Dining options at Hilton Head

[wulfekamp]

HHI Is just great. We found we could save money by hitting the early bird specials.

 

[El&Asmom]

We love to eat on HHI.
Completely agree on Skullcreek, (ate there twice which we never do), and Roastfish and Cornbread.

Another we tried a little more upscale was The Sage Room. Our kayak guide recommended it and we really liked it. It is in the back of a strip mall and hard to find but great menu. We were lucky to get a table at opening.

We went to One Hot Mama for brunch, and it was just ok. Not sure how there BBQ is though.

Recommend signing up for Living Social deals for Savannah and HHI. There are some good deals there for half price dining that we were able to take advantage of.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

anyone been to reilley's on monday nights for the $12.95 lobster deal?

http://www.reilleyshiltonhead.com

Nope, but would LOVE to hear from anyone who has.

 

[dznystar]

oh wow....so many choices!!!! Now I have to figure out how to narrow it down!

 

[disneybride96]

A Lowcounty Backyard!
http://www.hhbackyard.com/

We ate there about 2 years ago, it was the first month they were open. VERY AWESOME! Small, intimate home cooking. We were the last ones in the restraunt and sat and chatted with the owner and staff. Try the Shimp & Grits or Potato Chip Meatloaf.

My mom and das were there just a couple weeks ago and it is still just as awsome.

 

[QuiltTeddy]

My parents live on HHI, so we are there frequently, although have never stayed at the DVC location. There are a number of great places to dine.

Don't miss The Oyster Factory. Beautiful view and great food. (Can be touristy, but it's worth it.)

So many other great places. The Island offers something for everyone.

 

[StregaNona]

Recently we had the pleasure of eating at Robert Irvine's restaurant on HHI - delicious food and great service.

 

[chalee94]

Recently we had the pleasure of eating at Robert Irvine's restaurant on HHI - delicious food and great service.

just got back from HHI and enjoyed this - they currently have 1/2 price tapas/small plates on tuesdays and that was fun to try different flavors.

also tried reilley's on monday night for the $12.95 lobster deal - the lobster was probably only a pound or so but it was very tasty - loved the claws. wanted to go back another night but ran out of time...

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just today we tried the Black Marlin for lunch. Delicious!

 

[mickeyplanner]

There are over 200 restaurants on the island - truly something for every taste. There are 7 within walking distance of the resort and many others a short drive away.

Right at Shelter Cove within about 400 yards of the resort are Kingfisher, Scott's Fishmarket, Bistro17 (one of our favorites), Little Venice, Parrot Cove, San Miguel's and ELAS. Nearby is Giuseppis, Alexanders, Sea Grass Grille.

We also enjoy Bonefish, Skull Creek Boathouse, Black Marlin, Frankie Bones, One Hot Mamas, Red Fish, Mangiamo's, Crane's Tavern, Catch 22, Old Fort Pub, Eat!, Jazz Corner and Charlie's Etoille Verde among others. All of these are within about 4 miles of the resort.

Chef Gordon, in the resort Mercantile, is a great resource for dining suggestions. The Front Desk staff has discount coupons, menus and booklets with restaurant listings.

Do most of these places take reservations? Worried about going in June and the wait time for a larger party.

We always get Guiseppe's for take-out. We used to go to the Sea Shack, but heard the chef started Roastfish and Cornbread. We headed there this past summer and it was very good. My kids wanted to go again! We also get fresh shrimp one night and eat in the room.

Where did you purchase the fresh shrimp?

My in-laws live on HHI and I spend quit a bit of time there.

Our favorites for casual lunch or dinner:
- Fiesta Fresh (a real hidden gem...we eat here almost daily...few tourists know about it)
- Kenny B's French Quarter Cafe
- Ruan Thai
- Sea Shack
- TJ's Take & Bake Pizza

Our favorites for nicer, but not super-fancy dinner:
- Truffles Cafe or Grill (visit every trip)
- Redfish
- Seagrass Grill

Favorites for special dinner:
- Old Fort Pub
- CQ's
- Robert Irvine's Eat! (The guy from Dinner Impossible/Worst Cook in America - he lives on HHI)

Would you recommend Robet Irvine's with kids? My DD loves to watch him on TV that might be a great spot to celebrate my MIL birthday while we are down there.

 

[chalee94]

Would you recommend Robet Irvine's with kids?

it's not at wdw and there's a bar attached.

maybe if the kids are extremely well-behaved...but i'd be wary.

 

[bbn1122]

DHubby and Me loved the British Open Pub, it in the same shopping Plaza as, EAT!

Very cozy, great Beer selection it being a British Pub.

Sunday nights....Lobster Pot Pie to die for....

DH had the Fish and Chips....of course,

We had the Soft Hot Pretzel and mustard for an appetizer...great....

We also had lunch outdoors at the Salt Dog, very nice.

 

[mickeyplanner]

it's not at wdw and there's a bar attached.

maybe if the kids are extremely well-behaved...but i'd be wary.

Thanks for the info, sounds like we are going to pass on visiting there with the kids.

 

[GetGlowing]

We just got back from 3 nights. My niece has a peanut allergy, so we always have to call ahead to make sure restaurants don't use peanut oil or have peanuts or other nuts on the table.

Note to the poster above who only mentioned chain restaurants with a gluten-free need -- Most of the restaurants in HHI are independent. Some of them have gluten-free menus. So call ahead if you have special needs, they may be able to accommodate you.

The only place we could not eat was One Hot Mama's -- they fry in peanut oil. I ate there last year and was looking forward to their ribs again but that was out. We called Skull Creek Boathouse but weren't comfortable with the answer we got on the phone to our questions about how they handled peanut allergies, so we skipped it. Since we couldn't do One Hot Mama's, we did The Smokehouse instead, and service was very quick, bbq was just ok, but there was a small issue on the bill that just soured me. It was really just a $1-2 issue on a $100+ tab, but the way it was handled by our waiter (whose gratuity was already added due to the size of our party) means I won't go back.

Hudsons -- great food. And they were great on the phone with us in regards to allergies, too.

Also had a good meal at Crazy Crab, the one right as you come on to HHI.

Pizza at Guiseppi's right near the Disney resort was ok and they give a discount with your room key. I had a 'weggie" sandwich which I think I liked more than those in our group who got pizza.

On past trips to HHI I've been to Low Country Backyard and I can't recommend their Shrimp & Grits enough!!!

Salty Dog Cafe is a touristy spot that sells a LOT of t-shirts and has about three different restaurants serving variations on the same theme. It's ok, Location is nice if you can eat outside. Don't forget there's a $5 charge per car to enter Sea Pines, so make a day of it and do Salty Dog and Harbour Town on the same day and do the lighthouse there, maybe book a dolphin tour or other boat from there.

JAZZ CORNER! Make reservations. Adults only.

Also British Open Pub. Wish we could have gone there this trip.

Hubby and I like Bomboras Grille for beers.

 

[LJC1861]

What we do at One Hot Mama's is get the takeout meal. For $19.99 you get a meal that feeds 4. If I remember correctly, it's one meat and 2 sides. Great BBQ reasonably priced without the restaurant atmosphere.

I second Skull Creek Boathouse! This was our family's favorite meal on our last trip. We will definitely be back.

We also loved Dye's Gullah Fixin's. We ate there for the lunch buffet and everything was heavenly. I just noticed that she has a new location and only serves takeout now. On our last trip, she told us she was planning this, but now that's it's happened, I'm so disappointed. I wanted that lunch buffet again so badly!!!!

We also get Giuseppi's Pizza for the first night since we are arriving later and just want takeout and we have to pick up groceries at the Piggly Wiggly next door.

Another great one that I don't hear much about is the Chart House. My DH and I ate there on our 20th anniversary a couple of years ago and really liked it.

We also usually try to hit Steamer Seafood. The owner is an alumni from the same college we graduated from, and there's all kinds of WKU references in the restaurant. The food was good, but I think we go more for the feeling of home while on vacation.

I really want to try Roastfish and Cornbread, Alexander's, and the Sea Shack.

Dye's is in a new location ( and one right near the resort and much easier to find) and she is still serving a "dine in" meal. I do not think she is serving a buffet however. My partner Lisa does her website. It is a much smaller location with less overhead....allowing her to stay in business. She came REALLY close to not being able to stay open at all.

Linda

 

[mickeyplanner]

Salty Dog Cafe is a touristy spot that sells a LOT of t-shirts and has about three different restaurants serving variations on the same theme. It's ok, Location is nice if you can eat outside. Don't forget there's a $5 charge per car to enter Sea Pines, so make a day of it and do Salty Dog and Harbour Town on the same day and do the lighthouse there, maybe book a dolphin tour or other boat from there.

[.

Is there somewhere else other than Salty Dog Cafe that you would recommend eating at at Sea Pines?

 

[dis-happy]

Is there somewhere else other than Salty Dog Cafe that you would recommend eating at at Sea Pines?

Yes. Truffles Cafe in the Plantation Shopping Center is one of may favorites (I live in Sea Pines part of the year). It's on the same road that leads to Harbour Town.

You can check the Sea Pines website for activities. Depending on when you go there's a lot to do and explore. The other big activity option is a trail ride, pony ride or visit the small petting zoo at the Lawton Stables. There are good Kayak tours out of South Beach too.

 

[dis-happy]

Do most of these places take reservations? Worried about going in June and the wait time for a larger party.



Where did you purchase the fresh shrimp?



Would you recommend Robet Irvine's with kids? My DD loves to watch him on TV that might be a great spot to celebrate my MIL birthday while we are down there.

Dinner there is veeeeery leisurely. I think dh and I were there for about 2 hours altogether. Food was great though. Try and do a date night if you can!

 

[mickeyplanner]

Yes. Truffles Cafe in the Plantation Shopping Center is one of may favorites (I live in Sea Pines part of the year). It's on the same road that leads to Harbour Town.

You can check the Sea Pines website for activities. Depending on when you go there's a lot to do and explore. The other big activity option is a trail ride, pony ride or visit the small petting zoo at the Lawton Stables. There are good Kayak tours out of South Beach too.

Thank you, I am going to have to check out the Sea Pines Website for activities.

Dinner there is veeeeery leisurely. I think dh and I were there for about 2 hours altogether. Food was great though. Try and do a date night if you can!

I am sure my in-laws would love to watch the kids one night for us to go on a date night. But I would feel guilty being on a family vacation and not all being together. But that does sound tempting...

 

[Massillon Dad]

amazing restaurant...if going for dinner wait may be 3 hours ....its just that good!