Rita’s Seaside Grille

Wait staff was great. The live music was not the vibe of folly. When asked to play island music they said they were offened and it’s not an island. Kind of rude when clearly it is an island. We are from Charlotte NC. You would think the request to play more island music would not come with insults for asking. I would go to an establishment that was more relaxed and open to suggestions without rude remarks. We are frequent visitors to Folly and we got married here and the first time ever we encountered negativity. Major buzz kill. why put down Darius Rucker when he is from Charleston. Not good PR. We come about 4 times a year and plan to move here. But will not be back if the same band is playing. Rude! Food was great. .entertainment was really lacking. With there rude attitude they should play in Seattle WA, Portland Or. Where everyone is rude.

Had lunch here in the off season, sat inside. Had one of the mimosas, very tasty, tasted like fresh pureed juice. My friend had some loaded bloody mary, with blue cheese stuffed olives (that were delicous) as was the drink. WE ordered the Tuna nachos with watermelon chunks to share, and I have to say the combinations of flavors were amazing! And it was just about perfect to share between two people. We each got salads for our entrée, I had the seafood salad with fresh shrimp and crab wtih blue cheese crumbles, good amount of fresh meat and cheese, good size. Typical prices associated with near beach restaurants. Would be good for a group and/​or when its nice out:)

Cool restaurant, manager acts like a complete maniac though. He had a dispute with my sister, in which my sister acted cooperative and civil. He made many threatening remarks and even followed us out of the restaurant to continue to taunt us. He clearly had no control of his anger. I have never seen someone in a management position act so unprofessionally

I was meeting a friend today and we decided to try Rita’s. We sat outside as the inside was pretty packed with Folly Gras people. I ordered the Orange Dreamsicle drink, which honestly I had low expectations being that we were on Folly and it was during Folly Gras but this drink legitimately tasted like an orange dreamsicle. To be honest I didn’t taste any alcohol necessarily, so if you’re looking for a strong drink this might not be your best choice, but it was tasty if you’re craving a liquid orange dreamsicle, this is a great choice.
For food we both ordered the seared tuna nachos. This could very easily be shared, it’s a significant portion. The watermelon on it is a fun and different addition. I skipped the queso and it still had plenty of cheese. The tuna was pretty tasty as well. I would get this again as an app and share it.

After a long walk (in the cold brisk air) on the beach down by the Morris Island Lighthouse, the family and I were looking for something local to satisfy our cravings. Unilocal did not disappoint us as we were pointed to Rita’s for a tasty seaside lunch. Although I was craving seafood, I chose the Pimento Burger because the description just made it sound amazing (it was!) and my wife got the other burger with the fried egg on it (I don’t remember the name, but we split the burgers and shared). Both were exactly what I needed, and the fries were crispy and just salty enough. The kids each got a quesadilla and after sampling that, I can positively say that it was very good as well. The location is easy to get to on Center Rd, and we parked right in front, although I’m sure with a busier time of day it could’ve been an adventure looking to park. The interior is very casual and laid back (it’s a beach of course), and the seating was spread out so as to not be cramped. They also have outdoor seating, but since we just got back from the beach walk, we were looking forward to warming up. Service was attentive and friendly. I’ll definitely be back again soon to sample other items on the menu. The nachos looked amazing too!

Great burgers. Nice atmosphere. Good bar. Was a little crowded, so had to wait a little longer for table that would have preferred.

This has always been one of my favorite restaurants on Folly, but in the more recent timeframe, I have become less impressed with the food quality and service. This day, we had taken the dog down on the beach for a walk and figured we would stop in for a drink and small bite. The outdoor seating area is spacious, allows dogs, and there is a fireplace/​chiminea with multiple TVs. There are also bathrooms outside, so as a customer with a dog, we didn’t even need to go inside, making our trip very convenient.
We started with the warm crab dip and homemade pita points. This was the best appetizer that I have had here, hands down. We ran out of the bread, but the server graciously brought more out.
When the restaurant first opened, I regularly got the shrimp and grits. I raved to everyone about it. Unfortunately, the recipe changed at some point and was not nearly as good as it had once been. On this visit, I regrettably ordered it again hoping that they may have recognized the err of their ways. Nope! On a positive note, the grits themselves were creamy, and the shrimp were plump and juicy. The pork cracklin on top was even very delicious, but the roux/​sauce has a distinct flavor that is not very good. I wish I knew what it was, but apparently they think it is good. It tastes like dirt to me.
I really enjoy the setting and what the venue has to offer, but I will stick to items other than shrimp and grits on subsequent visits. They do have a varied beer list including local breweries, but the prices can be a little steep. Parking is on the street or in one of the pay parking lots nearby. Stop in on your next visit to the beach or the fishing pier. You should also take a stroll down Centre Street after your meal/​drinks before heading home.

Haven’t been here in over a year after 3 bad experiences in a row. They changed hands some time ago and the prices went up, quality went down and service got terrible.
Tonight the prices were still high, the service was slow but not terrible and the food was hit and miss.
We were greeted almost as soon as we sat with waters from a guy we never saw again. Our server came right over and was very pleasant and helpful. He offered drink suggestions and gave us plenty of time to order. The blue crab dip was delicious but didn’t come with enough pita points or chips. Our server brought more when we asked. I had the smoked salmon blt and it was good but nothing to write home about. My guest had the shrimp and grits and described the rue as «made with dirt». I tasted it and concurred.
Once we were finished it took quite a while to get our check and Togo boxes.
An app, 2 beers, one mixed drink, a cold sandwich and shrimp and grits were $ 80. Nothing about this trip convinced me I need to come back. It seems like a place that is preying on tourists and isn’t interested in bringing in locals.

Location is perfect, I love Folly! Our waitress, Diane was so nice. The blue crab dip was to die for with the fresh made pita. Our nachos however were a little cold when they came out.

Great service and the food is delicious. My fiancé had the backyard burger while I tried the jerk chicken sandwich. I look forward to going again!

Nice location, good menu, fair prices, nice wait staff… Perfect beach side restaurant.
Shrimp and grits are fabulous.
Grouper sandwich yummy.
Fries great.
I’d highly recommend the place.

The food here is consistently good. Along with Taco Boy, it’s one of the best meals to have on folly. Although the food is decent, it’s not the same «charleston quality» as you’d find downtown.
Rita’s is yummy for both brunch, lunch or dinner. I recommend the tuna watermelon nachos!

What’s not to love about Rita’s? It’s an open air restaurant a block off of the beach serving up great food and drinks. It’s even better when you go on a weekday during the fall and can just walk right in and get a seat.
I went on a Friday afternoon for lunch with two friends and we were psyched to get an indoor table with a patio breeze. It’s the best of both worlds to get indoor air conditioning with an open window out onto Center Street. We were all instantly enamored by the variety of Rita’s crushes and mimosas they offered. A crush is essentially a cocktail poured over crushed ice, something to the effect of an adult beverage slushie.
While perusing the lunch menu, I noticed that Rita’s is owned by the same restaurant group as Hall’s. Only in a beach town are a surfside burger joint and an über high-​end steakhouse run by the same folks. The service at Rita’s is pretty on top of it, which is to be expected if Hall’s and SNOB are going to put their names on the menu. All three of us ordered burgers. I went for the bacon and pimento cheese burger. Bikini season is over so I might as well indulge! Both the burger and fries were really good. I’ve had their brunch years ago before I lived down here and remember enjoying that as well, so I’ll have to come back and try that again soon.
Rita’s is great! It’s really solid and reasonably priced bar food and fun cocktails. Personally I prefer Lost Dog as my #1 dining destination out on Folly, but Rita’s is definitely a really close second.

Pimento burger was the best I’ve had in a while !
The patio is relaxing to hang out on and have a cold beer after a day at the beach.

This is an excellent spot for day drinking with a casual beach vibe.
I went with s group on a Saturday and while it was crowded we didn’t have to wait for a table. I found it a little odd that they don’t serve anything off the lunch menu until 1pm and the brunch menu was a bit limited. I wound up with a pimento cheese burger with fries. Love the sweet seasoning on the fries. The burger itself was meh, on the dry side, but being smothered in pimento cheese helps anything. The stars of the time here were the drinks which were yummy and reasonably priced — I got a strawberry basil mimosa and the orange cream crush, both delicious and gave me a nice buzz. Plus, our waitress was super sweet and gave great service.

Ritas isn’t my favorite place on folly but I do love their tuna nachos! The first few times I went there I had bad experiences with one specific grumpy bartender but she’s gone now I think. Also it has new owners as of last year so prices went up a bit and the menu changed a little. Some of the stuff stayed exactly the same but the price went up anyway. They redid the inside and I love how it looks now.
They usually have some fun drinks. The tuna nachos are the best thing ever. Seriously. Get them. Burgers are good too. Mainly my friends and I go for nachos and a drink or two and then hop around. Now I want nachos.

Had the beet and goat cheese salad with blackened grouper. Was pretty good, the grouper was just a little fishy some bites. My brother had the fish tacos which I thought were delish even coming from the plethora of fish tacos we get in San Diego! I would order these next time. Did not have any cocktails but the martinis they were bringing out and mixing up looked awesome. There are so many great restaurants and old, local favorites in Charleston. This is still one we revisit. Great night again here with the family after long day at he beach!

I was pleasantly surprised by Rita’s. My friends and I arrived into Folly Beach after a busy morning of travelling and to say we were hungry is an understatement. We kind of just chose the first place we saw, which happened to be Rita’s, and boy, am I glad we did.
I had the Southbound Burger with pimento cheese and bacon. Welcome to the South, Clare! The burger was delicious and the seasoned fries that came with it were great as well.
Our waitress was really welcoming and patient and even gave us to go cups of water for the beach.
Great find in Folly Beach. If I came back here, I’d definitely eat at Rita’s again.

There for the first time last night with my family, we all agree that it was a fantastic experience. We actually took our Boykin Spaniel with us since they accept dogs out on their outdoor patio. The ambiance was terrific as there were creative design elements throughout (especially of a nautical bent). From a location perspective, Rita’s is just across the street from the beach. The nightime view of the Tides hotel across the way was really cool and the mood lighting of Rita’s itself was a real plus for me.
Everything we ordered was delicious. By sharing portions of our meals with one another, we were able to get a good sense of their menu. My Fish & Shrimp Tacos (three flour tortillas, blackened shrimp, pan seared catch of the day, sweet & sour slaw, jalapeño-​cilantro aioli, with a side of seasoned fries) was awesome. Being a huge fan of the fries at the Checkers /​Rally’s fast food restaurants since I was a child, I was really taken with the fries at Rita’s. They reminded me a lot of Checkers fries… only better. Because of a sprinkling of sugar on them, they had an outstanding balance of sweetness and saltiness.
My mom’s Shrimp and Grits was also really good. She felt like the portion of shrimp provided was far greater than other restaurants’ versions of this recipe. My dad’s Barnbuger was likewise excellent.
I’m so glad we went by there last night.

Outside was so HOT you could hear the soles of your shoes sizzle, unfortunately inside of Rita’s was nothing but a fizzle. Big build up for a big let down.
Just an overall really unpleasant experience recently. The first few times I’ve been here, the overall experience was probably 3 stars — just OK, but this most recent visit was definitely ONE star. I was really expecting a lot since I heard that HALL’s took this place over… but… nope.
We had a party of 6, so expected to sit at the long, high-​top outside (which we did). The outdoor area was definitely quite a bit louder than I remember. Loud blowing fans everywhere and a TV turned up really high led to most of the outdoor customers to be abnormally loud (probably so they could hear each other over the fans and TV).
A lot of people seem to «rave» about the patio/​porch, but I don’t think it’s out of the ordinary or anything special. It’s just concrete slab with concrete walls about 4 feet high. The location of the restaurant/​patio is on the corner, so the patio has streets on two sides (Center and Arctic) and a gravel parking lot on the other side. Views are of other buildings, the streets, and parked cars. You get a lot of additional noise from traffic and people walking down the street.
Let’s get real here… when you’re talking about patio’s and views on Folly… the restaurant across the street, BLU at the Tides Hotel, has a truly exceptional view. Maybe the only one better is Sunset Cay? While at BLU, you are literally on the beach and are only a few steps away from the sand.
The Entrees:
Anyyyyyyyyyyyway, 3 of us ordered black bean burgers and they were literally spoiled. When they came out, you could smell something was «off.» When each of us took a bite, it was evident that, indeed, something was very wrong. We told the manager and he took care of it by taking the 3 burgers away and off of our bill. He also admitted that he, and the Chef, could tell that they were spoiled when he got them back to the kitchen. So, I must ask, if it was that easy to tell… then why did they ever go out of the kitchen in the first place?
The manager handled it well and we all walked away with an uneasy feeling in our stomachs, but it was fine in the end.
The three others in our party seemed to enjoy their burgers just fine, but to quote them: it «was nothing to write home about.»
The appetizers:
The fried pickles were a let down. They used pickle spears instead of chips, which totally throws off the surface area-​to-​volume ratio. They did not taste good.
The nachos we ordered were very good. The watermelon «salsa» is always a nice treat and they have got the nachos down pat. Grade: A.
Service was fine overall, not great, but not terrible.