Worth rowing a dinghy through rolling seas for.
This isn't part of Captain Woody's promotional campaign, but it should be. Sailors who live on their boats moored off Palmetto Bay Marina on Hilton head Island stop by the friendly, casual restaurant for dinner and a beer before heading "home" for the night. There, they relax in a warm, inviting atmosphere, welcomed by owners Russell Anderson and Shannon Wright and their staff.
Captain Woody's Bar & Grill is the best kind of Lowcountry tradition-one that offers an authentic coastal experience for long time locals, newcomers and vacationers alike.
"I tell vacationers that if they need information about Hilton Head Island, come to Captain Woody's. There are always locals at the bar who love to talk," Anderson said.
Lunch specials for $5.99 make now an especially good time to eat at Captain Woody's, whether you sit at the bar, an inside table or on the patio overlooking the water (patio heaters make this a pleasant option year-round). These specials include a Cajun tilapia sandwich with homemade remoulade sauce; an Italian sausage sub topped with pizza sauce, sauteed peppers and parmesan and provolone cheeses; and a turkey Reuben with sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and Swiss cheese served on rye bread.
In the evenings, Anderson and Wright have new happy hour food and drink specials from 4-6 p.m. at the bar only. Among other great deals, order a fish taco or nachos for $3.50, a half dozen oysters on the half shell for $3, and $2 domestic beer.
Captain Woody's is full of memorabilia, reflecting both its 1982 beginning as a hang out for local shrimpers and fishermen and the current owners' passion for University of Kentucky sports (and the Kentucky Derby). For the Hilton Head restaurant, a local artist made customized stained glass panels. Captain Woody's also sponsors an annual charity fishing and golf tournament. Upstairs in the Bluffton location, sports fans gather to watch games in the evenings and on weekend afternoons.
Captain Woody's is known for its shrimp and grits (secret ingredient: cream cheese) on Sundays, a fabulous grouper melt sandwich and the customers' favorite, "He Crab" soup.
"It doesn't matter if it's 100 degrees outside or two degrees, we go through this soup," Anderson said.
He said he's thankful that the Bluffton restaurant, which has been open about a year, is a great success. The location in the Calhoun Street Promenade lets Captain Woody's easily take part in the town's many festivals, he said.
