Category: Food and Dining

The Johns Island Restaurant Scene

Several exciting, new restaurants have recently opened or are upcoming on Johns Island. 

Upcoming Establishments:

Asian Hibachi Grill

A Japanese restaurant offering traditional Japanese fair and takeout

  • Location: 3575 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: A small dining footprint (about ten tables) offering hibachi, teriyaki, sushi and select Chinese-style dishes 
  • Timeline: A target opening date by late 2026 

Locals Sushi & Sports Pub

This will be the fourth location in the greater Charleston area. It will offer sushi and hibachi dinners, as well as tacos, burgers, and wings. 

  • Location: 1804 Crowne Commons Way, Suite D2 
  • Concept: A sports bar specializing in sushi, tacos, and elevated bar bites. 
  • Timeline: Scheduled to open in October, 2026

Lumpy’s Place

A new culinary venture from the team behind the South Carolina barbecue chain, Swig & Swine

  • Location: 2871 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: A ground-up new building featuring a meat-and-three style menu alongside outdoor seating
  • Timeline: The planned opening is scheduled for 2027.

South Island Market: A new community hub

South Island Market will be a 34-acre mixed-use development. 

  • Location: 3791 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, at the intersection of Betsy Kerrison Parkway and River Road
  • Concept: The project blends commercial, residential, and preserved green space to serve Kiawah, Seabrook, Wadmalaw and lower Johns Island. Restaurants to be determined.
  • Timeline: Late 2026 or early 2027, with a planned grand opening in spring 2027

Stono’s Oyster Bar

Stono’s Oyster Bar will be boater-friendly with roughly 60 complimentary boat slips for guests. The menu will focus on locally sourced Lowcountry seafood and oysters.

  • Location: 2409 Maybank Highway, along the Stono River near St. Johns Yacht Harbor
  • Concept: Two-story, 5,700-square-foot seafood and oyster restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a main-level bar, wraparound deck, and rooftop dining with a full-service rooftop bar and garden
  • Timeline: Construction is moving toward a spring 2027 opening

Some Recently Opened Restaurants Over the Past Few Years :

Barrier Island Oyster Co. (The Brinery)

  • Location: 2871 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: Sells hand-raised single oysters (Sea Clouds), oyster clusters and clams with farmstand pickup and online ordering

Cabana & Co

  • Location: 1801 Crowne Commons Way
  • Concept: Evolved from Cabana Burgers & Shakes into a coastal-inspired menu featuring gourmet burgers, seafood, wings, salads and milkshakes

Catrina’s Mexican Grill

  • Location: 3575 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: Offers serves authentic Mexican and Latin cuisine, offering classic favorites alongside contemporary fusion dishes

El Molino Taqueria 

  • Location: 2901 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: Offers Street-style Mexican food, tacos, and house-made specialties

Linnette’s at the Dunlin

  • Location: Inside the Dunlin Hotel at 6000 Kiawah River Drive
  • Concept: A seafood forward Southern restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner

Lost Isle

  • Location: 3338 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: An open-air, fire-to-table backyard concept focused on live-fire cooking and a casual, communal dining experience.

Parlor Doughnuts

  • Location: 2823 Maybank Highway (in the former Masonic Lodge)
  • Concept: Known for croissant-doughnut hybrids (cronuts), specialty flavor rotations, and options that include vegan and gluten-friendly selections, plus specialty coffee and breakfast items

Snow Monkeys

  • Location: 3297 Maybank Highway, Suite 302
  • Concept: Serves a rotating menu that blends French fine-dining technique with Japanese influences, organized into “raw,” “street” and “signature” sections that include crudos, oysters, tartares and street-style plates.

Somm Wine Bar

  • Location: 700 Halcyon Loop
  • Concept: Features global wines by the glass and bottle, rotating wine flights, artisanal cheese and charcuterie, seasonal small plates, and dog-friendly outdoor seating

The Heyday

  • Location: 605 Kindred Court in Hayes Park
  • Concept: Modern sea-island café and bar offering creative sandwiches and breakfast favorites with a focus on local flavor

(Tidelines does not endorse any establishments.)

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Artificial Intelligence)

October Events at Freshfields Village

Freshfields Village kicks off the Fall Schedule with the following events:

Fall Art Walk
Friday, October 9, 4:00-7:00 pm

Residents and visitors are invited to watch live art demonstrations and view works from local and visiting artists in participating retail shops. Plus, enjoy live music as your stroll through the Village during the event.

Lowcountry Smoke and Shuck
Saturday, October 10, 3:00-6:00 pm

Join Freshfields Village and Garden & Gun for an afternoon celebrating the flavors and traditions of the Lowcountry on the Village Green. Enjoy delicious food and drinks from some of the region’s favorite culinary talents and live country music.

No cost to register for the event but food and drinks are cash/credit. No coolers or outside food and beverages are allowed. Click here to RSVP.

Fall Fiesta – Tacos, Tequila and Tunes
Friday, October 16, 4:00-7:00 pm

Join Freshfields Village and the Town of Kiawah on Friday, October 16, from 4:00–7:00 pm for an evening of live music by the Will Thompson Band, flavorful bites from Papá Grande and Cantina 76, and featured cocktails from FortyEight Wine Bar & Kitchen. Gather your friends and enjoy a festive evening filled with tacos, tequila, and plenty of fun!

Movie on the Green: Coco
Saturday, October 17, 7:00-9:00 pm

A boy named Miguel dreams of becoming a famous guitar player, despite the misgivings of his close-knit family. When his ambitions cause him to run afoul of a curse, he must journey into the Land of the Dead to seek forgiveness from his ancestors. PG, 2017, 109 minutes

Guests are encouraged to bring beach chairs and blankets for this complimentary event.

–Tidelines Editors

Summerville Sweet Tea Festival September 19

This year’s Sweet Tea Festival is Saturday, September 19, 2026, in Summerville, the birthplace of sweet tea.

  • Saturday, September 19, 2026
  • 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • Hutchinson Square in the heart of historic downtown Summerville
  • Free Admission for this family-friendly festival

This sweet festival pays homage to Summerville’s tea cultivation history, tracing back to the late 1700s. Visitors can explore the Sweet Tea Trail; grab a selfie with Mason, the 15-foot-tall jar that holds the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Sweet Iced Tea; or stop by the Visitors Center to see the Sweet Tea Mural.

Click here for more information about Summerville’s sweet tea celebration.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: VisitSummerville.com)

Labor Day Weekend at Freshfields Village

Come enjoy the last weekend of summer at Freshfields Village.
Events include:

Music on the Green – Friday and Saturday September 4 and 5, 6:00-9:00 pm

Come join us this Labor Day Weekend for a special two-night Music on the Green Concert Series. On Friday, September 4, Java Band will be playing. On Saturday, September 5, Fantasy will close out the season. Guests are encouraged to bring beach chairs and blankets for these free events.

Seabrook Island Artist Guild Show and Sale Sunday, September 6, 10:00 am-6:00 pm

The Seabrook Island Artist Guild (SIAG) will bring together local artists from Seabrook, Kiawah and Johns Islands to showcase and sell original works on The Village Green. Attendees can stroll through The Village to browse and purchase various artwork. Come see and enjoy the creative spirit of our local artists. A diverse mix of media will be offered for viewing and for purchase. This event promises to be a beautiful display of art pieces; traditional and abstract oil paintings, watercolors and pastels capturing the beauty of the low country.

–Tidelines Editors

June Events at Freshfields Village

Freshfields kicks off the summer with the following events:

Mondays – Farmers Market from 3:00-7:00 pm

Join us for our weekly Farmers Market on Mondays in June, July, and August from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Pick from the freshest organic produce, local food products, and Lowcountry crafts all summer long. For a full list of vendors, click here.

Fridays – Music on The Green from 6:00-9:00 pm

Music on the Green continues on Friday nights from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The free, family-friendly concerts feature a variety of music from regional bands, including Carolina Beach music, Motown, Top 40, Country, and more! Enjoy a summer filled with music, fun, and memories. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.

June 5: Blackwater Band
June 12: Dave & The Sol Beats
June 19: SNAP
June 26: Travis Allison Band

Music on the Green will continue every Friday through September 5!

Saturday, June 20 – Cars and Coffee from 9:00-11:00 am

Arrive in your favorite ride or stop by the Village Green to browse unique, antique, and other cool cars at our monthly Cars and Coffee! The event will take place on the 3rd Saturday of each month through September, from 9:00 to 11:00 am. 

For more information about these events and other happenings at Freshfields Village, click here.

–Tidelines Editors

2026 Chow Town Food Truck Rodeo Schedule

The 2026 TOSI Chow Town Food Truck Rodeo series is just around the corner! The lineup of vendors scheduled for the summer can be found here.

All events will be held from 5:00-8:00 pm at Town Hall, 2001 Seabrook Island Road. Below are the 2026 Chow Town dates:

May 27
June 17
July 8
August 5

–Submitted by the Town of Seabrook Island

(Image credit: townofseabrookisland.org)

Explore Charleston’s Congregations with a Spirited Brunch

The Spirited Brunch is a self-guided snack tour of downtown Charleston’s prayerful spaces. Positioned as an open house-type event with every congregation on the Charleston peninsula invited to welcome visitors during the three-hour time frame. Notably, the event presents a rare chance for non-members to peek inside historically and architecturally significant sanctuaries. But what makes Spirited Brunch special is that each house of worship is asked to serve a snack representative of its local community or faith tradition.

Date: Sunday, May 3, from 12:30-3:30 pm

Click here for more information on this event.

Click here to find the participating congregations and their snacks.

–Tidelines Editors