Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek has always been my favorite Charleston restaurant and when I was prompted with having to review a southern restaurant, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. To ensure that Saltwater Cowboys was considered southern and that there would be enough information to write about, I looked up their menu online. The menu was filled with fried seafood, hushpuppies, boiling peanuts, red rice, and more traditionally southern foods, some of which were even discussed in our class readings.

When I finally made my way to Saltwater Cowboys, I was met by the same restaurant my family and I have been going to for years. Immediately at the door, I was welcomed by two hostesses. Their kindness and eagerness for conversation 

displayed the first taste of southern hospitality for the night. I opted for the outdoor seating since it was a nice warm day and the restaurant did not appear too busy. Each table was a hightop made of wood and was accompanied by several tall metal chairs.Although today was a rather slow day, these tables often serve as community tables where strangers can share a table beside each other on busy days. This demonstrates southern hospitality since everyone is understanding and excited to sit next to someone they don’t know and share a table; something that may not be taken kindly in other parts of the country. The outdoor portion is similar to that of a back porch; it is made of wood with fencing around it and tables topped with outdoor umbrellas. People are free to walk around onto the dock to admire the view; which is what is most likely to draw first-time guests in. The restaurant sits on Shem Creek so much of the fun of this dining experience comes from watching the large fishing boats, kayakers, and the many dolphins. This restaurant can be described as southern due to its casual, backyard feel and the sense of community encouraged among diners.

When seated, the hostess gave me the menu which was filled with options. Some of the items on the menu were featured in our readings of “Charleston Receipts”, such as lowcountry red rice and coleslaw, similar to “John Dent’s Cole Slaw.” There are also many other southern favorites on the menu that were not featured in the receipts book such as boiled peanuts, fried green tomatoes, cowboy 

baked beans, and pimento cheese. To start, I ordered a sweet tea with lemon to drink, a classic southern staple. While many other parts of the country serve unsweet tea, sweet tea serves as a symbol for southern food, which is why I had to include it in my meal. For my appetizer, I ordered boiled peanuts; a snack I can never pass up when I get the chance. These simple peanuts reminded me of how my family would always eat them while tailgating at Clemson University on Saturday afternoons; which was a tradition many southern schools did but especially Clemson. For my entree, I ordered the fried shrimp with french fries and mac ‘n’ cheese. While the french fries are not officially a southern dish, they are at many southern meals and meals around the country in general. Fried shrimp and mac ‘n’ cheese, however, are southern. The mac ‘n’ cheese was placed into its own bowl, enough to where the bowl was at risk of overflowing. The fried shrimp sat on the tray accompanied with lemon and cocktail sauce. Fried shrimp is especially southern due to its preparation. Fried foods, especially fried chicken have been in the South for decades. African slaves brought the tradition of deep-frying chicken and other foods to the South, something that has become a staple for the region over time (Winter). Throughout and after my meal, my server was very quick to be at my aid, especially when delivering the check in a timely fashion so I was not having to wait.

The community-style tables reminded me very much of the readings from “Theodore Peed’s Turtle Party.” Both the Turtle Party and Saltwater Cowboys create a sense of community among diners, even if they are strangers to one another. As my dining experience came to a close, I made my way to the dock to stand and watch the many boats and dolphins in the water. Saltwater Cowboys never fails to cater a delicious and entertaining night, which is why they are a favorite among many tourists and locals alike. Saltwater Cowboys, an excellent example of southern cooking, will always be a place I return to and bring my friends to enjoy.

-Greer Phillips

Sources:

Winter, Richard. “Ultimate Guide to Southern Food: Southern Food History.” Howstuffworks, https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/southern-food2.htm. Accessed 11 Oct 2021

Herman, Bernard L. “Theodore Peed’s Turtle Party.” Southern Cultures, vol. 18 no. 2, 2012, p. 59-73. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/scu.2012.0015.

The Junior League of Charleston. Charleston Receipts. 1995.