Low Country Public House--Another Welcome addition to Summerville's Restaurant Scene

The name is no surprise considering it is a renovated one-time house that has gone public, and you, the public, have been given an invitation to drop in. The relatively new eatery is fittingly called Low Country Public House. It has achieved the honorary privilege of becoming another name to be added to the growing list of restaurants now serving Summerville. It is classified as a pub-style diner with a full bar and private dining areas available to book for a special event. Its address is 1426 Central Ave.

Low Country Public House's promise is to introduce their customers to a fresh and exciting dining experience. Their passion is for excellent food, hospitality, and a promise for a strong commitment to quality and service. The best of local and seasonal ingredients will be offered with a menu that includes dishes that are both familiar and innovative including burgers, smoked wings, salads, brats, pork belly nachos to name just a few. Their chefs passions will be to create innovative and delicious dishes that showcase the flavors of the region. Their success at achieving all of that will depend on you, the public, who have the final word.

As we approached Low Country Public House's Central Avenue driveway, parked near its entrance was a huge food truck with the name Low Country Fish Camp painted on its sides. It was an obvious reminder the two eateries are affiliated, both owned and operator by the same proprietors, Ginny and Chris VanZile.

The newly renovated once-upon-a-time house had a fresh look to it with vertical rough-sawn planked siding covering its exterior and a stuccoed facade with its name and pine trees painted on it. Plenty of parking space was available towards its rear. We strolled passed a long, wood deck attached to its backside used for outdoor seating. A slated name plaque noting the year of its establishment, 2023, was displayed at its front entrance, a nice touch.

Once inside, the host asked our preference for seating. We opted to sit in the bar area, which included a well-stocked, small bar, one table setting, and a very inviting enclosed step-down space with comfort chairs, coffee table, and brick fireplace, already occupied, so we chose the table.

The bartender would be our server for the evening. She rattled off the evenings list of drink specials, which featured Pomegranate. My friend started with a glass of wine, and I chose one of the specials called Winston, which was a tall mix of Pomegranate, lemonade, and Knob Creek Whiskey--a tasty blend with a satisfying "kick". 

Prior to visiting, upon recommendations from a friend, I had already decided to try their French Onion Soup($10) and Fish and Chips($22), but after perusing the menu, I completely changed my coarse. I chose the Jalapeno Cheddar Brat with house made Chili, Cheese, Onions and Rosemary Fries for $14. My friend went with the Fish and Chips with Beer Battered Cod, Rosemary Fries, and Coleslaw.

I was thoroughly pleased with my choice. The chili was mild and the brat was cooked just right with a balance of onions. The Rosemary Fries had the right amount crispiness, at least, what I considered just right. I had read reviews where some patrons were not happy with the Rosemary Fries--overdone leaving no potato left--but that was definitely not my experience. I closed out our sitting with a Pomegranate Martini.

Our bartender/server proficiently juggled her dual task even though she was busy also serving patrons sitting at the bar. She was informative, attentive to our wants, removed used dishes, and took the time to share a few laughs. She was a good mixologist.

Low Country Public House has a relaxing atmosphere and pleasant surroundings. Being a former house, its dining space is split between several different rooms, each accented with varying wood stains and eclectic wall decorations. Each rooms color schemes compliment one another and the red leather booths in one of its main eating areas is a nice touch. The bar seating is a tad cramped, but if you are just waiting on a table, it will do. What was likely at one time the garage is now a step down room with a glass garage door. Enjoy the pictures, they tell the story nicely.

Monday and Sunday Closed

Tuesday - Thursday 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Friday and Saturday 11:00 - 9:00 pm

Happy Hour Tuesday - Thursday 3 - 6 pm  Friday 3 - 5 pm

(843) 285-9999

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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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