12 Best Restaurants in Hilton Head and the Low Country, South Carolina

Captain Woody's

$$ | South End Fodor's choice

If you're looking for a fun, casual, kid-friendly seafood restaurant, this vibrant joint offers creamy crab bisque, oysters on the half shell, and a sampler platter that includes crab legs, shrimp, and oysters. Open daily for lunch and dinner, plus a Sunday brunch, Captain Woody's has indoor and outdoor seating. A second location in Bluffton features a rooftop deck.

Seafood Pet Friendly Lunch Dinner Family $$ Fodor's Choice
6 Target Rd., Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29928, USA
843-785–2400
www.captainwoodys.com
Known For
  • grouper sandwiches, including the buffalo grouper, grouper melt, and grouper Reuben
  • a lively atmosphere
  • good happy hour
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted

Coast

$$$ | South End Fodor's choice
An oceanfront restaurant can often count on its real estate to bring in diners, but this casual yet upscale seafood spot at the Sea Pines Beach Club doesn't cut corners in the kitchen. There is plenty of Southern-inspired fare for landlubbers, but the real gems are the raw bar platter and the day's featured fish entrée.

Hilton Head Social Bakery

$ | Mid-Island Fodor's choice
It's impossible to stop in just for a baguette or sourdough loaf at this unassuming French-owned bakery and bistro—you'll inevitably be tempted by the lush pain au chocolat and cinnamon buns. The owner/chef, a Normandy native, was the executive chef at New York's Tavern On the Green and Windows on the World before relocating to Hilton Head.

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Hudson's Seafood House

$$$ | North End Fodor's choice
Built over the water on Port Royal Sound, this classic seafood joint buys its fish and shrimp directly from the boats that dock there, and the staff raises their own oysters and soft-shell crabs with an in-house mariculture program. Dining here feels like stepping back 50 years into an authentic waterfront dive, including the locally sourced, same-day-fresh seafood that's now often hard to find.

Lowcountry Produce

$ | Downtown Historic District Fodor's choice
If you don't impulsively order the tomato pie atop the glass display case—and you won't go wrong if you do—try the fried oysters, a lobster po'boy, or what may be the best shrimp and grits in town. There's table service and counter-order options, and plenty of jams, relishes, and pickled okra in their on-site market to stock your pantry at home.

Lucky Rooster

$$$ | Mid-Island Fodor's choice
From its unassuming perch at the corner of a strip mall, the ever-changing daily menus at this chef-owned farm-to-table establishment sit quietly on par with the very best dining in neighboring Charleston. Whether it's braised short rib, Korean-style fried chicken, or roasted octopus, the Rooster's kitchen serves plates brimming with pride and inspiration.

Michael Anthony's Cucina Italiana

$$$$ | South End Fodor's choice

This restaurant has a convivial spirit, and its innovative pairings and plate presentations are au courant. Expect fresh, top-quality ingredients, simple yet elegant sauces, and waiters who know and care about the food and wine they serve.

Italian Dinner $$$$ Fodor's Choice
37 New Orleans Rd., Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29928, USA
843-785–6272
www.michael-anthonys.com
Known For
  • cooking demonstrations
  • on-site market with fresh pasta
  • wine tastings
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential

Old Bull Tavern

$$ | Downtown Historic District Fodor's choice
This neighborhood gathering spot has a daily-changing menu heavy on pasta, wood-fired pizza, and hearty entrées. The cocktail menu is equally appealing, as are the wines and local beers on tap.

Plums

$ | Downtown Historic District Fodor's choice

This popular local eatery still uses family recipes for its soups, crab-cake sandwiches, and curried chicken salad. Open daily for breakfast and lunch, Plums is the perfect spot to enjoy a meal outside and to take in the beautiful views of downtown Beaufort.

Red Fish

$$$$ | South End Fodor's choice

Appealing to locals and tourists alike, the menu at upscale Red Fish features classic seafood dishes, mouthwatering apps, and delicious desserts. The contemporary restaurant's wine cellar is filled with some 1,000 bottles, and there's also a retail wineshop as well as indoor and outdoor seating.

Signe's Heaven Bound Bakery & Café

$ | South End Fodor's choice

Since 1972, Signe's has been serving freshly made baked goods as well as delicious breakfast and lunch options on Hilton Head. Signature dishes range from deep-dish French toast and crispy polenta to curried chicken salad and specialty quiches. The intimate eatery features indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a to-go counter. It's the perfect place to grab sandwiches or salads for a picnic lunch. Don't forget the hand-crafted cakes, pies, and pastries for dessert.

American Breakfast Lunch Dessert $ Fodor's Choice Quick Bite
93 Arrow Rd., Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29928, USA
843-785–9118
www.signesbakery.com
Known For
  • homemade breads, cookies, cakes, and pies
  • the “beach bag” (a lunch packed with goodies to take to the beach)
  • cozy, friendly atmosphere
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Credit cards accepted

The Sea Shack

$ | South End Fodor's choice
Heaping plates of fried seafood and hearty po'boys are worth the long line at this local staple counter-serve. The humble dining room and open kitchen suit the mouthwatering platters perfectly. Local tip: During the busy summer months, call in your order for pickup and skip the line.