2026-06-28T02:54:42.916Z

We went for lunch, which has a $20 special, but with a drink you spend $30 each. The food was pretty good. The service was not that good which was surprising. The waiter was very slow to take our order, a different waitress (not the one who took our order) tried to give our drinks to the wrong table until we corrected her and said they were ours, and one person in our group was brought the wrong order, which they caught and corrected after several minutes even though we did not say something. Overall it was a good experience and I would go again, but seems like there are still some things to work out to make it a better experience, particularly for the high price point mentioned in many other reviews.

2026-06-24T19:14:06.991Z

In my opinion this is by far the best Indian food restaurant in the Charleston area hands down. The entire experience for our party of 4 was outstanding. The menu is amazing and the majority of items are from family recipes. Highly recommend - it will be a “go-to” for us! Jim

2026-06-22T01:58:19.248Z

We has a fabulous Father’s Day dinner. Several in our party had never eaten Indian and came away huge fans.

2026-06-21T22:03:42.637Z

Absolutely amazing food, service, and atmosphere

2026-06-21T00:34:22.919Z

The service was impeccable. The food was delicious. We ordered a variety of dishes. The dosa, sesame chilli naan and chole were my favorite of them all. The chai martini was delicious.And the names of the drinks… too creative ;)

2026-06-16T17:38:56.683Z

This place is such a nice addition to the neighborhood. The dinners and entrees are phenomenal, and for lunch they have specials that are some of the best deals in town, if you ask me. The atmosphere is always very welcoming and calm. The staff is very friendly every time I come in. If I had any notes it would be that its a bit on the pricier side, but the lunch specials make up for it in my opinion.

2026-06-16T15:00:40.944Z

If you are looking for the best Indian food in Charleston, SC, you have to visit Rivayat Creative Indian downtown. We had an absolute 5/5 experience here from start to finish!The staff is super friendly, welcoming, and incredibly attentive. We weren't totally sure what to order, so we took our server's recommendation and tried their spicy chicken appetizer—it was so yummy and perfectly spiced! For our mains, we got the chicken tikka and the butter chicken. Both dishes were incredibly rich, flavorful, and tasted so authentic.Rivayat is definitely a major upgrade to the Charleston food scene. The service, the vibe, and the food were all top-tier. We will absolutely be going back soon! Highly recommend to any local foodies or tourists looking for amazing dining in downtown Charleston.

2026-06-14T16:19:56.115Z

This was an incredible experience for our tastebuds!I found items that were different, I knew I'd like it because I got a taste at our local Chefs Potluck.The service was excellent, we never had to wait. Every dish from pickled apples, to the olive oil cake (OMG), a wild Gelato, Kashmir naan with nuts, cranberries and coconut, chemeen manga curry (shrimp) - that can be ordered at any level of spice...everything was amazing.The lighting was perfect with a gorgeous brown tone. Noise level was high, that could be improved.Even packing up leftovers, packed by a server, sturdy containers in a brown bag with sturdy handle, one for each person.I will definitely return.Oh, and they're gracious with special occasions, bringing a sparkler and the amazing olive oil cake!!