Upscale Dinner Only Restaurant Offers Epic View of Wando River, and Even More Relaxed Rooftop Bar 

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer / Food & Beverage Review

Indigo Road Hospitality Group is one of the most respected food and beverage groups in the southeast, especially in Charleston SC, where they got their start two decades ago opening Oak Steakhouse. Located on Broad Street in the historic district of downtown Charleston, Oak Steakhouse is an upscale classic American steakhouse, known for serving certified angus beef.

Since those humble beginnings in 2005 Indigo Road Hospitality has grown into 31 restaurants, 10 cafes and bars, and six hotels, with another four hotels in development. Among the hospitality collective include 10 food and drink destinations in Charleston alone, as well as the recently opened Hotel Richemont (93 Society St), and another hotel set to debut on Daniel Island in 2025.

Not surprisingly, eight of the 10 Holy City restaurants in the Indigo Road Hospitality Group are located on the peninsula of Charleston, with several dotted along the much trafficked Broad and King Streets. That leaves two of the 10 situated outside historic downtown, and they would be The DIME (Daniel Island Market & Eatery), and The Kingstide, Daniel Island's only waterfront restaurant.

While Daniel Island is vibrant and idyllic, and technically apart of the city of Charleston, the island resort community doesn't have the same historic allure, drawing visitors and locals to the community more often during the annual Credit One Open tennis tournament, as well as big name concerts at Credit One stadium.

As expected during the earlier part of the week, DIME and The Kingstide stay busy with people who live and work on Daniel Island, with DIME a come as you are all day cafe and coffee shop, specializing in fresh and fabulous grab-and-go gourmet items. 

In contrast, The Kingstide is a twin story restaurant offering two different dining experiences, with both providing wrap around porches, allowing for epic and picturesque views of the scenic Wando River. And although they share the same building with a few similar menu items, the Rooftop Bar is much more relaxed serving up quick bites and handheld delights to complement adult beverages.

However, the first floor aka the main dining room at The Kingstide is one of a few dinner only fine dining destinations on Daniel Island, offering a select array of seafood and steaks, alongside upscale sides and appetizers, accompanied by select wines, craft beers, and signature cocktails. Simply put, this is where you come to enjoy a remarkable dinner with friends and family.

Whether you're a light eater or carry a robust appetite when dining out, The Kingstide's eclectic menu offers variety. Small plate lovers and vegans might enjoy the Broccolini (long stem broccoli) drenched in honey vinaigrette before being topped with shaved parmesan and shallots (sweet petite onions). A very subtle side dish. 

On the flip side, the Wood Fired Carrots come as imagined, and are great way to excite the taste buds. Imagine warm and roasted full length skinny carrots presented in a jalapeno miso marinade infused in a zesty medley of BBQ spice, lime yogurt, and agrodolce (a sweet & sour Italian sauce). Heavenly, as is the Delicata Squash (with pickled pears & pistachios).

Brussel Sprouts have become a go to side or starter in many Charleston fine dining locales, with The Kingstide's slightly different surrounded by a chili lime glaze, pickled shallots, and lardon (textured savory bacon fat). Simply put, The Kingstide will make you re-think the veggies you shunned as a kid, not to mention their Roasted Cauliflower cloaked in a tahini sesame seed puree. Take a walk on the wild side. 

Seafood lovers have several options including an always Seasonal Fish dish surrounded in curry butter, complete with zipper peas (a southern staple) and grilled mushrooms. Off the 'For the Table' listing, the Tuna Tartare is a refreshingly colorful seafood delicacy that eats like a light meal. Fresh tuna mingled with minced radish, scallions, and sesame seeds to provide zeal, presented on a bed of bibb lettuce with nouc cham (sweet & sour Vietnamese dipping sauce).

Meat eaters can revel in a host of main entrees including a succulent serving of braised beef Short Ribs in natural juices, adorned with pureed potatoes and roasted cherry tomatoes. A hardy and colorful entree. If you like pasta with your dish than I highly recommend the Lamb Bolognese, hollow pasta filled with lean and tender lamb swirled in a rich and meaty tomato based Bolognese. Ample and vigorous!

Diehard steak lovers have either an eight ounce Flat Iron or the 12 ounce NY Strip Steak to mull over. Each come with your choice of chimichurri (fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil, & vinegar), black garlic (sweet & tangy), or brandy peppercorn butter (rich & creamy) sauce as a topping. Trust me, anyone under the Indigo Road Hospitality group know how to prepare a steak.

Savor two sizes of their signature Seafood Tower, with the Lowtide teeming with 1/4 lb peel & eat shrimp, 10 oysters, 6 clams, and 3 oz. crab. Ravenous appetites might relish the Kingtide overflowing with 3/4 peel & eat shrimp, 24 oysters, 12 clams, 3 oz. crab. Shellfish lovers, this is your moment to shine. Maybe enjoy Littleneck Clams, market fresh oysters or half pound Alaskan king crab from the raw bar. Surf and turf options abound at The Kingstide. 

Have you saved room for an after dinner sweet treat? The Kingstide offer up six desserts that cater from everyday to adventurous, however each carry their own twist. Scoops of ice cream or the Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting are a safe bet, as is the Key Lime Pie encrusted in a graham cracker crumble.

They've put their own spin on the Warm Apple Streusel Pie, fusing it with hints of orange pecan layered in a buttery brown rye crust and served with a dollop of maple pecan gelato. Craving a little 'snap, crackle, & pop'. Kingtides's Crunch Bar begins with a flavorful Nutella bar drizzled in chocolate and topped with homemade cornflakes beside a scoop of vanilla. Surprisingly cool! Go ahead, live a little impetuous.

They are just as creative on the adult beverage menu as they are on the food side, including a half dozen each specialty and classic cocktails. The Dark & Stormy is aptly named laced with both Gosling's dark rum and ginger beer with a twist of lime. Their fruit infused signature cosmo comes power-punched with Cathead Bitter orange vodka, Cointreau, lime and cranberry. What do you get when you mix aged bourbon, Averna, honey-lavender, lemon and ginger beer? At The Kingstide they call it Daniel's Donkey. A clever nod to the island. All great sipping cocktails.

Of course they carry craft beers in cans and on rotating drafts. Local favorites come from Cooper River, Revelry, Westbrook, Commonhouse, Low Tide, Coast Brewing, and the ever popular Pluff Mud from Holy City Brewing.

Fruit of the vine selections reflect superior wines from the pacific northwest to European regions, and from Argentina to a subtle Mohua Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. A decent array of white, red, rose, and sparkling wines to complement varied dishes. I highly recommend the very bubbly Albert Bichot Brut Rosé Crémant with notes of raspberry, white cherry, tangerine and mandarin citrus. The intensity of fruits make it a 'wine of pleasure'. I equally suggest the Storm Point Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape, South Africa. A softer yet pleasant stony citrus delight for the taste-buds.

The interior at The Kingstide reflects their honest approach to food and beverage, with a spacious dining room and an inviting counter overlooking an open kitchen area, where skilled chefs work with precision and care to deliver tasty and eye appealing entrees. Additional seating on the covered wrap-around porch provide an intimate setting and even more epic views of the waterway when weather permits. Their overall look is best described as modern rustic, with lots of windows that allow for an abundance of natural light. 

Here's an added extra very few restaurants including upscale joints do. If you're ordering a hot dish at The Kingstide than they come on a heated plate. While it may not be mind-blowing, it does suggest they go to great lengths to ensure diners experience the best The Kingstide have to offer, including providing guests with high end French made Lou Laguiole steak knives. Totally awesome!

In case you're wondering The Kingstide partner with several local and regional fisheries and farmers to procure the freshest seafood and produce possible. Often those aren't things you think about when you're enjoying swordfish, calamari, or grilled asparagus, but it's nice to know the people who work in the kitchen do.

And what about the kitchen. Executive Chef Ramon Taimanglo was educated at Johnson and Wales in the 1990's cutting his teeth at Slightly North of Broad before stints in Washington DC and Charlotte, returning to Charleston adding stops at High Cotton, Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar, Peninsula Grill, and Park & Grove to his culinary resume.

Safe to say, Ramon is committed to excellence in the kitchen, as is Philadelphia native and Culinary Director Kevin Getzewich who has a decade with Indigo Road Hospitality under his apron. James Pearce is the Chef de Cuisine which is a fancy French term for he's the head guy in the kitchen, and makes sure everything looks right before it heads to the table.

Alex Goetzfried is The Kingstide's General Manager, with all of the executive staff under founder and James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur Award nominee Steve Palmer, who is without a doubt one of the most revered hospitality powerhouses in all of greater Charleston. 

The Kingstide is positioned nicely on the Wando River adjacent to the family friendly Daniel Island Waterfront Park. They are about half a mile removed from the normal hustle and bustle on Daniel Island. However, if you take River Landing Drive next to the fire station and continue all the way down to the Wando River, than you have arrived.

If you're not familiar with Daniel Island than just put 32 River Landing Drive in your GPS or any search engine, and you'll make your way to a culinary experience that is truly a hidden gem. Open 4-pm Sunday thru Thursday, closing at 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Whether you arrive by boat or by car, you can set anchor at The Kingstide.

One final note. In case you're looking for a place for a company outing or bridal party dinner, The Kingstide have two private dining rooms aka the State Room and the Bridge Room which hold 25 and 20 people respectively. Just sayin! 

For more incredible culinary experiences in Charleston, check out our guide to the city's best dining destinations. From fresh seafood to Southern classics, there’s something for every palate! View more Charleston dining options here.