How EXACTLY To Get A Table at Chubby Fish (my favorite restaurant in Charleston)
Spilling my secrets on how to get a reservation at the buzziest and hardest restaurant to get into
Ask anyone their favorite restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina and you’re likely to hear one name time and time again - CHUBBY FISH. This small, neighborhoody gem is owned by a husband and wife team who host you in their intimate, electric restaurant and serve up insanely good dock-to-table, creative cuisine. But here’s the *catch*: they don’t take reservations. At all. So how do you get one? That’s what I’m here for.
But, first, why it’s worth the hype and hands-down the best restaurant in Charleston:
The menu is seasonal, local, and a foodie’s dream. SO creative, so fresh, always changing, and super unique. The chef James London is a James Beard award winner and climbing the ranks among the top chefs in the world. The ‘caviar sammy’ is a must and will have you DREAMING of it for months afterwards. (It’s so good that last time I went, we ordered 2 more instead of dessert). The tuna belly toast is literally my favorite thing on the menu. The poblano caccio e pepe cauliflower is a SLEEPER. And then you have specials that will surprise you in the best way, like braised grouper cheeks and crudos that will blow your mind.
You can order literally anything on the menu and I guarantee you you will be WOWed. But it’s not the kind of ‘high-end gastronomy’ spot where you’ll leave hungry after getting served miniature courses of things you can’t pronounce at prices that feel offensive. This is so different.
The space is small, buzzy, and intimate. Not stuffy at all. It’s lively, casual, and every table feels like it’s in on a secret. The line out the door just adds to the buzziness and the excitement you feel when you’re here. And, don’t worry, despite it being busy every night, you NEVER feel rushed.
The friendly, homey hospitality and intimate dining room makes you feel like you’re dining in Chef/Owner James London and his wife Yoyo’s home. The servers are incredible, sooo nice, and you can tell they absolutely love working there. This unique hospitality and feeling like you’re welcomed into someone’s home is the best part of the experience - and what makes this gem oh-so-Charleston.
OK OK I get it, Christina, now HOW do we get in?
Get in line. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so people start lining up around 3-4p.m. each night to be the first ones in the door when the floor-to-ceiling, regal velour drapes fling open at 5pm and Kate, the amazing hostess, starts ushering people in. She’ll ask if you choose the 5pm seating, or she’ll offer to mark you down as a reservation for later (while they last!). If you’re one of the first in line (I’d say, usually if you got there before 4pm on a weeknight, or before 3:30 on a weekend), you’ll have your choice of seatings - you can either sit right away, or put your name in for 6:30, or 8:30. If you get there closer to 4:30 or so, you might be able to snag an 8:30 reservation but it’s likely the earlier ones will be all taken.
What’s the best seating to get? When it’s my husband and I, we like to choose the 6:30pm seating so we have an hour and a half to grab a drink at Seahorse (newly opened by the same team running Chubby Fish) next door - it’s a moody, dreamy, eclectic cocktail bar serving up incredible cocktails ( and appetizers!!) Since Chubby Fish is beer and wine only, this is a great idea if you want a cocktail pre-dinner!
What are some best practices for waiting in the Chubby Fish line? I saw many people who brought books, and if it’s sunny (or rainy), I saw someone bring an umbrella to shield themselves from the sun (it is HOT in Charleston!) - which I thought was brilliant. Groups of friends brought cards and were playing them in line. I brought my airpods and a podcast and answered work emails!
Go off-season, and midweek! They are closed Sundays and Mondays so I recommend going on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, and if you’re flying solo, you’ll have an even better shot at snagging a seat at the bar! We’ve had great luck on these off-days (especially in Charleston off-season - anytime tourists are less likely to be there, like winter time).
And then I have ONE more final top-secret hack for getting a table that never fails. I debated even sharing this, but this is the exact trick I use to get a reservation every single time when I want to skip the wait at Chubby Fish - and it’s especially great if you’re going with a group and need a res - but I’m saving this tip for paid subscribers only!