What a wonderful place to spend the week with family under the sun. My brother-in-law coined the term “Cincinnati South” which is what we came to call Hilton Head for the week.
Interestingly enough, many of the patrons visiting Hilton Head island (HHI) in South Carolina are from Ohio or various parts of the Midwest. Everywhere we looked we saw Ohio license plates and The Ohio State University memorabilia. Everyone felt at home.
While enjoying the perfect 80’s and sunny weather on HHI we were blessed to stay at the Marriott Grande Ocean Resort thanks to the family timeshare.
The resort was quite the pleasant surprise. It had multiple pools, was right on the beach, had a great pool bar, and truly made us feel the perfect mixture of home and vacation. The rooms were spacious and clean and it was wonderful to have a kitchen available to cook from all week.
But we’ll be honest, the cooking was mostly saved for breakfast time. Each night we went out to enjoy some of the island’s best cuisine.
From seafood to beach eats to daiquiris, we had quite the week indulging in deliciousness. Therefore, today we want to share with you the top places to eat on HHI.
#1 Chow Daddy’s
This restaurant knows what it means to provide a menu filled with unique food items that also feel like good ol’ home cooking. We started with sweet potato fries, nachos, and coconut shrimp, all of which were incredible. As big coconut shrimp lovers, let us just say the shrimp was melt-in-your-mouth good.
It had the perfect amount of sweetness that didn’t even require a sauce for dipping. Then for our meals, some of us had seafood, some had pork, and some salad. Zach was all over the fried chicken bowl.
As a fried chicken lover, he claimed Chow Daddy’s was now his #3 favorite fried chicken he ever had. That’s a big statement! Yes the chicken was truly amazing and one of their most popular dishes to get, as recommended by our waitress. Finally, like every good meal, we finished with a dessert and it did not disappoint.
We shared an ice cream sandwich which sounds simple but the cookie was perfection: not too hard and not too soft. All-in-all we loved our experience at Chow Daddy’s and the ambiance was charming with what appeared to be old barn wood walls and lovely wicker chandeliers.
#2 Hudson’s on the River
The place to be and the place to indulge on fresh seafood is Hudson’s. A staple restaurant on the island, this place was just lovely. Be sure to go around sunset time to view the gorgeous pink sunset over the river while listening to live acoustic music outside as you wait for a table.
This is a popular restaurant so don’t be surprised if there’s a wait. Once you sit down, you’ll feel right at home. Between the friendly service and the welcoming hush puppies, you’ll soon understand why this place is so popular. We started with some oysters and clam chowder, all of which we raved about.
Then for dinner we tried various seafood, all of which we were thoroughly pleased with from fish and chips to grouper to lobster, yum!
Finally, we took a peanut butter pie home for dessert later and we are so glad we didn’t leave without it. Everything here was yummy and the ambiance overlooking the water was very relaxing.
#3 The Sandbar Beach Eats
The next restaurant is where we spent our final night on HHI. Sitting outside is glorious especially when they have live music, which they did! This restaurant is known for its hush puppies, corn dip, and sweet potato tots for appetizers.
The hush puppies are where it’s at! For dinner, the fish tacos are probably their top hit. I loved the steak tacos though because the meat was juicy and the taco shells were unique and didn’t fall apart like most do!
The staff here were all extra friendly and simply having live music makes the evening more enjoyable.
PS- If you’re up for a frozen treat afterwards, walk over to the Frosty Frog where they’re open late and known for their daiquiris or slushies!
They have alcoholic or nonalcoholic versions which are the perfect consistency and super delicious! Be prepared for a brain freeze!
Wrap Up
Overall, the food in Hilton Head was phenomenal. The tropical feels of the ambiance, the fresh seafood catches, and the laid back atmospheres made our outings very enjoyable! But the most enjoyable part was spending quality time with family. Especially this lil’ cutie: our nephew!