The tall bartender was very friendly and helped us out tremendously with deciding which delicious special to order!
(5)
Natalie G.
Plums will become a regular go to when in Beaufort. Apps and a child's pb & j were ordered and it they were delicious. Only down side was that they only had two desserts. Service was exceptional; we had a waitress who was very friendly.
(4)
Jennifer M.
The blackened catfish Po'boy was pretty amazing. Prices are very reasonable.
(3)
Ann C.
Oh wow, this place had absolutely fantastic shrimp and grits! It was one of the best dishes I've ever tasted. I ate about a fourth of my boyfriend's serving! I ordered fish tacos which were also very good, and they made the perfect Cosmo. Will definitely return!!!
(5)
Suzanne H.
Just average. Great view, nothing amazing. They ran out of pickles for my daughter's grilled cheese! Wasn't impressed with the dress shift shell crab, out came on a boring bun, thin cut onion and tomato, tiny drop of sauce. Shrimp on the Po Boy was good. Wasn't busy, but it took a while to get out server to come over. She was great, though.
(2)
Kay F.
Poor service, poor food, very noisy and not at all what I remember from my last visit. Won't be coming back.
(2)
Danielle M.
Great atmosphere, great location overlooking the Bay. Had the grits, probably best I've ever had and I'm a true southern girl. Must eat here if you visit Beautiful Beaufort by the bay.
(4)
Jennifer T.
This is one of our regular stops when we come to Beaufort. Today they had fried green tomatoes on special as an appetizer. Of course we tried them and they did not disappoint. This restaurant is located in the heart of downtown. You have the choice to sit inside, outside, or just at the bar with the bartender (who is tall, dark and handsome. ) We chose to sit inside today because of the humidity outside. Great experience as always.
(5)
Kimberly G.
Went here for lunch on a day trip to Beaufort. Great location, sat outside and had a great view of boats, greenery and the water. Busy for weekdays due to proximity of downtown Bft, was seated quickly though. One thing I did not like was being seated by the creaking back door, limited amount of space and very awkward positioning. I chose to move my seat elsewhere since the host did not use better judgement. It was restaurant week, my lunch was $5! I got the chicken salad sandwich which came with fresh fruit. Pretty good size and was made fresh. For what I ordered, it did take a little bit of time to arrive but it was lunch hour. It was one of my cheaper meals due to the promotion but a decent place to have a casual bite. The restaurant had a good selection of food and beverages including a fully stocked bar.
(3)
Nina V.
Sadly, I can't say that this place is amazingly good. A large party of us stopped by for lunch on a warm, August day. Even though I got to sample a little bit of everyone's dish, I can't say that I'm blown away by any means. Their unlimited sweet tea refills are great, though!
(3)
Deb W.
Sadly, I can't say I'm a fan. I really wanted to like it. It's got a great location and very cute when you first walk in with a great outdoor eating deck. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. I clearly asked if the burgers can be cooked medium-rare and she said yes. Not even close. I didn't realize there would be 2 patties and they were both well done, although basically tasty and the bacon was very good. I thought it was really weird that they served the burger with a packaged ketchup, packaged mayo and packaged mustard. I like a lot of ketchup, so luckily they brought a bottle when I requested. I also didn't like that the drinks were served in plastic cups even inside. Also, the soda was completely flat and the bathroom was in serious need of a good cleaning. The other two in my group very much enjoyed their sandwiches, so I'm thinking this place could be saved with a few simple changes. - Clean the bathroom, serve drinks in glass, and either work on how to cook a burger or be honest. I would have been fine ordering something else if I knew it wouldn't come cooked as requested.
(2)
Kelly B.
I stopped in this modern yet quaint spot for lunch while in town for the day. It's located on gorgeous Bay St, right next to the water and beautiful park area. There was a 20 minute wait to sit outside as it was an absolutely gorgeous day. My table had oysters, salad, and I had the bacon and Swiss burger. The burger was the perfect balance of meat and toppings. I couldn't have been happier with our waitress, the view, and the food. The only reason I can't give this place 5 stars is because after waiting 20 minutes to sit outside, there was minor construction on the side of the building and there were men with very loud power tools making an unpleasant amount of noise during peak lunch hours, with the patio packed full of people, which I consider a very inconsiderate management error.
(4)
Katie W.
We ate outdoors as the sun was setting. There was a lot of activity out along the waterfront, it was a really nice space to enjoy dinner. I had the crabcake sandwich, substituting a house salad for the fries. The sandwich was good and the house salad was huge, the peach buttermilk vinaigrette was great, very unique. Service was nice and there was a good kid's menu. The key lime pie was good, nice and tart, just as it should be. We did feel a bit rushed out towards the end of the evening, but it was a Monday night.
(4)
Douglas C.
Let me start this by saying the food was good and no issues once we had it. I went here this evening with some friends , a party of 7 (2 of which were children under 8 and 2 we're pregnant ladies). When we approached the hostess we asked for the first available seat, they took our number and said they would text us. This was at 7:15. At 8 we still had not been called or contacted. We walked in and the hostess said she thought we wanted outside. We checked in once before at 740 and there was no confusion at that point. We are finally seated at 815. No water is brought. All ordered ice tea or lemonade. No straws or lemon. When one of the ladies asked "can we get some lemon", we were told it was being cut. One single piece was brought out. We ordered and I was the only one who ordered an ap. 20 min and nothing. At about 25 min the waitress comes and tells my wife they are out of the shrimp salad for her sandwitch. So she orders something else and an ap. Our food is served right after Mt wife gives her order. I never revived my ap (I ordered something small and would need the ap to make up for that). Lemons are brought out in a bowl at this point. 15 min after that (close to 9 or 910) my wife gets her food. Both at the same time (which I can understand but is still not the right way). At this point my friends wife approaches the manager about this situation. She apologises and says this has not been the first time this has happened tonight. She offers us free cake for desert which we accept as we promised the children ice cream and were fairly certain that at 945 the place would be closed. The bill comes. My ap was not on it so that is good. However my wife was billed for both meals (meaning the one she never was served ). We had it corrected, paid and left. This was the second time my friend and his wife had been here. The first was for lunch and the service was slow then as well. To the point they had to take their food to go to meet their sons school bus. To sumerise, food was good, service was terrible. The waitress never even checked to see if the food was properly cooked. None of us will return here and if you have any time line I suggest you avoid it as well.
(1)
Antonia C.
This restaurant is amazing!!!!! Service, food, food presentation, the whole nine yards. DO NOT MISS IT. best shrimps, fish tacos, grits I ever had!!
(5)
Bunger N.
Great food. I had a burger and fries...delicious! The pecan butter with the biscuits they bring you is fabulous. Awesome location by the water, it was HOT so we sat inside but we still had a nice view. We went around 4 on a Saturday and didn't wait at all. Great place!
(5)
Todd L.
Get the fried shrimp! They were plump and the breading was amazing in flavor and texture. So good! That's all I had. The restaurant interior decor is cozy, comfortable, and the service was great.
(4)
Zoey G.
Not what I expected! We walked in (party of 6) and the hostess said outside was full. We were not in a rush, however was not offered to wait for a table outside. The hostess was so bland and miserable. We were seated in the middle of the room towards the back with the bar, and only received 2 menus. Also, my seat was facing the TV, and I was enjoying watching basketball, until the bartender changed the channel to tennis. Tennis?! Maybe it's more of a southern sport, being from PA I never heard of a bar putting tennis on a TV. Food was a bit slow coming out ( you can see in the kitchen a bit) but I think they need some more help back there. Food however was delicious! Our server was sweet and attentive!
(3)
Caren T.
My husband & 2 children came here at 4pm on a Sunday after Plums came highly recommended as we were visiting from out of town. They were not busy & were adequately staffed. The restaurant was filthy dirty. From the bathroom that smelled like a barn, to our table that left dirt on our clothing & garbage on the floors, the entire place needs to be scrubbed. Our server had zero personality & was arguing with the kitchen. Instead of bringing our food out, she walked away from it, letting it get cold & took another order. We watched it sit for 5 min. The food was decent but go somewhere else, it is obviously not run by professionals.
(1)
Emily A.
The outdoor seating is super cute and has an incredible view of the water. I had a pimento cheese sandwich, which the waitress recommended grilled. I agree. Very nice. Our lunch just happened to coincide with the annual air show, so literally had the Blue Angels flying overhead. Some of the best seats in the house! We weren't a fan of the Low country Ruben, but the traditional was very good. Everyone was very friendly, and all in all, the experience was very positive. I would definitely go back to try the shrimp and grits, which I heard was very good.
(4)
Leigh S.
We loved Plums!!! We came down to Beaufort for a family vacation/mini-reunion. Plus siblings are going to be building a vacation home there. I had been to Plums 4 out of the 6 days that we were there. That's how much I loved it! Ambiance: 4 stars. It was really nice & open. The people there were really nice & accommodation, seeing how we were a party of 12 & then a party of 15!! Food: 5 stars!!! They had such good & fresh seafood. We started out with the Seafood tower. The oysters were so plump & fresh & good! They had the best Shrimp & Grits that I've ever had! We looked the Po Boys & some specials! It's right on the river front & it made for a nice view! If we ever get back down there, Plums will be one of 1st places that we'll visit!
(5)
Julie H.
I had a fabulous meal here for lunch. Started with the clam chowder, very creamy, with pieces of potatoes, fresh cut celery, and clams. Great clam chowder considering it was not made in New England. I ordered an egg salad sandwich on wheat. The other guest with me ordered shrimp, salad, and a rueben sandwich. Everything tasted amazing. Service was prompt and the server even gave us refills on the tea and water we ordered. I'd love to go back for lunch again the next time I'm nearby visiting family.
(5)
Michael B.
We tried this restaurant on a Friday evening a few weeks ago. Service was attentive, and the food was really good. We are definitely returning!
(4)
Adam B. J.
We only had apps and drinks, but they were both good. Great fried oysters. The batter was excellent. They had some sort of different spice in it and may have had celery salt in it or finished with it. They were great! Had the Clam Chowder too. Could have had more clams/potatoes, but good flavor. Nice staff, and a great view from outside of the Beaufort water front. Our second visit was not as good as our first. Since we enjoyed the apps so much, I brought my entire family & a co-worker back a couple months later. The shrimp salad po-boy and the oyster po-boy were delicious, but still a little over priced for the oyster/bread ratio. The tomato were lazily prepped. One slice was 1/4 inch and the other was paper thing... Just cause one was thick doesn't even out the proportion guys. Our service was also very bad on our second visit. It took for ever to be greeted, and get our drink order taken. We had come for an early lunch (hoping for brunch) and the restaurant was far from busy. No one ever got a refill. I asked for a refill on my tea twice but never got it. My wife's shrimp po-boy had 3 shrimp on it. Not kidding. Maybe everyone that worked there had celebrated St. Patty's in Savannah the day before and we suffered with them? You can't beat the view though, and again the oysters are great!
(3)
Emily H.
Our server was very polite and nice to us. The food was Okay. I Loved the flounder but not the crab cake stuffing...Their Gouda Mac n Cheese is AWESOME!!! The dining area inside was nice but when you're waiting on your food you have nothing to do but look around...UP at the ceiling...which is CAKED in DUST!!! all the lights, fans and ac units looked like they hadn't been cleaned in YEARS!!! The cooks area is open so you can see them cooking your food when u walk in...NOT a good idea...especially when your cooks don't wear gloves NOR hair nets...and are standing there eating food while cooking food.....i don't think i'd ever go there again for food.....maybe for the bar (cause the drinks where great) but not to dine inside...
(3)
M M.
The low country gumbo and the Biarritz wrap were excellent. Will go back anytime. The service was prompt and efficient.
(5)
Eric W.
My family and I visit Fripp Island every summer and Plums is one of the handful of places we visit every year. Great food and great service. We will always be coming back for more!
(5)
Brad B.
The food was just ok. We sat outside and the service was not good at all. There were flies all around and could have easily been solved by the restaurant. With the location, it was somewhat of a let down.
(2)
J A.
Arrived first at Plums and the order for 4 people went in quickly. Simple orders! Our server then got busy and ignored our orders. The place filled up. Everyone got their orders but not us. Our server showed up half and hour later, we don't know where she was. The kitchen apparently gave our stuff to someone else. Our server was not on the ball nor were the 3 men in the kitchen!
(1)
Angel B.
Excellent atmosphere and the food is tasty. Chicken gumbo was full of meat and very flavorful. Fried shrimp PO boy and soft shell crab were very well done. Staff was friendly and attentive even though it was the height of lunch time. Sat on the back deck.
(4)
Lorilyn H.
Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for lunch with two other people. Menu looked appealing and we ordered some simple sandwiches: a shrimp po' boy, a cheeseburger and a PB&J for the kiddo. Not terribly challenging - but it took FOR EVER to arrive. I keep hearing "Low Country is SLOW Country" but seriously - you'd think a restaurant would figure out that bringing hot food to a table is part of the experience. The food was ok - when it at long last appeared. Decent burger - COLD shrimp and a dried out PB&J. One order of fresh and one order of cold, gooey sweet potato fries. The waitress was attentive but no real excuse for the kitchen to have lost/buried/deep sixed our order. Organizing and expediting food isn't rocket science.
(2)
Doug R.
Where to begin. I am easy to please. Drinks weak, fried green tomatoes were red, my wife ordered salmon salad and a plain salad came out. Waitress disappeared. Went to find her or somebody, but only waitress was busy facebooking, my rice undercooked, finally brought out rare half cooked salmon, my food now cold, ordered a Margarita and saw a wierd green drink (apple martini with salt) really. waitress said it was the closest thing since they didn't have margaritas on the computer. worth $ cost $$$$. never posted a review but I felt this was needed
(1)
Frank G.
This is beautiful area, Beaufort. My wife an I visit a few times a year, always left feeling that warm feeling of a place that you could call home. Have eating in many resturants with no issues, but this was terrible. Went into the resturant from the water side. Most people would do so. Had to go inside to the front to get a Host to seat us. A waitress finally did so. Our waitress stopped by after 10 minutes or so to say will be right with you. 15 minutes later she came to ask what we wanted to drink. 20 or so minutes after that our drinks came. We ordered a salad and a wrap. Almost 35 minutes later I caught her and asked about our order, said she want me to find out, said yes. 10 minutes later our order came. I asked again what took so long, she said want me to find out!!!! Mind you although the outside was filled, the inside was empty. If this beautiful area wants to get visitors from charleston, they have to employ competent people. This was a salad and a wrap ....really ???? The food we ordered was not worth waiting for at all. Frank G
(1)
Jason M.
Great service from staff. Food was so so this time . 5 th time eating here so one out of 5 is fine with me. Food was a little slow but waitress made is feel really good about how she was getting kitchen cooks to hurry . Will be back in the fall on the way to Fripp.
(4)
Kathy E.
We stopped in after a recommendation from a local shop owner. The fried shrimp was not completely shelled, and not deveined in about half the shrimp. The wait was ridiculous (the restaurant was not crowded at all), and the service below average. We will not be returning.
(2)
Gary G.
Good food at reasonable prices with a killer location. Sit on the patio or go somewhere else
(4)
Kandis F.
They have potential... Went with my coworkers hoping to have a nice dinner near the waterfront; appetizers came out twenty minutes apart, drinks were not given to the right people and when they would refill the glasses they would take them off the table and refill at the table next to us which caused them to give back the wrong glasses (thank god we were paying attention), our food was given to the five of us at different times and spanned out over fifteen minutes. Most of the food was cold as well. Burger was overcooked and bacon on burger was burnt to a crisp. Won't be coming back... unless the reviews improve. On a side note... staff was friendly, and atmosphere was inviting. ~ Good Luck to Plums
(2)
Kitty W.
Terribly disappointed in the fact I as a solo diner was ignored. Hostess seated me, gave me a menu and silverware and I never encountered a waitress. As a local I practically know the menu by heart, and had already selected my lunch, but the only waitress that came to the section where I was seated, went straight to the large party vs the couple or the other single diner. 20 minutes from me stepping into the restaurant I got up and left the premises and I doubt anyone even noticed.
(1)
Elliott B.
While spending the day in Beaufort, we just needed a place for a quick bite. Someone suggested the plum restaurant so we gave it a try. The restaurant atmosphere was very beachtowny, but the seating setup proved to be quite awkward. But, onto the food. I had the chicken gumbo and it just wasn't that good. Someone else had the seafood gumbo which turned out to new more of a chowder than a gumbo. Others at the table had sandwiches and burgers which apparently were also average. I also had the oysters as an entree. They were on the half shell and came out with no tabasco or horseradish, they brought it to me eventually but I don't want to eat plain raw oysters. It was a fine meal. I won't remember it certainly, but I guess it was good for the price. Overwhelmed by a feeling of indifference.
(3)
M K.
What a let down! No happy hour deals was a slight bust but that was the least of my hopes being demolished. As they advertise fresh squeezed lemon juice in their lemon drop I figured they would have the expertise to fix a Long Island iced tea with the same juice. Rather than even making the drink the proper way they opted to use a pre mix with some sugar junk. Plums claims to be fresh but my experience had not even a hint of what Should have been pleasurable and joyous. Feeling jipped is not a good feeling so avoid ordering drinks that require bar tending knowledge! Any average joe could create more original and tasty drinks then plums could ever dream of. Food is decent. Just know what to expect so you are not let down.
(1)
Shelley G.
A great spot. Comfortable bar, friendly welcoming bartender. The food was terrific, especially the blackened catfish and really yummy succotash. So much fish we couldn't even finish it. Shrimp and grits also delicious, plump fresh flavorful shrimp and a huge mound of perfectly cooked grits (could have used a bit more of the delicious sauce). Our Only complaints, the manhattans tasted watered down and the skip the cheesecake, it was very ordinary.
(4)
Penny E.
Wow! Gorgeous view!!! We were passing through and stopped here for lunch - the chicken salad sandwich and key lime pie were excellent- so was the friendly staff. So glad we asked to be seated on the patio!
(5)
Bridgette G.
Decided to visit Plums on the way home from a day at Hunting Island April 11, 2015, but it will probably be my only visit. We entered from the water side and could see three available tables arranged for two on the porch and a few open tables inside arranged for four or more so we didn't anticipate a wait. We were wrong, we were told it was a 20-30 minute wait. For some unknown reason the manager wouldn't seat the party of three that arrived when we did or us, a party of two, immediately, saying he couldn't seat us before people who were waiting. NO ONE ELSE WAITING!!! A couple came in just as we were being seated and asked for one of the three open tables on the porch because they had their dog with them. The manager made them wait 15 minutes even after the man of the couple said he'd wipe the table down himself (the tables were wet from a brief rain shower about an hour earlier). The manager just told him he had to seat someone else and walked away. He didn't have anyone to seat next because we were the last people before this couple and we had just been seated! Then he proceeded to turn away three more parties of four or more saying there was a 30 minute wait although they could clearly see there were at least eight open tables. I feel sorry for the tip-dependent wait staff and hope this manager is the also the sole owner because he'll ruin this business. We should have gone elsewhere, but because it was already 8:00 PM, and we had passed up a few other choices on the way from Hunting Island, we knew our only other choices would be fast food or just make the 2.5 hour drive home without eating and we hadn't eaten since breakfast. Although the food was tasty, we could have just gone to the fast food places near Robert Smalls Parkway and been just as satisfied. I had the bleu cheese burger with caramelized onions and DD had the crab cake sandwich. Our waitress was polite and quick and the view was nice. That being said, when we return in a few months we're going to try either Dockside or the Foolish Frog.
(2)
Nilsa L.
Loved this place from the raw oysters to the shrimp and grits. Will return to Beaufort just to go to Plums.
(4)
Dee S.
Wonderful afternoon lunch. Perfect sandwiches and drinks. Low country Reuben was very good. Swamp water beverage very yummy.
(5)
Cassie T.
Bread is delicious! Shrimp appetizer was amazing as was the fish tacos. I highly recommend.
(5)
David P.
When asking where to check in when entering the restaurant a waitress responded "does this look like the check in station?" We went elsewhere. Life is to short to be treated rudely..
(1)
Jennifer F.
Solid restaurant with a good menu. I had the lowcountry Reuben with pimento cheese and it was sooooo good. I would definitely try to make it at home (since I am from out of town). Good atmosphere and great location downtown.
(4)
Leah S.
Restaurant is cramming way too many tables both inside and out. Even the wait staff couldn't manage to get around. Our waitress was very slow and seemed out of it that day. We had the special which was a fried green tomato BLT (with pimento cheese). It was pretty good. (Honestly it would have been better without the cheese.)
(3)
Khalimah H.
The service was nice, the river view was nice, my flounder was tasty, but the rest of my food & apetizers overall was ok.
(3)
David W.
Okay, wanted to give this a four star rating but can't find anything negative about this place. Had the shimp and a cup of gumbo. The gumbo was a close to homemade as i've had out. The shrimp were really fresh and right out of the fryer. Wife had the Barritz with a side salad. The wrap was really good, the dressing on ths salad outstanding. Service was great even though the place was packed. Huge fan!!
(5)
Steve H.
Had the shrimp salad and it was flavorless. Also had the pear salad. Dressing was good but was lacking the goat cheese. Staff was okay.
(3)
Steve M.
We enjoyed a pleasant meal at Plums on July 4th. We had the Fried Green Tomato stack as an appetizer and it was amazing! Excellent fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese and this out of this world bacon jam! Yes, Bacon jam!!! I had the crab cake sandwich and my wife had the gumbo. Both were quite good. Friendly staff and attentive service. Their patio is dog friendly, too.
(4)
Gene A.
While vacationing on Hilton Head Island, SC about 50 minutes drive, me, my wife and 2 couples went to Beaufort for dinner. We came upon Plum's and do glad we did. Our experience started with a very friendly young lady who was terrific. She brought out fresh warm biscuits with pecan butter; delicious. We ordered oysters that were fresh, cold and very good. I ordered the Santa Fe; a linguine dish wis black beans, cherry tomatoes with grilled shrimp with cream sauce (I substituted the chicken with shrimp). I was surprised that the dish definitely had a spicy kick to it that was surprise since the menu made no mention of it. My friend entrees also were on the spicy side, though very good'. The only recommendation that I passed on to the hostess to tell the chef was to hold off on the spice hot dishes if they are not specific in describing the entree on menu or have waitress explain to customers that the dishes are normally spicy do the customer can decide to change it or accept it, therefore there is no surprise when you take your first bite. Dinner was terrific, setting was very nice with view of the bay or river and service was excellent. I highly recommend his recommend this restaurant and would go back again.
(5)
Luanne T.
Fried oysters were not cleaned well and we found shells throughout. Our server did comp that order, but it ruined the meal.
(2)
Evan M.
Food seemed to be all of the frozen out of a box variety. Reminds me a lot of somewhere like Applebee's. Nothing was disgusting but was completely devoid of originality and flavor. Service was pretty spotty as well with things being messed up and arriving at different times. Save yourself the effort if you're looking for something fresh, original, or new. Food ordered: Burger: was cooked to order but was obviously frozen premade patties. Boiled/Steamed shrimp: Sad and kinda small since I know better is available locally caught. Chicken And Cayenne Cream Pasta: again bland and very forgettable Calamari: soggy with no flavor Oysters: ok I guess but I wouldn't call top quality. hard to ruin something you do not cook though....
(2)
Alison T.
Disgusting restroom, staff self absorbed with their cell phones. Seams like no one is running the joint. Oysters great!
(3)
Jenna C.
This place is such a disappointment! Dined in a few times and will NEVER be back again. Poor service, between both management and servers. When we FINALLY received our food (1 hour after ordering when the place was slow), it was cold and bland. The manager shrugged it off... Do not waste your time here; there are FAR better places to dine in within the vicinity.
(1)
A M.
Pros--great views on a lovely day: friendly waitress/great clam chowder, coffee, carrot cake Cons-- no sign saying "seat yourselves "/ beat up chairs and sticky table top/ really stinky sewer smell in bathroom ( do not use unless desperate) Perhaps we were there on a bad day ( Thursday 130 lunch), but these are easy fixes and the owners should want the small details to be clean and fresh so that patrons have confidence that the food will be good. Have someone check the restrooms once an hour ! How hard is that ??
(3)
Justin K.
The Bluffton Plums location doesn't show up on Yelp, but it is my location of choice. The service there is phenomenal. I went on a Saturday and our waitress Liz was literally the best waitress I've ever had. Happy hour is from 430-730 with $3 off appetizers. Met the chef to give him a compliment, not sure if he was the executive or sous though. Went back the following Friday. Our server was different but she was wonderful as well. The food wasn't quite as good and it was very apparent that someone different was in the kitchen cooking. The appetizers looked different than before. We shared 5 different appetizers; The Crab Cake was full of crab and flavor but slightly mushy. The chicken nachos were superb. The Oysters Rockefeller are made with collards, pimento, and bacon. Delicious. The clams came in a generous portion. The fish tacos are the best I've ever ate. Always order extra sauce as the portion of fish is massive for a taco. (Went back about 5 months later and the fish portions are small now) Had to downgrade this to 4 stars after going back several more times. Would probably rate it more of 3.5 stars. Liz is still our favorite waitress EVER!
(4)
Craig A.
Good shrimp, good oyster salad, good draft beer, but don't order any beef - burger or something they call a strip steak....
(2)
Carol Anne B.
I'm being generous with the two stars. Never really enjoyed anything I ate there. And if you want fries - they only have sweet potato. The view is nice. The servers were not. Pretty hostess, but that was the extent of it. Quiet enough, some interesting stuff on the walls. Just not my kinda place but my parents like it. (shrug)
(2)
Kathleen M.
Beaufort is halfway between Savannah and Charleston so we decided this would be a good place to stop for lunch. I love it when plans like this work out! We stopped at the Visitors' Center and asked for a lunch recommendation. They asked me, "What kind of food do you like?" I replied, "Well, I don't like white bread and American Cheese." The two ladies looked at each other and said "Plums!" Great recommendation! I had a wild shrimp sandwich with sweet potato fries - Sweet Southern Satisfaction! My husband had the seafood soup and an egg salad sandwich. It's a great lunch when we both leave happy. Great town to walk around, beautiful views and a marvelous lunch!
(5)
James R.
Had lunch. Nothing out of ordinary from what we could see or taste. Not sure why the hype on other Yelp reviews. Typical burger/sandwich joint.
(2)
James T.
Food = 1 (pretty poor, the menu looked like someone had just taken it out of the trash) Price = 3 Experience = 1 (the back of the place is used as a dance floor at night, so beware. As we were trying to have dinner at the bar, the staff was constantly moving the chairs and tables to make way for the late night disco. ...Even as a huge table of multi families tried to have their dinner. How rude. It was like they were saying "move on" we don't care if your finished or not. It's always a bad sign when I see 3 times as many staff members as usual... the management obviously doesn't give a damn about the food quality or the customer's experience.) Take my advise... walk down the street for a much better Beaufort experience. The other reviews are right... the place is not clean and smells.
(2)
Mike And Edna B.
The shrimp here are the freshest on the planet. This is complimented by an excellent selection of salads. Sitting on the porch is great almost any day of the year. Friendly staff.
(5)
Jeffrey P.
Very good. We went on a Saturday night and only had to wait 15 mins. I had the traditional seafood boil. Tons of shrimp and sausage. My wife had a spinach salad with shrimp. Both were good. Only down side may been the waiter was overworked and didn't get our bill in a timely manner.
(4)
Raul A.
Went here for lunch with a co-worker. Ordered the turkey and strawberry wrap...figured it sounded crazy enough to be good. While it wasn't bad, it wasn't great so I won't order it again...but I did like the fresh fruit option as a side versus fries. I'll be back.
(3)
Joe B.
This is my first time back to the iconic Plums since the renovations. BRAVO. During the day, it is a great place for a quick bite to eat. The Biarritz is amazing and so are the sweet potato fries. The egg salad was OK. Staff was friendly and fast. They had a top notch reggae band (Inner Visions from USVI) playing later that night so we came back for dinner. The fried green tomatoes were unbeatable. The chef is from Maryland so you don't have to worry about bready dry crab cakes. These were very tasty as well. The bar area converted into the band area once dinner service was done. Thanks to the renovated area (oyster raw bar) we had a place to get away from the music when we wanted to take a load off.
(4)
Stu W.
This restaurant was a very pleasant surprise for us when we stopped in for lunch. It was an impulse and a discovery as we had not read any prior reviews. Our meals were expertly prepared, tasty, fresh, served well and interesting. Among other things we tried the Biarritz (sandwich) and the Gumbo. Both were outstanding. When we got the bill it was very, very reasonable. This place turned out to be a culinary highlight of our two week trip to SC. As I was preparing this review, I read some of the others that were not as complimentary. I can't really believe we were eating at the same restaurant was our experience was subperb.
(5)
Kathy S.
Crab bisque was wonderful! Shrimp salad and egg salad were fresh and flavorful. The fresh fruit was very tasty. Out food arrived very quickly!
(4)
MaryJane R.
Inedible. This is my fourth horrible experience in the past two years at Plums. There was a time when the food was good here, but things have changed. This time a friend from out of town ordered the shrimp and grits. It was served with "brown gravy" which was so salty that it could not be eaten. My friend asked for just plain grits and shrimp with no seasoning at all, which was an improvement. The salt situation apparently is not just a momentary lapse. The last visit, when someone ordered a stir fry, resulted in the same problem. It arrived as a pile of brown glop. And so salty that it was beyond belief. During another visit, I had shrimp and oysters. The shrimp was mealy and watery and the oysters were miniscule. The only mystery to me is why anyone eats there. In my case, the past few times have been because Wren or Saltus were not open ....and I had hope that Plums would at least be decent. The view from the porch is great. The food is pathetic.
(1)
Jim L.
A couple of people recommended this restaurant, so we decided to try it out. It isn't fancy, but food is reputed to be good. We found it to be OK. Nothing really wrong, but nothing really memorable. Meh?
There are two entrances: one facing the water and the other facing the street. We came in from the back and promptly told to go to the hostess station at the front. Not a problem if it weren't for the fact that everyone else that came in from the back was seated right away. (We were seated next to the door at the back.) Maybe it was just the employee that saw us come, I don't know. The service was incredibly slow. I gave them a little leeway considering that it was pretty busy. Their fare is pretty upscale, but it shouldn't have taken them as long as it did. The waitress was nice enough, but seemed to take forever getting back to us. The food is good. I ordered the Classic Reuben sandwich. The meat was piled a little high in the middle and the bread was a little thin. The sweet potato fries are simply amazing. They don't take away the natural flavor by adding a bunch of sugar like many other restaurants do. I do think they should come up with a dipping alternative like butter with cinnamon or something like that. If you're going out for drinks, this is a place to go, but as far as lunch type deals-- they're ok.
(2)
Evie B.
This is where I take anyone who comes to visit me. Always. The manager is easy to work with (he let us have a special exception to a rule just to accomodate us). The best thing by far though is the curried chicken wrap. Oh, my mouth is watering thinking of it already. Their salads are great too, and appetizers. I think I've tried a few other things, but I always come back for my curried chicken... The whole menu boasts of healthy options and good culinary mixes. If you would never eat brie, or don't know what it is, then don't come here, but if you want good quality unique food, this is your place. If you want fried chicken, go somewhere else, but for the discriminating taste, go to Plum's.
(5)
Kathleen M.
Last night I had the opportunity to sit out on the back patio along the waterfront park with the cool breeze blowing off the bay. We watched the sunset, had a house gin and tonic, and whiled away nearly an hour watching children play in the park and chatting about the glory days, minds far away from the stress and hectic pace of our everyday lives. The cost of this trip away from ourselves? A mere $4 + tip. No, not even tax. And people wonder why I refer to Beaufort as heaven on Earth.
(4)
Andrew C.
I hate this place. Everyone said they had good sandwiches and that the seafood is great. None of its true. I shared the 1lb shrimp plate with a couple of friends and all they did was steam it and dump old bay all over the shrimp. Their strawberry ham (i think it was ham) sandwich was unique but I didn't think it was great. Service here was slow as well but I expected it because somehow this place was packed. Drinks and food were way over priced and for the life of me I don't know why people go back there.
(1)
Heather B.
Plums is more than just a popular eatery. It's a Beaufort tradition. Go for lunch, sit on the porch and soak in the beautiful Waterfront Park views. Hands down, the food is amazing. My favorite has always been the biiaritz wrap with sweet potato fries. Actually, anything on the menu will be amazing!
(5)
Jim R.
Terrible waited over 40 min to be served they seated us under a leaking air duct we walked out
(1)
Ben C.
We waited for 15 minutes with no waitress then flagged someone down to get our waitress. We then waited another 5 minutes with no luck. Service here is piss poor. it wasn't just our waitress either. other tables were getting mad as well. the food here is average
(1)
Kristin K.
Love, love the location & decor. Relaxed, down & dirty seafood eaten place with an AMAZING view of the marsh & bridge. Ask to sit outside & your right on the park shaded by large trees. I had the shrimp po boy. Not too much mayo, bread was light & homemade tasting. Served with chips=perfection. The gumbo was outstanding. Perfectly spiced & a great sausage to chicken ratio. Even though it was 90+ degrees out, I had to order it. The peel & eat shrimp was great too. I don't like oysters, but I was told they were fresh & delicious. Best meal I've had while visiting the low country.
(5)
DM M.
Love this place. Back in the day they had bands place would get rocking!!
(3)
Ed D.
We ate at Plums several times during the summer of 2011 and enjoyed imaginative, well prepared seafood specials. Our experience on May 31, 2012 was very different and the quality of the food has declined. We had a good raw oyster appetizer and the service was very good, but the main course was awful. The single soft shell crab was coated in a thick, very salt batter and served with 2 grilled quarters of romaine and white rice... Neither tasty nor imaginative. The outside seating and view are wonderful, so it is disappointing that the food quality has suffered.
(2)
Dawn A.
We stumbled into Plums after a day of sight seeing. It was lunch time. I had a very good salad with chicken on it. Mixed greens, goat cheese, glazed pecans and a yummy homemade raspberry vinaigrette dressing, topped with a decent sized portion of grilled chicken. The dressing was REALLY good, and normally I am not a raspberry vinaigrette fan. It was sweet without being cloying and had lots of real raspberry flavor. Our service was good, I have to say, however, that we heard "ya'all" from our waitress so many times, we almost thought it was a joke. The view from the windows is lovely, overlooking a large lawn that is right on the water. I am not sure if and when I will get back to Beaufort, but I would definitely return to Plums, based on the tasty lunch we had there.
(4)
Zach T.
Was seated quickly, but then had to wait over an hour for our food after we ordered. I don't know if it was the waitstaff or the kitchen, but other tables seated after us started getting their food before us. The servers were nice, but still no excuse for the wait. Food was decent, but nothing special. Will not return.
(1)
Linda B.
Had lunch there today. Food was just OK. Went because it is always hyped on Tripadviser. We had fried shrimp poboys which were pretty good and a large serving. Shrimp salad which was $10 was a very small size. Oysters on the half shell were reasonably priced but small... the service was the worst. It was not even crowded yet took a very long time for the waitress to take our order. And longer for food and drinks to arrive. Food was delivered in batches. Plums didn't live up to our expectations.
(3)
Donna S.
My family and I were vacationing at Fripp Island and decided to spend a day in Beaufort, SC. Looking for a good local restaurant, I checked Yelp and found Plums. It's down a small alley, off the main road. The restaurant has a very nice look and it's staffed by some very nice southern belles. We ordered the Oysters and two different types of Po' Boy sandwiches. My sister loved the crab cake Po' Boy and my mother and I enjoyed the Wild Shrimp Po' Boy. The sweet potato fries were amazing and clearly homemade. The best part of the lunch were the oysters. They were DELISH and fresh. We tried the local Palm beer and found it very good. I absolutely recommend this place for an authentic southern lunch.
(4)
Daniel S.
We were looking for a place to eat and stumbled upon this place, logged in on Yelp and saw some good reviews, so decided to try. I had the BLT which was great and everyone in the table liked what they had. The sweet potatoes were great, the service was great, fast, they got everything right. Would definitely eat here again.
(4)
Olivia J.
My children's grandfather is a famous chef in Beaufort, SC. While he was entertaining some business guests during our visit and we were in the way, I asked him where I could get a bite to eat to go and camp out in my hotel room with the kids. He said, "Go to Plums." I went straight to the bar and said, what is the special? There were two, a swordfish and a clam pasta. I said, may I have half of both to go? He checked with the chef and they said no. So I asked which one the bartender would recommend, and he said, "You can have alfredo anywhere....." referring to the pasta dish. So I chose swordfish. Thank goodness I did! The fish was done with an orange/soy sweet glaze and served with seasoned brown rice and crunchy summer vegetables: zucchini, squash, and celery. I'm not one to eat my veggies, but I ate every one. It was really fantastic!
(5)
Steve B.
Plums is one restaurant you should not judge by its "cover." We were wondering if we had made a good choice when we first arrived, as the initial appearance is not what you might expect of a good restaurant. But our very competent waiter and, of course, the food itself proved we were right. We each had the crab cakes. Absolutely delicious. Freshly prepared and elegantly served. No appetizers or dessert this night but the complimentary fresh baked biscuits were likewise outstanding. So, we liked Plums very much. We will return. Highly recommended.
(4)
Sarah H.
I will never return. We waited 45 min for our raw oyster appetizer (why?!?) and maybe got a drink refill once. I don't think that the food was good enough to return.
(1)
Ray G.
AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE! My guests (4 total) and I waited over 90 minutes for our food to be served and the appetizer we ordered was never provided. The food (all specials) was bland and over-cooked. The manager was more focused on talking on his cell phone than supervising the restaurant floor and attending to his customers. I am convinced that that the only reason why we received our food is because I sought out the manager and explained to him our unacceptable issue. I travel and dine out very frequently and I can honestly state that this restaurant is now in my top three of worst restaurants in the world. I gave it one star because Yelp will not allow me to go lower.
(1)
Thomas J.
Best Po Boy I have ever had. Crab Cake po boy with sweat potato fries. My wife and mother spilt a salad. It looked amazing. Sweat tea was great. Sat on the patio and looked out at the waterfront in Beaufort. Love this resturant and love Beaufort.
(4)
Susan H.
We love this restaurant. The staff is friendly and helpful. The food has always been very good and the place is always full.
(4)
Alex T.
Great setting on the back porch, good friendly service and the food was good. The burger was great!
(4)
T P.
The food was a nice surprise. The stacked fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese were especially well done. As were the fried shrimp: crusty, fresh, and perfectly cooked. The steamed mussels were served hovering above a wine-y spicy broth that was delicious. Also, the service was a delight -- our server was kind, attentive, bright and knew when to help us and when to simply watch and facilitate our food service. Overall we enjoyed it all (except the screaming toddlers next to us). Otherwise, well worth the food, view, ambiance, drinks, locally fresh food.
(4)
TJ M.
Really disappointed in this place. The atmosphere is great, the service was great but the food was pretty nasty :( It really ticks me off when things are not scratch made or frozen. The sweet potato fries were obviously frozen and not made in house which really bothered me. It's not that hard to make french fries. We also ordered the shrimp salad sandwich that came on a french roll (gross store bought roll). The shrimp salad was made in house, but the shrimp was soooooo over cooked and hard. The Pimento Cheese burger came on another store bought roll and was just okay nothing special. Food here is really below average. They care more about quantity over quality - very lazy cooking.
(1)
Andy B.
Went to Plums for dinner during the annual Riverfront fest. Unfortunately we went fairly late so that may explain some of the problems. 1. Service was average at best - despite the fact the place was basically empty, service was spotty. Took a longgg time to get a waiter, and then there was a very lax attitude towards us. Again, could be that it was late in the evening and the place had become a bar basically. 2. Food was very good - fresh ingredients, well executed. I know Plums does a great lunch business, but the dinner offerings are solid, especially seafood options. 3. Real problem with cleanliness - when we arrived three tables hadn't been bused, and yet we were seated at one of them!! Literally we had someone wiping down a table while we were seated, despite others sitting cleaned and empty. Very odd - again, could be that it was fest week. Overall I'd go again, but only earlier in the day and not during fest week.
(3)
Ginger W.
This is definitely one of our favorite local spots for food & drinks in Beaufort! The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff is always super friendly. They have one of the best blackened Mahi sandwiches we've have ever had! And don't forget to try the friend shrimp from the Oyster Bar. Yum! A must-visit while in Beaufort, SC!
(5)
Jeremy C.
We were having a great time watching the band that was playing that Sat night, the food was go and the drink were ok. All this changed when a drunk individual walked up to me and said that he wanted to kick my @#$% because I was here with a white girl (I am Asian). This changed the mood of the evening.
(1)
Steve S.
Had really good lunch here. They split their famous shrimp sandwich and the pecan Bleu cheese salad (both real tasty & fresh) for my wife and me.
(5)
Kennyann W.
Have enjoyed their club sandwich for years!! great local place with terrific view of the River!!
(4)
ArTal K.
Great spot for lunch in Beaufort. We had a rather large table, our party ordered the Po' Boys, Sandwiches, Salads and Raw Oysters, which were all just right. They were all priced reasonably, and all that you would need for lunch. Staff was friendly and food arrived quickly!!
(4)
David G.
Healthy and clean food. A good break from the sub par stuff on Hilton head island. You will feel good after eating here, especially if you've been having nothing but hush puppies every day
(4)
Blake C.
I just don't know about this place. The place was nice inside and the service was good, but the food was sub par. The caesar was not that good and the steak was tough , but hell you're eating in Beaufort so don't set your expectations too high.
(2)
Heather R.
This was a disaster. We waited for over 45 minutes for our food before finally giving up and leaving. Try Panini's instead - you'll actually get fed there (and their food is great too).
(1)
Katie S.
Plums is just OKAY. It wouldn't be my first choice, but it is nice to visit once in a while. Their pasta is yummy! But everything else is just okay.
(3)
Marquesa O.
Plums is one of my favorite local restaurants. First of all, its the only joint in town that serves sweet potato fries. The atmosphere is cozy and if it weren't so packed all the time it could pass for romantic. The lunch menu is light and has a lot of interesting salads and wraps with very fresh ingredients. The dinner specials are always mouthwatering, and they seem to switch it up a lot. I've seen everything from swordfish to empanadas on the specials menu. The calamari appetizer comes with a n amazing spicy remoulade that I have been meaning to ask if they sell. I've never had a meal I didn't like at Plums and the bartenders are great too......it's a local hangout in the evenings and sometimes they have a live band. Lunch comes at a reasonable price, $10-$15 a plate. Dinner is a little more pricey at $20-$25 a plate, but well worth it. I would recommend Plums to anyone visiting Beaufort.
(4)
Elizabeth R.
Was expecting great things but was very disappointed . Was served a dozen oysters but 4 shells were empty. Server was inept and inattentive. There are better places to spend money
(1)
Ken H.
I used to go all the time, and perhaps it's still great for lunch. But we just went for dinner - raw oysters had shells, served wrong dinner, slow service, and despite being on the menu they had no champagne -- and all after just expanding the restaurant. Really I'm just surprised. Giving 3 stars on hope this was a fluke.
(3)
Shell H.
Went for lunch with my sister a few weeks ago. I had a rueben with fresh fruit that was really good. They were a little stingy with the fruit but the sandwich was great. We were seated at a table that was unstable and wobbly. It wasn't a very comfortable environment but ok for lunch I guess. I would eat lunch again here just maybe ask to be seated elsewhere. Service was ok but not all the waitresses acted happy to be there. It was just an average place at best.
(3)
Paula B.
Visited Beaufort on recommendtion of friend.. Asked around for restaurant for lunch as hubby wanted crabcakes. Was told Plums was the place to go! We arrived at 11:30, a tad early for us, but was told if we wanted to eat on the porch, we'd better grab a table now as there is seating for only about 16 and it would get busy soon. Very nice setting near the water. George and our friend Bev ordered the seafood bisque which they described as delish! Not being a seafood lover, I passed. George had a large plate of peel your own shrimp, and a very large crabcake, and sweet potato fries. Bev ordered a Cranberry Pecan Salad with roquefort and added a crabcake, and I had the Chicken Salad sandwich. They pronounced the crabcakes as fabulous -- lots of crab and only a little filler to get it to hold together. The salad came with a house made raspberry vinaigrette that was thick and yummy. What can I say about the sandwich? It was good. We passed on dessert and when we left ,the place was packed. Arrive early!!
(4)
ted B.
Excellent service and lunch! We truly enjoyed the place and food.
(4)
David L.
Nice location, average food, glacial service if busy.
(2)
Thomas B.
Wonderful food, great service, reasonable price.
(5)
Modemme X.
Very decent sea food, lively atmosphere. Special mussels in coconut broth were good, crab cake entree was excellent (not fried). Decent wine list, good service and on the water. Would visit again if I found myself in Beaufort.
(3)
Hudson Valley C.
Oh yeah! Grab a bite! Plum's was a very pleasant surprise to find during my last trip to Beaufort to visit some family. The location of the restaurant is perfect- overlooking the beautiful water, along the green grass of the banks. The restaurant itself has charm, too. But what struck me most was the food! I had one of the best hamburgers of my life here...really, it was awesome. My sister ordered the Turkey wrap that was about the size of my head, and my other family members ordered different sandwiches and salads that were equally as impressive. While this place was great overall, I should note that there are a few things that could have made it even better: first, some items on the menu were not actually available to order (because they either ran out or didn't have the ingredients), and second, the service, while very efficient, wasn't particularly friendly. Nonetheless, I am very pleased with my experience here and will return during my next visit. You should check it out.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Brad T.
The tall bartender was very friendly and helped us out tremendously with deciding which delicious special to order!
(5)Natalie G.
Plums will become a regular go to when in Beaufort. Apps and a child's pb & j were ordered and it they were delicious. Only down side was that they only had two desserts. Service was exceptional; we had a waitress who was very friendly.
(4)Jennifer M.
The blackened catfish Po'boy was pretty amazing. Prices are very reasonable.
(3)Ann C.
Oh wow, this place had absolutely fantastic shrimp and grits! It was one of the best dishes I've ever tasted. I ate about a fourth of my boyfriend's serving! I ordered fish tacos which were also very good, and they made the perfect Cosmo. Will definitely return!!!
(5)Suzanne H.
Just average. Great view, nothing amazing. They ran out of pickles for my daughter's grilled cheese! Wasn't impressed with the dress shift shell crab, out came on a boring bun, thin cut onion and tomato, tiny drop of sauce. Shrimp on the Po Boy was good. Wasn't busy, but it took a while to get out server to come over. She was great, though.
(2)Kay F.
Poor service, poor food, very noisy and not at all what I remember from my last visit. Won't be coming back.
(2)Danielle M.
Great atmosphere, great location overlooking the Bay. Had the grits, probably best I've ever had and I'm a true southern girl. Must eat here if you visit Beautiful Beaufort by the bay.
(4)Jennifer T.
This is one of our regular stops when we come to Beaufort. Today they had fried green tomatoes on special as an appetizer. Of course we tried them and they did not disappoint. This restaurant is located in the heart of downtown. You have the choice to sit inside, outside, or just at the bar with the bartender (who is tall, dark and handsome. ) We chose to sit inside today because of the humidity outside. Great experience as always.
(5)Kimberly G.
Went here for lunch on a day trip to Beaufort. Great location, sat outside and had a great view of boats, greenery and the water. Busy for weekdays due to proximity of downtown Bft, was seated quickly though. One thing I did not like was being seated by the creaking back door, limited amount of space and very awkward positioning. I chose to move my seat elsewhere since the host did not use better judgement. It was restaurant week, my lunch was $5! I got the chicken salad sandwich which came with fresh fruit. Pretty good size and was made fresh. For what I ordered, it did take a little bit of time to arrive but it was lunch hour. It was one of my cheaper meals due to the promotion but a decent place to have a casual bite. The restaurant had a good selection of food and beverages including a fully stocked bar.
(3)Nina V.
Sadly, I can't say that this place is amazingly good. A large party of us stopped by for lunch on a warm, August day. Even though I got to sample a little bit of everyone's dish, I can't say that I'm blown away by any means. Their unlimited sweet tea refills are great, though!
(3)Deb W.
Sadly, I can't say I'm a fan. I really wanted to like it. It's got a great location and very cute when you first walk in with a great outdoor eating deck. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. I clearly asked if the burgers can be cooked medium-rare and she said yes. Not even close. I didn't realize there would be 2 patties and they were both well done, although basically tasty and the bacon was very good. I thought it was really weird that they served the burger with a packaged ketchup, packaged mayo and packaged mustard. I like a lot of ketchup, so luckily they brought a bottle when I requested. I also didn't like that the drinks were served in plastic cups even inside. Also, the soda was completely flat and the bathroom was in serious need of a good cleaning. The other two in my group very much enjoyed their sandwiches, so I'm thinking this place could be saved with a few simple changes. - Clean the bathroom, serve drinks in glass, and either work on how to cook a burger or be honest. I would have been fine ordering something else if I knew it wouldn't come cooked as requested.
(2)Kelly B.
I stopped in this modern yet quaint spot for lunch while in town for the day. It's located on gorgeous Bay St, right next to the water and beautiful park area. There was a 20 minute wait to sit outside as it was an absolutely gorgeous day. My table had oysters, salad, and I had the bacon and Swiss burger. The burger was the perfect balance of meat and toppings. I couldn't have been happier with our waitress, the view, and the food. The only reason I can't give this place 5 stars is because after waiting 20 minutes to sit outside, there was minor construction on the side of the building and there were men with very loud power tools making an unpleasant amount of noise during peak lunch hours, with the patio packed full of people, which I consider a very inconsiderate management error.
(4)Katie W.
We ate outdoors as the sun was setting. There was a lot of activity out along the waterfront, it was a really nice space to enjoy dinner. I had the crabcake sandwich, substituting a house salad for the fries. The sandwich was good and the house salad was huge, the peach buttermilk vinaigrette was great, very unique. Service was nice and there was a good kid's menu. The key lime pie was good, nice and tart, just as it should be. We did feel a bit rushed out towards the end of the evening, but it was a Monday night.
(4)Douglas C.
Let me start this by saying the food was good and no issues once we had it. I went here this evening with some friends , a party of 7 (2 of which were children under 8 and 2 we're pregnant ladies). When we approached the hostess we asked for the first available seat, they took our number and said they would text us. This was at 7:15. At 8 we still had not been called or contacted. We walked in and the hostess said she thought we wanted outside. We checked in once before at 740 and there was no confusion at that point. We are finally seated at 815. No water is brought. All ordered ice tea or lemonade. No straws or lemon. When one of the ladies asked "can we get some lemon", we were told it was being cut. One single piece was brought out. We ordered and I was the only one who ordered an ap. 20 min and nothing. At about 25 min the waitress comes and tells my wife they are out of the shrimp salad for her sandwitch. So she orders something else and an ap. Our food is served right after Mt wife gives her order. I never revived my ap (I ordered something small and would need the ap to make up for that). Lemons are brought out in a bowl at this point. 15 min after that (close to 9 or 910) my wife gets her food. Both at the same time (which I can understand but is still not the right way). At this point my friends wife approaches the manager about this situation. She apologises and says this has not been the first time this has happened tonight. She offers us free cake for desert which we accept as we promised the children ice cream and were fairly certain that at 945 the place would be closed. The bill comes. My ap was not on it so that is good. However my wife was billed for both meals (meaning the one she never was served ). We had it corrected, paid and left. This was the second time my friend and his wife had been here. The first was for lunch and the service was slow then as well. To the point they had to take their food to go to meet their sons school bus. To sumerise, food was good, service was terrible. The waitress never even checked to see if the food was properly cooked. None of us will return here and if you have any time line I suggest you avoid it as well.
(1)Antonia C.
This restaurant is amazing!!!!! Service, food, food presentation, the whole nine yards. DO NOT MISS IT. best shrimps, fish tacos, grits I ever had!!
(5)Bunger N.
Great food. I had a burger and fries...delicious! The pecan butter with the biscuits they bring you is fabulous. Awesome location by the water, it was HOT so we sat inside but we still had a nice view. We went around 4 on a Saturday and didn't wait at all. Great place!
(5)Todd L.
Get the fried shrimp! They were plump and the breading was amazing in flavor and texture. So good! That's all I had. The restaurant interior decor is cozy, comfortable, and the service was great.
(4)Zoey G.
Not what I expected! We walked in (party of 6) and the hostess said outside was full. We were not in a rush, however was not offered to wait for a table outside. The hostess was so bland and miserable. We were seated in the middle of the room towards the back with the bar, and only received 2 menus. Also, my seat was facing the TV, and I was enjoying watching basketball, until the bartender changed the channel to tennis. Tennis?! Maybe it's more of a southern sport, being from PA I never heard of a bar putting tennis on a TV. Food was a bit slow coming out ( you can see in the kitchen a bit) but I think they need some more help back there. Food however was delicious! Our server was sweet and attentive!
(3)Caren T.
My husband & 2 children came here at 4pm on a Sunday after Plums came highly recommended as we were visiting from out of town. They were not busy & were adequately staffed. The restaurant was filthy dirty. From the bathroom that smelled like a barn, to our table that left dirt on our clothing & garbage on the floors, the entire place needs to be scrubbed. Our server had zero personality & was arguing with the kitchen. Instead of bringing our food out, she walked away from it, letting it get cold & took another order. We watched it sit for 5 min. The food was decent but go somewhere else, it is obviously not run by professionals.
(1)Emily A.
The outdoor seating is super cute and has an incredible view of the water. I had a pimento cheese sandwich, which the waitress recommended grilled. I agree. Very nice. Our lunch just happened to coincide with the annual air show, so literally had the Blue Angels flying overhead. Some of the best seats in the house! We weren't a fan of the Low country Ruben, but the traditional was very good. Everyone was very friendly, and all in all, the experience was very positive. I would definitely go back to try the shrimp and grits, which I heard was very good.
(4)Leigh S.
We loved Plums!!! We came down to Beaufort for a family vacation/mini-reunion. Plus siblings are going to be building a vacation home there. I had been to Plums 4 out of the 6 days that we were there. That's how much I loved it! Ambiance: 4 stars. It was really nice & open. The people there were really nice & accommodation, seeing how we were a party of 12 & then a party of 15!! Food: 5 stars!!! They had such good & fresh seafood. We started out with the Seafood tower. The oysters were so plump & fresh & good! They had the best Shrimp & Grits that I've ever had! We looked the Po Boys & some specials! It's right on the river front & it made for a nice view! If we ever get back down there, Plums will be one of 1st places that we'll visit!
(5)Julie H.
I had a fabulous meal here for lunch. Started with the clam chowder, very creamy, with pieces of potatoes, fresh cut celery, and clams. Great clam chowder considering it was not made in New England. I ordered an egg salad sandwich on wheat. The other guest with me ordered shrimp, salad, and a rueben sandwich. Everything tasted amazing. Service was prompt and the server even gave us refills on the tea and water we ordered. I'd love to go back for lunch again the next time I'm nearby visiting family.
(5)Michael B.
We tried this restaurant on a Friday evening a few weeks ago. Service was attentive, and the food was really good. We are definitely returning!
(4)Adam B. J.
We only had apps and drinks, but they were both good. Great fried oysters. The batter was excellent. They had some sort of different spice in it and may have had celery salt in it or finished with it. They were great! Had the Clam Chowder too. Could have had more clams/potatoes, but good flavor. Nice staff, and a great view from outside of the Beaufort water front. Our second visit was not as good as our first. Since we enjoyed the apps so much, I brought my entire family & a co-worker back a couple months later. The shrimp salad po-boy and the oyster po-boy were delicious, but still a little over priced for the oyster/bread ratio. The tomato were lazily prepped. One slice was 1/4 inch and the other was paper thing... Just cause one was thick doesn't even out the proportion guys. Our service was also very bad on our second visit. It took for ever to be greeted, and get our drink order taken. We had come for an early lunch (hoping for brunch) and the restaurant was far from busy. No one ever got a refill. I asked for a refill on my tea twice but never got it. My wife's shrimp po-boy had 3 shrimp on it. Not kidding. Maybe everyone that worked there had celebrated St. Patty's in Savannah the day before and we suffered with them? You can't beat the view though, and again the oysters are great!
(3)Emily H.
Our server was very polite and nice to us. The food was Okay. I Loved the flounder but not the crab cake stuffing...Their Gouda Mac n Cheese is AWESOME!!! The dining area inside was nice but when you're waiting on your food you have nothing to do but look around...UP at the ceiling...which is CAKED in DUST!!! all the lights, fans and ac units looked like they hadn't been cleaned in YEARS!!! The cooks area is open so you can see them cooking your food when u walk in...NOT a good idea...especially when your cooks don't wear gloves NOR hair nets...and are standing there eating food while cooking food.....i don't think i'd ever go there again for food.....maybe for the bar (cause the drinks where great) but not to dine inside...
(3)M M.
The low country gumbo and the Biarritz wrap were excellent. Will go back anytime. The service was prompt and efficient.
(5)Eric W.
My family and I visit Fripp Island every summer and Plums is one of the handful of places we visit every year. Great food and great service. We will always be coming back for more!
(5)Brad B.
The food was just ok. We sat outside and the service was not good at all. There were flies all around and could have easily been solved by the restaurant. With the location, it was somewhat of a let down.
(2)J A.
Arrived first at Plums and the order for 4 people went in quickly. Simple orders! Our server then got busy and ignored our orders. The place filled up. Everyone got their orders but not us. Our server showed up half and hour later, we don't know where she was. The kitchen apparently gave our stuff to someone else. Our server was not on the ball nor were the 3 men in the kitchen!
(1)Angel B.
Excellent atmosphere and the food is tasty. Chicken gumbo was full of meat and very flavorful. Fried shrimp PO boy and soft shell crab were very well done. Staff was friendly and attentive even though it was the height of lunch time. Sat on the back deck.
(4)Lorilyn H.
Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for lunch with two other people. Menu looked appealing and we ordered some simple sandwiches: a shrimp po' boy, a cheeseburger and a PB&J for the kiddo. Not terribly challenging - but it took FOR EVER to arrive. I keep hearing "Low Country is SLOW Country" but seriously - you'd think a restaurant would figure out that bringing hot food to a table is part of the experience. The food was ok - when it at long last appeared. Decent burger - COLD shrimp and a dried out PB&J. One order of fresh and one order of cold, gooey sweet potato fries. The waitress was attentive but no real excuse for the kitchen to have lost/buried/deep sixed our order. Organizing and expediting food isn't rocket science.
(2)Doug R.
Where to begin. I am easy to please. Drinks weak, fried green tomatoes were red, my wife ordered salmon salad and a plain salad came out. Waitress disappeared. Went to find her or somebody, but only waitress was busy facebooking, my rice undercooked, finally brought out rare half cooked salmon, my food now cold, ordered a Margarita and saw a wierd green drink (apple martini with salt) really. waitress said it was the closest thing since they didn't have margaritas on the computer. worth $ cost $$$$. never posted a review but I felt this was needed
(1)Frank G.
This is beautiful area, Beaufort. My wife an I visit a few times a year, always left feeling that warm feeling of a place that you could call home. Have eating in many resturants with no issues, but this was terrible. Went into the resturant from the water side. Most people would do so. Had to go inside to the front to get a Host to seat us. A waitress finally did so. Our waitress stopped by after 10 minutes or so to say will be right with you. 15 minutes later she came to ask what we wanted to drink. 20 or so minutes after that our drinks came. We ordered a salad and a wrap. Almost 35 minutes later I caught her and asked about our order, said she want me to find out, said yes. 10 minutes later our order came. I asked again what took so long, she said want me to find out!!!! Mind you although the outside was filled, the inside was empty. If this beautiful area wants to get visitors from charleston, they have to employ competent people. This was a salad and a wrap ....really ???? The food we ordered was not worth waiting for at all. Frank G
(1)Jason M.
Great service from staff. Food was so so this time . 5 th time eating here so one out of 5 is fine with me. Food was a little slow but waitress made is feel really good about how she was getting kitchen cooks to hurry . Will be back in the fall on the way to Fripp.
(4)Kathy E.
We stopped in after a recommendation from a local shop owner. The fried shrimp was not completely shelled, and not deveined in about half the shrimp. The wait was ridiculous (the restaurant was not crowded at all), and the service below average. We will not be returning.
(2)Gary G.
Good food at reasonable prices with a killer location. Sit on the patio or go somewhere else
(4)Kandis F.
They have potential... Went with my coworkers hoping to have a nice dinner near the waterfront; appetizers came out twenty minutes apart, drinks were not given to the right people and when they would refill the glasses they would take them off the table and refill at the table next to us which caused them to give back the wrong glasses (thank god we were paying attention), our food was given to the five of us at different times and spanned out over fifteen minutes. Most of the food was cold as well. Burger was overcooked and bacon on burger was burnt to a crisp. Won't be coming back... unless the reviews improve. On a side note... staff was friendly, and atmosphere was inviting. ~ Good Luck to Plums
(2)Kitty W.
Terribly disappointed in the fact I as a solo diner was ignored. Hostess seated me, gave me a menu and silverware and I never encountered a waitress. As a local I practically know the menu by heart, and had already selected my lunch, but the only waitress that came to the section where I was seated, went straight to the large party vs the couple or the other single diner. 20 minutes from me stepping into the restaurant I got up and left the premises and I doubt anyone even noticed.
(1)Elliott B.
While spending the day in Beaufort, we just needed a place for a quick bite. Someone suggested the plum restaurant so we gave it a try. The restaurant atmosphere was very beachtowny, but the seating setup proved to be quite awkward. But, onto the food. I had the chicken gumbo and it just wasn't that good. Someone else had the seafood gumbo which turned out to new more of a chowder than a gumbo. Others at the table had sandwiches and burgers which apparently were also average. I also had the oysters as an entree. They were on the half shell and came out with no tabasco or horseradish, they brought it to me eventually but I don't want to eat plain raw oysters. It was a fine meal. I won't remember it certainly, but I guess it was good for the price. Overwhelmed by a feeling of indifference.
(3)M K.
What a let down! No happy hour deals was a slight bust but that was the least of my hopes being demolished. As they advertise fresh squeezed lemon juice in their lemon drop I figured they would have the expertise to fix a Long Island iced tea with the same juice. Rather than even making the drink the proper way they opted to use a pre mix with some sugar junk. Plums claims to be fresh but my experience had not even a hint of what Should have been pleasurable and joyous. Feeling jipped is not a good feeling so avoid ordering drinks that require bar tending knowledge! Any average joe could create more original and tasty drinks then plums could ever dream of. Food is decent. Just know what to expect so you are not let down.
(1)Shelley G.
A great spot. Comfortable bar, friendly welcoming bartender. The food was terrific, especially the blackened catfish and really yummy succotash. So much fish we couldn't even finish it. Shrimp and grits also delicious, plump fresh flavorful shrimp and a huge mound of perfectly cooked grits (could have used a bit more of the delicious sauce). Our Only complaints, the manhattans tasted watered down and the skip the cheesecake, it was very ordinary.
(4)Penny E.
Wow! Gorgeous view!!! We were passing through and stopped here for lunch - the chicken salad sandwich and key lime pie were excellent- so was the friendly staff. So glad we asked to be seated on the patio!
(5)Bridgette G.
Decided to visit Plums on the way home from a day at Hunting Island April 11, 2015, but it will probably be my only visit. We entered from the water side and could see three available tables arranged for two on the porch and a few open tables inside arranged for four or more so we didn't anticipate a wait. We were wrong, we were told it was a 20-30 minute wait. For some unknown reason the manager wouldn't seat the party of three that arrived when we did or us, a party of two, immediately, saying he couldn't seat us before people who were waiting. NO ONE ELSE WAITING!!! A couple came in just as we were being seated and asked for one of the three open tables on the porch because they had their dog with them. The manager made them wait 15 minutes even after the man of the couple said he'd wipe the table down himself (the tables were wet from a brief rain shower about an hour earlier). The manager just told him he had to seat someone else and walked away. He didn't have anyone to seat next because we were the last people before this couple and we had just been seated! Then he proceeded to turn away three more parties of four or more saying there was a 30 minute wait although they could clearly see there were at least eight open tables. I feel sorry for the tip-dependent wait staff and hope this manager is the also the sole owner because he'll ruin this business. We should have gone elsewhere, but because it was already 8:00 PM, and we had passed up a few other choices on the way from Hunting Island, we knew our only other choices would be fast food or just make the 2.5 hour drive home without eating and we hadn't eaten since breakfast. Although the food was tasty, we could have just gone to the fast food places near Robert Smalls Parkway and been just as satisfied. I had the bleu cheese burger with caramelized onions and DD had the crab cake sandwich. Our waitress was polite and quick and the view was nice. That being said, when we return in a few months we're going to try either Dockside or the Foolish Frog.
(2)Nilsa L.
Loved this place from the raw oysters to the shrimp and grits. Will return to Beaufort just to go to Plums.
(4)Dee S.
Wonderful afternoon lunch. Perfect sandwiches and drinks. Low country Reuben was very good. Swamp water beverage very yummy.
(5)Cassie T.
Bread is delicious! Shrimp appetizer was amazing as was the fish tacos. I highly recommend.
(5)David P.
When asking where to check in when entering the restaurant a waitress responded "does this look like the check in station?" We went elsewhere. Life is to short to be treated rudely..
(1)Jennifer F.
Solid restaurant with a good menu. I had the lowcountry Reuben with pimento cheese and it was sooooo good. I would definitely try to make it at home (since I am from out of town). Good atmosphere and great location downtown.
(4)Leah S.
Restaurant is cramming way too many tables both inside and out. Even the wait staff couldn't manage to get around. Our waitress was very slow and seemed out of it that day. We had the special which was a fried green tomato BLT (with pimento cheese). It was pretty good. (Honestly it would have been better without the cheese.)
(3)Khalimah H.
The service was nice, the river view was nice, my flounder was tasty, but the rest of my food & apetizers overall was ok.
(3)David W.
Okay, wanted to give this a four star rating but can't find anything negative about this place. Had the shimp and a cup of gumbo. The gumbo was a close to homemade as i've had out. The shrimp were really fresh and right out of the fryer. Wife had the Barritz with a side salad. The wrap was really good, the dressing on ths salad outstanding. Service was great even though the place was packed. Huge fan!!
(5)Steve H.
Had the shrimp salad and it was flavorless. Also had the pear salad. Dressing was good but was lacking the goat cheese. Staff was okay.
(3)Steve M.
We enjoyed a pleasant meal at Plums on July 4th. We had the Fried Green Tomato stack as an appetizer and it was amazing! Excellent fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese and this out of this world bacon jam! Yes, Bacon jam!!! I had the crab cake sandwich and my wife had the gumbo. Both were quite good. Friendly staff and attentive service. Their patio is dog friendly, too.
(4)Gene A.
While vacationing on Hilton Head Island, SC about 50 minutes drive, me, my wife and 2 couples went to Beaufort for dinner. We came upon Plum's and do glad we did. Our experience started with a very friendly young lady who was terrific. She brought out fresh warm biscuits with pecan butter; delicious. We ordered oysters that were fresh, cold and very good. I ordered the Santa Fe; a linguine dish wis black beans, cherry tomatoes with grilled shrimp with cream sauce (I substituted the chicken with shrimp). I was surprised that the dish definitely had a spicy kick to it that was surprise since the menu made no mention of it. My friend entrees also were on the spicy side, though very good'. The only recommendation that I passed on to the hostess to tell the chef was to hold off on the spice hot dishes if they are not specific in describing the entree on menu or have waitress explain to customers that the dishes are normally spicy do the customer can decide to change it or accept it, therefore there is no surprise when you take your first bite. Dinner was terrific, setting was very nice with view of the bay or river and service was excellent. I highly recommend his recommend this restaurant and would go back again.
(5)Luanne T.
Fried oysters were not cleaned well and we found shells throughout. Our server did comp that order, but it ruined the meal.
(2)Evan M.
Food seemed to be all of the frozen out of a box variety. Reminds me a lot of somewhere like Applebee's. Nothing was disgusting but was completely devoid of originality and flavor. Service was pretty spotty as well with things being messed up and arriving at different times. Save yourself the effort if you're looking for something fresh, original, or new. Food ordered: Burger: was cooked to order but was obviously frozen premade patties. Boiled/Steamed shrimp: Sad and kinda small since I know better is available locally caught. Chicken And Cayenne Cream Pasta: again bland and very forgettable Calamari: soggy with no flavor Oysters: ok I guess but I wouldn't call top quality. hard to ruin something you do not cook though....
(2)Alison T.
Disgusting restroom, staff self absorbed with their cell phones. Seams like no one is running the joint. Oysters great!
(3)Jenna C.
This place is such a disappointment! Dined in a few times and will NEVER be back again. Poor service, between both management and servers. When we FINALLY received our food (1 hour after ordering when the place was slow), it was cold and bland. The manager shrugged it off... Do not waste your time here; there are FAR better places to dine in within the vicinity.
(1)A M.
Pros--great views on a lovely day: friendly waitress/great clam chowder, coffee, carrot cake Cons-- no sign saying "seat yourselves "/ beat up chairs and sticky table top/ really stinky sewer smell in bathroom ( do not use unless desperate) Perhaps we were there on a bad day ( Thursday 130 lunch), but these are easy fixes and the owners should want the small details to be clean and fresh so that patrons have confidence that the food will be good. Have someone check the restrooms once an hour ! How hard is that ??
(3)Justin K.
The Bluffton Plums location doesn't show up on Yelp, but it is my location of choice. The service there is phenomenal. I went on a Saturday and our waitress Liz was literally the best waitress I've ever had. Happy hour is from 430-730 with $3 off appetizers. Met the chef to give him a compliment, not sure if he was the executive or sous though. Went back the following Friday. Our server was different but she was wonderful as well. The food wasn't quite as good and it was very apparent that someone different was in the kitchen cooking. The appetizers looked different than before. We shared 5 different appetizers; The Crab Cake was full of crab and flavor but slightly mushy. The chicken nachos were superb. The Oysters Rockefeller are made with collards, pimento, and bacon. Delicious. The clams came in a generous portion. The fish tacos are the best I've ever ate. Always order extra sauce as the portion of fish is massive for a taco. (Went back about 5 months later and the fish portions are small now) Had to downgrade this to 4 stars after going back several more times. Would probably rate it more of 3.5 stars. Liz is still our favorite waitress EVER!
(4)Craig A.
Good shrimp, good oyster salad, good draft beer, but don't order any beef - burger or something they call a strip steak....
(2)Carol Anne B.
I'm being generous with the two stars. Never really enjoyed anything I ate there. And if you want fries - they only have sweet potato. The view is nice. The servers were not. Pretty hostess, but that was the extent of it. Quiet enough, some interesting stuff on the walls. Just not my kinda place but my parents like it. (shrug)
(2)Kathleen M.
Beaufort is halfway between Savannah and Charleston so we decided this would be a good place to stop for lunch. I love it when plans like this work out! We stopped at the Visitors' Center and asked for a lunch recommendation. They asked me, "What kind of food do you like?" I replied, "Well, I don't like white bread and American Cheese." The two ladies looked at each other and said "Plums!" Great recommendation! I had a wild shrimp sandwich with sweet potato fries - Sweet Southern Satisfaction! My husband had the seafood soup and an egg salad sandwich. It's a great lunch when we both leave happy. Great town to walk around, beautiful views and a marvelous lunch!
(5)James R.
Had lunch. Nothing out of ordinary from what we could see or taste. Not sure why the hype on other Yelp reviews. Typical burger/sandwich joint.
(2)James T.
Food = 1 (pretty poor, the menu looked like someone had just taken it out of the trash) Price = 3 Experience = 1 (the back of the place is used as a dance floor at night, so beware. As we were trying to have dinner at the bar, the staff was constantly moving the chairs and tables to make way for the late night disco. ...Even as a huge table of multi families tried to have their dinner. How rude. It was like they were saying "move on" we don't care if your finished or not. It's always a bad sign when I see 3 times as many staff members as usual... the management obviously doesn't give a damn about the food quality or the customer's experience.) Take my advise... walk down the street for a much better Beaufort experience. The other reviews are right... the place is not clean and smells.
(2)Mike And Edna B.
The shrimp here are the freshest on the planet. This is complimented by an excellent selection of salads. Sitting on the porch is great almost any day of the year. Friendly staff.
(5)Jeffrey P.
Very good. We went on a Saturday night and only had to wait 15 mins. I had the traditional seafood boil. Tons of shrimp and sausage. My wife had a spinach salad with shrimp. Both were good. Only down side may been the waiter was overworked and didn't get our bill in a timely manner.
(4)Raul A.
Went here for lunch with a co-worker. Ordered the turkey and strawberry wrap...figured it sounded crazy enough to be good. While it wasn't bad, it wasn't great so I won't order it again...but I did like the fresh fruit option as a side versus fries. I'll be back.
(3)Joe B.
This is my first time back to the iconic Plums since the renovations. BRAVO. During the day, it is a great place for a quick bite to eat. The Biarritz is amazing and so are the sweet potato fries. The egg salad was OK. Staff was friendly and fast. They had a top notch reggae band (Inner Visions from USVI) playing later that night so we came back for dinner. The fried green tomatoes were unbeatable. The chef is from Maryland so you don't have to worry about bready dry crab cakes. These were very tasty as well. The bar area converted into the band area once dinner service was done. Thanks to the renovated area (oyster raw bar) we had a place to get away from the music when we wanted to take a load off.
(4)Stu W.
This restaurant was a very pleasant surprise for us when we stopped in for lunch. It was an impulse and a discovery as we had not read any prior reviews. Our meals were expertly prepared, tasty, fresh, served well and interesting. Among other things we tried the Biarritz (sandwich) and the Gumbo. Both were outstanding. When we got the bill it was very, very reasonable. This place turned out to be a culinary highlight of our two week trip to SC. As I was preparing this review, I read some of the others that were not as complimentary. I can't really believe we were eating at the same restaurant was our experience was subperb.
(5)Kathy S.
Crab bisque was wonderful! Shrimp salad and egg salad were fresh and flavorful. The fresh fruit was very tasty. Out food arrived very quickly!
(4)MaryJane R.
Inedible. This is my fourth horrible experience in the past two years at Plums. There was a time when the food was good here, but things have changed. This time a friend from out of town ordered the shrimp and grits. It was served with "brown gravy" which was so salty that it could not be eaten. My friend asked for just plain grits and shrimp with no seasoning at all, which was an improvement. The salt situation apparently is not just a momentary lapse. The last visit, when someone ordered a stir fry, resulted in the same problem. It arrived as a pile of brown glop. And so salty that it was beyond belief. During another visit, I had shrimp and oysters. The shrimp was mealy and watery and the oysters were miniscule. The only mystery to me is why anyone eats there. In my case, the past few times have been because Wren or Saltus were not open ....and I had hope that Plums would at least be decent. The view from the porch is great. The food is pathetic.
(1)Jim L.
A couple of people recommended this restaurant, so we decided to try it out. It isn't fancy, but food is reputed to be good. We found it to be OK. Nothing really wrong, but nothing really memorable. Meh?
(3)Clarence J.
This is a pretty place, with simple, somewhat elegant décor -- soft grey walls contrasting with caramel brown wood furnishings. The staff is friendly. Unfortunately, except for the good bread, the food is unimpressive. My meal was very unevenly cooked/warmed across the board, with everything in different states of doneness from undercooked (fortunately not the meat) to burnt. Also, the temperatures of the food (for things that were supposed to be hot) ran the gamut just as unevenly. Some of the flavor combinations were unique and could have been good, but I really didn't enjoy the uneven cooking.
(2)Mari G.
There are two entrances: one facing the water and the other facing the street. We came in from the back and promptly told to go to the hostess station at the front. Not a problem if it weren't for the fact that everyone else that came in from the back was seated right away. (We were seated next to the door at the back.) Maybe it was just the employee that saw us come, I don't know. The service was incredibly slow. I gave them a little leeway considering that it was pretty busy. Their fare is pretty upscale, but it shouldn't have taken them as long as it did. The waitress was nice enough, but seemed to take forever getting back to us. The food is good. I ordered the Classic Reuben sandwich. The meat was piled a little high in the middle and the bread was a little thin. The sweet potato fries are simply amazing. They don't take away the natural flavor by adding a bunch of sugar like many other restaurants do. I do think they should come up with a dipping alternative like butter with cinnamon or something like that. If you're going out for drinks, this is a place to go, but as far as lunch type deals-- they're ok.
(2)Evie B.
This is where I take anyone who comes to visit me. Always. The manager is easy to work with (he let us have a special exception to a rule just to accomodate us). The best thing by far though is the curried chicken wrap. Oh, my mouth is watering thinking of it already. Their salads are great too, and appetizers. I think I've tried a few other things, but I always come back for my curried chicken... The whole menu boasts of healthy options and good culinary mixes. If you would never eat brie, or don't know what it is, then don't come here, but if you want good quality unique food, this is your place. If you want fried chicken, go somewhere else, but for the discriminating taste, go to Plum's.
(5)Kathleen M.
Last night I had the opportunity to sit out on the back patio along the waterfront park with the cool breeze blowing off the bay. We watched the sunset, had a house gin and tonic, and whiled away nearly an hour watching children play in the park and chatting about the glory days, minds far away from the stress and hectic pace of our everyday lives. The cost of this trip away from ourselves? A mere $4 + tip. No, not even tax. And people wonder why I refer to Beaufort as heaven on Earth.
(4)Andrew C.
I hate this place. Everyone said they had good sandwiches and that the seafood is great. None of its true. I shared the 1lb shrimp plate with a couple of friends and all they did was steam it and dump old bay all over the shrimp. Their strawberry ham (i think it was ham) sandwich was unique but I didn't think it was great. Service here was slow as well but I expected it because somehow this place was packed. Drinks and food were way over priced and for the life of me I don't know why people go back there.
(1)Heather B.
Plums is more than just a popular eatery. It's a Beaufort tradition. Go for lunch, sit on the porch and soak in the beautiful Waterfront Park views. Hands down, the food is amazing. My favorite has always been the biiaritz wrap with sweet potato fries. Actually, anything on the menu will be amazing!
(5)Jim R.
Terrible waited over 40 min to be served they seated us under a leaking air duct we walked out
(1)Ben C.
We waited for 15 minutes with no waitress then flagged someone down to get our waitress. We then waited another 5 minutes with no luck. Service here is piss poor. it wasn't just our waitress either. other tables were getting mad as well. the food here is average
(1)Kristin K.
Love, love the location & decor. Relaxed, down & dirty seafood eaten place with an AMAZING view of the marsh & bridge. Ask to sit outside & your right on the park shaded by large trees. I had the shrimp po boy. Not too much mayo, bread was light & homemade tasting. Served with chips=perfection. The gumbo was outstanding. Perfectly spiced & a great sausage to chicken ratio. Even though it was 90+ degrees out, I had to order it. The peel & eat shrimp was great too. I don't like oysters, but I was told they were fresh & delicious. Best meal I've had while visiting the low country.
(5)DM M.
Love this place. Back in the day they had bands place would get rocking!!
(3)Ed D.
We ate at Plums several times during the summer of 2011 and enjoyed imaginative, well prepared seafood specials. Our experience on May 31, 2012 was very different and the quality of the food has declined. We had a good raw oyster appetizer and the service was very good, but the main course was awful. The single soft shell crab was coated in a thick, very salt batter and served with 2 grilled quarters of romaine and white rice... Neither tasty nor imaginative. The outside seating and view are wonderful, so it is disappointing that the food quality has suffered.
(2)Dawn A.
We stumbled into Plums after a day of sight seeing. It was lunch time. I had a very good salad with chicken on it. Mixed greens, goat cheese, glazed pecans and a yummy homemade raspberry vinaigrette dressing, topped with a decent sized portion of grilled chicken. The dressing was REALLY good, and normally I am not a raspberry vinaigrette fan. It was sweet without being cloying and had lots of real raspberry flavor. Our service was good, I have to say, however, that we heard "ya'all" from our waitress so many times, we almost thought it was a joke. The view from the windows is lovely, overlooking a large lawn that is right on the water. I am not sure if and when I will get back to Beaufort, but I would definitely return to Plums, based on the tasty lunch we had there.
(4)Zach T.
Was seated quickly, but then had to wait over an hour for our food after we ordered. I don't know if it was the waitstaff or the kitchen, but other tables seated after us started getting their food before us. The servers were nice, but still no excuse for the wait. Food was decent, but nothing special. Will not return.
(1)Linda B.
Had lunch there today. Food was just OK. Went because it is always hyped on Tripadviser. We had fried shrimp poboys which were pretty good and a large serving. Shrimp salad which was $10 was a very small size. Oysters on the half shell were reasonably priced but small... the service was the worst. It was not even crowded yet took a very long time for the waitress to take our order. And longer for food and drinks to arrive. Food was delivered in batches. Plums didn't live up to our expectations.
(3)Donna S.
My family and I were vacationing at Fripp Island and decided to spend a day in Beaufort, SC. Looking for a good local restaurant, I checked Yelp and found Plums. It's down a small alley, off the main road. The restaurant has a very nice look and it's staffed by some very nice southern belles. We ordered the Oysters and two different types of Po' Boy sandwiches. My sister loved the crab cake Po' Boy and my mother and I enjoyed the Wild Shrimp Po' Boy. The sweet potato fries were amazing and clearly homemade. The best part of the lunch were the oysters. They were DELISH and fresh. We tried the local Palm beer and found it very good. I absolutely recommend this place for an authentic southern lunch.
(4)Daniel S.
We were looking for a place to eat and stumbled upon this place, logged in on Yelp and saw some good reviews, so decided to try. I had the BLT which was great and everyone in the table liked what they had. The sweet potatoes were great, the service was great, fast, they got everything right. Would definitely eat here again.
(4)Olivia J.
My children's grandfather is a famous chef in Beaufort, SC. While he was entertaining some business guests during our visit and we were in the way, I asked him where I could get a bite to eat to go and camp out in my hotel room with the kids. He said, "Go to Plums." I went straight to the bar and said, what is the special? There were two, a swordfish and a clam pasta. I said, may I have half of both to go? He checked with the chef and they said no. So I asked which one the bartender would recommend, and he said, "You can have alfredo anywhere....." referring to the pasta dish. So I chose swordfish. Thank goodness I did! The fish was done with an orange/soy sweet glaze and served with seasoned brown rice and crunchy summer vegetables: zucchini, squash, and celery. I'm not one to eat my veggies, but I ate every one. It was really fantastic!
(5)Steve B.
Plums is one restaurant you should not judge by its "cover." We were wondering if we had made a good choice when we first arrived, as the initial appearance is not what you might expect of a good restaurant. But our very competent waiter and, of course, the food itself proved we were right. We each had the crab cakes. Absolutely delicious. Freshly prepared and elegantly served. No appetizers or dessert this night but the complimentary fresh baked biscuits were likewise outstanding. So, we liked Plums very much. We will return. Highly recommended.
(4)Sarah H.
I will never return. We waited 45 min for our raw oyster appetizer (why?!?) and maybe got a drink refill once. I don't think that the food was good enough to return.
(1)Ray G.
AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE! My guests (4 total) and I waited over 90 minutes for our food to be served and the appetizer we ordered was never provided. The food (all specials) was bland and over-cooked. The manager was more focused on talking on his cell phone than supervising the restaurant floor and attending to his customers. I am convinced that that the only reason why we received our food is because I sought out the manager and explained to him our unacceptable issue. I travel and dine out very frequently and I can honestly state that this restaurant is now in my top three of worst restaurants in the world. I gave it one star because Yelp will not allow me to go lower.
(1)Thomas J.
Best Po Boy I have ever had. Crab Cake po boy with sweat potato fries. My wife and mother spilt a salad. It looked amazing. Sweat tea was great. Sat on the patio and looked out at the waterfront in Beaufort. Love this resturant and love Beaufort.
(4)Susan H.
We love this restaurant. The staff is friendly and helpful. The food has always been very good and the place is always full.
(4)Alex T.
Great setting on the back porch, good friendly service and the food was good. The burger was great!
(4)T P.
The food was a nice surprise. The stacked fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese were especially well done. As were the fried shrimp: crusty, fresh, and perfectly cooked. The steamed mussels were served hovering above a wine-y spicy broth that was delicious. Also, the service was a delight -- our server was kind, attentive, bright and knew when to help us and when to simply watch and facilitate our food service. Overall we enjoyed it all (except the screaming toddlers next to us). Otherwise, well worth the food, view, ambiance, drinks, locally fresh food.
(4)TJ M.
Really disappointed in this place. The atmosphere is great, the service was great but the food was pretty nasty :( It really ticks me off when things are not scratch made or frozen. The sweet potato fries were obviously frozen and not made in house which really bothered me. It's not that hard to make french fries. We also ordered the shrimp salad sandwich that came on a french roll (gross store bought roll). The shrimp salad was made in house, but the shrimp was soooooo over cooked and hard. The Pimento Cheese burger came on another store bought roll and was just okay nothing special. Food here is really below average. They care more about quantity over quality - very lazy cooking.
(1)Andy B.
Went to Plums for dinner during the annual Riverfront fest. Unfortunately we went fairly late so that may explain some of the problems. 1. Service was average at best - despite the fact the place was basically empty, service was spotty. Took a longgg time to get a waiter, and then there was a very lax attitude towards us. Again, could be that it was late in the evening and the place had become a bar basically. 2. Food was very good - fresh ingredients, well executed. I know Plums does a great lunch business, but the dinner offerings are solid, especially seafood options. 3. Real problem with cleanliness - when we arrived three tables hadn't been bused, and yet we were seated at one of them!! Literally we had someone wiping down a table while we were seated, despite others sitting cleaned and empty. Very odd - again, could be that it was fest week. Overall I'd go again, but only earlier in the day and not during fest week.
(3)Ginger W.
This is definitely one of our favorite local spots for food & drinks in Beaufort! The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff is always super friendly. They have one of the best blackened Mahi sandwiches we've have ever had! And don't forget to try the friend shrimp from the Oyster Bar. Yum! A must-visit while in Beaufort, SC!
(5)Jeremy C.
We were having a great time watching the band that was playing that Sat night, the food was go and the drink were ok. All this changed when a drunk individual walked up to me and said that he wanted to kick my @#$% because I was here with a white girl (I am Asian). This changed the mood of the evening.
(1)Steve S.
Had really good lunch here. They split their famous shrimp sandwich and the pecan Bleu cheese salad (both real tasty & fresh) for my wife and me.
(5)Kennyann W.
Have enjoyed their club sandwich for years!! great local place with terrific view of the River!!
(4)ArTal K.
Great spot for lunch in Beaufort. We had a rather large table, our party ordered the Po' Boys, Sandwiches, Salads and Raw Oysters, which were all just right. They were all priced reasonably, and all that you would need for lunch. Staff was friendly and food arrived quickly!!
(4)David G.
Healthy and clean food. A good break from the sub par stuff on Hilton head island. You will feel good after eating here, especially if you've been having nothing but hush puppies every day
(4)Blake C.
I just don't know about this place. The place was nice inside and the service was good, but the food was sub par. The caesar was not that good and the steak was tough , but hell you're eating in Beaufort so don't set your expectations too high.
(2)Heather R.
This was a disaster. We waited for over 45 minutes for our food before finally giving up and leaving. Try Panini's instead - you'll actually get fed there (and their food is great too).
(1)Katie S.
Plums is just OKAY. It wouldn't be my first choice, but it is nice to visit once in a while. Their pasta is yummy! But everything else is just okay.
(3)Marquesa O.
Plums is one of my favorite local restaurants. First of all, its the only joint in town that serves sweet potato fries. The atmosphere is cozy and if it weren't so packed all the time it could pass for romantic. The lunch menu is light and has a lot of interesting salads and wraps with very fresh ingredients. The dinner specials are always mouthwatering, and they seem to switch it up a lot. I've seen everything from swordfish to empanadas on the specials menu. The calamari appetizer comes with a n amazing spicy remoulade that I have been meaning to ask if they sell. I've never had a meal I didn't like at Plums and the bartenders are great too......it's a local hangout in the evenings and sometimes they have a live band. Lunch comes at a reasonable price, $10-$15 a plate. Dinner is a little more pricey at $20-$25 a plate, but well worth it. I would recommend Plums to anyone visiting Beaufort.
(4)Elizabeth R.
Was expecting great things but was very disappointed . Was served a dozen oysters but 4 shells were empty. Server was inept and inattentive. There are better places to spend money
(1)Ken H.
I used to go all the time, and perhaps it's still great for lunch. But we just went for dinner - raw oysters had shells, served wrong dinner, slow service, and despite being on the menu they had no champagne -- and all after just expanding the restaurant. Really I'm just surprised. Giving 3 stars on hope this was a fluke.
(3)Shell H.
Went for lunch with my sister a few weeks ago. I had a rueben with fresh fruit that was really good. They were a little stingy with the fruit but the sandwich was great. We were seated at a table that was unstable and wobbly. It wasn't a very comfortable environment but ok for lunch I guess. I would eat lunch again here just maybe ask to be seated elsewhere. Service was ok but not all the waitresses acted happy to be there. It was just an average place at best.
(3)Paula B.
Visited Beaufort on recommendtion of friend.. Asked around for restaurant for lunch as hubby wanted crabcakes. Was told Plums was the place to go! We arrived at 11:30, a tad early for us, but was told if we wanted to eat on the porch, we'd better grab a table now as there is seating for only about 16 and it would get busy soon. Very nice setting near the water. George and our friend Bev ordered the seafood bisque which they described as delish! Not being a seafood lover, I passed. George had a large plate of peel your own shrimp, and a very large crabcake, and sweet potato fries. Bev ordered a Cranberry Pecan Salad with roquefort and added a crabcake, and I had the Chicken Salad sandwich. They pronounced the crabcakes as fabulous -- lots of crab and only a little filler to get it to hold together. The salad came with a house made raspberry vinaigrette that was thick and yummy. What can I say about the sandwich? It was good. We passed on dessert and when we left ,the place was packed. Arrive early!!
(4)ted B.
Excellent service and lunch! We truly enjoyed the place and food.
(4)David L.
Nice location, average food, glacial service if busy.
(2)Thomas B.
Wonderful food, great service, reasonable price.
(5)Modemme X.
Very decent sea food, lively atmosphere. Special mussels in coconut broth were good, crab cake entree was excellent (not fried). Decent wine list, good service and on the water. Would visit again if I found myself in Beaufort.
(3)Hudson Valley C.
Oh yeah! Grab a bite! Plum's was a very pleasant surprise to find during my last trip to Beaufort to visit some family. The location of the restaurant is perfect- overlooking the beautiful water, along the green grass of the banks. The restaurant itself has charm, too. But what struck me most was the food! I had one of the best hamburgers of my life here...really, it was awesome. My sister ordered the Turkey wrap that was about the size of my head, and my other family members ordered different sandwiches and salads that were equally as impressive. While this place was great overall, I should note that there are a few things that could have made it even better: first, some items on the menu were not actually available to order (because they either ran out or didn't have the ingredients), and second, the service, while very efficient, wasn't particularly friendly. Nonetheless, I am very pleased with my experience here and will return during my next visit. You should check it out.
(3)