Take refuge in an oasis of calm knowing that our dedicated staff is here to ensure your experience with us is perfect. Whether it's as simple as having a cup of the island's best coffee, enjoying one of the chef's fantastic sandwiches or salads, or joining us for exquisite drinks and dinner, we are sure that you will soon call The Refuge your home away from home.
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Charleston sits The Refuge in Isle of Palms. This family owned and operated venue is sure to please all. Enjoy your morning Macchiato with a fresh omelet or shrimp and grits from The Refuge's Morning Tide menu. Follow up with us in our dining room, where we also serve up fresh, local food for lunch and dinner.
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Charleston sits The Refuge in Isle of Palms. This family owned and operated venue is sure to please all. Enjoy your morning Macchiato with a fresh omelet or shrimp and grits from The Refuge's Morning Tide menu. Follow up with us in our dining room, where we also serve up fresh, local food for lunch and dinner.
Services
Here at The Refuge, we take pride in pleasing the palates of locals and tourists alike. Our experienced staff stands behind the recipes on our menu, and use only the freshest ingredients to ensure an unforgettable dining experience. The coastal location of The Refuge is complimented by our modern and sophisticated design, which brings an upscale aesthetic to dining in Isle of Palms.
Perk up your daily grind by starting it off with a freshly brewed cup of joe from The Refuge. Whether a jolt of energy from espresso is what you need before work, or you're looking for a place to relax and sip your latte in peace, The Refuge can be your sanctuary. Our coffee bar menu hosts a variety of classic brews, like our Refuge Roast, alongside more elaborate options, like a Dry Cappuccino or Mocha Con Panna.
The Refuge has catering services available for any type of event, from birthday parties to weddings. Our staff is prepared to help plan your customized catering menu so that you can relish in the savory tastes of our dishes. The Refuge can accommodate parties of all sizes, whether you're looking for pastries and baked goods, or a full-service meal.
Reviews (21)
Jim Harlow
Jan 28, 2022
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J. D.
Jan 12, 2022
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Steven N.
Dec 27, 2021
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Josh Rule
Dec 27, 2021
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Joseph Santogrossi
Dec 26, 2021
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Scott B.
Dec 23, 2021
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First time order, so maybe we caught them on a bad night. We ordered 4 meals and every single one of them was wrong! The 'Bacon Caesar salad' came with no dressing, either on the salad or on the side? Then the guy over charged us $4 for 'Bacon' on the bacon salad! There was one piece of bacon on there??? Then our bacon cheese burgers had no bacon??? Lastly, the remaining order was so tiny that we had to go to back out and get another meal as it was very skimpy for the $18 we got charged...
I'd say stay away from this place, but at the very least; check your food
I'd say stay away from this place, but at the very least; check your food
Boris V.
Dec 06, 2021
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We stayed on Isle of Palms for 3 days back in October and picked up The Refuge to dine on our anniversary day. Good choice it was, I must tell you!
I like such places. Chic but not pretentious, spacious but not huge, cozy but not tiny at all. Yes, the right word is harmonious and well balanced.
We definitely loved our food and drinks. We simply enjoyed the service (mainly our wonderful waiter, of course).
Please see them for yourself. I hope you'll like it, too.
I like such places. Chic but not pretentious, spacious but not huge, cozy but not tiny at all. Yes, the right word is harmonious and well balanced.
We definitely loved our food and drinks. We simply enjoyed the service (mainly our wonderful waiter, of course).
Please see them for yourself. I hope you'll like it, too.
Dunn W.
Nov 18, 2021
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Such a quaint place. Jake seems to be a one-man show and he gets the job done. He has a warm personality and has the skills to make you the best "whatever." I had a coffee and Jake suggested "with cinnamon and nutmeg?" Well, duh! It was absolutely delicious. Keep up the good work, Jake. #thankyouthursday2021
Stacey Y.
Oct 17, 2021
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Incredibly disappointed with our experience. The food was subpar and the service... truly awful. I barely touched my shrimp and grits because it was the consistency of a soup (similar to the consistency of the lobster bisque) ....
When the waiter came by (for the first time since we ordered) to take the plates away, my husband told him that it was not great and his response was "one check or two?" I had wanted to order dessert. Note to the waiter - empathy goes a long way...!
Shame on a restaurant for putting its customers last. We were patient with service but this was the last straw
When the waiter came by (for the first time since we ordered) to take the plates away, my husband told him that it was not great and his response was "one check or two?" I had wanted to order dessert. Note to the waiter - empathy goes a long way...!
Shame on a restaurant for putting its customers last. We were patient with service but this was the last straw
Matt Barclay
Oct 04, 2021
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The food is excellent!! Perfectly cooked and all with fresh ingredients. We have been there twice now and are VERY happy with our meals!
The service is friendly, timely and efficient. The 1st time we went, our server was the Manager, Jason. Very fun and friendly!!
The dining room is semi separate from the bar so it is easy to have a conversation.
The service is friendly, timely and efficient. The 1st time we went, our server was the Manager, Jason. Very fun and friendly!!
The dining room is semi separate from the bar so it is easy to have a conversation.
Rick Neuman
Sep 20, 2021
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Haley S.
Aug 19, 2021
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I just want to give a shout out to every single barista working there right now. The job looks tough. Things are busy. There is often a line almost out the door for the coffee bar, and they handle every customer with patience and grace. Thank you to each and every one of you who has made me a coffee and engaged me in small talk while I ordered. You add a lot to my mornings by being there to serve me.
Now....my opinion of all that I have ordered this week: I loved my iced vanilla oat milk latte. I had a brown sugar cinnamon oat milk latte, too (on a different morning), and that one was just okay
Now....my opinion of all that I have ordered this week: I loved my iced vanilla oat milk latte. I had a brown sugar cinnamon oat milk latte, too (on a different morning), and that one was just okay
Chris A.
Jun 27, 2021
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The Refuge is tucked away in the corner of a parking lot with other stores nearby. Cute place and plenty of seating when we went by. I had Patty's Melt and it was amazing. I could have easily shared that with somebody but it really hit the spot after looking at other places that had paid parking...Definitely do lunch or dinner here.
Travis Baker
Jun 23, 2021
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Mim D.
Jun 09, 2021
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Meg C.
Jan 17, 2021
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Michele M.
Dec 24, 2020
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This is a great choice on Isle of Palms for anything from coffee and avocado toast in the morning to craft cocktails at the comfortable bar and amazing food and service in the dining room - or outside seating which has been expanded. These owners work so hard to provide a great dining experience in the community where they live, and it shows!
Steven Carroll
Dec 12, 2020
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I'd give the food 4 stars. It was delicious and well-prepared. I had the local catch of the day, which was crab-encrusted flounder in a butter sauce with pan-fried potatoes and asparagus. It was very well seasoned and flavorful. My wife ordered the cioppino. It was also very flavorful and well-prepared. The ingredients were high-quality and fresh.
The staff were friendly and helpful - no issues there.
The facilities were ok overall but were nothing special. Some parts seemed like they could have used a little upkeep. The bathroom was very dirty and smelled bad. This was a stark contrast to the
The staff were friendly and helpful - no issues there.
The facilities were ok overall but were nothing special. Some parts seemed like they could have used a little upkeep. The bathroom was very dirty and smelled bad. This was a stark contrast to the
Brian Tucker
Jul 15, 2019
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Alex Green
Jan 17, 2019
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A meal at this price point should be better than mediocre in an area full of restaurants and I was unimpressed with the experience. The meal did not start off well as it took 13 minutes (I timed it) from when we were seated to when we were first approached by a waitress bring water to the table. There were 4 members of our party and each of us had a different item off of the menu. The risotto was fine but nothing amazing. The French onion soup was good though a bit salty. The short rib melt had good flavor but the texture was gooey and made the bread soggy in the middle. The filet was very good
Stephanie Hanson
Sep 27, 2018
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Excellent spot in Isle of Palms! We visited on a Friday evening and the restaurant was actually quieter than expected, but it was early in the evening. I enjoyed a special of southwestern scallops with goat cheese grits - absolutely delicious. My husband enjoyed the Shrimp Pesto pasta dish and was equally pleased. We topped off the meal with their bread pudding and there was not a single bite left behind! Great place to visit while on the Isle of Palms!
