Welcome to Santee Seafood Bistro
Santee Seafood Bistro is a delightful hidden gem located at 648 Bass Dr, Santee, SC. With its charming atmosphere and welcoming staff, this bistro offers a comforting escape for travelers and locals alike. Renowned for its perfectly fried catfish and scrumptious shrimp and grits, the menu features a variety of seafood dishes crafted with care and quality. Guests rave about the delicious hush puppies and the standout key lime pie—a must-try! Whether you're enjoying a meal on the patio or inside, Santee Seafood Bistro feels like home, making every dining experience warm and memorable.
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648 Bass Dr, Santee, SC 29142, United States Hotline: +1 803-854-4840
Welcome to the delightful world of Santee Seafood Bistro, a hidden gem in the heart of Santee, South Carolina. Located at 648 Bass Dr, Santee, SC 29142, this cozy bistro invites you to indulge in a culinary experience that celebrates the essence of southern seafood dining. Whether you're passing through on a road trip or looking for a local haunt, Santee Seafood Bistro offers a welcoming atmosphere with the charm of a small-town eatery.
As you step inside, you're greeted by warm smiles and the aroma of freshly prepared dishes that promise to satisfy any seafood craving. The bistro is renowned for its fried catfish and shrimp and grits, both described by diners as a nostalgic return to simpler, delicious times. Richard Sikorski raves about the perfectly cooked whole catfish, coated lightly in cornmeal, and paired with a rich, savory catfish stew that warms the soul.
The attention to detail doesn’t stop at the seafood. Complimentary hush puppies serve as a delightful appetizer, setting the stage for your meal. As Jeff Wainwright shares, the shrimp and grits are a highlight, loaded with succulent shrimp and smoky sausage, topped with a fried green tomato that adds a touch of perfection. Each bite encapsulates what Southern comfort food is all about.
What makes Santee Seafood Bistro truly special is not just the food, but the people. Diners like Kenya Tate speak highly of the attentive service that makes you feel like part of the family. It's the little things—like servers making sure your drink is full or the chef checking in on your table—that create an unforgettable dining experience.
Moreover, the menu encompasses a variety of options that cater to different dietary needs. From the seared seafood platter for those avoiding gluten, praised by M H Canupp, to the generous portions of key lime pie, which has won the hearts of many, including Angelique Rameau, there's something for everyone.
As you close your meal, don’t forget to try the fresh hot cobbler or the exquisite key lime pie, ensuring your visit ends on a sweet note. In a world where chain restaurants dominate, Santee Seafood Bistro stands out as a testament to local, homegrown hospitality and flavorful cooking. So, the next time you're near I-95 at exit 96, make sure to swing by Santee Seafood Bistro—a place where great food and kind-hearted service come together beautifully.
For reservations or inquiries, give them a call at +1 803-854-4840. Your taste buds will thank you!
I had the Florida Brim. It was fried to perfection the sides were okay. The service was great, they made us feel like family.
The Santee Seafood Bistro is a real find, especially if you crave catfish! It’s a bright little standalone building just a couple of turns off I-95 at exit 96 onto Old Number Six Highway (SC-6), on Bass Dr at the end of Britain St. There’s enough parking to the side and around back. There’s outdoor seating on the north side, but it was a little chilly for that in Dec (2024). With a counter up front and tables to the left, there’s plenty of seating for the size of the place. The hostess was welcoming and attentive, and the other guests were also friendly to us travelers. We came here for the hot fresh crispy fried whole bone-in catfish, and it was perfectly cooked in a simple light cornmeal salt and pepper breading just like we always had growing up. They also make a savory catfish stew in a rich tomato broth over rice. We were so full, but we did save just enough room for their fresh hot cobbler to finish. Get off that wearisome highway and enjoy some good regular comfort food in a bright place with nice people.
While passing through Santee on our way north, we were fortunate to have found this local gem! We prefer locally owned places to chains and this place didn’t disappoint! They served up a couple delicious hush puppies and drinks right away. Our food choices were excellent, especially the shrimp and grits, which contained many good size shrimps and sausage slices. The broth was delicious as well as the cheesy grits. It was even topped with a fresh fried green tomato. Our server Gina was excellent and very accommodating. The chef also visited our table a couple times to be sure everything was good. Can’t wait to visit again on our way back to Florida.
Gina was the sweetest, most attentive server I have ever had at a restaurant. We sat on the patio at lunch and had grilled shrimp and fried whiting. The shrimp was seasoned just perfect, very flavorful, no cocktail sauce needed. Whiting was fried crispy and so good. Beer was nice and cold.
I have a lot of food allergies and this place popped up in the find me gluten free app. I had the seared seafood platter with a side salad. I LOVE that the salad comes with all the toppings -tomatoes, cucumber, cheese, bacon bits, even eggs! Maybe even something else. The waitstaff were super caring and helpful with my allergy concerns. The restaurant itself is a sweet little building with Margaritaville vibes on the outside, and small town country restaurant vibes on the inside. Perfect little stop for an out-of-towner like me to stop in for an allergy safe meal. Thank you!
The Santee Seafood Bistro is great food and warm people, seasoned with love! What an amazing spot. Arriving just after dusk, a beautiful warm glow on pull-up was very inviting. My long-awaited first dive into shrimp and grits had to be the right spot, right time. Also, I wanted it to be in South Carolina to create that memory, in a lovely and loving place. Well, the shrimp and grits happened here (first-timer), and I may have just had the best bite on the planet! Unbelievably so good, maybe with a little Louisiana influence. Shrimp amazing, brown gravy with a hint of heat and topped with a fried green tomato. Just amazing! Hush puppies were incredible and a nice drink selection. Ruby and crew made our night! Such wonderful food and lovely people.
Convenient location with inviting atmosphere. I enjoyed the complementary hush puppies and the seared seafood dinner. The hush puppies are really good! I would like to highlight my dessert the key lime pie in my review. After years of searching for the best slice of key lime pie, I have finally found it! The serving is generous and covered in a delicious cinnamon and sugar sprinkle. The pie was light and fluffy- perfectly done. The cream topping was superb- definitely homemade.
If you want good seafood and friendly service you need to come here! We came in from a long day on the road and felt like we arrived home. The staff were very nice and we were able to get seated right away. They have a wide variety of seafood and bbq options. We ordered the fried seafood platter with a side of okra and the shrimp & grits with a side of collard greens. The seafood was very fresh and tasted great! The amount of food you get for the price is just right! Everything was very good and I highly recommend the collard greens!