Two South Carolina restaurants among ‘most outstanding’ in world, new rankings show
South Carolina boasts two of the world’s “most outstanding” places to eat, new rankings show.
The Ocean Room joins Grill 225 on a list of top-notch dining spots from across the globe. The 2024 Star Award-winning restaurants are in the Charleston area, a popular tourist destination that’s no stranger to being recognized for its food.
To create the latest list of best restaurants, Forbes Travel Guide sent teams to restaurants, hotels, spas and cruise ships around the world. Each place received scores in more than 900 visitor-related criteria, a spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email.
“Our anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help discerning travelers select the world’s best experiences,” Forbes Travel Guide wrote in a Feb. 7 news release.
In the restaurant category, only one South Carolina restaurant earned a “coveted” five-star rating for offering visitors “an outstanding experience” and “highly customized level of service.” The restaurant — The Ocean Room on Kiawah Island — received praise for amassing a “superior” wine selection in an “elegantly refined yet comfortable setting.”
“With its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the restaurant also features high-quality seafood in addition to its aged prime beef,” Forbes Travel Guide wrote.
The restaurant is located on a hotel property, just like the other Star Award winner from South Carolina. That winner — Grill 225 in Charleston — received a “recommended” rating, given to “excellent properties with consistently good service and facilities.”
In addition to being home to a pair of top-ranking restaurants, South Carolina boasts six hotels and and two spas that landed on the Forbes Travel Guide list. All were in the Charleston and Hilton Head Island areas, results show.
Worldwide, the Forbes Travel Guide list included over 2,000 travel destinations, 258 of which were restaurants.
This story was originally published February 8, 2024 at 7:56 AM with the headline "Two South Carolina restaurants among ‘most outstanding’ in world, new rankings show."
