Marbled & Fin: A New, Modern Steakhouse in Charleston

From the team behind some of Charleston’s most notable restaurants, including Husk, Minero, Delaney Oyster House, and The James, The Neighborhood Dining Group expands their impressive restaurant portfolio with its first-ever steakhouse concept, combining their signature hospitality with a modern interpretation of classic fine dining.

Marbled & Fin is an approachable, modern steakhouse located on upper East Bay, away from the hustle & bustle of downtown Charleston. The venue features 30 on-site parking spots and is conveniently located right around the corner from the Aquarium Parking Garage. On a busy Saturday night, I easily found a spot in the lot, and the straight-forward parking situation made for a smooth start to an overall exceptional experience.

And an experience it was! Plan to pace yourself and take your time if you want to make the most out of your time at Marbled & Fin. There are so many delicious offerings — from unique craft cocktails and luxury bites to classic entrees, an array of steaks, and delectable desserts — you’ll want to savor each moment & space the evening out so you have room to try it all!

The Space at Marbled & Fin

Upon entering, we were warmly greeted by several staff members and given the choice between a high-top table near the bar area or corner seats at the bar. We opted for the latter. The bar, which is U-shaped with a beautiful light fixture hanging above it, is separated from the rest of the restaurant with an aisle of tall ‘birds of paradise’ plants. It’s surrounded by high-top tables and cozy, intimate semi-circle booths and is the perfect spot to enjoy dinner or a quick bite & drink. The large, main dining area when you walk in consumes most of the restaurant with a smaller, more intimate dining area in the back, which would be perfect for a private party.

In the middle of the restaurant, you'll find a stunning glass-enclosed wine cellar featuring an expansive selection of top bourbons and wines. The entire restaurant boasts high ceilings, modern fixtures, mood lighting, and plenty of greenery (including full-size trees!), creating the ‘steakhouse-but-make-it-hip’ vibe they aim for.

The Service at Marbled & Fin

From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and attended to. The evening started with a complimentary welcome cocktail, an amuse-bouche and a glass of champagne to celebrate my wonderful friend Meredith’s engagement (she surprised me with the news upon being seated!). We took our time getting started as we sipped our bubbles and gushed about all the details of the proposal. The staff accommodated our pace, checking in on us but not going over the menu until we were ready to dive in.

Once we were, our server, Ryan, went through every section of the menu with us—offering insights into almost every item, including popular choices and his personal favorites. His thoughtful guidance was much more helpful than simply reading through the menu on our own and contributed to some unexpected decisions.

Ryan was attentive throughout the evening, checking on us frequently and patiently allowing us to savor each course at our own pace, which was perfectly timed. The managers were also very accommodating, both checking in on us throughout the evening & taking the time to show us around the space. The sommelier gave us a tour of the wine cellar and shared a bit about their expansive wine and bourbon selections. To top it off, the chef came out to meet us and offered insights from behind the scenes.

Needless to say, the entire staff made us feel at home throughout our visit. Although it was known (by some) that we were there for media purposes, I observed that every guest was treated with the same level of attentiveness and hospitality. It’s clear that exceptional service is a top priority here, and that they have assembled a strong and dedicated team.

The Food at Marbled & Fin

Marbled & Fin’s menu is expansive and well-rounded, offering something for everyone, whether you have a big or small appetite or a complex or simple palate. Here’s a look at each menu section, including standouts, highlights, and recommendations from our visit:

Specialty Cocktails

We only sampled their signature welcome cocktail, which was delicious. On a future visit, I’d definitely try the ‘Much Appreciated’ cocktail, featuring kiwi, matcha, yuzu, and sea salt. I love that each cocktail comes with an inspiration guide; for example, this one’s inspiration is ‘Margaritas & Japanese Ceremonies’ - aka, right up my alley! A little extra touch in guiding your selection.

Luxury Bites

The luxury bites are perfect if you want to try some fancier nibbles in a more afforable way. While we skipped these this time, I would definitely opt for trying the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu with crispy rice, soy, and yuzu kosho on a return visit. They also have a Kuluga Caviar Tart & King Crab Lettuce Cup, which sound delicious as well.

Raw Bar

The raw bar includes a selection of caviar, oysters, and seafood towers meant to share. The “#1 Tuna Tartare” was one of our top bites of the night and a must-try in my opinion. The mango jam and tempura crunch topped with Serrano created a perfect balance of texture and flavor. The Hamachi Crudo is another popular item that I’ll be sure to try next time!

Starters & Salads

Mae’s Milk Bread with salted butter was unexpectedly one of our favorite bites of the night. Perfectly warm, fluffy and flavorful, it’s a must-try!

We also chose the broiled oysters and bone marrow, as recommended by many others. This dish came with a side of bread and a suggestion to top it with bone marrow and an oyster, then eat it all in one bite. While we enjoyed the bone marrow on its own, we found the full combo a bit rich for our tastes. Still, it was a memorable and unique dish, and no bite was left behind.

Marbled Steak Selections

The menu offers a variety of wet-aged, dry-aged, japanese wagyu & austrailian wagyu options. We opted for a wet-aged ribeye, cooked medium-rare, which was seasoned beautifully and topped with a garlic-butter glaze upon arrival. It was probably the best steak I’ve ever had, and I’m confident you can’t go wrong with any of the options in this section.

Additional Entrees

If you aren’t in the mood for steak, they offer a variety of other meat, seafood and pasta options. We skipped the other entrees this time, but I’ve heard great things about the pork chop.

Potato Offerings

Yes, that’s right - a whole section dedicated to potatoes! We chose the roasted fingerling potatoes with chimichurri. While good, they weren’t a stand-out bite for us. I’d love to try the triple cooked steak fries or robuchon potato puree next time.

Sides

If you get one thing aside from steak, make it the creamed corn with mozzarella on a cornbread crust. This new menu item is a must-try—think spicy Mexican street corn atop delicious cornbread with a touch of cheesiness. Pure perfection!

We also tried the carrots, which were very good as well.

Desserts

We indulged in the Baked Alaska and it was not only fun to watch them set on fire, but also tasted delicious, with hints of key lime, graham cracker, and a raspberry sorbet center. They have several options along with wine pairings, so make sure you save some room for dessert!

Dessert Cocktails and Nightcaps

To end the evening, we had an espresso martini cleverly named ‘That’s That Me Espresso.’ It was Meredith’s 39th espresso martini in Charleston (!!!), and we both loved it. Classic, made with real espresso and topped with a sugar-cream foam and the signature three beans then poured into an unusually tall, beautiful martini glass, this is a must-try.

Marbled & Fin: A 5-Star Dining Experience

I’ve dined at hundreds of restaurants in Charleston and rarely offer a 5-star rating, as I often find room for improvement. However, in my opinion, Marbled & Fin is a confident 5-star establishment. Every element, from start to finish, was on point. While some dishes didn’t quite blow us away as much as others, it wasn’t due to a lack of flavor, presentation, ingredients, or cooking technique. Between the attentive staff, the modern & green ambiance, the incredible food, the unique drinks, the clever menu structure and beyond, this is my favorite new spot in Charleston in 2024. Be sure to add it to your list! Cheers.