There are not many restaurants you'll find as unique as Ella's of Calabash. Not only do they have the freshest seafood, but they are just over the border from South Carolina and surrounded by islands. Beautiful place, delicious food, and a dream come true. As one frequent patron explained, "Fun, food, and friends. The oyster steam pots are basically an invitation that writes itself. Anyone visiting Calabash should do themselves a favor and come here!"
Ella's of Calabash was once highlighted in Southern Living Magazine and has been voted Best Seafood in the county for 15 years in a row!
The area has hundreds of years worth of history that helped mold what has become of Calabash today. From Spanish explorers to British settlers and getting caught up in the Revolutionary War, this seaside town has surely seen its fair share of action. It's also seen George Washington.
It wasn't until the 50s that Ella's came into the fold. Lawrence and Ella High started this memorable dining experience with one room after years of fishing for their family. With a massive interest from locals, and a little help, the Highs were able to grow that room into a full restaurant. For 70 years, Ella's of Calabash has continued to be a family affair in the Seafood Capital of the World.
Before we begin a deep dive into the tasty food selections, it should be noted that Ella's was one of the first places in town to serve seafood Calabash style. What is Calabash in terms of cooking? Basically, it's just a lightly breaded piece with a flash fry in low-fat vegetable oil.
Not shown on the menu sampler below are the specials. Each night, a beverage is picked for a discounted rate. The great thing about the selection of beer is that there are local drafts as well as bottled beer. Not to mention the favorite of many guests, the wine list! We spend a lot of time cultivating our beverages with a kick to pair with many tastes.
Now, on with the eats!
Prices range from $7 to $17.
All three soups are made in-house and come in a cup or bowl size, except for the stew, which is served in a bowl only. Cups start at $5 and bowls at $6.
Who doesn't love a good soup and salad combo? You can get that here, too. The salad bar comes with options like All You Can Eat, shrimp salad, and a chicken salad. The salads start at $5.
Before we get into heavier courses, let's go with a lighter fare. All sandwiches are served with fries. You can also choose between lettuce and tomato or coleslaw. Sandwiches range from $8 to $12. Here are the various types:
All the seafood is prepared Calabash style but can be substituted for a boiled piece. All the dishes come with fries, coleslaw, and the classic hushpuppies. The small orders start at $16 and go up to $21. Here are the seafood picks:
A more varied slice of seafood comes with complimentary mixes for unique flavors found only at Ella's. Each plate from this part of the menu is served with a baked potato or fries and coleslaw. The prices are between $18 and $20.
Maybe you love seafood but someone in your group does not. Never fear! There are plenty of land-dwelling meats here. Most of these come with fries and coleslaw. A couple of these have hushpuppies added on. A few others do their own thing and come with a salad and potato. Prices start at $12.
While your mouth may be watering, there might be fear in your mind. We all know children can be the pickiest eaters and, with the overabundance of seafood, you might have a kid who wants to pump the breaks on eating here. Don't worry, there's a plan for that.
In addition to offering a kid-sized seafood platter, there's plenty of food they could eat at home but can't because you're here. Keeping the little ones fed ranges from $2.75 to $8.
Located in the heart of Calabash, and across the street from the river, Ella's of Calabash is open year-round to meet your dining needs. As thought-provoking as it would be to have breakfast here, there are only dinner items in this establishment. However, you don't have to wait until the evening to get a table. The restaurant opens at 11 am and stays that way until 9 pm.