Eli's Table

With all the great choices in Charleston, choose somewhere else. We visited this restaurant for the first time on a Saturday night. Restaurant not in keeping with any other restaurant close to this price range in the area. Restaurant was dirty, walls had food splattered on it next to our table, bathroom was a mess. Fried Green tomato dish tasted like layers of baby food and store bought pimento cheese. Steak was overcooked and placed on top of cold mashed potatoes. I ordered an old fashioned, it was horrible, tiny glass with mostly ice, tasted like bitters and sugar, honestly didn't taste the bourbon at all. Mentioning price seems subjective but think about this, they charged $27.50 for the horribly made collage bar drink. For perspective: Halls and the Thoroughbred club charge $20 and $18 for an OF, and both of those locations serve theirs expertly prepared and with more expensive bourbon and ingredients. We didn't get water refills until after our meal and our plates were taken. Otherwise service was good (everyone was very nice). Despite having reservations, we were sat in the smallest 2 top table in the restaurant next to the kitchen and bathroom. This is the kind of thing that makes sense when you come in the place and that is all that is left, but the whole time we were there 4 other 2 top tables remained opened. Only 1 other 2 top was sat when we arrived. To me you seat the worst table later when things are a bit full, rather than when the room is empty. Nothing we ate or drank was good. I really hate that is the case, shocked this place survives in the Charleston food market. We didn't complain, and pleasantly left to go revive the evening at a better place, however we surely will not return. Charleston is filled with some of the best bars and restaurants in the country, skip Eli's (dirty and poorly prepared) Table.

Adding another comment on how fantastic this crew at Eli's is. My wife and I stopped in mid-week with no reservation. Greeted warmly by the guys after a busy day for them. They treated us like regulars. They are very experienced in hospitality and it shows. Amazing food, from starters to coconut cloud cake!

This was one of the worst dining experiences I have had in a very long time. The food was mediocre at best. The Fried Green Tomatoes were coated in a very thick batter, much of which was burned. I also ordered the Salmon with Truffle Risotto. The salmon was a very tiny portion and very salty. The risotto was gluey and gloopy and totally inedible. But the service is where Eli's Table completely falls apart. When I was seated the hostess said she would bring me a drinks menu, which she never did. My server came by and asked about water. She brought the bottle of water and a glass (no ice, no lime or lemon) but never even poured it. She came by later to ask about drinks, which I ordered, but didn't receive until I was halfway through my appetizer (the aforementioned Fried Green Tomatoes). I had to ask about specials (catch of the day). She then brought my entree when I was only about halfway through the appetizer and had had about two sips of my cocktail. I also had to ask for utensils and a napkin. Sigh. The only saving grace was that the manager came over to apologize and he did comp my entire meal. He acknowledged that he has his work cut out for him to improve things. Another table (same server) was also complaining about the service, and another table (different server) got wrong drink orders. Maybe tonight was a one-off? But given the manager's reaction it doesn't sound like it. Too many other good places in town. Try elsewhere.

My experience here was fantastic. Raymond was our server and he was so kind and thoughtful! He explained the menu well and gave great suggestions. We had the fried green tomatoes - amazing! We also had the steaks and the catch of the day which were all fantastic. We would return for Raymond alone, but the restaurant itself was fantastic as well. Highly recommend.

Wanted to try something new. I was disappointed. Took much longer than expected to get a table. Every drink choice I ordered was off. I’m still waiting to this day for the slice of sourdough toast I ordered. The server had no idea what the fish of the day was and never bothered to find out. I don’t know what ever happened to customer service but I wish someone would bring it back.

Due to staffing issues management is only able to accommodate reservations even when the restaurant is only at 20% capacity.

Amazing service, food, and drinks. Will definitely dine here again.

Place was dirty they were playing dance music loudly during dinner, and kitchen staff could be heard singing(badly) . Server looked like they just woke up. Food was mediocre at best, Seabass was dry as a bone and risotto was not risotto, but rice with some butter, onion soup was greasy and flavorless. The plates left stains on the table clothes because the bottoms were filthy.