9 South Carolina Lowcountry Boil Porches Where Newspapers Are The Tablecloth

There’s nothing quite like a proper South Carolina Lowcountry boil; a steaming pile of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes dumped straight onto newspaper-covered tables. These casual feasts capture the essence of coastal Carolina dining, where getting messy is half the fun. I’ve spent years hunting down the best porches where you can crack shells, slurp seasoned broth, and let the newspaper soak up all evidence of your seafood shenanigans.

1. Bowen’s Island Restaurant – Charleston

Perched over marshland with a view that’ll make you forget your name, Bowen’s Island serves up boils that locals have sworn by since 1946. The weathered wooden deck feels like dining in a salty old fisherman’s daydream.

Newspaper spreads across their no-frills tables while seagulls hover hopefully nearby. The family recipes haven’t changed in generations; why mess with perfection? Don’t wear anything fancy; you’ll leave smelling like Old Bay and happiness.

2. Charleston Crab House – Charleston

Y’all haven’t lived until you’ve demolished a seafood boil on their harbor-view deck. The newspaper-covered tables at Charleston Crab House get absolutely destroyed during their famous afternoon boils; exactly as they should.

Seagulls circle overhead while boats drift by, creating the perfect backdrop for cracking into some Carolina shrimp. The staff here practically throw the seafood at you, old-school style. Their multi-location dominance proves they’ve mastered the art of newspaper dining.

3. Fleet Landing – Charleston

Housed in a converted 1940s naval building jutting over Charleston Harbor, Fleet Landing brings military precision to their seafood boils. The newspaper-lined tables on their wraparound deck offer front-row seats to dolphin shows while you get elbow-deep in shellfish.

Salty breezes complement the perfectly seasoned boils here. Their historic setting adds a certain gravitas to the otherwise messy affair of smashing crustaceans. The contrast between the upscale harbor views and down-home newspaper dining creates a uniquely Charleston experience.

4. Lowcountry Boil Company (LOCOBOTOGO) – Charleston

LOCOBOTOGO transformed my friend’s backyard into seafood heaven last summer! These mobile maestros bring the newspaper-covered feast to wherever your heart desires; beachfront, backyard, or boat dock.

Their custom wooden serving boards get layered with yesterday’s news before mountains of shellfish rain down. The spectacle of their pour-out deserves its own slow-motion video. Unlike fixed restaurants, they’ll create a porch party wherever you fancy, complete with their signature newspaper tablecloths.

5. Page’s Okra Grill – Mount Pleasant

The sprawling porch at Page’s Okra Grill transforms into seafood central during boil season. Their newspaper-covered picnic tables have witnessed more seafood demolition than a shark documentary.

Sweet tea flows like water while mountains of pink shrimp steam atop yesterday’s headlines. Families have been passing napkins (and local gossip) across these tables for generations. Their second location in Summerville brings the same newspaper-lined charm further inland, proving good boils don’t require ocean views.

6. The Ordinary – Charleston

Don’t let the fancy name fool you; The Ordinary knows how to get down and dirty with newspaper dining. This high-end seafood hall in a converted bank building brings sophistication to the newspaper tablecloth tradition.

Their seasonal boils arrive on newspaper-lined metal trays that somehow make the Charleston Mercury look positively elegant. The contrast of crystal wine glasses beside newspaper-strewn shellfish piles creates delicious culinary dissonance. Who says newspaper dining can’t be classy? Certainly not the James Beard-nominated folks running this joint.

7. The Salty Dog Cafe – Hilton Head Island

Overlooking Calibogue Sound, The Salty Dog’s dockside porch turns into seafood central when their famous newspaper-covered boils hit the tables. Tourists mingle with locals as everyone surrenders to the messy glory of shell-cracking madness.

T-shirts become inadvertent napkins as the spicy broth inevitably finds its way everywhere. Live music provides the soundtrack for your seafood symphony. The newspaper tablecloths here have soaked up more vacation memories than any photo album could possibly hold.

8. Skull Creek Boathouse – Hilton Head Island

The massive waterfront deck at Skull Creek might be the prettiest place to make an absolute mess with a seafood boil. Their newspaper-covered tables stretch toward the water, creating the perfect battleground for crab leg warfare.

Sunset transforms the experience into something magical as the marsh glows golden behind your seafood pile. Skull Creek’s boils arrive with theatrical flair; servers ceremoniously pour the steaming contents while onlookers snap photos. The newspaper here doesn’t just catch drips; it becomes part of your vacation scrapbook memories.

9. Fishcamp on Broad Creek – Hilton Head Island

Hidden among ancient oaks dripping with Spanish moss, Fishcamp’s screened porch offers the most atmospheric newspaper dining experience around. Their boils arrive still steaming, dumped unceremoniously across the day’s news while kayakers paddle by.

String lights twinkle overhead as the sun sets over Broad Creek. The newspaper here serves dual purposes; catching shellfish debris and providing reading material during inevitable food comas. Their seasonal approach means ingredients change with local availability, but the newspaper tradition remains gloriously constant.