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Hilton Head, South Carolina
Dining
 What
can we say? Something for everyone! However, with over 200 restaurants to choose from, there are just too many
options to even begin to do any of htem justice. We'll try here to at least provide a modicum of information on
some of the most popular (and our most favorite!).
Virtually every type of dining style you can think of can be found on Hilton Head. From the ubiquitous seafood
restaurant (you are right on the water after all) to Thai, Japanese, Mexican, Greek, Indian and everything in between.
Sit down, fast food, pizza joint, you name it - it's here. Probably one of the most popular haunts is the Salty
Dog Café at the South Beach Marina Village in Sea Pines. Yep, get out your $5 entrance fee, there's no getting
around paying to get there - but once you arrive, the $5, once again, is worth the entry price. Located physically
on the marina dock, the Salty Dog is perennially crowded with tourists and locals alike. An outside bar and seating
area (as well as inside restaurant seating at night) provides a festive atmosphere year-round. We've visited the
Salty Dog in February, July and November - it's always the same: great food, atmosphere and libations, pretty much
always a wait for tables, but the convivial dockside atmosphere makes people watching or cocktails at the bar worth
the wait. Plus the added attraction of a web cam recording your every move (call your family and friends, stand
on the feet painted on the deck, then wave like a fool for everyone to watch) and the appearance of Big Jake in
the summer ( the Salty Dog mascot), makes a 30 minute wait seem like 30 seconds. You can also wile away your wait
time in the Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory or a couple of the market/souvenir stores conveniently located on the dock.
On the other side of Sea Pines, Harbour Town boasts restaurants and shops as well. Having not visited any of these
establishments, including the aborted ice cream jones (the local Hilton Head ice cream shop was just getting it's
delivery of "local" ice cream and it wouldn't be ready for an hour or so), we can't give recommendations,
but can tell you that The Crazy Crab, Harbourside Café and the Waterfront Café were always busy when
we passed by.
Outside the plantations, the restaurant choices just boggle the mind. Regardless of where you are staying, you
can reach even the furthest restaurant in less than 20 minutes. You can pick up one of the numerous (almost as
numerous as the restaurants!) menu guides found in the tourist newspaper boxes throughout the island to get a feel
for what's available. We typically stay in the Forest Beach area, where there are more than enough selections to
keep us happy for months. So we tend to be lazy and are loathe to drive even 20 minutes to eat. That being said,
we've been tremendously rewarded by stepping up and exploring out toward the north end of the island. Here are
a list of our favorites:
Coligny area:
Vasilli's Mediterranean Tavern - seemingly one of the overlooked gems of the island, this Mediterranean/Greek style
restaurant is as authentic as they come. Stumbling upon the upstairs al fresco bar/dining area, we fell in love
with the atmosphere, happy hours and typically Mediterranean favorites served by local owners (Dad is originally
from Greece, Mom is American and makes the best Octopus Vinaigrette we have ever tasted, daughter tends bar and
serves). Located on Lagoon Road, across from the Piggly Wiggly parking lot, in colder weather, with the outdoor
dining closed, the downstairs restaurant is warm and inviting. Everything is freshly prepared, served piping hot
from the kitchen and truly reminiscent of authentic Mediterranean style food. If you are lucky enough to get there
for the early bird dining specials, you'll get an even bigger bang for your buck.
Big Bamboo -a great family, fun atmosphere with the entire restaurant decked out like a 1940's movie. Upstairs,
above Coligny Plaza, Big Bamboo not only caters to families and kids, but also bar flies and those interested in
bands/music with margarita madness happy hours and bands playing late into the night on weekends. You can even
find karaoke there - if you are so inclined. App's at the bar are a great bargain - typical good pub-grub like
wings, cheese dip, etc.
Flavors - this upscale bistro located next to the Sage Room in the Heritage Plaza on Pope Avenue, is pricey - but
oh so worth it. Presentation rules here as each course arrives at the table prettier than the last. The eclectic
cuisine ("a culinary trip around the world") will satisfy just about anyone's tastes. From eggplant,
tomato & mozzarella napoleon or Anjou poached pear appetizers to tortilla crusted grouper or Churrasco Argentine,
the chef's NYC training and European experience all come to life in each exquisitely presented dish. A small bar,
brick fireplace like oven and very subdued lighting create a wonderfully romantic environment that compliments
the food and service. This is the splurge worth taking for a memorable night out.
Ice cream - check out Pino's Gelato, located in the center on the beach side of Coligny Circle, across from Coligny
Plaza, or the Frozen Moo right next to the movie theater in Coligny Plaza for a huge selection of ice cream, including
a great variety of low carb ice cream (a rare find anymore!).
Central Section of William Hilton Parkway:
Sea Grass Grille - homey and delightful, with beautiful (and very classy) bamboo placemats and chasers - but not
so classy that we didn't feel right at home after stumbling upon this little gem at then end of a very long bike
hike. Sea Grass Grille is owned by three locals who are active participants in the daily work and management of
the restaurant itself. A combination of low country cooking and eclectic American, this little restaurant in a
plaza near Palmetto Dunes serves up some hearty and flavorful meals. We had lunch of Carolina Tomato pie (as good
as it sounds) and a grilled Rueben (get the eclectic comment now?), both incredibly delicious. The wait staff were
completely friendly, informative - and obviously well known to the room full of locals this restaurant attracts.
Definitely worth a lunch or dinner visit.
Northern end of William Hilton Parkway:
Street Meet - a newer pub in the Port Royal Plaza, fashioned to resemble a 1930's street corner, complete with
cobblestone floor, a real man-hole cover with the "Street Meet" logo imprinted upon it, and brickwork
on the walls. The atmosphere is cozy - partly because of the décor and over friendly service, but also because
it's a pretty small place. serves up a mean fried fish platter, more than we could eat in one seating! Other American
favorites such as burgers, hot dogs in every variety, sandwiches and seafood platters which looked yummy as they
were delivered to other diners. But save room for desert! The owner/chef is a Food TV fan and he loves experimenting.
One cuisine trend that caught his fancy was deep fried Twinkies and Oreos. Ok- if you've never been to a state
fair, you've never experienced these gluttonous pieces of fried dough - but I'm here to tell you - get the Twinkie!
Street Meet serves it adorned with ice cream -it's worth every artery clogging bite!
Tapas - a cozily decorated restaurant serving a fantastic selection of, you guessed it, Tapas. The décor
of old cookbooks, gingham cloths and 40's/50's style china puts you into a relaxed frame of mind at once as you
settle into your mismatched place setting. The collection of odd salt and pepper shakers (different at every table)
just adds to the enjoyment as you ponder over your many, many menu choices - including a voluminous amount of seafood
options, beef, venison and tons of vegetarian items. The menu changes often, so you can never be certain you'll
get the same thing twice, but you can always be certain whatever you order will be expertly prepared and served.
A little hard to find at the back of Northridge Plaza, Tapas is worth the hassle of finding.
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