Award Winning Food in a Beach Town
Obstinate Daughter: A Sullivan's Island Classic
If you live anywhere near Charleston, you’ve probably heard of The Obstinate Daughter. This restaurant on Middle Street in downtown Sullivan’s Island is a classic. And it’s popular, so be sure to make a reservation. They take reservations two weeks out via Resy.
The beautiful dining room at The Obstinate Daughter is light-filled with a nautical style and an open kitchen. It’s filled with weathered wood and a beach house style. And the food, well, wow! The chef is a two-time James Beard Award nominee, and ‘OD’ is on the American South’s 2025 Michelin Recommended Restaurants list.
I did a little research to find out where the unusual name came from. The 'Obstinate Daughter' is a nod to history about Sullivan’s Island as a Revolutionary War defender, dubbed “one of the obstinate daughters of America.”
The Obstinate Daughter’s menu changes seasonally, using local farms and fisheries. Their list of local partners is lengthy! It includes local farms, seafood companies, and breweries.
The food is Southern with influences from Italian, French, and Spanish cuisines. All countries known for their food, I might add.
Try the shrimp roll, which is filled with dill and lots of shrimp and served on a split-top bun. It’s my go-to. It is served with ‘Geechie Frites’, which are grit fries. Way better than they sound - I promise.
The Obstinate Daughter also has good seafood chowder, and a raw bar. An unusual menu twist, really, really good brick-oven pizza. Try the Miss Carolina, the Five Fathom Hole 3.0 (which actually has clams on it), or the peaches-and-pancetta pizza.
The Obstinate Daughter also serves handmade pastas - gnocchi with short ribs, or try one of the seafood pastas.OD has a nice selection of wines and an even more extensive selection of local beers, along with a full bar.
When you are finished with dinner, be sure to head to the shop downstairs for gelato.One of the things that makes The Obstinate Daughter special is that the food is like fine dining, but the atmosphere is upscale casual. It’s even dog-friendly. (go figure). It’s truly the perfect combo for Sullivan’s Island. That’s why it’s a classic.
