Marty's HHI Restaurant Thread [Ongoing - Post #923 Update]

[Emi]

Kenny B is temporarily closed. We went by today, Jan 8th and there is a notice at the door. “Closed until Christmas For renovations and repairs”. Peeked in and does not look like any activity in progress. Hope they come back soon.

 

[RookWDW]

Kenny B is temporarily closed. We went by today, Jan 8th and there is a notice at the door. “Closed until Christmas For renovations and repairs”. Peeked in and does not look like any activity in progress. Hope they come back soon.

Oh no, they better reopen. I don't think I'll survive trips to HHI without KennyBs. I'll admit, I liked the old location better.

 

[Fasttr]

Oh no, they better reopen. I don't think I'll survive trips to HHI without KennyBs. I'll admit, I liked the old location better.

Agreed. Preferred the old location. That said, I too hope they reopen.

 

[Big Matt]

Not unusual for family owned restaurants to post a sign like this. My family owned a restaurant and we closed every year for the week starting January 1st. It was a slow time, and it gave us a chance to (dare I say) relax some too.

 

[jme]

Oh no, they better reopen. I don't think I'll survive trips to HHI without KennyBs. I'll admit, I liked the old location better.

I don't know anything special, or know of any official update, but I suspect that there are problems and I'm not so sure in my heart that they will reopen at all.
Just a gut feeling.
I just arrived at HH yesterday afternoon about 4:30pm for a long weekend stay, and as I passed by Kenny B's I looked over and saw no cars at all in front of the doors.
When I arrived at Grande Ocean I immediately googled the restaurant and saw two random posts that declared that they were closed permanently. Not sure if they have special knowledge or are just assuming that based on the doors being closed.
I will try my best to find out definitively, as I've been quite sad after even imagining that they will never reopen.
I do know that Kenny & wife Laverne are retired and moving to a lake near McCormick, SC which is an hour's drive from where we live.....
One of their sons lives in North Augusta, SC 25 minutes from us, working at a nearby nuclear power plant, and just across the Savannah River
which divides North Augusta SC from Augusta GA.
I'll try to contact them somehow and ask. We know them pretty well. Not sure how to find out, but ..........

 

[Superchief]

I don't know anything special, or know of any official update, but I suspect that there are problems and I'm not so sure in my heart that they will reopen at all.
Just a gut feeling.
I just arrived at HH yesterday afternoon about 4:30pm for a long weekend stay, and as I passed by Kenny B's I looked over and saw no cars at all in front of the doors.
When I arrived at Grande Ocean I immediately googled the restaurant and saw two random posts that declared that they were closed permanently. Not sure if they have special knowledge or are just assuming that based on the doors being closed.
I will try my best to find out definitively, as I've been quite sad after even imagining that they will never reopen.
I do know that Kenny & wife Laverne are retired and moving to a lake near McCormick, SC which is an hour's drive from where we live.....
One of their sons lives in North Augusta, SC 25 minutes from us, working at a nearby nuclear power plant, and just across the Savannah River
which divides North Augusta SC from Augusta GA.
I'll try to contact them somehow and ask. We know them pretty well. Not sure how to find out, but ..........

They must be moving to the Savannah Lakes development. We had planned to move there but decided to stay in Cincinnati in my childhood home. Now we are trying to sell the lot. It is a really nice community, especially if you play golf. However, there are a lot of unsold lots so it will take a long time before the neighborhoods are well developed, It would be nice if they opened a restaurant in that area. Enjoy your weekend. I head down to Surfwatch on 1/16.

 

[Superchief]

Has anyone eaten at Nala's Beach? It is located close to Surf Watch on the corner of Mathew's Dr. I'm curious because my dog is named Nala (Bean) and is a princess.

 

[aklausing]

Here's the story on Kenny B's:
Kenny B's Closing for Good

 

[jme]

Here's the story on Kenny B's:
Kenny B's Closing for Good

Thanks for that story!........
Truly sad, as Kenny B's has been part of our family's life whenever we visited Hilton Head, and on a personal level we were friends of both Ken and Lavern---
on a first name basis. Can't even guess how many great meals we had at the original location, but we went there for as long as they were open----mostly breakfast but also lunch and dinner-----their cooking was unsurpassed. Best Jambalaya and best seafood anywhere, and their Grits were the best I've ever had,
and that includes at least a hundred places. We kind of had an inkling about the future of Kenny B's when they relocated from Pope Avenue....
It was just a feeling but a strong one.
Still, we were loyal patrons and supporters of their new location across the bridge, and visited many, many times there too..
We knew Lavern was wanting to slow down---she told us privately. She worked a long, long time and was basically worn out, and we were also aware of Ken's health issues. Kenny B's will be sorely missed, putting it mildly, and on a friendship basis, Ken, Lavern, and their two boys will also be missed.

 

[Serina]

Question about dining at CQ’s…if dining indoors, other than steps, what’s the difference between downstairs or upstairs dining? View, noise level etc?

 

[dioxide45]

We've never stayed in HHI this late into the year. Usually we are there in January or early February. Though we did do December in 2020. The island was certainly much busier this time of the year and I suspect Spring Break in many locations too. We went, or tried, to go to Skullcreek on Thursday and the parking lot was slammed. Filled all the way to the road. We thought something special had to be going on. This was at 8:30pm. So long past sunset. Then it was an hour and 15 minute wait on Saturday night. I don't even want to think about how busy the island is in the summer.

 

[jme]

We've never stayed in HHI this late into the year. Usually we are there in January or early February. Though we did do December in 2020. The island was certainly much busier this time of the year and I suspect Spring Break in many locations too. We went, or tried, to go to Skullcreek on Thursday and the parking lot was slammed. Filled all the way to the road. We thought something special had to be going on. This was at 8:30pm. So long past sunset. Then it was an hour and 15 minute wait on Saturday night. I don't even want to think about how busy the island is in the summer.

All Marriott timeshare resorts provide "call-ahead seating" via the concierge for places that do not accept reservations, like Skull Creek Boathouse.
SCB is always extremely busy, and a 90 minute wait time is not abnormal. (BTW, our LONGEST WAIT there ever, happened once when we had not used the call-ahead,
and it was on a Monday night in January!!!)

We dined there twice recently.....mid-February and early March,
and utilized the call-ahead seating by requesting the concierge to make arrangements a day ahead.
Both times we were seated within 10 minutes of our arrival, which is about right for that service.

If you read my Restaurant Guide preface, I speak about that call-ahead perk of staying at the Marriotts.
Here's the quote from my guide:
"IMPORTANT: Reservations are highly recommended, even days ahead. I like to use Open Table or Resy for online reservations because it’s easy. Check to see which service your restaurant of choice uses, if any. Your resort concierge can also help. Also, Marriott has an exclusive arrangement with several restaurants for CALL AHEAD through the resort concierge only, when regular reservations are not accepted. The restaurant only allots a few call ahead tables each day, so have your concierge call early in the day to secure your table. This priceless service usually allows seating within 10 minutes of arrival."

 

[dioxide45]

All Marriott timeshare resorts provide "call-ahead seating" via the concierge for places that do not accept reservations, like Skull Creek Boathouse.
SCB is always extremely busy, and a 90 minute wait time is not abnormal. (BTW, our LONGEST WAIT there ever, happened once when we had not used the call-ahead,
and it was on a Monday night in January!!!)

We dined there twice recently.....mid-February and early March,
and utilized the call-ahead seating by requesting the concierge to make arrangements a day ahead.
Both times we were seated within 10 minutes of our arrival, which is about right for that service.

If you read my Restaurant Guide preface, I speak about that call-ahead perk of staying at the Marriotts.
Here's the quote from my guide:
"IMPORTANT: Reservations are highly recommended, even days ahead. I like to use Open Table or Resy for online reservations because it’s easy. Check to see which service your restaurant of choice uses, if any. Your resort concierge can also help. Also, Marriott has an exclusive arrangement with several restaurants for CALL AHEAD through the resort concierge only, when regular reservations are not accepted. The restaurant only allots a few call ahead tables each day, so have your concierge call early in the day to secure your table. This priceless service usually allows seating within 10 minutes of arrival."

Very good to know. The three previous times we've gone to either Dockside or Boathouse, we just walked in and were seated. No wait. We often don't plan much in advance. Shoot, it can take DW an hour or more just to pick out a place to go for dinner. If something doesn't work out, then it's another 20 minutes to find some place new. We were actually out somewhere else both times and opted to try and stop there on the way back to the resort, so I don't know if call a head would have been possible. In both cases, we found somewhere else and didn't go hungry.

 

[jme]

Very good to know. The three previous times we've gone to either Dockside or Boathouse, we just walked in and were seated. No wait. We often don't plan much in advance. Shoot, it can take DW an hour or more just to pick out a place to go for dinner. If something doesn't work out, then it's another 20 minutes to find some place new. We were actually out somewhere else both times and opted to try and stop there on the way back to the resort, so I don't know if call a head would have been possible. In both cases, we found somewhere else and didn't go hungry.

Want to have some fun?
Sometime when you're sitting around, say early or mid-morning when you're feeling lazy,
take out my HH Restaurant Guide list under whatever category you want help with, and make "want to try" lists.
Under "Casual dinner" for example, pick types like Pizza, or Mexican, or Seafood, or Italian, or Steak & potato, or Soup & Sandwich, etc, etc----
Then decide on "X" possible dinner destinations that sound interesting under that category, and write the names down, and save them.

Then when you can't decide for any given evening over the next week, blindly draw out a name under the agreed-upon category
and make reservations, stick to it, AND GO THERE. If you totally rely on "walking-in" each meal out, you won't get very far, as the best places require planning ahead.
Believe me you'll find lots of different places under each category!!!
(Lots of seafood places, lots of Italian places, lots of Pizza places, and so on....)
After dinner out somewhere, throw out that one and proceed...

On a random evening, in the event you both agree ahead of time that you're craving a certain favorite place, just go there, no drawing necessary.
But have some fun with it.
It's always nice to have a little spontaneity. Do the same for BREAKFAST too----we love breakfast out every morning.
Also make a LUNCH list ...(make sure Jane Bistro is on that list, and Harbour Town Bakery & Cafe, and Low Country Backyard,
and Main Street Cafe & Pub, just to name a few).
Don't dismiss some good Bluffton places for any meal....
Good luck...
BTW, we devote a LOT of planning time to meals out when we are going to HH....
Wife was at MGO 2 weeks in January, 4 weeks in Feb/March, going back a week in early April, and 2 weeks in early June.
I'm only there weekends in Jan & Feb but full stays in April & June.....tough job but somebody's got to do it....



(Hey Jeremy, ..............

OR just call me and we'll drive over and pick you guys up and surprise you with a dining destination.......open invitation my friend.)

 

[JIMinNC]

In both cases, we found somewhere else and didn't go hungry.

As Marty’s list is proof #1, you would actually have to TRY to go hungry in HHI. So many great options. We probably spend 20-22 weeks a year on the island, and there are so many great places we have still never been. We get into ruts going to favorites and don’t expand our envelope nearly enough.

 

[pedro47]

Want to have some fun?
Sometime when you're sitting around, say early or mid-morning when you're feeling lazy,
take out my HH Restaurant Guide list under whatever category you want help with, and make "want to try" lists.
Under "Casual dinner" for example, pick types like Pizza, or Mexican, or Seafood, or Italian, or Steak & potato, or Soup & Sandwich, etc, etc----
Then decide on "X" possible dinner destinations that sound interesting under that category, and write the names down, and save them.

Then when you can't decide for any given evening over the next week, blindly draw out a name under the agreed-upon category
and make reservations, stick to it, AND GO THERE. If you totally rely on "walking-in" each meal out, you won't get very far, as the best places require planning ahead.
Believe me you'll find lots of different places under each category!!!
(Lots of seafood places, lots of Italian places, lots of Pizza places, and so on....)
After dinner out somewhere, throw out that one and proceed...

On a random evening, in the event you both agree ahead of time that you're craving a certain favorite place, just go there, no drawing necessary.
But have some fun with it.
It's always nice to have a little spontaneity. Do the same for BREAKFAST too----we love breakfast out every morning.
Also make a LUNCH list ...(make sure Jane Bistro is on that list, and Harbour Town Bakery & Cafe, and Low Country Backyard,
and Main Street Cafe & Pub, just to name a few).
Don't dismiss some good Bluffton places for any meal....
Good luck...
BTW, we devote a LOT of planning time to meals out when we are going to HH....
Wife was at MGO 2 weeks in January, 4 weeks in Feb/March, going back a week in early April, and 2 weeks in early June.
I'm only there weekends in Jan & Feb but full stays in April & June.....tough job but somebody's got to do it....



(Hey Jeremy, ..............

OR just call me and we'll drive over and pick you guys up and surprise you with a dining destination.......open invitation my friend.)

Outstanding recommendations and suggestions.

 

[jmhpsu93]

Just got back from a few days at SurfWatch...I had to work most of the time so not much foodie experience but we did manage to visit Quarterdeck for lunch (blackened grouper for me, charcoal roasted shrimp for DW), and Nunzio for happy hour dinner (casear salad app, short rib ravioli with blush bolegnese for me, beer tartare for DW). Great service and ambiance at both and they're both on Resy so we used our quarterly $100 Amex platinum credit on each one.

I think Nunzio is my favorite restaurant we've tried so far, but we have a ton more to go through on @jme's list.