What locals are saying
Lost Isle is a fully outdoor, walk-in-only fire-to-table spot on Johns Island that Johns Island locals were championing well before it earned national buzz — NYT Top 50 U.S. restaurants and Southern Living's 2025 Restaurant of the Year. The counter-service, open-air format (order drinks at the bar, food near the grill) is genuinely beloved for its backyard-party vibe, standout dishes like chorizo clams, whipped ricotta, and the tomahawk pork chop, and creative cocktails. Recurring gripes center on limited, crowded parking, no air conditioning or roof (heat, bugs, and weather are real factors), and the occasional execution inconsistency noted by the local press — signs the concept's charm can overshadow minor lapses when the hype is this loud.
