Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in South Carolina

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in South Carolina? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

SeaBlue Restaurant & Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (2418)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

North Myrtle Beach

About the restaurant

SeaBlue Restaurant and Wine Bar is the finest restaurant on the Grand Strand, featuring Contemporary American cuisine rooted in classic French cooking technique. We aspire to be among the best restaurants in the country, using locally sourced ingredients and displaying five-star service to all our guests. We are proud of our many awards, #1 Restaurant in the Country in 2014 by OpenTable and Best of Award of Excellence 2012-2024 by Wine Spectator, just to name a few.

As owners, Kenneth Norcutt and Tracy Smith are involved in every aspect of the restaurant. Our travels, extensive background, and passion for food and wine enable us to share our experiences with you in our small community of North Myrtle Beach, SC. We are a small family dedicated to an intimate culinary adventure, a playground for lovers of wine and fine cuisine.
We invite you to Drink, Dine & Discover.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

As normal excellent food and experience! This place is the best

The Bluffton Room

4.9

4.9 (2215)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Bluffton

About the restaurant

At The Bluffton Room, we serve inspired American cuisine prepared with the finest ingredients in an intimate and vibrant atmosphere in the heart of Old Town Bluffton. Our well crafted cocktails, gracious service and tableside preparations evoke the feeling of a classic dinner party.

Please note that due to the size of our dining room and our tableside service, the restaurant is not suited to children under 13 years of age. Thank you for your understanding.

Top review

RosalieVIP

Dined 4 days ago

It was Perfection! Great food, drinks & of course their Bananas Foster. Waitress was exceptional! Wonderful experience, everyone must do this!

O.A.K. Prime Kitchen and Bar

4.9

4.9 (226)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Myrtle Beach

About the restaurant

At O.A.K. Prime Kitchen and bar, our culinary and mixology philosophy is simple. Why be like everyone else when you can be One of A Kind! Our restaurant offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for spending the evening with your favorite people. Our menu includes Prime steaks and fresh fish nightly as well as classic and creative cocktails.

Top review

GlennVIP

Dined 3 days ago

the lamb chops were cooked perfect , service was top notch .

CQ's

4.8

4.8 (3335)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Hilton Head Island

About the restaurant

Nestled amidst the ancient, moss draped oaks in Harbour Town, CQ's combines great fun, fine dining and a touch of Hilton Head Island history. CQ's has the feeling of an old, cozy, and comfortable inn. Heart-of-pine floors, wooden mantle pieces, stained glass, and the photographs and memorabilia of the Lowcountry culture all contribute to the charm that has made CQ's the place to dine since 1973. Inspired by the abundant varieties of fresh seafood, beef and game available. Our chef creates dishes that are best described as contemporary American with classic influences. Recognized for having the most extensive wine list on Hilton Head Island, CQ's offers more than 400 wine selections with over 70 poured by the glass.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

Another excellent dining experience at CQ’s and the most amazing service experience ever!!!

SELECT Restaurant - Greer

4.8

4.8 (2435)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Greer

About the restaurant

SELECT (definition)- Carefully chosen to be the best or most valuable.

At SELECT we take that serious. We carefully choose every ingredient, location, menu selection, process, wines, craft beers, finest crafted cocktails, hot teas, etc....to provide you, the customer, what you desire. After all, you are the entire reason we are here.

Top review

GarySS

Dined 2 days ago

Best burger I have ever had, pot roast was fantastic, this restaurant does everything extremely well, service is attentive and professional. We were passing through town and will make every effort to come back!!

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The Studio, An Artistic Dining Experience

4.9

4.9 (1715)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Hilton Head Island

About the restaurant

Entice Your Senses While You Dine in our Fine Art Gallery. Innovative International Cuisine featuring Local Seafood, Grassfed Beef as well as Vegan, Vegetarian & Gluten Free Menu Options. Also offering Live Musical Entertainment, Artists Creating at the Easel, Patio Seating

Private Dining Room Available for up to 35 People

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence

Top review

Brent

Dined 4 days ago

Great food and service! Love all the veggie options!

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Popular dish

Halibut Fillet

Popular dish

Shrimp & Vidalia Onion Bisque

Popular dish

Seared Diver Scallops

Lulu Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (910)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Hilton Head Island

About the restaurant

Welcome to LULU KITCHEN, where exquisite cuisine it’s paired with exceptional service and eclectic ambiance!

Open Monday through Saturday for Lunch and Dinner, and Sunday for Brunch.

Lulu Kitchen Dinner Service is intended as an adult dining experience. Respectfully, children under 12 years old are welcome only for patio dining after 4:00pm.

Until we see you again, stay well and be sure to eat well!!

-Chef Scott Hastings

Top review

Rene

Dined 4 days ago

I do not often write reviews, but we really felt that this was one of our best meals during our two weeks on the island. I had a lovely daiquiri to start off with, and my husband ordered an old fashioned. Both were done well. My husband loved the Lobster Risotto and I had the beet/citrus salad and a crab cake with a corn and tomato relish, which were both lovely and filling even though they were starters. In fact, I think that is one thing that I loved most about Lulu; you can easily make a meal of the numerous starters if you have a smaller appetite. The starters are varied and creative. This restaurant was welcoming and felt cozy and intimate. Service was attentive without being overbearing. The food was very well done and priced as normal for the island. It managed to feel both high end and unpretentious at the same time. We will definitely be back!

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4.8

4.8 (9206)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Greenville

About the restaurant

Soby’s New South Cuisine is an eclectic blend of contemporary continental cuisine infused with traditional Southern ingredients, transforming old favorites into something fresh and new. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Greenville, in a renovated cotton mill built in the 1800s. The atmosphere is warm and energetic and the staff is well-trained to provide a fantastic dining experience for all of our guests. In addition, the wine list offers more than 500 selections and is a Wine Spectator Magazine award-winner regular.

Top review

ManyaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Very nice dinner with out of town guests. Thank you!

The Ribaut Social Club - Anchorage 1770

4.8

4.8 (505)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Beaufort

About the restaurant

Ribaut Social Club is a restaurant and social space for Beaufort locals and visitors to mingle over cocktails and impeccable regional cuisine.
Our aim is to capture the incorrigible spirit and convivial atmosphere of the original Ribaut Club, established at the Anchorage in 1891. In its heyday, the Club hosted performances, grand parties, dances and even gambling—a raucous getaway from buttoned-up social strictures of the time. Today, guests can cocktails and dinner with unrivaled water views or a sophisticated brunch surrounded by 300 years of Beaufort history.

Top review

SandiKVIP

Dined 3 days ago

This was one of the best meals we have ever had.. it is a must go to restaurant.. Hotel wonderful too!!!

Saltus River Grill

4.7

4.7 (3834)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Beaufort

About the restaurant

We are now booking reservations for parties of up to 4 people online! Please call the restaurant at (843)379-3474 to make a reservation for parties of 5 or more people. All reservations are held for inside as outdoor seating is weather permitting. Comments specifying seating preferences are honored if and when available. We will try to honor all requests, but they are not guaranteed. We look forward to serving you soon!

Saltus River Grill is a unique, and exciting restaurant in historic downtown Beaufort, South Carolina. With a grand view of the Intracoastal Waterway from its Sonoma-style patio or from the expansive full-service bar and dining room, this sizzling contemporary seafood grill combines the atmosphere of a chic Manhattan eatery with the historic charm found only in the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Top review

DebraVIP

Dined on Mar 3, 2025

I enjoyed the beet salad with grilled shrimp and the grapefruit cocktail. I wish there was a gluten free bread option. Had to supplement my meal at the grocery store. Brie was a very good waitress.

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