Coconut Joe's has been doing the same thing for nearly thirty years: oceanfront grill food on Isle of Palms and Folly Beach, open daily since 1997, with weekend brunch and a rooftop bar that pulls in the late-afternoon crowd. It's a beach bar in the best sense - casual, loud, dog-friendly, and easy to sit on and watch the water without feeling like you're at a restaurant that expects anything of you. The menu leans island: the island and fish tacos are the dishes people rank up there with the best they've had, the coconut shrimp is a favorite, and there's a solid range of burgers, sandwiches, and cocktails for the people who don't want fish.
The live music is part of the draw, and the rooftop is worth the trip alone on a good evening. It's a family and beachgoer crowd - young, older, local, tourist, all mixed together at the same counter - and the prices are approachable enough that it's not an event. Some reviews flag portion sizes and the occasional plate that under-delivers, but the vibe and the setting carry it the rest of the way.