Between the Biscuit

Best Brunch in Charleston

By Jenna Ley-Jamison

Brunch is a quintessential meal for celebration and recovery—a leisurely “breaking the fast” that caters to all palates and preferences, from pancakes to fried-egg-topped burgers, to Lowcountry staples like scratch-made scratch biscuits, pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes. All perfect with a mimosa or other eye-opener. We’ve rounded up the best brunch spots in and around Charleston that offer the finest melding of the day’s most important meals.

Vicious Biscuit 

409 W Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant & 206 Front St., Summerville

Viciousbiscuit.com

Reimagine the buttermilk biscuit at this happening brunch hotspot with locations in Summerville and Mt. Pleasant. With a menu that owners say "challenges the status quo of comfort food," unique menu items include "The Flame Thrower, " served on a jalapeno and cheddar biscuit and "The Fat Boy,” a fried chicken and buttermilk biscuit topped with the restaurant’s signature pimento cheese and hot honey drizzle. Indulge in unique brunch creations, whether savory, sweet or spicy. Top your biscuit with Southern staples like fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, pulled pork, hearty maple sausage gravy and chive or opt for the new spicy chicken, bacon and ranch biscuit. Entrée menu items include Lowcountry favorites like shrimp 'n grits, chicken 'n waffles and other healthier "lightly vicious" plates.

KISS Cafe

1802 Crowne Commons Way #C1

Johns Island
Kiss-café.com

"Keep It Simple and Sunnyside Up" at this breakfast-lunch-brunch-focused eatery, where every dish is made fresh to order with locally-sourced ingredients—Storey Farm eggs and King Bean coffee among others. Owned and operated by husband-and-wife duo Leslie Mastranunzio and chef Tim Wickey, this Johns Island joint offers something for everyone. Consider customer favorites like the house-brined, corned beef hash dish (the "Hash it Out"); the scratch-made, buttermilk pancake stack or a build-your-own omelet or stone-ground grits bowl. The kitchen recently started pumping out NY-style bagels, made fresh daily and reminiscent of that Big Apple taste. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a number of bakery treats. With a full-service bar, sit back in a seat on the dog-friendly patio and sip a flight of mimosas or another colorful cocktail.

Five Loaves Cafe

1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. #100, Mt .Pleasant

214 N Cedar St., Summerville

Fiveloavescafe.com

Whether weekend window shopping with the squad in Summerville or meeting up with mom in Mt. Pleasant, a wholesome brunch at Five Loaves Cafe is always the right idea. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday in Summerville and Sundays in Mt. Pleasant starting at 10 a.m. Choose from among fresh salads, soups and sandwiches along with healthy, filling "brunchables" like cornmeal pancakes, Belgium style waffles, steak and eggs and tofu scramble. Request the chef's omelet of the day, feast on the "Country Skillet," or splurge on the crab cake "Southern Benny" served with a fried green tomato and pimento cheese. Add home fries and local stone ground grits to your dish and let every mouthful of your meal make your insides smile.

La Bonne Franquette 

652 St Andrews Blvd.

Charleston

Labonnefranquettechs.com

This French restaurant in West Ashley offers a superb weekend bistro brunch with dynamic dishes that change seasonally. The eatery's bright, quaint interior with black-and-white tile floors and colorful outdoor patio offer a vibrant bistro atmosphere for sipping a mimosa, Bloody Mary, or other "seasonal cocktails to sit and enjoy a lazy weekend," said co-owner Carly Paume. Menu options range from lighter fare like daily soup du jour, salads, quiches, omelets, a cheese board and oysters by the dozen or half-dozen. Sweet brunch items include the standout brioche French toast made with mascarpone whipped cream and mixed berries. Did we mention the tempting pastry case? Be sure to snag a petit fours or fruit tart for the ride home.

SOL Southwest Kitchen

1651 North Main St., Summerville

1101 Stockade Ln., Mt Pleasant

Solsouthwestkitchen.com

Dine inside a world of blended food cultures— where even brunch is a twist of "the Southwest meets the South." SOL's seasonal ingredients and select spices, paired with its wood-fired grill, handcrafted cocktails and made-to-order meals are what makes this eatery a memorable spot for a breakfast-lunch event. On Sundays at 10:30 a.m., start off with a citrus-basil sangria or tequila sunrise margarita alongside the chicken & grits made with spicy agave syrup, the smothered brunch burrito or red chile-glazed brunch salmon. Or pamper your taste buds with a sugary surprise—the banana cream French toast, which is a feast for both the stomach and eyes. This thick-cut brioche dish features fresh bananas, caramel sauce, vanilla pastry cream and maple syrup.

The Junction Kitchen & Provisions

4438 Spruill Ave, North Charleston

thejunctionkitchen.com 

Nestled within North Charleston's popular Park Circle scene, this brunch destination is perfect for foodies with alternative diets—gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options abound. Yet diet-friendly doesn't mean skimping on flavor. This brunch menu, only offered Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., is packed with mouthwatering dishes, from the huevos rancheros and mom's tomato onion pie to the sweet tea fried chicken with bourbon pecan butter. And don't forget the "Buzzed Doughnut." This one-of-a-kind, salty-sweet concoction features coffee-rubbed bacon and an over-easy egg on a pop biscuit doughnut complete with shredded hashbrowns and mocha dip. Other favorites include the cactus pork Mexican hash, shrimp and grits, traditional French toast and avocado toast with citrus drizzle.

Iron Rose at The Mills House

115 Meeting St #174, Charleston

Ironroserestaurant.com

Located within the storied walls of Charleston's iconic pink hotel on Meeting Street downtown, Iron Rose at The Mills House recently debuted a new family-style brunch menu perfect for large groups and spring celebrations in addition to their regular brunch offering. Available on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. with live music beginning at 11 a.m., the family-style menu offers a selection of playful new plates and booze-filled carafes, including your choice of sangria, mimosa or bellini. Guests can choose from dishes like the morning pastry arrangement, pork belly hash browns, wild mushroom frittata and crispy sweet tea brined chicken thighs. The regular and family-style brunch menus are available online. Reservations can be made via Resy.

Millers All Day

120 King St., Charleston

1956 Maybank HWY Suite A, James Island

Millersallday.com

Whether touring the heart of the Holy City's downtown shops on King Street or beachin' it for the day on James Island, pop by a Millers All Day for top-notch brunch and bakery bites available at any time doors are open. Start out with sharables like a cinnamon roll or deviled crab fritters and move on to mains like a chicken and waffle salad with truffle syrup; a hot honey chicken donut with house pickles and peach preserves; fried bologna biscuit and any number of bowl options like classic tomato soup and grilled cheese or the "King Street" bowl with scrambled eggs, grits, pimento cheese and sausage gravy over home fries. 

Bohemian Bull

1531 Folly Rd., James Island

2668 N. Hwy 17, Mt. Pleasant

Bohemianbull.com

This neighborhood hangout with expansive outdoor areas offers brunch on Sundays starting at 11 a.m. with sharables like whipped feta topped with hot honey and pecans that comes with grilled flatbread and donut holes. But Bohemian Bull stands out with the quality and selection of its burgers, many with a brunch twist. Build your own burger, or order from their uniquely-curated list, like the “Chimi Chimi” burger topped with chimichuri sauce, bacon jam, beer cheese and an over easy egg; “That’s my jam,” with bacon jam, pepper jack pimento cheese and a fried green tomato, or the truffle burger that comes with truffle mayo, a fried onion ring, grilled baby portabella mushrooms and Gouda. Pair it with a creation from the bar’s creative cocktail menu or extensive beer list.

Bodega

23 Ann St., Charleston

414 W Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant

eatdrinkbodega.com

Bodega, a Charleston staple serving NY-styled sandwiches, Benedicts and other brunch fare, debuted their Mount Pleasant location in February offering the same brunch-focused mains served at the downtown location. Bodega pays homage to the ubiquitous neighborhood bodega and specializes in colossal, Manhattan-style sandwiches, creative breakfast and lunch fare, paired with lively beverages. Both have an expansive patio for al fresco dining and an interior dining room invoking a distinctly New York vibe with graffiti and colorful accents. The Mt. Pleasant location added a drive-thru. Open daily at 8 a.m.