While Lowcountry families may be breathing a sigh of relief thanks to the return of school routines, plenty of folks are often sweating the hardest part of a long day: figuring out what’s for dinner.
We’ve rounded up a wide variety of family-friendly dining joints all over the area. Let these spots do the hard work for you. (And remember to breathe.)
Rancho Lewis
If you’ve ever been to the outdoor Charleston space shared by Rancho Lewis (located in former food hall, Workshop) and Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co. on a weekend evening, you’ve seen just how family-friendly this place can be. Thankfully, things are a little calmer on weeknights and families have the option of dining inside Rancho or ordering from a QR code at courtyard tables. Diners can order from the full food menu and if booze is on the table (it’s been a long day, you deserve a Mexican martini), you can simply order a drink from the bar in a plastic cup. Chase the kids around the outdoor turf area and make everyone happy with an order of Nachos Especiales.
Bonus: It may be a Mexican restaurant, but you can order french fries, which is often a make or break moment for dining-with-kids.
- Open for lunch and dinner daily. Downtown. rancholewis.com
D’Allesandro’s Pizza
Families have been feeding the beasts (small children) with D’Al’s pizza since 2006. The downtown landmark is popular for a reason — the spot keeps things simple with great pizza and a solid beer list. Whether you’re keeping it classic with a Margherita or Meat Lovers or getting a little more inventive with the Get Gnarly, which is made with an olive oil and garlic base, spinach, mozzarella, balsamic chicken and blue cheese crumbles, there’s something for everyone.
Bonus: D’Al’s is vegan-friendly, so no one in the fam feels left out.
- Open for lunch and dinner daily. Downtown and Summerville. dalspizza.com
The Harlow
The Harlow, a restaurant that features coastal American cuisine, opened last year off of Harbor View Road on James Island. The spot features a full raw bar, burgers and specialty co*cktails. It doesn’t get much more family-friendly than a spot named after the owners’ (Katie and Josh Dewry) youngest daughter. The James Island residents also dedicated a section of the menu, the chee-burgers, to their son, Rhett, who is always requesting them. Order a few chee-burgers and fish nuggets for the kids and still have a very adult meal with plenty of raw bar options and the restaurant’s signature drink, the Dill Creek Martini.
Bonus: If it’s going to be a late homework night, order yourself a cold brew martini for dessert.
- Open for dinner Monday through Saturday and Sunday brunch. James Island. theharlowchs.com
The James
Part of The James’ appeal is its family-friendly atmosphere. Part of the Neighborhood Dining Group (NDG), The James serves elevated American cuisine that caters to local residents. Earlier this year, NDG president David Howard told the Charleston City Paper that his team decided to open a restaurant on James Island to fill a need for a quality restaurant that doesn’t cut corners on quality just because it caters to families. “I don’t think everybody is content just going to a bar and eating fast food,” Howard said. Diners can order from a variety of American fare, from a cheeseburger to chicken piccata.
Bonus: The restaurant has lots of parking and outdoor seating.
- Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday and dinner only Monday and Tuesday. James Island. thejameschs.com
Islander 71
Isle of Palms’ Islander 71, a marina-front restaurant on 41st Avenue, has plenty of space for kids to run around. In a conversation with City Paper earlier this year, one of the restaurant’s partners, Dave Lorenz said he and the other Islander 71 owners live on IOP and understand the need for family-friendly dining options. Dig into classic fish house dishes like hush puppies and she-crab soup or stick to landlubbing fare like a fried chicken sandwich.
Bonus: Head to Islander 71 (home to 16 TVs) on the weekends for all your football viewing needs.
- Open for lunch and dinner daily. Isle of Palms. islander71.com
Belle Station
Belle Station understands that dining with kids doesn’t have to be a hassle. With a large outdoor area (including a play area specifically for kids), the restaurant is perfect for families and larger groups. Order from classic American fare like wings, burgers and fried seafood baskets and keep things veg-forward with a solid list of salad options, too. Belle Station also serves pizza, a lengthy kids’ menu with everything from spaghetti to fish sticks and a variety of fun kid drinks.
Bonus: With the purchase of an equivalent number of adult meals, kids eat free
on Mondays.
- Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Open for dinner only Monday. Mount Pleasant. bellestationmtp.com
The Perch at Get Carried Away Southern Market
The Perch, a Mount Pleasant indoor/outdoor bar and cafe located inside of Get Carried Away Southern Market, opened earlier this year and serves up an all-day menu of classic Southern dishes. Whether you and your family are looking to snack or dig into something heartier, The Perch offers everything from peel-and-eat shrimp to a smashburger. Kids can snack on a giant PB&J Uncrustable or grilled cheese, and adults looking for a drink can order from one of eight creative co*cktails.
Bonus: Get Carried Away sells lots of grab-and-go meals so make it a two-fer and pick up something for dinner later in the week, too.
- Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday (note that The Perch closes at
6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and 8 p.m. the rest of the week). Mount Pleasant. getcarriedaway.com
Dashi
Remount Road’s casual fusion restaurant, Dashi, caters to busy families looking for big flavors. Kids can order from a simple menu of tacos, noodles and a quesadilla. The full menu features duck ramen, a gaucho steak plate, pad thai and more. Soothe anyone’s sweet tooth with a variety of King of Pop flavor choices.
Bonus: Dashi partners with loyalty dining app, Blackbird, so you can get rewards and perks for repeat dining.
- Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday and for Sunday brunch and dinner. North Charleston. dashichs.com
Laura
Nico Romo’s Summerville Italian restaurant, Laura, has something for the whole family, including both a dine-in and takeout menu. Start with appetizers for the table, like focaccia or arancini then choose from Neapolitan pizzas like the Blanca or the Pistachio. There are additional entrees, too, like veal Saltimbocca and scallops with corn risotto. Choose from indoor or outdoor seating.
Bonus: The covered outdoor patio is prepared for all weather conditions with fans and heaters.
- Open for dinner Monday through Thursday, lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday and brunch and dinner on Sunday. Summerville. laurasummerville.com
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