What locals are saying
The Obstinate Daughter is a genuine Sullivan's Island institution with deep local loyalty — regulars and critics alike consistently single out the wood-fired pizzas and house-made ricotta gnocchi as must-orders, and the beach-day brunch draw (shrimp roll, OD skillet, Lowcountry frites) keeps a steady crowd of both islanders and day-trippers making the 20-minute trek from downtown. Michelin recognition and two James Beard nominations give chef Jacques Larson real institutional credibility that locals wear as a badge of pride, though minor complaints about tight parking, a noisy dining room, and tourist-season crowds surface regularly across Yelp and TripAdvisor. A recent kitchen fire added a brief viral moment on social media but hasn't dented the restaurant's reputation — if anything, it reinforced community affection for the spot.
