Hilton Head Island Dining – Whats on the Menu

Hilton Head Island Dining - What’s on the Menu

Hilton Head Island is well-known for both its beauty and its amenities, offering visitors and residents an endless array of activities: walking along the beach, golfing, playing tennis, observing the wildlife, shopping, surfing, and…dining.  In fact, there are more than 200 options available for those investigating the Hilton Head Island dining scene.  There are restaurants available for every taste, including everything from family restaurants to fine dining, and a range of cuisines ranging from steaks and seafood to French, Italian, and Japanese.  Many restaurants take advantage of the island’s natural beauty with outdoor waterfront dining and spectacular waterfront and marsh views through large windows.  There is something on the menu for everyone who wants to taste what Hilton Head Island dining has to offer.  

With so many restaurants located on Hilton Head Island itself, you will never have to leave the island in search of a great meal.  There are a number of local favorites available, such as the Krazy Krab, the Salty Dog Café, Antonio’s, and the Alligator Grille.  Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine, famous for his Food Network show Dinner: Impossible, makes his home on Hilton Head Island when he is not away on business.  He has recently made his own contribution to the Hilton Head Island dining scene with his new restaurant, Robert Irvine’s eat!  Hilton Head Island also has a number of international dining options.  One of the most popular international restaurants is Kurama, a Japanese steakhouse which features teppanyaki/hibachi-style cooking, with chefs putting on a show as enthralled guests watch.  Kurama’s sister restaurant, Hinoki, specializes in sushi and is renowned both for the high quality of its sushi and its beautiful décor and atmosphere.  Those seeking French cuisine should be sure to check out La Normandie, and if you are interested in truly authentic Mexican cuisine, then Las Palapas is the restaurant for you.

The astounding number of Hilton Head Island dining options can be daunting for newcomers, and the above restaurants represent a small number of the many options available.  While the island does offer major chain restaurants such as Outback, to truly experience Hilton Head Island dining you have to go deeper and find the places renowned by critics and patrons alike.  One new restaurant which has been making waves is the Studio, owned by chef Paul Colella and artist Lunonia Colella.  The restaurant combines dining with fine art, with Paul Colella preparing the dishes himself rather than simply directing others, and Lunonia Colella creating much of the art that can be found on the restaurant’s walls.  In addition to the food and art, The Studio was awarded the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2008.  

Perhaps the greatest restaurant on the island is Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana.  This restaurant is a great example of Hilton Head Island dining at its absolute best.  Head chef Michael Cirafesi is renowned for his consistently excellent dishes, and all of the restaurant’s owners are highly involved in the day-to-day running of the restaurant.  This ensures that everything is kept to high standards, from customer relations and service to the meal itself.  Like many Hilton Head Island restaurants, dress is casual even though the food is world-class.  In a sea of Hilton Head Island dining options, this is truly one of the best.