Hilton Head Island Seafood Restaurants for Local Flair

With more than 300 restaurants on the island and rave reviews from media such as Conde Nast Traveler, dining is a must-do in Hilton Head Island. Add fresh-caught seafood to the mix, and it’s easy to see why the area has a reputation for delicious food. Read on to learn about the best Hilton Head Island seafood restaurants and Lowcountry flavors.

Hilton Head Island Seafood Restaurants: Casual, Upscale and Waterfront Options

hilton head island seafood upscale

Poseidon

Seafood, steaks and a raw bar welcome guests at Poseidon. This restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining as well as provides a place for nightlife at its two bars.

Guests come to Poseidon for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Raw bar options include oysters, shellfish, sushi and bowls. Visitors may also choose from salads, signature soups and fresh catches. Popular fish entrees feature salmon, grouper and the daily catch. Other seafood includes shrimp and grits, flounder, stuffed shrimp, and chilled, grilled and fried options.

Catch 22

This locally owned gem has served the area for more than 20 years. The food is so fresh the staff cuts all beef and fish daily. Plus, Catch 22 ranks among the best Hilton Head Island seafood restaurants for families.

The restaurant opens for dinner only. Start with the chef’s appetizer special. Then order a salad, soup or hearty entree. To sample seafood, favorites feature daily fish specials, lobster tail, Carolina trout, fried seafood plate and shrimp. In addition to seafood, Catch 22 serves duck, ribs, steak, chicken and eggplant entrees.

sushi hilton head island

Skull Creek Boathouse

Skull Creek Boathouse is one of the best Hilton Head Island seafood restaurants for waterfront views. It sits on the banks of Skull Creek, which is perfect for Lowcountry vibes.

Open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Skull Creek Boathouse welcomes everyone to dine and relax. Visitors have plenty of sushi options or can create their own entree by picking a seafood and cooking style. Options range from local catches to octopus and shrimp. Skull Creek Boathouse also has bowls, pastas, sandwiches, crab, lobster, fried, broiled and Southern-style cuisine.

The Crazy Crab Jarvis Creek

The Crazy Crab has two waterfront locations, but the one at Jarvis Creek provides a more remote dining experience. Plus, they host nightly crab races and have a large salt-water aquarium and playground. Pets are welcome as well.

The Crazy Crab Jarvis Creek serves lunch and dinner. Start with baked crab dip or fresh oysters. Visitors may also choose from soups, salads, seafood pots, sandwiches, crab boils and fried seafood. Other favorites include flounder, clams, shrimp, grouper and lobster.

brunch HHI restaurants

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

Located on Port Royal Sound, Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks is one of the best Hilton Head Island seafood restaurants for waterfront dining. All tables offer scenic views. The restaurant is also iconic, as it has served the area for more than 50 years.

Come to Hudson’s for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Appetizers range from fried green tomatoes and spicy shrimp to the seafood sampler. For the main course, try a salad or seafood specialties. The menu has flounder, grouper, daily catches, shrimp, crab and more. For non-seafood entrees, try the steak, Hudson’s brisket burger or veggie ravioli.

Fishcamp on Broad Creek

A pet-friendly patio, backyard games and delicious seafood welcome everyone to Fishcamp on Broad Creek. Even better, visitors enjoy waterfront views overlooking Broad Creek.

Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, this iconic spot has served HHI for more than 60 years. To start, order mussels or jalapeno hush-puppies. Next try the salads, soups, raw oysters, Lowcountry boils or Southern-style fried seafood. For more options, visitors will find Carolina catfish, salmon, grouper, seafood pasta and steak.

south carolina food lowcountry

Old Oyster Factory Restaurant

For more than 30 years, Old Oyster Factory (OOF) Restaurant has offered fresh seafood paired with scenic views of Broad Creek and family-friendly vibes.

OOF opens for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The raw bar has several options such as oysters and shrimp. For the most popular seafood entrees, order catfish, grouper, mahi, salmon and crab. To share and sample local flavor, try the ‘seacutie’ board with smoked shrimp and crab salad.

The Sea Shack

For no frills, head to The Sea Shack. They even pride themselves on a casual atmosphere and made-to-order options. Visitors should expect a wait during the summer.

The Sea Shack opens for lunch and dinner every day but Sunday. Appetizers include alligator, shrimp, frog legs and scallops. Next try the homemade soups and seafood platters. Guests love the clams, tilapia, catfish, oysters, crab cakes, sandwiches and po’ boys. Additionally, guests may customize seafood based on their cooking preference.

While trying these new restaurants, check out the best places to shop in Hilton Head Island.

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