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Seafood Hall & Oyster Bar - Charleston, SC

The Ordinary Charleston Menu & Prices: Oyster Bar, Towers & Social Hour

The Ordinary is Charleston's landmark seafood hall and oyster bar at 544 King Street, opened in 2012 by James Beard Award-winning chef Mike Lata (FIG) inside a stunning 1920s bank building. This page covers the full priced menu, shellfish tower options, social hour deals, daily prix fixe, and what to order on your first visit.

Seafood Hall & Oyster Bar544 King St., Charleston SCSocial Hour 5-6:30 PM dailyOpened 2012From chef Mike Lata (FIG)
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Sample · $$$

Signature items

Oyster Sliders$5.00 each
Shellfish Tower (Dbl)$95.00
Diver Scallops$29.00
Lobster Cocktail$28.00
Smoked Fish Pate$13.00
Jump to: Social Hour deals Shellfish towers Most popular Daily prix fixe Full menu First-visit guide About the space FAQ
Quick answers

The Ordinary Charleston — most-asked questions at a glance

The four things visitors most often ask about The Ordinary, answered with current information.

Social hour special
Oyster Sliders $5.00 ea

The defining order at The Ordinary. Crispy fried oysters on a soft bun. Social hour 5-6:30 PM.

Must-order raw bar
Shellfish Tower (Double) $95.00

Two tiers of oysters, clams, shrimp, crab and lobster with six house sauces.

Best entree
Diver Scallops $29.00

Butternut squash romesco. Frequently cited as the top large plate.

Best value
The Ordinaries (prix fixe) $35.00

3-course menu: soup + entree + dessert. Daily rotating special (Wed-Sun).

Social Hour · 5:00-6:30 PM daily

The Ordinary Social Hour: what to order and when to arrive

Social Hour at The Ordinary runs from opening (5:00 PM) until 6:30 PM every evening the restaurant is open. It is the best way to experience the raw bar and oyster bar at a more approachable price point before committing to a full dinner. Bar seating is first-come, first-served during social hour -- arrive at or just before 5 PM on weekends to secure a spot.

$5.00 each · Most ordered

Oyster Sliders

Crispy fried oysters tucked into a soft slider bun. The single most-ordered item at The Ordinary during social hour -- and arguably the item that defines the restaurant's identity. Order at least two per person as a starting point.

$5.00 each

Oyster Shooter

A single oyster in a shot glass with house cocktail accompaniments. A playful, briny ritual at the raw bar. Best enjoyed at the oyster bar counter itself, where you can watch the shucker work.

$14.00 · Hot

Broiled Oysters, Hotel Butter, Parmesan

Oysters broiled in classic hotel butter and finished with parmesan -- rich, satisfying and a perfect contrast to the raw bar items. An excellent social hour order if you prefer cooked oysters.

$17.00 · Hot

BBQ White Shrimp, Charred Bread

South Carolina white shrimp in a smoky BBQ preparation, served with charred bread for soaking up the sauce. One of the most satisfying hot dishes during social hour -- shareable between two.

Tip

How to do Social Hour right

Arrive at 5:00 PM when doors open. Claim a spot at the raw bar. Order Oyster Sliders immediately -- they go fast. Add a Broiled Oyster and a half-pound of Peel & Eat Shrimp. The entire experience runs $30-$50 per person all-in.

Hours

When Social Hour Runs

Social Hour is available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. The restaurant is closed Tuesdays. No reservation needed for bar seating during social hour -- arrive early on Fridays and Saturdays.

Shellfish towers

The Ordinary's shellfish towers: sizes, prices and what's included

The shellfish tower is the centerpiece experience at The Ordinary -- a tiered display of raw bar bounty served with all six house sauces. The towers include a rotating selection of East Coast oysters, Capers Inlet clams, SC peel-and-eat shrimp, blue crab and lobster. Contents vary slightly by season and availability.

Shellfish Platter (Single)$65.00

  • Rotating selection of East Coast oysters
  • Capers Inlet littleneck clams
  • SC peel & eat shrimp
  • Crab selection
  • Lobster (seasonal)
  • All six house sauces

Best for one to two people, or as a starter for a larger table.

Shellfish Tower (Double)$95.00

  • Expanded oyster selection (multiple varieties)
  • Littleneck clams
  • SC peel & eat shrimp (larger portion)
  • Jumbo lump blue crab
  • Lobster tail or half lobster
  • All six house sauces

The most popular size. Recommended for two to four people. Most guests' first choice.

Shellfish Tower (Triple)$125.00

  • Full grand selection across three tiers
  • Multiple oyster varieties
  • Clams, shrimp, crab, and lobster
  • All six house sauces
  • Best for a celebration or party of four to six

The statement piece. Reserve for special occasions or big groups.

About shellfish tower contents. The exact selection within each tower rotates based on seasonal availability and what the kitchen is sourcing that week. East Coast oysters are always present; the rest of the shellfish depends on the day. Ask your server what's in the tower when you order. All towers are served with the same six house sauces.
Daily prix fixe

The Ordinaries: daily prix fixe menu ($35 for 3 courses)

'The Ordinaries' is The Ordinary's nightly prix fixe -- soup, an entree, and dessert for a flat $35. The entree rotates by day of the week, leaning into a different seafood or fish tradition each evening. It is one of the best-value ways to experience the kitchen's cooking in a structured three-course format.

DayPrix Fixe EntreePrice
WednesdayCrispy Fish Schnitzel$35.00
ThursdayCaribbean Fish Stew$35.00
FridaySteamed Lobster$35.00
SaturdayN.Y. Strip Steak$35.00
SundaySouthern Fish Fry$35.00

Prix fixe includes soup, the featured entree and dessert. Confirm the current day's offering and schedule with the restaurant -- the lineup can shift seasonally. The restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Browse the menu

Jump to a menu category

All menu sections at The Ordinary, with item counts.

Social Hour (5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Daily)4 itemsRaw Bar & Cold Starters11 itemsShellfish Towers3 itemsHot Starters2 itemsSoup & Salad4 itemsLarge Plates (Entrees)4 itemsThe Ordinaries (Daily Prix Fixe, $35)6 itemsSides & Vegetables4 items
The full menu

Every item on The Ordinary's menu with prices

All categories from the current dinner menu. Prices are sourced from publicly documented sources and the restaurant's online presence. The menu rotates seasonally and items may change -- confirm the current menu at eattheordinary.com or with the restaurant before visiting.

About these prices. Pricing shown is sourced from publicly documented menu information (Yelp, online menus) as reviewed May 2026. The Ordinary's menu rotates seasonally, and specific dishes and prices change. Always confirm the current menu and prices directly at eattheordinary.com or by calling (843) 414-7060.
First-visit guide

What to order at The Ordinary on your first visit

The Ordinary can be overwhelming on a first visit -- a deep raw bar, multiple towers, a rotating kitchen menu, and a prix fixe all competing for your attention. Here is how experienced diners approach a first meal.

Step 1 · Arrive at 5 PM

Start at the Oyster Bar

Arrive exactly at 5:00 PM when doors open. Claim a seat directly at the oyster bar counter. You will have the best view of the shuckers, immediate access to social hour pricing, and the most atmospheric experience in the building. Order Oyster Sliders immediately.

Step 2 · Raw bar

Order a Tower or Individual Bar Items

If you are with two or more people, order the Double Shellfish Tower ($95). If you are solo or on a budget, build a smaller raw bar spread: half-pound peel-and-eat shrimp ($15) + half-dozen oysters + Smoked Fish Pate ($13).

Step 3 · Hot starter

Add the Beef Tartare with Crispy Oysters

The Beef Tartare with Crispy Oysters ($15) is the most inventive starter on the menu -- a surf-and-turf format that almost no one regrets ordering. It bridges the raw bar and the hot kitchen and is an ideal warm-up before an entree.

Step 4 · Entree

Choose Scallops or Black Bass

For a large plate, the Diver Scallops with Butternut Squash Romesco ($29) is the most frequently praised entree. The Slow Baked Black Bass ($28) with matsutake and sherry is the subtler but equally celebrated alternative. Both reflect the kitchen's strength at its best.

Step 5 · Value play

Consider The Ordinaries Prix Fixe

If you are visiting Wednesday through Sunday and the daily entree appeals to you (check the lineup first), 'The Ordinaries' at $35 for three courses is the best-value path through the kitchen. Friday's Steamed Lobster and Sunday's Southern Fish Fry are the most requested nights.

Seating tip

Where to Sit

The oyster bar counter and bar area are first-come, first-served. Upstairs mezzanine seating offers a dramatic overview of the banking hall below. Patio seating (weather permitting) works well for Social Hour. For a full dinner, book a table reservation through Resy -- do not rely on walk-in for prime weekend slots.

Dietary guide

Dietary options at The Ordinary

The Ordinary's menu is naturally seafood-forward, making it an excellent choice for pescatarians and seafood lovers. The raw bar section is almost entirely gluten-free. Vegetarian options exist on the salad and soup sections. Vegan options are limited to a handful of vegetable sides and salads.

The kitchen uses common allergens including dairy, gluten, eggs and shellfish across multiple dishes. If you have a serious shellfish allergy, The Ordinary's raw bar focus means cross-contact risk is significant -- inform your server and confirm with the kitchen.

Always notify your server of dietary restrictions and allergies. The kitchen can accommodate some modifications -- confirm in advance.

  • Pescatarian: Most of the menu -- raw bar, oysters, large fish plates, prix fixe most nights
  • Gluten-free: Oysters, clams, shrimp, shellfish towers, most raw bar items (confirm sauces)
  • Vegetarian: Arugula salad, squash salad, roasted onions, winter greens side, potato chips
  • Vegan: Seasonal greens side, sea salt potato chips (confirm oil used)
  • Shellfish allergy: Significant cross-contact risk given the raw bar focus -- discuss with kitchen
About The Ordinary

A 1920s bank building turned Charleston's finest seafood hall.

The Ordinary opened in 2012 on upper King Street in a meticulously preserved beaux-arts bank building constructed in the 1920s. Chef-partner Mike Lata -- who had already established FIG as the flagship of Charleston's modern fine-dining scene after its 2003 opening -- conceived The Ordinary as a seafood-focused companion: a hall built around the raw bar and the Lowcountry's extraordinary shellfish and coastal fishing traditions.

The space itself is one of the most dramatic dining rooms in the South. The original bank vault door, now repurposed as the passage between the kitchen and the oyster bar, has become one of Charleston's most photographed restaurant details. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a central skylight flood the banking hall with light during the early dinner hours. The raw bar runs the length of one wall, and the open kitchen connects directly to the action.

Lata won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2013, cementing both FIG and The Ordinary as pillars of the Charleston dining scene that would go on to attract national attention to the city's food culture.

2012Opened
544King Street
2013James Beard Award (Lata)
$65-$125Shellfish Towers
Price comparison

How The Ordinary compares to other Charleston and national seafood restaurants

A side-by-side look at how The Ordinary's price point and format compare to other seafood destinations.

FeatureThe OrdinaryHyman's SeafoodBonefish GrillRed Lobster
Cuisine typeSeafood hall/raw barCasual seafoodAmerican seafoodChain seafood
Price range$$$$$$$$$
Raw bar / oyster focusYes (signature)YesLimitedNo
Shellfish tower$65-$125Not a focusNoNo
Prix fixe option$35 (nightly)NoNoNo
Notable setting1920s bank bldgHistoric downtownChain decorChain decor
Social hour5-6:30 PM dailyNoLimitedNo

Comparison data is general category-level. Individual prices at each restaurant vary and should be confirmed directly.

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Common questions

The Ordinary Charleston -- frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about The Ordinary's menu, reservations, social hour, shellfish towers and location.

What is The Ordinary in Charleston, SC?

The Ordinary is a seafood hall and oyster bar at 544 King Street in Charleston, SC, opened in 2012 by chef Mike Lata, the James Beard Award-winning chef behind FIG. The restaurant occupies a beautifully preserved 1920s beaux-arts bank building, with the original grand vault door now serving as a passage between the kitchen and the oyster bar. It is widely regarded as one of the best seafood restaurants in the American Southeast.

What is Social Hour at The Ordinary, and when does it happen?

Social Hour at The Ordinary runs 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM every evening the restaurant is open (Mon, Wed-Sun; closed Tuesdays). It's the restaurant's version of happy hour focused on the raw bar and selected starters. The most popular items during social hour are the Oyster Sliders at $5 each, Oyster Shooters ($5), and Broiled Oysters with Hotel Butter and Parmesan ($14). It's an excellent way to experience the restaurant at a slightly lower price point before a full dinner.

How much does a shellfish tower cost at The Ordinary?

The Ordinary's shellfish towers come in three sizes: Single Platter ($65), Double Tower ($95), and Triple Tower ($125). Each tower is served with all six house sauces: citrus ginger mignonette, red wine mignonette, fresh-prepared horseradish, fish pepper hot sauce, lemongrass cocktail sauce, and sauce bagnarotte. The Double Tower ($95) is the most popular for a party of two to four; the Triple ($125) is the go-to for larger tables or celebrations.

Do I need a reservation at The Ordinary Charleston?

Yes, reservations are strongly recommended at The Ordinary. The restaurant is one of the most popular dining destinations in Charleston, and walk-ins are rare for prime weekend dinner hours. Reservations are made through Resy (linked from eattheordinary.com). If you can't get a reservation, arrive right at 5:00 PM when doors open for Social Hour — bar seating is typically first-come, first-served. Note that The Ordinary is closed Tuesdays.

Who is the chef at The Ordinary and what is FIG?

The Ordinary was opened by Mike Lata, a James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Southeast (2013). Lata is also the chef-partner at FIG (Food Is Good), a pioneering Charleston farm-to-table restaurant opened in 2003 that is credited with helping launch Charleston's modern fine-dining scene. The Ordinary was conceived as a seafood-focused sister concept to FIG, with an emphasis on raw bar, shellfish, and fish preparations rooted in the South Carolina Lowcountry and broader American coastal traditions.

What are the most popular dishes at The Ordinary?

The most consistently praised dishes at The Ordinary are the Oyster Sliders ($5 each, social hour special), the Shellfish Towers (single $65, double $95, triple $125), Smoked Fish Pate with Pumpernickel ($13), SC Peel & Eat Shrimp ($15), and the Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Toast ($18). Among large plates, the Diver Scallops with Butternut Squash Romesco ($29) and Slow Baked Black Bass ($28) receive frequent praise. The Beef Tartare with Crispy Oysters ($15) is the signature surf-and-turf starter.

What is 'The Ordinaries' prix fixe menu?

'The Ordinaries' is a daily prix fixe menu priced at $35 that includes soup, an entree, and dessert. The menu changes by day of the week: Tuesday (Lobster Roll & Frites), Wednesday (Crispy Fish Schnitzel), Thursday (Caribbean Fish Stew), Friday (Steamed Lobster), Saturday (N.Y. Strip Steak), Sunday (Southern Fish Fry). The Ordinaries menu is one of the better-value ways to experience the kitchen's cooking with a full three-course format for a single flat price. Note: closed Mondays and Tuesdays — check the current schedule with the restaurant.

Where exactly is The Ordinary located in Charleston?

The Ordinary is at 544 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403, in the Cannonborough neighborhood of upper King Street. It is set in a landmark 1920s beaux-arts bank building that has been thoughtfully preserved, with original architectural details including floor-to-ceiling windows, a skylight, and the original bank vault door now repurposed as an interior passage. Street parking is available on King Street; the restaurant is walkable from most downtown Charleston hotels. Phone: (843) 414-7060.

What are the hours at The Ordinary?

The Ordinary is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM. The restaurant is closed Tuesdays. Social Hour runs 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM every open evening. Reservations are made through Resy; always confirm current hours at eattheordinary.com before visiting as hours can change for holidays or private events.

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