Hilton Head - Savannah area

I enjoyed Wiley's...halfway between Savannah and Tybee Island. Blowin' Smoke was good, but I heard that they moved and kinda changed their business a bit. I was there a little over a year ago.

Depending on your budget, alligator soul is really good for dinner. For good, cheap pizza try vinnie van go-gos. There's Huey's on the river that specializes in "new Orleans" food, or Vic's on the river is pretty good too. If you want fairly inexpensive but very good good, try Zunzi's 2 for dinner. They have a sandwich called "the conquistador" that won 2nd best sandwich in America on a food tv show.

Got home yesterday

It was the snow, the rain, and the lousy food around here. We decided to go down to Charleston SC for a few days to get out of this mess. The weather was perfect. A beautiful city full of history and neat things to do. Friendly people and the best seafood around. Too many good places to eat. We went for the seafood and the SC BBQ. The Q was a big disappointment. The place we ate at was listed as one the best in the area. I sincerely hope this place was not an example of fine SC Q. We had brisket and ribs. Both were dry, overcooked, and had no flavor. There was no choice of sauce. All the sides were good. We will go back because everything else in the city was so nice. So just because the guide and the chamber of commerce says it's good get local knowledge.

I am a hilton head local, here is what I send to out of townees when they come in

Locals Guide to Hilton Head and Restaurant Recommendations as of 12 31 13

Anything Serge Group is very good service.
http://www.serggroup.com/

The shelter Cove Mall near the Hilton Head Disney VC is undergoing a huge public-private partnership that will add a large public park with a dock, a 87 sq ft Krogers which already opened and a couple waterfront dining restaurants- one of which will be a Serg Group- I will update further when complete.

A Whole Foods is also scheduled to open in Feb at the site of the Shelter Cove Piggly Wiggly.
For my money and Quality- Publix and Harris Teeter are better than Kroger. And the Fresh Market is best for high quality dinner items/ steaks etc.. But when Whole Foods open I might be going there more



Breakfast—
Sunrise Café @Palmetto Bay Marina (great crab cake benedict);
Signe’s @ 93 Arrow Road ((blackberry French toast and homemade sausage as featured on the Food Network).



Harold’s Dinner-641 William Hilton Parkway (Business 278)—good southern Diner that is owned by a damn Yankee and Boston Red Sox fan. Local cooks though. Be sure to sign your order!
It’s a dining car run by a few Boston guys that have the accents and are rude on purpose. But the food is great. They also have great Burgers for lunch. Be prepared to be insulted but its part of the charm.

Plantation Café- 96 Mathews Drive Apt 180
It’s a traditional breakfast place that reminds me of Pamela’s in Pittsburgh(for you northerners) the Crab Cake Benedict is my choice but Sunrise Café is better.

Lunch—
Sea Shack @ 6 Executive Park Road (best variety of local caught fresh fish). This is just off Pope Avenue. Hole in the wall local’s joint featured in Costal Living as best seafood dives.-Also open for dinner.

Bluffton Family Seafood House- in Old Bluffton at 27 Dr. Mellchamp Drive. Owned and operated by old area fishing family. Before or after lunch go see their oyster and shrimp boats and processing facility on the water at the dead end of Wharf Street in Bluffton

Hudson’s-Bar Area is better than dining IMO-good for lunch or happy hour. Authentic local shrimp and oysters and cold beer in nautical setting. Off Squire Pope Road.
Sit out back and just get steamed shrimp and oyster. They usually have a singer in the summer months as well.
http://www.hudsonsonthedocks.com/


CharBar –Best Burger on Island, also good for dinner
This is a fairly new restaurant and is a upscale burger place where everything is made from scratch. My sister loved it for her kids because they have tablets on every table for the kids to play games while you wait. They also have a lot of good cocktails.
https://www.facebook.com/CharbarCo


BBQ-
My favorites are
Bullies BBQ- Quick Service place but great pork with a great selection of 5 or 6 sauces on the side
http://bulliesbbq.com/

SmokeHouse- Was once a dining car that was great. Now it has grown into a big restaurant with full bar, bands at night and large wait. Depending on the season sometimes the quality can slip keeping up with demand but it is still solid bbq
http://smokehousehhi.com/

Bluffton BBQ- The most authentic around and true traditional bbq made by a local legend. It is in a very small building off the promenade in Bluffton
http://blufftonbbq.com/



Dinner-Boathouse restaurant and Bar @ 397 Squire Pope Road—sit outside on the water and watch the sunset. Take some bug repellant for the damn no-seeums or smoke a cigar (which keeps them away too). The Boathouse has about the best atmosphere of anywhere on the island and they have a kids camp where they can paint, play etc while you wait outside by the docks in the summer months. It also has a great outdoor bar and it is run by the best restaurant company on the island the Serge Group.
http://skullcreekboathouse.com/
http://serggroup.com/

Old Oyster Factory-
Some of the best views on the island and one of the largest restaurants. Good big seafood menu and oyster bar.
www.oldoysterfactory.com/


Roast Fish and Cornbread looks unassuming but it only uses fresh fish and local ingredients. If you like local seafood it is worth checking out. It is one of the handful of traditional Gullah restaurants in the area and the most authentic. They also have a vegan menu for those that need it.
http://www.roastfishandcornbread.com/


Slightly upscale but always Hilton Head Island casual:
Redfish on Arrow Road
Sage Room near Coligny @ 81 Pope Avenue
Best food on the island if you like Seafood
http://www.redfishofhiltonhead.com


Sunset Dining Top of the Quaterdeck-Harbour Town.

Sunset Grille off 278 as you drive onto the Island-located within the waterfront RV resort above its Laundromat GREAT. I know that doesn’t sound great but it’s a great place. Also one of the nicest RV parks around

Old Fort Pub in Hilton Head Plantation via Squire Pope Road.
The areas only 4 diamond restaurant- Great Marsh Views and located at the site of a old Civil Way Fort
http://www.oldfortpub.com/


Chart House next to Hudson’s on Squire Pope Road.
Chart House is a upscale steak and seafood place with fantastic views
http://www.chart-house.com/locations/hilton-head/


Italian- Michael Anthony’s in a fantastic Italian restaurant especially for this area who has several mediocre Italian. It is upscale and expensive but worth it to get a great meal for us locals
http://michael-anthonys.com/


Happy Hour- Outside at the Salty Dog on the wharf or the outdoor downstairs decks of the Quarterdeck both in Sea Pines; or the Boathouse. Wings and cold beer on the dock at Up the Creek Pub at Broad Creek Marina off Marshland Road.

Every restaurant in Shelter Cove Harbour has a good one as well.


Pizza- Mellow Mushroom at the Harris Teeter shopping center just outside the entrance to Sea Pines or Fat Baby’s on Arrow Rd

Fat Babies is a local favorite that is more New York Style

Game Watch-
For you Northerners that may be here in football season Mangiamo’s is the home of Ohio State
Caseys in Home of the Steelers
Calahans the home of Michigan State and West Virginia
Jump & Phils – Green Bay Packers
Street Meet- is the home of the Cleveland Browns
Boathouse covers most games as does Wild Wings Cafe

Best Place to Buy Fresh Seafood
Benny Hudsans not to be confused with Hudsens restaurant. You can buy seafood right off the dock

Bluffton Oyster house is the oldest operated fisherman company in the area and you can also buy it right off the dock.

Hilton Head is Oyster and Shrimp Country depending on the season. You can also buy local fish


Great side trips:

Outside Hilton Head and Marsh Grass Adventures offer great guided trips ranging from boating, Kayaking, SUP, nature excursions and more.
http://www.outsidehiltonhead.com/
http://www.marshgrassadventures.com/Home.html


Marshside Mamas on Daufauskee Island— great food and atmosphere but can be reached only by boat. Also Daufauskee Crab Company located on the dock before Marshides for beer, deviled crab and sunsets via the chairs under the Live Oak on the water

Bluffton Farmers Market and Calhoun Street
http://www.farmersmarketbluffton.org/
This is what I was telling you about and a area you do not want to miss.

The farmers market is 2 to 8 or so on Thursdays in the spring and summer. 2 to 6 in the fall and winter and close from time to time between Dec to beginning of Feb depending on the weather but you could go to Calhoun Street where it is anytime. During the Farmers market they have a band, several stands to grab food, vegetables, crafts etc, as well as the shops on the street. You will see several families and kids around.

This area is filled with all low country reclaimed and restored architecture with bright Charleston/savannah colors. There are several local art galleries, antique shops, restaurants, children’s book store etc..

The end of the street has a 100 year old Church against the marsh next to a public dock, a good place for pictures.

I would recommend eating breakfast or lunch at “The Cottage” or “Bluffton Bbq”. Bluffton Bbq is in a new development across the main road and The Cottage is right in the center of Calhoun Street. The Old Town Dispensary is also good
http://blufftonbbq.com/
http://www.thecottagebluffton.com/



Just past Bluffton off of Route 46 toward Savannah-- Palmetto Bluff Resort. When you reach the guard gate tell them you are going to Buffalos and they will give you a pass. When inside, look around at this planned community which has been rated by Conde Nest as one of the best resorts in America. For lunch eat at Buffalos and for dinner try the dining room at the resort Inn.


Side trip to Savannah—be sure to take scenic Route 46—much quicker and it’s off the freeways. Between Savannah and Tybee Island a really funky Jimmy Buffett kind of place called the Crab Shack. Their motto is “Where the Elite eat in their bare feet” Gator farm, outdoor waterfront dining and great food.

Walk River Street and the Market District

Also in Savannah-Mrs Wilkes Boarding House for real Southern Cooking served family style. Listed in the Book—1000 places you have to see before you die. It is much better than Paula Dean’s or brother Bubbas.


http://zunzis.com/
Zunzis has incredible sandwiches. Travel channel rated the “conquistador” best sandwich in the south east

Boy am I glad this is coming up, I have my first road trip with the entire family coming up shortly and we are heading down to Hilton Head and Savannah. I was down here about a year or 2 ago and Coastal hit one of the places I enjoyed...Bullies. The owner came in and we chatted bbq for over an hour, great food, great people. Coastal, I appreciate all the info, I look forward to hitting some of your recommendations.

captndan said:

It was the snow, the rain, and the lousy food around here. We decided to go down to Charleston SC for a few days to get out of this mess. The weather was perfect. A beautiful city full of history and neat things to do. Friendly people and the best seafood around. Too many good places to eat. We went for the seafood and the SC BBQ. The Q was a big disappointment. The place we ate at was listed as one the best in the area. I sincerely hope this place was not an example of fine SC Q. We had brisket and ribs. Both were dry, overcooked, and had no flavor. There was no choice of sauce. All the sides were good. We will go back because everything else in the city was so nice. So just because the guide and the chamber of commerce says it's good get local knowledge.

Click to expand...

I hate to be a stickler, but you said you ordered brisket and ribs. SC BBQ is pork, pulled pork to be specific. Do not judge any Carolina BBQ by its brisket, because it generally sucks and is not even considered BBQ. Unless you know otherwise (from someone you trust -- and that is critical), stick with the pulled pork. It is what is BBQ. They don't even consider beef to be BBQ. And usually, the ribs are pretty crappy too! Now you'll just have to go back and try it again, and remember to order BBQ this time. :thumb:

This is put out by the Discover SC tourism site:

"The No. 1 thing you need to know about Carolina BBQ is this: it is the other white meat (aka Pork). Carolinians stress that BBQ beef is just that; but “BBQ Pork” is redundant. BBQ is Pork!"

They also have several nice videos.

http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/see-do/food/flavors/maincourses/barbeque/default.aspx

Bubba Larimer now has his restaurant open in Savannah (Bub-Ba-Q). Haven't been there yet but getting great reviews on Yelp.

I know this is a bbq forum, but I had one of the best fish sandwiches in my life at the North Beach Bar and Grill on Tybee island back in 2000.oSince I'm from the Chicagoland area, anytime I'm at the east or west coast I need to try the local seafood.

Coastal, super excited you posted this information. My family and I got into today and hope to try out a number of the places you recommend. This is our first family vacation and my kids, 4 & 5-1/2, their first time seeing the ocean. Thank you for all the great input you put together.