Within the prolific Indigo Road Hospitality Group, Indaco is the rustic Italian institution. Restaurateur Steve Palmer, a James Beard semifinalist, opened the original in Charleston in 2013, and it’s grown to four locations across the South. The secret to success? Woodfired margherita pizza, fresh tagliatelle with an egg yolk nestled on top, and house negronis on tap, all served in a rugged space with butcher block tables and white washed brick.

It’s always a special time at Peninsula Grill, a AAA Four Diamond Restaurant inside Charleston’s historic Planters Inn. Start with a drink in the Champagne bar before taking a seat in the brick courtyard surrounded by Palmetto trees and carriage lanterns. The Lowcountry menu offers elegant seafood towers, thick steaks and chops, and the Opulent Spud topped with caviar and gold leaf. Don’t miss the signature 12-layer coconut cake and the award-winning wine list.

In a historic bank building from 1848, Oak Steakhouse rises up three stories of leather booths, exposed brick, and cozy fireplaces. This is the place for seafood towers, Angus steaks, and bold Cabernets. It’s the heart of the Indigo Road group, helmed by James Beard semifinalist restaurateur Steve Palmer.

Wife-and-husband team Corrie and Shuai Wang careened into the local dining scene with a popular food truck in 2014 and a permanent spot in 2019, capturing the attention of Bon Appétit and Eater, plus a rising star chef nom from James Beard. Locals can't get enough of the dim sum carts that deliver the Wangs' irreverent riffs on Chinese American dumplings, noodles, and fried chicken.

James Beard semifinalists Steve Palmer and Kimball Brienza of the Indigo Road group opened the first O-Ku in Charleston in 2010. The modern Japanese restaurant deals sushi in every form—sashimi, nigiri, rolls, hand rolls, and cones—in a sleek black space filled with twisted tree branches. Esquire called it one of the hottest openings of 2010, Travel + Leisure ranked it one of the best sushi restaurants in the country in 2013, and today it counts eight locations across the South.

Charleston's favorite escape to Paris is via this bustling bistro with a romantic blue patio. Feast on updated classics like steak tartare with a shiitake vinaigrette or escargots with ramp butter, alongside a wine list that zips through the Loire Valley and other famed regions and cocktails favoring Chartreuse and St-Germain. Eater, Thrillist, Condé Nast Traveler, and lots of local outlets can't stop heaping praise on this place.

Ma’am Saab translates to “boss lady” in Urdu, and that’s the correct way to describe chef Maryam Ghaznavi, who kicked off with a pop-up in 2020 before opening this restaurant in 2023. She’s all about upscale Pakistani cuisine with a shot of Southern charm, which means a tasting menu of flavorful butter chicken and biryanis, plus happy hour smash burgers and craft cocktails. Exposed brick, floral wallpaper, and ultraviolet lighting help set the party scene.