Charleston is famous for its restaurants! From succulent Lowcountry fine dining to zesty Italian bistros, and quaint barbecue hot spots to vibrant Mexican eateries, Charleston truly is a culinary melting pot.

For many of you who are visiting from out of state, you may not be aware that Charleston is segmented into various different areas that include downtown Charleston, Folly Beach, James Island, Johns Island, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, West Ashley, and Daniel Island (there are a few other neighboring cities, towns, and islands thrown in there, but these are the main ones). Each and every area in Charleston is home to exciting restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs that naming them all in one blog post would be way too much. This is why we’ve decided to create a series on Charleston restaurants. Each post in the series will focus on a different area of Charleston and some of the best restaurants found in that area.

This first post will focus on Mount Pleasant, which is located right across the Ravenel Bridge from downtown Charleston.

Below are just 5 of our favorite restaurants and cafes in Mount Pleasant:

Crave: Serving up artisan sandwiches, pasta, steak, and seafood, Crave provides an eclectic mix of various foods that are sure to delight your palette. The atmosphere is casual and the food is moderately priced. One of our favorite dishes is the turkey club sandwich complimented by a mermaid martini!

1968 Riviera Dr # O, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 / (843) 884-1177 / brunch, lunch, dinner

Mustard seed: For some great food, a casual atmosphere, and excellent service, take a trip to the Mustard Seed. This quaint restaurant features everything from creamy pasta dishes to fresh salads, chicken entrees to mussels and linguine, and much more. The bread that they put on your table at the beginning of dinner is also exceptional and is covered in seasoning and cheese.

1036 Chuck Dawley Boulevard,Mount Pleasant, SC 29464-4178 / (843) 849-0050 / lunch, dinner (not open Sundays)

Yamato: If you love Hibachi-style cooking as much as we do then you’ll definitely want to check out Yamato. With a fun and social atmosphere, great food, huge portions, and silly chefs, Yamato will instantly steal your heart. This restaurant is particularly great for larger groups.

1993 Riviera Drive, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 / (843) 881-1190 / dinner

Red Drum: With somewhat of a Tex-Mex thing going on Red Drum will add a flair to your night. Serving up excellent culinary masterpieces such as lamb shank, fresh seafood, and enchilada appetizers this elegant restaurant is sure to knock your socks off. Note that Red Drum is considered fine dining and we suggest calling in advance to book a reservation.

803 Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 / (843) 849-0313 / sunday brunch, dinner (closed Mondays)

Mozzo: This deli is a must when visiting the Charleston area. With a huge selection of artisan sandwiches, pasta salads, cole slaws, and desserts, it can be easy to go overboard when dining at Mozzo. They’re a deli that definitely knows what they’re doing. Some of our favorite sandwiches include the Roma, The Godfather, Fusion, Dig the Fig, and Fat Boy.

730 Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 / (843) 388-5755 / breakfast, lunch

Some other Mount Pleasant restaurants that we love include Opal, Langdon’s, Jacob’s Kitchen, Basil, Next Door, Sette, and Uno Mas (great margaritas).

Have you ever been to Mount Pleasant? What’s your favorite restaurant in the area?