Hilton Head ...The Old Fort Pub

[Deb from NC]

Sorry to report that the Old Fort Pub on Hilton Head closed last night We had a lovely dinner there last night...have been going there since the mid-70s. According to the employees we chatted with, condos will be going in there in the future. I’ll miss the good food and beautiful setting.

 

[SueDonJ]

Oh that is sad! The restaurants along Broad Creek have such beautiful settings, especially for sunsets at dinnertime, and it's amazing how many people don't venture far enough away from 278 or the Shelter Cove/Harbourtown/South Beach tourist areas to find them. Plus, of course, it's always sad when a longtime favorite goes.

I'm glad you were able to say goodbye.

 

[Armada]

We were there on Tuesday. It will be missed. Great food in a beautiful setting. Had a table at the rail overlooking the water. Couldn't have asked for more.

 

[jme]

Experiences at Old Fort Pub have been increasingly inconsistent over the past 3-4 years (but at times still awesome),
but in general over the past 2+ decades they were superb, "as good as it gets" as they say, and one of the favorites
of locals and discriminating island visitors.
The food and service were always great and the view was, and still is, one of the loveliest on the island.
We will miss being there, although our visits had dropped off a bit.
In its day, it was THE place for the special occasions.....it was quiet, cozy, romantic, and the evenings were always memorable.
Those that loved it were fiercely loyal and will never forget the good times. Truly a sad ending for an amazing restaurant.

 

[Armada]

One problem with the Hilton Head dining scene is that there are a lot of good restaurants, but very few really good/great restaurants. The loss of the Old Fort Pub doesn't help this.

 

[jme]

One problem with the Hilton Head dining scene is that there are a lot of good restaurants,
but very few really good/great restaurants. The loss of the Old Fort Pub doesn't help this.

I would have to respectfully disagree with you.
My take is that, given, HH doesn't have more in the exact mold of the white table-cloth/candle-light type restaurants
like the former Old Fort Pub, which at one time had servers with white cloths draped over their arms as they served,
and which many considered to be one of HH's all-time "greats", BUT there ARE several wonderful top-tier restaurants today
that have just as good food, service, and ambience....most of which I actually like far better.
It is understandable that there are not many places like OFP because island visitors nowadays seldom seek those out.
Instead, they are there to enjoy the beach and the pools, whatever, and they are not there primarily for ultra-fine dining.
So those types were mostly kept afloat by the locals, especially during the off-season, and even the locals
haven't been as supportive over the last few years.

In addition, I believe locals and discriminating visitors who like "fine dining" now gravitate toward restaurants that are
not quite as formal. They indeed want quiet, cozy, nice places, but not always fancy.
The occasional white table-cloth places are still represented, though, perhaps more of them than you might realize.

Big cities have the truly GREAT restaurants (I'm not so sure you're referring to those here by comparing them to HH places
by saying "HH has no great restaurants", but I need to acknowledge them just in case)......
To distinguish between the big city vs HH greats, big city restaurants have extremely loyal followings year-round,
but HH is a different type of destination, and the off-season is often steady but definitely slower.

I think the "Old Fort Pub" types in general are slowly going by the wayside for a reason.
(Truth be known, over the past few years Old Fort Pub had fallen off, hence the decline in support.
Imho, it was a very good restaurant, but it was never a truly great restaurant because it was quite inconsistent.....
we dined there many times. 20-30 years ago it was wonderful, but not over the past few years, maybe even going back 10 years.)

That said, in OFP's current absence, there ARE several great restaurants on the island----- just not a lot of "elegant" restaurants.
Some are elegant, but I wouldn't say all are. I've listed what I consider great restaurants below.

Ombra, Sage Room, Alfred's, Sunset Grille, Vine, Ela's, Crane's Tavern, Sea Grass Grill, Red Fish, CQ's,
Charlie's L'Etoile Verte, The Studio, Santa Fe, and Michael Anthony's all qualify for my personal "great" restaurant list.
Throw in 2 or 3 in Bluffton and the list is even longer (Bluffton Room, The Pearl, May River Grill).
That is an impressive list for the relatively small island of HH. I've dined many times at all of these, and they are superb.
I've never had a bad or even mediocre experience at any of these.
And I might also sincerely say that, imho, some of these are superior to Old Fort Pub.
(Just curious, have you dined at all of these?)

Of course none of these will compare to "great" restaurants in NYC, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco, Boston, Paris, etc.
I've been to great ones in ALL of those cities, so I get what you're talking about.
But again, that's a totally different definition of "great". Those types would go out of business at HH---- being too expensive for one,
and the "great" Chefs wouldn't even be at HH because of the seasonal aspect of dining.
And yet, HH definitely has some awesome Chefs from big cities who have relocated here to escape the rat race.

So, bottom line, I'm putting in a good word for some absolutely wonderful places at HH....
They ARE great (excluding the NYC definition).
After all our travels we consider ourselves very fortunate to have as many fine restaurants at HH as we do,
and we frequently can't wait to get back simply because of them. HH has about 250 total restaurants, maybe less now
than before the pandemic, and a dozen or so that I do consider great. And another dozen that I consider very good.
That's quite enough to keep us happy, so your post truly confused me more than anything.
I'd be delighted to have you join us sometime, my treat.
.


P.S. Since you're from Charleston------We also have a timeshare in Charleston (Church Street Inn) and we adore going to Charleston.
We go at least 4 times a year.
Charleston happens to be Conde Nast's NUMBER ONE destination in the USA, and I know for a fact that many of them
are very discriminating diners. I also have a list of Charleston restaurants, and it's frankly a much shorter list than Hilton Head's.
SNOB, Charleston Grill, Trattoria Lucca, Peninsula Grill, Grill 225, and a couple more, to name a few of our favorites.
If I had to pick only one place to dine, however, Charleston vs HH, I'd definitely have a tough choice to make,
and if you asked me 5 times, it would probably go to HH 3 times.
Not that we don't love Charleston, but HH is strong.

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[jont]

Ombra, Sage Room, Alfred's, Sunset Grille, Vine, Ela's, Crane's Tavern, Sea Grass Grill, Red Fish, CQ's,
Charlie's L'Etoile Verte, The Studio, Santa Fe, and Michael Anthony's all qualify for my personal "great" restaurant list.
Throw in 2 or 3 in Bluffton and the list is even longer (Bluffton Room, The Pearl, May River Grill).
That is an impressive list for the relatively small island of HH. I've dined many times at all of these, and they are superb.
I've never had a bad or even mediocre experience at any of these.

What? No Kenny B's?

 

[jme]

What? No Kenny B's?

Hey, John! at present we're talkin' white tablecloths, not checkered.

But might as well say, Kenny B's is wonderful no matter the time....great breakfast, lunch, or dinner.....
a real sleeper for great seafood---- not many realize that. Hope to see you there.
If not, I'll just do the usual, send a pic or two!!!!
(GREAT spot, family-owned, delicious food)

 

[jont]

I’ll take checkered every time!

 

[jme]

I’ll take checkered every time!

Now there's a man with good taste.

 

[jont]

Best cafe au lait and beignets outside of Nawlins !

 

[Deb from NC]

Hey, John! at present we're talkin' white tablecloths, not checkered.

But might as well say, Kenny B's is wonderful no matter the time....great breakfast, lunch, or dinner.....
a real sleeper for great seafood---- not many realize that. Hope to see you there.
If not, I'll just do the usual, send a pic or two!!!!
(GREAT spot, family-owned, delicious food)

View attachment 36261
View attachment 36260

We LOVE Kenny B’s!