7 hidden gems to eat at in Hilton Head SC to avoid the tourists this summer
Want to your summer vacation at an island restaurant not as frequented by tourists?
Here are seven Hilton Head Island casual dining restaurants to sample that may fall under tourists’ radar.
A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant
A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant is a fan-favorite for local island seafood and cuisine. This restaurant has been recommended and rated as the eatery with the best Lowcountry shrimp and grits in the Palmetto State. It has received several awards and accolades such as being named the Reader’s Choice Award for Hilton Head Monthly and featured in Cooking with Paula Deen and on Travel Channel’s Food Paradise. The restaurant is located toward the south end of the island at 32 Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
Up the Creek Pub and Grill
Another restaurant highly rated by locals, Up the Creek Pub and Grill is located next to Broad Creek Marina at 18 Simmons Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. Described as “a seafood shack with killer views of the water” by Southern Living Magazine, leashed dogs are welcome and the establishment serves a variety of surf and turf options to choose from.
Captain Woody’s Bar and Grill
Captain Woody’s Bar and Grill has locations on both Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton. The establishment touts its seafood, salads, steaks, burgers, nachos and beer. On the island, the restaurant offers an outside deck and a rooftop deck at its Bluffton location with seasonal live music almost daily. Their Hilton Head establishment is located at 6 Target Road and its Bluffton counterpart can be found at 17 State of Mind Street.
Palmetto Bay Sunrise Cafe
Palmetto Bay Sunrise Cafe is a breakfast, brunch and lunch location, which offers gluten-free and vegan options, a dog-friendly patio, with both indoor and outdoor seating. They serve breakfast all day with popular dishes like biscuits n’ gravy, quiche, stuffed french toast, and crab cake eggs benedict. They even have a breakfast burrito with homemade salsa. This local brunch favorite is located in Palmetto Bay Marina, where they have been for over 18 years, at 86 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
Harold’s Diner
Harold’s Diner is a decades-long favorite located off of William Hilton Parkway. Harold’s is open for breakfast and lunch and offers a unique experience sure to make a lasting memory during anyone’s stay. The burgers are widely talked about by many, as well as a variety of other favorites on the menu. Harold’s Diner is located at 641 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC. Stop by this no-frills, cash-only establishment and see what all the ‘fuss’ is about.
The Sea Shack
The Sea Shack is another favorite, perhaps a little different than you might expect. This eatery is a “made to order” seafood restaurant. It has won many accolades including Southern Living’s “10 Best Seafood Spots in South Carolina” and ranked number one on a list for sandwiches to “try before you die” in the state. This hidden restaurant located at 6 Executive Park Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 offers fresh, southern, Lowcountry-style cooking.
Fiesta Fresh Mexican Grill
Fiesta Fresh is a local favorite. With a few branches on both Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, the original Fiesta Fresh Mexican Grill is still located on the island’s south end. It can be found near Sea Pines Circle, just off New Orleans Road at 51 New Orleans Road, Suite #4, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928. If you would like to try this establishment, but aren’t near the south end, two other locations can be found at 95 Mathews Drive Suite A7, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 in the Port Royal Plaza Shopping Center and 876 Fording Island Road #1, Bluffton SC, 29910.
This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
