Gilligan’s Steamer & Raw Bar

The renovations are awesome, but I have to admit I’m a little nostalgic for the old feel of the place. The service was excellent (We ate at the bar because the wait for a table during lunch was a little long). The food was very good, but not great. I love their hushpuppies, but they could put a little more care into the other side dishes. Gilligan’s has always been a favorite and will continue to be.

Good lunch place — clean, comfortable, fresh seafood. Easy access to or from Kiawah Island.

The last two times I have come in to this location I get asked weird questions like «how can I help you?» … ummm I want to eat. And today I was asked «would we mind sitting in the dining room?»… well I guess that would work… Just awkward I guess.
The food is under the standard for fast food. I ordered the fried green tomato and crab cake sandwich. The crabcake was tasteless and looked like it was a pre-​made freezer item you can get at a grocery store the fried green tomatoe was covered in kraft american cheese wasn’t appetizing to look at after trying it was pretty tasteless. The fries same thing came from a freezer and were under seasoned. We also ordered the shrimp dip for the appetizer and it was OK tasted very strong of bacon bits (the fake ones) and the shrimp weren’t diced up they were whole shrimp which made it hard to eat as a dip. The service was ok but very slow especially when we were ready to leave.
Overall I wouldn’t return unless reviews get better. I used to love coming here and have done so for years with the exception of the last few but either my tastebuds have improved or the food quality has gone downhill.

Worst customer service ever! We arrived and were told 10 – 15 minute wait. After 30 minutes, we checked with the hostess who said the kitchen was behind so they were holding seating. At 50 minutes we checked again and were told they had no idea when they would resume seating. Who leaves your customers sitting for an hour, cant commit to seating them, offers nothing in terms of drinks or appetizers or anything??? I won’t go back!

I drove all the way from Raleigh North Carolina to this restaurant as I usually do every time I come home. The service was so so and the food was awful my wife had hair in her food. As it also was Mother’s Day weekend my mother food was thrown together. I do not know what has happen to this place it use to be popping. My mash potatoes was cold from the start

Good local seafood restaurant. The shrimp salad for lunch was excellent and ample. Hush puppies were tasty and fried just right. The décor with fish tanks is fun and very colorful. If you are on the road to Kiawah island, a good option.

Im a Charleston native who has probably eaten here 100 times… husband and I wenr for all you can eat oysters… whike waiting for or food saw three different roaches crawling near our table within a five minute period. The first one was crawling next to my son in the booth. my husband killed it with a napkin and threw it in the bucket… second one came crawling out on the wall from behind the aquarium and then the third one was crawling across the top of our booth… we called over our server who visibly saw two of them also. we ask for the manager because we wanted to make sure that they knew we were going to be leaving and why… she apologized and said that they have recently sprayed and it was making them come out… but my husband and I have both worked in food and beverage and if that many roaches are crawling around while the business is open, lights on and people everywhere you can only imagine how many are crawling all over that place at night… will never ever go back again… and let me be clear these where not palmetto bugs… they were food roaches it was gross!!!

This used to be the best seafood restaurant in Charleston, then they decided not to offer all you can eat shrimp anymore, and they decided to start sitting tables of 5 and 6 at 4 tips and 2 or 3 people at 5 and 6 tops. They have no idea what they are doing. They have royally screwed themselves. I will not be going back.

Tends to get a geriatric crowd most nights of the week but has a better vibe since the renovation. She crab soup is average but the crab dip covers where the she crab lacks. Belly up to the bar if you don’t want to wait for the old folks to clear out. Usually quick service with average food.

Came here for lunch the other week and it was pretty good!
We were the first people in there (got there right at 11) so we didn’t have to wait on a table. I love the art work in the place. A lot of sea creatures paintings and we got to sit beside the huge fish tank so that was fun! Service was good. Our server made good suggestions!
I had the soup and salad combo. My she crab soup came out first. It was decent nothing spectacular. Then came my salad which was great! Had a lot of good toppings on it and a good size. The only thing is that I asked if I could get shrimp added to my salad and when the bill came out it was freaking 6.99 for the added shrimp! It was almost as expensive as my whole meal!!! CRAZY!

The fried shrimp is good, but everything else is just ok. For the price you can get a much better meal at other seafood places. I will probably opt to drive a little further next time.

Hush puppies and cold beer!

Awesome had the seafood trio. Flounder scallops and shrimp were the best ever.

Ordinarily, everything we get at Gilligan’s is delicious. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case recently. From the time we pulled into the parking lot, we were amazed at how many people were already there. We had to park further from the restaurant than we’ve ever had to before. Perhaps then it was that they were so busy that our meals were subpar. For instance, the steamed broccoli was undercooked, some of the fried shrimp had not been peeled before being breaded and fried, and the honey blackened salmon was a little overcooked on the edges. On the other hand, the mashed potatoes were delicious, they accomodated my request for additional seasonings and honey on my honey blackened salmon (as well as a second request for a side dish of honey), and they were prompt on providing us a second basket of hush puppies and refilling our drinks. The staff was also very polite and attentive. We were also seated beside the fish tanks which was fun. Hopefully our meals will be a little better next time though.

If there were 6 stars I would put it. I got the gully pot which came with crab legs, shrimp, sausage, and potatoes. Honestly, I should not have eaten it alone. It was SO MUCH. I don’t like clams, so I got extra crab legs instead of those. The service was excellent, I never once had to ask for anything but some melted butter and the food was fantastic.

Gilligan’s Steamer and Raw Bar, Charleston SC
Visited Gilligan’s per Hawthorne front desk staff recommendation on our first night (Friday, November 28, 2014). The place is sort of hard to find and its located off the main road in a not well lit location in a shopping strip. The place was packed; however, we didn’t wait long for our table.
We were greeted by our waitress, who never gave us her name, and sat in a booth next to the most beautiful water tanks ever!!! We ordered, crab cakes and Hawaiian fish tacos and had a slice of key lime pie.
The food was ok, taste wasn’t all there. It was like eating at Red Lobster. Nothing fancy and nothing local. We ended up paying around $ 46 for the two of us.
Overall experience: had we turned right in the main road, we would have found better places to eat.
Would we go again? No, not worth it.

Finally had to try Gilligan’s and sadly, it was exactly as I had expected. There wasn’t anything really bad about it, but with all the amazing food/​atmosphere in the Charleston area with similar or better prices, I can’t say I’ll ever be going back. She Crab soup was good but more like NE Clam chowder. I love NE Clam Chowder, but I was looking forward to She crab soup. Hushpuppies — Meh! Seafood gumbo — Meh at best. The $ 10 fish and chips was actually pretty good. The fish was amazing, although a bit too heavy on the breading. The home cooked chips were overly greasy and soggy. Atmosphere — Meh. The $ 10 menu might entice me back since it’s so conveniently located to my home, but that’s about it.

Last time I was here was before the fire. The place is totally new. Food is ok, service is ok. Music was too loud on the patio, but they lowered it when I asked. I had to ask for wet wipes and extra napkins, something that I should not have had to ask, since eating shrimp with my fingers. They also should note on the menu when something is hot with spices, a la the shrimp dishes.
Might go back.
Frank G.

Gilligan’s used to have some of the best hush puppies anywhere. Now? They are decent, but they just aren’t as good as they used to be. Not sure why that is — they just seemed to be missing something. It could be the size. It could be that you have to ask for them over and over to get them to bring more.
Whatever the case, the most attractive thing at the restaurant may be the table. That’s right. The table. It’s because there is a hole in the middle of the table with a bucket for throwing your scraps. More tables should have these in them. It’s awesome. If you think that throwing peanut shells on the floor is good, try having a scrap bucket in the middle of the table. Even better.
As to the food? Perfectly serviceable, and some of it is a quite good. The special daiquiri that was served in a coconut? Probably more touristy than anything. The fried food? Nothing so special. But the fish tacos? Dang tasty, and I would order them again. But if you are downtown or somewhere and had to drive all the way to get there? Maybe not worth the ride.

We knew we were in for a hell of a Mothers Day meal when mom put a straw in her beer.
Don’t know if it’s true, but we all told her what would happen drinking beer thru a straw. She’d never heard that before.
Anyway, I’ve been to this particular restaurant many times, and they have always provided the freshest and most flavorful seafood than any other. And their hush puppies are out of this world good, with bits of jalapenos inside.
I usually get the fried creek shrimp, because, well, I love fried shrimp, and these are outstanding. But, this time, I changed it up a bit and ordered a platter with the Jumbo fried shrimp and fried flounder. The flounder (as my Dad states every time) is the best I’ve ever had. Zero fishy taste. I don’t want my fish tasting like a dirty fish bowl. I took off one star because the skin was still on the flounder. That isn’t a deal breaker for many, but I am particular.
For sides, I got my usual french fries and cheese grits. I’m a southerner, and I know good grits, and these is good!
Service was also great. Ours was funny, helpful, patient, and beautiful. I don’t know how they do it, but they are some of the most beautiful servers in the world working for Gilligans. I’m talking model quality.