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

When a restaurant keeps its customers happy for decades, there's a reason, and in the case of Truffles, it's the consistently good service and excellent food. Popular entrées include grilled salmon with a mango-barbecue glaze and the chicken potpie. Order meals to-go or enjoy the indoor and outdoor seating available. A second spot is located in Belfair Towne Village in Bluffton.

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, as well as live music weekly. A second location in Bluffton features a rooftop deck.

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.

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.

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 wine shop. Add live music and both indoor and outdoor seating, and it’s a winner.

This busy waterside restaurant specializing in seafood platters and smaller bites like lobster and fish tacos is open for lunch and dinner every day, and brunch on the weekend. Located in Palmetto Bay Marina, the Black Marlin has indoor and outdoor seating, as well as family-style meals available for takeout.

This classy downtown restaurant offers tasting plates such as tuna crudo and fried shrimp, as well as main dishes like lamb meatloaf and filet mignon with a truffle demi-glace. The presentation is as contemporary as the decor. There's an attractive bar area and an impressive and affordable wine list.

This second-generation family-owned culinary landmark has been serving French cuisine with a Lowcountry flair since 1982. The name changed in recent years (from Charlie’s L'Etoile Verte) but the rest remains true to the spot's origin. Classic dishes like escargot, pâté, and rack of lamb star on the varied menu, which changes daily, and the wine list runs deep. Don’t miss out on the caramel cake.    

With two locations on Hilton Head, the Crazy Crab has been a longtime institution thanks to its quality seafood and friendly environment. Don't miss the she-crab soup and crab cakes. The location on the north end (Highway 278, near mile marker 1) has a giant outdoor seating area and bar, with beautiful waterfront views overlooking Jarvis Creek. It also has a large saltwater fish tank and a playground. The other restaurant is located on the south end in the heart of Harbour Town (149 Lighthouse Rd.) and is a very popular spot in the summer months.

The early '60s theme here appeals to an older crowd that likes the traditional Italian dishes on the early dining menu, but younger patrons who order flatbread pizzas and small plates can be found at the bar area. Reservations are accepted at both the Hilton Head and Bluffton locations, and you can buy house-made marinara and Bolognese sauces, meat rubs, and spice blends to go.

Not the "country club" you might expect, Harold's is a remodeled gas station in the little town of Yemassee, just east of Interstate 95 in northern Beaufort County. There's a Southern-centric down-home buffet every Thursday, and Saturday steak nights require you reserve your cut before you show for supper. (Think of it like booking a table, only you’re booking … meat?) Seating is family-style in one of the large, kitschy dining rooms. With its no-frills, well-worn country vibe, large bar area, pool tables, and karaoke after dark, Harold's is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Slip into a peaceful oasis through a tunnel of bamboo at Hinoki, which has arguably the best sushi on the island. Try the Hilton Head roll, which is whitefish tempura and avocado; the Hinoki roll with asparagus, spicy fish roe, tuna and avocado; or the amazing tuna sashimi salad with spicy mayo, cucumbers, onions, salmon roe, and crabmeat.

There are times when you just want a cold one accompanied by some raw oysters. When that's the case, head out to Harbor Island and this no-frills-just-fun hangout with inside-outside seating and lovely marsh views. The stellar location (walls are papered in dollar-bills patrons sign) and friendly atmosphere make Johnson Creek Tavern a worthy Lowcountry destination.

Surrounded by Mardi Gras memorabilia, owner Kenny himself cooks up jambalaya, gumbo, and muffaletta sandwiches at this family-run, Cajun-inspired restaurant that has been serving locals and tourists since 1999. The extensive menu also features Southern staples such as crab cakes and shrimp and grits.

This unassuming little restaurant located off Palmetto Bay Road in a little outdoor shopping center (the Village Exchange) serves excellent seafood dishes with Southern flavor in a laid-back setting with indoor and outdoor seating. Don't ignore the full bar that serves South Carolina moonshine. The outdoor area also has games for kids, as well as a water feature and quirky decor. 

This traditional Mexican restaurant has tile floors, colorful sombreros, and paintings of chili peppers hanging on the walls. Don't forget to order the guacamole and bean dip with your margarita and try the enchiladas suizas, tortillas filled with chicken and topped with green tomatillo sauce, sour cream, and avocado.

This outpost, with its rough-hewn tables facing the water, serves up Gullah-inspired fare with specialties such as Daufuskie deviled crab and chicken salad on buttery, grilled rolls. Entrées include shrimp and local seafood, while the Lowcountry buffet features pulled pork, fried chicken, and sides like butter beans and potato salad.

This barbecue joint has an upbeat atmosphere, multiple flat-screen TVs, and an outdoor patio with a big brick fireplace. With baby back ribs, award-winning pulled pork sandwiches, great burgers, and a fun kids' menu, you should expect to bring your appetite to One Hot Mama's. There is a location on the south end of the island, and also one in Bluffton.

This upscale restaurant wins over diners with its sailing motifs, great cocktails, and modern Southern menu. Take in the sunset and a plate of seared sea scallops from the gorgeous outdoor seating area overlooking the waterfront park. From Lowcountry flavors to innovative dishes, Saltus sets the standard for a memorable dining experience.

The sights, sounds, and aromas of New Mexico greet you here: Native American rugs, Mexican ballads, steer skulls and horns, and the smell of chilies and mesquite on the grill. Listen to guitarra music in the rooftop cantina, enjoy the adobe fireplaces on chilly nights, or dine under the stars.

Soak up the salty atmosphere in this complex of dining areas where almost every table has a stunning view of the water. Outside is a third dining area and a bar called the Marker 13 Buoy Bar, where Adirondack chairs invite you to sit back, listen to live music, and catch the sunset.

The red-and-black decor is modern and sophisticated at this lively restaurant on the north end of the island. The food is a spin on the classics, from seafood to steak, and the shared plate menu is on point. A great selection of cocktails and wine makes WiseGuys a popular spot to grab a drink.