Description: Hyman's is a bi-level restaurant located within Charleston's historic district, and it is considered a local institution. Seafood dishes at budget prices have been served here for over 110 years. When you pass by the restaurant during peak hours, there will be a long line of hungry people standing outside and waiting for a table.
The restaurant keeps the decor simple, and its furnishings are little more than lightly stained wood affixed together into tables and chairs. Whether the restaurant is almost empty or overflowing with patrons, prompt and attentive service is guaranteed during your visit. If nothing else, the staff wants to ensure that every customer is treated like family.
If you don't enjoy seafood, especially shellfish, you probably aren't going to find many things to your liking on the menu. Unfortunately, seafood is not one of my favorite things, so I ordered buffalo wings and hush puppies. The side order of tasty hush puppies is easily enough to provide for three or four people, and we made the mistake of ordering two baskets. The buffalo wings are not (and never will be) a Hyman's specialty, but the other people in my group raved over the Shrimp Po Boy sandwich and the "best Bloody Mary’s" in town.
To ensure that you have been properly attended to during your visit, a Hyman family member is usually on site and will check in with your table. Following your meal, you will be provided with a small sticker to wear on your clothing. If someone from the Hyman family spots the sticker while you are out in Charleston, your next meal is on the house.
Personally, I didn't care for the food, and the limitations of the menu in regard to non-seafood lovers was disappointing. While my friends enjoyed their food, they didn't feel that Hyman's was one of the best places to eat in Charleston. In my opinion, the restaurant draws hoards of customers based on a sense of nostalgia and the staff's overall friendliness.
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