LOVE this place! Very friendly & attentive staff -- Mike & Amber are our favorites. The food comes fast, and is absolutely delicious, especially the chicken & waffles, and the french toast (breakfast is served all day). Their daily specials are also very tasty. We first came here about two weeks ago...weve been back four times since then.
I love biscuits and gravy but being from Colorado I dont get many opportunities to enjoy them. The Early Birds Red Eye gravy is excellent. Its ham-based with a little coffee added that doesn’t make it taste like coffee, but rather adds a molasses undertone. I added a side of house made sausage patties for one of the best meals of my trip. I was so impressed, I bought a t-shirt.
Omg, Yum! The Early Bird Diner has good ole country-eatin’ figured out! I love the square-cut biscuits plus every dish has so much character but they don’t disappoint on taste! A nice, diner style atmosphere, this quaint little spot offers classic southern breakfast entrees. My kiddo enjoyed the chicken and waffle while I destroyed my Breakfast Scramble. Handsome and charismatic Mike took great care of us!
If I could give Early Bird Diner TEN stars I would! After a very disappointing marsh side dining experience yesterday we were hesitant to trust reviews. Reluctantly we did along with our review of the menu offerings and (questionably) Guy Fieri. This was one of the BEST meals weve ever had, at any price. Very true diner atmosphere, comparable prices but food that rivals any high end spot. Generous portion of meatloaf sliced and grilled topped w excellent thick cut onion rings and sides of rich mac n cheese and salad was only $18. Country Captain Chicken was also a very generous 2 thin sliced breasts excellently blackened in a generous portion of curry veggie sauce over rice w a sheet cake biscuit. Not sure how we made room for dessert, having half of ea meal remaining for tmrrw, but glad we tried the lemon gingersnap ice cream. Homemade and to die for! Almost custard like ice cream w homemade cookies that seemed to have ginger icing. My family ran a gourmet ice cream and dessert restaurant for several years so we are ice creamoseurs. This easily rivals any artisan ice cream I have ever had including Salt & Straw, Ruby Jewel, Jenis, and Lou Cream. Thrilled we avoided the onslaught of tourists at downtown establishments seeking respite from 49 degree rainy weather (where are we, Boston?) and ventured to W Ashley in rainy rush hour traffic. WELL worth it!! Not to mention the bill could have easily been $60+ elsewhere and likely not as tasty. We are planning our route to Savannah Monday via this slower route just to try breakfast and Wildflower Bakery 2 blocks down. Before photo sadly didnt take bc it was a meal to remember. After photo shows how big the portions were rather than being an indication of our dislike. Truly EXCELLENT!! 😍
Heard this was the go-to spot for chicken & waffles, so we had to give it a try. Upon looking at the menu I also saw the pot likker noodle bowl, which seemed to me like an interesting Asian-Southern fusion dish, so I figured we should try that as well.The chicken and waffles were both great on their own. The sauce provided with the chicken, and the cinnamon flavor in the waffle I feel didnt lend itself to combining the two. The chicken in particular was great and I feel like next time we go, I want to get a chicken sandwich or something to try it another way. My wife loved the chicken & waffles, though.I thought the pot likker noodle bowl was a slam dunk. Fun and inventive and absolutely delicious. I would recommend it for sure. Only negative I have to say is that these are far from diner prices. I guess thats what happens after youre on TV, though.
Loved this Diner! Great biscuits and red eyed gravy!! The French toast was a huge portion. The pancakes were fluffy and big!! You did not leave here hungry! The staff was very efficient and friendly!
Absolute worst service ever. I used to love this place. My buddy and I sat down for breakfast today. Took ten minutes to get coffee and water. Never did get offered a menu. After we got up to go to Waffle House our server finally noticed us. We left. I will take this place off of my breakfast list.
We had a really amazing visit to this diner. The fried okra was fresh and all the food was high quality. It was a clean, well run kitschy little place with art for sale on the walls and our waitress was phenomenal. We went based on all the reviews here and on Yelp and we were NOT disappointed. Portions generous, and flavorful. Run don’t walk to have a bite. Easy to see why it has garnered so many positive reviews and awards.
We stopped for lunch, tiny restaurant full but able to be seated right away. Service great. Waiting on our Service family member to meet us. Waiter accommodated our wait time, making sure late order was hot and fresh! No photos. :(. Omelets, shrimp and grits, palmetto cheese plate, sausage gravy and homemade biscuits, salads, country fried steak with mac n cheese, were to die for. Love our southern hospitality!!!
First time for everything I guess….first time we have been discriminated against for wearing a mask. It was obvious from the time we walked into the place that they didn’t want to serve us. Didn’t bring the proper drinks, no straws, but was very attentive to the other people there with no masks. We sat for about 15 min while the server kept side eyeing us while serving the table several times next to us. If you don’t want people who mask, maybe make a sign so we don’t bother being ignored and discriminated against. It would save us all time.
Everything here is amazing…But their Country Fried Steak is the best I’ve ever had! You will not be disappointed. Generous portions for a fair price.My only complaint about Early Bird is that they don’t stay open late like they use to…But when they are open, you can’t beat the quality for the price!
Servers are pretty attentive. Could be a little quicker with the coffee though! LolAll in all it was good stuff
This place is beyond amazing. The staff is so friendly and they had our food out SOOOO QUICK!! Not to mention the food is the best I have ever had.
It came highly recommended but wed never been able to get in. Popped by for a late lunch and really enjoyed the food. Great breakfast items, the french toast was crazy good. Aso good meatloaf melt, so I think they just have a great cook back there.We failed to save room for dessert, so have to go back again.
Nice place, surprisingly good food obvious quality and friendly and attentive staff.
This quaint little diner was absolutely wonderful, the food is excellent as well as the service. My husband & I will definitely return to try many of their meals as not only did you receive it very hot but the portion size was worth the price which is also very reasonable. I will recommend this place to my family & friends and can’t wait to bring my out of town framily to share the experience. Five ++++ Star Early Bird Diner you guys are truly a Rock star in the Restaurant business!!!!
We were pleasantly surprised, it was a small spot but great options..we were very satisfied
I would love to say it was stupendous; it was okay.The good - 1) fun atmosphere, paintings on the walls, bumper stickers, etc. 2) clean 3) all day breakfast 4) good sized portions, some way too big. 5) food service was fairly quick, about 15 minutesThe bad - 1) the parking lot is a nightmare, you will wait to park 2) the wait for a table at 1:30 was 25 minutes.The food - the coconut almond pancakes were massive, (way too big) they added too much baking soda so there was a salty/baking soda flavor. There was, however no coconut or almond flavor (although there were almonds on top)The eggs were fine, cooked well. The homemade sausage was good. The biscuits were a HUGE let down. This is the South people, know how to make a biscuit. The biscuits were baked in a pan, like cake (cut in squares). There were no layers, flakes ect. No butter flavor. It was kinda like a big thick piece of white bread. 😞Sorry to sound harsh, just want you to know before ya go.
Legit the best breakfast food I’ve ever had. awesome service, great atmosphere, reasonable prices.
This place has the juiciest chicken breasts that I have ever had. Their chicken and waffles are a must have when visiting. The chicken was perfectly juicy, the waffle was light and sweet by itself, the syrup was delicious, and the honey mustard was authentically delicious, as well.Also had their biscuit which was setvrd deliciously warm.Will definitely eat here again when visiting Charleston.
Ive just eaten the best pancake in all my 35 years! My daughter wanted strawberries in her pancake. Its not on the menu but bananas are an option. We asked if there was any way they could add strawberries and the chef was kind enough to do it. We ordered 2 and these bad boys are MASSIVE! My daughter got full halfway though.... thankfully, cause then I got to try them. Whole heartedly recommended this place. Everyone is so kind and the food is delicious!
Award winning food to tantalize the palettes and fill the tummies. Fast and Friendly staff. Artsy and intimate ambience. A Must Experience if your in Charleston.
My family and I visited for breakfast. The chicken and waffles I ordered were delicious and my wife said her shrimp and grits were the best she had. So convenient to our hotel and the wait wasn’t long at all. Our server was very informative and polite. Can’t wait for our next trip to go back and try the dinner menu.
The scramble was good but was 12.00 for a small portion. The biscuits are fluffy but they severely need butter. They were good composition but had absolutely no taste unless you put something on them. The service was great. It was 40.00 dollars for two people for breakfast. That was 2 scrambles 2 drinks, and a extra side of gravy plus a tip.
Great little breakfast spot. Service with a smile and wait wasn’t too long. The pancakes were fluffy and moist and had a hint of nutmeg or cinnamon or some spice I couldn’t quite put my finger on. They were delicious nonetheless. Grits creamy and not lumpy and great orange juice. Would definitely visit again.
It was truly amazing to start my ddd, adventures. This place was awsome. Atmosphere was great . I have to give a shout out to those cheese grits. The only problem i had was the portions. They were very small. I know this is a hard time and things cost more, we all get it i would rather of paid more. And got more than a small country scramble. It tasted great but it was only a half breakfast.
This place is very busy but worth the wait. I definitely recommend the chicken and waffles. Service was great, food was even better.
Good food great staff and such character!
I went to the Early Bird two nights in a row (12/6-7/19) after Phish. The first night I got the Panko Shrimp & Grits. Loved it! The second night I got the Steak & Eggs. I was in heaven. The sides I tried were all excellent: bacon, biscuit, fried okra. I couldn’t believe they were open so late, which is key for the weekend. The gal waiting on us was super nice. She had a lot of tables the second night and still took great care of us. I will be making a point to go back (and bring more friends visiting town) to eat at Early Bird again!!!
This is a small diner, located off of Savannah hwy. Ive always wanted to stop there because its always crowded!!! Well, now I know why. The food is good, tasty and plentiful!! The ambience is good, service is good... prices are very reasonable,,, breakfast is served all day; check it out....its worth the wait.
The restaurant has a real cool vibe but serves old fashion breakfast. I had pancakes, potatoes and bacon and all were delicious. The parking is pretty limited for how many seats the place has so I would carpool if possible or drive your smallest car (if you have more than one).
If you want to try tasty southern food, that’s a place! Nice diner
This place was a wonderful surprise. Everything, I mean everything, was delicious. Don’t skip this one. Great service too!
Freaking awesome! We are Charlestonians, and pride ourselves in knowing staples like grits, etc... Hands down best grits! Pancakes... Whoa! So delicious! There are a lot of trendy restaurants in Charleston who cater to tourists who dont know any better... But this place never disappoints, and definitely worth the wait.
Fabulous branding, fabulous food, excellent presentation, and super nice employees. Our experience couldnt have been better. I sent like 20 texts out to my my friends to tell them they NEED to come here. No doubt that we will return. 😀 Top Notch
Food was amazing! Staff was very nice! Will definitely go back for more! Featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives do we thought we would stop in. Worth every penny.
First timer from TX and my family and I loved the flavorful dishes that come in healthy proportions. Customer service was a little slow and coffee VERY strung but no reason to not stop and enjoy a great meal. It looked like our server had double the customers and none of us waited very long for anything. We visited on a Friday morning around 8:30am and there wasnt a wait.
I shared my thoughts with some of the staff yesterday evening when I dined in...but I wanted to make sure that I wrote a review.I ordered a burger and had mac and cheese as a side. I tend to stick to burgers at new places because its hard to screw them up...unless they are not cooked the way I requested.This place should have 10 stars. Burger was cooked the way I asked, was juicy and had excellent flavor. The server Lauren was super friendly and made me feel like I had been going there for years and was part of the family (when this was my first time). The mac and cheese is the BEST I have had in Charleston yet (beats out Angel Oak Restaurant mac and cheese and that was not an easy thing to do)! The house made pickles were the best I have had in the area. Reminded me of something my grandma would have made and served. Nostalgic and delicious.My friend ordered an omelet and loved it. He is southern and said that the grits were some of the best hes ever had.Recommend 10/10...but I dont want too many people going because I would hate to wait for dinner the next time I am there! Butttttt I would wait an hour for this food!Thanks for a great experience!
Loved the chicken and waffles! Honey mustard, syrup and hot sauce. Delicious!
Great chicken and waffles and superb coffee!
Amazing foods and fantastic service. This place is a well oiled machine! Busser worked well with the servers, hostess cleaned tables and kept the guests flowing smoothly in, kitchen definitely has a tight working groove!Chicken n waffles were the best Ive ever had! Red eye gravy was scrumptious!This place is away from the city and stays hoppin, that speaks volumes for its service and food. A great little gem of a diner!
Brunch. Fast service..good food. Quirky..but friendly
Ive eaten breakfast there a few times, I must say that each time was very good. Even though its to my understanding that chicken and waffles are their specialty I opted for the french toast in which I felt was rather underrated. Beware that the wait will be long if you go on a Saturday morning and parking is tight and very limited.
Wow. So impressed. One of the best experiences Ive had at a restaurant. Our waitress was super helpful and offered great suggestions. Our food took a little longer to prepare and the chef himself came out to apologize and let us know it was a but late. Very classy.The food was all so good. The fried pickles were surprisingly better than expected. The shrimp and grits were to die for! We also really enjoyed the meatloaf sandwich and chicken and waffles. But there wasnt a single dish that we tried that we only kinda liked. It was all delicious.
Great service, really good food. Huge portions. The pork shop is the size of a plate.
Outstanding meal.Chicken and Waffles are on point.Wonderful staff and welcoming atmosphere.
Staying at a hotel close by and decided to give this small diner a try. Loved it!!! Food was delicious and prices werent too bad either. We are there 3 times during our stay and loved the place
This place was a pleasant surprise and a hidden gem. We just happened to stop here for food on our way to the house and we are glad we did. Everything from the service to the price and food was nothing short of excellent. The fried green tomatoes with house made ramoulade was unreal. The honey mustard is made in house and the fried chicken sandwich with pimento cheese is a great idea. No complaints. Its not at the top of any lists of places to eat when in Charleston but it should be and its definitely worth a go whether you stay on James island or anywhere close by.
Best fried chicken I have ever had. Anywhere in the Country. Period.
I had the Grilled Cheese with Mac n Cheese and it is amazing! I also had a couple fries any they were even better. 5/5, definitely would go here again.
Chicken and waffles was the bomb.com. Same with the biscuits and gravy. Definitely a must for breakfast any time of day when in Charleston.
Service was decent. Food was meh. Cold brew was pretty good. Wont return.
Best pancakes..ever!Great staff...check it out!
Not what it used to be 3yrs back I loved this place. Food is sublar at best
One of my favorite spots. I love the shrimp and grits And the chicken in waffles. They also have amazing grits. Pro tip: add cheese to your grits.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Any time friends or family come into town I take them here. Hands down the best chicken and waffles. Service is always fast and friendly. Never had a bad experience and Ive been coming here for over 10 years.
Great breakfast, biscuits and homemade sausage with eggs over easy and grits.
Maybe it’s because I cook. Maybe because I’m used to better food and better service. Maybe because eating is a hobby if mine but I was completely disappointed with The Early Bird diner … just absolutely disappointed. The reviews led me to believe the place would be stellar and nothing was. From the dangerously tight parking lot PTL the lackadaisical server and sub-par food (I could literally taste the baking powder in the waffle), I was disappointed. I’m only writing this review to help warn others who may expect more.
Service was spot on, the breakfast was delicious, wasnt sure but eggs looked like farm fresh bright yellow yolk.Highly recommend. Parking is a bit tight. Drive a small car.
I love this place, but: Chicken and WAFFLE. Ive gotten the chicken and waffles both times Ive gone. The taste is immaculate but you only get one waffle, and the menu has waffles. It is not a huge deal but its one of the most expensive things on the menu. They are open extremely late which is great, and the service has always been good. Desserts are a very good option as well, and you can get some cool early bird diner shirts for 20$.
This is a locals know about. It was good the service was wonderful. Parking is limited.
Menu was okay, but I didnt see anything that caught my eye and I experienced a very awkward greeting. when I walked in, the cook was walking by and stopped in his tracks to stare at me. I also had to ask for a menu because the hostess said, she wasnt sure if I was dinning in or placing a order to go 😳.All she had to do was ask. This place, smh.
Southern home cooking at its best at reasonable prices... Highly recommend!
We have wanted to try this restaurant for forever but its always so crowded! We finally saw there was room for us in the parking lot and pulled in to give it a try. It didnt disappoint! The house made sausage was delicious and the chicken and waffles were absolutely perfect!
The specials are amazing, but the chicken and waffles are hard to pass up.
