A surprising number of new restaurants have opened in the Hilton Head Island/Bluffton area in the recent past, in spite of the challenges provided by our economy. We have described seven of them here. Additional restaurants that have opened in the last year or two are listed on our website at hhidining.com. Our website also has information about additional matters of interest concerning dining on Hilton Head. Please note that, although we believe this material and that throughout Restaurants Magazine to be accurate, we rely on the owners of restaurants for much of it.

IHOP - Bluffton

Therefore, it is a real pleasure to welcome IHOP to Bluffton! All IHOP restaurants offer their guests an affordable everyday dining experience, and make every effort to combine it with warm and friendly service. That warm and friendly service is very real here in Bluffton, as we can attest from personal experience.

IHOP serves a truly remarkable number of good things to eat. Patrons may choose from more than 14 different varieties of pancakes, including Buttermilk, Chocolate Chip, Harvest Grain ‘N Nut®, New York Cheesecake and their famous fruittopped pancakes. Other signature breakfasts include the Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity®, International Passport Breakfast and premium omelettes such as the Big Steak Omelette and the Colorado Omelette.

But IHOP is not just a breakfast place. Lunch and dinner specialties include thick, juicy Cheeseburgers, salads, Super Stackers, Sirloin Steak Tips, Pot Roast and T-Bone Steaks. IHOP restaurants also offer delicious desserts including Fruit Crepes and Ice Cream Sundaes.

Unlimited refi lls are offered on coffee, tea and soft drinks! Note that EVERYTHING on IHOP’s menu is available “all day, all the time!”

Bluffton’s IHOP is located at 11 Towne Drive, in the Village at Belfair, not far from Kroger and Stein Mart. The restaurant is bright, cheerful and comfortable. IHOP is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are special Seniors,’ Children’s and low fat/low calorie menus available. Sister IHOPs, under the same management, are located in nearby Beaufort and Savannah.

For more information about Bluffton’s new IHOP, please visit www.scihop.com, or call 815-8222.

CHIN DYNASTY - Bluffton

Chin Dynasty China Bistro serves the cuisines of many provinces of China. Its extensive menu offers a wide, excellent selection of appetizers, soups, salads, chicken, beef, pork, seafood, vegetarian plates and noodles.

Since the menu at Chin Dynasty is very extensive, we asked if there were any entrees that are especially popular. After some thought and discussion, several were suggested.

From Chin’s selection of over a dozen chicken entrees, Sesame Seed Chicken ($10.95), “a popular entree made famous by its sweet and spicy sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds,” was the fi rst that came to mind. Another expecially good bet would be Chin’s Spicy Chicken ($10.95), which is very similar to well-known General Tso’s Chicken.

Orange Flavored Beef ($12.95), crispy chunks stir-fried with sun dried orange peels in a sweetened and spicy sauce; and Mongolian Beef or Pork ($11.95) were suggested from the Beef/Pork selection.

For seafood lovers, Seafood in Bird Nest ($16.95), jumbo shrimp, scallops, squid and a fi sh fi let with mixed vegetables in a basket, was suggesed as a good choice. Or, try Chin Dynasty’s Crazy Ocean ($17.95), shrimp, scallops, mussels and squid, with bell pepper, ground chili basil leaves, snap peas and spices, sauteed in a panang curry sauce.

As you can see, prices at Chin Dynasty China Bistro are very friendly!

Sushi and sashimi enthusiasts will be happy to hear that Kobe Sushi Bistro’s attractive sushi bar will continue as part of Chin Dynasty Bistro, and that they may continue to enjoy the sushi, sashimi, tempura, etc., that they have liked so well. Chin Dynasty China Bistro & Sushi Bar is open from lunch through dinner seven days a week. It is located at Berkeley Place, just around the corner from Sea Turtle Cinemas, about 15 minutes from the Hilton Head bridge. A children’s menu, take-out, and reservation are available.

For more information, please call 757- 7998.

HUGO'S - Bluffton

Hugo Arrieta truly can be called an Island institution. After a short stint with Sea Pines’ Plantation Club, he spent a remarkable 28 years orchestrating matters in the dining room of Fitzgerald’s Restaurant on South Forest Beach Drive. During his tenure, Fitzgerald’s evolved from a fi ne dining, relatively formal establishment to a more casual restaurant similar to many others on Hilton Head today.

“I was fortunate enough to make friends from all over the world. Some I see frequently, while others only when they come to visit each year,” Hugo says.

When Fitzgerald’s closed in 2005, Hugo observes, it was the end of an era...but “for me it was the realization and beginning of a dream. I decided to start a restaurant with unique qualities, but keeping the same Island tradition of Low Country dining so many came to enjoy for years and years.”

Hugo’s at Wexford, which opened for business in early 2006, has enjoyed great popularity from the very beginning. It offers a continental menu with all soups, sauces, desserts and much more prepared “from scratch.” Hugo’s cuisine is accompanied by a carefully selected list of wines from Italy, France, Argentina, Australia and California.

Now Hugo, joined by his son Brandon and business associate David Warren, has opened a second Hugo’s in Bluffton. The new Hugo’s serves largely the same great food that has been so popular on the Island, but in much larger, even more attractive premises.

Bluffton’s Hugo’s is located in the thoroughly redecorated premises formerly occupied by Blake’s restaurant, near Home Depot. It boasts three fountains, lots of beautiful wood paneling, an expansive bar, and wine racks attractively displaying Hugo’s excellent selection of wine.

Hugo, who is one of the more personable folks on the Island restaurant scene, emphasizes that his primary concern is his customers. He promises “to serve good food, provide good service, and to do it in a very pleasant atmosphere.” His food will be consistent, as in the past, he promises.

When we talked, Hugo’s fi nal comment was that he was going to devote 100% of his time to making sure his restaurant is the way his customers want it to be!

The new Hugo’s at Gateway Village, Bluffton, was scheduled to open for business just as we were going to press. Hugo’s will serve lunch and dinner every day of the week, and brunch on Sundays. Service is continuous from lunch through dinner. Reservations, a children’s menu and take-out are available.

For more information, please call 757-4846, or visit hugosatwexford.com.

SEA TRAWLER RESTAURANTS - Bluffton

One of the things that we like most about the Lowcountry is its natural beauty. We love the ocean, the beaches, our golf courses, our woodlands, and much more.

But the Lowcountry vistas that we like to look at more than any others are its inland waterways and salt marshes. Therefore, it is a special pleasure to welcome The Sea Trawler to the relatively small number of area restaurants that offer excellent views of the water and salt marsh we enjoy so much!

The Sea Trawler, however, offers more than wonderful views. It already has established a reputation for great food! The Sea Trawler’s menu includes an excellent selection of fresh seafood, plus some good choices for landlubbers.

Seafood enthusiasts might especially enjoy their signature Crispy Grouper (grouper rolled in a potato crust and pan seared with a smokey raspberry sauce), their Sea Trawler Bucket (piled high with oysters, shrimp, clams, snow crab legs, smoked sausage and corn on the cob, and served in a Southern wash-tub bucket), or their Wild Salmon (grilled wild salmon topped with a ginger beurre blanc sauce).

There are lots of other tempting entrees, such as traditional Southern Low Country Boil, “Maryland Style” Crab Cakes, several kinds of fried seafood, and much more. There are lots of excellent appetizers on the menu, too. We can report from personal experience that Sea Trawler’s Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops and their Crab Balls (lump crab meat rolled into lightly breaded balls with a Creole remoulade sauce) are excellent!

The Sea Trawler is very much of a casual, friendly, family oriented restaurant. It is a great place to bring both large and small family groups of all ages, and features tables both large and small with generous amount of space between them.

It also is a family restaurant in the sense that it is owned by the Roller family. Three generations of Rollers are involved in operating the restaurant. The Sea Trawler has been remarkably a long-term family project, starting with registration of the name 22 years ago. Final planning, construction and staffing lasted several years until completion this summer.

The Sea Trawler is open from 4:30 pm seven days a week. It offers a full bar and wine list, and a children’s menu. Take out is available. Reservations are available for special events, and for groups of 6 or more.

The Sea Trawler is located just west of the Bridge to Hilton Head (35 Fording Island Road Extension). It can easily be seen from the bridge if you look south. If you are coming from the Island, take the first left after you leave the second span. If you are coming from the mainland, take the last right turn before the bridge.

For more information about The Sea Trawler, please call (843) 837-5673.

HOT DOG HARBOUR - Hilton Head

Good hot dogs and their accompaniments are a real pleasure, so we are delighted to report that an outstanding source of hot dogs and slider burgers has moved into Coligny Plaza.

Hot Dog Harbour doesn’t serve just any hot dogs. No, indeed! Theirs are a jumbo, full quarter pound, 100% beef. If you prefer a burger, a good choice after you have tried a hot dog, Hot Dog Harbour’s slider burgers are made with 100% Black Angus beef.

Of course, some of the best things about hot dogs and slider burgers are the things that you put on top of them. Hot Dog Harbour has a super selection for you to choose from, including “homemade” Harbour chili, grated cheddar cheese, melted aged cheddar cheese, grated Swiss cheese, onions, sautéed onions, slaw, hot and sweet relish, pickle spears, baked potato salad, jalapeños, banana peppers, green pepper, cucumbers, tomatoes, sauerkraut, bacon, mustard (spicy and yellow), ketchup, mayo, Harbour sauce, and celery salt. Wow!

The atmosphere is laid back and casual, great for hot dogs or burgers and beer (or soda), and for both families and adults. Patrons can upgrade their hot dog or burgers with french fries or chips for just $1.55. The chips are of the special, made on the premises variety. No out of the bag kind are served! Hot Dog

Harbour is located in Coligny Plaza, on Lagoon Road (on the opposite side from the ocean). It is open from lunch through dinner. For more information, please call 785-5400.

SKULL CREEK BOATHOUSE - Hilton Head

What is better than a restaurant with really great food? A restaurant that has great food, is very attractive and is located right on the water! And that is just what you will find at the new (2/2010) Skull Creek Boathouse restaurant.

The Skull Creek Boathouse is located on the scenic banks of Skull Creek, overlooking the broad Intra-Coastal Waterway, Pinckney Island Wildlife Preserve and the adjacent marina. Patrons may enjoy the view from the partially rebuilt, thor- oughly remodeled interior of the restaurant, or outdoors on one of the most attractive and expansive decks on the Island. Large, covered outdoor Buoy Bar at Marker 13 also is under the oaks overlooking Skull Creek.

On a nice day or evening, the outdoor bar and deck offer a location that is sure to please! Complimentary sunsets are offered daily!

Indoors, there is a large dining room offering views of the water, and the Dive Bar. The latter offers a sushi and raw bar, a working fireplace, and an expansive, warm, woody and spacius granite-topped bar.

Skull Creek Boathouse offers one of the most extensive menus in the area, with separate sections for lunch, dinner, brunch, Sunset Specials, and kids. Various kinds seafood, often prepared with an interesting “twist” from standard recipes, are emphasized. For example, all fried items are prepared with a delicious light breading that is shipped in from New England. The Dive Bar menu offers numerous kinds of chilled seafood, ceviches, sushi, sashimi, and carpaccios.

There also are lots of choices for folks not in the mood for something from the water, such as grilled steaks (with a variety of finishing options available at no extra charge), chicken, pork, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and much more.

If you like sashimi, try “Tuna 3 Ways,” which includes generous portions of “Hawaiian Poki, Far East carpaccio, and Latin tartar. It is genuinely wonderful and, priced at only $10, represents an exceptionally good value! We also can personally attest to the excellence of Skull Creek Boathouse’s Whitefish Sashimi, grilled swordfish and Big Kahuna Tuna Burgers.

It is worth noting that many of the sushi, sashimi, and other sushi bar items are not prepared in the traditional Japanese fashion, but rather represent a fusion of several styles of preparation. The Tuna 3 Ways that we like so much is a perfect example.

We asked GM Josh McAtee what he considers to be signa- ture menu items. He indicated that their Whole Crispy Scored Flounder, Atlantic Grouper, Reel Big Fish Sandwich and the Big Kahuna Tuna Burger are especially popular. Their Throwdowns, “flavorful combinations of fresh fish and shellfish steamed in seasoned broth, also are really good,” he said. They can be ordered for one person, or for everyone at the table to share.

The Skull Creek Boathouse is located at the north end of Hilton Head Island, at 397 Squire Pope Road. It is just a short distance from the back gate of Hilton Head Plantation, next to Charley’s Crab, and just a few hundred yards from Hudson’s on the Docks seafood restaurant.

There is continuous service every day from 11:30 am through dinner, an excellent Sunset Supper from 4:00-5:45 pm daily, and brunch from 10:00-3:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy Hour at the inside and outside bars is from 4-7:00 daily. Catering and take-out are available.

Skull Creek Boathouse is part of the SERG Restaurant Group, which also operates highly regarded Black Marlin Bayside Grill, Frankie Bones Restaurant & Lounge, Giuseppi’s Pizza & Pasta, The Lodge Beer & Growler Bar, One Hot Mama’s American Grille, and WiseGuys Restaurant & Wine Bar. For more information, please call 681-3663, or visit skullcreekboathouse.com.

SMOKEHOUSE - HIlton Head

Have you noticed all the construction activity on Palmetto Bay Road about half a mile west of Sea Pines Circle? Smokehouse restaurant, which has been located just off Coligny Circle for over a decade, is moving to a much larger, beautiful building! Smokehouse will be in the rebuilt, redecorated premises for- merly occupied by Sticky Fingers restaurant.

Smokehouse has an outstanding reputation for award-winning ribs, wings and chili. Actually, we are told, when they entered Hilton Head’s “Ribs Burnoff” the last eleven years, they always have been awarded first place for ribs, for barbecue, or both.

Owner Jerry Leonard likes to emphasize that the new Smoke- house will specialize in ribs, rhythm and brews. Smokehouse’s new location will be beautifully equipped to do a great job on all three.

It is the only area restaurant, we believe, that has TWO top of the line barbecue pits to cook its meats. Jerry takes great personal pride in frequently checking the progress of cooking activities, to make sure everything is just right. Perhaps that’s a good part of the reason Smokehouse has won so many awards, and has been selected to provide barbecue to the Heritage Tournament for the last five years.

Smokehouse also is well-equipped to offer a wide variety of perfectly chilled beer. Twelve beers are on tap, served with “ice tower” equipment guaranteeing that the beer will be really cold. You will be able to actually see the ice on the serving equipment. There also will be a large variety of imported and domestic bottled beers.

The new Smokehouse will be approximately three times as large as at its former location. Its interior will be beautifully rustic, with lots of rough-hewn stone on the walls. There will be a partially covered deck outdoors centered around a large fireplace, which should be a great place to enjoy ribs, beer, and other good food when the weather is good. The deck will be separated from the main indoor dining room by a glass wall that can be folded back to bring the outdoors inside on beautiful days and evenings. There even will be a top of the line sound system for live and recorded music.

Smokehouse’s larger, upgraded cooking facilities have permit- ted a substantial expansion of their menu. The staff is especially proud of their wide selection of reasonably priced steaks. Of course, there also are lots of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and grilled seafood entrees.

As in the past, family-friendly Smokehouse will offer a kid’s menu. Take-out and catering also will be available.

Smokehouse is open continuously from lunch through dinner seven days a week. For more information, please visit smokehousehhi.com, or call 842-4BBQ (4227).

FANCY Q SUSHI BAR AND GRILL - Hilton Head

A cheerful chorus of “eulashaima say!,” which means “welcome!” and “how are you?!,” is the fi rst thing you hear when you walk through the door into Fancy Q Sushi Bar & Grill. Being greeted so enthusiastically makes you feel very welcome, and look forward to your meal!

In addition to being friendly on a personal level, Fancy Q’s portion sizes and prices also are very friendly!

Patrons may choose from an excellent variety of appetizing sushi, sashimi, hibachi fare, tempura, terriyaki and more. Food always will be very fresh, we are promised, and largely prepared to order. “Service will be fast and friendly,” we are told.

Lunch is especially appealing from a price and generous portions standpoint. All entrees, mostly costing less than $10, include soup and a salad, plus steamed or fried rice. Chef Eddie also likes to surprise his guests with a special mini-appetizer which, when we visited, was “Crab Eddie.” The combination of crab and “Eddie Sauce” was outstanding!

Dinners are accompanied by soup, a salad, vegetables, and steamed or fried rice.

As is true of many sushi-oriented restaurants, presentation of food at Sushi Q is very attractive!

Fancy Q Sushi Bar & Grill is owned an operated by restaurateur “Eddie” Qiu, who recently relocated to Hilton Head from St. Simons Island. He opened and still owns Fancy Q restaurants on Amelia and St. Simons Islands.

Fancy Q is open from 11:00 am until 10:00 pm Monday through Friday, and from 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Reservations, a children’s menu and take-out are available.

Fancy Q Sushi Bar & Grill is located in Northridge Plaza, in the attractively redecorated premises formerly occupied by DiVino (which moved to Moss Creek Village in Bluffton). For more information, please turn to page 129 or call 342-6626.

CAPTAIN WOODY'S - Bluffton

Captain Woody’s, at Palmetto Bay Marina, has long had a reputation for being a great place to eat. Great food, great prices, a great location, and friendly owners and staff add up to a great result!

Medium-size, casual seafood-oriented Captain Woody’s restaurant has been tucked away at Palmetto Bay Marina for over 25 (!) years, making it one of Hilton Head’s oldest restaurants. It is a favorite of boaters and locals, as well as visitors to the Island. The patio, overlooking Broad Creek in the distance, is an especially pleasant place to eat.

Now Captain Woody’s has a sister restaurant of the same name in nearby Bluffton.

Many things are the same as at the Island location. Everything still is fresh! Signature items still include Grouper Melt, Oyster Po-Boy and Shrimp Po-Boy Sandwiches, and their big Seafood Platters. Just tell them what you want on your platter, and it’s yours!

The menu is basic: Seafood, Land-food and Platters. Captain Woody’s specializes in shrimp, clams and oysters, which you can get freshly shucked, raw or steamed. There also are lots of appetizers, soups and, especially, sandwiches to choose from.

The premises, however, are very different from Hilton Head. The building is new, but has been designed to look old. The combination of its design and substantial use of recycled building materials has added up to an unusually pleasant result.

There is a large dining area and bar downstairs, where the walls can be raised garage door-style when the weather is right. Like on Hilton Head, there is a large outdoor patio area. Upstairs, there is another bar and dining area that is both indoors and outside, overlooking St Joseph’s Park.

Captain Woody’s in Bluffton serves their complete menu from 11:00 am until 10:00 pm seven days a week. The rooftop bar, where you can order from an appetizer menu, is open from 4:00 pm until Midnight. Brunch is served on Sundays.

The new Captain Woody’s is located at 17 State of Mind Street in The Calhoun Street Promenade, in “downtown” Bluffton. Happy Hour is from 4-7:00. A kid’s menu and carry-out are available. It is worth noting that Captain Woody’s is very family oriented in some areas, but also is a good place for adults. It just depends on where you sit!

For more information, please turn to page 148, visit captainwoodys. com, or call 843-757-6222.

DRYDOCK SEAFOOD GRILL & SPIRITS - Hilton head

It always is a pleasure to report that a long-time Island favorite has moved to a much more attractive location, and celebrated its move by making its menu more appealing, too!

Locally owned DryDock Seafood Grill & Spirits, formerly called The DryDock, was at its previous location on Executive Park Road near the Sea Shack for almost 16 years. It recently moved to 21 Offi ce Park Road, Suite 105, Sapelo Building which is located near the main gate of Sea Pines.

The new DryDock offers an attractive dining room, and a separate bar and lounge area that is tastefully decorated in offshore fi shing motif. There also is a pool table, and a shuffl eboard table. Patrons may enjoy a spacious outside dining and bar area that is a great place to be when the weather is good.

The DryDock’s kitchen serves a wide variety of food, ranging from really good “tavern food” and fresh made salads to excellent steak and seafood dinner entrees. The lunches are a great value, and the staff promises that you will not leave hungry!

Lots of Island sports fans enjoy watching their games at the DryDock. It offers seven fl at screen TV’s, including four high defi nition plasmas. They offer the NFL DirectTV package, ESPN’s College Game Plan Package, as well as MLB Baseball package and March Madness College Basketball.

The DryDock also provides catering and the use of their facility for special events, meetings, and charity fund raisers, as well as wedding receptions.

The Drydock is tucked away at 21 Offi ce Park Road, which extends from its intersection with Pope Avenue, at the fi rst traffi c light east of Sea Pines Circle, at one end and its intersection with Greenwood Drive at the other. Its Pope Avenue intersection is directly opposite the south end of New Orleans Road. There is a CVS Pharmacy on the corner.

Just turn onto Offi ce Park Road, and turn into the fi rst parking lot entrance on the left after the road curves to the right. The DryDock is around the far corner of the fi rst building on your right!

The other end of Offi ce Park Road begins in front of Park Plaza and Harris Teeter Groceries. The DryDock offers a Happy Hour from 4-7:00 Monday- Friday, a children’s menu and take-out.

For more information about DryDock Seafood Grill & Spirits, please turn to page 29, contact them at drydock@ hargray.com, or call 843-842-9775.

ISLAND BAGEL - Hilton Head

We love bagels, and all the good stuff that you can put on them. Of course, cream cheese and smoked salmon probably are the traditional favorites. But bagels can be the start of sandwiches, breakfast-style sandwiches, and much more. And that traditional cream cheese can be fl avored all sorts of ways!

The Island Bagel Co., which recently succeeded Woody’s Darn Good Bagels at South Island Square, serves really great bagels, as might be expected of a restaurant that makes its bagels from scratch (the only place on the island that does). However, they serve much more than bagels, have added numerous new items to their menu, and plan more for the future.

For example, patrons may enjoy breakfast sandwiches, a wide variety of baked goods, “Seattle’s Best” excellent coffee and lattes, soups, salads, and more. They also cook their own turkeys and prime rib in house.

New items will include a larger selection of salads, new “homemade” soups, and a choice of panninis. Please note, though, that almost everything from the Woody’s Darn Good Bagels menu will continue to be available.

Island Bagel Co. is open for breakfast and lunch from 7:00 am-3:00 pm Monday-Saturday, and until 2:00 Sundays. The entire menu is available from opening until closing. Catering and offi ce deliveries are available. Take-out is a specialty. Call-ins are welcome.

Island Bagel Co. is located at South Island Square, about a mile south of the entrance to Palmetto Dunes, near Longhorn Steakhouse, next to Cafe St. Tropez. There is a “sister” Island Bagel Co. at Sheridan Park, in Bluffton.

For more information, please turn to pages 76 and 82, visit hiltonheadbagels.com, or call 686-3353.

BLUFFTON LIVE - Bluffton

There’s a new restaurant and live music hall coming to Bluffton in December that sounds like it will please lots of folks who enjoy great food and live music!

Bluffton Live, located next to the new Hugo’s in Bluffton (see description in this section), will feature gourmet pizza, fondues and assorted tapas, plus live music as you dine. Different kinds of music will be offered, from shag to swing to soft rock to blues, all in an atmosphere that is intended to remind you of great music revues. There even will be a large dance fl oor for when it’s time to dance!

The gourmet pizza menu at Bluffton Live will allow you to pick toppings and sauces to make your own custom pie. Fondue specials, creative light entrees, and many other choices will round out the menu.

The folks at Bluffton Live invite you to join them for a “toe tapping good time!”

If all goes as planned, Bluffton Live will be open for lunch Monday-Friday, and for dinner seven nights a week. Reservations and take-out will be available. Large parties will be welcome. Call and ask about happy hour specials!

Bluffton Live will be located just off Highway 278 in Bluffton, next to Bluffton’s new Hugo’s, in the thoroughly redecorated premises formerly occupied by Blue Coyote. It is in front of Home Depot, which is just across the parking lot.

Bluffton Live’s planned opening is in late December. For more information, please call 815-LIVE (5483).