Eight Ocean Friendly Restaurants in the Lowcountry

CHARLESTON, S.C. – (WCBD) – Eight restaurants in Charleston have been recognized as Ocean Friendly Restaurants by the Surfrider Foundation for following sustainable practices aimed at protecting the ocean and reducing plastic waste.

“The goal of the Ocean Friendly Restaurants Program is to build a community of eco-conscious restaurants and patrons that support a healthy lifestyle for all people and for the planet,” said CJ O’Brien Weddle, Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants program manager.

According to the Surfrider Foundation, to be considered an Ocean Friendly Restaurant, establishments must incorporate the following criteria:

• Using only reusable foodware for on-site dining
• Providing straws only upon request
• No use of Styrofoam
• No use of plastic bags for takeout orders
• Must follow proper recycling practices

Restaurants must also implement three optional efforts, such as offering vegetarian and vegan food options regularly, using energy-efficient appliances, serving seafood that is ‘Best Choice’ or ‘Good Alternative’ as defined by Seafood Watch, or serving no seafood, and making composting efforts for food waste.

Here are the full lists of requirements and optional efforts restaurants must follow to be a part of the program.

Local restaurants speak out to make waves of change.

Eight businesses around the Lowcountry have been recognized by the Surfrider Foundation as Ocean Friendly Restaurants. Some restaurants expressed why the program is important to them.

“Being proactive means protecting what we love – and for us, that’s the ocean,” said Cyn Harlow, owner of Sun Dazed Cafe.

“Being an Ocean Friendly Restaurant means more than just good food; it’s a commitment to sustainability, conservation, and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the beauty and bounty of our seas,” said Daniel Dalton, the area executive chef for Little Palm.

“For a guest to know we are an earth-friendly restaurant helps them understand right away that we are a business that works to reduce our impact and are conscious of our environment, creating a sense of trust and awareness,” said Greer Gilchrist, co-owner of The Harbinger and Harken Cafe & Bakeries. 

“Our mission, mantra, and method is to protect, preserve, AND RESTORE the ecosystems from which healthy, sustainable food comes. And to steer consumers away from species that are overfished. For example, we don’t serve tuna because it is grossly over-fished AND full of heavy metals and micro-plastics,” said Kevin Joseph, chef and founder of the Raw Lab and Empire Oyster.

Here is a list of all the Ocean Friendly Restaurants in the Charleston area.

Why did the Surfrider Foundation create the program?

Although the problems of plastic pollution may be complex, the solution behind the program is simple: stop plastic at the source.

According to the Surfrider Foundation, the extraction, production, consumption, and disposal of plastic can cause serious environmental and humanitarian consequences.

“By choosing to dine at Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants, customers can make a difference and help protect the ocean and coasts for all people,” said CJ O’Brien Weddle, Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly programs manager.