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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.