Fleet Landing

Fleet Landing, located at 186 Concord Street in Historic Downtown Charleston, offers a unique blend of casual waterfront dining and nautical charm. Its unassuming exterior gives little hint of the vibrant experience inside, except for its prime location right on the water. Once inside, the ambiance is a pleasant surprise: rustic, yet comfortably elegant, with a distinct nautical theme. The interior features a raw oyster bar, a drink bar, and plenty of seating, all while popular ’80s hits play softly in the background, adding a fun, relaxed vibe.

The outdoor seating is particularly special, providing breathtaking views of the Ravenel Bridge and a perfect spot to watch the sunset as you enjoy your meal. Though it maintains a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere, the space feels neither chic nor cheap—just cozy and comforting, making it waterfront dining at its best.

Fleet Landing offers a variety of raw and cooked seafood starters, with their seafood towers being a standout. Soups and salads round out the appetizer options. John and I started with raw oysters, selecting two varieties from North Carolina—the Fleet Selects and Southern River Selects—and one from Virginia, the Kellum. We had two of each, for a total of twelve oysters. All were incredibly fresh, though I found it a bit difficult to distinguish between the three varieties in terms of flavor.

Next, we tried the Fried Green Tomato stack, which featured tarragon crab and a creamy shellfish sauce. While the dish was delicious, it did need a bit of salt and pepper, which was readily available on the table.

The main courses at Fleet Landing feature a variety of grilled and deep-fried seafood options, including Seafood Pasta, fried platters, and Fresh Catches, which can be customized to your liking. Of course, the iconic Shrimp and Grits is also on the menu. All dishes come with or can be paired with a selection of sides, such as vegetables, coleslaw, cheese grits, rice, fries, and garlic mashed potatoes.

I opted for the Lowcountry Seafood Pasta, and it was absolutely delicious! It came loaded with mussels, shrimp, scallops, crawfish, and andouille sausage, all served over a bed of fettuccine and smothered in a rich asparagus, tomato, and Parmesan butter Creole cream sauce. It was seafood pasta perfection.

John chose the Blackened Triggerfish, a hearty, meaty fish that was incredibly tender. The fish was likely soaked in milk or something similar, as it was perfectly grilled and wonderfully juicy. The accompanying asparagus was lightly seasoned and cooked to perfection. My only critique was that the red pepper placed on top of the fish overpowered its flavor slightly.

The desserts at Fleet Landing are all homemade, so you really can’t go wrong with any choice. They typically offer four to five options, which often include a couple of pies, a torte, something chocolate, and ice cream.

I decided on the Huguenot Torte, which I learned is a Charleston classic. It’s packed with pecans and apples but has a unique texture, quite different from a traditional apple pie. Fleet Landing serves theirs a la mode, topped with a fresh apple slice for a beautiful presentation. The vanilla ice cream balances the sweetness of the torte, making it an absolutely delicious choice.

John went with the classic pecan pie. Fleet Landing’s version is a bit denser than most, generously filled with pecans, brown sugar, and what I believe was oatmeal. The ice cream is optional, but we found that pairing it with the pie made for one of the best pecan pies I’ve ever had.