Go early. The early dining menu has many options. Get an outdoor table and the seafood chowder.
(4)
Marilyn H.
Now it is the Skull Creek Boathouse. Just reopened. Great service with cheery waitress. Good salads and hush puppies. Nice facility with great views.
(4)
Lisa R.
This is our new favorite restaurant on the island! There is a huge outdoor deck with a bar (Buoy 13 Bar) where you can sit and wait for your table (they no longer take reservations) and watch the sun set over Skull Creek. The decor inside has not changed much, with lots of fun nautical items. The menu is quite large, a book, really, with tabs to direct you to the various options (lunch, kids, early bird, takeout, etc.) We love deep-fried dill pickles, so we ordered the Fried Pickle Chips. Unfortunately, they were so salty that after one bite, we sent them back and ordered the hush puppies. Our server was quite understanding and removed the pickles from our bill and comped us the hush puppies. The hush puppies were delicious, served with a honey butter. For our main course, we ordered the "Lowcountry Throwdown," a large bowl of boiled shrimp, andouille sausage (yum!!!) corn on the cob, and redskin potatoes served with a savory broth. There were so many shrimp we couldn't finish them all. Quite a bargain at $16.75! Wash it down with a cold beer and you have a feast! We have been coming to Hilton Head Island for over 15 years now, and have several restaurants that we consider "must- visit" when we come down here. Skull Creek Boathouse has jumped to the top of the list! We will be back!!!
(5)
Brittany H.
Great place! We went early and were glad we did. This place fills up fast!! We had the pickle chips for an app and they were great. Unlike any pickle chip I've ever had. The sauce with them rocked. I had the steak and shrimp. It was cooked very well and the shrimp were super fresh. What's not to like about this place? It has fresh seafood, great atmosphere, and good service.
(5)
Dean F.
It's all good. Fresh seafood, bar on the cove, reggae band on Monday night. I was amazed that this place was paced on a Monday evening. Good service, great atmosphere.
(4)
Ernie C.
Large touristy place, but decent seafood. I got the Trio of Tuna sashimi appetizer and was very pleased. The only downside was we had a table next to the back patio door and the speaker system for the band was overwhelming and prevented us from hearing each other speak. Otherwise, it was a nice place for a reasonable price. Very large menu, but several pages are for lunch only.
(3)
Mason W.
Excellent service and food. Salad was fresh and fish perfectly prepared. The bread was good, too, like a cornbread but not the texture. The only thing I did not like was having dogs in the outdoor eating area
(4)
Susan P.
We went here around 5:15pm and we were told there was a 1 hour and 15 minute wait for outside seating and nearly as much for inside. Luckily, the atmosphere here is pretty great, so we took a beeper and went and got some drinks. They have a sandbox area for the little ones and they had a craft table for kids to color t-shirts with markers. There is a lot of outside seating, but the bar seems a little cramped. After about only 35 minutes we were seated. We ended up inside which wasn't quite as neat as outside, but we had a nice view. Our waitress was attentive, but the food was just okay. My husband is vegetarian and there wasn't anything more than a salad for him. I think this place is really about the view and the fun, especially if you have kids. It also seemed to be dog friendly. The parking lot was packed so they have to be doing something right. They do offer complimentary valet which I recommend because there were no spots to be had.
(4)
Nichelle L.
Since the new menu, this place is great! The Sunday brunch menu is wonderful and I've spent many an afternoon looking at the gorgeous view and eating delicious sushi, while sipping mimosas with my husband. It does get packed in the summer though, so you might want to make reservations.
(4)
Ana K.
The food is really good and the atmosphere can't be beat! So much of the food in HHI is so overpriced for the quality; thats not the case here. The menu is also huge, so there is something for everyone. Go, you won't regret it!
(4)
Fred S.
Unbearable wait, cold food, poorly trained staff, disinterested pitiful management. A financial success; probably. A restaurant we'll visit again? Never.
(1)
Leigh H.
What a lost of fun. The place seems always packed. Great band and atmosphere. Excellent wait staff. Food is tasty but not great. But again the place is a great deal of fun for all ages! A bit noisy for the hard of hearing!!! Will definitely return
(4)
Marion S.
Terrible! service was slow to start. Our appetizer was never served, the chowder was just about warm and the entree orders were screwed up. One of our party of 4 received the wrong order and had to wait while the right order was prepared and brought. All orders had to be sent back for micro-waving. This is the first restaurant complaint I have ever made..
(1)
Nancy B.
Fried chicken breast with gravy mediocre. Low Country Throwdown excellent. Salt and vinegar crab cakes good.
(3)
peter h.
We go here every time we vacation on hhi. We've been coming for 5 years. You can't get better scenery... It's right on the water. If you catch the sunset it is gorgeous. Great outdoor family dining experience. If the weather is good definitely opt for the outdoor seating BUT don't forget to wear jeans and take bug spray to protect you from the bugs. The fish is always fresh and delicious. My wife got the pork tacos because she is not a fan of seafood and she loved them. We got the chocolate pudding cake for dessert and it was very good. Service has always been great. Enjoy!
(4)
One G.
2 hour wait! Overprice! Over-rated! The environment is probably one of the better ones. But really don't go here for the food .. it's not worth the wait or the money.
(2)
Bob B.
Great for lunch. Can easily spend the afternoon here!
(4)
Kelly V.
We had the most enjoyable experience at the Boathouse. After fishing with PaPa Bear Charters earlier that day the Boathouse Chef prepared our catch of Spanish Macerel and shark meat. They gave us a reservation time of 4:30 which worked out perfectly it gave us time to go back to our condo to shower and rest before dinner. When we arrived at the Boathouse we were treated like VIP's. The chef came out to our table regretfully I cannot recall his name. I'm sure we will be returning for the end of the week. He made suggestions on how to prepare our fine delicacies. We went with his suggestions. For only $15.00 per person we had a choice of 4 of their sides served up country style in pass around bowls. Anyone who did not care for seafood could order off the menu any entree or dinner. Don't let me forget the complimentary Portugese cornbread that was mouthwatering, the service was wonderful no one had to ask for drink refills and more bread. On the pass arounds highly recommend the Mac and cheese. Aim very picky when it comes to Mac and cheese, the best I have ever had out. The hush puppies were additional but well worth it. If you visit the boathouse don't miss going down to the docks to check out the dolphins, manatee, and sea alligators.
(5)
G G.
One of best outdoor spaces on island. Great drinks, outstanding fish chowder. Raw bar items fantastic. Other items not consistently at same level. Outdoor service is uneven - food often cold. Service is friendly but not expert. And yet. . . Oh! That outdoor space. We find ourselves going back again and again. Call us crazy.
(4)
KAren C.
WOW! We just came back from the early dining special at the Skull Creek Boathouse. I expected smaller portions than the normal dining fare, but I am so stuffed and everything was delicious. I thought my stuffed flounder was delightful, then I tasted my husband's Salmon Rocket Fella, OMG!!. If you haven't been since the place changed names and owners, you have to go. Belly up to the bar for Happy Hour drinks then slide to your table for the $14.95 early dining special. My new favorite place on the island, and I like to eat out a lot. The prices during the regular hours are on par with other nice establishments, so be careful about wasting the money on your kids during the the 6- to closing hours. That being said, the outdoor seating is a good way to eat out with the kids and not bother the DINKs so much.
(5)
Andrew E.
Just finished dinner at the Boathouse(II)/Marker 13. My wife and I sat outside. I guess technically it is Marker 13 but the menu is the same. The Boathouse sits near two other restaurants and is on the water (inlet side) with great views of the setting sun. I had the special "black and blue wreckfish with rice, asparagus and red pepper sauce" my wife had (for the 2nd year in a row) flash-fried catfish with grits, creamed corn and collard greens. She loved her food and I thought mine was good as well. I again recommend this place. The atmosphere is great, service was on-point and the food was delicious. I recommend checking out their website and getting your reservation online through opentable.com .
(4)
Elesha B.
As always, this is my favorite on Hilton Head. Every other time I have visited has been "off-season" and I have to say, I enjoy that more, but even on one of the busiest nights of the year, Skull Creek delivered. I have always loved everything I've eaten there. The bread is an amazing tribute to bread. The seafood is always just delicious- they allow the seafood to shine. This time I tried their sushi roll, and being a little of a sushi roll snob, I was quite happy. We love to sit outside under the trees and watch the sun go down. This might be my happy place. But mostly during the off-season.
(5)
Lori F.
Very kid friendly great service awesome oysters and seafood , knowledgable staff! Easy going and great environment !
(4)
Lexi M.
If you love seafood then skull creek is worth your time. As a party of three we got the seafood platter to go. This included lobster,shrimp,mussels, clams...basically your own little seafood buffet. On top of that we ordered hush puppies (what good southerner doesn't like hush puppies?) and two sushi rolls. Just come hungry to skull creek because you'll want to eat everything and we did!
(4)
Brad L.
Good variety of food, especially seafood. Good for kids, if they finish their food they get a gold coin for a small toy. Good atmosphere, but the service was a tad slow.
(4)
Kristen S.
Great Early bird from 4:00-4:45. This place is packed by 5:00 nightly. Be prepared to wait or come early. Skull Creek has done a lot to make a long wait pass by faster...games, beer truck, chairs to watch the sunset, even a small store to shop around in. Always great service. Sitting at the bar having a drink and waiting on a table is no problem when you have beautiful water views! Excellent water views.
(4)
David P.
Hands down eat at the bar!!! Maggie Ashlee Jason (the bartender) took extremely good care of us throughout the night. The wait was around 2 hours at the time. By the time we had a drink at the bar and decided to stay it was well worth just waiting for seats and eating at the bar. The food was absolutely the best seafood through our whole vacation. The Tilefish and Mahi Mahi were to die for, along with the sushi and oysters that we had for appetizers, the dinner as a whole was perfect. Obviously as I have stated a few times throughout the night, skip the wait if you show up past 6:00PM and eat at the bar, the service is great and it's much much faster than waiting. Overall Pros: Food is to die for, definitely the best seafood on the island so far Service at the bar is great and is well worth the wait for seats The bartenders are better than the majority of the waiters Cons: Wait is long if you don't sit at the bar
(5)
Frank T.
Ate here last year last year during our baby and it was awesome. Initially got there and it was going to be an hour+ wait for 2 people. Ended up getting 2 seats at the bar. We ordered a fried seafood platter and a baked fish plate. Service initially was rough at the bar but finally got our food out to us. They made up for it with a free dessert.
(4)
Jen R.
Low country boil was the best I've ever had. The beer garden was pretty genius too, we had drinks and the kids we're able to play while we waited. Great experience!
(5)
Melissa F.
Love this place, servers are fantastic, food is great! Look forward to returning. First visit had the Monkfish, loved it! Tried the sampler, fantastic crab cake and stuffed shrimp. Started each time with Sushi ap and really enjoyed. Woman's washroom nice surprise with sea salt scrub for hands. Great stuff! Casual and comfortable with great outdoor area and live tunes.
(5)
Caleb M.
Wanted a fun spot with great seafood and a view of the water for dinner. Skull Creek fit the biil. It's obviously a popular place, despite being pretty well hidden--the parking lot was full and the wait time was 45-60 minutes on a Thursday night around 8pm, but with an indoor AND outdoor bar and extra seating it wasn't too bad. We played Corn hole and adult jenga while we waited. The service here was excellent, Tim was personable attentive and fun. The menu at Skull Creek is enormous and if we had been left to our own devices, we'd still be there two days later trying to decide. A good waiter created a connection with his/her customers by getting to know them, giving suggestions and recommendations. Despite being slammed, Tim made us feel like we were his only table that night. So the most important part: the food. We started with a tropical seafood ceviche with mixed seafood, neither of us had had ceviche before, so it was definitely an adventure and tasted great. She got a simple bowl of chowder and a salad, and I got the shrimp and grits. While hers seemed simple and tasty, I have to say my shrimp and grits could have been better. The shrimp was a bit over seasoned, and the grits were drowning in what tasted like little more than beef broth. I go nuts over shrimp and grits--I'm thinking of having them emblazoned on my family crest--so I was a bit crest-fallen with this dish, especially for the 18.75 that I paid. I'd love to get back and try something else, I don't think you could get the same meal twice with a menu as big as theirs. I hope when I do, I get something that really sings, something that lives up to an otherwise great restaurant with great staff, a great location, and a great atmosphere.
(4)
Emily W.
Wait was pretty long on a Friday night but open seats at the bar and cornhole to pass the time. Koa was playing and my brother ended up buying their CD we enjoyed their live music so much. Wide variety of dishes that everyone enjoyed! Avoid betting anyone to drink the leftover butter broil from the shrimp dish
(4)
Jane D.
Be prepared for a 2 hour wait unless you sit near the bar. Shrimp is really good, ribs are average.
(4)
Brooke W.
Everyone we met on the island ranted and raved about "The Boathouse." We were excited to try it, but it was just "good-not-great" in my book. Seafood chowder and shrimp and grits were alright. Shrimp tempura roll was really quite tasty for $7. My husband likes his Po' boy, but our service was... Meh. I wish I could say more. The location is awesome, and I would give this place another try. The mediocrity must have been a fluke...
(3)
Mike L.
we went to Skull Creek early 4 PM, so it was not real busy at that time, Music starts at 6 PM. Happy Hour is $1 off drinks, $2 off app's. We also had a dinner, It was all good food and the service . we have been there other times and it can get very, very busy, a person can wait for over an hour for a place to sit
(4)
Beth M.
We had a party of 8 and showed up at 6pm so the wait of 60-75mins was too be expected. The waiting area outside could use some fans to help keep customers comfortable, but there was an outside, cash only, bar to get beverages to stay cool, and we were seated within the time said. The food was very good. You can get seafood just about everywhere at the beach, but this was some of the better seafood we've had. The menu was a bit pricey, so that is my only negative outside of how jot it was waiting for a seat. The sunset while we ate was just amazing, and the live music was a nice treat.
(4)
Brian F.
I am not often so critical on a restaurant, but due to the service incident we experienced I had to give this one a low rating. I know this place is ridiculously popular here in Hilton Head with long waits for tables, in-season but I hope others have better service than we had. Our waiter, Rick seemed to be impatient with us from the outset. It is a big menu and a couple in our party had never been there before so it took us some time until we were ready to order. After acting annoyed when we finally gave our order, that was essentially the last time we saw him at our table. The food is brought out by a series of runners who do little other than make sure everyone gets what was ordered. My wife's dish, the flounder stuffed with crab meat was not good and she wasn't going to eat it after tasting it. Unlike at most restaurants, when the waiter (or a manager) comes over to ask if everything is ok, no one did. In fact while the rest of us were eating and my wife's dish was sitting in front of her, we saw our waiter, Rick having a shot with guests at another table! Yes, he did a shot with them while having a great time like he was one of their party! I've never seen this before in any restaurant! After we were finished with our entrees, Rick finally came back to clear the table. I told him that my wife didn't like the dish and it was not well prepared. He then asked if she would like something else. I said it was too late and just bring us the check. He took the entree off of the check and we took Skullcreek Boathouse off of our list of restaurants to visit on future trips to Hilton Head.
(1)
Adam D.
We were so disappointed we didn't check this place out until the last night of our trip. This place had a huge menu but was able to manage it. I find that is rare seeing that my experience has been the larger the menu the more the quality diminishes. Great food and excellent staff!!!
(4)
Lynn H.
The food was great. The waiter was too busy and short tempered. Not very patient with questions.
(4)
Tamra H.
We had lunch here while vacationing and it was my favorite place we had eaten while on the island. I had the broiled captains catch and my boyfriend has the brunch buffet. I loved how many seafood options there were. Our service was fantastic there and the outside seating comes with a lovely view.
(5)
Dawnna C.
We couldn't have been happier with this restaurant! We stayed on the island for three nights, and had dinner there twice. We tried another restaurant on the second night, but it just didn't compare! The food was delicious and served relatively fast for how busy it was. There was a bit of a wait to get a table, but it was worth the wait. The staff are super friendly. And the strawberry jalapeño margarita was out of this world!
(5)
Carol M.
Our visit was great! Excellent server Great hushpuppies Great seafood Cold beer.
(4)
Faye W.
We thoroughly enjoyed our appetizers and dinner. The care they take to accomodate gluten free diners is fabulous. The food was great all around. We arrived at 5:30 p.m. and had a 90 min. wait. The time flew as we had appetizers at the bar. Our waitress, Annie, was so friendly and so much fun.
(5)
Jonathan H.
Get here early as sin. You will wait in the line of hell if you dont. No reservations other than checking in, and expect an hour plus wait. Our evening went well, there was a band playing music (if you have not been, there is a large outdoor section that is mostly covered - it looks out on the water). If you want a deliciously intimate date DO NOT go to Skull Creek. It is loud, boisterous and fun. If you imagine it to be a boathouse as opposed to a restaurant, most of your expectations will come true. We enjoyed the food, most of us had crab. IF you choose to eat inside is like feeding from the trough - long high tables. It was good. If I wanted to go somewhere for a high quality meal I would choose a different place, but if you want some traditional seafood options on a casual night with family or friends then Skull Creek Boathouse will serve your purposes well. Lastly, WHAT A GREAT street name. SQUIRE POPE
(4)
Jeniffer L.
It Was ok. I read the reviews and thought why not? Never been to hilton head so I thought we would give it a try based ominn the reviews. Had the crab and shrimp dip. It was yummy but chips were stale. The bread was good with really good butter! We had the soups, the chowder was yummy and the gumbo was to die for! The main course was not good at all. I had the Rockefeller salmon and it was different. I didn't care for it too much. Not much flavor. The mac and cheese bland and the mashed potatoes, I've made better. Good place for drinks, soup, and appetizers.
(3)
Vera S.
Went here for dinner with our family of four on a Wednesday night based on Yelp reviews. We came early as suggested from others (4:30pm) which allowed us to get a table right away. Outside dining wasn't available yet. I ordered the grouper with imperial crab. The fish was much smaller than I expected (size of my fist) and though it was tasty, the sauce on top tasted like Marsala & I wasn't happy with that combination. I got sweet potato fries and green beans with it. Total for this dish was $28.00. The crab on top was very bready & super salty. My husband ordered the blackened red snapper which still had the skin on and scales. His meal was also around the same price. My son ordered the fried shrimp and french fries from the kids menu.... It was $6.00. He seemed to like it. My daughter got the macaroni and cheese and didn't eat one single bite. The only thing she ate was the bread we got complementary. She had been sleeping on me and I ordered for her. She wanted nothing to do with the Mac and cheese and honestly it didn't taste good at all so I doubt she would eat it anyway. The bread however, was very tasty. Kind of a mix of corn bread and Italian bread rolled into one. As far as our Service it was quite slow even though we got there early. Honestly I don't know what the hype is about this restaurant... The food was mediocre, way overpriced and because they're so packed you don't get that southern hospitality or personal service I expected . The most positive thing I can say is I liked the souvenir drinking glass you can keep with your drink order & I liked the nice children's area outside with activities to keep the kiddos occupied if you do decide to wait for two hours before getting seated. Many of these parents decided to leave anyway and I can't blame them. They have a dock to look out on and that was peaceful and I enjoyed the view. But again, my two stars reflects not the atmosphere but the food and service. If I want to look at the ocean I could do that somewhere else. So overall, moderate quality, high priced food and slow service. Look elsewhere to dine while you are here at HHI.
(2)
Ashley C.
I give it 4 stars mainly for the view and 2-3 for the food. Lets start with the good- the view is beautiful. Sitting outside is lovely and breathtaking. Now the food- at best the food is pretty good/ ok. Certainly not something to rave about. But overall a cool place to go. The fish tacos were under seasoned and sitting in a plate of juices. Not a good thing. Fell apart upon eating. Another time i had the brisket quesadillas. These were good but lacked creativity and flavor- just brisket and ghost cheese. Could have benefitted from maybe some shallots, mushroom, spinach- now that would have been great! Overall, food is decent but the view and atmosphere is why most people come.
(4)
Debbie S.
Best seafood I've had in a long time! Shrimp & grits awesome! Salmon amazing (just remind them to cook med rare), great wine (Rambauer Chardonnay), fast service, but a bit noisy!
(4)
Heidi Y.
This is my go to place for consistently awsome food, great service, Alex your THE BEST server, seating outside overlooking the water, beautiful views and I get such a kick out of watching the boats taxied back and forth on the dock!
(4)
Marcus S.
This place was really happening on a Tuesday night! Had an upbeat vibe with great live music. I started with mixed ceviche which was good not great. Fish was fresh, but not the most flavorful. I also had the grouper which the waiter highly recommended. It was prepared with lump crab on top and some type of cream sauce. It was not the healthiest fish item, but overall tasty. I finished my wifey's tile fish which was delicious. It had some type of tropical salsa which went perfectly with the fish and rice. Would definitely come back!
(4)
Brian G.
After my review I was contacted by Skullcreek and they replaced my souvenir glass. We had already left the island but it was waiting at home for me. The above and beyond service of the restaurant was excellent.
(5)
Charles M.
We travel from the Eastern shore Maryland look forward to always coming to skull creek boat house the sushi is fabulous along with their seafood dishes it's a must to visit
(5)
K P.
Always the atmosphere especially when we sit outside. A little disappointed that there isn't any live music during the week anymore. The kids always look forward to that. The atmosphere & live music always made this place awesome. If you base it solely on the food I can only give it 3 stars.
(3)
S V.
This place is banana boats as far as being busy. I have never actually waited 1:45 to eat at a restaurant. And when I say we waited an hour and 45 minutes, we waited every minute of it. To their credit, they had lots of random things to do while you wait. They have a Lego table for little kids and a sand box. They have picnic tables and some cornhole boards with an outside bar so at least not everyone is standing there. So after we waited almost two hours, I was thinking the food needed to be amazing. But it just wasn't. It was regular bar type food. Nothing special. Even my wife had seafood that they are supposed to be well known for and it was just not very impressive. If I had my daughter with me, there is no way I would wait that long. I was watching people and thought they must be idiots to wait that long to eat such mediocre food. The food wasn't terrible but definitely not worth almost two hours. I would've given it two stars if it wasn't for the array of options to kill the time while you wait. Honestly, I don't think anyone would wait otherwise.
(3)
Leilani A.
This place was great they had lots of games and even a movie showing making it both kid and dog friendly. They also had a big sushi bar but I didn't order from it but next time I definitely will. The place fills up fast so get there in time but if the wait for tables is too long (like it was for us) then go outside and look for the high tables (there first come first serve), and hope to find somebody finishing there meal. The complimentary bread was really good but don't get too full because the entrees are really good. I decided to get something simple and went for the chicken quesadillas, they were really good and they stuffed it with chicken also the crab and shrimp quesadilla which was also good. My mother got the fried catfish with collards and savannah red rice, she really enjoyed the rice and collards but was disappointed to find out that the catfish was fried in a batter rather than traditional cornmeal which messed with texture; she said that the fish had a good flavor but the coating was off. My father got the Seafood Stew and he said that it was fantastic and that the flavor was spot on. Our waiter was really nice , that he treated us to hushpuppies (there okay not worth buying). Overall good food good service good atmosphere! I would definitely recommend this place
(4)
Janet W.
Had family in town and wanted to find someplace 'fun', and had to have good seafood. SCB had great reviews, so we tried it. Could not have found a better place! Our server was EXCELLENT, everyone was friendly, food was FANTASTIC! Between five of us, we had: Oyster's on the half shell, the Crab and Shrimp dip, the Broiled Captain's Catch (shrimp, scallops, deviled crab, and flounder), the Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp, a Sirloin Steak with the most PERFECTLY prepared fresh green beans, and the 'Extravaganza' (Low Country Boil on Steroids). My 5 year old granddaughter had the kids filet and inhaled it. And she is a picky eater. Everything was on point - delicious, well-prepared, plentiful. They had a nice outdoor bar with a band and dancing, games for adults and children to play, and a small shop. Scenic location, just loved it. HIGHLY recommend. And by-the-way, we were there during the masters tournament, the place was crazy busy, but not even a hiccup in service. Loved it!
(5)
Tosha K.
Excellent!!! We came here for our rehearsal dinner 3 nights ago...it was so good, my family and I decided to come back for my father in laws birthday dinner. The food here is wonderful!!! And the staff is really nice and the service is fast. If you sit outside be sure to put on insect repellant because the mosquito s are OUT & they are eating dinner too!!
(4)
Savvy S.
Love this place. We go for lunch and never wait. Dinner is a madhouse though. Great drinks, great food. Highly recommend. And it is a fantastic place to take kids!
(5)
Kurt N.
Surprisingly good tourist trap. The location is killer as far as view and patio space. The shrimp dish I had was not out of a frozen bag, and the drinks large. It is a little pricey for the quality, but I chalk that up to being in a tourist district. Definitely slammed though, we had to wait an hour and a half for a party of 8.
(3)
Marcella B.
We visited on a Thursday night and was told there would be a 90 - 120 min. wait, but got seated in 50 minutes which is a good thing because there were so many people waiting our two 13 year old boys were too old for the kiddie activities and the other activities were all taken as well. Our bar drinks were very good and our waiter Craig was outstanding. The cornbread served right away was good, our appetizer oysters came quickly. My halibut was nice and flakey and was really good, but the potatoes served with were tasteless and the slaw was OK. My husband had the Wahoo, he said it was good. The boys wanted to have filet's - served med/rare. They came out Med. brought to the attention of the waiter and were made again which was fine - the 2nd time they were better, but the filets were just OK. Parking was impossible. May come back to try lunch or other appetizers and drinks only.
(3)
Laura C.
First timers at Skull Creek Boathouse and were so happy we went! We were told it was a 2 hour wait and we were hesitant since we were a party of 9 with 5 children. We took advantage of the beautiful view at the dock and corn hole games for the kids. We ended up waiting about an hour which was a relief! We were seated outside by the water which I thought would be very buggy, but with the giant fans around us it was very comfortable. We travel with children with severe dairy and nut allergies and they were very accommodating! The sushi rolls are very fresh and delicious. I ordered tortilla crusted tilapia but asked for the lemon butter side on the side, which I'm so glad I did because it didn't even need it. Everyone was very pleased with their meals...would definitely return but maybe arrive earlier!
(5)
Debbie A.
great food and the wait was very long. nice outside bar with live music. beautiful views for sunsets. peel and eat shrimp were delicious as well as oysters rockefeller.
(5)
Scott M.
This restaurant is one of the reasons we fell in love with Hilton Head. This and the other 300+ reviews probably says enough. Get there early if you want to get your food quickly otherwise plan on getting a few drinks while you wait to be seated and make a night of it. Theres plenty to keep you entertained.
(5)
Steve G.
Off the beaten path, grab a drink and enjoy beautiful view of skull creek. Don't be intimidated, Worth the 1-hr wait on a Tuesday evening. Vast menu, started with seafood chowder, full of crab, shrimp with rich white cream sauce. Main dishes were remarkable large fish portions Hog nose snapper special, blackened swordfish. shrimp & grits smoky smooth. Add this to your hit list!
(4)
Walter P.
Ate there last night. I found the portions to be good. I got the fried clams and oysters (the only reason I went was I was looking for whole bellied fried clams, and one of the reviewers said they were excellent. However, they weren't too be had. My wife got the crab legs. She enjoyed them. I'd like give a 3.5, but this isn't possible unfortunately. The service was great. Unfortunately, there was nothing special about the food. If they were not located in hilton head, they would have to charge half price. It was a one hour wait, but we got to sit immediately at the bar, and it didn't dampen the experience at all. I wouldn't go back, but that's just me.
(3)
Cyndy M.
Awful - the wait was ridiculous ! No live music and no service ( bug spray) cause you need it. After committing to waiting the 1st 45 minutes your thinking any minute now. WRONG. Skip it. Go any place other than here.
(1)
Lindsey N.
Delicious sushi and seafood! Great atmosphere for happy hour and a night out. Good place for live music too
(5)
Shawn F.
Hands-down the best place to go every time I come and visit my mom in Hilton head. Name just now started a live band on the weekends to where you can enjoy great music and amazing sunsets. Any fish or sushi you get there is some of the best in town! Always good service and the price is definitely right for the atmosphere, ambience, and entertainment.... Definitely two thumbs up for anybody in the area!
(5)
Abby M.
We really enjoyed the food, the service and, being lucky enough to get seated where we had a view of the water, we enjoyed the view. I had shrimp and grits which I loved. Everyone in out party had something they liked very much. Prices were reasonable.
(4)
Mary K.
Atmosphere and view is beautiful but I am not sure it is really worth the wait. With so many places to choose from on HHI you may prefer to go elsewhere. Food good not great.
(3)
Ashley H.
Skull Creek Boathouse is fantastic! My father in law got the swordfish and has been raving about it since. Tim, our waiter, took great care of us. The atmosphere is very laid back - we really enjoyed the yard games outside and the view of the sunset while waiting for our table. We would recommend this as a top spot to visit while on HHI!
(5)
Ben T.
Awesome atmosphere and food. I enjoyed the bar at lunch and then went back and sat inside for dinner. Try the Tuna Three Ways or any of the fish specials.
(4)
Brad S.
We had two great meals here and will continue to visit Skull Creek... Outside service was great and it is pet friendly which is great. Food and service was excellent ...
(4)
Shawna T.
Went here with my hubby on a Thursday night in February around 5pm. The wait was about 20 minutes, so we took a seat at the bar. Good happy hour specials with discounts on drinks and appetizers at the bar. When we were texted for our table (they use your cell Phone to text in lieu of pagers) we were permitted to close out bar tab and have the happy hour priced apps delivered our table. Service was good and sushi was delicious. Fried green tomatoes were good but not great. The fried shrimp platter was good-but I preferred Sea Shack. All in all a nice place to eat-watch out for the crowd. It was getting very busy when we left around 7.
(3)
Crystel P.
Through the suggestion of Yelp and some locals we decided to try here on our vacation which this is my 2nd time to HHI :) We decided to go with sushi so we got the surf and turf roll, Dynamite Roll and Tuna 3 ways. The surf and turf roll was excellent my fav of the whole meal! The dynamite roll was decent not as flavorful as I would of liked it to be. The tuna 3 ways was different I liked the spicy tuna tartare that was on the dish the other 2 were good again not as much flavor as I would of liked. The other meals coming out of the kitchen looked fantastic would love to go here again! Now as for the atmosphere it was super loud and noisy kind of hard to talk at the table. Plus there were a ton of families w little kids around us as well. Which can be expected Ar times but the over all noise was bad. It was packed also which to me is a sign of a good restaurant :)
(4)
Kelly B.
Let me start by saying that I have been to SKB many times, both with family and with my friends on girl weekends. SKB is one of those places that is a "must do" on our trips to HHI. That being said, here is my review. Tonight, we arrived around 5:15 and waited in line to put our name on the list. We asked for outdoor dining only and were told it would be around a 90 min wait. That was fine. We grabbed some drinks & played cornhole. Then, we got the text (70 min later) that our table was ready. It was like we won the lottery....until they tried to seat us inside. Not good. After another 20 min we were finally seated outside. If you put your name on the list, I would recommend checking with the desk to make sure your requests are granted! Anyway, we were seated & let me just say that Alex was probably the best waiter I've had in years. I used to be a bartender (& our family owned restaurants) so I know a good server when I see one. This guy was great--he anticipated what we needed & had a sense of urgency. He made up for the misstep by the hostess desk at the beginning of our experience. Great food & amazing atmosphere, as usual.
(4)
Richie S.
Last day of vacation here in HHI before heading back to New England and had one of the best experiences of the whole trip. We have been let down quite a bit over the last week with service in a few places but the experience we had with our server Benny completely made up for that. The gumbo was great as was the flounder I had for dinner so I can't wait for the next trip down here so we can come back. Ask for Benny if you come here!
(5)
Sam S.
All around great experience I would have to say that this is a must while on hilton head island. Great service from Tim. Plenty to do while you wait and the fact that it is a real boathouse is really cool also.
Great food and beautiful location. I go everytime I visit the island. Be prepared to wait. Get there early and it usually isnt as bad. If the weather permits they have a bar set-up outside to help entertain while you wait. Can get costly, but hey your on vacation.
(4)
Neal A.
We went on Fathers Day evening. Had a party of 7 at 6 O'clock, so probably shouldn't be surprised that the wait was an hour and 30 minutes. 1. Wait - We would generally not go in for a wait of 90 minutes. Since long waits are the norm here, they really should provide more shaded waiting area. I do give them credit for the texting system for when the table is ready and reasonably accurate assessment of wait time. Also, we did have some fun doing the plus size Jenga game, although it was in the blazing sun. So below average. 2. Service - overall average. Our waiter was personable and gave us good candid assessment of the menu. Also, he inspired confidence with regard to the food allergy of one in our party, that there were adequate safeguards in the kitchen. Downside- we asked for bread when we ordered and it did not arrive until the entrees came out, about 30 minutes later. Not good when you're sitting down famished already from the wait. And two in the party did not have the sides of mashed potatoes that they had ordered. 3. Food- Above average. TEveryone was happy with the flavor. One was disappointed that the salad had only a few black beans . The seafood sampler plate was yummy all the way around , they do a great job flavoring the crab cakes without hiding the crab flavor. Obviously all of the seafood was extremely fresh. Grouper was very juicy, cooked perfectly. 4. Value - above average. Total cost for 7 was $147 with tax before tip,although one had only a large salad, and none had drink except water. So my main tip would be to not come on a weekend, unless time and hunger level are not issues. Could be easily be 4 stars otherwise.
(3)
Michael W.
I thought this it was fairly "touristy" place. I just can't see the 4 and 5 star reviews by fellow Yelpers. In fact, I can't even give them 3 stars. Owned by the SERG restaurant group which owns a bunch of restaurants on the island. We had thought about going to Hudson's but after reading reviews decided to go here. Sunday night at 6 during the offseason were seated right away. It's far bigger than I thought it would be. Wine was on the high side (prices). Ordered Hush Puppies for an appetizer. I admit, the hush puppies were pretty good, however, the real flavor came from the spicey whipped butter. Piping hot, NOT greasy. Very good in fact. After having these the outlook was good. Had a cup of seafood chowder soup. Decent, but overly salty. Nice amount of seafood in it but salty.. salty.. too salty. Wife had the stuffed flounder. They were not what I expected which was a stuffed flounder filet. They were like flounder roulades of fish with the stuffing inside the rolled fish. The dish was lukewarm (not hot, almost cold) and the fish was overcooked and dry. Not much flavor. Disappointed. I had the Boathouse Scored Flounder, which is a whole flounder deep fried. It was Impressive looking, but also overcooked. Not much flavor either. To me that's the biggest mistake most mediocre seafood restaurants make, they overcook the seafood. Red rice was decent but not outstanding (they could take a lesson from Gwen and Frannys Fried Chicken on how to make Red Rice). Coleslaw tasted like it was out of a big container from Sysco, nothing special. The "Portuguese" corn bread served with the meal was good (not sure about what makes it' "Portuguese", I lived in Portugal for 4 years and never had this). Overall, it seemed like a typical tourist type place. Decent food, on the pricey side, but nothing to write home about. Note - the server was kind of annoying as well. Pretty much ignored us until the end when he pushed us to give him a good writeup on Trip advisor.
(2)
Derek F.
Get a patio table, especially at sunset. Start with the delicious angry tuna roll. Ask about specials and order a local fish such as swordfish, grouper or mahi mahi are good bets if available. Order key lime pie to top it off. Nice kids menu. Kids are definitely welcome; nice kids menu and nice touch with coins for toddlers that can be exchanged for little gifts. Definitely worth the trip while on the island. Complimentary parking to boot.
(4)
Sandy L.
Great place to dine outdoors along the water. They have an extensive menu and their Cajun Pasta is my favorite. Prices are reasonable, too.
(5)
Karen R.
Arrived before 6 pm and had an Early Bird dinner.we had the seafood platters, one broiled and one fried. Both were great and came with a salad. Hush puppies and drinks were also good. Service was wonderful.
(5)
C L.
Came here Dec. 22 at 6pm- only 15 minute wait for dinner. Had the following for appetizer: Calamari, just ok, much better elsewhere, grilled fish taco and shrimp tempura roll which were very good. Bread was really good- crunchy on the outside, sweet and soft inside. I got angry tuna bowl which was very good, interesting flavor combination- crispy noodle, seaweed salad, spicy tuna and crab and sticky rice. It's good to try but not something I would crave. Hubby got grouper imperial which was very good. Kids got Parmesan crusted cod-very good, salmon Rockefeller which was excellent and steamed mussels which was good but my daughter did not like too much though we liked it. Service was fast and attentive. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Btw, the portions are big for us- we had leftovers to take home. For those who are curious, above dinner ( 5 people) came up to $136, excluding tip, no alcoholic drink.
(4)
Jordan M.
This was a great place. Casual and right on the water. Not to mention the food was delicious! Everything we ordered was so good! Their drinks seemed over priced but all in all, we enjoyed the meal. I definitely recommend the shrimp po boy! Mmmmm!
(4)
Sara S.
Great food and outdoor bar. Lunch specials are a great price and size. Drinks are a little pricey but still wonderful. I had the shrimp and grits and the Thai princess salad and it hit the spot. Quite the variety here.
(4)
Melissa B.
We had 2 small Kids after being quoted 1 1/2 hr wait we decided to eat at the bar. Sat there waiting for are food for over an HOUR on top of everything. Your waiter just disappears and does not come back to give you your check this is the worst service I've ever had would never come back here again rather get McDonald's
(1)
Jay B.
Awesome food, atmosphere, service. Price is not bad. Live entertainment at times. Just a great place. Others have mentioned the long waits. Be forewarned, it can get very crowded with very long waits but the wait is enjoyable due to the environment. It just depends on your temperament and state of mind. I suggest getting on island time :-) I go every time I visit. It is one of a handful of my staple restaurants on the island. I hear Sunday brunch is wonderful. If you decide to go, you will not be disappointed!
(4)
Cami H.
We came to HHI for a quick winter getaway and wanted to indulge in some seafood! We found the greatest place to satisfy our indulgence! After watching the sunset, we went inside to warm up and satisfy our fresh seafood craving. Even in the off season this place was packed so we decided to get a cocktail and app at the bar. Amanda and Jimmy were so attentive that we ended up eating at the bar. SCB serves up fresh ceviche, sushi, and oysters and plenty of cold beers!
(5)
Hayley S.
The atmosphere here is really cool. Its absolutely beautiful and right on the water. We were quoted an hour wait time and my husband and I had a couple beers at their beer truck outside and sat at some of the picnic tables to wait. We were seated in just under an hour which was nice. We were seated inside (would have preferred outside but so we didn't have to wait longer we just said first available) at a table right by the front doors and the bar area and it was LOUD. Very loud. Almost impossible to talk to each other. Our waiter was nice but overbearing and annoying. It would have been nice if we gave us more space so we could have enjoyed ourselves. The food was just OK. We ordered the crab and shrimp appetizer which came out of the kitchen messy looking and seemed as if they just threw it in the microwave for a couple minutes. My husband had the surf and turf. He said his steak was very bland, and his crab cake was okay...you can get better ones on the Island. I had crab legs which were fine....good as far as crab legs go. We also has a couple margaritas which were good. Also its pretty expensive, not worth what you're paying. I think that there are a LOT of better restaurants to eat at on the island. I wish we would have just gone to Hudsons next door and I really enjoy Hudsons but we wanted to try something new. Don't think we will ever go back.
(2)
M R.
Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, service was excellent, food was better than expected and prices were great. Definitely going back
(5)
Amy H.
Cool place!!! I did not mind waiting an hour and a half! We enjoyed some cocktails sat by the docks and played some corn hole!! When we got there it took FOREVER for the server to come by, we were STARVING. Started off with the oysters! They were great! I got the Stuffed Jumbo shrimp for my dinner!! There was way too many on there could not eat it all! Had to give the rest to my husband! It was cooked perfectly! I substituted the sides it came with but was pleased! My husband got the Salmon Rockefeller and he enjoyed it! We were too full for dessert. I would def come back again! I enjoyed the atmosphere and the food but the WAIT time is WAY too long!
(4)
Jay S.
Pricey and small portions. Service is a bit slow. Foods ok, I guess I didn't order the right thing.
(3)
Jeremy H.
Stopped in for lunch on a rainy Monday morning, so glad we did. Our server, Mark, was great. He spent a great deal of time informing us of local attractions. We had the conch ceviche and oysters, both very good. The atmosphere was great even in the rain, we enjoyed the food, drinks and dock watching. Big thanks again to Mark for a great experience!
(5)
Lucien B.
This is the best place we have eaten on our trip. The sword fish was great, the royal sampler was cooked to perfection, and the shrimp and grits was to die for. Tim, our waiter, made the experience ten-fold better. He is a great server and we can't wait to come back and see him and the awesome staff at Skull Creek Boathouse again soon.
(5)
Jackie G.
Pros: 1) Awesome patio and atmosphere 2) Great live music in the evenings 3) Server was fantastic 4) Despite the place being packed- our table of two was ready in just 15 min or so-much quicker than expected! 5) Loved the giant jenga game and adirondack chairs that were available while we waited for a table Cons: 1) Food is mediocre- (we had steamed shrimp, and crab legs) Go for drinks and apps and enjoy the music and patio. Skip the entrees unless you're content with average food.
(4)
Niki J.
Great views from the patio! Between the four of us, we had the hush puppies (EXCELLENT!), cheeseburger (very good), coconut shrimp (bit too much batter and not enough coconut), seafood Cobb salad (very good), gumbo (very good but could have been a little hotter temp when served), fish tacos (EXCELLENT! Get them blackened!) and sweet potato fries (very good). Overall: very good food, price is about what you expect for bar/seafood in a more touristy place. Views of the dock were great and the place had a very cool vibe! :)
(4)
Ron M.
Excellent! We arrived estly-5:45pm. We waited 25 minutes. Use the complimentary valet. Food was excellent and perfectly seasoned. Good quanity, excellent crab and shrimp dip. Gumbo was excellent New Orleans style (we are from La.). The bread was fantastic. Good price on domestic drafts-$2.50. Fantastic meal!
(5)
Kim E.
This place is a bit hard to find but well worth the effort! When you are driving here it is behind the huge boat house that looks like a big warehouse. There is a narrow parking lot to the side. My picky picky family loved this place! We had the hushpuppies, fish sandwich, gumbo, cuban, grilled chicken and fries. All of us loved our food and may come back to try out some more of the choices on this menu! The atmosphere was great. It had music playing. It was casual dress. Kids were around making us all feel welcome. The waitress did great and kept our glasses full (which always make me happy).
(5)
Melissa L.
The food was a mixed bag--some good, some just ok. The real downfall was the service. I watched our waitress pet a dog with both hands and then directly from that point, handle plates with food.
(2)
Amy H.
Consistently great food, attentive & friendly staff, lively atmosphere, and terrific views! What could be better. Fresh seafood, delicious sushi, and Southern favorites. This could be the most popular place on the island.
(5)
Todd M.
One of my favorite places in the world. Great outdoor space, live music, excellent broils, full bar, and pretty special inlet views in the evening.
(4)
Heather D.
Had a great meal outside at the bar. Both our meals were well prepared. Drinks were strong. It's pet friendly outside which I love. They have lawn games, fire pits, great sunset views. Service was good but not great. It was off season so would expect more personalized service, nothing bad just not WOW. Would go back.
(4)
Wen L.
I went to Skull Creek with a friend for dinner. They have a great system where they text you when your table is available, so you can actually walk around and enjoy the scenery. The wait on a Saturday night was not long at all. I ordered clam strips, self-peel shrimp, and sweet potato fries. It was all delicious and exactly what I wanted without breaking the bank. My friend ordered hush puppies (amazing!) and a crab cake plate. The service was great. This is a good place for friends, groups, families, everyone! Will definitely go when Im in the area agai .
(4)
John G.
Come early in the summer - no matter what the day. Great service - always sit at the bar, inside or out, whenever you can. It's a super spot with great food, friendly staff and a great time.
(5)
Dan A.
Wonderful place food was great service was OK. Would highly recommend. Everyone in our party enjoyed the evening
(4)
Diana B.
As we lived out the back gate of HHI Plantation - this is one of our favorite go-to restaurants. Food, view, service is always excellent. We dont usually sit at the bar here (because the view outside is awesome!), but my hubby and I stopped by the bar on Saturday for some lunch and basketball playoffs. The food is always great - but I was blown away by the service I received from Edwina and Breck. Everyone knows what it is like to sit at the bar - but this was a different experience. Both Edwina and Breck took ownership of my experience - making sure my glass was full, my food was right, I had what I needed....each stopping during a very busy time to chat with me about where we are from (we are locals) and the basketball game. It was a stellar experience - more like sitting at a table with the easy atmosphere of the bar. It was a home run experience and I will be back.
(5)
Michael V.
Good food, Good service, the Portuguese Cornbread was awesome! Would recommend this place to all who like seafood
(4)
Nicole S.
Such a great place to visit! Love the food, but more so our waiter, Rick! Wow! We will be coming back and asking for him again!
(5)
Laurie V.
Oh yes, yes, yes!!!! We went at 6:15 and only waited for about 45 minutes. Not bad for a Friday night. (Although I thought it was off-season!) My aunt and uncle had the tile fish, which was one of the specials. They both loved it. Very fresh. Local catch. I had the 1 lb. lobster, which was succulent and flavorful. The side dishes were corn and new potatoes. Corn on cob was great, but potatoes were a bit bland. Our server, Cesar was great. We had switched tables, because it was drafty and cold at the first table and they moved us- no problem- very accommodating. Our first server was just there briefly before we moved, but he was very kind and personable. Didn't catch his name, but he is the sweet guy from Minnesota. This restaurant draws a senior citizen crowd. Besides some grandchildren that were there along with them, we were probably among the youngest folks there. There was also a balloon guy, making balloon animals for the children there. I would absolutely return here. We didn't really catch the sunset, but it looked like it would be spectacular from this location.
Visited recently with family. Despite frequent trips to HHI, we had not been here. I'm so glad that we decided to eat here, though! Great food and a lot of it! My husband has a huge appetite and he still needed a to go box! Will definitely be going back!
(5)
Dan H.
Dinner service, 02/07/2015, between 6-8pm. Wait was as advertised upon arrival. Very cool evening, and there was a fire with chairs around it that was full of people engaging in conversation. So from appearance they do meet the social aspect of dining. However, the dining experience not so. The wait staff was great, with the exception of the 3 younger women who were at the front reception area, with whom their cell phones and their own conversations about this and that were more pressing than the obvious question, "How many are in your party?". We chose this restaurant based on a coupon book that offered a BOGO. From what I could see, so did many others. There were four of us, and we ordered two different types of meals, as two do not enjoy seafood. So, two orders of the Fried Seafood Feast, and two orders of the Cajun Chicken Pasta. Cajun food has an abundance of flavors, and certain types of food memories come with it. However, the dish is mis-labeled. It should be called "Chicken with Ziti Pasta in a Light Alfredo Sauce". The sauce was a jarred alfredo sauce. Jarred. This is a dish you can recreate easily. Take Ragu, water it down to cut in half, add 1/2 of 1/2 grilled chicken breast, add sliced yellow peppers (leave them long so that they look impressive but hard to eat), a few onions, a scattering of mushrooms, and serve over ziti pasta with the watered down Ragu. At least serve the Ragu at full strength, add a splash of white wine to cut and add flavor, along with a tablespoon of butter, salt, pepper, and serve with cut fresh parsley on top. Nope. They are not about to raise their standards with this dish. Now, you may be saying to yourself, how do you know this? Because I asked. The young ladies at the front who ignored us upon entering was more than willing to tell me it was just alfredo sauce, nothing else added. And she was correct. No salt, pepper, let alone what Cajun food contains. No cayenne, nor anything else that had any real flavor to it. If a cook in the restaurant puts their name on this dish, then perhaps the cook needs to get a cookbook....and a spoon to taste before serving. Which leads me to the second dish. No salt on the fish. None. Dry. Tasteless. A complete waste. The server should have noticed that both of the fish from the meals were intact when they came to remove the dishes with the exception of a few bites. What a waste. The shrimp were fine, as the scallops, but the oysters were overcooked. And, please remember that frying oil gets cross contaminated when using it for multiple purposes. It needs to be changed frequently. Drinks. Coke products, but not fresh tasting. So the lines need cleaning. Sweet tea was good, as was the water and coffee. If you want Seafood, stop before this restaurant at Hudson's. Much better, same wait times, yet the food is head and shoulders better seasoned, and the same price point. In terms of Cajun Pasta, Kenny B's Voodoo Chicken on the Island, but in reality a Cajun sauce is quite simple to make FROM SCRATCH. Two stars. Again, the atmosphere is fantastic. Hush Puppies were great - just old oil. They have a good base to work with. They just need a head chef that cares about what leaves the kitchen, not just the volume.
(2)
Bill G.
Back for a third dinner outside on the water. Shrimp and Scollop plate, broiled to perfection. Service was pleasant and gave good guidance. Live music was too loud and inter feared with our enjoyment of the atmosphere. We come here every time we visit Hilton Head, and we'll be back.
(4)
Scott S.
We ended up here by chance but I'm quite pleased that we did. We arrived and were told that it would be 30 minutes and they would text when the table is ready. 20 minutes later we were in since we took first available table. Started with a hilton head mule which was great. he corn bread and butter were delciious. We got a dozen Virginia oysters to start along with fried pickles, dynamite roll and a seafood chowder. The oysters were fresh, briny, decent sized, and very tasty. The dynamite roll was devoured and the seafood chowder was ranked highly as well. The fried pickles were amazing. Best I've ever had. My kids both got the Angry Tuna Bowl which I tasted. I agree with them it was oustanding and I would order it the next time I'm here. I had the grouper which was excellent. The tilefish although fresh was good but not great and was served lukewarm. Our waitress Elysha was great and sent us home with extra corn bread and butter. If you are lucky enough to get her tip her well as she worked her butt off. Place has great atmosphere and a lot of energy. Don't forget to hit the gift shop on the way out. No reservations but worth the wait.
(4)
Julie W.
Only negative--LONG wait. But well worth it! Sat on the dock watching the sunset & some dolphins. Get the hush puppies! They were delicious! I had sushi and it was good--the Crunchy roll must've been flash fried--it was amazing. My boyfriend's snow crab legs we're ridiculously good! Definitely worth the wait! Perfect atmosphere, gorgeous views, fantastic food.
(5)
Jojo B.
We were recommended here by some Hilton Head locals ( we are from Las Vegas)... The bartenders Amanda, and Maggie were awesome and they recommended the Angry Tuna Roll at the bar while waiting for our outside seating and it was OUTSTANDING! We got there at Happy hour, so drinks at the bar were $1 off and appetizers at the bar were half-price... We waited to be seated outside which wasn't a long wait at all( the wait was only about 30 minutes for outside seating- but immediate if we wanted to eat inside). This was also at about 5pm, so it was very busy. When our table was ready, Carson took over as our server and was very attentive and extremely friendly. We ordered the King Crabs legs for an appetizer, and they were outstanding, very fresh, sweet, tasty, and filling ( this could have been an entree it was so large). The price was about average for King Crab at market price and a lot cheaper than what we would have paid in Las Vegas. For dinner, I got the Wreck fish which was tasty but a little bland, it needed a bit more spices. My husband got the Royal Sampler which was Scallops, Crab- stuffed shrimp, and a special vinegar potato chip crusted crab cake ( the crab cake was ALL crab- hardly any fillers). EVERYTHING he got was outstanding as well. Then came desert (which we really didn't need as we were so full), we got the Blackberry Cheesecake, and I must say it was the BEST cheesecake we've had in years. Also the portion could have fed a family of four... I would highly recommend Skull Creek Boathouse to everyone in the Hilton Head area.
(5)
Iama C.
Iama Critic Rating - Skull Creek Boathouse - 4 Stars 397 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island, SC Overall: As a chef I love to travel and experience all sorts of cuisine. I simply love good food and it doesn't matter to me if the place is a dive where I eat off paper plates and ripped seats, or a fancy bistro on a yacht. But in this economy, price matters, with a high price demanding high expectations! On a recent trip my guests and I were loaded to the hilt with discount coupons and gift cards, so we visited several of the most well known restaurants in Hilton Head, SC. So does Skull Creek Boathouse measure up, we shall see! $6.00 - Seafood Chowder - 5 Stars Wow, I have eaten all over this country, from Maine to Florida, and all the way over to California, and I have never had a bowl of chowder this BIG. Oh, but the voluminous delight does not end there, all those different seafood morsels release an orgy of flavor within your mouth! Scallops in a chowder? Yes, yes, it literally was some of the best spent money ever! And I have eaten at over a thousand restaurants! $16.00 - Jambalaya - 5 Stars I have traveled to New Orleans countless times, just to eat! And SCB's jambalaya was every bit as good as the best I have ever had! And I have been served in the bayou by people that didn't even speak English! $20.00 - Salmon Rockefeller - 3 Stars My very finicky, health conscious guest, none too pleased with my very unhealthy choices, ordered the Salmon Rockefeller, minus everything that makes it Rockefeller, as well as a side of steamed green beans, a potato and a house salad. My guest, who never orders anything per the menu, has the most horrid fortune at restaurants. For some reason she is oft served such horribly paltry entrees, that at times her orders seem to be purposefully abused. Her salmon portion was no larger than a tiny bream, perhaps 4 ounces, her portion of steamed green beans numbered only 10 and her salad was practically nothing but iceberg lettuce. Sadly for her, nothing I ordered was suitable, so she remained unsatisfied and gave her experience only three stars. Frankly I thought she was kind to give her meal three! $20.00 - Soft Shell Crabs - 1 Star This entree of two soft shelled crab, which was served, not fried, but broiled and covered with a lemon alfredo sauce and served over rice. The crabs were not on the menu and were expensive, as expected. Almost every restaurant that offers soft shelled crabs simply screws it up in one way or another, and SCB is no exception. Their sauce was so excessively strong that the delicate taste of the crab is entirely lost, and the rice upon which it was served, was not their fancy red rice, but a rather dull lifeless rice with a few bits of veggies for color. Soft shelled crab is typically outrageously priced, so this entree was a complete failure and the recipe needs to be radically altered. Final Thoughts: Forget the horrid soft shell crab, the pathetic house salads and the paltry salmon, and get yourself the chowder, it's a $6 meal in a monstrous bowl, and order the Jambalaya as take out, for two days you will be in tastebud bliss fro a mere $22.00! As for the rest of their menu items over $12.00, I have serious reservations about it being worth the price! It seems the higher the price the less you get.
(4)
Chris G.
Best restaurant on the island period. Great food, good prices, and the service is on point. You can get there by car or boat. Outdoor seating at the bar is the spot to be for the sunset view.
(5)
Sherry K.
Not sure what all the excitement is over the place other than it is right on the water and fun if you are at the bar. Oysters were excellent however the rest of our meals( fried seafood platter, calamari, stuffed shrimp) were at best average. Server was nice, food came out so quick it felt like either it was precooked or they just wanted you out of there. So many other fantastic restaurants for the money in Hilton head.
(3)
Brennan M.
Very cool atmosphere but they messed up our order twice. First, they were very late bringing my sisters chicken tenders. Then while she waited 30 minutes after everyone else got food, they brought macaroni and cheese. "That's not what we ordered" "oh...my mistake" then 10 minutes later they brought grilled chicken. Wrong again. Then, after that they finally brought the right meal. Manager came and comped the meal and apologized. Just a little bad that an 11 year old had to wait 50 minutes to eat her chicken. EDIT: what I did not realize was the manager said he would take it off the bill and didn't. We mentioned it to the server and she fixed it
(2)
Denianne B.
A long wait (about an hour), but the food was fresh and really great. We spent the day on the water fishing, and this restaurant will take what you caught and prepare it for you (so I hear...we didn't make the right catch). It's right next door to two other restaurants (Hudson's and chart house) and this was much more casual than the others. It also looked more enjoyable. I had the scallops and they were some of the best I've had. My four year old had the kids filet and ate every last bite. That's a big accomplishment. I'd like to go again. This is one of the few places on the island where you can dine and watch the sunset.
(4)
Jim W.
Good food. Long wait. We arrived about 6 pm on a monad and were told that it would be 90-120 min wait. It was. Once we were seated we had good service. The waitress was there right away for drink orders and then back quickly with drinks and to take our order. We had some wings for an appetizer and they were pretty average. Wife had the cod for dinner and it was awesome! I had the seafood stew and it was very good. My son had the jambalaya and said it Wasserstein great. I would recommend either going early for the "Early Bird Special" or wait until about 8 or 8:30 to go.
(4)
Kendra H.
Extensive, delicious menu, incredible drinks, wonderful service. We went Christmas week and had happy hour in the outside bar; plenty of strong heaters to keep everyone warm. Favorites were the sushi (best we've ever had, collectively), the Horchata Colada (get it), and everything we ordered off the specials menu. Earlybird supper menu has great portions for a good price. Ambiance and service were welcoming, our server Darren felt like family. Ask servers for local hot spot suggestions. Highly recommend!
(5)
Cynthia W.
Nasty! If you like cheap cigars and strong cologne this is the place for you! Overpriced drinks and the service is awful! Skip this one!
(1)
Megs T.
Dining, my friends, is an experience composed of more than just what's on the plate and what the food may lack in WOW factor here the location, views, atmosphere and vibe make up for tenfold! I would go back here again and again for the overall experience. Grab a cold one, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, eat some decent yet fresh seafood and live yo life! Note: I ordered the chilled seafood platter for myself and it was a gluttonous choice. However, all of that seafood for only $34?!?! That thing would cost at least $80 in DC area. See pic. Would work great as an appetizer for a table of 4 (or more).
(4)
Robin D.
First time visitor.....can I say "can't wait to go again. Excellent lunch menu, great food, great service. Reasonably priced, wide variety of foods.
(4)
Marie D.
Outstanding seafood! Best of our stay, no holds barred. I ordered a cup of seafood chowder to start, which tasted homemade, with shrimp, flounder, scallops, potatoes and a wonderful creamy base. For my entree I had the fisherman's catch, broiled, which was generous amounts of scallops, shrimp, stuffed flounder, deviled crab, served with a wonderful Cajun style rice an crisp green beans. My husband had a cup of gumbo and flounder almondine, both of which he raved about, with smashed potatoes and green beans. My sister had stuffed flounder and my brother in law had pecan ginger crusted mahi mahi. We ate in the bar on Friday night so no wait, drinks were great, service was great, view of sunset and water was great. This restaurant is now on our "must go" list for our recurring trips to HH.
(5)
Christina G.
Thrilled with this place!!! Atmosphere was perfect, kids were thrilled with their menu, and my husband and I were too!!! We were completely satisfied with our portions and the taste of everything was wonderful! We went early, 3:00 pm and as we were leaving cars were piling in. This place was perfect! Only issue was the gift shop, they gave the kids coins to spend... Which led to an argument, but as far as food and atmosphere couldn't have been better (just keep the coins a secret)
(4)
Gina H.
I'm OVER it!!! Two hour + waits & an indifferent staff will be the undoing of this hyper popular HH restaurant. The location on the docks at skull creek is beautiful inviting, but they take no reservations, no call ahead & it's usually a very long wait. If you can grab a table at the bar, raw bar or high top table at the outside bar, you're lucky & can avoid the wait. The food is good & the atmosphere fun, but the trolling for tables & impossibly long waits make it so unpleasant that we're moving it off our list. Hudson's (two docks down) offers better food & the convenience of call ahead.
(2)
John S.
This is another place I will praise for providing entertainment for people while they wait on their table. I ate the ahi tuna sandwich which was very good. I will be coming back next year.
(4)
Robert F.
The good... The location. Great view of the water. The rest... Not so good. We had a large group and having a clueless waiter made the experience difficult. He was so unhelpful, it was amazing. Luckily we were sitting near the bar, so when it was time for another drink, I had a tab open at the bar and I would get up and go get one myself. The food is mostly frozen, packaged junk. Our group was still talking when the bill came and after I paid, he disappeared. We would have loved not just our main courses but even some appetizer plates to be cleaned up but he was no where to be found. We would have ordered more drinks from him but that wasn't an option. He didn't even come to pick up my signed check and we were there for about a half hour after I signed it. I was with some great friends, luckily, so that and the view were very enjoyable.
(2)
Erin B.
Just finished eating and had to write a review! I had the Lowcountry Boil and my husband had the early bird special fried seafood platter. From a girl that grew up along the coast a b d waited tables in many seafood restaurants, I know good seafood when I taste it. This was the real deal. I see why it's so busy. Service was great and we will be back!
(5)
Mike B.
We had a great meal! We orders the sampler platter for an appetizer, everything was super tasty and came out fast and fresh. For our meal, we ordered the broiled and fried seafood platters as well as the fresh catch. Everybody got exactly what they wanted and were very pleased. The restaurant also has an excellent early bird menu with a lot of great options (that's what we ordered from). Our server, Leslie, was very friendly and attentive, she made sure we were for want of nothing! Definitely will go back, strongly recommended.
(5)
Naomi B.
Pros: Delicious hush puppies, moonshine cocktails, good strong drinks, yummy shrimp po boy, plenty of outdoor seating Cons: Not overly clean, entire restaurant smells like it could use a good clean. Other: Quiet around 5pm. Live music later in the evening so I recommend having a later dinner if you want a more lively scene.
(3)
Christy C.
Great place to have fresh seafood while on the island. Has great views; however I dined here at night and inside so I can't say I saw the views first hand :) They seat on a first come first serve basis. We arrived with a party of four around 9pm and were quoted a 30 minute wait which ended up being about 7 minutes. We were acknowledged by our server within a few minutes of being seated and served drinks very quickly. We started with the seafood sampler/platter which was delicious although it was cold seafood and I think I realized I prefer steamed seafood to cold. I had the tortilla crusted tilapia for my entree which was delicious but had a lot of 'stuff' on the top of it (tomatoes, cheese, some kind of sauce, etc.). In other words it was richer than I expected it to be. The atmosphere is a bit loud. They had live music on the patio which could be heard inside if you are seated near the door. I would definitely check this place out if you are looking for good seafood in a laid back atmosphere with great customer service.
(4)
Chip B.
As always, they never fail to impress! The appetizer sampler was awesome.. and that was just the beginning! I love that there is so much to do if you have to wait for a table and it is really easy to make an evening of it and have a great time. Great food, great drinks, great music, and low country hospitality at its best! Check out the Skull Creek General Store for quality t-shirts, souvenirs, local products, and more!! Keep up the great work!
Fried oysters are pretty good. Nice area to have lunch. This place is on the other side of the island from the public access beaches.
(4)
Jay U.
Awesome all around. Worth the very long wait. Fantastic views, great atmosphere. Best family-oriented restaurant I've ever been to.
(5)
Nicolas B.
I had high expectations from this restaurant as most of the reviews are extremely positive. The food was average, but absolutely not worth the nearly two hours wait we endured. Although my experience here was not very good, most reviews say great things about the this place,so I would recommend it to others based on popularity. BUT don't stay if the waiting time is very long!
(2)
Jamie L.
Beautiful location by a marina, hence the name! Restaurant with indoor, outdoor seating and dog friendly! Service was fantastic. The menu was large and varied for all types of food. If there was downside, it would be the price. The food was very good but slightly overpriced but seems to be on par with other restaurants in the area.
(4)
Stephanie C.
The boathouse is a family favorite during our annual trip to HHI. Personally, I think it is a bit overrated. The wait is guaranteed to be long and the service inconsistent. They also don't have reservations, which is unfortunate for large parties such as ours. You may get some people hanging around your bar tables waiting to pounce when you leave. The seafood is fresh though, and I enjoy the coconut butter seared scallops and hush puppies.
(3)
J.B. W.
Made a stop here while down on vacation and I'd come back again. I ended up going with the special stone crab legs and an order of clams - just to keep it simple. Delicious brine for the clams however they were a bit sandy still, not sure if it's because they were still in the brine or if they could have benefited from a more thorough cleaning but the flavors made up for it. Also these were not your standard sized littleneck clams but I think they were too small to be cherrystone clams also they were of good size. The stone crab claws were delicious, they were from the cold bar and the special mustard they were served with was equally as good. I was here with a group so I got to sample a lot of other items as well, the flounder was cooked nicely as well as the steamed shrimp (PRO TIP: pay the extra buck to have them peel them for you...). Just went with a beer for dinner but the cocktails that were had by my companions were mighty good as well. We took a stroll on the docks after dinner and saw a gator, dolphins, and some crabs swimming around. Not to mention a nice sunset.
(4)
Richard R.
I'm so glad we went back this week for another visit.... even though it was accidental. After about a 6 mile bike ride from our resort to take pictures on the Skull Creek Marina, we were a little hungry and decided to stop for appetizers. Our last visit was just a few days earlier and didn't have the best food experience. Chris (one of the managers), decided to give us ALL a round of Chowder on the house after hearing our disappointment in our recent visit. That was way above and beyond our expectation. I honestly would not have ordered the chowder again, but I'm so happy he offered a free round... because it tasted exactly the way I remembered from our first visit a year ago. THANK YOU CHRIS!!! It gave us the confidence to order more appetizers, so we had a few rounds of calamari, Oysters "Rocket" feller, and fried oysters. EVERYTHING was fantastic, so I am officially chalking our previous visit up to just a bad night. The fried oysters were so good we ordered another round even though everyone was already full. If you read my reviews, you know I LOVE calamari and don't really care for oysters. But the fried oysters are by far my favorite appetizer here. Although the food is the main reason to come here, I think coming during the day is just a much better experience than @ night. The marshland views are amazing and there is just something about watching them haul boats from the storage house back to the water that adds to the ambiance. I definitely recommend coming here during daylight hours!!!! Skull Creek Boathouse is back on my top HHI favorites list after a brief bump in the road.
(5)
Lyn R.
Okay....here goes. What can I say but that I was shocked. The wait was horrendous, but the reggae band was amazing and the setting is beautiful. I was prepared to hate this place because they serve hundreds of people at once, but it was absolutely amazing. One of my new favorites in Hilton Head. Our waiter could not have been any better. The food was perfect. Maybe we got lucky....
(5)
Maria V.
Have been here several times in the height of the season.. stopped by for brunch this past Saturday Dec 27th. Absolutly the worsed. Beautiful day out but only a small portion of the outdoor seating was available we needed to sit outside since part of our party of 6 had dogs. Well two young hostesses were not very accommodating I was told you can go out there and see if there is any seats available somebody should be finishing soon. They then went back to talking between themselves like I was not still standing there. SO we all left and went elsewhere that did accomodate us. Well, will not be back ever again I don't care about the lovely view you have. Food is not all that great and employees are not great at all.
(1)
jenny c.
We had a fabulous dinner. There was 14 of us. Bill was a tad high but food was delicious. So many choices. All was worth the money. We had 6 kids with us and most dinner times are rough. This one had things for the kids to look at and to do. The little boys loved looking at the boat. Deff will return.
(5)
Sue B.
Great views and if you get there early - you can sit just a few steps from the water. I had the fish tacos and my husband had the Chilled Seafood Platter (for himself.) Food quality was good and prices were reasonable. Huge menu.
(4)
Tim S.
I certainly think this place is overrated. Most of the reviews that are poor complain about long wait times. Since I noted this problem, we decided to go at 5pm on a Wednesday. We waited 10 minutes and got a table...so no problem there. This drinks were average - I got two drinks the moonshine and a loaded corona. The moonshine was weak and very sweet. Not worth the $11. The loaded corona was pretty good - good concept. Now...for the bad. The food was very sub par. The hush puppies were supposed to be "the best" and I didn't find anything special about them...other than the butter to accompany them. I got the chilled seafood platter and it looked great, but the seafood was not nearly as fresh as one would expect. I also tried two other seafood dishes, one off the early bird menu and another seafood combo. All tasted bland and the scallops were ridiculously small - I've actually never seen them that small. I won't be back unless I just take in that beautiful view and have a couple coronas and enjoy the live music. Because the food is not good!
(2)
Tawanna L.
Seafood was fresh and taste great!! Worth the $$$...I expect to wait when a restaurant is as popular so no worries..they made up for it with great food and a funny server. We were very pleased!!
(5)
Lou C.
I think I'm being generous giving this restaurant one star. It was pricy and my swordfish was over cooked and dry. My husbands red snapper was overcooked as well but not quite as badly as mine. The rice tasted like it was Rice a Roni, very bland with a funny aftertaste. It was listed as "red rice" which it was most certainly not. Sure, it had a pink tint to it, but red rice is a specific variety that is dark red-orange when cooked, one of the exotic strains, definitely not what I was served. I give this review one star because the Haricot Verts were cooked perfectly (not hard to get them right), and the bacon-tomatillo sauce was tasty, but I didn't taste much tomatillo- I thnk it was just bacon in a blender with heavy cream. Amateurs. Don't waste your money. The fish at a fast-casual restaurant the night before was much better.
(1)
Stephanie M.
Best sushi like ever !!! Never had anything bad here ! Soooooo good! go eveery time i come down to hilton head!!
(5)
Misty D.
If you like seafood, drinks, the beach, bars, or football... then this is your place. Tons of seafood to offer, of all kinds. Great bartenders and servers. Lots of TVs and sports everywhere, but not overwhelming you if you're there just for the food. It was extremely cold and yucky outside when we visited, but outside they had lots of really fun spaces. There's a separate outside bar right on the water, a humungous connect 4 game, a humungous jenga game, bean bag toss, etc. Free popcorn at the bar. We visited 3 nights we were there on vacation and had a delightful time all 3 times. The first evening we were there, we moved from a table to the bar for happy hour after our meal and my mom left her purse on the chair without realizing it for hours. When she realized it, we asked our previous server and he had it safely hiding in the back for her with all of it's contents in it, including travel cash. Not only WHEW! but it says a lot about an establishment.
(5)
A L.
We came to Hilton Head for a mini-vacation. A number of friends recommended Skullcreek Boat House for dinner. It was by far the best food that we have eaten in Hilton Head. We did have to wait a little over an hour but it was so worth it. We started off with Snow Crab Legs. I really don't care for crab legs but these were awesome! I had grouper imperial- stuffed with crab cakes with a cream sauce. It was so good! My husband had the fried seafood platter- his go to meal when we are at the beach. He said it was good as well. The service was also great despite it being so busy. Overall excellent! You definitely need to check this place out if you come to Hilton Head- but like everyone else has said, be prepared to wait.
(5)
John L.
Visited on a Monday night, seated right away, drinks came quickly, we ordered, I asked for food to be brought as ready as I ordered a pound of shrimp to share and a salad, waitress decided to bring it with my wives entree instead. In the middle of the meal a manager walked up and asked my to adjust myself, my shirt had caught on the chair and my back was showing, he was very rude about it. The food was good, but my son's mac and cheese was not good at all, the manager never came back by, and we sat for 20 minutes after we finished for our waitress to come back as she lost a ticket for the table next to us and we had to wait for her to figure it out.
(1)
Shari A.
I must admit that I have no idea what people are saying about how wonderful the fish is here and how atmospheric it is. Perhaps the atmosphere would have been nicer had I visited during nice weather as we dined here during Christmas week. The place struck me as a touristy chain restaurant. It might be fun to grab a drink and a fish taco on a nice sunny evening, but the food is here just adequate. Service was good, but nothing to rave about. Even during the off season, the wait can be quite long. The local fish really didn't wow me and the preparations lack sophistication and creativity. There must be a better option on the island.
(2)
Jennifer N.
What a meal.....outstanding and the service was impeccable! !! Come early as there is a long wait. Well worth the wait though.
(5)
Chris P.
Had dinner with some locals (hometown friends) at Skull Creek. The meal was exceptional. I had the Alaskan King Crab, honestly, the best I had all week on the island.
(5)
David C.
The food is so good you better get there early. My food was definitely worth the wait last night. The shrimp was cooked perfect and the steak was even better.
(5)
Karin C.
Ok, I will start off with we rarely wait for dinner. However, we were later than usual and figured we would have a wait regardless. Two (2) hours later we were seated for dinner. It is a seafood restaurant and hush puppies are extra. So not impressed with the food. Service was very good. Party of four and mediocre dinner was $200. That did include one glass of wine (the special that evening) and one beer. Will definitely not return.
(2)
Kathy B.
This place is always among our top favorites while visiting Hilton Head! Actually this visit we stopped for the Sunday brunch buffet.before we even checked in to our resort! The buffet is always wonderful. The omelet bar choices are extensive and after placing your order you may return to your table and they will deliver it. While waiting you can partake of the other choices- fresh fruit is always a must for me. Nick, our server, was gracious, friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The view is beautiful and we always look forward to the next visit.
(5)
Andy A.
I've been coming here for 25 years and tried a lot of places. This one lives up to the hype. A must. Go before 5 even in February unless you want to wait. Jimmy from Mogadore Ohio at the bar is the best. Go early and stay late. Definitely worth the price.
(5)
Allison K.
Ceviche and oysters were dELIcIOuS! Great wine list and awesome server to boot! 1hr and 45 min wait but we sat immediately at the sushi bar or high tops on the deck. Perfect because we still ordered from full menu. If seated outside, be aware that South Carolina law blows and allows people to smoke. The view is amazing but no worse lung cancer. We will definitely return.
(5)
Jay C.
Long wait and decent fare. Save room for the key lime pie. Bring your camera for an amazing sunset photo.
(4)
Joshua O.
Great food and outstanding ambience. Beautiful view of skull creek. We loved the seafood chowder.
(4)
Kelly R.
Food was great! The CT oysters delicious. The seafood sampler was fantastic, especially the crab cakes. Delish! Was surprised by the great selection of beer and wine. We are here for the week and will definitely hit this place again before we leave.
(5)
Colleen D.
Can I give this place 20 stars? Be prepared, you will wait! But it is completely worth it! We are on vacation and will be back again. Everything on the menu looked good, so we ordered some apps to try stuff. Well EVERYTHING was top notch. Oysters were good, fried pickles were good! My dad got shrimp cocktail and fried oysters and loved them. My mom for the seafood sampler and said everything was delicious. I got the fish sandwich and if was crazy good like best fish I have ever had! I live in Boston so that says a lot. You have to go here!
(5)
Rick S.
The best time ever at the Skull. We were treated like royalty and the staff were on top of us, water or drink got a little low and someone was there filling or bringing another one. It smelled like the sea not like the docks I been to in the past. the prices were fair and my only gripe is they had NO fried crab claws (which I love). I had planned on posting food pics , but as soon as it was sat down in front of us we ate it up, sorry.
(5)
Yngwie M.
Got there right at 5pm on Memorial Day, and the place was packed. Wait was supposed to be 30-45 minutes, but really we only had to wait about 15-20. Ended up eating too much, but everything was good. Ordered the hush puppies, which were good. But probably shouldn't have, since they brought out bread anyway. Had the tuna three ways. Comes with Carpaccio (excellent), Spicy Mediterranean (good), Poki (just okay). Also had the shrimp and grits (really good). Split the chocolate pudding cake w/ice cream with the wife. It was good. We might go there again later in the week.
(5)
Patti H.
Not great - my fried combo was soggy and service spotty not interested in going back especially with the waits
(3)
Colleen B.
Excellent meal! Always a lengthy wait but worth every minute! Our server Alex had wonderful suggestions and was entertaining. The strawberry mojita goes down well so just do yourself a favor and order a whole pitcher. Grouper Imperial and King Crab were perfect!!
(4)
Larry T.
The food: I had the Seafood Stew and I would rate that as 5 Stars! I would go back just to have that. My wife had the King Crab legs. The environment: The wait for an outside table was 1.5 hours, but high tops by the bar were first come. We lucked in to a high top after only 30 minutes and the view was great. Many people bring their dogs along and are not conscientious about them which is annoying :( Also too many cigar smokers. We ate outdoors, but indoors seems stuffy and crowded. Not sure I would eat there if that was the only choice. Overall: The great food and view made up for the annoyances
(4)
L D.
Fantastic! as a former HHI native, I recently went back with my 2 small children and husband. What can I say.... amazing! the food, the view, the laid back island atmosphere. I would rate this the best place to eat on the island.
(5)
Janice H.
Super friendly staff, large bar selection, and great food. I had the salmon BAT and it was GREAT! Salmon cooked to perfection...even the fries were good despite not being home made ( or maybe they were? ) great value. I went just after the lunch rush and it was still busy. Good indication of good food.
(5)
Holly W.
Go before you get hungry because you will have a very long wait! My mom and I were given at least an hour to 1:15 and they were correct. This was even on a Wednesday night to avoid the weekend crowds! They brought bread as a starter which was good, almost like a light but sweet cornbread loaf. The food came fast and was piled high on top of a mountain of fries. I personally cared more about the seafood. The flounder was huge and the scallops were so freshly fried the breading hardly stayed on, the shrimp were huge and the oysters were tastefully my favorite. This place brings a steady crowd and parking can be tricky but you can eat at the covered outside bar for a better view of the water. The ambience of this restaurant is great and you won't be disappointed with anything except the wait.
(4)
Derek W.
Love, love, love this place. Such great food. Great for families and wonderful outdoor eating.
(5)
Nicole R.
When we arrived it was a 20 minute wait. The hostess was true to her word it was not a minute over. Loved everything about this place! Coral out server was kind and attentive. Thanks so much, Coral. You made my son's day! I would highly recommend the Angry Tuna Rice Bowl and the sangria!
(5)
Jane S.
Skull Creek was recommend by family who have vacationed on HH often. We arrived early, around 5:30 on a Monday, as we skipped lunch and were hungry. They don't take reservations, but we were seated right away. We started with a basket of hush puppies and they would good but I would skip them next time and just wait for the basket of bread. The bread was great. I had the Waohoo fish with potato gratin and collard greens. After one bite of the collard greens we ordered another side as my husband wanted to eat mine and I wasn't so thrilled with sharing. (they were good) He had the shrimp and grits and he just said he's ready to go back and have it again. The wait staff was friendly and very efficient. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed. For a great dinner on HH, this one is hard to beat.
(4)
Chris S.
Restaurant was highly recommended by staff at Marriott vacation club. They also called in preferred seeting for us. We sat outside and enjoyed the view and excellent live music. The food was great! Ordered from the early bird menu and got the seafood chowder with dinner. As others said, the chowder was amazing. Our service was also great. Overall, a great experience and very good food.
(5)
Sheena A.
Wouldn't know how the food is because on our second attempt our wait time went from an hour and 45mins to two hours and 15mins. We left. Same thing happened last week.
(1)
Elliott E.
Best views that I've ever had at a restaurant. My mahi mahi was excellent and everyone at the table was ecstatic about this place. I ordered one of the moonshine drinks which came with a souvenir mug, so that was cool. Also the gift shop was definitely well above average for a restaurant. Would highly recommend!
(5)
Kyle O.
The setting was wonderful and the food followed suit. I ordered the shrimp and grits and was very pleased by the prompt service and quality of food. I will definitely be going again.
(5)
Brittany M.
Amazing place. Sorta hidden away behind a big boat storage building. We had a little trouble finding it but it was totally worth it. So charming beautiful location on the water. Hanging lights on the patio overlooking boats docked below. Great view of the sunset. So efficient. We were impressed. Cost a little more than we are used to. 90 dollars after tip for two people, but we would go back. Had the steak and Mahi Mahi. Fried green tomatoes a twist on the original with goat cheese fried on top. The food might be cheaper elsewhere but you can'tbeat the atmosphere.
(5)
Riley B.
Why eat hush puppies if you aren't going to eat them here? Some of the best you'll ever have. Also, they have GREAT Cajun pasta.
(5)
Marcie H.
We took our 4 kids, ages 11-14 with us at 4:30 on 4th of July. Parking was crazy, but we were seated right away. Food was good, just nothing special. I had mahi mahi, husband got the grouper, oldest ordered catfish. Good size portions, but we will try somewhere else instead of returning. Service was slow.
(3)
Mark M.
Great experience. Service was awesome and food was great as well. Highly recommend the place. Very busy so be prepared to wait, but definitely worth it
(4)
Jeremy T.
Depending on who you talk to, or read I guess too, this place is either a lot better now, or used to be a lot better before, but everyone seems to have an opinion, and that says something. I have been coming here for the past few years, both as a destination and a place to go after fishing. It is easy to say that I am a fan. I don't see a time that I would go to Hilton Head and not go to the boathouse. I love the outside deck and bar. A fantastic way to enjoy the water and a sunset. I have found the food to be very solid as well; especially the sashimi that they have. The service is usually pretty good, and pretty friendly. The wait can be much at times, but putting your name on the list, getting a cocktail, and playing some cornhole out by the water passes the time nicely.
(4)
Baruch M.
Happy hour outside with a cold beer, Cigar and live music. . . doesn't get any better. I was tired of seafood broils so I got the Shrimp Pasta since I don't eat much pasta and it was rich and delicious, paired great with the bread they bring to the table. Get there early during happy hour because during the tourist season they get busy fast and you will wait a good while.
(4)
Jeremy R.
This place is very lively and fun and very crowded. Long wait for a table but very friendly service and fast food and drinks once seated. Some food was great other options not so much like the stuffed flounder. But seafood chowder and green tomatoes were delicious and had a good time here.
(4)
Luke T.
There is no shortage of seafood restaurants in Hilton Head Island. We came here because of their LobsterFest event and had a great meal. Its off the Island but not too far. Total drive time maybe 20 minutes. The place is laid back and service is good. We were seated and attended to very promptly. We had the lobster roll and there was so much lobster on that itty bitty sandwich it was ridiculous. MIght as well have been a whole darn lobster on a sliver of toast. There is sushi as well and we enjoyed the Crunchy Roll. Basically, flash fried sushi roll. Crunchy indeed. I spied a few tables with oysters and found out they have a good selection, bluepoint, east coast, upper west coast.... if I were to spend another night in HHI, I would have come back just for the oysters.
(4)
Micky L.
This place is awesome! Of course it was packed, didn't surprise me once we tasted the food! We had the steamed oysters and the EXTRAVAGANZA! My husband and I will order separate platters next time since we destroyed this last one good amount to share unless you can eat some serious sea critters!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE! !
(5)
Boston Italian Girl O.
We loved this place! It has a great view of the bay/marinas and is very easy to get in and out of. When we arrived we were told that it would be an hour to an hour and 15 minutes but we were surprisingly sat within 40 minutes! We were sat inside right along the window so we could hear the live music and see the outdoor bar/water view. We started with the mussels and hush puppies and the hush puppies were delicious. The mussels weren't bad, but they could have used more flavor. For entrees we had the salmon Rockefeller which was to die for, and the fried clam strips which were equally as yummy! We had no room for dessert but the service, food, and atmosphere here were wonderful!
(5)
N W.
What a view! Fun lively place and good food. Attentive and fast service. As expected, long wait but a lot of things for kids to do. Defiantly a family friendly place.
(4)
Jacob L.
I was down at Hilton Head for vacation and heard good things about this place and I was very happy that I came here. Extremely fresh sea food, great service and awesome outdoor atmosphere. Had a pretty decent selection of beers, wine and mixers. I wasn't the biggest fan of the 50s style inside, but the outdoor eating area and food made up for it. Hush puppies (4 stars) Sea food chowder (5 stars, best in have ever had) Seafood pasta (4 stars, very fresh fish) Cobie ( 4 stars, really good fish, fresh catch of the day, only available for 1 month)
(5)
David D.
One of my favorites. It's on the water and great Americana food.
(5)
Mary B.
Bartenders nice but I had crab claws and they were not edible! I showed Them to the bartender and he did not offer to credit me:((((( just go for a drink. If u r seated inside bring a nose clip it smells terrible inside!
(1)
Bradford G.
Another one of my favorite restaurants on Hilton Head Island. Very nice restaurant inside, huge deck area outside, live music, multiple bars, right on the waterway. I wouldn't say the view is as good as some of the other places I went to but it's definitely a fun hangout spot and place to party with friends. Food was very good and the service was exceptional.
(5)
Lila K.
We had the warm peeled shrimp appetizer with butter and they were fresh and so tasty. Also the seafood chowder was very good but not a very big bowl. Husband had crab cakes and really liked them. Overall it and the view were great.
(4)
J H.
Tourist trap!!!! Awesome outside bar! Went to dinner around. 5pm on Wednesday hour and 15 min wait. Wait staff was great food was not very good. Lots of flair to keep your mind off of your mediocre food. I expect a seafood restaurant on the coast to serve fresh seafood but it tasted more like frozen filets.
(2)
Cynthia F.
Wish I could return. I love raw fish and appreciate creative recipes including raw fish. I enjoyed the tuna poki and the rainbow rice bowl. I've had tuna tartare and tuna poke many times in other restaurants; their tuna poki is sweeter. I never saw raw fish diced and served in a bowl with rice, fruits and vegetables; yummy! I might have to request this dish at my favorite sushi restaurants when I return home. The berry cobbler was appropriately sweet; had a delicious cake-like topping, and was my second-favorite dessert on my trip to Savannah Georgia and Hilton Head SC. This was my single favorite restaurant on the trip. Coral is an excellent waitress.
(5)
Kate J.
The long wait is not worth the food quality. Kitchen clearly does not know how to cook seafood properly outside of frying and the wait staff has no concept on food timing between appetisers and main course. Restaurant used to be amazing but has gone steadily down hill since the serg restaurant group took over. I would honestly give your time and money to another establishment.
(2)
Rachel O.
If you want seafood while looking out on the water, this is the place! We ordered: King crab legs $41 (about 3 legs) Pick three fried lunch (shrimp, scallops, clam strips) which came with hush puppies, fries, good coleslaw Salmon deviled eggs (amazing) Hush puppies (it turned out unnecessary bc it came with the pick 3) Guacamole, salsa, and chips Rum runner but asked to pay more to get it in the souvenir mason jar Sitting on the water under the trees was amazing Food was really great, come hungry! Love the music
(5)
Mike W.
Good food it just takes a little while to get there. The BBQ shrimp is really good through and they have a nice dock for you to walk around while you wait for a table. You will wait that's for sure because they don't do call ahead seating.
(3)
The Food L.
Super place, nice view and great family friendly. I was here with kids and they all loved it.
(4)
TJ A.
I'm not a fan of Hilton Head, but this place was not pretentious at all. The service was good. I had the almond coconut shrimp and crab cakes and both were tasty and the sauces homemade sauces were wonderful. Hushpuppies like no other.
(3)
K H.
THE.VIEW! Food was good, view was amazing and we'll def be back. Worth waiting for an outdoor spot even if the sun's gone down. We ordered hush puppies for an app and they were yummy. Husband had coconut almond crusted tilefish and I had bacon wrapped BBQ shrimp with mashed potatoes (no grits for me!) and mac and cheese. The crust and glaze on the tilefish was great, the meat was tender and not at all dry. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and the bacon, cheese, BBQ flavor was a nice twist. I'd pass on the mashed potatoes and mac and cheese... The waiter assured us the key lime pie was the best on the island. If you prefer sweet over tart skip it -- I like tart and thought it was good.
(5)
Kathy E.
Seafood we ate tasted fresh and delicious. Even though we ate outside it was cool in the shade of the trees. We enjoyed a nice view of Skull Creek.
(5)
Tiger Emperor Z.
As a new resident of this area, I decided to check this place out. Sunday brunch was by far the best I've seen in a long time when it comes to restaurants. The bloody Mary's we're not only outstanding but also only $3! Yes you heard right. The buffet was a great idea as well because I usually eat a lot at these places and they have a wide variety of food items. There is even a chef that will make an omelette of your choice and have it sent to your table. The views are great from either inside or outside and everyone is very friendly. The best waiter by far is Emilio. Definitely my favorite spot to go and the reason for a high wait is the 5 stars this place deserves.
(5)
K B.
It bothers me when people give a place 1-star because of the wait. The reason there is a wait is because it is a GREAT PLACE to eat! C'mon people!! How there are anything but 5-star ratings on this place baffles me. We are sitting outside looking at the water with a beautiful breeze blowing in late September. The food is RiDiCuLoUz. We had peel and eat shrimp, fish tacos, crab balls, shrimp quesadillas, and oyster Rockefeller. This was EXACTLY what we expected- and they did everything perfectly. Simple equation: A couple fruity drinks (for the lady) and a few draft beers (for me) + outstanding seafood + great service = a phenomenal time. We're coming back tomorrow for live music and dinner. We expect a long wait BECAUSE it's a great place!!!
(5)
Joe M.
I have been to the Boathouse several times over the last 3 years each time the food has gotten a bit worst then the time before. Last night we arrived to a hostess who told us it would be an hour and a half wait when the restuarnt had lots of open tables. Well after pointing this out to her she sat us at a table. Funny thing is she turned away about 10 parties of 4 or more - not sure if they have the staff to handle it or she just waited to go home early. Anyway, we order the food from a menu that has so, many items on it I'm not sure how anyone can cook all of those items well. Sure enough, food can out cold with no seasoning and no taste at all. I think the restaurant has gotten so popular that the managers or owners have gotten fat and sassy and forgot what got them to be popular (THE FOOD) and for what ever reason they have lost their focus on why people come to a restaurant not just for the view. We dropped $150.00 on food I wouldn't give to my worst enemy. I would stay away from this place until they remember why people go to a restaurant, they want good food not just a view.
(1)
Donna J.
We have eaten at Skull Creek Boat house several times since moving to Hilton Head, including lunch, and happy hour and everything was wonderful. Happy hour appetizers we like best are the coconut shrimp, oysters Rockafeller, calamari and any sushi. We also liked the crab and shrimp quesadilla and the fried oysters. Hard to choose the best items when everything is so good. Recently we decided to try dinner and it was so good the first time that we went back the following week. We had Mark for a waiter and he was prompt, attentive and entertaining, everything we love about good service in a nice restaurant. He was quick to fix a glitch in my husbands meal even though we were OK with it. To top off the great service we enjoyed an excellent meal. I had the Salmon Rockafeller which was awesome, and my husband had the fried seafood sampler, and we both had the seafood chowder as our appetizer, which was delicious. We had no room for dessert, but maybe next time. We highly recommend the Boat House for the food and the service, but to put an incredible icing on the experience the sunset over the water was fabulous!
We had a generally very good meal here. This place is quite popular, and its easy to see why: great waterfront view, lively atmosphere, and pretty good food. We waited less than our quoted wait time as well; they have a nice text messaging system to alert you when your table will be ready. Service was somewhat lacking, but our server had too many tables and tried her best. We had the low country boil (lots of shrimp, plus corn on the cob, potatoes, sausage) and a seafood sampler (crab cake, stuffed shrimp, scallops) that was delicious but somewhat pricey.
(4)
Susan Y.
we've been here twice now.. once with Tara and the other with Rick for our servers and both were wonderful.. the seafood is great and it's tough to find a good seafood spot down here where everything isn't fried. They are a busy place and we usually prefer to eat outside so we can bring the dogs and have them sit with us. plan to allow at least 30+ minutes to get a table.. love the tuna 3 ways and the flounder almandine.. big enough to share.
(4)
Phil E.
Top notch! Great service, delicious food and a really nice location. Better than Salty Dog.
(5)
Victoria S.
Yummy yummy Seafood with a gorgeous location. While on vacation a large group of us went here. We sat on the back deck which in my opinion, is the ONLY way to dine here. Excellent breeze on the water. Deck is HUGE! Large overhead fans keep the breeze going on a hot evening. I had the Salt and Vinegar potato chip coated crab cakes (sounds awesome right?) it was! Boyfriend had his first Low Country Boil - he was in love! Two bars, one outside one in. Drinks are reasonable! My only complaint was parking you HAVE to park valet
(4)
Jim P.
Decided to try this place for lunch. It as a cold windy day so outside dining was not a option. Not very crowded at 2:00pm. Decided to sit at the bar. Ordered the hush puppies and some sushi rolls. Had the shrimp tempura roll and the surf and turf toll. Both were excellent. Girlfriend ordered a house drink with moonshine in it. It was good. I had the house margarita which was ok at best. Seemed like a lot of staff on hand but nobody was doing anything. Outside dining would have been a nice touch.
(4)
Howard J.
Last night was our second consecutive night, which goes too show our pleasure of the first visit. On both occasions we dined at the bar, both staff and clientele very friendly, quick to engage in conversation, and helpful. Try the ceviche, the Latin marinade is just how it should be. PEI oysters were on point and tuna carpaccio excellent. Second night repeated the ceviche and followed with the Low Country Boil. Now, this is a favorite of ours at home, but this was better than my recent attempts. (What is their secret?) Look out for Mary Ann and Joe, great staff behind the bar, thanks for great nights.
(5)
Colleen F.
This place has a great view and outdoor patio! The Boathouse is very kid-friendly. They have a sandbox and hula hoops for kids to play with while you wait for your table to be called. They give children a Buoy buck with their food that lets kids pick one small toy after their meal. The food is pretty good and the drinks are fun.
(4)
Paul M.
First time here and we will be back. My daughter and I love the seafood. My wife and my other daughter love steak. Every body had what they wanted and everything was outstanding.
(4)
P P.
This place is great! First time patron this week, in town on business from N. SC & a local client steered me there. Great because the: people ...from Hal - Master of Ceremonies & Valet to the 2 Phill's & Jarrod - the bar tenders food...ceviche latin style was very fresh, huge portions...collards, Key Lime pie too. I suspect w/ seafood (sushi too) as their speciality all of it is good. atmosphere...authentic dockside, marine, island attitude & vibe. Nice people many local. Will make it a regular stop on my trips to HHI & place to entertain clients on business.
(5)
Caroline J.
Absolutely worth the wait. Service? Friendly, patient and on-point. Food? I would eat their Chopped Creole Cobb Salad for every meal if I could. Their sushi is so fresh and light. Restaurant atmosphere: You couldn't get more romantic, casual or beautiful all in one restaurant if you tried. Bottom line? I WANT ONE IN VEGAS! Yes, there was a massive wait, but that's what happens on a Saturday night for 20 people. Expected. Not the end of the world. When everyone sat down, we told the waitress we wanted separate checks just to be a pain, and she said, "No problem," and continued the great service. You've got to love that wonderful Southern hospitality! I ordered the Creole Cobb Salad, and holy freaking delicious. The honey mustard vinaigrette? Perfectly tangy, not too sweet, and they put it on the side without me asking so I could use it sparingly or dunk my super fresh shrimp in the ramekin. The greens, cheese, meats, bacon and shrimp were so fresh, and the salad was HUGE, so I was able to eat the entire thing and not feel hungry an hour later like I normally do when I eat a salad. The Cobb was hearty, and I will travel all the way from Vegas to have it again! Oh, I forgot about the spicy tuna roll. The one that had the perfect kick from sriracha, my favorite sauce in the world (or at least one of them)and was so fresh I could swear I saw the cook catching it off the dock a minute before it made its way to my table, It is arguably more fresh than any of the seafood I have gotten in Vegas, but I guess it helps that the restaurant is ON the ocean. It's all about the perks. The atmosphere would be perfect for a younger crowd once the kitchen closes down. Bar outside on the dock, a romantic walk down the pier, chill music, nothing too wild but just quiet enough that the roar off the crowd doesn't make it impossible to hear the conversation with your buddy sitting next to you. This restaurant easily accommodates a couple or a large group of people, but expect a very long wait regardless of when you arrive at the restaurant, because everything is great about this local favorite.
(5)
Todd T.
Great place. Best bar on the water. Great views. Menu is excellent. Sunday brunch outstanding. I am local and this place never disappoints. Staff very nice and knowledgeable. Gill is one of the best waiters on the island. Ask for him. Yes people there is a long two hour wait during busy season but worth it. Just relax have a cocktail and enjoy the water because I can tell you right now you will not be able to sit outside on water anywhere else on island. Locals love this place. Yes again summer months long wait but a few Slurricanes and the time passes.
(5)
Kyle F.
Really good hush puppies!! Half of their seats are outdoors so don't go when its raining or you will have to wait a while.
(3)
Bob W.
Excellent food and excellent service. Nice location right on the water. Large choice of indoor or outdoor dining. We had a short wait but it very busy by the time we left so get there early if you can.
(5)
Eric T.
My wife and I went for a night out while vacationing with the family on Hilton Head. Our dinner was delicious, absolutely wonderful shrimp and scallops. When we arrived, on a Tuesday evening, there was about a 1 1/2 hour wait so went down to the bar and had drinks and appetizers. We had the smokey seafood dip, which was very tasty. I did realize afterwards that there were two more pages of appetizers, including sushi, that we had missed. Their menu is very large. Dinner was terrific, very cool place as well.
(5)
Sean S.
Popular place and now I know why. Great atmosphere and good food. Got oysters to start...they were fresh and tasty. Got the Mahi (pecan Ginger) and it was delicious. Sat at bar and enjoyed drinks with friendly bar staff. Place was hopping and had huge outdoor seating area and outside bar ( which was also slammed). Great view. I will definitely return to this place.
(4)
Shari M.
Place was packed..on a MONDAY night. 1 hour wait. Sat at the bar, live music. Food was good....lowcountry boil and linguine and clam sauce. Linguine was a bit bland. Clams were tender and good. Would go again............
(3)
Gary C.
Excellent Service, Fresh Seafood, However, the food during extreme busy times may come out cold. Great Views and typical resort prices. Very Loud and Busy. Do not come here for quiet and intimacy! A very good place to take the family for fresh seafood.
(3)
Cj S.
This place is huge, and so is the menu. From past experience, the bigger the menu, the lower the quality of the food. This place followed that trend. We had the big chill appetizer. Definitely not worth 34.00. I had the reel big catch sandwich. Nothing special but good white fish. This place has great views and a happening night life, outdoor bar and plenty of seating. I went for the food and was not too impressed. Our waitress was very nice and bubbly. Service was not an issue. Probably wouldn't go back.
(3)
Antonio B.
Scale 1-10 The dinner time outdoor ambiance 15 Fun 10 Food 7.5 Drinks 9 Service 9 We really enjoyed ourselves. We made local friends at the bar while waiting on our table. We played games and took pictures as this was our last night in hilton head. Being from Louisiana and living in texas. The food was pretty good and not priced to high
(4)
Dan W.
Skull creek has good food , good environment for adults and kids, and reasonably priced. However the shrimp cocktails were a bit mushy, shrimp were not firm , may have been in fresh water. I would still go back and would recommend you go there to eat.
(3)
Christine E.
We come here every time we are in Hilton Head. While waiting for a table, we enjoy a stroll down to the dock with a drink from the bar. Oftentimes we see a small alligator hanging around, waiting for scraps from the fishing boats. There is also an option to play connect four and giant jenga, always entertaining. I usually get the sushi rice bowls with tuna, salmon, avocado, etc. It comes in the perfect portion. He usually gets the fried shrimp. When asked why he likes it so much, he said "light and flaky with excellent flavor."
(5)
Peter C.
Food was great! Service was excellent. Tara and Dan did an exceptional job in making this a pleasant dining experience.
(4)
Taylor C.
What else can I say besides OUTSTANDING! I could not have asked for a better waiter, Joe. He was such an informative guy, my mom didn't know what she wanted to he asked her millions of questions go find out what she wanted! Then my little brother he's seven, got crab legs.. And Joe our waiter helped my brother crack his crab legs with him and talked to our family the whole time!! AMAZING SERVICE!! I would suggest going to the place around sevenish, still at 45 min wait but it's a lot better than two hours if you went at five! The water is right near and has a beautiful sunset, and there is a little shop which is very cute.. Now let's talk about the food!!! Crab legs, sushi, pastas, steaks, scallops hush puppies!! Everything was outstanding!
(5)
Todd G.
So naturally we fell into the tourist trap that is skull Creek boathouse. We went there on a recommendation of people who have vacation in Hilton Head several times before and to be fair we were warned that there is a lot of customers, a lot of wait time, and it may not be a fast experience. But you figure what the heck we're on vacation we can enjoy the scenery and have a couple of beers etc etc. Our night started around 7 o'clock which yes I realize it's going to be busy and yes I realized that trying to seat a party of eight is difficult and you will have to wait. We initially were told a two hour wait but from scanning the patio area there are a lot of multi-party tables that were finishing or looking like they're getting ready to finish so we roll the dice. Outside they have a pretty neat area where they have a beer cart girl they have janga they have corn hole they have games they have the doc so there are lots of things to do while you're waiting. We got seated, true to their word, about 2 hours later. The kids were able to snack and we were seated about 9 o'clock. The place had also cleared out very nicely to the point where there were 15 or so empty tables so we figured this was going to pay dividends because we get awesome service and the food would come out fast. We had ordered our food I ordered a filet. Now during this time I like to keep a stopwatch just to see what their times are as far as bringing drinks, bringing appetizers, and when the food will be delivered. Our server was a nice fellow and I feel he did his best to give the best service he could but he was kind of avoiding us because we are getting very impatient waiting an hour before we started really complaining about the location of our food. The table right next to us was in the same predicament same size table and also was waiting an hour at least for the food. We finally have the manager come over who gave us an explanation that there was a party of 30 inside that our order was stuck behind. Now I am no mathematician but I was able to see that the restaurant at this time was now empty the exception of three parties in a couple stragglers. Not quite sure how you delay a meal for an hour when you got 45 people in a restaurant that is designed to hold 250. The food did come out about 1 hour and 15 minutes after we ordered it and at that point we just wanted to go home I didn't even feel like eating. No matter how good a steak is it never taste quite as good when your dining experience is ruined. The manager did come over and apologize only after we asked to see him but I think a little more proactivity on the manager side to maybe tell his servers to warn your tables kitchen is behind let's go on the pologize etcetera etcetera. Overall the meal was decent but the experience was destroyed by lack of communication in poor management. I don't think we're going to return.
(2)
Kevin M.
Food and drinks are equally great! Our party had a very diverse meal.. Sushi rolls-A+ Hush Puppies-A+ Shrimp and crab dip- A+ NY Strip and lobster tail-A+ Crab Stuffed Filet-A+ Southern Fried Chicken-A+ Cajun Cobb Salad- A+ As you can see we loved the experience. Craig our server was awesome, and the bus boy, wish I got his name, was great too. Very good experience all the way around. Recommended to seek seating at bar or high tops as they are first come first serve. We found our table within 5 minutes, waterside at sunset! Great view of the sunset over marina. By no means would I consider this to be a "tourist destination" as it is well off the beaten path. Kudos to entire staff from start to finish!
(5)
Audri P.
This place was amazing. The menu is so extensive...they even have sushi. Make sure you sit on the right ride so you can have great views of the marina. The husband and I went for a late lunch to avoid the crowd. We had wanted to go the night before but dinner, but I called and was told the wait was 1.5 hours...on a Tuesday night!! We started with the shrimp & crab dip, which came with pita chips and tortilla chips. The dip was amazing, I really liked having the pita chips! I ordered the low country boil with peeled shrimp (extra charge). It was amazing, by far the best low country boil I've had (so far) My husband got the friend grouper. He said it was really good and cooked perfectly. The staff was very nice and attentive. Food came out SUPER fast and our drinks were never empty. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Ashlee T.
After several recommendations to eat here, we decided to give it a try. I had scallops and my husband had a chicken dish. Food was terrible!!! My husband ate nothing and just a few bites for me before we pitched it. Kids screaming all over the place.. I have no idea what all of the hype is about. So disappointed...off day maybe? There was no wait. But still-My worst meal at HHI.
(1)
Pearl D.
Great view and food. I was impressed with the food, menu and drinks. Good service as well . Definitely come back to on my next trip. The fish and seafood dishes were very good.
(5)
Bernadene F.
I gave it a three star because it's more or less a tourist spot with a great place on the water but the food is overpriced as usual for most tourist spots. I was disappointed in the size of the shrimp in my shrimp boil which was full of potatoes. They charged $2 extra to get it with shrimp peeled already which I'm glad I did given the size of the shrimp. I had eaten larger shrimp inland. They had music outdoors and a tiki bar which if I had been with a smaller group I would have just sat at the bar.. We were warned about the wait so make sure you give yourself plenty of time if you go there as we did have a 1 1/2 hour wait.
(3)
Joann B.
This is my go too place every year when we visit Hilton ahead! The food is delicious and so much for your money, the wait staff is always friendly, attentive and helpful. The views are phenomenal, the music is great and the drinks are fantastic!
(5)
Marianna F.
Last night my my husband and I along with our two children came here based on the reviews. My kids were upset of course about the wait time but boy were they happy when they realized that while they waited they could get a soft pretzel and a lemonade to bide their time. And mom and dad were pretty ok with being able to enjoy a mixed drink while listening to live music in the beer garden while waiting for a table too! The ambiance outside alone is well worth the wait for a table. We were happy that we were placed at an outdoor table, especially as when we were inside for a moment, it did smell fishy. But there was nothing fishy about our meals. It tasted fresh and delicious. We all enjoyed the food thoroughly and there is a lot of it. They definitely don't skimp. I have enough leftovers for another meal. If you do come be advised parking is difficult but they have complimentary valet. So problem solved.
(4)
David H.
My wife and I visited the eatery mid August while on vacation in HH. We very happy with the service and with food we ordered. There was a 2 hour wait for a table but the high tables near the bar were first come first serve. We went to that area and just happened to meet some diners who said they were leaving and told us to hang around them to get the table. We did and were seated in about 20 minutes. I will say when the food arrived is was not as hot as it could have been. I feel that due to the volume of diners the food probably sat in the window a little longer than normal. My wife said her crab legs were a little softer because they were steamed maybe too long. But overall the food was tasty and the service was outstanding. If we return some time in the future to HH we will eat there again but go earlier before 7pm.
(4)
Wade M.
Excellent food and atmosphere. We came to the boathouse on a Wednesday night at 5. There was a 60 minute wait. The waiting area was packed, and the management had set up a lovely "beer garden" with an outdoor bar, toys and games for the kids, and live music. The wait was pleasant, even in 90 degree heat. When we did make it into the restaurant, we found an eclectic menu with everything from fried pickles to sashimi. The fried pickles and hush puppies were excellent. Our party had jambalaya, Carolina shrimp, and crab cakes. All were excellent. The portions were great, and two of our group ended up with boxes to take home. Probably our best experience dining out on HHI.
(5)
Lori G.
So fresh! We had the oysters, crab, clam raw platter as appetizers! Possibly the best shrimp I have ever had! Great sushi! We also had princess salad w/Ahi tuna, fantastic! Crab cakes pretty good, not as good as they claim, but good. No wonder our wait at 7pm was an hour. Well worth it!
(4)
Lakiesha H.
Great food and excellent customer service.
(4)
Kori H.
Nice, big restaurant and bar... Good music outside... Spacious... Long wait, But we ate at the bar inside I would recommend and we'd return here Also good happy hour with discount apps
(5)
Sara S.
This place is a great establishment! It's so close to where we stayed that we had to try it out Atleast once! The wait was a bit crazy of 2.5 hrs, but it was a beautiful Friday evening in Aug! Our young kiddos got Ancy by the time we actually sat down. Luckily they enjoyed their light up kids drinks that they got to take home as souvenirs! My hubby & I both got the 1.5 lbs of Maine lobster for our dinner & it was very delicious! I would have liked steak & lobster together instead but all in all it was good. The food did take forever to get to our table :( even the apps took a really long time. But all in all it was a fun time celebrating with family! My parents paid so I can only imagine how much that bill was for! Well over $200 for 6 adults & 2 kids I'm sure!
(4)
Ally J.
What a fun atmosphere. Definitely sit outside! We waited an hour and a half for our table for two. It's Memorial Day weekend but the staff said that's how busy it gets all summer. They do text you when you're table is ready so you can walk along the docs and enjoy the sunset. Our waiter was so nice and helpful. The whole staff seemed happy and helpful! We had a big bucket of shrimp, fish tacos and crab legs. It was well prepared and worth the wait! Definitely make a stop here if you're in the area. *Parking was a little weird. Our GPS took us to the wrong parking lot and there were fences and gates everywhere. We had to walk along a little path and came in the back way.
(5)
Malissia M.
Great value at lunch, and a large restaurant that can get a small group in and out and back on the beach quickly! It gets crowded at night and they do not take reservations. There are lots of options for all different preferences, which makes it great for a group. Service was very nice, efficient and considerate.
(5)
Jacqueline S.
This place was packed. Originally, we were told an hour & a half wait, but we got our table in less than a half hour. My silverware was dirty, and the ambiance inside leaves something to be desired. The server was nice, but he definitely had a lot on his plate which was understandable due to how busy the place was. The hush puppies and the ceviche were both pretty good. The captains broil seafood platter we got was only mediocre - not awful, but not something I'd recommend. The seafood was all a bit overcooked and bland. The outdoor ambiance was fun - there was live music, it was pretty during the sunset, and there was a lively crowd. All in all, this was not a fine dining experience and the seafood is only mediocre, but I could see it being a fun evening if you're just looking for a place to hang out and have a few drinks or socialize.
(3)
Staci J.
We are here for the first time on Sunday night. We will definitely be back! Not certain how we have missed this place in the past. There was a wait, but they have lots to do while you wait and the scenery is beautiful. Just plan to relax a bit and enjoyed yourself. The food was fantastic, our best meal in HHI on this trip. Top it all off with a great server, Rick, and it made it a truly memorable night.
(5)
Don K.
Yes, everything you read about the WAIT TIME is true. So, just know you have to deal with it. It seems most of the negative reviews are focused on that -- which is totally unfair to the restaurant. We arrived at 6pm and waited 1hr/15min. We didn't like it, but it was worth it. The fact is, Skull Creek is great. It's a big, super casual, fun party restaurant and bar. What amazed me is that the food was over the top good -- which is not what you expect from a tourist spot cranking out this much volume. We had a fairly big group and every entree was excellent. The cocktails were also very good. Of course, this explains why there is a long wait to begin with. Sunset is definitely the time to be there and is as spectacular as you read about and see in the pics. The corn hole was setup and was great entertainment for my kids. Unfortunately, we were excited about playing life size Jenga, but it was not there. All in all, good times!
(4)
Rosalina F.
I heard rave reviews about this place from a friend so my family and I made sure to check it out on our most recent trip to Hilton Head. First of all, it was ridiculously noisy. They had live music that was so loud, I couldn't even hear my kids/husband talking to me....and we were seated inside and the music was outside! The food was okay but bland. It really lacked flavor. I ordered the tuna carpaccio which was basically slices of avocado, raw tuna (of course...carpaccio), and a drizzle of some creamy sauce with crumbled wontons sprinkled on top. Since it was an Asian inspired dish...maybe some soy sauce would have really made this dish delicious. It had no salt or favoring at all. All you tasted was tuna and avocado. Nothing else. It was also pretty expensive. The Caesar salad was good but then again, how do you mess up a salad??
(3)
Mommy H.
Food and views are amazing. I'd give it 5, but cannot because of the crazy wait times for dinner. 75 minutes for a party of 12 Sushi, outstanding. Local fish - amazing Kids menu - lots of choices,including filet mignon and fried shrimp Traditional seafood platters - very good It's almost a must on Hilton Head. Location, ambiance and food are 5 stars!
(4)
Michael C.
Stopped in with nine people and it was raining so we had quite a wait, but that was actually the best part of the night because we got to hang out in the very large and open bar area. The bartenders were great and it was a comfortable setting. Dinner was fine, but again these large seafood houses may be just too big to deliver the level of quality and creativity to make you want to come back again in your limited vacation time. (with one exception, see other reviews) Had the grouper special which was decent, but no other standouts during our visit. I'm glad we visited nonetheless and got a cool t-shirt out of it.
(3)
Will W.
We started with the clam chowder...it was excellent. The broiled flounder and rice from the early bird menu was excellent but the broiled shrimp and scallops were just ok
(4)
Lucas C.
The food was pretty good, but the menu was so extensive that ordering the "right thing" was hard and it was extremely expensive for what we got. Food- we started of with a steamed shrimp appetizer and some hush puppies. The shrimps were very good, but maybe just a tad over-cooked. The hush puppies tasted fine, but I wasn't a big fan. Don't take my word on the hush puppies though since I'm not a southerner. For dinner I had the captains broil something something, and it was bad. It had shrimp with sauce, but for some reason they were smaller than the appetizer ones. The scallops on the dish were very good which was the only highlight. The deviled crab I couldn't even choke down, and the stuffed flounder was extremely bland. Now the good part. My brother got the North Atlantic combo, which was awesome. It came with eight snow crab legs, like ten shrimp, two sausages, and an ear of corn. Everything on that plate was extremely delicious. We also had dessert, one snickers crumble thing and one peanut butter pie. The snickers crumble was heavenly, but the peanut butter pie was just sugared up peanut butter Service- Service was decent but the food took a while. I was debating giving this 2 or 3 stars because of the prices, but because of how overpriced it is, I'm going with two.
(2)
Patrick M.
The food is very good, has plenty of seating. The don't take reservations cause there always busy. They have the best sunset views found on HHI...
(4)
Stacie R.
We have been here several times and it never disappoints. The food is always good, never rushed or late and the service couldn't be better. Our server, Rick, was awesome! Will definitely be back!!
(5)
Naser A.
Location: Amazing, especially during sunset Food: Mainly Seafood, but they do have other. They even have sushi Reservation: no, walk-in. Wait time was 15 mins at around 7:30 pm Outdoor seating Good with Children We got the garden simple salad, the broiled low country shrimp (most selling comes with potatoes and sausage). We got the Seafood Plater too, that I got grits instead of rice. This was my first time to try grits, and it's amazing. Overall, I'd like to go there again, unfortunately I'm here for a vacation. Highly recommended
(5)
Lauren S.
I've dined here on numerous occasions and have had no complaints as the food has been decent. However upon return this year my party of 5 waited over TWO hours for a table after being told an hour and half at most for the outside table. After seeing stray cats walking around the dining area, I was a little grossed out but no one else seemed to mind. After finally going to the hostess stand when our long awaited table was ready, we were shocked to be seated at an inside table. It smelled SO BAD literally like a wet dog. Perhaps they let the strays inside? The stench was so terrible that eating food in that room was actually unappetizing. We immediately got up and stated to the hostess stand that we told the other hostess stand who took our info down that we wanted an outside table. Not sure why they even had two hosts that were clearly not on the same communication page. The first host said that when the wait is that long it is first come first serve- expecting us to know that. How would we even know that? Needless to say we immediately left and went to HUDSONS which is right next store- where the food is fresh and the view cannot be beaten. All in all- DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME HERE. UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED!!!
(1)
Bruce B.
Don't do it!!!!! Unless you want to wait for hours (yes freaking hours) with tons of over weight tourists kids etc. Food expensive and poor quality. Don't believe the "live music" lie just pre recorded stuff. This place is a zoo. Can you say tourist trap
(1)
James F.
Had a great time at Skull Creek Boathouse even though the computer system went down due to a severe thunderstorm. Shrimp and Grits : 3 Stars Fried Shrimp: 4 Starts - they were on the small side Service: 5 Stars - Paul, our waiter, was top notch and he made this overall 4 star review. Atmosphere: 5 Stars
(4)
David B.
Great time, very good food. Easy to understand why several friends said the SCB was a must at HHI. We will be back!
(4)
Ryan P.
Love, love, love this place. We have not found a restaurant on HHI that comes close to providing the experience for an entire family. We stopped out on a Thursday night with a party of 9 and only waited 45 mins for the oh so popular outdoor deck seating. Considering there was live music, a beer garden and all kinds of yard games to play, it was the fastest 45 minute wait ever. Surprisingly the sushi here was fantastic, including the tropical maki roll we ordered from the daily special menu. If you are new to the HHI experience and want a guaranteed fun time for dinner, this is your spot.
(5)
Antony C.
Some locals steered us to this hidden gem as an alternative to Sea Shack. The inside was pretty casual and felt like Sea Shack meets sports bar. For lunch, I tried the New England Trio, which was a fried clam role, seafood chowder and salad for $12.50...great deal! Fried clams were hot and crispy, seafood chowder was hearty and salad was really good for a side salad. Also tried some shrimp and escarole (fish) ceviche. Just to be clear, this wasn't real ceviche where they actually cook raw seafood in lemon/lime juices. They blanch the seafood first, then mix it with more of a salsa. It was evident in the taste. Service was prompt and friendly. TVs everywhere in case you watch sports. There's a big covered patio bar area in the back we'll have to try next time. Definitely a great find and fun place to hang out.
Good food and prompt service. I would stop there again when visiting Hilton Head. Expect a long wait but they have some toys/activities for kids. They have a drink truck for the adults!
(5)
Denise H.
We loved our meal but loved our server Mark even more! He knows this menu inside and out and helps you make a great dinner choice!
(5)
Suzanne H.
Always excellent food, beautiful view and great service. If you crave sushi like I do, this is a must! Today we had the Lowcountry Boil and it was very good, tons of large shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. Whenever you visit Hilton Head Island, this is a must stop!
(5)
Kari C.
I really enjoyed this place for dinner. A couple annoying things: the wait is forever. We came at 9PM and were told it would be a 2 hour wait. Our bartender seemed like she was maybe drunk. She was not the nicest, could barely look us in the eyes and kept forgetting what we ordered. We luckily got everything we ordered (it was great) and sat at the bar and enjoyed the live music (which was awesome). I would def. come back here again!
(4)
Rebecca B.
The last stop on our trip. We stopped here on the way home for lunch. I couldn't decide what I wanted and we had a $50 voucher from taking the timeshare tour so we ordered a bunch of different things. We started with chips, guacamole and salsa. In hindsight, I didn't ask if they cook the chips themselves or if the guacamole was gluten free. I ended up sick before we left the restaurant. Not their fault, mine... Seriously not a smart move before a 12 hour car ride back to Ohio. I didn't ask. The sushi roll was very good - smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber. Then Aaron and I shared crab legs again. He ordered the snickers cake for desert, and once again... I watched him eat it. prettylittleceliac.com
(4)
Lee W.
We got there right before happy hour started. A bitch to find cause the sign by the road says HH BOATHOUSE. You son"t see the Skull Creek sign until you get way in there. If you are next to a big boat storage house you are in the right place. Awesome king crab legs. I bet the appetizer portion was close to two pounds! And did I mention Nicole is really hot...
(5)
Don R.
I have read a lot of reviews that this is a tourist trap. Yes, their is a lot of tourists but not a trap. We were told when we walked in it would be at least one hour. But the hostess also suggested the inside or outside bar to find a high top table and we could order off the menu. We go lucky and dined at the outside bar. The food was spot on. I went the sushi route and had the tuna three ways and a seaweed salad, both were excellent. My wife had the local fish entree which was cooked to perfection. I also had the blue point oysters. You are only supposed to eat oyster in the R months but since I love oysters I took a chance and these were fantastic. Drinks and food were reasonable for this great view and solid food. I would go back anytime.
(5)
Casey G.
Every time we visit this place is a must! The food & atmosphere are amazing. The wait is generally long & you cant make reservations so go early! You wont be disappointed!
(5)
Katherine G.
Great view on the water, decent service. We sat outside where there were many games on the TV, but it wasn't so overwhelming we couldn't have a conversation. The seafood ceviche was so good!
(3)
Coty R.
We absolutely loved this place! The wait is long but we knew it would be so we had someone run up there and put our name on the list and then the rest of us came right around the time we were supposed to be seated so it was great! The hush puppies and bread are some of the best I have ever eaten. We had a party of 11 and everyone got something different and it was all AMAZING! I got the shrimp pasta and it was absolutely fantastic. I will definitely go back again and again :)
(5)
Scott K.
Hard to find, but really only because the sign along only says "Boathouse". We tried it because it got good reviews on Yelp and it looked like my kind of food. Went for dinner and got there about 6:30 pm - was told 90 minute wait, so we waited in the outdoor bar/appetizer area. Had smoked seafood spread which was excellent, although they should try to find something better to put in on than Captain's wafers. Were seated much sooner than 90 minutes and wife, MIL and I had the Broiled Captain's Catch with flounder, scallops, and sea scallops. Son had low-country boil and other party member had just an appetizer. Everything was well prepared and tasty. Service was good (not amazing, just good), and I was surprised that we escaped for less than $120 for the 5 of us, until we stopped by the gift shop on the way out to buy t-shirts. Overall, very interesting place with live music, dancing, and outdoor seating in addition to very good food. Oh yeah and the sunset views are nice too.
(4)
Foodie F.
Our first time in Hilton Head and we ate here twice! The wait was long in the evening but worth it. The sushi was exceptionally good and very reasonably priced.
(5)
Libby V.
Another stop super Yelpers Richard R. and Sharon H (sho said it's was her and her Hubs favorite HHI hangout). suggested I try. Richard recommended during the day for the view, so we headed off for a late lunch. Of course we started with wine, and the water view was simply amazing. Been on a deviled egg binge...so we started with Grandma's Deviled Eggs. Pretty darn good! Then we moved on to a Boathouse Sampler: Coconut Almond Shrimp - I cold eat these forever. Deviled Crab Balls - they were OK (not outstanding) Calamare - good with sauce but these really are't my favorite Hushpuppies (I could live on these) But only in Hilton Head...Dayton doesn't have a clue about what makes a good Hush puppie. Trio of sauces...spiced honey butter, remoulade and jezebel. Each one better than the last. Loved sharing the wine, food, view and conservation. I could live like this everyday!!
(4)
Geoff C.
Awful food and service. Would never come back. Parmesan crusted cod was in edible and rib eye was in edible. Wasnt offered credit although food was untouched. Fish spread was a ball of cream cheese never had something so nasty. Save your money or just come for drinks
(1)
BlackSheep _.
Skull House was recommended by a friend who comes to HHI each year and recommended we eat here. So...12 of us (8 adults, 4 kids) got there at about 5:20 on Friday night at the beginning of August. Told we would have a 45-minute wait..but happily(!) we got a table in about 15-minutes. Recommend you get there early...but the time we left at 7:00 the wait was about one-hour. Very picturesque place right on the water. Indoor and outdoor seating. Even an outdoor bar that we could booze it up a bit while we were waiting. They even had a few outdoor games to keep the kids occupied while we waited! There's self-parking and complimentary valet parking, as well. Huge menu. HUGE. Everyone and anyone should be able to find a suitable dish here...they've got food for the seafood lovers and the non-seafood lovers. Big place and very attentive servers to keep the tables moving. Very happy we stopped by here and will--very likely--stop here again on our next trip to HHI...
(4)
Allen T.
Fried green tomatoes were pretty good. Done with some goat cheese with some sliced jalapeño and a sweet sauce.
(4)
Bryan R.
I dug this place. Very laid back and great views of the ships. It was somewhat hard to find but it was worth it. I started with a beer and a half-pound of warm shrimp tossed in Old Bay seasoning. Down shifted to some hush puppies before I got to my grouper sandwich, which was solid. The service was pretty good; however, it was some what slow at times. The waiter was aware things were taking a little bit longer than usual and he acknowledged it. The weather was perfect so the wait was not that bad. Definitely a good spot and all the locals seemed to love the place too. I would go back . . . today...
(4)
Bill W.
Super location right on the water. Lots of outside tables which is why we came. Nice oceanide atmosphere. Friendly, helpful staff. Fun bartender who we got to know well (see below). Incredibly diverse menu. All 5 stars. Now, they may have the best food on the planet...but 1hour+45 minute wait for two people? I don't think so...1 star....so, we settled and ate at the bar. While there we saw lots of open tables so the wait was not a result of the amount of tables but more an issue with staff, we guess. In fairness, that they are popular and might have a hard time finding help to man all the tables is not the fault of the restaraunt...just one of those things. If you are on HH and don't mind a wait (we can't imagine the wait during a peak season weekend!), then Boathouse is recommended.
(2)
Annie R.
I had my first experience at Skull Creek the other night; it will be my last. The food was good enough. I ordered the crabcake, which was delicious. But only fifteen minutes after I placed my order for the wreckfish special did our waitress inform me that she would not be able to fill the order (we sat around 7:30). The waitress was flaky, slow, inattentive, and forgetful. Guests in our party had to ask multiple times for beers, ketchup, a new set of silverware, you name it - and even then, one of my friends only received one Red Stripe throughout the whole meal. We ordered hush puppies as an appetizer. Don't get them; they must be frozen. The most offensive part of my meal, however, revolved around one specific incident. After bringing drinks out to our entire party of eight women under 25 aside from me, I ordered the "Peach Sweet Tea," the only Drink Feature of the night (there was an entire drink menu, as well, but this drink was on the food special menu). The waitress was fully aware of the nature of the drink, as she told me, "it's delicious;" thus, when she didn't ID me for the drink, after IDing my seven girlfriends, I assumed it was nonalcoholic. Wrong. The waitress was not apologetic. Neither was the manager (Casey), who was, in fact, quite apathetic. He comped the $5 drink, gave a very bored apology, and moved on. We had a great view of the marsh from our picnic table; unfortunately, the scenery didn't make up for the average, overpriced beach fare and terrible service. I will be calling one of the managing partners to complain about my experience (I've never done anything of this nature before).
(2)
Kathy M.
Had brunch on Sunday (although Lunch menu was available. It was crowded (20 minute wait. So, we just sat at the bar and ate. Very good omelet and cinnamon French toast. Great and friendly service. Afterwards, walked outside and enjoyed the sunshine and watch them putting power boats in the water. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Cathie R.
Skull Creek Boathouse is one of my favorite spots for seafood and ambience. The Boathouse (locals don't need any more name than this) is on the north end of the island and features views of the Intracoastal Waterway, beautiful sunsets and great atmosphere. It was named one of America's best outdoor bars by Travel and Leisure magazine this summer. Try the seafood chowder, yummy! There are alot of fried seafood overings (it is the south) but I have tried many of the sushi, sashimi and ceviche offerings and have always enjoyed them. This is the only place that I have liked shrimp and grits which is one of my husband's favorites (I always like to pilfer and try more than one offering). I had given up on shrimp and grits but they are really great here. For lunch or dinner, definitely worth the trip, do expect a wait in the summer evenings.
(4)
Michael T.
Went there for lunch on the weekend after Labor Day. Even though the island pretty much shuts down after Labor Day, this place was still packed for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. We sat at one of the bar tables outside, facing the sound and were watching the boats go by. We had the fish tacos (awesome!) and some shrimp dish (also very good). The food is good but the real kicker is a combination of the food, the location and the vibe you get from sitting under these huge trees, watching the fishing boats and relaxing in one of their loungers. My new favorite place on HHI.
(4)
Krystal B.
Brunch menu is awesome, perfect weather, and music is great. Only problem is there are too many yummy choices on the menu :) My family lives 1.5 hours away and we all agreed to make that a monthly trip until we try everything on the menu.
(5)
C C.
The good is mediocre but the ambiance and nice service makes up for it when you sit outside and enjoy a good HH sunset.
(3)
Phillip F.
The food was Phenomenal! Casual atmosphere that offered a very relaxing evening! Highly recommend!
(5)
Tully B.
The grilled fish tacos made my eyes rolled back into my head. They were awesome!!! Wife had fried flounder and was also really good. Great atmosphere with live band plus corn hole and a general store to wonder around in. Really popular place. Will come back.
(4)
Chris K.
Rude bartenders, frantic staff, and a long wait for anyone arriving after 7pm. Most of this can be overlooked by the good food and scenic view.
(3)
Mariya M.
We come to Hilton Head for three weeks every year, and have been doing so for almost ten years now. Was recommended to us by a family member who lives on the island. Beautiful view, wonderful service, and all the food was superb. I would recommend you get there early though, our estimated wait time was three hours but we only ended up waiting about an hour and fifteen minutes. Anyway, anything you order on the menu will be great. My favorites are their buffalo chicken dip, any of their shrimp,the jambalaya, and their savannah red rice and seasoned vegetables are great
(5)
Abe G.
An amazing local gem for HHI. Tucked away outside the beach area; great patio, sand and water tables for the kids; friendly and fast service; fresh oysters (fair market price); great daily catch specials (can almost still taste the ocean!!); cold drinks; great docks to walk the kids on while you wait; by far the best meal we have had in HHI; we've been to HHI 10 years in row, first time here and will be back! Free valet but tons of parking. Road sign and GPS will say Boat House (No Skull Creek until you get to actual building).
(5)
Janine M.
Amazing. Totally worth the wait. We had a 60-75 min wait, didnt feel more like 40 mins. The wait doesn't matter either becuz you can watch the sunset on the water or go shop at their general store. Great inside, and outside looks like fun too. The best, I mean the best hush puppies. To die for! Also had buffalo chicken dip, tht was great too! The country fried chicken was a classic southern comfort food and it surely hit the spot. Hubby had stuffed flounder and said it was delish. Would totally come again if we visit the island again.
(5)
Amy F.
The atmosphere and food are number one for the Hilton head area. This is now my favorite restaurant in HHI!
Make sure you get there around 5 because after that you will wait over an hour to get seated! Food is totally not worth it! We had the early bird special filet Milanese and it tasted like an overcooked pork chop! We had the breakfast buffet there on Sunday and that was excellent! My suggestion is stick with breakfast and go somewhere else for dinner.
(1)
Drew M.
Was here on Sunday and had a very nice brunch. It was busy but we ate at the bar. Service was good and so was the food. I would go back, the menu looked like it had a lot of good items.
(4)
Cheryl M.
I give NO stars. .. services was not good at all.. shrimp was not good. . Sent it back with the manager. . He did not seem to care what I thought... will not go back this place is way over rated. . On the way out ran into one of the owner he asked how everything was. . So I told him .. he said is there something I can do ?? I said sure you can, my husband is paying the bill so talk to him and make it right. . He went in and said sorry you had bad shrimo.. that was all he did.. I woukd expect more than just a sorry. . ..will not go back and would not recommend to anyone. .. thanx but know thanx..
(1)
Leslye S.
We sat outside, it was beautiful, loved the music by Luke M., had the best crab cake ever, but the bugs ate me alive !
(4)
Evie B.
Wow... I mean... Wow. Best restaurant ever! Staff was friendly as hell and food was superb. Crabs Benedict.... Fantastic. I've started to dream about this food. I ate so much that I made myself sick. They have this hand scrub in the bathroom too, it's great, and I bought a cup so I could remember the food... and I'm not a huge foodie. The best meal of my life so far, Devilled Crabs Benedict....
(5)
Suzanne K.
this was our second time here, actually ate here on our visit to the island last year but did not write a review then because I try to only write the places I really like----you know "if you cannot say something nice . . ." but since I had not done a review did not remember this place until we got here. as I remember food was fine but the place reminds me of Disneyland, lots and lots of people, very busy, very crowded, way too much going on, and the tables are placed way too close together barely any room for the waitstaff to get around, noisy, wait was long last year an hour plus and was the same this year--typical for anyplace good on hhi and what I would expect but the atmospheres here is "not my cup of tea". this year once I saw the place and remembered it from last year we left---went next door to Hudson's one of my absolute favorites, would have gone there first if I had realized what place skullhouse was--no thanks
(2)
Art J.
The atmosphere was good and the service was excellent. The coconut shrimp and cold peel-and-eat shrimp were excellent. The fried flounder was very good but the fried shrimp and scallops were a little heavily breaded for my taste. Price was a little on the high side.
(4)
Tess S.
Don't let the crowds fool you, this is a big restaurant with the goal of flipping tables fast to make their money. People come for the view, the outside seating and the fact that they are affordable and family friendly. Two years ago, the food was quite good. Sadly, the quality has been in decline and I would rate it average at best. On our last visit, I had ordered the filet Oscar. The meat was tough, juiceless and grey. It was sad that the best thing on my plate was the mashed potatoes. My dining companions both ordered fish dinners. One had catfish which was undercooked and the other order a fish special which was delivered cold and unappealing. If you must go, skip dinner and instead visit for drinks at the outside bar. That bar atmosphere is festive with a diverse crowd. In the tourist season, the wait can get ridiculous and the parking is horrible. On a side note, there are only 2 stalls for the ladies and has been an issue among complaining patrons in line.
(2)
King M.
Beautiful view but they allow smoking in their "enclosed" outside bar. If you value your health don't go!
(3)
Phillip M.
I totally loved this place. You should know going in it's a laid back, marina hang. The food, service and complimentary valet provide a best in class value from our experience yet a relaxed, sports bar type atmosphere. It was clean and the food quality and prices were both amazing. We enjoyed watching some sports on the surrounding TVs but the outside seating was bumping too. Tiki torches were ablaze and we got out in time to catch the sunset by the water on the dock. I had fish tacos and oysters. The oysters were not 'quite' as good as the Old Oyster Factory where I'd eaten the night before, but at nearly half the price I wasn't complaining. They were nearly twice the size however! The fish tacos I had were great as well. Seasoned just enough and not 'too fishy'. A totally flawless service experience and very chilled out experience all in all. Check it out.
(5)
Sandra M.
This was a last minute stop for us and we were so glad we did! We got there just before 3 pm and slid in for their $3.00 bloody mary's...pretty good. We were excited that they had a sushi menu as well for those sushi lover's in our party. They had a seafood platter with Half a Lobster, crab salad, u peel um shrimp, raw oyters and raw short neck clams. All the seafood was good with the exception of the shrimp, which were over cooked and quite mushy. The afternoon we were there they were having an outdoor "Oyster Roast" with outdoor festivities with "corn hole" and "beer pong". Looked like it was going to be a fun event. Restaurant was clean, service was very good and it was a great time for all.
(4)
Rob R.
Not too shabby! It was wicked warm and humid out, but the fans kept it completely tolerable, that and the cold beer! For the location, the price was right. We went on a Sunday evening and the parking wasn't bad at all, found a spot right away. I can imagine on the weekends that its a bit more of a mad house. Got some great pictures of the sunset over the inlet, our server was fantastic and from what we ate, everything tasted good. Would have liked a bit larger portions for the appetizers so that we could have shared a bit more between all of us. Regardless, I will definitely go back as there are alot of items on that menu that I saw and would like to try!
(4)
Tracy B.
Based on Yelp reviews, my husband and I went last night. We were not disappointed. We arrived early about 4:45 and there was no wait at that time. It got busier as the night went on. Our server was Rick who was very knowledgeable about the menu and was an excellent server. I ordered off the early bird menu and had broiled shrimp, scallops, and flounder. All 3 were very fresh and they did not drown them in butter!. It was served with fresh, steamed green beans, and Savannah rice - whatever that is. My husband hates seafood so he went with a small filet. It was well prepared and cooked just like he liked. Dessert was a creme brulee - not the best we have ever had but very generous with the size. There is live music each nite outside on the eating area which overlooks Skullcreek. They also had a really nifty play area for kids that didn't involve them climbing things. We most definitely will go again. They had much snazzier options on the menu, but I have found that the real test of a restaurant is how well they prepare simple options.
(4)
David D.
Awesome. Loved it. I'll be back. Friendly staff too.
(5)
Paul B.
If you are going to try one place in Hilton Head- This is the place! The location here is pretty spectacular- nice water front location on the Inter-coastal Waterway If the weather permits, sit on the very expansive patio. At night it makes for a very comfortable and cozy dinner- the gentle breeze, the twinkling lights, a nice cool drink...can be very nice! The selection of fresh, South Carolina caught, fish is just as spectacular as the water front location! I had the Salt and Vinegar potato chip coated crab cakes(spectacular) and the grilled fish tacos! Both very good!
(4)
William H.
a great way to end the week. wife had the low country boil and I had the extravaganza both were great. the service was more than I could ask for . go early and take advantage of the great price . this place is a must and dogs are allowed on the deck
(5)
Angela S.
I decided to come here with a couple friends for dinner on our last night in the island, and I'm so glad I did. Normally hearing that there is going to be an hour wait for three of us to be seated is irritating, however not at this place. Granted it was a Friday night and we didn't make reservations, but the hour wait almost wasn't long enough. We were able to get a drink at the bar, which was very reasonably priced compared to the other places I've eaten on the island, and walk out onto the dock. I was able to sit out on the water and enjoy a drink and the company of my friends before I enjoyed my dinner. Once we were seated, the waitstaff was very attentive and immediately brought hush puppies and bread. The drink menu was pretty large as far as specialty drinks go, but I just stuck to shock top. The food menu was tremendous, and had an enormous amount of seafood options. I choose jambalaya with shrimp, which is not something I would normally choose, but boy was it delicious. The perfect amount of spice and flavor. If you're looking for the essence of the island, you have to go to The Boathouse.
(5)
Cassie M.
This place is certainly one of my favorite restaurants. The food never disappoints and is not overly expensive. The view is spectacular, so sit outside if you can!!
(4)
Eliza M.
To be fair, we were seated in the outside bar and a thunderstorm struck, so that definitely put a damper on things. This place is fine, it seems like somewhat of a tourist trap. Don't get too excited about it being on the water, the view is more of a swampy area than anything resembling a harbor. The food is decent, somewhat creative ideas with the seafood on the menu, but our meals (crusted tilapia and stuffed flounder) were nothing special. The service was fast and friendly, the atmosphere was energetic and fun
(3)
Mrs. R.
We come here everytime we go to HH. There are 2 other restaurants beside Boathouse but you cannot see them from the rest. because of trees & landscape,only from water. Each is different atmosphere. Boat house is more of a laidback family or group dinner place. But you will also see the locals mostly couple that are regulars! It is always crowded during summer & evenings! It has A natural outside setting. There is corn hole to pass the time or take a walk along the dock. You can see boats coming & going, birds & we even saw a alligator that braves the salt water to get the fishermen's bait. There is also live local music in the evenings I believe weekends not sure about during the week. Tip=We sat at Sushi bar so we didn't have to wait! I tried the oysters & sushi. Both delicious. also the grilled shrimp- always fresh n yummy. My husband had the steak it was very tender. On Sunday we returned Sat at outside bar for quick seating again. The previous night we walked outside but the place was too packed & the bartenders never served me? so we asked to sit inside. Also =there was a bad smell from Dumpster when the wind blew NOTE TO MANAGER OWNER= Plant either in ground or in a pot= Southern Jasmine. It is easy to grow Will cover the walls of dumpster area & smells wonderful!!!! You can trim & shape it also. But would mask a dumpster smel totally!!! The smell was Not there the following visit? We met locals & they recommended the crab cakes ALL Crab No Fill! WOW fresh n good. Had blueberry lemonade with fresh berries. This bartender was kind & friendly made it a point to know everybody's name!! wonderful as we watched the boats & wild life. I Took pictures of the visiting alligator out on the dock & the crabs. Then played corn hole, under the large oak tree. Later there was a reggae band. Then it was time to go home. :( They have a cute little gift shop as u walk in but a bigger one across from entrance! Will update you after our next visit with pics!
(4)
Bria D.
You've been to the Boathouse. No, really, you have. Remember the last time you were on vacation somewhere temperate near a body of water? And you went to a place where you could get fairly generic preparations of local seafood (or maybe not a local catch after all), with a view of the water and domestic brews and fratty waitstaff? And there were outside tables but they were all full so you sat inside, but with a view of the water, with sturdy wooden furniture about two decades out of fashion? And you ate with a bunch of other people from Minneapolis or Toronto or Seattle or somewhere else not-warm? Yeah, it's that place. I've been to ones all up and down the East Coast..and so have you, in all likelihood. So why come to this one? I'll tell you why: you're in Hilton Head, you want seafood, you want to see the water, and you don't want to pay $30/plate for lunch. Mind you, though, that the water in question is a creek rather than the ocean. Perfectly average, edible food + beer + casual ambiance in a place not necessarily known for its casualness. You could do worse.
(3)
John M.
I must say that i LOVE Skull Creek Boathouse. The food is amazing, the ambiance is great, the staff is wonderful, and the prices GREAT!!! My friends and I happen to find it on a website while staying in Hilton Head in 2010, when we got there we almost left b/c it was a friday night and there weren't many cars there and you could smell the fresh fish outside(what a mistake that would've been). Needless to say I am so happy we stayed. The fresh seafood is wonderfully prepared and with such prompt service. We make a trip there whenever we are in Savannah/Hilton Head area. If you are visiting the area PLEASE do yourself a favor and go to SKULL CREEK BOATHOUSE!!
(5)
Dave H.
Great food, awesome service. Ambiance is incredible. Definitely a must visit. Waitress was polite, food was very above average. Wait was about 45 minutes but it was well worth it. All 7 of us loved the apps and the dishes were great too. I had the low country boil. On a scale of 1-10 I'd give it a 7. Shrimp were great, taters were a bit undercooked ans both could have been seasoned a little more, it was still very good though. Also got the sample appetizer, devil crab balls were delish as well as the hush puppies and coconut shrimps.
(4)
The K.
Ate here last night and ordered WAY too much food. Lots of unique dishes and a HUGE menu. Quick service and about a 50 minute wait for a table of three on a Wednesday evening at 7:30. Will be back next time we visit HHI.
(4)
Lydia Chur E.
I drove past the restaurant a couple of times, mising the low sign that says "Boathouse". We got there early so didn't have much of a wait. We sat on the patio, enjoying the pleasant water view under the trees. I had a crab and artichoke stuffed flounder, with broccoli rabe and collards My daughter had shrimp&grits with Tasso sausage and gravy. The hushpuppies were tasty and the unique portuguese bread was fantastic. It was slightly sweet and the cornmeal added welcome texture. We had a Mai Tai and peach mojito - neither drink had much alcohol in it. Service was very helpful and friendly.
(4)
Jerry S.
Our second time there and it was extremely good. the wait time seemed a little long for the end of Nov but that's because the back deck is closed during the cool months. we got there at 5:30 on a fri night but still had a 40 min wait. our waitress was great and very attentive. the food was fantastic! i had the "deadliest catch" , with the 3 different types of crab legs, and it was great. the hush puppies were good and fresh.....almost too good...i didn't want to fill up on them with a large meal coming my way!
(4)
Melissa D.
Despite the 2 hour wait, this place has amazing food. Granted we were there on the 4th of July and the wait was long we took it upon ourselves to indulge in some tasty alcoholic beverages to kill some time. The staff was extremely nice and prompt with service once we were seated. The food was INCREDIBLE!!!!! All fresh local fish was served. I tried wreckfish for the first time. Never had it before but it was awesome. The ambience was so fun. Everyone was enjoying themselves with the live reggae band and the amazing views of the water. The fireworks show was short but well enjoyed by everyone considering it was 4th of July. Great atmosphere. AWESOME food. Can't wait to visit Hilton Head again and eat there!!!
(4)
April L.
What a great view! If at all possible, and of course, if weather permits...sit outside on the deck, at the bar! We came here for dinner one night and scored two seats at the outside bar within minutes. (instead of waiting over an hour for an outside table). We enjoyed great conversation with the bartenders and the drinks were amazing. The ONLY bad part of this night out was having to wait over an hour for our food (sushi, oysters, and a salad) because of the shift change at the bar. They simply forgot about our food. Because we have small children, we enjoyed each other's company for a few more minutes before inquiring about our food. Once they realized they had screwed up, they offered to get our deserts and took a few drinks off our tab to make up for it. The Sushi was awesome, and the Oysters were delish. The Boathouse Salad is now one of my favorites! Go...In your sandals...and relax! :0)
(4)
Lowcountry C.
Food's always great. Good service. The wait is worth it, especially when there is a spot at the bar.
(4)
Christian B.
All my meals in Hilton Head were good, but not great. Skull Creek Boathouse typifies that. We stopped in for lunch as soon as we hit the island. The patio out back is definitely the reason to come. It offers terrific creek views, though does come with some conversation-stopping noise (courtesy of the forklift the boathouse next door uses). As far as our meal goes, we enjoyed our respective sandwiches (shrimp po boy for Nova, turkey club for me), but they weren't the draw -- that's the view. So don't even think about sitting inside.
(3)
Maria J.
Good food and nice view. I would recommend SC for lunch or a casual dinner. Started the the seafood chowder-good with plenty of seafood Oyster PoBoy- oysters fried nicely and a good amount Fried fish sandwich-huge fillet It gets noisy inside the restaurant and make sure you're not seated next to the server station. We had to listen to the server's conversations while we ate. Overall, a good pick for lunch in HHI
(4)
Karen H.
We were told we would have a two hour wait, but didn't because we took a picnic table (it was about an hour). The wait was not stressful, however, because of the walk near the pier and the lawn games. The picnic table was great for most of us; it bordered the amazing views and was a little less tight to the other tables. On the other hand, my sister-in-law was really bothered by cigarette smoke that blew our way. Our waiter, Mark, was exceptional. We asked his opinion on a few dishes and he was patient and really guided us well. This dinner was in the middle of a trip where we had eaten out prior A LOT, so I was feeling like eating lighter than normal. I ordered the ceviche (tropical) and it was fantastic. Our waiter said that when he and his girlfriend take their boat out, he has the chefs make them ceviche to bring as an alternative to sandwiches. My husband ordered fish with a delicious sauce (part of a broil). We would definitely return.
(4)
Megan C.
We didn't realize what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to eat here one night. 1.5 hour wait...no big deal...There is a beautiful view, a bar and you can even get appetizers. Not getting your entree until 10 pm (aka bedtime) is kind of a buzz kill. I had the Latin style shrimp ceviche. I would like to have that for lunch everyday. The jambalaya was also very good. I ordered some chips and guacamole as an appetizer. Absolutely terrible. It tasted like the disgusting onion and garlic powder laden dehydrated junk you can get at the supermarket.
(3)
Eric M.
The outside area has great vibe. The inside area is pretty chintzy. The food is passable. But you don't ever get great food from venues this large. And you certainly don't get good service.
(2)
Rob C.
Well been at Hilton head for a week trying all the local rest. Here's a tip go right to steamers. You will get 5 king legs for the same price that skull gives you 2.
(1)
Karen C.
I had a wonderful dinner here with my husband and our toddler son. This is a great place right on the water and would be great for a date or a family. The bar area has ample seating and nice tables and then there is a very lively outdoor bar and outdoor seating area which is cooled with giant fans. I started off with a white sangria which was good, although strong. It was garnished with grapes, blueberries and strawberries. We had the coconut shrimp appetizer- pretty standard. The dipping sauce was good. I had the Beeline snapper-local snapper which was in a potato parmesan crust- it was very good. Very crunchy coating on top of mashed potatoes with brocolinni. It was a huge portion- I'm not used to eating that much for dinner so I thought i would bring half home but alas, I couldn't stop eating it! My husband had the Mako- also delish. Same sides. My son had the most unbelieveable mac and cheese- a huge bowl, I stole many bites and he devoured most of it. They give a little kids menu and some crayons. At the end of the meal he got two tokens to spend at this little counter full of little trinkets. He loved it and it was a great way to keep him occupied at the end of the meal. For dessert, my son had a chocolate cupcake and vanilla ice cream. I didn't taste the ice cream but the cupcake was amazing- fresh, and the icing was rich and not too sweet. There is a cupcake dessert option on the regular menu and if I went back, I would go for that. My husband ordered the snickers cake- which was also fresh and the cake light and fluffy but overall a little rich for my taste. It is also served with ice-cream. Overall, I would definitely go back again and look forward to making this a tradition when we are back in HHI.
(4)
Anthony P.
This is your average Joe's restaurant on the water. More of a neighborhood joint. The food Is okay and the drinks can be plentiful. There are two nice bars here, one inside and one outside. During the week lunch time can be noisy as the boats are being taken out and put in the water by a giant forklift. But it is pleasant eating outside because there is nice shade.
(3)
Bob M.
After waiting well over an hour, which we expected, it took almost 30 minutes just to get bread. One of our group was told he didn't need a drink; seems he still had an inch of his first drink (ordered when we first arrived!) still remaining. When the the drinks eventually arrived, one was not brought - oh! That's right you had the iced coffee. Um, no, it was a white Russian. But the iced coffee wasn't even brought. When we complained, we were told the server was their best person! Very sad!! We went to Carrabba's instead and treated very, very well!
(1)
Don S.
This was my third trip this year and they were all very good. Don't hesitate to dine here as a visitor or put it on your short list as a local. Ill be back for sure !!
(4)
Dawn M.
Food was awesome! We were told 90 minute wait and they sat us within an hour. There was a group of 6 of us and everyone raved over the food. We ordered a variety of sushi, steaks and seafood. Portion sizes were big and prices were right. Excellent find in Hilton Head!
(5)
Tracy A.
This place was so great, we went there twice in two days and some of us went there three times. The music is awesome. Food is so great (ceviche!) All the staff was really nice and the drinks are decently prices. Good beer selection too. We were there when the sun was setting out the back and it was so beautiful. Love this place! It's best if you can sit outside.
(4)
E Y.
Good casual place to eat. I like eating at these local establishments rather than the chains. It gets pretty crowded here. Good family place as well.
(4)
Lauren B.
We got to Skull Creek Boathouse and put our name in since there was about a 40 minute wait. We hung out at the bar and got a couple of drinks, but after awhile, everyone else who was waiting for a table was seated and we still weren't. We checked to see when we were going to be called and the hostess said she thought she had set off our buzzer, but it never went off. Finally, after about an hour we were seated. I shared a sushi roll with someone and ordered the shrimp and grits with gravy on the side. The sushi roll (I don't remember which one) was amazing, except the menu didn't say that the roll was going to be DEEP FRIED. I absolutely would not have ordered it if I had known it would be fried, but since we already were served it, I ate it anyway. I felt guilty eating it but it was really delicious. I was excited to try the shrimp and grits because I had never really had it. A waitress suggested I order the gravy on the side because it is heavy and can be salty...that was a great tip. The gravy was a ham gravy, and it was extra salty, so I just used it sparingly in my dish. I really enjoyed the shrimp and grits, but it is a very heavy meal. But that didn't stop me from eating the whole bowl. I really liked this place, it had a nice atmosphere and a huge menu. I would probably come back.
(4)
linda F.
Went here for Lunch on a rainy day, the service was good the food was good, with a little extra to the tuna 3 way app, really good Poke.
(4)
M. C.
This spot was recommended by a "local" and really exceeded our expectations!! We did have to wait about 45 minutes, but took our cocktails "to-go" and strolled down the the landing ramp and enjoyed the sunset. Despite the reviews below, our server (Nichole?) was fantastic and the food (I had a perfectly-grilled Cobia filet; my wife enjoyed the Wahoo) was really a treat. Some of the best we had during our "Southern Tour". A Don't Miss restaurant on HH.
(4)
Dona C.
This place was great. The kids got to watch the boats being loaded and unloaded in/out of the water. we had the shrimp and artichoke dip.it was ok not great but "he" had ceviche and said it was great and I had a "house" salad. I started it and the boys finished it. yum. Then for main course, I had the grilled fish tacos. They were yummy with a little salsa kick to them. He had crab and shrimp quesadilla's. He said the were pretty good. All in all a delish lunch with great scenery right on the water.
(4)
Jessica B.
My boyfriend and I went there for lunch and absolutely loved it. The atmosphere and view is awesome and definitely worth sitting outside. They have plenty of fans outside to keep you cool as well. The menu is huge and they offer pretty much everything and ever type of seafood. We were surprised that the had sushi and immediately went for that. We had the super crunch roll and the firecracker roll. My favorite was the super crunch! We also had the boathouse sampler appetizer. The crab balls were AWESOME and definitely my favorite. The hushpuppies were alright but I've had better. The calamari was good. But the coconut shrimp were honestly terrible. The had so much breading on them that you could barely taste the shrimp. I think this restaurant is definitely worth going to. Also while sitting outside the people next to us had two dogs so I would call ahead and double checks but you might be able to bring your pups with you!!!
(4)
Mark M.
My first impression is that this is the more posh version of the Crab Shack on Tybee Island. Same general vibe. Same general view. But whereas the patrons at the Crab Shack are more likely to be bikers, the patrons at Skull Creek are more likely to be retired JP Morgan executives who spend their Winters on Hilton Head, their Springs in Scottsdale, their Summers on Martha's Vineyard, and their Falls on Hawaii. The menu is huge. To a fault. By the time you get done reading it, you've forgotten what's on the first few pages. The food is...meh. Nothing bad, but nothing great either. This is your typical tourist trap vacation spot style cuisine. With prices that match.
(3)
Doug T.
Yes, this place is awesome. Huge menu with all sorts of delicious food options. Lots of fun drinks. Solid selection of beers on tap. Great place to sit outside and watch the sunset over skull creek. Such a vast improvement over the previous "boathouse" restaurant. The kind of place I could spend hours just crushing beers, eating peel 'n eat shrimp, and sampling the cocktail menu...all while taking in a great view.
(5)
Bubba L.
Delicious! Big place- but may have a wait because it is that good.
(4)
Anita C.
My boyfriend ordered the shrimp and crab quesadilla which were good. I ordered the oysters with two kinds: Fanny Bay and some from Connecticut. These oysters completely ruined my experience. I don't know if it was the oysters itself, or the restaurant. It's hard to say but I have never had such horrible tasting oysters. My boyfriend also ordered a margarita.....are margaritas supposed to be salty!??!?!?!?! I know they put salt around the rim of the glass, but the drink itself was salty!!!! I don't think that's normal. Other than the horrible oysters and drinks, the restaurant itself was at a very cool venue. I liked the decor and atmosphere. I would give it another try because their menu is big enough where I think I can find something I'd like to eat. But I wouldn't order a drink that involves too much mixing/making on their part.
(2)
Manny L.
Great place! Outdoor seating, happy hour. Food is awesome. Went twice for drinks and apps. while on vacation. Great service, great view, great place!
(5)
Ryan W.
Great, Part of Serg Restaurant Group, what a Fabulous company/group of restaurants.
(5)
Ashleigh M.
Amazing food...Def recommend the lowcountry boil if u like shrimp!! :) Got there at 5:00pm and had a table right away for two. I would recommend to get there at 5 because after that the wait is long.
(5)
Jules R.
If you eat outside, watch the flies & gnats...they are killer. Great views though. Watching the boat hauler bring boats up into storage is cool. Seafood is great, but don't get a steak & add on: for $6, you'll get 4 shrimp. Not worth it.
(4)
Gloria L.
I went here for a farewell dinner for a coworker. I'm new to the East coast in general, moving all the way from California. When I arrived at location, it looked nice being on the waterfront. Diners have the ability to choose to either dine inside or outside. Our wait took a lot longer than usual from what my coworkers told me. They went through several glasses of wine when finally our little buzzer went off. We were seated outside as no inside dining was available at the time. Being outside at this time, you can see all the bugs and I definitely got bitten more than two or three times by mosquitoes. =( I really liked their complimentary bread and butter. For me this was the only good thing I had to eat there all night. The menu selection was average. I had to make myself choose something as nothing really jumped out at me. I was told my first choice was not available as they have run out of the main ingredient so I went with a tuna burger. To make this short, the only good thing about the dinner was the company. The sweet potato fries that came with the dish were nothing to rave about and the burger was dry and I chose not to even take the left over 3/4 of it home. I may give this place another chance in the way distant future, but it won't be anything I recommend to any one.
(2)
Thomas T.
Food not fantastic for lunch today but it's fun to sit on the patio and enjoy the beautiful view of the water. I did enjoy the fried oysters. Friendly service. Will definitely go back for lunch to enjoy the great view.
(3)
Ryan D.
Was busy when we got there 25 min wait for 2 adults and 1 lil one so got drinks at the outside bar and sat by the water and I started to think this place is great....then I tried my drink and the down hill started. We were seated in about 15 min inside the place is nice but when I looked at the menu it was huge but seemed very cluttered and wow was it pricy ended up going with a burger my wife had catfish both were good and the service was ok over all just not what I expected I guess not a bad place just not what we were looking for
(2)
Marc A.
This place is touristy, but the outdoor seating is very nice and the food and drinks are decent. Service is good. LARGE outdoor deck, with great views. Worth a visit. This restaurant is recommended.
(3)
John W.
Great atmosphere... Service was outstanding... Truly a dining experience... The best menu on the island.. Place was packed.. Hardly a wait.
(5)
Michael G E.
A true island dinning experience. Going back tomorrow. Food was great!
(5)
Jane L.
Had to wait an hour on a Sat night. Very busy. Hostess was friendly. Waiter was nice. Had the Wahoo fish, grits & collard greens.
(4)
Steve S.
What is right: - The view - The patio and bar under the beautiful trees - The food. My group had 8 meals over two weeks and every item was good to excellent. - The bread. The house loaf has corn meal but is not corn bread. Kind of like a baked hush puppy effect. - Beverages. Good selection of draft beers, wines and reasonably priced. - The service. Both waiters were capable, cheerful, and informative. Dishes of special note: local snapper prepared picata style, whole fried flounder, cod with parmesan cream sauce, cauliflower puree Room for improvement: - Deserts. Nothing enticing, nothing special. A pleasant setting, A good experience.
(4)
Noah E.
This was our second visit of the trip to a SERG restaurant place. The setting is fantastic, right on the backwater. Very cool around sunset. We didn't have a reservation but got there early enough to have no problem getting a table near the water. The menu is a bit overwhelming. Too long and you start wanting something and it's part of the lunch menu. Anyway, ended up with some blackened fish while my wife had the shrimp and grits, which the waitress said was one of the best in the area. My fish was terrible, so overcooked. As for the shrimp and grits, not even close to best of the area. The kids get some coin for ordering from the kids menu, which they can redeem at the "gift shop"...which is really just an opportunity for the restaurant to sell them more stuff. So you either disappoint the kids by not buying anything (they got a silly band for their coin) or you pay more. Don't like it. 4 stars for the look...1 star for the substance.
(2)
Rusty D.
This was arguably our best meal in Hilton Head. From appetizer to dessert it was great. It was a long wait but they have lots of room outside including an outside bar area and chairs/tables to wait. We regrettably accepted first available but if we went back we would wait as long as it took to watch the sunset view over the water. As far as the food the chowder was awesome and I had the Low Country Boil for dinner. It was delicious and came with a large portion (too much really). If you go to Hilton Head try to fit this in.
(5)
Julie V.
I love this place!! It's one of my favorites during vacation. We sit outside & the kids can hula hoop or play with chalk. I love their early dining options. The stuffed flounder is my favorite.
(5)
William R.
Good service. Good view. The live music wasn't bad. Try the hush puppies.
(4)
Jason H.
I just at here last Friday 8/2/13 before leaving HHI. We can with a group of 10 and arrived around 4:45. Arriving at this time allowed us to get seated right away. We chose to sit outside at the picnic tables. It was very comfortable in the shade with fans running. I sat at the end of the table nearest the bar a got a lot of cigarette smoke blown my way. The atmosphere is really nice with view of the docks and the water. As other reviews suggest, this place get packed after 5:00 so be prepared to wait. The signage out along Squire Pope Road could be better directing you to the place but that's a small detail. As for the food: Try the hush puppies with sweet butter. They come as an appetizer and are worth the $4.50. Most all the entrees are fairly pricey but what you would expect for a high end seafood joint. $17 and up. My wife got the giant crableg platter with was $44 but she raved about it. My seafood pasta dish was a little lacking for me. It was ok but didn't wow me with flavor. In summary, we had a great time. Our waitress was great and took pictures of our group for us. Like most places, they added in an 18% gratuity for a party of 6 or more. Personal pet-peeve: This place was nice but a little too "yuppity-do-da" for me. Lots of very wealthy people around with their designer dogs on leashes. They allow pets in the outdoor area.
(4)
Haley V.
This place deserves more than just 5 stars. GREAT service. DELICIOUS food. Seriously, there wasn't a single thing i ate that was even slightly imperfect. Portions are big too! There is a gift shop in the restaurant which, since I loved the place so much, I purchased something. You have the option of sitting inside or outside. If you decide to go, get there early! They open at 4 for dinner and at 5:30 I heard people were having to wait 1+ hours! I HIGHLY recommend coming here!
(5)
Wayne B.
Great food and really terrific specials for early bird diners. Great outside dining experience in the warmer months!
(5)
Frank S.
Seafood chowder, hush puppies, tuna tataki, royal seafood platter, & pecan ginger crusted mahi mahi were excellent! Wash it all down with SCB Sweet Tea and you've yourself one hell of a low country meal. Well worth the visit.
(4)
James C.
Have been coming to HH for over 30 years.at friends recommendation decided to try this place. We had a party of 8 so we tried to call ahead for reservation.Guess what no one even picked up phone. We decided to go anyway. First we were told a 1 hour wait, then an hour and half then 1 :45 wait. Well of course it was the latest time. At this point they tried to stick us at an uncomfortable bar table. After complaining we were moved after 10 more minutes which now has us starting dinner at after 9PM. We had 2 elderly people in the party that were getting ill from not having been able to eat earlier. Anyway we just ate and entree and left as fast as we could. No sorry from management . I gave one star because food was ok but not overall service. Sadly they just lost 8 customers and my feeling is they could care less.
(1)
J W.
Huge waste of time. Waited over an hour for a table and for bad service (it took almost 30 minutes just to get bread and our table was ready for over 10 minutes before they even paged us). When the server went to take our drink orders, one of our group was told he didn't need a drink, because he still had an inch still remaining in the cocktail ordered while we were waiting. When the the drinks eventually arrived, about another 10 minutes later, one was not brought and the server even forgot what it even was. I had had enought and called over the manager, who told us the server he had was one of his best. Really!?! The service was so bad that we did not even bother to order dinner and just left. If you cannot get a table outside and don't care for lousey service, then eat elsewhere.
(1)
Nancy K.
We enjoy the boathouse, it is always good we have had many dining experiences here including the sunday lunch and weekdays on the deck. One of the best places to eat by the water, but it can get very busy. Our experience is that when it is the specials run out fast. But the other choice one has are also good so never is a problem to find what you would like to eat instead.
(4)
D T.
Food was good--lots of choices. Sunsets over the water are beautiful. The patio is pet-friendly, but VERY LOUD with live music. Good party atmosphere.
(4)
Clemmie M.
Long wait. Food quality was low. Not cooked well, not fresh, bland flavor and it took forever to get our food after we were seated. I wouldn't go back if it were free. In a decade of coming to Hilton Head this is the first bad meal we have had. To top it off, it's expensive.
(1)
Paul G.
Great staff. Our server Morgan was a true professional. She really new her beer and let me taste a few. The food choices are plentiful and varied. Waterfront atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. I had sushi roll and fish tacos and both were great. My favorite HH restaurant is Skull Creek Boat House.
(5)
Leonard T.
27 people are sitting or standing around the bar....6 are under 60 years of age. When did my favorite hang-out become the blue hair special place? Food is still good.
(2)
Irina P.
Wonderful, tucked away spot right on the water. Gorgeous ambiance, prompt service and beat of all, great, fresh and delicious sea food. We had the $3 Bloody Mary which has also pretty good. The sea food clam chowder was one if the best I've ever had. We also had the captains catch broil and the boathouse platter, both if which really good. I'm not a big fan of fried platters but the boathouse was good, and the fried pickles were surprisingly really good. Several people around us were also having sushi which looked good but I just didn't feel right having sushi at that place. I would however, definitely go back to try the chilled platter which looked amazing!
(4)
Kim M.
Although this restaurant does not take reservations, we got there about 5:00 pm on a Monday and did not have to wait at all to be seated. We had 16 people in our group and wanted to sit outside. We sat at picnic tables right on the water. It was exactly what you would expect from being in the South. The service was great. The food was delicious. There was live music playing and there were games and space for the kids to run around, while the adults enjoyed their dinner. Would definitely recommend.
(5)
John T.
Great for lunch with wonderful kid friendly atmosphere and nice skull creek view. Wait staff is great too. Food is just ok and mostly fried and if you dare come at dinner you will wait for hours in prime summer. If dining is your goal then this place is out but for a beer, fried fish sandwich and a sunset it is just fine. I like that this place just is what it is.
(3)
Courtney K.
LOVE this place. Great food, great atmosphere. We had to force ourselves to try other places after eating here for lunch our first day on HHI. It's a really cool spot.
(5)
Anthony B.
Nice place on the north west side of the island. Server was very nice and food was great. Did not take long for food to arrive. The seafood plater was fresh and well presented. The fish tacos were good and the gumbo was fantastic. Would recommend this place to locals or tourists.
(3)
Jon V.
Good food. Good drinks. Great service, prompt and very friendly. Atmosphere was excellent.
(5)
Amanda A.
Skull Creek is a mainstay for us each time we visit HH. Food is always good and we've tried many of their dishes. It's always crowded in the summer so you should expect a wait. There's a big bar or you can wander out by the marina while you wait. And you can choose to sit indoors or outdoors (bring bug spray if you're eating outside). It's a big bustling place on the water, perfect for a family dinner while on vacation!
(4)
Shea's Lounge S.
Rhymes with Amanda! Team was amazing & made the 90 min wait fly. Dinner... Rocks I'm not sure I can describe my husbands review but let's just say he finished every bite and mopped it up with the bread. View is great! Activities for all while you wait. Yes you will wait but time flys if you grab a high top ( first come) for an app or cocktail. Fresh fish fun bar apps and lots to watch.cant wait to visit again!
(4)
Michelle R.
What an overrated meal. We were looking forward to eating here more than an other restaurant on our vacation to Hilton Head Island. We were fine with the 45 minute wait but we ended up getting to seats at the bar. At first the bartender was very pleasant, asked for our names, took our drink order and appetizer order and then basically NEVER returned to see how we were doing. We ordered an appetizer that took over a half hour to arrive, only after we asked a different bartender to check on the order. Finally got entrees and they were mediocre at best. Got the check and they had charged us twice for the forgotten appetizer. They were courteous about removing it but at that point that was just cherry on top of a very annoying meal. Not impressed with the food or service. Quick on its way to being an overrated tourist attraction.
(1)
Graham P.
A waterfront restaurant at skull creek, hilton head island. When we were there it was Easter weekend and very busy, you can't book tables inside but you can reserve for outside. At high season you are probably going to have a wait. Although, a good place to sit and watch the sunset. The menu is extensive but with an obvious focus on seafood. Look out for the specials with the seasonal items. We had the soft shell crab which was good. As with a lot of seafood it can be relatively expensive with crab/lobster mains often in the $30-$35 price range. For those that don't get sea food often it's a fun meal with a good atmosphere, the only downside is the potential wait.
(4)
Kelly Z.
Fun place right by the water. Sit outside and take in the views, while listening to some live music. Be prepared for crowds and waiting.
(4)
Doni F.
It's decent for the price and staff is nice. Fast service if you want to eat now...
(4)
Jack R.
Over priced, over hyped, over salted, over spiced. This restaurant has nothing local and was a letdown.
(2)
Bill F.
What an awesome meal. Shrimp with grits was outstanding. We also had the shrimp tempura and firecracker rolls which were delicious. You can't go wrong here. Only down side is the wait, but it's worth it.
(4)
Kathy H.
We come here on our annual beach trip and this year it didn't disappoint. We had a large group and came at 4:30 for dinner to beat the rush. We waited about 15 min and were seated at a picnic table outside with a view of the marsh. The special sushi roll was delicious and a highlight of my meal. We LOVE the food here and Josh our server provided 5 star service. We will be back!
(5)
Katie P.
Completely overrated. We waited 2 hours to get our table and our food took another 45 minutes. I got the shrimp pasta which was just average, not very great. My mom got something with stale chips. Not very impressed with this place. If you really want to eat here, put your name down early so you don't have to wait forever to just be disappointed. p.s. the live music is trash
(2)
Michael S.
Great atmosphere, quick and friendly staff. A fun place to bring people great food and view off the island.
(5)
Shari S.
So fun and beautiful! Kids had a ball we waited about an hour for our table but we didn't care. They initially told us 2 hours. Enjoyed the acoustic guitarist, the outdoor bar and multitude of kids activities and games to keep them occupied while we waited. Food was very good....not unbelievable but the atmosphere makes up for it. Everyone had a ball!
(4)
Jessica H.
We had no dinner plans and randomly said lets go to Skullcreek Boathouse on a Monday night. The place was packed (as we expected). There was live music and a great setting right next to the water. We got a cocktail at the bar and listened to the music for about 20 minutes when a couple vacated two bar seats and we grabbed those. The drinks were great. My husband had a Mojito and margarita and I had a strawberry Mojito and a margarita. They don't use mixes - they use fresh mint and simple syrup. The service was excellent and prompt. We had the dragon roll which was amazing. Everything about this experience was great and we will be returning.
(5)
Jon R.
Eat here. It's amazing. Great atmosphere. Great service. Ask for "Tim" the waiter. Get there early or expect to wait a little while, but the experience is well worth it!
(5)
Vinny G.
Skull Creek is our favorite restaurant in Hilton Head. When we travel we normally try to eat in a wide variety of restaurants, but we end up at Skull Creek a few times each visit. Their grilled and blackened dishes are moist and delicious. Large portions of moist flaky fish and some great sides. Some of our favorites dishes are the seafood rice bowls. They come with a large portion of fresh seafood and a variety of sauces and ingredients that blend perfectly, all served over sticky rice. On the app side their raw oysters are terrific as well as their ceviche. They offer 3 styles of civiche and a very wide variety of seafood. You just mix, match and enjoy. Portions are large and prices very fair considering the quality. Service is always friendly and efficient. The restaurant is right on the water and views are nice in or out. They don't take reservations so try to get there early for immediate seating. Highly recommended.
(5)
Sonia P.
much shorter wait than we expected... quoted 45 minutes, but were seated in 10 min. -- love that there was the option to sit outside at the hightop tables in the back bar and have appetizers while waiting on an inside table. -- offer valet parking if you need it. food was good for the price. not exceptional, but pretty good. after the shrimp at hudson's it's hard to compare anything else. loved their sushi and the prices were very affordable. party of 3 with appetizers, meals, drinks, beers, and dessert was $92. not shabby.
(4)
Joel B.
Extremely long wait (2+ hours) but that is expected as I have come to find out. Great set up and many activities to do while waiting, from looking at boats, playing bags, drinking and so forth. The food was great, and I enjoyed the oysters as well. I get what all the fuss is about and eating outside is a must. Great ambiance.
(4)
Andrea L.
Go during happy hour! Great prices on sushi and bar drinks while you wait for an hour and a half for your table! It takes the edge off the hunger. I ordered my daughter Mac n cheese from the bar because she was starving! $3.00 to make her happy and then she gets to go outside and play while we wait for the table. I'm eating firecracker roll as we speak. Delish and highly recommend. It's first come first serve so be prepared to wait. It's high season though, so just like any destination that's popular..it's busy so plan accordingly. Looks like we will be here to see the sunset. Can't imagine any place else on our first full night in Hilton Head. Eta: ok. So at the bar, my husband closed out our tab and went outside to play cornhole with my daughter. I stayed inside and ordered another gin and to my surprise, they just added on to the bill we already closed out. Turns out, they closed our intial tab on someone else's tab. Fast forward to dinner. Doesn't the waitress close our tab out on the table next to us for a tune of $436 when our real bill was $50!! How does that happen to the same person twice at one restaurant. The wait staff needs to slow down. And I'm deducting a star from 4 to 3 for this reason as the credit card company on the back end holds this amount for a few days even though it's voided at the restaurants end.
(3)
Tracy F.
Our family ate at skull creek boathouse last night and had a wonderful time. Paul was our waiter and he was the best! The food was good and at atmosphere was fun. Mother Nature made the wait time even longer due to storm and power issues.
(4)
Janet C.
Great sunset view but just ok food. Not worth the long wait times. Best to go to the outdoor bar off peak hours to enjoy a drink and a light appetizer. Dogs welcome and bike parking access was easy.
(2)
Mimi K.
The ceviche was amazing and very reasonably priced! The sushi was pretty good. Great place to take kids. Would definitely have returned if we had enough time. I will have dreams about that ceviche...
(5)
Ed P.
For our last meal on Hilton Head Island, my family and I headed to Skull Creek Boathouse, a place my parents couldn't say enough great things about. The restaurant sits cleverly on the shores of the Skull Creek at the northern end of the island. The views are pretty nice, but keep in mind that it does not sit on the ocean side of the island. Upon our arrival at 6 PM we were told it would be a twenty-minute wait for a table inside for our party of four, but we could have a table outside immediately. We all agreed to go ahead and sit outside. The outside dining space is much larger than what is available inside. It was a little hot throughout our visit, but large oscillating fans helped to cool us down a bit. The majority of the outdoor dining are is uncovered, but there is a fairly large covered bar area with some tables undercover. There are numerous games throughout the outdoor area that make for a great way to pass the time while waiting for a table, waiting for your food, etc. My three-year-old ran from giant jenga to connect four to sidewalk chalk and finally to the elevated sandbox. I wish more restaurants had these, I'm sure adults wouldn't mind playing some of the games too. For dinner I had the Cajun chicken past with andouille sausage, bell peppers, Cajun cream sauce over linguine ($16.75). This was one of a pretty good selection for the non seafood eaters. The pasta dish was filled with plenty of chicken and sausage but I thought the sauce could have used a bit more spice. But perhaps I should be thankful it wasn't too spicy as the weather outside was hot enough. My wife went with the crab, artichoke, and hearts of palm stuffed flounder with Savannah red rice and season vegetables ($18.75). I did not try a bite but I think she was happy with her choice. The sides were okay, but I wish she would have skipped the rice and tried the Yukon gold smashed potatoes instead. The kids menu is lengthy and affordable. The corn dog we ordered was served with fries ($5.50), and after the meal was over the server gave each of our kids a token that they could exchange inside for a small toy of their choice. It was a very nice touch to make the kids' dinning experience way more memorable than others. Skull Creek Boathouse is truly one of the most family friendly dining establishments I've visited, and the food is good too.
(4)
Christine S.
At boathouse restaurant my food never came out the other people around me that came after me the food came out again my food didn't come out after an hour I left I would never recommend this place. Actually went in to apply for a job sorry won't go there again
(2)
Joe P.
This terrific seafood place is a bit of drive from Sea Pines and some of the other plantations, but definitely worth the trip! The delightful waterfront setting is best enjoyed at one of the outdoor tables (weather permitting) or the covered bar, where you can watch fishing boats glide through the creek, and the occasional dolphin slip silently through their wake. The food is wonderful, from the scrumptious hush puppies that spill out of their basket to the endless selection of local fish and Southern specialties. We come to Hilton Head every summer, and Skull Creek will definitely be joining our regular restaurant rotation when we visit. Warning: the dinner wait on a weekend can be BRUTAL, so plan to get there early!
(4)
G-Free KT H.
What a disappointment. My family and I were so excited to eat here because the food was supposed to be great and the views of Skull Creek even better. After being told the wait would be 1.5 hours for a table outside we decided to wait it out and take some pictures of the sunset and have a few drinks. Well 1.5 hours came and went very quickly and after 2 solid hours we were finally told our table was ready - inside. We told the hostess we had specifically asked for a table outside and after waiting so long were upset but she shrugged and said it would be another 30 minutes. As a former waitress that is unacceptable. We then spoke to another hostess and she said "if you were told 1.5 hours that means it was first available inside or outside". How on earth would we know that? I asked her how we were supposed to know that 1.5 hours meant first come first serve and she also shrugged. We walked inside to check out the table and the smell was horrendous. The inside of the restaurant smelled like a wet/dirty animal so we quickly got up and left without an apology from the staff who could clearly care less. Anyway, the drinks we had from the outdoor patio were weak and served by an annoyed bartender who also just couldn't be bothered. My family and I were really looking forward to great seafood and some southern hospitality but were denied both. One star goes to the scenery. Also, there was a stray black cat wondering the outside patio which is just disgusting. I urge everyone going to the Skull Creek Boathouse to explore some other options - specifically Low Country Backyard which is phenomenal.
(1)
Marisa U.
Been going to HILTON HEAD multiple times of a year for 23 years and never ate in this restaurant until 2 weeks ago. I didn't even know it existed. We wanted to go to a fish restaurant on Ash Wednesday as some people in out party were following religious restrictions. Marriott had given me $100 gift card to use at local restaurants. So we finally decided on Skullcreek Boathouse. Our wait was long because we were a party of 7 on appearsntly a busy night on HHI, in the off season nonetheless. However the gift shop kept us entertained for a little while (the high prices of simple items were entertaining - $34 for a tee shirt, homemade sugar scrub $26, ect) NICK, our waiter was great. I explained to him my bother can not eat shellfish. He told him not to get anything fried because all the fish is cooked in the same oil, but fries where ok because they have their own fryer. Food was very good. Little Expensive but ok because had gift certificate. Waiter was able to split the check for us. We ate fish, my brother has a steak, my son had chicken fingers. No one had a complant. Will definitely eat there again.
(5)
Aimett A.
Upon Yelpers recommendation and the waitress at our hotel bar, we decided to have dinner at the Skull Creek Boathouse. Score! It is off season for HHI and this place was still cranking. It was about an hour wait for a table for six but we snagged the best table without waiting. We sat the the counter of the Dive Bar and turn out to be the best experience ever. The staff at the "dive bar", which is the their raw bar, was wonderfully friendly, educational, and entertaining. They shucked and prep all sorts of food and give us a walk through everything they were doing even when the food was not for us. There were a couple of times we were tempted to take someone else's order, everything looked amazing. The menu choices we made were phenomenal! I had a daily special of monkfish provincial on linguine, the darling husband had the stuff filet ( a filet stuffed with crab meat), and out friends had the king crab legs that were bigger than their 8yr old. Let's not mention that we had so many appetizers we loss track. Peel and eat shrimp, sushi (so fresh), chowder, salad, etc and much more. Everything was fresh and delicious. Not one disappointing item. The atmosphere was casual and inviting. We can only imagine how wonderful a summer evening must be at this place. We will be back. Skull Creek Boathouse, we salute you! A great gathering place for friends and good food.
(5)
Jimmy S.
We ate here a few years ago and the food was great. We had an hour wait on a Saturday night, which was no problem. This year we were told the wait would be an hour and a half. After an hour and forty five minutes we asked how long it would be and were told 3-4 more minutes. We waited 10 more before we'd had enough. I am sure that the food would have been great again, but did not have high expectations for the service.
(1)
AJ T.
5 and half stars for the Angry Tuna Bowl. You know something is good when you crave it for both lunch and dinner. That's right my friends, we hit that place around lunch time and came back to grab a to go order for dinner. That's my major life hack for you: if there's a long wait for this restaurant (and there will be during Hilton Head's high season), just call and order it ahead and get it to go. Pull up a seat near the water and just have a snack or if you're brave bring the food over to the beer garden right next to the restaurant. I'm not sure why Hilton Head restaurants refuse to take reservations, but it makes grabbing dinner on the island a little obnoxious and difficult to plan. Even around 9pm this place was still hopping; the ambiance is charming and definitely worth a visit both in the day and night time (lots of pretty strings of lights make it feel a little more festive when it's dark) Get here for sunset and you'll catch a pretty view over the water, or hang out during the day, where they have a Lego table that my niece and nephew loved. Service was good; our server claimed that Skull Creek has the best food on the island, but he pretty much liked everything on the menu. I prefer when the waiter or waitress can point to the highlights on the menu vs. making me work for it. But back to the food -- we also ordered mac & cheese for the kiddos (they liked it), the Latin ceviche (decent, but nothing to get excited about... it almost tastes like the citrus in the ceviche isn't fresh, but comes from a bottle), and the coconut shrimp (gigantic! and definitely yummy), but hands down star of the show is the angry tuna bowl -- easily the best thing I ate on the island (though the mud pie at Hudson's is a very close second). nomz. P.S. fellow yelpers, the only thing I'm really giving five stars is the atmosphere and the angry tuna bowl. Don't want to set false expectations for the rest of the food which is mostly serviceable.
(5)
Christopher W.
Came her last year while we were on our Honeymoon. Had to come back. It was an hour wait, but there was no question whether we were waiting or not. Good was fresh and amazing. As always. If I could give them 6 stars I would!!
(5)
Andy R.
Great shrimp and grits. The addition of gumbo like vegetables really gives the dish a flavorful dimension. Fried green tomatoes are good if a little non traditional.
(4)
Holli N.
Everything from the appetizers and beyond is good here! My husband claimed he would pick The Deadliest Catch as his last meal on earth if he could. We tried the guacamole and salsa, peel and eat shrimp and had both types of crab legs. All were absolutely the best things we've had and would recommend any of them. We also got seated in the outdoor patio area and the views are to die for. Wonderful atmosphere and the fresh seafood was worth the 30 min wait we had and we would have paid more for the food if needed! Wait staff was fabulous and the manager even stopped by to see how our dinner was. We were overall extremely impressed and so glad we stopped in tonight! This is a must visit place in HHI!
(5)
Patricia G.
Go early. We went for the early bird menu (a must when eating out with little kids), and there was no wait. By the time we left, there was a huge crowd, and all the parking spaces were gone. Nice outdoor seating, with a giant Jenga game to pass the time, and nice boats to look at. Food was good. Huge menu, lots of variety. Touristy, but that's cool, because we were tourists. Enjoyed it, on the list to return next year maybe.
(3)
Amy F.
One of the few Hilton Head restaurants right on the water. Fun atmosphere outside with picnic tables, string lights and bar. Affordable drinks and happy hour menu. Was impressed by high quality of food at such a laid back place.
(5)
Stella W.
My husband and I had a nice afternoon date here while on our vacation and we ordered a shrimp salad sandwich, seafood ceviche (octopus, scallops, salmon) and some seafood stew. The seafood stew was different from the creamy type as it was more of a tomato based soup but very good nonetheless. We LOVED the ceviche. It was so delish, we'll prob ask for all scallops next time. The shrimp salad sandwich was very refreshing and we enjoyed it all thoroughly. Great service and great view of the dock as well as the boathouse. It's not typical to see how the boats go from a warehouse-like facility into the water.. so to see the different boats moved from one place to the other was neat.
(3)
Hyacinth B.
Great ambiance outside. Near the boat docks... Cool dive bar outside and entertainment while you wait on the food. As a vegan I appreciated the fact that they had more than one option to choose from. I chose the noodle bowl & Thai princess salad. I would recommend both. The kids &b adults at the table love the hush puppies and everyone else's food was good - nothing to write home about - but we would all go back just to hang outside. Will have to go for dinner next time - seems like a great place for night time entertainment.
(4)
Jeremy J.
Awesome experience this past weekend. My wife and I visited for dinner around 6:30 PM on 5/10/14. The wait was only 30-45 minutes, which is great for most seafood restaurants on the coast. Our food was phenomenal across the board! We tried the 1/2 lb of "we peel, you eat" shrimp. The shrimp was well-marinated in seafood boil, but not too salty. Served with drawn butter and cocktail. Delicious! We also had the Super Crunch Roll as an appetizer. I can't vouch for the true quality of the fish used in our sushi as it was tempura fried, though I can say that it was absolutely delicious. I regret not ordering another roll. For our entree, we split the Fried Fisherman's Feast. There is more than enough food on this platter for 2 people to split. We even had leftovers since we had split 2 small appetizers. All of the seafood was fresh, fried to perfection, and very tasty. The coleslaw was not my favorite I have ever had, but still pretty good. My only complaint was that the hushpuppies were quite stale. Given that the other food was so delicious, I did not mention anything to our server. Aside from the food, our service was exceptionally good considering how busy they were. Our waiter's name was Guil. He had a great personality and was around to check on us every few minutes. The view was beautiful as well. You can see the water from most every seat in the house. We sat inside, as we requested first available seating, but I would recommend requesting a seat outside. Would highly, highly recommend a trip to Skull Creek Boathouse if you are visiting Hilton Head Island. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
David H.
We have had a like/dislike relationships with Skull Creek since they opened. My most recent comments were positive regarding our visits the past few months. After our May 11th visit we are firmly in the dislike category and will probably never return to SCB. We visited with out of town relatives. It was a beautiful night to enjoy the outside seating area. We were told that our wait time would be about 45 minutes. No problem, to the bar we headed. One guest wanted to buy and I accompanied her to the bar. After ordering for everyone else she asked the bartender what beers they had. The bartender's response was "If you can read the list is on the board." We just looked at each other and she selected a drink. When we were seated we placed our orders. As we had drinks when we sat down I guess our server thought we would not need additional drinks the remainder of the evening. Three of our meals were delivered in a reasonable time. My meal did not arrive. As I sat waiting for my meal our server was not to be found. When we saw the server again (at least ten minutes after being served) I let her know my meal had not arrived. She went off to find out why. She did stop at two other tables on her journey to the kitchen. Upon returning she told me the kitchen was preparing my meal at it should be out in a few minutes. As everyone else was finished I told her that I no longer wanted my meal. She continued to tell me that the meal was being prepared and she would bring it out to me. Several times I declined and requested the check. A manager then shows up explains that they just "dropped the ball" At this point I do not want excuses. I just wanted to get out of SCB. He leaves, the waitress brings the bill. She made a point of explaining that they had taken my meal off the bill. It is always nice not to be charged for what you did not receive. She leaves and I look at the bill expecting a little something extra taken off for the trouble we had experienced. When she returned expecting payment to be ready I ask if there was no consideration to a bit of a discount considering what had occurred. She did not seem to understand why we would upset that one member of our party was not served. This was the first time a restaurant has forgotten to serve me. This was not the first bad experience we have wad our witnessed at SCB. We are finished with SCB. There are too many good restaurants on Hilton Head. Restaurants that are consistently good.
(1)
Alissa P.
Large menu. Always great selection of local catches (corvina is amazing!). One of our go-to spots during our annual family trip (5 years strong). Service is always questionable but it never fails to be busy so reasonably so. Expect a wait during busy season but grab a drink from their large selection and enjoy the live music and great views.
(5)
Al K.
4 Stars for Service. 3 Stars for Food. To me it seems that much of the Hilton Head seafood is fried which doesn't make sense when you are right on the water. Fried seafood seems like something you should do if don't live by water to cover up the fact that you don't live by water. I had a tuna steak sandwich (not fried, yea!) which was nice, kind of hidden on the menu. Sushi is delicious and very fresh but overpriced.
(3)
Tim N.
Great location OK food.
(3)
Jason K.
Thoroughly enjoyed the hour and a half wait with live entertainment and activities for the kids. Views and atmosphere great, food was ok to good, service was really bad (slow and unattentive). Overall pretty dissapointing but it was one of their busier weeks. Our experience was not worth the money.
(2)
Cathy B.
Great indoor and outdoor bar? Check. Friendly service? Check. Great food? Check. We met some friends at Skull Creek Boathouse when in Hilton Head over the holidays. I was shocked at the size of the place - tons of indoor seating as well as a huge deck with an outdoor bar (which was empty as it was fairly chilly in December). Apparently they have live music in the summertime, which I'm sure draws quite a crowd. The bar area was huge and even though a bit busy, we didn't have to wait long for our drinks. And once we were seated, the service was fast and friendly and the food quite good. I had the small order of mahi that was still too large for me to finish. We also had multiple appetizers and quite a few signature beverages. All-in-all, a great place to meet up with a large group of friends for a solid dinner experience. Just watch out during the peak season; I bet this place is impossible to get into!
(4)
Rachel C.
Amazing people. Amazing service and atmosphere. They let us have our little dog outside. Been here four times now and never have been disappointed! the food is great, happy hour is awesome. I will always return here no matter what every time we visit my girlfriends parents. I'm so happy they exist!!!
(5)
Rosemarie C.
Awesome food! Friendly staff! Great prices! Great atmosphere! They even had a live band! A 'must do' in Hilton Head!
(5)
Robert P.
Heck of a fresh seafood menu. They have about everything imaginable available. Also a very friendly staff. I had king grip which I never heard of before. If that is what I was served, you can never be too sure with fish, it was really tasty.
(4)
Jaime F.
Sit outside if the weather is nice, fabulous sunsets. Live music on tuesdays. It was a 25 min wait on a Tuesday in March, always a good sign. The waitress said everything is good, which is one of my warning signs, but she was right. Try the seafood stew if you like creme based soups. The low country shrimp boil is really big and very good. The jambalaya is also good. we had 5 people and everyone liked what they got
(4)
Ven F.
Awesome food and atmosphere. Was recommended by a local and they were on the mark.
(5)
TJ M.
We had a very large party and everyone LOVED the food. However, the service was so slow and the credit card machines broke. They made us wait there 40 minutes after we were done eating so we can pay the bill. It was a little off putting since most of the party paid cash and only a few were paying with credit card. We had tired cranky kids at the table when that could have been avoided, they should have just comped the meal since they already made a lot of money from our table.
(3)
Stephanie S.
Good food, don't get me wrong my crab legs were pretty awesome but I just felt like it was another overpriced kind of restaurant that had the same food you could probably find at another location for a better price. We went mainly for the live music which was all in all pretty good.
(3)
Randy S.
Great place with great sunset views. Super crowded parking and another place you will need to wait about 30 minutes to be seated, but well worth it. They really run this place well, and are very well organized. They can accommodate a large group. We find the crowd is filled with all ages from 4 to 84. I had salmon rockefeller and a side salad with green goddess dressing. Both were prepared perfectly. Fun place to go.
(4)
Landin S.
Very fresh seafood! The best crab legs I have ever tried in my life. There was a lot of hype about the Salmon Rocket Feller but I wasn't crazy about it. The green fried tomatoes and calamari were outstanding! Great atmosphere with good music right no the water and a great eastern view of the sunset.
(5)
Debra K.
Wonderful vacation experience. Sat outside on the patio with friends and family and enjoyed delicious seafood.
(4)
Dina C.
This is your typical tourist and chain-owned seafood themed restaurant that sells its own t-shirts. Every coastal place must have a place like this. It is the kind of place to go with a group of fellow vacationers for rum drinks and seafood. It is the kind of place where the middle aged locals seem to hang at the bar to watch sports, observe the crazy tourists, and meet a possible mate. Great location, nice bar, nautical vibe, spotty parking, long wait, loud, and average seafood. I had the crab stuffed flounder and it was pretty decent. Not great...not bad...pretty average. The menu did not describe the heavy creamy sauce that covered and overpowered the flounder, but it was a nice meal overall. Service was great. I would definitely go back here with a group, but I might find something a little more intimate, food focused, and less rushed out of Hilton Head's numerous restaurant options for a dinner date. It was pretty chaotic in there and crowded, but we enjoyed some rum cocktails at the bar so all was good while we waited for a table.
(3)
Scott S.
They dont actually take reservations, walk in only... Great food, even better venue.
(4)
Katie M.
My family has a time share here in Hilton Head and we are always looking for one of a kind places to eat on the island. Well my Mom and I found one 3 years ago, it was simply called The Boathouse. They had seafood that seemed like it was just caught and taken off the boat and fried up. Now the corporate machine has taken over. I gave Skull Creek Boathouse a chance and ended up disappointed. I ordered the fried shrimp dinner and it was soggy with lack of distinction. I could get that anywhere. I'm sorry to see such a cute restaurant with great food be taken over by people which don't seem to care how the food tastes to their customers. Needless to say I won't be back.
(2)
Sam W.
Excellent service to start, Had the peal and eat shrimp and the gumbo along with a salad. They were all great, the patio was wonderful and the food above average. I think this might be the best place on the island. The menu was huge and has something for everybody. We will be back.
(5)
T P.
This place is my favorite place to go when I am visiting my relatives. It is so relaxing, and it is an amazing place to watch a sunset. Great Happy Hour. Love this place!
(5)
Stephanie C.
The menu is a little overwhelming, there is a lunch menu for during the week and another one for the weekend, thats a little strange, last i checked a menu is a menu and the things on it can be ordered. The service wasnt bad except our meals arrived at different times. the food is pretty good, the burger is great and so are the steaks. It is a little overpriced, $9.00 for a chicken sandwich is a a little high in my book. We will probably return.
(3)
Christopher P.
COOL place. It's a great bar that gets good and busy on the off nights (Friday and Saturday). Also a fantastic restaurant. Great seafood and unbelievable corn bread. A bit of a hassle though if you want a nice restaurant when it is bar mode. Breakfast is really good here too.
(4)
Adria W.
Two words - go early. When we left tonight at 6:15 the wait was over an hour and more if you wanted to sit outside. I had the crab cake which was delicious. My mashed potatoes were cold but were replaced promptly by our server and they were also tasty. My husband had the ribs which were decent but not great. We sat outside and the atmosphere was lovely. Service was very good.
(4)
Molly N.
What a party spot!! It's crowded but fun while you wait. They told us 45 min and we only waited 15. Great music. Loved the fried green tomato app Good spot to go at sunset on the river. Enjoy!
(4)
Lisa M.
I really enjoy this place. The outdoor scenery is really nice. Definitely sit outside if you can. This is also a wonderful place for any age. It seems to satisfy all. Taking our three kids is great because it has plenty of distractions and food they enjoy. We have been twice and the service has been very good. We had the crab legs, oysters and fish fry - all was really good. They have a nice caesar salad and house salad. The crab cakes are decent, but nothing to rave about. I just don't think you can go wrong eating here :)
(4)
Shawn H.
Great food, views, and patio bar.
(4)
Noel V.
Everyone in our party enjoyed their food. Prices wetr reasonable but service was slow. Our server wasn't very helpful.
(3)
R C.
Arrived 6:30 on a week night and was told 35 to 45 minute wait time, however took 1 hour and 45 minutes to seat our party of four inside. The food was fair at best, overcooked fried shrimp. Caesar salad served with mayo based dressing. Two good but not great fish entrees. Most dissatisfied with the reception manager attitude in dealing with the wait time, rude and not apologetic or accommodating. We will not be back.
(1)
Sara T.
I come from a family that goes out to eat often and the manager of this restaurant gave us a dinner experience we have never encountered. We live on the Island and have been to this restaurant a few times with little complaint. Tonight however, cancels all of the other experiences out. My father ordered the scored flounder and after a few bites realized that the fish was spoiled. He politely told the waitress and ordered their special, Cobia. After he finished the tail of the fish he went to eat the middle of the fish and discovered it was raw. He told the waitress and she apologized. After our meal, when we asked for the check my dad was shocked to see that we had been charged for the Cobia. The waitress seemed very surprised that my dad wanted her to tell the manager what had happened. When the manager came over my dad explained how his meal was ruined and the manager replied "I actually tasted the fish and thought it was excellent." Shocked, my dad replied that he was pretty sure it was spoiled and his second meal was raw but that he would pay for the Cobia since he had eaten part of it (the cooked part). The manager then came back and announced that he had taken half of the fish off our check. My dad politely explained that we live here and have brought others to this establishment and will not be coming back due to the way they handled this situation. The rude manager had nothing to say except, "Im sorry you think Im not nice" and walked away. I will ignore the fact that the manager admitted to eating a patron's meal and go straight to the fact that this is not the way to treat a customer. Not only did this man ruin my father's dinner (twice!) he also called him a liar and made him feel as though this was somehow his fault. I will say that the other 4 members of my family did enjoy our food, but I have never in my life seen a manager and waitress treat their guests in such a rude and condescending way. If you are looking for a nice dinner in which the staff cares about your enjoyment and well being then this is not the place. ***** Update********** July 2010 After writing this review I was contacted by the General Manager, Chris Gregory, of this restaurant. He was extremely concerned about our experience and insisted on trying to rectify the situation even though my family was hesitant to accept. On July 4th weekend my family and I accepted his invitation and went back to the Boathouse for a complimentary meal. I am very glad that we did. Although, it was a little too late, we were treated as customers should be treated and had a very pleasant and DELICIOUS meal. Our waitress was quarky and silly as well as attentive and Chris came by our table twice on the busy evening to make sure we were satisfied. Our past experience left us feeling as thought this establishment did not care about their customers and this evening made us feel the opposite. It was very clear that Mr. Gregory was concerned and that he cared about the individual. On such a busy evening it was obvious that this is a restaurant that people will alway eat at despite a bad review, so it was very touching to see how dedicated Mr. Gregory was to 4 people's satisfaction. Despite our bad experience our feelings toward this establishment have changed and we will most likely dine here again, after all when the food is cooked correctly is really GOOD!
(2)
Kim F.
Excellent location for a casual meal. The wait can be long on the weekend but hangout outside and have a cold beverage and just enjoy the view and the atmosphere. The food was delicious and would absolutely recommend that you visit the Boathouse for your next meal in Hilton Head. We flew in for one day and I'm ready to go back just for another meal.
(4)
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Address :397 Squire Pope Rd
Hilton Head Island, SC, 29926
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Paid Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Kathleen H.
Go early. The early dining menu has many options. Get an outdoor table and the seafood chowder.
(4)Marilyn H.
Now it is the Skull Creek Boathouse. Just reopened. Great service with cheery waitress. Good salads and hush puppies. Nice facility with great views.
(4)Lisa R.
This is our new favorite restaurant on the island! There is a huge outdoor deck with a bar (Buoy 13 Bar) where you can sit and wait for your table (they no longer take reservations) and watch the sun set over Skull Creek. The decor inside has not changed much, with lots of fun nautical items. The menu is quite large, a book, really, with tabs to direct you to the various options (lunch, kids, early bird, takeout, etc.) We love deep-fried dill pickles, so we ordered the Fried Pickle Chips. Unfortunately, they were so salty that after one bite, we sent them back and ordered the hush puppies. Our server was quite understanding and removed the pickles from our bill and comped us the hush puppies. The hush puppies were delicious, served with a honey butter. For our main course, we ordered the "Lowcountry Throwdown," a large bowl of boiled shrimp, andouille sausage (yum!!!) corn on the cob, and redskin potatoes served with a savory broth. There were so many shrimp we couldn't finish them all. Quite a bargain at $16.75! Wash it down with a cold beer and you have a feast! We have been coming to Hilton Head Island for over 15 years now, and have several restaurants that we consider "must- visit" when we come down here. Skull Creek Boathouse has jumped to the top of the list! We will be back!!!
(5)Brittany H.
Great place! We went early and were glad we did. This place fills up fast!! We had the pickle chips for an app and they were great. Unlike any pickle chip I've ever had. The sauce with them rocked. I had the steak and shrimp. It was cooked very well and the shrimp were super fresh. What's not to like about this place? It has fresh seafood, great atmosphere, and good service.
(5)Dean F.
It's all good. Fresh seafood, bar on the cove, reggae band on Monday night. I was amazed that this place was paced on a Monday evening. Good service, great atmosphere.
(4)Ernie C.
Large touristy place, but decent seafood. I got the Trio of Tuna sashimi appetizer and was very pleased. The only downside was we had a table next to the back patio door and the speaker system for the band was overwhelming and prevented us from hearing each other speak. Otherwise, it was a nice place for a reasonable price. Very large menu, but several pages are for lunch only.
(3)Mason W.
Excellent service and food. Salad was fresh and fish perfectly prepared. The bread was good, too, like a cornbread but not the texture. The only thing I did not like was having dogs in the outdoor eating area
(4)Susan P.
We went here around 5:15pm and we were told there was a 1 hour and 15 minute wait for outside seating and nearly as much for inside. Luckily, the atmosphere here is pretty great, so we took a beeper and went and got some drinks. They have a sandbox area for the little ones and they had a craft table for kids to color t-shirts with markers. There is a lot of outside seating, but the bar seems a little cramped. After about only 35 minutes we were seated. We ended up inside which wasn't quite as neat as outside, but we had a nice view. Our waitress was attentive, but the food was just okay. My husband is vegetarian and there wasn't anything more than a salad for him. I think this place is really about the view and the fun, especially if you have kids. It also seemed to be dog friendly. The parking lot was packed so they have to be doing something right. They do offer complimentary valet which I recommend because there were no spots to be had.
(4)Nichelle L.
Since the new menu, this place is great! The Sunday brunch menu is wonderful and I've spent many an afternoon looking at the gorgeous view and eating delicious sushi, while sipping mimosas with my husband. It does get packed in the summer though, so you might want to make reservations.
(4)Ana K.
The food is really good and the atmosphere can't be beat! So much of the food in HHI is so overpriced for the quality; thats not the case here. The menu is also huge, so there is something for everyone. Go, you won't regret it!
(4)Fred S.
Unbearable wait, cold food, poorly trained staff, disinterested pitiful management. A financial success; probably. A restaurant we'll visit again? Never.
(1)Leigh H.
What a lost of fun. The place seems always packed. Great band and atmosphere. Excellent wait staff. Food is tasty but not great. But again the place is a great deal of fun for all ages! A bit noisy for the hard of hearing!!! Will definitely return
(4)Marion S.
Terrible! service was slow to start. Our appetizer was never served, the chowder was just about warm and the entree orders were screwed up. One of our party of 4 received the wrong order and had to wait while the right order was prepared and brought. All orders had to be sent back for micro-waving. This is the first restaurant complaint I have ever made..
(1)Nancy B.
Fried chicken breast with gravy mediocre. Low Country Throwdown excellent. Salt and vinegar crab cakes good.
(3)peter h.
We go here every time we vacation on hhi. We've been coming for 5 years. You can't get better scenery... It's right on the water. If you catch the sunset it is gorgeous. Great outdoor family dining experience. If the weather is good definitely opt for the outdoor seating BUT don't forget to wear jeans and take bug spray to protect you from the bugs. The fish is always fresh and delicious. My wife got the pork tacos because she is not a fan of seafood and she loved them. We got the chocolate pudding cake for dessert and it was very good. Service has always been great. Enjoy!
(4)One G.
2 hour wait! Overprice! Over-rated! The environment is probably one of the better ones. But really don't go here for the food .. it's not worth the wait or the money.
(2)Bob B.
Great for lunch. Can easily spend the afternoon here!
(4)Kelly V.
We had the most enjoyable experience at the Boathouse. After fishing with PaPa Bear Charters earlier that day the Boathouse Chef prepared our catch of Spanish Macerel and shark meat. They gave us a reservation time of 4:30 which worked out perfectly it gave us time to go back to our condo to shower and rest before dinner. When we arrived at the Boathouse we were treated like VIP's. The chef came out to our table regretfully I cannot recall his name. I'm sure we will be returning for the end of the week. He made suggestions on how to prepare our fine delicacies. We went with his suggestions. For only $15.00 per person we had a choice of 4 of their sides served up country style in pass around bowls. Anyone who did not care for seafood could order off the menu any entree or dinner. Don't let me forget the complimentary Portugese cornbread that was mouthwatering, the service was wonderful no one had to ask for drink refills and more bread. On the pass arounds highly recommend the Mac and cheese. Aim very picky when it comes to Mac and cheese, the best I have ever had out. The hush puppies were additional but well worth it. If you visit the boathouse don't miss going down to the docks to check out the dolphins, manatee, and sea alligators.
(5)G G.
One of best outdoor spaces on island. Great drinks, outstanding fish chowder. Raw bar items fantastic. Other items not consistently at same level. Outdoor service is uneven - food often cold. Service is friendly but not expert. And yet. . . Oh! That outdoor space. We find ourselves going back again and again. Call us crazy.
(4)KAren C.
WOW! We just came back from the early dining special at the Skull Creek Boathouse. I expected smaller portions than the normal dining fare, but I am so stuffed and everything was delicious. I thought my stuffed flounder was delightful, then I tasted my husband's Salmon Rocket Fella, OMG!!. If you haven't been since the place changed names and owners, you have to go. Belly up to the bar for Happy Hour drinks then slide to your table for the $14.95 early dining special. My new favorite place on the island, and I like to eat out a lot. The prices during the regular hours are on par with other nice establishments, so be careful about wasting the money on your kids during the the 6- to closing hours. That being said, the outdoor seating is a good way to eat out with the kids and not bother the DINKs so much.
(5)Andrew E.
Just finished dinner at the Boathouse(II)/Marker 13. My wife and I sat outside. I guess technically it is Marker 13 but the menu is the same. The Boathouse sits near two other restaurants and is on the water (inlet side) with great views of the setting sun. I had the special "black and blue wreckfish with rice, asparagus and red pepper sauce" my wife had (for the 2nd year in a row) flash-fried catfish with grits, creamed corn and collard greens. She loved her food and I thought mine was good as well. I again recommend this place. The atmosphere is great, service was on-point and the food was delicious. I recommend checking out their website and getting your reservation online through opentable.com .
(4)Elesha B.
As always, this is my favorite on Hilton Head. Every other time I have visited has been "off-season" and I have to say, I enjoy that more, but even on one of the busiest nights of the year, Skull Creek delivered. I have always loved everything I've eaten there. The bread is an amazing tribute to bread. The seafood is always just delicious- they allow the seafood to shine. This time I tried their sushi roll, and being a little of a sushi roll snob, I was quite happy. We love to sit outside under the trees and watch the sun go down. This might be my happy place. But mostly during the off-season.
(5)Lori F.
Very kid friendly great service awesome oysters and seafood , knowledgable staff! Easy going and great environment !
(4)Lexi M.
If you love seafood then skull creek is worth your time. As a party of three we got the seafood platter to go. This included lobster,shrimp,mussels, clams...basically your own little seafood buffet. On top of that we ordered hush puppies (what good southerner doesn't like hush puppies?) and two sushi rolls. Just come hungry to skull creek because you'll want to eat everything and we did!
(4)Brad L.
Good variety of food, especially seafood. Good for kids, if they finish their food they get a gold coin for a small toy. Good atmosphere, but the service was a tad slow.
(4)Kristen S.
Great Early bird from 4:00-4:45. This place is packed by 5:00 nightly. Be prepared to wait or come early. Skull Creek has done a lot to make a long wait pass by faster...games, beer truck, chairs to watch the sunset, even a small store to shop around in. Always great service. Sitting at the bar having a drink and waiting on a table is no problem when you have beautiful water views! Excellent water views.
(4)David P.
Hands down eat at the bar!!! Maggie Ashlee Jason (the bartender) took extremely good care of us throughout the night. The wait was around 2 hours at the time. By the time we had a drink at the bar and decided to stay it was well worth just waiting for seats and eating at the bar. The food was absolutely the best seafood through our whole vacation. The Tilefish and Mahi Mahi were to die for, along with the sushi and oysters that we had for appetizers, the dinner as a whole was perfect. Obviously as I have stated a few times throughout the night, skip the wait if you show up past 6:00PM and eat at the bar, the service is great and it's much much faster than waiting. Overall Pros: Food is to die for, definitely the best seafood on the island so far Service at the bar is great and is well worth the wait for seats The bartenders are better than the majority of the waiters Cons: Wait is long if you don't sit at the bar
(5)Frank T.
Ate here last year last year during our baby and it was awesome. Initially got there and it was going to be an hour+ wait for 2 people. Ended up getting 2 seats at the bar. We ordered a fried seafood platter and a baked fish plate. Service initially was rough at the bar but finally got our food out to us. They made up for it with a free dessert.
(4)Jen R.
Low country boil was the best I've ever had. The beer garden was pretty genius too, we had drinks and the kids we're able to play while we waited. Great experience!
(5)Melissa F.
Love this place, servers are fantastic, food is great! Look forward to returning. First visit had the Monkfish, loved it! Tried the sampler, fantastic crab cake and stuffed shrimp. Started each time with Sushi ap and really enjoyed. Woman's washroom nice surprise with sea salt scrub for hands. Great stuff! Casual and comfortable with great outdoor area and live tunes.
(5)Caleb M.
Wanted a fun spot with great seafood and a view of the water for dinner. Skull Creek fit the biil. It's obviously a popular place, despite being pretty well hidden--the parking lot was full and the wait time was 45-60 minutes on a Thursday night around 8pm, but with an indoor AND outdoor bar and extra seating it wasn't too bad. We played Corn hole and adult jenga while we waited. The service here was excellent, Tim was personable attentive and fun. The menu at Skull Creek is enormous and if we had been left to our own devices, we'd still be there two days later trying to decide. A good waiter created a connection with his/her customers by getting to know them, giving suggestions and recommendations. Despite being slammed, Tim made us feel like we were his only table that night. So the most important part: the food. We started with a tropical seafood ceviche with mixed seafood, neither of us had had ceviche before, so it was definitely an adventure and tasted great. She got a simple bowl of chowder and a salad, and I got the shrimp and grits. While hers seemed simple and tasty, I have to say my shrimp and grits could have been better. The shrimp was a bit over seasoned, and the grits were drowning in what tasted like little more than beef broth. I go nuts over shrimp and grits--I'm thinking of having them emblazoned on my family crest--so I was a bit crest-fallen with this dish, especially for the 18.75 that I paid. I'd love to get back and try something else, I don't think you could get the same meal twice with a menu as big as theirs. I hope when I do, I get something that really sings, something that lives up to an otherwise great restaurant with great staff, a great location, and a great atmosphere.
(4)Emily W.
Wait was pretty long on a Friday night but open seats at the bar and cornhole to pass the time. Koa was playing and my brother ended up buying their CD we enjoyed their live music so much. Wide variety of dishes that everyone enjoyed! Avoid betting anyone to drink the leftover butter broil from the shrimp dish
(4)Jane D.
Be prepared for a 2 hour wait unless you sit near the bar. Shrimp is really good, ribs are average.
(4)Brooke W.
Everyone we met on the island ranted and raved about "The Boathouse." We were excited to try it, but it was just "good-not-great" in my book. Seafood chowder and shrimp and grits were alright. Shrimp tempura roll was really quite tasty for $7. My husband likes his Po' boy, but our service was... Meh. I wish I could say more. The location is awesome, and I would give this place another try. The mediocrity must have been a fluke...
(3)Mike L.
we went to Skull Creek early 4 PM, so it was not real busy at that time, Music starts at 6 PM. Happy Hour is $1 off drinks, $2 off app's. We also had a dinner, It was all good food and the service . we have been there other times and it can get very, very busy, a person can wait for over an hour for a place to sit
(4)Beth M.
We had a party of 8 and showed up at 6pm so the wait of 60-75mins was too be expected. The waiting area outside could use some fans to help keep customers comfortable, but there was an outside, cash only, bar to get beverages to stay cool, and we were seated within the time said. The food was very good. You can get seafood just about everywhere at the beach, but this was some of the better seafood we've had. The menu was a bit pricey, so that is my only negative outside of how jot it was waiting for a seat. The sunset while we ate was just amazing, and the live music was a nice treat.
(4)Brian F.
I am not often so critical on a restaurant, but due to the service incident we experienced I had to give this one a low rating. I know this place is ridiculously popular here in Hilton Head with long waits for tables, in-season but I hope others have better service than we had. Our waiter, Rick seemed to be impatient with us from the outset. It is a big menu and a couple in our party had never been there before so it took us some time until we were ready to order. After acting annoyed when we finally gave our order, that was essentially the last time we saw him at our table. The food is brought out by a series of runners who do little other than make sure everyone gets what was ordered. My wife's dish, the flounder stuffed with crab meat was not good and she wasn't going to eat it after tasting it. Unlike at most restaurants, when the waiter (or a manager) comes over to ask if everything is ok, no one did. In fact while the rest of us were eating and my wife's dish was sitting in front of her, we saw our waiter, Rick having a shot with guests at another table! Yes, he did a shot with them while having a great time like he was one of their party! I've never seen this before in any restaurant! After we were finished with our entrees, Rick finally came back to clear the table. I told him that my wife didn't like the dish and it was not well prepared. He then asked if she would like something else. I said it was too late and just bring us the check. He took the entree off of the check and we took Skullcreek Boathouse off of our list of restaurants to visit on future trips to Hilton Head.
(1)Adam D.
We were so disappointed we didn't check this place out until the last night of our trip. This place had a huge menu but was able to manage it. I find that is rare seeing that my experience has been the larger the menu the more the quality diminishes. Great food and excellent staff!!!
(4)Lynn H.
The food was great. The waiter was too busy and short tempered. Not very patient with questions.
(4)Tamra H.
We had lunch here while vacationing and it was my favorite place we had eaten while on the island. I had the broiled captains catch and my boyfriend has the brunch buffet. I loved how many seafood options there were. Our service was fantastic there and the outside seating comes with a lovely view.
(5)Dawnna C.
We couldn't have been happier with this restaurant! We stayed on the island for three nights, and had dinner there twice. We tried another restaurant on the second night, but it just didn't compare! The food was delicious and served relatively fast for how busy it was. There was a bit of a wait to get a table, but it was worth the wait. The staff are super friendly. And the strawberry jalapeño margarita was out of this world!
(5)Carol M.
Our visit was great! Excellent server Great hushpuppies Great seafood Cold beer.
(4)Faye W.
We thoroughly enjoyed our appetizers and dinner. The care they take to accomodate gluten free diners is fabulous. The food was great all around. We arrived at 5:30 p.m. and had a 90 min. wait. The time flew as we had appetizers at the bar. Our waitress, Annie, was so friendly and so much fun.
(5)Jonathan H.
Get here early as sin. You will wait in the line of hell if you dont. No reservations other than checking in, and expect an hour plus wait. Our evening went well, there was a band playing music (if you have not been, there is a large outdoor section that is mostly covered - it looks out on the water). If you want a deliciously intimate date DO NOT go to Skull Creek. It is loud, boisterous and fun. If you imagine it to be a boathouse as opposed to a restaurant, most of your expectations will come true. We enjoyed the food, most of us had crab. IF you choose to eat inside is like feeding from the trough - long high tables. It was good. If I wanted to go somewhere for a high quality meal I would choose a different place, but if you want some traditional seafood options on a casual night with family or friends then Skull Creek Boathouse will serve your purposes well. Lastly, WHAT A GREAT street name. SQUIRE POPE
(4)Jeniffer L.
It Was ok. I read the reviews and thought why not? Never been to hilton head so I thought we would give it a try based ominn the reviews. Had the crab and shrimp dip. It was yummy but chips were stale. The bread was good with really good butter! We had the soups, the chowder was yummy and the gumbo was to die for! The main course was not good at all. I had the Rockefeller salmon and it was different. I didn't care for it too much. Not much flavor. The mac and cheese bland and the mashed potatoes, I've made better. Good place for drinks, soup, and appetizers.
(3)Vera S.
Went here for dinner with our family of four on a Wednesday night based on Yelp reviews. We came early as suggested from others (4:30pm) which allowed us to get a table right away. Outside dining wasn't available yet. I ordered the grouper with imperial crab. The fish was much smaller than I expected (size of my fist) and though it was tasty, the sauce on top tasted like Marsala & I wasn't happy with that combination. I got sweet potato fries and green beans with it. Total for this dish was $28.00. The crab on top was very bready & super salty. My husband ordered the blackened red snapper which still had the skin on and scales. His meal was also around the same price. My son ordered the fried shrimp and french fries from the kids menu.... It was $6.00. He seemed to like it. My daughter got the macaroni and cheese and didn't eat one single bite. The only thing she ate was the bread we got complementary. She had been sleeping on me and I ordered for her. She wanted nothing to do with the Mac and cheese and honestly it didn't taste good at all so I doubt she would eat it anyway. The bread however, was very tasty. Kind of a mix of corn bread and Italian bread rolled into one. As far as our Service it was quite slow even though we got there early. Honestly I don't know what the hype is about this restaurant... The food was mediocre, way overpriced and because they're so packed you don't get that southern hospitality or personal service I expected . The most positive thing I can say is I liked the souvenir drinking glass you can keep with your drink order & I liked the nice children's area outside with activities to keep the kiddos occupied if you do decide to wait for two hours before getting seated. Many of these parents decided to leave anyway and I can't blame them. They have a dock to look out on and that was peaceful and I enjoyed the view. But again, my two stars reflects not the atmosphere but the food and service. If I want to look at the ocean I could do that somewhere else. So overall, moderate quality, high priced food and slow service. Look elsewhere to dine while you are here at HHI.
(2)Ashley C.
I give it 4 stars mainly for the view and 2-3 for the food. Lets start with the good- the view is beautiful. Sitting outside is lovely and breathtaking. Now the food- at best the food is pretty good/ ok. Certainly not something to rave about. But overall a cool place to go. The fish tacos were under seasoned and sitting in a plate of juices. Not a good thing. Fell apart upon eating. Another time i had the brisket quesadillas. These were good but lacked creativity and flavor- just brisket and ghost cheese. Could have benefitted from maybe some shallots, mushroom, spinach- now that would have been great! Overall, food is decent but the view and atmosphere is why most people come.
(4)Debbie S.
Best seafood I've had in a long time! Shrimp & grits awesome! Salmon amazing (just remind them to cook med rare), great wine (Rambauer Chardonnay), fast service, but a bit noisy!
(4)Heidi Y.
This is my go to place for consistently awsome food, great service, Alex your THE BEST server, seating outside overlooking the water, beautiful views and I get such a kick out of watching the boats taxied back and forth on the dock!
(4)Marcus S.
This place was really happening on a Tuesday night! Had an upbeat vibe with great live music. I started with mixed ceviche which was good not great. Fish was fresh, but not the most flavorful. I also had the grouper which the waiter highly recommended. It was prepared with lump crab on top and some type of cream sauce. It was not the healthiest fish item, but overall tasty. I finished my wifey's tile fish which was delicious. It had some type of tropical salsa which went perfectly with the fish and rice. Would definitely come back!
(4)Brian G.
After my review I was contacted by Skullcreek and they replaced my souvenir glass. We had already left the island but it was waiting at home for me. The above and beyond service of the restaurant was excellent.
(5)Charles M.
We travel from the Eastern shore Maryland look forward to always coming to skull creek boat house the sushi is fabulous along with their seafood dishes it's a must to visit
(5)K P.
Always the atmosphere especially when we sit outside. A little disappointed that there isn't any live music during the week anymore. The kids always look forward to that. The atmosphere & live music always made this place awesome. If you base it solely on the food I can only give it 3 stars.
(3)S V.
This place is banana boats as far as being busy. I have never actually waited 1:45 to eat at a restaurant. And when I say we waited an hour and 45 minutes, we waited every minute of it. To their credit, they had lots of random things to do while you wait. They have a Lego table for little kids and a sand box. They have picnic tables and some cornhole boards with an outside bar so at least not everyone is standing there. So after we waited almost two hours, I was thinking the food needed to be amazing. But it just wasn't. It was regular bar type food. Nothing special. Even my wife had seafood that they are supposed to be well known for and it was just not very impressive. If I had my daughter with me, there is no way I would wait that long. I was watching people and thought they must be idiots to wait that long to eat such mediocre food. The food wasn't terrible but definitely not worth almost two hours. I would've given it two stars if it wasn't for the array of options to kill the time while you wait. Honestly, I don't think anyone would wait otherwise.
(3)Leilani A.
This place was great they had lots of games and even a movie showing making it both kid and dog friendly. They also had a big sushi bar but I didn't order from it but next time I definitely will. The place fills up fast so get there in time but if the wait for tables is too long (like it was for us) then go outside and look for the high tables (there first come first serve), and hope to find somebody finishing there meal. The complimentary bread was really good but don't get too full because the entrees are really good. I decided to get something simple and went for the chicken quesadillas, they were really good and they stuffed it with chicken also the crab and shrimp quesadilla which was also good. My mother got the fried catfish with collards and savannah red rice, she really enjoyed the rice and collards but was disappointed to find out that the catfish was fried in a batter rather than traditional cornmeal which messed with texture; she said that the fish had a good flavor but the coating was off. My father got the Seafood Stew and he said that it was fantastic and that the flavor was spot on. Our waiter was really nice , that he treated us to hushpuppies (there okay not worth buying). Overall good food good service good atmosphere! I would definitely recommend this place
(4)Janet W.
Had family in town and wanted to find someplace 'fun', and had to have good seafood. SCB had great reviews, so we tried it. Could not have found a better place! Our server was EXCELLENT, everyone was friendly, food was FANTASTIC! Between five of us, we had: Oyster's on the half shell, the Crab and Shrimp dip, the Broiled Captain's Catch (shrimp, scallops, deviled crab, and flounder), the Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp, a Sirloin Steak with the most PERFECTLY prepared fresh green beans, and the 'Extravaganza' (Low Country Boil on Steroids). My 5 year old granddaughter had the kids filet and inhaled it. And she is a picky eater. Everything was on point - delicious, well-prepared, plentiful. They had a nice outdoor bar with a band and dancing, games for adults and children to play, and a small shop. Scenic location, just loved it. HIGHLY recommend. And by-the-way, we were there during the masters tournament, the place was crazy busy, but not even a hiccup in service. Loved it!
(5)Tosha K.
Excellent!!! We came here for our rehearsal dinner 3 nights ago...it was so good, my family and I decided to come back for my father in laws birthday dinner. The food here is wonderful!!! And the staff is really nice and the service is fast. If you sit outside be sure to put on insect repellant because the mosquito s are OUT & they are eating dinner too!!
(4)Savvy S.
Love this place. We go for lunch and never wait. Dinner is a madhouse though. Great drinks, great food. Highly recommend. And it is a fantastic place to take kids!
(5)Kurt N.
Surprisingly good tourist trap. The location is killer as far as view and patio space. The shrimp dish I had was not out of a frozen bag, and the drinks large. It is a little pricey for the quality, but I chalk that up to being in a tourist district. Definitely slammed though, we had to wait an hour and a half for a party of 8.
(3)Marcella B.
We visited on a Thursday night and was told there would be a 90 - 120 min. wait, but got seated in 50 minutes which is a good thing because there were so many people waiting our two 13 year old boys were too old for the kiddie activities and the other activities were all taken as well. Our bar drinks were very good and our waiter Craig was outstanding. The cornbread served right away was good, our appetizer oysters came quickly. My halibut was nice and flakey and was really good, but the potatoes served with were tasteless and the slaw was OK. My husband had the Wahoo, he said it was good. The boys wanted to have filet's - served med/rare. They came out Med. brought to the attention of the waiter and were made again which was fine - the 2nd time they were better, but the filets were just OK. Parking was impossible. May come back to try lunch or other appetizers and drinks only.
(3)Laura C.
First timers at Skull Creek Boathouse and were so happy we went! We were told it was a 2 hour wait and we were hesitant since we were a party of 9 with 5 children. We took advantage of the beautiful view at the dock and corn hole games for the kids. We ended up waiting about an hour which was a relief! We were seated outside by the water which I thought would be very buggy, but with the giant fans around us it was very comfortable. We travel with children with severe dairy and nut allergies and they were very accommodating! The sushi rolls are very fresh and delicious. I ordered tortilla crusted tilapia but asked for the lemon butter side on the side, which I'm so glad I did because it didn't even need it. Everyone was very pleased with their meals...would definitely return but maybe arrive earlier!
(5)Debbie A.
great food and the wait was very long. nice outside bar with live music. beautiful views for sunsets. peel and eat shrimp were delicious as well as oysters rockefeller.
(5)Scott M.
This restaurant is one of the reasons we fell in love with Hilton Head. This and the other 300+ reviews probably says enough. Get there early if you want to get your food quickly otherwise plan on getting a few drinks while you wait to be seated and make a night of it. Theres plenty to keep you entertained.
(5)Steve G.
Off the beaten path, grab a drink and enjoy beautiful view of skull creek. Don't be intimidated, Worth the 1-hr wait on a Tuesday evening. Vast menu, started with seafood chowder, full of crab, shrimp with rich white cream sauce. Main dishes were remarkable large fish portions Hog nose snapper special, blackened swordfish. shrimp & grits smoky smooth. Add this to your hit list!
(4)Walter P.
Ate there last night. I found the portions to be good. I got the fried clams and oysters (the only reason I went was I was looking for whole bellied fried clams, and one of the reviewers said they were excellent. However, they weren't too be had. My wife got the crab legs. She enjoyed them. I'd like give a 3.5, but this isn't possible unfortunately. The service was great. Unfortunately, there was nothing special about the food. If they were not located in hilton head, they would have to charge half price. It was a one hour wait, but we got to sit immediately at the bar, and it didn't dampen the experience at all. I wouldn't go back, but that's just me.
(3)Cyndy M.
Awful - the wait was ridiculous ! No live music and no service ( bug spray) cause you need it. After committing to waiting the 1st 45 minutes your thinking any minute now. WRONG. Skip it. Go any place other than here.
(1)Lindsey N.
Delicious sushi and seafood! Great atmosphere for happy hour and a night out. Good place for live music too
(5)Shawn F.
Hands-down the best place to go every time I come and visit my mom in Hilton head. Name just now started a live band on the weekends to where you can enjoy great music and amazing sunsets. Any fish or sushi you get there is some of the best in town! Always good service and the price is definitely right for the atmosphere, ambience, and entertainment.... Definitely two thumbs up for anybody in the area!
(5)Abby M.
We really enjoyed the food, the service and, being lucky enough to get seated where we had a view of the water, we enjoyed the view. I had shrimp and grits which I loved. Everyone in out party had something they liked very much. Prices were reasonable.
(4)Mary K.
Atmosphere and view is beautiful but I am not sure it is really worth the wait. With so many places to choose from on HHI you may prefer to go elsewhere. Food good not great.
(3)Ashley H.
Skull Creek Boathouse is fantastic! My father in law got the swordfish and has been raving about it since. Tim, our waiter, took great care of us. The atmosphere is very laid back - we really enjoyed the yard games outside and the view of the sunset while waiting for our table. We would recommend this as a top spot to visit while on HHI!
(5)Ben T.
Awesome atmosphere and food. I enjoyed the bar at lunch and then went back and sat inside for dinner. Try the Tuna Three Ways or any of the fish specials.
(4)Brad S.
We had two great meals here and will continue to visit Skull Creek... Outside service was great and it is pet friendly which is great. Food and service was excellent ...
(4)Shawna T.
Went here with my hubby on a Thursday night in February around 5pm. The wait was about 20 minutes, so we took a seat at the bar. Good happy hour specials with discounts on drinks and appetizers at the bar. When we were texted for our table (they use your cell Phone to text in lieu of pagers) we were permitted to close out bar tab and have the happy hour priced apps delivered our table. Service was good and sushi was delicious. Fried green tomatoes were good but not great. The fried shrimp platter was good-but I preferred Sea Shack. All in all a nice place to eat-watch out for the crowd. It was getting very busy when we left around 7.
(3)Crystel P.
Through the suggestion of Yelp and some locals we decided to try here on our vacation which this is my 2nd time to HHI :) We decided to go with sushi so we got the surf and turf roll, Dynamite Roll and Tuna 3 ways. The surf and turf roll was excellent my fav of the whole meal! The dynamite roll was decent not as flavorful as I would of liked it to be. The tuna 3 ways was different I liked the spicy tuna tartare that was on the dish the other 2 were good again not as much flavor as I would of liked. The other meals coming out of the kitchen looked fantastic would love to go here again! Now as for the atmosphere it was super loud and noisy kind of hard to talk at the table. Plus there were a ton of families w little kids around us as well. Which can be expected Ar times but the over all noise was bad. It was packed also which to me is a sign of a good restaurant :)
(4)Kelly B.
Let me start by saying that I have been to SKB many times, both with family and with my friends on girl weekends. SKB is one of those places that is a "must do" on our trips to HHI. That being said, here is my review. Tonight, we arrived around 5:15 and waited in line to put our name on the list. We asked for outdoor dining only and were told it would be around a 90 min wait. That was fine. We grabbed some drinks & played cornhole. Then, we got the text (70 min later) that our table was ready. It was like we won the lottery....until they tried to seat us inside. Not good. After another 20 min we were finally seated outside. If you put your name on the list, I would recommend checking with the desk to make sure your requests are granted! Anyway, we were seated & let me just say that Alex was probably the best waiter I've had in years. I used to be a bartender (& our family owned restaurants) so I know a good server when I see one. This guy was great--he anticipated what we needed & had a sense of urgency. He made up for the misstep by the hostess desk at the beginning of our experience. Great food & amazing atmosphere, as usual.
(4)Richie S.
Last day of vacation here in HHI before heading back to New England and had one of the best experiences of the whole trip. We have been let down quite a bit over the last week with service in a few places but the experience we had with our server Benny completely made up for that. The gumbo was great as was the flounder I had for dinner so I can't wait for the next trip down here so we can come back. Ask for Benny if you come here!
(5)Sam S.
All around great experience I would have to say that this is a must while on hilton head island. Great service from Tim. Plenty to do while you wait and the fact that it is a real boathouse is really cool also.
(5)Ed B.
This place is really good. I saw some of the less favorable reviews, of which there are only a few, and would say that even the best place can have a so-so dish or an off day. However that has not been my experience here....ever. The service is always great and the views from the outside seating area are just beautiful. Great place to watch the sunset on the ocean. This place is nothing fancy decor wise but it is totally the nautical thing being at waters edge and next to an operating boathouse. It works well. I have been coming here every year for the past 5 years on our yearly golf trip along with 6 of my friends. We have never had anything but a great experience each time. No complaints about any of the food. I can see the other reviewers point about the stuffed flounder. I had it last time and it was a bit too simple but still decent and not dry for me. If you want to sit outside get there early otherwise you may have a wait. Inside seating seems to turn over a bit quicker. The food here is very good overall. The fresh fish selections and differnt ways you can order them leave plenty of choices for all. The Low Country Boil is my favorite thing on the menu for entrees. It has crab, oysters, shrimp and much more. If you like shellfish this is for you. As a group we have tried many of the other entrées and nearly every appetizer all of which were very good. The menu is large and there are some selections for the landlubber as well. This is a must stop at least once each golf week we are here. This is one of the top stops on the island in my book.
(5)Jack M.
Great food and beautiful location. I go everytime I visit the island. Be prepared to wait. Get there early and it usually isnt as bad. If the weather permits they have a bar set-up outside to help entertain while you wait. Can get costly, but hey your on vacation.
(4)Neal A.
We went on Fathers Day evening. Had a party of 7 at 6 O'clock, so probably shouldn't be surprised that the wait was an hour and 30 minutes. 1. Wait - We would generally not go in for a wait of 90 minutes. Since long waits are the norm here, they really should provide more shaded waiting area. I do give them credit for the texting system for when the table is ready and reasonably accurate assessment of wait time. Also, we did have some fun doing the plus size Jenga game, although it was in the blazing sun. So below average. 2. Service - overall average. Our waiter was personable and gave us good candid assessment of the menu. Also, he inspired confidence with regard to the food allergy of one in our party, that there were adequate safeguards in the kitchen. Downside- we asked for bread when we ordered and it did not arrive until the entrees came out, about 30 minutes later. Not good when you're sitting down famished already from the wait. And two in the party did not have the sides of mashed potatoes that they had ordered. 3. Food- Above average. TEveryone was happy with the flavor. One was disappointed that the salad had only a few black beans . The seafood sampler plate was yummy all the way around , they do a great job flavoring the crab cakes without hiding the crab flavor. Obviously all of the seafood was extremely fresh. Grouper was very juicy, cooked perfectly. 4. Value - above average. Total cost for 7 was $147 with tax before tip,although one had only a large salad, and none had drink except water. So my main tip would be to not come on a weekend, unless time and hunger level are not issues. Could be easily be 4 stars otherwise.
(3)Michael W.
I thought this it was fairly "touristy" place. I just can't see the 4 and 5 star reviews by fellow Yelpers. In fact, I can't even give them 3 stars. Owned by the SERG restaurant group which owns a bunch of restaurants on the island. We had thought about going to Hudson's but after reading reviews decided to go here. Sunday night at 6 during the offseason were seated right away. It's far bigger than I thought it would be. Wine was on the high side (prices). Ordered Hush Puppies for an appetizer. I admit, the hush puppies were pretty good, however, the real flavor came from the spicey whipped butter. Piping hot, NOT greasy. Very good in fact. After having these the outlook was good. Had a cup of seafood chowder soup. Decent, but overly salty. Nice amount of seafood in it but salty.. salty.. too salty. Wife had the stuffed flounder. They were not what I expected which was a stuffed flounder filet. They were like flounder roulades of fish with the stuffing inside the rolled fish. The dish was lukewarm (not hot, almost cold) and the fish was overcooked and dry. Not much flavor. Disappointed. I had the Boathouse Scored Flounder, which is a whole flounder deep fried. It was Impressive looking, but also overcooked. Not much flavor either. To me that's the biggest mistake most mediocre seafood restaurants make, they overcook the seafood. Red rice was decent but not outstanding (they could take a lesson from Gwen and Frannys Fried Chicken on how to make Red Rice). Coleslaw tasted like it was out of a big container from Sysco, nothing special. The "Portuguese" corn bread served with the meal was good (not sure about what makes it' "Portuguese", I lived in Portugal for 4 years and never had this). Overall, it seemed like a typical tourist type place. Decent food, on the pricey side, but nothing to write home about. Note - the server was kind of annoying as well. Pretty much ignored us until the end when he pushed us to give him a good writeup on Trip advisor.
(2)Derek F.
Get a patio table, especially at sunset. Start with the delicious angry tuna roll. Ask about specials and order a local fish such as swordfish, grouper or mahi mahi are good bets if available. Order key lime pie to top it off. Nice kids menu. Kids are definitely welcome; nice kids menu and nice touch with coins for toddlers that can be exchanged for little gifts. Definitely worth the trip while on the island. Complimentary parking to boot.
(4)Sandy L.
Great place to dine outdoors along the water. They have an extensive menu and their Cajun Pasta is my favorite. Prices are reasonable, too.
(5)Karen R.
Arrived before 6 pm and had an Early Bird dinner.we had the seafood platters, one broiled and one fried. Both were great and came with a salad. Hush puppies and drinks were also good. Service was wonderful.
(5)C L.
Came here Dec. 22 at 6pm- only 15 minute wait for dinner. Had the following for appetizer: Calamari, just ok, much better elsewhere, grilled fish taco and shrimp tempura roll which were very good. Bread was really good- crunchy on the outside, sweet and soft inside. I got angry tuna bowl which was very good, interesting flavor combination- crispy noodle, seaweed salad, spicy tuna and crab and sticky rice. It's good to try but not something I would crave. Hubby got grouper imperial which was very good. Kids got Parmesan crusted cod-very good, salmon Rockefeller which was excellent and steamed mussels which was good but my daughter did not like too much though we liked it. Service was fast and attentive. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Btw, the portions are big for us- we had leftovers to take home. For those who are curious, above dinner ( 5 people) came up to $136, excluding tip, no alcoholic drink.
(4)Jordan M.
This was a great place. Casual and right on the water. Not to mention the food was delicious! Everything we ordered was so good! Their drinks seemed over priced but all in all, we enjoyed the meal. I definitely recommend the shrimp po boy! Mmmmm!
(4)Sara S.
Great food and outdoor bar. Lunch specials are a great price and size. Drinks are a little pricey but still wonderful. I had the shrimp and grits and the Thai princess salad and it hit the spot. Quite the variety here.
(4)Melissa B.
We had 2 small Kids after being quoted 1 1/2 hr wait we decided to eat at the bar. Sat there waiting for are food for over an HOUR on top of everything. Your waiter just disappears and does not come back to give you your check this is the worst service I've ever had would never come back here again rather get McDonald's
(1)Jay B.
Awesome food, atmosphere, service. Price is not bad. Live entertainment at times. Just a great place. Others have mentioned the long waits. Be forewarned, it can get very crowded with very long waits but the wait is enjoyable due to the environment. It just depends on your temperament and state of mind. I suggest getting on island time :-) I go every time I visit. It is one of a handful of my staple restaurants on the island. I hear Sunday brunch is wonderful. If you decide to go, you will not be disappointed!
(4)Cami H.
We came to HHI for a quick winter getaway and wanted to indulge in some seafood! We found the greatest place to satisfy our indulgence! After watching the sunset, we went inside to warm up and satisfy our fresh seafood craving. Even in the off season this place was packed so we decided to get a cocktail and app at the bar. Amanda and Jimmy were so attentive that we ended up eating at the bar. SCB serves up fresh ceviche, sushi, and oysters and plenty of cold beers!
(5)Hayley S.
The atmosphere here is really cool. Its absolutely beautiful and right on the water. We were quoted an hour wait time and my husband and I had a couple beers at their beer truck outside and sat at some of the picnic tables to wait. We were seated in just under an hour which was nice. We were seated inside (would have preferred outside but so we didn't have to wait longer we just said first available) at a table right by the front doors and the bar area and it was LOUD. Very loud. Almost impossible to talk to each other. Our waiter was nice but overbearing and annoying. It would have been nice if we gave us more space so we could have enjoyed ourselves. The food was just OK. We ordered the crab and shrimp appetizer which came out of the kitchen messy looking and seemed as if they just threw it in the microwave for a couple minutes. My husband had the surf and turf. He said his steak was very bland, and his crab cake was okay...you can get better ones on the Island. I had crab legs which were fine....good as far as crab legs go. We also has a couple margaritas which were good. Also its pretty expensive, not worth what you're paying. I think that there are a LOT of better restaurants to eat at on the island. I wish we would have just gone to Hudsons next door and I really enjoy Hudsons but we wanted to try something new. Don't think we will ever go back.
(2)M R.
Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, service was excellent, food was better than expected and prices were great. Definitely going back
(5)Amy H.
Cool place!!! I did not mind waiting an hour and a half! We enjoyed some cocktails sat by the docks and played some corn hole!! When we got there it took FOREVER for the server to come by, we were STARVING. Started off with the oysters! They were great! I got the Stuffed Jumbo shrimp for my dinner!! There was way too many on there could not eat it all! Had to give the rest to my husband! It was cooked perfectly! I substituted the sides it came with but was pleased! My husband got the Salmon Rockefeller and he enjoyed it! We were too full for dessert. I would def come back again! I enjoyed the atmosphere and the food but the WAIT time is WAY too long!
(4)Jay S.
Pricey and small portions. Service is a bit slow. Foods ok, I guess I didn't order the right thing.
(3)Jeremy H.
Stopped in for lunch on a rainy Monday morning, so glad we did. Our server, Mark, was great. He spent a great deal of time informing us of local attractions. We had the conch ceviche and oysters, both very good. The atmosphere was great even in the rain, we enjoyed the food, drinks and dock watching. Big thanks again to Mark for a great experience!
(5)Lucien B.
This is the best place we have eaten on our trip. The sword fish was great, the royal sampler was cooked to perfection, and the shrimp and grits was to die for. Tim, our waiter, made the experience ten-fold better. He is a great server and we can't wait to come back and see him and the awesome staff at Skull Creek Boathouse again soon.
(5)Jackie G.
Pros: 1) Awesome patio and atmosphere 2) Great live music in the evenings 3) Server was fantastic 4) Despite the place being packed- our table of two was ready in just 15 min or so-much quicker than expected! 5) Loved the giant jenga game and adirondack chairs that were available while we waited for a table Cons: 1) Food is mediocre- (we had steamed shrimp, and crab legs) Go for drinks and apps and enjoy the music and patio. Skip the entrees unless you're content with average food.
(4)Niki J.
Great views from the patio! Between the four of us, we had the hush puppies (EXCELLENT!), cheeseburger (very good), coconut shrimp (bit too much batter and not enough coconut), seafood Cobb salad (very good), gumbo (very good but could have been a little hotter temp when served), fish tacos (EXCELLENT! Get them blackened!) and sweet potato fries (very good). Overall: very good food, price is about what you expect for bar/seafood in a more touristy place. Views of the dock were great and the place had a very cool vibe! :)
(4)Ron M.
Excellent! We arrived estly-5:45pm. We waited 25 minutes. Use the complimentary valet. Food was excellent and perfectly seasoned. Good quanity, excellent crab and shrimp dip. Gumbo was excellent New Orleans style (we are from La.). The bread was fantastic. Good price on domestic drafts-$2.50. Fantastic meal!
(5)Kim E.
This place is a bit hard to find but well worth the effort! When you are driving here it is behind the huge boat house that looks like a big warehouse. There is a narrow parking lot to the side. My picky picky family loved this place! We had the hushpuppies, fish sandwich, gumbo, cuban, grilled chicken and fries. All of us loved our food and may come back to try out some more of the choices on this menu! The atmosphere was great. It had music playing. It was casual dress. Kids were around making us all feel welcome. The waitress did great and kept our glasses full (which always make me happy).
(5)Melissa L.
The food was a mixed bag--some good, some just ok. The real downfall was the service. I watched our waitress pet a dog with both hands and then directly from that point, handle plates with food.
(2)Amy H.
Consistently great food, attentive & friendly staff, lively atmosphere, and terrific views! What could be better. Fresh seafood, delicious sushi, and Southern favorites. This could be the most popular place on the island.
(5)Todd M.
One of my favorite places in the world. Great outdoor space, live music, excellent broils, full bar, and pretty special inlet views in the evening.
(4)Heather D.
Had a great meal outside at the bar. Both our meals were well prepared. Drinks were strong. It's pet friendly outside which I love. They have lawn games, fire pits, great sunset views. Service was good but not great. It was off season so would expect more personalized service, nothing bad just not WOW. Would go back.
(4)Wen L.
I went to Skull Creek with a friend for dinner. They have a great system where they text you when your table is available, so you can actually walk around and enjoy the scenery. The wait on a Saturday night was not long at all. I ordered clam strips, self-peel shrimp, and sweet potato fries. It was all delicious and exactly what I wanted without breaking the bank. My friend ordered hush puppies (amazing!) and a crab cake plate. The service was great. This is a good place for friends, groups, families, everyone! Will definitely go when Im in the area agai .
(4)John G.
Come early in the summer - no matter what the day. Great service - always sit at the bar, inside or out, whenever you can. It's a super spot with great food, friendly staff and a great time.
(5)Dan A.
Wonderful place food was great service was OK. Would highly recommend. Everyone in our party enjoyed the evening
(4)Diana B.
As we lived out the back gate of HHI Plantation - this is one of our favorite go-to restaurants. Food, view, service is always excellent. We dont usually sit at the bar here (because the view outside is awesome!), but my hubby and I stopped by the bar on Saturday for some lunch and basketball playoffs. The food is always great - but I was blown away by the service I received from Edwina and Breck. Everyone knows what it is like to sit at the bar - but this was a different experience. Both Edwina and Breck took ownership of my experience - making sure my glass was full, my food was right, I had what I needed....each stopping during a very busy time to chat with me about where we are from (we are locals) and the basketball game. It was a stellar experience - more like sitting at a table with the easy atmosphere of the bar. It was a home run experience and I will be back.
(5)Michael V.
Good food, Good service, the Portuguese Cornbread was awesome! Would recommend this place to all who like seafood
(4)Nicole S.
Such a great place to visit! Love the food, but more so our waiter, Rick! Wow! We will be coming back and asking for him again!
(5)Laurie V.
Oh yes, yes, yes!!!! We went at 6:15 and only waited for about 45 minutes. Not bad for a Friday night. (Although I thought it was off-season!) My aunt and uncle had the tile fish, which was one of the specials. They both loved it. Very fresh. Local catch. I had the 1 lb. lobster, which was succulent and flavorful. The side dishes were corn and new potatoes. Corn on cob was great, but potatoes were a bit bland. Our server, Cesar was great. We had switched tables, because it was drafty and cold at the first table and they moved us- no problem- very accommodating. Our first server was just there briefly before we moved, but he was very kind and personable. Didn't catch his name, but he is the sweet guy from Minnesota. This restaurant draws a senior citizen crowd. Besides some grandchildren that were there along with them, we were probably among the youngest folks there. There was also a balloon guy, making balloon animals for the children there. I would absolutely return here. We didn't really catch the sunset, but it looked like it would be spectacular from this location.
(4)Lissie C.
This is such a fun spot to come with the family. The atmosphere is lively and the view on the water is fantastic. I had the tile fish which I highly recommend and my fiancé had the grouper another great option. I love the live music and patio dining. This is a truly fun experience not to be missed.
(4)Kirstyn C.
Visited recently with family. Despite frequent trips to HHI, we had not been here. I'm so glad that we decided to eat here, though! Great food and a lot of it! My husband has a huge appetite and he still needed a to go box! Will definitely be going back!
(5)Dan H.
Dinner service, 02/07/2015, between 6-8pm. Wait was as advertised upon arrival. Very cool evening, and there was a fire with chairs around it that was full of people engaging in conversation. So from appearance they do meet the social aspect of dining. However, the dining experience not so. The wait staff was great, with the exception of the 3 younger women who were at the front reception area, with whom their cell phones and their own conversations about this and that were more pressing than the obvious question, "How many are in your party?". We chose this restaurant based on a coupon book that offered a BOGO. From what I could see, so did many others. There were four of us, and we ordered two different types of meals, as two do not enjoy seafood. So, two orders of the Fried Seafood Feast, and two orders of the Cajun Chicken Pasta. Cajun food has an abundance of flavors, and certain types of food memories come with it. However, the dish is mis-labeled. It should be called "Chicken with Ziti Pasta in a Light Alfredo Sauce". The sauce was a jarred alfredo sauce. Jarred. This is a dish you can recreate easily. Take Ragu, water it down to cut in half, add 1/2 of 1/2 grilled chicken breast, add sliced yellow peppers (leave them long so that they look impressive but hard to eat), a few onions, a scattering of mushrooms, and serve over ziti pasta with the watered down Ragu. At least serve the Ragu at full strength, add a splash of white wine to cut and add flavor, along with a tablespoon of butter, salt, pepper, and serve with cut fresh parsley on top. Nope. They are not about to raise their standards with this dish. Now, you may be saying to yourself, how do you know this? Because I asked. The young ladies at the front who ignored us upon entering was more than willing to tell me it was just alfredo sauce, nothing else added. And she was correct. No salt, pepper, let alone what Cajun food contains. No cayenne, nor anything else that had any real flavor to it. If a cook in the restaurant puts their name on this dish, then perhaps the cook needs to get a cookbook....and a spoon to taste before serving. Which leads me to the second dish. No salt on the fish. None. Dry. Tasteless. A complete waste. The server should have noticed that both of the fish from the meals were intact when they came to remove the dishes with the exception of a few bites. What a waste. The shrimp were fine, as the scallops, but the oysters were overcooked. And, please remember that frying oil gets cross contaminated when using it for multiple purposes. It needs to be changed frequently. Drinks. Coke products, but not fresh tasting. So the lines need cleaning. Sweet tea was good, as was the water and coffee. If you want Seafood, stop before this restaurant at Hudson's. Much better, same wait times, yet the food is head and shoulders better seasoned, and the same price point. In terms of Cajun Pasta, Kenny B's Voodoo Chicken on the Island, but in reality a Cajun sauce is quite simple to make FROM SCRATCH. Two stars. Again, the atmosphere is fantastic. Hush Puppies were great - just old oil. They have a good base to work with. They just need a head chef that cares about what leaves the kitchen, not just the volume.
(2)Bill G.
Back for a third dinner outside on the water. Shrimp and Scollop plate, broiled to perfection. Service was pleasant and gave good guidance. Live music was too loud and inter feared with our enjoyment of the atmosphere. We come here every time we visit Hilton Head, and we'll be back.
(4)Scott S.
We ended up here by chance but I'm quite pleased that we did. We arrived and were told that it would be 30 minutes and they would text when the table is ready. 20 minutes later we were in since we took first available table. Started with a hilton head mule which was great. he corn bread and butter were delciious. We got a dozen Virginia oysters to start along with fried pickles, dynamite roll and a seafood chowder. The oysters were fresh, briny, decent sized, and very tasty. The dynamite roll was devoured and the seafood chowder was ranked highly as well. The fried pickles were amazing. Best I've ever had. My kids both got the Angry Tuna Bowl which I tasted. I agree with them it was oustanding and I would order it the next time I'm here. I had the grouper which was excellent. The tilefish although fresh was good but not great and was served lukewarm. Our waitress Elysha was great and sent us home with extra corn bread and butter. If you are lucky enough to get her tip her well as she worked her butt off. Place has great atmosphere and a lot of energy. Don't forget to hit the gift shop on the way out. No reservations but worth the wait.
(4)Julie W.
Only negative--LONG wait. But well worth it! Sat on the dock watching the sunset & some dolphins. Get the hush puppies! They were delicious! I had sushi and it was good--the Crunchy roll must've been flash fried--it was amazing. My boyfriend's snow crab legs we're ridiculously good! Definitely worth the wait! Perfect atmosphere, gorgeous views, fantastic food.
(5)Jojo B.
We were recommended here by some Hilton Head locals ( we are from Las Vegas)... The bartenders Amanda, and Maggie were awesome and they recommended the Angry Tuna Roll at the bar while waiting for our outside seating and it was OUTSTANDING! We got there at Happy hour, so drinks at the bar were $1 off and appetizers at the bar were half-price... We waited to be seated outside which wasn't a long wait at all( the wait was only about 30 minutes for outside seating- but immediate if we wanted to eat inside). This was also at about 5pm, so it was very busy. When our table was ready, Carson took over as our server and was very attentive and extremely friendly. We ordered the King Crabs legs for an appetizer, and they were outstanding, very fresh, sweet, tasty, and filling ( this could have been an entree it was so large). The price was about average for King Crab at market price and a lot cheaper than what we would have paid in Las Vegas. For dinner, I got the Wreck fish which was tasty but a little bland, it needed a bit more spices. My husband got the Royal Sampler which was Scallops, Crab- stuffed shrimp, and a special vinegar potato chip crusted crab cake ( the crab cake was ALL crab- hardly any fillers). EVERYTHING he got was outstanding as well. Then came desert (which we really didn't need as we were so full), we got the Blackberry Cheesecake, and I must say it was the BEST cheesecake we've had in years. Also the portion could have fed a family of four... I would highly recommend Skull Creek Boathouse to everyone in the Hilton Head area.
(5)Iama C.
Iama Critic Rating - Skull Creek Boathouse - 4 Stars 397 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island, SC Overall: As a chef I love to travel and experience all sorts of cuisine. I simply love good food and it doesn't matter to me if the place is a dive where I eat off paper plates and ripped seats, or a fancy bistro on a yacht. But in this economy, price matters, with a high price demanding high expectations! On a recent trip my guests and I were loaded to the hilt with discount coupons and gift cards, so we visited several of the most well known restaurants in Hilton Head, SC. So does Skull Creek Boathouse measure up, we shall see! $6.00 - Seafood Chowder - 5 Stars Wow, I have eaten all over this country, from Maine to Florida, and all the way over to California, and I have never had a bowl of chowder this BIG. Oh, but the voluminous delight does not end there, all those different seafood morsels release an orgy of flavor within your mouth! Scallops in a chowder? Yes, yes, it literally was some of the best spent money ever! And I have eaten at over a thousand restaurants! $16.00 - Jambalaya - 5 Stars I have traveled to New Orleans countless times, just to eat! And SCB's jambalaya was every bit as good as the best I have ever had! And I have been served in the bayou by people that didn't even speak English! $20.00 - Salmon Rockefeller - 3 Stars My very finicky, health conscious guest, none too pleased with my very unhealthy choices, ordered the Salmon Rockefeller, minus everything that makes it Rockefeller, as well as a side of steamed green beans, a potato and a house salad. My guest, who never orders anything per the menu, has the most horrid fortune at restaurants. For some reason she is oft served such horribly paltry entrees, that at times her orders seem to be purposefully abused. Her salmon portion was no larger than a tiny bream, perhaps 4 ounces, her portion of steamed green beans numbered only 10 and her salad was practically nothing but iceberg lettuce. Sadly for her, nothing I ordered was suitable, so she remained unsatisfied and gave her experience only three stars. Frankly I thought she was kind to give her meal three! $20.00 - Soft Shell Crabs - 1 Star This entree of two soft shelled crab, which was served, not fried, but broiled and covered with a lemon alfredo sauce and served over rice. The crabs were not on the menu and were expensive, as expected. Almost every restaurant that offers soft shelled crabs simply screws it up in one way or another, and SCB is no exception. Their sauce was so excessively strong that the delicate taste of the crab is entirely lost, and the rice upon which it was served, was not their fancy red rice, but a rather dull lifeless rice with a few bits of veggies for color. Soft shelled crab is typically outrageously priced, so this entree was a complete failure and the recipe needs to be radically altered. Final Thoughts: Forget the horrid soft shell crab, the pathetic house salads and the paltry salmon, and get yourself the chowder, it's a $6 meal in a monstrous bowl, and order the Jambalaya as take out, for two days you will be in tastebud bliss fro a mere $22.00! As for the rest of their menu items over $12.00, I have serious reservations about it being worth the price! It seems the higher the price the less you get.
(4)Chris G.
Best restaurant on the island period. Great food, good prices, and the service is on point. You can get there by car or boat. Outdoor seating at the bar is the spot to be for the sunset view.
(5)Sherry K.
Not sure what all the excitement is over the place other than it is right on the water and fun if you are at the bar. Oysters were excellent however the rest of our meals( fried seafood platter, calamari, stuffed shrimp) were at best average. Server was nice, food came out so quick it felt like either it was precooked or they just wanted you out of there. So many other fantastic restaurants for the money in Hilton head.
(3)Brennan M.
Very cool atmosphere but they messed up our order twice. First, they were very late bringing my sisters chicken tenders. Then while she waited 30 minutes after everyone else got food, they brought macaroni and cheese. "That's not what we ordered" "oh...my mistake" then 10 minutes later they brought grilled chicken. Wrong again. Then, after that they finally brought the right meal. Manager came and comped the meal and apologized. Just a little bad that an 11 year old had to wait 50 minutes to eat her chicken. EDIT: what I did not realize was the manager said he would take it off the bill and didn't. We mentioned it to the server and she fixed it
(2)Denianne B.
A long wait (about an hour), but the food was fresh and really great. We spent the day on the water fishing, and this restaurant will take what you caught and prepare it for you (so I hear...we didn't make the right catch). It's right next door to two other restaurants (Hudson's and chart house) and this was much more casual than the others. It also looked more enjoyable. I had the scallops and they were some of the best I've had. My four year old had the kids filet and ate every last bite. That's a big accomplishment. I'd like to go again. This is one of the few places on the island where you can dine and watch the sunset.
(4)Jim W.
Good food. Long wait. We arrived about 6 pm on a monad and were told that it would be 90-120 min wait. It was. Once we were seated we had good service. The waitress was there right away for drink orders and then back quickly with drinks and to take our order. We had some wings for an appetizer and they were pretty average. Wife had the cod for dinner and it was awesome! I had the seafood stew and it was very good. My son had the jambalaya and said it Wasserstein great. I would recommend either going early for the "Early Bird Special" or wait until about 8 or 8:30 to go.
(4)Kendra H.
Extensive, delicious menu, incredible drinks, wonderful service. We went Christmas week and had happy hour in the outside bar; plenty of strong heaters to keep everyone warm. Favorites were the sushi (best we've ever had, collectively), the Horchata Colada (get it), and everything we ordered off the specials menu. Earlybird supper menu has great portions for a good price. Ambiance and service were welcoming, our server Darren felt like family. Ask servers for local hot spot suggestions. Highly recommend!
(5)Cynthia W.
Nasty! If you like cheap cigars and strong cologne this is the place for you! Overpriced drinks and the service is awful! Skip this one!
(1)Megs T.
Dining, my friends, is an experience composed of more than just what's on the plate and what the food may lack in WOW factor here the location, views, atmosphere and vibe make up for tenfold! I would go back here again and again for the overall experience. Grab a cold one, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, eat some decent yet fresh seafood and live yo life! Note: I ordered the chilled seafood platter for myself and it was a gluttonous choice. However, all of that seafood for only $34?!?! That thing would cost at least $80 in DC area. See pic. Would work great as an appetizer for a table of 4 (or more).
(4)Robin D.
First time visitor.....can I say "can't wait to go again. Excellent lunch menu, great food, great service. Reasonably priced, wide variety of foods.
(4)Marie D.
Outstanding seafood! Best of our stay, no holds barred. I ordered a cup of seafood chowder to start, which tasted homemade, with shrimp, flounder, scallops, potatoes and a wonderful creamy base. For my entree I had the fisherman's catch, broiled, which was generous amounts of scallops, shrimp, stuffed flounder, deviled crab, served with a wonderful Cajun style rice an crisp green beans. My husband had a cup of gumbo and flounder almondine, both of which he raved about, with smashed potatoes and green beans. My sister had stuffed flounder and my brother in law had pecan ginger crusted mahi mahi. We ate in the bar on Friday night so no wait, drinks were great, service was great, view of sunset and water was great. This restaurant is now on our "must go" list for our recurring trips to HH.
(5)Christina G.
Thrilled with this place!!! Atmosphere was perfect, kids were thrilled with their menu, and my husband and I were too!!! We were completely satisfied with our portions and the taste of everything was wonderful! We went early, 3:00 pm and as we were leaving cars were piling in. This place was perfect! Only issue was the gift shop, they gave the kids coins to spend... Which led to an argument, but as far as food and atmosphere couldn't have been better (just keep the coins a secret)
(4)Gina H.
I'm OVER it!!! Two hour + waits & an indifferent staff will be the undoing of this hyper popular HH restaurant. The location on the docks at skull creek is beautiful inviting, but they take no reservations, no call ahead & it's usually a very long wait. If you can grab a table at the bar, raw bar or high top table at the outside bar, you're lucky & can avoid the wait. The food is good & the atmosphere fun, but the trolling for tables & impossibly long waits make it so unpleasant that we're moving it off our list. Hudson's (two docks down) offers better food & the convenience of call ahead.
(2)John S.
This is another place I will praise for providing entertainment for people while they wait on their table. I ate the ahi tuna sandwich which was very good. I will be coming back next year.
(4)Robert F.
The good... The location. Great view of the water. The rest... Not so good. We had a large group and having a clueless waiter made the experience difficult. He was so unhelpful, it was amazing. Luckily we were sitting near the bar, so when it was time for another drink, I had a tab open at the bar and I would get up and go get one myself. The food is mostly frozen, packaged junk. Our group was still talking when the bill came and after I paid, he disappeared. We would have loved not just our main courses but even some appetizer plates to be cleaned up but he was no where to be found. We would have ordered more drinks from him but that wasn't an option. He didn't even come to pick up my signed check and we were there for about a half hour after I signed it. I was with some great friends, luckily, so that and the view were very enjoyable.
(2)Erin B.
Just finished eating and had to write a review! I had the Lowcountry Boil and my husband had the early bird special fried seafood platter. From a girl that grew up along the coast a b d waited tables in many seafood restaurants, I know good seafood when I taste it. This was the real deal. I see why it's so busy. Service was great and we will be back!
(5)Mike B.
We had a great meal! We orders the sampler platter for an appetizer, everything was super tasty and came out fast and fresh. For our meal, we ordered the broiled and fried seafood platters as well as the fresh catch. Everybody got exactly what they wanted and were very pleased. The restaurant also has an excellent early bird menu with a lot of great options (that's what we ordered from). Our server, Leslie, was very friendly and attentive, she made sure we were for want of nothing! Definitely will go back, strongly recommended.
(5)Naomi B.
Pros: Delicious hush puppies, moonshine cocktails, good strong drinks, yummy shrimp po boy, plenty of outdoor seating Cons: Not overly clean, entire restaurant smells like it could use a good clean. Other: Quiet around 5pm. Live music later in the evening so I recommend having a later dinner if you want a more lively scene.
(3)Christy C.
Great place to have fresh seafood while on the island. Has great views; however I dined here at night and inside so I can't say I saw the views first hand :) They seat on a first come first serve basis. We arrived with a party of four around 9pm and were quoted a 30 minute wait which ended up being about 7 minutes. We were acknowledged by our server within a few minutes of being seated and served drinks very quickly. We started with the seafood sampler/platter which was delicious although it was cold seafood and I think I realized I prefer steamed seafood to cold. I had the tortilla crusted tilapia for my entree which was delicious but had a lot of 'stuff' on the top of it (tomatoes, cheese, some kind of sauce, etc.). In other words it was richer than I expected it to be. The atmosphere is a bit loud. They had live music on the patio which could be heard inside if you are seated near the door. I would definitely check this place out if you are looking for good seafood in a laid back atmosphere with great customer service.
(4)Chip B.
As always, they never fail to impress! The appetizer sampler was awesome.. and that was just the beginning! I love that there is so much to do if you have to wait for a table and it is really easy to make an evening of it and have a great time. Great food, great drinks, great music, and low country hospitality at its best! Check out the Skull Creek General Store for quality t-shirts, souvenirs, local products, and more!! Keep up the great work!
(5)N B.
My fiancé and I went there for dinner. We had the crab and shrimp dip. They give a healthy portion. It was good. We cleaned the bowl. For entrees I had the Tuna 3 way. It was okay. My fiancée had the grouper with crab. That was excellent. The best thing of the night was our server RICK. He was very attentive and a lot of fun. Ask for him when you go.
(3)Liela C.
Fried oysters are pretty good. Nice area to have lunch. This place is on the other side of the island from the public access beaches.
(4)Jay U.
Awesome all around. Worth the very long wait. Fantastic views, great atmosphere. Best family-oriented restaurant I've ever been to.
(5)Nicolas B.
I had high expectations from this restaurant as most of the reviews are extremely positive. The food was average, but absolutely not worth the nearly two hours wait we endured. Although my experience here was not very good, most reviews say great things about the this place,so I would recommend it to others based on popularity. BUT don't stay if the waiting time is very long!
(2)Jamie L.
Beautiful location by a marina, hence the name! Restaurant with indoor, outdoor seating and dog friendly! Service was fantastic. The menu was large and varied for all types of food. If there was downside, it would be the price. The food was very good but slightly overpriced but seems to be on par with other restaurants in the area.
(4)Stephanie C.
The boathouse is a family favorite during our annual trip to HHI. Personally, I think it is a bit overrated. The wait is guaranteed to be long and the service inconsistent. They also don't have reservations, which is unfortunate for large parties such as ours. You may get some people hanging around your bar tables waiting to pounce when you leave. The seafood is fresh though, and I enjoy the coconut butter seared scallops and hush puppies.
(3)J.B. W.
Made a stop here while down on vacation and I'd come back again. I ended up going with the special stone crab legs and an order of clams - just to keep it simple. Delicious brine for the clams however they were a bit sandy still, not sure if it's because they were still in the brine or if they could have benefited from a more thorough cleaning but the flavors made up for it. Also these were not your standard sized littleneck clams but I think they were too small to be cherrystone clams also they were of good size. The stone crab claws were delicious, they were from the cold bar and the special mustard they were served with was equally as good. I was here with a group so I got to sample a lot of other items as well, the flounder was cooked nicely as well as the steamed shrimp (PRO TIP: pay the extra buck to have them peel them for you...). Just went with a beer for dinner but the cocktails that were had by my companions were mighty good as well. We took a stroll on the docks after dinner and saw a gator, dolphins, and some crabs swimming around. Not to mention a nice sunset.
(4)Richard R.
I'm so glad we went back this week for another visit.... even though it was accidental. After about a 6 mile bike ride from our resort to take pictures on the Skull Creek Marina, we were a little hungry and decided to stop for appetizers. Our last visit was just a few days earlier and didn't have the best food experience. Chris (one of the managers), decided to give us ALL a round of Chowder on the house after hearing our disappointment in our recent visit. That was way above and beyond our expectation. I honestly would not have ordered the chowder again, but I'm so happy he offered a free round... because it tasted exactly the way I remembered from our first visit a year ago. THANK YOU CHRIS!!! It gave us the confidence to order more appetizers, so we had a few rounds of calamari, Oysters "Rocket" feller, and fried oysters. EVERYTHING was fantastic, so I am officially chalking our previous visit up to just a bad night. The fried oysters were so good we ordered another round even though everyone was already full. If you read my reviews, you know I LOVE calamari and don't really care for oysters. But the fried oysters are by far my favorite appetizer here. Although the food is the main reason to come here, I think coming during the day is just a much better experience than @ night. The marshland views are amazing and there is just something about watching them haul boats from the storage house back to the water that adds to the ambiance. I definitely recommend coming here during daylight hours!!!! Skull Creek Boathouse is back on my top HHI favorites list after a brief bump in the road.
(5)Lyn R.
Okay....here goes. What can I say but that I was shocked. The wait was horrendous, but the reggae band was amazing and the setting is beautiful. I was prepared to hate this place because they serve hundreds of people at once, but it was absolutely amazing. One of my new favorites in Hilton Head. Our waiter could not have been any better. The food was perfect. Maybe we got lucky....
(5)Maria V.
Have been here several times in the height of the season.. stopped by for brunch this past Saturday Dec 27th. Absolutly the worsed. Beautiful day out but only a small portion of the outdoor seating was available we needed to sit outside since part of our party of 6 had dogs. Well two young hostesses were not very accommodating I was told you can go out there and see if there is any seats available somebody should be finishing soon. They then went back to talking between themselves like I was not still standing there. SO we all left and went elsewhere that did accomodate us. Well, will not be back ever again I don't care about the lovely view you have. Food is not all that great and employees are not great at all.
(1)jenny c.
We had a fabulous dinner. There was 14 of us. Bill was a tad high but food was delicious. So many choices. All was worth the money. We had 6 kids with us and most dinner times are rough. This one had things for the kids to look at and to do. The little boys loved looking at the boat. Deff will return.
(5)Sue B.
Great views and if you get there early - you can sit just a few steps from the water. I had the fish tacos and my husband had the Chilled Seafood Platter (for himself.) Food quality was good and prices were reasonable. Huge menu.
(4)Tim S.
I certainly think this place is overrated. Most of the reviews that are poor complain about long wait times. Since I noted this problem, we decided to go at 5pm on a Wednesday. We waited 10 minutes and got a table...so no problem there. This drinks were average - I got two drinks the moonshine and a loaded corona. The moonshine was weak and very sweet. Not worth the $11. The loaded corona was pretty good - good concept. Now...for the bad. The food was very sub par. The hush puppies were supposed to be "the best" and I didn't find anything special about them...other than the butter to accompany them. I got the chilled seafood platter and it looked great, but the seafood was not nearly as fresh as one would expect. I also tried two other seafood dishes, one off the early bird menu and another seafood combo. All tasted bland and the scallops were ridiculously small - I've actually never seen them that small. I won't be back unless I just take in that beautiful view and have a couple coronas and enjoy the live music. Because the food is not good!
(2)Tawanna L.
Seafood was fresh and taste great!! Worth the $$$...I expect to wait when a restaurant is as popular so no worries..they made up for it with great food and a funny server. We were very pleased!!
(5)Lou C.
I think I'm being generous giving this restaurant one star. It was pricy and my swordfish was over cooked and dry. My husbands red snapper was overcooked as well but not quite as badly as mine. The rice tasted like it was Rice a Roni, very bland with a funny aftertaste. It was listed as "red rice" which it was most certainly not. Sure, it had a pink tint to it, but red rice is a specific variety that is dark red-orange when cooked, one of the exotic strains, definitely not what I was served. I give this review one star because the Haricot Verts were cooked perfectly (not hard to get them right), and the bacon-tomatillo sauce was tasty, but I didn't taste much tomatillo- I thnk it was just bacon in a blender with heavy cream. Amateurs. Don't waste your money. The fish at a fast-casual restaurant the night before was much better.
(1)Stephanie M.
Best sushi like ever !!! Never had anything bad here ! Soooooo good! go eveery time i come down to hilton head!!
(5)Misty D.
If you like seafood, drinks, the beach, bars, or football... then this is your place. Tons of seafood to offer, of all kinds. Great bartenders and servers. Lots of TVs and sports everywhere, but not overwhelming you if you're there just for the food. It was extremely cold and yucky outside when we visited, but outside they had lots of really fun spaces. There's a separate outside bar right on the water, a humungous connect 4 game, a humungous jenga game, bean bag toss, etc. Free popcorn at the bar. We visited 3 nights we were there on vacation and had a delightful time all 3 times. The first evening we were there, we moved from a table to the bar for happy hour after our meal and my mom left her purse on the chair without realizing it for hours. When she realized it, we asked our previous server and he had it safely hiding in the back for her with all of it's contents in it, including travel cash. Not only WHEW! but it says a lot about an establishment.
(5)A L.
We came to Hilton Head for a mini-vacation. A number of friends recommended Skullcreek Boat House for dinner. It was by far the best food that we have eaten in Hilton Head. We did have to wait a little over an hour but it was so worth it. We started off with Snow Crab Legs. I really don't care for crab legs but these were awesome! I had grouper imperial- stuffed with crab cakes with a cream sauce. It was so good! My husband had the fried seafood platter- his go to meal when we are at the beach. He said it was good as well. The service was also great despite it being so busy. Overall excellent! You definitely need to check this place out if you come to Hilton Head- but like everyone else has said, be prepared to wait.
(5)John L.
Visited on a Monday night, seated right away, drinks came quickly, we ordered, I asked for food to be brought as ready as I ordered a pound of shrimp to share and a salad, waitress decided to bring it with my wives entree instead. In the middle of the meal a manager walked up and asked my to adjust myself, my shirt had caught on the chair and my back was showing, he was very rude about it. The food was good, but my son's mac and cheese was not good at all, the manager never came back by, and we sat for 20 minutes after we finished for our waitress to come back as she lost a ticket for the table next to us and we had to wait for her to figure it out.
(1)Shari A.
I must admit that I have no idea what people are saying about how wonderful the fish is here and how atmospheric it is. Perhaps the atmosphere would have been nicer had I visited during nice weather as we dined here during Christmas week. The place struck me as a touristy chain restaurant. It might be fun to grab a drink and a fish taco on a nice sunny evening, but the food is here just adequate. Service was good, but nothing to rave about. Even during the off season, the wait can be quite long. The local fish really didn't wow me and the preparations lack sophistication and creativity. There must be a better option on the island.
(2)Jennifer N.
What a meal.....outstanding and the service was impeccable! !! Come early as there is a long wait. Well worth the wait though.
(5)Chris P.
Had dinner with some locals (hometown friends) at Skull Creek. The meal was exceptional. I had the Alaskan King Crab, honestly, the best I had all week on the island.
(5)David C.
The food is so good you better get there early. My food was definitely worth the wait last night. The shrimp was cooked perfect and the steak was even better.
(5)Karin C.
Ok, I will start off with we rarely wait for dinner. However, we were later than usual and figured we would have a wait regardless. Two (2) hours later we were seated for dinner. It is a seafood restaurant and hush puppies are extra. So not impressed with the food. Service was very good. Party of four and mediocre dinner was $200. That did include one glass of wine (the special that evening) and one beer. Will definitely not return.
(2)Kathy B.
This place is always among our top favorites while visiting Hilton Head! Actually this visit we stopped for the Sunday brunch buffet.before we even checked in to our resort! The buffet is always wonderful. The omelet bar choices are extensive and after placing your order you may return to your table and they will deliver it. While waiting you can partake of the other choices- fresh fruit is always a must for me. Nick, our server, was gracious, friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The view is beautiful and we always look forward to the next visit.
(5)Andy A.
I've been coming here for 25 years and tried a lot of places. This one lives up to the hype. A must. Go before 5 even in February unless you want to wait. Jimmy from Mogadore Ohio at the bar is the best. Go early and stay late. Definitely worth the price.
(5)Allison K.
Ceviche and oysters were dELIcIOuS! Great wine list and awesome server to boot! 1hr and 45 min wait but we sat immediately at the sushi bar or high tops on the deck. Perfect because we still ordered from full menu. If seated outside, be aware that South Carolina law blows and allows people to smoke. The view is amazing but no worse lung cancer. We will definitely return.
(5)Jay C.
Long wait and decent fare. Save room for the key lime pie. Bring your camera for an amazing sunset photo.
(4)Joshua O.
Great food and outstanding ambience. Beautiful view of skull creek. We loved the seafood chowder.
(4)Kelly R.
Food was great! The CT oysters delicious. The seafood sampler was fantastic, especially the crab cakes. Delish! Was surprised by the great selection of beer and wine. We are here for the week and will definitely hit this place again before we leave.
(5)Colleen D.
Can I give this place 20 stars? Be prepared, you will wait! But it is completely worth it! We are on vacation and will be back again. Everything on the menu looked good, so we ordered some apps to try stuff. Well EVERYTHING was top notch. Oysters were good, fried pickles were good! My dad got shrimp cocktail and fried oysters and loved them. My mom for the seafood sampler and said everything was delicious. I got the fish sandwich and if was crazy good like best fish I have ever had! I live in Boston so that says a lot. You have to go here!
(5)Rick S.
The best time ever at the Skull. We were treated like royalty and the staff were on top of us, water or drink got a little low and someone was there filling or bringing another one. It smelled like the sea not like the docks I been to in the past. the prices were fair and my only gripe is they had NO fried crab claws (which I love). I had planned on posting food pics , but as soon as it was sat down in front of us we ate it up, sorry.
(5)Yngwie M.
Got there right at 5pm on Memorial Day, and the place was packed. Wait was supposed to be 30-45 minutes, but really we only had to wait about 15-20. Ended up eating too much, but everything was good. Ordered the hush puppies, which were good. But probably shouldn't have, since they brought out bread anyway. Had the tuna three ways. Comes with Carpaccio (excellent), Spicy Mediterranean (good), Poki (just okay). Also had the shrimp and grits (really good). Split the chocolate pudding cake w/ice cream with the wife. It was good. We might go there again later in the week.
(5)Patti H.
Not great - my fried combo was soggy and service spotty not interested in going back especially with the waits
(3)Colleen B.
Excellent meal! Always a lengthy wait but worth every minute! Our server Alex had wonderful suggestions and was entertaining. The strawberry mojita goes down well so just do yourself a favor and order a whole pitcher. Grouper Imperial and King Crab were perfect!!
(4)Larry T.
The food: I had the Seafood Stew and I would rate that as 5 Stars! I would go back just to have that. My wife had the King Crab legs. The environment: The wait for an outside table was 1.5 hours, but high tops by the bar were first come. We lucked in to a high top after only 30 minutes and the view was great. Many people bring their dogs along and are not conscientious about them which is annoying :( Also too many cigar smokers. We ate outdoors, but indoors seems stuffy and crowded. Not sure I would eat there if that was the only choice. Overall: The great food and view made up for the annoyances
(4)L D.
Fantastic! as a former HHI native, I recently went back with my 2 small children and husband. What can I say.... amazing! the food, the view, the laid back island atmosphere. I would rate this the best place to eat on the island.
(5)Janice H.
Super friendly staff, large bar selection, and great food. I had the salmon BAT and it was GREAT! Salmon cooked to perfection...even the fries were good despite not being home made ( or maybe they were? ) great value. I went just after the lunch rush and it was still busy. Good indication of good food.
(5)Holly W.
Go before you get hungry because you will have a very long wait! My mom and I were given at least an hour to 1:15 and they were correct. This was even on a Wednesday night to avoid the weekend crowds! They brought bread as a starter which was good, almost like a light but sweet cornbread loaf. The food came fast and was piled high on top of a mountain of fries. I personally cared more about the seafood. The flounder was huge and the scallops were so freshly fried the breading hardly stayed on, the shrimp were huge and the oysters were tastefully my favorite. This place brings a steady crowd and parking can be tricky but you can eat at the covered outside bar for a better view of the water. The ambience of this restaurant is great and you won't be disappointed with anything except the wait.
(4)Derek W.
Love, love, love this place. Such great food. Great for families and wonderful outdoor eating.
(5)Nicole R.
When we arrived it was a 20 minute wait. The hostess was true to her word it was not a minute over. Loved everything about this place! Coral out server was kind and attentive. Thanks so much, Coral. You made my son's day! I would highly recommend the Angry Tuna Rice Bowl and the sangria!
(5)Jane S.
Skull Creek was recommend by family who have vacationed on HH often. We arrived early, around 5:30 on a Monday, as we skipped lunch and were hungry. They don't take reservations, but we were seated right away. We started with a basket of hush puppies and they would good but I would skip them next time and just wait for the basket of bread. The bread was great. I had the Waohoo fish with potato gratin and collard greens. After one bite of the collard greens we ordered another side as my husband wanted to eat mine and I wasn't so thrilled with sharing. (they were good) He had the shrimp and grits and he just said he's ready to go back and have it again. The wait staff was friendly and very efficient. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed. For a great dinner on HH, this one is hard to beat.
(4)Chris S.
Restaurant was highly recommended by staff at Marriott vacation club. They also called in preferred seeting for us. We sat outside and enjoyed the view and excellent live music. The food was great! Ordered from the early bird menu and got the seafood chowder with dinner. As others said, the chowder was amazing. Our service was also great. Overall, a great experience and very good food.
(5)Sheena A.
Wouldn't know how the food is because on our second attempt our wait time went from an hour and 45mins to two hours and 15mins. We left. Same thing happened last week.
(1)Elliott E.
Best views that I've ever had at a restaurant. My mahi mahi was excellent and everyone at the table was ecstatic about this place. I ordered one of the moonshine drinks which came with a souvenir mug, so that was cool. Also the gift shop was definitely well above average for a restaurant. Would highly recommend!
(5)Kyle O.
The setting was wonderful and the food followed suit. I ordered the shrimp and grits and was very pleased by the prompt service and quality of food. I will definitely be going again.
(5)Brittany M.
Amazing place. Sorta hidden away behind a big boat storage building. We had a little trouble finding it but it was totally worth it. So charming beautiful location on the water. Hanging lights on the patio overlooking boats docked below. Great view of the sunset. So efficient. We were impressed. Cost a little more than we are used to. 90 dollars after tip for two people, but we would go back. Had the steak and Mahi Mahi. Fried green tomatoes a twist on the original with goat cheese fried on top. The food might be cheaper elsewhere but you can'tbeat the atmosphere.
(5)Riley B.
Why eat hush puppies if you aren't going to eat them here? Some of the best you'll ever have. Also, they have GREAT Cajun pasta.
(5)Marcie H.
We took our 4 kids, ages 11-14 with us at 4:30 on 4th of July. Parking was crazy, but we were seated right away. Food was good, just nothing special. I had mahi mahi, husband got the grouper, oldest ordered catfish. Good size portions, but we will try somewhere else instead of returning. Service was slow.
(3)Mark M.
Great experience. Service was awesome and food was great as well. Highly recommend the place. Very busy so be prepared to wait, but definitely worth it
(4)Jeremy T.
Depending on who you talk to, or read I guess too, this place is either a lot better now, or used to be a lot better before, but everyone seems to have an opinion, and that says something. I have been coming here for the past few years, both as a destination and a place to go after fishing. It is easy to say that I am a fan. I don't see a time that I would go to Hilton Head and not go to the boathouse. I love the outside deck and bar. A fantastic way to enjoy the water and a sunset. I have found the food to be very solid as well; especially the sashimi that they have. The service is usually pretty good, and pretty friendly. The wait can be much at times, but putting your name on the list, getting a cocktail, and playing some cornhole out by the water passes the time nicely.
(4)Baruch M.
Happy hour outside with a cold beer, Cigar and live music. . . doesn't get any better. I was tired of seafood broils so I got the Shrimp Pasta since I don't eat much pasta and it was rich and delicious, paired great with the bread they bring to the table. Get there early during happy hour because during the tourist season they get busy fast and you will wait a good while.
(4)Jeremy R.
This place is very lively and fun and very crowded. Long wait for a table but very friendly service and fast food and drinks once seated. Some food was great other options not so much like the stuffed flounder. But seafood chowder and green tomatoes were delicious and had a good time here.
(4)Luke T.
There is no shortage of seafood restaurants in Hilton Head Island. We came here because of their LobsterFest event and had a great meal. Its off the Island but not too far. Total drive time maybe 20 minutes. The place is laid back and service is good. We were seated and attended to very promptly. We had the lobster roll and there was so much lobster on that itty bitty sandwich it was ridiculous. MIght as well have been a whole darn lobster on a sliver of toast. There is sushi as well and we enjoyed the Crunchy Roll. Basically, flash fried sushi roll. Crunchy indeed. I spied a few tables with oysters and found out they have a good selection, bluepoint, east coast, upper west coast.... if I were to spend another night in HHI, I would have come back just for the oysters.
(4)Micky L.
This place is awesome! Of course it was packed, didn't surprise me once we tasted the food! We had the steamed oysters and the EXTRAVAGANZA! My husband and I will order separate platters next time since we destroyed this last one good amount to share unless you can eat some serious sea critters!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE! !
(5)Boston Italian Girl O.
We loved this place! It has a great view of the bay/marinas and is very easy to get in and out of. When we arrived we were told that it would be an hour to an hour and 15 minutes but we were surprisingly sat within 40 minutes! We were sat inside right along the window so we could hear the live music and see the outdoor bar/water view. We started with the mussels and hush puppies and the hush puppies were delicious. The mussels weren't bad, but they could have used more flavor. For entrees we had the salmon Rockefeller which was to die for, and the fried clam strips which were equally as yummy! We had no room for dessert but the service, food, and atmosphere here were wonderful!
(5)N W.
What a view! Fun lively place and good food. Attentive and fast service. As expected, long wait but a lot of things for kids to do. Defiantly a family friendly place.
(4)Jacob L.
I was down at Hilton Head for vacation and heard good things about this place and I was very happy that I came here. Extremely fresh sea food, great service and awesome outdoor atmosphere. Had a pretty decent selection of beers, wine and mixers. I wasn't the biggest fan of the 50s style inside, but the outdoor eating area and food made up for it. Hush puppies (4 stars) Sea food chowder (5 stars, best in have ever had) Seafood pasta (4 stars, very fresh fish) Cobie ( 4 stars, really good fish, fresh catch of the day, only available for 1 month)
(5)David D.
One of my favorites. It's on the water and great Americana food.
(5)Mary B.
Bartenders nice but I had crab claws and they were not edible! I showed Them to the bartender and he did not offer to credit me:((((( just go for a drink. If u r seated inside bring a nose clip it smells terrible inside!
(1)Bradford G.
Another one of my favorite restaurants on Hilton Head Island. Very nice restaurant inside, huge deck area outside, live music, multiple bars, right on the waterway. I wouldn't say the view is as good as some of the other places I went to but it's definitely a fun hangout spot and place to party with friends. Food was very good and the service was exceptional.
(5)Lila K.
We had the warm peeled shrimp appetizer with butter and they were fresh and so tasty. Also the seafood chowder was very good but not a very big bowl. Husband had crab cakes and really liked them. Overall it and the view were great.
(4)J H.
Tourist trap!!!! Awesome outside bar! Went to dinner around. 5pm on Wednesday hour and 15 min wait. Wait staff was great food was not very good. Lots of flair to keep your mind off of your mediocre food. I expect a seafood restaurant on the coast to serve fresh seafood but it tasted more like frozen filets.
(2)Cynthia F.
Wish I could return. I love raw fish and appreciate creative recipes including raw fish. I enjoyed the tuna poki and the rainbow rice bowl. I've had tuna tartare and tuna poke many times in other restaurants; their tuna poki is sweeter. I never saw raw fish diced and served in a bowl with rice, fruits and vegetables; yummy! I might have to request this dish at my favorite sushi restaurants when I return home. The berry cobbler was appropriately sweet; had a delicious cake-like topping, and was my second-favorite dessert on my trip to Savannah Georgia and Hilton Head SC. This was my single favorite restaurant on the trip. Coral is an excellent waitress.
(5)Kate J.
The long wait is not worth the food quality. Kitchen clearly does not know how to cook seafood properly outside of frying and the wait staff has no concept on food timing between appetisers and main course. Restaurant used to be amazing but has gone steadily down hill since the serg restaurant group took over. I would honestly give your time and money to another establishment.
(2)Rachel O.
If you want seafood while looking out on the water, this is the place! We ordered: King crab legs $41 (about 3 legs) Pick three fried lunch (shrimp, scallops, clam strips) which came with hush puppies, fries, good coleslaw Salmon deviled eggs (amazing) Hush puppies (it turned out unnecessary bc it came with the pick 3) Guacamole, salsa, and chips Rum runner but asked to pay more to get it in the souvenir mason jar Sitting on the water under the trees was amazing Food was really great, come hungry! Love the music
(5)Mike W.
Good food it just takes a little while to get there. The BBQ shrimp is really good through and they have a nice dock for you to walk around while you wait for a table. You will wait that's for sure because they don't do call ahead seating.
(3)The Food L.
Super place, nice view and great family friendly. I was here with kids and they all loved it.
(4)TJ A.
I'm not a fan of Hilton Head, but this place was not pretentious at all. The service was good. I had the almond coconut shrimp and crab cakes and both were tasty and the sauces homemade sauces were wonderful. Hushpuppies like no other.
(3)K H.
THE.VIEW! Food was good, view was amazing and we'll def be back. Worth waiting for an outdoor spot even if the sun's gone down. We ordered hush puppies for an app and they were yummy. Husband had coconut almond crusted tilefish and I had bacon wrapped BBQ shrimp with mashed potatoes (no grits for me!) and mac and cheese. The crust and glaze on the tilefish was great, the meat was tender and not at all dry. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and the bacon, cheese, BBQ flavor was a nice twist. I'd pass on the mashed potatoes and mac and cheese... The waiter assured us the key lime pie was the best on the island. If you prefer sweet over tart skip it -- I like tart and thought it was good.
(5)Kathy E.
Seafood we ate tasted fresh and delicious. Even though we ate outside it was cool in the shade of the trees. We enjoyed a nice view of Skull Creek.
(5)Tiger Emperor Z.
As a new resident of this area, I decided to check this place out. Sunday brunch was by far the best I've seen in a long time when it comes to restaurants. The bloody Mary's we're not only outstanding but also only $3! Yes you heard right. The buffet was a great idea as well because I usually eat a lot at these places and they have a wide variety of food items. There is even a chef that will make an omelette of your choice and have it sent to your table. The views are great from either inside or outside and everyone is very friendly. The best waiter by far is Emilio. Definitely my favorite spot to go and the reason for a high wait is the 5 stars this place deserves.
(5)K B.
It bothers me when people give a place 1-star because of the wait. The reason there is a wait is because it is a GREAT PLACE to eat! C'mon people!! How there are anything but 5-star ratings on this place baffles me. We are sitting outside looking at the water with a beautiful breeze blowing in late September. The food is RiDiCuLoUz. We had peel and eat shrimp, fish tacos, crab balls, shrimp quesadillas, and oyster Rockefeller. This was EXACTLY what we expected- and they did everything perfectly. Simple equation: A couple fruity drinks (for the lady) and a few draft beers (for me) + outstanding seafood + great service = a phenomenal time. We're coming back tomorrow for live music and dinner. We expect a long wait BECAUSE it's a great place!!!
(5)Joe M.
I have been to the Boathouse several times over the last 3 years each time the food has gotten a bit worst then the time before. Last night we arrived to a hostess who told us it would be an hour and a half wait when the restuarnt had lots of open tables. Well after pointing this out to her she sat us at a table. Funny thing is she turned away about 10 parties of 4 or more - not sure if they have the staff to handle it or she just waited to go home early. Anyway, we order the food from a menu that has so, many items on it I'm not sure how anyone can cook all of those items well. Sure enough, food can out cold with no seasoning and no taste at all. I think the restaurant has gotten so popular that the managers or owners have gotten fat and sassy and forgot what got them to be popular (THE FOOD) and for what ever reason they have lost their focus on why people come to a restaurant not just for the view. We dropped $150.00 on food I wouldn't give to my worst enemy. I would stay away from this place until they remember why people go to a restaurant, they want good food not just a view.
(1)Donna J.
We have eaten at Skull Creek Boat house several times since moving to Hilton Head, including lunch, and happy hour and everything was wonderful. Happy hour appetizers we like best are the coconut shrimp, oysters Rockafeller, calamari and any sushi. We also liked the crab and shrimp quesadilla and the fried oysters. Hard to choose the best items when everything is so good. Recently we decided to try dinner and it was so good the first time that we went back the following week. We had Mark for a waiter and he was prompt, attentive and entertaining, everything we love about good service in a nice restaurant. He was quick to fix a glitch in my husbands meal even though we were OK with it. To top off the great service we enjoyed an excellent meal. I had the Salmon Rockafeller which was awesome, and my husband had the fried seafood sampler, and we both had the seafood chowder as our appetizer, which was delicious. We had no room for dessert, but maybe next time. We highly recommend the Boat House for the food and the service, but to put an incredible icing on the experience the sunset over the water was fabulous!
(5)Tim M.
Popular place...we waited 30 minutes to be seated. Enjoyed some drinks out by the bay as we waited. Good live music outside. Once we sat, service and food were outstanding. Crab and shrimp dip, shrimp tempura were great appetizers. Grouper and Mahi-Mahi dishes were top notch, and desserts were also awesome. Very good kids meals as well. Decent prices...mid-$20's for entrées--worth the money.
(5)Dining A.
We had a generally very good meal here. This place is quite popular, and its easy to see why: great waterfront view, lively atmosphere, and pretty good food. We waited less than our quoted wait time as well; they have a nice text messaging system to alert you when your table will be ready. Service was somewhat lacking, but our server had too many tables and tried her best. We had the low country boil (lots of shrimp, plus corn on the cob, potatoes, sausage) and a seafood sampler (crab cake, stuffed shrimp, scallops) that was delicious but somewhat pricey.
(4)Susan Y.
we've been here twice now.. once with Tara and the other with Rick for our servers and both were wonderful.. the seafood is great and it's tough to find a good seafood spot down here where everything isn't fried. They are a busy place and we usually prefer to eat outside so we can bring the dogs and have them sit with us. plan to allow at least 30+ minutes to get a table.. love the tuna 3 ways and the flounder almandine.. big enough to share.
(4)Phil E.
Top notch! Great service, delicious food and a really nice location. Better than Salty Dog.
(5)Victoria S.
Yummy yummy Seafood with a gorgeous location. While on vacation a large group of us went here. We sat on the back deck which in my opinion, is the ONLY way to dine here. Excellent breeze on the water. Deck is HUGE! Large overhead fans keep the breeze going on a hot evening. I had the Salt and Vinegar potato chip coated crab cakes (sounds awesome right?) it was! Boyfriend had his first Low Country Boil - he was in love! Two bars, one outside one in. Drinks are reasonable! My only complaint was parking you HAVE to park valet
(4)Jim P.
Decided to try this place for lunch. It as a cold windy day so outside dining was not a option. Not very crowded at 2:00pm. Decided to sit at the bar. Ordered the hush puppies and some sushi rolls. Had the shrimp tempura roll and the surf and turf toll. Both were excellent. Girlfriend ordered a house drink with moonshine in it. It was good. I had the house margarita which was ok at best. Seemed like a lot of staff on hand but nobody was doing anything. Outside dining would have been a nice touch.
(4)Howard J.
Last night was our second consecutive night, which goes too show our pleasure of the first visit. On both occasions we dined at the bar, both staff and clientele very friendly, quick to engage in conversation, and helpful. Try the ceviche, the Latin marinade is just how it should be. PEI oysters were on point and tuna carpaccio excellent. Second night repeated the ceviche and followed with the Low Country Boil. Now, this is a favorite of ours at home, but this was better than my recent attempts. (What is their secret?) Look out for Mary Ann and Joe, great staff behind the bar, thanks for great nights.
(5)Colleen F.
This place has a great view and outdoor patio! The Boathouse is very kid-friendly. They have a sandbox and hula hoops for kids to play with while you wait for your table to be called. They give children a Buoy buck with their food that lets kids pick one small toy after their meal. The food is pretty good and the drinks are fun.
(4)Paul M.
First time here and we will be back. My daughter and I love the seafood. My wife and my other daughter love steak. Every body had what they wanted and everything was outstanding.
(4)P P.
This place is great! First time patron this week, in town on business from N. SC & a local client steered me there. Great because the: people ...from Hal - Master of Ceremonies & Valet to the 2 Phill's & Jarrod - the bar tenders food...ceviche latin style was very fresh, huge portions...collards, Key Lime pie too. I suspect w/ seafood (sushi too) as their speciality all of it is good. atmosphere...authentic dockside, marine, island attitude & vibe. Nice people many local. Will make it a regular stop on my trips to HHI & place to entertain clients on business.
(5)Caroline J.
Absolutely worth the wait. Service? Friendly, patient and on-point. Food? I would eat their Chopped Creole Cobb Salad for every meal if I could. Their sushi is so fresh and light. Restaurant atmosphere: You couldn't get more romantic, casual or beautiful all in one restaurant if you tried. Bottom line? I WANT ONE IN VEGAS! Yes, there was a massive wait, but that's what happens on a Saturday night for 20 people. Expected. Not the end of the world. When everyone sat down, we told the waitress we wanted separate checks just to be a pain, and she said, "No problem," and continued the great service. You've got to love that wonderful Southern hospitality! I ordered the Creole Cobb Salad, and holy freaking delicious. The honey mustard vinaigrette? Perfectly tangy, not too sweet, and they put it on the side without me asking so I could use it sparingly or dunk my super fresh shrimp in the ramekin. The greens, cheese, meats, bacon and shrimp were so fresh, and the salad was HUGE, so I was able to eat the entire thing and not feel hungry an hour later like I normally do when I eat a salad. The Cobb was hearty, and I will travel all the way from Vegas to have it again! Oh, I forgot about the spicy tuna roll. The one that had the perfect kick from sriracha, my favorite sauce in the world (or at least one of them)and was so fresh I could swear I saw the cook catching it off the dock a minute before it made its way to my table, It is arguably more fresh than any of the seafood I have gotten in Vegas, but I guess it helps that the restaurant is ON the ocean. It's all about the perks. The atmosphere would be perfect for a younger crowd once the kitchen closes down. Bar outside on the dock, a romantic walk down the pier, chill music, nothing too wild but just quiet enough that the roar off the crowd doesn't make it impossible to hear the conversation with your buddy sitting next to you. This restaurant easily accommodates a couple or a large group of people, but expect a very long wait regardless of when you arrive at the restaurant, because everything is great about this local favorite.
(5)Todd T.
Great place. Best bar on the water. Great views. Menu is excellent. Sunday brunch outstanding. I am local and this place never disappoints. Staff very nice and knowledgeable. Gill is one of the best waiters on the island. Ask for him. Yes people there is a long two hour wait during busy season but worth it. Just relax have a cocktail and enjoy the water because I can tell you right now you will not be able to sit outside on water anywhere else on island. Locals love this place. Yes again summer months long wait but a few Slurricanes and the time passes.
(5)Kyle F.
Really good hush puppies!! Half of their seats are outdoors so don't go when its raining or you will have to wait a while.
(3)Bob W.
Excellent food and excellent service. Nice location right on the water. Large choice of indoor or outdoor dining. We had a short wait but it very busy by the time we left so get there early if you can.
(5)Eric T.
My wife and I went for a night out while vacationing with the family on Hilton Head. Our dinner was delicious, absolutely wonderful shrimp and scallops. When we arrived, on a Tuesday evening, there was about a 1 1/2 hour wait so went down to the bar and had drinks and appetizers. We had the smokey seafood dip, which was very tasty. I did realize afterwards that there were two more pages of appetizers, including sushi, that we had missed. Their menu is very large. Dinner was terrific, very cool place as well.
(5)Sean S.
Popular place and now I know why. Great atmosphere and good food. Got oysters to start...they were fresh and tasty. Got the Mahi (pecan Ginger) and it was delicious. Sat at bar and enjoyed drinks with friendly bar staff. Place was hopping and had huge outdoor seating area and outside bar ( which was also slammed). Great view. I will definitely return to this place.
(4)Shari M.
Place was packed..on a MONDAY night. 1 hour wait. Sat at the bar, live music. Food was good....lowcountry boil and linguine and clam sauce. Linguine was a bit bland. Clams were tender and good. Would go again............
(3)Gary C.
Excellent Service, Fresh Seafood, However, the food during extreme busy times may come out cold. Great Views and typical resort prices. Very Loud and Busy. Do not come here for quiet and intimacy! A very good place to take the family for fresh seafood.
(3)Cj S.
This place is huge, and so is the menu. From past experience, the bigger the menu, the lower the quality of the food. This place followed that trend. We had the big chill appetizer. Definitely not worth 34.00. I had the reel big catch sandwich. Nothing special but good white fish. This place has great views and a happening night life, outdoor bar and plenty of seating. I went for the food and was not too impressed. Our waitress was very nice and bubbly. Service was not an issue. Probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Antonio B.
Scale 1-10 The dinner time outdoor ambiance 15 Fun 10 Food 7.5 Drinks 9 Service 9 We really enjoyed ourselves. We made local friends at the bar while waiting on our table. We played games and took pictures as this was our last night in hilton head. Being from Louisiana and living in texas. The food was pretty good and not priced to high
(4)Dan W.
Skull creek has good food , good environment for adults and kids, and reasonably priced. However the shrimp cocktails were a bit mushy, shrimp were not firm , may have been in fresh water. I would still go back and would recommend you go there to eat.
(3)Christine E.
We come here every time we are in Hilton Head. While waiting for a table, we enjoy a stroll down to the dock with a drink from the bar. Oftentimes we see a small alligator hanging around, waiting for scraps from the fishing boats. There is also an option to play connect four and giant jenga, always entertaining. I usually get the sushi rice bowls with tuna, salmon, avocado, etc. It comes in the perfect portion. He usually gets the fried shrimp. When asked why he likes it so much, he said "light and flaky with excellent flavor."
(5)Peter C.
Food was great! Service was excellent. Tara and Dan did an exceptional job in making this a pleasant dining experience.
(4)Taylor C.
What else can I say besides OUTSTANDING! I could not have asked for a better waiter, Joe. He was such an informative guy, my mom didn't know what she wanted to he asked her millions of questions go find out what she wanted! Then my little brother he's seven, got crab legs.. And Joe our waiter helped my brother crack his crab legs with him and talked to our family the whole time!! AMAZING SERVICE!! I would suggest going to the place around sevenish, still at 45 min wait but it's a lot better than two hours if you went at five! The water is right near and has a beautiful sunset, and there is a little shop which is very cute.. Now let's talk about the food!!! Crab legs, sushi, pastas, steaks, scallops hush puppies!! Everything was outstanding!
(5)Todd G.
So naturally we fell into the tourist trap that is skull Creek boathouse. We went there on a recommendation of people who have vacation in Hilton Head several times before and to be fair we were warned that there is a lot of customers, a lot of wait time, and it may not be a fast experience. But you figure what the heck we're on vacation we can enjoy the scenery and have a couple of beers etc etc. Our night started around 7 o'clock which yes I realize it's going to be busy and yes I realized that trying to seat a party of eight is difficult and you will have to wait. We initially were told a two hour wait but from scanning the patio area there are a lot of multi-party tables that were finishing or looking like they're getting ready to finish so we roll the dice. Outside they have a pretty neat area where they have a beer cart girl they have janga they have corn hole they have games they have the doc so there are lots of things to do while you're waiting. We got seated, true to their word, about 2 hours later. The kids were able to snack and we were seated about 9 o'clock. The place had also cleared out very nicely to the point where there were 15 or so empty tables so we figured this was going to pay dividends because we get awesome service and the food would come out fast. We had ordered our food I ordered a filet. Now during this time I like to keep a stopwatch just to see what their times are as far as bringing drinks, bringing appetizers, and when the food will be delivered. Our server was a nice fellow and I feel he did his best to give the best service he could but he was kind of avoiding us because we are getting very impatient waiting an hour before we started really complaining about the location of our food. The table right next to us was in the same predicament same size table and also was waiting an hour at least for the food. We finally have the manager come over who gave us an explanation that there was a party of 30 inside that our order was stuck behind. Now I am no mathematician but I was able to see that the restaurant at this time was now empty the exception of three parties in a couple stragglers. Not quite sure how you delay a meal for an hour when you got 45 people in a restaurant that is designed to hold 250. The food did come out about 1 hour and 15 minutes after we ordered it and at that point we just wanted to go home I didn't even feel like eating. No matter how good a steak is it never taste quite as good when your dining experience is ruined. The manager did come over and apologize only after we asked to see him but I think a little more proactivity on the manager side to maybe tell his servers to warn your tables kitchen is behind let's go on the pologize etcetera etcetera. Overall the meal was decent but the experience was destroyed by lack of communication in poor management. I don't think we're going to return.
(2)Kevin M.
Food and drinks are equally great! Our party had a very diverse meal.. Sushi rolls-A+ Hush Puppies-A+ Shrimp and crab dip- A+ NY Strip and lobster tail-A+ Crab Stuffed Filet-A+ Southern Fried Chicken-A+ Cajun Cobb Salad- A+ As you can see we loved the experience. Craig our server was awesome, and the bus boy, wish I got his name, was great too. Very good experience all the way around. Recommended to seek seating at bar or high tops as they are first come first serve. We found our table within 5 minutes, waterside at sunset! Great view of the sunset over marina. By no means would I consider this to be a "tourist destination" as it is well off the beaten path. Kudos to entire staff from start to finish!
(5)Audri P.
This place was amazing. The menu is so extensive...they even have sushi. Make sure you sit on the right ride so you can have great views of the marina. The husband and I went for a late lunch to avoid the crowd. We had wanted to go the night before but dinner, but I called and was told the wait was 1.5 hours...on a Tuesday night!! We started with the shrimp & crab dip, which came with pita chips and tortilla chips. The dip was amazing, I really liked having the pita chips! I ordered the low country boil with peeled shrimp (extra charge). It was amazing, by far the best low country boil I've had (so far) My husband got the friend grouper. He said it was really good and cooked perfectly. The staff was very nice and attentive. Food came out SUPER fast and our drinks were never empty. We will definitely be back!
(5)Ashlee T.
After several recommendations to eat here, we decided to give it a try. I had scallops and my husband had a chicken dish. Food was terrible!!! My husband ate nothing and just a few bites for me before we pitched it. Kids screaming all over the place.. I have no idea what all of the hype is about. So disappointed...off day maybe? There was no wait. But still-My worst meal at HHI.
(1)Pearl D.
Great view and food. I was impressed with the food, menu and drinks. Good service as well . Definitely come back to on my next trip. The fish and seafood dishes were very good.
(5)Bernadene F.
I gave it a three star because it's more or less a tourist spot with a great place on the water but the food is overpriced as usual for most tourist spots. I was disappointed in the size of the shrimp in my shrimp boil which was full of potatoes. They charged $2 extra to get it with shrimp peeled already which I'm glad I did given the size of the shrimp. I had eaten larger shrimp inland. They had music outdoors and a tiki bar which if I had been with a smaller group I would have just sat at the bar.. We were warned about the wait so make sure you give yourself plenty of time if you go there as we did have a 1 1/2 hour wait.
(3)Joann B.
This is my go too place every year when we visit Hilton ahead! The food is delicious and so much for your money, the wait staff is always friendly, attentive and helpful. The views are phenomenal, the music is great and the drinks are fantastic!
(5)Marianna F.
Last night my my husband and I along with our two children came here based on the reviews. My kids were upset of course about the wait time but boy were they happy when they realized that while they waited they could get a soft pretzel and a lemonade to bide their time. And mom and dad were pretty ok with being able to enjoy a mixed drink while listening to live music in the beer garden while waiting for a table too! The ambiance outside alone is well worth the wait for a table. We were happy that we were placed at an outdoor table, especially as when we were inside for a moment, it did smell fishy. But there was nothing fishy about our meals. It tasted fresh and delicious. We all enjoyed the food thoroughly and there is a lot of it. They definitely don't skimp. I have enough leftovers for another meal. If you do come be advised parking is difficult but they have complimentary valet. So problem solved.
(4)David H.
My wife and I visited the eatery mid August while on vacation in HH. We very happy with the service and with food we ordered. There was a 2 hour wait for a table but the high tables near the bar were first come first serve. We went to that area and just happened to meet some diners who said they were leaving and told us to hang around them to get the table. We did and were seated in about 20 minutes. I will say when the food arrived is was not as hot as it could have been. I feel that due to the volume of diners the food probably sat in the window a little longer than normal. My wife said her crab legs were a little softer because they were steamed maybe too long. But overall the food was tasty and the service was outstanding. If we return some time in the future to HH we will eat there again but go earlier before 7pm.
(4)Wade M.
Excellent food and atmosphere. We came to the boathouse on a Wednesday night at 5. There was a 60 minute wait. The waiting area was packed, and the management had set up a lovely "beer garden" with an outdoor bar, toys and games for the kids, and live music. The wait was pleasant, even in 90 degree heat. When we did make it into the restaurant, we found an eclectic menu with everything from fried pickles to sashimi. The fried pickles and hush puppies were excellent. Our party had jambalaya, Carolina shrimp, and crab cakes. All were excellent. The portions were great, and two of our group ended up with boxes to take home. Probably our best experience dining out on HHI.
(5)Lori G.
So fresh! We had the oysters, crab, clam raw platter as appetizers! Possibly the best shrimp I have ever had! Great sushi! We also had princess salad w/Ahi tuna, fantastic! Crab cakes pretty good, not as good as they claim, but good. No wonder our wait at 7pm was an hour. Well worth it!
(4)Lakiesha H.
Great food and excellent customer service.
(4)Kori H.
Nice, big restaurant and bar... Good music outside... Spacious... Long wait, But we ate at the bar inside I would recommend and we'd return here Also good happy hour with discount apps
(5)Sara S.
This place is a great establishment! It's so close to where we stayed that we had to try it out Atleast once! The wait was a bit crazy of 2.5 hrs, but it was a beautiful Friday evening in Aug! Our young kiddos got Ancy by the time we actually sat down. Luckily they enjoyed their light up kids drinks that they got to take home as souvenirs! My hubby & I both got the 1.5 lbs of Maine lobster for our dinner & it was very delicious! I would have liked steak & lobster together instead but all in all it was good. The food did take forever to get to our table :( even the apps took a really long time. But all in all it was a fun time celebrating with family! My parents paid so I can only imagine how much that bill was for! Well over $200 for 6 adults & 2 kids I'm sure!
(4)Ally J.
What a fun atmosphere. Definitely sit outside! We waited an hour and a half for our table for two. It's Memorial Day weekend but the staff said that's how busy it gets all summer. They do text you when you're table is ready so you can walk along the docs and enjoy the sunset. Our waiter was so nice and helpful. The whole staff seemed happy and helpful! We had a big bucket of shrimp, fish tacos and crab legs. It was well prepared and worth the wait! Definitely make a stop here if you're in the area. *Parking was a little weird. Our GPS took us to the wrong parking lot and there were fences and gates everywhere. We had to walk along a little path and came in the back way.
(5)Malissia M.
Great value at lunch, and a large restaurant that can get a small group in and out and back on the beach quickly! It gets crowded at night and they do not take reservations. There are lots of options for all different preferences, which makes it great for a group. Service was very nice, efficient and considerate.
(5)Jacqueline S.
This place was packed. Originally, we were told an hour & a half wait, but we got our table in less than a half hour. My silverware was dirty, and the ambiance inside leaves something to be desired. The server was nice, but he definitely had a lot on his plate which was understandable due to how busy the place was. The hush puppies and the ceviche were both pretty good. The captains broil seafood platter we got was only mediocre - not awful, but not something I'd recommend. The seafood was all a bit overcooked and bland. The outdoor ambiance was fun - there was live music, it was pretty during the sunset, and there was a lively crowd. All in all, this was not a fine dining experience and the seafood is only mediocre, but I could see it being a fun evening if you're just looking for a place to hang out and have a few drinks or socialize.
(3)Staci J.
We are here for the first time on Sunday night. We will definitely be back! Not certain how we have missed this place in the past. There was a wait, but they have lots to do while you wait and the scenery is beautiful. Just plan to relax a bit and enjoyed yourself. The food was fantastic, our best meal in HHI on this trip. Top it all off with a great server, Rick, and it made it a truly memorable night.
(5)Don K.
Yes, everything you read about the WAIT TIME is true. So, just know you have to deal with it. It seems most of the negative reviews are focused on that -- which is totally unfair to the restaurant. We arrived at 6pm and waited 1hr/15min. We didn't like it, but it was worth it. The fact is, Skull Creek is great. It's a big, super casual, fun party restaurant and bar. What amazed me is that the food was over the top good -- which is not what you expect from a tourist spot cranking out this much volume. We had a fairly big group and every entree was excellent. The cocktails were also very good. Of course, this explains why there is a long wait to begin with. Sunset is definitely the time to be there and is as spectacular as you read about and see in the pics. The corn hole was setup and was great entertainment for my kids. Unfortunately, we were excited about playing life size Jenga, but it was not there. All in all, good times!
(4)Rosalina F.
I heard rave reviews about this place from a friend so my family and I made sure to check it out on our most recent trip to Hilton Head. First of all, it was ridiculously noisy. They had live music that was so loud, I couldn't even hear my kids/husband talking to me....and we were seated inside and the music was outside! The food was okay but bland. It really lacked flavor. I ordered the tuna carpaccio which was basically slices of avocado, raw tuna (of course...carpaccio), and a drizzle of some creamy sauce with crumbled wontons sprinkled on top. Since it was an Asian inspired dish...maybe some soy sauce would have really made this dish delicious. It had no salt or favoring at all. All you tasted was tuna and avocado. Nothing else. It was also pretty expensive. The Caesar salad was good but then again, how do you mess up a salad??
(3)Mommy H.
Food and views are amazing. I'd give it 5, but cannot because of the crazy wait times for dinner. 75 minutes for a party of 12 Sushi, outstanding. Local fish - amazing Kids menu - lots of choices,including filet mignon and fried shrimp Traditional seafood platters - very good It's almost a must on Hilton Head. Location, ambiance and food are 5 stars!
(4)Michael C.
Stopped in with nine people and it was raining so we had quite a wait, but that was actually the best part of the night because we got to hang out in the very large and open bar area. The bartenders were great and it was a comfortable setting. Dinner was fine, but again these large seafood houses may be just too big to deliver the level of quality and creativity to make you want to come back again in your limited vacation time. (with one exception, see other reviews) Had the grouper special which was decent, but no other standouts during our visit. I'm glad we visited nonetheless and got a cool t-shirt out of it.
(3)Will W.
We started with the clam chowder...it was excellent. The broiled flounder and rice from the early bird menu was excellent but the broiled shrimp and scallops were just ok
(4)Lucas C.
The food was pretty good, but the menu was so extensive that ordering the "right thing" was hard and it was extremely expensive for what we got. Food- we started of with a steamed shrimp appetizer and some hush puppies. The shrimps were very good, but maybe just a tad over-cooked. The hush puppies tasted fine, but I wasn't a big fan. Don't take my word on the hush puppies though since I'm not a southerner. For dinner I had the captains broil something something, and it was bad. It had shrimp with sauce, but for some reason they were smaller than the appetizer ones. The scallops on the dish were very good which was the only highlight. The deviled crab I couldn't even choke down, and the stuffed flounder was extremely bland. Now the good part. My brother got the North Atlantic combo, which was awesome. It came with eight snow crab legs, like ten shrimp, two sausages, and an ear of corn. Everything on that plate was extremely delicious. We also had dessert, one snickers crumble thing and one peanut butter pie. The snickers crumble was heavenly, but the peanut butter pie was just sugared up peanut butter Service- Service was decent but the food took a while. I was debating giving this 2 or 3 stars because of the prices, but because of how overpriced it is, I'm going with two.
(2)Patrick M.
The food is very good, has plenty of seating. The don't take reservations cause there always busy. They have the best sunset views found on HHI...
(4)Stacie R.
We have been here several times and it never disappoints. The food is always good, never rushed or late and the service couldn't be better. Our server, Rick, was awesome! Will definitely be back!!
(5)Naser A.
Location: Amazing, especially during sunset Food: Mainly Seafood, but they do have other. They even have sushi Reservation: no, walk-in. Wait time was 15 mins at around 7:30 pm Outdoor seating Good with Children We got the garden simple salad, the broiled low country shrimp (most selling comes with potatoes and sausage). We got the Seafood Plater too, that I got grits instead of rice. This was my first time to try grits, and it's amazing. Overall, I'd like to go there again, unfortunately I'm here for a vacation. Highly recommended
(5)Lauren S.
I've dined here on numerous occasions and have had no complaints as the food has been decent. However upon return this year my party of 5 waited over TWO hours for a table after being told an hour and half at most for the outside table. After seeing stray cats walking around the dining area, I was a little grossed out but no one else seemed to mind. After finally going to the hostess stand when our long awaited table was ready, we were shocked to be seated at an inside table. It smelled SO BAD literally like a wet dog. Perhaps they let the strays inside? The stench was so terrible that eating food in that room was actually unappetizing. We immediately got up and stated to the hostess stand that we told the other hostess stand who took our info down that we wanted an outside table. Not sure why they even had two hosts that were clearly not on the same communication page. The first host said that when the wait is that long it is first come first serve- expecting us to know that. How would we even know that? Needless to say we immediately left and went to HUDSONS which is right next store- where the food is fresh and the view cannot be beaten. All in all- DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME HERE. UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED!!!
(1)Bruce B.
Don't do it!!!!! Unless you want to wait for hours (yes freaking hours) with tons of over weight tourists kids etc. Food expensive and poor quality. Don't believe the "live music" lie just pre recorded stuff. This place is a zoo. Can you say tourist trap
(1)James F.
Had a great time at Skull Creek Boathouse even though the computer system went down due to a severe thunderstorm. Shrimp and Grits : 3 Stars Fried Shrimp: 4 Starts - they were on the small side Service: 5 Stars - Paul, our waiter, was top notch and he made this overall 4 star review. Atmosphere: 5 Stars
(4)David B.
Great time, very good food. Easy to understand why several friends said the SCB was a must at HHI. We will be back!
(4)Ryan P.
Love, love, love this place. We have not found a restaurant on HHI that comes close to providing the experience for an entire family. We stopped out on a Thursday night with a party of 9 and only waited 45 mins for the oh so popular outdoor deck seating. Considering there was live music, a beer garden and all kinds of yard games to play, it was the fastest 45 minute wait ever. Surprisingly the sushi here was fantastic, including the tropical maki roll we ordered from the daily special menu. If you are new to the HHI experience and want a guaranteed fun time for dinner, this is your spot.
(5)Antony C.
Some locals steered us to this hidden gem as an alternative to Sea Shack. The inside was pretty casual and felt like Sea Shack meets sports bar. For lunch, I tried the New England Trio, which was a fried clam role, seafood chowder and salad for $12.50...great deal! Fried clams were hot and crispy, seafood chowder was hearty and salad was really good for a side salad. Also tried some shrimp and escarole (fish) ceviche. Just to be clear, this wasn't real ceviche where they actually cook raw seafood in lemon/lime juices. They blanch the seafood first, then mix it with more of a salsa. It was evident in the taste. Service was prompt and friendly. TVs everywhere in case you watch sports. There's a big covered patio bar area in the back we'll have to try next time. Definitely a great find and fun place to hang out.
(4)Austin S.
My fiancé and I are in from Pittsburgh for vacation. Our friends who live down here took us to the Boathouse, boasting its quality. I have to say I was not disappointed! The cocktails were amazing (try the horchata colada, I promise you'll love it!) the food was phenomenal, and our server, Paul, was an absolute pleasure! We will be back before we leave for home!
(5)Jennifer R.
Good food and prompt service. I would stop there again when visiting Hilton Head. Expect a long wait but they have some toys/activities for kids. They have a drink truck for the adults!
(5)Denise H.
We loved our meal but loved our server Mark even more! He knows this menu inside and out and helps you make a great dinner choice!
(5)Suzanne H.
Always excellent food, beautiful view and great service. If you crave sushi like I do, this is a must! Today we had the Lowcountry Boil and it was very good, tons of large shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. Whenever you visit Hilton Head Island, this is a must stop!
(5)Kari C.
I really enjoyed this place for dinner. A couple annoying things: the wait is forever. We came at 9PM and were told it would be a 2 hour wait. Our bartender seemed like she was maybe drunk. She was not the nicest, could barely look us in the eyes and kept forgetting what we ordered. We luckily got everything we ordered (it was great) and sat at the bar and enjoyed the live music (which was awesome). I would def. come back here again!
(4)Rebecca B.
The last stop on our trip. We stopped here on the way home for lunch. I couldn't decide what I wanted and we had a $50 voucher from taking the timeshare tour so we ordered a bunch of different things. We started with chips, guacamole and salsa. In hindsight, I didn't ask if they cook the chips themselves or if the guacamole was gluten free. I ended up sick before we left the restaurant. Not their fault, mine... Seriously not a smart move before a 12 hour car ride back to Ohio. I didn't ask. The sushi roll was very good - smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber. Then Aaron and I shared crab legs again. He ordered the snickers cake for desert, and once again... I watched him eat it. prettylittleceliac.com
(4)Lee W.
We got there right before happy hour started. A bitch to find cause the sign by the road says HH BOATHOUSE. You son"t see the Skull Creek sign until you get way in there. If you are next to a big boat storage house you are in the right place. Awesome king crab legs. I bet the appetizer portion was close to two pounds! And did I mention Nicole is really hot...
(5)Don R.
I have read a lot of reviews that this is a tourist trap. Yes, their is a lot of tourists but not a trap. We were told when we walked in it would be at least one hour. But the hostess also suggested the inside or outside bar to find a high top table and we could order off the menu. We go lucky and dined at the outside bar. The food was spot on. I went the sushi route and had the tuna three ways and a seaweed salad, both were excellent. My wife had the local fish entree which was cooked to perfection. I also had the blue point oysters. You are only supposed to eat oyster in the R months but since I love oysters I took a chance and these were fantastic. Drinks and food were reasonable for this great view and solid food. I would go back anytime.
(5)Casey G.
Every time we visit this place is a must! The food & atmosphere are amazing. The wait is generally long & you cant make reservations so go early! You wont be disappointed!
(5)Katherine G.
Great view on the water, decent service. We sat outside where there were many games on the TV, but it wasn't so overwhelming we couldn't have a conversation. The seafood ceviche was so good!
(3)Coty R.
We absolutely loved this place! The wait is long but we knew it would be so we had someone run up there and put our name on the list and then the rest of us came right around the time we were supposed to be seated so it was great! The hush puppies and bread are some of the best I have ever eaten. We had a party of 11 and everyone got something different and it was all AMAZING! I got the shrimp pasta and it was absolutely fantastic. I will definitely go back again and again :)
(5)Scott K.
Hard to find, but really only because the sign along only says "Boathouse". We tried it because it got good reviews on Yelp and it looked like my kind of food. Went for dinner and got there about 6:30 pm - was told 90 minute wait, so we waited in the outdoor bar/appetizer area. Had smoked seafood spread which was excellent, although they should try to find something better to put in on than Captain's wafers. Were seated much sooner than 90 minutes and wife, MIL and I had the Broiled Captain's Catch with flounder, scallops, and sea scallops. Son had low-country boil and other party member had just an appetizer. Everything was well prepared and tasty. Service was good (not amazing, just good), and I was surprised that we escaped for less than $120 for the 5 of us, until we stopped by the gift shop on the way out to buy t-shirts. Overall, very interesting place with live music, dancing, and outdoor seating in addition to very good food. Oh yeah and the sunset views are nice too.
(4)Foodie F.
Our first time in Hilton Head and we ate here twice! The wait was long in the evening but worth it. The sushi was exceptionally good and very reasonably priced.
(5)Libby V.
Another stop super Yelpers Richard R. and Sharon H (sho said it's was her and her Hubs favorite HHI hangout). suggested I try. Richard recommended during the day for the view, so we headed off for a late lunch. Of course we started with wine, and the water view was simply amazing. Been on a deviled egg binge...so we started with Grandma's Deviled Eggs. Pretty darn good! Then we moved on to a Boathouse Sampler: Coconut Almond Shrimp - I cold eat these forever. Deviled Crab Balls - they were OK (not outstanding) Calamare - good with sauce but these really are't my favorite Hushpuppies (I could live on these) But only in Hilton Head...Dayton doesn't have a clue about what makes a good Hush puppie. Trio of sauces...spiced honey butter, remoulade and jezebel. Each one better than the last. Loved sharing the wine, food, view and conservation. I could live like this everyday!!
(4)Geoff C.
Awful food and service. Would never come back. Parmesan crusted cod was in edible and rib eye was in edible. Wasnt offered credit although food was untouched. Fish spread was a ball of cream cheese never had something so nasty. Save your money or just come for drinks
(1)BlackSheep _.
Skull House was recommended by a friend who comes to HHI each year and recommended we eat here. So...12 of us (8 adults, 4 kids) got there at about 5:20 on Friday night at the beginning of August. Told we would have a 45-minute wait..but happily(!) we got a table in about 15-minutes. Recommend you get there early...but the time we left at 7:00 the wait was about one-hour. Very picturesque place right on the water. Indoor and outdoor seating. Even an outdoor bar that we could booze it up a bit while we were waiting. They even had a few outdoor games to keep the kids occupied while we waited! There's self-parking and complimentary valet parking, as well. Huge menu. HUGE. Everyone and anyone should be able to find a suitable dish here...they've got food for the seafood lovers and the non-seafood lovers. Big place and very attentive servers to keep the tables moving. Very happy we stopped by here and will--very likely--stop here again on our next trip to HHI...
(4)Allen T.
Fried green tomatoes were pretty good. Done with some goat cheese with some sliced jalapeño and a sweet sauce.
(4)Bryan R.
I dug this place. Very laid back and great views of the ships. It was somewhat hard to find but it was worth it. I started with a beer and a half-pound of warm shrimp tossed in Old Bay seasoning. Down shifted to some hush puppies before I got to my grouper sandwich, which was solid. The service was pretty good; however, it was some what slow at times. The waiter was aware things were taking a little bit longer than usual and he acknowledged it. The weather was perfect so the wait was not that bad. Definitely a good spot and all the locals seemed to love the place too. I would go back . . . today...
(4)Bill W.
Super location right on the water. Lots of outside tables which is why we came. Nice oceanide atmosphere. Friendly, helpful staff. Fun bartender who we got to know well (see below). Incredibly diverse menu. All 5 stars. Now, they may have the best food on the planet...but 1hour+45 minute wait for two people? I don't think so...1 star....so, we settled and ate at the bar. While there we saw lots of open tables so the wait was not a result of the amount of tables but more an issue with staff, we guess. In fairness, that they are popular and might have a hard time finding help to man all the tables is not the fault of the restaraunt...just one of those things. If you are on HH and don't mind a wait (we can't imagine the wait during a peak season weekend!), then Boathouse is recommended.
(2)Annie R.
I had my first experience at Skull Creek the other night; it will be my last. The food was good enough. I ordered the crabcake, which was delicious. But only fifteen minutes after I placed my order for the wreckfish special did our waitress inform me that she would not be able to fill the order (we sat around 7:30). The waitress was flaky, slow, inattentive, and forgetful. Guests in our party had to ask multiple times for beers, ketchup, a new set of silverware, you name it - and even then, one of my friends only received one Red Stripe throughout the whole meal. We ordered hush puppies as an appetizer. Don't get them; they must be frozen. The most offensive part of my meal, however, revolved around one specific incident. After bringing drinks out to our entire party of eight women under 25 aside from me, I ordered the "Peach Sweet Tea," the only Drink Feature of the night (there was an entire drink menu, as well, but this drink was on the food special menu). The waitress was fully aware of the nature of the drink, as she told me, "it's delicious;" thus, when she didn't ID me for the drink, after IDing my seven girlfriends, I assumed it was nonalcoholic. Wrong. The waitress was not apologetic. Neither was the manager (Casey), who was, in fact, quite apathetic. He comped the $5 drink, gave a very bored apology, and moved on. We had a great view of the marsh from our picnic table; unfortunately, the scenery didn't make up for the average, overpriced beach fare and terrible service. I will be calling one of the managing partners to complain about my experience (I've never done anything of this nature before).
(2)Kathy M.
Had brunch on Sunday (although Lunch menu was available. It was crowded (20 minute wait. So, we just sat at the bar and ate. Very good omelet and cinnamon French toast. Great and friendly service. Afterwards, walked outside and enjoyed the sunshine and watch them putting power boats in the water. Would definitely go back.
(4)Cathie R.
Skull Creek Boathouse is one of my favorite spots for seafood and ambience. The Boathouse (locals don't need any more name than this) is on the north end of the island and features views of the Intracoastal Waterway, beautiful sunsets and great atmosphere. It was named one of America's best outdoor bars by Travel and Leisure magazine this summer. Try the seafood chowder, yummy! There are alot of fried seafood overings (it is the south) but I have tried many of the sushi, sashimi and ceviche offerings and have always enjoyed them. This is the only place that I have liked shrimp and grits which is one of my husband's favorites (I always like to pilfer and try more than one offering). I had given up on shrimp and grits but they are really great here. For lunch or dinner, definitely worth the trip, do expect a wait in the summer evenings.
(4)Michael T.
Went there for lunch on the weekend after Labor Day. Even though the island pretty much shuts down after Labor Day, this place was still packed for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. We sat at one of the bar tables outside, facing the sound and were watching the boats go by. We had the fish tacos (awesome!) and some shrimp dish (also very good). The food is good but the real kicker is a combination of the food, the location and the vibe you get from sitting under these huge trees, watching the fishing boats and relaxing in one of their loungers. My new favorite place on HHI.
(4)Krystal B.
Brunch menu is awesome, perfect weather, and music is great. Only problem is there are too many yummy choices on the menu :) My family lives 1.5 hours away and we all agreed to make that a monthly trip until we try everything on the menu.
(5)C C.
The good is mediocre but the ambiance and nice service makes up for it when you sit outside and enjoy a good HH sunset.
(3)Phillip F.
The food was Phenomenal! Casual atmosphere that offered a very relaxing evening! Highly recommend!
(5)Tully B.
The grilled fish tacos made my eyes rolled back into my head. They were awesome!!! Wife had fried flounder and was also really good. Great atmosphere with live band plus corn hole and a general store to wonder around in. Really popular place. Will come back.
(4)Chris K.
Rude bartenders, frantic staff, and a long wait for anyone arriving after 7pm. Most of this can be overlooked by the good food and scenic view.
(3)Mariya M.
We come to Hilton Head for three weeks every year, and have been doing so for almost ten years now. Was recommended to us by a family member who lives on the island. Beautiful view, wonderful service, and all the food was superb. I would recommend you get there early though, our estimated wait time was three hours but we only ended up waiting about an hour and fifteen minutes. Anyway, anything you order on the menu will be great. My favorites are their buffalo chicken dip, any of their shrimp,the jambalaya, and their savannah red rice and seasoned vegetables are great
(5)Abe G.
An amazing local gem for HHI. Tucked away outside the beach area; great patio, sand and water tables for the kids; friendly and fast service; fresh oysters (fair market price); great daily catch specials (can almost still taste the ocean!!); cold drinks; great docks to walk the kids on while you wait; by far the best meal we have had in HHI; we've been to HHI 10 years in row, first time here and will be back! Free valet but tons of parking. Road sign and GPS will say Boat House (No Skull Creek until you get to actual building).
(5)Janine M.
Amazing. Totally worth the wait. We had a 60-75 min wait, didnt feel more like 40 mins. The wait doesn't matter either becuz you can watch the sunset on the water or go shop at their general store. Great inside, and outside looks like fun too. The best, I mean the best hush puppies. To die for! Also had buffalo chicken dip, tht was great too! The country fried chicken was a classic southern comfort food and it surely hit the spot. Hubby had stuffed flounder and said it was delish. Would totally come again if we visit the island again.
(5)Amy F.
The atmosphere and food are number one for the Hilton head area. This is now my favorite restaurant in HHI!
(5)Rick G.
Our waitress was fairly clueless and often difficult to find. We ordered oysters Rockefeller which came out at room temperature, terrible. My wife ordered the wolf fish which was supposed to have a crabmeat topping which amounted to a few crumbs of crab. The prices here are way out of line. My Margarita was $9.50 and was weak. Both my wife's fish entrée and mine (scored flounder which was good) were $25, just not worth the price. The worst part is that my stomach is still messed up the next morning from this place!
(2)Michelle T.
Make sure you get there around 5 because after that you will wait over an hour to get seated! Food is totally not worth it! We had the early bird special filet Milanese and it tasted like an overcooked pork chop! We had the breakfast buffet there on Sunday and that was excellent! My suggestion is stick with breakfast and go somewhere else for dinner.
(1)Drew M.
Was here on Sunday and had a very nice brunch. It was busy but we ate at the bar. Service was good and so was the food. I would go back, the menu looked like it had a lot of good items.
(4)Cheryl M.
I give NO stars. .. services was not good at all.. shrimp was not good. . Sent it back with the manager. . He did not seem to care what I thought... will not go back this place is way over rated. . On the way out ran into one of the owner he asked how everything was. . So I told him .. he said is there something I can do ?? I said sure you can, my husband is paying the bill so talk to him and make it right. . He went in and said sorry you had bad shrimo.. that was all he did.. I woukd expect more than just a sorry. . ..will not go back and would not recommend to anyone. .. thanx but know thanx..
(1)Leslye S.
We sat outside, it was beautiful, loved the music by Luke M., had the best crab cake ever, but the bugs ate me alive !
(4)Evie B.
Wow... I mean... Wow. Best restaurant ever! Staff was friendly as hell and food was superb. Crabs Benedict.... Fantastic. I've started to dream about this food. I ate so much that I made myself sick. They have this hand scrub in the bathroom too, it's great, and I bought a cup so I could remember the food... and I'm not a huge foodie. The best meal of my life so far, Devilled Crabs Benedict....
(5)Suzanne K.
this was our second time here, actually ate here on our visit to the island last year but did not write a review then because I try to only write the places I really like----you know "if you cannot say something nice . . ." but since I had not done a review did not remember this place until we got here. as I remember food was fine but the place reminds me of Disneyland, lots and lots of people, very busy, very crowded, way too much going on, and the tables are placed way too close together barely any room for the waitstaff to get around, noisy, wait was long last year an hour plus and was the same this year--typical for anyplace good on hhi and what I would expect but the atmospheres here is "not my cup of tea". this year once I saw the place and remembered it from last year we left---went next door to Hudson's one of my absolute favorites, would have gone there first if I had realized what place skullhouse was--no thanks
(2)Art J.
The atmosphere was good and the service was excellent. The coconut shrimp and cold peel-and-eat shrimp were excellent. The fried flounder was very good but the fried shrimp and scallops were a little heavily breaded for my taste. Price was a little on the high side.
(4)Tess S.
Don't let the crowds fool you, this is a big restaurant with the goal of flipping tables fast to make their money. People come for the view, the outside seating and the fact that they are affordable and family friendly. Two years ago, the food was quite good. Sadly, the quality has been in decline and I would rate it average at best. On our last visit, I had ordered the filet Oscar. The meat was tough, juiceless and grey. It was sad that the best thing on my plate was the mashed potatoes. My dining companions both ordered fish dinners. One had catfish which was undercooked and the other order a fish special which was delivered cold and unappealing. If you must go, skip dinner and instead visit for drinks at the outside bar. That bar atmosphere is festive with a diverse crowd. In the tourist season, the wait can get ridiculous and the parking is horrible. On a side note, there are only 2 stalls for the ladies and has been an issue among complaining patrons in line.
(2)King M.
Beautiful view but they allow smoking in their "enclosed" outside bar. If you value your health don't go!
(3)Phillip M.
I totally loved this place. You should know going in it's a laid back, marina hang. The food, service and complimentary valet provide a best in class value from our experience yet a relaxed, sports bar type atmosphere. It was clean and the food quality and prices were both amazing. We enjoyed watching some sports on the surrounding TVs but the outside seating was bumping too. Tiki torches were ablaze and we got out in time to catch the sunset by the water on the dock. I had fish tacos and oysters. The oysters were not 'quite' as good as the Old Oyster Factory where I'd eaten the night before, but at nearly half the price I wasn't complaining. They were nearly twice the size however! The fish tacos I had were great as well. Seasoned just enough and not 'too fishy'. A totally flawless service experience and very chilled out experience all in all. Check it out.
(5)Sandra M.
This was a last minute stop for us and we were so glad we did! We got there just before 3 pm and slid in for their $3.00 bloody mary's...pretty good. We were excited that they had a sushi menu as well for those sushi lover's in our party. They had a seafood platter with Half a Lobster, crab salad, u peel um shrimp, raw oyters and raw short neck clams. All the seafood was good with the exception of the shrimp, which were over cooked and quite mushy. The afternoon we were there they were having an outdoor "Oyster Roast" with outdoor festivities with "corn hole" and "beer pong". Looked like it was going to be a fun event. Restaurant was clean, service was very good and it was a great time for all.
(4)Rob R.
Not too shabby! It was wicked warm and humid out, but the fans kept it completely tolerable, that and the cold beer! For the location, the price was right. We went on a Sunday evening and the parking wasn't bad at all, found a spot right away. I can imagine on the weekends that its a bit more of a mad house. Got some great pictures of the sunset over the inlet, our server was fantastic and from what we ate, everything tasted good. Would have liked a bit larger portions for the appetizers so that we could have shared a bit more between all of us. Regardless, I will definitely go back as there are alot of items on that menu that I saw and would like to try!
(4)Tracy B.
Based on Yelp reviews, my husband and I went last night. We were not disappointed. We arrived early about 4:45 and there was no wait at that time. It got busier as the night went on. Our server was Rick who was very knowledgeable about the menu and was an excellent server. I ordered off the early bird menu and had broiled shrimp, scallops, and flounder. All 3 were very fresh and they did not drown them in butter!. It was served with fresh, steamed green beans, and Savannah rice - whatever that is. My husband hates seafood so he went with a small filet. It was well prepared and cooked just like he liked. Dessert was a creme brulee - not the best we have ever had but very generous with the size. There is live music each nite outside on the eating area which overlooks Skullcreek. They also had a really nifty play area for kids that didn't involve them climbing things. We most definitely will go again. They had much snazzier options on the menu, but I have found that the real test of a restaurant is how well they prepare simple options.
(4)David D.
Awesome. Loved it. I'll be back. Friendly staff too.
(5)Paul B.
If you are going to try one place in Hilton Head- This is the place! The location here is pretty spectacular- nice water front location on the Inter-coastal Waterway If the weather permits, sit on the very expansive patio. At night it makes for a very comfortable and cozy dinner- the gentle breeze, the twinkling lights, a nice cool drink...can be very nice! The selection of fresh, South Carolina caught, fish is just as spectacular as the water front location! I had the Salt and Vinegar potato chip coated crab cakes(spectacular) and the grilled fish tacos! Both very good!
(4)William H.
a great way to end the week. wife had the low country boil and I had the extravaganza both were great. the service was more than I could ask for . go early and take advantage of the great price . this place is a must and dogs are allowed on the deck
(5)Angela S.
I decided to come here with a couple friends for dinner on our last night in the island, and I'm so glad I did. Normally hearing that there is going to be an hour wait for three of us to be seated is irritating, however not at this place. Granted it was a Friday night and we didn't make reservations, but the hour wait almost wasn't long enough. We were able to get a drink at the bar, which was very reasonably priced compared to the other places I've eaten on the island, and walk out onto the dock. I was able to sit out on the water and enjoy a drink and the company of my friends before I enjoyed my dinner. Once we were seated, the waitstaff was very attentive and immediately brought hush puppies and bread. The drink menu was pretty large as far as specialty drinks go, but I just stuck to shock top. The food menu was tremendous, and had an enormous amount of seafood options. I choose jambalaya with shrimp, which is not something I would normally choose, but boy was it delicious. The perfect amount of spice and flavor. If you're looking for the essence of the island, you have to go to The Boathouse.
(5)Cassie M.
This place is certainly one of my favorite restaurants. The food never disappoints and is not overly expensive. The view is spectacular, so sit outside if you can!!
(4)Eliza M.
To be fair, we were seated in the outside bar and a thunderstorm struck, so that definitely put a damper on things. This place is fine, it seems like somewhat of a tourist trap. Don't get too excited about it being on the water, the view is more of a swampy area than anything resembling a harbor. The food is decent, somewhat creative ideas with the seafood on the menu, but our meals (crusted tilapia and stuffed flounder) were nothing special. The service was fast and friendly, the atmosphere was energetic and fun
(3)Mrs. R.
We come here everytime we go to HH. There are 2 other restaurants beside Boathouse but you cannot see them from the rest. because of trees & landscape,only from water. Each is different atmosphere. Boat house is more of a laidback family or group dinner place. But you will also see the locals mostly couple that are regulars! It is always crowded during summer & evenings! It has A natural outside setting. There is corn hole to pass the time or take a walk along the dock. You can see boats coming & going, birds & we even saw a alligator that braves the salt water to get the fishermen's bait. There is also live local music in the evenings I believe weekends not sure about during the week. Tip=We sat at Sushi bar so we didn't have to wait! I tried the oysters & sushi. Both delicious. also the grilled shrimp- always fresh n yummy. My husband had the steak it was very tender. On Sunday we returned Sat at outside bar for quick seating again. The previous night we walked outside but the place was too packed & the bartenders never served me? so we asked to sit inside. Also =there was a bad smell from Dumpster when the wind blew NOTE TO MANAGER OWNER= Plant either in ground or in a pot= Southern Jasmine. It is easy to grow Will cover the walls of dumpster area & smells wonderful!!!! You can trim & shape it also. But would mask a dumpster smel totally!!! The smell was Not there the following visit? We met locals & they recommended the crab cakes ALL Crab No Fill! WOW fresh n good. Had blueberry lemonade with fresh berries. This bartender was kind & friendly made it a point to know everybody's name!! wonderful as we watched the boats & wild life. I Took pictures of the visiting alligator out on the dock & the crabs. Then played corn hole, under the large oak tree. Later there was a reggae band. Then it was time to go home. :( They have a cute little gift shop as u walk in but a bigger one across from entrance! Will update you after our next visit with pics!
(4)Bria D.
You've been to the Boathouse. No, really, you have. Remember the last time you were on vacation somewhere temperate near a body of water? And you went to a place where you could get fairly generic preparations of local seafood (or maybe not a local catch after all), with a view of the water and domestic brews and fratty waitstaff? And there were outside tables but they were all full so you sat inside, but with a view of the water, with sturdy wooden furniture about two decades out of fashion? And you ate with a bunch of other people from Minneapolis or Toronto or Seattle or somewhere else not-warm? Yeah, it's that place. I've been to ones all up and down the East Coast..and so have you, in all likelihood. So why come to this one? I'll tell you why: you're in Hilton Head, you want seafood, you want to see the water, and you don't want to pay $30/plate for lunch. Mind you, though, that the water in question is a creek rather than the ocean. Perfectly average, edible food + beer + casual ambiance in a place not necessarily known for its casualness. You could do worse.
(3)John M.
I must say that i LOVE Skull Creek Boathouse. The food is amazing, the ambiance is great, the staff is wonderful, and the prices GREAT!!! My friends and I happen to find it on a website while staying in Hilton Head in 2010, when we got there we almost left b/c it was a friday night and there weren't many cars there and you could smell the fresh fish outside(what a mistake that would've been). Needless to say I am so happy we stayed. The fresh seafood is wonderfully prepared and with such prompt service. We make a trip there whenever we are in Savannah/Hilton Head area. If you are visiting the area PLEASE do yourself a favor and go to SKULL CREEK BOATHOUSE!!
(5)Dave H.
Great food, awesome service. Ambiance is incredible. Definitely a must visit. Waitress was polite, food was very above average. Wait was about 45 minutes but it was well worth it. All 7 of us loved the apps and the dishes were great too. I had the low country boil. On a scale of 1-10 I'd give it a 7. Shrimp were great, taters were a bit undercooked ans both could have been seasoned a little more, it was still very good though. Also got the sample appetizer, devil crab balls were delish as well as the hush puppies and coconut shrimps.
(4)The K.
Ate here last night and ordered WAY too much food. Lots of unique dishes and a HUGE menu. Quick service and about a 50 minute wait for a table of three on a Wednesday evening at 7:30. Will be back next time we visit HHI.
(4)Lydia Chur E.
I drove past the restaurant a couple of times, mising the low sign that says "Boathouse". We got there early so didn't have much of a wait. We sat on the patio, enjoying the pleasant water view under the trees. I had a crab and artichoke stuffed flounder, with broccoli rabe and collards My daughter had shrimp&grits with Tasso sausage and gravy. The hushpuppies were tasty and the unique portuguese bread was fantastic. It was slightly sweet and the cornmeal added welcome texture. We had a Mai Tai and peach mojito - neither drink had much alcohol in it. Service was very helpful and friendly.
(4)Jerry S.
Our second time there and it was extremely good. the wait time seemed a little long for the end of Nov but that's because the back deck is closed during the cool months. we got there at 5:30 on a fri night but still had a 40 min wait. our waitress was great and very attentive. the food was fantastic! i had the "deadliest catch" , with the 3 different types of crab legs, and it was great. the hush puppies were good and fresh.....almost too good...i didn't want to fill up on them with a large meal coming my way!
(4)Melissa D.
Despite the 2 hour wait, this place has amazing food. Granted we were there on the 4th of July and the wait was long we took it upon ourselves to indulge in some tasty alcoholic beverages to kill some time. The staff was extremely nice and prompt with service once we were seated. The food was INCREDIBLE!!!!! All fresh local fish was served. I tried wreckfish for the first time. Never had it before but it was awesome. The ambience was so fun. Everyone was enjoying themselves with the live reggae band and the amazing views of the water. The fireworks show was short but well enjoyed by everyone considering it was 4th of July. Great atmosphere. AWESOME food. Can't wait to visit Hilton Head again and eat there!!!
(4)April L.
What a great view! If at all possible, and of course, if weather permits...sit outside on the deck, at the bar! We came here for dinner one night and scored two seats at the outside bar within minutes. (instead of waiting over an hour for an outside table). We enjoyed great conversation with the bartenders and the drinks were amazing. The ONLY bad part of this night out was having to wait over an hour for our food (sushi, oysters, and a salad) because of the shift change at the bar. They simply forgot about our food. Because we have small children, we enjoyed each other's company for a few more minutes before inquiring about our food. Once they realized they had screwed up, they offered to get our deserts and took a few drinks off our tab to make up for it. The Sushi was awesome, and the Oysters were delish. The Boathouse Salad is now one of my favorites! Go...In your sandals...and relax! :0)
(4)Lowcountry C.
Food's always great. Good service. The wait is worth it, especially when there is a spot at the bar.
(4)Christian B.
All my meals in Hilton Head were good, but not great. Skull Creek Boathouse typifies that. We stopped in for lunch as soon as we hit the island. The patio out back is definitely the reason to come. It offers terrific creek views, though does come with some conversation-stopping noise (courtesy of the forklift the boathouse next door uses). As far as our meal goes, we enjoyed our respective sandwiches (shrimp po boy for Nova, turkey club for me), but they weren't the draw -- that's the view. So don't even think about sitting inside.
(3)Maria J.
Good food and nice view. I would recommend SC for lunch or a casual dinner. Started the the seafood chowder-good with plenty of seafood Oyster PoBoy- oysters fried nicely and a good amount Fried fish sandwich-huge fillet It gets noisy inside the restaurant and make sure you're not seated next to the server station. We had to listen to the server's conversations while we ate. Overall, a good pick for lunch in HHI
(4)Karen H.
We were told we would have a two hour wait, but didn't because we took a picnic table (it was about an hour). The wait was not stressful, however, because of the walk near the pier and the lawn games. The picnic table was great for most of us; it bordered the amazing views and was a little less tight to the other tables. On the other hand, my sister-in-law was really bothered by cigarette smoke that blew our way. Our waiter, Mark, was exceptional. We asked his opinion on a few dishes and he was patient and really guided us well. This dinner was in the middle of a trip where we had eaten out prior A LOT, so I was feeling like eating lighter than normal. I ordered the ceviche (tropical) and it was fantastic. Our waiter said that when he and his girlfriend take their boat out, he has the chefs make them ceviche to bring as an alternative to sandwiches. My husband ordered fish with a delicious sauce (part of a broil). We would definitely return.
(4)Megan C.
We didn't realize what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to eat here one night. 1.5 hour wait...no big deal...There is a beautiful view, a bar and you can even get appetizers. Not getting your entree until 10 pm (aka bedtime) is kind of a buzz kill. I had the Latin style shrimp ceviche. I would like to have that for lunch everyday. The jambalaya was also very good. I ordered some chips and guacamole as an appetizer. Absolutely terrible. It tasted like the disgusting onion and garlic powder laden dehydrated junk you can get at the supermarket.
(3)Eric M.
The outside area has great vibe. The inside area is pretty chintzy. The food is passable. But you don't ever get great food from venues this large. And you certainly don't get good service.
(2)Rob C.
Well been at Hilton head for a week trying all the local rest. Here's a tip go right to steamers. You will get 5 king legs for the same price that skull gives you 2.
(1)Karen C.
I had a wonderful dinner here with my husband and our toddler son. This is a great place right on the water and would be great for a date or a family. The bar area has ample seating and nice tables and then there is a very lively outdoor bar and outdoor seating area which is cooled with giant fans. I started off with a white sangria which was good, although strong. It was garnished with grapes, blueberries and strawberries. We had the coconut shrimp appetizer- pretty standard. The dipping sauce was good. I had the Beeline snapper-local snapper which was in a potato parmesan crust- it was very good. Very crunchy coating on top of mashed potatoes with brocolinni. It was a huge portion- I'm not used to eating that much for dinner so I thought i would bring half home but alas, I couldn't stop eating it! My husband had the Mako- also delish. Same sides. My son had the most unbelieveable mac and cheese- a huge bowl, I stole many bites and he devoured most of it. They give a little kids menu and some crayons. At the end of the meal he got two tokens to spend at this little counter full of little trinkets. He loved it and it was a great way to keep him occupied at the end of the meal. For dessert, my son had a chocolate cupcake and vanilla ice cream. I didn't taste the ice cream but the cupcake was amazing- fresh, and the icing was rich and not too sweet. There is a cupcake dessert option on the regular menu and if I went back, I would go for that. My husband ordered the snickers cake- which was also fresh and the cake light and fluffy but overall a little rich for my taste. It is also served with ice-cream. Overall, I would definitely go back again and look forward to making this a tradition when we are back in HHI.
(4)Anthony P.
This is your average Joe's restaurant on the water. More of a neighborhood joint. The food Is okay and the drinks can be plentiful. There are two nice bars here, one inside and one outside. During the week lunch time can be noisy as the boats are being taken out and put in the water by a giant forklift. But it is pleasant eating outside because there is nice shade.
(3)Bob M.
After waiting well over an hour, which we expected, it took almost 30 minutes just to get bread. One of our group was told he didn't need a drink; seems he still had an inch of his first drink (ordered when we first arrived!) still remaining. When the the drinks eventually arrived, one was not brought - oh! That's right you had the iced coffee. Um, no, it was a white Russian. But the iced coffee wasn't even brought. When we complained, we were told the server was their best person! Very sad!! We went to Carrabba's instead and treated very, very well!
(1)Don S.
This was my third trip this year and they were all very good. Don't hesitate to dine here as a visitor or put it on your short list as a local. Ill be back for sure !!
(4)Dawn M.
Food was awesome! We were told 90 minute wait and they sat us within an hour. There was a group of 6 of us and everyone raved over the food. We ordered a variety of sushi, steaks and seafood. Portion sizes were big and prices were right. Excellent find in Hilton Head!
(5)Tracy A.
This place was so great, we went there twice in two days and some of us went there three times. The music is awesome. Food is so great (ceviche!) All the staff was really nice and the drinks are decently prices. Good beer selection too. We were there when the sun was setting out the back and it was so beautiful. Love this place! It's best if you can sit outside.
(4)E Y.
Good casual place to eat. I like eating at these local establishments rather than the chains. It gets pretty crowded here. Good family place as well.
(4)Lauren B.
We got to Skull Creek Boathouse and put our name in since there was about a 40 minute wait. We hung out at the bar and got a couple of drinks, but after awhile, everyone else who was waiting for a table was seated and we still weren't. We checked to see when we were going to be called and the hostess said she thought she had set off our buzzer, but it never went off. Finally, after about an hour we were seated. I shared a sushi roll with someone and ordered the shrimp and grits with gravy on the side. The sushi roll (I don't remember which one) was amazing, except the menu didn't say that the roll was going to be DEEP FRIED. I absolutely would not have ordered it if I had known it would be fried, but since we already were served it, I ate it anyway. I felt guilty eating it but it was really delicious. I was excited to try the shrimp and grits because I had never really had it. A waitress suggested I order the gravy on the side because it is heavy and can be salty...that was a great tip. The gravy was a ham gravy, and it was extra salty, so I just used it sparingly in my dish. I really enjoyed the shrimp and grits, but it is a very heavy meal. But that didn't stop me from eating the whole bowl. I really liked this place, it had a nice atmosphere and a huge menu. I would probably come back.
(4)linda F.
Went here for Lunch on a rainy day, the service was good the food was good, with a little extra to the tuna 3 way app, really good Poke.
(4)M. C.
This spot was recommended by a "local" and really exceeded our expectations!! We did have to wait about 45 minutes, but took our cocktails "to-go" and strolled down the the landing ramp and enjoyed the sunset. Despite the reviews below, our server (Nichole?) was fantastic and the food (I had a perfectly-grilled Cobia filet; my wife enjoyed the Wahoo) was really a treat. Some of the best we had during our "Southern Tour". A Don't Miss restaurant on HH.
(4)Dona C.
This place was great. The kids got to watch the boats being loaded and unloaded in/out of the water. we had the shrimp and artichoke dip.it was ok not great but "he" had ceviche and said it was great and I had a "house" salad. I started it and the boys finished it. yum. Then for main course, I had the grilled fish tacos. They were yummy with a little salsa kick to them. He had crab and shrimp quesadilla's. He said the were pretty good. All in all a delish lunch with great scenery right on the water.
(4)Jessica B.
My boyfriend and I went there for lunch and absolutely loved it. The atmosphere and view is awesome and definitely worth sitting outside. They have plenty of fans outside to keep you cool as well. The menu is huge and they offer pretty much everything and ever type of seafood. We were surprised that the had sushi and immediately went for that. We had the super crunch roll and the firecracker roll. My favorite was the super crunch! We also had the boathouse sampler appetizer. The crab balls were AWESOME and definitely my favorite. The hushpuppies were alright but I've had better. The calamari was good. But the coconut shrimp were honestly terrible. The had so much breading on them that you could barely taste the shrimp. I think this restaurant is definitely worth going to. Also while sitting outside the people next to us had two dogs so I would call ahead and double checks but you might be able to bring your pups with you!!!
(4)Mark M.
My first impression is that this is the more posh version of the Crab Shack on Tybee Island. Same general vibe. Same general view. But whereas the patrons at the Crab Shack are more likely to be bikers, the patrons at Skull Creek are more likely to be retired JP Morgan executives who spend their Winters on Hilton Head, their Springs in Scottsdale, their Summers on Martha's Vineyard, and their Falls on Hawaii. The menu is huge. To a fault. By the time you get done reading it, you've forgotten what's on the first few pages. The food is...meh. Nothing bad, but nothing great either. This is your typical tourist trap vacation spot style cuisine. With prices that match.
(3)Doug T.
Yes, this place is awesome. Huge menu with all sorts of delicious food options. Lots of fun drinks. Solid selection of beers on tap. Great place to sit outside and watch the sunset over skull creek. Such a vast improvement over the previous "boathouse" restaurant. The kind of place I could spend hours just crushing beers, eating peel 'n eat shrimp, and sampling the cocktail menu...all while taking in a great view.
(5)Bubba L.
Delicious! Big place- but may have a wait because it is that good.
(4)Anita C.
My boyfriend ordered the shrimp and crab quesadilla which were good. I ordered the oysters with two kinds: Fanny Bay and some from Connecticut. These oysters completely ruined my experience. I don't know if it was the oysters itself, or the restaurant. It's hard to say but I have never had such horrible tasting oysters. My boyfriend also ordered a margarita.....are margaritas supposed to be salty!??!?!?!?! I know they put salt around the rim of the glass, but the drink itself was salty!!!! I don't think that's normal. Other than the horrible oysters and drinks, the restaurant itself was at a very cool venue. I liked the decor and atmosphere. I would give it another try because their menu is big enough where I think I can find something I'd like to eat. But I wouldn't order a drink that involves too much mixing/making on their part.
(2)Manny L.
Great place! Outdoor seating, happy hour. Food is awesome. Went twice for drinks and apps. while on vacation. Great service, great view, great place!
(5)Ryan W.
Great, Part of Serg Restaurant Group, what a Fabulous company/group of restaurants.
(5)Ashleigh M.
Amazing food...Def recommend the lowcountry boil if u like shrimp!! :) Got there at 5:00pm and had a table right away for two. I would recommend to get there at 5 because after that the wait is long.
(5)Jules R.
If you eat outside, watch the flies & gnats...they are killer. Great views though. Watching the boat hauler bring boats up into storage is cool. Seafood is great, but don't get a steak & add on: for $6, you'll get 4 shrimp. Not worth it.
(4)Gloria L.
I went here for a farewell dinner for a coworker. I'm new to the East coast in general, moving all the way from California. When I arrived at location, it looked nice being on the waterfront. Diners have the ability to choose to either dine inside or outside. Our wait took a lot longer than usual from what my coworkers told me. They went through several glasses of wine when finally our little buzzer went off. We were seated outside as no inside dining was available at the time. Being outside at this time, you can see all the bugs and I definitely got bitten more than two or three times by mosquitoes. =( I really liked their complimentary bread and butter. For me this was the only good thing I had to eat there all night. The menu selection was average. I had to make myself choose something as nothing really jumped out at me. I was told my first choice was not available as they have run out of the main ingredient so I went with a tuna burger. To make this short, the only good thing about the dinner was the company. The sweet potato fries that came with the dish were nothing to rave about and the burger was dry and I chose not to even take the left over 3/4 of it home. I may give this place another chance in the way distant future, but it won't be anything I recommend to any one.
(2)Thomas T.
Food not fantastic for lunch today but it's fun to sit on the patio and enjoy the beautiful view of the water. I did enjoy the fried oysters. Friendly service. Will definitely go back for lunch to enjoy the great view.
(3)Ryan D.
Was busy when we got there 25 min wait for 2 adults and 1 lil one so got drinks at the outside bar and sat by the water and I started to think this place is great....then I tried my drink and the down hill started. We were seated in about 15 min inside the place is nice but when I looked at the menu it was huge but seemed very cluttered and wow was it pricy ended up going with a burger my wife had catfish both were good and the service was ok over all just not what I expected I guess not a bad place just not what we were looking for
(2)Marc A.
This place is touristy, but the outdoor seating is very nice and the food and drinks are decent. Service is good. LARGE outdoor deck, with great views. Worth a visit. This restaurant is recommended.
(3)John W.
Great atmosphere... Service was outstanding... Truly a dining experience... The best menu on the island.. Place was packed.. Hardly a wait.
(5)Michael G E.
A true island dinning experience. Going back tomorrow. Food was great!
(5)Jane L.
Had to wait an hour on a Sat night. Very busy. Hostess was friendly. Waiter was nice. Had the Wahoo fish, grits & collard greens.
(4)Steve S.
What is right: - The view - The patio and bar under the beautiful trees - The food. My group had 8 meals over two weeks and every item was good to excellent. - The bread. The house loaf has corn meal but is not corn bread. Kind of like a baked hush puppy effect. - Beverages. Good selection of draft beers, wines and reasonably priced. - The service. Both waiters were capable, cheerful, and informative. Dishes of special note: local snapper prepared picata style, whole fried flounder, cod with parmesan cream sauce, cauliflower puree Room for improvement: - Deserts. Nothing enticing, nothing special. A pleasant setting, A good experience.
(4)Noah E.
This was our second visit of the trip to a SERG restaurant place. The setting is fantastic, right on the backwater. Very cool around sunset. We didn't have a reservation but got there early enough to have no problem getting a table near the water. The menu is a bit overwhelming. Too long and you start wanting something and it's part of the lunch menu. Anyway, ended up with some blackened fish while my wife had the shrimp and grits, which the waitress said was one of the best in the area. My fish was terrible, so overcooked. As for the shrimp and grits, not even close to best of the area. The kids get some coin for ordering from the kids menu, which they can redeem at the "gift shop"...which is really just an opportunity for the restaurant to sell them more stuff. So you either disappoint the kids by not buying anything (they got a silly band for their coin) or you pay more. Don't like it. 4 stars for the look...1 star for the substance.
(2)Rusty D.
This was arguably our best meal in Hilton Head. From appetizer to dessert it was great. It was a long wait but they have lots of room outside including an outside bar area and chairs/tables to wait. We regrettably accepted first available but if we went back we would wait as long as it took to watch the sunset view over the water. As far as the food the chowder was awesome and I had the Low Country Boil for dinner. It was delicious and came with a large portion (too much really). If you go to Hilton Head try to fit this in.
(5)Julie V.
I love this place!! It's one of my favorites during vacation. We sit outside & the kids can hula hoop or play with chalk. I love their early dining options. The stuffed flounder is my favorite.
(5)William R.
Good service. Good view. The live music wasn't bad. Try the hush puppies.
(4)Jason H.
I just at here last Friday 8/2/13 before leaving HHI. We can with a group of 10 and arrived around 4:45. Arriving at this time allowed us to get seated right away. We chose to sit outside at the picnic tables. It was very comfortable in the shade with fans running. I sat at the end of the table nearest the bar a got a lot of cigarette smoke blown my way. The atmosphere is really nice with view of the docks and the water. As other reviews suggest, this place get packed after 5:00 so be prepared to wait. The signage out along Squire Pope Road could be better directing you to the place but that's a small detail. As for the food: Try the hush puppies with sweet butter. They come as an appetizer and are worth the $4.50. Most all the entrees are fairly pricey but what you would expect for a high end seafood joint. $17 and up. My wife got the giant crableg platter with was $44 but she raved about it. My seafood pasta dish was a little lacking for me. It was ok but didn't wow me with flavor. In summary, we had a great time. Our waitress was great and took pictures of our group for us. Like most places, they added in an 18% gratuity for a party of 6 or more. Personal pet-peeve: This place was nice but a little too "yuppity-do-da" for me. Lots of very wealthy people around with their designer dogs on leashes. They allow pets in the outdoor area.
(4)Haley V.
This place deserves more than just 5 stars. GREAT service. DELICIOUS food. Seriously, there wasn't a single thing i ate that was even slightly imperfect. Portions are big too! There is a gift shop in the restaurant which, since I loved the place so much, I purchased something. You have the option of sitting inside or outside. If you decide to go, get there early! They open at 4 for dinner and at 5:30 I heard people were having to wait 1+ hours! I HIGHLY recommend coming here!
(5)Wayne B.
Great food and really terrific specials for early bird diners. Great outside dining experience in the warmer months!
(5)Frank S.
Seafood chowder, hush puppies, tuna tataki, royal seafood platter, & pecan ginger crusted mahi mahi were excellent! Wash it all down with SCB Sweet Tea and you've yourself one hell of a low country meal. Well worth the visit.
(4)James C.
Have been coming to HH for over 30 years.at friends recommendation decided to try this place. We had a party of 8 so we tried to call ahead for reservation.Guess what no one even picked up phone. We decided to go anyway. First we were told a 1 hour wait, then an hour and half then 1 :45 wait. Well of course it was the latest time. At this point they tried to stick us at an uncomfortable bar table. After complaining we were moved after 10 more minutes which now has us starting dinner at after 9PM. We had 2 elderly people in the party that were getting ill from not having been able to eat earlier. Anyway we just ate and entree and left as fast as we could. No sorry from management . I gave one star because food was ok but not overall service. Sadly they just lost 8 customers and my feeling is they could care less.
(1)J W.
Huge waste of time. Waited over an hour for a table and for bad service (it took almost 30 minutes just to get bread and our table was ready for over 10 minutes before they even paged us). When the server went to take our drink orders, one of our group was told he didn't need a drink, because he still had an inch still remaining in the cocktail ordered while we were waiting. When the the drinks eventually arrived, about another 10 minutes later, one was not brought and the server even forgot what it even was. I had had enought and called over the manager, who told us the server he had was one of his best. Really!?! The service was so bad that we did not even bother to order dinner and just left. If you cannot get a table outside and don't care for lousey service, then eat elsewhere.
(1)Nancy K.
We enjoy the boathouse, it is always good we have had many dining experiences here including the sunday lunch and weekdays on the deck. One of the best places to eat by the water, but it can get very busy. Our experience is that when it is the specials run out fast. But the other choice one has are also good so never is a problem to find what you would like to eat instead.
(4)D T.
Food was good--lots of choices. Sunsets over the water are beautiful. The patio is pet-friendly, but VERY LOUD with live music. Good party atmosphere.
(4)Clemmie M.
Long wait. Food quality was low. Not cooked well, not fresh, bland flavor and it took forever to get our food after we were seated. I wouldn't go back if it were free. In a decade of coming to Hilton Head this is the first bad meal we have had. To top it off, it's expensive.
(1)Paul G.
Great staff. Our server Morgan was a true professional. She really new her beer and let me taste a few. The food choices are plentiful and varied. Waterfront atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. I had sushi roll and fish tacos and both were great. My favorite HH restaurant is Skull Creek Boat House.
(5)Leonard T.
27 people are sitting or standing around the bar....6 are under 60 years of age. When did my favorite hang-out become the blue hair special place? Food is still good.
(2)Irina P.
Wonderful, tucked away spot right on the water. Gorgeous ambiance, prompt service and beat of all, great, fresh and delicious sea food. We had the $3 Bloody Mary which has also pretty good. The sea food clam chowder was one if the best I've ever had. We also had the captains catch broil and the boathouse platter, both if which really good. I'm not a big fan of fried platters but the boathouse was good, and the fried pickles were surprisingly really good. Several people around us were also having sushi which looked good but I just didn't feel right having sushi at that place. I would however, definitely go back to try the chilled platter which looked amazing!
(4)Kim M.
Although this restaurant does not take reservations, we got there about 5:00 pm on a Monday and did not have to wait at all to be seated. We had 16 people in our group and wanted to sit outside. We sat at picnic tables right on the water. It was exactly what you would expect from being in the South. The service was great. The food was delicious. There was live music playing and there were games and space for the kids to run around, while the adults enjoyed their dinner. Would definitely recommend.
(5)John T.
Great for lunch with wonderful kid friendly atmosphere and nice skull creek view. Wait staff is great too. Food is just ok and mostly fried and if you dare come at dinner you will wait for hours in prime summer. If dining is your goal then this place is out but for a beer, fried fish sandwich and a sunset it is just fine. I like that this place just is what it is.
(3)Courtney K.
LOVE this place. Great food, great atmosphere. We had to force ourselves to try other places after eating here for lunch our first day on HHI. It's a really cool spot.
(5)Anthony B.
Nice place on the north west side of the island. Server was very nice and food was great. Did not take long for food to arrive. The seafood plater was fresh and well presented. The fish tacos were good and the gumbo was fantastic. Would recommend this place to locals or tourists.
(3)Jon V.
Good food. Good drinks. Great service, prompt and very friendly. Atmosphere was excellent.
(5)Amanda A.
Skull Creek is a mainstay for us each time we visit HH. Food is always good and we've tried many of their dishes. It's always crowded in the summer so you should expect a wait. There's a big bar or you can wander out by the marina while you wait. And you can choose to sit indoors or outdoors (bring bug spray if you're eating outside). It's a big bustling place on the water, perfect for a family dinner while on vacation!
(4)Shea's Lounge S.
Rhymes with Amanda! Team was amazing & made the 90 min wait fly. Dinner... Rocks I'm not sure I can describe my husbands review but let's just say he finished every bite and mopped it up with the bread. View is great! Activities for all while you wait. Yes you will wait but time flys if you grab a high top ( first come) for an app or cocktail. Fresh fish fun bar apps and lots to watch.cant wait to visit again!
(4)Michelle R.
What an overrated meal. We were looking forward to eating here more than an other restaurant on our vacation to Hilton Head Island. We were fine with the 45 minute wait but we ended up getting to seats at the bar. At first the bartender was very pleasant, asked for our names, took our drink order and appetizer order and then basically NEVER returned to see how we were doing. We ordered an appetizer that took over a half hour to arrive, only after we asked a different bartender to check on the order. Finally got entrees and they were mediocre at best. Got the check and they had charged us twice for the forgotten appetizer. They were courteous about removing it but at that point that was just cherry on top of a very annoying meal. Not impressed with the food or service. Quick on its way to being an overrated tourist attraction.
(1)Graham P.
A waterfront restaurant at skull creek, hilton head island. When we were there it was Easter weekend and very busy, you can't book tables inside but you can reserve for outside. At high season you are probably going to have a wait. Although, a good place to sit and watch the sunset. The menu is extensive but with an obvious focus on seafood. Look out for the specials with the seasonal items. We had the soft shell crab which was good. As with a lot of seafood it can be relatively expensive with crab/lobster mains often in the $30-$35 price range. For those that don't get sea food often it's a fun meal with a good atmosphere, the only downside is the potential wait.
(4)Kelly Z.
Fun place right by the water. Sit outside and take in the views, while listening to some live music. Be prepared for crowds and waiting.
(4)Doni F.
It's decent for the price and staff is nice. Fast service if you want to eat now...
(4)Jack R.
Over priced, over hyped, over salted, over spiced. This restaurant has nothing local and was a letdown.
(2)Bill F.
What an awesome meal. Shrimp with grits was outstanding. We also had the shrimp tempura and firecracker rolls which were delicious. You can't go wrong here. Only down side is the wait, but it's worth it.
(4)Kathy H.
We come here on our annual beach trip and this year it didn't disappoint. We had a large group and came at 4:30 for dinner to beat the rush. We waited about 15 min and were seated at a picnic table outside with a view of the marsh. The special sushi roll was delicious and a highlight of my meal. We LOVE the food here and Josh our server provided 5 star service. We will be back!
(5)Katie P.
Completely overrated. We waited 2 hours to get our table and our food took another 45 minutes. I got the shrimp pasta which was just average, not very great. My mom got something with stale chips. Not very impressed with this place. If you really want to eat here, put your name down early so you don't have to wait forever to just be disappointed. p.s. the live music is trash
(2)Michael S.
Great atmosphere, quick and friendly staff. A fun place to bring people great food and view off the island.
(5)Shari S.
So fun and beautiful! Kids had a ball we waited about an hour for our table but we didn't care. They initially told us 2 hours. Enjoyed the acoustic guitarist, the outdoor bar and multitude of kids activities and games to keep them occupied while we waited. Food was very good....not unbelievable but the atmosphere makes up for it. Everyone had a ball!
(4)Jessica H.
We had no dinner plans and randomly said lets go to Skullcreek Boathouse on a Monday night. The place was packed (as we expected). There was live music and a great setting right next to the water. We got a cocktail at the bar and listened to the music for about 20 minutes when a couple vacated two bar seats and we grabbed those. The drinks were great. My husband had a Mojito and margarita and I had a strawberry Mojito and a margarita. They don't use mixes - they use fresh mint and simple syrup. The service was excellent and prompt. We had the dragon roll which was amazing. Everything about this experience was great and we will be returning.
(5)Jon R.
Eat here. It's amazing. Great atmosphere. Great service. Ask for "Tim" the waiter. Get there early or expect to wait a little while, but the experience is well worth it!
(5)Vinny G.
Skull Creek is our favorite restaurant in Hilton Head. When we travel we normally try to eat in a wide variety of restaurants, but we end up at Skull Creek a few times each visit. Their grilled and blackened dishes are moist and delicious. Large portions of moist flaky fish and some great sides. Some of our favorites dishes are the seafood rice bowls. They come with a large portion of fresh seafood and a variety of sauces and ingredients that blend perfectly, all served over sticky rice. On the app side their raw oysters are terrific as well as their ceviche. They offer 3 styles of civiche and a very wide variety of seafood. You just mix, match and enjoy. Portions are large and prices very fair considering the quality. Service is always friendly and efficient. The restaurant is right on the water and views are nice in or out. They don't take reservations so try to get there early for immediate seating. Highly recommended.
(5)Sonia P.
much shorter wait than we expected... quoted 45 minutes, but were seated in 10 min. -- love that there was the option to sit outside at the hightop tables in the back bar and have appetizers while waiting on an inside table. -- offer valet parking if you need it. food was good for the price. not exceptional, but pretty good. after the shrimp at hudson's it's hard to compare anything else. loved their sushi and the prices were very affordable. party of 3 with appetizers, meals, drinks, beers, and dessert was $92. not shabby.
(4)Joel B.
Extremely long wait (2+ hours) but that is expected as I have come to find out. Great set up and many activities to do while waiting, from looking at boats, playing bags, drinking and so forth. The food was great, and I enjoyed the oysters as well. I get what all the fuss is about and eating outside is a must. Great ambiance.
(4)Andrea L.
Go during happy hour! Great prices on sushi and bar drinks while you wait for an hour and a half for your table! It takes the edge off the hunger. I ordered my daughter Mac n cheese from the bar because she was starving! $3.00 to make her happy and then she gets to go outside and play while we wait for the table. I'm eating firecracker roll as we speak. Delish and highly recommend. It's first come first serve so be prepared to wait. It's high season though, so just like any destination that's popular..it's busy so plan accordingly. Looks like we will be here to see the sunset. Can't imagine any place else on our first full night in Hilton Head. Eta: ok. So at the bar, my husband closed out our tab and went outside to play cornhole with my daughter. I stayed inside and ordered another gin and to my surprise, they just added on to the bill we already closed out. Turns out, they closed our intial tab on someone else's tab. Fast forward to dinner. Doesn't the waitress close our tab out on the table next to us for a tune of $436 when our real bill was $50!! How does that happen to the same person twice at one restaurant. The wait staff needs to slow down. And I'm deducting a star from 4 to 3 for this reason as the credit card company on the back end holds this amount for a few days even though it's voided at the restaurants end.
(3)Tracy F.
Our family ate at skull creek boathouse last night and had a wonderful time. Paul was our waiter and he was the best! The food was good and at atmosphere was fun. Mother Nature made the wait time even longer due to storm and power issues.
(4)Janet C.
Great sunset view but just ok food. Not worth the long wait times. Best to go to the outdoor bar off peak hours to enjoy a drink and a light appetizer. Dogs welcome and bike parking access was easy.
(2)Mimi K.
The ceviche was amazing and very reasonably priced! The sushi was pretty good. Great place to take kids. Would definitely have returned if we had enough time. I will have dreams about that ceviche...
(5)Ed P.
For our last meal on Hilton Head Island, my family and I headed to Skull Creek Boathouse, a place my parents couldn't say enough great things about. The restaurant sits cleverly on the shores of the Skull Creek at the northern end of the island. The views are pretty nice, but keep in mind that it does not sit on the ocean side of the island. Upon our arrival at 6 PM we were told it would be a twenty-minute wait for a table inside for our party of four, but we could have a table outside immediately. We all agreed to go ahead and sit outside. The outside dining space is much larger than what is available inside. It was a little hot throughout our visit, but large oscillating fans helped to cool us down a bit. The majority of the outdoor dining are is uncovered, but there is a fairly large covered bar area with some tables undercover. There are numerous games throughout the outdoor area that make for a great way to pass the time while waiting for a table, waiting for your food, etc. My three-year-old ran from giant jenga to connect four to sidewalk chalk and finally to the elevated sandbox. I wish more restaurants had these, I'm sure adults wouldn't mind playing some of the games too. For dinner I had the Cajun chicken past with andouille sausage, bell peppers, Cajun cream sauce over linguine ($16.75). This was one of a pretty good selection for the non seafood eaters. The pasta dish was filled with plenty of chicken and sausage but I thought the sauce could have used a bit more spice. But perhaps I should be thankful it wasn't too spicy as the weather outside was hot enough. My wife went with the crab, artichoke, and hearts of palm stuffed flounder with Savannah red rice and season vegetables ($18.75). I did not try a bite but I think she was happy with her choice. The sides were okay, but I wish she would have skipped the rice and tried the Yukon gold smashed potatoes instead. The kids menu is lengthy and affordable. The corn dog we ordered was served with fries ($5.50), and after the meal was over the server gave each of our kids a token that they could exchange inside for a small toy of their choice. It was a very nice touch to make the kids' dinning experience way more memorable than others. Skull Creek Boathouse is truly one of the most family friendly dining establishments I've visited, and the food is good too.
(4)Christine S.
At boathouse restaurant my food never came out the other people around me that came after me the food came out again my food didn't come out after an hour I left I would never recommend this place. Actually went in to apply for a job sorry won't go there again
(2)Joe P.
This terrific seafood place is a bit of drive from Sea Pines and some of the other plantations, but definitely worth the trip! The delightful waterfront setting is best enjoyed at one of the outdoor tables (weather permitting) or the covered bar, where you can watch fishing boats glide through the creek, and the occasional dolphin slip silently through their wake. The food is wonderful, from the scrumptious hush puppies that spill out of their basket to the endless selection of local fish and Southern specialties. We come to Hilton Head every summer, and Skull Creek will definitely be joining our regular restaurant rotation when we visit. Warning: the dinner wait on a weekend can be BRUTAL, so plan to get there early!
(4)G-Free KT H.
What a disappointment. My family and I were so excited to eat here because the food was supposed to be great and the views of Skull Creek even better. After being told the wait would be 1.5 hours for a table outside we decided to wait it out and take some pictures of the sunset and have a few drinks. Well 1.5 hours came and went very quickly and after 2 solid hours we were finally told our table was ready - inside. We told the hostess we had specifically asked for a table outside and after waiting so long were upset but she shrugged and said it would be another 30 minutes. As a former waitress that is unacceptable. We then spoke to another hostess and she said "if you were told 1.5 hours that means it was first available inside or outside". How on earth would we know that? I asked her how we were supposed to know that 1.5 hours meant first come first serve and she also shrugged. We walked inside to check out the table and the smell was horrendous. The inside of the restaurant smelled like a wet/dirty animal so we quickly got up and left without an apology from the staff who could clearly care less. Anyway, the drinks we had from the outdoor patio were weak and served by an annoyed bartender who also just couldn't be bothered. My family and I were really looking forward to great seafood and some southern hospitality but were denied both. One star goes to the scenery. Also, there was a stray black cat wondering the outside patio which is just disgusting. I urge everyone going to the Skull Creek Boathouse to explore some other options - specifically Low Country Backyard which is phenomenal.
(1)Marisa U.
Been going to HILTON HEAD multiple times of a year for 23 years and never ate in this restaurant until 2 weeks ago. I didn't even know it existed. We wanted to go to a fish restaurant on Ash Wednesday as some people in out party were following religious restrictions. Marriott had given me $100 gift card to use at local restaurants. So we finally decided on Skullcreek Boathouse. Our wait was long because we were a party of 7 on appearsntly a busy night on HHI, in the off season nonetheless. However the gift shop kept us entertained for a little while (the high prices of simple items were entertaining - $34 for a tee shirt, homemade sugar scrub $26, ect) NICK, our waiter was great. I explained to him my bother can not eat shellfish. He told him not to get anything fried because all the fish is cooked in the same oil, but fries where ok because they have their own fryer. Food was very good. Little Expensive but ok because had gift certificate. Waiter was able to split the check for us. We ate fish, my brother has a steak, my son had chicken fingers. No one had a complant. Will definitely eat there again.
(5)Aimett A.
Upon Yelpers recommendation and the waitress at our hotel bar, we decided to have dinner at the Skull Creek Boathouse. Score! It is off season for HHI and this place was still cranking. It was about an hour wait for a table for six but we snagged the best table without waiting. We sat the the counter of the Dive Bar and turn out to be the best experience ever. The staff at the "dive bar", which is the their raw bar, was wonderfully friendly, educational, and entertaining. They shucked and prep all sorts of food and give us a walk through everything they were doing even when the food was not for us. There were a couple of times we were tempted to take someone else's order, everything looked amazing. The menu choices we made were phenomenal! I had a daily special of monkfish provincial on linguine, the darling husband had the stuff filet ( a filet stuffed with crab meat), and out friends had the king crab legs that were bigger than their 8yr old. Let's not mention that we had so many appetizers we loss track. Peel and eat shrimp, sushi (so fresh), chowder, salad, etc and much more. Everything was fresh and delicious. Not one disappointing item. The atmosphere was casual and inviting. We can only imagine how wonderful a summer evening must be at this place. We will be back. Skull Creek Boathouse, we salute you! A great gathering place for friends and good food.
(5)Jimmy S.
We ate here a few years ago and the food was great. We had an hour wait on a Saturday night, which was no problem. This year we were told the wait would be an hour and a half. After an hour and forty five minutes we asked how long it would be and were told 3-4 more minutes. We waited 10 more before we'd had enough. I am sure that the food would have been great again, but did not have high expectations for the service.
(1)AJ T.
5 and half stars for the Angry Tuna Bowl. You know something is good when you crave it for both lunch and dinner. That's right my friends, we hit that place around lunch time and came back to grab a to go order for dinner. That's my major life hack for you: if there's a long wait for this restaurant (and there will be during Hilton Head's high season), just call and order it ahead and get it to go. Pull up a seat near the water and just have a snack or if you're brave bring the food over to the beer garden right next to the restaurant. I'm not sure why Hilton Head restaurants refuse to take reservations, but it makes grabbing dinner on the island a little obnoxious and difficult to plan. Even around 9pm this place was still hopping; the ambiance is charming and definitely worth a visit both in the day and night time (lots of pretty strings of lights make it feel a little more festive when it's dark) Get here for sunset and you'll catch a pretty view over the water, or hang out during the day, where they have a Lego table that my niece and nephew loved. Service was good; our server claimed that Skull Creek has the best food on the island, but he pretty much liked everything on the menu. I prefer when the waiter or waitress can point to the highlights on the menu vs. making me work for it. But back to the food -- we also ordered mac & cheese for the kiddos (they liked it), the Latin ceviche (decent, but nothing to get excited about... it almost tastes like the citrus in the ceviche isn't fresh, but comes from a bottle), and the coconut shrimp (gigantic! and definitely yummy), but hands down star of the show is the angry tuna bowl -- easily the best thing I ate on the island (though the mud pie at Hudson's is a very close second). nomz. P.S. fellow yelpers, the only thing I'm really giving five stars is the atmosphere and the angry tuna bowl. Don't want to set false expectations for the rest of the food which is mostly serviceable.
(5)Christopher W.
Came her last year while we were on our Honeymoon. Had to come back. It was an hour wait, but there was no question whether we were waiting or not. Good was fresh and amazing. As always. If I could give them 6 stars I would!!
(5)Andy R.
Great shrimp and grits. The addition of gumbo like vegetables really gives the dish a flavorful dimension. Fried green tomatoes are good if a little non traditional.
(4)Holli N.
Everything from the appetizers and beyond is good here! My husband claimed he would pick The Deadliest Catch as his last meal on earth if he could. We tried the guacamole and salsa, peel and eat shrimp and had both types of crab legs. All were absolutely the best things we've had and would recommend any of them. We also got seated in the outdoor patio area and the views are to die for. Wonderful atmosphere and the fresh seafood was worth the 30 min wait we had and we would have paid more for the food if needed! Wait staff was fabulous and the manager even stopped by to see how our dinner was. We were overall extremely impressed and so glad we stopped in tonight! This is a must visit place in HHI!
(5)Patricia G.
Go early. We went for the early bird menu (a must when eating out with little kids), and there was no wait. By the time we left, there was a huge crowd, and all the parking spaces were gone. Nice outdoor seating, with a giant Jenga game to pass the time, and nice boats to look at. Food was good. Huge menu, lots of variety. Touristy, but that's cool, because we were tourists. Enjoyed it, on the list to return next year maybe.
(3)Amy F.
One of the few Hilton Head restaurants right on the water. Fun atmosphere outside with picnic tables, string lights and bar. Affordable drinks and happy hour menu. Was impressed by high quality of food at such a laid back place.
(5)Stella W.
My husband and I had a nice afternoon date here while on our vacation and we ordered a shrimp salad sandwich, seafood ceviche (octopus, scallops, salmon) and some seafood stew. The seafood stew was different from the creamy type as it was more of a tomato based soup but very good nonetheless. We LOVED the ceviche. It was so delish, we'll prob ask for all scallops next time. The shrimp salad sandwich was very refreshing and we enjoyed it all thoroughly. Great service and great view of the dock as well as the boathouse. It's not typical to see how the boats go from a warehouse-like facility into the water.. so to see the different boats moved from one place to the other was neat.
(3)Hyacinth B.
Great ambiance outside. Near the boat docks... Cool dive bar outside and entertainment while you wait on the food. As a vegan I appreciated the fact that they had more than one option to choose from. I chose the noodle bowl & Thai princess salad. I would recommend both. The kids &b adults at the table love the hush puppies and everyone else's food was good - nothing to write home about - but we would all go back just to hang outside. Will have to go for dinner next time - seems like a great place for night time entertainment.
(4)Jeremy J.
Awesome experience this past weekend. My wife and I visited for dinner around 6:30 PM on 5/10/14. The wait was only 30-45 minutes, which is great for most seafood restaurants on the coast. Our food was phenomenal across the board! We tried the 1/2 lb of "we peel, you eat" shrimp. The shrimp was well-marinated in seafood boil, but not too salty. Served with drawn butter and cocktail. Delicious! We also had the Super Crunch Roll as an appetizer. I can't vouch for the true quality of the fish used in our sushi as it was tempura fried, though I can say that it was absolutely delicious. I regret not ordering another roll. For our entree, we split the Fried Fisherman's Feast. There is more than enough food on this platter for 2 people to split. We even had leftovers since we had split 2 small appetizers. All of the seafood was fresh, fried to perfection, and very tasty. The coleslaw was not my favorite I have ever had, but still pretty good. My only complaint was that the hushpuppies were quite stale. Given that the other food was so delicious, I did not mention anything to our server. Aside from the food, our service was exceptionally good considering how busy they were. Our waiter's name was Guil. He had a great personality and was around to check on us every few minutes. The view was beautiful as well. You can see the water from most every seat in the house. We sat inside, as we requested first available seating, but I would recommend requesting a seat outside. Would highly, highly recommend a trip to Skull Creek Boathouse if you are visiting Hilton Head Island. You will not be disappointed.
(5)David H.
We have had a like/dislike relationships with Skull Creek since they opened. My most recent comments were positive regarding our visits the past few months. After our May 11th visit we are firmly in the dislike category and will probably never return to SCB. We visited with out of town relatives. It was a beautiful night to enjoy the outside seating area. We were told that our wait time would be about 45 minutes. No problem, to the bar we headed. One guest wanted to buy and I accompanied her to the bar. After ordering for everyone else she asked the bartender what beers they had. The bartender's response was "If you can read the list is on the board." We just looked at each other and she selected a drink. When we were seated we placed our orders. As we had drinks when we sat down I guess our server thought we would not need additional drinks the remainder of the evening. Three of our meals were delivered in a reasonable time. My meal did not arrive. As I sat waiting for my meal our server was not to be found. When we saw the server again (at least ten minutes after being served) I let her know my meal had not arrived. She went off to find out why. She did stop at two other tables on her journey to the kitchen. Upon returning she told me the kitchen was preparing my meal at it should be out in a few minutes. As everyone else was finished I told her that I no longer wanted my meal. She continued to tell me that the meal was being prepared and she would bring it out to me. Several times I declined and requested the check. A manager then shows up explains that they just "dropped the ball" At this point I do not want excuses. I just wanted to get out of SCB. He leaves, the waitress brings the bill. She made a point of explaining that they had taken my meal off the bill. It is always nice not to be charged for what you did not receive. She leaves and I look at the bill expecting a little something extra taken off for the trouble we had experienced. When she returned expecting payment to be ready I ask if there was no consideration to a bit of a discount considering what had occurred. She did not seem to understand why we would upset that one member of our party was not served. This was the first time a restaurant has forgotten to serve me. This was not the first bad experience we have wad our witnessed at SCB. We are finished with SCB. There are too many good restaurants on Hilton Head. Restaurants that are consistently good.
(1)Alissa P.
Large menu. Always great selection of local catches (corvina is amazing!). One of our go-to spots during our annual family trip (5 years strong). Service is always questionable but it never fails to be busy so reasonably so. Expect a wait during busy season but grab a drink from their large selection and enjoy the live music and great views.
(5)Al K.
4 Stars for Service. 3 Stars for Food. To me it seems that much of the Hilton Head seafood is fried which doesn't make sense when you are right on the water. Fried seafood seems like something you should do if don't live by water to cover up the fact that you don't live by water. I had a tuna steak sandwich (not fried, yea!) which was nice, kind of hidden on the menu. Sushi is delicious and very fresh but overpriced.
(3)Tim N.
Great location OK food.
(3)Jason K.
Thoroughly enjoyed the hour and a half wait with live entertainment and activities for the kids. Views and atmosphere great, food was ok to good, service was really bad (slow and unattentive). Overall pretty dissapointing but it was one of their busier weeks. Our experience was not worth the money.
(2)Cathy B.
Great indoor and outdoor bar? Check. Friendly service? Check. Great food? Check. We met some friends at Skull Creek Boathouse when in Hilton Head over the holidays. I was shocked at the size of the place - tons of indoor seating as well as a huge deck with an outdoor bar (which was empty as it was fairly chilly in December). Apparently they have live music in the summertime, which I'm sure draws quite a crowd. The bar area was huge and even though a bit busy, we didn't have to wait long for our drinks. And once we were seated, the service was fast and friendly and the food quite good. I had the small order of mahi that was still too large for me to finish. We also had multiple appetizers and quite a few signature beverages. All-in-all, a great place to meet up with a large group of friends for a solid dinner experience. Just watch out during the peak season; I bet this place is impossible to get into!
(4)Rachel C.
Amazing people. Amazing service and atmosphere. They let us have our little dog outside. Been here four times now and never have been disappointed! the food is great, happy hour is awesome. I will always return here no matter what every time we visit my girlfriends parents. I'm so happy they exist!!!
(5)Rosemarie C.
Awesome food! Friendly staff! Great prices! Great atmosphere! They even had a live band! A 'must do' in Hilton Head!
(5)Robert P.
Heck of a fresh seafood menu. They have about everything imaginable available. Also a very friendly staff. I had king grip which I never heard of before. If that is what I was served, you can never be too sure with fish, it was really tasty.
(4)Jaime F.
Sit outside if the weather is nice, fabulous sunsets. Live music on tuesdays. It was a 25 min wait on a Tuesday in March, always a good sign. The waitress said everything is good, which is one of my warning signs, but she was right. Try the seafood stew if you like creme based soups. The low country shrimp boil is really big and very good. The jambalaya is also good. we had 5 people and everyone liked what they got
(4)Ven F.
Awesome food and atmosphere. Was recommended by a local and they were on the mark.
(5)TJ M.
We had a very large party and everyone LOVED the food. However, the service was so slow and the credit card machines broke. They made us wait there 40 minutes after we were done eating so we can pay the bill. It was a little off putting since most of the party paid cash and only a few were paying with credit card. We had tired cranky kids at the table when that could have been avoided, they should have just comped the meal since they already made a lot of money from our table.
(3)Stephanie S.
Good food, don't get me wrong my crab legs were pretty awesome but I just felt like it was another overpriced kind of restaurant that had the same food you could probably find at another location for a better price. We went mainly for the live music which was all in all pretty good.
(3)Randy S.
Great place with great sunset views. Super crowded parking and another place you will need to wait about 30 minutes to be seated, but well worth it. They really run this place well, and are very well organized. They can accommodate a large group. We find the crowd is filled with all ages from 4 to 84. I had salmon rockefeller and a side salad with green goddess dressing. Both were prepared perfectly. Fun place to go.
(4)Landin S.
Very fresh seafood! The best crab legs I have ever tried in my life. There was a lot of hype about the Salmon Rocket Feller but I wasn't crazy about it. The green fried tomatoes and calamari were outstanding! Great atmosphere with good music right no the water and a great eastern view of the sunset.
(5)Debra K.
Wonderful vacation experience. Sat outside on the patio with friends and family and enjoyed delicious seafood.
(4)Dina C.
This is your typical tourist and chain-owned seafood themed restaurant that sells its own t-shirts. Every coastal place must have a place like this. It is the kind of place to go with a group of fellow vacationers for rum drinks and seafood. It is the kind of place where the middle aged locals seem to hang at the bar to watch sports, observe the crazy tourists, and meet a possible mate. Great location, nice bar, nautical vibe, spotty parking, long wait, loud, and average seafood. I had the crab stuffed flounder and it was pretty decent. Not great...not bad...pretty average. The menu did not describe the heavy creamy sauce that covered and overpowered the flounder, but it was a nice meal overall. Service was great. I would definitely go back here with a group, but I might find something a little more intimate, food focused, and less rushed out of Hilton Head's numerous restaurant options for a dinner date. It was pretty chaotic in there and crowded, but we enjoyed some rum cocktails at the bar so all was good while we waited for a table.
(3)Scott S.
They dont actually take reservations, walk in only... Great food, even better venue.
(4)Katie M.
My family has a time share here in Hilton Head and we are always looking for one of a kind places to eat on the island. Well my Mom and I found one 3 years ago, it was simply called The Boathouse. They had seafood that seemed like it was just caught and taken off the boat and fried up. Now the corporate machine has taken over. I gave Skull Creek Boathouse a chance and ended up disappointed. I ordered the fried shrimp dinner and it was soggy with lack of distinction. I could get that anywhere. I'm sorry to see such a cute restaurant with great food be taken over by people which don't seem to care how the food tastes to their customers. Needless to say I won't be back.
(2)Sam W.
Excellent service to start, Had the peal and eat shrimp and the gumbo along with a salad. They were all great, the patio was wonderful and the food above average. I think this might be the best place on the island. The menu was huge and has something for everybody. We will be back.
(5)T P.
This place is my favorite place to go when I am visiting my relatives. It is so relaxing, and it is an amazing place to watch a sunset. Great Happy Hour. Love this place!
(5)Stephanie C.
The menu is a little overwhelming, there is a lunch menu for during the week and another one for the weekend, thats a little strange, last i checked a menu is a menu and the things on it can be ordered. The service wasnt bad except our meals arrived at different times. the food is pretty good, the burger is great and so are the steaks. It is a little overpriced, $9.00 for a chicken sandwich is a a little high in my book. We will probably return.
(3)Christopher P.
COOL place. It's a great bar that gets good and busy on the off nights (Friday and Saturday). Also a fantastic restaurant. Great seafood and unbelievable corn bread. A bit of a hassle though if you want a nice restaurant when it is bar mode. Breakfast is really good here too.
(4)Adria W.
Two words - go early. When we left tonight at 6:15 the wait was over an hour and more if you wanted to sit outside. I had the crab cake which was delicious. My mashed potatoes were cold but were replaced promptly by our server and they were also tasty. My husband had the ribs which were decent but not great. We sat outside and the atmosphere was lovely. Service was very good.
(4)Molly N.
What a party spot!! It's crowded but fun while you wait. They told us 45 min and we only waited 15. Great music. Loved the fried green tomato app Good spot to go at sunset on the river. Enjoy!
(4)Lisa M.
I really enjoy this place. The outdoor scenery is really nice. Definitely sit outside if you can. This is also a wonderful place for any age. It seems to satisfy all. Taking our three kids is great because it has plenty of distractions and food they enjoy. We have been twice and the service has been very good. We had the crab legs, oysters and fish fry - all was really good. They have a nice caesar salad and house salad. The crab cakes are decent, but nothing to rave about. I just don't think you can go wrong eating here :)
(4)Shawn H.
Great food, views, and patio bar.
(4)Noel V.
Everyone in our party enjoyed their food. Prices wetr reasonable but service was slow. Our server wasn't very helpful.
(3)R C.
Arrived 6:30 on a week night and was told 35 to 45 minute wait time, however took 1 hour and 45 minutes to seat our party of four inside. The food was fair at best, overcooked fried shrimp. Caesar salad served with mayo based dressing. Two good but not great fish entrees. Most dissatisfied with the reception manager attitude in dealing with the wait time, rude and not apologetic or accommodating. We will not be back.
(1)Sara T.
I come from a family that goes out to eat often and the manager of this restaurant gave us a dinner experience we have never encountered. We live on the Island and have been to this restaurant a few times with little complaint. Tonight however, cancels all of the other experiences out. My father ordered the scored flounder and after a few bites realized that the fish was spoiled. He politely told the waitress and ordered their special, Cobia. After he finished the tail of the fish he went to eat the middle of the fish and discovered it was raw. He told the waitress and she apologized. After our meal, when we asked for the check my dad was shocked to see that we had been charged for the Cobia. The waitress seemed very surprised that my dad wanted her to tell the manager what had happened. When the manager came over my dad explained how his meal was ruined and the manager replied "I actually tasted the fish and thought it was excellent." Shocked, my dad replied that he was pretty sure it was spoiled and his second meal was raw but that he would pay for the Cobia since he had eaten part of it (the cooked part). The manager then came back and announced that he had taken half of the fish off our check. My dad politely explained that we live here and have brought others to this establishment and will not be coming back due to the way they handled this situation. The rude manager had nothing to say except, "Im sorry you think Im not nice" and walked away. I will ignore the fact that the manager admitted to eating a patron's meal and go straight to the fact that this is not the way to treat a customer. Not only did this man ruin my father's dinner (twice!) he also called him a liar and made him feel as though this was somehow his fault. I will say that the other 4 members of my family did enjoy our food, but I have never in my life seen a manager and waitress treat their guests in such a rude and condescending way. If you are looking for a nice dinner in which the staff cares about your enjoyment and well being then this is not the place. ***** Update********** July 2010 After writing this review I was contacted by the General Manager, Chris Gregory, of this restaurant. He was extremely concerned about our experience and insisted on trying to rectify the situation even though my family was hesitant to accept. On July 4th weekend my family and I accepted his invitation and went back to the Boathouse for a complimentary meal. I am very glad that we did. Although, it was a little too late, we were treated as customers should be treated and had a very pleasant and DELICIOUS meal. Our waitress was quarky and silly as well as attentive and Chris came by our table twice on the busy evening to make sure we were satisfied. Our past experience left us feeling as thought this establishment did not care about their customers and this evening made us feel the opposite. It was very clear that Mr. Gregory was concerned and that he cared about the individual. On such a busy evening it was obvious that this is a restaurant that people will alway eat at despite a bad review, so it was very touching to see how dedicated Mr. Gregory was to 4 people's satisfaction. Despite our bad experience our feelings toward this establishment have changed and we will most likely dine here again, after all when the food is cooked correctly is really GOOD!
(2)Kim F.
Excellent location for a casual meal. The wait can be long on the weekend but hangout outside and have a cold beverage and just enjoy the view and the atmosphere. The food was delicious and would absolutely recommend that you visit the Boathouse for your next meal in Hilton Head. We flew in for one day and I'm ready to go back just for another meal.
(4)