A fresh-scrubbed hole-in-a-strip mall off Maybank on John’s Island, the General is all about cool confidence meets casual comfort, a harmony played out via its hearty menu, bench-and-barstool setting, and easygoing but professional service. Chef Tim Erwin delivers a lineup with perfectly rendered traditional sandwiches and their equally crave-worthy “craft-styled” counterparts. Play it straight or wild (the classic po’ boy stars beer-battered shrimp with remoulade while its crafty sesame-shrimp cousin comes with panko-fried crustaceans, sweet chili slaw, and “juambo” mayo), just make sure you show up hungry. Gourmands and regular guys alike leave fat and oh-so-happy. 3157 Maybank Hwy., Unit E, John’s Island; (843) 640-3778; www.thesoutherngeneral.com
❋ Readers’ Choice: Tattooed Moose