Hilton Head hibachi restaurant reopens as Seafire grill and bar

A Hilton Head Island Japanese restaurant has a new name and a fresh concept based on locally sourced seafood and Southern-comfort twists.

But perhaps most importantly, manager Rene Teran says, the old Kurama steakhouse frequently knocked by Yelp reviewers for dirty, dated decor has a squeaky-clean interior. Before reopening as Seafire Modern Hibachi Grill & Bar, owner Tom Shimada gutted the more-than-20-year-old Kurama and spent about $100,000 to remodel the south-end restaurant.

“That’s probably going to be the biggest thing people notice,” Teran said. “We basically ripped everything out. All new floor, walls, ceiling, the entire nine yards.”

Seafire opened last Saturday, and is now open daily from 4:30 to 10 p.m.

Its menu still features sushi and hibachi, now with seafood from Bluffton Oyster Company and Savannah, and local, seasonal vegetables. Seafire, however, also offers small, international plates like chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, Korean barbecue chicken wings and curry risotto.

Southern-inspired tapas still lean on Asian flavors, Teran says. In one dish, for example, hollowed-out, hard-boiled eggs are marinated in Kurama’s chili-sesame Paradise Sauce, paired with a classic, deviled-egg filling, and topped with salmon roe.

“We’re kind of taking the whole concept of Japanese steakhouse and sushi into the 21st century and out of feudal Japan, and bringing it to a point where a lot of contemporary American restaurants are, where flavors are a lot more ambiguous,” Teran said.

Tapas range from $6 to $12. Hibachi dinners and combination plates range from about $15 to $35.

This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 10:36 AM with the headline "Hilton Head hibachi restaurant reopens as Seafire grill and bar."