A Five-Star Anniversary Celebration at Charleston’s Historic Peninsula Grill
My wife and I are seasoned steakhouse enthusiasts, having enjoyed many of the finest spots in Charlotte—places like Ruth’s Chris, Steak 48, Fleming’s, Morton’s, Chima, and Bentley’s. But our honeymoon brought us to Downtown Charleston for the first time, and Peninsula Grill gave us an experience we’ll never forget.
Established in 1997 and located in the courtyard of the storied Planters Inn, Peninsula Grill has built a reputation as a gem of Charleston’s renowned dining scene. Adored by critics and visitors alike, it’s no surprise that their signature “Ultimate Coconut Cake” has become a must-try dessert, cementing Peninsula Grill’s place among the city’s culinary greats.
Since it’s December 2024, most diners were inside, but we wanted to enjoy the festive atmosphere on the outdoor terrace—and we’re so glad we did. Twinkling string lights and seasonal garlands gave everything a warm, holiday feel, while well-placed heaters (and the gentle sound of courtyard fountains) created a cozy, romantic setting. It was perfect for capturing a few honeymoon photos afterward!
We were also blown away by the service. Our waiter Cory greeted us immediately with water and wine, detailed the specials, and saw to it that our food arrived quickly—within 30 minutes, which felt remarkably efficient for a restaurant of this caliber.
We began our meal with an appetizer topped with fresh mozzarella, accompanied by a delightful amuse-bouche of cheese, warm house bread, and salted butter. For the main course, I opted for an exquisitely cooked steak with tender asparagus. From the phenomenal quality of the meat (possibly sourced from a top-tier farm) to the peppercorn and béarnaise sauces, every bite was sublime. The béarnaise in particular stood out, though I do wish I’d sampled the house sauce as well!
The Legendary Coconut Cake😇
To wrap up our unforgettable evening, we indulged in the famed Coconut Cake ($17 a slice). This sweet masterpiece is every bit as legendary as people say—rich, moist, and gloriously satisfying. We took our slice to-go and enjoyed it later on our hotel balcony, soaking in the Charleston skyline. It was simply divine and absolutely worth the price.
If you’re looking for a top-tier dining experience in Charleston—especially for a special occasion like a honeymoon—Peninsula Grill is a standout choice. Expect to spend around $100 per person if you include wine and dessert, with entrées typically around $50. In our opinion, this is a small price to pay for world-class service, impeccable food, and an ambiance that will make any romantic night feel truly magical.
We can’t recommend Peninsula Grill enough; it’s the perfect combination of culinary excellence, Southern charm, and holiday enchantment—a memory we’ll cherish forever.
Gary Adams
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November 25, 2024
Went here for our honeymoon dinner had Korey as a bartender sat at the bar. He was the best bartender in the entire world. Great service great company the entire night amazing food the best drinks. Couldn’t have asked for a better honeymoon experience. Food was great. Drinks were great. Service was great. Cannot recommend this place enough. Definitely go to the bar and ask for Korey. He is the best part of this place.
Bill and Val P
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July 04, 2024
Just about as good as it gets. We were very warmly and graciously greeted by the hostess who led us to a wonderful table. Nice , quiet dining room with tables very well spaced provides for a nice relaxed setting. Nice outdoor seating also available. Our waitress Haj was incredibly personable and knowledgeable. She recommended the lobster 3 ways and buratta for appetizers. Either one was enough to share ( we ate both) my wife enjoyed the scallops and I ordered the special which was a tuna. Both excellent and both very ample portions. extensive wine list from very highly priced selections to those more within reasonable range.
There was however two disappointments. My wife’s expresso was not hot when served and the highly hyped coconut cake frankly did not live up to its reputation in my opinion. It was good but it was not great. Lacked much of the coconut flavor I expected. Slice was quite large and should be shared.
Service was impeccable but not over bearing!
Good choice if you simply enjoy fine dining in an elegant setting or celebrating a special occasion
Samantha Monteith
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May 30, 2024
We knew the food was going to be good, but this place was mind blowing. If I could only come to one restaurant in Charleston, this would be it. From the moment you walk in, you’re treated like an honored guest and every bite of food was bursting with flavor. If you don’t get their world famous coconut cake, you’re really missing out. The scallops and the wagyu were other highlights of the meal. The grouper ceviche was also truly delightful. Impeccable service. 10/10
John Cobb
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September 22, 2024
This is the premier dining experience in Charleston. Excellent staff, excellent service. But for full disclosure, there were some concerns worth mentioning.
We were accidentally sat at anothet reserved table and asked to move. It was understandable given the circumstances, but it was strange that it even happened. This could have just been a wild one-off though.
The lobster 3-way was not great, given the $28 price tag. It had bits of shell in it, and the flavor was non-existent. Only my wife's bread roll was warm - mine was stone cold. Overlookable in the moment, but in retrospect it's not becoming of a 4-star restaurant.
Enough of the negatives - here's what they absolutely nailed:
Our entree's were fantastic. Their foie gras is, and I cannot overstate this, life-changing. The millionaires potato is 100% worth a Benjamin. My wife loved her short ribs!
Wait staff were attentive, present, and personable. The Sommelier recommended the perfect wine for my wife, and the bartender made an excellent amoretto sour. The complementary champagne toast and plated macrons wishing us a happy anniversary was a fantastic touch!
The creme brulee was equally amazing.
We will definitely be back for future anniversaries!
A Five-Star Anniversary Celebration at Charleston’s Historic Peninsula Grill My wife and I are seasoned steakhouse enthusiasts, having enjoyed many of the finest spots in Charlotte—places like Ruth’s Chris, Steak 48, Fleming’s, Morton’s, Chima, and Bentley’s. But our honeymoon brought us to Downtown Charleston for the first time, and Peninsula Grill gave us an experience we’ll never forget. Established in 1997 and located in the courtyard of the storied Planters Inn, Peninsula Grill has built a reputation as a gem of Charleston’s renowned dining scene. Adored by critics and visitors alike, it’s no surprise that their signature “Ultimate Coconut Cake” has become a must-try dessert, cementing Peninsula Grill’s place among the city’s culinary greats. Since it’s December 2024, most diners were inside, but we wanted to enjoy the festive atmosphere on the outdoor terrace—and we’re so glad we did. Twinkling string lights and seasonal garlands gave everything a warm, holiday feel, while well-placed heaters (and the gentle sound of courtyard fountains) created a cozy, romantic setting. It was perfect for capturing a few honeymoon photos afterward! We were also blown away by the service. Our waiter Cory greeted us immediately with water and wine, detailed the specials, and saw to it that our food arrived quickly—within 30 minutes, which felt remarkably efficient for a restaurant of this caliber. We began our meal with an appetizer topped with fresh mozzarella, accompanied by a delightful amuse-bouche of cheese, warm house bread, and salted butter. For the main course, I opted for an exquisitely cooked steak with tender asparagus. From the phenomenal quality of the meat (possibly sourced from a top-tier farm) to the peppercorn and béarnaise sauces, every bite was sublime. The béarnaise in particular stood out, though I do wish I’d sampled the house sauce as well! The Legendary Coconut Cake😇 To wrap up our unforgettable evening, we indulged in the famed Coconut Cake ($17 a slice). This sweet masterpiece is every bit as legendary as people say—rich, moist, and gloriously satisfying. We took our slice to-go and enjoyed it later on our hotel balcony, soaking in the Charleston skyline. It was simply divine and absolutely worth the price. If you’re looking for a top-tier dining experience in Charleston—especially for a special occasion like a honeymoon—Peninsula Grill is a standout choice. Expect to spend around $100 per person if you include wine and dessert, with entrées typically around $50. In our opinion, this is a small price to pay for world-class service, impeccable food, and an ambiance that will make any romantic night feel truly magical. We can’t recommend Peninsula Grill enough; it’s the perfect combination of culinary excellence, Southern charm, and holiday enchantment—a memory we’ll cherish forever.
Went here for our honeymoon dinner had Korey as a bartender sat at the bar. He was the best bartender in the entire world. Great service great company the entire night amazing food the best drinks. Couldn’t have asked for a better honeymoon experience. Food was great. Drinks were great. Service was great. Cannot recommend this place enough. Definitely go to the bar and ask for Korey. He is the best part of this place.
Just about as good as it gets. We were very warmly and graciously greeted by the hostess who led us to a wonderful table. Nice , quiet dining room with tables very well spaced provides for a nice relaxed setting. Nice outdoor seating also available. Our waitress Haj was incredibly personable and knowledgeable. She recommended the lobster 3 ways and buratta for appetizers. Either one was enough to share ( we ate both) my wife enjoyed the scallops and I ordered the special which was a tuna. Both excellent and both very ample portions. extensive wine list from very highly priced selections to those more within reasonable range. There was however two disappointments. My wife’s expresso was not hot when served and the highly hyped coconut cake frankly did not live up to its reputation in my opinion. It was good but it was not great. Lacked much of the coconut flavor I expected. Slice was quite large and should be shared. Service was impeccable but not over bearing! Good choice if you simply enjoy fine dining in an elegant setting or celebrating a special occasion
We knew the food was going to be good, but this place was mind blowing. If I could only come to one restaurant in Charleston, this would be it. From the moment you walk in, you’re treated like an honored guest and every bite of food was bursting with flavor. If you don’t get their world famous coconut cake, you’re really missing out. The scallops and the wagyu were other highlights of the meal. The grouper ceviche was also truly delightful. Impeccable service. 10/10
This is the premier dining experience in Charleston. Excellent staff, excellent service. But for full disclosure, there were some concerns worth mentioning. We were accidentally sat at anothet reserved table and asked to move. It was understandable given the circumstances, but it was strange that it even happened. This could have just been a wild one-off though. The lobster 3-way was not great, given the $28 price tag. It had bits of shell in it, and the flavor was non-existent. Only my wife's bread roll was warm - mine was stone cold. Overlookable in the moment, but in retrospect it's not becoming of a 4-star restaurant. Enough of the negatives - here's what they absolutely nailed: Our entree's were fantastic. Their foie gras is, and I cannot overstate this, life-changing. The millionaires potato is 100% worth a Benjamin. My wife loved her short ribs! Wait staff were attentive, present, and personable. The Sommelier recommended the perfect wine for my wife, and the bartender made an excellent amoretto sour. The complementary champagne toast and plated macrons wishing us a happy anniversary was a fantastic touch! The creme brulee was equally amazing. We will definitely be back for future anniversaries!