Welcome to Hilton Head Island! A South Carolina vacation hotspot, this island city has about 34,000 full time residents but more than 230,000 annual visitors who enjoy the annual WineFest, WingFest and more. All these hungry tourists and islanders need to eat, and it is not surprising that Hilton Head is home to a cornucopia of great restaurants – more than 250, according to the Chamber of Commerce! Of course, if you have a yen for seafood, then there are 10 restaurants you simply must visit!
The Ocean Grill Restaurant prides itself on its waterfront view. Look for it in Shelter Cove Harbor by the Marina and enjoy a fresh catch of the day, Maine lobsters, and their signature appetizer, the fried green tomatoes Napoleon with goat cheese, crabmeat, and lobster Aioli. Dinner is served from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM (March to October) and until 9:30PM for the rest of the year. Call ahead to 843-785-3030 to reserve your table and prepare yourself for a great upscale dining experience that also extends to the kids, who may order from a specially designed children’s menu.
If casual seafood is your game, then Alexander’s is the name! Part of the Palmetto Dunes Resort, this restaurant features fresh oysters, bacon wrapped shrimp, and a lobster tempura with honey mustard sauce you simply have to try to believe! Call ahead (843-785-7999) to reserve a table; a word to the wise: request one by the fireplace if it is available! Open from 5:00 PM until 10:00 PM for dinner, this is a great place to finish a full day of fun, sightseeing, and overall island enjoyment.
With a name like Boathouse II you know that there has to fresh seafood and you will not be disappointed. Located at 397 Squire Pope Road, you may call ahead (843-681-3663) to reserve a table. Weather permitting, ask for an outdoor table where you will enjoy fresh seafood on a waterfront deck. Lunch is served from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM and dinner from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Try the seafood paella (scallops, shrimp, fish, butter sauce, saffron rice, and more) which could not be tastier if it had hailed from the shores of Santander – albeit with the South Carolina twist! Reasonably priced, you can afford to feed the whole family there.
If you’re ready for something new and exciting, try Shrimp Michael’s. Located at B-5 Matthews Drive at the Port Royal Plaza, this new venue is open from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM and offers sea scallops wrapped in thick slices of apple smoked bacon, served with roasted jalapeno sauce. The restaurant’s phone number is 843-342-6842 and while you may scoff at the idea of making a reservation, consider that a pound of steamed snow crab legs sells for only about $34, you know the seats fill up quickly!
Sushi lovers will come into their own at the Alligator Grille which is located at Park Plaza. Show up for Sushi happy hour from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM or come for dinner from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Reservations are accepted at 843-842-4888. This restaurant has an extensive children’s menu that the kids are bound to enjoy. Keep in mind that this is a bit of an upscale dining experience and you want to caution your young ones to behave accordingly.
If you like lively entertainment with your meal, dinner at the Kingfisher Restaurant (located at Shelter Cove Harbor and Broad Creek) will fit the bill. A nightly occurrence commencing with the official dinner hour of 5:00 PM, guests may be regaled by musicians, magicians, and other performance artists. Call 843-785-4442 to make reservations and do not forget to enjoy the salmon kingfisher stuffed with spinach, smoked bacon and lobster cream sauce.
Hudsons’ on the Docks (at 1 Hudson Road) is well known for bringing its catch to the kitchen and guests delight in seeing the boats dock and the crates unloaded. A casual, fun experience, there are amazing conch fritters, Maryland style crab cakes, and a lot of fun in a laid back atmosphere. Firm believers in the first-come first-serve attitude, you are welcome to show up for lunch at 11:00 AM and dinner at 5:00 PM. Since they have been in business since the roaring 1920s, you know they are doing something right!
For that Caribbean kick, visit the Redfish of Hilton Head at 8 Archer Road. Find a babysitter and enjoy some samples from this restaurant’s extensive wine list (more than 1,000 bottles!) while eating mussel and clam pasta. Call 843-686-3388 to make reservations at this upscale restaurant. Dinner is served seven nights a week, beginning at 5:00 PM.
For a family atmosphere, visit the Old Oyster Factory at Broad Creek (101 Marshland Road) where family is the guiding principle of presentation, menu selection, and ambiance. Reservations (843-681-6040) are encouraged by not required, and dinner is served nightly from 5:00 PM. Try the seafood medley for a great selection of broiled seafood, shrimp, scallops, and oysters. Kids love the frozen wild strawberry drinks.
An unforgettable breakfast is served at the Waterfront Café, 147 Lighthouse Road. Sure, they also offer lunch and dinner, but to get smoked salmon benedict eggs, you want to visit here from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Call ahead (843-671-3399) to make reservations.
Sources:
http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/vacation-visitors-guide/dining-and-nightlife/
http://www.oceangrillrestaurant.com/
http://www.alexandersrestaurant.com/
http://www.shrimpmichaels.com/
http://www.alligatorgrilleofhiltonhead.com/
http://kingfisherseafood.com/index.htm
http://www.redfishofhiltonhead.com/index2.html
http://www.oldoysterfactory.com/
http://www.waterfrontcafehhi.com
