Adam Kirby

Adam Kirby, chef and co-owner of Bistro 217 and Rustic Table, both located in Pawleys Island, has successfully taken all of his culinary influences and created a diverse, Southern menu with Rustic Table and a chic, upscale experience with Bistro 217. In addition to his thriving restaurants, Driftwood Mercantile, a unique gift shop containing local art and Pawleys Island wares,  opened in 2021. He can also be found tending to his passion project, Swamp Lake Farms. You’ll find him catching fish, keeping bees or growing lima beans. By maintaining his own farm, Chef Adam can harvest vegetables specifically for both restaurants’ needs and provide the freshest produce available.

“Growing up in Atlanta, I had the benefit of learning from two fantastic Southern cooks at a young age, my mother and grandmother.” 

Chef Kirby later moved from Atlanta to Hawaii, where he fell in love with the cuisine on the islands and decided to pursue a career that mirrored his passion for cooking. Adam then moved to Portland, Ore. and graduated from Le Cordon Bleu of the Western Culinary Institute.

After his intense culinary training, Adam spent a number of years traveling the country while working for a number of renowned restaurants including Stars in San Francisco, Spice Canoe and the Terrace Hotel in Atlanta and the Gasthaus Restaurant at the Widmer Brewery in Portland. In 2017, Chef Adam was honored with the title of “South Carolina Chef Ambassador” by Governor Nikki Haley. 

Today, Chef Kirby spends his time split between his businesses and his family, including his beautiful wife, Lindsey and two growing sons, Abel and Eli. Together they enjoy everything nature has to offer at their home on the Waccamaw River.