Tempest in Charleston

Tempest has been consisted voted one of South Carolina‘s best restaurants, earning breakout recognition when it opened during the pandemic including ‘Best New Restaurant‘ by USA Today readers, among many others. Using hyper-seasonal, locally sourced, sustainable seafood and ingredients, what we enjoyed here is emblematic of the very best parts of Lowcountry cusine that has made Charleston a Mecca for foodies worldwide. Read on to see why we adored our meal at Tempest.

First Published June 2021
Updated August 2022

Tempest

Location: Charleston, South C,arolina
Address: 32 N Market St Suite C
Charleston, SC 29401
Food Type: Lowcountry Cuisine
Dining Experience: Indoors
Price: $100+ per Person
Dress Code: Smart Casual +
Reservations: Recommended
Special Diets: Gluten-Free (not GF dedicated),
Pescatarian

The Ambience

Tempest is a fantastic destination for seafood lovers visiting Charleston, South Carolina. All of their seafood is freshly caught daily, just the way it should be, and they don’t serve anything that isn’t top notch. Here we enjoyed some of the freshest fish and most succulent shrimp we’ve ever had, and it was one of the many, many highlights of our time in the Holy City.

Rough grey textiles contrasted beautifully with the smooth reclaimed wooden tables and delicate glass candles littered about. While it was hot outside during our visit, the interior was refreshing cool and breezy, and stepping inside was like coming up for air after a deep dive in the ocean. Truly, this was one of the best seafood meals we’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Much of our food was served over ricker rocks or in other inventive ways, and I think presentations such as this make a meal that much more splendid. It’s the little things, right?

With a colorful stained glass ceiling and elegantly simplistic decor, the emphasis is truly on the culinary delights served by Top Chef Alum Chef Jamie Lynch, Executive Chef Tyler Cook, and Chef Adam Hodgson. Together, they’ve created something sensational in this former church space, and after having tasted their creations, I can truly say this meal was a religious experience.

Tempest Charleston & Our Meals

First, we started off with roasted shrimp served with herb and garlic butter and charred lemon in a handblown glass bowl over river rocks. When I tell you these shrimp were breathtaking, I truly mean it. Wow! The flavors were like a punch to the face in the best possible way and if these had been all I’d had to eat here, I would have left completely satisfied.

These umami tuna bombs were the star of the show. They had so much flavor, so much densely packed tuna all rolled into small “bombs” that it’s truly indescribable. I would go back to Charleston just for these, no lie. Although, to be fair, I’m always looking for an excuse to go back to Charleston!

Their Local Crudo with blood orange vinaigrette and citrus zest changes daily based off of the fresh catches that are available to them from local fishermen. This means, you’ll never get the same experience twice, so more than one visit is in order to sample all of the very best of Lowcountry food has to offer. This was delicious and so delicate that it practically melted in the mouth. The flavors were exceptionally complex without overwhelming each other, creating the perfect dish.

Another delicious dish we enjoyed was the clam risotto. If there’s risotto on a menu, there’s a 100% chance my husband will order it, and without hesitation he declared that he needed to try this and the way his face lit up upon taking the first bite told me everything I needed to know. Still, I had to try it for myself and it was the most delicious risotto I’ve ever had.

To celebrate our first visit, they gave us cognac, a rose, and locally made cigars. While we don’t smoke, they definitely made for a very unique souvenir!

Final Thoughts

Everything at Tempest Charleston was sensational. The service, the restaurant itself, and most importantly the food was a cut above, and we had an excellent time. My only regret about eating here was that I couldn’t have possibly eaten another bite!

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