. The squash blossom was unique and very flavorful. When my sirloin arrived I tasted the first bite, which I had ordered medium doneness. Our server stopped by to check on our status after about five minutes, and I said everything was wonderful after having eaten bites of all the other items on my plate including brocollini and caramelized onions, which were fabulous. A couple of more bites into my steak I discovered that it was mostly medium rare to rare, so I ate what I could tolerate, but left about a third of the meat on my plate. I also noticed other patrons sending their steak back to the kitchen to finish cooking it. At that point, I had nearly completed my meal. We savored our desserts, which rivaled the chocolate at French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Asheville (huge compliment). At the end of the evening, I brought up the issue of my rare steak with our server. To her credit, she was very apologetic. She mentioned that the steak could have been returned to the chef at any point. This was the only glitch in the entire evening. I had a wonderful anniversary dinner that I won't soon forget.
(4)
Francine F.

Pork chop and sides were PERFECT and amazingly tasty. Corn crab chowder was to die for. Rabbit was also very good. Salads were perfect. Pecan pie was best I have ever had. More pecans, less filler! Service was more than accomodating, in fact, more friendly and casual than I'd expect in a place with this high level of cuisine.
(5)
Paul M.

We stopped at High Cotton for dinner after wandering the Charleston Waterfront. Elegant, but very comfortable, ambience. We shared the Fried Oysters and the Beet Mosaic Salad from the appetizer menu and a Pistachio Tart from the dessert menu, had plenty to eat for $40. The Fried Oysters were the best we have ever had--we also enjoyed the salad and dessert. Service was excellent. One of our all-time favorite meals and all-time favorite restaurants. WOW!
(5)
Davis N.

A big disappointment . If you are going to have an open kitchen you had better make sure your staff is presentable. Those guys hasn't seen a barber or a razor in a long time. They would push their hair out of their face and then fix your food. Not good. The dishes were just ok. Not the kind you taste and exclaim to your table" you have to try this!!" Atmosphere is nice and the band was good . Waiters did a good job. Too many other great places to eat for me to go back here.
(2)
Samantha S.

Dining at High Cotton is the sort of experience that reminds one of what increasingly seems to be a bygone era ... a time when people would actually dress for dinner, when the women acted like ladies and the men like gentleman. Make no mistake, the atmosphere of the dining room and the attitudes of the staff are in no way stuffy; they do, however, manage to effortlessly achieve that blend of propriety and charm that is so quintessentially Charlestonian. I ordered off their restaurant week menu, and had the pumpkin curry bisque, the steak and crab, and the bananas foster cheesecake. The bisque was delicious, and I was pleasantly surprised to find several whole clams in it. The steak was tender and juicy and cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, after an otherwise perfect meal, the cheesecake was a bit of a letdown. It was too dry, lacked creaminess, and was far too bland ... it seemed as though they did nothing to flavor it. The cheesecake was really the difference between a four and five star review. This being said, despite the anticlimactic dessert, I would return to High Cotton in a heartbeat.
(4)
Deb E.

Ok. But not special. Slow service! An hour from being seated to finally being served. We werent in a hurry but still... bloody marys were marginal. The crab benedict was good....the grits were not. The live music was a plus.
(3)
Cathe M.

Wonderful friendly staff. Delicious food. The tomato bisque soup and the crab Benedict were delicious. The spinach quiche was also delicious but a little on the skimpy side. Would highly recommend this restaurant .
(5)
Debie W.

We went here for Sunday brunch. Overall I was disappointed. We walked in to a Dixie land band in the bar area which was a good start. After that things were up and down. The coffee, which to me is the measure of a restaurant, was not great. It was too bitter for one thing. Cornbread came to start off. It had an oily and gritty texture that I didn't care for. We order salmon rolls to start. These were mostly fried batter. I had the pain Perdue with a side of grits. He had the pork belly cassoulet and a side of biscuits. The entrees came ahead of the sides instead of together like they should have. The pecan crust on the French toast was good, but the bread itself was mediocre. The grits were very good - evidently the idea of grits around here is a lot of cream and some ground corn - delicious but over the top rich. The cassoulet was good but did not meet expectations. The biscuit were also good but not stunning. Given the hype, and what we expected from reviews and dinner prices, we were disappointed. Service (while pleasant and prompt) as well as the food were less sophisticated and of lower quality than we had expected. Based on this experience I would not risk the high prices of the dinner menu.
(3)
Kasey C.

Great brunch with live jazz on Sundays! The food is great and I loved the ambiance. There are a few items on the menu that weren't adequately described (I ordered an Omelette and they didn't mention goat cheese). I love goat cheese but it's a little too rich for me in the morning. Aside from that I would definitely recommend High Cotton.
(4)
Katie V.

I took my parents and family here for a "fancy" night out while visiting them in South Carolina from New York. We're not really the kind of people who patronize establishments with price tags like these regularly so I was a little nervous that they'd give us the cold shoulder. The ambiance in the restaurant is relaxing and calm. My husband is a jazz musician and was impressed with the band that they had playing by the bar - a bunch of young kids doing an excellent rendition of Sunny Side of the Street, among other standards. The service was impeccable. The waiter humored us as we joked about ordering not one, but two $1200 bottles of wine. We didn't, opting for their specialty drinks, all of which were delicious and nicely balanced. We ordered almost every appetizer on the menu. Get the pork belly if you're into that sort of thing - you won't be disappointed. The same is true of the charcuterie plate, made of locally sourced meat and cheeses. We devoured everything. It was fantastic. I look forward to returning and trying their other restaurants next time I'm in the area.
(5)
Rachel G.

I had a lovely meal here with my family the last time I was in Charleston. All the food was delicious and I really just enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant. I'd definitely say it's an older crowd that visits here but the food is just as good if you're young or old, just maybe more pricey than a 20-something wants to spend (hence the trip with the parents). It's definitely a favorite of the downtown restaurant scene.
(4)
Mickey Z.

Drinks were 5 stars, food was 3. meat was undercooked but other than that OK.
(3)
Sam L.

Going to High Cotton for happy hour on our vacation in Charleston was one of our best decisions on the whole trip. They have good happy hour specials, which lets you taste some of their great menu on the cheap. We wanted to try as many things as possible, so we ordered a handful of appetizers: buttermilk fried oysters, buffalo-style rabbit wings, portabella fries, shrimp and grits fritters and a bunch of delicious beers and cocktails to wash it down. Live music was a nice touch. Make it a point to stop in here if you're visiting Charleston!
(5)
Phillip A.

I took my wife there for her birthday we really enjoyed our visit. The service was impeccable really nice ambiance, and the food was great. We highly recommend this place.
(5)
C C.

I visited this restaurant with my family, and we were so impressed! The food was perfect- I had one of the best steaks I've ever had there, and the risotto was delicious as well. The atmospere was very comfortable, and the staff very friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant- or any of the Southern Maverick Kitchen restaurants, for that matter.
(5)
Meghan g.

Very disappointing. We were visiting Charleston over the Memorial Day weekend, and due to a slight lack of planning had to rely on the concierge at our hotel for a dinner reservation Monday night. High Cotton was recommended by a few friends, so when the concierge suggested it, we thought it would be just fine. We had an early reservation, which was sort of nice, as we were one of only a few other tables. I should say, this would have been nice, had the immature wait staff been able to keep themselves quiet or at least leave their discussions of the previous nights' festivities until after work. Our server, Amanda, proceeded to share with her coworkers stories of how much Rumplemints she had consumed the night before and that she had hardly had any sleep - all within earshot of her only table. To us, Amanda was pretentious and condescending, and unable to provide us with suggestions or guide us through the menu at all. The food was decent, but nothing that we would return for given the atrocious service. The fried oysters were actually delicious. Sea scallops were cooked to perfection but the accompaniments were average. If visiting Charleston, seek out places that the locals frequent... don't fall into a tourist trap.
(2)
Jim T.

Amazing. Amazing. My wife and I spent our anniversary in Charleston, SC. This meant finding a nice dinner spot in a town I had never been to. After a short time Google searching and Yelp searching restaurants I found High Cotton. Their southern style combined with a laid back classy southern atmosphere turned out to be perfect! I made our reservation online weeks before we were to arrive. I don't recall the website we used to make the reservation but it wasn't High Cottons webpage. I did however receive an email verifying our reservation from the venue, which was nice. Also, on my "notes" section of the reservation, I noted it was our anniversary so a nice table location would be kind. When we arrived we were greeted by our names by the very kind staff. That was a huge surprise, but not as big as what came next. We were given a booth located above the entire rest of the restaurant with three other couples who were all out on a nice night out on the town. We were also given complimentary champaign, even though my wife was pregnant. They understood and brought her out another drink. The food was quite great. I really have no complaints. Their selection ranged from southern to american traditional. I have to say i will visit High Cotton again if I ever find myself in downtown Charleston, SC. 5 Stars.
(5)
Elijah R.

This ain't your neighborhood Applebee's folks. Skip dinner and the dress code, head to the bar. Top shelf spirits & excellent service...the espressotini never disappoints.
(5)
Tatyana V.

Amazing restaurant. We came here to celebrate and the atmosphere, service, and food were all amazing. Everyone in a group of 8 loved their meals, and the charcuterie plate was out of this world! I usually think those things are wastes of money but all of their aged meats and sauces were made in house and were possibly the best I've ever had. Amazing! LOVE LOVE LOVE
(5)
c a.

Fresh seafood . Excellent marinated octopus. Wonderful sheepshead. Every one in our group was happy happy.
(5)
Jennifer R.

I stopped here earlier this evening while visiting Charleston with my folks and sister. My sister lives in Charleston 1/2 the year, and recommended this place. We didn't have a full meal, but took advantage of the happy hour specials from 4-7. The place had nice decor - very cozy inside, nice jazz group playing. We had the truffle oil popcorn (good flavor, not too much truffle oil, which I have had happen at other places). The charcuterie platter was very good as well - highly recommend the pepperoni from it, and the grilled bread that accompanies it was perfect. My sister had the pork belly dish, which everyone raved about (I don't eat like pork belly, so I can't weigh in). I had a glass of Steelhead Pinot Noir for $5, it was very good. They had a good selection of happy hour drink specials. My sister had an espresso martini which I tried - it was great. Also the "Southern Mule" is good - it had ginger beer, a specialty vodka, and was very smooth. I would love to come back sometime and try the full menu - based on the happy hour specials, it should be great.
(3)
Madison H.

Had a terrible experience. Bar waitress was rude. Sat in restaurant and decided to leave. Restaurant was empty on a Friday evening. Went across to SNOB which was full and wonderful. I'd wait until High Cotton fixes it's problem with not being customer oriented.
(1)
Subir G.

Had brunch here on a beautiful Sunday in Charleston. The Bloody Mary and Southern Mule were both very good. I had the cassoulet, which was very good and my wife had the shrimp and grits (which was great). We tried the Johnny Cakes (really good). Service was very friendly and efficient, there was live music by the bar (a jazz band).
(4)
Brianne K.

We came here for a large group dinner the last night of our vacation in Charleston. The service was fantastic, but for a vegetarian...the menu options were pretty limited. Skip the picnic platter appetizer (way overpriced for what is actually on it). I had a myriad of side dishes...gazpacho was amazing, spicy broccoli and carrots were delicious, corn left much to be desired. Overall, my friends loved it...but I would skip this overpriced option if you are a vegetarian.
(2)
Matt S.

The absolute best restaurant I've been to. Also I had the best Old Fashioned. I complimented the drink to my waiter and he passed it up to the bar tender and my second round was much stronger. Thanks! I highly recommend the fried green tomatoes and ribeye with classic bearnaise sauce.
(5)
Robin S.

Came here for live Jazz and dessert. I had a white chocolatte soufflÃ©s that was divine. My date said it was the best peanut butter pie he ever ate. Service and ambiance was great.
(5)
Alex C.

I visited High Cotton at the beginning of September 2012. I thought the atmosphere was very nice and that southern bistro type feel. The wine was tasty, the service was friendly, the American Wagyu Beef Carpaccio was delicious, and Chocolate Souffle was incredible. My only qualms were that I though my rabbit wrapped in bacon was a tad dry and my bisque was a bit watered down. All around it was a great dinner and experience.
(4)
Tristan B.

Whilst Charleston may have some of the worst drivers to ever grace this planet, the same cannot be said for their restaurants. There is a reason why Charleston has been graced by the likes of Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, and Adam Richman. It is because Charleston is a city of the foodies, by the foodies, for the foodies. The restaurants per capita, most especially in the most southern portion of the peninsula, must be the highest of any small city. Furthermore, the number of "good" restaurants is unbelievable. There may not be a Michelin star restaurant in Charleston, but there are many restaurants that are worthy of the designation. High Cotton is part of the Maverick family of restaurants that includes Slightly North of Broad and Old Village Post House, the latter being in Mt. Pleasant. In High Cotton, there are a few dining areas. There is one with the bar (I must note one displeasure right now. They store some single malts near lights and for those of us true whisky drinkers who do without the wretched ice, the whisky is served somewhat warm) and then also an open dining area with really cool looking fans and wooden slat blinds. I feel as if I am on a plantation somewhere! They have an extensive wine and drink list. The waiters are able to provide good wine recommendations. Maverick also produces some liquors including vodka, rum, and whiskey (note the spelling difference) that they feature in drinks. I cannot comment on their liquors though as I have never had them. The menu has a mix of southern inspired dishes as well as steaks. I got the filet after asking for a filet . Upon arriving, the filet was cooked as ordered. It was tender and juicy. It was one of the better steaks I've had in my life, but not the best as that shout out goes to Edinburgh! Throughout my party, everybody got something different from the menu. While I cannot comment on their dishes as the food never touched my tastebuds, everybody seemed beyond pleased. Service was excellent! They treated you very well. It was very hospitable. Overall, I recommend this place!
(5)
Rachel M.

Enjoying Restaurant Week Charleston! Atmosphere: 5; very southern style, great jazz band, a touch of close neighbors though Staff: 4; the waitress was friendly and efficient; the bartender was efficient but lack friendliness Drinks: 4; nice selection of beer (local on tap), wine and mixed drinks Food: 3; stand outs: lamb & bean soup and the butterscotch pot de crÃ¨me; yummy none the less: fried green tomatoes with shrimp; nothing to write home about: carved sirloin and the crÃ¨me fraishe cheesecake Overall: 3.5; we may go back and try something else at some point
(3)
Amanda S.

We had brunch at High Cotton on a Sunday. Good energy and crowd. The live Jazz set a upbeat tone for our meal. We had the Crab Cakes Benedict served over Fried Green Tomatoes and BBQ Duck Hash. Both Dishes were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The grits were also amazing. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. Great Brunch spot!
(5)
Stephen S.

Fantastic meal from start to finish. Truffle fries accompaning anything...must have.
(5)
Ebony B.

I went to High Cotton, not because I wanted to, but because we were hot, thirsty, irritated, and had just spent about $100 in the Cook's Shop across the street buying a high-end shee-shee picnic basket [that we have YET to use FYI] I dunno anything named Cotton, doesn't really sit well with me; I feel like Charleston is one big reminder of my slave history and I'd really had enough. So I reluctantly crossed the street with my new husband and went into High Cotton. 5:27, opened for dinner at 5:30 and they really made us wait 3 minutes to be seated. So we waited. We were the only blacks in the restaurant, and I felt awkward. I'm used to being the only black person in places, but in an establishment named Cotton, in Charleston, I dunno I felt weird. So we were seated on the left-hand room alone, away from the rest of the patrons and my paranoia grew. In enters Delia, our waitress, and heaven shined upon us. Delia was warm, helpful, helped us order two specials: Grilled Peach and Fig Arugula Salad and Crab (She-Crab) Soup For entrees we had Shrimp and Grits-- it made me realize what the North is missing by not having grits and shrimp everywhere. It was AMAZINGGGG! The grits were buttery, creamy, thick and the shrimp were cajun, well-spiced, (not too spicy) and AMAZING! We had a long ride to Myrtle Beach and didn't want to overeat so we ended up splitting a plate and we were stuffed. Delia gave us an on-the-house Peach Cobbler a la mode and we had sweet tea to drink. We didn't try the other stuff b/c of our 2 hour ride to the Beach. High Cotton was great. Our private dining room soon became filled with other patrons, and everyone was very friendly and warm. The food was AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME, by far my fave in all of Charleston and Mt. Pleasant, the seafood was super fresh, and Delia was a breath of fresh air. AMAAAAAAAAAAAAZING experience, and albeit Cotton for the name, I'll get over it for a nice atmosphere and fun dining experience (WITH DELIA). Thank God it was named High Cotton Plantation. :-\
(5)
Phyllis J.

Vegan that I am. I had dinner with friends. In the middle of all the seafood, steaks, and lamb; i found a delicious arugula salad with cashews, and ginger with a vinaigrette. Then i discovered manna from heaven in the fried brussels sprouts and spicy broccoli. Nice!
(4)
Kathleen H.

When I asked my local friends where to get a good brunch, they sent me here. And they will remain my friends for sure - the meal was simply fantastic. Started with some bubbly, devoured the cornbread, and I couldn't believe how uniquely delicious the crab benedict tasted. They make this with fried green tomatoes instead of an English muffin, the tastiest crab cakes and perfectly poached eggs that are not drowning in hollandaise. The best part? When we finished our drinks, entrees and coffee, I did not experience the usual food coma that follows a heavy brunch. In fact, nothing seemed to be heavy at all. This place does it right - portion size, ingredients, textures, flavors. If I lived in Charleston, I'd want to eat brunch here every Sunday!
(5)
Andy L.

High Cotton is an example of what fine dining is like in Charleston. Professional service, good food, ambiance and hospitality. All of this does come at a price, though probably not out of the realm of other fine dining establishments. Big ceiling fans, wooden accents, comfortable banquettes and chairs all add to the welcoming feel of High Cotton. We sat in a large banquette overlooking the main dining area and were treated to both people watching and a nice view of the restored dining room. Our waiter came over ready to suggest some house cocktails. We tried The Charleston (vodka, Madeira, iced tea, lemonade, mint-infused simple syrup/$9) and an Espresso Martini (espresso, vodka, Kahlua/$8), which were both delicious. For dinner, we tried the Fluke Crudo ($11) which came with heady Asian pear, and a coconut based sauce. The flavor of coriander thread through the dish and distinguished this from similar preparations. Carolina Peach Salad ($10) was sprinkled with Feta cheese and watermelon and was dressed in an olive-caper vinaigrette. It was a little vinegary for our taste, but still enjoyable for its creative simplicity and the sweetness of the ripe peaches. A Yellow Tomato Gazpacho ($4) was thick and rich and a pleasant way to start a meal after a warm day. Wild American Shrimp & Grits ($24) included chorizo, okra, corn & tomatoes in a savory seafood flavored broth. 6 oz Petit Filet Mignon ($28) was broiled medium rare as requested and accompanied by a Cabernet & fig reduction, one of five sauces available on any of the steak selections on the menu. The meat was tender and juicy and the sauce was a rich, sweet compliment to the beef. Lamb Porterhouse ($36) came with two pieces of meat, bone-in and tender, topped with our choice of Garlic Dill Butter. The smoked baked potato side ($6) was stuffed with cheddar cheese, creme fraiche & chives. The lamb, served medium rare as requested, was delicious and the smoked potato was a delicious novelty. Espressos ($3.25) completed the pleasant evening. We shared a bottle of 2010 Witness Tree "Chainsaw" Pinot Noir ($45; about $20 retail) from Oregon. The wine had sweet tannins and coffee/mocha overtones. Service was very good. Our waiter was very professional, attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. This may be one of the pricier restaurants in downtown Charleston, but when it is running on all eight cylinders it is an excellent experience.
(4)
Eric D.

Really delicious. I had the bibb lettuce salad, the chicken soup (spicy and fantastic!) and the fried brussel sprouts. All were appetizers or sides and all were top notch! Yum. I sat at a table in the bar and listened to a bit of live music. Service was good and the server was friendly and helpful.
(4)
Jeff K.

Walked in without reservations and was seated immediately. Our server was excellent and very attentive. I ordered the chicken dumpling soup as a starter, but it was bland and very ordinary. Next up was the Bibb salad, which was very good. It was big enough to split, the lettuce was excellent and it had just the right amount of blue cheese. The fried green tomatoes were a nice addition, though they could've had a tastier breading. My wife ordered the pork chop and I ordered the rack of lamb, which were both amazing. The lamb wasn't a large dish, but the pork was too much for my wife to finish. We finished up with the chocolate mousse and the pecan pie. I cannot say enough good things about the desserts, but I'll try. The mousse was the second best thing I've ever had in my mouth. Seriously. The pecan pie was very good also.
(4)
Ronni S.

Our "picnic basket" appetizer was good so we thought we were going to have a wonderful meal. The ambiance is nice (but a little on the stuffy side), and the live music is a great touch. It all went down hill after the appetizer. We ordered two mint julips, but mine had a long hair (that wasn't mine ) in it. Then we ordered steak medium rare. We waited at least 20 minutes for it but it came out almost completely RAW. It was not edible so we sent it back and waited another 20 minutes for a new one, which was barely any better than the first. My boyfriend had stomach issues the following day from the steak which never sat right in either of our stomachs. The price for this entree was $56.00 Next time I'll go to a fine steak house but skip this place!
(1)
Kristie W.

When we arrived at High Cotton for dinner on Tuesday evening, we learned that the reservation our concierge was supposed to have made for 6:45pm, was not made. We were initially bummed thinking we'd never be able to get a new reservation this late in the evening at a quality restaurant and I secretly sulked as we were waiting for the host to confirm we were out of luck. Instead, the host came over after about 5 minutes and confirmed that they were able to accommodate us. Our party of four was escorted to one of the few large, raised booths in the back. It was the ideal table (although you live jazz was muted being so far back) and I can't imagine what magic the manager was able to work to secure that table for us. But it was wonderful. We had a terrific view of the restaurant. Loved the plantation fans slowly churning from the high ceilings. We were waited on by a handsome young man who served us with genuine southern charm that's hard to believe still exists. The food was outstanding as well. Highly recommend the Blue Lump Crab Gratin appetizer. I tried my first shrimp and grits here and, while I'd not normally order that type of meal, it did not disappoint. My husband had the petit filet and jumbo shrimp which he devoured and my parents split the filet mignon which they said was juicy and perfectly cooked. For sides, we shared the sauteed spinach, creamy white corn grits and cauliflower gratin. All amazing. We asked for the recommend for dessert to share and the name escapes me but I want to say it was either a peach or apple souffle. The tastes and textures were out of this world.
(5)
Chris R.

Pros: Full service at the bar Couples can split meals with no up charge Live band (appropriate for the space) Cons: Service is slow (all tables full, so..) Food arrived cold and under cooked (steak, med well - arrived med & cool) Choc Mud Pie... Not worth it. Last visit was 2 yrs ago, and it was much better.
(3)
Miguel F.

Saw the reviews on Yelp and tried the shrimp and grits... Amazing!! Traveling from Miami, shrimp and grits is not a typical plate that I had previously encountered. Nevertheless, I would agree that it is a must-have. The service was great and the environment had a festive vibe.
(5)
Sam C.

Amazing. Top of the line. Easily some of the best food you'll find in Charleston
(5)
Alessandra H.

We decided to try High Cotton on our second visit to Charleston. The last time we were visiting, we took the Bourbon and BBQ class at Charleston Cooks and had a great time. Due to that experience, we assumed that High Cotton would have delicious food and be a good option for a fancy dinner with my parents. The atmosphere and service was excellent. The food was really sub par. Out of four diners only my mother really enjoyed her meal (Grilled Scottish Salmon). My father had the Grilled Yellow Fin Tuna and it was so fishy -- yes, I know it's a fish -- but this was over the top not fresh and definitely not tasty. I ordered the New York Strip with the Bourbon Bacon Sauce, and it was just OK. My husband had the lamb also with the Bourbon Bacon Sauce; I remember the waiter called it a porterhouse but on the website menu it lists Australian Rack of Lamb. He asked for it to be cooked medium rare. It was such a large piece of lamb that he thought that it must have been cooked unevenly, so he kept eating to potentially find a pink center closer to the middle. No dice, it was well done. Perhaps we're gluttons for punishment, but we ordered dessert (to my husband's dismay). The CrÃ¨me BrÃ»lÃ©e was supposed to have some sort of flavoring to it (Grand Marnier maybe). Needless to say, it just tasted like a plain and unexciting CrÃ¨me BrÃ»lÃ©e. We also ordered the pecan pie which was delicious. You might ask why we didn't send food back. Well, sending back one dish because something wasn't prepared properly is one thing, but when more than one person isn't happy, you probably aren't going to do much better. And, frankly, for the price of this meal, we shouldn't have to send anything back. I think there are much better options in Charleston.
(2)
Ryan C.

Great food here! They had a very classy old-south feel inside the restaurant. The service was impeccable. I had a salad, filet, and dessert. Wow was it delicious! If you are looking for a great place to eat I highly recommend High Cotton. The price is on the higher end, but it is worth it! This is a great place to go spend a few hours with a good friend eating dinner.
(4)
Kathleen S.

Ambiance, service, and wine were great. Food, not so much and that is why you come to a restaurant- to eat. We had the shrimp and grits it was plain and uneventful. We were hoping for a flavor explosion and got a dud instead. If we were only here to drink and people watch it would be a 4 star at least but alas we wanted good food too how pretentious of us!
(2)
Melissa B.

My husband and I had our best dinner in Charleston at this restaurant. We had canceled our original dinner reservations so we wouldn't be stuck to a schedule. As it turned out our night found us in the vicinity of High Cotton so while we couldn't get a table in the main dining room, we opted to dine in the bar area which had live music and ample seating. Our service was great. All courses were incredible. The live music was a wonderful surprise and the espresso martini is something that I cannot stop thinking about, yum!
(5)
Brandie G.

As my boyfriend and I walked into High Cotton, the sounds of live jazz filled the restaurant! From that moment, I knew it was going to be a great dining experience. As we checked into our reservation, we were seated immediately and greeted by our server. She was super helpful and gave me a few of her favorites, which helped me decide that I was definitely going the Chicken and Waffles route! The chicken was actually white meat chicken wrapped around a delish little sausage then deep fried and placed on a pecan waffle! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! Their bloody Mary's were so so, nothing to write home about, but my dish made up for it. My boyfriend had eggs Benedict with pork belly on top... This was his favorite restaurant of the trip so it must have been delectable. The best part of the whole experience was the grits... Like woah. They were the best tasting plain grits o have ever had. It tasted like their may have been some type of cheese, they were so creamy and the texture was out of this world. Do yourself a favor, if your dish doesn't come w/ grits, order them as a side... After tasting them on my boyfriends plate, I ordered my own bowl!
(5)
Scarlett J.

Thinking of High Cotton and their delicious food takes me to a happy place no matter what. The absolute MUST TRY for brunch is the Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict. I have never had something so delicious. Fried green tomato fried to perfection atop a delicious English muffin, covered in the crabbiest crab cake with a beautiful fluffy poached egg and hollandaise. Complete WOWZA. Or something as simple as the fried oysters with their green goddess dressing... they are so delicious you might catch yourself licking your plate! They also serve a good Bloody Mary and Bellini here, they have live music (soft jazz) which is such a wonderful addition to this Southern gem. You can't go wrong with anything you order here--their food is DELICIOUS. The decor is beautiful as well--high ceilings with slow moving ceiling fans, large windows, artwork... full of Southern charm!
(5)
Alie S.

What an amazing meal! My husband and I started off with a cocktail at the bar. Great happy hour and selection of wines and cocktails with their private label liquor. Once we were seated we were promptly introduced to our server who was fantastic. We went for the charcuterie plate for 2 and our waitress was able to suggest a wonderful, unique wine to accompany. The charcuterie plate was one of the best we've had. For our main courses we both opted for seafood specials and were very pleased with our meals. They had a wonderful selection of wines by the glass to go with anything on their menu. Unfortunately we were too full for dessert. From the attentive service to the great live music, this place has it all: great food and ambiance. We have dined at SNOB on a previous trip and loved it too. High Cotton is perfect for a nice evening out. There are plenty of wonderful restaurants in Charleston and this is definitely at the top of our list.
(5)
Joanna F.

Yes... Just yes. This place seemed VERY upscale to me. But coming from Boston, the prices were fairly cheap for what we would pay at a high end steakhouse. My boyfriend and I started with the fried rabbit. I've had rabbit once before and was not all that impressed. But here it was DELICIOUS. I could eat it everyday. I was on a meat-I-usually-don't-eat kick, so I got the Venison Osso Bucco for my entree. I've had venison a few times before, and this was prepared the best, by far. The juice that doused it was divine and the blue crab corncake and spinach underneath were both delicious. I used bread to sop up some of the extra juice on the plate... It was that good. My boyfriend got a steak with a side of fried green tomatoes. These were the best fried green tomatoes I had had in Charleston (the other being at Poogan's Porch which was tasteless). The service was good besides the fact that I felt I was being pressured into ordering more food and dessert. Not cool. Overall, I had an outstanding experience here.
(5)
Blak B.

This is a very romantic restaurant to dine at, If you are on a first date then you will surely win here over.The ambiance is amazing and they have live music thats not overbearing more so relaxing. Its an upscale establishment but ladies if you wear heels beware of the side walks leading to High Cotton. Its like trying to tight rope! The food came out in a timely fashion even with it being packed. My filet and lobster was delish and small enough for me. Also the shrimp and grits that my friend ordered is also recommendable. Overall I would dine here again and you should give it a try!
(4)
H. Deborah S.

Good solid place. High end and excellent food. Live music and a great staff. We thoroughly enjoyed our night there. My only complaint was the Sweetbreads had a slightly turned taste. Either they were just this side of fresh or they soaked them in vinigar, either way it was a strange taste and sharp smell. Other dishes were excellent. Pork chop...and Flounder.
(3)
Gail F.

Stopped in for a drink on a Wednesday evening around 9:30 by myself after a FABULOUS meal at Cypress down the street. The place was pretty crowded...I probably would not have been able to get a table right away but since I only wanted a drink, I found a comfy spot at the bar. The bartender greeted my immediately and I ordered a Riesling...nothing in particular (whatever one was on the menu). It was excellent. The bartender was friendly and made small talk. I was craving a coffee and so ordered a cappuccino. The bartender laughed. He looked at my Riesling and added "How about dessert?" I wasn't in a rush and liked the vibe of the place (since there was also a jazz band playing which i very much liked). I ordered the sorbet trio. I remember the peach sorbet was to die for. I finished all of my drinks and sorbet, said goodbye and while walking out, made a mental note to make High Cotton my after-dinner spot next time I'm in town.
(4)
Al O.

Came here with my wife because most reviews were favorable . We were quite DISAPOINTED by the staff not the food (when we finally got some) we were seated near the bar and the bartender came and asked for our drink order. I asked about the IPA she extolled the virtues of the IPA . So I ordered it what I got was somebodies idea of a joke.it lacked any caricature. I should have quit then... The wait staff finely came to take our order had to be asked about the specials. Our dinner finely came.. after about 1/2 hour wait. There never was any bread placed on the table we had to ask for the vegetables we ordered and we never saw our waitress for the remainder of our meal. When we asked to see the manager she came over and was obnoxiously rude. The food was ok. (just ok) but if I spend that kind of money I expect much better service. THERE are quite a few very good restaurants a short walk from here that value good service and fine food. I can recommend PEARLZ just down the street
(1)
Aberdo G.

We had reservations but arrived early. Though there were tables available the hostess in her best snooty tone told us there would be a wait. Whatever we went to the bar. After we settled into a table at the bar we just decided to stay put. We both had the surf and turf and everything was prepared perfectly. The waitress and whole bar staff were very attentive and really busting their asses to give the crowded bar excellent service. Half the reason we stayed in the bar was the comedy factor of the lounge singers they were half way between Bill Murray SNL lounge singer and Will Farrell & Ana Gasteyer SNL Music teachers. Kitschy and cheesy delight!
(5)
Alan M.

Along with she-crab soup, shrimp and grits is (are?) the definitive dish in Charleston. High Cotton is supposed to be one of the finest spots in Charleston. So, why did the shrimp taste like pre-boiled, fresh-frozen, reboiled stand-ins for the real thing? Don't blame BP; the oil spill hasn't hit Charleston yet. Further: The slim helping of heirloom tomatoes on the salad touted so highly by our server turned out to be so mushy and past their prime that they would have been more at home in a Prego sauce - or the compost bin. It would have been nice if I had been able to have the pecan pie I requested for desert but the server brought me an apple tart, instead. Inasmuch she was nowhere to be found and the ice cream was melting, I ate it. It was better than the shrimp and tomato but that is damning it with faint praise. Had this been a Denny's, I would have given it more than one star. As a high-priced place with pretensions of greatness, however, I grudgingly give it one.
(1)
M B.

One of our favorite places we dined while in Charleston. Made our reservation through Yelp, and was seated almost immediately when we arrived. The food was absolutely wonderful, and our sever's wine suggestions topped it off just right. We would definitely go back here time and time again!
(4)
S M.

Meh. Pretty room, but service was slow and sloppy, food was good but not great and prices were high. Nothing was awful but nothing was really great. The bar with live entertainment looked like more fun than the restaurant. There are many better places in Charleston, some on this same street (Magnolia, we are thinking of you).
(2)
JA M.

We visited Kiawah Island recently, and the concierge recommended this restaurant when she heard we were interested in Fig reservations. (took three days to get those.) High Cotton - I loved this restaurant, and the fact that my hub didn't love it nearly as much is the only thing barring me from giving this five stars. I loved the ambience - lots of wood, very New Orleans-y, with a jazz singer in the background. (can't say I'm a fan of live music when I dine, but we asked to be put far enough away so that it was more like really good background music.) I can't say I understand the local fondness for she-crab bisque soup, as I found it somewhat fishy tasting. But the twin lamb porterhouse steaks with the cabernet reduction sauce were absolutely delicious, and the chocolate souffle dessert so good that I scooped up every morsel. My husband had the steak with both the Henry Bain and garlic peppercorn sauces - very good. I am not a big fan of ordering steak out, as I think that we generally can do just as well at home, with the exception of sauces and quality of meat. The sauces were excellent, and that alone proved me wrong. It was a lovely evening out.
(4)
Xeekster d.

Just ok shrimp and grits. Scallops were recommended but lacked :(. Ambiance was nice and the bar seating was quite pleasant.
(3)
AC P.

Amazing dinner! From appetizer to dessert, this place delivered quality food at a reasonable price. If you are looking for a cool place to have an amazing meal with great service, go to High Cotton.
(5)
Liz W.

Meh. My mom and I came at an off time, 2:30 in the afternoon when they just serve the bar menu, but they assured us they still had crab soup, so based on that we came in and sat down. Our service wasn't rude, but it was somewhat indifferent. The lady seemed somewhat hassled by our being there. I understand the presence or absence of roe in what is ideally she-crab soup is based on the supply of roe-bearing crabs, so I understood the lack of its presence in my soup. I did not understand, however, the lack of a decent lump of crabmeat. There was about as much meat in there as there would be celery in Campbell's Cream of Celery. Perhaps it was the bottom of the pot. If so, the chef should consider stirring regularly to keep the servings uniform. That, however, would not explain the dearth of good sherry flavor. I miss being offered a little dram of sherry to add to my soup. My mother and I also split the tuna tartare-stuffed avocado. It was decent if not exceptional. It was much smaller than we expected, they used a small avocado. But it wasn't bad. Overall for the fancyness of the restaurant and the prices, I'm not too impressed. Maybe it was the time we showed up, bit a place like this needs to be bringing their A game to every meal.
(2)
Sam S.

This was last on our list for Charleston dining on our girls weekend. We arrived a little bit late for our reservation, but we were still able to be seated since our reservation was late in the night. The decor is more contemporary and modern than the other spots we dined at in Charleston. They had a trio jazz band playing but we could not hear them after we were seated. I started with the buttermilk fried oysters, one of their specialty plates, and they were awesome. The oysters were big, plump and tasty and they were fried sorta like a fried chicken nugget, there was a crunch to the breading and a very nice spicy flavor that didn't overwhelm the oysters. I highly recommend this dish. For my entree, I had the pan seared redfish, locally sourced, and cooked to perfection. But honestly I only really remember those super yummy oysters. My girlfriend had the local farm vegetable plate and also ordered a side of the asparagus. Because this is a farm to table type place, they were out of asparagus all together so her vegetable plate was lacking and she didn't get her side dish. The waitress was apologetic and offered to bring some desserts on the house. Dessert, one was a pretty basic chocolate torte. The other was a peanut butter mouse with banana pudding topping which was out of this world. When we checked out they had forgotten to take the asparagus off the bill, but it was quickly corrected. Ambiance, 4.5 stars, buttermilk fried oysters 10 stars, service was 4 stars.
(4)
Jan W.

High Cotton was our one dinner out in Charleston. We were staying on Isle of Palms so most of our time in Charleston was spent during the day. We made a special trip in for dinner and were not disappointed. Great service, good food and a beautiful ambiance. I had packed nicer clothes for this evening and I'm glad I did. My family decided to order steak but I stuck with my plan of only ordering seafood while in Charleston. The steaks were good but my fish was better. I had a yellow tail snapper special they were offering that night. The sides were excellent too. Loved the fried brussels sprouts and smoked baked potato. It was a pricey night (salads, entrees, wine and dessert ) but well worth it. I'm glad we made the trip in!
(4)
Jenny I.

Great food, great service and great wine, couldn't ask for much more. I threw a corporate event here and they did a wonderful wine pairing with amazing food! Highly suggest!
(4)
Lisa E.

Sunday brunch, great jazzy band, a plus to the atmosphere. The staff was amazing, very nice and impressive with the service. Food was above average with a southern flare.
(4)
Meg C.

I had brunch there this morning. Was delighted to not have a long wait like several of the other restaurants. I started out with a Bloody Mary, which was so delicious, I ordered 2 more. I had the crab cakes benedict, which was crab cake, fried green tomatoes & egg covered in yummy Hollandaise sauce. It came with your choice of grits or potatoes & I went with the grits. The grits alone were delicious & creamy. It was the perfect breakfast to nurse a bit of a hangover that I got while out stimulating Charleston's economy.
(5)
matt b.

Seems like High Cotton is owned by some sort of Charleston powerhouse, and I can see why they have repeated success in this area. We had dinner at the bar here on a Sunday, so as to be closer to the live music (a flautist and synth piano, sounded better than it... sounds), and were treated great by the bartender/waiter/charmer combo (Corey). Tuna tar tare stuffed avocado, buttermilk fried oysters, on to the halibut for my entree, and gf got shrimp and grits, which probably was the most surprising of them all. The grits are sauced with a shrimp stock, so a much lighter taste than I've had elsewhere (although, my experience is limited.) Oh, and the wine list is well curated for sure. A very pleasant experience, superb food, wine, and ambiance. More formal (refined?) than we expected from the website for whatever reason, but the feel was quite relaxed. From one visit, a can't-go-wrong pick? solid.
(5)
Marie U.

First stop after a long plane ride. Sat in the bar area for snacks and wine. Service was great, live jazz and yummy appetizers. Great way to start a trip.
(5)
Henrik K.

Excellent. Great service and food.
(5)
Heather B.

This was my first experience with dining in Charleston. My girlfriend and I were walking down the street and the menu at High Cotton immediately caught our attention. We entered and were greeted by a very friendly hostess who promptly seated us at an amazing table. We were quickly introduced to our server, Jessica, who was delightful and very professional. The atmosphere was cheerful and inviting. The dining room has high ceilings and slow moving fans. We had dinner at about 530pm on Sunday and were expecting the restaurant to be loud and overpacked. Even though to dining room was full of people we were able to carry on conversations and hear each other clearly. Jessica was on top of refilling my water and made drink suggestions (get the espresso martini if you enjoy espresso!) We opted for the steak oscar for dinner which was delictable with a side of tasty gratin potatoes and ending our meal with a delicious berry souffle (which impressively did not fall even after it was pierced) drizzled with a lemon curd. We had a lovely time and recommend High Cotton for an enjoyable dining experience. If I could make one suggestion it would be to lower the AC. By the end of dinner I was boiling and had a very light dress on, so nothing that would have contributed. But even with the temperature Id never hesitate to recommend or enjoy again High Cotton.
(5)
Heidi B.

Went for restaurant week. The service was great. The food was outstanding. 3 out of the 4 of us ordered off the restaurant week menu and the choices were delicious. For the appetizers we had their Fried green tomatoes and Holy City Farms Tomato salad. The salad was DELICIOUS! For entrees we had their Braised Beef with fettuccini, Pesto glazed Tilefish and their Braised Elk Osso Bucco. All were amazing. Overall the dinner and dining experience was great. I would definitely recommend eating there if you have not already. We will definitely be going back.
(5)
Angela S.

For my first night in Charleston ever, low country food was a must! With all the fantastic places within walking distance of our hotel, High Cotton won our attention and our appetite! I had the Carolina peach salad, shrimp and grits, the South Carolina peach cobbler. Each bite was better than the last. Just a fantastic experience all around. Wine list offered plenty of variety, and I have made a note to try a cocktail or two next time I'm in town. The service was outstanding. I noticed a back room, and we asked about renting the space for a group we are bringing back for a corporate meeting. It has a private entrance, private patio, and can accommodate up to 70. The staff showed us around, even during the busy dinner hour, gave us information and we tentatively held the space right there on the spot. After such an amazing experience and wonderful food, we are definitely bringing our group back for some low country deliciousness.
(5)
Stacie M.

This place was good. Not life changing. Service was good. Not life changing. Ambiance was good. Not life changing. Now what WAS life changing was their shrimp and grits special. I can't recall exactly what it was, but it had some heat to it. QUITE tasty. As a Californian I suppose I don't know what to expect of a "southern" experience, but this didn't seem to be much different from a Californian experience. You could literally place this restaurant in SF. Perhaps it's the palms in the dining room - people tend to think that's southern. Oh well. Either way, I'd go back if there weren't new places to try. All in all a nice experience.
(4)
Sharon K.

Visited sisters in my sorority for the weekend and one of them set up brunch here. At first glance, I had high hopes. It was decorated nicely, there was live jazz music over toward the bar, and it just gave you a great "Old Southern Charm" feel. The food is just decent. I got the Crab Cakes Benedict and to be honest it was not anything special. The best Crab Cake Eggs Benedict I've had is in Columbia, SC back in college. To make matters worse, I requested a Bellini for my drink and our server just brought me a mimosa (maybe he didn't know the difference). To make matters even worse, my friend found a black hair in her food - Not sitting on the edge of her plate but INSIDE her crab cake. They took it back and the manager came by, apologized, and offered her a free sorbet, but at that point we all had already lost our appetites. When we looked to the back of the kitchen we realized both of the cooks had thick black beards. Not sure what the rules are in regards to facial hair and preparing food but it just (literally) put a bad taste in our mouths. Maybe it was a one-time thing, though. I would be willing to try again when I am back in the area.
(2)
Neelam P.

Beautiful atmosphere and setting. Service was fine. Biscuits with jam - the biscuits weren't overly buttery and maybe a little dry, but the jam was delicious. Also found black fuzz on one of my biscuits... Huevos Rancheros - I asked for scrambled eggs and there were barely any eggs in my dish. Plenty of black beans and lightly boiled corn with chimichurri sauce. Would have preferred more eggs, guacamole, and better hot sauce! Also the potatoes tasted very Indian (curried)...would have been fine with an Indian dish but didn't really fit in with this one. Overall, with all the other great options in Charleston I wouldn't come back here. Sadly, some of the better brunch places don't take reservations but High Cotton does.
(3)
Alayne H.

One of my favorite restaurants in Charleston. I've experienced wonderful dinners both in the dining room and sitting at the bar. Great service either way. The shrimp and grits entrÃ©e is excellent. The shrimp is fresh and plump and the grits are creamy goodness coupled with andouille sausage, local tomatoes, okra, corn & garlic broth makes my mouth water just thinking about it. My bf is vegetarian and he ordered the vegetarian trio - tofu & farro, spanakopita & caponata, spring medley & roasted garlic purÃ©e. I don't get too excited over vegetarian dishes but this entrÃ©e looked amazing and he said it was delicious. There was a jazz band playing in the bar area and really added to the already great ambiance of High Cotton. Wonderful atmosphere, exceptional food, knowledgeable staff and great service. High Cotton does not disappoint.
(5)
Stefanie A.

We wanted to enjoy a high value meal while in Charleston and settled on High Cotton. We made a reservation before we got here so our expectations were high. The restaurant is open and lovely with low lighting and palm fans. Our server, Jonathan, was personable, clever and a welcomed relaxed presence to our table. He recommended good wine pairing with our starters and entrÃ©es. I had the local clams and the duck and my boyfriend had the fried oysters and the Steak. Wow. Wow. WOW! While the apps were delightful, the steak and the duck were so melt in your mouth tender. I added the grits as a side and was glad I did. Everything about this place was great. If you come to Charleston and want a good restaurant, add this place to your list.
(5)
D.J. K.

We were in the mood for a really nice dinner and didn't mind splurging a little bit. Unfortunately, do to some last minute planning we were unable to get a reservation at most restaurants on a Saturday night. However, we decided to try anyway to see if they were able to squeeze us in. Fortunately, the hostess let us know that the lounge/bar area seating is first come first serve and we were lucky enough to get a table by the live jazz band. Complimentary bread: delicious especially with the whipped butter Appetizer: Portabello Fries- lightly fried with dipping sauce and arugala. Main: Seared Tuna- cooked medium rare. Fresh lightly seasoned, so u still get the subtle taste of the fish. Main: Shrimp & Grits- definitely the highlight. This wasn't the typical creamy buttery grits. It had those elements, but incorporated more of a tomato-ish broth which was refreshing and somewhat light. Good flavor and wasn't salty...I hate food drenched in salt! Side: Brussel Sprouts-sooo crispy! good, but not too fond of the curry-like sauce drizzled on top. Dessert: Mixed Berry Cobbler- served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Tart and sweet...the perfect balance to end the meal. Our server was awesome as well. Super friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. The only part of the dinner that was little off was it took twice as long for our dessert to be served than our meal., but no complaints since we had more time to digest and enjoy the live jazz band. Defintely recommend to anyone looking for a refined southern meal without the pretentiousness.
(5)
Mike C.

I hadn't initially planned on eating at High Cotton but I am glad that I did get the opportunity to do so on Tuesday, March 17th (2015). Upon completion of our training for the day, a group of 11 of us were touring the Waterfront section of Charleston and needed to eat. Trying to get a table for 11 with no reservation is no easy task. Fortunately, it was just before 6 PM and High Cotton was nearby and not busy yet. I advised the group of the three dollar sign Yelp rating ($$$) but everyone was in the mood for a good meal, even if it was slightly pricey. As soon as we crossed the threshold and entered the restaurant, we knew were in for a good experience as the restaurant exuded class. We only had a 5 -10 minute wait while they configured a few tables to accommodate us. While we waited, some of us enjoyed a drink at the lavish bar and some us us enjoyed the three man jazz trio that was playing live jazz. The menu was mind blowing and I was torn between several entrees, most of which appeared on the Chef's Specialties section of the menu. I started with an "Heirloom" Caprese salad. The locally sourced tomatoes were deep red, almost blood red, but were firm and tasty, as was the freshly made Buffalo mozzarella. There was just enough balsamic reduction to enhance the dish, but not so much as to overpower it. For my entrÃ©e, I ordered the Elk Osso Bucco. For those unfamiliar with Osso Bucco (Italian for "bone with a hole), it's a cross cut shank on the bone and is usually veal or lamb. The elk was not gamey at all and was nearly as tender as a good veal. The Osso Bucco was served on top of grits with braised Brussels sprouts and was served in the classic style with a gremolata (chopped herb condiment). I ate every morsel and only wish they had provided a small marrow spoon for me to extract the buttery goodness. I did manage to get my butter knife a few inches into the bone (from both sides) and extract some while no one was looking. My only disappointment was a personal one, as I had given up all sweets for Lent and was unable to try their soufflÃ© for dessert. But if I'm ever back in Charleston, I 'm definitely coming back and getting dessert. Our server, Eric G., was awesome and took great care of us, all the while tending to his other tables. He definitely earned his 25% gratuity and is probably one of their top servers. All in all, this was a great restaurant experience and they are worthy of the rave reviews. If you are in Charleston and want a great dining experience that is borderline "fine dining", stop on in.
(5)
Jennifer C.

Went here for brunch on a recommendation. The decor has a very southern plantation feel and they even have a group singing gospel music that you can enjoy while you eat. They start you off with warm corn bread which I could have eaten as a whole meal. I had the breakfast plate and my boyfriend had the Crab Benedict. Mine was delicious but I regretted not getting the crab Benedict too. We are already planning our next trip to try the French toast and fried chicken sandwich.
(5)
LOIS B.

First note, jackets are not required for men. Now, down to business. I always enjoy a restaurant that does not require yelling at the table. Attentive waitstaff another BIG plus. And finally, the food. We started with a bibb lettuce salad with bacon, fried green tomatoes, blue cheese, with buttermilk ranch and a Carolina strawberry salad, with arugula, goat cheese, almonds with a lemon vinaigrette ~ clean plates. 3 out of 4 diners had the halibut served with artichokes, spinach, tomato saffron broth, olive & parsley salad. To be different, I had the filet mignon which was served with potato & gruyere gratin, Brussels sprouts, rosemary jus~ divine. Finally for dessert we split a vanilla bean creme brulee and a mixed berry cobbler. This was a delicious meal served at a nice pace.
(5)
Lauren T.

This is a lovely signature "Charleston" restaurant! My co-workers and I enjoyed a much-needed dinner here after flying all day from Texas. We settled into High Cotton since there was a wait at S.N.O.B. (Slightly North of Broad), and we couldn't have picked a better alternative. The atmosphere is very classic & southern chic with white table clothes. It is not overbearingly fancy, but it's definitely one of the nicer restaurants in the area (although pretty much all restaurants are typically nice in Charleston). We enjoyed the tuna appetizer and the shrimp & grits for dinner, and all of the dishes were superb! Our cocktails were also delicious and on point. Overall, we had a great experience at High Cotton and I will add it to my growing list of Charleston vacation staples.
(4)
Jade M.

Context: Group of 9 for Sunday brunch including 5 kids, ages 4 and under. Service: Excellent. Our waitress brought kids menus and crayons for the kids to draw on, lids for our drinks, and made sure no one needed to wait on anything. Environment: Excellent. Live jazz, noise level was good (not too loud, but not too quiet either). Tables are appropriately spaced so we weren't too close to the next patrons next to us. Food: My friends and husband ordered the pulled pork sandwich with mustard slaw, which I think was a special that day, and it was amazing. I had the Brioche French toast and I think it's the best I've had in the city. First, it's about 4 inches high. Second, the maple bourbon glaze made my second piece of toast so custardy, it was absolutely divine. The bacon was perfectly cooked. I ordered a side of the grits and while I felt they could have been a little more flavorful, they weren't exactly billed on the menu as "cheese" grits, or anything more than just grits. The kids had french toast, chicken tenders, burgers and scrambled eggs. All of which the kids were happy to devour. It's not SUPER fancy food, but it's great for Brunch and everyone left full and happy. And bonus, the kids all behaved wonderfully -- guess they had good food to occupy them. Overall: We will definitely be back. Next time I'll be sure to come when I can have a cocktail because a server walked by with an awesome looking Bloody Mary that was calling my name.
(4)
Jaime G.

So disappointed. The crab soup was mediocre, Ceasar salad was very good, Yellow fin was a very tough cut. I ordered rare and received a cut with about 3 layers of tough gristle that it was difficult to cut through & only ate about 10%. I've included a picture in the event the restaurant wants to say something to the contrary. The risotto was heavy handed in fat. Won't return...too many Charleston good food finds out there! BTW was charged full price for such a bad meal... Their signature Expresso Martini I took about 2 sips of and left that on the table. A very long way from a fine dining restaurant. At least in Austin, TX and other fine dining places the restaurant apologizes and offers some kind of alternative. A $100 meal and the waitress was fairly much an "Oh well" attitude.
(1)
Peter A.

Can't go wrong with anything in the menu, bar or good. Love the live jazz from 6 - 10pm.
(4)
Mia F.

Every time I go to Charleston, this is where I go for brunch on my way out of town. They have some of the best shrimp and grits in the city, and I've had plenty of S&G's in Charleston. The espresso martini is killer too. So, because I am definitely a creature of habit I always have their amazing cornbread with sweet butter, donut holes, espresso martini and shrimp and grits. Everyone I have taken here loves it too! I will be back! Save me a seat by the Jazz Band at 10:30am!
(5)
Nauman B.

Can't get more True Charleston than this! Live music at brunch, elegant dining area, friendly staff, scrumptious entrees, mouth watering corn bread, and the list just goes on. If you want to experience Charleston with a dash of elegance and hints of culture then this is the place. My recommendations; French Toast and the Lobster Roll.
(5)
Aynne H.

I have eaten here a couple of times and each time, the food is so good I need a cigarette when I finish. Most recently we were at High Cotton to celebrate my birthday. We didn't have reservations but were immediately seated in the lounge (which I think I actually prefer). My husband started his meal with the portobello fries. I am the oddball vegetarian who doesn't like mushrooms, but these were amazing! Perfectly crisp, not greasy and accompanied by bearnaise. I started with the gazpacho which just tasted like summer. For our entrees, my husband had the vegetarian trio (spanokopita, caponata, an amazing garlic puree) and I had a summer vegetable and cheese ravioli which was a special that day. Everything was delicious and the service was wonderful. Whether you're visiting Charleston or a local, I definitely recommend High Cotton.
(5)
Eddy B.

Absolutely the worst stake I have ever had! I'll add it was $52.00 -20 ounces of chewy fat, swimming in a tariyaki sauce
(1)
Megan A.

We love High Cotton! We usually have a pre-dinner cocktail and although the bar always seems packed the service is on point. They frequently update the cocktails to carry a seasonal...this summer they had The Garden which included tomato water....more recently I've had The Harvest which included apple cider. Both are crave-worthy. A jazz band seems to play daily which is a nice touch. We take all of our guests here and the meals have not disappointed. We've had both dinner and brunch. The shrimp and grits are the best in town! The pork chop is delicious, a large portion with the best fried okra I've ever had. The rack of lamb (lambo-lolipops!) are cooked perfectly... The chicken bucatini has the best roasted chicken ever. The portions run a bit bigger than what we're used to but I'm not complaining! Service has always been prompt and friendly. Definitely worth a visit while in Charleston!
(5)
Sydney G.

Came here for Saturday morning brunch last week after seeing a recommendation in Charleston Eater. Was really excited to try the bacon apple donut holes. Found them to be a little weird and not at all what I was expecting. The apple and speck ham salad, however, was amazing. I love every second of it and would 100% order it again. We had 3 or 4 different waiters during the course of our meal and were largely ignored for most of the time, which was a little annoying. For entrees, I got the huevos rancheros and was very pleased with how it came out. My boyfriend ordered the fried oysters florentine and was very disappointed when the oysters were served cold. They would've been very delicious if not for that fact. Seeing all these other positive reviews make me think that maybe our visit was a fluke or that maybe my expectations were too high. I'd be willing to give it a second chance (if someone else was paying!)
(3)
Anthony C.

What a wonderful place for a cocktail. Tasteful decor, wonderful live band playing upscale classical jazz! They were a very vibrant 3 piece band consisting of a piano, cello, and drums! They were playing some very classy sounding tunes. Our bar tender was bright and cheery and made some fantastic recommendations! I opted for the Charleston cocktail which was an awesome concoction of vodka, tea, and lemonade, with mint infused syrup. It was then poured over a tall glass of crushed ice! Did I mention how great it was? On a scale of 1-10, I'd say it was keepin' it one hundred!!! My gf got the espresso martini, she said it was great and wouldn't give me any, what else is new... Guess I will have to buy her a few more drinks... Maybe then she'll give me some! Anyhow this is a great spot to chillax, get a great drink, and enjoy some classy live music!!! Nichol the bartender was exceptional! She explained their relationship with the cat head distillery, and Cat head's ties to Charleston. I was very thankful she took the time to answer my questions about their Fig, honeysuckle infused vodka. And she even let me taste their pecan flavored vodka, and explained how she was working on perfecting a cocktail with this pecan vodka. She was great, and we were truly blessed to be her guests!!! :)
(5)
Jim L.

High end dining with a casual charleston atmosphere. They ran out of special.snd the crab soup and the pork dish. The halibut was very good. Service was good. It was a nice place.
(4)
Andrew M.

This place used to be a favorite go to for fine dining and live jazz however our last few visits have been very sub par. The service is still pretty good but I feel that the management doesn't control the atmosphere very well by letting people wear hats, bathing suits, t-shirts with holes....if I am going to spend over $100 on a meal and wine then I don't want to be sitting next to some smelly hipster who just left Folly Beach. Additionally, the chairs and tables have gotten really worn over the past few years. This place really reminds me of an upscale hotel restaurant trying to be fine dining. We will continue to go back and hope things change. Hopefully the Hall family can turn this place around.
(3)
Mo W.

I could not be more pleased with our dining experience. Eleven of were seated without reservations on a busy night. I began with an amazing caprese salad with blood-red tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese. For my entree I had a rich and wonderful shrimp and grits. The staff was attentive and accomodating to the nth degree. All of this topped off with live jazz music. I made a point of personally thanking the manager for the great experience. I recommend this highly and will be back.
(5)
Larry Y.

Reservation: We went during brunch on Sunday @12:00 via reservation for a party of 6. The staff was very friendly and kid-friendly as well. We parked in the parking lot across the street behind S.N.O.B. Food: I ordered the Shrimp and Grits (see photo) and my wife ordered the crab benedict meal. Both were delicious! The Shrimp & Grits was kind of soupy, but I thought it was great! Our meals came with cornbread and we also ordered their yummy donuts ( I guess we could have waited until desert time ). Atmosphere: Pretty, nicely decorated. We sat in the room to the left by the window, right when you walk in. One the way to the clean bathroom, there's a bar area with a Jazz band playing along. When I left the restroom, there was a couple dancing in the middle of the bar area. Service: The lady we had was very nice and accommodating. She was also very good with kids as our kids acted fine and behaved accordingly as a result, which we believe helped their behavior. The food came very quickly as well. We will definitely try then again.
(5)
Frida G.

I'm a big fan. Our party had a room reserved just for us, so I didn't get the traditional visit. But the food was great. The environment was very pleasant. However, service was extremely slow.
(4)
Brian K.

Happened to be here during a meeting a we decided to try this place. Service was spectacular and the atmosphere was cozy and sophisticated. We ordered a couple bottles of wine and I ordered the Elk for dinner. It was like a pot roast would have been like. I enjoyed it and was too stuffed to get dessert. This is a great place to take a date or have a business meeting.
(4)
David K.

Based on our experience of our last visit a few years ago I was really looking forward to coming back. Sadly it didn't really live up to my memories. Was it due to unfortunate choices from the menu? Have my expectations for "fine dining" been raised over the years? Perhaps, but perhaps not - hard to say without a third visit as a "tie-breaker". It's quite attractive inside, elegant but on the lively (noisy) side, and we had a great little table by the front window. A really good bluegrass trio was playing in another room, which seemed odd for the setting at first but added a really nice ambience. I don't remember that from last visit. We started with the Carolina Strawberry Salad: with arugula, goat cheese, almonds, lemon vinaigrette. Pretty good, with the tiny local berries the star. The bread was small biscuits, which were warm, excellent, seemed freshly baked. I got the Grilled NY Strip Steak. Normally I'd order something less plain but I was intrigued by the sides which included gorgonzola gnocchi, and the sauce "Henry Bain"; apparently a southern specialty that originated in some exclusive private club in Louisville Kentucky. Couldn't ask for a better steak, cooked exactly as ordered. The sauce complemented it nicely and was not overwhelming. Nothing to make me say "oh wow," though. And there was not enough gnocchi and too much of the other side: green beans and spinach. The gnocchi was excellent but there were only 5 or 6, and I would have liked a lot more of these, and less of the green beans and spinach, though those were quite good too. The wife ordered Chicken Bucatini: pasta, sundried tomatoes, green peas, asparagus, eggplant caponata. She liked it fine but thought it was pretty salty. She's not into salt as much as me so I tried it and I agreed; the chicken was extremely salty - almost distractingly so, though tender and with great flavor. She briefly considered sending it back but decided against it and really did enjoy it overall but, like my entree, not the stuff of memories. She mentioned to the waitress later about the saltiness and asked if it was brined, a common technique to get juicy, tender poultry. She said no but I still say it was, and there's nothing wrong with brining - when not done to excess. For dessert I had the Praline Souffle with a (I think) caramel sauce. A great concept and very tasty, but to me, perhaps a bit too sweet? And I'm no expert on souffles - I've only had them a couple times before - but I suspect the inside was somewhat undercooked. But what do I know, maybe that's how they're supposed to be? In any case, tasty enough, though I'd order something different next time. Don't misunderstand, it was really quite good, just below my expectations. Maybe I'd feel differently with different menu choices? But Charleston has lots of competition in the same class. So I'd probably try someplace new next time.
(3)
Andrew V.

A nice classy southern restaurant with the ambience that fits Charleston. They first gave our table complimentary hot cornbread. I've never had shrimp and grits before so I wanted to give it a try. I've heard it's a southern staple and actually can be eaten for breakfast. It was very brothy and came with big pieces of shrimp and sausage. I'd say it was decent but I'll admit I'm probably the last person who should judge it since it was my first time. My friends all got eggs Benedict variants though which looked delicious. The service was fantastic throughout the meal.
(4)
AJ K.

I was recommended to this restaurant by a friend who grew up in the area. It has all the components one would want in a fine dining establishment, appropriate tasteful decor, a mouthwatering yet refined menu, and superb location. If I based this review on those three things I would give this place 5 stars. However service is significantly lacking and I felt uncomfortable here and frankly unwelcomed I will err on the side of this being a one time incident and give it two stars. At 6 pm there were only 3 tables in the main dining room occupied yet the wide array of servers were waiting until the evening rush started. However this is clearly a recipe for disaster in a place that does not pride itself on service based in this experience . There were comments the waitstaff said about people passing by the outside of the restaurant that were inappropriate and in the politest of terms can be referred to as politically incorrect. I was seated closest to the front windows and could hear every word clearly so it wasn't a concern if the diners heard. Too many servers with nothing to do and this is probably what happens. Also If they prided themselves on their service Waiters wouldn't be concerned about what racial minority's are wearing outside of the restaurant and be more concerned about the people dining in the restaurant. I still tipped over 20% but that's more out of appreciating what servers have to do and it should be expected by waitstaff in my opinion. In the same way one should expect a bit of appropriateness from the waitstaff in return. Needless to say I've had my fill of the "High Cotton" experience. They are really living up to the name but it is a bit too "elitist" for my taste.
(2)
Catherine H.

So delicious and a beautiful place. I was there with a fairly large group (7) and they had no problem accommodating us with a same-day reservation. The ambiance is lovely & you can hear the live music from the bar area bleed into the dining room which was a nice touch. Everyone I was with, myself included, was incredibly pleased with our food & service. If/when I return to Charleston I will definitely return!
(5)
Charlie M.

Excellent meal, great space between tables and the Maverick line of liquors and wine is tremendous
(5)
Bruce K.

Another excellent Charleston meal, this time it was Sunday brunch. I was a little disappointed that the menu appeared to be just a regular menu. We were able to find Crabcakes Benedict for Mrs and the Southern Breakfast Cassoulet for me. The crabcakes were truly excellent. Two large crabcake with two perfectly cooked eggs and a good scoop of firm grits. For me, the Southern Cassoulet had a good presentation with corn and black beans and bits of ham and grilled okra and two poached eggs (they usually do it with two fried eggs, but they'll poach them if you ask). It was a bit on the bland side, sadly. At the time, it didn't occur to me to do anything about it but I'm thinking now that a bit of Tabasco or hot sauce would have made this a ton better. The restaurant itself was quite fancy and while they don't have a dress code, I felt a little underdressed in jeans and a tshirt. My wife, as always, looked perfectly fine in black jeans with a lovely sweater. So my recommendation is that you dress up or you might also feel uncomfortable.
(4)
Justin C.

Our last day of the bachelor party, before we head to the airport, clearly, we need some brunch. Stop in, got lucky, canceled our reservations due to needing more sleep, needed a table of 5, and got the last table that no one was sitting at, that wasn't a two top. First off, the place itself, is really nice, the layout, design, everything. We sit and get a few drinks, order some stuff, we taste, and we're all pretty impressed. I had the crab cakes benedict which was pretty good, not great. The fried green tomatoes weren't cut thick enough, and the crab cake was too small (but the crab itself was really good), but just needed some working on. A friend got the huevoes rancheros and he seemed to enjoy it. Another friend got the steak & eggs, and he really enjoyed it "it was really good" were his words. Fried oysters florentine were really good as well, just not enough of it, ha. And then other friend got one of the daily specials which he really liked. I'd easily come back here and eat again.
(4)
Devonshire B.

BAR ONLY: Not the friendliest of bartenders, but I came here for the drinks. Alas, the drinks fell short. The margarita seriously lacked the flavour it was described as having and the other drink we ordered had to be watered down because it was so sickeningly sweet. I wouldn't suggest coming here for drinks, not even for happy hour.
(2)
Tyler D.

Went here for Brunch the other day. Nice atmosphere, very classy, an instrumental band was playing jazz. It reminds me of high society private club. Had the shrimp and grits- Great take on it 9/10 It was a shrimp and cheesy grits in a creole tomato shrimp broth My wife had vegetable hash- looked great. Good gluten free options as well.
(4)
Jon d.

Had dinner here and was completely underwhelmed not only with the food but the service as well. Found the food extremely pricey and very disappointed. Under seasoned not prepared to perfection. My bread for my antelope was not grilled which made it chewy and jaw breaking. My salad was underdressed and very bland. The upside to this place is the live music and ambience. Our server continually interrupted our conversation and was quick to remove plates before dinners were finished.
(3)
Ilsa M.

Get the shrimp & grits!! That's all you need to know. Seriously, get the shrimp & grits and you won't be disappointed. The crispy Brussels sprouts were also some of the best we've ever had!
(5)
Emily M.

Came here on vacation with my family. Classy ambience, great food, and drinks! I recommend "the Charleston." It was very refreshing and not too strong. For food, The shrimp and grits and swordfish were excellent! I'll definitely keep this restaurant in mind when I visit again. The band in the corner also made it a great spot for a date or special occasion.
(5)
Hilary D.

My family was in town from all over the country for a wedding, and a few of us decided to meet up for brunch. Good thing we chose High Cotton, because this place does brunch right! The service was simply amazing - the staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. The dÃ©cor is exactly what I had hoped it would be when I pictured it in my mind - lots of natural light, rich wood tones, ceiling fans lazily blowing a soft breeze around the space - the dining room makes you feel as though you are dining at someone's grand home. And the noise level is perfect. The food is wonderful. All their juices are freshly squeezed. A few people at our table had the brioche French toast and loved it. I had the farmers market omelet, which had an abundance of vegetables and was perfectly seasoned. Other people at our table had the steak & eggs and the shrimp & grits and really enjoyed them. We also ordered the smoked salmon and the doughnut holes with bacon & peach glaze for the table to share - I cannot recommend these enough! The doughnut holes are sweet and airy and melt-in-your-mouth amazing. And the smoked salmon was some of the best smoked salmon I have ever had. When in Charleston, make a point to stop here for brunch. And make sure you set aside a good chunk of time as well. Their pace is leisurely - which is great for a hot sunny Sunday brunch, especially when you are catching up with extended family & friends.
(5)
Nikki T.

Excellent! We got great service and a fantastic meal! We came in at 9:30 and they had no trouble seating us. They have a great wine list and my steak was cooked to perfection!
(5)
Jenney Z.

This review is on their happy hr and restaurant week. I luv their cocktail and luv even more when they are $5. We tried southern mule, manhattan,smoky rose and of course their famous espresso martini. All excellent! Too bad they don't offer discount on food during happy hr :( but it's restaurant week so we went ahead and order from the special menu. Normally i m not a fan of restaurant week coz when quantity goes up? Quality comes down. But I have to say I m impressed by their restaurant week food quality. The pork chop was tender and well seasoned. The corn bread pudding was creative and tasty. Don't forget the truffle popcorn on the bar menu. We had to order 2 while watching the game. Will go back for the regular menu next time we visit!
(5)
Sara A.

My girlfriends and I (there were 8 of us) visited High Cotton on the first night of a destination bachelorette party to Charleston. This restaurant did not disappoint. The food was amazing. If you are in to grits, the Shrimp & Grits was the #1 rated item at our table! They also have a complete "gluten-free" menu which was perfect because our "bride-to-be" required that special menu. The food prices were decent and every single person loved their meals. With eight girls that usually NEVER happens. I would definitely recommend this restaurant - and it seems perfect for large and small groups alike!
(5)
Lynn M.

Good food well prepared pleasant politely efficient staff. A very nice dining experience.
(5)
nancy a.

I went for Sunday Brunch and definitely have no complaint about the food. It was excellent. I had the gazpacho and fried oysters. The atmosphere was great, the elegance of the old south. A jazz quartet finished off the ambience with lively, almost speak-easy type tunes. I did however get the impression that the quality of the food overshadow a few small details that could make this restaurant a five star. One, I asked to upgrade my mimosa to the champaign rather than sparkling wine. The cost was the same as a glass of the champaign by itself. Not that this is a big deal and would not prevent me from going back, but it just makes you feel as if they don't really car about you as a customer. They didn't want to fool with anything off script. Next the server brought my the bill without asking if I wanted anything else, which I did. This never happens at a five star. I then order a cappuccino, which was really steamed milk in coffee with no foam, again not terrible but definitely not a cappuccino. I loved the food, but felt they still have a way to go in total service.
(4)
Cassie X.

Beautiful setting, delicious food, and friendly staff. Couldn't of asked for a better brunch place for my first meal while visiting Charleston. Crab cake benedict is a must try, plus the corn bread is amazing.
(4)
Anna Marie M.

Meh. Nothing special about High Cotton in my opinion. My husband and I were excited to get reservations for date night out in downtown. We looked at the menu online, and it sounded delicious, so we were anxiously waiting to eat there. We got seated, and a bored looking waitress sauntered over. I got the pork chop special with spinach stuffed tomatoes, mashed potatoes. Pork chop? Pretty bland. Looked pretty, but not that great. The tomato was just a tomato. I was expecting a creamy, tangy stuffed tomato, and did not get that at all. The mashed potatoes were odd tasting, lacking flavor. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt though, my husband said his steak was to die for. For such a highly regarded restaurant, I would have expected a lot better. I would have rather spent $100 in one of the other delicious downtown restaurants.
(2)
Milani S.

Expensive? Yes! But what else would you expect to pay for High Cotton? I had the beer & cheese soup to start. It was ok. I felt it was missing something, but I couldn't out my finger on it. The pork chop came highly recommended and my husband ordered it. I went the beef route and was never happier and you get to pick your own sauce. Did you say bourbon bacon sauce? Yes, yes, yes! Hubby's pork chop was topped with crawfish and the hollandaise sauce was rich. Personally, I thought it was rather bland (chop) but my husband refuses to notice. We sat in a booth and it seemed private and cozy. Would I return? Sure, just not for the soup or pork chop.
(4)
Lauren L.

We knew that we had to visit High Cotton while in Charleston, and while it wasn't my favorite it was still pretty delicious. The most amazing things about High Cotton was the bar area, which was packed with people listening to some wonderful jazz musicians perform. (I'd also highly recommend having a Charleston Cocktail.) For dinner, everyone liked what they had, but we just weren't wowed by it. (My vegetarian plate was really heavy on the salt. Really heavy.) But all that aside, eating in the back room (which was much more quiet than the front bar area) led to an amazing time, and our waiter, Delia, was hilarious and accommodating. Next time we're visiting, I'd go back and probably just have some small plates and drinks at the bar.
(4)
Mike D.

You know what I like? I like meat. Go ahead, giggle. Get it all out. I like it thick, juicy, and pink. High Cotton does a couple of things as good as any other restaurant I've ever been to (I eat meals out 5 nights a week as I travel for work). Those things are hire talent and pork chops. The talent? Hot chicks, lots of them when I visited. Nothing added to the meal by this, but you're working with a solid two stars without me eating a bite. Pork chop? Punch-your-mom-in-the-face good. Thick, juicy, perfectly cooked, bacony (yeah...well it's a word now) deliciousness. The chop is topped with fried oysters and a bacon hollandaise. Just awesome, two more stars. The side dish that comes with it is a waste of time. Also done very well is the ribeye. Finally, everything is priced very reasonably. Last star. You can't really go wrong here. Bar service was great also. I'm getting hungry right now. Pork chop time!
(5)
Dave S.

Best restaurant in Charleston so far. I've lived here for 5 months and and getting to try a lot of the restaurants around the area and High Cotton is the best yet!!!
(5)
Robin W.

Shrimp and grits were out of this world. A real southern atmosphere! Waitress was very friendly and hospitable! Ambiance - top notch!
(5)
David D.

Seated soon after arriving and near reservation time. Good food and service. Wife enjoyed the pork chop. Son had an excellent strip steak. Halibut was good. Will probably return when I visit Charleston again.
(4)
Heather A.

BRUNCH review: I had the Crab Cake Benedict, he had the Huevos Rancheros. Neither of us felt like our dishes were flavorful or memorable. The Crab was fresh and not over-cooked or breaded... not too much filling, which is a common mistake, BUT it just didn't have a lot of flavor. The whole dish was just bland. The atmosphere was great, the service was great and the food presentation was also impressive- the food was also very hot which is good.. but without flavor... Eh. Probably won't be going back for brunch. A little pricey too: $38 for the two dishes and two iced teas.
(2)
Christina O.

Excellent. the food, the people , just a wonderful experience.
(5)
Jamie M.

We planned a last minute lunch here with some out of town friends and their young son. I wasn't very impressed with the attitude of the front desk staff, I thought the staff at their sister restaurant SNOB was much friendlier. At High Cotton they just seemed annoyed that we were there. I did appreciate that they put us in a corner booth so we had enough room for a high chair and to store the stroller, without being in anyone else's way. The crab soup was delicious, very creamy with some large chunks of crab. I had the BBQ pork sandwich and my boyfriend had the duck hash. I wasn't in love with either dish (there wasn't anything wrong, just wasn't feeling it that day I guess). The only thing I really remember about the whole meal (other than the delicious crab soup), was that the coleslaw for my sandwich had a very nice, light taste to it. I'm giving them a four star rating because there wasn't really anything wrong, overall everyone seemed pleased with their lunch, we just weren't wowed with each dish like we have been at other restaurants downtown. I probably owe them a second try to find a dish I really love but with so many other restaurants in town I'm not sure we'll be back anytime soon.
(4)
Michelle N.

Let me preface by saying that I have enjoyed all of my previous experiences at High Cotton, both for brunch and dinner. Some of my brunch group had bad or mediocre experiences in the past, but I talked them into going this past Sunday, explaining that High Cotton had never let me down in the past and I'm sure it will be great. Boy, was I wrong. We had a group of 5 ladies and all 5 were disappointed with the meal. 2 ordered the banana bread French toast, which was dry as a board. 1 ordered the special cookies and cream pancakes. The cookies were charred on the underside of the pancakes and gave them a bitter, burnt taste (I tried a piece- yuck!). Another friend had the eggs benedict which was mediocre. I had the shrimp and grits. The grits were underdone, the shrimp overdone and was served lukewarm at best. One friend ordered a side of potatoes which came to the table at least 10 minutes after our meal had been delivered. Another friend asked for more syrup, which took 10 minutes, so her food was cold by the time the server got around to bringing the syrup. Our server, Julia or Julie, was, um, interesting. While taking our orders, she stopped in the middle to turn to another table and talk to them and see how everything was, which was a bit odd. We were never given refills on our soft drinks (although our waters were refilled by someone else walking around with a pitcher). And I don't think she actually smiled until she brought the checks. Although it wasn't terrible, the service was nothing compared to the stellar service normally provided at High Cotton. Overall a huge disappointment and a waste of money. We all agreed that we could have a better experience at IHOP, maybe even Waffle House. Based on this experience, and my friends' past experiences, we will not be returning to High Cotton as there are just too many restaurants in town that deliver consistently excellent food and service and High Cotton just doesn't seem to be one of them.
(2)
Zanne C.

Ahh! High Cotton, if you could get stars on service alone, there would be ten, no I believe I'll pull a Nigel Tufnel and make it eleven! High Cotton is an example of excellent service that is hospitable, efficient and gracious. When our waiter learned that we were to be at the opera at a certain time, he made sure our orders were expedited and served all in an extremely timely manner. Drinks and entrees were presented like clockwork; Crumbers abounded and cocktails were delighted. I rarely drink, in fact, the word teetotaler is usually associated with me, however, on a whim, I decided to try their Island Martini. It really was delectable (highly recommended), the pineapple quality of the libation was much more present than an alcohol flavor. We all sampled their cheese plate, which was a wonderful start, a number of us had different salads and all were completely devoured, so the salads are all very good and fresh. My mother had the Caesar salad, which is served the way it was originally intended, large whole romaine hearts that can be eaten with fingers. Either way, my mother cut into it and I stole quite a number of bites off her plate, it was truly one of the best versions of the Caesar that I've had in a long time. I started with the Curried Carrot Bisque, I'll tell you, if I wasn't a lady (and in a proper restaurant), I would have licked the bowl to oblivion. The curry blends so well into the carrot, and I think I detected a trace of coconut, Nirvana. I also had the swordfish, which had a peculiar rub to it (anise?), if I could get it again, I would ask for it plain, this is only because I'm not a fan of anise. The swordfish was prepared perfectly, nonetheless! My brother had the duck and he loved it, leaving only a few bites left. Two of my party had the NY strip and they thought it was very good. My sister had the Shrimp and Grits and my mother had the Pan Roasted Halibut. Both thought their meal was superbly satisfactory. We didn't have time to stay for dessert and I only give four stars because I was so rushed (not by the establishment, but by our horrible time constraints!) and I didn't get to really enjoy my meal. However, I need not worry for we shall return to High Cotton, for a must anticipated update (I gotta make sure that this place gets my five stars)! The food and cocktails are on par with their pricing, and are definitely a wonderful treat if you're visiting the area. So I say, come to High Cotton for the height of Southern Hospitality!
(4)
Morgan S.

I've been here twice - both times for brunch - and neither time disappointed. One was a set menu (for Easter) and one was a random Sunday. Just lovely. Their bloody mary's are amazing. Their grits are to die for. (and I am PICKY about grits) Their french toast is delightful. The ambiance has old world charm. Can you tell I loved it? I did. Lots.
(5)
Betty R.

At my parents' insistence, we went to High Cotton for brunch before we left Chucktown. Shrimp and grits were delicious, duck hash was very good, various Benedicts had nicely poached eggs (though my english muffin was burned), coffee was strong, potatoes were meh, but service was TERRIBLE. There were a lot of mistakes, from empty coffee cups to incorrectly ordered entrees to my mother's eggs having to be re-done a THIRD TIME before they were correct. We got the manager involved, and she apologized and did and said all of the right things, but it was a very disappointing farewell meal.
(2)
Kim L.

Fantastic meal and great atmosphere - live music was a plus!
(4)
Jerry G.

High Cotton is wonderful food, intimate ambiance, and attentive service. The menu has delicious food to fit your tastes. We love the beef. On our anniversary, there was a lovely jazz quartet that performed. We enjoyed the experience. A great place in the thick of downtown Charleston and walking enjoying Charleston hospitality.
(5)
Zuzzi E.

High Cotton reminds me of why meals were invented. They claim the food is hearty and southern, but it felt more rich and new american. The restaurant itself is a destination. Bring friends, family, a date-- you'll want to share this meal with people you like. The rustic wood floors and handmade brick walls are the perfect foundation for the comfy, modern (yet low-country) interior. Our waiter was incredibly prompt, friendly, and made great suggestions. The menu has a great selection, many dishes sprinkled with california favorites (wild mushrooms, avocado, seafood, exotic olive oils). I had the lobster tail, tuna tartar stuffed in an avocado, and the cauliflower/crab soup with truffle oil. Everything was delicious, and the soup was perhaps one of the top 5 I've ever had. Next time I'm in Charleston, I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Holley R.

Great atmosphere and staff was excellent. There was live music for brunch with people dancing! Sunday brunch was very nice and the food was great! Loved this place!
(5)
Melanie D.

Of all if the meals in Charleston (over our 3 day stay), this was my favorite. The service was spectacular. Our waiter (red hair and beard) was a true southern gentleman. I had corned beef hash and it was the best. The corn bread served to every table was delicious, and my Bloody Mary (rimmed w old bay spice) hit the spot. My husband was disappointed with his chicken and waffles (was processed and filled with ham vs the bone in chicken he usually loves. Also the waffle was not that good)
(4)
Alan M.

stopped here on a thursday night at 930 only 30 minutes before closing, and wow Joe was our server, he gave great recommendations, including, fried oysters, rabbit, pan seared grouper, dessert of the day, espresso martini, red wine, it was a memorable, great experience will definitely go back!
(5)
Todd P.

A solid place to go for brunch or dinner, with great food, good service, and nice ambiance. Brunch is quite a value, while dinner is a little on the pricey side, but not unreasonable. There is a nice range of options on the menu, so you can get something pretty traditional for the Lowcountry to something more along the lines of "modern American" if that's what you want.
(4)
Carolyn L.

We have dined many places but this meal was a stand out! My husband had a wedge salad which was well prepared(but a wedge is still just a wedge) and I had the special pea shoot, arugula, tomato and mozzerella salad.I don't think a rabbit could have enjoyed it more---fresh, crisp and delicious! For our main course we ordered the seared flounder with clams,sweet potato,celery root and swiss chard. It was straight from Heaven! It was cooked perfectly and the mix of vegetables was superb. We ate every bite! As if that wasn't enough,we had a praline souffle with chocolate to finish. We left nothing-- it was that good. Ashley was our server and she went out of her way to make sure we were well taken care of. I'd eat here again anytime!
(5)
Whit R.

Even the extra-fancy restaurants need a little YELP! love. High Cotton is definitely among the more elite places to dine in downtown Charleston. I love it because there are several small dining rooms rather than one or two huge ones, so the feel is a bit more intimate. There's a pretty cool little bar right when you come in where you can wait and listen to some great live jazz music (Thur-Sun) until you get seated. Food here is of a different caliber than most places FYI. The lobster bisque is delicious, as is the filet (of course) and the duck. Mmmm mmm, if you like duckling this is a must. Wine selection is decent but not legendary but who cares?! You didn't go there to drink, right? Parking is nonexistent, so expect to either drive around looking for a spot or pay up to get in a garage. Totally worth it.
(4)
christy h.

We visited High Cotton while on vacation in Charleston a few weeks ago. It's definitely one of the more expensive restaurants in town but if you're looking for a nice dinner out this is first class all the way. The ambience, service, food, staff was wonderful! (PS - order the pork chop!).
(5)
Cindy H.

We went with our 6 year old for Jazz Brunch on Sunday and was not disappointed !! Wonderful assortment of southern and traditional favorites :0 I recommend the Crab cake Eggs Benedict - to die for :) Even my 6 year old ate all her brunch .. no small feet for a picky eater :)
(4)
mis h.

I've only been here for brunch. Get the crab cakes benedict. It's the only thing I get. Crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, eggs, and homemade hollandiase sauce. Everything else I've tried is delicious as well, I'm just addicted to the benedict. Stuffed french toast is amazing. Grits are good. She crab soup is good. The omelets are good.
(5)
David B.

"it was reeeeaaaaaallllllll good," says auntie coco. "they were generous with the gin." Transcribed by nephew David B.
(4)
Celine K.

My family has been coming here for Sunday brunch for a long time and High Cotton served consistently good brunch food with a southern flair for years. However, in between my last 2 visits they must have changed chefs because the menu was drastically different than it had been in previous years. I ordered a salad with a medley of fresh seafood--shrimp, lobster, scallops--tossed in a citrus vinaigrette with orange slices. The salad was ok, but could have been better considering the prices that High Cotton charges. My first complaint is the salad was quite small. I am definitely not a big eater, but I left the table still a little hungry after this dish. I would have been happy if they had thrown in a little more lettuce and a couple of more orange slices. Secondly, there definitely wasn't enough dressing. All in all, a little overpriced for what you get, but, unfortunately, that is the case with many Charleston area restaurants. However, the corn bread that is given in lieu of bread is still very good.
(3)
Miguel C.

A very nice, southern-style place with a classy edge to it. Slightly pricey but not terrible. It is a fine example of Charleston's food scene. The jazz band inside adds a nice touch. I had the eggs benedict with grits and my wife the huevos rancheros. Both very nicely done. As a point of comparison we had eaten at "Pooghan's Porch" the day before. Though the food at High Cotton is excellent and the atmosphere is more refined, the food at Pooghan's was tastier.
(4)
A S.

Fantastic for a high end option
(5)
Alan M.

was in town for evening and wow what a great experience great server Joey, fried oysters, pan seared grouper, dessert of the day, everything was delicious and servers recommendations were spot on will definitely go back!
(5)
Kathleen M.

This was the spot for my sister's rehearsal dinner. We had about 30 people in the private back room, which worked out perfectly. We started with the Charleston She Crab soup, which was fantastic. Lots of cream, lots of sherry. I had the shrimp and grits which were perfection: thick Anson Mills grits with lots of cheese, andouille, and spices. For dessert they served a fruit tart but I was far too full to touch it. They also had a decent selection of beer. When we came in the front bar was pretty crowded, some of the patrons were even guests of the wedding (we kind of took over the city) and it looked like everyone was having a good time. -1 star because it looks like the shrimp and grits aren't on their regular menu. For shame!
(4)

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Address : 199 E Bay St
Charleston, SC, 29401
Phone (843) 724-3815
Website https://www.hallmanagementgroup.com/highcotton/charleston/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:30 pm - 12:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
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 : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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High Cotton

199 E Bay St, Charleston, SC, 29401

High Cotton Menu

Starters

Salads

Entrees

Oysters

Allen Brothers Steaks

Sauces and Accompaniments

Vegetables

Healthy Meal suggestions for High Cotton

Starters

Salads

Entrees

Oysters

Allen Brothers Steaks

Sauces and Accompaniments

Vegetables

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