The Low Country Fish Camp in Summerville--An Orderly Chaos of Corrugated Steel and Weatherworn Wood with Great Seafood

My description reads exactly like its name. With a large, unpaved parking area, its outdoor spaces are
a mixture of corrugated steel and weatherworn wood slapped together into a kind of orderly chaos. Nostalgic tin signs and nautical buoys line outer fences that surround a choice between family size picnic tables and smaller ones for a more intimate sitting. Its main edifice is a simple, unassuming square building. While in other parts of the country, the name fish camp would designate a campsite for anglers, throughout much of the Carolinas, it refers to family-friendly seafood restaurants, and this portrayal is the Low Country Fish Camp in Summerville.

Low Country Fish Camp has morphed over the years to meet its ever increasing demands, but from the time it opened to now, it has been a popular favorite with locals. In its early days, it was just the simple square building with a simple sign in front and multicolored umbrellas on its outdoor patio. Today, the one-time graveled front is now a large roof-covered, outdoor patio with plenty of seating. Inside is a small bar and long tables with additional enclosed seating on its backside.

Low Country Fish Camp is advertised as a "laid back, rustic and eclectic restaurant and bar. The perfect place to relax, eat some great local fresh seafood, and enjoy an ice cold beer, glass of wine, or one of our specialty cocktails," and it is exactly that. No white table coverings and $14 cocktails are found here. The prices for everything are very reasonable with specials of the day listed on a chalk board located at the outside back entrance.

A couple of highly recommended appetizers are its shrimp and grits Camp Rolls with Tasso and pepper jack cheese ($15) and Gouda Mac and Cheese bites ($12). Among its platter offerings, Scallops ($25) and Flounder ($19) are local favorites, or lump them together with fried oysters and shrimp on its Fried Fisherman's Platter for $32. For dessert, there is its Pecan Pie with Bourbon Glaze and whip cream. As for cocktails, there is the Moscow Mule ($7) and Mexican Mule ($8) with Tequila instead of Vodka served in the recognizable copper cup.

It was a warm January evening. We were seated at one of the picnic tables under the roof-covered patio in the front. With plenty of space between you and other patrons, you really don't notice their chatter, but you do have to contend with the traffic noise of Central Avenue, especially if you are seated around rush hours with heavy pedaled drivers and boisterous exhaust pipes.

To open, we chose from the beer selections, Folly Juicy Pale Ale by Holy City. It was a good start. From the platters, we picked the Shrimp with the fried option. Each came with fries, hush puppies and mayo slaw. The platter had a generous portion of crispy shrimp done to perfection, the fries were golden crispy, and the hush puppies were firm and tasty. We passed on the desserts. Instead, we closed out the evening with a drink from their specials list. My friend chose the Chocolate Espresso Martini ($7), and since I am a big fan of Chai, I selected the Boozy Chai Latte with Spiced Rum, Chai, and Almond Milk served Hot or Cold ($8), which was smoooooooth.

Our server was a strapping, young gentleman, who was very accommodating, patient, and helpful. I did have to ask for a water, which was a slight oversight, and neglected to ask me if I wanted my Chai drink served hot or cold, but Low Country Fish Camp is a laid back kind of restaurant experience where the protocols of fine dining are understandably more relaxed--apologies automatically accepted. You are there more for the great food and eclectic atmosphere, not the niceties you would expect at High Cotton. It is more along the lines of Bowens Island Restaurant on Folly Creek, where it has a reputation similar to pluff mud, "Either you love it or you don't."

Low Country Fish Camp looks exactly like its name. The only thing missing is a body of salty water and fish guts. However, a really, really, delicious seafoody menu, it does. So, bring your family and friends to 903 Central Ave in Summerville to relax and enjoy some great fresh seafood along with a variety of liquid refreshers at reasonable prices, but leave your fishing rods and boat at home.

No reservations needed. 

Monday  CLOSED

Tuesday and Thursday, 11-8

Friday and Saturday, 11-9

Sunday, 11-3 

Happy Hour Tuesday – Friday, 3:00 – 6:00

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