Acme Lowcountry Kitchen
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Hours
Sun
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Mon
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Tue
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Wed
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Thu
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Fri
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Sat
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Seafood, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Special occasions, Large groups, Bar scene, Business meetings
Details
About
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen is your spot for 100% Always Local South Carolina Shrimp! We are a Platinum member of the South Carolina aquarium and the first South Carolina member of the James Beard Smart Catch program. Local, East Coast and Sustainable seafood is what we do.
PRICE RANGE
$8.00 – $28.00
CUISINES
Seafood
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Waterfront, Beach
Contribute
4.5
4,216 reviews
Excellent
3,315
Very good
613
Average
185
Poor
67
Terrible
36
chubby_wanderer
Knoxville591 contributions
Mar 2021 • couples
We stopped here during a beach day on Isle of Palms. Our brunch was fantastic, and the atmosphere was friendly. They serve comfort southern food and seafood.Â
The brunch menu was moderately priced with an entre costing around $15 and starters/omelets being $10-15. We ordered the Isle of Palm's shrimp and grits and the gouda grits fries as a starter. The star of the show was definitely the shrimp and grits. The dish had blackened shrimp and truffle gouda in the grits. The truffle gouda was not overpowering and went really well with the grits. It also came with tomatoes that helped balance the plate with a bit of tart/acid.Â
The gouda grit fries wasn't really for us. We expected french fries with gouda and grits, but the dish was instead fried grits with gouda and toppings. It's possible the grits had french fries mashed into it, but we couldn't tell. We found the flavor more muted and would have just ordered a side of fries had we known what to expect. Â
The restaurant has closed its indoor dining (except for their bar area, which is still open). And has sit-down dining both outside and on its covered deck. Their Covid restrictions seemed well thought out and little to no inconvenience. This seems like the type of place you go for a special occasion or vacation. We saw lots of tables ordering mimosas or bloody mary's.Â
Overall the atmosphere was very relaxed and welcoming. I think families or couples would be equally comfortable.
We visited during the low beach season, and even then, parking in Acme's lot was scarce. The restaurant has both a front and back entrance, and the back entrance is wheelchair accessible. However, most of the parking lot is gravel, so it might be challenging to access the ramp. Also, this doesn't seem to be a dog-friendly establishment.Â
Overall, the food quality was excellent, and the ambiance was quite friendly. Customer service was perfect (the manager even stopped by and asked how we were enjoying the meal). And their shrimp and grits were superb. I definitely think ACME is worth your attention if you're in IOP and want to indulge a bit. Â
Written March 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikki T
Houston15 contributions
Mar 2021 • family
Our family of 4, comprised of two (under 12) children and two adults, ventured to IOP for the day during a recent trip to Folly Beach. Since we knew we would arrive around lunchtime, we researched local restaurants the night before and decided Acme Lowcountry was the clear standout.
At 11:15 am on a weekday, it was busy. (When we were leaving around 12:45, there was a long wait outside.) We were seated away from others, as requested, and all staff were wearing masks. What we did not realize, prior to our visit, was that brunch is a daily occurrence at Acme, and that menu is available until 5pm, when the dinner menu begins. This was a pleasant surprise, as our children are big fans of “breakfast all day.”
Service: Outstanding. The restaurant was busy, and the server was attentive, with manager circulating and speaking to all tables during the visit.
Food: We ordered the shrimp succotash, two french toasts with bacon, and pimento cheese grits with scallops. Everyone enjoyed their food, but unfortunately, since we are not native to the area, we did not realize all Charleston-style succotash has a cream sauce, and since that is common knowledge for the area, it was not listed on the menu. Unfortunately, the ordering person cannot eat cream at all, but when the manager came by to check on things, he took the plate and had the shrimp and succotash remade, sans cream. He was friendly about that accommodation, and the remake was served piping hot.
The pricepoint was not bad at all, and all members of our party left full and satisfied. I highly recommend anyone heading to IOP stop by Acme Lowcountry, where everyday is a day for brunch!
Written March 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph Robba
Charlotte2270 contributions
May 2020 • none
This was my second visit to Acme after I had visited about a year ago, and left extremely satisfied. I was on a short trip with my mom and kids the last time around, so my wife had not been, and I had done an awful lot of talking this place up, so expectations were high. They did not miss the mark though.
We came here around 4:30pm on Friday, and a small crowd was already starting to form. The service was fast, and excellent. Although they brought out a side order incorrectly, they were quick to fix it and told us to hang on to the extra side we hadn't ordered.
The lighthouse is what I went with one again. Everything on the plate was just perfect. The crab cake is the best there is, the pan seared scallops are divine, the shrimp is excellent, and the truffle grits are simply magic in your mouth.
My wife was throughly impressed with Acme, and I have no doubt it's to become a staple of all of our future trips to the Charleston area. It's a bit of a splurge, as most meals clock in around $30, but man is it ever good.
Written May 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravellingBob18
Thank you so much for not only taking the time to leave such a nice review, thank you for your support during this time. Dealing with plastic cups, paper plates, plastic silverware and outdoor dining, the support from folks like yourself have been just amazing!
Thank You So Much! Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.
Written July 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Roving475644
1 contribution
Sep 2020 • family
I lived in Charleston for seven years and this was always my favorite place. With new situations and everybody having to deal with virus everything. It was a little hard to sit in the parking lot next to the road as the dirt on the cars went past flew up on you. Then you buy shrimp and grits that cost $20 and they give you plastic fork and a paper plate. By the time you’re down to the bottom of your shrimp and grits it has molded into the paper plate. I had sausage gravy and biscuits. Same thing by the time you got to the bottom it was all soggy into the paper plate. I do not wanna go out to eat there anymore until it opens back up and they can serve you on dishes with real silverware. The food is too good to be ruined by what it’s being served on. Very disappointing day it’s hard to not just eat at home.
Written September 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravellingBob18
Howdy. Sorry to hear you were not happy with the Covid protections we are taking and being forced to deal with. We are planning to transition back to regular plates and what not very soon. We will have very limited indoor dining as well.
I am happy to hear we are you favorite place in the 7 years you have lived in Charleston. Of course we do wish in that 7 years you could have taken the time to leave a good review. Bummer the only time you have found time to leave a review is with a complaint on how things are being handled due to the Coronavirus. Trust us, we wish it was business as usual and no Virus.
Written September 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vicki A
Asheville2 contributions
Jul 2020 • friends
Beware, you may be seated at a table nestled in gravel with a metal chair that barely would sit a child. Expect plastic cups,plastic cutlery,salt,pepper and napkin packaged like a cheap take out restaurant. And to top it off your $24.00 entree is served on a paper plate for you to dine while swatting flies. This experience could have been made much better had the table/chairs been sitting on a solid surface, fans utilized to keep the flies away, quality plastic cutlery and real plates. Would just cost a little more $$ to ensure repeat customers.
Written July 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravellingBob18
Howdy there! Welcome to the Covid Outdoor Dining Celebration of 2020!
I'm so sorry you think the extra money we are spending on single use items is being cheap. We've spent over $25,000 in close to 3 months on PPE, Single Use Items, and outdoor dining supplies. Money we really don't have to spend, but we want to keep our guest and our employees as safe as we can.
Those plastic cups, plastic cutlery and paper plates are all added expenses to the restaurant and the cost on them sure does add up. But all that is for your protection. If we used our usual plates, it would actually cost less money. Regular cups, less money. Regular Silverware, less money. Trust me, we wish this wasn't happening. We wish it was business as usual.
As for the quality of the plastic cutlery we are competing with every other restaurant in this nation/world for plastic cutlery. They can't make the stuff fast enough. I am ordering and getting whatever I can so you don't have to use your fingers to pick up and eat your food. Even now I have over 15,000 packs of plastic cutlery on pre-order.
We decided to not have fans blow across the tables in the front parking area in case someone at one of those tables was a carrier of the Virus and was unaware. A cough or Sneeze would send droplets out and then the fan might blow it across the entire table. So we decided that was a no.
Those metal chairs...those are full size. We have used them for years without complaint. But much like the parking lot not be perfectly flat, it was the first time either has been complained about.
Flies suck. We are spraying 2/3 times a week. We are trying like mad to stop mother nature thought and we will continue to for a while it seems.
Fortunately I must say 99.99% of all of our customers have just been amazing through all this. Very supportive and appreciative of how we are trying to keep them safe and our employees. To all of them I am just so grateful to.
As for you I will say I'm sorry it has upset you so much that you had to join Tripadvisor to give our business struggling to survive this Pandemic a bad review. I hope leaving the crappy review made you feel better.
Written July 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mary J
1 contribution
Jul 2021 • none
This was truly a wonderful place to celebrate my birthday! Acme checks off ALL of the boxes we have in a restaurant: good size portions, wonderful menu selections, great value, casual atmosphere, clean bathrooms, family friendly, nice staff, and REALLY YUMMY homemade food!!! Mitchell was such a delightful server. He was attentive, friendly, funny, very knowledgeable about the menu and an overall good guy. He recommended the Light House and the Broiled Seafood, two delicious choices. Management came by the tables to ask how everything was and mingled with the guests. The staff made us feel welcome - wonderful southern hospitality! To be honest, we were somewhat reluctant to visit because of the name, but don't let that fool you. It was a fabulous dining experience! Also, it was a very short walk (3 minutes) from the public parking lot so we did not have to move our car and pay more to park (I did not notice if they had their own parking). We will definitely eat here upon our next visit to IOP. An easy 5 star rating! ***** :)
Written July 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Morgan P
1 contribution
Jun 2020 • couples
We visited Acme and had a wonderful experience. We went at 7:30 on a Friday night and were expecting a long wait given the time we went; however, we were seated within 20 minutes. Travis was great and had great customer service!
Written June 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravellingBob18
Thank you so much for not only taking the time to leave such a nice review, thank you for your support during this time. Dealing with plastic cups, paper plates, plastic silverware and outdoor dining, the support from folks like yourself have been just amazing!
Thank You So Much! Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.
Written July 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Victoria B
Raleigh1684 contributions
May 2021 • none
We got dinner to-go at Acme on our last night in Isle of Palms. One bummer was being charged gratuity for a to-go order. Maybe it's a COVID thing, but to HAVE to tip that much for someone picking up the phone is a little ridiculous.
Regardless, the food was phenomenal! I got succotash with shrimp. I love succotash, but I've never seen it with field peas, snap peas or brownish/black lima beans. WOW! The flavor was incredible! I ate every last bit! I was also impressed that the kids meals were as inexpensive as they were and that they offered a grilled option. Normally things are fried and processed and this felt like a "clean" kids meal, which I really enjoyed.
The family loved their food, we were very pleased!
Written May 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JCsTravelAdventures
Silver Spring33 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
Our last night in SC and we selected Acme for our final dinner. We were not disappointed.
Heidi, our server, was very friendly & attentive. She knew the menu well & was able to answer all of our questions. Despite being very busy, Heidi stopped by our table often & didn't rush us.
We enjoyed the boiled seafood app (asked for spoons to get every bit of the delicious broth) and 2 of the seafood combo dishes on the regular menu.
We enjoyed the seafood as it was flavorful. Scallops were cooked perfectly. I thought the sides of collard greens & pimento cheese grits were delicious.
My husbands sides of hush puppies & red rice were not great...rice was dry & cripsy while the hush puppies were doughy on the inside. But overall, we enjoyed our meals.
Our only regret is that we didn't dine here earlier in our visit. We would have dined here again if we had time.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tailingloop
71 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
Our New Years group (ten folks) had dinner at the Kitchen and I must say the food was authentic low country cuisine. The shrimp and grits were outstanding and wreck fish and succatash were to die for!! One of our group has a shell fish issue; they bent over backwards to make sure he did not get any hint of shell fish. He raved about his grilled salmon. The waiter was great handling such a large group efficiently and professionally. A real laid back and casual place! High recommend when visiting the Charleston area.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J M
Mount Pleasant6 contributions
Feb 2020 • solo
Just ate here last night. The sea food in a white wine sauce tasted like they just poured some cheap white wine over the fish, shrimp and scallops. Fish was tough for being braised. Red rice was dry. All for $30. Lots of people there for a Monday night, paying good money that apparently is not spent on the in side of the place. Cardboard closing off a door way, what next paper plates and plastic silverware?
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravellingBob18
Bless Your Heart!
Let’s talk about the cardboard closing off the doorway to the bar first. That cardboard is blocking the doorway so people do not walk into the bar we have that is currently being renovated. Completely renovated. Literally us spending money inside the place LOL. We also just bought $11,000 in new plates so we probably won’t be going to paper plates anytime soon. So yeah...
As for you review on your dinner and the fact you’ve never left a positive for any restaurant in 7 years, well I’m not gonna worry about it.
Written February 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa Cott
Charleston175 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
Lowcountry kitchen was a hit again! Mom, Edward and I enjoyed our food. Two negatives would be that the crab claws were slim on meat and they over charged us on the side salad. Menu price was $4 but they charged us $6. Server took it off but what the heck? Still good food. We’ll be back.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Becky K
Moncks Corner7 contributions
Nov 2020 • family
Cali the server was amazing. First time my son Alex wanted to go to the restaurant because he’s never seen the ocean. Caki gave us some suggestions for appetizers and we chose the fried grits with Gouda cheese. Alex was amazed the food was delicious. We shared an omelette because the food portion was way too big for both of us. But as we were talking my son Alex, comment on the exceptional service we had from Cali. I explain to him not most servers ever get acknowledge for their good help and to let her know. Alex is only 12 years old and he made sure his hip she brought her check that she thought she was an outstanding server. She showed smile, courteous, and considerate of even a 12-year-old’s needs. I would definitely come back to this restaurant to make sure we say hi to Cali. By the way the food was exceptional! But service goes a long ways.
Happy Thanksgiving all
Becky Keffer and son, Alex
Written November 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lib&kev
4 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
Best vacation date night! Seafood was amazing. The preparations were on point. Our server, Jared, was really helpful navigating the menu and suggesting things we would enjoy. We’d come back here in a heartbeat. Absolutely order the succotash!
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brendan M
Abingdon24 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We discovered Acme through Trip Advisor - visiting Charleston for the Marathon and staying in Mt. Pleasant. We always like to try new establishments and typically would have dined and breakfasted in 3 different ones that TA recommended. Not this time! Our Fri night dinner was superlative - every mouthful. Enough so that we came back Sat night after the race and asked for our same server [Travis], who was engaging, attentive, and made the 2 dinners "10"s. I really enjoyed [Fri] an oyster-topped salad and [Sat] the Tilefish special. Be not at all surprised that we returned for breakfast on Sun morning, heading out of town. We had big smiles and full tummies all the way home to SW VA. That made it a "trifecta". I registered for next year's race, but what we're really looking forward to is returning to Acme !!!
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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