Vern's in Charleston, South Carolina

Two years ago, I went to Charleston, South Carolina for a long weekend with only one goal for the trip: go back to Vern's.

In a city known for food and hospitality, Vern's has a bit of magic that pulls it apart from the rest. It's hard to define exactly what it is about Vern's that makes it what I would consider the perfect restaurant. Of course, the exceptional food is part of it. But there's something intangible about Vern's that feels infectiously soothing.

Maybe it's the staff, who in true southern style are perfect hosts, but also seem to actually like each other as they shake drinks at the bar or dole out plates to a 10-top.

Perhaps it's the neighborhood feel: Vern's is set in a small, clapboard-sided building that looks not dissimilar to the surrounding historic homes. It's tucked into quiet, a mostly-residential street on the peninsula of Charleston, shaded by palm trees and magnolias. There's a sunny feeling when you notice that some guests pay their bill and then leave the restaurant on foot, headed back to their homes just a quick walk away.

And maybe it's just the humming, energetic but also laid-back environment in the dining room - like a cool wine bar but with nationally-recognized chefs sweating it out in the back.

Whatever this magic feeling is, it has caught the attention of the foodies. Husband and wife duo Daniel "Dano" and Bethany Heinze opened the restaurant in 2022. It took less than a year for the awards to start streaming in. In 2023, Vern's was included in the New York Times's top 50 restaurants (in good company, alongside buzzworthy institutions like Torrisi and Superiority Burger in New York). And in 2025, the Michelin star was added to their prize cabinet.

Now Vern's won these awards not just because of this mystical vibe that I can't put my finger on, but also because of their absolutely exceptional cuisine. The shared plates on the menu rotate seasonally and are inspired by the lowcountry, but are not too on the nose.

For example, the campanelli is a buttery, cheesy, al dente bite, but with the unexpected protein of rabbit. With proximity to the ocean, the fish dishes are impressively fresh - get the raw fin tuna and the shrimp with saffron. And to even it out, their kitchen knows their way around a veggie, too. The grilled carrots are sweet even through their char marks, the beet salad is earthy (in a good way), and the butter lettuce is light and vinegar-y, but with a pour of garlicky breadcrumbs.

I'm glad Vern's has earned the culinary accolades - I think their food is incredible. But setting aside the fancy awards and trophies, I think Vern's deserves the buzz because it's just a damn good restaurant, from the food, to the service, to the way you feel during the meal. It's chic but not pretentious. It's in the zeitgeist but it's not crammed with influencers. It feels like a place that people actually come to be taken care of with a great meal. And for that, I will always return.

The photos in this post are courtesy of Vern's. Vern's is not a sponsor of this post.