Roadside Seafood – A Coastal Dining Gift in Charleston

By Mark A. Leon

Once you step foot inside this tiny twelve table restaurant situated between the Island Bar and Convenience Store on Folly Road, you are swept away by the smell of traditional Southern fried wonder.  After inhaling your first 400 calories, it is hard to step away.  Ordained with a rustic coastal decor and lobster table clothes, you will feel right at home.  We must be fair, due to the size, there is often a wait for a table depending on the time of day.

Our waitress approached in her Roadside Seafood black tee-shirt and jeans and greeted us with a smile and structured her service to our needs, starting with a drink order all the way through final receipt of bill.  She even took the time to compliment my pairings which were taken well to heart.

This evening, we looked at all the elements of the menu and selected a eclectic range of edible treats.

Southwestern egg roll

The Southwestern shrimp egg roll is a must.  This gently fried roll is cut in half, oozing with cheese, with a mouth watering combination of seasoned sauteed shrimp black beans, corn and onions.  It is served with sweet chili sauce and BAM sauce.  We recommend you try both and determine your favorite.  This is great appetizer to begin your evening to indulge alone or share.

The Lowcountry She-Crab Soup offers a full bodied sweet and tangy flavor on your taste buds.  This soup is filled with a healthy offering of thick lumps of crab meat and savored with a touch of sherry.  We ordered the bowl and shared and still took some home.  It is a full and complete meal as a stand alone item.  Perhaps a cup may fill your personal needs.  Just a helpful hint.

If you are a fan of tacos and seafood, the BAM Shrimp Taco or Jerk Mahi will not disappoint your cravings.

For the entree, there is an offering of small and large baskets (Difference being one or two sides).  I went with the fried catfish with homemade mac and cheese.  Let us start with the mac and cheese.  It is prepared with large thick Penne style pasta and coated in thick creamy cheese.  You can do red rice, BAM cole slaw or sweet potato fries, but the mac and cheese is so delicious that it can be hard to pass up.

She-Crab Soup

The catfish fillet was a large single piece fried and served up in a basket that was barely big enough for the serving size.  This dish is prepared with an number of spices to offer a sharp and moderately spicy kick as it goes down your throat.

All in all, a delightful dining experience that kept us full for most of the rest of the evening.

Combining traditional Southern cuisine with fresh seafood is a winning combination for Roadside Seafood located at 807 Folly Road, James Island.

Fried catfish