Charleston's Sean Brock showcases Southern ingredients in historic mansion. Daily-changing menu celebrates Lowcountry traditions.
Husk, at 76 Queen Street in Charleston, South Carolina, opened in 2010 under chef Sean Brock and immediately became one of the most influential restaurants in the American South, winning a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2011 and establishing Charleston as a serious culinary destination. Brock built Husk around a governing principle: every ingredient used in the kitchen must come from the American South. This constraint shaped the menu into a celebration of Southern agricultural heritage — heirloom grain varieties, heritage breed pigs, sea island shellfish, and the produce of South Carolina's Lowcountry formed the vocabulary of every course. The restaurant occupies a beautifully restored antebellum mansion on Queen Street, its wraparound porch and two-story dining rooms providing an atmosphere of Southern elegance that complements the food's deep regional roots. The menu changes daily to reflect what is arriving from farms and purveyors; the cast-iron skillet cornbread served at the start of every meal has become one of the restaurant's touchstones. Shrimp and grits — that quintessential Lowcountry preparation — appears in an ever-evolving form. The Saturday and Sunday brunch draws on the Southern brunch tradition with considerable creative latitude. Brock has since departed the Charleston kitchen, but Husk continues to operate under the ethos he established, maintaining the ingredient restrictions and the daily-changing format. Additional Husk locations operate in Nashville and other cities, though the Charleston original retains the strongest historical identity.
Signature dishes
- Shrimp & Grits — $32
- Fried Chicken — $28
Good to know
- Hours
- Dinner daily, Brunch Sat-Sun
- Reservations
- Recommended
Location
76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
32.7799, -79.9285 View on map
Highlights
- All-Southern ingredient sourcing: every item on the menu comes exclusively from within the American South
- James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant 2011; one of the defining restaurants of twenty-first-century Southern cooking
- Beautiful antebellum mansion on Queen Street with wraparound porch and two-story dining rooms
- Cast-iron skillet cornbread served at the start of every meal — a Charleston touchstone
- Shrimp and grits featuring Lowcountry shrimp alongside rotating heritage grain and produce preparations
Tips for visiting
- Reservations through OpenTable or Resy are strongly recommended, particularly for Friday and Saturday evenings and for weekend brunch
- The daily-changing menu means asking the server for current highlights is more useful than researching dishes in advance
- The Saturday and Sunday brunch is a more approachable and slightly lower-cost alternative to dinner
- Upstairs dining rooms in the mansion are atmospheric and worth requesting over ground-floor seating
- The cast-iron cornbread is a constant regardless of menu changes — always order it regardless of what follows
Accessibility
Husk occupies a historic antebellum mansion with multiple levels. The ground floor dining room is accessible from the Queen Street entrance. The wraparound porch and upstairs dining rooms involve stairs. Guests with mobility requirements should advise the restaurant when booking to ensure first-floor seating arrangements.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
What does 'all-Southern sourcing' mean at Husk?
Husk operates under a rule that every ingredient — proteins, produce, grains, dairy, and condiments — must originate from within the American South. This constraint shapes the entire menu and forces the kitchen to work exclusively with what the region's farms, waters, and foragers produce.
Is Sean Brock still the chef at Husk Charleston?
Sean Brock, who founded and built Husk's reputation, has departed the restaurant. The kitchen continues to operate under Brock's founding philosophy of all-Southern sourcing, but under different culinary leadership. Brock's subsequent ventures include Audrey and June in Nashville.
Are there Husk locations outside Charleston?
Yes. Husk has expanded to Nashville, Tennessee and other cities. The Charleston original at 76 Queen Street is the founding location and retains the strongest historical identity, but the Nashville Husk has developed its own following.
What is the price range at Husk?
Husk is in the upper-mid-range category. Dinner entrees typically run $28–$45; the full dinner experience for two with wine commonly reaches $150–$250. The weekend brunch is moderately priced at $20–$40 per person.
What neighborhood is Husk in?
Husk is located at 76 Queen Street in the Harleston Village neighborhood of downtown Charleston, South Carolina, a short walk from King Street and the Charleston City Market.